Bob McDill
ASCAP has announced it will honor Country music songwriter Bob McDill with the prestigious Golden Note Award at its 50th Annual Country Music Awards, to be held Oct. 29 at Opryland Hotel.
“Bob McDill is one of Country music’s most eloquent and literary songwriters,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “His dedication to the art and craft of writing honest songs that come straight from the soul has touched the hearts of millions around the world.”
The Texas-born songwriter has written 31 No. 1 songs throughout his three decade career. He has garnered four Grammy nominations, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year (1994), NSAI Songwriter of the Year three times and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.
After Perry Como recorded his song, “Happy Man” in the ’60s, McDill moved to Nashville. He went on to score hits and cuts by Johnny Russell (“Catfish John”), Don Williams (“It Must Be Love” and “Good Ole Boys Like Me”), Waylon Jennings (“Amanda”), Alabama (“Song of the South”), Mel McDaniel (“Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” and “Louisiana Saturday Night”), and Keith Whitley (“Don’t Close Your Eyes”).
McDill’s success continued into the ’90s with titles including “Gone Country,” “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Why Didn’t I Think of That,” and “All The Good Ones Are Gone.”
“Bob McDill wrote [“Gone Country”] and he is one of my favorite writers of all time,” said Alan Jackson in the liner notes of his Greatest Hits Collection. “When I first heard it, I fell in love with it. I wish that I’d written it cause it says a lot of things that I’d like to say.”
ASCAP’s invitation-only gala will also award Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Publisher of the Year, and feature live performances of the top five most performed songs of 2011.
Previous recipients who have earned the Golden Note award for extraordinary career milestones include Don Williams, Garth Brooks, Lindsey Buckingham, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and J.D. Souther.
Songwriter Bob McDill to be Honored at ASCAP Awards
/by Eric T. ParkerBob McDill
ASCAP has announced it will honor Country music songwriter Bob McDill with the prestigious Golden Note Award at its 50th Annual Country Music Awards, to be held Oct. 29 at Opryland Hotel.
“Bob McDill is one of Country music’s most eloquent and literary songwriters,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “His dedication to the art and craft of writing honest songs that come straight from the soul has touched the hearts of millions around the world.”
The Texas-born songwriter has written 31 No. 1 songs throughout his three decade career. He has garnered four Grammy nominations, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year (1994), NSAI Songwriter of the Year three times and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.
After Perry Como recorded his song, “Happy Man” in the ’60s, McDill moved to Nashville. He went on to score hits and cuts by Johnny Russell (“Catfish John”), Don Williams (“It Must Be Love” and “Good Ole Boys Like Me”), Waylon Jennings (“Amanda”), Alabama (“Song of the South”), Mel McDaniel (“Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” and “Louisiana Saturday Night”), and Keith Whitley (“Don’t Close Your Eyes”).
McDill’s success continued into the ’90s with titles including “Gone Country,” “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Why Didn’t I Think of That,” and “All The Good Ones Are Gone.”
“Bob McDill wrote [“Gone Country”] and he is one of my favorite writers of all time,” said Alan Jackson in the liner notes of his Greatest Hits Collection. “When I first heard it, I fell in love with it. I wish that I’d written it cause it says a lot of things that I’d like to say.”
ASCAP’s invitation-only gala will also award Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Publisher of the Year, and feature live performances of the top five most performed songs of 2011.
Previous recipients who have earned the Golden Note award for extraordinary career milestones include Don Williams, Garth Brooks, Lindsey Buckingham, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and J.D. Souther.
Arista Nashville Names New Regional Promo Rep
/by Freeman“Halie has such incredible drive and passion and is a true natural at record promotion,” says Tyson. “Over the past few months she has done a fantastic job helping Arista in a handful of markets. We are thrilled to officially add her to our team!”
A Nashville native, Hampton most recently served as Promotion Representative for Sony Music Nashville after interning in the company’s promotion department. She also spent time as a Regional Promotion Rep for Cold River Records after graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in 2011.
Congratulate her here.
Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Accepting Online Entries
/by Eric T. Parker2011 CASC finalist with judges, Wyatt Durrett, Corb Lund, and Molly Nagel and volunteer chairperson Jim Lauderdale
The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest began accepting online entries yesterday (8/1) for an early entry discount price of $25 per song.
Now in its 21st year, the contest offers aspiring writers exposure to a judging panel of Nashville music industry professionals including this year’s volunteer contest chairperson Jim Lauderdale. Twelve finalists representing four categories, bluegrass, country, general and gospel/inspirational, will be narrowed with the finalists competing at MerleFest on April 25-28, 2013.
Pete Fisher and Kari Estrin created the songwriting contest to honor Chris Austin, a member of Reba McEntire’s band, recording artist and songwriter himself, who passed in the private plane crash carrying him and six other members as well as her tour manager.
Net proceeds from the contest support the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship. Since its inception the scholarship has awarded over $36,000 to 75 students.
Mail-in entries will be accepted Nov. 1 through Feb. 19, 2013. To learn more details about the contest, click here.
ZBB’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival Reveals Line Up
/by Sarah SkatesThe line up was revealed this morning (8/2) by Mayor Karl Dean, President of Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau Butch Spyridon, and Outback Concerts’ Kate Dore and Andrew Farwell at a press conference at the event site.
The festival, which debuted last year in Charleston, is curated by the band and focuses on offering fine food helmed by Southern Ground Executive Chef Rusty Hamlin.
Charleston’s Blackbaud Stadium will again host the event Oct. 20-21, where ZBB will lead the bill with nightly performances. Also on the schedule are The Avett Brothers, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, and many of the artists who will play in Nashville.
VIP offerings include Front Porch Stage Boxes with a four-course gourmet meal and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. For more information visit www.southerngroundfestival.com.
Snapshots (8/2/12)
/by MichelleSESAC-affiliated songwriter Brian White took to the streets recently to announce his new publishing agreement with SB21 Music. White, who has penned several No. 1 hits in both the Country and Christian Music genres, and executives from SESAC and SB21 Music stopped traffic on the busy streets of Music Row to celebrate the new partnership.
(L-R) (standing): SESAC’s John Mullins & Tim Fink and SB21’s Shane Barrett & Steve Pasch (seated): White. Photo: Peyton Hoge
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ASCAP’s Mike Sistad caught up with Gloriana at the Pepsi Billboard Summer Beats Concert Series in Nashville on the night before the release of the group’s new record, A Thousand Miles Left Behind.
(L-R): Emblem Music Group's Dean Serletic, ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Gloriana's Tom Gossin and Mike Gossin, Emblem Music Group's Matt Serletic
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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently (7/28) honored Kye Fleming in its quarterly series Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters. Fleming’s songwriting career includes Michael Johnson’s “Give Me Wings;” Barbara Mandrell’s “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool;” Ronnie Milsap’s “Smoky Mountain Rain” and “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It for the World;” and Sylvia’s “Nobody.”
(L-R): Museum Editor Michael Gray, Kye Fleming, Sylvia Hutton, Allen Reynolds. Photo: Donn Jones
Nashville Songwriter Lands “Today Show” Performance
/by FreemanThe Nashville native gained national renown after NBC’s Today Show co-host Hoda Kotb discovered him at the Bluebird and invited him to play on the show. Following his July 13 appearance and performance, the song he performed, “My Epitaph,” was the No. 2 downloaded song on iTunes’ singer/songwriter chart. See the performance here.
Sikes chalks it up to being in the right place at the right time. He played the round at the Bluebird back in May and noticed Kotb among the audience members. Days later word spread that she had raved about him on the show and even played a video clip of his performance. NBC producers contacted him via Twitter to extend the performance invitation.
Sikes still considers himself a producer and songwriter first. He says he has “never really chased the road of being an artist, but has enjoyed playing songs at smaller venues around town.” His independent album Craft was released to iTunes July 9.
Arby’s Sweepstakes Features Trace Adkins
/by Eric T. ParkerThree lucky winners will receive a grand prize VIP concert experience with Taio Cruz, The All-American Rejects or Adkins.
The sweepstakes offers additional prizes including free food, Pepsi gear and music downloads for ordering a Pepsi beverage and snapping a picture of the cup, sending it via email or text to Arbys@pongr.com.
For details, visit www.PlayArbysSnapAndRock.com.
Adkins is currently on his Songs & Stories Tour promoting his latest single, “Them Lips (On Mine).”
Musicians Corner Returns For Fall Season in September
/by Eric T. ParkerThe fall season will take place Saturday afternoons from 3-6 pm through October 27 with artists including Sam Bush, Karen Elson, Regi Wooten & Friends, Ashley Cleveland, Matthew Perryman Jones, Phil Keaggy, The Farewell Drifters, Shannon Whitworth, Yarn, The Steel Drivers, Shannon Sanders, and The Vespers.
The free weekly event includes over 60 free multi-genre musical performances, the Lightning 100 Acoustic Stage, Beer & Wine Garden, Mobile Food Court, Mix 92.9 Kidsville activities, Dog Of The Day, local vendors, and giveaways.
“Musicians Corner is one of the best gathering places for the Nashville community and our visitors to spend an afternoon enjoying free music in a beautiful metro park setting,” said Mayor Karl Dean. “Musicians Corner events continue to serve as a fine showcase for why we are Music City.”
The Blind Boys of Alabama will also take part in a symposium titled “The Influence of Music on The Civil Rights Movement” prior to the Musicians Corner event on (9/1) in partnership with Fisk University.
Acoustic Stage performers were selected through an open submission process in partnership with AmericanSongspace.com. A complete fall season schedule is available here.
Soundland Earlybird Pre-Sale Tickets Available
/by MichelleEarlybird pre-sale tickets are now available for SoundLand 2012, which is scheduled for October 6 in Nashville, TN. Tickets are currently available for $30, 30% off the starting ticket price, which “officially” go on sale Thursday, August 2. Quantities are limited. Click here for more information.
The lineup and all-new location details for Soundland 2012 will also be released tomorrow. In previous years, the multi-genre music festival (and its precursor Next Big Nashville) has been a multi-day event but is scaling back to one day for the 2012 edition. A press release from the organization promises “a one-day outdoor extravaganza October 6, 2012 with music, art, food, and more in our biggest venue yet.”
Dierks Bentley Tapped to Host ACM Honors
/by Sherod RobertsonThis is Bentley’s first time hosting the event and the third time the ceremony will be held at the Ryman Auditorium.
“I’m really looking forward to helping recognize this year’s ACM honorees,” said Bentley. “Country music has so many talented artists, songwriters and people working behind the scenes. I’m flattered that I’ve been asked to stand on stage beside them.”
“Dierks’ incredible passion combined with his respect for and overwhelming knowledge of the country music genre, both as a renowned artist and songwriter, make him an ideal host for ACM Honors,” said Michelle Goble, ACM’s Senior VP, Membership & Industry Relations. “We look forward to his contribution to the show, as we pay tribute to those who helped forge country music into the outstanding genre it is today.”
Click here for a list of the awards recipients and winners.
Tickets start at $37 and will be on sale at Ticketmaster.com and the Ryman box office starting August 17.
Bentley is busy making plans to toast the end of summer with the release of a four song EP titled Country & Cold Cans available Aug. 21 on iTunes which will kick off his limited Country & Cold Cans: Back To College Tour.