Taylor Swift’s “Haunted” Featured In True Blood

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Rolling Stone is reporting that True Blood’s music supervisor, Gary Calamar, has confirmed this Sunday’s episode will feature Taylor Swift’s “Haunted.”

Calamar declined to disclose the specific scene of the Louisiana-based show featuring the song from Swift, but does describe it as “a racy, sexy scene.”

The article reveals that Swift’s camp initially refused to allow it but later agreed when the “singer came forward and said she wanted it to happen.”

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Taylor Swift's "Haunted" Featured In True Blood

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Rolling Stone is reporting that True Blood’s music supervisor, Gary Calamar, has confirmed this Sunday’s episode will feature Taylor Swift’s “Haunted.”
Calamar declined to disclose the specific scene of the Louisiana-based show featuring the song from Swift, but does describe it as “a racy, sexy scene.”
The article reveals that Swift’s camp initially refused to allow it but later agreed when the “singer came forward and said she wanted it to happen.”

YouTube video

 

Quarterback Promotes Gholson to East Coast Region

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Quarterback Records has announced the promotion of Traci Gholson to East Coast Manager of Promotion. Gholson moves up from the Promotion Coordinator position, which she started in March 2011.
“She’s just the kind of person we want out there representing our artists,” says Quarterback Partner John Ettinger. “She has an amazing ethic and an even better personality. Stations will be very happy to have her calling.”
Prior to joining Quarterback, Gholson worked in sales at Nashville’s WSIX. Before that she spent six years working with Cox Media Group’s WKHK/Richmond. She studied marketing at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.
Reach Gholson at 804-833-9692 or here.

Kentucky Headhunters Return; Deborah Allen Releases New Album

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The boys who made “Dumas Walker” famous in 1989 are back with their first studio album since 2003. The Kentucky Headhunters have just released a new single, “Great Acoustics,” from their upcoming album Dixie Lullabies on Red Dirt Records scheduled for release Oct. 18. Holly Gleason recently wrote for No Depression, “Twenty years after being the biggest thing there was, it appears the Kentucky HeadHunters are on the verge of being what they were meant to be: a slamming rock/roots band that fears no corner at any speed.”
Delta Rock Records artist and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Deborah Allen is releasing her new album, Hear Me Now, on Aug. 16 which includes her current single, “Anything Other Than Love.”
“Each song on Hear Me Now is a musical journey, and together they make one of my favorite collections of music I have ever released,” says Allen. “When you are listening to these songs, know that you are listening to a little piece of my heart!”
Accompanying Allen on Hear Me Now are some of Nashville’s finest songwriters and musicians, including Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Gary Burr (“Anything Other Than Love” co-writer), and legendary songwriter/producer Bobby Braddock, who produced three songs on the album.
The Aug. 16 release of Hear Me Now coincides with Elvis week, held in Memphis Aug. 10-16. Allen will appear at numerous events during the week, including a performance at George Klein’s Memphis Mafia Reunion on Aug. 14 and an appearance at the Elvis Candlelight Vigil on Aug. 16.

Musicians Team For Benefits At Ryman

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Craig Wiseman


Craig Wiseman has tapped Dave Barnes and Dallas Davidson for his 7th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on Tues., Oct. 18 at the Ryman Auditorium. Acclaimed songwriter Wiseman leads the fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank of of Middle Tennessee every year, and is expected to add more performers to the 2011 line up.
In the last six years, the initiative has raised $389,000 to supply 1,556,000 meals.
Event tickets go on sale today (8/19) for $35 at ticketmaster.com. For preferred VIP seating please contact the Second Harvest Food Bank at (615) 329-3491.
• • • •
Also coming up at the Ryman is the Let Us In: Women and Cancer Fund Benefit that will be hosted by actor/musician Jeff Daniels with performances by Sarah Darling, Steel Magnolia, SHeDAISY, Jordyn Shellhart, Phil Vassar and Chuck Wicks. The show will be Mon., Nov. 7.
The evening’s house band will include Chad Cromwell, Russ Pahl, Kenny Greenberg, Eli Beaird, Mike Rojas and Jeff Smith.
Because the fund was established in memory of Linda McCartney, each artist will perform a Paul McCartney song in addition to their own songs. The day after the concert, the recorded songs will be released to retail and digital outlets, and the entire show will be available on DVD.

Charlie Cook On Air

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Too Few Songs Have to Stand Alone

I was listening to an AC station in the West Virginia radio chain that I work for and heard “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry. Of course, they also play “Need You Now,” selected Taylor Swift songs, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw and even a recent Kenny Chesney. I was thinking how lucky they are to be able to play only the cream of the format.
As an AC station they also play P!nk, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and a bunch of other stuff, some of which is pretty good. I like Katy Perry and an occasional Bruno Mars song, but let’s get back to the Country Music they play.
Just think how cool it would be to pick and choose what you wanted to play.
When a new record from (fill in the blank) comes out, you play it. It goes to No. 1 in 14 weeks and then the following Monday there is another record from the act on your desk. Tuesday you’re getting emails and phone calls telling that you should add this one out of the box because the last one was No. 1. You want to yell, “Please give the listener a minute to digest the last song.”
In Country Music there is a connection between one record and the next. It is not as strong as promotion people want you to believe, but it is there. It does not come in 14 week sections, but it is there.
Still, what if every record actually stood on its own?
I like the Band Perry. They are talented. They are good kids and I trust that they will be staples in our format for years to come. But they may never have another AC hit. And whether they do or not, “If I Die Young” is not diminished in the listener’s eye. This was their time on AC radio.
Here’s my point. I am saying that AC programmers get to listen to Country Music with a clean slate and chose the songs they think best fit their stations. Country programmers get hammered to play everything by a particular artist because either that artist has “earned a place” on their station (I have heard that more than once), or because it is on 40 stations (mostly played in the evening or overnight) and, “we are working this one all the way to the end.”
Good songs get lost in the shuffle because they are not on a major label or they don’t have tour support for the song’s airplay. I understand that if a newbie act is on a veteran’s tour and the label can provide tickets for the show, then the new act gets extra attention. Too few songs are forced to stand on their own in our format.
Some are obvious: “Remind Me,” “Honey Bee,” “Knee Deep.” Those are no-brainers. Some are not so obvious but there is often an entitlement argument from the bigger acts and the bigger labels. That hurts smaller label acts with good music.

ACM Announces $661,000 Endowment

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Honorees from “Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” (Getty Images/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music & dick clark productions)


The Academy of Country Music has announced a $661,000 endowment to ACM Lifting Lives, on behalf of the artists who participated in Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country. Ticket proceeds from the taping of the Las Vegas concert special in April benefited ACM Lifting Lives.
Honorees The Judds, Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Reba and Carrie Underwood along with special performers Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, John Fogerty, Vince Gill, the JaneDear girls, Little Big Town, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton all participated in the taping, with more than 8 million viewers tuning in to the special on CBS.
“ACM Lifting Lives thanks these artists for generously donating their time and talent for the taping,” says ACM Lifting Lives Chair Gayle Holcomb. “We are grateful to them and for the opportunity to continue serving our many wonderful beneficiaries.”
ACM Lifting Lives is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through music by providing and serving members of the country music community who face unexpected medical or financial hardship.

(L-R): ACM Vice President Butch Waugh, ACM President Sarah Trahern, ACM Chairman Bill Mayne, ACM Lifting Lives Chairman Gayle Holcomb, ACM Lifting Lives President Mark Hartley, ACM Lifting Lives Vice-President Gary Gilbert and ACM Parliamentarian Paul Moore.

Weekly Chart Report (8/19/11)

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Toolpusher Recording artist Jason Sturgeon recently got the chance to promote his single “The Cover” at the 2011 Carlisle Truck Nationals event in Carlisle, PA. An avid car-lover, Sturgeon’s vintage Chevy truck was on display during the CMA Music Festival this past June. While in PA, Sturgeon got to hang out with some of his friends from country radio. (L-R): WGTY/Gettysburg PD Scott Donato, Sturgeon.


LIFENOTE
MusicRow extends its condolences to Mickey Alexander of WQNZ/Natchez, MS, whose father Charles Mitchel Alexander passed away last Sunday, August 14. He was 71. Funeral services were held August 17 at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday, LA. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday (318-757-3636) to help with funeral expenses.
RADIO NEWS
Ross Alexander (no relation to Mickey) has taken over Music Director duties at KVAY/Lamar, CO. He replaces Chandra Hunter, who is exiting the station and getting married. Reach Alexander here.
• • •
SPIN ZONE
It’s been a short 10 week trip for Toby Keith’s “Made In America” to arrive at No. 1, which it accomplishes today after gaining 145 new spins. White-hot duets “You and Tequila” by Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter and “Remind Me” by Brad Paisley with Carrie Underwood are in hot pursuit at No. 2 and 3, respectively. Keith Urban’s “Long Hot Summer” is at No. 4 after only nine weeks, and Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” is still growing at No. 5.
While we’ve had several singles ascend to No. 1 in under 15 weeks, Toby’s 10 week feat puts him in a particularly elite crowd. In fact, the only other singles to claim a No. 1 song in under 10 weeks in the last three years are recent smashes: Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama,” which managed it in eight weeks, and Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee,” which did it in nine. Widening the scope a bit, there are a handful of sub-12 week champs, including (surprise!) Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
A glance a the Top 40 reveals some possible future contenders as well. Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim” is the week’s biggest spin increase with 538 new plays. It jumps to No. 29 in its third week charting, and this has all happened before its official going for adds date of August 22. The Band Perry’s “All Your Life,” another three-week-old title, isn’t far behind at No. 37.
Frozen Reports: WAKG, WIFE, WKTT, WKWS, WQNZ, WTCM, WYVY

Upcoming Singles: Add Dates
August 22
Miranda Lambert/Baggage Claim/Columbia
Steel Magnolia/Bulletproof/Big Machine
Bomshel/HalleluY’all/Curb
Hali Hicks/Last Night of Spring/Phull/Jeff McClusky & Assoc/Nine North
August 29
Reba/Somebody’s Chelsea/Valory
Chris Cagle/Got My Country On/Bigger Picture
Risa Binder/You Made It Rain
Vince Gill/Threaten Me With Heaven/MCA
• • •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Lady Antebellum/We Owned The Night/Capitol — 60
Eric Church/Drink In My Hand/EMI Nashville — 65
Reba/Somebody’s Chelsea/Starstruck/Valory — 74
Badhorse/It’s All Good/Global Maximus — 76
Tyler Farr/That’s What They’re Bitin’ On/BNA — 77
Steel Magnolia/Bulletproof/Big Machine — 78
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Miranda Lambert/Baggage Claim/Columbia — 538
Lady Antebellum/We Owned The Night/Capitol — 455
Eric Church/Drink In My Hand/EMI Nashville — 378
The Band Perry/All Your Life/Republic Nashville — 334
Taylor Swift/Sparks Fly/Big Machine — 330
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Buddy Jewell/Jesus, Elvis and Me/Diamond Dust — 203
LiveWire/Tater Fed/LiveWire Records — 200
Steve Richard/Love’s Gotta Go Somewhere/Force MP — 198
Kevin Fowler/Hell Yeah, I Like Beer/Average Joes — 197
Lauren Alaina/Like My Mother Does/19 Ent./Mercury — 187
Ira Dean/Beer or Gasoline/Average Joes Entertainment — 173
Jason Sturgeon/The Cover/Toolpusher/Spinville — 172
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Eric Church/Drink In My Hand/EMI Nashville — 35
Lady Antebellum/We Owned The Night/Capitol — 30
Badhorse/It’s All Good/Global Maximus — 19
The Band Perry/All Your Life/Republic Nashville — 19
Miranda Lambert/Baggage Claim/Columbia — 17
Reba/Somebody’s Chelsea/Starstruck/Valory — 12
Martina McBride/I’m Gonna Love You Through It/Republic Nashville — 10
Justin Moore/Bait a Hook/Valory — 10

The JaneDear girls (Warner Bros./WMN) played at the KJ Heart Strings Concert in San Antonio earlier this week and visited with KAJA PD Travis Moon before the show. Their new single “Merry Go Round” is due out soon. (L-R): tJDg’s Susie Brown, Moon, and tJDg’s Danelle Leverett


Black River Entertainment’s Craig Morgan visited Nashville’s WSM-FM 95.5 August 2 to support his latest single “This Ole Boy,” which is at No. 53 on the CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): WSM’s Rick Marino and Beth Brightwell; Craig Morgan


Hunter Hayes (Atlantic/WMN) finished up his final tour date on Taylor Swift’s Speak Now Tour last Sunday (8/14) in St. Louis, MO. (L-R) KSD morning personality Mason, KSD MD Dusty, KSD PD Steve Stewart, Hayes, KSD morning personality Remy

CMA Songwriters Series To Stream Boston Show

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CMA’s Songwriter Series heads to Boston for an Aug. 25 show with a stellar cast of performers and for the first time will be audio-streamed. Joining host Bob DiPiero for the sold-out Royale Nightclub show are Matraca Berg, Brett James, Wendell Mobley, Craig Wiseman and superstar Kenny Chesney. The hit-packed songwriters in the round event will be streamed live on www.cmasongwritersseries.com and noshoesradio.com.
“I came to town as a songwriter and always consider myself a songwriter first,” said Chesney. “I’m looking forward to playing alongside my friends and heroes who create and write amazing songs for a living. I’m really proud to help the CMA show the fans what great music comes out of Nashville from our awesome writers. I couldn’t think of a better place to showcase this than in the city of Boston. The fans have been amazing to us and I am thrilled to be ending our tour with over 100,000 sold tickets in one of the greatest markets in the world.”
Joining Chesney will be:
Matraca Berg (“You and Tequila” recorded by Chesney, “Strawberry Wine” recorded by Deana Carter, “If I Fall You’re Going Down With Me” recorded by The Dixie Chicks, and “XXXs and OOOs [An American Girl]” recorded by Trisha Yearwood);
Brett James (“Jesus Take the Wheel” recorded by Carrie Underwood, “The Truth” recorded by Jason Aldean, and “When the Sun Goes Down” and “Out Last Night,” both recorded by Chesney);
Wendell Mobley (“I Melt” and “Fast Cars and Freedom,” both recorded by Rascal Flatts, “Strange” recorded by Reba, and “There Goes My Life” recorded by Chesney);
Craig Wiseman (“Live Like You Were Dying” and “Where the Green Grass Grows,” both recorded by Tim McGraw, and “The Good Stuff” and “Summertime,” both recorded by Chesney);
Bob DiPiero (“Southern Voice” recorded by Tim McGraw, “Blue Clear Sky” recorded by George Strait, and “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl” recorded by Brooks & Dunn).
The CMA Songwriters Series began in New York City in 2005. Since then, it has continued to play in front of sold out crowds at New York’s Joe’s Pub. In 2009, CMA took this popular series to other markets including Chicago and Los Angeles. The Aug. 25 show will be the series’ Boston debut. No Shoes Radio, Chesney’s online radio station, is programmed by Kenny himself, and features music from Chesney’s audio catalog, including never-before-heard recordings, live concert broadcast, and random drop-ins from fans, plus many of his favorite songs. Included is everything from Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews to the Caribbean grooves of Bob Marley & The Wailers.
Official sponsor for the CMA Songwriters Series at the Royale Nightclub is Great American Country (GAC). Tickets for the sold-out Boston show were $75 for VIP seating and $45 for floor seats.

Colt Ford Takes Nashville To Georgia For Big Benefit

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Back Row (L-R): Jason Aldean, Corey Smith, Rachel Farley, Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, James Otto; L to R, Middle Row: Dallas Davidson, Colt Ford, Mike Dekle. Front Row (L-R): Average Joe's President Tom Baldrica, Clarence Spalding, Average Joe's CEO Shannon Houchins, Average Joe's Management's Ken Madson. Photo: Dan Harr


Athens, Georgia native Colt Ford recruited some of his Nashville buddies for a benefit show in his hometown on Tuesday (8/16) to raise money for the families of one injured and one fallen police officer.
Joining Ford in raising $85,000 were Rhett Akins, Jason Aldean, Dallas Davidson, Mike Dekle, Edwin McCain, James Otto, and surprise guests Brantley Gilbert, Rachel Farley, and Corey Smith, many of whom are natives of the Peach State.
The sold-out show at the Georgia Theatre drew a crowd of 1,100 for the three-hour in-the-round performance, which featured Ford’s band backing the sets.
Over 200 people enjoyed a pre-show private reception and celeb memorabilia silent auction at the Hotel Indigo’s Rialto Room.
Donations for the officers’ families are being accepted at www.nobleheroes.org.

(L-R): Mike Dekle, Dallas Davidson, James Otto, Jason Aldean, Colt Ford, Rhett Akins. Courtesy: Dan Harr