The third annual Country Throwdown Tour Fired Up By Kingsford will get underway Friday, May 18 in Gulfport, MS, and a new performer and dates have been added for the popular outdoor summer trek.
Corey Smith will play select dates (May 19, 20, 26, 27, and July 8) of the tour, joining previously announced performers Gary Allan, Josh Thompson, Rodney Atkins, Justin Moore, Eric Paslay, Sunny Sweeney, Florida Georgia Line and Maggie Rose. Atkins is set to play June 1-30 and July 1, while Moore will be on board May 18-27. In addition to the performances on the tour’s two main stages, the Bluebird Cafe stage will spotlight emerging songwriters Channing Wilson, Rose Falcon, and Carly Pearce for intimate sets throughout the day.
The tour will hit 20 cities nationwide and has recently added stops in Lampe, MO (5/19); Bonner Springs, KS (5/20); Milwaukee, WI (6/28); and Nashville (7/8). Special guests Jonathan Singleton and the Grove, Drake White, and Mama’s Blue Dress will play at the Nashville tour stop.
Pictured at the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour kick-off event on April, 24 at the famed Bluebird Cafe are (L-R): Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Gary Allan, Channing Wilson, Sunny Sweeney, Josh Thompson, 4Fini's Kevin Lyman and Sarah Baer and Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. Photo: 4Fini
Tickets are on sale now for select cities at www.countrythrowdown.com.
Full dates:
5/18-Gulfport, MS @ Jones Park
5/19-Lampe, MO @ Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater
5/20-Bonner Springs, KS @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
5/26-Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
5/27-Bangor, ME @ Waterfront Park
6/1-Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
6/2-Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion
6/3-Anderson, IN @ Hoosier Park Casino
6/13-Glen Allen, VA @ Innsbrook Pavilion
6/14-N. Lawrence, OH @ Clay’s Park Amphitheater
6/15-Danville, VA @ Carrington Pavilion
6/16-Washington, PA @ CONSOL Energy Park
6/17-Syracuse, NY @ NYS Fairgrounds
6/22-Sioux Falls, SD @ W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds
6/23-Rockford, IL @ Davis Park / Metro Center
6/28-Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest 2012
6/29-Marion, IL @ Rent One Park
6/30-Bridgeview, IL @ Toyota Park
7/1-Norfolk, NE @ Divots Conference Center
7/8-Nashville, TN @ The Woods at Fontanel
TV Shows Singing A Country Tune
/by Sarah SkatesNBC believes so strongly in its hit series that this fall the network will use the singing competition as a lead-in for three new shows. The Monday night installment of The Voice will precede The Revolution, a sci-fi series from Lost co-creator J.J. Abrams, and the Tuesday night episode will lead to new comedies Go On, starring Matthew Perry, and The New Normal.
“We believe in [The Voice],” NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt told Ad Age, dismissing the notion that there are too many singing/entertainment competition shows on television. “There is a lot of room for all of us to succeed. People were saying, ‘Oh, American Idol is over this year.’ It’s certainly not over. There is a big appetite for all of these shows.”
With prior appearances on NBC’s Nashville Star, CMT’s Gone Country and a win on NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice, John Rich will return to television this summer on The CW Network. He will join Gloria Estefan and other yet-to-be named mentors on The Star Next Door, a nationwide music competition series from Queen Latifah. The mentors will travel to the hometowns of new talent to prepare them for the chance to represent their home cities live onstage. No premiere date has been set.
Adding to the country music mix on TV, yesterday MusicRow reported that ABC has picked up the new series Nashville and Malibu Country, starring Reba.
In related news, Britney Spears and teen star Demi Lovato will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid on Fox’s The X Factor this fall.
Country Throwdown Tour Adds Corey Smith, Plans New Dates
/by FreemanCorey Smith will play select dates (May 19, 20, 26, 27, and July 8) of the tour, joining previously announced performers Gary Allan, Josh Thompson, Rodney Atkins, Justin Moore, Eric Paslay, Sunny Sweeney, Florida Georgia Line and Maggie Rose. Atkins is set to play June 1-30 and July 1, while Moore will be on board May 18-27. In addition to the performances on the tour’s two main stages, the Bluebird Cafe stage will spotlight emerging songwriters Channing Wilson, Rose Falcon, and Carly Pearce for intimate sets throughout the day.
The tour will hit 20 cities nationwide and has recently added stops in Lampe, MO (5/19); Bonner Springs, KS (5/20); Milwaukee, WI (6/28); and Nashville (7/8). Special guests Jonathan Singleton and the Grove, Drake White, and Mama’s Blue Dress will play at the Nashville tour stop.
Pictured at the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour kick-off event on April, 24 at the famed Bluebird Cafe are (L-R): Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Gary Allan, Channing Wilson, Sunny Sweeney, Josh Thompson, 4Fini's Kevin Lyman and Sarah Baer and Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. Photo: 4Fini
Tickets are on sale now for select cities at www.countrythrowdown.com.
Full dates:
5/18-Gulfport, MS @ Jones Park
5/19-Lampe, MO @ Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater
5/20-Bonner Springs, KS @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
5/26-Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
5/27-Bangor, ME @ Waterfront Park
6/1-Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
6/2-Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion
6/3-Anderson, IN @ Hoosier Park Casino
6/13-Glen Allen, VA @ Innsbrook Pavilion
6/14-N. Lawrence, OH @ Clay’s Park Amphitheater
6/15-Danville, VA @ Carrington Pavilion
6/16-Washington, PA @ CONSOL Energy Park
6/17-Syracuse, NY @ NYS Fairgrounds
6/22-Sioux Falls, SD @ W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds
6/23-Rockford, IL @ Davis Park / Metro Center
6/28-Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest 2012
6/29-Marion, IL @ Rent One Park
6/30-Bridgeview, IL @ Toyota Park
7/1-Norfolk, NE @ Divots Conference Center
7/8-Nashville, TN @ The Woods at Fontanel
Universal Music Publishing Group Signs Mark Nesler
/by Sarah SkatesPictured L-R (back row): Michael Rexford, VP Business Affairs, UMPG; Whitney Williams, Creative Director, UMPG Nashville; Freeman Wizer, Creative Manager, UMPG Nashville; and Mike Milom, Esq., Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC. Pictured L-R (front row): Ron Stuve, VP A&R/Special Projects, UMPG Nashville; Mark Nesler; Kent Earls, EVP/General Manager, UMPG Nashville; and Cyndi Forman, Senior Creative Director, UMPG Nashville.
Universal Music Publishing Group today announced the signing of Nashville hitmaker Mark Nesler to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement. Under terms of the deal, UMPG will also acquire an interest in his Nez Music catalog and Little Lola Mae Music catalog.
Nesler’s list of hits is lengthy. He wrote Tim McGraw’s six week No. 1 “Just to See You Smile” on the multi-platinum album Everywhere. He also penned two charttoppers for George Strait: “Go On” and “Living and Living Well.” Nesler also co-wrote No. 1s for Keith Urban (“You Look Good in My Shirt”), Darryl Worley (“I Miss My Friend”) and most recently Billy Currington (“Let Me Down Easy”).
He penned Country Strong, the title track to the film which was recorded by Gwyneth Paltrow. Other hit singles by Nesler include: “For You I Will” (Aaron Tippin), “Heaven In My Women’s Eyes” and “Just Let Me Be In Love” (Tracy Byrd), “Why, Why, Why” (Billy Currington), and “A Different World” (Bucky Covington).
“With 15 + years of writing country hits, Mark continues to be one of the most consistent songwriters in Nashville today,” said Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, UMPG Nashville. “We are very honored to acquire such an impressive body of work and look forward to many more successes with Mark.”
“When you walk through the door of UMPG it feels more like home rather than a business. That environment really promotes great songwriting. I’m proud to be a part of the UMPG family,” added Nesler.
Mark Nesler joins the UMPG Nashville roster of hit makers which includes Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Luke Laird, Lori McKenna, Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges, Nathan Chapman, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans and many others.
Events: SOLID Crawfish Boil; Songwriters at Savor Nashvillle
/by Sarah SkatesRSVP on the Facebook event page.
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Hit songwriters Marv Green and Tim Nichols will perform at Savor Nashville’s Celebrity Chef Dinner on Sat., May 19, 7 p.m., at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel. Dinner will be prepared by celebrity chefs James Boyce of Cotton Row in Huntsville, AL and Bruce Moffett of Barrington’s Restaurant in Charlotte, NC, with wine pairings from Cultivate Wines. Proceeds benefit Hands on Nashville.
Tickets for the Celebrity Chef Dinner are $150 per person and $1,250 for tables of 10. Individual tickets to the Challenge to the Chefs are $35. An all-access weekend pass is available for $175 person. Details at www.nashvillelifestyles.com.
The Mavericks Announce EP Release Date; Stream Single
/by Eric T. ParkerThe band began streaming the project’s first single “Born To Be Blue” earlier this month before its official May 29 country radio add date.
Beginning this weekend, the band will support its new music with a North American tour spanning from Texas to Canada. International dates have not yet been released.
“We poured our hearts and soul into the new music and we think it’s our best work yet,” said Mavericks lead singer, Raul Malo.
Suited Up and Ready tracklist:
1. Back In Your Arms Again
2. Born To Be Blue
3. Come Unto Me
4. Amsterdam Moon
5. That’s Not My Name
Plowboy Records Launches In Honor of Eddy Arnold
/by Freeman(L-R): Plowboy Records founders Shannon Pollard, Cheetah Chrome, Don Cusic. Photo: Anna O'Connor
On what would have been Eddy Arnold’s 94th birthday, Plowboy Records has launched in Nashville to celebrate the Tennessee Plowboy’s legacy and provide a home for new American music.
The founders of Plowboy include Arnold’s grandson and musician Shannon Pollard; author, educator, and historian Don Cusic; and punk legend Cheetah Chrome (Rocket From the Tombs, The Dead Boys) in the Creative Director role.
The first release on Plowboy Records will be a new album from Bobby Bare, which is being recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville. Bare’s collaborators on the project include Buddy Miller, Randy Scruggs and other members of Robert Plant’s Band of Joy.
Also in the works is an Eddy Arnold tribute album produced by Chrome and featuring interpretations of Arnold’s songs by a mix of traditional country artists, as well as alt-country and indie rock bands. “The goal of the tribute album is to raise some eyebrows by matching up artists from multiple genres with signature Eddy Arnold songs,” notes Pollard.
Watch a video of Pollard, Cusic, and Chrome discussing Plowboy Records here.
Lucero Brings Memphis To Nashville
/by FreemanMemphis band Lucero understands that, having spent more than a decade touring relentlessly and expanding its country/punk/soul/rock sound. The band’s new album Women & Work (ATO Records) is its second for a major (10th overall) and already the best-selling of its career. ATO Records currently has a hot hand with other beloved touring rock bands like My Morning Jacket, Drive-By Truckers, and The Alabama Shakes.
It wasn’t exactly a packed house when Lucero played Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom last Friday (5/11) with John Henry & The Engine, but it was an incredibly loyal one. Like the kind of loyal that screams the words to every song and repeatedly shouts out requests between tunes.
Which was perfectly fine with the band. “We’ve been on tour for about two months, and I gotta tell you: it’s nice to be back in Tennessee,” said leader Ben Nichols, flanked by bandmates Brian Venable, Todd Beene, Roy Perry, Rick Steff, John C. Stubblefield and a killer horn section. Nichols writes evocative songs about forlorn brawlers who get their hearts broken, smoke too many cigarettes, medicate with booze, and wander the streets alone at night. In other words: kind of perfect for a rowdy Friday night audience trying to blow off a little steam.
The band opened with “On My Way Downtown,” a new track from Women & Work that married a danceable rock ‘n’ roll groove to the deeply soulful horns closely associated with the band’s hometown. On “Nights Like These,” weepy pedal steel (courtesy of sometime Glossary member Beene) pushed the band into tears-in-your-beer country territory. Women & Work’s title track showcased Steff’s righteous boogie woogie piano along with the horns, bringing to mind some of the great ramshackle bar bands like Faces.
Nichols was very congenial, in a tattooed tough guy kind of way. With cocktail in hand, he addressed each song request: “Yeah, we’ll definitely do that,” or “No, not a chance,” or “It’s 50-50.” Fan favorites included “Here At the Starlite,” “I Can’t Stand To Leave You,” “Bad Tattoos,” and “Tears Don’t Matter” with help from fellow Memphian Cory Branan.
The band returned for an encore with “Hearts On Fire” and “Nobody’s Darlings,” before Nichols announced that he had one more song left in him. “I know how this works–you’re not supposed to end with a new song, or a slow song,” he said. “So here’s a new, slow song.” The band closed it out with Women & Work’s gospel-inflected “Go Easy,” and the reverent audience hung around.
But hey, that’s loyalty for you.
Senate Subcommittee To Examine UMG/EMI Merger
/by Sarah SkatesThe Federal Trade Commission is also looking into the deal, as well as Sony’s planned buyout of EMI Music Publishing for $2.2 billion.
The subcommittee is chaired by Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) who fought AT&T’s proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile last year. That transaction was also opposed by the FTC and never closed.
According to the LA Times, Congressional hearings have no formal sway over antitrust regulators.
European regulators have already approved Sony’s purchase of EMI Music Publishing.
Jim Raley Joins CMT
/by Caitlin RantalaJim Raley has joined CMT as Director of Special Events, it was announced yesterday (5/14) by Suzanne Norman, SVP of Strategy and Business Operations, CMT. Based in Nashville and reporting to Norman, Raley will be responsible for the production of non-televised events for the network.
Raley joins at a critical time as CMT preps for its annual CMT Music Awards on June 6 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Working closely with Viacom Media Network’s special events team, Raley’s team will oversee such aspects as ticketing, audience fulfillment, and pre and post-party events. He will serve as the primary point of contact for hospitality vendors.
Raley has relocated to Nashville from Atlanta, GA, where he has served in a variety of hospitality, entertainment and project management positions worldwide over the last 17 years. His career includes time at Princess Cruises based in Santa Clarita, Calif., Entertainment Design Group in Atlanta, Ga., and Delta Airlines.
Congratulate Raley at jim.raley@cmt.com.
John Rich & Friends Play For St. Jude
/by MichelleJohn Rich, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Jeff Foxworthy and Big & Rich will perform at the St. Jude Presents John Rich & Friends concert on June 5 at the Cannon Center in Memphis, Tenn. The event will serve as the first-ever concert kick off for the 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude and help the hospital continue its work to treat children with cancer and other deadly diseases.
“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital holds a very special place in my heart, that’s why I’m excited to kick off the FedEx St. Jude Classic with the John Rich & Friends concert,” said Rich. “I don’t know how you could spend your time any better on this earth than to support something like St. Jude. It’s truly God’s work – taking care of them babies.”
“The John Rich & Friends concert is an incredible way for us to kick off this year’s FedEx St. Jude Classic and celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “This year’s tournament is about so much more than golf. We’ve planned a full week of events for our supporters to enjoy while also helping St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children.”
PRNewsFoto/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital