Rihanna, Nettles Set For ACM Performance

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Rihanna and Jennifer Nettles


R&B star Rihanna is set to perform with Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles on the upcoming ACM Awards, reports ryanseacrest.com. They will team up for Rihanna’s “California King Bed,” at the ACM Fan Jam concert, taking place simultaneously with the awards show, parts of which will air on the ACM televised event.
The ACM has also added presenters Julianne Hough, Chris Young, actress AnnaSophia Robb from the new moving Soul Surfer, and Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who was attacked by a shark and inspired the film.
The ACM Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

P2P Downloading on Decline

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NPD attributes the decline in P2P downloading to the shuttering of LimeWire.


According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, the percentage of internet users downloading music from P2P file-sharing services has fallen from a high of 16 percent in Q4 of 2007, to 9 percent in Q4 2010.
While illegal downloading of this kind is on the decline, it is far from eradicated. NPD estimates there were 16 million P2P users downloading music in Q4 2010. This is down from 28 million in Q4 2007.
NPD believes the recent decrease in usage coincides with the October 2010 shuttering of LimeWire after a federal judge found the peer-to-peer service liable for copyright infringement.
According to NPD’s “Music Acquisition Monitor,” LimeWire was used by 56 percent of those using P2P services to download music in Q3 2010, shortly before it closed.
Since Limewire went offline, illegal downloading from Frostwire and u-Torrent has increased.
This information is from NPD’s “Music Acquisition Monitor” based on online surveys of U.S. consumers age 13 and older, which were conducted in January 2011. The final reporting is based on 5,549 completed surveys.

Songwriters Salute Hank at the Hall of Fame

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The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present a special program honoring Hank Williams on April 16. Titled I Saw the Light: Songwriters Salute Hank, the program will feature Rodney Crowell, Ashley Monroe, the Secret Sisters and Steve Young.
Family Tradition co-curator Michael McCall will host and each artist will perform one or more of William’s classic songs, as well as some of their own compositions that were influenced or inspired by Williams.
I Saw The Light is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy, Presented by SunTrust, and will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Ford Theater. It is included with Museum admission and is free to Museum members.
For more details visit countrymusichalloffame.org.

Foster & Lloyd Reunite For New Album

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Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd have reunited for their first album of new material since 1990. The acclaimed duo of the late ‘80s will release It’s Already Tomorrow to digital outlets April 26, followed by a CD release May 17 on ‘Effin ‘El Records.
The duo co-produced and co-wrote all twelve songs on the set, which was recorded and mixed by Justin Tocket (Marc Broussard, Randy Rogers Band). Among the studio musicians are Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson and drummer Keith Brogdon. And guests include pedal steel guitarist Lloyd Green, producer and steel guitarist Steve Fishell, vocals from singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, and bassist Garry Tallent from Bruce Springsteen’s E. St. Band.
In 1985 Foster & Lloyd were paired together by their publisher, which led to a deal with RCA Records. “Crazy Over You,” made them the first duo in Country music to score a No. 1 on their debut single.
Before parting ways in 1990 for solo careers, they recorded three albums for RCA and had other hits with “Sure Thing,” “What Do You Want From Me This Time,” “Texas in 1880” and “Fair Shake.”
More recently, a request from the Americana Music Association to reunite for a fundraiser show got the duo together onstage. The show sold out in 15 minutes.
“It was so much fun getting back together onstage, and we realized that the new songs we had written together still had that magic,” says Foster. “We decided to start getting together once a month to write. Soon the songs were pouring out, and we knew we needed to get back in the studio.”
The duo will hit the road with a string of dates in Texas this spring and summer, as well as a May 18 CD release show at Mercy Lounge in Nashville, and a June 25 performance at the Blackberry Jam Music Festival in Franklin, Tenn.

NuCorp Ent. Launches With Flagship Act Darren Warren

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Artist manager Jeff Carver, whose career includes work with Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker, has teamed with businessman Joe McDaniel to form NuCorp Entertainment. The company has signed flagship artist Darren Warren and is prepping the release of his debut single.
Handling distribution and promotion will be execs Chuck Rhodes, and longtime Warner Bros. staffer Doug Grau. Other team members include Toni D. McDaniel in finance, sales, and marketing; and Kris Carlson and KentuckyLake.com overseeing web and social media. Outside the company, AristoMedia will work music video promotion, and Campbell Entertainment will coordinate publicity. Regina Raleigh has been tapped to promote the single on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart.
Warren’s debut single “Cowboy Up and Party Down” was produced by Grau and will go for adds in May 2011. The first album will be released later this summer.
The Kentucky native is a survivor of childhood cancer and actively works to help St. Jude, the hospital that saved his life.
NuCorp’s offices are currently located in Franklin, KY and will soon be relocating to a new home in Nashville.

The Roys Release Lonesome Whistle

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The Roys‘ latest album, Lonesome Whistle, was released yesterday (3/22) on Rural Rhythm records. The duo is currently on a nine-day nationwide media tour.
The 11-song album includes 10 Roy originals, and was co-produced by the duo and Andy Leftwich. The disc’s first single, “Coal Minin’ Man,” is climbing the bluegrass charts. The video, which was filmed in Hazard, KY at the Teco Coal Company, rolls out very soon.
The Roys’ cluster of media appearances began yesterday on Channel 17′s Tennessee Mornings, followed by Bill Cody‘s WSM-AM 650 show, Channel 4′s Better Nashville show and GAC TV’s On The Streets.
Other media stops include The Daily Buzz, the G. Gordon Liddy’s syndicated radio show, Fox News Channel’s Fox and Friends, Sirius XM’s The Roadhouse “Freewheeling”, and FoxNews.com.
In April, fans can catch the duo on Better TV, Country Vibe, Inside Music Row, and Larry’s Country Diner.
The disc is The Roys’ first release for Rural Rhythm Records and they join a roster that includes Michael Martin Murphey, Randy Kohrs, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Mason Douglas and Lonesome River Band among others.
For more details visit theroysonline.com.

Musical Chairs

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Jordan Zucker


>>>Jordan Zucker has joined the CO5 Nashville team as Director of Promotion and Marketing, Southeast. David Newmark, VP of Promotion and Business Development, made today’s announcement. With 30 years of experience, Zucker was most recently CEO of Infirst Promotion, an Atlanta company that facilitates radio, satellite, and syndicated airplay. He has held promotion and marketing positions with Sanctuary Records, RCA Records, and A&M Records, working with Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top, Dave Matthews, Sting, Crosby Stills and Nash, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Zucker can be reached at 678-475-0627 or jordan@co5music.com.
>>>Jerry Bailey is retiring from his longtime post at BMI. The industry veteran currently works as Sr. Director, Media Relations & Business Communications. Bailey’s immediate plans include realizing his long-time dream to conquer the Appalachian trail.
>>>Laura McKinley has exited her role at Sony Music Nashville after nine years with the company. She most recently served as Associate Director of Artist Development and Marketing. McKinley can be reached at LMcKinley79@gmail.com or 615-364-1382.
>>>Emblem Music Group has promoted Haley Melikian to Day-to-Day Manager for Gloriana and Tyler Hilton. She previously held the position of New Media Marketing Specialist. Before coming to Emblem in 2009, she worked in the new media department of Warner Bros. in Burbank. Additionally, Abby Grover has been hired as an Administrative Assistant for the label co-founded by Matt Serletic and Dean Serletic.

Benefits: Mow The Row In Memory of Joshua Ragsdale

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Craig Morgan was saluted recently by the Tennessee City Volunteer Fire Department for rescuing two children from a burning house last month. Pictured backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House. (L-R): Danny Tucker, Jr., Chief Mike Grant, Joe Murraca, Craig Morgan, and Lieutenant Brian Bretoi.


>>>Songwriter Harley Allen is battling stage four lung cancer. Among his hits are Blake Shelton’s “The Baby,” Joe Nichols’ “I’ll Wait For You,” and Darryl Worley’s “Awful, Beautiful Life.” Allen has also had numerous cuts by Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan, Garth Brooks, Josh Turner and more. He is married to Debbie Nims. Friends are welcome to send cards to Harley Allen c/o Harlan Howard Songs, 1902 Wedgewood Ave., Nashville, TN 37212.
>>>Darius Rucker’s second annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert will be Monday, June 6 at the Wildhorse Saloon. Performers have not been announced. Last year he raised over $48,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Ticket info at DariusRucker.com.
>>>The 5th Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert will take place Tuesday, June 7 at Nashville’s Rocketown. The event will benefit Musicians On Call, a non-profit organization which brings live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities.
>>>Planning is underway for the inaugural Mow The Row benefit in memory of songwriter Joshua Ragsdale. The celebrity lawnmower race and concert is set for Tuesday, June 7 on Demonbreun. Ragsdale, who died of cancer last year at age 32, came up with the idea to benefit the Hospital Hospitality House. A committee of his friends and loved ones from the music business are organizing the event. Artists are still needed to participate. Hospital Hospitality House is a home away from home for patients and families seeking medical treatment in Nashville hospitals. To get involved, visit www.mowtherow.com.
>>>Also benefiting Hospital Hospitality House is an upcoming dinner and concert featuring Steve Cropper and Lee Roy Parnell. On Tuesday, April 19, Balfour Beatty Construction will host an evening at the Nashville Dinner Theatre in Printer’s Alley. Tickets at www.hospitalhospitalityhouse.org.
>>>Randy Owen has joined forces with BLEVE Entertainment to release a new album on May 19. Friends was produced by Michael Knox and will kick off BLEVE’s Help the Good Guys campaign. Profits will benefit the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Alan Jackson Teams With Capitol's EMI Records Nashville

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Alan Jackson is teaming with Capitol Records Nashville to release his next album. The superstar is heading into the studio soon and his new music will be released as a joint venture between ACR (Alan’s Country Records) and Capitol/EMI Records Nashville.
Jackson, who built his 60-million album selling career at former home Arista Records, has had a long standing relationship with Capitol Records Nashville President and CEO Mike Dungan.
In 2010 Capitol Records Nashville announced its newest imprint EMI Records Nashville, which is designed to be a sister label to Capitol Nashville.
ACR (Alan’s Country Records) was formed by Jackson when he released his 2002 Let It Be Christmas album, followed by the platinum-selling Precious Memories in 2005.

Alan Jackson and Mike Dungan—the early years.


“Mike Dungan and I go way back. He was right there during my early days at Arista, and it’s going to be great to work with him and his team there at Capitol,” Jackson says. “I’m happy to be joining the hottest label in Nashville.”
“Everyone here at Capitol/EMI is beyond thrilled to represent Alan Jackson,” responds Dungan. “A true American original, a future Hall of Famer, and an artist whose work to date is not only commercially successful, but is of historical cultural significance. We are honored, and we are jacked!”
Jackson has topped the country singles charts 35 times, and won countless awards, including three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors.

NYT Feels Music Industry Pain

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“If it was as easy as it looks, everyone would do it.” These words may best describe some of the early pain being felt by the New York Times as it struggles to adjust the rules, technology and concept of its, about-to-begin March 28, paywall. And although the music industry is just an onlooker in this info-tug-of-war, no doubt music leaders can see a close parallel to their own industry.
A loophole purposely built into the NYT system has already backfired. NYT decided that links from  Twitter and Facebook should get free passage through the paywall and be able to exceed the 20 item limit per month imposed on non-subscribers. Search links would get five items per day. The thinking seems sound, since these social networking/search links are responsible for directing large amounts of traffic to the newspaper website.

Enter new Twitter feed @freeNYTimes. The feed tweets a link to every story published on nytimes.com. This allows readers to easily surf around and through the paywall, avoiding its restrictions. According to a Forbes.com story, NYT has already asked Twitter to shut down the new feed. At press the feed has 562 followers and explains itself by saying, “NYTimes articles as they’re published. Read more than your 20 articles/month allotment, because you came from Twitter! Data provided by The New York Times.”
A second similar twitter feed has already sprouted at @timeswiretap. It now has 92 followers.

Another widely reported NYT hack was created by a Canadian blogger in just four lines of code and bears the name, NYTClean. The site is already experiencing a massive slowdown due to a rash of unexpectedly high visitor traffic.
NYTClean coder David Hayes sums up the problem saying, “Wow, I’ve gotten tens of thousands of hits since this went up yesterday, especially considering this was a lunchtime project — You just can’t see a wall like this without wondering how you can get around it. I love the New York Times, don’t say that I forced you to not pay for it.”