AFTRA, SAG Reach Merger Agreement

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Entertainer unions the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have reached a merger agreement reports the LA Times. AFTRA, which represents actors, broadcasters, disc jockeys, singers and dancers, maintains a Nashville office.

Leaders of the organizations have come to a deal following nine days holed up at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. The negotiation process began two years ago, according to the article.

The organizations’ boards are expected to endorse the merger which would then go to member vote. Approval would be needed by at least 60% of those vote.

Combining the outfits would give them more leverage in contract negotiations with members’ employers and end feuding between the two groups.

AFTRA has about 70,000 members, and SAG represents about 125,000 actors, with at least 40,000 who are members of both unions.

Snapshots (1/16/12)

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First time members of the CMA Board of Directors visited the organization’s headquarters on Friday (Jan. 13) for a luncheon with staff and Board leadership.

(L-R): CMA Board Chairman and Sony Music Nashville President and Chief Executive Officer, Gary Overton; CMA Board President-Elect and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Chief Executive Officer, Troy Tomlinson; The Greenroom PR President, Mary Hilliard Harrington; Biff-Bangs Productions, Inc. President, Biff Watson; Schlitz Law Attorney, Stacey Schlitz; XIX Entertainment Personal Manager, Ann Edelblute; Host of Premiere Radio Networks' "After Midnite with Blair Garner," Blair Garner; CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore. Photo credit: Christian Bottorff/CMA

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Thomas Rhett was in Memphis for the Country Cares seminar of the weekend and spent some time with Northern Colorado’s KXBG. Rhett’s upcoming first single for Valory Music Co. is “Something To Do With My Hands,” which might explain the poses.

(L-R): Front KXBG staffers Sadie (mornings), Carli, and Sue Sutton (middays). Back: KXBG’s Steve and Jeff; Thomas Rhett; and KXBG’s Big Rob

Apple Debuting Mini-Shops in Target

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Apple is partnering with Target to open mini-shops within select stores of the retail giant. According to the big-box chain, 25 stores will be home to these Apple outlets. If the venture is successful, the number could grow.

Target has long sold Apple iOS devices which includes iPods and iPads, but hasn’t offered Apple’s line of computers. It’s a keen way to give consumers who may not have had access to learn about or test-drive Apple computers the chance to do so, especially in smaller markets that can’t support a stand-alone store.

Similarly, Best Buy has hosted mini Apple stores inside its chain since 2007. After debuting with a small number of host stores, the partnership has expanded to include Apple shops inside about 700 locations, according to AllThingsD.

The move is part of Target’s larger strategy to bring in exclusive product lines via partnerships, such as the clothing and housewares designers who already offer merchandise there. Additionally, The Shops at Target will be an online storefront for short-term offerings by smaller, independent specialty boutiques.

 

RESCHEDULED: We’re All For The Hall Benefit Concert

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Keith Urban, has rescheduled his 2012 We’re All For The Hall Benefit Concert to be held Tuesday, April 10 at the Bridgestone Arena. The event was originally scheduled for January, but was postponed due to Urban’s vocal chord surgery and rest at the end of 2011.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Reserved seating tickets start at $25 and go on sale January 27 at 10 AM through Ticketmaster outlets or at the Bridgestone Arena Box office.

In addition to performances by musical directors Urban and Vince Gill, the show will include performances by Alabama, Alison Krauss & Union Station, The Band Perry, Blue Sky Riders, Diamond Rio, Exile, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, The Oak Ridge Boys, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts and Thompson Square.

“My goal for the concert, is really the same as the Hall’s,” said Urban. “To help country fans connect the dots – to find out where their music came from, how it’s evolved (and is still evolving) and to discover the artists that have influenced their favorite artists. Country music is like a big beautiful strange family tree and nowhere is that more honored than at the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum.”

This year’s 2012 We’re All For the Hall event is the third in a series started by Museum Board President Vince Gill, which has raised roughly $1 million for the Hall according to Museum Director, Kyle Young.

A limited number of VIP Packages will also become available Jan. 27. Ranging in price from $150-$3,500, options include invitation to a dinner in the Country Music Hall of Fame Rotunda the evening before (April 9) the concert; meet & greet and photo with Keith Urban before the benefit with premium floor concert seats and commemorative ticket; choice of a Keith Urban autographed electric guitar or signed customized Concert Seat that you can take home; or an invitation to a post-concert party at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

McGraw Release Streaming In Entirety

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McGraw's newest digital single "Halo."

Curb Records is promoting next week’s release of Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic album with a new digital single, and streaming music on NPR.org.

Today through the Jan. 24 release, NPR’s “First Listen Series” is offering the album in its entirety. The series is available online, via NPR member stations, and NPR mobile apps.

Emotional Traffic’s fourth digital single, “Halo,” is being made available as an iTunes exclusive download starting tomorrow (1/17). This follows the release of No. 1 hit “Felt Good On My Lips,” current chart climber “Better Than I Used To Be,” and last week’s release “One That Got Away.”

The 12-song collection will be McGraw’s last release via Curb. He re-teamed with longtime producer Byron Gallimore for the anticipated project—his first new album since 2009.

Fred Eaglesmith Releases Album, Plans Bluebird Show

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Singer-songwriter Fred Eaglesmith released his 19th album this month (Jan. 2012) titled, 6 Volts.

The album is fully analog, recorded live with one microphone onto a one-track reel-to-reel tape machine without overdubbing or autotune fixes. 6 Volts references the power source for the transistor radio and the music is a blending of rock’n’roll, country, folk and bluegrass styles.

“I’m doing better, and I’m loving my life more than ever before,” Eaglesmith says about the secret to his sustained success. “I’m gonna play good, sing good, write good, act good.”

In support of the album, Eaglesmith will bring his Traveling Steam Show to The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville on Jan. 23 with additional dates listed below.

2012 Traveling Steam Show Dates:

1/18   Bamboo Room— Lake Worth, FL
1/19   Mojo Kitchen— Jacksonville Beach, FL
1/20   Red Clay Theatre— Duluth, GA
1/21   The Shed— Maryville, TN
1/23   The Bluebird— Nashville, TN
1/25   Red Dragon Listening Room— Baton Rouge, LA
1/26   Courville’s— Beaumont, TX
1/27   John T Floore’s Country Store— Helotes, TX
1/28   Granada Theater— Dallas, TX
1/30   Padre’s Marfa— Marfa, TX
2/1     Santa Fe SOL— Santa Fe, NM
2/2     The Rhythm Room— Phoenix, AZ
2/4     Suite 147 in Plaza Palomino— Tuscon, AZ
2/13   Molly Malones— Los Angeles, CA
2/16   Studio E— Sebastopol, CA
2/17   Club Fox— Redwood City, CA
2/18   Kuumbwa Jazz Center— Santa Cruz, CA
2/19   Harlows— Sacremento, CA
2/22   Tales from the Tavern – The Maverick Saloon— Santa Ynez, CA
2/23   The Barn— Gilroy, CA
2/24   Chico’s Women Club— Chico, CA
2/25   The Center for the Arts— Grass Valley, CA
2/26   Rancho Nicasio— Nicasio, CA
3/3     Jefferson Hall— Ogden, UT
3/5     The United Center— Idaho Springs, CO
3/7     Knuckleheads— Kansas City, MO
3/31   Masonic Hall— Stratford, ON

“ACM Showcase” Highlights New Artist Of The Year Nominees

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Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, JT Hodges, Scotty McCreery, Justin Moore, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann and duo Thompson Square are each each competing for the Academy of Country Music’s New Artist of the Year honor. Tonight (1/16) on GAC, they will be featured on ACM Showcase at 7 PM/CT, where host Storme Warren will interview the eight semi-finalists.

While the first round of eight artists was chosen by ACM professional membership voting, fans will help choose the three finalists. Online voting began today (1/16) at 8 AM/CT on gactv.com and closes Monday, Jan. 30, 11:00 PM/CT. Fans may vote once per day. When the three final nominees are chosen, online voting for the New Artist of the Year honor begins Monday, Mar. 19, at 2 PM/CT by logging on to VoteACM.com.

“We’re pleased to once again partner with the Academy of Country Music to offer fans the chance to help make country music history by casting their vote for New Artist of the Year,” said GAC VP/Programming, Suzanne Gordon. “Our strong platform of new artist specials gives viewers an opportunity to find out more about these hot young performers.”

The three finalists will be featured on ACM New Artist of the Year, a performance special premiering Monday, Mar. 19, 8 PM/CT on GAC. The winner of the New Artist of the Year honor will be announced on the ACM Awards telecast live on Sunday, Apr. 1.

Scenes From Country Cares for St. Jude Seminar

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Kix Brooks with St. Jude patient Christian

More than 25 country artists descended on Memphis over the weekend for the annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Seminar to tour the facility and visit with patients and their families. The event, which hosted nearly 800 radio and music business professionals, officially kicked off the St. Jude radiothon season and offered interactive breakout sessions on how to create a successful fundraising campaign for St. Jude. Artists in attendance included Randy Owen, Martina McBride, Lauren Alaina, Lee Brice, Edens Edge, Kix Brooks and many more.

“This is the thing people have to remember,” remarked Kix Brooks. “This is not a desperate, sad place. If anything, these kids are so strong and they have hope. We’re saving so many children here at St. Jude. But, of course, we want to save them all. And that’s not a pipedream. It’s our responsibility to make it happen. It’s up to us.”

Randy Owen presents John Rich with Angels Among Us Award

During the annual songwriter’s dinner on Saturday (Jan. 14), John Rich was presented by Randy Owen with the first-ever Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award to recognize his outstanding commitment and dedication to the organization’s mission. In 2011, Rich put the hospital in the national spotlight when he won NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice and helped raise over $1.4 million.

“St. Jude holds a very special place in my heart,” said Rich. “It’s like no other place and I’m just so honored to help raise awareness for this organization and to receive the first-ever Angels Among Us Award from Randy.”

Alabama frontman Owen founded Country Cares in 1989 by recruiting his fellow artists, radio stations, and listeners to help support St. Jude’s mission. Since it began, Country Cares has raised over $400 million for the organization.

Eli Young Band smiles for the camera with St. Jude patient Hillary

The Opry’s Charlie Collins Passes

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Charlie Collins (L) with Brother Oswald on the cover of the Rounder Records album "That's Country."

Grand Ole Opry sideman and world-class flat-top guitarist Charlie Collins has died at the age of 78.

Also an excellent fiddler and mandolin player, Collins came to prominence when he joined Roy Acuff’s Smoky Mountain Boys band in 1966. The Tennessee native had previously been the fiddler in The Pinnacle Mountain Boys, 1960-66.

Following Acuff’s death in 1992, Collins continued to entertain on the Opry stage in a duo with Dobro player and fellow Acuff alumnus Brother Oswald (Beecher Kirby). The two recorded several albums together, including Os and Charlie and That’s Country for Rounder Records. Collins also recorded as a sideman with Jim & Jesse, Norman Blake, Sam Bush and others.

Brother Oswald retired in 1999 and died in 2002. Collins continued to perform on the Grand Ole Opry in the band backing the Opry Square Dancers.

On Saturday, Jan. 7, Collins performed on the show backing the dancers. He reportedly returned home that night and played his fiddle until around midnight. He suffered a massive stroke on Sunday morning. His death four days later, on Thursday, Jan. 12, was as a result of complications from that stroke.

Charlie Collins is survived by his wife Mary Agnes, daughter Teresa Lynn, three brothers, four sisters, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a great-great granddaughter. His burial is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 16 at Spring Hill Cemetery.

BMI Celebrates Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker

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BMI Trailblazers of Gospel honorees Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin share a moment onstage at the awards luncheon.

BMI honored gospel giants Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker at its 13th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 13 at Rocketown in Nashville.

Walker and Franklin with recording artist Michelle Williams.

Franklin is the best-selling contemporary gospel artist in SoundScan history. He was the first gospel artist to sell more than one million albums, and today his sales tally exceeds 15 million. Franklin has earned 20 No. 1 singles on gospel charts, and has consistently crossed over to urban radio. Performing some of his most loved songs at the event were Fred Hammond, Jessica Reedy and the Kirk Franklin Singers, Myron Butler, LeAndria Johnson, Isaac Carree, Rance Allen and Kim Burrell.

Walker has led the Love Fellowship Choir, one of gospel music’s most influential groups, for more than two decades. His knack for injecting traditional gospel and choir music with hip-hop and funk has resulted in multiple Grammy wins. The musical tribute to Walker featured Faith Evans, Dorinda Clark Cole, Kim Burrell, DJ Rogers, Tamela Mann, Israel Houghton and Marvin Sapp.

Faith Evans and Jessica Reedy arrive at the luncheon.

Additionally, Sapp’s “The Best in Me” was named BMI’s Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year. Co-written by Sapp and Aaron Lindsey, the song topped gospel charts and achieved historic crossover success, climbing from No. 78 to No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hot Songs Chart—the biggest jump for a gospel hit since Billboard began using Nielsen SoundScan 18 years ago.

Burrell and Houghton hosted the luncheon, along with Catherine Brewton, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, and Del Bryant, BMI President & CEO.

Photos: Arnold Turner