Lambert’s MuttNation Raises $300,000
Miranda Lambert recently returned to her native Texas to host the 4th Annual “Cause For Paws Benefit,” held at the Festival on the Square in Tyler. More than 7000 people packed the downtown area to enjoy the music of Miranda and special musical guests, Stoney LaRue and Josh Kelley. Through ticket sales, sponsorships and live auction items, the event raised almost $300,000. Proceeds will go toward MuttNation, Lambert’s foundation that supports animal shelters, and the Humane Society of East Texas. Since she started the foundation, The Humane Society of East Texas has become a no-kill shelter.
In addition to volunteering at the local shelter, Lambert adopted her dog Delilah there, who joins her other rescue animals Jesse, Waylon, Delta Dawn, Cher, Black Betty, Virginia Bluebell and cats Shelley, Maxine, and Suzie Q as well as a host of farm animals.
Hunter Hayes Plays Alongside Kix Brooks
On a recent listener cruise with KMPS, Atlantic/WMN artist Hunter Hayes sat alongside Kix Brooks to play some tunes for fans.
- (L-R): Hunter Hayes, KMPS PD Becky Brenner and Kix Brooks.
The McClymonts in USA for National Tour and New Release
Australia’s award-winning country trio, The McClymonts, are back in the USA with a brand new single and video, “Wrapped Up Good,” from the group’s forthcoming US release. The video will world premiere in heavy rotation on CMT Pure on May 16 and the single will be available at country radio in June. Producer Nathan Chapman helms the recording, along with sisters, Brooke, Mollie and Sam. The trio will begin a national touring schedule in June and plan to relocate to Nashville as they move forward with their country music career.
AMA Visits Big Apple For Announcement
/by adminHowever, the AMA’s Fall event will take place in Nashville as usual. “We have no plans to move,” says Hilly. “Our Festival, Conference and Awards show will be here in Music City, where it belongs, the week of October 12-15.”
Eye On Idol (5/13/11)
/by FreemanI feel confident saying that very few people saw last night’s (5/12) American Idol elimination of James Durbin coming. Especially not James. He gave typically splendid performances of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Leiber/Stoller’s “Love Potion No. 9” on Wednesday (5/11) that were roundly praised by the judges, adding to his incredible season-long momentum.
In fact, he was the only one of the remaining four this week who hadn’t been in the bottom vote-getters a single time. I figured he would sail right on to the finale, scoop up a record deal regardless if he won or lost and carve out a decent career playing his endearing brand of pop metal. And maybe he still will–he’ll just get to do it a little sooner than expected.
But that’s been one of the exciting things about this season of Idol: it’s anything but predictable. People who I figured would last deep into the competition have exited very early (Pia Toscano), and people who I swore would be toast early on have proven themselves to be worthy competitors (Hayley Reinhart).
That means the final three are Hayley, Scotty McCreery, and Lauren Alaina, which all but guarantees a country singer the win.
Follow me on this one: both Scotty and Lauren are undoubtedly Nashville-bound after the show. There’s the possibility that we end up with an all-country finale, and I’ll hazard a guess that Scotty would come out victorious in that matchup. Either way, it’s a win for Nashville. Maybe we even get a feisty “Jackson” style duet out of the deal.
But here’s the more likely reality show scenario. There’s a good chance Scotty and Lauren are currently splitting the country vote, which actually might give Hayley the edge to beat one of them and get into the finale. At which point all the country voters will put their differences aside and rally around whoever is left, completely obliterating Hayley.
In theory, anyway. There’s still a chance I may have to eat my words two weeks from now.
Aldean Tour Dates Sell Out
/by MichelleJason Aldean
Jason Aldean’s amphitheatre My Kinda Party Tour has recently sold out three shows a week in advance, including the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Indianapolis, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in St. Louis, Mo. and the Jiffy Lube Live in Washington, DC for a total of over 66,000 tickets sold for the three dates.
“It is exciting to see Jason’s shows selling out, but the fact that they are selling out a week in advance is nothing short of amazing,” said Brian O’Connell, Live Nation’s President of Country Touring. “Jason is taking his rightful place at the top of the touring world in all genres as a major superstar.”
Visit www.jasonaldean.com for more information.
Aldean has been nominated for the 2011 CMT Awards, where he leads the nominations with four for Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year for “My Kinda Party,” Collaborative Video of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson and Best Web Video of the Year for “My Kinda Party” Live from the CMT Webcast. He is scheduled to perform on the June 8 live broadcast.
Additionally, Aldean’s fourth album which was released on Nov. 2, continues to hold strong in the No. one spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart selling nearly 30,000 copies again this week.
Friday Notes: MuttNation, Hayes and Brooks, The McClymonts
/by contributorMiranda Lambert recently returned to her native Texas to host the 4th Annual “Cause For Paws Benefit,” held at the Festival on the Square in Tyler. More than 7000 people packed the downtown area to enjoy the music of Miranda and special musical guests, Stoney LaRue and Josh Kelley. Through ticket sales, sponsorships and live auction items, the event raised almost $300,000. Proceeds will go toward MuttNation, Lambert’s foundation that supports animal shelters, and the Humane Society of East Texas. Since she started the foundation, The Humane Society of East Texas has become a no-kill shelter.
In addition to volunteering at the local shelter, Lambert adopted her dog Delilah there, who joins her other rescue animals Jesse, Waylon, Delta Dawn, Cher, Black Betty, Virginia Bluebell and cats Shelley, Maxine, and Suzie Q as well as a host of farm animals.
Hunter Hayes Plays Alongside Kix Brooks
On a recent listener cruise with KMPS, Atlantic/WMN artist Hunter Hayes sat alongside Kix Brooks to play some tunes for fans.
Australia’s award-winning country trio, The McClymonts, are back in the USA with a brand new single and video, “Wrapped Up Good,” from the group’s forthcoming US release. The video will world premiere in heavy rotation on CMT Pure on May 16 and the single will be available at country radio in June. Producer Nathan Chapman helms the recording, along with sisters, Brooke, Mollie and Sam. The trio will begin a national touring schedule in June and plan to relocate to Nashville as they move forward with their country music career.
Legal Aid Hosts Music Row Breakfast
/by admin(L-R) Andrew Kintz and Bryan Bolton, SunTrust Bank
The Legal Aid Society hosted its 2nd Annual Music Row breakfast on May 25 at Sunset Grill. The gathering is intended to facilitate a time for socializing and hearing about some of the organization’s work. The Legal Aid Society has provided free civil legal services to families with nowhere else to turn. Sponsors for the breakfast included Avenue Bank, Burr & Forman, KraftCPAs, Loeb & Loeb, Milom Joyce Horsnell Crow PLC and SunTrust.
Top-Paula Barnes, Burr & Forman LLP; Kevin Doherty, Burr & Forman LLP; Below-Craig Hayes, Shackelford Zumwalt & Hayes; Becky Harrell, KraftCPAs PLLC
The event host committee included Vic Alexander, Josh Brackin, Jeff Bradford, John Briggs, Dorothy Campbell, Kevin Doherty, Tim DuBois, Chris Farren, Craig Hayes, Kyle Lehning, Steve Markland, Mike Milom, Robert K. Oermann, Kerry O’Neil, Stacey Schlitz, Thom Schuyler, Bob Sullivan and Sharon Reavis Woodson.
Legal Aid Society is a private, non-profit organization that provides free legal services to people with low income. They do not take criminal cases only civil cases – cases where you yourself will not be sent to jail.
LAS has eight offices that serve 48 Tennessee counties. Its offices are in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge and Tullahoma. Information about the organization’s financials and programs can be found here
ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass Prepares For Launch
/by FreemanThe Artistworks Academy of Bluegrass will consist of the following instructional schools: Banjo with Tony Trischka, Guitar with Bryan Sutton, Fiddle with Darol Anger, Bass with Missy Raines, and Mandolin with Mike Marshall. Each school contains hundreds of beginner, intermediate and advanced video lessons.
Students will have the opportunity to send their instructor video of themselves playing and receive personal feedback and instruction in return. School is expected to launch in June 2011.
Benefits: Chattanooga Concert; Golf Tournaments
/by MichelleJacob Lyda and Mallary Hope will be performing at a Chattanooga concert hosted by WRCB Channel 3 and radio partners US-101, 103.7 KISS-FM, My 98.1, and Rock 105 to raise money for local Red Cross relief efforts. Called Coming Together After The Storm, the event will air May 21st from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., live from the Tennessee Aquarium in Downtown Chattanooga. The public is invited to come down to the outdoor pavilion between the two sections of the aquarium for the free concert. Lyda experienced the storm damage personally as he and his parents both have homes damaged by the recent tornado outbreak. This is the second relief effort organized by Channel 3 and its radio partners. Two days after the storm, listeners and viewers filled four tractor trailers and donated $20,000 to Operation: Good Neighbor.
(L-R) Mallary Hope, Jacob Lyda
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Charlie Daniels and Phillip Pulmer will host the 13th annual Phillip Fulmer and Charlie Daniels Golf Classic. The tournament is a fundraiser for The Jason Foundation, a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide. It is scheduled for May 17 at the Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, Tenn.
ANR Signs Morgan; Whitley Releases Single
/by Sherod RobertsonANR Records CEO Rick Stevens (Artist Network Records) announces the signing of country music star, Lorrie Morgan. “We are thrilled to add Lorrie to our roster and look forward to doing many projects with her,” he said.
Lorrie Morgan has had fourteen top-ten hits, twelve albums and four female vocalist of the year awards. Her upcoming touring stops include performances with Grammy-winning country star Pam Tillis.
Front Row (L-R): Tony Conway, Tony Conway Entertainment; Lorrie Morgan; Lisa Wysocky, president, ANR Records; Back Row (L-R): Rick Stevens, CEO, ANR Records; James Solomon, Sr. Director of Special Promotions, ANR Records; David Vercruysse, COO, ANR Records
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Produced by James Stroud, the 6-pack also includes “Where Would I Be,” a song Jesse co-wrote with Jon Randall, as well as, a remake of “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”
Ironically, May 9th marked the 22nd anniversary of Keith Whitley’s passing at the age of 33. Jesse was just shy of his second birthday when he lost his famous father. Although not planned, the release date worked out to be a special coincidence. Jesse has been touring with his mother and recently appeared at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, accepting the honor on behalf of his late father.
“Kentucky Thunder” is available from Octabrook Records and the new single is available on iTunes.
You May Now Kiss the Bride
/by Sherod RobertsonLambert has been tweeting some details of the nuptials including plans to serve their own wild game at their wedding. The pair was engaged last May near her hometown in Oklahoma.
This has been a busy year for the couple. Lambert won four trophies at the ACM Awards last month and has announced plans to team with ABC Family for a television show. Shelton currently serves as one of the celebrity coaches on NBC’s singing competition show, The Voice, and his new album is set for release on July 12.
Awards: Songwriters And CMT
/by contributorASCAP Celebrates “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
ASCAP celebrated the writers and publishers of the 3-week No. 1 “Don’t You Wanna Stay” during a party Wednesday (5/11). Writers Andy Gibson, Paul Jenkins and Jason Sellers each celebrated their first No. 1., and publishers Sony/ATV and Godfather Rich Muzik (with John Rich picking up his first No. 1 plaque as a publisher) were also honored. Jason Aldean was on hand to celebrate his sixth chart topper, and Michael Knox was also presented with a plaque for his contributions as producer.
(L-R): John Rich, Sony/ATV's Troy Tomlinson, Paul Jenkins, Andy Gibson, Jason Aldean, Jason Sellers, Michael Knox and ASCAP's Mike Sistad. Photo: David Braud
SESAC New York Music Awards
Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott took home Song of the Year honors for her hit, “Need You Now” at the 15th Annual SESAC New York Music Awards held Wednesday night (5/11). Rico Love was named Songwriter of the Year and publisher of the Year honors went to EMI Foray Music. A complete list of winners is available at www.sesac.com.
(L-R): SESAC’s Tim Fink, Linda Lorence Critelli and Pat Collins; Hillary Scott; and SESAC’s Stephen Swid and Treavor Gale.
CMT receives Mayor’s Award for Outstanding School Partner
Last week at the PENCIL Foundation’s BRAVO! Awards Luncheon, Mayor Karl Dean presented CMT with the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding School Partner for the network’s work with their Academies of Nashville school partner, McGavock High School. CMT Presiden Brian Philips accepted on behalf of the network.
(L-R): Mayor Karl Dean and Brian Philips.