L–R: Bob DiPiero, Dierks Bentley, Jaren Johnston, and Jim Beavers gather before their CMA Songwriters Series performance at New York City's Joe's Pub.
The CMA Songwriters Series returned to New York City’s Joe’s Pub last night (9/13) with two sold out shows featuring three-time 2012 CMA Award nominee Dierks Bentley, songwriters Jim Beavers and Jaren Johnston, and Songwriters Hall of Fame member and CMA Songwriters Series host Bob DiPiero.
Bentley spent the day leading up to the show with students from P.S. 103, The Hector Fontanez School, in the Bronx. He met with the fourth-grade class and toured two music rooms, which were completely outfitted with instruments and supplies, provided by a $20,000 donation from The CMA Foundation and the CMA Keep the Music Playing program.
“This program was conceived by our artist community,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “So, it is terrific when our artists are able to visit the schools we support and see firsthand the impact these instruments have on the lives of the students and teachers.”
Bentley will also appear in CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airing Monday Sept. 17 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry, the three-hour special features the A to Z of Country Music’s hottest stars with a concert lineup including: Jason Aldean, Kix Brooks, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Hank Williams Jr., and Zac Brown Band.
L–R: NAfME Director of Strategic Relationships, Victoria Chamberlain; ETM Executive Sirector, Katherine Dahkohler; P.S. 103 Principal, Farid Reyes; Bentley; ETM Program Director, Pete Pauliks; CMA Community Outreach Manager, Matt Seaton; and NAfME Assistant Executive Director, Jane Mell Balek.
Show Dog-Universal Signs Josh Thompson
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured Front Row: SDUs Tom Baldrica, Rick Hughes, Cliff Audretch, Wright, Thompson, CreekHouse Entertainment's Julianne Drenon, SDUs Bill Kennedy and Rick Moxley. Back Row: William Morris' Lane Wilson, SDUs George Nunes, Laurie Gore, Cat Covell, Macy Morgenthaler, Sloane Cavitt Logue, Jordon Hall, Nathan Cruise and Natalie Moore
Show Dog-Universal Music President, Mark Wright, announced today (9/17) that Josh Thompson has signed an exclusive recording contract with the label.
Thompson was previously signed to Columbia records where he released his debut album, Way Out Here, in 2009. The record produced three singles, “Beer on the Table,” “Way Out Here,” “Won’t Be Lonely Long.” Thompson, along with label mate Miranda Lambert transitioned to RCA records when the Columbia imprint restructured in 2011. He most recently released a single to radio titled, “Comin’ Around.”
Thompson joins existing Show Dog-Universal roster including Toby Keith, Trace Adkins, JT Hodges, Jessie James, and Rose Falcon.
Artist Updates (9/17/12)
/by Caitlin RantalaL–R: Desmond Howard, Chesney, Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstriet
On Saturday (9/15), Kenny Chesney attended the annual SEC rivalry football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Florida Gators. Earlier that day, Chesney joined the ESPN College Gameday Crew to discuss the upcoming gridiron action of the day.
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L–R: abe Witcher, Chris Eldridge, Leslie Fram (SVP of Music Strategy, CMT), Chris Thile, Martin Clayton (VP of CMT.com), Paul Kowart and Noam Pikelny
Punch Brothers stopped by CMT’s studios in Nashville last week (9/14) to celebrate the launch of the network’s new music discovery website, CMTedge.com. The band performed before an invitation-only crowd, and their performance was taped to air later this fall exclusively on CMT Edge.
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L–R: ASCAP's Alison Toczylowski, Tim Easton, Matt Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Clay Cook and ASCAP's Mike Sistad
ASCAP’s September showcase at the Bluebird featured Old Dominion bandmates and co-writers Matt Ramsey and Trevor Rosen, Zac Brown Band member and celebrated Nashville songwriter Clay Cook, and Americana troubadour Tim Easton. This month’s edition of ASCAP’s long-running showcase series helped kick off Americana Music Festival week and continued the year-long celebration of The Bluebird Cafe’s 30th birthday. For more information, please visit www.bluebirdcafe.com.
NSAI World’s Largest No. 1 Party Today
/by Sarah SkatesAwards will be presented to almost 100 songwriters whose compositions achieved charttopping status in a variety of music genres between July 2011 and June 2012. Other honors to be handed out include the Community Ambassador Award, Stephen Foster Award, President’s Choice Award, and Maggie Cavender Award.
Among the presenters will be U.S. Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante, who was invited to Nashville by NSAI for meetings this week.
The Label Boutique Celebrates First Anniversary
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Renee Layher, Gary Allan, and Monica Thompson. Photo: Jim Shea
Gary Allan celebrated the one-year anniversary of his chic menswear store, The Label, by hosting a fashionable soiree with his stylist and store partner Renee Layher this past Thursday evening (9/13).
Guests included the legendary Manuel, rocker Adrian Belew, store clients, designers, family and friends at the store’s 12th Ave. South storefront in Nashville. Allan performed an acoustic set, including a few of his hits and new single, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain).”
The Label offers cutting-edge suit designs, fine denim, dress shirts, and vests from designers including, Tony Sartino (Prince, Kings of Leon, Bon Jovi and Goo Goo Dolls), Logan Riese, Prophetik by local designer Jeff Garner, Moods of Norway, Demon Riff leathers, and Robin’s Jeans. Many designers are sold exclusively in the Southeast at The Label. Personal styling is also available.
Since its opening, the storefront has been patronized by musicians including The Band Perry, Kellie Pickler with husband Kyle Jacobs, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Martina McBride, Jake Owen and rockers Axl Rose, Joe Walsh, Journey and The Moody Blues.
For additional information, please visit www.thelabelnashville.com.
Industry Ink (9/17/12)
/by Freeman(L-R): Terry Hicks, Co-owner Gasohol Music Publishing; Jamie Teachenor (seated); Joe West, Co-owner/President Gasohol Music Publishing
Newly-formed Gasohol Music Publishing, co-owned by Joe West and Terry Hicks, has signed singer/songwriter Jamie Teachenor to an exclusive global publishing agreement. Teachenor has written songs recorded by Luke Bryan, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry and many more, as well as performed on Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show and more.
Teachenor also had a top 20 hit with “How Do You Get That Lonely,” which was included (along with the song’s story) in the 2011 book Chicken Soup For The Soul: Country Music Edition. His debut album, The Departure, is available now.
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Chris Keaton has launched his imprint labels LML Music/Chris Keaton Presents and LML Music/Nashville in conjunction with parent company LML Music headed by Lee Lessack. LML/Nashville will focus on country artists, and its first signing is Marty Falle.
(L-R): Chris Keaton, artist Marty Falle and ASCAP's Mike Sistad
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Blue Sky Riders recently gave a special performance at Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) offices in Burbank, CA, to celebrate a new agreement with the company. ADA will distribute the trio’s forthcoming album Finally Home, due for release January 22, 2013.
(L-R): Blue Sky Riders members Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman, and Gary Burr.
Lizzie Sider – “Butterfly”
/by ProgrammerPlaylistLizzie Sider’s debut single, “Butterfly,” is a whole lot of country with a hint of pop. It’s available on CDX 555 and Play MPE. The single is available for download on iTunes, while her in-studio “Butterfly” music video is currently being played on GACtv.com and TCN (The Country Network television station). Her debut album will be released in 2013.
“I draw a great deal of inspiration from the artists I’ve always looked up to and admired, both as musicians and as people. My songs come from my personal experience,” said Sider.
Sider has opened shows for Jamie O’Neal and Aaron Tippin, among others. She recently performed as the featured artist at the Ocala, FL Rodeo, and will perform at the upcoming Inverness, FL Rodeo. Additionally, Lizzie has played writer’s nights at Nashville venues such as both Hotel Indigo, The Red Rooster, Rooster’s BBQ and was a featured artist at the Commodore Lounge this summer. Lizzie recently performed at the Waldorf Astoria at Couture Fashion Week in NYC. She has hosted two episodes of Breaking Out, TCN’s show that showcases up-and-coming country artists. Sider will open for Big & Rich in November 2012 in Davie, FL and is slated to play a writer’s round at the Bluebird Café in early 2013.
The industry loves working with Lizzie. She is clean cut, a breath of fresh air, a little old fashioned in certain ways, wholesome, fun loving, and very respectful of others. Lizzie is a genuine sweetheart.
Name Change For Law Firm HBSS
/by Sarah Skates“We have great respect for Jack and Jon and I speak for our team of more than 200 employees when I say we all wish them well,” said Managing Partner Alex Booth. “While we will miss practicing law with them, they will continue as our good friends.”
“I am proud of our firm over the past twenty four years,” said Slover. “While this is a new adventure for Jon and me, we are fortunate to have many fond memories and friendships to take with us.”
With over twenty years of experience, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. is a full-service law firm and has eight regional offices in Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and the country of Georgia. Veteran entertainment attorney Karl Braun opened the Nashville office in 2002.
Steve Luscombe – “I’m A Natural”
/by ProgrammerPlaylistLuscombe was born outside of St. Louis, MO. After being adopted, he spent the next 12 1/2 years growing up in Sikeston, MO. The son of a Church of Christ minister, Luscombe has always been around music. Gospel music has been a constant in his life and continues to be important to him to this day. From a very early age, Luscombe was singing which only made his love for gospel harmony grow even greater.
As his love for music was sprouting, Luscombe also began to take an interest in secular music. The small town where he grew up held a rodeo every year with nightly concerts, featuring artists like Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Wille Nelson, and Ricky Skaggs. Seeing his favorite artists perform live only made him want to be a singer even more. Luscombe developed an appreciation for country songs drenched with passion and heartache, humor and life. It was real life to him and he wanted nothing more than to find a way to pass his feelings along through his music.
Luscombe’s debut EP contains impressive instrumental arrangements and he is excited to share “I’m A Natural” with his fans.
Steveluscombe.com
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‘American Idol’ Judging Panel Includes Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj
/by FreemanRyan Seacrest tweeted pic stating, "After some musical chairs, here's how the new American Idol judges will be seated."
Bentley Plays Songwriters Show, Visits NYC School
/by Caitlin RantalaL–R: Bob DiPiero, Dierks Bentley, Jaren Johnston, and Jim Beavers gather before their CMA Songwriters Series performance at New York City's Joe's Pub.
The CMA Songwriters Series returned to New York City’s Joe’s Pub last night (9/13) with two sold out shows featuring three-time 2012 CMA Award nominee Dierks Bentley, songwriters Jim Beavers and Jaren Johnston, and Songwriters Hall of Fame member and CMA Songwriters Series host Bob DiPiero.
Bentley spent the day leading up to the show with students from P.S. 103, The Hector Fontanez School, in the Bronx. He met with the fourth-grade class and toured two music rooms, which were completely outfitted with instruments and supplies, provided by a $20,000 donation from The CMA Foundation and the CMA Keep the Music Playing program.
“This program was conceived by our artist community,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “So, it is terrific when our artists are able to visit the schools we support and see firsthand the impact these instruments have on the lives of the students and teachers.”
Bentley will also appear in CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airing Monday Sept. 17 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry, the three-hour special features the A to Z of Country Music’s hottest stars with a concert lineup including: Jason Aldean, Kix Brooks, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Hank Williams Jr., and Zac Brown Band.
L–R: NAfME Director of Strategic Relationships, Victoria Chamberlain; ETM Executive Sirector, Katherine Dahkohler; P.S. 103 Principal, Farid Reyes; Bentley; ETM Program Director, Pete Pauliks; CMA Community Outreach Manager, Matt Seaton; and NAfME Assistant Executive Director, Jane Mell Balek.