Artist Updates (12/13/2012)

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Jo Dee Messina

 Jo Dee Messina has signed with Clearview Artist Management and APA for booking, and plans to release a new album in 2013. The moves follow her recent departure from Curb Records.

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Keith Urban

Keith Urban‘s song “For You” has been nominated for Best Song at the Critics’ Choice Awards from The Broadcast Film Critics Association. “For You” was co-written by Urban and Monty Powell. The winners will be announced live during a ceremony on Thursday, January 10, 2013 from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. The show will broadcast live on The CW Network at 8:00 p.m. ET.

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Lennon and Maisy Stella

Nashville actor-musicians Jonathan Jackson (‘Avery Barkley’) and Lennon and Maisy Stella (sisters who portray Rayna Jaimes’ daughters in the series) will make their Grand Ole Opry debuts at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Saturday (Dec. 15).

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Holly Williams

Holly Williams has confirmed the first leg of her U.S. tour, which will include a stop in Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre on Feb. 12.

 

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Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell has sold his Malibu, Calif. Mediterranean-style villa for $4.45 million. Campbell purchased the home home in 2004 and it was redone in 2009. It features a theater with a billiard room.

 

 

Aldean’s ‘Night Train’ Goes Platinum

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Jason Aldean’s fifth album, Night Train, has been certified platinum four weeks after its Oct. 16 release. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and doubled the first week sales of his previous album, My Kinda Party.

Aldean will join a lineup that includes Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Pitbull and Psy to ring in the New Year with a three-song performance on Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013. The special airs Monday, Dec. 31 beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

The recently announced 2013 Night Train Tour will begin Feb. 21 in Bossier City, La. and will include at least four sold-out stadium shows, including Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. Special guests Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett will open.

Country Music Hall of Fame Moves Forward With Construction

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will be closed from the public from Tuesday, Jan. 22 through Wednesday, Feb. 6 in order to make needed improvements to the facility and to accommodate expansion-related construction.

“We’ve had more than four million visitors since we moved downtown in May 2001,” said Museum Director Kyle Young via a release. “We are usually closed on Tuesdays in January and February for routine maintenance, upgrades, etc. This winter, because of expansion-related construction, our efforts will be more substantial and will require a few more days. The end result will be an enhanced experience for our visitors.”

Plans for the expansion were announced in 2011. The 200,000-square-foot museum expansion will connect with the Omni Nashville convention center. Due for completion in spring 2014, it will triple the current exhibit space, include an 800 seat theater, and offer an educational center with children’s gallery, classrooms and recording studio. It will be connected to the Omni on three levels. Tuck Hinton Architects, who built the magnificent current building, are returning for the expansion

The museum will reopen on Thursday, Feb. 7.

John Corbett Plans New Release, Teams With GAC

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John Corbett tapped Jon Randall Stewart and Gary Paczosa to co-produce his newest album. Leaving Nothin’ Behind, set for release via his own Funbone Records, will be available on iTunes Jan. 29, 2013 and at retail Feb 5, 2013. He is also the face of a new GAC promotional campaign.

Though he’s best known as an actor with starring roles in Northern Exposure, Sex and the City and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Corbett isn’t new to music. His 2006 self-titled debut climbed to No. 42 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart.

Stewart wrote or co-wrote seven of the new album’s 10 songs, and contributed guitars and harmonies. The project also features Stewart’s wife Jessi Alexander, John Cowan, Brian Sutton, Dan Dugmore, Michael Rhodes, Steve Gorman, and Audley Freed. Among the tracks are “Rainy Windy Sunshine” (written by Howard Bellamy), and “Tennessee Will” (Pat McLaughlin, Adam Hood).

Corbett is the new spokesperson for GAC Living Country, the network’s branding campaign. He will be seen on GAC in a series of spots promoting the cable network’s commitment to programming that supports the country lifestyle. “We were looking for a brand spokesperson that lives and can speak to the country lifestyle and has national appeal,” said Sarah Trahern, SVP/GM, GAC. “That’s John Corbett.”

Chesney, Parmalee, Urban Give Back

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Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney is among the headliners for Rock The Ocean‘s inaugural Tortuga Music Festival, slated for April 13-14 at Ft. Lauderdale Beach in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Gary Allan, Eli Young Band, Kip Moore, Gary Clark, Jr., Avett Brothers, Sister Hazel and others are also on the bill. Sponsored by Landshark Lager and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Ocean Conservancy, the festival aims to raise awareness for marine conservation and issues affecting the world’s oceans. Tickets go on sale Saturday, Dec. 15.

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Parmalee

Stoney Creek’s Parmalee will host a live Stageit show Tuesday, Dec. 18 and will donate a portion of proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The show will be held in the studio where the band is currently recording their debut full-length album. For more information, click here.

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The 2013 Keith Urban Calendar is on sale to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The calendar features photos taken by fans during the singer’s concerts and submitted to his fan site. Since 2003 the Keith Urban Calendar has raised more than $750,000 for the hospital. For more information, visit keithurbanfans.com.

‘Country Weekly’ Adds To Editorial Staff

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Jon Freeman

Lisa Konicki, Editor-in-Chief of Country Weekly, recently announced key changes to the magazine’s editorial department. Joseph Hudak was promoted to Managing Editor, and Jon Freeman was hired as Deputy Editor.

Hudak joined Country Weekly in August and has since helped further establish the consumer publication’s brand. Hudak previously worked was Senior Editor at TV Guide Magazine.

As Deputy Editor, Freeman will help oversee Country Weekly’s digital components, including CountryWeekly.com. Freeman most recently served as Managing Editor of MusicRow.

DISClaimer: Nashville owns Christmas music

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Michael Bublé and Blake Shelton during "Michael Bublé: Home for the Holidays." Photo: Chris Large/NBC

Nashville owns Christmas music.

For one thing the CCM genre resides here, and Christmas is the time of year that endorses what those artists do all year long. Country performers are also unafraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves, which is what Christmas music asks you to do. So they annually turn in some of the best holiday albums. This sterling crop of platters even includes one from our pop/rock community.

The Disc of the Day belongs to Blake Shelton. But draw nigh unto Steven Curtis Chapman and Donna Ulisse as well. The DisCovery Award goes to Marie Miller for her creative take on “Silent Night.”

Marie Miller on the monitor from her "Silent Night" video shoot.

GORDON MOTE/Go Tell it on the Mountain
Writer: traditional; Producer: Gordon Mote, Ben Fowler & Michael English; Publisher: public domain; New Haven 
—Session keyboardist extraordinaire Mote has had quite a year, performing at both the Country and Gospel Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. On his holiday CD, The Star Still Shines, he tickles the ivories rapidly on this traditional spiritual while singing lead fronting a rocking gospel choir. Recommended, as is the album’s super-rollicking “Hay Baby.”

BLAKE SHELTON & MICHAEL BUBLE/Home
Writer: Michael Buble/Alan Chang/Amy Foster; Producer: Brent Rowan & Scott Hendricks; Publisher: I’m the Last Man Standing/Ihan Zhan/Songs of Unversal/Almost October, SOCAN/BMI; Warner Bros.
—Country’s Entertainer of the Year has Cheers It’s Christmas as his holiday offering. On it, he teams with pop crooner Buble on this lilting, wistful ballad for those who are far from home during this season. Soft strings underscore two beautifully tender vocal performances.

MARIE MILLER/Silent Night
Writer: Marie Miller/Seth Jones; Producer: Seth Jones; Publisher: Curb Songs/Magdalen Spring/Tunes of R and T Direct, ASCAP/SESAC; Curb
—It’s the traditional carol, but this arrangement pretty much jettisons the original melody in favor of a cool, inventive pop tune. She sings in a wafty soprano with ear-catching flips up into falsetto notes. Strings sigh, guitars ripple and the rhythm section serves softly choppy backing while her vocals become ever more layered. Absolutely lovely.

JOHN ANDERSON/Christmas Time
Writer: none listed; Producer: Shannon Houchins; Publisher: none listed; Average Joes
—John Anderson is back! He can be found on the compilation An Average Joes Muddy Christmas alongside Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, Bo Bice, Josh Gracin and the label’s other stars. John is in fine voice on this simply produced country ditty. It’s just him, acoustic guitar, fiddle and some harmony singers, so it sounds like a demo. But it’s just great to hear his voice again.

DONNA ULISSE & RICK STANLEY/All the Way to Bethlehem
Writer: Donna Ulisse/Kerry Chater/Lynn Gillespie Chater; Producer: Keith Sewell; Publisher: Uncle Hadley/Chater Songs/ASCAP/BMI; Hadley Music Group
—The title tune to Ulisse’s holiday CD is performed as a duet between Mary and Joseph as her time draws near. The bluegrass accompaniment is sterling, as are the perfectly matched voices. The reason this album is such a welcome gem is that all of its 11 songs are new country Christmas compositions by her. Future country Christmas record makers ought to mine this collection for repertoire.

LADY ANTEBELLUM/A Holly Jolly Christmas
Writer: Johnny Marks; Producer: Paul Worley & Lady Antebellum; Publisher: St. Nicholas, ASCAP; Capitol
—Lady A’s holiday offering, On This Winter’s Night, kicks off with my least favorite Christmas song of all time. The big-band arrangement and the group’s flawless harmonies are mighty efforts toward making it listenable. Indeed, the whole CD is inventively arranged. It also features the whitest interpretation ever of the r&b chestnut “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

SUPE & THE SANDWICHES/I’m Gonna Be Santa Claus for Christmas
Writer: Michael R. Granda; Producer: Michael Supe Granda; Publisher: Missouri Mule/Bug, BMI; Missouri Mule
—This pop Nashvillian performs a truly autobiographical tune on his CD Cool, Cool Yule. The former Ozark Mountain Daredevil now has a white beard and is, indeed, appearing as Santa in the community this year. The quasi-Dixieland romp is full of good humor and cheer. Recommended.

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN/Christmas Time Again
Writer: Steven Curtis Chapman/Caleb Chapman; Producer: Steven Curtis Chapman & Brent Milligan; Publisher: Chappy Campers/Primary Wave/Wixen, BMI; Provident
—CCM superstar Chapman has a new CD titled Joy that is half familiar favorites and half original tunes. Its single is one of the latter. It’s a soulful bopper with a nicely raspy vocal, a dandy drumming backbeat and some chesty male backup singing. This guy simply doesn’t know how to make a bad record. Splendid work…again.

FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI/O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Writer: traditional; Producer: Ian Eskelin; Publisher: public domain; Fervent/Curb
—Her version of this traditional is taken at a stately pace with her aching voice fronting a string section and piano. As the track progresses, extra voices enter, the strings swell louder, the piano becomes more elaborate and the overall texture becomes grander. You’ll find it on her CD titled, simply, Christmas.

SCOTTY McCREERY/Santa Claus Is Back In Town
Writer: none listed; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: none listed; Mercury/19
—Most of the Christmas with Scotty McCreery CD is comprised of familiar fare. He is surprisingly soulful on this blues chestnut, giving it oomph, rasp and growls in all the right places. He ends it with a “C.C. Rider” rave-up, Elvis style. The whole project is a Gold-selling pleasure.

Star-Studded Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert to Air Tonight

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Thirty-six U.S. networks, global television partners, select movie theaters, Clear Channel radio stations and various streaming websites will broadcast 12-12-12, The Concert for Sandy Relief, tonight (12/12) live from Madison Square Garden.

The concert’s organizers, hoping to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy victims in the tri-state area, have scheduled a lineup of superstar performers, including The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Who, Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Bon Jovi, David Grohl, Chris Martin, Alicia Keys, Eddie Vedder, and Roger Walters.

“This has become a global event,” Zena Burns, VP of digital programming platforms for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, told Mashable. “Between TV, radio and online streaming on YouTube, Hulu, AOL, iHeartRadio and Time Inc brands, the concert will reach nearly 2 billion homes worldwide as the most widely distributed music event in history.”

12-12-12, The Concert for Sandy Relief, begins at 7:30 p.m. ET. A complete list of broadcast partners carrying program can be found here.

An online store has been set up with 12-12-12 merchandise with all proceeds benefitting the Robin Hood Relief Fund, to ensure donations reach non-profit groups helping Hurricane Sandy victims. For information on donations, click here.

William Morris Endeavor Adds To Artist Roster

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LiveWire, Photo: Dave Summerlin

William Morris Endeavor (WME) has signed country band LiveWire to its artist roster.

“We are very excited to be a part of the WME roster,” says LiveWire lead guitarist and founder, Bobby DeGonia. “It is a huge step for us and we look forward to great things to come from this.”

LiveWire released its debut album, Livin‘, on Way Out West Records in November. LiveWire includes DeGonia (lead guitar/harmony vocals), Andy Eutsler (lead vocals/acoustic guitar), Danny Bell (rhythm guitar/harmony vocals), Cory Shultz (fiddle/harmony vocals) and Landon Rolfe (bass guitar).

William Morris Endeavor represents numerous country entertainers, including Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift and The Band Perry, among others.

The Recording Academy Names Lifetime Achievement Honorees

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Glenn Gould, Charlie Haden, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Carole King, Patti Page, Ravi Shankar and The Temptations have been named as Lifetime Achievement Award recipients by the The Recording Academy.

Additionally, Marilyn & Alan Bergman, Leonard & Phil Chess and Alan Livingston have been named Trustee Award honorees; while Ikutaro Kakehashi & Dave Smith and Royer Labs are Technical GRAMMY Award recipients.

“Each year, The Academy has the distinct privilege of honoring those who have greatly contributed to our industry and cultural heritage, and this year we have a gifted and brilliant group of honorees,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, via a release. “Their exceptional accomplishments, contributions and artistry will continue to influence and inspire generations to come.”

Patti Page‘s smooth vocal style blended country and pop music. Her version of “Tennessee Waltz” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Country charts in 1950. “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window,” “All My Love (Bolero)” and “I Went To Your Wedding” each topped the Billboard Top 100 chart.

Lightnin’ Hopkins, a Texas country/blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist, recorded approximately 1,000 songs. Hopkins’ distinct guitar styling earned him a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

An invitation-only ceremony will be held during GRAMMY Week on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 while a formal acknowledgement will be made during the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, which will be held at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. The Grammy Awards will broadcast live beginning at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.