Michelle Wright
and
Bill Langstroth will be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Recognized for her contributions to Canada’s country music landscape, Wright is this year’s Artist inductee. Langstroth, the host of one of Canada’s first talent showcases, “Singalong Jubilee,” will have his achievements in television production celebrated in the Industry Builder category.
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductions will take place during a private event to be held during
Country Music Week, which runs Sept. 9-12, 2011, in Hamilton, Ontario. The week culminates in the live broadcast of the Canadian Country Music Awards, on Mon., Sept. 12, 2011.
During her 25-year career, Wright became the first Canadian artist in the modern era of country to have a Top Ten hit in America (“Take It Like A Man,” 1992). She has sold almost two million albums in North America.
“What a tremendous honour. I deeply appreciate this recognition and am so very proud to have had the opportunity to represent Canada across the globe through my music,” said Wright of her upcoming induction. “My thanks go out to the CCMA along with my fans, industry friends and outstanding team – a team that includes my manager
Brian Ferriman and my husband
Marco.”
Spending his youth in Montreal, Langstroth landed his first gig in Halifax as a producer at CBC. Working alongside notable musician
Don Messer, Langstroth quickly climbed the ladder. He grew the Don Messer show to a nationally broadcasted program and in the years following hosted, “Singalong Jubilee.” Langstroth is the former husband of Canadian icon
Anne Murray.
“I am honoured and delighted by my induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame,” said Langstroth. “To be recognized for my years in the industry by the CCMA as an industry Builder is a distinction that I am proud to celebrate alongside this year’s artist inductee, Michelle Wright.”
New Class Named To Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
/by Sarah SkatesMichelle Wright
Michelle Wright and Bill Langstroth will be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Recognized for her contributions to Canada’s country music landscape, Wright is this year’s Artist inductee. Langstroth, the host of one of Canada’s first talent showcases, “Singalong Jubilee,” will have his achievements in television production celebrated in the Industry Builder category.
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductions will take place during a private event to be held during Country Music Week, which runs Sept. 9-12, 2011, in Hamilton, Ontario. The week culminates in the live broadcast of the Canadian Country Music Awards, on Mon., Sept. 12, 2011.
During her 25-year career, Wright became the first Canadian artist in the modern era of country to have a Top Ten hit in America (“Take It Like A Man,” 1992). She has sold almost two million albums in North America.
“What a tremendous honour. I deeply appreciate this recognition and am so very proud to have had the opportunity to represent Canada across the globe through my music,” said Wright of her upcoming induction. “My thanks go out to the CCMA along with my fans, industry friends and outstanding team – a team that includes my manager Brian Ferriman and my husband Marco.”
Spending his youth in Montreal, Langstroth landed his first gig in Halifax as a producer at CBC. Working alongside notable musician Don Messer, Langstroth quickly climbed the ladder. He grew the Don Messer show to a nationally broadcasted program and in the years following hosted, “Singalong Jubilee.” Langstroth is the former husband of Canadian icon Anne Murray.
“I am honoured and delighted by my induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame,” said Langstroth. “To be recognized for my years in the industry by the CCMA as an industry Builder is a distinction that I am proud to celebrate alongside this year’s artist inductee, Michelle Wright.”
ICANN Opens Naming Floodgates
/by adminAccording to the L.A. Times:
Starting in 2000, ICANN has added 14 new top-level domains, including .biz, .info and .jobs. Few of the new names have caught on, with .com remaining the standard across many industries, even though it can be difficult and expensive to find new .com names, with the most desirable long ago snapped up by companies, individuals and cybersquatters.
Lauren Weinstein, co-founder of People For Internet Responsibility and founder of Privacy Forum, believes the plan serves the “domain-industry complex” at the expense of everyone else. She tells Information Week:
ICANN expects to begin accepting applications starting January 12, 2012.
Black River Adds Rhoades To Promo Staff
/by Freeman“Brian is fired up and ready to go,” says Black River VP Promotion Rick Baumgartner. “From our first meeting, Brian possessed professionalism and an understanding of the difficulties facing promotion people in this ever-changing environment. I have no doubts we have made the right choice. He will be an incredible asset.”
Rhoades’ background includes time at CBS Records, Reprise Records, Epic Records, Capitol Records, Columbia Records and Virgin Records. He has worked with some of music’s biggest including The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney and more. He was most recently Northeast Director of Promotion for EMI Records Nashville, where he worked with Eric Church and Troy Olsen.
His first day on the job is July 1 and after then he can be reached at brian@blackriverent or 615-780-3070.
Black River is preparing to release Craig Morgan’s first new music since he signed with the label in April. His single “This Ole Boy” ships to country radio this week and impacts in July.
EMI Back on the Auction Block
/by Sarah SkatesEMI is currently under the control of creditor Citigroup. The bank took over the music company when previous owner Terra Firma, under the direction of Guy Hands, couldn’t meet its loan requirements.
The official statement continues, “The Company does not intend to disclose developments with respect to its strategic review process unless and until its Board of Directors has approved a specific transaction.”
Conventional wisdom indicated that EMI would begin courting suitors following the sale of Warner Music Group, so that two major music companies weren’t on the auction block at the same time.
Warner sold a few months ago to Russian billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees Announced
/by FreemanIn the Songwriter/Artist category, nominees are Garth Brooks, Larry Gatlin, Amy Grant, Alan Jackson and Townes Van Zandt. In the Songwriter category, nominees are John Bettis, Robert Byrne, J.J. Cale, Jan Crutchfield, Mark James, Dan Penn, Gretchen Peters, Thom Schuyler, Allen Shamblin and John Scott Sherrill.
“This is an amazing group of songwriters and songwriter/artists,” said John Van Mol, chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF), which owns and administers the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Every one of them is extremely worthy of induction, and it is our honor to place each of their names in nomination.”
Songs penned by the nominees include “Top of the World” by The Carpenters/Lynn Anderson (Bettis), “Two Dozen Roses” by Shenandoah (Byrne), “Cocaine” by Eric Clapton (Cale), “Statue of a Fool” by Jack Greene/Brian Collins/Ricky Van Shelton (Crutchfield), “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley (James), “The Dark End of the Street” by James Carr/Archie Campbell & Lorene Mann (Penn), ”Independence Day” by Martina McBride (Peters), “16th Avenue” by Lacy J. Dalton (Schulyer), “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt (Shamblin), “Nothin’ But the Wheel” by Patty Loveless (Sherrill).
Songwriter/Artist nominees had numerous successes writing their own material, including “Unanswered Prayers” (Brooks), “Broken Lady” (Gatlin), “Every Heartbeat” (Grant), “Chattahoochee” (Jackson), “Pancho and Lefty” (Van Zandt).
Two songwriters and one Songwriter/Artist will be inducted at the NaSHOF’s annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony Saturday, October 16 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
Renegade Country Debuts And Donates
/by admin(L-R) Toolpusher Records' Jason Sturgeon with Renegade Country host Tyler Ryan
Renegade Country™ is a new 2-hour syndicated radio show hosted by experienced morning personality Tyler Ryan. The show was launched June 9 during MusicFest at the Whiskey Bent Saloon in Nashville’s downtown music district.
The entertainment featured acoustic performances from artists such as The Roys, Sherrie´Austin, Andy Griggs, Matt Stillwell, Jason Sturgeon, Jeremy McComb, Buddy Jewell, Brian Randle, BridgetteTatum, One Night Rodeo and Von Grey.
Giving the debut show a unique twist, it was streamed live via Stageit.com and the proceeds were donated to the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition. Fans can visit www.renegadecountry.com and see the debut show performances archived on the site along with behind the scenes interviews and news from all of your favorite country music artists. Renegade Country was first formed in 2007 to give new artists a platform to showcase their music and promote independent artists. Principle involved are Dennis Kurtz, Tyler Ryan, Flick Wilshire and Brian Cecil. For airplay consideration email wave files to pd@renegadecountry.com or mail CDs to Renegade Country Programming 1209 16th Ave. S. Ste. 300 Nashville, TN 37212.
Major Changes In Music Journalism Community
/by Sarah SkatesAnn Powers
There’s been a string of changes at national music publications this month. Los Angeles Times Pop Music Critic Ann Powers—who often covered country music—has moved to a new role at NPR Music, which includes writing The Record blog. According to Billboard, she had relocated to Alabama with her family two years ago. Randall Roberts is filling her vacancy at the Times, as well as continuing as Pop Music Editor until a replacement is named for his former post.
Spin’s Editor in Chief Doug Brod, and Publisher Malcolm Campbell have exited the alternative music magazine. Reports, including this one from the New York Times, indicate the outlet is focusing on growing its online presence. Deputy Editor Steve Kandell has been promoted to Editor, and the Publisher role will go to Mike Albanese, who is credited with building the outlet’s advertising products. Music Editor Charles Aaron has been named Editorial Director.
Online alternative music outlet Pitchfork has promoted former Managing Editor Mark Richardson to Editor in Chief. He replaces exiting staffer Scott Plagenhoef.
Keith Bryant – Can't Tell Somebody (Who To Love)
/by ProgrammerPlaylist—Robert K. Oermann, MusicRow
Keith Bryant is proud to present his second single for Jordash Records, “Can’t Tell Somebody (Who To Love),” to country radio. The song, from Bryant’s self-titled album release, was written by Wendell Mobley, Mike Mobley and Shane Minor.
Most will be familiar with Bryant from the success of his 2004 song “Ridin’ With The Legend.” A tribute to NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt, the song experienced sustained airplay after its release and rotation on GAC. The song has since become a sort of rallying anthem for NASCAR and country fans alike.
http://www.keithbryant.com/
Keith Bryant – Can’t Tell Somebody (Who To Love)
Nichols Partners With Dunkin' Donuts
/by adminNichols will tout the Dunkin’ Donut brand on his 2011 Nationwide Concert Tour and be featured on the company’s Iced coffee. [Fans are speculating that Nichols will be in the dough on this new agreement and that he will be careful not to end up in the hole.]
On Wed. June 22, Nichols will host a live video chat on Dunkin’ Donut’s official Facebook page which currently has 3.6 million likes. Fans will also get an opportunity to win prizes.
John Costello, Chief Global Marketing & Innovation Officer at Dunkin’ Brands, said, “This new partnership with Joe Nichols will provide a fun and exciting way to connect our fans to one of the hottest stars in country music and promote Dunkin’ Donuts’ iced coffee throughout the summer months and beyond. From our previous work with Joe, we know first-hand how his songs and personality resonate positively with people throughout the country and we are excited to participate in his concert tour and bring Joe and his music to our fans in multiple ways.”
Clarence Clemons Passes
/by FreemanClemons was a member of Springsteen’s band for over 30 years and appears in the iconic album cover photo for the classic Born To Run (pictured at right). He performed with other artists including Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band, and recorded with Aretha Franklin, Jackson Browne and Roy Orbison among others. The 6’4” former college football player was also a towering presence on TV and film, where he appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show, HBO’s The Wire, and Martin Scorsese’s New York, New York. Recently he contributed his sax skills to two tracks on Lady Gaga’s album Born This Way.