“American Songwriter” Reveals Lyric Contest Judges, Prize Co-Write

/by

American Songwriter magazine has announced the judges and Grand Prize for its 27th annual Amateur Lyric Contest, sponsored by Gibson Guitars and Shure Microphones. Winners are chosen bi-monthly and one winner will be awarded a Nashville co-writing meeting and demo recording.

Included on the judging panel are Scott Billington (Rounder Records), Tom DeSavia (Songs Music Publishing), Tim Hunze (Parallel Music), Ali Tamposi (songwriter), Carter Little (35Sound), Dave Barnes (songwriter), Caine O’Rear (American Songwriter), Marshall Altman (Producer/Songwriter), Lee Dannay (Warner-Chappell Music), John Ritchie (American Songspace), Sue Drew (ASCAP), Jocelyn Harms (SESAC) and Bradley Collins (BMI).

Additionally, the Grand Prize “Dream Co-Writer” for the 2013 winner will be songwriter and Curb Records artist Lee Brice, who has scored numerous hits both as an artist (“Hard to Love”) and as a songwriter (“Crazy Girl”). The contest winner and Brice will be paired up in early 2014 for a writing session.

“It’s an honor to be featured in a magazine that celebrates the craft of songwriting,” said Brice. “I’ve got some big shoes to fill but I am definitely looking forward to sitting down with an aspiring songwriter. Songs are the foundation of country music – of all music – and writing is one of my favorite parts of the creative process.”

More information on the contest here.

Election Day Links

/by

NYT chart shows paths to the White House.

Here are some cool election day tools. The New York Times has an interactive chart that shows 512 paths to the White House, based on electoral college wins. According to the site, Obama has 431 ways to win, Romney has 76 ways to win, and there are five paths to a tie.

CNN and Google partnered to create Campaign Explorer which breaks down the candidates ad spending, travel, and fundraising by state. The site’s stats about Tennessee:

Fundraising: Obama raised about $2.5 million, and Romney raised about $5.8 million. Davidson is listed as the most generous county.

Travel: Obama hasn’t visited Tennessee and Romney visited Franklin in June.

Ad Buys: Obama spent $1.66 million and Romney spent $666,350.

2012 “CMT Artists of the Year” Hosts Announced

/by

Rascal Flatts and Hayden Panettiere will host the third annual CMT Artists of the Year honors, set to premiere on the network Saturday, Dec. 8 at 11:00 pm, ET/PT.

The 90-minute special honors Country’s top acts with performances and special appearances from others in entertainment. This year marks the first time the list of honorees will be kept secret until the broadcast.

“Nashville is my second home now,” says Panettiere. “I am so happy to be embraced by the country community and to be included in such a big event, especially with Rascal Flatts. I can’t wait to see how the evening unfolds!”

Previous CMT Artists of the Year include Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Zac Brown Band.

The program’s executive producers are R.A.Clark, John Hamlin and Margaret Comeaux.

Football Snapshots (11/6/12)

/by

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper joined Phil Vassar and his band for some pre-game music on the Tennessee Titans Party Stage at LP Field when the Titans played the Chicago Bears. Fans were treated to classics like “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Knock On Wood,” “In the Midnight Hour,” and more.

(L-R): Vassar band members Steve Cook and Andy Sheridan; Cropper; Vassar; and Vassar band members Jeff Smith and Brock West. Photo: Tommy Garris

• • • •

Country sibling trio High Valley recently performed its US debut single “Love You For A Long Time” during the pre-game concert at Heinz Stadium when the Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Washington Redskins.

(L-R): High Valley’s Curtis, Brad, and Bryan Rempel

45 RPM To Salute Connie Smith Tomorrow Night

/by

Monthly concert series 45rpm will salute Connie Smith during a special installment on Wed., Nov. 7. The event will be held at Douglas Corner at 7 p.m., there is a $5 cover. Surprise guests are expected.

Created by steel guitar player Mike Johnson, songwriter Jimmy Melton, and UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, 45rpm highlights the great artists, songs, songwriters and producers from the ’60s and ’70s such as Mel Street, Don Williams, Gary Stewart, Gene Watson and Tammy Wynette. The band is led by Johnson and Melton, and includes some of Nashville’s top studio musicians.

The event is usually held the last Wednesday of each month. Occasionally, 45rpm spotlights a specific person from the era. Past spotlight shows have honored Gene Watson, Leona Williams, Norro Wilson, Garth Fundis and Sonny Throckmorton.

Details on Facebook.

Reba Celebrates Return To Television

/by

Reba

Reba McEntire celebrated the premiere of her new ABC show Malibu Country this past Friday night (11/2) with staff at her Nashville Starstruck offices on Music Row.

The new comedy series ranked in the evening’s top slot, with 8.9 million viewers tuning in. The debut also helped to make ABC the evening’s number one network among adults 18-49.

Preceding the 8:30 pm ET/7:30 CT premiere, McEntire held an hour-long webchat to answer questions from fans and host phone calls from Malibu Country co-stars.

Included in promotions for Malibu Country is new music from McEntire called “The New Me,” written by Dave Stewart, McEntire, and her husband/manager Narvel Blackstock. The song is currently available from ABC on iTunes.

The morning of the CMA Awards (11/1), McEntire performed another new song from the show, called “Goodbye Looks Good On Me” as well as recent hits “Turn On The Radio” and “Consider Me Gone,” live from Nashville on Good Morning America.

Stoney Creek Promotes Jen Joe

/by

Jen Joe

Stoney Creek Records has promoted Jen Joe to Midwest Manager of Promotion, effective immediately. She has served as the Promotion Coordinator for Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records for almost four years.

Joe takes over the position previously held by Shelley Hargis, who was upped to National Director of Promotion for new imprint RED BOW Records, a partnership between the BBR Music Group and RED Distribution.

Joe can be reached at 615-320-1372 and at Jen@stoneycreekrecords.com.

ACM Reveals Radio Award Submission Details

/by

Earlier today (11/5), the Academy of Country Music announced the radio awards submission dates for the 48th Annual ACM Awards will extend from Wednesday, Nov. 14 through noon PT on Friday, Dec. 7.

Nominees for the radio awards categories (outlined below) will be announced in spring 2013. The ACM Awards telecast, airing LIVE on CBS next spring at a yet-to-be-decided date, recognizes winners for the previous calendar year (radio eligibility period extends from Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 7, 2012).

Only current ACM members may submit for Station or On-Air Personality category consideration; the application deadline for new memberships is this Friday, Nov. 9, and for existing membership renewals is Friday, Nov. 16 here. Categories to be awarded include:

  • On-Air Personality of the Year – National
  • On-Air Personality of the Year – Major (Markets 1-25)
  • On-Air Personality of the Year – Large (Markets 26-50)
  • On-Air Personality of the Year – Medium (Markets 51-100)
  • On-Air Personality of the Year – Small (Markets 101+)
  • Radio Station of the Year – Major (Markets 1-25)
  • Radio Station of the Year – Large (Markets 26-50)
  • Radio Station of the Year – Medium (Markets 51-100)
  • Radio Station of the Year – Small (Markets 101+)

Benefits and Lifenotes

/by

MusicRow extends condolences to PLA Publicist Carly Caramanna on the passing of her father. Her family’s home and business, located on one of New Jersey’s barrier islands, suffered a complete loss during Hurricane Sandy. Her father died of a heart attack on Saturday at the age of 52. She is with her family and is on extended leave from work. To donate to her family’s relief fund, go to the PLA website and use PayPal (note “for Carly” with the donation), or contact Pam Lewis at pam.lewis@plamedia.com or (615) 327-0100.

• • • •

Ronnie Milsap at Rock The Cradle.

Ronnie Milsap headlined Rock the Cradle, a benefit for the Baptist Hospital NICU, on Oct. 23. Presented by the ACM, the show at Loveless Barn featured a performance by songwriter Leslie Satcher, and Allison DeMarcus as emcee.

Rock the Cradle has generated more than $400,000 in proceeds over the past three years for the Beaman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Rock the Cradle is organized by a committee of music industry, business and community leaders and led by event co-chairs Connie Bradley and Troy Tomlinson.

• • • •

Operation Finally Home has joined forces with LP Building Products, Kix Brooks and American Country Countdown to build six homes for deserving veterans across the country over the next two years. The first home will be built in Las Vegas, Nev., in 2013 for wounded Ft. Campbell soldier Army Cpl. Christopher Bales. The Bales home build is scheduled to begin in January 2013 with a projected completion date in January 2014. More at FinallyHomeUSA.com.

• • • •

Danny Gokey has tapped fellow singing competition stars Kris Allen (Idol) and Jamar Rogers (The Voice) for the 3rd Annual Cruise for Sophia’s Heart Foundation, setting sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on Feb. 24, 2013. All guests on the four-day Bahamas Cruise will enjoy concerts, meet & greets, silent and live auctions, dinners and more the artists. Sophia’s Heart supports compassion programs in Nashville that benefit homeless children, families and victims rescued from human trafficking. www.sophiasheart.org

CRS 2013 Artist Humanitarian Award Recipient Named

/by

Warner Music Nashville duo Big & Rich has been named as the recipient of the CRS 2013 Artist Humanitarian Award, which will be presented during CRS 2013 on Wed., Feb. 27.

The duo’s collective charitable endeavors are wide-ranging and date back more than a decade. Among the causes the pair has championed are St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the 173rd Airborne Memorial Fund, Project Clean Water, the Special Olympics, Second Harvest Food Band and more. The duo has also done international outreach for underprivileged children in Uganda, Sudan, Haiti, and Kenya among others.

“Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich individually and collectively have used their success to set a personal example for all of us to follow as humanitarians,” says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. “Their selfless contributions have gone a long way to help make life better for countless men, women, and children, both today and tomorrow.”

The honor will be conferred at 10:30 am on Feb. 27 immediately following the CRS Keynote Address.

Register for CRS 2013 here.