Loretta Lynn Honored With 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom

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Loretta Lynn with President Barack Obama


Loretta Lynn was among those honored with the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom today (Nov. 20) by President Barack Obama. The nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
This is one of my favorite events every year,” said President Obama. “This year it’s just a little more special, because this marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy establishing this award.”
“Loretta Lynn was 19 the first time she won big at the local fair. Her canned vegetables brought home 17 blue ribbons and made her Canner of the Year. Now that’s impressive,” said President Obama. “For a girl from Butcher Holler, Ky., that was fame. Fortunately for all of us, she decided to try her hand at things other than canning. Her first guitar cost $17 and with it, this Coal Miner’s Daughter gave coice to a generation, singing what no one wanted to talk about and saying what no one wanted to think about. Now, over 50 years after she cut her first record and canned her first vegetables, Lorretta Lynn still reigns as the rule-breaking, record-setting Queen of Country Music.”
Members of the Kennedy family were in attendance: Robert Kennedy’s widow, Ethel Kennedy, and JFK grandson and son of U.S. ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg.
More than 500 individuals have been honored with the medal. Additional recipients this year include Oprah Winfrey, Ernie Banks, Ben Bradlee, Bill Clinton, Daniel Inouye (posthumous), Daniel Kahneman, Richard Lugar, Mario Molina, Sally Ride (posthumous), Bayard Rustin (posthumous), Arturo Sandoval, Dean Smith, Gloria Steinem, Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian and Patricia Wald.
The event can be viewed below; Lynn’s portion of the tribute begins at the 6:57 mark and at the 30:08 mark.

YouTube video

HitShop Records Signs Kira Isabella

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Kira Isabella

Kira Isabella. Photo: HitShop Records


HitShop Records President Skip Bishop has signed Kira Isabella for her U.S. music debut.
Isabella, a Canadian native, opened for Carrie Underwood on her Blown Away Tour in the market. Isabella signed with Sony Music Entertainment Canada in 2009. In 2012, she won the “Rising Star” award at the Canadian Country Music Awards, and went on to earn the coveted “Female Artist of The Year” award this year. Isabella is now poised to embark on her U.S. music debut.
“We have watched Kira’s meteoric rise to Canadian superstardom! Her numerous top-ranked awards and consistent radio smashes speak for her tremendous talent,” exclaims Bishop. “She is a lovely and a remarkably gifted young vocalist and performer. The stage is set for Kira to begin her U.S. Country radio journey and we are so honored that she chose HitShop as her Nashville home!”
HitShop Records is distributed by Warner Music Nashville and is part of the Ramblin Music Group, whose holdings also include Young Guns Publishing.

CAA Moves Football Division To Nashville

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caa artist agency11111Creative Artists Agency has moved its NFL sports division to Nashville, MusicRow has confirmed. Among the team members are CAA football agent R.J. Gonser, Trace Armstrong and lawyer/sports agent Tom Condon, a former 12-year NFL player who has relocated to Nashville.
Condon works with CAA Football co-head Ben Dogra and represents 14 of the NFL’s 32 starting quarterbacks including Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Condon won the sports honor recently at the NATD Gala on Nov. 12.
CAA’s Nashville office is located at 401 Commerce Street.

Chris Young To Play C2C Festival Overseas in 2014

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Chris Young


Chris Young will make another trek overseas in 2014 to perform at the C2C Festival where he’ll perform in Dublin March 15 and London March 16. Young made his first trip to the UK and Ireland earlier this year when he performed at the CMA’s Songwriter’s Series with Kristian Bush and Brett James.
He’ll reunite with Bush and James for two intimate shows next month in Decatur, Ga. at Eddie’s Attic on Dec. 1 and 2. Tickets for the special shows can be purchased at eddiesattic.com. Young recently rejoined Brad Paisley for the fall leg of his Beat The Summer Tour, and will appear on the upcoming American Country Awards as a presenter on Dec. 10.

Kay Clary To Be Honored At Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum

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KayClary

Kay Clary


Kay Clary will be honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Seventh Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum Dec. 4 at the Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater.

The forum was established in 2007 to explore issues related to the business side of the music industry and to recognize an individual each year who represents the legacy of pioneering agent-manager Louise Scruggs, the wife and business partner of Hall of Famer Earl Scruggs. Previous recipients of the honor include Denise Stiff, Liz Thiels, Mary Martin, Bonnie Garner, Sarah Trahern and Nancy Shapiro.

Museum Editor Michael Gray will host the interview with Clary and track the history of her career working for a fledgling record label and helping establish Nashville’s Americana and alternative-rock music scenes. Clary also served as part of BMI Nashville’s communications team from 2005 through 2012, rising to the rank of Executive Director of Media Relations.
The interview will be enhanced by video clips and vintage photos from the museum’s archives, Clary’s personal collection, and other sources. The program is free and open to the public but reservations are requested.

Artist Updates (11/20/13)

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Kelly Clarkson and manager fiance Brandon Blackstock.

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock.


• Newlywed Kelly Clarkson announced yesterday via Twitter that she and new husband Brandon Blackstock are already expecting their first little bundle of joy. The happy couple married a month ago in Tennessee, and Clarkson is already a stepmom to Blackstock’s two children from a previous marriage.
a802d25636fb0539ee95b539_280x280• Lucinda Williams will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her self-titled 1988 album with a special reissue with bonus features Jan. 14. The album, released in conjunction with her new indie label and Thirty Tigers, has been out of print for a decade. The new package will include a remastered version from the original recordings, which had been missing for over 20 years.
It also includes a bonus disc with an unreleased 1989 live concert recorded in Eindhoven, Netherlands and six previously-released live bonus tracks. The expanded booklet will include never-before-seen photos and two new sets of liner notes.
51bb01a0c1f4f27583209d3a_480x267• MercyMe debuted a brand new single and music video, “Shake,” that premiered on K-LOVE’s website last week and immediately racked up over 200,000 views in less than a week. The new clip was filmed in downtown Huntsville, Ala. with dancers from the North Alabama Dance Center and over 100 local extras.
“The song is about enjoying the fact that we’re changed, having joy and living life that way,” says lead singer Bart Millard. “Shake” was serviced to Christian radio last week and is available on iTunes and all other digital retailers now.

Gladstone Joins Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

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Steven G. Gladstone

Steven G. Gladstone


Steven G. Gladstone, attorney at law, has joined the Nashville office of Hall Booth Smith, P.C., adding to the firm’s capabilities in entertainment and business law, especially in the formation of Series Limited Liability Companies.
Throughout his career, Gladstone has worked with celebrities such as Trace Adkins, Larry Gatlin, the Dixie Chicks and composer Paul Williams, among others.
“I am passionate about creative people, the content they create and the businesses they develop,” said Gladstone. “That’s what my entertainment practice was focused on and that’s what my corporate business practice is about– helping them put structures in place to succeed.”
At Hall Booth Smith, Gladstone focuses on company formation (especially Series Limited Liability Companies), intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, transactions/contracts, employment agreements, and general business legal matters.
“The Series LLC option is less expensive and very effective for certain companies,” said Gladstone. “Since Tennessee is one of only nine states that allow it, it’s a good option that is not well known, but is a great business tool.”

Weekly Register: Kellie Pickler's 'The Woman I Am'

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rs_600x600-131111113012-600.kellie-pickler.cm.111113Without the boost from the CMA Awards, sales have slumped this week with overall album sales down 5 percent from last week and Country album sales down 8 percent this week.
Kellie Pickler’s The Woman I Am (Black River Entertainment) is the top Country debut this week, coming in at No. 4 (No. 19 overall) with 16k units sold. The American Idol album co-wrote the album’s title track with husband Kyle Jacobs. Click here to check out the album’s track listing.
With the holiday season upon us, several Christmas albums appear on this week’s chart, including Alabama’s Classic Christmas Album (Sony Legacy) at No. 59, selling 1.7k units RTD. Noteworthy catalog Country Christmas albums include Blake Shelton’s Cheers, It’s Christmas (Warner Bros.), selling 445k units RTD and Lady Antebellum’s On This Winter’s Night (Capitol), selling 457k units RTD.
For the third consecutive week, The Robertsons’ Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas (Universal Music Group Nashville) is the top Country album (No. 4 overall), selling another 66k units (200k RTD). Lady Antebellum’s Golden earns a special mention this week, jumping from No. 26 to No. 6 with the Deluxe Edition release of their album (458k RTD).
Lady Gaga’s Artpop is the top overall album, with the singer’s little monsters buying 258k units in its debut week. The pop star’s album sales are a far cry from the 1.1 million units her last album, Born This Way, sold in its debut week. YTD, album sales are down 7.1 percent while Country album sales are down 8.7 percent.
albums (1)tracksFlorida Georgia Line’s “Stay” is the top Country track this week (No. 20 overall), selling 51k units (371k RTD). Meanwhile, the top Country debut is Jake Owen’s “Beachin,’” coming in at No. 37 with 9.7k units sold.
Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster” retakes the No. 1 spot as the overall track this week, selling another 211k units (687k RTD). YTD, overall track sales are down 4.1 percent, while Country track sales are up 1.2 percent. 
Next week’s Country debuts include Chris Weaver Band’s American Dreamer, Sarah Darling’s Have A Merry Little Christmas Darling and Danielle Bradbery’s self titled album.

DISClaimer: Unchaperoned Women Need Not Apply

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Charlie Worsham

Charlie Worsham


Unchaperoned women need not apply. That’s evidently the message in today’s column and, indeed, in all of contemporary country music. The state of solo female artists is a sorry one. If you’re not blonde, pretty and named Carrie, Miranda or Taylor, you can pretty much forget it.
The CMA and the ACM are hard-pressed to even field five female-vocalist nominees these days. The voices of Kimberly Perry, Hillary Scott, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Shawna Thompson and Jennifer Nettles have been allowed airtime on country radio, but evidently only because they’ve been accompanied by male escorts.
And so we find ourselves today with an all-male column. It was bound to happen. Charlie Worsham easily wins Disc of the Day. Indie artist Robby Johnson has the DisCovery Award.
LUKE BRYAN/Drink A Beer
Writers: Jim Beavers/Chris Stapleton; Producer: Jeff Stevens; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/House of Sea Gayle/Small Fish, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (CDX)
-Fortunately for Bryan, most listeners won’t have heard songwriter Stapleton sing this with far more soul. Also fortunately for him, the song is a tender gem that has “hit” written all over it.
KENT BLAZY/My Best Days
Writers: Marv Green/Kent Blazy; Producer: Kent Blazy; Publisher: Warner Bros./Marv Green/I Want to Hold Your Songs, BMI; KB (track)
-Songwriter Blazy includes his own versions of some hits he’s written for others on his new CD, as well as a clutch of fine first-time songs. As he has demonstrated before, he is just about the stars’ equal as a vocal performer. The collection kicks off in splendid style with his urgent, passionate delivery of this pulse-quickening rocker. It was previously a single for Danny Gokey, and is now the Blazy album’s title track. Buy this record.
BILLY CURRINGTON/We Are Tonight
Writers: Marc Beeson/Josh Osborne/Sam Hunt; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: WB/Erin’s Dream/Crazy Blue Egg/Smack Blue/Want a Fresh One/Twang Tractor/Wrensong, ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
-Anthemic party music. Uptempo and celebratory.
ERIC CHURCH/The Outsiders
Writers: Eric Church/Casey Beathard; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Sony ATV Tree/Longer and Louder/Sony ATV Acuff Rose/Six Ring Circus, BMI; EMI (CDX)
-It starts with recitation, shifts gears into arena rock, includes a shouted chorus and cranks it up and down with a stuttering, double-time instrumental passage. Not exactly my cup of tea.
TOBY KEITH/Shut Up And Hold On
Writers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Toby Keith; Publishers: Tokeco Tunes/Bobby’s Lyrics Land & Livestock/Do Write, BMI; Show Dog
-It has both rock stomp and hillbilly banjo. Cool vocal effects and relentless rhythm carry the day. Melodically reminiscent of 2011’s “Made in America.”
HANK WILLIAMS, JR./Angels Are Hard To Find
Writers: Hank Williams, Jr.; Producer: Barry Beckett; Publisher: Bocephus, BMI; Curb (CDX)
-This steel-drenched honky tonker previously charted for Bocephus in 1974 (#19) and 1991. It remains a country masterpiece. And I do mean Country.
robby johnson south of me111SETH HOPKINS/Till The Town Burns Down
Writers: Ronnie Rogers/Seth Hopkins; Producer: Ronnie Rogers; Publisher: none listed; Harvest
-He has a burly delivery that perfectly suits the lyric about struggling to make it. Simply put, he’s not giving up in Guitar Town until he gets a break.
THE GRASCALS & DIERKS BENTLEY/American Pickers
Writers: Jamie Johnson/Susanne M. Johnson/Jeffrey East; Producer: The Grascals; Publishers: Asheville Forest/Zaviston, SESAC/BMI; Mountain Home
-This scampering ditty is the new theme song of the hit History Channel TV show. Bentley’s voice fits in surprisingly well with the bluegrass picking. Highly listenable. Drawn from the group’s album When I Get My Pay.
ROBBY JOHNSON/South of Me
Writers: Robby Johnson/Frank Myers/Anthony Smith; Producer: Frank Myers & Jimmy Nichols; Publisher: none listed; SMG
-Sultry and simmering. It conjures memories of a feverish summer romance with a simply dreamy production.
CHARLIE WORSHAM/Want Me Too
Writers: Charlie Worsham/Ryan Tyndell/Quinn Loggins; Producers: Charlie Worsham & Ryan Tyndell; Publishers: ole Purple Cape/Dad’s Retirement/Wanted Woman, BMI; Warner Bros.
-As addictive as a homemade chocolate-chip cookie. This sprightly bopper just might be the most delicious country single of 2013.

Nashville Artists Make 'Forbes' Highest-Paid Musicians List

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Toby Keith


Toby Keith lands at No. 4 on Forbes‘ list of the world’s highest-paid musicians, making him the top income-producing Country artist for 2013. According to Forbes, Keith pulled in $65 million.
Taylor Swift lands at No. 7 on the list ($55 million), followed by Kenny Chesney at No. 9 ($53 million), and Tim McGraw at No. 24 ($33 million).
The highest-paid musician, according to Forbes? Madonna, who brought in $125 million. She is followed by Lady Gaga ($80 million) in second place, and Bon Jovi at No. 3 ($79 million).
Forbes looked at income ranging from June 1, 2012 through June 1, 2013, using sources including Pollstar, RIAA, Nielsen SoundScan, along with managers, lawyers and at times artists themselves. Concert ticket sales, royalties for recorded music and publishing, merchandise sales, endorsement deals and other business entities were all considered in evaluating the list. Estimates reflect pretax income before deducting fees for agents, managers and lawyers; only living artists are eligible.
If deceased artists were eligible for inclusion, the list would have a new top earner: Michael Jackson, who pulled in $160 million.