CMA Music Fest Riverfront Stage Lineup Announced

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Country fans gather at Riverfront Stage during the 2011 CMA Music Festival. Photo courtesy CMA.

Held for free and open to the public June 7-10 in downtown Nashville, CMA Music Festival’s newly revealed Riverfront Stage concert lineup includes a diverse assortment of country hitmakers from the past, present, and future.

The performances will kick off at 10 am on June 7 with Average Joes’ Montgomery Gentry. The duo last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2009. Promising newcomers Dustin Lynch and Thomas Rhett will be making debut performances this year.

The current daily lineup (alphabetical order):

Thurs., June 7: Lee Brice, Colt Ford, Tracy Lawrence, Dustin Lynch, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Jerrod Niemann, Randy Rogers Band, Josh Thompson, and Uncle Kracker.

Fri., June 8: Craig Campbell, The Farm, Gloriana, Jo Dee Messina, David Nail, Oak Ridge Boys, Thomas Rhett, Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, and James Wesley.

Sat., June 9: Laura Bell Bundy, Edens Edge, Casey James, Lonestar, Love and Theft, Kip Moore, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Corey Smith, and Mel Tillis.

Sun., June 10: Wade Bowen, Brett Eldredge, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, JT Hodges, Steve Holy, Jana Kramer, LoCash Cowboys, Lorrie Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, and Darryl Worley.

Four-day ticket holders will have an exclusive 45-minute early-entrance window before the gates open to the general public for all Riverfront shows. Tickets are available here.

All artists participate for free, and on their behalf, CMA donates half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Keep the Music Playing program.

To date, more than $6.1 million has been donated to the program. The total also includes a $1 million endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program.

Turner Reveals “Punching Bag” Release Date, Artwork

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UMG Nashville’s Josh Turner is scheduled to release his fifth studio album, Punching Bag, to stores on Tuesday, June 12. The album’s first single “Time Is Love” is currently climbing charts everywhere.

Josh co-wrote eight of the album’s 11 tracks, including the title cut which he co-wrote with friend Pat McLaughlin. Many of Turner’s contributions came out of songwriting sessions at Turner’s new writing cabin located behind his home.

“I spent two years building my writer’s cottage,” says Turner. “Once it was finished I was immediately in there writing songs. In total, I’ve written 27 songs in there and eight of those ended up on the record.”

In support of the album, Turner is currently headlining tour dates sponsored by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Full dates and tickets available here.

Leadership Music Digital Summit to Focus On Social Media

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The 2012 Leadership Music Digital Summit will dedicate its full agenda to social media and its impact on the music space when it takes place in downtown Nashville on April 25 at TPAC’s Polk Theater.

The one-day seminar will host panels designed to deliver practical knowledge, actionable skills and insights that attendees can employ immediately.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will provide opening remarks, and Livenation.com general manager and former BigChampagne CEO Eric Garland will keynote the event. Additionally, Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, who will be present to discuss the importance of social media in his band’s success.

Sessions include “Subscription & Social” (with Spotify’s Steve Savoca, moderated by MusicRow founder David Ross), “Analytic Tools For Social Media” (with NPD’s Russ Crupnick) “How To Reach Fans on Social Media,” “Monetizing Social Media,” and more. Full schedule is available here.

For a limited time, advance registration is $199 here with the code LMDS2012. All proceeds support Leadership Music.

Angela Borchetta White to Lead Canadian Promotion For BMLG

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Big Machine Label Group has announced the appointment of Angela Borchetta White to the newly-created position of Canadian National Director of Promotion. White will relocate to Toronto, where she will be based out of the the Universal Music Canada office and oversee all Country radio promotion for BMLG’s roster in Canada.

“Yes, Angela is my sister!” said BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “If anything, that made the path into our company even tougher because she had to completely win the team over on her own utilizing her own incredible promotion abilities and doing it without prejudice from me. She’s gotten so strong in the field that if we didn’t step up quickly we were going to lose her to the competition!”

White began her promotion career in Pop world, where she worked as a regional for Curb and then later Atlantic, promoting a wide array of artists including Tori Amos, Stone Temple Pilots, and Genesis among others. She also spent time with RCA, playing a pivotal role in the radio successes of Dave Matthews Band, ‘N Sync, Christina Aguilera and more. Most recently, White launched her independent promotion company White House Promotion, working with Jewel for her Valory Music Co. album Perfectly Clear, plus BMLG artists Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and others.

Congratulate her here.

Lee Brice Preps Album Release

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It’s a great time to be Lee Brice. The Curb Records singer/songwriter is currently riding high on the success of his No. 1 single “A Woman Like You” and a big ACM Song of the Year win for Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl,” and he has even more in store for fans.

First up, Curb Records is releasing Brice’s sophomore album Hard 2 Love on April 24. To whet appetites in advance of release day, Curb has issued downloads of Hard 2 Love tracks “Parking Lot Party” and “I Drive Your Truck” exclusively to iTunes. “A Woman Like You” has already sold over 700,000 digital downloads.

Brice also will also be making some high profile media appearances surrounding the release of Hard 2 Love, including an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 1. More appearances are expected to be announced shortly.

Jeffrey Steele to Host Waddell & Reed Charity Golf Tournament

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Jeffrey Steele has been tapped to host the Waddell & Reed Charity Golf Tournament on Fri., May 11, benefiting the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

The Charity Golf Tournament will take place at the Hermitage Golf Course during the day. A special concert will follow, with performances by Steele, Jason Scheff, Pearl Heart, Alissa Moreno, Danny Myrick, Bart Allmand, Bob DiPiero, and Tony Mullins with additional surprises.

Teams and individual registration is open here, which includes green and cart fees, executive goodie bag, boxed lunch, beverages, awards dinner, and a entry in the post-tournament concert.

Matt Kennon Teams With Ride Records for Latest Single

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Matt Kennon

RoaDDawg Records artist Matt Kennon has partnered with Ride Records for a national radio promotion campaign for Kennon’s latest single “You Had To Pick On Me.”

The single, which was co-written with Jami Grooms and Garrett Parris, focuses on the important topic of bullying and harassment. Kennon recently received an invitation from the D.A. of his home state of Alabama to perform a series concerts in May at local Mobile Schools.

For further support, Ride Records owner Steve Azar and Kennon are planning a Summer tour together.

“The story is from a real place and it’s a story that is tough to tell,” said Bill ‘BT’ Twyman, President of Ride Records. “Nevertheless, we all are aware that we can no longer hide the true-to-life fact that bullying is real and effects all mankind in a very real way. Matt delivers it with heart and soul.”

Ride Records works with independent artists including Dave Hardin and Walt Wilkins and is home to Azar.

Artist Updates (4/12/12)

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According to the Nashville Post, LeAnn Rimes has sold her Franklin home for $4.1 million to a trustee for an unnamed party. The estate, located at 512 King Richards Court, was on the market for nearly three years and originally listed for almost $5 million.

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Canadian singer/songwriter Ray Griff will be undergoing reconstructive surgery in the next few days for a fractured jaw. According to his website, the procedure will be an arduous one, with a recovery time of three to four months.

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Shovels & Rope

Acclaimed duo Shovels & Rope will release its new album O’ Be Joyful on July 31 via Dualtone Records. The duo is comprised of Cary Ann Hearst, whose song “Hells Bells” was featured in an episode of HBO’s True Blood, and Michael Trent, who formerly led the band The Films.

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Nashville radio promotion veteran Bill Wence is releasing his new album Analog Man in a Digital World on May 15 via 615 Records, with national distribution by Burnside. Guests on the record include Charlie McCoy, Becky Hobbs, Jonell Mosser, Gretchen Peters, Byrd Burton, Stick Davis, Bekka Bramlett, and the Jordanaires.

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Multi-platinum trio Point of Grace will release its new album A Thousand Little Things on May 1. Here’s a video of the girls talking about how the title came about, their struggles, and what they’re thankful for.

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Jett Williams will headline the 33rd Annual Hank Williams Festival in Georgiana, Alabama on June 1-2. The event takes place at the Hank Williams Music Park in his boyhood hometown. Also performing are Moe Bandy, Larry Gatlin, and Jeremy Parsons. More info here.

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Photo: Megan Sugden.

Jesse Keith Whitley, the son of Lorrie Morgan and the late Keith Whitley, married Ashlee Hewittin March. The bride is originally from Lancaster, Minnesota and was a contestant on the sixth season of Nashville Star.

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Country rocker and outdoorsman Casey Donhew has teamed up with Justin Boots for the 2012 All American Dove Hunt, which benefits Camp Patriot and disabled veterans. Justin Original Workboots is hosting a sweepstakes in which one winner will get to go to the event, held September 10-12 at the Buckin’ B Ranch in Amarillo with hosts Donahew and NFL legend Bubby Brister. Info here.

Tribute To Late Songwriter Harley Allen

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Harley Allen

An evening of tribute to late songwriter Harley Allen is set for Wed., April 18, 8 p.m. at The Station Inn.

Artists and hit songwriters scheduled to perform include Doug Johnson, The Grascals, Tim O’Brien, Shawn Camp, Scotty Emerick, Jeffrey East, Jamie Teachenor, John and Julie Pennell, Audie Blaylock, The Harmons, and Jan and David Harvey. Additions to the line-up are expected.

General admission is $25 with proceeds going to the IBMA Trust Fund.

[Updated] New Mechanical Rates For Digital Music

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The RIAA, NMPA and DiMA are filing an industry-wide agreement setting mechanical royalty rates for five new digital music categories.

The 25-page proposed agreement will be submitted to the CRB for formal approval. The agreement covers 2013-2017 and establishes a royalty rate category for these new business models and rolls forward, with limited changes, all existing rates and terms for CDs and downloads.

The settlement provides for the development of new services of digital music and business models offering music to consumers by creating new rates and terms under Section 115 of the Copyright Act for these five categories:

· Mixed service bundles—for example, a locker service, limited interactive service, downloads or ringtones combined with a non-music product such as a mobile phone, consumer electronics device or Internet service; mechanical rate will be 11.35% of revenue or 21% of total content cost, whichever is greater
· Paid locker services—subscription-based locker providing on-demand streaming and downloads; 12% of revenue or 20.65% of total content cost or 17 cents per subscriber, whichever is greater
· Purchased content lockers—a free locker functionally provided to a purchaser of a permanent digital download, ringtone or CD where the music provider and locker have an agreement; 12% of revenue or 22% of the total cost of content, whichever is greater
· Limited offerings—subscription-based service offering limited genres of music or specialized playlists; 10.5% of revenue or 21% of total cost or 18 cents per subscriber, whichever is greater
· Music bundles—bundling music products such as CDs, ringtones and permanent digital downloads; 11.35% of revenue or 21% of total content cost, whichever is greater