Initial MerleFest 2013 Lineup Announced

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The late Doc Watson and his musical legacy will figure prominently into MerleFest 2013, scheduled for April 25-28 on the campus of Wilkesboro Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The popular annual roots music festival (or “traditional plus,” in Watson’s words) was founded in honor of Watson’s son Eddy Merle, who passed away in 1985.

“This year’s festival will celebrate the life and music of our dear friend Doc Watson, who passed away on May 29,” says Ted Hagaman, MerleFest director. “For the past 25 years he has been the artistic and spiritual center of this festival, so this year, we will come together as a family to pay special tribute to the man and the musician who meant so much to us all.”

Headliners initially announced for the event include Charlie Daniels Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and a special all-star tribute to the late Watson assembled by mandolin virtuoso Sam Bush. Also scheduled to play are Matraca Berg, The Greencards, Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Quebe Sisters Band, Bryan Sutton, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and many more.

“This initial lineup shows that the festival will definitely live up to its ‘traditional plus’ motto, with a strong collection of internationally-known touring artists from many genres, as well as a collection of local North Carolina folk and bluegrass artists,” says Steve Johnson, MerleFest artist relations manager. “And, MerleFest fans know, as the lineup continues to develop in the coming months, it will offer quite a few surprises – let’s just say it’s going to be a big year!”

Tickets go on sale November 13. See the full lineup here.

Chesney Announces Stadiums for 2013 Tour

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Kenny Chesney has announced 17 stadium dates for his 2013 No Shoes Nation Tour, which kicks off March 16 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

The tour offers a variety of special guests including Eric Church, Eli Young Band, Kacey Musgraves and Zac Brown Band (see dates below). Additional dates will be added in the coming months.

“I believe what we’ve created on the road is something special,” says Chesney, “the fans, myself, the band, the crew. But it’s really the fans who have given us a wonderful, unique life.”

Once again, the tour offers VIP packages from CID Entertainment including hotel and shuttle accommodations, Sandbar or Premium Reserved seating entrances and exits, access to the pre-game tailgate party, and new gift items.

For on-sale information, visit https://tickets.kennychesney.com.

Chesney, who’s played an impressive 85 stadiums over his 20-year career, is a finalist for Billboard’s ‘Top Package’ Award at tonight’s (11/8) Touring Awards, which he has received six-times prior. The recognition marks the year’s top-grossing tour overall for which Chesney’s The Brothers Of the Sun grossed roughly $100 million.

No Shoes Nation Dates:

Mar 16 – Tampa, FL -­ Raymond James Stadium^
May 4 – Columbia, SC – Williams Brice Stadium*
May 11 – Dallas, TX — Dallas Cowboys Stadium^
May 18 – Milwaukee, WI — Miller Park^
May 25 – Landover, MD — FedExField^
Jun 1 -­ Seattle, WA ­ CenturyLink Field^
Jun 8 – Philadelphia, PA — Lincoln Financial Field^
Jun 15 – Kansas City, MO — Arrowhead Stadium^
Jun 22 – Pittsburgh, PA ­- Heinz Field^
Jun 29 – Columbus, OH ­ Crew Stadium^
Jul 12 – Minneapolis, MN — Target Field*
Jul 20 – Denver, CO — Sports Authority Field at Mile High^
Jul 27 – Anaheim, CA — Angels Stadium^
Aug 3 – Atlanta, GA — Georgia Dome*
Aug 10 – East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium^
Aug 17 – Detroit, MI — Ford Field^
Aug 24 – Foxboro, MA — Gillette Stadium^

* with Zac Brown Band, Eli Young Band, and Kacey Musgraves
^ with Eric Church, Eli Young Band, and Kacey Musgraves

Tracy Lawrence to Host 7th Annual “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry

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The 7th Annual “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry, hosted by Tracy Lawrence, takes place 8 am – 5 pm Tuesday, Nov. 20 in the parking lot of the Nashville Rescue Mission (639 Lafayette Street). This year’s mission is to fry over 500 turkeys for Nashville’s homeless and hungry.

“The Nashville Rescue Mission is a blessing to our community,” says Lawrence. “Each year I am humbled by the outpouring of support from friends who give their time to be part of the Turkey Fry. This special day allows us the opportunity to help raise awareness of the great services the Mission provides everyday to the homeless and those in need.”

Since launching in 2006, the “Mission Possible” turkey fry has brought in nearly 6,000 turkeys and provided more than 35,000 meals to help Nashville Rescue Mission. Lawrence routinely gets assistance from his celebrity friends for the event, and this year Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas and the Titan Cheerleaders will be present.

The event is free and open to the public, and donations are appreciated. More information here.

Charlie Daniels Releases Christmas Album

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Buffets, Inc. and Country icon Charlie Daniels have partnered to launch a new Christmas album called Hallelujah It’s Christmas Time Again, which is already in stores.

Available exclusively in Buffets, Inc. restaurants (Ryan’s, Old Country Buffet, HomeTown, and more) for $8.99, Hallelujah… includes a mix of holiday classics and originals including “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Hallelujah,” and more. Profits from the sale of the album will be donated to the Armed Services YMCA for Operation Outdoors, a camp program for the children of military personnel.

“The Buffets, Inc. brands are providing a way to celebrate Christmas through music and help the children of our military at the same time,” says Daniels. “It’s important to remember the reason for this season.”

Find restaurants here.

Craig Morgan on GAC ‘Origins’

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Craig Morgan is the subject of a new installment of GAC series Origins. Premiering Wed., Nov. 14, 9 p.m./CST, the show features interviews with his family, former Army commander, and manager.

Also on the show, Morgan will offer acoustic performances of his hits including “More Trucks Than Cars,” “Love Loves a Long Night,” “Redneck Yacht Club” and “This Ole Boy,” at his old stomping grounds, the Grand Ole Hatchery in Dickson, TN where he lives.

As a veteran, Morgan is avid supporter of the military and will serve as the national spokesperson for Operation Ride Home, a campaign led by the Jack Daniel Distillery to help service members and their families travel from bases to home this holiday season. Visit www.jdoperationridehome.com to contribute.

Albright & O’Malley Elevates Becky Brenner

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Country Radio veteran Becky Brenner has been elevated to full partner of consulting firm Albright & O’Malley, which she joined in January 2012. Following Brenner’s promotion, the company will now be renamed Albright & O’Malley & Brenner.

“We knew that this would be the perfect addition of yet another first team player to Albright & O’Malley’s arsenal of strategic and tactical weapons for our clients,” says partner Jaye Albright. “Becky has done everything including morning drive personality, promotions, marketing, programming, operations and new media manager, during her illustrious 35 year career at CBS Radio, ARS, EZ Communications, Broadcast Programming and Midwest Family.”

Brenner was previously the longtime Program Director/Digital Web Manager for KMPS-FM and the CBS Radio Seattle cluster, from 1982-1992 and 1995-2011. She was named as one of the top PDs in the country (all formats) for multiple years, and recognized as Country’s No. 1 programmer five times by Radio Ink.

Brenner will continue to be based out of her Seattle home office. Congratulate her here.

Faith Hill to Debut New Music Video

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Faith Hill

Faith Hill is set to premiere the official music video for her latest single, “American Heart” tomorrow (11/8) during a uStream event on FaithHill.com and Facebook at 9 pm ET.

The simulcast event is Hill’s first music video in nearly five years and will offer fans exclusive behind the scenes footage (preview below) from the shoot. The songstress filmed the video, which features 10-year-old T.J. Jones as a sidekick, in Nashville last month with director Trey Fanjoy.

“American Heart” was co-written by Jonathan Singleton and Jim Beavers, co-produced with Byron Gallimore and Hill and recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios. “When I first heard this song I was brought to tears,” said Hill. “I not only knew I had to record it, but I almost immediately saw it visually.”

The single is currently available on iTunes as the singer plans to begin a headlining Las Vegas series at the Venetian Hotel and Casino through the spring of 2013 with husband Tim McGraw.

Benefit News (11/7/12)

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As our friends in the northeast begin the long recovery process from Hurricane Sandy, some talented people from down South are pitching in to help with the effort:

• Texas fave James McMurtry performed at Austin’s Continental Club dressed as Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz) for Halloween, and is now auctioning off his ruby slippers to the Red Cross for hurricane relief. Bid on the shoes here.

• Closer to Nashville, the “Thursday Night Fishing Club” music series at Cafe Fontanella will benefit the areas on Long Island hardest hit by Sandy. Guests are asked to bring gift cards of $10 or greater value from Visa, MasterCard, Amex, or retailers such as Home Depot, Costco, etc. “I am from Long Island and have never seen this kind of devastation from a storm,” said Thursday Night Fishing Club founder Gary Shiebler. “The great thing about gift cards is that they give folks a small sense of control and normalcy in a world turned upside down, even if it means just buying a bottle of shampoo or a cup of coffee.”

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Inspired by the message of “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Martina McBride’s fan club members have raised over $25,000 to fund cancer research. The club members formed Team Martina and dedicated the amount for a grant in McBride’s name at that Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville through the T.J. Martell Foundation.

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Max's painting of Taylor Swift

The artwork of Peter Max will be on display and available for acquisition at the Rymer Gallery, starting with a special uncrating event Friday, November 9. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Additionally, Max will be present at the gallery for receptions on Nov. 17 and 18. More info here.

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Belmont University, along with Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins, will host Nashville Family Day on Sunday, Nov. 11, 1-4 pm at Curb Event Center. American Idol finalist Colton Dixon and Disney’s Coco Jones are scheduled to attend the event, which benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation. Tickets are $50 for a family of four, or $15 for an individual, and available here.

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Larry Hoppen

Also Sunday, Nov. 11 is the “Orleans & Friends” show at the Mercy Lounge. The popular ‘70s band behind “Still the One” lost its lead-singer Larry Hoppen suddenly in July 2012, and the show will benefit his children through the Hoppen Family Benefit Fund. Guests include John Ford Coley, Henry Paul (Blackhawk), Jonell Mosser, Kathie Baillie & Michael Bonagura, Bill Lloyd, Alyssa Bonagura, and Pete Huttlinger. There is a $20 minimum donation, and tickets are available here.

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Songwriters Spotlight will present a special concert featuring the talents of Even Stevens, Leslie Satcher, Tim Rushlow (Little Texas), Larry Stewart (Restless Heart) and Raven Cliff on Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Franklin Theatre. The event will benefit Landstuhl Hospital Care Project, the largest overseas US military hospital. Limited tickets are available here.

 

Shelton’s Christmas Special, Lambert’s New Store

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A week after Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton racked up at the CMA Awards, there’s more good news from the country couple. She’ll join him on Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas, an NBC primetime special which also features Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson. It will air Mon., Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. CT and Fri., Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. CT.

Lambert is opening a store called the Pink Pistol in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Set to debut on Black Friday, (Nov. 23), the shop will carry all of ‘Ran’s favorite things, from gifts and antiques to boots and jeans. She and Shelton live on a farm near Tishomingo. She will compete for favorite country female at the Nov. 18 American Music Awards, airing on ABC and then hit the road with Dierks Bently on the Locked & Reloaded tour Jan. 17.

 

Warner Nationwide Restructuring Unlikely to Affect Nashville

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A Warner Music Group reorganization is unlikely to affect local operations or lead to lay offs. According to multiple news outlets, WMG will be divided into the following three divisions in the U.S.:

• Recorded music—includes Warner Music Nashville, Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records.

• Music publishing and catalog development—will bring together Warner/Chappell and Rhino Entertainment under Warner Chappell CEO and chairman, Cameron Strang. This move is designed to spur catalog exploitation, which includes synch licensing. Rhino offers many music reissues, and has product by Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Smiths, Chicago, Foreigner, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Monkees, The Stooges, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Tony Joe White and more.

• Label and artist services—home to distribution and other peripheral operations such as tour production, booking, artists services, event production and marketing, this includes WEA, ADA, 360° Operations and D2C. Matt Signore will lead the label and artist services division as general manager / CFO.

Billboard first broke the story, when it obtained an email from WMG CEO Steve Cooper to employees.