Keith Urban rocks out with the Stones.
•
Keith Urban joined
The Rolling Stones onstage at the L.A. Staples Center on May 3. He was a surprise performer at the legendary group’s sold-out show, joining the band for “Respectable,” from its 1978 album
Some Girls. “If I had have been offered either a trip to the moon or sitting in with The Stones, I would still have been strapping on my Tele saying screw the moon,” commented Urban. See the
video below.
Zac Brown Band. Photo: Cole Cassell/Southern Reel
•
Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival returns for a third year to Charleston, S.C. on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20. Presented by LandShark Lager, the festival will take place at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island in Berkeley County.
•
The
Thumbs Up For What’s Wright concert at the Tin Roof Nashville on Wednesday, May 15 will help fight childhood cancer.
Love and Theft join previously announced artists
David Nail, Chris Janson, Kristen Kelly, Randy Montana, and special guests to support the Thumbs Up For Lane Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Payton Wright Foundation. Two songwriter rounds will include hitmakers
Lee Miller, Jonathan Singleton, Brad Tursi, Dan Isbell, Scooter Carusoe, and
Jason Matthews. Emcee’d by television host
Shane Tallant, the event will include a tribute to late WMN regional
Lindsay Walleman, a live auction and outdoor beer garden. Tickets are $25 at
tinroofbars.com.
• Breaux Bridge, La. officially named Monday, April 29 “
Hunter Hayes Appreciation Day.” While he was in town, the Breaux Bridge native visited KMDL/Lafayette staffer
Stephanie Crist.
Pictured (l-r) KMDL’s Stephanie Crist and Hunter Hayers
•
Clara Henningsen, lead singer of Arista Nashville recording trio
The Henningsens, wed fiancé
Jacob Calaway this past Saturday, May 5, in a ceremony on the Henningsen family farm in Illinois.
Nashville Gives Back
/by Caitlin RantalaNashville-based recording artists will come together on Sunday, May 12 at Music City’s 3rd & Lindsley concert venue for Music City Unites!, a benefit concert to raise funds for the victims of the Boston Marathon bomb attack. Artists confirmed to appear include Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer), Collin Raye, Lee Roy Parnell, Gary Chapman, Trae Edwards, Wes Harllee and more to be announced.
Presented by Nashville Publicity Group, the concert event starts at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by Jack Daniel’s and Lightning 100, who will be broadcasting portions of the event live. Attendees are asked to donate $15 or more at the door, with 100 percent of proceeds going to assist victims of the Boston Marathon bomb attack via Nashville-based relief organization Conduit Mission.
For more information, contact Brian Mayes at Nashville Publicity Group, 615-771-2040 or brian@nashvillepublicity.com.
The Swinging Door Saloon will host a benefit concert for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Tuesday, May 14. Performers include The Grascals, Wade Hayes, Phoenix Drive and Bobby Chitwood. Hosted by Buzz Brainard, the concert will also include a silent auction.
Doors open at 6 p.m. A minimum donation for $20 is suggested, with all net proceeds donated to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Artist Updates (5-7-13)
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
Rascal Flatts
Due to the fan response to the previously announced Rascal Flatts and Journey concert in Hershey, Pa., an additional show has now been set for Aug. 4 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Tickets go on sale beginning Friday (May 10) at 10 a.m. Cassadee Pope is the special guest.
Wade Bowen
Wade Bowen will host his 15th Annual Bowen Classic celebrity golf tournament and concert to benefit The Bowen Family Foundation on June 2 and 3 in Bowen’s hometown of Waco, Texas. Over the past four years, Bowen has raised nearly half a million dollars for various local organizations in need. In light of recent events, Bowen has determined that this year’s event will benefit the townspeople and organizations affected by the recent tragedy in nearby West, Texas.
• • •
The festival is set for Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13. For more information, visit aclfestival.com.
Industry Ink (5-7-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Red River Entertainment’s Chuck Rhodes, Michael Martin Murphey, and Murphey’s producer, Ryan Murphey.
Nashville’s Red River Entertainment, in partnership with RED Distribution, has signed Michael Martin Murphey. Murphey will be the label’s flagship artist, releasing a new album this summer. Murphey’s hits include 1982’s “What Forever’s For” and “Still Taking Chances,” 1987’s “A Long Line of Love” and “I’m Gonna Miss You, Girl,” and 1989’s “Never Givin’ Up On Love.”
• • •
Hannah Bethel
PLA Media has added vintage country singer-songwriter Hannah Bethel to its roster. Bethel joins PLA’s current roster, which includes Lynn Anderson, the Johnny Cash Museum, The Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden, and Emmylou Harris’ second annual WOOFSTOCK event.
• • •
Morgan Frazier
Morgan Frazier, Sidewalk Records recording artist, has won the legendary John Lennon Songwriting Contest. She teamed up with Jim Bennett to write the winning offering, “All We Never Had Is Gone.” In preparation for her debut single “Yellow Brick Road,” Morgan has been crisscrossing the highways of America for the past 4 months being introduced to radio programmers. The debut record, which she co-wrote with Jim Brown and Steve Clark, was released to country radio.
• • •
YouTube Eyes Paid Subscription Model
/by Sarah SkatesAccording to Billboard, content creators would most likely receive less than 30% of YouTube’s subscription dollars.
The Google-owned site is currently supported by advertising, but the subscription component could help it monetize exclusive content and videos that are less attractive to advertisers.
Digital video advertising is skyrocketing. In 2012, brands spent $2.3 billion on these kinds of ads, an increase of 29% over 2011, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
YouTube’s first channel exclusively featuring original country music content launched in February at www.youtube.com/countrynow. As previously reported, Country Now is home to the original series Country Download, Hear & Now, OMC! and I Luv My Country, which are created and produced in Nashville.
George Jones Final Nashville Concert To Take Place As Tribute Show
/by Jessica Nicholson“Everyone has been asking if we will still do the show,” says Nancy Jones. “I have asked Garth, Kid Rock, Travis Tritt, The Oak Ridge Boys, Montgomery Gentry, Sam Moore, Charlie Daniels, Jamey Johnson and others and they all said ‘yes, I am still going to do it’ so with all the artists still planning on coming, we are going to honor George one final time.”
Jones’ representative says that not all previously announced artists have been contacted at this time and they are in the process of re-confirming all artists. A list of all confirmed talent will be available at georgejones.com.
Tickets for the Nashville finale were sold out previously.
Warner Music Nashville Artists Release Music Videos
/by Eric T. ParkerBlake Shelton on the set for his latest music video, “Boys ‘Round Here.”
The music video for Blake Shelton’s latest single “Boys ‘Round Here” has been released. Shelton flew to The Walt Disney Golden Oak Ranch in Santa Clarita immediately following the 48th ACM Awards to film the project with Pistol Annies and country singer Raelynn.
Click here for a behind the scenes look at the making of the video and watch the video below.
• • •
Sheryl Crow with Jason Lewis filming her latest music video for “Easy.”
Sheryl Crow’s current top 30 single “Easy,” is available today (May 6) including a music video, which was featured as part of CMT’s Sheryl Crow “Easy” Weekend.
The video (below) features co-star Jason Lewis, who played Jerry ‘Smith’ Jerrod on HBO’s Sex and the City.
Crow has sold more than 35 million records worldwide.
Opry Launches New App
/by Caitlin RantalaScotty McCreery tries out the Opry By The Numbers app.
The show that made country music famous is celebrating the launch of a new iPad app with the premiere of Opry By The Numbers, an interactive Sudoku-themed game available today at opry.com and optimized for the iPad, as well as desktops and other devices.
Opry By The Numbers challenges players to solve Sudoku-like puzzles to reveal Opry artists’ photos. Along the way, players learn fun Opry number-related facts and can enter to win number-related prizes, including a trip to Nashville, Tenn. featuring VIP Opry seating, a stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, round-trip airfare on Southwest Airlines, and more.
The new iPad app offers optimized audio streaming of all Grand Ole Opry performances; Opry performance videos; performance calendars; content-rich blogs including country music news, infographics, and artist interviews; and audio streaming of the Opry’s flagship radio station, 650 AM-WSM.
TobyMac, Newsboys Lead K-LOVE Fan Awards Nominations
/by Jessica NicholsonFans can vote for their favorite nominees at klovefanawards.com. The K-LOVE Fan awards will take place at the Ryman Auditorium on June 1 in Nashville, Tenn.
Song of the Year
“Redeemed,” Big Daddy Weave
“Where I Belong,” Building 429
“10,000 Reasons,” Matt Redman
“God’s Not Dead,” Newsboys
“Me Without You,” TobyMac
Male Artist of the Year
Brandon Heath
Chris Tomlin
Jeremy Camp
Matthew West
TobyMac
Female Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Kari Jobe
Laura Story
Mandisa
Natalie Grant
Group/Duo of the Year
Newsboys
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Tenth Avenue North
Third Day
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Building 429
Laura Story
For King & Country
Sidewalk Prophets
Plumb
Artist of the Year
Casting Crowns
Newsboys
TobyMac
MercyMe
Third Day
Movie Impact
Courageous, Alex Kendrick
The Grace Card, David Evans
October Baby, Jon Erwin
Monumental, Kirk Cameron
Sports Impact
Hugh Freeze
Mike Fisher
Barrett Jones
Jason Hanson
Alfred Morris
Book Impact
The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson
Heaven Changes Everything, Todd and Sonja Burpo
The Love Dare, Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick
Love Does, Bob Goff
Unglued, Lysa TerKeurst
Shania Twain Announces Additional Las Vegas Dates
/by Jessica NicholsonAccording to the Las Vegas Sun, Twain has scheduled 22 additional performances between mid-October and mid-December. Tickets go on sale Friday (May 10).
She’s sold out her first 24 performances of “Shania: Still the One” at Caesars Palace, and begins another set of 12 shows on May 14. The nearly 4,300-seat Colosseum also hosts entertainers Celine Dion, Elton John, Jerry Seinfeld and others.
[Updated] Artist News: Urban Plays With Rolling Stones
/by Sarah SkatesKeith Urban rocks out with the Stones.
• Keith Urban joined The Rolling Stones onstage at the L.A. Staples Center on May 3. He was a surprise performer at the legendary group’s sold-out show, joining the band for “Respectable,” from its 1978 album Some Girls. “If I had have been offered either a trip to the moon or sitting in with The Stones, I would still have been strapping on my Tele saying screw the moon,” commented Urban. See the video below.
Zac Brown Band. Photo: Cole Cassell/Southern Reel
• Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival returns for a third year to Charleston, S.C. on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20. Presented by LandShark Lager, the festival will take place at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island in Berkeley County.
•
• Breaux Bridge, La. officially named Monday, April 29 “Hunter Hayes Appreciation Day.” While he was in town, the Breaux Bridge native visited KMDL/Lafayette staffer Stephanie Crist.
Pictured (l-r) KMDL’s Stephanie Crist and Hunter Hayers
• Clara Henningsen, lead singer of Arista Nashville recording trio The Henningsens, wed fiancé Jacob Calaway this past Saturday, May 5, in a ceremony on the Henningsen family farm in Illinois.