The CMA Foundation donated $1.2 million to benefit music education programs in Nashville’s public schools. Pictured (L-R): CMA Board President, Ed Hardy; CMA Board Chairman, Troy Tomlinson; CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore; Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Dr. Jesse Register; Scotty McCreery; Nashville Mayor Karl Dean; Chevrolet National Promotions Manager, Michael Weidman; Chair of The CMA Foundation Board of Directors, Kitty Moon Emery; and Nashville Public Education Foundation Board Chair, Michael Carter, Sr. Photo credit: Donn Jones/CMA
The
CMA Foundation donated $1.2 million to benefit music education programs through the Keep the Music Playing campaign last night (Feb. 20) at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The money raised from the 2012 CMA Music Festival will benefit Nashville’s 81,000 public school students.
The announcement raises CMA’s Keep the Music Playing support of music education in Metro Schools to more than $6.5 million. This money has been used to build music labs and purchase instruments and supplies for all 144 Metro Nashville Public Schools through a partnership with the Nashville Public Education Foundation.
“Providing instruments for
every Metro school is a tremendous accomplishment,” said
Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “When we started this program in 2006, instruments in Metro band programs were more than 30 years old – if they were lucky enough to have them at all. Seeing what this program has accomplished on behalf of our artists is extremely gratifying. Keep the Music Playing is making a difference by helping to make quality music education a reality for our children.”
In 2006, the Keep the Music Playing program was established to give back to the community on behalf of the hundreds of Country artists who perform and make appearances at CMA Music Festival each year for free.
The announcement of the 2012 CMA Music Festival donation was made at a reception prior to the Fourth Annual CMA Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The All Stars Concert honors the best elementary, middle, and high school performance groups selected from Metro Schools. CMA Award nominee
Scotty McCreery hosted the concert.
During the program,
Michael Weidman, Chevrolet National Promotions Manager, presented a new Chevrolet Traverse, which will be used to pick up and deliver instruments for the Keep the Music Playing-funded instrument repair facility for Metro Schools; which means repaired instruments will get back into the hands of students faster.
With this announcement, the total figure for the Keep the Music Playing program is $7.6 million. This figure includes a $1 million endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words & Music” program, support of the 2012 W.O. Smith summer camp program, and a recent instrument donation to P.S. 103 in the Bronx, NY.
The 2013 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9.
Nashville on TV
/by Sarah Skates• • • Miranda Lambert will be a guest judge on tonight’s (Feb. 21) episode of Project Runway. The show airs at 8 p.m./CT on Lifetime. Among the contestants in Nashvillian Amanda Valentine.
• • • Texan turned Nashvillian Kree Harrison made it to the Top 40 on American Idol, comprised of 20 female and 20 male contestants. The Top 40 also includes Tennesseans Paul Jolley (Palmersville), Janelle Arthur (Oliver Springs), Jimmy Smith (Waynesboro) and Nick Boddington (Memphis). Keith Urban is a judge on the show this season.
• • • Extras are needed tomorrow (Feb. 22) to shoot a concert scene for the show Nashville. The shoot is at Nashville Sound Stages on Brick Church Park Dr. Details and registration at www.nashvilleextras.com.
• • • Luke Bryan recently inked a multi-year partnership with Cabela’s outdoor gear. See his new commercial below.
Strickland Named Exec. VP and GM, Warner Music Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonPeter Strickland
Warner Music Nashville’s Peter Strickland has been promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager, WMN. In his new role, Strickland will help oversee day-to-day operations of WMN’s country division. He previously served as Sr. VP, Brand Management & Sales and will continue to report to John Esposito, President and CEO, WMN.
“Throughout two decades of loyal and outstanding service to Warner Music’s country division, Peter has demonstrated his amazing skills at creative marketing and sales. He also has shown the ever so important ability to have outstanding and trusting relationships with our artists,” said Esposito. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him as a partner in helping to take WMN to the next level.”
“When I started with Warner Music Group nearly 25 years ago, I could have never imagined it would lead me to this exciting path,” said Strickland. “I am truly honored to have my contributions recognized by my Nashville family, and cannot wait to help lead my label cohorts into WMN’s next era of success and innovation.”
Strickland first joined Warner Music Group as a Field Representative for Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (WEA) Distribution based in Boston, Mass. He moved to Nashville in 1995, with his wife, Linda and children, to accept a position as Regional Sales Manager for Warner Bros. Records, and went on to serve as both National Sales Director and Vice President of Sales/Marketing for Warner/Reprise Nashville, prior to being named Sr. VP, Brand Management & Sales. Strickland also serves as the de facto general manager of comedy imprint LoudMouth Entertainment, and executive produced Jimmy Fallon’s 2013 GRAMMY Award-winning Comedy Album of the Year, Blow Your Pants Off.
Keith Urban’s We’re All For the Hall Concert Returns
/by Sarah SkatesThis year’s theme is “Rebels and Renegades, the Outlaws are In.” The all-star performance line-up includes Urban, Gill, Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and Hank Williams Jr.
“The purity in making music on your own terms – to create art in your own way – for me is at the heart of the outlaw spirit,” said Urban. “It’s those outlaws that we celebrate this year, who not only made it possible for a guy like me to do what I love, but who play a pivotal role in the strength of country music’s diversity.”
The first three We’re All for the Hall concerts raised a combined total of approximately $1.5 million.
Reserved seat tickets are $35 and $50, plus Ticketmaster surcharge, and go on sale March 1 at 10:00 a.m. CST. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, the Bridgestone Arena box office or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Museum members enjoy a special presale ticket opportunity for the event.
VIP packages range from $200 to $3500 and go on sale March 1 at Ticketmaster.com. These packages include all or some of the following: a VIP dinner hosted by Urban’s friends and collaborators, premium concert seat, meet and greet with Urban, guitar autographed by Urban, post-concert party, commemorative Hatch Show Print autographed by Urban and Gill, premium concert parking, and membership to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Country Greets New York City with Nash Bash
/by Jessica NicholsonSeveral artists helped New York City welcome new country station Nash-FM 94.7 by way of a trio of NASH BASH concerts at the historic Roseland Ballroom.
On Monday, Kix Brooks, Blake Shelton, Randy Houser, Lonestar and Dustin Lynch performed for approximately 3,000 fans. On Tuesday evening, the lineup included Brooks, Lady Antebellum, Gary Allan, Justin Moore and Brantley Gilbert. Brooks, Sara Evans, Lee Brice, The Henningsens and Darius Rucker filled Wednesday evening’s performance roster.
The concerts weren’t exactly open to the public, either. Fans had to enter a radio contest via Nash-FM 94.7 to win admission to the show. Here, photos from the three nights as some of country music’s brightest stars lit up New York City.
Lady Antebellum
Blake Shelton
Randy Houser
Brantley Gilbert
Kix Brooks
Dustin Lynch
Gary Allan
Justin Moore
Artist Snapshots (2/21/13)
/by Jessica NicholsonWhile gearing up to join Jason Aldean’s 2013 Night Train tour, RCA Nashville artist Jake Owen celebrated a Gold certification in the U.S. for his single “The One That Got Away.” Label executives and management surprised Jake with a plaque to commemorate the occasion in the midst of his tour rehearsal on Feb. 19 at Nashville’s Soundcheck.
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Director, Digital Sales Alaina Vehec and VP, Sales Caryl Healey, Jake Owen, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, Manager Brandon Gill and Booking Agent Michael Betterton
• • •
Brantley Gilbert recently performed for an enthusiastic packed house in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of a string of sold-out concerts in Kansas City, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Mankato, Minn.; Corbin, Ky.; Morgantown, W. Va.; Augusta, Ga. and Chattanooga, Tenn. Gilbert and special guest Kip Moore will bring Gilbert’s Hell On Wheels tour to full houses in Tulsa, Okla. (Feb. 22) and Thackerville, Okla. (Feb. 23).
Brantley Gilbert performs to a sold-out crowd in Morgantown, W. Va. Photo: Justin Nolan Key
• • •
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Eli Young Band to its Los Angeles office recently. The band performed their hit single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” which is nominated for both Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards.
Eli Young Band performs for the Academy of Country Music.
• • •
Craig Campbell performed to a sold-out house in Raleigh, N.C.’s City Limits Saloon on Saturday.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Promotes Henton
/by Jessica NicholsonHenton will report to Director of Museum Sales and Guest Relations Suzanne Tolbert. In his new role, he will continue to develop and grow the corporate meetings and convention markets and manage the department’s museum sales coordinator staff.
MusicRowPics: Samantha Landrum
/by Caitlin RantalaReviver Music’s Samantha Landrum visited MusicRow headquarters earlier this month (Feb. 4). Landrum hails from Laurel, Miss., sharing the same home turf as MusicRow’s owner/publisher Sherod Robertson.
Her single “Hometown,” which she played, will premiere on CMT and was also added to Sirius’ Highway Find. She also shared a couple of her favorites songs “One Stone at a Time” and “Just Another Day.”
For more information visit samanthalandrum.com.
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Weekly Register: Growth Needs New Releases
/by bossrossTim McGraw’s week two of his newest disc was helped by the Grammy Awards and therefore only dropped 56 percent, less than the 62 percent or so that might normally be expected. Taylor’s Red benefited with a 106 percent jump which moved it to No. 1 with almost 72k units. But even with the holiday and the Awards (which featured lots of country talents), the Top Country Current chart failed to pass the 500k total mark. However, it did edge up from last week’s 394k to 457k this week.
The Weekly Grid tells the sad tale in brief fashion. Country albums are down almost 5 percent and all genre album sales are off YTD 6.2 percent. Just like the cold winter weather we have been suffering, it will likely be late March before the charts begin to thaw in a big way.
If you haven’t already noticed, Hunter Hayes is becoming the new artist to watch. His song “Wanted” moved to the top of the Digital Genre Country tracks list with over 84k downloads and a jump of 31 percent. Labelmate Blake Shelton was close behind the young prodigy with 74k.
Filling out the Top 10 country tracks were:
Carrie Underwood/Two Black Cadillacs/60k (2.64 million)
The Band Perry/Better Dig Two/57k (1 million)
Carrie Underwood/Blown Away/55k (1.9 million)
Tim McGraw/One Of Those Nights/52k
Lady Antebellum/Downtown/47k
FGL/Cruise/44k (2x platinum)
Gary Allan/Every Storm/42k
Taylor Swift/We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/3.38 million
Next week (Feb. 26), albums will hit the stores from newcomer Jaida Dreyer, The Mavericks and Curb’s Plumb.
Stay tuned…
CMA's Keep The Music Playing Donates $1.2 Million
/by Sarah SkatesThe CMA Foundation donated $1.2 million to benefit music education programs in Nashville’s public schools. Pictured (L-R): CMA Board President, Ed Hardy; CMA Board Chairman, Troy Tomlinson; CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore; Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Dr. Jesse Register; Scotty McCreery; Nashville Mayor Karl Dean; Chevrolet National Promotions Manager, Michael Weidman; Chair of The CMA Foundation Board of Directors, Kitty Moon Emery; and Nashville Public Education Foundation Board Chair, Michael Carter, Sr. Photo credit: Donn Jones/CMA
The CMA Foundation donated $1.2 million to benefit music education programs through the Keep the Music Playing campaign last night (Feb. 20) at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The money raised from the 2012 CMA Music Festival will benefit Nashville’s 81,000 public school students.
The announcement raises CMA’s Keep the Music Playing support of music education in Metro Schools to more than $6.5 million. This money has been used to build music labs and purchase instruments and supplies for all 144 Metro Nashville Public Schools through a partnership with the Nashville Public Education Foundation.
“Providing instruments for every Metro school is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “When we started this program in 2006, instruments in Metro band programs were more than 30 years old – if they were lucky enough to have them at all. Seeing what this program has accomplished on behalf of our artists is extremely gratifying. Keep the Music Playing is making a difference by helping to make quality music education a reality for our children.”
In 2006, the Keep the Music Playing program was established to give back to the community on behalf of the hundreds of Country artists who perform and make appearances at CMA Music Festival each year for free.
The announcement of the 2012 CMA Music Festival donation was made at a reception prior to the Fourth Annual CMA Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The All Stars Concert honors the best elementary, middle, and high school performance groups selected from Metro Schools. CMA Award nominee Scotty McCreery hosted the concert.
During the program, Michael Weidman, Chevrolet National Promotions Manager, presented a new Chevrolet Traverse, which will be used to pick up and deliver instruments for the Keep the Music Playing-funded instrument repair facility for Metro Schools; which means repaired instruments will get back into the hands of students faster.
With this announcement, the total figure for the Keep the Music Playing program is $7.6 million. This figure includes a $1 million endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words & Music” program, support of the 2012 W.O. Smith summer camp program, and a recent instrument donation to P.S. 103 in the Bronx, NY.
The 2013 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9.
Artist Updates (2-20-13)
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
Marcel Bach, promoter for the event, says, “We always look to top the previous year but this is a special anniversary. I could not be happier with the lineup.”
Bates will perform on the Coca-Cola stage beginning at 11:30 a.m.
• • •
To participate, fans should visit the ChildFund website, choose a child and complete the sponsorship. They should then save and forward the confirmation to ChildFund@thompsonsquare.com with the subject line “concert date, concert city, your name, your phone number.”
Fans will then receive a confirmation and instructions on how to obtain their meet-n-greet passes prior to the show. Sponsorship confirmation must be received seven days before the concert date and fans must already have tickets to the show.
The pair promote ChildFund’s child development work through ChildFund’s LIVE! artist program.