Songwriter Wynn Varble is among the top 10 finalists on CMT’S Next Superstar, the competition series set to premiere Friday, April 8 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Varble has written or co-written hits including “Have You Forgotten” (Darryl Worley), “Waitin’ on a Woman” (Brad Paisley) and “I’m A Little More Country Than That” (Easton Corbin), and has earned several ACM and CMA Song of the Year nominations.
Hosted by Thea Andrews, the ten episode series has contestants trying to impress celebrity guests each week through performances and music business related challenges.
Each week, one finalist will be eliminated. Viewers at home will have the final vote to determine who will be crowned CMT’s Next Superstar.
The Top 10 Finalists
Bri Bagwell, 23, Las Cruces, NM
Adrienne Beasley, 22, Wickliffe, KY
Courtney Cole, 24, Mandeville, LA
Danielle Lauderdale, 23, Orange Park, FL
Andrea Person, 29, Kelowna, British Columbia
Steven Clawson, 29, Thomasville, GA
Matt Dame, 37, Batesville, AR
Matt Mason, 25, Fairland, IN
Ben Smith, 29, Gainesville, TX
Wynn Varble, 50, Hampshire, TN

Ronnie Dunn will be releasing his self-titled solo debut album on June 7. The 12 track collection, Ronnie Dunn, was produced soley by Dunn and includes eight songs that he wrote or co-wrote.
Dunn’s first televised performance of the album’s debut single, “Bleed Red” will be on The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, April 3, on CBS. While in Las Vegas for the ACM Awards, Dunn will also headline the free, open-to-the-public concert on Saturday, April 2, as part of ACM Weekend on Fremont Street Experience.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this afternoon (3/21) that it will not hear the appeal from Universal Music Group in a digital royalty dispute between Eminem’s former production company and the label.
Last year the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Eminem’s former production company, who filed the suit claiming they were underpaid for digital sales. UMG then appealed to the Supreme Court.
The suit claims that the rapper’s music on iTunes was being licensed, not sold, and therefore was subject to a higher royalty percentage rate. According to Eminem’s contract, he is owed a 12% royalty on “records sold” and a 50% rate on licensing agreements. He was paid for iTunes sales under the 12% rate.
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that iTunes downloads aren’t sales because the label is licensing use of the master recordings to iTunes, which then sells the digital downloads without further involvement from the label. This means he is owed 50% of money made from paid digital downloads.

[Updated 3/22]
Cher’s rep has revealed that the singer was originally planning to do a country project, but is now making a full-on dance record. Hitfix has the scoop.
No word on whether Mark Bright is still producing the project.
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Cher is working on a country-influenced album with stellar Nashville producer Mark Bright, known for mega hits by Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts. The two began searching for songs in August 2010, and are scheduled to spend parts of March and April in the studio.
There is no official word on what label will be releasing the project, or when it will hit streets. Cher has most recently been signed to Warner Music Group. The new album would be her first studio effort since 2001.
The Boot reports that songwriter Diane Warren may be among those contributing tunes to the album. Cher has recorded several songs by Warren, including her monster hit “If I Could Turn Back Time,” and the Golden Globe winning “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” from the movie Burlesque.
Warren is also behind the country hits “I Could Not Ask For More,” recorded by Sara Evans, and “How Do I Live,” recorded by Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes.