(L-R): Garth Brooks, Jolene Mercer
Texas music publicist
Jolene Mercer died Saturday, May 28, following a long illness.
She was noted for working with such artists as
Chris LeDoux,
Ricky Lynn Gregg,
Janie Fricke,
Asleep at the Wheel,
Charley Pride,
Neal McCoy,
Josh Logan and
Billy “Crash” Craddock. At various times during her career, she was also an event planner, booking agent and manager.
In 1982-84, Jolene Mercer was the publicist for the Dallas-based Permian Records. She coordinated tours, promoted records and handled advertising for the label’s
Lynn Anderson, among others.
After a year working for
The Oak Ridge Boys, she launched a nightclub booking business. She booked
Mark Nessler,
Ricky Lynn Gregg and a number of regional artists into the major show rooms and clubs of East Texas.
In 1987-89 she was the entertainment buyer and publicist for The Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. She also booked conventions and meetings for the Sheraton/Mockingbird West Hotel.
She formed Mercer & Associates as her own public relations firm in 1988. In addition to print publications, she placed clients with radio and television programs in the Lone Star State. She organized the press conference for
Garth Brooks’ “Beyond the Season – Feed the Children” initiative and handled press for the superstar’s video of “The Thunder Rolls.”
In 1992-94 she was the co-owner and co-producer of the Country Music Fan Jam in Dallas. This involved contacting and coordinating transportation and scheduling of 86 artists, plus networking the 62 Fan Jam radio stations.
Other events she organized included the Dallas Street Festival, the Caddo Indian Texas Festival, the Dallas Taste of West End and fund raising for the North Texas Food Bank. At various times, she did PR for the Chinese Acrobats, the Dallas/Ft. Worth Spurs (now the Texas Rangers), wrestlers, rodeo cowboys and football players.
Jolene Mercer was also the Texas location scout for the six-hour 1996 TBS documentary,
America’s Music: The Roots of Country, guiding its crew to numerous sites and artists in the Dallas and Ft. Worth areas.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at press time.
Amber Hayes Heads To Silver Screen
/by adminFUNL Music artist Amber Hayes poses on the set of the film “Cowgirls N’ Angels.” Hayes with cast members (L-R) Frankie Faison, Richie McDonald, Hayes and James Cromwell.
Amber Hayes has landed her first movie role in Cowgirls N’ Angels due out in 2012. The FUNL Music recording artist has extensive theater experience, including a leading role as Kathy Twitty in the 2008 critically acclaimed Conway Twitty musical It’s Only Make Believe, but this will be her first appearance on the silver screen. Hayes appropriately plays a supporting role as honky tonk singer Amber Grant and two of her original songs, “C’mon” and “Right as Rain,” from her 2010 EP release C’mon will be included in the movie and its soundtrack.
“I’m really grateful to the cast, crew and director Timothy Armstrong for including me and my music in the film,” says Hayes. “I had a wonderful time trying my hand at something new. I’m so excited to see the finished movie next year!”
Hayes’ current single, “Wait,” continues to climb Country radio charts, with the song’s music video receiving airplay at The Country Network, GACTV.com and Yallwire.com. She has been touring with FUNL Music label mate Ty Herndon in recent weeks.
Co-written by Armstrong and Stephen Blinn, Cowgirls N’ Angels is the coming-of-age story of Ida Clayton (played by Bailee Madison), a rebellious young girl in search of her rodeo-riding father. While searching for her dad, she connects with the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, a team of young female rodeo riders run by former rodeo star Terence Parker. Recognizing Ida’s innate talent for trick riding, Terence recruits her for their ranks. Accepted wholeheartedly by her new “family,” Ida finds a new passion that redefines her life — and she also may find the father she’s been searching for.
Produced by Ben Feingold, Sweethearts LLC and Sense and Sensibility Ventures LLC, Cowgirls N’ Angels is expected to wrap production this week in Oklahoma. The film was shot in several cities and communities across the state, including Stillwater, Guthrie, Pawnee and Oklahoma City, which is only 90 miles from Hayes’ hometown of Weleetka, Okla.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/1/11)
/by Robert K OermannHow long has it been? Well, let’s just say that in the elapsed time, Todd Snider, David Olney and Those Darlins have issued two albums apiece. Ouch.
There is much to like in this week’s overview. So much, in fact, that I’m dividing the Disc of the Day prize into Female, Male and Group awards. The Female disc belongs to 2011 AMA nominee Elizabeth Cook. The Male award goes to the enduringly great David Olney. And the Group prize belongs to the ultra listenable Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.
ELIZABETH COOK/El Camino
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Agent Love, SESAC; 31 Tigers (track) (www.elizabeth-cook.com)
—He picks her up in a deadbeat’s vehicle. She has a few snarky words for that while the band clomps along rhythmically. This rollicking little thumper is nominated for this year’s Song of the Year by the AMA, and Elizabeth’s brilliant Welder CD from which it comes is a well-deserved Album of the Year nominee.
DAVID OLNEY/Sunset on Sunset Boulevard
Writer: David Olney; Producer: Jack Irwin; Publisher: David Olney/Bug, BMI; Deadbeet (track) (www.davidolney.com)
—Olney has two current projects—his Dutchman’s Curve CD of last year and a new five-song collection called Film Noir. Both are among the best produced discs of his career. This spooky tune closes the latter set with its dark tales of coldly ambitious Hollywood wanna-be’s, faded liquored-up stars and phonies. By the way, you can watch this gifted troubadour perform live every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at TinyUrl.com/DavidOlneyTV.
JOE ELY/Satisfied at Last
Writer: Joe Ely; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Tornado Temple, BMI; Rack ‘Em (track) (www.ely.com)
—The title tune to this timeless Texas treasure’s latest album finds him singing with vigor over an echoey, chiming guitar track. He’s singing of mortality, but he’s mighty robust and vital about it. Heartily recommended, as always.
TODD SNIDER/Money, Compliments, Publicity
Writer: Todd Snider; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Nobody’s Collecting on These Songs/Bug, BMI; Aimless/Yep Roc (track) (www,toddsnider.net)
—You really should own every CD this guy’s ever made. The two current ones are a live album and a studio set titled The Excitement Plan. The latter contains this wonderfully sardonic ode from the funniest East Nashville loser’s voice ever. Genius is not too strong a word.
HAYS CARLL & CARY ANN HEARST/Another Like You
Writer: Hayes Carll; Producer: Brad Jones; Publisher: Highway 87/Bug, SESAC; Lost Highway (track) (www.hayescarll.com)
—Speaking of funny, this man tickles folks everywhere he goes. He won last year’s AMA Song of the Year award with “She Left Me for Jesus.” He’s nominated this year for the title tune to his “KMAG YOYO” CD. But for a real treat, check out this mutually insulting—and profane—duet on the collection.
JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT/Go It Alone
Writer: Jason Isbell; Producer: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit; Publisher: Fame, BMI; Lightning Rod (track) (www.jasonisbell.com)
—Jason is Hayes Carll’s sometime touring partner this year. His current Here We Rest collection contains this ominous rocker. His tenor vocal fronts some smart, crunchy chops by the tight 400 Unit.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS/Blessed
Writer: Lucinda Williams; Producer: Don Was, Eric Liljestrand & Thomas Overby; Publisher: none listsed; Lost Highway (track) (www.lucindawilliams.com)
—Lucinda’s Blessed is a contender for AMA Album of the Year in 2011. Its emotional title tune finds truth and beauty in a blind man, a battered wife, a fallen soldier, a neglected child, a homeless man, a prisoner and more who teach us about grace and forgiveness. Heartfelt.
DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS/Live Forever
Writer: none listed; Producer: Andy Hunt; Publisher: none listed; Dualtone (track) (615-320-0620)
—When this aired on the soundtrack of an NBC Parenthood episode last season, a firestorm of downloading reportedly ensued. It’s easy to hear why. This is a majestic, ethereal audio landscape. By the time Drew gets to its inspiring chorus of hope and strength, your heart is in your throat. I have made no secret of my admiration for this artist, and now he’s reached me even more deeply. The album is titled Chasing Someday. Buy it at once.
THOSE DARLINS/Red Light Love
Writer: Those Darlins; Producer: Jeff Curtin & Those Darlins; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Oh Wow Dang (track) (www.thosedarlins.com)
—This bashing, neo-punk trio has a new CD called Screws Get Loose with a video, “Be Your Bro.” The latter is a direct descendent of this thrashy, Ramones-like track from the original Those Darlins album.
GREG TROOPER/They Call Me Hank
Writer: Greg Trooper; Producer: Stewart Lerman, Kevin McKendree & Greg Trooper; Publisher: 52 Shakes, BMI; 52 Shakes (track) (www.gregtrooper.com)
—This track from Greg’s Upside-Down Town collection is being hailed as a Song of the Year contender by many. His raspy, resigned vocal is perfect for this moving portrait of a wino who sells catfish he catches for the bucks to buy his booze. This is what real song writing is, people.
Artist Action: Chesney's Million Tickets, Kings of Leon's New Video
/by Freeman• • • •
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Benefit News: Toby Keith, Stealing Angels, Nashville Sounds
/by Sherod RobertsonThe “Denim & Diamonds’ themed event was sold out with more than 750 people attending the dinner and auction. The top auction items at the event included two dinners with Toby, which went for $52,000 each, and an all-inclusive elk hunt which went for $30,000.
For information, visit www.tobykeithfoundation.org
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A multi-city tour will kick off in Washington, D.C. on June 9 with the Red Star Rescue Rig and Stealing Angels. Fans can text PROTECT to 85944 to donate $10 and support efforts to provide aid to animal victims of disaster.
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During the month of June, Nashville Sounds fans can designate $4 of each ticket to Musicians On Call (MOC) by using the promotional code MOC2011 when purchasing online or at the box office. MOC delivers the healing power of music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.
An MOC commemorative jersey will be worn by the Sounds when they face the New Orleans Zephyrs on Saturday, June 25th, which will be auctioned off to those in attendance, along with other Sounds merchandise. MOC is also hosting an online auction now through mid-June, featuring autographed items from several of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood.
Country stars Joe Nichols and Steel Magnolia will perform at the Fifth Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert on June 7 at Rocketown.
“The Country Weekly Fashion Show is a fun way to kick off CMA Music Fest,” says Nichols. “Music fans can sit back, relax and see their favorite artists doing something a little different. Of course, some have that catwalk fashion show strut down a little better than others! But no matter who struts their stuff better, it’s always a fun evening of music and fashion.”
The event, which will be emceed by GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, will also benefit Musicians On Call.
General admission tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster for $30 and a few VIP tickets are available for $75 and $125 on the MOC website.
For more information, visit www.musiciansoncall.org and www.nashvillesounds.com
Donna Hughes Joins Capitol/EMI Records Nashville
/by Sherod Robertson“Bringing Donna on board is a huge score for the Capitol/EMI family,” says Hodges. “I have admired her work in the past and am eager for her to get started in this position that has no boundaries and limitless potential. Her enthusiasm for the music and artists is tremendously infectious!”
“It’s hard to find words to describe how excited I am for this new opportunity…and for anyone who knows me, that says a lot!” says Hughes. “I’ve been in this wonderful business for 23 years, and I’m still a fan of the music and the artists that make the music – especially people like Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Alan Jackson. I have so much respect for Mike Dungan, Steve Hodges, and the entire Capitol/EMI team – I’m thrilled to be joining them.”
Prior to joining Capitol/EMI Records Nashville, Hughes served as Executive Producer of the nationally syndicated radio program GAC Nights: Live From Nashville; Senior Producer for Premiere Radio Networks and talent booker for the Jeff Foxworthy Countdown. She also worked on the Rick and Rice show on Nashville’s Rockin’ Country 102.9, Crook and Chase, and Music City Tonight. In 2006, Hughes received the prestigious CMA Media Achievement Award. She is the first and only syndicated radio person to earn this award.
Starting June 15, she can be reached at donna.hughes@emicap.com or 615-269-2046.
Band Perry's Double Platinum Cert, "Save The Music" For VH1
/by Freeman“It’s been an amazing year! So many have embraced the message of ‘If I Die Young’ and we are humbled that it has impacted so many people. This is truly an honor,” said The Band Perry.
Tomorrow (6/2), The Band Perry will perform as part of VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Songwriters Music Series, Presented by Starburst. The series launched in New York with Glee star Matthew Morrison, continues with TBP in Nashville, and will hop to Los Angeles with a performer yet to be announced.
The excitement for The Band Perry doesn’t end there. They’re spending a hefty portion of summer on the road, headlining some of their own dates as well as opening Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic Tour (tour schedule here). They are also set to attend the CMT Music Awards June 8, where they are nominated for Video of the Year, Group of the Year, and USAWeekend Breakthrough Video of the Year.
Sales Wrap Gaga Style
/by adminThere’s also news on the country chart, but before we shift gears let’s note a few things. First an amazing 60% of the Gaga album sales were in digital form, about 660k units. Of those, unconfirmed reports estimate about 450k were sold at Amazon for 99¢, without which the album would never have broken the one million barrier. The bargain sale price meant that Amazon took a loss on the sales—not the record label—but one can certainly debate what this gambit will do to the price/value of music in the consumer’s mind, going forward??
A Paisley Design
Debuts from Warner’s Frankie Ballard (No. 33; 2,700) and Show Dog’s Carter’s Chord (No. 48; 1,700) also entered the chart. (Even with Top 75 country sales up 71% this week vs. last week (475k total) it only took 716 units to earn a spot on the list.)
The Big Picture—Albums
All genre album sales YTD are now up .4%. Not a huge uptick, but how long has it been since we were able to report any uptick in this category? Country album sales YTD remain in negative territory, -5.3%, but they have been improving of late.
The Big Picture—Tracks
Track sales are showing 10% YTD gains as we complete the first five months of 2011 with sales of about 536 million. Country track sales account for about 57 million or 10.6% of that track sales total.
Coming Soon
Upcoming country album projects can be found here. Potential future standouts with respect to sales include Ronnie Dunn (June 7), Blake Shelton (July 12) and Chris Young (July 12).
A Penny For Your Thoughts?
What about pricing albums for 99¢? What does that mean for this industry going forward? Comment below.
Lisa Matassa – Me Time
/by ProgrammerPlaylistMatassa’s life is a comeback story, a fairytale that has yet to have its ending written. From a little girl with a big voice to an emerging signed dance pop sensation by the age of nineteen, Lisa eventually put her music career on hold to become a wife and mother on Long Island. That fire inside her to perform and record never died, and now Lisa is ready to conquer the music scene once again with her own unique style that she lovingly calls Long Island Country. “I bring a unique perspective to my music now,” asserts Lisa. “Not many mothers with teenagers embark on a recording career later in life.”
With two-time Grammy nominated Executive Producer and writer, Bobby Guy Graziose at the helm and collaboration by producer Joey Sykes (Meredith Brooks, Third Eye Blind, Don Henley), Lisa released her EP Me Time. “The songs that we recorded and the songwriters I collaborated with, it gives me chills!” exclaims Lisa. The album title Me Time reflects the notion of a woman owning her power and making her own happiness and fulfillment a priority, something that every woman, wife or mother can relate to.
Lisa is embarking on this chapter of her music career on her own terms, explaining, “I feel like I have unfinished business to do. I want to bring this dream of music to the forefront because I know my time is coming. There is such a positive energy around this project and so many people who want to get behind it.”
Lisa Matassa – Me Time
Jolene Mercer Passes
/by Robert K Oermann(L-R): Garth Brooks, Jolene Mercer
Texas music publicist Jolene Mercer died Saturday, May 28, following a long illness.
She was noted for working with such artists as Chris LeDoux, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Janie Fricke, Asleep at the Wheel, Charley Pride, Neal McCoy, Josh Logan and Billy “Crash” Craddock. At various times during her career, she was also an event planner, booking agent and manager.
In 1982-84, Jolene Mercer was the publicist for the Dallas-based Permian Records. She coordinated tours, promoted records and handled advertising for the label’s Lynn Anderson, among others.
After a year working for The Oak Ridge Boys, she launched a nightclub booking business. She booked Mark Nessler, Ricky Lynn Gregg and a number of regional artists into the major show rooms and clubs of East Texas.
In 1987-89 she was the entertainment buyer and publicist for The Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. She also booked conventions and meetings for the Sheraton/Mockingbird West Hotel.
She formed Mercer & Associates as her own public relations firm in 1988. In addition to print publications, she placed clients with radio and television programs in the Lone Star State. She organized the press conference for Garth Brooks’ “Beyond the Season – Feed the Children” initiative and handled press for the superstar’s video of “The Thunder Rolls.”
In 1992-94 she was the co-owner and co-producer of the Country Music Fan Jam in Dallas. This involved contacting and coordinating transportation and scheduling of 86 artists, plus networking the 62 Fan Jam radio stations.
Other events she organized included the Dallas Street Festival, the Caddo Indian Texas Festival, the Dallas Taste of West End and fund raising for the North Texas Food Bank. At various times, she did PR for the Chinese Acrobats, the Dallas/Ft. Worth Spurs (now the Texas Rangers), wrestlers, rodeo cowboys and football players.
Jolene Mercer was also the Texas location scout for the six-hour 1996 TBS documentary, America’s Music: The Roots of Country, guiding its crew to numerous sites and artists in the Dallas and Ft. Worth areas.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at press time.
United Way Song Contest
/by adminUp to ten finalists will perform their songs live at The Listening Room on June 21st for a panel of judges including: hit songwriter Cary Barlowe (Lady Antebellum, tobyMac, Taylor Swift), Beth Brightwell (95.5 WSM), Marty Slayton Jordan (George Strait Backup Vocalist, United Way Advocate), Dan Keen (Belmont University Instructor of Music Business, Former VP at ASCAP), and Doak Turner (owner, The Nashville Muse, Music Starts Here).
The winner’s song will be used in an upcoming UNITED WAY DAY OF ACTION video, which will be featured on unitedwaynashville.org and emailed to thousands of United Way partners across the city.
The winner will also win a prize package from WSM-fm valued at over $150. All proceeds from the contest and performance go to purchase school supplies for at-risk kids in Nashville.
Songs will be accepted until June 10. Details on the contest at www.unitedwaynashville.org/songcontest