'Alive At The Bluebird' Concert Series Schedule Announced

/by

bluebird logo1Nearly 100 songwriters will come together at the Bluebird Cafe’ through the month of January to help Middle Tennessee’s Alive Hospice program. Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Kristian Bush, Lori McKenna, Scotty Emerick, Larry Gatlin, Kim Carnes and more will perform in 23 different shows to help benefit the organization, which provides hospice care and grief support services locally.
Alive At The Bluebird kicks off Jan. 2 with featured songwriters Ellen Britton, WT Davidson, Sally Barris and Henry Hipkens (9 p.m., $12). Reservations for the Jan. 2 show will become available to the public on Dec. 26 at 8 a.m. CST at www.BluebirdCafe.com. Reservations for all other upcoming shows can be made through the website when they open to the public. The 21st Annual Alive At The Bluebird series runs from Jan. 2 – Feb. 1.
“January is always a ‘warm’ month at The Bluebird, despite the temperatures outside!” said Erika Wollam Nichols, GM of The Bluebird. “The songwriters we work with are all excited about being a part of this event to celebrate and support an organization that has given so much to members of our music community and to the community at large.”
The Alive At The Bluebird concert series has raised over $500,000 in the 21 years since it began, thanks to participating sponsors, the Bluebird, songwriters, and fans who support it.

Cumulus Hires Three Key NASH Execs

/by

nash logo11Cumulus has hired three key NASH executives in preparation for the national launches of America’s Morning Show and NASH Nights Live with Shawn Parr next month.
The new executives are:
Ian Zak, Executive Producer for America’s Morning Show. Zak most recently served as National Producer for Clear Channel’s Contemporary Hit Radio channel on Premium Choice, as well as Producer for 102.7 KIIS/Los Angeles popular JoJo on the Radio show. Before moving to KIIS FM, Zak held a series of producing roles at 104.3 MY FM in Los Angeles.
Elaina Smith, Co-host of NASH Nights Live with Shawn Parr. Smith was most recently with Cumulus station WA1A 107.1 FM in Florida, where she served as Co-host of the A1A Morning Show alongside DJ Timmy Vee. Prior to joining Cumulus, Elaina was an on-air personality on San Diego’s Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw show on 100.7 JACK FM.
Jason Addams, Program Coordinator (for all programming originating at the NASH studio in Nashville). Addams brings to Cumulus more than 15 years of programming experience, having served as Program Director at 101.5 WBNQ FM in Bloomington, Ill. and WSTO HOT 96 FM in Evansville, Ind. Addams also held on-air and programming positions at stations including 99.5 WZPL in Indianapolis, Ind., Hoosier Country 103.7 in Royal Center, Ind. and The Beat 104.3 in Austin, Texas.
Cumulus launched the NASH entertainment brand based on the Country music lifestyle in January of this year, starting with the flagship NASH FM 94.7 in New York City. In addition to country radio stations, the NASH brand will include a NASH magazine, concerts/events, online content and television programming.

Weekly Register: Garth Still Rings at the Register

/by

garth.brooksGarth Brooks is still the King of Country, according to sales numbers this week. Garth’s box set Blame It All on My Roots sold 172k units this week, marking a 17 percent increase in sales from last week, enough to land at the top of the Country albums chart and at No. 2 on the overall chart. Blame It All On My Roots has sold 481k units to date. Duck The Halls from Duck Dynasty‘s Robertson family sold 108k units, enough to take the No. 2 spot on the Country albums chart; the project reached the gold threshold this week, with a total of 575k units sold. Luke Bryan takes up residence at No. 3, with sales of 47k units of his Crash My Party album. Florida Georgia Line is at No. 4, with 46k units of Here’s To The Good Times sold this week.

Country album sales are up 18 percent this week over last week, with 1.34 million sold.

Zac Brown Band‘s The Grohl Sessions is this week’s top Country debut, ranking at No. 5 Country/No. 25 overall, with 27k units sold (100 percent digital). The Nashville soundtrack (Season 2, Vol 1) debuted at No. 7 on the Country albums chart, with 18k sold (30 percent digital). Parmalee‘s Feels Like Carolina enters at No. 10, with 14k sold (38 percent digital).

Beyonce is this week’s biggest story, with the surprise release of the self-titled, all-digital, audio/video album. The album, which has been released only to iTunes thus far, sold 617k units in three days, easily earning the No. 1 album on the overall chart this week. It is interesting to note that both the No. 1 and No. 2 albums are exclusive releases; Brooks released his project only to Walmart.

Luke Bryan has two tracks in the Top 5 Country tracks chart this week. Bryan’s latest single, “Drink A Beer,” is the top Country track this week, with 45k units, while “That’s My Kind of Night” is at No. 5 with 29k sold. Florida Georgia Line’s “Stay” is at No. 2, at 41k. Parmalee’s “Carolina” goes gold this week with more than 500k singles sold; they sold 32k this week, enough to land at No. 3. David Nail‘s “Whatever She’s Got” lands at No. 4 on the Country tracks chart, with 31k units sold. Nail’s single also hits the gold sales mark this week, with more than 500k in total sales. A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera‘s “Say Something” tops the overall tracks chart this week, selling 195k.

Where Do We Stand?

Overall, album sales are down 8.2 percent from the same time last year, while overall digital sales increased 1.1 percent year over year. Country album sales are down 10.3 percent from this time last year; In 2012, the No. 1 overall and Country release was Taylor Swift‘s RED, which brought in 208k this time last year. Digital track sales are down 4.8 percent overall from this week in 2012, while Country tracks are down .1 percent.
tracks111 albums111

Tennessee Radio Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced

/by

logo_ShieldThe Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame inductees for 2014 have been announced, and former Gerry House sidekick Mike Bohan, longtime WSM DJ and Opry announcer Hairl Hensley, and former WSM program manager/Tree Publishing founder Jack Stapp are among this year’s inductees. Rounding out the list are Nashville television and radio personalities Teddy Bart and Bob Bell, the city’s first anchorman Jud Collins, former Opry announcer and on-air personality T. Tommy Cutrer, broadcasting company owner Jim Dick, former WSIX and WKDF DJ Carl P. Mayfield, 1950’s television star Snooky Lanson, former WSM newsman Buddy Sadler, former Jordanaire/WLAC jock Hugh Jarrett, and radio advertising exec and on-air personality Doris Freeman.
The induction banquet and ceremony for the 2014 Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame will be held May 3, 2014 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, TN. Individual tickets are $65, or tables of 10 can be purchased for $595.00. For more information, go to Tennesseehalloffame.wildapricot.org.

Industry Signings (12/18/13)

/by

Chuck Wicks

Chuck Wicks


Chuck Wicks has signed an artist deal with Blaster Records and has begun work on a new album project and single, according to a video message he posted for fans on his Facebook page. The single is slated for release after the first of the year.

SOLID Announces New Board Members

/by

Pictured (L-R): Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Brian O'Neil, Eric Wright and Kent Wolfenbarger. Photo: Andrea Cothern.

Pictured (L-R): Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Brian O’Neil, Eric Wright and Kent Wolfenbarger. Photo: Andrea Cothern.


Young professional music industry organization SOLID has announced the 2014 board who will lead SOLID’s most elite class. The 2014 class has 85 new members.
President – Brian O’Neil, CAA
Vice President – Michelle Tigard Kammerer, CRB
Treasurer – Kent Wolfenbarger, Law Office of David Wykoff
Secretary – Eric Wright, SESAC
Education Chair – Alex Luebbert, WME
Education Co-Chair – Stefany Reed, Artist Management
Communications Chair – Jaime Marconette, Aristo Media
Communications Co-Chair – Alison Toczylowski, ASCAP
Social Chair – Amber Riley, The Erv Woolsey Company
Social Co-Chair – Jaime Sarrantonio, The Agency Coalition
Community Outreach Chair – Jason Hauser, McGhee Entertainment
Community Outreach Co-Chair – Berkley Myers, APA
University Outreach Chair – Leona Edwards, BMI
University Outreach Co-Chair – Jeff Hoehne, Nashville Symphony
The organization has also donated over $33,000 to various charities this year as well as numerous food items, pairs of shoes, linens and toys. SOLID is an advocate for supporting many nonprofits, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, Soles for Souls, Habitat for Humanity, Safe Haven, Notes for Notes, Second Harvest Food Bank, and St. Jude Research Hospital.
“It has always been one of SOLID’s goals to give back to the community, and 2013 proved to be our most generous year yet,” says President Elect Brian O’Neil. “We’re excited to see what we are able to accomplish in 2014.”

DISClaimer: Music With Heart

/by

blake shelton 2013

Blake Shelton


Even as the days of 2013 draw to an end, the sounds of Music Row keep on coming. Isn’t it lucky that one of our biggest current male stars is also a real Country music artist? In a world of pop-country, hick-hop, imbecile bro country and rock tracks containing banjos, Blake Shelton still stands for music with heart. Give that hero a Disc of the Day award. For some reason, I didn’t expect to find a DisCovery Award winner this late in the year. But I did. His name is Dallas Smith, and he is refreshingly different.
CRAIG CAMPBELL/Keep Then Kisses Comin’
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Ben Hayslip; Producer: Keith Stegall/Matt Rovey; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/WB/TarCam-Knox/Get A Load of This; BMI/ASCAP; Bigger Picture
-Sprightly and loaded with romantic verve. The steady beat is irresistible, and his warm, boyish vocal delivery radiates sincerity. Recommended.
BLAKE SHELTON/Doin’ What She Likes
Writers: Phil O’Donnell/Wade Kirby; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Sixteen Stars/Rooster Pecked; BMI; Warner Bros.
-What she likes turns out to be Mexican food he brings home, speeding in his car, singing silly songs and, most of all, making love all night. The dreamy, rhythmic, midtempo song is expertly written and — it goes without saying — sung by a country-music master.
TOMMY CASH/The Greatest Voice is Gone
Writers: Tommy Cash/Clayton Claxton; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BMI; TC
-This veteran clocks in with a George Jones tribute tune that’s laced with steel and twin fiddles. The simplistic melody isn’t much, but the lyric cleverly incorporates several of the Possum’s hit titles.
DEAN MILLER/’Till You Stop Getting Up
Writers: Dean Miller/Sean Patrick McGraw; Producers: Dean Miller/Brian Eckert; Publisher: none listed; Off The Verge
-Dean is back with a set of 10 new originals. Its title tune is the tale of a boxer who becomes a metaphor for life’s lessons. “You ain’t a loser/Until you stop getting up.” Very cool.
KELLEIGH BANNEN/Famous
Writers: Sara Haze/Troy Verges/Gordie Sampson; Producers: Jason Lehning/Jedd Hughes; Publishers:Songs of Universal/Comp and Circumstance/Songs From the Engine Room/Dash8/Bughouse/Bug/BMG Chrysalis, BMI/ASCAP; EMI (CDX)
-The bubbling, percolating production is quite ear catching. Her vocal performance sounds somewhat processed and compressed. Catchy pop-country.
BERNIE NELSON/Scarecrow
Writers: Bernie Nelson/Rob Beringer; Producer: Bernie Nelson; Publisher: Robert Beringer/Dumpster Diver; ASCAP; Fikvow Blue (CDX)
-Nelson is a successful, durable Music Row songwriter who also has vocal charisma to spare. This moody, bluesy outing is a gripping saga about dreams that die hard. There is a weird electric guitar part in the middle that interrupts the overall tone.
JASON ALDEAN/When She Says Baby
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
-She inspires him to keep going on days when he feels like giving up. There seems to be a lot going on in the rocking instrumental background, but fortunately his vocal is mixed up front.
Dallas Smith
DALLAS SMITH/Tippin’ Point
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Republic Nashville
-Nicely done. I like the highly imaginative, slapping, punching production as well as his personality-packed vocal. Wildly catchy and engaging. Who is this guy?
RESTLESS HEART/Santa’s Prayer
Writers: Steve Tittle/Connie Tittle/Aaron Bosewell; Producers: Paul Gregg/Dave Innis/Harry Smith; Publisher: Cal4; no performance rights listed; Red River (track)
-This reunited group has a new holiday collection titled A Restless Heart Christmas. The band’s performances remain captivating, whether on “The Christmas Song,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Little Drummer Boy” or on Nashville chestnuts such as “Tennessee Christmas” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” The new songs are the stirring toe-tapper “Season of Harmony” and this sweet ballad wherein Mr. Claus aims to remind us about the reason for the season.
SHERRY LYNN/Christmas on my Mind
Writers: Sandy Ramos/Carmen Logan; Producer: Christos Gatzimos; Publisher: none listed; Steal Heart
-She has a pert, bright vocal style on this sprightly, bouncy tune. I love it that the lyric name drops Brenda Lee and Nat King Cole as icons of the holiday season.

CMT To Be Exclusive Cable Partner for 2014 Country Thunder Fests

/by

country thunder black transparent circle logo artwork111CMT has signed on as the exclusive cable partner of the 2014 Country Thunder festivals, two of the genre’s largest festivals with headliners including Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert and The Band Perry slated to perform. Now in its 22nd year, the festivals expect to host sell-out crowds of more than 30,000 country music fans from April 10-13 in Arizona, and July 24-27 in Wisconsin. CMT will offer coverage of the Wisconsin festival, with on and off-stage access across all of the network’s screens including CMT, CMT.com and CMT Radio.
Gary Allan, Sawyer Brown, Craig Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Colt Ford, Charlie Worsham, Will Hoge and Chad Brownlee are also on the bill, with additional artists to be announced on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown, premiering Saturday, Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. ET/PT. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit countrythunder.com.
“Bringing Country music to the masses, it’s important to be everywhere our fans are both on the ground and everywhere they find music. CMT has an unmatched ability to cover country music everywhere our fans are,” said Troy Vollhoffer, executive producer.

No. 1 Celebration: Tyler Farr's "Redneck Crazy"

/by

Pictured (L-R, front row): Songwriter Mark Irwin, Tyler Farr, and songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, (L-R, back row): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, producers Julian King and Sony Music Nashville's Jim Catino, Sony Music Nashville's Gary Overton and Norbert Nix, Big Yellow Dog's Carla Wallace, Big Loud Shirt's Matt Turner and Red Vinyl Music's Eric Gallimore. Photo: Ed Rode.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Songwriter Mark Irwin, Tyler Farr, and songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. (L-R, back row): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, producers Julian King and Sony Music Nashville’s Jim Catino, Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton, Columbia Nashville’s Norbert Nix, Big Yellow Dog’s Carla Wallace, Big Loud Shirt’s Matt Turner and Red Vinyl Music’s Eric Gallimore. Photo: Ed Rode.


ASCAP celebrated the team behind “Redneck Crazy,” the chart-topping single from Columbia Nashville recording artist Tyler Farr, during a party at the ASCAP Nashville offices on Monday, Dec. 16. Co-written by ASCAP members Mark Irwin, Chris Tompkins and ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Josh Kear, the title track from Farr’s debut album marks the singer’s first No. 1 single.
Co-writers Irwin and Tompkins celebrated their 3rd and 10th chart-toppers, respectively, while Kear celebrated his 6th. Publishers Big Loud Shirt’s Matt Turner, Big Yellow Dog’s Carla Wallace and Red Vinyl Music’s Eric Gallimore, as well as label Sony Music Nashville’s Chairman and CEO Gary Overton and Columbia Nashville’s VP of Promotion Norbert Nix, were also on hand to honor the group. Sony Music Nashville’s Jim Catino had an additional reason to celebrate: he earned his first No. 1 song as a producer along with Julian King, who co-produced the recording to collect his second chart-topping song.

Johnny Cash's 'Bitter Tears' To Be Re-created, Released

/by

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash


Another collection of Johnny Cash-inspired music will soon be available for purchase, according to Billboard. Producer Joe Henry (Rodney Crowell, Carolina Chocolate Drops) has signed on to produce a multi-artist project for Sony Masterworks re-creating Cash’s controversial 1964 album Bitter Tears, a conceptual collection that addresses the plight of Native Americans.
“It was much-maligned when it came out,” Henry says. “There was a very public battle with Columbia Records about the release of the record, and subsequently it was not very well promoted or very widely heard.” Henry plans to use a small group of artists on the project, but none have been announced yet. Plans are set for recording to begin on the project in late January/early February in Nashville and California.