New CMA Hirings In Marketing and Projects Departments

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Karen Stump

The Country Music Association has announced the hiring of Karen Stump as Senior Director, Market Research; and Vilma Salinas as Senior Manager of Projects.

Stump will lead and manage a broad range of research initiatives to provide consumer information to industry groups. She will report to Tammy Donham, CMA Vice President of Marketing. “CMA has taken a leadership position in the last few years by establishing itself as a repository for consumer information and research,” said Donham. “We are excited to have Karen join us to expand our research services, and we look forward to providing our membership with a wide range of data analysis to aid them in their business endeavors.”

Stump was previously based in New York City as VP of Market Analytics and Strategic Insights for Scripps Networks Interactive working with Food Network, Great American Country, HGTV, Cooking Channel, DIY Network, and Travel Channel. Prior to that, she served eight years as the Director of Marketing and Customer Insights for American Standard Inc. Stump earned bachelor and MBA degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Vilma Salinas

As Senior Manager of Projects Salinas will be responsible for managing and executing aspects of CMA special events and programs as they pertain to ticketing, budgeting, booking, and production logistics. She will report to Chris Crawford, CMA Senior Director of Live Events and Special Projects. “We produce events all year long, ranging in size from our highly-regarded CMA Songwriter Series to our internationally known CMA Music Festival and CMA Awards, and it takes a team of skilled professionals to orchestrate them flawlessly,” said Crawford. “Vilma will make an excellent addition to our team.”

Salinas previously served five years as the Sales and Marketing Manager for Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe, where along with brand management she also handled production and logistics for live and special events. Prior to that, Salinas was the Catering Sales Manager of the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville and served as the Event Manager at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs. She graduated from the University of New Orleans.

Lauren Alaina Dances on Prom Night, But Not at Her Own

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Lauren Alaina missed junior prom this past Saturday night (4/14) because she was in Louisville, KY with Sugarland’s In Your Hands tour.

Alaina improvised by finding a partner from the audience to come onstage so she could officially have her prom dance.

After her set, she discovered the Lanesville High School Prom was being held just six blocks away from the concert venue. With the permission from the Lanesville High School Principal, she and fellow tour opener Canaan Smith made a surprise appearance at the Lanesville prom, dancing on the floor for about 20 minutes before heading back to the Sugarland show.

The 17-year old American Idol runner-up opens for Alan Jackson in Pensacola, FL (May 4) and Columbus, GA (May 5) before picking back up on Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party tour May 10-19. She will continue with Sugarland when the tour heads to Los Angeles on May 22.

Underwood’s Release Week Includes Letterman Webcast

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Carrie Underwood will promote her latest album, Blown Away (due out May 1) on CBS Interactive Music Group’s concert webcast series Live On Letterman from the Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC, Mon., April 30 (8 pm ET/5 pm PT).

Underwood’s Letterman webcast will follow the taping of her performance on the Late Show with David Letterman, which will be broadcast later that evening (11:35 pm ET) on CBS.

Underwood will be performing some of her biggest hits on the webcast, including her latest single, “Good Girl,” which appears on Blown Away.

The webcast performance will be available live on the CBS JumboTron in Times Square and on-demand here, in addition to select CBS Radio broadcasting and mobile apps. Further, VEVO will broadcast and syndicate the special.

The Live on Letterman franchise is staged in an intimate setting and hosted established bands and musicians for a global audience.

“Good Girl” is currently No. 5 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

Carrie Underwood at her Blown Away listening party at Flyte in Nashville (4/16). Pictured (L-R): Ann Edelblute (XIX Entertainment), Mark Bright (producer), Underwood, Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO). Photo: Alan Poizner

(L-R): Clay Hunnicutt (SVP Programming Clear Channel), Michael Bryan (OM/PD WSIX), Underwood, John Marks (Sirius XM), Overton, Lesly Tyson (VP National Promotion Arista Nashville). Photo: Alan Poizner

DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/18/12)

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Top: The Grascals; Bottom: Cumberland River

We’re overdue for an overview of what our bluegrass brothers and sisters are up to, so here’s a batch of CDs that are currently picking and grinning out there.

The Disc of the Day belongs to The Grascals. Life Finds a Way is the band’s first for Mountain Home Records, and I think it’s one of the ensemble’s best efforts ever.

This edition’s DisCovery Award goes to Kentucky newcomers Cumberland River. They’re already being featured on a television soundtrack and are hip enough to recognize the power of a music video. Go, boys, go.

JUNIOR SISK & RAMBLERS CHOICE/A Far Cry from Lester & Earl
Writer: Tim Massey/Rick Pardue/Harry Sisk Jr.; Producer: Wes Easter & Ramblers Choice; Publisher: Dixie Breeze/Mitchell River/Dreamin’ Creek, BMI; Rebel (track) (www.juniosiskandramblerschoice.com)
—This track is presently No. 1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited popularity chart. It decries how bluegrass is drifting too far away from the classic sounds of The Stanley Brothers and the men of the song’s title. “We’re way down below that high-lonesome sound” sings Junior in this lively toe tapper. Sisk’s CD is titled The Heart of a Song, and it’s hardcore bluegrass all the way.

CHRIS JONES & THE NIGHT DRIVERS/Final Farewell
Writer: Chris Jones/Jon Weisberger; Producer: Chris Jones; Publisher: Gal Sal/Use Your Words, BMI; Rebel (track) (www.rebelrecords.com)
—I’m a big fan of guitarist-singer Jones. This yearning, midtempo, romantic outing is drawn from his current Lost Souls & Free Spirits, which is a compilation of his finest work for Rebel, plus three new tracks. As always, he sings with understated warmth and unforced soulfulness. Heartfelt.

THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS/Nobody Knows You
Writer: Graham Sharp; Producer: Gary Paczosa & The Steep Canyon Rangers; Publisher: Enchanted Barn, ASCAP; Rounder (track) (www.steepcanyon.com)
—Because of backing Steve Martin last year, the Rangers won the IBMA Entertainer of the Year award with him. This title tune to the band’s just-released (4/10) new album that it kicks plenty of butt without the banjo-playing superstar. In addition to hearty harmonies, it features some wonderfully scampering fiddle work and a throbbing bass line. Fresh sounding.

THE GRASCALS/Life Finds a Way
Writer: Jamie Johnson/Dierks Bentley/Ronnie Bowman; Producer: The Grascals; Publisher: Country Gentleman/Little Johnson/Big White Tracks/Sony-ATV, SESAC/ASCAP/BMI; Mountain Home (track)
—This rolls along gently as the sweetly romantic title tune of The Grascals’ latest collection. Jamie Johnson and Terry Eldredge remain two of the genre’s finest young lead vocalists. Kristin Scott Benson’s award-winning banjo work is just stellar. I also like the way this band consistently looks “outside the box” for material. In this CD, you’ll find bluegrass reworkings of “Mystery Train” and “Sweet Baby James” alongside terrific songs by writers like Harley Allen and Jerry Salley. And get a load of the writer credits on this tune.

BRAND NEW STRINGS/Other Side of Lonesome
Writer: Randall Massengill; Producer: Preston Schmidt & Brand New Strings; Publisher: Eastern V, BMI; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.brandnewstringsband.com)
—I think the concept here is to combine traditional high-lonesome vocals with ultra-modern instrumental flash. Because these five guys can all play their fingers off. The seven-song mini-album is titled Stay Tuned. I will.

CUMBERLAND RIVER/Cold and Withered Heart
Writer: J. Dean; Producer: Steve Gulley; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.cumberland-river.com)
—It’s a brave new world out there — bluegrass groups now make music videos. This tune from this new band’s The Life We Live CD has its own clip. So does the album’s tune “Justified,” the theme song of an FX TV show by that name. From an audio standpoint, these fellows sing with urgency and abandonment here that keep you on edge as a listener. Cumberland River hails from Harlan, KY. Two of its members are for-real coal miners. Four of them are cousins. Now that’s country.

DAILEY & VINCENT/Living in the Kingdom of God
Writer: Jaimie Dailey; Producer: Darrin Vincent & Jaimie Dailey; Publisher: Bluegrass Ambassador, BMI; Rounder/Cracker Barrel (track) (www.daileyandvincent.com)
—This is the lead-off song and first charting track from this team’s second bluegrass-gospel collection. As before, the set is co-marketed by Rounder in partnership with Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. This is a lickety-split, happy-happy celebration of being born again. Elsewhere on the CD are well-chosen tunes by Dolly Parton, Buck Owens, Jimmy Fortune, Willie Nelson (“Family Bible”) and Carl Perkins (“Daddy Sang Bass”). An all-star cast of sidemen is on hand.

THE CROWE BROTHERS/He Could Pick the Hound
Writer: Steve Watts; Producer: Steve Thomas, Josh Crowe, Wayne Crowe & Steve Sutton; Publisher: Redbud Ridge, ASCAP; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.crowebrothers.com)
—New on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart this month is this track from Bridging the Gap by The Crowe Brothers. As you might expect, the sibling harmony is spot-on. But what really drives this number is the fleet-fingered banjo playing of Steve Sutton.

CAROLINA ROAD/A Light in the Window, Again
Writer: Dixie Hall/Tom T. Hall; Producer: Lorraine Jordan; Publisher: Good Home Grown, BMI; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.carolinaroadband.com)
—This wistful mountain tune is currently on the chart for the smooth-sounding Carolina Road. Producer Jordan is the band’s able mandolinist and high-harmony vocalist. Guitarist Tommy Long has a marvelously evocative lead voice that is a gentle persuader. Back to My Roots is the second Rural Rhythm outing for this super band. It’s a total winner, thoroughly listenable, track after track.

NU-BLU/Other Woman’s Blues
Writer: Kira Small; Producer: Nu-Blu; Publisher: Gerry Bruce, ASCAP; Pinecastle (track) (www.nu-blu.com)
—Thanks to breakthroughs by Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, Dale Ann Bradley, Laurie Lewis and others, female lead singers in bluegrass are more common than ever. Add Nu-Blu’s Carolyn Routh to that list. She brings a pleading, plaintive tone to this minor-key gem. Promising.

Director Wes Edwards Brings Authentic Edge To Aldean’s Videos

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Wes Edwards and Jason Aldean on the set of "Flyover States."

Jason Aldean toasted youthful rebel rousing and the scars it leaves behind in recent hit “Tattoos on this Town.” And he teamed with longtime director Wes Edwards who took the sentiment one step further in the music video. When coming up with the treatment, Edwards wondered, “What’s the ultimate thing you could leave behind? A child.” Penned by Michael Dulaney, Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher, the lyrics don’t depict the video’s storyline of a young couple whose marriage is cut short when the man dies at war, before the birth of his son. “Nothing in the song makes you think of the storyline of the video,” continues Edwards. “That’s how I make videos interesting. I find the thing that might add something to the experience.” It went on to earn Edwards his second nomination for ACM Video of the Year. He was nominated along with producer John Burke.

Since first working together on Aldean’s 2005 debut video, “Hicktown,” Edwards and Aldean have risen through the ranks simultaneously. Back then Edwards, a Franklin, Tenn. native, had just landed at Ruckus Films, where he continues today. He had earned a television production degree at MTSU and spent four years gaining traction, including time as an editor at Ground Zero. “I thought it was going to be easy to direct music videos, which was the most naive thing ever,” he recalls.

“‘Hicktown’ put me on the map and it put Jason on the map,” he explains. “We shot the video at this place in Florida where people bring giant trucks—homemade, some of them—and go mudbogging. It was insane. Monster trucks and crazy vehicles flying into the air. Looking through the lens, I knew it was going to be an awesome video, especially because there was nothing out there at the time that was anything like it. It was so real, raw, unpolished. I added film scratches, and we didn’t try to get rid of the grain.”

The gritty feel and lack of literal song interpretation set the tone for the pair’s work going forward. “There’s something real about the videos we’ve done and the unpolished props we use,” says Edwards. “For ‘Flyover States’ we shot at an airplane graveyard in Smyrna, which we discovered while shooting ‘Tattoos’ in a nearby hanger. We didn’t try to clean up anything. I think those locations go with the sound of his music, which is more rocking and raw.”

Even with his rock sound, some Aldean singles could easily be turned into light-hearted video fare, but the artist prefers Edwards’ juxtaposition of imagery and sound. He nixed Edwards’ original idea of using vivid colors in the “Johnny Cash” video. Instead they shot at a neon sign graveyard in Las Vegas and Edwards treated the film with a rust color for an aged effect, right in line with Aldean’s go-to color palate of what the director calls “dark, rusty and grungy.”

It’s worked out well, with Edwards earning his first ACM Video of the Year nomination for Aldean’s “Amarillo Sky.” The director explains, “In ‘Amarillo Sky,’ everything in the lyrics makes you imagine that it’s an old man driving the tractor. But I thought, ‘What if it’s a young guy and what if they’re not characters?’” So Edwards interviewed farmers in their real houses, wearing their own clothes and shot footage of the aging, rusted equipment in the cornfield. “It was borderline documentary, and that really resonated,” he states.

He strives to keep the fresh ideas coming by not getting bogged down in watching other videos, and by working projects outside the country genre. “I don’t watch other country videos,” he says. “I don’t want to compare my videos to other videos, and I don’t want to get stuck in a pattern.” Recently Edwards expanded his portfolio by making three videos for trance artist Dash Berlin.

“The music video is an incredibly powerful marketing tool,” he sums, “because videos break artists and videos keep artists in the spotlight.”

YouTube video

Pepsi Becomes Headlining Sponsor for BamaJam 2012

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BamaJam recently announced a partnership with Pepsi for its 2012 festival, scheduled for June 14-16 in Enterprise, Alabama.

Pepsi, which owns Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola, will be promoting the event beginning in May.

Dual headline stages at BamaJam 2012 will feature artists including Tim McGraw, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, NEEDTOBREATHE, Casey James, Uncle Kracker, Yelawolf, Gov’t Mule and more. BamaJam Farms spokesman Darryl Worley will perform and host the opening night.

BamaJam is offering limited VIP tickets granting stage-side access throughout the festival for $999.

BamaJam’s grounds include a water park (opening Spring 2012), ATV trails, tailgate and camping sites, RV parking with full service amenities, and a par 3 executive golf course.

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

Photo: Final Round of Road to Bonnaroo

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Pictured backstage at Road to Bonnaroo are members of Sol Cat, Oh No No, fans, Courtney Jaye, Mercy Lounge’s Drew Mischke, BMI’s Perry Howard and Mark Mason. Photo: Drew Maynard

BMI, Mercy Lounge, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and the Nashville Scene presented the third installment of the 2012 Road to Bonnaroo competition at 8 off 8th last night (4/16). Performers included Courtney Jaye, Ravello, Oh No No, Electric Hearts, Fly Golden Eagle, The Captain Midnight Band, Sol Cat, and Escondido.

Fly Golden Eagle, who energized the crowd with some hypnotic psych rock and just the right amount of sax, emerged victorious and secured the final spot at Bonnaroo 2012, set for June 7-10 in Manchester, Tenn. Also earning praise from the audience were Courtney Jaye, who had a charming Stevie Nicks thing happening, and Escondido, whose sprawling, dusty brand of rock perfectly suited the clips of Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly playing on the projection screen behind them.

Country Gold Added to 2012 CMA Music Fest Nightly Concerts

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The legendary Glen Campbell, Ronnie Milsap, and Kenny Rogers, and reunited multi-Platinum certified group The Mavericks have joined the performer lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field held during 2012 CMA Music Festival.

Campbell will deliver the opening performance on the Nightly Concerts on Thursday (6/7). He last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2004. Last year, he revealed his Alzheimer’s diagnosis and released his final album, Ghost on the Canvas. He is currently in the midst of his Goodbye Tour.

Milsap will open the Nightly Concerts on Friday (6/8). His last performance at CMA Music Festival was in 2006 with Los Lonely Boys. In 2011 he released his latest album, Country Again.

Rogers will be the opening performer on Saturday (6/9). His most recent CMA Music Festival performance was in 2008. He recently released his first full-length inspirational Gospel album, The Love of God, through Cracker Barrel, and is the 2012 Artist-in-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Mavericks will open the show on Sunday evening (6/10). Like Campbell, the group last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2004. Recently, they signed with The Valory Music Co., began work on a new album, and are planning a summer tour. The current lineup includes Raul Malo, Robert Reynolds, Paul Deakin, and Eddie Perez.

Current lineups for the Nightly Concerts are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Thurs., June 7: Jason Aldean, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and Zac Brown Band

Fri., June 8: The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Ronnie Milsap, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, and Carrie Underwood

Sat., June 9: Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, and Kenny Rogers

Sun., June 10: Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, The Mavericks, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, and Rascal Flatts

The evening concerts takes place Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10, in downtown Nashville, and will once again be filmed for an ABC television special to air in late summer.

Tickets to the individual Nightly Concerts are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com or at CMAfest.com. Four-day ticket packages are also available.

All artists participate in the festival for free with net proceeds going to support music education.

Hayes’ New Video Hits No. 1 On GAC

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Warner Music Nashville artist Hunter Hayes has just released the new video for his single “Wanted,” which was promptly voted to the No. 1 spot on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown. The achievement marks Hayes’ first time to hit the network’s top video slot. The song is also climbing radio charts everywhere.

Additionally, Hayes played the Grand Ole Opry on Friday night (4/13) and was invited to the stage for an encore by Little Jimmy Dickens.

“I don’t know what else to say but THANK YOU, to my fans, for voting me into GAC’s Top 20 Countdown, and to be No. 1, I am so excited,” said Hunter.  “To top off the night I got to see you all in person, screaming and singing along to every single word at the OPRY! You guys are absolutely the best!”

Hayes will continue his “Most Wanted 2012” tour this week with shows in Minneapolis (4/19), Milwaukee (4/20), and Aimes (4/21). Full dates here.

Dierks Bentley Joined By Special Guests in LA

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(L-R): Bentley and Schiflett. Photo: Ryan Silver

Dierks Bentley journeyed to California on Friday (4/13) to kick off the US leg of his headlining 2012 Country & Cold Cans Tour for a sellout crowd at LA’s Nokia Theatre. His tourmates Eli Young Band and Will Hoge warmed up the audience before Bentley played his set, which included several surprise guest appearances.

Among those joining Bentley for performances was Foo Fighters’ lead guitarist Chris Shiflett on FF’s “Big Me” and a cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers’ “Sin City.” The show’s encore featured actor Garrett Hedlund performing “Hard Out Here.” The star-studded party continued after the show with friends Kirsten Dunst, Eric Stonestreet, and Foster the People.

While he’s out touring the West, Bentley will support Record Store Day this Saturday (4/21) with a special acoustic performance at Seattle’s Easy Street Records Queen Anne location.

“Record Store Day is such a great event that has hardly had any attention in country music,” said Bentley. “Some of the coolest exclusive product comes out on this day at indie retailers, and I wanted country fans to be able to get in on the action. I may have a few surprise special guests up my sleeve too. I’m really excited to take over Easy Street for an hour that afternoon…Seattle is such a great music town.”