Patty Loveless and Vince Gill perform on the Grand Ole Opry.
The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® honored Patty Loveless on her 25th anniversary as an Opry member this past weekend with performances by Loveless, fellow Opry members Vince Gill and Loretta Lynn, and more. Loveless was inducted as an Opry member on June 11, 1988.
Pictured (L-R): Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless and Connie Smith.
Following an hour of performances, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager
Pete Fisher saluted Loveless with a commemorative print and words about her career.
“This has been an absolutely magical night at the Grand Ole Opry. I think we have heard everything that makes country music great,” Fisher said. “If I was to describe what makes country music great, I would use the name Patty Loveless,” he continued, describing Loveless as doing everything with “grace, humility, and excellence.”
Loveless said, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years. I know my family is listening in tonight, and I’m sure they are very, very proud of this moment for me. My dreams were their dreams as well.”
Patty Loveless celebrates her 25th year as an Opry member.
The night concluded with Loveless and Gill collaborating on their beloved 1995 release “Go Rest High On That Mountain.” The two were joined by a number of other artists who had appeared on stage earlier in the evening.
Snapshots: BMI's Road To Bonnaroo, Bergen White, Brad Paisley
/by Sarah SkatesFor the fourth year in a row, BMI presented three of Nashville’s best indie bands at Bonnaroo as part of the organization’s Road to Bonnaroo contest, co-sponsored by Nashville’s Mercy Lounge, the Nashville Scene, and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Alanna Royale, Ranch Ghost, and Ri¢hie performed energetic sets at the New Music on Tap Lounge brewed by Miller Lite on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the four-day music festival.
BMI’s Mark Mason (back row, far right) with Road to Bonnaroo winner Ri¢hie at the 2013 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.
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On Saturday (6/15), the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored Bergen White in its quarterly series Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians. White provided horn and string arrangements featured on country, pop and R&B hits such as “Welcome to My World” (Eddy Arnold), “God Bless the USA” (Lee Greenwood), “The Chokin’ Kind” (Joe Simon), “Holes in the Floor of Heaven” (Steve Wariner) and “Polk Salad Annie” (Tony Joe White).
Pictured (L-R): Chip Young, Wayne Moss, Weldon Myrick, Pig Robbins, Jerry Kennedy, Bergen White, Fred Foster, Millie Kirkham, Reggie Young, David Briggs, Ray Stevens and program host Bill Lloyd (front). Photo: Donn Jones
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Brad Paisley visited with University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban at his concert last Friday, June 14, in Tuscaloosa.
Photo by Ben Enos.
Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher List $2.2 Million Estate
/by Eric T. ParkerWith a gated entry, 1135 Spruce Ridge comes with a price tag of $2.2 million from Ottawa Real Estate Agent Paul Rushforth. The custom-built home is nestled among the forests of eastern Ontario and features a two-sided stone fireplace, home theater, gym, wine cellar, hot tub, triple car garage and four-season enclosed porch with its own fireplace.
Fisher was traded to the Nashville Predators hockey team in February 2011.
Earlier this year, Underwood sold her first home, located in Franklin, Tenn. for $372,500.
Boots and Hearts Music Festival Launches Emerging Artist Showcase
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Emerging Artist Showcase will be taking place at Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Aug. 1 – 4, 2013, which takes place at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.
The competition is now open and will run until June 27, 2013 at 8 a.m. EST, at which time the submissions will be narrowed down to select eight contestants. These eight finalists will perform for a panel of judges and fans at the side stage of the festival Saturday, August 3, and two finalists will be chosen to perform on the Main Stage to decide the final winner of the competition. The two finalists will open for Dierks Bentley on the Main Stage during the Boots and Hearts Music Festival. The winner will earn a single release with Big Machine Label Group Canada.
“We are so grateful to SiriusXM Canada for partnering with us on the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase this year,” said Shannon McNevan, Executive Director and Founder Republic Live. “It’s so important for us to not only support our local artists, but to actually find that next big country music star from Canada. Last year we had Tebey win the Emerging Artist Showcase and Tim Hicks came in second, we can see where their careers are going. To have a partner like Big Machine Label Group Canada, whose artists include Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, The Band Perry and so many more, a single release with them is huge for any artist.”
Full contest details are available at bootsandhearts.com/showcase.
Facebook To Unveil Video App for Instagram?
/by Jessica NicholsonIf true, it seems that the launch would be a response to video apps, including Twitter’s Vine app, Viddy, Socialcam and others. Twitter’s Vine app allows users to take six-second video footage on iOS or Android handsets and share the clips on Vine’s network.
There is at least some evidence that the video app is indeed what Facebook is planning to unveil. In May, former Reuters social media editor Matthew Keys blogged that Facebook was internally testing a Vine-like video for Instagram. He reported that a user could upload between five and 10 seconds of video using the new app.
28 Entertainment Working on George Jones Biopic
/by Jessica NicholsonNancy Jones will Executive Produce and consult on the project. Baxter worked closely with Nancy and George on the story before George passed away on April 26th in Nashville at the age of 81.
“Over the years we have been approached to make George’s life into a feature film, but it was not until Dennis Baxter became involved that we were confident the story could be told accurately. George and I started working with Dennis six years ago in crafting the life-long story. Knowing George had input in this film and that it will be told the way he wanted it told, I feel we are in good hands to collaborate with 28 Entertainment as we move forward with production,” said Nancy Jones.
“George had hoped to see the movie before he passed and worked with me to make sure the story was complete,” said Baxter.
“George’s career is one of the most celebrated of country music legends, and we feel it is important to tell his story for fans and music lovers around the world. We are huge fans of George and his music and look forward to working closely with Nancy as we bring his life to the big screen,” said Hoffman.
Stars For Second Harvest Raises $100,000
/by Jessica NicholsonFounder Craig Wiseman says, “When I got the numbers I couldn’t believe we finally did it! Since we started this show in 2005, it has been a goal of mine to get to $100,000 for Second Harvest. With help from all of the artists, and the continued help of O’Charleys, we finally reached that goal this year. Now I am raising that goal to $250,000!!”
In the last nine years, this event has raised $611,032 to feed hungry children, seniors, and families in Tennessee. Because each dollar provides four meals, the funds raised from the nine years of this benefit concert have provided Second Harvest with means to supply 2,444,128 meals.
This year’s benefit concert line-up included a songwriters round with Wiseman, Rhett Akins, Chris Tompkins, Sarah Buxton and a special performance from Dunn, who sang his iconic song “Believe.” Comedian May got the audience laughing before country duo Florida Georgia Line closed out the show, including an appearance from rapper Nelly.
Global Music Industry Shows Slight Growth
/by Sarah SkatesDuring 2012:
• The US remained the world’s largest music market, though sales declined .5 percent. Japan was a close second and experienced 4 percent growth in 2012.
• Digital channels accounted for 35 percent of overall industry trade revenues. Downloads remained the biggest source of digital revenues, with combined unit sales of track and album downloads up by 11 percent in 2012.
• Music subscription and ad-supported streaming services accounted for 20 percent of digital revenues globally, up from 14 percent in 2011.
• Albums accounted for 56 percent of recorded music sales value, with album downloads growing faster than single sales.
• Physical sales represented 57 percent of record companies’ income.
• Performance revenues were the fastest growing sector in the recording industry at 9.4 percent, accounting for 6 percent of recorded music revenues.
• Income from synch deals grew by 2.1 percent to US $337 million in 2012.
• Unlike the rest of the world, CD sales are on the rise in Japan, with an 11 percent growth in physical sales. According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan, CD sales nearly doubled year-over-year during the first quarter of 2013, with CD-based revenues rising 92 percent. Digital revenues fell by 25 percent in 2012, due to a leveling in the mobile market and an increase in piracy. Digital Music News looks at the rise in physical sales here.
• Growth areas: Brazil, India and Mexico have seen market growth respectively of 24%, 42% and 17% since 2008.
In addition to rising physical sales, this Japanese market report shows significant digital growth. Source: RIAJ
Patty Loveless Celebrates 25 Years as a Grand Ole Opry Member
/by Jessica NicholsonPatty Loveless and Vince Gill perform on the Grand Ole Opry.
The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® honored Patty Loveless on her 25th anniversary as an Opry member this past weekend with performances by Loveless, fellow Opry members Vince Gill and Loretta Lynn, and more. Loveless was inducted as an Opry member on June 11, 1988.
Pictured (L-R): Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless and Connie Smith.
Following an hour of performances, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher saluted Loveless with a commemorative print and words about her career.
“This has been an absolutely magical night at the Grand Ole Opry. I think we have heard everything that makes country music great,” Fisher said. “If I was to describe what makes country music great, I would use the name Patty Loveless,” he continued, describing Loveless as doing everything with “grace, humility, and excellence.”
Loveless said, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years. I know my family is listening in tonight, and I’m sure they are very, very proud of this moment for me. My dreams were their dreams as well.”
Patty Loveless celebrates her 25th year as an Opry member.
The night concluded with Loveless and Gill collaborating on their beloved 1995 release “Go Rest High On That Mountain.” The two were joined by a number of other artists who had appeared on stage earlier in the evening.
Industry Ink (6-18-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Academy of Country Music welcomed Average Joes act LoCash Cowboys to the office while they were in Los Angeles last month. While at the Academy they performed “Chase A Little Love,” the latest single from their upcoming self-titled album in stores on June 18.
Pictured (L-R): Chris Lucas of LoCash Cowboys; Bob Romeo, CEO, Academy of Country Music, Preston Brust of LoCash Cowboys
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The Robertsons of A&E’s Duck Dynasty and the Duck Commander Sporting Empire recently signed with BMI in Nashville during the CMA Music Festival. Later this year, Universal Records will release Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas.
Pictured are (back row, L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, John Luke Robertson, Sadie Robertson, Si Robertson, Kay Robertson, Missy Robertson, Jep Robertson and BMI’s Jody Williams; (front row, L-R): attorney Jess Rosen of Greenberg Traurig, Missy Robertson, Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson and Jessica Robertson. Photo by Erika Goldring
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“This is the first time music is going to be available at NAPA Auto Parts stores,” says Williams. “NAPA customers are my fans. I am glad that my CDs are going to be sold there and right next to the Blaster products.”
“We look forward to introducing Hank’s music to the NAPA customers as well as displaying our latest products in the stacker promotion,” said Tom Porter, NAPA Auto Parts CEO.
David Israelite To Remain NMPA President and CEO Through 2018
/by Jessica NicholsonIrwin Z. Robinson, Chairman of the NMPA Board of Directors, said Israelite’s tireless effort on behalf of creators and music publishers merited the organization’s commitment to retaining its CEO.
“David has been an exceptional leader for the publishing and songwriting community and also the larger music industry,” Robinson said. “As our music marketplace is being redefined, music publishers and songwriters are seeing the benefits of his leadership financially and professionally. He has increased the stature of NMPA and remains one of our industry’s strongest public champions for the rights and value of musical works. We’re pleased he’s agreed to stay on.”
Israelite said, “I am humbled and honored to be asked to continue my advocacy on behalf of songwriters and music publishers. NMPA’s focus will continue to be protecting the rights of creators and ensuring songwriters and music publishers receive their fair share of the digital music marketplace.”
Prior to leading NMPA, Israelite held senior positions in various capacities for the U.S. Government including at the Department of Justice where he was appointed Chairman of the Department’s Task Force on Intellectual Property and in the U.S. Senate where he was Administrative Assistant for Missouri Senator Kit Bond. Israelite earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri and his undergraduate degree from William Jewell College.