Artist Updates (4/24/12)

(l-r) Sony Music Nashville Senior Director of Artist Development & Marketing, Tanya Welch; Casey James Artist Manager, Bryan Frasher; CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore; CMA Senior Vice President of Communications & Marketing, Sheri Warnke; Casey James; CMA EDU President (MTSU Chapter), Angela Johnson; CMA EDU President (Belmont Chapter), Lauren Klausing; CMA Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Sarah McGrady. Photo Credit: Christian Bottorff

19 Recordings/BNA Records artist Casey James performed at the CMA EDU End of Year Party last Thursday (4/19) in the CMA Atrium for students from Belmont University, Lipscomb University, and Middle Tennessee State University. CMA EDU, CMA’s education-based college initiative, gives college students a hands-on opportunity to enhance skills in marketing and promotion.

(L-R): Donald T. Floyd, Jr., President and CEO, National 4-H Council; Nate Seese, 4-H Youth, East Lansing, Mich.; Jennifer Nettles, Lead Vocalist, Sugarland; James C. Borel, Executive Vice President, DuPont; Carla Hall, Host, ABC's The Chew.

Last Tuesday (4/17), National 4-H Council hosted the third annual 4-H Legacy Awards Gala and presented the 2012 4-H Distinguished Alumni Medallion to 4-H alumna and Grammy Award-Winner Jennifer Nettles. Prior to leading Sugarland to fame, Nettles was a member of Coffee County, Georgia 4-H. She also served on the Junior and Senior State Boards and as camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H Center and won Georgia State 4-H Congress honors for her Performing Arts project.

Vince Gill and jazz trumpet player Chris Botti appeared on Good Morning America and The View on April 23. The pair performed the Randy Newman-penned song “Losing You,” which appear’s on Botti’s album Impressions.

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The Valory Music Co.’s Thomas Rhett has been selected as one of the opening acts this summer on Toby Keith’s previously announced Live In Overdrive Tour Presented By Ford F-Series. The 36-city trek kicks off in Salt Lake City, UT, on June 14 and will run through September 22. A full list of tour dates and ticket information are available here.

Jaida Dreyer, the flagship artist on Streamsound Records, released her first single “Guys Girl” to radio late last month and it has become one of the most-added singles so far this month. The song was co-written by Dreyer, The Warren Brothers, and Lance Miller. Dreyer is currently out on a radio promotion tour across the country which has already made stops at about 70 stations and will continue through May.

 

Render Records artist Rick Monroe is releasing his new EP Part 1 on May 1, which features his current single “Crazy Not To.” Monroe has also been added to the 2012 Jagermeister Presents Tour in support of Randy Houser.

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While vacationing on the Gulf Coast, Billy Dean rescued a Great Blue Heron, a protected species, from an abandoned fishing line and lures. Dean joined a group of teenagers standing in deep water and with the bird biting him, carried it out of the water. Dean was proud the students who went out to rescue the bird. “The girls of Port St. Joe High School and a few other vacationers were the true heroes but I was fortunate to have been there to help them untangle the bird and bring it to shore,” he said. The bird is being treated for its wounds before being released back into the wild.

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Author and country/pop music pioneer Maxine Brown will be presented the Ella Dickey Literacy Award on April 26 at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, MO. Brown is the author of Looking Back To See, a chronicle of The Browns vocal trio, best-known for “The Three Bells.” Her country hits include “Here Today And Gone Tomorrow” and “Looking Back To See.”

Gregg Allman’s Book Launches in Nashville

Founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman, will return to Nashville May 10 to promote the release of his memoir, My Cross to Bear (William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers), which hits shelves May 1.

BMI Nashville will co-host the meet-and-greet and book signing with Nashville’s independent Parnassus Books. The event will be held in the BMI’s front lobby and is open to the public from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

In My Cross To Bear, Allman discusses in his own words the death of his older brother Duane, his solo career, his string of failed marriages (including Cher), and his struggles with drugs and alcohol. Allman additionally takes readers through the formation of the band that influenced the sound of rock and roll.

As the Allman Brothers Band celebrated the 40th anniversary of live album Eat a Peach this year, it was also honored at the Grammys with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Allman himself was also nominated for Best Blues Album for his solo record, Low Country Blues.

For the latest updates on Allman’s book tour, please visit Facebook.

Gilbert’s ‘Halfway to Heaven’ Certified Gold

Brantley Gilbert’s first album with The Valory Music Co.Halfway to Heaven, has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 units.

Released in September 2011, the album originally debuted at No. 2 and featured the Gold-certified  No. 1 single “Country Must Be Country Wide,” which Gilbert co-wrote. Additionally, Gilbert has penned two No. 1 hits for Jason Aldean with “My Kinda Party” and “Dirt Road Anthem.”

“Man, to have ‘Heaven’ go Gold means a lot to me,” said Gilbert. “Thanks so much to the BG Nation and all y’all who bought a copy.”

Gilbert’s latest single, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” is climbing MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Chart at No. 9.

In addition to headlining his own dates, Gilbert is currently on the road with Eric Church for the Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour.

Bandsintown Expands Reach To Android Devices

Free concert tracking mobile and web application Bandsintown is expanding its reach to include devices running the Android operating system. The app is now available as a free download in the Android marketplace and allows users to track artists, discover new artists, and RSVP to shows from their phones.

“We’ve been very happy with Bandsintown’s performance on Facebook and the iPhone and are excited to bring it to Android devices,” said Julien Mitelberg, CEO of Bandsintown. “Android growth has been rapid, with over 300 million devices in the market worldwide, and we’re thrilled that this audience can now tap into our service. The goal is to make sure that no one ever misses a concert from their favorite band, and this expansion is a big step toward achieving that.”

The Bandsintown app scans users’ music libraries and Facebook likes to automatically populate their Tracked Artists page. Users then get up-to-date info about when their favorite bands are coming to town, and recommendations about shows they might find interesting.

Clear Channel, Sony Team To Launch Underwood’s “Blown Away”

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment is partnering with Sony Nashville to promote the May 1 release of Carrie Underwood’s fourth album, Blown Away. Lead single “Good Girl” is No. 5 and climbing on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, and was just certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of more than 500,000 digital downloads.

Clear Channel’s two-week on-air and online Artist Integration Program launches April 24. The promotion will include a series of on-air spots from an exclusive interview with the singer on Country stations and online station streams. Underwood will perform a private concert for Clear Channel listeners in New York City which will stream live at iHeartRadio.com. On Monday, April 30 Underwood will join “Elvis Duran and the Z100 Morning Show” live, in-studio. The promotion also includes a trip for two to the Bayou Country Superfest to meet Underwood and see her perform, courtesy of Arista Nashville. Other elements of the campaign include a custom content portal featuring the extended interview with Underwood, a banner ad campaign, and an artist-seeded station which will be showcased on the homepage of iHeartRadio.com

Starting today fans can exclusively stream the album and pre-order it on iTunes at http://smarturl.it/blownawaystream. Blown Away, produced by Mark Bright, is Underwood’s fourth studio album on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville.

Since her debut in 2005, Underwood has amassed more than 14 million in album sales and has placed 14 No. 1 singles on the charts.

Blown Away track listing

1. Good Girl
2. Blown Away
3. Two Black Cadillacs
4. See You Again
5. Do You Think About Me
6. Forever Changed
7. Nobody Ever Told You
8. One Way Ticket
9. Thank God For Hometowns
10. Good In Goodbye
11. Leave Love Alone
12. Cupid’s Got A Shotgun
13. Wine After Whiskey
14. Who Are You

R&J Records Restructuring [Updated]

“We are not closing. We are restructuring,” says R&J Records President James Stroud, regarding the future of his label. Earlier today unofficial word spread that the label was closing its doors, but it appears Stroud and Derek Simon (Marketing & Artist Development) will continue operations with a reduced staff, though no longer be focused on mainstream radio promotion.

R&J artist Andy Gibson is transitioning to a new label home with Curb Records, but the current R&J regional promotion staff will continue to promote Gibson’s single “Wanna Make You Love Me” as it climbs the monitored airplay charts. The R&J roster also had artists Aaron Lewis, (whose forthcoming album The Road was originally due for release June 26), Maggie Rose (with Emrose Records), LoCash Cowboys, Alexa Carter, Abby Graham, and Rob Lane.

Exiting R&J staffers include Michael Campbell (Business Affairs & Finance), Pepper Meiler (Online Marketing & Product Management), and Tim McFadden. Reach Meiler at peppermeiler@comcast.net or 615-400-4366, Campbell at campbellma@aol.com and McFadden here.

R&J Records was originally launched in May 2011 as a partnership between producer/label President James Stroud and Rick Carter of Gulfport, MS.

Marty McIntosh – Looking For Reasons

Marty McIntosh is proud to present country radio with his new single “Looking For Reasons,” which is going for immediate adds.

With the help of producer and friend David Frizzell, Indiana native McIntosh recorded his first album The American Night for Nashville America Records. The title cut, written by Dennis Knutson and Roger Allan Wade, was released to radio with a party-filled music video filmed on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, where McIntosh currently resides. A star-studded CD release party was held in Alabama to the delight his hometown fans.

McIntosh’s fan base continues to grow as he performs regionally and through appearances like the world famous Midnight Jamboree, America’s second oldest continuous radio show. Additionally, he has shared the stage with Ronnie McDowell, T.G. Sheppard, Razzy Bailey, Little Texas, Collin Raye and a host of other great artists.

www.martymcintoshmusic.com

Adkins to Perform at National Memorial Day Concert

Show Dog-Universal’s Trace Adkins has been added to the star-studded lineup of film, television and music stars gathering in Washington, DC for the highly rated National Memorial Day Concert, an American tradition honoring the country’s men and women in uniform. The event will air live on PBS from the West Lawn of the US Capitol Sunday, May 27 from 7-8:30 pm CT.

The program will be co-hosted by Tony Award-winning Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award winner Gary Sinise, both of whom have long been committed to causes related to the US military. Joining them will be Colin Powell, Daughtry, Natalie Cole, Adkins, actress Selma Blair, Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, Dennis Franz, and tenor Russell Watson, among others.

The National MEmorial Day Concert has consistently been one of the highest-rated programs on PBS in the last decade, recently reaching more than eight million viewers.

Country Stars and Athletes Serve Food at “Waiting For Wishes” Benefit

Former Tennessee Titans player and NFL veteran Kevin Carter will host the 11th Annual Waiting For Wishes Celebrity Waiter’s Dinner to benefit the Kevin Carter Foundation and Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee at The Palm on Tuesday, May 8. Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus will co-host the event, which is approaching sell-out status.

Joining Carter and DeMarcus is an all-star celebrity lineup of athletes and celebrities including Sheryl Crow; Amy Grant; Joe Nichols; Rodney Atkins; Colt Ford; Kix Brooks, John Rich; Charles Kelley; Titans Marc Mariani, Rob Bironas, Steve Hutchinson, Michael Roos, and Will Witherspoon; former Titans Derrick Mason and Keith Bulluck; TV personalities Tim Couch, Hannah Storm, Randy Cross and Storme Warren; UFC fighter Chuck Lidell; Diamond Dallas Page of WWE and many others.

The unique and exclusive event features Carter and his celebrity pals taking over the Palm as servers. Sponsors include HCA/TriStar, Grand Avenue, The Downtown Hilton, and Nashville Lifestyles. Since it began over a decade ago, Waiting For Wishes has raised over $1.1 million for charity.

“I am so very grateful to be able to continue this event so many years after my tenure with the Titans,” says Carter. “It was 11 years ago when I had hoped to have a dinner that could raise some money for children with life threatening illnesses and the success that this event has grown into, can only be attributed to this incredible community, their spirit of giving, and their commitment to changing the circumstances of those in need.”

More info on the event here.

The Mavericks Share New Music at 3rd & Lindsley

Some things are worth waiting for. Like the new season of HBO’s Game of Thrones, or the assorted pumpkin-related delicacies that appear only in fall.

Or, as proved to be the case on Saturday night (4/22), an incredible two-hour late night set of tunes at 3rd & Lindsley from the reunited Mavericks, who are signed to Valory Music Co. and making new music.

The sold-out show, part of a two-night fundraiser benefiting the W.O. Smith Music School and The Recording Academy’s MusicCares, also featured Matt Butcher and Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys.

Apparently everyone else with a ticket had the same idea: show up early and find a place to sit down. Only they all did it before yours truly. The renovated 3rd & Lindsley can certainly accommodate more people these days, but some fire codes might have been violated on Saturday. By the time Mead hit the stage for his retro-styled honky-tonk at 9 pm, the place was packed and strangers were pressed up against one another, dodging servers who were schlepping beers and plates of food to patrons.

At 10 pm (or shortly thereafter), the Mavericks took the stage. Singer Raul Malo greeted the audience with a quick, “Hello, Nashville” and the band–Robert Reynolds, Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez and the rest–snapped into gear with the brand new song “Back In Your Arms Again.”

The band has been busy in the studio, and attendees got to hear a sampling of the first new Mavericks songs in several years. Among those were first single “Born To Be Blue,” a jangly uptempo number that should please the band’s longtime fans and sound pretty distinct on country radio. Also debuted was “Come Unto To Me,” a deeply twangy, sexy rocker with killer twin guitar leads and an almost Eastern European feel to it. Promising stuff.

But the band didn’t skimp on the classic tunes either, delivering energetic performances of “Pretend,” “There Goes My Heart,” and “I Want To Know.” By this point, the audience had shed its inhibitions and begun dancing wildly.

“Some songs you have to play, and some you want to play. This is one of those,” said Malo, before delivering the gorgeous, shimmering “Blue Bayou.”

Malo dedicated “One More Angel” to the late publicist Jayne Rogovin, which segued into the Cuban anthem “Guantanamera” and then into “Twist & Shout.”

“We started out playing in bars so this ain’t nothing for us,” said Malo during the mid-song breakdown as his guitar cable malfunctioned. “We love doing this. Once a bar band, always a bar band.”

The crowd cheered for favorites like “What A Crying Shame” and “Dance The Night Away,” which ended the main set.

For the encore, Malo returned alone and played the devastating “Here Comes To Rain” with only his acoustic, the audience rapt with attention. He followed with “Sweet Dreams,” and brought the band back out for the churning “Every Little Thing.”

As the clock crept past midnight, the band treated the crowd to a second encore that included Harry Belafonte’s “Jump In the Line (Shake Senora)” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Born On The Bayou,” the latter featuring some crazy reverse guitar effects.

The evening ended with the Mavericks’ vibrant run through 1996 single “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” Which, perhaps ironically, left audience members feeling pretty darn good as they headed back out into the night for much needed rest.