Original Sony/Columbia Team Reunites for Wade Hayes Single

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Wade Hayes

Members of the team that helped launch Wade Hayes’ career have reunited to release his latest single. Hayes penned the song “Is It Already Time” about his experience undergoing successful cancer treatment in the last six months. The single is available on digital outlets, with all proceeds going to the Colon Cancer Alliance. Hear it at wadehayes.com.

Spearheaded by former Columbia Nashville promotion vet Jeri Cooper, she and Hayes’ longtime manager Mike Robertson have brought together former Sony/Columbia staffers Allen Butler, Craig Campbell (Campbell Entertainment Group), Blake Chancey, Jack Christopher (RPM Entertainment), Debi Fleischer, JR Hughes (Quarterback Records), Bob Mitchell (Big & Rich/The Farm Management), Jennifer Shaffer and Scott Siman. The single will be released on Siman’s RPM Entertainment label. Publicity duties will be shared by Campbell and Hayes’ longtime indie publicist Ronna Rubin.

Hayes brought hit producer Don Cook, who was at the helm for his six Top 15 singles and the gold-selling albums Old Enough To Know Better and On A Good Night, out of retirement to produce “Is It Already Time.” Plans are in the works to record an album for release in 2013.

Play MPE has donated digital distribution of the single to country radio stations, and Dale Turner and Radio Informer have agreed to include the single free of charge on their September 17, 2012 Country Sampler CD. Audio PSAs are available to radio stations.

Cooper said, “It’s really amazing to see all of these people come together for the love of an artist and the sole purpose of helping him realize a simple dream of letting the world know the importance of getting tested for colon cancer.”

[Updated] CCMA Industry And Musician Awards

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The Canadian Country Music Association recently presented industry and musician honors at the Industry Brunch Awards, CCMA Gala Awards and CCMA All-­Star Band Awards.

Open Road Recordings took home the title Record Company of the Year, while EMI Music Canada’s Ron Harwood celebrated a win in the Record Company Person of the Year category.

Gord Bamford, Roger Brown and Byron Hill took home the award for Songwriters of the Year for Bamford’s 2012 nominated track, “Is It Friday Yet?” Additionally Hill and Bamford won Producer of the Year honors for the track.

Johnny Burke and Ralph Murphy were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

2012 Industry Brunch Award Winners

Record Producer(s) of the Year Gord Bamford/Byron Hill (“Is It Friday Yet?” Gord Bamford)

Management Company of the Year RGK Entertainment Group Inc.

Country Club of the Year Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall – Calgary, AB

Album Design of the Year Mitch Nevins/Mark Maryanovich/Jill Snell – Dirt (Dean Brody)

Recording Studio of the Year Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK

Retailer of the Year iTunes Canada

Booking Agency of the Year The Agency Group

Music Director of the Year– Major Market Scott Phillips – CKRY FM/CISN-FM – Calgary, AB/Edmonton, AB

Music Director of the Year– Secondary Market Tim Day – CKGY FM- Red Deer, Ab

On-Air Personality of the Year (Major Market) Toff And Melissa Of the Morning Ride – CHKX FM, Hamilton

On-Air Personality of the Year (Secondary Market) KG Mornings With Greg, Tera Lee & Al – CKGY FM, Red Deer

Video Director of the Year Stephano Barberis (“Is It Friday Yet?” – Gord Bamford; “Somebody Somewhere” – Dallas Smith)

Country Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB

Country Music Program or Special of the Year Employee of the Week (CMT)

2012 Gala Dinner Winners

Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year Lindsay Ell/Rod Tate (Calgary Stampede)

Music Publishing Company of the Year ole

Record Company of the Year Open Road Recordings

Record Company Person of the Year Ron Harwood (EMI)

Station of the Year (Major Market) CISN FM, Edmonton

Station of the Year (Second Market) CJKX FM, Oshawa

Artist Hall of Fame Inductee Johnny Burke

Builder Hall of Fame Inductee Ralph Murphy

Roots Artist or Group of the Year Jimmy Rankin

Slaight Music Humanitarian Award Tenille

Songwriter(s) of the Year
“Is It Friday Yet?” (Written By Gord Bamford/Roger Brown/Byron Hill; Performed By Gord Bamford)

Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year (Canadian sales only) Johnny Reid, Fire It Up

Top Selling International Album of the Year (Canadian sales only) Lady Antebellum, Own The Night

Interactive Artist or Group of the Year Gord Bamford

Hank Smith Award of Excellence Larry Delaney

2012 All Star Band Award Winners

All Star Bass Lisa Dodd (Gord Bamford)

All Star Drums Chad Melchert (Gord Bamford)

All Star Fiddle Denis Dufresne (Pear/Deric Ruttan)

All Star Guitar Ryan Davidson (Gord Bamford)

All Star Keyboards Rob Shapiro (Hey Romeo)

All Star Special Instrument Shane Chisholm, Gastank Bass (Shane Chisholm)

All Star Steel Guitar Jeff Bradshaw (session)

Matthew Hargis Promoted at Republic Nashville

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Matthew Hargis

Republic Nashville President/Big Machine Label Group EVP Jimmy Harnen announced today (9/10) the promotion of Matthew Hargis to Republic Nashville Vice President of Promotion.

Hargis will continue to spearhead the radio promotion department (a.k.a. “The Apes”) for the entire Republic Nashville roster, which includes Martina McBride, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line, Greg Bates, RaeLynn and Jackie Lee.

“Matthew is one of the hardest working, most-driven and caring executives I have ever known,” said Harnen. “What he has successfully done in a short amount of time at Republic Nashville is nothing short of spectacular. He is a fantastic leader who always does the right thing, and it gives me great joy to present him with these very well deserved VP stripes!”

Hargis added, ”I cannot thank Scott and Jimmy enough for their leadership, coaching and mentoring. The culture they have built at BMLG is outstanding. I am so proud to come into work every day and fight like an ape with all of my brothers and sisters in the Republic ape den!”

Hargis’ other career stops include All Access and Capitol Records Nashville. He can be reached via 615-324-7902 or matthew.hargis@republicnashville.com.

Aldean Partners With Coors Light

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Jason Aldean has landed a partnership with Coors Light, which will become Aldean’s exclusive alcohol sponsor and launch a national retail promotion around the singer.

“Coors Light is associated with so many of my favorite experiences… tailgating before University of Georgia games, vacations to the beach with my friends, playing bars and clubs when I was coming up in my career,” said Aldean. “This was a no-brainer partnership for me, and I’m especially looking forward to the fridge full of Coors Light they promised all of us for the road.”

Included in the partnership are retail promotions to support the Oct. 16 release of Aldean’s fifth album Night Train. Point-of-sale materials found at outlets like Walmart will feature Aldean’s image and Coors Light Brandling.

In other Aldean news, the young star was recently nominated for three CMA Awards for the Nov. 1 show, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Single of the Year (for “Dirt Road Anthem”). His new single “Take A Little Ride” is zooming toward the tops of all the charts after its release in July.

SOLID September Marks 15 Years of Success

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The Society of Leaders In Development (SOLID) is celebrating its 15th anniversary during “SOLID September” with events highlighting its most important initiatives: education, outreach, and networking.

Networking
“SOLID has been growing leaps and bounds since it started in 1997,” explained SOLID Pres. Jon Romero during a recent interview. “It has evolved every year with different groups of members, but its goal has always been the same, to bring together young industry professionals.”

Founding member Chris Neese recalled the meetings that led to the organization. “A small group of friends gathered to discuss our future. We saw a need to bring aspiring music industry professionals together to create strong social networks, provide education training, promote leadership, and inspire community involvement. Our solution was SOLID.” The group debuted with a party at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Accordingly, the 15th Anniversary Reception will be held at the Hall of Fame on Tues., Sept. 25, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., where highlights will include interviews with SOLID alumni and an awards ceremony.

Most SOLID events combine networking with education or outreach, as is the case with tomorrow’s (Tues., Sept. 11) Food Truck Frenzy. Running from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the SESAC parking lot, 10% of the profits will benefit the charity Linda’s Hope, which fights pancreatic cancer.

Education
Anniversary events kicked off on Sept. 4 with a Conversation with Gene Simmons and Doc McGhee. “Every year we set the bar higher and higher,” said Romero, who works at Vector Management. “It was the biggest panel we’ve put together and it happened thanks to our members’ hard work and connections.”

Throughout the year, the group’s education initiatives include quarterly SOLID After-Work Shops. “We are always bringing in industry leaders for direct dialog with our members,” explained Romero of the panels. “We try to put them in a small setting so our members can ask questions and bounce ideas off of them.”

Outreach
Outreach opportunities focus on serving the community at large, as well as music business college students. To that end, this month SOLID is organizing a Job Shadow Day on Thurs., Sept. 20, and a Habitat For Humanity Build on Sat., Sept. 15.

SOLID is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with annual fundraisers including Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake, and the SOLID Yard Sale held during CMA Music Festival. “This year we’ve given away $50,000 to different charities,” said Romero. “That’s leaps and bounds over last year’s $18,000. We want the industry to know we are doing a lot for the community with our sweat and action by our members. There are a lot of legs coming out of SOLID, such as Women Rock For The Cure, and Buds-N-Suds for Crohn’s and Colitis.” Both groups have roots among SOLID members and have since become stand alone charities.

“We set the bar and then reach over it,” summed Romero. “In the next 15 years I hope that we continue to build our reputation on Music Row and that the executives continue to seek our members and know the value of the organization.”

Visit SOLID online, on Facebook, or Twitter.

Lady Antebellum Announces Christmas Album

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Lady Antebellum has announced plans for a Christmas album called On This Winter’s Night, which will be available in stores on Oct. 22.

“We recorded this album in two sections, but both times were in the summertime,” noted Dave Haywood. “It is always weird to be in the studio working on Christmas music in June and July, so we decorated the entire studio, we really did. We brought out lights, fake trees and decorated the place to get in the Christmas spirit. You’d leave the studio, and it’d be 100 degrees out in Nashville, but nonetheless, a great experience.”

Between legs of their Own The Night 2012 World Tour earlier this year, Lady A hit the studio in Nashville to record the holiday collection which they co-produced alongside Paul Worley. For the festive release, the trio penned the album’s title track and created their own arrangements for two of the disc’s additional 11 holiday classics.

On This Winter’s Night Track List:
1. A Holly Jolly Christmas
2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
3. All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
5. This Christmas
6. The First Noel*
7. On This Winter’s Night
8. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Silent Night (Lord Of My Life)*
11. Blue Christmas
12. Silver Bells
*Arranged by Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott

Donna Hilley to Receive Posthumous Honor From NaSHOF

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Donna Hilley

The late publishing icon, Donna Hilley, will receive the 2012 Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

Hilley, who passed within a week of Preston in June 2012, became president and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville after negotiating Tree International’s purchase while it was under her leadership. She worked for more than 30 years for the company.

“Donna was a truly amazing woman who rose from typist at a radio station to be one of the most successful music publishing executives ever,” said John Van Mol, chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

The honor will be acknowledged at the organization’s 42nd Anniversary Dinner & Induction ceremony on October 7 alongside previously announced Hall of Fame inductees Tony Arata, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Larry Henley and Kim Williams. The ceremony also includes NSAI’s annual awards for the year’s Best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by the professional songwriters division.

Previous recipients of the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award include Bob Beckham (2008), Bill Hall (2009), Preston (2010) and David Conrad (2011).

Tickets for the event are $225 each with a limited number available to the public by contacting Mark Ford hoftix@nashvillesongwriters.com.

Capitol Street Party Performers, New Location Revealed

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CMA Award nominee Luke Bryan has been virtually unstoppable in 2012, and now he has been announced as the headlining artist for the Capitol Street Party 5, set for Oct. 17 in its new downtown Nashville location.

The annual free concert will be held on Lower Broadway between 1st and 2nd Avenues, and up-and-coming Capitol Nashville artists Kelleigh Bannen and Jon Pardi will also perform.

“When Capitol asked me if I wanted to be part of this year’s Street Party, I thought, ‘Let’s make it the biggest one yet,’” Bryan told the Tennessean. “What better way to do that than to take over Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville.”

Just last week, Luke Bryan helped announce the CMA Award nominations and wound up with a couple of his own. His platinum selling album tailgates & tanlines is up for Album of the Year and he will also compete for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Niemann Announces ‘Free The Music’ Campaign

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To celebrate the October 2 release of his sophomore release Free The Music, Jerrod Niemann is offering 10 days of giveaways. The first of these is a free download of the album’s first single “Shinin’ On Me” through today (9/10) on his official website. Album pre-orders from iTunes will receive an instant download of the title track.

Additionally, fans are able to subscribe to Niemann’s Free The Music Spotify Playlist and enter to win a free upgrade to a year-long premium Spotify account, until tomorrow (9/11).

Further announcements will be made promoting the Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville release, which Niemann co-produced and contributed co-writing credits to every track.

“This album is my interpretation of how I feel about country right now,” said Neimann. “The pedal steel guitar has come to define country music, but there were years and years of country being made before that instrument was even invented. Horns have been in country going back to the 1920s, and fiddles and other string instruments date back even further.”

For access to Niemann’s Fan Pub (a.k.a. fan club) visit www.dehydrationnation.net.

 

Swift Debuts Song For Stand Up To Cancer Special

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Last Friday (9/7), entertainers came together for the Stand Up To Cancer fundraising event. ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC donated one hour of simultaneous, commercial-free prime time for the special, which was broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Michael Douglas, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Tobey Maguire, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Justin Timberlake, Sofia Vergara, Robert Pattinson and SU2C co-founder Katie Couric were among those featured on the broadcast. Additionally, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Alicia Keys and Tim McGraw delivered one-of-a-kind musical performances.

Swift performed a new song “Ronan,” written for Ronan Thompson, who was nearly four years old when he passed away during his fight with neuroblastoma. Swift had been following a blog written by Ronan’s mother, Maya Thompson, which detailed the his story. Moved by what she read, Swift wrote the song, crediting Maya as her co-writer on the piece, since her blog influenced the lyrics. According to one of Maya’s blog posts, Swift personally called the mother to tell her that not only had she written the song, but to ask permission to perform it and use Ronan’s photo on the SU2C telecast. Maya agreed. The song is currently available on iTunes, all proceeds from the song are being donated to cancer research.

As of today (9/1), Stand Up To Cancer announced that more than $81 million has been pledged so far in connection with its star-studded fundraising telecast to accelerate ground-breaking research and bring new treatments to patients as quickly as possible, including pediatric cancer patients through the creation of a new pediatric cancer research “Dream Team.”

Celebrities also staffed the SU2C phone bank, which, for the first time on any televised fundraising special, included a fully interactive “media bank” with celebrities talking to viewers via social media and doing live VOKLE video chats. Simon Baker, Jordana Brewster, Diem Brown, Kobe Bryant, Ty Burrell, Dana Delany, Rocco DiSpirito, Gabrielle Douglas, Donald Faison, Missy Franklin, Jennie Garth, Max Greenfield, Chelsea Handler, Marg Helgenberger, Felicity Huffman, Stacy Keibler, Minka Kelly, Joe Manganiello, Jillian Michaels, Masi Oka, Robert Pattinson, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Ana Maria Polo, Ray Romano, Eric Stonestreet, Alison Sweeney, and Ethan Zohn were those personalities who donated their time. Viewers were also able to donate via text-to-give and at standup2cancer.org.

Paltrow, the show’s co-executive producer, lost her father Bruce to cancer 10 years ago and said, “I am deeply moved by and proud of this broadcast. This is very personal for me, as it is for so many of us. Our program honored all those we’ve lost to the disease, emboldened those brave survivors among us to continue fighting, and highlighted SU2C’s remarkable progress in cancer research. The results are tangible, and the potential for breakthroughs in the coming years is very exciting.”

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