Working Man’s Poet: A Tribute To Merle Haggard, released today (April 1) on Broken Bow Records. The album includes performances from Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kristy Lee Cook, Ben Haggard, Randy Houser, Toby Keith, Dustin Lynch, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen, Parmalee, Thompson Square and James Wesley.
Mickey Jack Cones, Derek George, Michael Knox, Jeff Stevens, and Mark Miller are the producers behind the project.
“Merle Haggard is a founding-father of country music and is an inspiration to us all. I am honored to be a part of such a significant collaboration between today’s biggest artists and a one of the greatest country music legends of our time,” says Cones.
The Academy of Country Music, in association with dick clark Productions, will also be honoring Merle Haggard’s 50 year career in country music  with the Crystal Milestone Award at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, will  be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 6 (8:00 PM-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

IFPI has published its annual Recording Industry In Numbers, which provides comprehensive data for 50 territories.
Among the highlights included are:
• Global digital revenues in 2013 totaled 5.9 billion, with subscription streams revenue tripling to $1.1 billion in the last three years.
• Six of the top 10 markets saw growth in 2013, while in eight of the top 20 music markets digital is now the dominant source of revenue.
• Latin America is the region showing the fastest digital growth in recent years, with revenues up 124 percent from 2010 to 2013.
• Overall global recorded music trade revenues declined by 3.9 per cent in 2013. This was heavily influenced by the 16.7 per cent decline in Japan, a market at the start of its digital transition. Excluding Japan, global revenues were essentially flat, declining by 0.1 per cent. Europe saw growth for the first time in 12 years and the market also increased in value in North America and Latin America.
• The US remains at the head of the top 20 markets table and saw consolidation in 2013; the top six markets in Europe – France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK – all saw growth. There was strong digital growth in many emerging markets including Argentina (+68.5%), Peru (+148.5%), South Africa (+106.8%) and Venezuela (+84.9%).
• Revenue from digital channels increased by 4.3 per cent in 2013 and now accounts for 39 per cent of overall industry trade revenues. Downloads remain the biggest source of digital revenues, accounting for 67 per cent of the digital market in 2013.
• Revenues from subscription services surged by 51.3 per cent in 2013, passing the US$1 billion mark for the first time. Global revenues from subscription and advertising-supported streams now account for 27 per cent of digital revenues, up from 14 per cent in 2011. It is estimated that more than 28 million people worldwide now pay for a music subscription, up from 20 million in 2012 and just eight million in 2010. Music subscription, which has helped transform Sweden and Norway in recent years, is now having a similar positive impact in Denmark and Netherlands.
• Global performance rights revenue crossed the US$1 billion threshold in 2013. This income from broadcasts and public performance increased by 19.0 per cent in 2013 to hit US$1.1 billion, now accounting for 7 per cent of total record industry revenue.
Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI, says: “IFPI’s Recording Industry in Numbers once again provides an unrivaled analysis of the global recorded music industry, examining the latest international trends and providing detailed figures from 50 territories worldwide. The broad picture that emerges is of an extremely diverse industry. Most of our major markets have stabilized, digital continues to grow, revenue streams have diversified and we are starting to deliver on the huge potential in emerging markets.”
IFPI’s Recording Industry in Numbers is available free to IFPI members and can be purchased by non-members.

Courtney Cole

CMT Powering Education, the music television network’s initiative which encourages CMT viewers to pursue post-secondary education, has entered a long-term partnership with American Association of Community Colleges  to raise awareness about resources for workforce training and education within local communities.

Big Machine Music singer-songwriter Courtney Cole entertained attendees during an event on March 28 at Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) in Hazard, Ky. During the event, HCTC shared stories from community members who transitioned from coal mining to other careers by furthering their education.

AACC and CMT Empowering Education are launching the partnership first with Appalachian schools through the help of the Appalachian Regional Commission and will continue to spread the opportunity to community colleges nationwide over the next three years.

• • •

Chase Rice. Photo: Chris Hollo

Chase Rice recently took his first steps “into the circle,” making his debut appearance at the hallowed Grand Ole Opry. He performed his single “Ready Set Roll,” as well as “How She Rolls” and intimate ballad “Jack Daniel’s and Jesus.”

“This is a huge milestone for me,” Rice said. “I will remember this night and that first moment on stage forever.”

  • • •
Jeff Bates was recently recognized with a Resolution put forth by the State of Mississippi’s House of Representatives. The resolution commended Jeff Bates for his contributions to Country music.

Bates was raised in Bunker Hill, Miss., adopted as the eldest of nine children by sharecropping parents. After moving to Nashville, he landed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell. However, in 2001, Bates’ battle with drugs landed him in jail putting an end, if only for a while, to his music career.
After being released, Bates co-wrote Tracy Lawrence’s 2002 single, “What a Memory.” In 2003, Bates inked his first record deal with RCA Records and released his debut album Rainbow Man. Three more albums would follow, including Leave the Light On (RCA), his self-titled project and One Day Closer (Black River), culminating in seven top-40 singles and a No. 1 Christian country single.

Jeff Bates is honored in his homestate of Mississippi.

Rascal Flatts has revealed the track listing for their upcoming album Rewind, slated for a May 13 release on Big Machine Records. Producers for the 13-track project include Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Howard Benson, and Dann Huff. Four tracks will be made available for a Target exclusive version of the project.

Writers on the project include Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Eric Paslay, Brett James, Marcus Hummon, Brian White, Ben Caver, Tobias Lundgren, Jeffrey Steele, Brandon Hood, Jaren Johnston, Neil Thrasher, Shane Minor, Shay Mooney, Jesse Frasure, Diane Warren, all three members of Rascal Flatts, Tim Akers, Regie Hamm, and many others.
REWIND Tracklisting

1. Payback (Aaron Eshuis, Neil Mason, Ryan Hurd)
2. Rewind (Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Eric Paslay)*
3. I Have Never Been To Memphis (Eric Holljes, Ian Holljes, Marcus Hummon)
4. DJ Tonight (Meghan Trainor, Jesse Frasure, Shay Mooney)*
5. Powerful Stuff (Gregg Wattenberg, Derek A. E. Fuhrmann, Brett James)
6. Riot (Jaron Boyer, Sara Haze)*
7. Night Of Our Lives (Ben Hayslip, Jimmy Yeary)
8. I Like The Sound Of That (Meghan Trainor, Jesse Frasure, Shay Mooney)*
9. Aftermath (Ben Caver, Megan Conner, Brian White)
10. I’m On Fire (Sean McConnell, Tobias Lundgren, Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson)*
11. Life’s A Song (Jeffrey Steele, Brandon Hood, James Slater)**
12. Honeysuckle Lazy (Neil Thrasher, Michael Dulaney, Shane Minor)*
13. The Mechanic (Jaren Johnston, Tony Lane)*

Deluxe Tracks

14. Compass (Diane Warren)*
15. Wildfire (James Ryan Ho, Christopher Breaux)**
16. She Must Like Broken Hearts (busbee, Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney)*
17. Bring The Family (Regie Hamm, Tim Akers, Chase Akers)

Produced by Howard Benson
*Produced by Jay DeMarcus and Rascal Flatts
**Produced by Dann Huff and Rascal Flatts

Blake Shelton will welcome fellow The Voice coach Shakira to the Academy of Country Music awards stage on Sunday, April 6. The CBS production will begin at 8 p.m. ET.  The pair will perform “Medicine,” a track on Shakira’s album, it was announced during a press conference earlier today.
Shakira penned “Medicine” with Hillary Lindsey and Mark Bright.
“Shakira’s folks reached out to the ACM about the performance. We, as producers, are always looking to bring artists together,” said R.A. Clark, an Executive Producer for the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Fans should also keep a close watch, as performer George Strait is set to make a major announcement during the live awards show.
Other previously announced highlights will include Miranda Lambert in a duet with Strait, to honor Merle Haggard. Garth Brooks will be on hand to present Haggard with the Crystal Milestone Award, to help celebrate Haggard’s 50 years in Country music. Lady Antebellum will perform with Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks.
Bob Romeo, CEO of the ACM says these kinds of pairings are a big boost to the ACM awards shows. “We see spikes when we do these other-genre pairings,” said Romeo. “Some of our most memorable moments have been [performances like] Zac Brown Band and James Taylor, or Carrie Underwood with Steven Tyler.”‘
Barry Adelman, Executive Producer for CBS, agrees. “All of the duets and pairings are reflective of those people being fans of each other. They invite their friends to perform with them, you see that on tours. I want to capture that in our show as well. The first thing on Lady Antebellum’s list [for the ACM performance] was to bring Stevie on the show.”
The Academy of Country Music Awards have enjoyed increasing viewership, with more than 13 million people watching in 2012, and 15.5 million in 2013.