Kellie Pickler has hung up her dancing shoes and is back to the business of making music with her upcoming fourth CD, The Woman I Am, due out Nov. 11. The CD will be her first for her new label, Black River Entertainment, and features her current single, “Little Bit Gypsy.” The collection also includes three tracks co-penned by Pickler herself, including the title track which she co-wrote with husband/songwriter Kyle Jacobs.
“I was doing an interview,” explained Pickler about the origin of the song. “And a gentleman said, ‘So, if I were to tell someone who doesn’t listen to country music and is not familiar with you to get one song off iTunes to download that kind of describes you in a nutshell, what would it be?’ I thought and then I said, ‘I don’t think I’ve written it yet, but I’m going to,’ and my husband and I wrote it that night.”
The Luke Wooten and Frank Liddell-produced album is currently available for pre-order in bundles on kelliepickler.com.
The Woman I Am
1. “Little Bit Gypsy” (Kyle Jacobs, Tammi Kidd Hutton and Fred Wilhelm)
2. “Ring For Sale” (Chris Stapleton and Jim Beavers)
3. “Buzzin’” (TJ Osborne, John Osborne and Steve Moakler)
4. “The Woman I Am” (Kellie Pickler and Kyle Jacobs)
5. “Closer To Nowhere” (Carson Chamberlain, Wade Kirby and Phil O’Donnell)
6. “Selma Drye” (Kellie Pickler, Billy Montana and Phillip Lammonds)
7. “I Forgive You” (Busbee, Hillary Lindsey and Aimee Mayo)
8. “Bonnie And Clyde” (Kellie Pickler, Kyle Jacobs and Liz Rose)
9. “Where Did Your Love Go” (Kalisa Ewing and Rivers Rutherford)
10. “No Cure For Crazy” (Kyle Jacobs, Joe Leathers, Billy Montana and John Ozier)
11. “Tough All Over” (Gary Nicholson and Leslie Satcher)
12. “Someone Somewhere Tonight” (Davis Raines and Walt Wilkins)
ASCAP Celebrates GPS Project Class of 2013
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Sea Gayle recording artist Brent Rupard, Jonathan Kingham, UMPG songwriter Ryan Hurd, Jeston Cade, Keith Walker, Sony/ATV songwriter James Ryan, Kris Hitchcock, Sarah Allison Turner, Austin Taylor Smith, Anthony Olympia, Dara Sisterhen, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, Chris Drizen, Brian Burke, Jillian Arciero, Brittany Aultman, Bonner Black and ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel. Photos by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski.
The Bluebird Café set the stage to showcase the talents of the ASCAP Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters (GPS) Project recently for the organization’s class of 2013. The 14 participants performed one song “in the row” to a sold-out crowd and included songwriters Jillian Arciero, Brittany Aultman, Bonner Black, Brian Burke, Jeston Cade, Chris Drizen, Kris Hitchcock, Jonathan Kingham, Anthony Olympia, Sony/ATV songwriter James Ryan, Dara Sisterhen, Austin Taylor Smith, Sarah Allison Turner and Keith Walker.
Sea Gayle recording artist Brent Rupard, a member of the inaugural ASCAP GPS class in 2011, and UMPG songwriter Ryan Hurd, a GPS class of 2012 participant, closed out the round with a few songs to showcase the project’s success. Since its creation in 2011, the ASCAP GPS Project has been fundamental in the signing of over a dozen songwriters to publishing agreements.
ASCAP’s Ralph Murphy took the stage mid-show to announce that GPS member Kris Hitchcock will be presented with The ASCAP Foundation Leon Brettler Award at the Foundation’s annual awards gala in December in New York City. The honor, previously awarded to ASCAP GPS Project graduate Rupard, is presented to an outstanding songwriter-performer participating in an ASCAP Foundation Songwriters Workshop.
The ASCAP GPS Project is an initiative created in 2011 to match up-and-coming songwriters with some of the most talented publishers on Music Row. Created by ASCAP Nashville Membership co-head LeAnn Phelan and Creative Manager Ryan Beuschel, the ASCAP GPS Project, now in its third year, has quickly become one of Nashville’s most valuable songwriter development tools.
LifeNotes: Restless Heart's Dave Innis' Mother Passes
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Eugene Innis, Betty Innis, Dave Innis.
Restless Heart member Dave Innis is mourning the loss of his mother, Betty Innis.
“Always the teacher, Mom taught me to play the piano at age six and instilled in me a deep appreciation for music” says Innis. “She was a faithful supporter of the band and loved to dance with Dad to ‘I’ll Still Be Loving You.’ She was a wonderful mother and a lovely person.”
Betty Eltha Innis died Oct. 9, 2013 at Swedish Medical Center in Denver after suffering a stroke and brief illness. Betty was born on May 10, 1930 in Dodge City, Kan. to Leonard and Eltha Brown of Meade, Kan. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, E. Eugene Innis of Woodland Park, Colo.; two sons, Steve of Dallas, Texas, and David of Franklin, Tenn.; her daughters-in-law, Nancy and Adrienne; two grandchildren, Isom and Isabella, of Los Angeles; brother Philip Brown and sister-in-law, Linda Kaye Brown of Meade; and a sister-in-law, Mary Archer of Houston.
On Oct. 22, Betty will be placed to rest in the Meade, Kan. Graceland Cemetery with a graveside service.
Hayes, Mraz Welcome YouTube Stars For Video Mash-Up
/by Jessica NicholsonHunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes and Jason Mraz invited seven top YouTube artists to share their version of “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me,” as well as participate in an innovative one-take mash-up video that debuts today (Oct. 15) on YouTube.com. The project was produced by Kurt Schneider features Brandyn Burnette, Echosmith, Kina Grannis, Peter Hollens, Brian Landau, TJ Smith, Sam Tsui, Tessa Violet (MeekaKitty) and Tyler Ward.
All participants traveled to Los Angeles over the past two weeks for the one-take video shoot at the YouTube Space LA.
CMT will host the exclusive TV premiere of “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me” as part of its all-access weekend with Hunter on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown, airing Saturday, Oct. 26 at 11:00 a.m. ET. The countdown episode will go behind-the-scenes with Hayes from the CMT On Tour: Hunter Haye’s Let’s Be Crazy Tour.
To watch the mash-up, see below.
Shania Twain Adds Las Vegas Dates For 2014
/by Jessica NicholsonShows have been announced for Jan. 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 31. February will boast shows on Feb. 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15.
Public tickets go onsale Friday (Oct. 18) at 1 p.m. ET. Pre-sale tickets for these shows went onsale today (Oct. 15) at 10 a.m. PST (use the password RADST14 upon checkout for pre-sale opportunities). For more information, visit: facebook.com/caesarscolosseum and facebook.com/shaniatwain.
Walker to Host Fourth Annual Chords of Hope Benefit
/by Jessica NicholsonClay Walker
Clay Walker is set to host the fourth annual Chords of Hope Benefit concert at Nashville’s Wild Horse Saloon on Oct. 30, beginning at 6 p.m. Walker, known for the songs “What’s It To You?” and “This Woman and This Man,” will be joined by fellow performers Greg Bates and Craig Campbell. The concert will be presented by The Big 98 WSIX and Band Against MS (BAMS), to raise money and awareness of multiple sclerosis. Proceeds will benefit the MS Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Band Against MS is a charity established by Walker in February 2003 to help others living with the same disease he battled since 1996.
For ticket information, visit wildhorsesaloon.com.
Kellie Pickler Readies Fourth Album For November Release
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“I was doing an interview,” explained Pickler about the origin of the song. “And a gentleman said, ‘So, if I were to tell someone who doesn’t listen to country music and is not familiar with you to get one song off iTunes to download that kind of describes you in a nutshell, what would it be?’ I thought and then I said, ‘I don’t think I’ve written it yet, but I’m going to,’ and my husband and I wrote it that night.”
The Luke Wooten and Frank Liddell-produced album is currently available for pre-order in bundles on kelliepickler.com.
Colleges Receive 'Luke Bryan Farm Tour' Scholarships
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Bryan performs during his fifth Farm Tour.
2013 CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee Luke Bryan wrapped his fifth Farm Tour over the weekend, performing for 115,000 fans during the course of the eight-city run. Eight local colleges–one in each city that the Farm Tour visited–will receive a Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship, which will be given to a student from a farming family within each community.
Those colleges include:
Statesboro, Ga. – Georgia Southern University
Athens, Ga.- University of Georgia
Columbia, S.C. – University of South Carolina
Macon, Ga.- Mercer University
Villa Rica, Ga.- University of West Georgia
Auburn, Ala.- Auburn University
Tallahassee, Fla.- Florida State University
Valdosta, Ga. – Valdosta State University
The idea for the Farm Tour concerts was conceived as a way to give back to local farming communities, by celebrating American farmers and offering a fun escape with the outdoor shows. Farm Tour 2013 was sponsored by BMI, Cabela’s, Harveys Supermarket, Miller Lite and Texaco.
Atkins, Ballard Bringing 'Most Hits For Your Money' Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonRodney Atkins
Curb recording artist Rodney Atkins and Warner Music Nashville’s Frankie Ballard have teamed up to ensure that fans get plenty of music for their hard-earned cash. The Most Hits For Your Money Tour launched earlier this month, and will includes stops in Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, New York, Ohio and North Carolina. Also slated for the tour is singer-songwriter Rose Falcon (“If Love Had A Heart,” “You Stole My Heart”).
Atkins recently released his current single, “Doin’ It Right,” to radio, and Ballard will undoubtedly be performing his current single, “Helluva Life,” while he’s on the road.
The next concert is slated for Oct. 18 at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater in Syracuse, N.Y. For more information, visit rodneyatkins.com and frankieballard.com.
Publishing Ink (10/15/13)
/by Lorie HollabaughFrom L-R (Back Row): Chuck Fleckenstein (Still Working Music General Manager/COO); Daniel Lee (BMG Chrysalis Senior Creative Director); Alex Orbison (Still Working Music President); Sara Johnson (BMG Chrysalis Senior Creative Director); (Front Row): John Allen (BMG Chrysalis Vice President), McBride, Chelsea Kent (Still Working Music Creative Director), Kos Weaver (BMG Chrysalis Executive Vice President).
• Songwriter Terry McBride has signed a publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis and Still Working Music. Throughout the course of his career thus far, McBride has had five No. 1 singles and earned 12 BMI awards with cuts for artists including George Strait, Easton Corbin, Joe Nichols, Alan Jackson, and others.
Mila Mason
• Mila Mason has joined the roster of Plateau Music. Mason penned the song, “Do You,” the debut single for fellow Plateau artist Christine Padua that is currently rising up both the Billboard Top 40 Hot AC and CHR charts.
Mason will begin work on a new studio project with Plateau owner Tony Mantor in January 2014 as well as several other multi-media projects as well.
MusicRowLife: Wedding Bells Ring For Industry Members
/by Jessica NicholsonRick Kelly, VP, Radio Marketing and Marco Promotions at AristoMedia’s Marco Promotions, wed sweetheart Sibley Edwards on Saturday, Oct. 12. Kelly said on his wedding day, “What a beautiful, memorable day. We both feel so grateful, and so loved.”
Rick Kelly and wife Sibley Edwards.
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Monarch Publicity’s Cindy Heath and SWade Creative’s Wade Hunt married Saturday, Oct. 12 at a family home in the hills of Columbia, Tenn. just outside Nashville.
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NSAI Director of Sponsorships Susan Myers and Gregg Woelkers were wed on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 at SIR.
Gregg Woelkers and Susan Myers