Fab Photos From Music Fest

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Dolly Visits Fan Fair Hall
Dolly Parton signed autographs at CMA Music Festival for the first time since the mid 1970s in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Fan Fair. She is promoting her new album Better Day, set for release June 28. Produced by Kent Wells, the album is coming via Dolly Records, distributed by Warner Music Nashville. While in Nashville, Parton shot the video for lead single “Together You & I” with director Trey Fanjoy. Parton is also prepping to launch a world tour through America, Europe, and Australia.

Dolly Parton at Fan Fair exhibit hall. Photo: Alan Mayor


American Idols’ Opry Debut
The Grand Ole Opry welcomed two new performers to its stage during CMA Music Festival, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. They played to a sold-out crowd less than two weeks after this season’s Idol finale.

(L-R): Steve Buchanan, Gaylord Sr. VP, Media and Entertainment, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, and Pete Fisher, VP and GM


LBT’s Ride For A Cure
Little Big Town hosted the star-studded Ride For A Cure on Sun., June 12 to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation. The ride began at Nashville’s Roundabout Plaza and ended at Harley Davidson of Columbia Superstore for lunch and a concert by Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Jerrod Niemann, David Nail and more.

Little Big Town open the event at the roundabout. Photo: Alan Mayor


Due West And Robin Meade At Fan Fair
Due West and Robin Meade were among the artists meeting and greeting fans at the Convention Center during CMA Music Festival. Two songs on Meade’s new album were written by Due West member Matt Lopez.

(L-R): Due West's Matt Lopez, Robin Meade, Due West's Tim Gates and Brad Hull.

Photos: CMA Fest, Hot Dog Day, CMHOF

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The 13th annual SunTrust Hot Dog Day was held Thursday (6/9) at the bank’s Music Row branch. Industry members from around the Row gathered under the tents to enjoy hot dogs, live entertainment and frozen treats.

Pictured: 26 teammates from SunTrust Sports and Entertainment with co-sponsors from The Country Music Hall of Fame and Cal IV Entertainment

• • • •

Shania Twain was honored Thursday (6/9) afternoon at Nashville’s Citizen Club for reaching worldwide sales of more than 75 million, making her the top-selling female artist in country music history. Twain will premiere her first new song in six years, “Today Is Your Day,” during the finale episode of Why Not? with Shania Twain Sunday, June 12 on the Oprah Winfrey Network at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The song will be available exclusively on iTunes immediately following the broadcast at 11 pm ET/PT. Mercury Nashville will also service the song to country radio stations following the show’s airing.

(L-R): Buddy Cannon, Twain, Dick Frank, Norro Wilson

• • • •

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum recently (6/4) honored Don Schlitz in its quarterly Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters series. Schlitz discussed his life and career and his extensive repertoire, which includes “The Gambler,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “When You Say Nothing At All” and “I Feel Lucky.”

(L-R): Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, Museum Editor Michael Gray, Don Schlitz, John D. Loudermilk, Bobby Braddock, Norro Wilson and Bob McDill. Photo by Donn Jones

• • • •

Columbia Nashville artist Joanna Smith performed at her first CMA Music Fest this week. Radio events, autograph signings and performances at the Nashville Navy Party, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Lays Bridgestone Arena stage filled her days, as she greeted and entertained fans old and new. She is headed to Winsted, Minnesota today (6/10) for an upcoming performance at the Winstock Country Music Festival.

Pictured following her set at the Lays Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza at CMA Music Fest (L-R): Kerry Hansen, Big Enterprises President and Smith's manager; Gary Overton, CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Smith; Skip Bishop, VP Promotion, Sony Music Nashville.


 
 

Country, Bluegrass and Americana News (6/10/11)

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Randy Travis is celebrating his 25 year career in country music with the release of Anniversary Collection, which hit stores Tuesday (6/7). The 17 song collection from Warner Bros. Records features new songs and remakes of Randy’s classic hits. Special guests on the album include Zac Brown Band, Kristin Chenoweth, Kenny Chesney, Don Henley, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.
• • • •
Veteran Ricky Skaggs also has a new album on the way. Titled Country Hits Bluegrass Style, the album is due out July 19th on Skaggs Family Records and features many of Skaggs’ country hits re-imagined. “We did such good music in the 1980s and early ’90s that a lot of fans still shout out ‘Honey (Open That Door),’ and I felt like we needed to do those songs for them, too,” explains Skaggs. “For years now I’ve had fans come up and ask me to do a CD that would have my old country hits on it. So here it is, done a little different than the original recordings. These were done in more of a bluegrass style. Folks have loved it when we play them on the road. Sure hope you love them too.”
• • • •
In memory of the passing of bluegrass icons Hazel Dickens and Carlton Haney, the Foundation for Bluegrass Music will be funding grants and/or scholarships with a deadline of August 15, 2011 to apply. Dickens was a trailblazing singer/songwriter who mentored many aspiring musicians and writers. Haney was a business who produced the first weekend-long bluegrass music festival in 1965. Both passed away earlier in 2011.
A one-time fund of $10,000 has been earmarked with the guidelines that up to $5,000 in memory of Dickens fund public projects and/or scholarships that foster bluegrass artistic development for deserving young people. Another $5,000 is reserved in honor of Haney to fund public projects and/or scholarships that foster bluegrass music business development.
Grants will be announced no later than October 31, 2011 and funds released after January 1, 2012. More information is available here.
• • • • •
Songwriter/Artist Larry Cordle’s new album Pud Marcum’s Hangin’ (MightyCord Records) has found an audience that spans country, Americana and bluegrass music. The album recently spent the entire month of March at No. 1 on Airplay Direct’s Americana chart, and Cordle has inked distribution agreements with Ashland Specialty Company and Clark Distribution Company to get the album stocked in convenience stores in KY, WV and OH.

Review: Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam Delivers

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Marty Stuart and Dolly Parton, Photo: Erica Goldring


Marty Stuart sold out the historic Ryman Auditorium June 8 for his 10th Anniversary Late Night Jam. The event raised over $30,000 for MusiCares with a portion also going to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Guests included country music icons Parton, Mel Tillis and Connie Smith, along with The Quebe Sisters Band, Doug Kershaw and surprise guests Ricky Skaggs and Duane Eddy.
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives gave an unforgettable show, demonstrating seasoned showmanship. The band was tight with pitch-perfect vocals. Stuart’s mandolin solo made us watch with our mouths open and listen in complete awe.
Parton came to the stage and performed several of her classics, including “Jolene,” “Coat Of Many Colors,” and “9 To 5.” Stuart then joined Parton for a special rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” Included in the often-hilarious banter with Stuart, Parton gave her trademark laugh after Stuart jokingly made a reference to Willie Nelson wondering if she had any “rolling papers.” Parton also added she was very excited about her upcoming tour starting in Knoxville.
Among her performances, Connie Smith shared her first meeting with country music legend, Marty Robbins. Smith’s vocals were hauntingly flawless and brought everyone back to the early days of country music.
Highlights also included Mel Tillis and Ricky Skaggs each singing their classic hits and sharing funny stories, making us feel we were hanging out with them back stage. Marty Robbins, Maybelle Carter, and Johnny Cash were also present. Trust me, they were there.
There were many other magical moments including Stuart bringing fashion icon, Manuel, on stage, Eddie Stubbs ad-libbing chicken, funeral home, and Manuel radio commercials, and cloggers raising the energy in the house to full tilt.
The show ended with the entire audience participating in the classic, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” and when the last note was belted out around 1:30am, we knew we had all been to church.
Can one show really change the way you look at country music? This one did. It’s easy to forget the incredible artistry of authentic traditional country music when we are focused on current radio adds and chart placement. Thanks to Stuart and his fellow guest icons, this night was a great reminder of our history, our heritage, and perhaps most important, the value traditional country music still has today.
For more information, visit www.martystuart.net.

Bobby Karl Works CMA Fest: Part 2

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Chapter 368

Geez, is it hot! Day Two of the CMA Music Festival was a carbon copy of Day One, weather-wise. The streets of downtown Nashville sizzled in the mid-90s. But I’ll be darned if the fans weren’t having a ball in spite of it all.
Music poured from every club, bar and honky-tonk on Lower Broadway. Vendors gave away Harlequin romance paperbacks, and free cups of Blue Bell ice cream were being eagerly consumed by everybody. Fans tried their talents at karaoke, bull-roping and NASCAR contests.
When I stopped by the Hard Rock stage (6/9), Kimberly Wolff was singing splendidly. She was followed by a romping set by Her & Kings County.

Gene Watson. Photo: John Russell


Up on the Bridgestone Plaza (6/9), Daryle Singletary was moaning magnificently on “The Note,” “I’m Living Up to Her Low Expectations” and other hard-country numbers. Keeping with this concept, the same stage hosted the great Gene Watson later that afternoon.
The Bud Light Stage in the Sports Zone booked Sean Patrick McGraw, Due West and more. The Chevrolet Stage, also in the Sports Zone, competed with Sonny Burgess, among others.
I went down to the Riverfront Stage to mingle. Despite the heat, it was so packed with fans you could hardly move. I literally inched my way along in the body-to-body density. Down on stage, Craig Morgan was roaring, climbing stage girders and finishing with a fiery “International Harvester.” What a singer.






Cragi Morgan. Photo: Theresa Montgomery







Linda Davis was hosting with verve and charm. I don’t think I’ve seen anybody do that gig better: She talked to those fans like a friend, urging them to drink plenty of bottled water. She wasn’t kidding. By yesterday evening more than 225 people had been treated for overheating problems (By comparison, during the entire fest last year, 400 such cases were reported). Eight of them were taken to the hospital. Street vendors did their part by offering bottles of water for only a buck apiece. Hot dogs, too.






Jake Owen. Photo: Theresa Montgomery







Jake Owen took the Riverfront Stage, saying, “I don’t know about you, but I came here to party!” The fans sang along to every song. They’re really into this guy; I had no idea he was such a fan favorite. Jake worked the stage well. The native Floridian is probably the only guy at the fest who performs in flip-flops, and he kicked those off to sing barefooted, appropriately, during “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”
“You’re changing our lives,” he told the crowd. After his show, he greeted fans at the backstage fence. They sang to him.
“As soon as we hit the opening guitar notes to ‘Barefoot Blue Jean Night,’ they started to scream,” he marveled. “That was incredible. I’ve never had a song like that.” And it isn’t even in the top-10 yet.

Neal McCoy. Photo: Theresa Montgomery


Following Jake was Neal McCoy, which made it three-for-three in the high-energy department at Riverfront. And the crowd remained packed in the broiling sun. Backstage, the General Jackson showboat docked serenely on the other side of the Cumberland. On board, Gary Allan was hosting his fan club party.
Meanwhile, up in the Durango Acoustic Corner in the Convention Center (6/9), I had my ears pinned back by the incredible, swing-happy Quebe Sisters Band from Ft. Worth, TX. As if their triple fiddling wasn’t awesome enough, they trio harmonize like angels. WSM deejay Eddie Stubbs is such a fan that he was up there enjoying the show on his day off. WSM-AM is broadcasting the Acoustic Corner sets live, by the way.
Anyhow, I was so thrilled by the group that I went down to the Exhibit Hall to buy its CDs. Eddie introduced me to Grace, Sophia & Hulda Quebe, plus guitarist/producer Joey McKenzie. They have appeared on all three seasons of Marty Stuart’s RFD-TV show and have reportedly drawn more mail than any other guest.

Lady Antebellum with Jean Butler of Madison, Ala. Photo: Jim Hagans


Elsewhere in the Exhibit Hall, Lady Antebellum, Chris Young, James Wesley, Phil Vassar, Rehab (a male duo), Riders in the Sky, Gloriana, Billy Ray Cyrus and The Adam Craig Band were signing autographs. Fans were posing for gag Dolly Parton imitator photos in Dolly’s booth. The Acoustic Corner delights continued upstairs with sets by troubadour Ernie Hendrickson, followed by Mark Wills.
Over at Municipal Auditorium (6/9), Keith Urban was doing a tour
run-through/rehearsal for a couple hundred lucky festival attendees. The tour kicks off next week (6/16) in Biloxi, MS.

Chris Young with John Ross of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Photo: Jim Hagans


I spotted various Music Row denizens during my first walk around the festival “campus.” Vainly attempting to stay cool were John Rose, Suzanne Skinner, Gary Overton, Ron & Regina Stuve, Dale Morris, Paul Moore, Paul Barnabee, Will Byrd, Charlie Woodwar
d, Jim Catino, Norbert Nix, Greg Fowler and Clint Higham.
That night at LP Field (6/9), Steve Moore greeted the fans by quoting Charlie Daniels, “Ain’t it great to be alive and in Tennessee!” Gov. Bill Haslam and Mayor Karl Dean offered welcoming remarks. Then The Isaacs harmonized on the best National Anthem, ever, a cappella. They brought out their instruments for a spirited run through “Walk on.”
Unusually for CMA Fest, The Zac Brown Band was given a generous, hour-long set on the LP stage. The group used its time wisely, alternating its hits with guest appearances by Sonia Leigh, folk/pop/jazz standout Amos Lee and country superstars Randy Travis and Alan Jackson.

Zac Brown and Alan Jackson. Photo: John Russell


The entire stadium sang along during the Randy & Zac duet of “Forever and Ever, Amen.” Alan walked out unannounced during “As She’s Walking Away,” creating fan pandemonium.
Easton Corbin was endearing, puppy-like, peppy and personable during his ensuing set. His relaxed country tenor caressed “I’m a Little More Country Than That” and “Roll with It.”
Sara Evans, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson and show-closing Brad Paisley and Alabama made for a star-studded concert roster. As several fans tweeted during the show, this year’s fest is arguably the most superstar-filled in the event’s history. Bill Anderson and Steve Wariner were warm and genial as co-hosts of the evening.
The arena hospitality areas swarmed with Music Row fabulons. Working the room were Scott Borchetta, Scott McDaniel, Isabel Ross, David & Susana Ross, Ken Levitan, Beverly Keel & Ronnie Steine, Steve Buchanan, Mayor Karl Dean & Anne Davis, Lisa Harless (did you know her husband Winston is a former Opryland performer?), Tony Conway, Allen Brown, Sarah Trahern, Tammy Genovese, Charles Dorris, Mark Roeder, Bo Thomas, Jim Havey, Ed Hardy, Neil Spielberg, Ron Cox and Bill Denny.

Photo Friday

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Warner Bros. Records the JaneDear girls posed for a photo with Ludacris on the red carpet at the 2011 CMT Music Awards on June 8, where the duo made their award show performance debut. They sang their up-tempo single, “Shotgun Girl” on the show’s Nationwide Stage. Ludacris also performed at the awards, in a collaboration on Jason Aldean’s current Top 10, “Dirt Road Anthem.” The remix of the song is now available on iTunes for download and the performance video will be available on June 13.

the JaneDear girls with Ludacris (center)

• • • •

The AristoMedia Group held two showcase events on June 7 to help kick off CMA Music Festival week including the AristoMedia Global Show (co-sponsored by CMA) and the Aristo Summer Show. Both events were held at downtown honky tonk The Second Fiddle. Artists performing at the Aristo Summer Show included Deborah Allen, Lacy Green, Adam Gregory, Amber Hayes, Ty Herndon, Rachel Holder, DJ Miller and Margaret Phillips. Eight international Country acts participated in the AristoMedia Global Show: High Valley (Canada), Brett Kissel (Canada), Ryan Laird (Canada), Mike & Ashley (New Zealand), Craig Morrison (Australia), Six West (Canada), Springfield (Australia) and Steve & Heather (France). Australian group The McClymonts hosted the event.

L to R: Amber Hayes, Margaret Phillips, Adam Gregory, DJ Miller, Lacy Green, Deborah Allen and Rachel Holder

• • • •

The Academy of Country Music welcomed BNA recording artist The Lunabelles to the office when they were in Los Angeles last week. While at the Academy, they sang their current single “A Place to Shine.”

(L-R): Michelle Goble, ACM SVP Membership and Events, Lunabelles Olivia Arciero, Dominique Arciero, Alex Kline, and Gabby Arciero, Tiffany Moon, ACM EVP, Managing Director and Wes Vause, BNA Publicity Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

• • • •

Australian artist Brad Cole performed at the Boundary on June 2 in a showcase with emcee Katie Cook. Cole is credited for being one of the most added and most played country music artists on Australian radio in 2009, with three consecutive hit singles.

(L-R): Brad Cole, Katie Cook


 

Weekly Chart Report (6/10/11)

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Kix Brooks was recently in the Philadelphia area for WXTU’s 27th anniversary bash at Susquehanna Bank Center (in neighboring Camden, NJ), where he played a set and served as emcee for the concert. Artists performing included Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Thompson Square and the JaneDear Girls. (L-R): WXTU GM/Market Manager Natalie Conner, Kix, George Beasley of Beasley Broadcasting.


 
SPIN ZONE
It’s a close race, but Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee” edges out Justin Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” to earn a second week in the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 spot. Capitol bros Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley are neck-and-neck at No. 3 and 4, followed by Chris Young’s “Tomorrow” at No. 5. And fresh from a big performance night at the 2011 CMT Music Awards, Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” cruises on to No. 10.
Kudos to the team over at Universal Music Group, who have managed a whole boatload of impressive figures with this chart. For starters, the record-setting Scotty McCreery single “I Love You This Big” hasn’t lost its momentum, zooming to No. 35 with the week’s highest gain of 493 spins. That puts him one spot ahead of his labelmate and hero Josh Turner’s “I Wouldn’t Be A Man.” Two more important debuts came out of the UMG camp as well–George Strait’s “Here For A Good Time,” which vaulted to No. 66 despite no prior weeks reporting, and AI finalist Lauren Alaina’s “Like My Mother Does” at No. 70.
Then there’s Brad Paisley’s “Remind Me,” featuring Carrie Underwood. It still doesn’t seem to have any official status as a single, though it hardly matters–it’s already up to No. 31 with a huge gain of 368 spins. Be on the lookout for a big debut next week from Toby Keith’s “Made In America.” Its Wednesday reveal on the CMT Awards was a little too late to get it charted today, but it’s currently right outside the Top 80 and will no doubt explode in the next cycle.
Frozen Playlists: KBCR, KNCQ, KTKS, KTTI, Nashville XM 57, Sirius XM, WCMS, WKSR, WTCR, WZZS
NEW RELEASES
Craig Morgan has new music on the way through a new agreement with Black River Entertainment. Written by the “Peach Pickers” trio of Ben Hayslip, Dallas Davidson, and Rhett Akins, “This Ole Boy” is shipping to radio June 21. A full length album is expected in early 2012. Fans can also keep up with Morgan on the second season of his Outdoor Channel series Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors, which starts June 25.




Upcoming Singles
June 13
Kellie Pickler/Tough/BNA
Lisa Matassa/Me Time/It Is What It Is/Nine North
June 20
Sara Evans/My Heart Can’t Tell You No/RCA
JT Hodges/Hunt You Down/Show Dog-Universal
• • • •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
George Strait/Here For A Good Time/MCA — 66
Lauren Alaina/Like My Mother Does/19 Ent./Mercury — 70
Hunter Hayes/Storm Warning/Atlantic/WMN — 74
David St. Romain/Twenty Years Late/Aria/Turnpike — 79
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Scotty McCreery/I Love You This Big/19 Ent./Mercury — 493
George Strait/Here For A Good Time/MCA — 415
Brad Paisley feat. Carrie Underwood/Remind Me/Arista — 368
Darius Rucker/I Got Nothin’/Capitol — 359
Thompson Square/I Got You/Stoney Creek — 299
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Toby Keith/Made In America/Show Dog – Universal — 200
Shawna Russell/Get Right or Get Left/Way Out West Records — 190
Susan Hickman/Just Missed This Train/4 L Clover Entertainment — 188
Sara Evans/My Heart Can’t Tell You No/RCA — 181
Jody Booth/Golddigger/Vigilante Music — 181
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
George Strait/Here For A Good Time/MCA — 29
Scotty McCreery/I Love You This Big/19 Ent./Mercury — 27
Brad Paisley feat. Carrie Underwood/Remind Me/Arista — 19
Toby Keith/Made In America/Show Dog-Universal — 15
LoCash Cowboys/You Got Me/R&J Records — 12
Darius Rucker/I Got Nothin’/Capitol — 12
Lauren Alaina/Like My Mother Does/19 Ent./Mercury — 11
Corey Smith/Twenty One/Average Joe’s — 10
Joe Nichols/Take It Off/Show Dog-Universal — 10

Ty Stone (Top Dog/Atlantic/New Revolution) stopped at WMIL/Milwaukee on his radio tour in support of his debut single “American Style.” (L-R): New Revolution’s Andy Elliott, WMIL MD Mitch Morgan, Ty Stone, WMIL PD Kerry Wolfe


Valory Music Co. Artist Brantley Gilbert recently visited with his friends at WCTO/Allentown-Bethleham. (L-R): Jerry Padden (WCTO), Jesse Franklin (BG Guitar player), Brantley Gilbert, George King (WCTO)


Gene Watson and Rhonda Vincent stopped by “The Music Row Show” at Clear Channel Nashville to promote their new all duets album “Your Money And My Good Looks” and performed an acoustic version of the classic “Til The End.” (L-R): Scott Southworth (show co-host), Gene Watson, Rhonda Vincent, Heino (show co-host)

New Beginnings

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LeAnn Bennett



 
>>>LeAnn Bennett has announced the formation of Bennett Entertainment Group, a full-service project development company specializing in entertainment media from conception to delivery. BEG will oversee creation and coordination of both physical and digital media including CDs, DVDs, books, film/TV, merchandising and more which can include the negotiation of rates and usage, licensing, clearances, compilation of label copy, creative services, manufacturing and delivery. Bennett recently served as Director of Special Projects at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where she was responsible for the complete management of and licensing for CMF Records, CMF Video, CMF Press, JCM, and Hatch Show Print. Contact BEG at www.bennettentgroup.com or leann@bennettentgroup.com
>>>The Board of Directors of Vanderbilt Student Communications and the Board of Directors of Nashville Public Radio have transferred the license of WRVU 91.1FM to Nashville Public Radio. The new station’s call letters will be WFCL, and its mission will be to showcase classical music and the arts and promote local performances and events. The change in format is effective June 8. WRVU’s eclectic programming format continues without interruption as an online service and will resume over-the-air broadcast service on WPLN’s HD3 channel beginning in the fall of 2011. The agreement calls for a payment of $3,350,000 from Nashville Public Radio to Vanderbilt Student Communications, gives WRVU the use of WPLN HD3 and guarantees internship opportunities for Vanderbilt students in Nashville Public Radio’s award-winning news department.

Stephanie Taylor


>>>Entertainment and Music Industry attorney Stephanie Taylor has joined the law firm of Bone McAllester Norton PLLCand will oversee the firm’s Entertainment Law Group. Prior to joining Bone McAllester Norton, she owned Stephanie Taylor Law. Ms. Taylor also has been a professor of music business at Middle Tennessee State University and directed MTSU’s Recording Industry Exchange program with Russia.
>>>The Country Network has named former KWNR/Las Vegas PD Cary Rolfe, Exec. VP. In his new role, Rolfe will be based in Nashville and responsible for the company’s artist relations, programming and promotions initiatives. Rolfe has over 30 years experience in the industry, including time with Citadel/Spokane and Giant Records. “To be able to step in and contribute to a revolutionary venture like The Country Network is very exciting,” says Rolfe. “My career has always been about the music and this opportunity offers the perfect venue to fully engage all avenues of this passion.”

CMT Awards Ratings Up 19%

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According to CMT, its Wed. June 8, two and a half hour Awards presentation earned a 1.35 rating among P18-49, averaging 2.9 million viewers. Combined two-play performance ratings (the show was repeated immediately after the first run) produced the best in the history of the franchise, up 19% from last year with a total of 4.1 million viewers. CMT was also the most watched network among women 18-49, and the No. 1 rated cable program of the day for W18-49.
Compared with past years, the 2011 show was the third highest-rated over the award’s 10 year history and the fourth most-watched telecast in channel history. Ratings were the highest in franchise history in the demos of teens, females 12-17 and P12-24.
In the digital arena, CMT.com received 265,000 unique visitors for the day, up 40% from last year. Social media drove 38% of that traffic. The Twitter hashtag #cmtAwards received more than 325 mentions per minute and about 30,000 total.
Performers Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and Luke Bryan gained four of the top 5 selling country downloads with songs included on the show in the hour after the telecast.
 

Gill Gets Chills From Duane Allman Guitar

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“I have chills running down my spine,” Vince Gill told the crowd. “This was the guitar that Duane Allman played with the Allman Brothers.” Gill got the chance to play the guitar, while in Macon, Georgia, home of the Allman Brothers Band, on May 5 to do a benefit concert for the Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia.
The 1957 Les Paul Gold Top Standard is the instrument on which Allman actually recorded the rock classic “Layla” with Eric Clapton on the Derek And The Dominoes’ immortal set, 1970’s ­Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Allman also played this guitar on the first two Allman Brothers Band albums.
Allman traded the guitar a mere week later, obviously with no inkling of the importance the instrument would have in the history of rock music.  He died in a motorcycle wreck the following year. The guitar had been played in public at the band’s annual March Beacon Theater run in NYC—by band members Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks—but this is the first time it was played in Macon, GA since Allman’s death.
Watch Gill play some extended guitar solos at the concert on “Pretty Little Adrianna” below.

YouTube video