Margaret Durante To Guest Blog For Ladies’ Home Journal

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It’s not often a music artist unveils a writing style that rivals the professional pen pushers? So get ready to be surprised by Ladies’ home Journal’s latest blogger discovery, 23-year old Margaret Durante and her Nashville Diaries. The rising artist has been asked to do a series of essays as she “experiences the highs and lows that come with living far away from home while getting a music career off the ground.”

“I’m just your average 23-year-old daughter/sister/granddaughter/niece/best friend who also happens to be chasing down my dream of living in Music City and making a name for myself in the crazy music industry,” writes Durante. “I currently have a single on the radio called “Maybe Tonight” and I’m finishing my first album after living here for four years. [Recent events] got me thinking about who I turn to in times when I need some extra support and I definitely look to my family—especially my two sisters and my mother, back home in the Washington D.C. area. Growing up in a family of women meant that a) my dad was and is a very lucky man, and b) I was able to (and still do) take full advantage of “the sisterhood.” And, no, I’m not talking about the Rebecca Wells novel, but more about the unconditional support system me, my mom and my sisters have developed. Luckily, my parents and sisters supported my choice to leave Clemson University in my sophomore year to pursue my music career after I had a promising meeting with former Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola. Sure, I’d done my homework, made some connections and built some relationships down in Nashville, so I felt as if I was making a sound decision, but I was still scared. Having my family’s approval meant so much to me….”

Durante’s “Maybe Tonight” video recently spent two weeks in the No. 1 position on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.
 

Photo Spread

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Lucy Angel has signed a booking agreement with Paradigm Agency. Comprised of mother Kate Anderton, and daughters Emily and Lindsay, the band is working new single, “Serious.” On board are veteran radio promoters Jerry Duncan, Jan Woods, Quarterback Records and more. The song is No. 31 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart.

(L-R): Kate Anderton, Paradigm’s Mike Snider, Lindsay Anderton, Paradigm’s Steve Dahl, and Emily Anderton


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The rebuilding has begun at Cowboy Jack Clement’s home and studio following a recent fire. Photographer Alan Mayor sent in this new picture of the reconstruction at Cowboy Arms.

Photo: Alan Mayor

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The Cleverly’s, comprised of Digger, Harvey D, Miles, Otto, and Vernon Dean Cleverly, stopped by the CMA offices on Friday, July 15 to entertain the staff.

(L-R): CMA Senior Coordinator of Member & Industry Relations Betsy Walker, The Cleverly's co-manager Jules Wortman, The Cleverly's Otto, Vernon Dean, Harvey D, Digger, and Miles Cleverly, Conway Entertainment Group President and CMA Board Member Tony Conway, The Cleverly's co-manager Joe Sullivan, Conway Entertainment Group Agent Brandon Mauldin, and CMA Senior Manager of Membership & Balloting Brandi Simms. Photographer: Amanda Eckard / CMA

Musical Chairs at Cold River, Tenacity

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Jeff Davis


Cold River Records and Tenacity Records are shuffling radio promotion staffers.
Promo exec Jeff Davis has exited Cold River and joined Tenacity. Meanwhile, his former label is filling the void with a promotion and two new hirings.
Davis’s first official day as Tenacity’s National Director of Promotion will be July 26. He joins Sr. VP of Promotion David Haley, and National Director of Promotion Gary Greenberg at the label headed by President Mike Kraski.
Davis’s other stops include Southeast regional for Country Thunder Records, and 18 years in country radio, including time programming WGNE/Jacksonville, FL.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to add someone with the passion, energy and knowledge of country music that Jeff brings to our team,” Kraski said.
Davis will continue to be based in Jacksonville and can be reached at 615-260-4975 or jeff.davis@tenacityrecords.com.
“We love Jeff and wish him great success in his new position,” said Cold River Pres. Pete O’Heeron. “His passion and dedication will be missed and it will take two people to replace him…and that is just what we decided to do.”
Jim Dandy has been promoted to National Director of Promotion for the Cold River team. New regionals joining immediately are WKDF’s Halie Hampton, and longtime radio personality Wayne Manning.
“We are excited about Halie and Wayne joining our team,” added O’Heeron. “They bring a new energy and passion to support the growing national audience of Katie Armiger.”
Mary Lynne O’Neal will continue her role as a regional.
Jim@coldriverrecords.com, (615) 483-4250
Halie@coldriverrecords.com, (615) 881-3622.
Wayne@coldriverrecords.com, (801) 361-2993.
Marylynne@coldriverrecords.com, (903) 926-0625

Montgomery Gentry – Where I Come From

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Average Joe’s Entertainment is pleased to announce “Where I Come From,” the new country radio single from multi-platinum hitmaking duo Montgomery Gentry. The pair signed with Average Joe’s in March 2011 and are at work on their first album project with the label.
“We couldn’t be happier to be signing with the guys at Average Joe’s,” says Eddie Montgomery.  “Those guys are cut from the same cloth we are and man, they are so creative. We can’t wait to get this new project out there to our fans!” Troy Gentry adds, “Eddie and I are really excited about this new partnership with Average Joe’s. We love the team they have in place and the passion and excitement that they bring. We look forward to going in and making a project we’re all proud of.”
Montgomery Gentry first hit big on Columbia Records in 1999 with “Hillbilly Shoes.” They followed with numerous hits, including “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of,” “My Town,” “Hell Yeah,” and “Roll With Me.” In 2000, they nabbed the CMA Duo of the Year Award and the ACM Top New Group/Duo honor.
http://montgomerygentry.com/
http://www.facebook.com/montgomerygentry
http://twitter.com/#!/mgunderground
http://www.averagejoesent.com
Montgomery Gentry – Where I Come From

Lady A Share "Own The Night" Track List

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Lady Antebellum revealed new details today (7/18) about its upcoming album, Own The Night, including the track list and cover art. Set for release Sept. 13, it is the band’s third Capitol Nashville studio album.
The trio penned 10 of the new disc’s 12 tracks, including their fastest rising single to date, “Just A Kiss,” which is already No. 1 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. Collaborating again with veteran producer Paul Worley, Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott also return as co-producers.
“We’re definitely more in tune with each other musically and personally than ever,” says Haywood. “It’s an exciting place to be. This album was created from the ground up—we are writing these songs, playing these instruments and creating these arrangements. With Own The Night, more than ever before, I think we share a real feeling of accomplishment both as a band and as friends.”
“Our only hope and expectation for this record is that it will build on the first two,” adds Kelley. “At the end of the day, we just want our fans to be able to say that we continue to give them solid albums with solid songs they can enjoy from start to finish.”
The new album follows the band’s GRAMMY winning second disc Need You Now. Since its release in January 2010, the album has sold over five million copies across the globe, spawned three multi-week No. 1 hits (“Need You Now,” “American Honey,” “Our Kind of Love”), taken home five GRAMMY Awards, and over a dozen other award show trophies.
Own The Night track list:
1. We Owned The Night
2. Just A Kiss
3. Dancin’ Away With My Heart
4. Friday Night
5. When You Were Mine
6. Cold As Stone
7. Singing Me Home
8. Wanted You More
9. As You Turn Away
10. The Love I’ve Found In You
11. Somewhere Love Remains
12. The Heart Of The World

Monday Moments

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(L-R): Capstone Artists Management's/R.J. Romeo, Black River Entertainment's COO/Gordon Kerr, Glen Templeton, Black River Entertainment's General Manager/Greg McCarn, Capstone Artists Management's/Lance Combs and Producer/ Mark Lambert. Photo: Robert Chavers


BlackRiver Entertainment has signed artist Glen Templeton according to COO Gordon Kerr. GM Greg McCarn will take over marketing, promotion and sales immediately for the artist. Templeton’s current single, “I Could Be The One” was released in May of this year and can be found on Templeton’s upcoming self-titled album, which also features a special guest performance by musical legend, Leon Russell.
>>Country Radio Seminar announces its $399 Early Bird Rate for CRS 2012 scheduled for Feb. 22-24, in Nashville. “We have kept our price the same as last year, but there is a good possibility we will not offer this rate for as long as we did last year,” says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. Registration for CRS 2012 is currently available at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com or by contacting the Country Radio Seminar offices at (615) 327-4487.
>>JoAnne Ritchey of TKO Artist Management will be retiring on Friday, July 22 after working for 25 years in the music industry. She has worked with some of country music’s hottest acts including Toby Keith and Sawyer Brown.  Upon retirement, JoAnne will relocate to Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband.

Swift Launching Signature Perfume

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Taylor Swift has partnered with Elizabeth Arden to launch her first signature fragrance. Wonderstruck will debut in department stores nationwide in October.
The name Wonderstruck comes from a lyric in the song “Enchanted” on Swift’s current album, Speak Now.
Swift explains, “I wrote the lyric, ‘I’m wonderstruck, blushing all the way home,’ for the song ‘Enchanted’ about the first time you meet someone. A fragrance can help shape someone’s first impression and memory of you.”
Among the other country celebs with signature fragrance lines are Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

Linda Davis's Mother Passes

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Lois "Onita" Davis


MusicRow sends condolences to Linda Davis, her husband Lang Scott, and daughters Hillary Scott and Rylee Scott on the passing of Linda’s mother last week.
Lois “Onita” Davis died July 14 in Carthage, Texas. She was 80 years old and her family describes her as a wonderful homemaker and devoted mother to three children, including Linda, daughter Vernell Owen (husband Jimmy), and son Troy “Tator” Davis (wife Sonya).
Davis spent many years working in the local school cafeteria and was a longtime member of Carthage Missionary Baptist Church.
The funeral was held yesterday (7/17) in Carthage.
The family request memorials be made to Heartsway Hospice, 437 W. Panola, Carthage, Texas 75633.
Lady Antebellum postponed its concert on Friday, July 15 in Toledo, OH, and resumed the tour Saturday, July 16 in Sarnia, Ontario as planned.

All About Music, Film, TV Retreat Visits BMI

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The All About Music Film and TV Retreat brings a small number of talented artists together with music supervisors from L.A. for a week of bonding designed to help the participants get their music into film and TV. When Emmit Martin, the founder and organizer of the retreat, was working in L.A. and trying to pitch music to supervisors, he noticed that office visits were generally not enough to establish successful business relationships. “When you go to somebody’s office, most of the time they’re really distracted, so I thought to myself that there has to be a better way,” explains Martin. “I wanted to start bringing supervisors to Nashville—into our territory—and allow us to host them and show them some Southern hospitality, and the diverse music scene that we have here.” Part of this year’s retreat included a music/luncheon at BMI whic gave songwritiers an opportunity to showcase with some short acoustic sets fro the music supervisors.

(L-R): See Music’s Chuck Bein, ABC/Disney’s Tony Von Previeux, Lifetime TV’s Marianne Goode, MTV’s Laura Webb, Fusion Music Supervision’s Chris Mollore, Firestarter Music’s Andrea Von Foerster, BMI’s David Preston, E! Entertainment’s Rebecca Reinks, All About Music’s Emmit Martin, Whoopsie Daisy Music’s Madonna Wade Reed, Lone Wolf Music Supervision’s Lindsay Wolfington and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry

SESAC Announces Promotions and Hire

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Mary Breen


SESAC’s Nashville headquarters has expanded its Corporate Relations department with promotions of staff members Mary Breen, Shawn Williams, and Jocelyn Harms and the hire of Candice Wizer.
Breen has been promoted to Director, Website Design & Marketing. She has been with the organization for five years and is responsible for development and maintenance of SESAC’s website as well as execution of new media/online initiatives.

Shawn Williams


Williams has been upped to Director, Strategic Marketing & Publicity. Her duties will include developing and managing all matters relating to SESAC’s publicity plans and assisting in overall marketing strategy. She joined the organization five years ago.
Harms has been named to Manager, Special Projects, where she will be responsible for facilitating all aspects of SESAC’s special events including awards, conferences and festivals. Harms has also been with the company for five years.

Joceyln Harms


Joining the company as Assistant, Corporate Relations is Candice Wizer. She has been with the organization in a part-time capacity for 10 months and will assist SESAC’s VP Corporate Relations Ellen Bligh Truley in advertising and marketing efforts.

Candice Wizer


“I am very happy to announce the promotions of Mary, Shawn and Jocelyn and thrilled to add Candice to our department,” says Truley. “These four have played pivotal roles in SESAC’s ongoing success in the marketplace. We have built a strong, efficient Corporate Relations team and we look forward to continuing to support and propel the other SESAC departments.”