[New on-sale date] Keith Urban and an all-star lineup of his friends will descend upon Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, January 18 for his third “We’re All For The Hall” concert benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Tickets go on sale Nov. 4, Dec. 2 and are priced from $25-35.
In addition to performances from CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee Urban, the show will feature guest performances by Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Little Big Town, and the Oak Ridge Boys. More artists are expected to be announced later.
“The support that this event has received over the past couple of years, I think, really speaks to the commitment to and the importance of preserving the past and protecting the future of country music,” says Urban. “We’ll have some great bands performing—part of our ‘All Together Now’ theme for the night—an especially fitting concept that we hope will capture the spirit of the evening.”
The “All For The Hall” initiative addresses the museum’s long-term financial needs, providing a safety net for its work.
“The first two ‘We’re All for the Hall’ concerts have been landmarks for this institution,” says Museum Director Kyle Young. “They have been the most successful fundraisers in the museum’s history, together raising roughly $1 million. And they have not only set a new standard for fundraising and event coordination, but also brought together an entire community and helped us to see what can be done by individuals when there is a collective passion for a cause.
“It is beyond gratifying” continues Young, “when the artists we love and chronicle, artists like Vince and Keith, offer us their leadership and financial support. Keith Urban grew up in a home where country music was cherished. He knows the music’s history and its heroes. He is one of country music’s greatest champions and he is one of this museum’s heroes.”
Urban Plans Hall Benefit [updated]
/by FreemanNov. 4, Dec. 2 and are priced from $25-35.In addition to performances from CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee Urban, the show will feature guest performances by Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Little Big Town, and the Oak Ridge Boys. More artists are expected to be announced later.
“The support that this event has received over the past couple of years, I think, really speaks to the commitment to and the importance of preserving the past and protecting the future of country music,” says Urban. “We’ll have some great bands performing—part of our ‘All Together Now’ theme for the night—an especially fitting concept that we hope will capture the spirit of the evening.”
The “All For The Hall” initiative addresses the museum’s long-term financial needs, providing a safety net for its work.
“The first two ‘We’re All for the Hall’ concerts have been landmarks for this institution,” says Museum Director Kyle Young. “They have been the most successful fundraisers in the museum’s history, together raising roughly $1 million. And they have not only set a new standard for fundraising and event coordination, but also brought together an entire community and helped us to see what can be done by individuals when there is a collective passion for a cause.
“It is beyond gratifying” continues Young, “when the artists we love and chronicle, artists like Vince and Keith, offer us their leadership and financial support. Keith Urban grew up in a home where country music was cherished. He knows the music’s history and its heroes. He is one of country music’s greatest champions and he is one of this museum’s heroes.”
Terrestrial Radio Reacts To Growing Online Audience
/by adminHowever, lest anyone unplug their terrestrial radio, Arbitron also says that 81% of listeners still use am/fm and only 11% listen to online only. “The total terrestrial market is $16 billion and streaming is around $500 million,” says Arbitron’s Paul Krasinski. “It’s a budding industry starting to grow.”
Despite the fact that a huge gap exists between the well established terrestrial industry and newer online entities, there is lots of activity on all sides. For example, Clear Channel’s iHeart Radio app recently relaunched. It offers access online to almost all of the company’s hundreds of stations, plus includes interactive features that resemble some of the other players in the online space such as Pandora.
“Consumers require more control, and the challenge is that traditional radio doesn’t provide it,” says Slacker CEO Jim Caddy. “Look at TV and time-shifting — all those things are now reinventing radio. You can ask it to play what you want.”
Aldean, Gaga To Perform At Grammy Noms Concert
/by FreemanThe one hour special, hosted as usual by LL Cool J, takes place at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live Nov. 30 on CBS at 9 pm CT. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The concert event is the fourth time select nominations for the annual Grammy Awards will be announced live on primetime television. Tickets for the Nominations concert go on sale Friday, October 28 at 12 Noon CT here.
Ramblin’ Music Launches in Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesWeston Burt
Ramblin’ Music, home to Ramblin’ Records and Young Guns Publishing, has opened in Nashville. Atlanta-based founders Gene and Donna Brooks, have tapped producer and songwriter Cliff Downs as President of the company. Singer/songwriter Weston Burt has been signed as the label’s flagship artist.
Ramblin’ Music has also enlisted Teddi Bonadies’ Teebo Consulting for radio promotion and marketing.
Downs is producing Burt’s debut single and album, due in early 2012. The Ft. Payne, Alabama native formed a band at Auburn University and sold 5,000-plus copies of his debut EP while playing upwards of 100 shows each year. He has opened for Justin Moore, Corey Smith, and David Nail. Upon graduating from Auburn in August of this year, Burt moved to Nashville and has been opening for Bucky Covington, Lonestar and performing solo dates.
Downs has written and produced songs for artists such as Wynonna Judd, B.J. Thomas, Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, Glenn Campbell, Michael McDonald, Olivia Newton-John, David Pack of Ambrosia, and jazz great Richard Elliot.
The company is located in Nashville at 1105 16th Ave S, Suite A. E-mail info@ramblinmusic.com.
Sony/ATV Adds Creative Manager
/by Sarah SkatesEd Williams
Ed Williams has joined Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville as Creative Manager.
In the new post he will be responsible for marketing the vast Sony/ATV catalog, as well as signing and developing new writer/artists.
Williams was most recently Director of Creative Services at Bug
Music Nashville. His career also includes time at Crossfire 3 Music.
Contact Williams at his new gig at (615) 726-8300 or ed.williams@sonyatv.com.
Music City Walk of Fame Names New Class
/by Sarah SkatesThe honorees will be recognized with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 12:00 p.m. in Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. Sponsored by GAC, the ceremony is free and open to the public.
The program’s newest partner, Durango, sponsors two stars annually and has added a charitable component to the program. Many of the past inductees have autographed and decorated a pair of Durango boots, which will be auctioned online during December at visitmusiccity.com. All proceeds will benefit the Music City Inc. Foundation to sustain and grow the Walk of Fame event.
Nominations were open to the public and were accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame anonymous selection committee.
Jesse Atwell Joins Triple 8 Management
/by Caitlin RantalaAtwell makes the move to Triple 8 from his previous post at Sony Music Nashville, where he served as Digital Marketing Manager for Arista and RCA, working with Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young and Jake Owen.
Atwell’s hiring brings the Triple 8 team to eight employees, including the recent additions of Jenn Poppe and Karen McGuire.
“Jesse’s experience working on key digital and online campaigns for major country artists is something we are excited to bring to our growing team,” said Couri.
He can be reached at jesse@triple8mgmt.com.
2012 People’s Choice Nominees Announced
/by Caitlin RantalaFavorite Country Artist of the Year: The Band Perry, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band
In the all-genre categories, Shelton, Urban and Chesney are up for Favorite Male Artist of the Year, while Lambert and Swift are among those nominated for Favorite Female Artist.
Favorite Album of the Year nominees include Eric Church’s Chief, Lady A’s Own The Night and Shelton’s Red River Blue.
Additionally, Urban, Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Swift received nods for Favorite Headline Tour of the Year.
For the full list of the 2012 People’s Choice Award nominees please click here.
Singles Only Hosts Oktoberfest
/by Caitlin Rantala(L-R): Jon Stone, Shane Tallant, John Ozier, Lee Brice and Kelly Lynn.
Singles Only, a group of independent publishers, hosted Oktoberfest on Oct. 19 at Rebar in Nashville. The event was sponsored by BMI and Merrill Lynch. Hitmakes Bob DiPiero, Jeffrey Steele, Liz Rose, Jeff Stevens and other special guests performed all uncut material. Singles Only is made up of Nashville song pluggers Daniel Lee, Scott Ponce, Shane Barrett, Denny Carr, Taylor Lindsey, Natalie Harker and Penny Everhard.
Left: Lee Ann Womack and Brian Wright. Right: Taylor Lindsey, John Rich and Natalie Harker.
Left: Darrell Franklin, Steve Markland and Cliff Audretch. Right: Jeffrey Steele.
Veteran Hit Writer Billy Barton Passes
/by Robert K OermannBarton is best known for “A Dear John Letter.” As recorded by Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard, the song was a huge No. 1 hit in 1953. It launched both artists’ hit-making careers. The songwriter also wrote its follow-up, 1953’s “Forgive Me John.” In 1954, Billy Barton wrote the Jim Reeves and Ginny Wright duet “I Love You.” It rose to No. 3 on the national country hit parade. Webb Pierce scored a top-10 hit with the songwriter’s “You’ll Come Back” in 1958.
Bobby Bare and Skeeter Davis successfully revived “A Dear John Letter” in 1965. Barton’s songs were also recorded by Red Sovine, Pat Boone, Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, Rose Maddox and others. During his lifetime, he registered more than 200 songs with BMI.
Billy Barton was also a performer and a recording artist. He was on The Louisiana Hayride and was Johnny Horton’s duet partner on Abbott Records in the 1950s. He also recorded for King, Gulf Reef, Sims, Fire, Vidor and other small labels. Several of his singles are considered collectible by rockabilly fans. He was sometimes billed on disc as “Hillbilly” Barton or “Billy Boy” Barton.
His real name was John Grimes. He died on October 8 at his home in Nashville. He is survived by three daughters, a son and six grandchildren and has been interred at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville.