Thompson Square Cancels Weekend Shows

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Thompson Square

Thompson Square


Reigning ACM and CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Thompson Square has been forced to cancel this weekend’s shows due to Keifer Thompson being put on vocal rest. Show cancellations include tonight’s (May 29) show in Glen Allen, Va., as well as the duo’s appearances on the following Luke Bryan Dirt Road Diaries tour stops: Canandiagua, N.Y. (May 30), Hartford, Conn. (May 31), Camden, N.J. (June 1) and Boston (June 2). Those shows will go on as planned, with Cole Swindell appearing.
In a heartfelt message to fans today, Thompson states:
“It breaks my heart to tell our fans today that we must cancel our upcoming concert appearances this weekend. What many of you may not know is that I have recently been battling a very serious vocal condition. I was urged by doctors to cancel Thompson Square’s appearances and go on complete vocal rest several weeks ago; however, neither Shawna nor I wanted to disappoint our fans, which we love and respect dearly. So we chose to continue performing our scheduled shows while I remained completely silent offstage in an effort to heal. Unfortunately, at this time, I have been ordered by doctors to take the next step and to cancel this weekend’s shows in an effort to heal internally.
“Words cannot express how devastated we both are to bring this news to our fans. Our fans are on our minds every moment of every day – you are the reason we’re here and the reason we get to live our dream of making music for a living. We hope that you will understand what a difficult decision this has been and know that we can’t wait to get back out on the road and make it up to you as soon as possible.”
 
 
 

'CMT Crossroads' Featuring Willie Nelson To Air June 23

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willie-nelsonCMT celebrated Willie Nelson’s 80th birthday in Nashville recently with an all-star cast of friends for a special episode of CMT Crossroads: Willie Nelson & Friends From Third Man Records, set to premiere Sunday, June 23 at 9-10 p.m. ET/PT. The unforgettable episode will honor the superstar’s milestone birthday as he swaps lyrics on some of his most-loved songs with Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson, Norah Jones, Ashley Monroe, Leon Russell and Neil Young. A long-time admirer of Nelson, Jack White kicked off the special from his Nashville studio, Third Man Records. Nelson turned 80 on April 29, and released his latest Legacy Recordings album Let’s Face The Music And Dance on April 16.
The one-hour special includes some of Nelson’s biggest hits including “Crazy,” “Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground” and “Shotgun Willie;” and the entire cast joined the stage for Nelson’s widely-recognized honky-tonk hit, “Whiskey River.” During an interview session guided by Jack White, Nelson and White joined voices for an impromptu sing-a-long of “Red Headed Stranger,” which Nelson often sang to his children as a nighttime lullaby. The paired touched on subjects ranging from perhaps the most well-known guitar in country music, Trigger; to Texas dancehalls, Elvis and more.

Opry Events Abound at CMA Music Festival

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Guitar Auction Carrie Underwood (2)

Guitar autographed by Carrie Underwood that will be auctioned off.


The Grand Ole Opry will have a large presence at next week’s CMA Music Festival. Here’s a look at some of the events:
Thursday, June 6— Fifth Annual Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction, 5:00 p.m. at the CMA Music Fest Buckle Stage at 4th Ave. and Broadway. Acclaimed Nashville visual artists have contributed one-of-a-kind guitars both inspired and autographed by country favorites including Alabama, Lauren Alaina, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, and members of the cast of Nashville. Guitar great Steve Wariner and Jonathan Jackson from Nashville are set to perform, with radio and TV personality Bill Cody hosting. The event is open to the public, and all proceeds from the auction will benefit the Opry Trust Fund, which assists members of the country music community in need.

Saturday, June 8—City of Hope 24th Annual Celebrity Softball Challenge, 9:00 a.m., Greer Stadium. The Grand Ole Opry team will go up against “After Midnite with Blair Garner” for a friendly-rival challenge.
Opry at the Ryman Matinee at 3 p.m. featuring Oak Ridge Boys, Joey + Rory, and Mark Wills.
• • • •
Among the artists scheduled for Opry performances at the Grand Ole Opry House during CMA Fest week are Lauren Alaina, Roy Clark, Kree Harrison, Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts, Mel Tillis, Josh Turner, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood.
Opry Originals at 3rd Ave. and Broadway is set to host country favorites for artist signings, photo opps and giveaways beginning Wed., June 5. Among artists scheduled to appear are Mark Chesnutt, Easton Corbin, Casey James, Craig Morgan, Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis and Mark Wills.
Details at http://www.opry.com/cmafest.

Big Deal Music Adds Greg Gallo as Creative Director

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big deal musicBig Deal Music has added Greg Gallo as Creative Director in Nashville, working alongside Dale Bobo and Pete Robinson.
Gallo, a Raleigh, N.C. native, has worked with Big Loud Shirt and Ash Street before becoming a partner at Revelry Music Group, and Gallo & Landers Music.
“We’ve known Greg for quite some time. His energy, passion, and knowledge of music, and the scene here in Nashville is unparalleled,” remarked Robinson & Bobo. “We are honored to have him be part of the Big Deal team.”
To date, the Big Deal Music roster includes: include My Morning Jacket, Jim James, The Black Angels, Ethan Johns, Missy Higgins, FIDLAR, The Walkmen, Korey Dane and songwriters Brad Tursi and Lee Anna McCollum. Additional new signings will be announced in the coming months.
 

Performers Added to 2013 CMT Music Awards

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CMT-Music-Awards
With only a week to spare, the 2013 CMT Music Awards has added several performers to the Nationwide Insurance stage, including: Ashley Monroe, Cassadee Pope, Dustin Lynch, Kree Harrison, Love and Theft and Randy Houser.
Nationwide will present an award to country’s best new live act. The nominees include Florida Georgia Line, Hunter Hayes, Kip Moore and Lee Brice.
The event will be hosted by Jason Aldean and Kristen Bell and will include performances by some of the biggest names in country music. Fans can vote on CMT.com to determine the winners.
The 2013 CMT Music Awards will air live on Wednesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com
 

Big Machine Music Appoints Director of Music Publishing

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Alex Heddle111Big Machine Music (BMM) has appointed Alex Heddle to the newly-created Director of Music Publishing position. BMM is home to such hit artists/songwriters as Justin Moore, Greg Bates, Dustin Lynch and Raul Malo (of The Mavericks), along with hot newcomer RaeLynn.
“Alex has a strong reputation as an aggressive songplugger and is a passionate advocate for songwriters. He is a great fit for the culture we are building at Big Machine Music and we are proud to have him join the team,” said BMM Vice President Mike Molinar.
In his new role, Heddle will assist with day-to-day management of the BMM roster and creative representation of the catalog. With a background in songwriter and artist relations, the Belmont University graduate most recently served as the Creative Director for both Tom Leis Music and Love Monkey Music (the publishing venture of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Bob DiPiero). He is responsible for song placements for hit acts such as Lady Antebellum, Thompson Square and Alan Jackson, among many others.
“I’m very proud and excited to be joining the impressive team at Big Machine Music and I look forward to helping it grow. Many thanks to Scott Borchetta and Mike Molinar for this great opportunity,” stated Heddle.
The BMM catalog includes “Til My Last Day” (Moore), “Cowboys and Angels” (Lynch), “Did It For The Girl” (Bates), “From A Table Away” (Sunny Sweeney), and “She Cranks My Tractor” (Lynch) as well as tracks on the The Music Of Nashville (Season 1, Volume 1) soundtrack, from the ABC hit drama. The Nashville-based publishing company also recently created a joint venture with Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald’s Prescription Songs, allowing the two companies to co-publish songwriters and artists whose unique talents translate across genres.
Heddle will report directly to Molinar and can be reached via: alex.heddle@bigmachinemusic.com.

Bluebird Café Begins Summer Events

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Bluebird-CafeThe Bluebird Café kicks off the summer with a series of events and special performances, beginning with CMA Week on Monday, June 3 at 6 p.m. for a special acoustic performance with Wynonna Judd and a special guest opener. Reservations will be available today (May 29) beginning at 8 a.m.
Additional seasonal events include the resurgence of Bluebird on the Mountain, beginning Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m. with Kim Carnes, Greg Barnhill and friends. The series continues throughout the summer with guests including Jonathan Singleton, Gretchen Peters and many more. Single car passes are $95 and available at Ticketmaster.
Beginning June 17, Hall of Fame songwriter Tom Shapiro will teach summer Master Classes for NSAI. Six two-hour sessions will teach 20 professional-level songwriters about the finer points that make a difference between a good and great song. The series costs $1,200 with scholarships and flex payments available. For more information, click here.
For more information on the Bluebird Café’s happenings, click here.

DISClaimer: Summer Gets A New Soundtrack

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Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum


The soundtrack for the summer is unfolding, starting this week. Joe Nichols, the Cody Bryan Band, Grant Langston and Andy Gibson all have new singles that have sunshine in every groove. In fact, “If I’m Going Nowhere” is strong enough to reel in a DisCovery Award for the Cody Bryan Band. But country-music people love to weep as much as they love to rejoice. So I also direct your attention to the downbeat lyrics of the new singles by Love and Theft, Sawyer Brown and, most especially, Lady Antebellum, who wins the Disc of the Day with “Goodbye Town.” Heartache has never sounded lovelier.
THE ROYS/Gypsy Runaway Train
Writers: Lee Roy/Morry Trent; Producers: The Roys and Andy Leftwich; Publishers: Mandolin Man/Cinderella Man, SESAC; Rural Rhythm
-These two continue to release singles like a country act. But their sound becomes more and more mainstream bluegrass with every release. The picking on this is dazzling.
cody bryan band11GRANT LANGSTON/Trouble Knows
Writer: Grant Langston; Producer: Paul Q. Kolderie; Publisher: Grant Langston, BMI; MSG (track)
-Sprightly and infectious, this hillbilly bopper introduces a singer-songwriter of rare originality. A ditty with a built-in smile.
CODY BRYAN BAND/If I’m Going Nowhere
Writers: RAby/Chandler/Noveskey/Bryan/Delahoussaye; Producers: Matt Noveskey and Kevin Butler; Publisher: none listed; CBB (track)
-This driving country-rocker has a forward momentum that’s pretty hard to resist. The band definitely gets its licks in as the tale unfolds of an aimless drifter. “If I’m going nowhere/I’ll get there on time” is his motto.
GWEN SEBASTIAN/Suitcase
Writers: Gwen Sebastian/Nicole Witt; Producer: Louis Newman; Publishers: Music of Open Road/Words and Music/Brentwood Benson/Quick Witt, ASCAP/BMI; Flying Island
-She’s kicking the cheater out and has packed up her heartache with his belongings. As usual, Gwen sings with loads of moxie, fire and personality. As both a performer and a writer, she’s a talent to be reckoned with.
CASSADEE POPE/Wasting All These Tears
Writers: Rollie Gaalswyk/Caitlyn Smith; Producers: Dann Huff and Nathan Chapman; Publishers: Jill the Dog/Music of Stage Three/Songs of Cornman/BMG Chrysalis, BMI; Republic Nashville
-The lyric is way too word-y. The melody is awkward and ungainly. Somebody call a song editor. Also: There’s nothing particularly “country” about it.
SAWYER BROWN/Shadows of the Heartland
Writers: Bobby Pinson/Chris Bergsnes; Producer: Mark Miller; Publisher: Stage Three, no performance rights listed; Beach Street (CDX)
-This brilliantly written, multi-textured portrait of life, love, loss and death in rural America rings with truth and authenticity.
JOE NICHOLS/Sunny and 75
Writers: Michael Dulaney/Jason Sellers/Paul Jenkins; Producers: Derek George and Mickey Jack Cones; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Desert Treasure/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Becky’s Boy/Sony-ATV Tree, BMI/ASCAP; Red Bow
-And you thought he had a voice that was born to cry. Joe proves he can soar in joy with this marvelous tempo tune, tailor-made for summertime good times. Go ahead: Get up and twirl around the room.
LOVE AND THEFT/If You Ever Get Lonely
Writers: Kyle Cook/Lisa Drew/Michael Dulaney/Steven Dale Jones/John Waite; Producer: Josh Leo; Publishers: EMI April/Ella Bella/Grand Line/Universal Z Tunes/Jersey Girl/Sony-ATV Harmony/Lights of Denver/JB Daniel/Water Bound/John Waite, ASCAP; RCA
-He can’t stop missing the one who left him for L.A. and begs for just the tiniest bit of contact from her. Fabulously melodic and radio-ready in the extreme.
ANDY GIBSON/Best Thing
Writers: Steve Moakler/Luke Laird; Producer: James Stroud; Publishers: Nam Jam/Songs of Kobalt/Universal-Careers, BMI; Curb
-Innocent, romantic, sweet and as lightweight as the froth on a soda-fountain drink.
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Goodbye Town
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Josh Kear; Producers: Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum; Publishers: Beards and Bullets/30A Getaway/Kobalt/Hobbs Hill/Global Dog/Lunalight, ASCAP/SESAC; Capitol Nashville
-Led by the heartbroken, soul-shattering voice of Charles Kelley, the trio keeps you completely in its thrall throughout this pulsing, yearning, lump-in-throat performance. Supremely well written and brilliantly produced, this is the reason these folks are the stars they are.

Weekly Register: Rucker Makes Fans 'True Believers'

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True Believers Cover - Jim WrightCountry fans believe in Darius Rucker. His new album True Believers debuted at No. 1 on Soundscan’s Top Current Country Album chart today (May 29) with sales of 83k units, including 28 percent digital. He landed at No. 2 on the all-genre chart. Rucker’s previous effort launched with sales of 101k. The Capitol Records Nashville release was produced by Frank Rogers.
Elsewhere on the album chart, George Strait’s latest slipped 65 percent in its second week, sliding into No. 2 with 43k. Lady A notched 34k to land at No. 3, followed by Blake Shelton at No. 4 (25k) and Florida Georgia Line with 22k. On the chart for nine weeks, Shelton’s Based on a True Story has release-to-date totals of 546k.
Country album sales were down 10 percent week-to-week, moving 795k units.
Cruising the Tracks Chart:
Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” has downloads of more than 3.6 million tracks and holds steady at No. 1 Country and No. 9 overall, adding 129k this week.
At No. 2, Shelton and Pistol Annies’ “Boys ‘Round Here” sold 108k, for a RTD total of 828k. At No. 3, Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” sold 103k this week and has moved 1.29 million RTD.
The Voice contestant Danielle Bradberry continues to woo country fans. Her version of the Jo Dee Messina hit “Heads Carolina, Tails California” sold 48K downloads after she sang it on the show this week. This follows her cover of “Maybe It Was Memphis” which has been downloaded 69k times since hitting the chart three weeks ago. Chris Young’s “Aw Naw” debuted with 27k clicks.
Year-to-date:
• Country digital tracks are up 8.8 percent YTD, while overall tracks are down 2.7 percent.
• Album sales: Including TEA (track equivalent albums), Country is up 4.9 percent YTD, compared to a negative 4.2 percent all-genre slide. Without TEA, Country is up 3.5 percent (16.2 million units sold YTD) and all-genre is down 5 percent.

Kayla Adams – Sober & Sorry

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Kayla Adams is making a buzz as one of the most exciting young female contemporary Country singers to hit the Nashville music scene in recent times. At 24 she’s already a veteran of years on the stage as both a band member and solo performer in her native Montana and throughout America. Adams has shared the stage with acts as diverse as Kellie Pickler, Rodney Atkins, LL Cool J, Heidi Newfield, and Smashmouth. Kayla’s new single on SSM Entertainment, “Sober & Sorry,” combines the best qualities of the female legends of the ’90s with the electrifying energy of today’s Country stars.
The vivacious blue-eyed blonde’s songwriting style, and avid outdoorswoman draws inspiration from the wide open spaces she grew up in. Adams captivates live audiences with her honesty and a genuine love for people and for the music.