The Band Perry Scores Another Gold Single

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The Band Perry’s latest hit “You Lie” has earned Gold certification from the RIAA for 500,000-plus paid downloads. This is the first single and hit for songwriters Aaron, Brian and Clara Henningsen.
“‘You Lie’ is full of spitfire and it’s our high-five to everyone who’s been the victim of a cheatin’ heart,” explains The Band Perry. “Only in Country music could a song about feeling fed-up be so much fun to sing. When we perform this one, we get a big ‘amen!’ back and we thank everyone who has joined in.”
“Plain and simple…this song has more hooks than a tackle box!” adds Jimmy Harnen, Republic Nashville President.
This follows the band’s huge hit “If I Die Young” which recently went Double Platinum. The self-titled debut album is moving about 11,000 units per week and has RTD sales of 655K (Soundscan).
Next up, The Band Perry will release love ballad, “All Your Life.”
TBP will headline a Samsung AT&T Summer Krush concert in Dallas, a portion of which will air Aug. 17 on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The Band Perry is currently on the road with Tim McGraw and looking forward to dates with Keith Urban (September) and Reba (October).
The sibling trio is also nominated for two Teen Choice Awards at the Sun., Aug. 7 show on Fox. Fans can vote at teenchoiceawards.com.
 

Antitrust Regulators Eye Google

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Amid scrutiny by federal antitrust regulators, Google is funneling more money than ever into lobbying efforts. According to a report by NPR, Google spent $2.06 million to influence lawmakers between April- June 2011, a 54 percent increase from the same period last year.
Last month the Federal Trade Commission opened an inquiry into Google.
The behemoth has been investigated before, mostly due to its mergers and acquisitions, but the new civil probe will examine its search-advertising business.
According to the Wall Street Journal, it will specifically look into “whether Google searches unfairly steer users to the company’s own growing network of services at the expense of rival providers.”
Eric Schmidt, Google’s executive chairman is set to appear before a Senate antitrust committee in September.

Benefit News: Josh Turner Raises $150K For Tornado Ravaged Town

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Josh Turner with UMG's Royce Risser, Joe Putnam, and fans at the Ringgold fundraiser.


Josh Turner’s recent benefit in Ringgold, GA brought in over $150,000 for the community devastated on April 27 by an EF-4 tornado. Despite pouring rain, he helped raise the spirits of area residents. All proceeds from the US101 sponsored event will be split evenly between the Ringgold Band and the Ringgold athletic fund. The storm destroyed about 50% of the town’s businesses, many homes and places of worship. Ringgold High School and Ringgold Middle School both suffered major damage. Sadly, nine lives were lost.
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James Otto’s Ottomaniacs came together to raise $4,000 for flood victims in Minot, ND as a result of his live streaming benefit concert on StageIt.com. Total proceeds from tips and ticket sales totaled $2,000, and one anonymous fan generously matched that amount bringing the total donation to $4,000. The benefit was part of the series Otto began in early June called “Thirsty Thursdays” in which he performs live streaming shows on StageIt.com from his home studio.
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Musicians Corner is hosting a benefit show to help fund its upcoming fall season of free music in Centennial Park. The benefit is July 24, 7 PM at 3rd & Lindsley featuring Pat McLaughlin, Humming House and Uncle Lucius. Tickets are $10 for General Admission and $25 for Reserved Seats, which includes a free Musicians Corner 2011 Membership and T Shirt. The show will be broadcast on Lightning 100 from 8-10 PM.
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Wynonna and HLN’s Robin Meade performed at the 2011 Independence Day Concert in Warner Robins, GA. The show aired July 4 on the Armed Forces Network.
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The North To Alaska Tour—Red Dirt in the Last Frontier, featured Bleu Edmondson, Stoney LaRue, Jason Boland, Wade Bowen, Roger Creager and Brandon Jenkins. Proceeds from three shows, complete with meet and greets with the artists, benefit children with autism.
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Lee Brice invited servicemen from VR-57 out of Naval Air Station North Island (San Diego, CA) up on stage while performing in Del Mar, CA on Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour.

Lee Brice honors service members on Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown Tour.

Industry Ink Thursday (7/21)

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MCA Nashville’s Ashton Shepherd hit six cities in five days to celebrate the release of her album Where Country Grows. She played to a near capacity crowd at Cotton Eyed Joe's in Knoxville at a show sponsored by WIVK. Shepherd also stopped in Atlanta, where she is pictured here with (L-R): MCA’s Van Haze, WKHX PD Mark Richards, and WKHX MD Mike Macho.


Artists Set For ICM Awards
The 17th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards will include appearances by Lee Greenwood, Joey & Rory, Ricky Skaggs and The Roys. Popular television personalities Storme Warren and Megan Alexander will host the Oct. 28 show at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
CMT Radio
Erin Duvall is joining the CMT Radio team in Nashville today as Associate Producer. She has worked for AOL’s The Boot and Country Aircheck and recently relocated back to Nashville from Los Angeles. In this role, Duvall will be responsible for helping to produce CMT’s radio programming, representing CMT Radio at industry events, conducting artist interviews, as well as writing the network’s prep materials that are sent nightly to CMT Radio Network’s over 160 radio affiliates.
Duvall will work closely with Curt Miller who has been promoted to the role of Producer, CMT Radio Network. Miller joined CMT Radio in November 2010 and previously held the position of Associate Producer after working with Fox 17’s Tennessee Mornings for five years. Both Duvall and Miller report to Jean Williams, Director of CMT Radio.
Turntable.fm
Turntable.fm has secured licenses with ASCAP and BMI. Users of the growing social music site join virtual crowds in themed rooms where they can listen to music selected by “DJs” or become a DJ themselves. The crowd can vote on each song selection and chat with each other.
Airplay Direct
AirPlay Direct has hired Lee Williams as Manager of International Development. He is the founder and owner of European country music radio station CMR, which is in its seventh year of broadcasting. Each month it reaches nearly 500,000 listeners around the world.

Colt Ford Taps Star Friends to Honor Hometown Heros

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Colt Ford


Colt Ford has recruited a fantastic line-up for a benefit concert next month in his hometown Athens, Ga. Set to perform are Rhett Akins, Jason Aldean, Dallas Davidson, Mike Dekel, Edwin McCain, and James Otto.
The Aug. 16 show at the Georgia Theater will benefit local police officers and their families who were victims of a recent shooting. Senior Police Officer Elmer “Buddy” Christian died, and Senior Police Officer Tony Howard was injured.
“I’ve known Tony for over 25 years, and both he and Buddy are and were pillars in this community, and I can’t stand by and not do something for their families during this difficult time due to such a brutal offense,” says Ford.
The evening will include a pre-show VIP cocktail reception and silent auction. “I want to raise as much money as we can through the auction, performances, and donation links, so I can’t thank my friends enough for joining together with me for this great cause,” said Ford.
General admission and VIP tickets will go on-sale Friday, July 22 at 10 a.m. ET here.

LeAnn Rimes Sets Fall Release Date

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LeAnn Rimes puts a female spin on classic country songs originally performed by men for her upcoming project, Lady and Gentlemen. Set for release Sept. 27 on Curb Records, Rimes offers songs first made popular by Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Merle Haggard and others. Last year Rimes released her remake of the John Anderson hit “Swingin.’”
Rimes fans will also find new material on the project. The bonus tracks include her current single, “Give,” as well as new cut “Crazy Women” and an updated recording of her 1996 debut hit, “Blue.”

Justin Niebank and John Hobbs produced the album, and Rimes, Vince Gill, and Darrell Brown served as executive producers.

Jason Aldean on CMT Invitation Only

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The latest edition of CMT Invitation Only features Jason Aldean and is set to premiere Friday, July 29, 10:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m., ET/PT. During the show Aldean answers questions from fans, and performs older hits including “Hicktown,” “Amarillo Sky,” ”Why,” and “Crazytown,” as well as faves from his newest album “Dirt Road Anthem” and “My Kinda Party.”
CMT is also premiering the special What’s Your 20? 20 Greatest Men, 20 Years on Wed., Aug. 10. The two-hour countdown show will rank Country’s 20 greatest men according to fan-voted selections chosen on CMT.com. The special also features new exclusive interviews with the honorees, including Aldean, Trace Adkins, and Keith Urban, as well as several of their female contemporaries like Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Taylor Swift.

Brenda Lee, Jeannie Seely To Host SOURCE Awards

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Brenda Lee and Jeannie Seely will once again host the SOURCE Awards, slated for Thurs., Aug. 25, 2011 at the Noah Liff Opera Center in Nashville. The annual celebration honors women in the music industry for their contributions.
Kay Smith, chairman and founder of the SOURCE Awards, says, “Brenda and Jeannie have claimed ownership of the podium, and we couldn’t be more thrilled and grateful. Their natural wit and charm adds intimacy, humor, and warmth to the event.”
The previously announced 2011 SOURCE Awards Honorees are Roberta Edging, Millie Kirkham, Barbara Orbison, Evelyn Shriver, Janice Erickson Wendell, plus a posthumous recognition for Georgia Twitty Chellman.
Awards dinner reservations are $75.00 per person. Mail check to SOURCE, Attn:  Betty Sanders, Box 331126, Nashville, TN 37203-7510. Seating is limited and reservations are required by July 28. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Margie Hunt at mhuntmusicservices@comcast.net.

Industry Ink Wednesday (7/20)

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“American Picker” Turns Songwriter
Mike Wolfe, known for his role in the History Channel series American Pickers, owns a home in Nashville and recently opened the second of his Antique Archeology retail stores in Music City—the first is in LeClair, Iowa. He has been working with producer Brian Ahern on a project called Music to Pick By. They’ve been collaborating with songwriter Dale Watson, one of Wolfe’s favorites.

(L-R): Mike Wolfe; producer Brian Ahern; and BMI's Jody Williams, welcoming Wolfe to the BMI family. Photo: Drew Maynard


CCMA Fans Choice Nominees
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced the nominees for the 2011 Fans’ Choice Award. From Friday, July 22— Friday, Sept. 9, fans can vote at www.ccma.org for Dean Brody, George Canyon, Terri Clark, Doc Walker or Johnny Reid. The winner will be announced during the Canadian Country Music Awards® broadcast live on CBC in Hamilton, ON on Sept. 12.
Free Frankie Ballard Track
Frankie Ballard’s “A Buncha Girls” is the iTunes Single of The Week. The song is from his self-titled debut produced by Michael Knox.
Doyal Exits AirPlay Direct, Expands Own Agency
Clif Doyal has left his post as Executive VP of AirPlay Direct. He had worked for the digital music delivery service since 2009. Doyal continues to operate the Clif Doyal Agency, an artist and label management/consulting business, and CDA Promotions-Nashville, a publicity and marketing company. He currently works with Shawna Russell, LiveWire and others. Doyal is seeking experienced candidates for an in-house radio promotion staff and an in-house booking agent. Interested parties can contact him at CDAnashville@aol.com.
“Nashville Skyline” On Murdoch
CMT.com’s Chet Flippo offers an interesting backstory on embattled media mogul Rupert Murdoch here. Flippo’s piece was also picked up by the LA Times.
 

Chesney Leads Country Tour Rankings

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Kenny Chesney onstage in Columbus, Ohio in late June.


The touring industry is rebounding following the 2010 slump according to Pollstar’s Mid-Year report. Gross box office receipts and ticket sales are on the rise, despite an increase in ticket prices.
The report tracks data from Jan. 1-June 30, 2011. It shows a 10.2 percent hike in the average ticket price in North America, which climbed $6.25 to a record high of $67.02.
Total ticket sales for the first half of the year equal 16.7 million, a 5.3 percent jump over a year ago.
Concerts have grossed $1.12 billion, an increase of $157 million (16.2 percent).
Nashville’s own Bridgestone Arena ranks ninth in the United States and 23rd in the world for concert attendance, based strictly on tickets sold to music events. Last year, Bridgestone ranked 23rd in the U.S. and 48th in the world.
Country on Pollstar’s Top North American Tours list
(gross in millions, 1/1/11- 6/30/11)
No. 4—Kenny Chesney, 46.7 million
No. 6—Taylor Swift, 29.5
No. 15—George Strait, Reba, Lee Ann Womack 18.4
No. 27—Brad Paisley, 11.9
No. 28—Jason Aldean, 11.8
No. 33—Sugarland, 10.1
No. 39—Rascal Flatts, 9.2
No. 49—Tim McGraw, 7.3
No. 50—Zac Brown Band, 6.7
* Culled from the list’s Top 50 tours. See report for full list, including each tour’s average ticket price, average number of tickets sold, total tickets, average gorss, number of cities and number of shows.