CMA Accepting Broadcast Award Nominations

The Country Music Association is currently accepting online submissions for the 2012 CMA Broadcast Awards for Broadcast Personality, Station, and National Broadcast Personality of the Year.

The organization is in the middle of its “Year of Country Radio” campaign. During CRS in February 2012, CMA awarded complimentary organizational and two individual memberships good for one year to all 2000-plus country stations in the United States. Since the Broadcast Award contenders must be CMA Mebers, all stations are now eligible.

“The ‘Year of Country Radio’ is all about celebrating the hard work of Country radio and its importance to our format,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore. “We’re always honored to spotlight the best of the best in Country radio, and this year will be especially meaningful with so many new members in the CMA family.”

Nominations may be submitted at Broadcast.CMAawards.com until 5 pm/CT on Friday, June 29. Winners will be notified in early October and recognized during the 46th Annual CMA Awards held late in 2012 and broadcast on ABC.

Celebration of Life: Pat Harris

A private Celebration of Life for Pat Harris is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 from 2-3 p.m. at the Nature Center in the Shelby Bottoms area adjacent to Shelby Park. For more information, please contact Vernell Hackett here.

A veteran Nashville journalist, Pat Harris passed away April 14 of natural causes at her daughter Barbara’s Nashville home. She was 88. Her obituary can be read here.

Easton Corbin Joins “Road to the Ram Jam”

Mercury Nashville recording artist Easton Corbin will join previously announced artists Kellie Pickler and Brantley Gilbert for the “Road to the Ram® Jam” series and sweepstakes.

The Road to the Ram Jam, presented by the Ram Truck brand, highlights five country artists and offers exclusive video content, free music downloads and the opportunity to win prizes through participating country radio stations. Fans can enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win trips to the invitation-only 2012 Ram Jam concert event in Nashville December 29, 2012 at www.RamTrucks.com/RoadtoRamJam or on the Ram Trucks Facebook page at www.ramjamsweeps.com.

Corbin will offer fans entering the sweepstakes a chance to win a free download of his new single “Lovin’ You Is Fun” from his forthcoming sophomore album All Over the Road. The remaining Road to the Ram Jam artists will be announced throughout the year and all five participating will receive a lease on a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn truck. The trucks will then be auctioned off in early 2013 with all proceeds going to benefit a charity of each artist’s choice.

Easton Corbin

Jimmy Wayne Honored For Foster Service Advocacy

Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher (Grand Ole Opry GM), Rep. Mark White, Wayne, Senator Doug Overbey, Treasurer David Lillard. Photo: Chris Hollo

Jimmy Wayne was recently honored by Tennessee State Senator Doug Overbey, Representative Mark White and state Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr., at the Grand Ole Opry with a congratulatory resolution for his advocacy work to extend foster care services to young adults.

Wayne, who spent years in North Carolina’s foster care system, recognized the difficulty young adults face in completing education, launching careers and finding independence. Wayne helped sway state legislators in both houses of the General Assembly to unanimously adopt a bill allowing adults between ages 18 and 21 to continue receiving foster care services.

The Treasury Department first worked with Wayne in 2010 for his Project Meet Me Halfway. The initiative helped bring awareness of individuals aging in the foster system.

“Jimmy Wayne has been a tireless advocate on behalf of young people in need of foster care, so it is fitting that he is being honored with this resolution,” Treasurer Lillard said. “This new law will provide security to a critical group of young people as they are making the transition from childhood to adulthood. Every Tennessean is proud of Mr. Wayne’s efforts.”

GAC Plans 5th Annual Kick-off Breakfast

Tickets went on sale today (5/11) for the 5th Annual GAC Kick-off Breakfast—the unofficial start to CMA Music Fest—which will be held 7 am Wed., June 6 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Performers at this year’s breakfast event will include Josh Turner, Lauren Alaina, Thompson Square and Kip Moore.

Tickets have been available here for $45 and include a country breakfast, performances, autograph sessions with the performers and museum admission. Proceeds from the event benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Past Kick-off Breakfast performers have included Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Lee Ann Womack and Chris Young.

Artist Updates (5/11/12)

Carrie Underwood visited Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night (5/10) to promote the release of her fourth album Blown Away. Her performances included current single “Good Girl,” album cut “Leave Love Alone,” and a special duet with Jimmy called “Before You Freak.” The song parodied Underwood’s smash “Before He Cheats.” See videos from her appearance here.

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Lee Ann Womack was in Washington, DC on Wednesday (5/9) to perform at the Centennial First Ladies Luncheon for Michelle Obama, and a donation was made on the singer’s behalf to Houston-based Healthcare for the Homeless. Additionally, Womack visited the White House for the presentation of the 2012 Library of Congress’ Gershwin Award to Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Womack is also currently recording a new album with husband Frank Liddell.

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Miranda Lambert just scored a No. 1 song with “Over You,” which she and husband Blake Shelton wrote together. The song has been certified Gold, and RCA has released the stripped down “Over You (Heart and Soul Mix).” “I think the key is we sort of pick and choose what we want to do together as artists because we don’t ever want the business to get in the way of our personal relationship,” said Lambert about Shelton. “So when we write together, we kind of step away from being husband and wife, and we just become artists that respect each other. And it’s a really good relationship, and I think doing that every now and then and keeping it special is what makes it work.”

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The Mavericks’ new single “Born To Be Blue” (Valory Music Co.) is headed to country radio with a May 29 add date. Fans can stream the song on the group’s Facebook page here.

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Martina McBride has been selected to sing the national anthem during the pre-race ceremonies at the 96th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Tickets to the prestigious racing event are available here.

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Craig Morgan will headline the July 13 broadcast of Fox & Friends’ “All American Summer” concert series in New York City. Locals will be able to see the performance for free outside the Fox News Studios at Avenue of the Americas and 48th St. in Manhattan. The concert will air on Fox & Friends starting at 6:30 am CT that morning.

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Bucky Covington’s tour bus was involved in an accident yesterday (5/10) on I-65 in Birmingham, AL. Covington was not onboard at the time of the accident and there appear to be no serious injuries but some of the passengers were taken to the hospital for examination. Covington’s dates tonight (5/11) in Germantown, IL and tomorrow (5/12) in Kenosha, WI will go on as scheduled.

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Black River Entertainment’s Glen Templeton will make his national television debut on June 17 when he visits Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends. Templeton will sing his current single “Sing That Song Again” and Conway Twitty’s classic “That’s My Job” in honor of Father’s Day. The appearance will air beginning at 7:10 am CT.

McFadden Joins Momentum Promotion Team

Momentum Label Group has announced the hire of Tim McFadden to assist promotion efforts for the label’s flagship artist Rachele Lynae. McFadden will join John Ettinger and the label’s promotion staff to promote Lynae’s new single “Party ‘Til The Cows Come Home.”

“Tim has such great relationships at radio and will be invaluable to our team as we work to break our Rachele’s new single,” says Momentum Label Group creator Jamie O’Neal. “I have always been very impressed with Tim, and I’m thrilled to be working with him.”

McFadden most recently served as National Head of Promotion for R&J Records since its inception. His career also includes time in the promotion department at Giant Records and running his own McFadden Management.

Reach him at 615-476-0090 or tzmcfadden@gmail.com.

Momentum Label Group was launched in February 2012 by singer/songwriter Jamie O’Neal, who is overseeing all aspects of the company including producing Momentum artists.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

Think this one’s a hit? Yeah, us too.

Eric Church, Ryan Tyndell, and Jeff Hyde co-penned “Springsteen,” the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 song, which concerns itself primarily with the memory of an old relationship. And like its namesake, “Springsteen” also uses some anthemic touches (like the “whoa whoa whoa” chant after the second chorus) that make it instantly striking.

Church just recently brought his Blood, Sweat, and Beers Tour to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. MR’s own Sarah Skates was present for the event and discovered that it was indeed bloody, sweaty, boozy, and explosive.

Check out the new video for “Springsteen,” directed by Peter Zavadil:

YouTube video

Publishing News: Rick Monroe, Aaron Espe

Pictured (L-R): Susan Hodges, Dan Hodges, Rick Monroe, Steve Freeman

Nashville’s Render Records has signed recording artist Rick Monroe to a co-publishing agreement in association with Dan Hodges Music (DHM). The deal includes world-wide creative administration with DHM Administration, for past and present publishing catalogs.

Since inception in 2008, DHM has published songs recorded by Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Billy Currington, Faith Hill, and Lee Brice.

Monroe’s current EP, Part One, features his new single “Crazy Not To.” Monroe is currently on the road with the 2012 Jägermeister Country Tour with Randy Houser through the end of July.

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Pictured (L-R): Revelry's AJ Burton, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, Aaron Espe, and Revelry's Greg Gallo and Greg Beeckman

Revelry Music Group has signed an administration agreement with Colorado-based JMHB Music Publishing for ASCAP songwriter-artist Aaron Espe.

Revelry will retain exclusive right for pitching to artists, film, television, and advertising. Espe’s song “Water” can most recently be heard in a national Payless Shoes campaign.

Also a member of the duo “Bombs Over Nowhere” with fellow songwriter busbee, Espe’s latest solo album, Three, was released on May 1.

Toby Keith Hosts Golf Classic

The 9th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic tees up Friday, May 18 at the groundbreaking of the OK Kids Korral in Oklahoma City. The home-away-from-home for children and families being treated at Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center and other nearby facilities has been the ultimate goal of the Toby Keith Foundation and its annual event.

The 10 am groundbreaking ceremony begins turning the dream into reality, followed by a dinner and auction that evening to continue the tradition of strong fundraising. Last year’s event raised $650,000, and the 2012 lineup of auction items is quite impressive.

Auction highlights include a trip to Africa with Pros for Africa, a Dallas Cowboys VIP package, having a menu item named for you at Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar & Grill,” concerts and golf packages and memorabilia from Coldplay, Carrie Underwood, the Rolling Stones, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean and more.

For information visit www.tobykeithfoundation.org.