Rodney Atkins Debuts Video, Preps Album Launch

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(L-R): Rodney Atkins, Tameron Hedge, Andy Tennant (director), and Greg Hill

Rodney Atkins is heading into the Oct. 4 release of his new Curb Records album with a rising single and video. He’s also set to perform in New York City at the CMA Songwriters Series.

Title track “Take A Back Road” (Luke Laird/Rhett Akins) is at No. 5 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. The accompanying video premieres today, and Atkins shot it recently in the Nashville area, including locations in Carthage and White Bluff.

Rodney Atkins on location of music video for "Take A Back Road."

For the video he teamed with Hollywood director Andy Tennant (Fool’s Gold, Hitch, Sweet Home Alabama, Fools Rush In). It is the filmmaker’s first music video, and he describes the treatment: “Think of Rodney as the angel from Wender’s Wings of Desire, but instead of Brandenberg gate, he’s perched high on an old water tower. [He’s] beckoning people, like the call to prayer, back to the country Mecca of small town America…White Bluff.”

Atkins will perform Nov. 3 as part of the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub in New York City. Joining him will be Dave Berg, Marla Cannon-Goodman and host/performer Bob DiPiero. Details at cmasongwritersseries.com.

Overseas Fans Embrace Country

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Pictured backstage (L-R): Neil Warnock, CEO, The Agency Group; Tor Nielsen, Head Promoter Live Nation Artists; Dolly Parton; Thomas Johansson, Chairman of Live Nation Europe; Danny Nozell, Parton's manager

Fans in Europe and Australia continue to embrace country music, drawing an ever-growing number of tours overseas. Lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson and Taylor Swift all wooed international fans earlier this year. More recently, Dolly Parton, Lorrie Morgan and Dailey and Vincent performed in Europe.

Parton sold out the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden on Aug. 27 as part of her outing supporting new album Better Day. She continues European dates until her tour re-opens in the U.S. on Oct. 7.

Lorrie Morgan

Morgan just returned from her second stint in Europe. During the first overseas tours in almost ten years, she performed in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark and Sweden. She is also preparing to release Beyond the Interview: Lorrie Morgan (ANR Records), a box set with a documentary video featuring her family, friends, industry peers, and favorite artists.

Dailey & Vincent made their way across the pond for a four-concert tour of Ireland and Switzerland, with sold-out box offices on all dates. They also played the Gstaad Festival in Switzerland along with Trace Adkins, Laura Bell Bundy and more.

Dailey & Vincent in Europe

CRB Re-Brands As Country Radio Seminar

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Following a proposal by the CRB Board of Directors earlier this summer, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. is officially re-branding itself and continuing operations under the name Country Radio Seminar.

“Country Radio Broadcasters is refocusing and reemphasizing its branding under the name Country Radio Seminar and its popular acronym, CRS,” says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. “Our organization and its efforts are largely CRS-centric, and that is why we decided to officially designate Country Radio Seminar as our brand moving forward. CRB, Inc. continues as the registered name of our nonprofit organization, but the website, stationery, correspondence and other affiliated brand messaging will implement the CRS logo and brand from now on.”

Country Radio Broadcasters was founded in 1969 to help support growth and education for country music, by connecting radio partners with the industry. The organization’s flagship event Country Radio Seminar has been running over 40 years, with the next edition scheduled for Feb. 22-24, 2012 at the Nashville Convention Center.

In more news from CRS, the organization today announced that award-winning futurist and author David Houle will deliver a special presentation at CRS 2012 on Feb. 22. Regarded as “the CEOs’ futurist,” Houle has spoken to nearly 2,000 CEOs and business owners on the subject of global trends and the transformative changes that impact the future. A 20-year media and entertainment veteran, Houle was part of the senior executive team that launched MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and CNN Headline News prior to launching his career as an author and speaker.

Swift’s Sold-Out Traveling Sound Emporium

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Swift's musical pulpit left the stage and traveled around the entire arena so everyone got a close-up view of the artist they had come to see. Photo: David Ross

In “Speak Now,” the album title track, Swift plays the third wheel in a love triangle that ends at the altar with her stealing the groom from the grasp of the bride-to-be. Photo: David Ross

“I’m a hopeless romantic,” Taylor Swift told the 15,000 screaming fans jammed into Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Sept. 16. Indeed, her 14-track Speak Now album, which according to Nielsen Soundscan has sold 3.65 million copies in 46 weeks, is packed with stories of love—won and lost. Like a musical Cecil B. Demille, Swift has created an evening full of elaborate song visualizations for her fans to enjoy.

For example, there were fireworks, numerous wardrobe changes, choreography, ballet, acrobatic dancers suspended from a trapeze on bungee cords, snow, and detailed sets. A favorite was the life-size romantic bridge with nine string players perched upon it arching like a rainbow above a bright white piano, played by our star who sang her haunting ballad of regret, “Back To December.”

The “Speak Now” church scene recreated the song’s vivid lyric, complete with stained glass window, pews, bride, and the “snotty little family all dressed in pastels.” As the song ends, Swift ran out through crowd… with the groom!

“When you’re falling in love or losing it, that’s the most intense happiness or sadness and that’s when you need music the most,” Swift told the crowd. Introducing her next song, “Last Kiss,” she opined that although you don’t believe it will ever happen at the time, a first kiss is eventually followed by a last kiss.

Throughout the evening, Swift played piano, acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, ukulele and showcased her accomplished ‘book’ of songs. The crowd screamed, sang along to every song and cheered at each of the star’s glances or expressions. Special guests included Ronnie Dunn, who joined Taylor for a duet of “Bleed Red,” and Paramore’s Hayley Williams who duetted “That’s What You Get.” (see video below)

It’s easy to tag Swift’s popularity as a pop/country culture phenomenon, which it may be. But to dismiss it as such would be a huge oversight. After three multi-platinum albums, sold out international tours, and a slew of songwriter awards too numerous to mention, this unique songstress’ accomplishments have made her a member of the elite group of singer/songwriters that includes greats such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, Roger Miller, Dolly Parton and Kris Kristofferson.

But challenges remain for Swift and her fans as the 21-year-old artist transitions from teen to young woman. Can she maintain current fans while attracting a more mature crowd? Other young artists such as Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears have stumbled while navigating their rites of passage. However Swift’s greatest asset—her songs—may act as a GPS for success if they can continue to navigate through events and emotions to which her fans relate.

“My respect and admiration for her as an artist just shot through the roof while I was watching her go through her 2-hr set. Her voice sounded incredible, she played like a million different instruments, and she told great stories. That is easily my favorite thing about Taylor. Her storytelling. If you haven’t seen her show or never bought one of her albums, you’re seriously missing out. Of all the friends I have who play/write music, I’ve never seen anybody do it all with as much heart and grace as Taylor does.” —Hayley Williams

 

Photos: Chenoweth, Lyda, WMBA

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Broadway legend, singer, and actress Kristin Chenoweth visited the Country Music Association to sign up for membership. The talented star, who co-hosted one of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during the 2011 CMA Music Festival this summer, recently released her debut country album Some Lessons Learned.

(L-R): Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Sheri Warnke, CMA Vice President of Strategic Partnerships; Brandi Simms, CMA Senior Manager of Membership and Balloting; Kristin Chenoweth; Kyle Quigley, CMA Senior Manager of Event Programming and Special Projects; and Betsy Walker, CMA Senior Coordinator of Member Relations and Services.

Davis Music Group’s Jacob Lyda recently sat down with Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase on The Crook & Chase Countdown. Lyda made his Canadian radio debut with new single “Born At A Truck Stop,” which will impact US radio soon.

(L-R): Lorianne Crook, Jacob Lyda and Charlie Chase

The Women’s Music Business Association had a successful open enrollment kick-off mixer recently, with over 80 attendees showing up to learn more about the organization and hear the guest speaker, pop star-turned country artist Tiffany. Open enrollment for 2012 ends December 31, 2011 and applications are online at www.wmbanashville.com. Margaritas and snacks were provided by WMBA sponsors Rent-a-Rita, Cuestion Spirits, and Fiestas Catering.

(L-R) Back Row: Kama Upton, Community Svc./Education Chair; Betsy Walker, Membership Chair; Josee Deschenes, Social Co-Chair; Becky Harris, Chairman of the Board; Front Row: Holly Ashby, Vice President; Amanda Fletcher, Social Co-Chair; Tiffany; Amery Fridenstine, Treasurer; Brandi Simms, President; Trina Lloyd-Weidner, Secretary; Photo: Darcy Ferris Photography

Netflix Splits Services, Introduces Qwikster

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Earlier this summer, Netflix announced a 60% increase on subscription fees, prompting about one million subscribers to cancel their subscriptions. Now Netflix is splitting its online streaming and DVD-by-Mail services. To order DVDs via snail mail, Netflix users will have to sign-up for Qwikster, the newly renamed mail order plan. The separately named service will show up as a second billing statement, in addition to online Netflix services.

Recently, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings posted a letter to the Netflix website, apologizing for his lack of communication with customers about the sudden changes. “I messed up,” Hastings said. “I owe everyone an explanation.” The full letter can be read here.

Even though Netflix and Qwixster accounts will split into two billing statements, Hastings assures Netflix subscribers that prices will not increase a second time. He also apologized for his own “arrogance based upon past success” and promises to communicate with subscribers through any future Netflix evolutions.

 

5th Annual ACM Honors Tonight

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The 5th Annual ACM Honors takes place tonight, Sept. 19, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The event honors and awards non-televised category winners from the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, held last April.

Hosted by performer Joe Nichols and musically directed by Buddy Cannon, the night features musical tribute performances and special presentations. Presenters include Laura Bell Bundy, Ronnie Dunn, Ralph Emery, Robin Meade, John Michael Montgomery. Special performers include Rodney Atkins, Dean Dillon, Brett Eldredge, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Randy Houser, Jack Ingram, The Isaacs, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry,  Jerrod Niemann, The Oak Ridge Boys, Thompson Square, The Whites and Lee Ann Womack.

Tickets are available through www.Ticketmaster.com.

Special Awards recipients:

Garth Brooks* – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
Hank Cochran (posthumously) – Poet’s Award
John Dorris – Mae Boren Axton Award
Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
Tom T. Hall – Poet’s Award
Reba – Career Achievement Award
Taylor Swift – Jim Reeves International Award
Country Strong* — Tex Ritter Award (Produced by Tobey Maguire & Jenno Topping; executive produced by Meredith Zamsky; directed by Shana Feste;  Production studio Screen Gems / Sony Pictures Entertainment.)

Winners of the MBI (Musician/Bandleader/Instrumentalist) categories:
Chuck Ainlay – Audio Engineer of the Year
Eddie Bayers – Percussionist/Drummer of the Year
Tom Bukovac – Guitarist of the Year
Dan Dugmore – Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Aubrey Haynie – Fiddle Player of the Year
Gordon Mote – Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year
Bryan Sutton – Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year
Glenn Worf* – Bass Player of the Year
Paul Worley – Producer of the Year

Winners of the Industry Awards categories:
Steve “Bogie” Bogdanovich – Romeo Entertainment Group – Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year
Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium – Promoter of the Year
Joe’s Bar (Chicago, IL) – Nightclub of the Year
Mohegan Sun Casino (Uncasville, CT) – Casino of the Year
Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN) – Venue of the Year

*not expected to attend

Music Lawyer Bob Sullivan Passes

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Robert Sullivan

Prominent music-business attorney Bob Sullivan has died of leukemia at age 59.

Sullivan was a partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP. During his career, his clients included Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Thompson Square, The Fray, Peter Frampton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, EMI Publishing, John Prine, The Carter Family and Waylon Jennings.

Robert Lee “Bob” Sullivan was born Dec. 18, 1951 in Anna, IL. He graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 1974 and from Vanderbilt Law School in 1977.

In addition to practicing on Music Row, he taught intellectual property and copyright law at Belmont University and Nashville School of Law. He was also a singer and guitarist in several area bands over the years.

Bob Sullivan died at home on Thursday, Sept. 15 after battling his disease for 14 months. He is survived by his wife Catherine Cate, mother Wilma Jean, brother James Terry and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be at West End United Methodist Church on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Additional visitation will be noon to 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Vanderbilt University School of Law, Development & Alumni Relations, 131 21st Ave. S., Nashville 37203, to the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville, 211 Commerce St., Suite 100, Nashville 37201 or to West End United Methodist Church, 2200 West End Ave., Nashville 37203.

Dill’s ‘Murder’ Hits Home Run

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Author/manager Stuart Dill with client Laura Bell Bundy.

Murder On Music Row
by Stuart Dill
John F. Blair, Publisher
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Veteran Nashville manager Stuart Dill’s sharp new novel, Murder On Music Row has more twists than a narrow country road. The plot revolves around a hired assassin, an international record company merger and fight for control of superstar, Ripley Graham’s new, but still undelivered album. The writing style is concise and the dialogue feels real. Dill’s day job has him currently managing artists such as Billy Ray Cyrus, Laura Bell Bundy and Jo Dee Messina.

Named checked in the book, but not included as characters are real life industry entities such as Erv Woolsey, Brian Mansfield, Pete Fisher, Tony Brown and Frank Liddell, plus artists such as Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Vince Gill and others. The locations range from Hillsboro Village to the Castle studios on Old Hillsboro Road to the superstar Ripley Graham’s mansion at the Governers Club in Brentwood. Elite Management, the company owned by Graham’s manager, Simon Stills, has offices in a high rise at the Music Row roundabout above Killen Cirlce.

One of the most insightful paragraphs of the book reveals Dill’s management sensibilities presented in terms of the 1776 book Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. Manager Simon Stills tells intern Judd Nix one of the book’s two heros why he should be a manager.

“…Adam Smith explained why people’s jobs are so boring. They do the same thing over and over until they’re bored out of their minds. If you want to be a doctor, you can’t be just a doctor, you have to be a specialist. Every day you work in gastroenterology or hematology or oncology—there are no ordinary doctors anymore. Same deal with lawyers. They specialize in tax law or corporate law or divorce law. Same thing over and over until they’re bored to the point of heavy drinking. It’s also true in the music business. It’s a specialized industry. You’ve got your booking agent, publicist, business manager, record producer, music publisher, all doing the same thing day in and day out. But then you get to artist managers. We are the exception. We are the ones that say, ‘Adam Smith is dead!’ We don’t specialize in any one sector of the music industry. We master it all. We advise and counsel our clients on every aspect of their careers. We build a team of specialists around an artist and direct them all. Artist management as a profession is the only unrestricted, unrestrained, non-boring career in the modern world! That’s why you should strive to be an artist manager.”

The book seems tailor made to come alive on the silver screen except for the fact that Judd Nix and heroine Meagan Olsen, obviously kindling a love flame, never actually consummate the attraction. Perhaps that is is due to Dill’s strong religious background as evidenced in the acknowledgements, but never mind, the Hollywood screenplay writers should have no problem inserting that gratuitous detail.

Considering it’s Dill’s first novel, it’s a home run. Once you get to turning a few pages you’ll find yourself caught in the intrigue like the draft behind a fully-loaded 18 wheeler barreling down interstate I-65.

 

Corey Wagar – I Hate My Boyfriend

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Corey Wagar’s second single “I Hate My Boyfriend,” from her debut album On The Edge (GTR Records Nashville), has an infectious and fun lyric that grabs listeners and says, “This young artist is about to make her name.”

“I Hate My Boyfriend” goes for adds Sept 26th, with promotion efforts being spearheaded by Lisa Smoot, Jerry Duncan, Regina Raleigh and Christina Bear. Corey has performed the song live on her radio tour and has had the male DJs sing the chorus along with her.

“When you have great radio talent like Steve Ferguson, Dusty Edwards, Thom Watts, Captain Jack, Bill Booth, Dave Spencer, Dennis Banka, and Marty Mitchell singing along with you, it’s the funniest thing ever and feels like you have something really special to share with your audience,” laughs Corey.

She wrote “I Hate My Boyfriend” with her co-writing partner and guitarist Gordon Brown, and LoCash Cowboys’ Preston Brust. As he joined the writing session, Brust walked in and asked “So Corey, what’s up with the boyfriend?” She answered immediately, and the single was born. Produced at The Sound Kitchen by Kent Wells (Dolly Parton), this is a song for everyone, including men who have experience with assertive women.

Since the release of her first single “Hurricane,” Corey has opened up for top-notch talents such as Randy Travis, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Ashton Shepherd, Eden’s Edge, LoCash Cowboys, and many others.

http://coreywagar.com/

Corey Wagar – I Hate My Boyfriend