(L-R) Gary Overton (Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville), Jake Owen and Alaina Vehec (Associate Director, Digital Sales, SMN).
Jake Owen is celebrating some summer Gold with his digital single, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.” Officially certified by the RIAA, and with download sales of over 550,000 the song is the fastest rising single of Owen’s career. In addition, the music video for “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” debuted on VEVO just four weeks ago and it is rapidly approaching 2 million views.
“Barefoot Blue Jean Night” is the title track and first single from Owen’s upcoming third studio album, produced by Joey Moi (Nickelback) and Rodney Clawson plus Grammy award-winning producer Tony Brown.
Jake is the special guest on the U.S. leg of Keith Urban’s “Get Closer 2011 World Tour,” with stops this weekend in Washington, DC (July 28), Toledo, OH (July, 29) and Ft. Wayne, IN (July, 31). Find complete tour dates and more online at www.jakeowen.net.
Leslie Roberts of BMI presents Shane Stevens with a Millionaire Award for the song “American Honey” at the Major Bob office.
(L-R) Leslie Roberts, Associate Director Writer Publisher Relations, BMI, Jesse Frasure, Director of A&R, Major Bob Music, Shane Stevens, Major Bob Music, Bob Doyle, Owner, Major Bob Music, Mike Doyle, GM/VP, Major Bob Music.
Country trio
Due West has announced it will be recording with producer Garth Fundis to create it’s second release for Black River Entertainment. The band is comprised of Matt Lopez, Tim Gates and Brad Hull.
(L-R) Matt Lopez, Due West; Garth Fundis; Tim Gates, Due West; and Brad Hull, Due West. Photo: Robert Chavers
RIAA’s Bainwol In Auto Talks
/by adminReportedly, Bainwol has not actually accepted the new position, but talks have progressed sufficiently for him to inform the RIAA Board of Directors he might soon be departing.
Under Bainwol’s watch, the RIAA has enjoyed high profile success in battling music piracy including a recent finding against file sharing site Limewire and a deal with ISPs to more aggressively discourage subscribers from pirating movies and music.
Obviously it is premature to know who might replace Bainwol should he depart, but insiders are already pointing to current RIAA President Cary Sherman.
RIAA's Bainwol In Auto Talks
/by adminReportedly, Bainwol has not actually accepted the new position, but talks have progressed sufficiently for him to inform the RIAA Board of Directors he might soon be departing.
Under Bainwol’s watch, the RIAA has enjoyed high profile success in battling music piracy including a recent finding against file sharing site Limewire and a deal with ISPs to more aggressively discourage subscribers from pirating movies and music.
Obviously it is premature to know who might replace Bainwol should he depart, but insiders are already pointing to current RIAA President Cary Sherman.
CCM Artist Dan Peek, Formerly of America, Dead at Age 60
/by Robert K OermannPeek’s CCM work topped the gospel charts and earned a Grammy Award nomination, but he was best known for his earlier tenure in the pop group America. He sang and played on such America hits as “A Horse with No Name” (1972), “I Need You” (1972), “Ventura Highway” (1972), “Tin Man” (1974), “Lonely People” (1975) and “Sister Golden Hair” (1975).
He wrote “Lonely People,” as well as such America tunes as “Rainy Day,” “Everyone I Meet Is From California,” “Don’t Cross the River,” “Saturn Nights,” “Simple Life” and “Woman Tonight.”
He left the group in 1977. He renewed his Christian faith and embarked on a second career while former partners Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell continued America as a duo. Peek’s CCM debut album, All Things Are Possible, was released in 1979. It was nominated for a Grammy. Its title tune was a No. 1 CCM hit, crossed over to the mainstream pop charts and became a top-10 A/C hit.
The CCM field was quite young at the time. Dan Peek was a pioneer of the genre alongside such other former pop stars as Barry McGuire, Richey Furay, Larry Norman and Noel Paul Stookey.
Peek’s second CCM collection, 1984’s Doer of the World, also had a title tune that became a top-10 hit on the gospel charts. Peek’s 1986 album, Electro Voice, included a remake of America’s “Lonely People” with rewritten, Christian-oriented lyrics. It and the album’s title tune both became top-10 gospel hits.
Other albums included Cross Over (1987), Bodden Town (1999) and Caribbean Christmas (2000). During the 1990s, Peek also recorded four CCM albums as a member of the group Peace.
Dan Peek published an autobiography titled An American Band: The America Story in 2004. No cause of death has been made public.
Photos: David Bradley, Chris Young, The Cleverlys
/by FreemanGecko Music artist David Bradley recently premiered the video for single “Hard Time Movin’ On” (which features Rodney Crowell) and performed for a standing room only crowd at 12th & Porter. The video was directed by award-winning director Steven Goldmann (Shania Twain, Faith Hill) and shot at the Fillmore and Western Railway in Santa Clara, CA.
(L-R): Bradley’s producer Brady Seals, CO5 Nashville’s David Newmark, AristoMedia Group’s Craig Bann, CRB’s Cheri Lynn Martin, Bradley, Marco Promotions’ Sarah Matlock, Bradley’s manager Judy Libow, Jerry Duncan Promotions’ Jerry Duncan. Photo: Christy Watkins.
Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Chris Young made his debut appearance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week, performing songs from his newly released third album Neon.
(L-R): Jimmy Kimmel, Chris Young. Photo: ABC/Randy Holmes
Acclaimed “family” ensemble The Cleverlys made their Grand Ole Opry debut on July 15, and posed backstage with Opry legend Jimmy Dickens. After receiving a standing ovation at The Opry, The Cleverlys headed to the The Station Inn for a sold-out performance.
Adkins Roars With Pride on Release Week
/by Sarah SkatesAdkins says his latest project is very autobiographical. Lead single “Just Fishin’” is about father-daughter bonding, so it was fitting that the video was shot at his family farm and features youngest daughter, Trinity. The Michael Knox produced track is reacting with fans and is already No. 3 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.
For the remainder of the Show Dog Universal release Adkins teamed with co-producers Mark Wright and Kenny Beard. The title track particularly resonates with Adkins. “Chris Wallin, Aaron Barker and Ira Dean wrote that song for me,” he says. “I’ve been close to death several times in my life, and they know me well enough to know what I’ve carried away from that.”
Ten songs are on the regular edition of the album, or fans can purchase a 14-song deluxe set. Target is also offering a 16-song package, which exclusively contains the Blake Shelton duet, “If I Was a Woman.”
Jake Owen Gets Gold • Shane Stevens Named Million Air • Due West Teams With Garth Fundis
/by admin(L-R) Gary Overton (Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville), Jake Owen and Alaina Vehec (Associate Director, Digital Sales, SMN).
Jake Owen is celebrating some summer Gold with his digital single, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.” Officially certified by the RIAA, and with download sales of over 550,000 the song is the fastest rising single of Owen’s career. In addition, the music video for “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” debuted on VEVO just four weeks ago and it is rapidly approaching 2 million views.
“Barefoot Blue Jean Night” is the title track and first single from Owen’s upcoming third studio album, produced by Joey Moi (Nickelback) and Rodney Clawson plus Grammy award-winning producer Tony Brown.
Jake is the special guest on the U.S. leg of Keith Urban’s “Get Closer 2011 World Tour,” with stops this weekend in Washington, DC (July 28), Toledo, OH (July, 29) and Ft. Wayne, IN (July, 31). Find complete tour dates and more online at www.jakeowen.net.
Leslie Roberts of BMI presents Shane Stevens with a Millionaire Award for the song “American Honey” at the Major Bob office.
(L-R) Leslie Roberts, Associate Director Writer Publisher Relations, BMI, Jesse Frasure, Director of A&R, Major Bob Music, Shane Stevens, Major Bob Music, Bob Doyle, Owner, Major Bob Music, Mike Doyle, GM/VP, Major Bob Music.
Country trio Due West has announced it will be recording with producer Garth Fundis to create it’s second release for Black River Entertainment. The band is comprised of Matt Lopez, Tim Gates and Brad Hull.
(L-R) Matt Lopez, Due West; Garth Fundis; Tim Gates, Due West; and Brad Hull, Due West. Photo: Robert Chavers
Big Machine Gears Up For Brickyard 400
/by FreemanThis is Big Machine’s most recent foray into racing, following its sponsorship of the winning car at the 2011 Indy 500.
In addition to an anticipated race, the event will feature performances by BMLG artists Reba, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, and Thomas Rhett. Reba will be singing “America The Beautiful,” and Rascal Flatts will perform “The National Anthem.” BMLG chief and racing aficionado Scott Borchetta will be the honorary starter and gets to wave the green flag.
To help promote the event, BLMG has been giving fans free downloads on www.bigmachinerecords.com via a Moontoast widget. A new song has been up every day, and full artist albums are available for purchase on the site.
The 2011 Brickyard 400 will be broadcast on ESPN, and the race officially starts at 1 pm ET.
Eli Young Band Celebrates Gold
/by Sherod Robertson“Gold rocks!! You grow up hearing about artists going gold and dream of what it would be like,” commented EYB drummer Chris Thompson. “Gold has always been such a measure of success.” Lead singer Mike Eli added, “It’s pretty cool that the single went gold before the record even came out.” Thompson continued, “This is a huge milestone for us.”
With its debut as the most added single at Billboard, “Crazy Girl” is the fastest rising single of the bands career and is currently No. 9 on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout chart.
“This is an amazing accomplishment that sends one message loud and clear – Country music fans love the Eli Young Band and ‘Crazy Girl!’ Everyone at Republic Nashville could not be happier or more excited and we all look forward to the release of the debut album on August 16. Fans are going to love this album,” said Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen.
Dill To Open New Management Division?
/by adminStuart Dill
Review: David Nail Sells Out Exit/In
/by FreemanUnsigned Russell Dickerson opened the show. A tall drink of water with a Telecaster, Dickerson mixes bright Keith Urban melodies with a loverman charm reminiscent of James Otto. He directed everyone to his Twitter page @russelled, where they could all get “Russelled” on a regular basis. His EP Die To Live Again is currently available on iTunes, as is his latest single “That’s My Girl.”
David Nail took the stage after a brief intermission, dressed in a gingham shirt and vest that were completely sweat-soaked within a matter of minutes. He opened his set with a slowed-down, moody take on “Looking For A Good Time” from his 2008 collection I’m About To Come Alive. The band rolled immediately into “This Time Around,” followed by a cover of Train’s “Respect.” A total of five songs flew by without a single word to the audience, and I was starting to get worried he might not acknowledge us at all.
As if reading my mind, Nail greeted the crowd right before song six.
“I promised myself I wasn’t gonna talk much and I don’t plan to,” he stated. “But it means more to me than you can know that we sold this bitch out tonight.”
Alright, fair enough.
Nail’s excellent set showcased his 2009 hit “Red Light” as well as his current single “Let It Rain” and “I’m About To Come Alive” (another Train song). The audience was also treated to some new material, including a dedication to his wife called “Catherine,” and a couple other covers like Ryan Adams’ “Firecracker” and Gavin DeGraw’s “I Don’t Wanna Be.”
In case you haven’t seen this guy perform live, let the record show that he’s one heck of a singer. His soulful inflections and impressive range approached the sublime, and his powerful voice is always front and center in the mix. His merch table had plenty of t-shirts and accessories, and bizarrely, underwear emblazoned with the David Nail logo. (Hey, I guess Christmas isn’t that far away…)
Also in the crowd enjoying the show were muzzbuzz colleagues Karen Light, Erin Duvall, Kama Upton, John and Jill Ettinger, Amanda Eckard, Kristen McCrary, the UMG Nashville crew including Tom Lord and Katie Dean, and reps from CAA who booked the show.
For his encore, Nail’s band churned up an extended blooze jam before segueing into the piano intro for his hit “Turning Home.” He followed that with a funky mashup of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Easy Like Sunday Morning,” before closing out the evening with the Tom Petty rave-up “You Wreck Me.”
As he finished “Turning Home,” Nail expressed his gratitude once again.
“When this show got booked, I called the booking agency and said ‘Man, I don’t know if I’m big enough to play Nashville.’ I can’t tell you how important that song has been to me so I’m just gonna shut up and sing, ok?”
David, keep singing like you did last night and you’ll be just fine.