The American Country Awards are nailing down final performances before airing live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 10 on FOX. The show will air at 8 p.m. ET.
Keith Urban is the latest performer announced for the show, singing alongside seven young musicians from the Grammy Camp music program. A $25,000 donation will be made to promote Grammy in the Schools programs including the Camp.
Hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth will each perform during the two-hour special also featuring appearances by Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line, Gloriana, Love and Theft, and the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt and Barry Zito.
Previously announced participants include Casey James, Miranda Lambert, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Natasha Bedingfield, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Ron White and Chris Young.
Voting for Artist of the Year ends today (Dec. 7). For a complete list of nominees, click here.
Florida Georgia Line has also been tapped to headline the official after-party at the House of Blues at the resort and casino. For after-party tickets, click here.
Warner Music Nashville Promotes Two
/by Jessica NicholsonWarner Music Nashville has promoted Lisa Ray and Justin Luffman each to the position of Vice President, Brand Management. Both will report to Peter Strickland, VP of Brand Management and Sales.
Ray previously served as Senior Director, Marketing at WEA, while Luffman served as Director, Online Marketing at Warner Music Nashville. The position of Vice President, Brand Management was previously held by Kelli Haywood, who is leaving and will stay with the company through January to help facilitate a smooth transition.
“Kelli has been a vital and extraordinary part of the Warner family, and will be greatly missed,” said Strickland via a statement. “I am excited that WMN is simultaneously able to recognize internal talent and, as part of the brand management department’s ongoing development and growth, promote two internal candidates to Vice President. Justin and Lisa not only both bring their unique talents to the brand management department, but will also continue to build upon its reputation for innovation and success.”
“Warner Music Nashville has been my home for eight years, and my love for the artists and this staff is unparalleled—they are family,” said Haywood. “I am thankful to John Esposito and Peter Strickland for all they have done for me as I look forward to pursuing the next chapter of my career.”
Haywood joined WMN as a temp and has been with the company for eight years. Ray joined WEA in 2003, while Luffman joined the Digital and Interactive department of WMN in 2010.
MusicRow No. 1 Song
/by Eric T. ParkerBrad Paisley on location for "Southern Comfort Zone."
Brad Paisley has claimed this week’s MusicRow Chart No. 1 spot with his “Southern Comfort Zone.” Co-written by Paisley and his go-to writers Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois, the song is the first single from the singer’s ninth studio album, slated for release April 9.
Although the 11-week-old single is victorious on our radio chart, fans are waiting with bated breath for Paisley to reveal an official music video. All that waiting will end this Monday (12/10) with Paisley’s recently scheduled web chat and online video debut.
Until then, filming locations for the Jim Shea directed work remain purely speculation, but the latest photo from the shoot shows Paisley in front of the Eiffel tower. We’re hoping additional song lyrics foreshadow Paisley’s other filming destinations as: “…streets of Rome…the northern lights.”
One thing is certain, you don’t need a passport to enjoy the song.
Find more information on the upcoming video release here.
Lisa Matassa Video Earns 2 Million YouTube Views
/by Jessica NicholsonLisa Matassa‘s recently released video for “Somebody’s Baby” is gaining a solid response from music fans. The video has already garnered over 2 million views on YouTube.
Matassa’s EP Somebody’s Baby was released Tuesday (Dec. 4) on iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby.
The enhanced disc, comprised of seven songs and a bonus music video, was produced by Tony Bruno (Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias) and recorded in Nashville and New York. Matassa wrote three tracks on the EP, including “Wouldn’t You Like to Know,” “Girl with a Rock ‘n Roll Heart“ and “Learning As You Grow.” Other writers include Bryan Adams, Kelly Archer, Dolly Parton and Don Rollins.
The clip for “Somebody’s Baby,” directed by Traci Goudie (Hunter Hayes, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin), is included on the enhanced EP.
Sony/ATV Tops Publisher Airplay Charts
/by Sarah SkatesSony/ATV also slid into first place on the Top 10 Country Publisher Airplay Chart with 23.4 percent market share. Following were Warner/Chappell with 11.7 percent, and Universal Music Publishing with 9.6 percent.
The indies who made the list are worth noting, including Words and Music (No. 4 with 7.7%), Big Loud Bucks (No. 6 with 4.2%), Cal IV (No. 7 with 3.5%), and Wrensong (No. 10 with 1.8%).
Other majors in the Country Top 10 were BMG Chrysalis (No. 5 with 5.9%), Kobalt (No. 8 with 2.5%) and ole (No. 9 with 1.9%).
The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA) prepares the charts from information in its comprehensive database, which determines a publisher’s share of a song. A publisher is defined as an administrator, copyright owner and/or controlling party. The charts are based upon airplay information provided by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. For the Country charts, percentage calculations are based upon the overall top 100 detected songs from 221 U.S. Country radio stations. The chart is in Billboard’s Nov. 24 issue.
Lori Christian Promoted at UMG Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonLori Christian
UMG Nashville has promoted Lori Christian to Vice President, Media for the label. Christian will continue to report directly to Cindy Mabe, Senior Vice President, Marketing at UMG Nashville.
“I am thrilled to recognize Lori with this promotion to Vice President,” says Mabe. “She has brought a superior level of media expertise to the label and has proven herself as a leader within the company. She has great relationships within the industry and among the TV bookers and general media, as well as a strong sense of marketing to the big picture goal. I have long respected her creativity, genuine enthusiasm and passion for our music and artists.”
Christian was previously Senior Director, Media & Public Relations for Capitol Records Nashville. Prior to her work at Capitol, Lori was Director of Media for RCA Nashville, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
UMG Nashville’s artist roster includes Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Gary Allan, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and many others.
Pinnacle Financial Partners Adds Senior VP
/by Jessica NicholsonMatt Little
Matt Little has joined Pinnacle Financial Partners as a senior vice president and financial advisor. He has 17 years of experience at Regions Bank and the former First American, where he most recently worked at the Regions/Morgan Keegan Private Banking Division on Music Row.
Little holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Lipscomb University. He is a member of the Country Music Association, Nashville Songwriters Association International and the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences.
Artist Updates (12/7/2012)
/by Jessica NicholsonJennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and husband Justin Miller welcomed their first child, son Magnus Hamilton Miller on Thursday (12/6). “We are so thankful for all the prayers and support and are excited to take some time together as a new family,” they said via a release.
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Randy Travis
Randy Travis will be among the performers at the upcoming American Giving Awards, set to air on Saturday (12/8) on NBC from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif. “Giving back to the community is something that I support and believe is truly important. I am honored to be part of this year’s American Giving Awards,” says Travis via a release. Five charities will be chosen to share $2 million in grants.
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Brent Cobb Photo: Jarrad Lister
Carnival Music singer-songwriter Brent Cobb will be featured as part of Rhapsody’s Country Christmas 2012, with an exclusive video of Cobb performing Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December.” Cobb recently released a self-titled EP (produced by Matthew Miller and Oran Thornton) and his debut single “Love On Me” has been released to country radio.
Cameron Strang Continues Warner Climb
/by Sarah SkatesCameron Strang
Warner/Chappell Music Chairman and CEO Cameron Strang is taking on more record company responsibilities. He will replace exiting Warner Bros. President/CEO Todd Moscowitz, in a role that includes oversight of WMG’s West Coast U.S. operations.
As a result, Warner Bros. Records Chairman Rob Cavallo and and co-President/COO Livia Tortella will report directly to Strang.
Last month when WMG restructured, Strang added responsibilities for Rhino Records.
ACA Awards Prep Monday’s Show
/by Eric T. ParkerKeith Urban is the latest performer announced for the show, singing alongside seven young musicians from the Grammy Camp music program. A $25,000 donation will be made to promote Grammy in the Schools programs including the Camp.
Hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth will each perform during the two-hour special also featuring appearances by Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line, Gloriana, Love and Theft, and the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt and Barry Zito.
Previously announced participants include Casey James, Miranda Lambert, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Natasha Bedingfield, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Ron White and Chris Young.
Voting for Artist of the Year ends today (Dec. 7). For a complete list of nominees, click here.
Florida Georgia Line has also been tapped to headline the official after-party at the House of Blues at the resort and casino. For after-party tickets, click here.
Brad Paisley To Debut Video Via uStream
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley will premiere the official music video of his current single, “Southern Comfort Zone,” during a live Ustream broadcast on Monday (Dec. 10). Fans will be able to watch the stream beginning at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT via www.BradPaisley.com and ustream.tv/bradpaisley.
Participants will be able to do more than just watch the video, however. Viewers worldwide will have the ability to chat with Paisley immediately after the video’s premiere via Ustream’s social stream and via Twitter by tweeting using the hashtag #bradpaisleychat.
“Southern Comfort Zone” is directed by Jim Shea, who also directed Paisley’s previous videos “Waitin’ On A Woman,” “Start A Band,” and “When I Get Where I’m Going,” as well as “Welcome to the Future” and “Water.” The track is from Paisley’s upcoming album, due out April 9.