• Broadcast Music, Inc. recently toasted Tim McGraw’s No. 1 hit “One of Those Nights” at his label home of Big Machine Records on Music Row. Co-written by Luke Laird, Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins, the song marks McGraw’s return to the top of the charts since 2011’s “Felt Good on My Lips.”
Pictured (Back row, L-R): co-writers Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson and Luke Laird; Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and Freeman Wizer; (Front row, L-R): Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Tim McGraw, BMI’s Jody Williams and producer Byron Gallimore.
• • •
Darius Rucker and the WEZL Morning Crew. Photo: Travis Dew Photography
had a portion of Coliseum Drive in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. renamed
Darius Rucker Boulevard Monday morning (Aug. 12) during a ceremony at the North Charleston Coliseum. With Rucker’s wife Beth looking on, City of North Charleston Mayor
Keith Summey officially renamed the street in honor of Rucker, a proud Lowcountry native and resident.
“It’s crazy,” Rucker said. “You never do anything with the intention of getting something in return, so I never expect anything, but when I heard they wanted to name a street after me, I have to admit I was flattered. I’m truly honored that they’re doing that. It’s massive…just incredible. I’m totally over the moon about the whole thing. It’s just amazing to be recognized like that.”
The renaming of the street was initiated by country radio station
WEZL 103.5 FM. Morning show co-hosts
TJ Phillips and
Ric Rush floated the idea on-air of naming a street after Darius back in the spring, and Mayor Summey was listening and loved the idea. The Mayor also presented Darius with a proclamation declaring Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 as “Darius Rucker Day” in the city of North Charleston.
Carrie Underwood
•
Carrie Underwood is getting her own line of nail polishes in the
Nicole by OPI collection. Fourteen new nail lacquers inspired by Underwood will be available in January, in a collection ranging from soft pastels and dark sultry shades to playful glitters. The line will also include a signature gold textured shade called Carrie’d Away, created exclusively for Carrie.
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Darling and Alan Jackson
served Country superstar
Alan Jackson as a waitress at Nashville’s Stoney River Steakhouse prior to landing her first record deal and dreamed what it might be like to one day share a stage with him. And this past weekend, she celebrated that milestone, opening back-to-back shows for Jackson in Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Arlington, Wash.
Darling called the experience “beyond amazing” on Twitter, saying, “I was blessed to have been on tour with one of the most humble and gracious men in the music business this weekend. What an unforgettable experience. Thank you Alan!”
•
CMT will showcase a couple of unsigned artists through its
Listen Up Program on CMT.com. Unsigned Birmingham, Ala. act
John and Jacob will take part in a series of exclusive performances premiering on CMT.com throughout the month.
Striking Matches, an unsigned country act, will be showcased as CMT’s Listen Up Artist for the month of September. Both John and Jacob, and Striking Matches, will have videos played on CMT. This marks the first time CMT has exposed unsigned artists through the Listen Up program. For more information on these acts, visit
strikingmatches.com and
johnandjacob.com.
Harlow Promoted To Director, West Coast Promotion For Mercury Records Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonSummer Harlow
Summer Harlow has been named Director, West Coast Promotion for Mercury Records Nashville. Harlow will report to Damon Moberly, VP Promotion of Mercury Records and will oversee all West Coast radio promotion efforts for the label group which represents artists including Billy Currington, Easton Corbin, Jennifer Nettles, Kacey Musgraves and Chris Stapleton.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone more passionate about the country format,” says Moberly. “We can’t wait to turn her loose in the West to begin working on behalf of our talented artists and their music.”
Harlow, a MTSU graduate, began her career at UMG Nashville in 2009 as an assistant and was then promoted to the position of Promotion Coordinator, first for MCA Nashville and most recently for all of UMG Nashville reporting directly to Royce Risser, SVP of Promotion.
Harlow is currently based in the Nashville office and will relocate to Denver, Colo., in the coming months. She can be reached at summer.harlow@umusic.com or (615) 524-7566.
Additionally, Ashley Laws will be joining UMG Nashville as Promotion Assistant to Risser. Starting Aug. 19, Laws may be reached at ashley.laws@umusic.com.
Musicians Corner To Kick Off Fall Season In September
/by Lorie HollabaughTo celebrate the start of Musician’s Corner’s Fall 2013 Season, Southwest Airlines will provide audience members with the chance to win a pair of round-trip airline tickets at the Sept. 7 event. Southwest is also hosting a national “Take The Stage” in Nashville artist promotion, where one artist will be selected to win a trip to Nashville and perform on their Southwest flight and at the Musicians Corner Fall Kick Off Celebration. Details are available at blogsouthwest.com.
Continuing every Saturday through Oct. 26, the Musicians Corner main stage shows will feature performances by artists like Shelby Lynne, Caitlin Rose, Mountain Heart, Sugar and the Hi Lows, The Vespers, The Fairfield Four, The Black Cadillacs, Donna the Buffalo, and many more.
The parties take place on the front lawn of Centennial Park from 12 to 5 p.m. Events feature a diverse lineup of performers, a sampling of Nashville food trucks, Kidsville activities, the Dog of the Day showcase, a local Beer Garden, and charity partner World Vision. Live music runs from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Track Listing Released For Cassadee Pope's Country Project
/by Jessica Nicholson“I’m so grateful to the fans and Country radio for the amazing reaction to ‘Wasting All These Tears,’” said Pope, who previewed the track “You Hear A Song” for fans.
FRAME BY FRAME TRACKLIST:
“Good Times” (Nathan Chapman, Sarah Buxton, Blair Daly)*
“Champagne” (Hilary Lindsey, James Slater, Ben West)
“Wasting All These Tears” (Caitlyn Smith, Rollie Gaalswyk)*
“I Wish I Could Break Your Heart” (Gordie Sampson, Ashley Monroe, Jon Green)
“Everybody Sings” (Blair Daly, Troy Verges, Cassadee Pope)
“You Hear A Song” (Cassadee Pope, Nathan Chapman)*
“This Car” (Cassadee Pope, David Hodges, Gordie Sampson)
“One Song Away” (Hilary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Aaron Pearce, Mike Green)
“Easier To Lie” (Max Martin, Shellback, Savan Kotecha)**
“11” (Cassadee Pope, Nathan Chapman)
“Proved You Wrong” (Cassadee Pope, Emily Shackelton, Phil Barton)
*Produced by Dann Huff & Nathan Chapman
**Produced by Dann Huff, Max Martin & Shellback
[Updated] Artist Updates (8-14-13)
/by Lorie Hollabaugh• Broadcast Music, Inc. recently toasted Tim McGraw’s No. 1 hit “One of Those Nights” at his label home of Big Machine Records on Music Row. Co-written by Luke Laird, Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins, the song marks McGraw’s return to the top of the charts since 2011’s “Felt Good on My Lips.”
Pictured (Back row, L-R): co-writers Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson and Luke Laird; Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and Freeman Wizer; (Front row, L-R): Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Tim McGraw, BMI’s Jody Williams and producer Byron Gallimore.
• • •
Darius Rucker and the WEZL Morning Crew. Photo: Travis Dew Photography
• Darius Rucker had a portion of Coliseum Drive in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. renamed Darius Rucker Boulevard Monday morning (Aug. 12) during a ceremony at the North Charleston Coliseum. With Rucker’s wife Beth looking on, City of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey officially renamed the street in honor of Rucker, a proud Lowcountry native and resident.
“It’s crazy,” Rucker said. “You never do anything with the intention of getting something in return, so I never expect anything, but when I heard they wanted to name a street after me, I have to admit I was flattered. I’m truly honored that they’re doing that. It’s massive…just incredible. I’m totally over the moon about the whole thing. It’s just amazing to be recognized like that.”
The renaming of the street was initiated by country radio station WEZL 103.5 FM. Morning show co-hosts TJ Phillips and Ric Rush floated the idea on-air of naming a street after Darius back in the spring, and Mayor Summey was listening and loved the idea. The Mayor also presented Darius with a proclamation declaring Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 as “Darius Rucker Day” in the city of North Charleston.
Carrie Underwood
• Carrie Underwood is getting her own line of nail polishes in the Nicole by OPI collection. Fourteen new nail lacquers inspired by Underwood will be available in January, in a collection ranging from soft pastels and dark sultry shades to playful glitters. The line will also include a signature gold textured shade called Carrie’d Away, created exclusively for Carrie.
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Darling and Alan Jackson
• Sarah Darling served Country superstar Alan Jackson as a waitress at Nashville’s Stoney River Steakhouse prior to landing her first record deal and dreamed what it might be like to one day share a stage with him. And this past weekend, she celebrated that milestone, opening back-to-back shows for Jackson in Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Arlington, Wash.
Darling called the experience “beyond amazing” on Twitter, saying, “I was blessed to have been on tour with one of the most humble and gracious men in the music business this weekend. What an unforgettable experience. Thank you Alan!”
Aussies Go Americana This September
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 2013 Americana Music Festival marks the fourth consecutive trip to Nashville by Sounds Australia, a government-supported music organization dedicated to spreading the music of Australia abroad. Since 2010, Sounds Australia has maintained a strategic partnership with the Americana Music Association that promotes the exchange of American and Australian music between the two countries. Sounds Australia produces an additional suite of networking and showcasing events for Australian artists attending, including The Aussie BBQ.
Other Aussie artists set to attend this year’s festival include Bill Chambers, The Borderers, Breaking Hart Benton, Katie Brianna, Gena Rose Bruce, Tracey Bunn, Donna Dean, Melody Feder & Michael Muchow, Sam Hawksley, Damian Howard, Anne McCue, Kelly Menhennett, Cameron Milford, Jen Mize, Tamara Stewart, Emma Swift and The Weeping Willows.
Registration for the Americana Music Festival and Conference is $350 for AMA members and $450 for non-members and includes one ticket to the Americana Honors and Awards Show. For more information visit Americanamusic.org.
The Civil Wars' Sophomore Project a Sales Success
/by Jessica NicholsonThe duo was nominated for two Country Music Association Awards in 2012, including Vocal Duo of the Year and Musical Event of the Year (“Safe and Sound,” Taylor Swift Feat. The Civil Wars). The same song netted White, Williams and Swift a Grammy award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. That same year, they won Duo/Group of the Year from the Americana Music Association.
Their debut project, Barton Hollow, was released in 2011.
Outlaw Movement's Tompall Glaser Dies at 79
/by Lorie HollabaughTompall Glaser
Thomas Paul “Tompall” Glaser, a central figure in the Outlaw Movement of the ‘70’s, died yesterday (Aug. 13) at his Nashville home following a lengthy illness. He was 79. Glaser was featured on Wanted! The Outlaws, country’s first million-selling album, along with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
Born in Nebraska, Glaser and his brothers sang on local radio and appeared in 1957 on Arthur Godfrey’s network TV show. Two years later Marty Robbins brought them to Nashville to sing harmony for him and signed them to his Robbins Records label. They also toured with Johnny Cash and lent harmonies to legendary recordings like “Ring Of Fire” and Robbins’ “El Paso.” As Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, they recorded several singles produced by Cowboy Jack Clement and penned a major hit for Bobby Bare with the 1966 song “Streets Of Baltimore,” (which would later be covered by Charley Pride, the Statler Brothers, and many more.)
In 1970 the Glasers would be named the CMA’s Top Vocal Group and with monies earned from their publishing company opened their own studio on 19th Avenue where works like Waylon Jennings’ Dreaming My Dreams were recorded. After they disbanded in 1973, Glaser embarked on a solo career. That same year he and Jennings co-produced Jennings’ landmark Honky Tonk Heroes album. The two became compadres who shared a disdain of the establishment and a vision of musicians operating independently outside of the traditional Music Row system.
They later had a falling out over a publishing dispute, and Glaser went back to his brothers and began performing as a group again in 1980 for a brief period. Signing to Elektra Records, they recorded a cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” which landed at No. 2 on the charts. By 1982 they dissolved the group once again, and Glaser recorded one final solo project in 1986 before selling the studio and disappearing from the public eye.
A private memorial is being planned.
All photos by Alan Mayor.
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ASCAP Holds Superstar Writer's Night at Bluebird Cafe
/by Jessica NicholsonASCAP recently welcomed songwriters and artists Clare Dunn, Steven Clawson, JT Harding, Trevor Rosen, Ashley Gorley, Jessi Alexander, Brandy Clark and Chris DeStefano to two writer’s rounds at the Bluebird Cafe on Thursday (Aug. 8). The 6 p.m. writer’s round featuring Dunn, Clawson, Rosen and Harding was hosted by ASCAP Sr. Creative Director Mike Sistad.
The 9 p.m. writer’s round featuring Alexander, Clark and DeStefano was hosted and coordinated by Gorley, and held as a benefit for cancer survivor and family friend Tammy Akers.
Songs written by these writers include “Somewhere with You” – Kenny Chesney (JT Harding), “Better Dig Two” – The Band Perry (Trevor Rosen), “Crash My Party” – Luke Bryan (Ashley Gorley), “I Drive Your Truck” – Lee Brice (Jessi Alexander), “Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert (Brandy Clark) and “Don’t Ya” – Brett Eldredge (Chris DeStefano).
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Steven Clawson, ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski, JT Harding, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, Trevor Rosen and Clare Dunn.
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Brandy Clark, Ashley Gorley, Jessi Alexander and Chris DeStefano.
Underwood Becomes Voice of Opry Radio Campaign
/by Caitlin RantalaCarrie Underwood performs on the Grand Ole Opry.
Carrie Underwood is the voice of a new Grand Ole Opry radio campaign that is set to begin airing next week in regional drive markets, as well as on the Opry’s nationally syndicated radio program America’s Opry Weekend.
In the campaign, Underwood reflects on her recent 5th anniversary celebration as an Opry member and also invites radio audiences to visit Nashville and to stay connected to the Opry via its mobile app.
During an Opry performance earlier this summer, Underwood viewed an on-stage video reel of the past five years of Opry appearances. “It’s so hard to believe it’s been five years, but what an amazing five years it has been. Just watching that video, I was getting a little teary-eyed, thinking about how I felt when all of that was happening. And I still feel that blessed and that honored to be on this stage,” said Underwood.
Underwood performed her seventh Opry sold-out show of the summer this past Saturday, Aug. 10.
It was also recently announced that Underwood will reunite with Brad Paisley as co-hosts of the 47th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The singer-songwriter also revealed that she is teaming with Nicole by OPI for an Underwood-inspired line of nail polish.
Industry Ink (8-14-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonHannah Post
Sony/ATV Nashville’s Hannah Post has been promoted to the position of Creative Manager. She joined the creative staff at EMI Music Publishing in August 2005; Post later joined Sony/ATV in July 2012 after EMI integrated with Sony/ATV.
“Hannah has excelled in her duties, and her experience working with writers has prepared her well for this new role,” says Sony/ATV Nashville President and CEO Troy Tomlinson. Post can be reached at 615-726-8300 or at hannah.post@sonyatv.com.
• • •
Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley‘s hometown of Westmoreland, Tenn., will be honored with the unveiling of a historical marker designating the town as the birthplace of “The King of Music Row” and “The Architect of the Nashville Sound.” The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 7, beginning with the Owen Bradley Music Festival, which commences at 8 a.m. A memorial brick will be placed at the Veterans Park in Westmoreland, honoring Bradley for his military service during World War II; this ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Bradley family members, along with some country entertainers, will be in attendance.
The Owen Bradley Music Festival will consist of free concerts in the park. An Owen Bradley Talent Search will be held at 4 p.m. at the Westmoreland Expo Center. The finalist will receive a free recording session at Beaird Music Group (produced by Larry Beaird); the resulting song will be placed on CDX and mailed to 2300 country radio stations.
• • •
Additionally, a Sunday Writer’s Night audition has been scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 22. Sign-ups will take place online at bluebirdcafe.com on Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. CT. Audition slots are limited.