ZBB At Red Rocks On CMT

ZBB at Red Rocks. Photo: Bryan Allen

Zac Brown Band’s sold-out concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado are featured in a new special on CMT. The two-night stand in September drew 20,000 fans.

The special premieres Sat., Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT. Zac Brown Band – Live at Red Rocks includes the debut of unreleased song “Sweet Annie,” the Colorado-themed hit “Colder Weather,” new single “Keep Me In Mind” and hits “Knee Deep” and “Chicken Fried.” The 30-minute special will re-air Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m. CT and Dec. 15 at 9:30 a.m. CT. Fans can also catch it on CMT.com and the network’s digital all-music channel, CMT Pure.

Brown, along with co-writers Wyatt Durette, Drew Pearson, and Anne Preven, recently received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media, for “Where the River Goes” from the 2011 film Footloose.

Springsteen to Keynote SXSW

Bruce Springsteen playing Hyde Park

Bruce Springsteen will serve as keynote speaker on March 15 for the 2012 South By Southwest conference in the Austin, TX.

Springsteen is known for his rock albums that honor folk and acoustic musical traditions with live shows that celebrate the communal power of music.

This keynote will further SXSW’s aim to foster connection and communication in the music community.

The event will be open to Music and Platinum registrants and registered showcasing artists. Conference registrations are now being accepted.

Springsteen joins notable SXSW keynote alumni including Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Lucinda Williams, Robert Plant, Pete Townshend, Smokey Robinson and Neil Young.

Industry Ink: Chesney Goes Platinum

Kenny Chesney’s latest album, Hemingway’s Whiskey, is now his tenth Platinum project. The release has yielded hits “Boys Of Fall,” “Somewhere With You,” “Live A Little,” “You And Tequila” and “Reality.” Pictured (L-R): Clint Higham (Pres. Morris Management Group), Chesney, Gary Overton (Chairman & CEO Sony Music Nashville), Dale Morris (CEO Morris Management Group).

Anthony Allen is taking on APD, MD and afternoon drive duties at WSIX/Nashville. He fills the afternoon vacancy left by the departure of Big D & Bubba last month. Allen makes the move from KZSN/Wichita. At WSIX, Jon Anthony continues as PD.

• Sony/ATV CEO Marty Bandier gives some insight into his plans for EMI Music Publishing in a new interview with UK publication Music Week. He says EMI will keep its name and will operate mostly as a separate entity. He explains Sony/ATV will control 38% of EMI Publishing as “a separate company owned by a group of investors that Sony Corp is a minority shareholder in.” Bandier spent 17 years at EMI before joining Sony/ATV in 2007. More here.

MusicRow Founder David Ross has launched a blog at SecretsOfTheList.com to chronicle the progress of his upcoming book by the same name. The site is also a platform for the exchange of ideas, including a new hot-button editorial by Jaron Lowenstein (aka Jaron And The Long Road To Love) titled “Nashville’s Beautiful Prison Makes Artists Expendable.”

• The new installment of “CMA Industry InSite” is entitled “Country Goes Global.” It includes interviews with artist/songwriter Jace Everett; Mark Hagen, Executive Director, BBC Radio; Rob Potts, CEO Managing Director, Rob Potts Entertainment Edge; Brad Turcotte, International Director of Marketing, Big Machine Label Group; and Jeff Walker, CEO, The AristoMedia Group.

• The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is celebrating the holiday season with a special spotlight exhibit of festive dresses from Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Taylor Swift.

• Tickets to the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards go on sale to the public  Sat., Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. Members can purchase tickets through tomorrow (12/10) at 10 p.m. CST with a special pre-sale code. Tickets here. The 30th annual CCMA Awards will take place in Saskatoon, SK on Sept. 9. Nominees will be announced July 18, 2012. Details at www.ccma.org.

• Former Little Texas frontman Tim Rushlow has released a solo Christian EP, Unfinished Symphony, on Liquid Spins Records. The project was produced by award winner Ian Eskelin and includes single “Rain Down on Me.” It is available for digital download with a full length CD to follow in 2012.

• Publicist Joseph Conner has left his gig at Lotos Nile and joined the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation as Marketing & PR Coordinator. His previous stops include Kaleidoscope Media. Contact him at (615) 467-1936, x114 or JConner@minniepearl.org.

• Songwriter Dennis Morgan’s “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” is included in a European T-Mobile ad which recently won TV Commercial of the Year in the UK. The song was originally a hit duet for Aretha Franklin & George Michael.

MD Records is open under the direction of President Kelli McGarraugh. The label is working a single from flagship artist Jason Thomas titled “I’m Your Radio.” The video has been added to GACTV.com. MD Records can be reached at (615) 283-7479 and info@mdrecordsofficial.com.

KCA Artists has signed Boston-based bluegrass girl band Della Mae.

SiriusXM Salutes Waylon Jennings

SiriusXM hosted a special taping honoring the late Waylon Jennings on Tuesday (12/6) at the SiriusXM Theater inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show featured his son singer Shooter Jennings, and Shooter’s mother, singer Jessi Colter. The event celebrate the upcoming release of Waylon: The Music Inside, Vol. 2. Among the surprise guests were Josh Thompson, Jamey Johnson, Hank Williams Jr., Jack Clement and Billy Joe Shaver.

(L-R): Josh Thompson, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and Jessi Colter. Photo: Alan Mayor

Curb, Atkins Renew Contracts

Rodney Atkins has inked new contracts with longtime homes Curb Records and Curb Publishing. Since 1996, the partnership has resulted in four studio albums and six multi-week No. 1 hits.

Mike Curb encouraged me to learn about songwriting, how to write songs, how to go in and produce those songs,” says Atkins. “He allowed me to get in the studio and experiment and learn the process. Hats off to Mike for really sticking with artist development for a long time—for believing in that.”

Curb adds, “Rodney Atkins represents everything that we believe in. Rodney worked with us for almost 10 years before his first major hit, and since that time he has had the Billboard No. 1 Record of the Year twice with ‘If You’re Going Through Hell’ and ‘Watching You,’ and his recent multi-week No. 1 record ‘Take A Back Road’ is one of the top three country records of the year in 2011.”

Owen Raises Money For St. Jude’s From His Kitchen

Jake Owen recently played his second StageIt show to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The concerts are very spur of the moment,” he says. “There aren’t any mics or cords, just a few guitars and my MAC that has an eyesight camera on it. I Tweet about it ahead of time to let everyone know we’re doing it. The other night we raised 3K for St. Jude in just 35 minutes. I would have been playing music with my friends in my kitchen anyway, so it’s a pretty cool way to give back.”

Owen’s philanthropy continues on Dec. 10 at the Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest. Owen and his childhood friend and professional tennis player, Mardy Fish, are hosting the sixth annual event in their hometown of Vero Beach, FL. The concert will include performances by Eric Paslay, Chris Young and Owen. Owen’s portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude and The Mardy Fish Foundation, whose mission is to provide children access to after school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs. Tickets can be purchased here.

In addition, AOL’s The Boot is hosting exclusive “Behind the Scenes” footage from Owen’s newest music video “Alone with You.” Click here to view. AOL is also featuring Owen in its “Sessions” series, which includes all genres of music. His four performances from Barefoot Blue Jean Night can be viewed here.

Hank Jr. Concert Raises $75K For Hall of Fame

Hank Williams Jr. Photo: Michael Krouskop

Hank Williams Jr. performed an acoustic benefit concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Dec. 6, marking the close of a four-year run of Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy exhibit.

Hank Jr.’s performance infused personal memories and raised $75,000 to benefit the Hall. He also announced that many artifacts he loaned for the exhibition will stay in the museum and archives.

The 90-minute show included Williams’ own hits, youngest son Sam singing “The Blues Man,” new tunes from a forthcoming CD, and classics from Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.

Special guests in the audience included Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Williams’ wife Mary Jane, and children.

After the concert, Williams greeted audience members and posed for pictures in the Ford Theater. A reception followed in the Hall of Fame Rotunda, and fans received a signed poster commemorating the exhibit.

Family Tradition opened on March 28, 2008. Originally scheduled to close on Dec. 31, 2009, the exhibit became the most popular and acclaimed exhibition in the museum’s history and was eventually extended through Dec. 31, 2011.

Thursday Photos

Brent Anderson Makes Opry Debut

Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville recording artist Brent Anderson made his Grand Ole Opry debut this past weekend from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium. Remarking on the experience, the Pascagoula, MS, native shared, “Playing at the Opry was incredible for me. To stand on that stage, where so many legends have stood, is without a doubt the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to do.” Anderson is on the radio now with debut single, “Amy’s Song.” (L-R): Fitzgerald Hartley’s Steve Emley; Arista Nashville promo team members Ryan Dokke and Lauren Thomas; Sony Music Nashville Sr. VP Promotion Skip Bishop; Anderson; and the Arista Nashville promo team’s Chris Waters, VP Lesly Tyson, John Sigler, Rusty Sherrill, and Tyler Waugh.

Photo: Chris Hollo

Christmas at Belmont Taped at Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Laura Bell Bundy hosted “Christmas at Belmont” at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Monday night (12/5), where nearly 700 Belmont University students and faculty performed. The annual production of traditional carols, classical masterworks, world music and seasonal favorites will air on PBS stations nationwide beginning Thurs., Dec. 22. Check local listings for air dates and times. Nashville Public Television (NPT Ch. 8 ) will air “Christmas at Belmont” on Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. (CST) and re-broadcast it on Christmas Day at 7 p.m. (CST).

Nashvillians Honored As Top Women In Music

Mary Ann McCready

Several Nashville execs appear on the new Billboard Women in Music list. Included in the 40 slots are Mary Ann McCready of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarth; Kelly Rich of Big Machine Label Group; Ellen Bligh Truley of SESAC, and Nashville native Marcie Allen of MAC Presents. Taylor Swift was named Woman of the Year, the youngest superstar to ever receive the honor. The women were celebrated recently at an event in New York City.

The Women in Music list is selected by Billboard editors based on achievements in the last 12 months from a pool of nominees sent in by readers.

• As President of business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Mary Ann McCready represents some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. FBMM’s roster includes Keith Urban, Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, and Blake Shelton. As a community leader, McCready helped found the Music City Music Council with Mayor Karl Dean and is a trustee of the Country Music Hall of Fame and an active supporter of MusiCares and the W.O. Smith Music School.

Kelly Rich

• Kelly Rich is VP of Sales, Marketing and Interactive at Big Machine Label Group. She and her team helped propel Taylor Swift’s Speak Now to more than 3.7 million in sales, and led success by The Band Perry (platinum album and triple platinum single) and Rascal Flatts (platinum album). She also handles social media and led the relaunch of BigMachineRecords.com with a sponsorship of the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Ellen Truley

• Ellen Truley has been with SESAC for 15 years and currently serves as VP of Corporate Relations, overseeing marketing and sponsorship initiatives for the PRO. This ranges from the SESAC magazine and e-newsletter, to the organization’s multiple awards ceremonies. Her team also handles digital initiatives and SESAC EDU for high school and college music programs.

Marcie Allen

• At her company MAC Presents, Marcie Allen pairs brands and artists. Among her recent success stories are Keith Urban and Samsung Infuse, who teamed to host private dinners for fans on his tour. She also paired BlackBerry and the Foo Fighters, and Windows Phone 7 with Katy Perry and Maroon 5.

 

VH1 Divas Special Adds Parton, Jackson, Staples

The latest installment of the popular VH1 Divas series, set to air Monday, December 19 at 8 PM/CT, will pay tribute to great cities of soul music including Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis and Philadelphia.

Newly added performers on the bill at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom include Wanda Jackson, Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, and Ledisi. Additionally, presenters will include Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Nas, Common and La La Anthony.

Previously announced headlining “divas” include Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Florence + the Machine, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J., and Jill Scott. Also performing will be Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Boyz II Men, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius, and Travie McCoy. Performers will be backed by hip-hop/soul band The Roots, with drummer Questlove and Adam Blackstone serving as musical directors.

For the first time, the red carpet for the event will be livestreamed on vh1.com Sunday, December 18 from 4-6 PM/CT and hosted by VH1 personality La La Anthony. As always, the event will benefit VH1’s Save The Music Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of music education. Special ticket packages for the event are being auctioned here.