Alan Jackson recently visited the Tonight Show With Jay Leno to perform “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore.” Check it out at the 35:50 mark below.
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Kellie Pickler returned to her American Idol roots last night (4/5) to perform on the results show. Pickler sang the song “Where’s Tammy Wynette” off her acclaimed new album 100 Proof.
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The Band Perry recently performed a three-song set at CMT’s 2012 upfront presentation to an invitation-only crowd at New York’s Museum of Arts & Design. In attendance were Viacom execs Phillippe Dauman and Tom Dooley; Van Toffler, President, Viacom Music and Logo Group; and CMT President Brian Philips.
(L-R): Neil Perry; Philippe Dauman, President & CEO, Viacom; Kimberly Perry; Tom Dooley, Sr. EVP & COO, Viacom; Reid Perry. Photo: Picturegroup
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Trace Adkins has partnered with Louisiana-based, family-run Hightower Enterprises to create Trace Adkins Hightower’s Country Smoked Sausage exclusively for Brookshire Grocery Company. The grocery chain operates 152 stores in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. “When you think about home cooking, you think about family and tradition,” said Adkins. “The Hightower’s family business was a part of my family’s meals growing up. I’m happy to join them as they expand beyond Louisiana to all the families served by Brookshire Grocery Company stores.”
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Atlanta Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke will perform at the famed Georgia Theatre Saturday, April 7 at 9 pm/ET. MTV Network’s high-definition music channel Palladia will air the show, which will feature guest performances by Zac Brown and Clay Cook of Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie.
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Curb Records has released Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” for purchase and download in the iTunes store ahead of the April 24 release of his sophomore album Hard 2 Love. Brice’s current single “A Woman Like You” is approaching the top of all the charts, and has sold over 600,000 downloads to date.
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Country duo Miss Willie Brown (Kasey Buckley and Amanda Watkins) have the iTunes Free Download of the Week with “You’re All That Matters to Me” through Monday, April 9. The song was written by Robert John “Mutt” Lange and produced by Nathan Chapman. Additionally, the duo will appear on the Monday, April 9 episode of CW’s Hart of Dixie.
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Black River Entertainment’s Craig Morgan will make his debut appearance on late night show Conan on Wednesday, April 11. The show airs weeknights at 10 pm/CT on TBS.
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Congratulations to Average Joe’s artist Matt Stillwell, who married his longtime girlfriend Lindsey Crawford March 22 at the Vegas Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
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Teen sensation Payton Rae is filming the video “Stomp The Fire Out” with director Stephen Shepherd. The song (written by Pete Sallis, Karyn Williams, and Brian White) is the first single from Rae’s upcoming album project. The 16-year-old social media wiz has over 120k Twitter followers and 5.5 million YouTube views.
No. 1 Party: Kenny Chesney’s “Reality”
/by Sherod Robertson(L-R): (front row) BMG/Chrysalis' Sara Johnson; Warner/Chappell Music's Steve Markland; co-writers Brett James and Kenny Chesney; manager Dale Morris; and Sony/ATV Music Publishing's Troy Tomlinson; (back row) ASCAP's Mike Sistad; Sony Music Nashville's Gary Overton; producer Buddy Cannon; BMI's Clay Bradley; and BNA Records' Norbert Nix. Photo: Rick Diamond
BNA Records’ Kenny Chesney and songwriter Brett James celebrated their recent co-written No. 1 chart-topper “Reality,” produced by Buddy Cannon, at Sambuca’s Sky Room on Thursday (4/5). BMI and ASCAP co-hosted the event, which honored Chesney’s 23rd trip to the top of the charts.
Presentations were made by BMI’s Clay Bradley and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, as well as Warner/Chappell’s Steve Markland, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, and BMG Chrysalis’ Sara Johnson. Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox presented a financial contribution in the name of the writers to Chesney’s preferred charity, Plan!t Now.
“I’ve been very blessed with a lot of great people that have been part of a really incredible ride,” said Chesney. “The thing that makes me the happiest is when I can sit down with a guy like Brett James and create something that touches people. Thank you everybody for giving us a great reality.”
Brett James also thanked everyone for the accolades and added, “We wrote ‘Out Last Night’ and ‘Reality’ on the same day. Thank God for that day!”
Rascal Flatts Presents One Night Movie Event, “Changed”
/by Sherod RobertsonGary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts
The members of Rascal Flatts celebrated their new album release on Thursday (4/5) in New York City’s AMC Theater in Times Square with Rascal Flatts-CHANGED: One Night Exclusive Movie-Theatre Event.
The movie includes concert performances from the newly released project, Changed, at Tennessee’s Franklin Theatre. New songs performed include “Banjo,” “Hot in Here,” “She’s Leaving,” “Come Wake Me Up,” and “Changed.”
The film also features performances of the group’s biggest hits such as “Fast Cars and Freedom,” “Bless the Broken Road,” “What Hurts the Most,” “I Won’t Let Go,” and “Life Is A Highway.”
Nestled between performances were in-depth personal interviews with each of the group’s members, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus. The performers revealed how they discovered music early in their lives, which musical influences they got from their families, and how at one point, they almost called it quits.
The film also takes the audience into the homes of Gary, Joe Don, and Jay, giving viewers an opportunity to meet their families and see how they live when not performing.
The Tacklebox Films production was presented by NCM Fathom Events, Big Machine Records and AEG Network Live with executive producers Scott Borchetta, Clarence Spalding, and Sandi Spika Borchetta. Shaun Silva directed the film, which was produced by Don Lepore with musical production by Dann Huff.
Sugarland Members to Testify in Fair Case
/by FreemanSugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are scheduled to give video depositions this week for lawsuits surrounding the Indiana State Fair stage collapse on August 13, 2011. The tragedy claimed seven lives and caused numerous injuries.
According to the AP, Nettles and Bush will provide depositions Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13 in Charleston, WV. Central to this part of the investigation will be whether the band chose not to delay the Indiana concert after being informed about bad weather.
These allegations were brought to light following the deposition of Indiana State Fair Commission Executive Director Cindy Hoye, who claimed the band refused the fair’s efforts to delay the show. Sugarland’s depositions were ordered by a judge presiding over a lawsuit against Mid-America Sound Corp., who owns the staging equipment that collapsed.
Earlier, an investigation by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concluded that the stagehands union, fair officials, and Mid-America Sound Corp. shared the blame and issued fines to each party.
In another previous separate investigation, the state of Indiana settled with victims for a total payout of $5 million, with the estates of the deceased receiving more than $300,000 each.
David Ross Reveals “Secrets of the List” in New Book
/by Sarah Skates“This is not just about being on Facebook or sending out an occasional Tweet,” explains Ross. “It’s dedicated to helping entrepreneurs take advantage of digital marketing opportunities using email and social media. At the same time, you create a consumer army of dedicated brand supporters, invaluable for feedback as your company grows and considers new offerings. Networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have become the online meeting places where friends gather, exchange news and talk about what’s on their minds. Looked at differently, these networks have become the most efficient word of mouth machine in the history of the world.”
David M. Ross
During Ross’s 30-year tenure running MusicRow, he built the company from the ground up and profitably transformed it from a print magazine to a digital medium by pioneering many of the email/social media marketing techniques revealed in Secrets of the List.
He is an award-winning journalist who received the Country Music Association’s President’s Award for Outstanding Service in 1998 and the Canadian Country Music Association’s Leonard T. Rambeau Award for International Achievement in 2003. One of Country music’s most frequently read industry analysts, Ross continues to cover the intersection between Nashville entertainment business and technology, speaking often at seminars, conferences and panels.
Secrets of the List is available on Amazon.
Click here to email David Ross or visit secretsofthelist.com.
HFA Supports Google Play
/by Eric T. ParkerGoogle Play was introduced in March 2012 as an online store for music, movies, Android apps and games, effectively re-branding the previous Android Marketplace.
HFA’s brings a pool of more than 46,000 affiliated publishers, flexible technology, and comprehensive rights database to the agreement.
“HFA is pleased to collaborate with Google to help encourage more consumer music purchases through innovative programs,” said Lauren Apolito, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, HFA. “We strive to support the growing digital eco-system as it evolves to meet consumer content demands with our rights management services so that companies can focus on their music initiatives.”
Diamond Rio to Host CMHoF’s Words & Music Night
/by Eric T. ParkerThe program begins at 6:00 p.m. and is open to performing students and their families. Students represent area schools including Battle Ground Academy, Ensworth, Glencliff Elementary, Joelton Elementary, Meigs Magnet Middle School, Mt. View Elementary, Oak Hill, Overbrook, Ruby Major Elementary, St. Joseph, Stanford Elementary and Woodland Middle.
“The Words & Music program allows students to express themselves creatively and to learn the craft of lyric writing,” said Ali Tonn, director of education and public programming. “The Words & Music Night recital showcases the breadth, depth and quality of those student compositions.”
The evening is a culmination of the year-long Words & Music program. More than 4,300 2nd through 8th grade students at 52 Tennessee schools completed a three-part, 15-lesson curriculum, developed by the museum. After students wrote or co-wrote lyrics in the classroom, the lyrics were given to professional songwriters. This year, 39 volunteers refined the students’ lyrics and added melodies.
The Words & Music program is made possible by the Country Music Association Endowment for Words & Music.
Artist Updates (4/06/12)
/by FreemanAlan Jackson recently visited the Tonight Show With Jay Leno to perform “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore.” Check it out at the 35:50 mark below.
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The Band Perry recently performed a three-song set at CMT’s 2012 upfront presentation to an invitation-only crowd at New York’s Museum of Arts & Design. In attendance were Viacom execs Phillippe Dauman and Tom Dooley; Van Toffler, President, Viacom Music and Logo Group; and CMT President Brian Philips.
(L-R): Neil Perry; Philippe Dauman, President & CEO, Viacom; Kimberly Perry; Tom Dooley, Sr. EVP & COO, Viacom; Reid Perry. Photo: Picturegroup
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Atlanta Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke will perform at the famed Georgia Theatre Saturday, April 7 at 9 pm/ET. MTV Network’s high-definition music channel Palladia will air the show, which will feature guest performances by Zac Brown and Clay Cook of Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie.
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Congratulations to Average Joe’s artist Matt Stillwell, who married his longtime girlfriend Lindsey Crawford March 22 at the Vegas Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
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New Performers and Host Named For “We Walk The Line” Tribute
/by Freeman“As an artist who has been doing this for awhile, I love and respect Mr. Cash more than ever,” commented Monahan. “His music, his story and his great love for his wife and children continue to inspire me and I am honored to be a part of this beautiful tribute.”
Previously announced performers for the tribute concert include Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Dunn, John Hiatt, Amy Lee, Shooter Jennings, Lucinda Williams, Jamey Johnson, Rhett Miller, Andy Grammer and Carolina Chocolate Drops. The show takes place at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theatre, and marks the year that Cash would have turned 80.
Backing artists through their performances will be an all-star band led by Grammy-award winner Don Was and featuring Buddy Miller, Kenny Aronoff, Ian McLagen, and Greg Leisz.
Tickets are on sale to the public here, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Charley’s Fund, which is helping find a cure for fatal children’s disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
39th Music City Tennis Invitational Names Celebrity Spokesperson
/by Caitlin RantalaMCTI’s Patsy Bradley, Greg Travis, Luann Mayer, Jake Owen, Patsy Wells and Bill Riddle
The Music City Tennis Invitational (MCTI) recently announced its 39th year and a weekend of tennis, charity, fellowship, music, and fun with country music star Jake Owen serving as the spokesperson for this year’s event. The annual tournament, scheduled for April 21-22, is the only fundraising event that directly benefits the Center for Child Development at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
The Center provides screening, evaluation and referral services for youth who are developmentally delayed, intellectually disabled or suffer from ADHD or autism spectrum disorders.
“I am thrilled to be participating in this year’s MCTI, in particular because its proceeds benefit children directly who need services that are not covered by medical insurance,” Owen said. Charitable donations raised from the tournament and songwriters showcases at the Bluebird exclusively provide funding for these services.
The two-day tournament will take place on April 21-22 at the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Tennis Center at Vanderbilt University, where tennis players will compete with recording artists, celebrities, and other music industry insiders. The tournament is open to tennis players of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Registration for one player is $235 or $195 for USTA members. More information on sponsorship and volunteer opportunities or player registration can be found at www.musiccitytennis.com.
CountryBreakout No. 1 Song
/by Freeman“I think it’s funny,” he tells People Country. “It’s just funny to me, because there is nothing about me, if I was a girl, that I would think is sexy. Miranda’s like, ‘Man, I can’t believe there’s actually other people out there besides me that like you! I mean, there must be something wrong with them!”
Maybe she shouldn’t be so surprised. Both Shelton and Miranda Lambert have been on star trajectory for some time, and Shelton’s impressive resume keeps growing. “Drink On It” is his latest in a series of Country radio hits, plus he has added co-hosting duties with Reba on the ACM Awards over the last two years. He also appears on Lionel Richie’s album Tuskegee, collaborating with Richie on the hit “You Are.”