Singer-songwriter Holly Williams will make her debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 30 to support The Highway, Williams’ third studio album out Feb. 5 on her own imprint Georgiana Records.
Williams will kick off her U.S. tour on Jan. 24 at Joe’s Pub in New York. She will also play Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on Feb. 6, Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre on Feb. 12 as well as additional tour stops in San Diego, Chicago and other cities.
The Highway was recorded at The Art House in Nashville and produced by Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars), co-produced by Williams, and engineered and mixed by Richie Biggs, which additional engineering and mixing by Nick Autry and Chuck Ainlay. The 11-track album also features guest vocals from Jackson Browne, Jakob Dylan, Dierks Bentley and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Jan 17–The Square Room–Knoxville, Tenn.
Jan 18-20–30A Songwriter’s Festival–Rosemary Beach, Fla.
Jan 24–Joe’s Pub–New York City
Feb 1–Nashville Ballet–Nashville, Tenn.
Feb 5–Soho Music Club–Santa Barbara, Calif.
Feb 6–Hotel Café–Los Angeles
Feb 7 –The Soda Bar–San Diego
Feb 8–Nutty Jerry’s–Winnie, Texas**
Feb 9–Arlington Music Hall– Arlington, Texas**
Feb 12 –Belcourt Theatre–Nashville, Tenn.
Feb 14–Ruth Eckerd Hall–Clearwater, Fla.*
Feb 15–Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall–Sarasota, Fla.*
Feb 17–Philharmonic PAC–Naples, Fla.*
Feb 18–Kravis PAC–West Palm, Fla.*
Feb 20–The Music Farm–Charleston, S.C.
Feb 21–Red Clay Theatre–Duluth, Ga.
Feb 22–WorkPlay Theatre–Birmingham, Ala.
Mar 6–Lincoln Theatre–Raleigh, N.C.
Mar 7–Evening Muse–Charlotte, N.C.
Mar 8–Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall–Asheville, N.C.
Mar 9–Ryman Auditorium–Nashville, Tenn.***
Mar 26–The Ark– Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mar 27 –SPACE–Evanston, Ill.
Mar 28–Meyer Theater–Green Bay, Wis.
Mar 29 –Do317 Lounge–Indianapolis, Ind.
Apr 19–World Café Live–Wilmington, Del.
Apr 21–Tin Angel–Philadelphia, Pa.
Apr 25–Fete Lounge–Providence, R.I.
Apr 26 –Lancaster County Convention Center–Lancaster, Pa.
May 3–New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival–New Orleans, La.
*with Sheryl Crow **with Loretta Lynn ***with Indigo Girls
Invitation: An Evening Celebrating Barbara Orbison
/by Jessica NicholsonThe evening will include refreshments, wine and a photographer on hand to capture “Pretty Woman” in each guest (prints are $5). There will also be a chance to win a $300 spa package.
The event will take place on Thursday (Jan. 24) from 4-6 p.m. at the Orbison Building located at 1625 Broadway, Suite 200.
RSVP to: lindsay@orbison.com.
Country Performers at 2013 Presidental Inauguration [Video]
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley and Kelly Clarkson performed during the Presidential Inauguration Monday (Jan. 21), which ushered in President Barack Obama’s second term in office. Clarkson performed “My Country Tis of Thee,” during the public ceremony in the morning, while Paisley turned in a rendition of “Alcohol” at the Inaugural Ball later in the evening.
Other entertainers during the festivities included Beyonce (who performed the National Anthem), Alicia Keys, James Taylor, Black Violin, Far East Movement, among others.
Kelly Clarkson–“My Country Tis of Thee” (beginning at the :33 mark)
Brad Paisley–“Alcohol”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjwDhjdlYds
Artist News (1/21/13)
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
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ASCAP Announces GPS Project Class of 2013
/by Caitlin RantalaPictured (L-R): ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, Jonathan Kingham, Brittany Aultman, Sarah Allison Turner, Keith Walker, Austin Smith, Ryan Plappert, Brian Burke, Jillian Arciero, Kris Hitchcock, ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel and Chris Drizen
ASCAP Senior Creative Director LeAnn Phelan and Creative Manager Ryan Bueschel have announced the names of the twelve talented, unsigned songwriters that will make up the ASCAP GPS Project Class of 2013. Now in its third year, the program puts emphasis on getting the best of Nashville’s unsigned ASCAP songwriters in front of the city’s vibrant publishing community. Twelve writers are paired with twelve publishers for one meeting a month, along with a follow-up meeting to help develop the writer and solidify the relationship.
ASCAP’s GPS Project Class of 2013 participants are: Jillian Arciero, Brittany Aultman, Brian Burke, Chris Drizen, Kris Hitchcock, Jonathan Kingham, Anthony Olympia, Ryan Plappert, Dara Sisterhen, Austin Smith, Sarah Allison Turner and Keith Walker.
“With shrinking man power and increasing workloads, as a community we can’t afford to take our eyes off the importance of writer development. The ASCAP GPS Project gets some of Nashville’s finest publishers involved in an invaluable learning experience for these talented writers,” commented Phelan.
The 2013 ASCAP GPS Project kicked off in January and will continue with events taking place through the end of the year. Additional special activities will include a mid-year writers’ round, guidance for participants from attorneys and other industry influentials, networking events and more. For more information, please contact the ASCAP Nashville office at nashville@ascap.com.
Amazon Aims To Compete With iTunes
/by Sarah SkatesAmazon offers over 22 million songs and over two million albums. Some of the store’s cost-saving deals include $5 albums, $0.69 songs, and free songs from up-and-coming artists.
Music purchases are automatically saved to customers’ Cloud Player libraries for no charge. Those songs can then be downloaded or played instantly from any iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android phone or tablet, Roku, Sonos home entertainment system, or web browser.
Amazon also offers personalized recommendations based on purchase history, best-seller lists and Amazon customer ratings.
AIMP To Host Social Media Panel in Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonAriel Hyatt (founder of CyberPR), Wayne Leeloy (Senior Director of Digital Marketing for Warner Music Nashville), Marcus Whitney (CTO of Moontoast) and John Barker (President of Clearbox Rights, LLC) will discuss product development and marketing strategies involving social media and e-commerce. They will also examine the early stages of development with a publisher/administrator who is fostering an audience through social media.
A hot lunch buffet will be served. The cost for AIMP members is $25, while the price for non-members is $40. Those interested in attending can RSVP at www.aimp.org.
All Eyes Media Gets New Senior Director
/by Jessica NicholsonDonica Christensen
Donica Christensen has joined All Eyes Media as Senior Director. In her new role, she will help oversee the eclectic roster of artists that includes Widespread Panic, Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit and Matt Costa, among other artists.
Previously, Christensen was Sugar Hill Records’ Director of Artist & Media Relations for the past five years, overseeing campaigns for Sarah Jarosz, Marty Stuart, Black Prairie and Sam Bush. Prior to her time with Sugar Hill, she was part of the team at Commotion PR, as well as working independently. She is a graduate of Belmont University’s Music Business program.
“I am stoked to be joining Jim Flammia’s team at All Eyes Media,” says Christensen. “Their passion for great music, integrity and eclectic roster make it the perfect move for me.”
“Our artists will benefit greatly from Donica’s experience, passion and work ethic,” says Flammia. “However, the most important trait she brings to All Eyes is how much she cares. We are very excited to have her on board.”
Christensen can be reached at All Eyes Media at 615-227-2770 and at donica@alleyesmedia.com.
Country Artists Team for Country Cares Seminar
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Voice winner Cassadee Pope visits with a St. Jude patient.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recently welcomed Hunter Hayes, X Factor winner Tate Stevens, The Voice winner Cassadee Pope, High Valley, Alabama’s Randy Owen and Brantley Gilbert, along with over 1,000 members of the radio industry, to the 24th annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar. Since 1989, this event has brought together country music artists, radio stations and country music listeners to support the mission of St. Jude. Country Cares has raised over $440 million for the organization.
Hunter Hayes checks out a video with a St. Jude patient.
“I was told it was not going to be an average hospital visit,” says Hayes. “First of all, it is already happy. It’s joyous. There’s an energy. There’s a positivity. There’s the ‘hope’ message that lives and breathes in everything, in the people, in the building. It’s more than just bright colors and lots of natural light. It’s the attitude, it’s the hearts and the minds. It’s the way the people operate here. And the way you feel when you come here.”
“Since this is my first trip to St. Jude I just really wanted to soak in every second, every minute of it,” says Pope. “I’d been wanting to experience this since I was a kid. Just seeing all the campaigns and promotions and the big names behind this I knew it was such an amazing cause. That it was a place that was inspiring.”
For more information on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, visit stjude.org, facebook.com/stjude or twitter.com/stjude.
Pictured (L-R): High Valley’s Brad Rempel and Bryan Rempel, Alabama’s Randy Owen, High Valley’s Curtis Rempel
NYC Goes Country
/by Sarah SkatesNash-FM is using the tag line “Country for Life,” and launched with first song “How Country Feels” by Randy Houser. Listen live at nashfm947.com.
Jason Aldean plays Madison Square Garden on March 2.
Further proof of the genre’s growing popularity in the Big Apple is Friday’s news (Jan. 18) of Jason Aldean selling out famed Manhattan venue Madison Square Garden. According to his team, all available tickets were purchased in ten minutes for his first-ever concert at the arena. His 2013 Night Train Tour, which hits NYC on March 2, will feature Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett.
“I think people underestimate country music’s popularity in New York City,” said Aldean. “The Garden is one of those places every artist dreams of playing. I am blown away that my show sold out that quickly…it makes me even more excited to hit rehearsals this month and get the Night Train tour on the road. I can’t wait to see you, New York!”
Aldean is the latest country star to experience touring success in New York. In August 2012, Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell told the New York Daily News, “We’re seeing more headlining tours in the New York area going into 2013 than we have in history. It’s double what it was three or four years ago.” That article reported that New York is the single biggest market for country music sales, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Numerous factors have contributed country’s rise in popularity in the last several years, including genre-crossing superstars Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum; and country music on television shows such as American Idol and The Voice. The CMA has been working to boost country’s presence in New York City for years, particularly since 2005 when the CMA Awards moved to Madison Square Garden for one year.
Holly Williams Readies Tour, 'The Tonight Show' Appearance
/by Jessica NicholsonWilliams will kick off her U.S. tour on Jan. 24 at Joe’s Pub in New York. She will also play Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on Feb. 6, Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre on Feb. 12 as well as additional tour stops in San Diego, Chicago and other cities.
The Highway was recorded at The Art House in Nashville and produced by Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars), co-produced by Williams, and engineered and mixed by Richie Biggs, which additional engineering and mixing by Nick Autry and Chuck Ainlay. The 11-track album also features guest vocals from Jackson Browne, Jakob Dylan, Dierks Bentley and Gwyneth Paltrow.