Alison Brown, Garry West, and Rob Ickes performing at the Franklin Theatre.
The rich musical heritage and traditions of Tennessee will take center stage in four upcoming episodes of PBS series Music Voyager, hosted by musicologist Jacob Edgar. The world premiere of Nashville’s episode was shown last night (Feb. 15) at a special event at Franklin Theatre, which was emceed by Edgar with musical entertainment by Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’ and more.
Music Voyager is a music and travel series that spans the globe for intimate access to popular music, and is shown in 170 million homes worldwide. Music Voyager: Tennessee will take viewers largely along the state’s “Music Highway” Interstate 40 from Bristol to Memphis. The series was put together in part by the support of the Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development, and is only the second state (after Louisiana) to be featured. Episodes for East Tennessee and Memphis will be premiered at a later date.
“Tennessee and Music Voyager is a match made in music heaven,” said Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “There’s no doubt that Music Voyager: Tennessee will help showcase the already enormous significance of the music of Tennessee on the world stage.”
The Middle Tennessee episode features appearances by artist/performers Gill, Elizabeth Cook, Gabe Dixon, Those Darlins, banjo player/Compass Records co-founder Alison Brown, Keb’ Mo’, and The Grascals’ Jamie Johnson. Familiar Nashville area landmarks also pop up, including the Grand Ole Opry, Robert’s Western World, Tootsie’s, Gruhn Guitars, the Franklin Theatre, and the Bluebird Café, whose COO Erika Wollam Nichols is interviewed. A special second Middle Tennessee episode, simply called “The Round,” was also previewed and features Cook, Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott, and Guy Clark (who was in attendance at the event).
Alison Brown and dobro maestro Rob Ickes also performed at the event, backed by Brown’s bass-playing husband Garry West. The trio romped through a medley of Stephen Foster songs as well as “Dear Old Dixie” popularized by Earl Scruggs.
After the episode premiere, Gill and Keb’ Mo’ took the stage. The always-affable Gill joked they were, “The best you could get for free on short notice.” Gill delivered his “The Old Lucky Diamond Hotel,” followed by Keb’ on “Hand It Over.” Gill also revealed that he’s producing Pistol Annie member Ashley Monroe’s new album. For the finale, they invited Guy Clark onstage and the trio performed “Old Friends.”
There’s no official air date yet for Music Voyager: Tennessee, but it will also be shown as in-flight television programming for 13 airlines and in-room at several resort hotels.
Guy Clark (L) performs with Vince Gill (center) and Keb' Mo' (R) at the Franklin Theatre. Photo: TN Dept. of Tourist Development
CMA Board Names New Leadership
/by FreemanAt the Country Music Association Board of Directors meeting this week in Phoenix, Ariz., Troy Tomlinson was named President of the Board and Ed Hardy was named President-Elect. Both appointments begin immediately.
CMA Board Chairman and Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton made the announcement at the organization’s quarterly Board gathering. Tomlinson rises from President-Elect to the open President’s spot, and Hardy fills the President-Elect role. Publicist Jessie Schmidt remains as Secretary/Treasurer for a second year.
“I am very excited about working with our new CMA Board President Troy Tomlinson and President-Elect Ed Hardy,” Overton said. “Both Troy and Ed are highly successful and honorable leaders in the Country Music industry. Further, they have already shown themselves as leaders with insight and wisdom while serving on the CMA Board and its various committees.”
“Given the ambitious vision of the CMA, I am honored to be serving alongside strong executives like Gary, Ed, and Jessie,” Tomlinson added. “The fact that we are all friends makes it even more exciting.”
(L-R): CMA Board President and President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Troy Tomlinson; CMA Board Secretary/Treasurer and President of Schmidt Relations, Jessie Schmidt; CMA Board President-Elect and President of GAC, Ed Hardy; and CMA Board Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Nashville, Gary Overton. Photo: Amanda Eckard / CMA
Music Voyager Comes To Tennessee
/by FreemanAlison Brown, Garry West, and Rob Ickes performing at the Franklin Theatre.
The rich musical heritage and traditions of Tennessee will take center stage in four upcoming episodes of PBS series Music Voyager, hosted by musicologist Jacob Edgar. The world premiere of Nashville’s episode was shown last night (Feb. 15) at a special event at Franklin Theatre, which was emceed by Edgar with musical entertainment by Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’ and more.
Music Voyager is a music and travel series that spans the globe for intimate access to popular music, and is shown in 170 million homes worldwide. Music Voyager: Tennessee will take viewers largely along the state’s “Music Highway” Interstate 40 from Bristol to Memphis. The series was put together in part by the support of the Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development, and is only the second state (after Louisiana) to be featured. Episodes for East Tennessee and Memphis will be premiered at a later date.
“Tennessee and Music Voyager is a match made in music heaven,” said Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “There’s no doubt that Music Voyager: Tennessee will help showcase the already enormous significance of the music of Tennessee on the world stage.”
The Middle Tennessee episode features appearances by artist/performers Gill, Elizabeth Cook, Gabe Dixon, Those Darlins, banjo player/Compass Records co-founder Alison Brown, Keb’ Mo’, and The Grascals’ Jamie Johnson. Familiar Nashville area landmarks also pop up, including the Grand Ole Opry, Robert’s Western World, Tootsie’s, Gruhn Guitars, the Franklin Theatre, and the Bluebird Café, whose COO Erika Wollam Nichols is interviewed. A special second Middle Tennessee episode, simply called “The Round,” was also previewed and features Cook, Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott, and Guy Clark (who was in attendance at the event).
Alison Brown and dobro maestro Rob Ickes also performed at the event, backed by Brown’s bass-playing husband Garry West. The trio romped through a medley of Stephen Foster songs as well as “Dear Old Dixie” popularized by Earl Scruggs.
After the episode premiere, Gill and Keb’ Mo’ took the stage. The always-affable Gill joked they were, “The best you could get for free on short notice.” Gill delivered his “The Old Lucky Diamond Hotel,” followed by Keb’ on “Hand It Over.” Gill also revealed that he’s producing Pistol Annie member Ashley Monroe’s new album. For the finale, they invited Guy Clark onstage and the trio performed “Old Friends.”
There’s no official air date yet for Music Voyager: Tennessee, but it will also be shown as in-flight television programming for 13 airlines and in-room at several resort hotels.
Guy Clark (L) performs with Vince Gill (center) and Keb' Mo' (R) at the Franklin Theatre. Photo: TN Dept. of Tourist Development
Nashville Stars Sell Big Across US
/by Eric T. ParkerKeith Urban Sets Record at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
Keith Urban set a new attendance record this past weekend (Feb. 11) for the 62-year old San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
Urban packed 16,799 fans into San Antonio’s AT&T Center, which has attracted some of country music’s biggest artists including Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith and Taylor Swift.
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo also has upcoming entertainment scheduled from Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley and Lady Antebellum.
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Eric Church Sells Out Arena in 30 Minutes; Adds Show
To meet the additional demand in Bloomington, Church has booked a second show at the same venue the following night, Sunday, April 29 with special guests Colt Ford and Blackberry Smoke. Tourmate Brantley Gilbert will not be performing at the second show.
Bloomington is one of over 50 dates on Church’s arena headlining tour with upcoming stops scheduled in Cleveland, Panama City, Orlando, and Tallahassee.
Jake Owen Celebrates Fallontines Day
/by Sarah SkatesPhoto Copyright: Lloyd Bishop/NBC
Jake Owen celebrated Fallontines Day on Feb. 14 with a performance of his hit “Alone With You” on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
The track is No. 10 and climbing on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart.
Owen returned to the road earlier this month following surgery to repair his collarbone, which he broke during a snowboarding accident at the BMI Songwriters Festival in Crested Butte, CO.
Following his extensive surgery, which included eight screws and a metal plate, Owen had numerous doctor’s appointments and physical therapy sessions. But he says, “Getting back out on stage was the best therapy I’ve had.” Owen relaunched his tour Feb. 3 with a packed house at Cowboy’s in Dallas, TX.
He’s sold-out ten shows so far this year, with many selling out in 20 minutes or less, including dates at Joe’s Bar in Chicago, and an upcoming stop in Ohio.
Owen is also set for a March 1 appearance on Chelsea Handler’s hit E! show Chelsea Lately.
In more news, the RCA artist wrote and recorded a song for the Act of Valor movie soundtrack, so he returned to Nashville last week to attend a special screening of the film. The motion picture featuring active-duty Navy SEALS opens Feb. 24.
Owen on the red carpet at the "Act of Valor" Nashville premiere.
Kennard Joins Full Circle Music
/by Sarah SkatesSome of Full Circle’s recent hits include Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States,” Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama” and “Anything Like Me,” Kenny Chesney’s “The Boys of Fall,” and Craig Morgan’s “This Ain’t Nothin.’”
Kennard’s noted career includes six years with hit producer Byron Gallimore at Violator Nashville Artist Management and Red Vinyl Music, as well as four years as General Manager for Song Garden Publishing. He also spent three years as the Creative Director at Frank Liddell’s Carnival Music Publishing, and nearly seven years at Curb Music Publishing.
Kennard has helped cultivate No. 1 hits including Rodney Atkins’ “If You’re Goin’ Through Hell,” and Reba McEntire’s “Somebody.” He’s also played a role in other hits/award nominated tracks including George Strait’s “Desperately,” Rascal Flatts’ “Unstoppable,” and Jamey Johnson’s “High Cost of Livin.”
Internet Magazine To Debut at CRS
/by Eric T. ParkerLiving Country, a product of DSC, was created by Dan Swensson and Stewart Day as a way to connect broadcasters and consumers with exclusive content. The monthly publication is available to broadcasters for free.
Swensson was a broadcaster in Cincinnati during the early 1980s and GSM of WYHY Nashville. Day founded Nashville Parent Magazine for Middle Tennessee and was the former president of Parenting Publications of America. Together, Day and Swensson created teen lifestyle publication Blast Magazine, and Warm 98 Family Magazine.
For a sample of Living Country in action, click here.
SESAC Up For Sale?
/by FreemanCurrent owners of SESAC include investment bank Allen & Co. and hedge fund Och-Ziff, who are seeking close to $500 million in the sale. The company has reportedly hired Goldman Sachs to scout for potential purchasers.
Current SESAC songwriters include Bob Dylan, Jim Lauderdale, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, and Gary Burr among many others.
SESAC representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
ACM Reveals Radio Winners
/by FreemanIndividual On-Air Personality of the Year winners (or an individual from a winning team) will again be invited to participate in the ACM Awards telecast. The 47th Annual ACM Awards airs live at 7 PM/CT April 1 on CBS from the MGM Garden Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
On-Air Personality of the Year Winners (Note tie in Medium Market):
National: Lon Helton – CMT Country Countdown USA
Major Market: Kelly Ford & Rider – KYGO-FM – Denver, CO
Large Market: Big Dave and Chelsie – WUBE-FM – Cincinnati, OH
Medium Market: Steve & Geoff in the Morning – KUZZ AM/FM – Bakersfield, CA (tie)
Medium Market: Roger, Tom & Melissa – WPCV-FM – Lakeland, FL (tie)
Small Market: Bill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry – KKNU-FM – Eugene, OR
Radio Station of the Year Winners
Major Market: WQYK-FM – Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
Large Market: WQDR-FM – Raleigh, NC
Medium Market: KATM-FM – Stockton, CA
Small Market: WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, TN
Songwriter Danny Morrison Passes [Updated w/ Arrangements]
/by Sarah SkatesSongwriter Danny Morrison, who also produced and managed country singer Joe Diffie, has died. He had a heart attack yesterday (2/14) while visiting his country home in Erin, Tennessee.
Among his hits as a writer are “Blaze of Glory,” Kenny Rogers; “Is It Cold In Here,” Diffie; “You’ve Got A Good Love Comin’ On,” Lee Greenwood; “Loving Up A Storm,” Razzy Bailey; “I Ain’t Got No Business Doin’ Business Today,” Alabama; and “She’s Got A Drinking Problem,” Johnny Paycheck.
His career included music publishing, as a partner of Johnny Slate and Larry Gatlin in publishing company API.
Tom Long, Morrison’s longtime golfing buddy, says, “Danny was a very unique and creative individual. He had an inspiring wit, a huge heart, and a love for music and especially songwriters. He carved his own notch in Music Row history.”
Survivors include wife Sherri West.
Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 19, 2-6 p.m. at Phillips Robinson Funeral Home (2707 Gallatin Rd. Nashville), and Monday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m.-12 noon at Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn. The funeral will follow at noon at the church.
Industry Ink (2/15/12)
/by Eric T. ParkerPLA Media Adds Justin Moore
Moore has delivered two No. 1 singles and has been named Billboard’s “New Country Artist of the Year.” “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” the lead single from Moore’s 2011 sophomore album Outlaws Like Me was the fastest rising of his career. His next single, “Till My Last Day,” will hit country radio in March. Moore is currently on tour with Blake Shelton
Moore joins existing PLA clients Lynn Anderson, William Lee Golden, Bryan White and Jessica Frech.
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Chick Singer Night Celebrates 10th Anniversary at The Bluebird
The show will feature Curb recording artist Christy McDonald, Jamie Floyd, Erisa Rei, and Taylor Wagner.
CSN is a non-profit organization founded by Lori Maier to promotes women in music by providing a house band and a venue for new and established artists to perform. Nashville director Jaclyn Brown features a bi-monthly gathering at the Bluebird.
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MTS Management Inks Doug Briney
Country artist Doug Briney has hired MTS Management to handle publicity for his March 9th debut CD release, It’s All Country. Briney, a two-time finalist in the KBear Alaskan Country Idol, will release his debut single, “More Than Just a Farm” through Triplestrand promotions.