Wynonna Set For Symphony Series

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Stars at the Symphony
Wynonna will perform as part of the Nashville Symphony’s Bank of America Pops Series on Sept. 15, 16, and 17. Elsewhere on the upcoming schedule is Béla Fleck’s Banjo Concerto, part of the SunTrust Classical Series, on Sept. 22, 23, and 24. The Symphony’s Regions Free Day of Music will be Sun., Oct. 1.

Brad Paisley recently performed on Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series, live from Central Park in New York City. (L-R): Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, Josh Elliott, Robin Roberts and Paisley. Photo: Ben Enos


Wayne’s Journey in Documentary
Jimmy Wayne’s 1700-mile, seven-month walk across America will be the subject of a new documentary. The journey, called Project Meet Me Halfway, was to help raise awareness of homeless youth. Colorado–based i25productions is set to begin filming in Nashville this month.
Wills Hosts TV Show
Mark Wills, an avid marksman and gun collector, will return as host of 3 Gun Nation on the Versus network for the 2011-2012 season, kicking off Sunday, July 31.
Laura Cantrell Salutes Kitty Wells
Nashville-born, New York-based country/folk artist Laura Cantrell will celebrate the release of her Kitty Wells tribute album in her hometown on Thurs., Aug. 4 at 3rd and Lindsley. Kitty Wells Dresses: Songs of the Queen of Country Music features Cantrell’s newly written title track and nine renditions from Wells’ catalogue. Free download at www.lauracantrell.com.
Michael Martin Murphey Tapped For Celeb Wedding
Singer Michael Martin Murphey will perform at the September wedding of Lauren Bush, niece of George W. Bush, and David Lauren, son of fashion icon Ralph Lauren.
Nitty Gritty Live
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have released a new live EP called Under the Big Top Vol. 1. The EP features six fan favorites performed live at the band’s 2010 performance at Big Top Chautauqua in Wisconsin.

Brother and sister bluegrass duo The Roys kicked off the main stage entertainment at the Country Thunder Festival in Wisconsin on July 21, opening for Lady Antebellum. (L-R): Charles Kelley, Elaine Roy, Hillary Scott, Lee Roy and Dave Haywood. Photo: Rick Diamond


 

Smartphone Data Usage Climbing

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According to a new study from The Nielsen Company, data use by smartphone owners is growing at an “astounding pace.” The market research company bases its findings on analysis of over 65,000 lines. Not unexpectedly, Android and iPhone owners are at the top of the data use tree. BlackBerry and Windows (mobile and Phone 7) are also growing, but overall use less data.
Presently 37% of U.S. mobile subscribers have smartphones and the number continues to grow robustly. Data usage per month, per user, according to the report has grown in the last 12 months 89% jumping from 230(MB) in Q1 2010 to 435(MB) in Q1 2011.
Why is data use growing? Perhaps it is a combination of apps and friendly operating systems which encourage users to consume data. At this time (see graph) the average Android user consumes 582 (MB) per month while the average iPhone user chews 492 (MB) per month.
This writer recently switched from an iPhone to an Android Samsung Infuse, setting it up on the same ATT account. Data consumption using the Android phone (with 8 days remaining in the period) is already higher than any previous iPhone month, although it looks like it will be below the average total per user per month mentioned above of 582 (MB).
A happy note for consumers is that with usage up and prices steady, the result is a lower cost per MB. In fact Nielsen computes that the cost per MB has dropped from 14¢ Q1 2010 to 8¢ Q1 2011.
An accompanying Nielsen article, written 6/30/2010, notes that the rise of usage-based pricing may be the fairest as well. It concludes that the top 6 percent of smart phone users are consuming half of all data and a quarter of these early adopters are not using their device for data services at all.
Over the past year both ATT and Verizon have shifted from flat rate, all you can eat plans to tiered pricing based upon usage as have other carriers. (Verizon charges $30/mo. for 2 GB; ATT charges $25/mo. 2 GB.)
With the increased bandwidth speeds of 4G close at hand, it seems sane to project that data usage will continue to rise. Let’s hope, as consumers, that prices don’t.

Elvis's Sidemen To Share Stories at Famed RCA Studio B

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Elvis with The Jordanaires recording in RCA Studio B. Photo: Country Music Hall of Fame


Some of Elvis Presley’s most important collaborators will gather at a special event on Tues., Aug. 9 to share stories and remembrances of the late King. Acclaimed musicians including Country Music Hall of Fame member Harold Bradley, David Briggs, and Norbert Putnam, will reunite to host the program at historic RCA Studio B on Music Row. The famed studio is where Presley recorded classic hits such as “It’s Now or Never,” “Little Sister,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight?,” and “How Great Thou Art.” Newly added to the line-up are special guests Ronnie McDowell and DJ Fontana.
The 7:30 p.m. program titled, Legends of RCA Studio B: Conversations with All the King’s Men, includes a dessert and cocktail reception with the hosts, so guests can mingle and discuss Presley’s legendary career.
The evening is a fundraiser for the acclaimed Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Tickets are $150 and may be purchased here or by calling (615) 416-2069.
 
 

"The Voice" Auditions Coming To Nashville

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Producers of hit singing competition The Voice will be in Nashville holding open auditions this week. They are looking for contestants for the show’s second season on Friday and Saturday July 29-30 at the Municipal Auditorium.
Interested candidates must be 16 years of age and register online prior to the audition. Contestants can be solo artists or duos that perform any type of music.
Those who are not able to attend an Open Call Audition, can send a video submission.
All the casting details are here.
Celebrity Coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera will not be at the auditions. Praised by viewers and critics, The Voice has become one of the most successful new television shows in years, averaging almost 13 million viewers in its first season.

BMI Licenses Spotify & Turntable.fm

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Spotify and turntable.fm are now licensed by BMI covering public performances of BMI’s more than 6.5 million works.

“We are pleased to confirm that we have reached agreements that guarantee fair compensation for the more than 475,000 songwriters, composers and copyright owners who entrust BMI with their public performance right,” said Richard Conlon, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy/Communications & New Media. “Both agreements represent yet another step in our long tradition of breaking new ground in licensing music for digital distribution.”

Spotify and turntable.fm join other music services in the growing roster of more than 9,000 digital properties licensed by BMI.
In an exclusive outreach to music creators, Spotify offered BMI songwriters, composers and music publishers an invitation to experience its library of over 15 million songs.
BMI tracked 1.6 billion performances on BMI-licensed websites in the last quarter and is paying more songwriters, composers and music publishers than ever before.
ASCAP previously announced an agreement with Spotify reported here.

Top 10 Idol Earners

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Forbes loves to compile Top 10 Earning lists and its latest “revelation” is a ranking of American Idols. Anyone paying attention would immediately guess (and be correct), that Carrie Underwood reigns supreme on this list  having earned over $20 million in the past year cashing in on over 80 tour dates. Lambert (season eight, No. 2) and Chris Daughtry (season five, No. 4) tied in second place with $6 million each. According to the publication Underwood “banked as much as the Top 5 artists added together.
Forty percent of the Top 10 have Nashville ties. And that doesn’t include current season celebs Scotty McCreery and Laura Alaina who may well swell Nashville’s representation in next year’s listings.
As Forbes notes it isn’t all about winning, of the top three earners only Underwood was actually a winner. Others with Nashville ties in the Top 10 include Jordin Sparks at No. 5 with $3 million; Kelly Clarkson at No. 6 with $2.5 million; and Kellie Pickler who ranks No. 8 with $1.8 million. Clarkson, managed by Nashville-based Starstruck is scheduled to have a new album next year which should elevate her rank in next year’s numbers. (Check out a photo carousel here.)

Forbes methodology statement: These numbers are based on estimated pretax income earned from May 2010 to May 2011, before subtracting agent and manager fees. The totals were compiled with the help of data from Pollstar, RIAA and others, as well as interviews with industry insiders including managers, concert promoters, publicists, agents and, in some cases, the musicians themselves.

An interesting footnote to this article is that Idol announcer Ryan Seacrest reportedly snagged of $61 million including his famed hosting spot, plus endorsements and radio revenues. Seacrest made more than the total of all ten Idol contestants.

Video News: Currington, Holy, Whiskey Myers

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The video for Billy Currington’s current single “Love Done Gone” (No. 17 on the CountryBreakout Chart) debuted on his website today. The clip was shot last month in New Orleans, Louisiana, and directed by Potsy, who worked on Currington’s previous four videos. “I knew when I first heard the song that I wanted to do this video in New Orleans – it’s such a fun and colorful city,” says Billy. “We had a blast filming there and all the people in the video are true locals from the city.  It turned out to be such a fun video that I really think the fans are going to like.”
• • • • •
Steve Holy’s video for “Love Don’t Run” also made its world premiere today, and can be seen on CMT.com. Eric Welch directed the video, which was shot in Nashville at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in period costume. The song, written by Joe Leathers, Rachael Thibodeau, and Ben Glover, is the first single off Holy’s upcoming third studio album.
• • • • •
Texas based five piece Whiskey Myers recently shot its debut video for “Ballad of a Southern Man” in Greenbrier, TN. The group endured triple-digit temperatures inside an abandoned house with no electricity for the 12 hour-long shoot. TackleBox Films’ Mason Dixon directed the video. “Ballad of a Southern Man” will also be impacting country radio soon.

Whiskey Myers and crew on the set of the “Ballad of a Southern Man” shoot. (L-R): Whiskey Myers’ Gary Brown, Jeff Hogg, director Mason Dixon, Cody Cannon, actor Marty Penney, Cody Tate, John Jeffers. Photo: GypsySun Vintag

Tweets Of The Week; Can You Guess The Tweeter???

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Can you match these tweets with the artists who graciously gave us these gems this week? These offerings come from Colt Ford, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton .
1.
2. 3. 4. 5.
Think you’ve figured it out? Let us know in the comments below.

 
 
 
 

Google+ Hangout Feature Powers Virtual Concert

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Singer songwriter Daria Musk recently used the new Hangout technology on Google plus to promote a 6.5 hour virtual concert around the globe. The entrepreneurial artist ultimately reached thousands of viewers from Norway to Argentina to Australia.
According to Google, each Hangout can have a maximum of 10 participants so Musk urged her fans to stay for a few songs and then make room for others to jump in. Google Director of Engineering, Chee Chew, attended the Hangout and provided technical assistance throughout the concert.
“For us on hangouts, it’s about really connecting small groups together face to face, bringing people together from around the world in a new way,” says Chew. “We all have a human need to connect and communicate.”
“Google’s new Hangout technology is a real game-changer for the music industry,” said Sean Wolfington, owner of Tier 10 Marketing, whose digital marketing and public relations agency represents Musk. “Traditionally the record labels dictated which artists get exposure; however, this cutting edge technology introduces a whole new platform that talented artists like Daria can leverage to take control of their exposure.”
The story has already been picked up by CNN and Reuters. A second concert named “Gl+bal G+thering of G+niuses” has been set for July 23 at 7 pm ET. To accommodate Daria’s ever-increasing global audience, members of the Google+ fan community created www.HangoutParty.com, which will stream Saturday’s concert to an unlimited number of fans around the globe. As a result, Daria’s performance and interaction with those in the “Hangout” will remain intimate, while thousands in the overflow crowd watch the broadcast live.
 

Musicians Hall of Fame Firms Auditorium Deal

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Nashville Post is reporting that a deal is finally in place between Joe Chamber’s Musician’s Hall of Fame and Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium Commission. A lease agreement has been approved which includes wording that requires the Musician’s Hall of Fame, after the first year, to provide revenue to the auditorium that is above $75k per year and not fall below that amount for  any consecutive two year period. For more details click here.