Miranda Lambert on the Grammy red carpet.
Chapter 358
The Nashville Grammy viewing party had door prizes, a dance DJ upstairs hosted by Red Bull, the Gibson Guitar tour bus parked outside and a generally merry atmosphere.
It was held at the Hard Rock downtown (2/13), so you know the food stations were first rate. The parking lot I chose had a broken machine, so I got away free. And the balmy weather couldn’t have been better.
As a viewing experience, if I wasn’t such a Recording Academy fan, I doubt that I would have stayed tuned in. Several of the much-vaunted “only-at-the-Grammys” collaborations failed to fizz. Early in the telecast, the
Bruno Mars, B.o.B. and
Janelle Monae mash-up was just a big flapdoodle about nothing.
Katy Perry looked fabulous but sang flat.
Arcade Fire’s performance featured kids on bicycles wheeling around pointlessly, plus disorienting camera work.
Mick Jagger’s “Everybody Needs Somebody” tribute to the late Solomon Burke was sung in a two-note range. Both of
Rihanna’s appearances (with
Eminem and
Drake, respectively) were less than thrilling. The video flame effects used several times during the show looked exactly like the ones in Logan’s Steak House ads. The dancers deployed during the
Muse tune were just weird.
On the plus side — at least for this community — was the fact that just about every time a Nashvillian appeared, the show perked up. First on was
Martina McBride, more than holding her own during the show-opening
Aretha Franklin tribute alongside
Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams and a clearly outclassed
Florence Welch (from
Florence & The Machine). Miranda Lambert sounded scared and a little timid during her simply staged performance of “The House That Built Me,” but her genuine emotion carried the day.
(L-R) Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, and Yolanda Adams.
“First Grammy performance ever – first Grammy ever,” said Miranda upon winning her Female Country Vocal prize. “It means the world to me. Thank you very much. I love country music.”
Americana stars
The Avett Brothers shone brightly alongside
Mumford & Sons and
Bob Dylan during their folk-rock Grammy moment. Those kids in
Lady Antebellum can sure-enough sing. The trio’s flawless harmonies were the most pitch-perfect of the entire show, both on the Teddy Pendergrass tribute “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and on their own “American Honey” and “Need You Now.” The group picked up a stunning five Grammy Awards during the night.
Lady A performing during the Grammy Awards.
“This has been a huge, huge year for us,” said Lady A’s
Charles Kelley when the group won Country Album of the Year. “This past year has changed our lives,” echoed
Hillary Scott when they won the overall Song of the Year. “Thank you to everyone who loved this song,” added their collaborator
Josh Kear. When Record of the Year was announced, Hillary exclaimed, “We’re so stunned, we started walking the wrong way.” Added Charles, “We’ve cried our eyes out backstage.” Lady A also won Country Group and Country Song.
Continuing the Nashville performance excellence was
Keith Urban. He sang “Jolene” as a tribute to Lifetime Achievement winner
Dolly Parton alongside
Norah Jones and a lost-at-sea seeming
John Mayer. Non-Nashville musical highlights included
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber & Usher (with super tumblers),
flamboyantly feathered
Cee Lo Green & Gwyneth Paltrow and “Evergreen”
Barbra Streisand.
John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban singing a tribute to Dolly Parton.
CBS evidently urged the Recording Academy to use its non-musical TV stars as presenters throughout the show, so it was extra welcome to see our homies doing some of these honors.
Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown, Paramore, Kings of Leon, Jewel, Kris Kristofferson and
Miley Cyrus were all among the other presenters.
Unseen, but scoring triumphs was the triple Grammy winning CD by
The Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Other pre-telecast local honorees included
Marty Stuart, Larry Carlton, Patty Loveless, The Black Keys, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Alan Jackson & The Zac Brown Band, Jack White, Bela Fleck and
Keith Urban.
Even if you weren’t on the show, you had a good chance of being seen. Just about every commercial break featured a music star –
Taylor Swift for Cover Girl,
Carrie Underwood for Olay,
Jennifer Hudson for Weight Watchers,
Justin Bieber for
CSI,
Alecia Keys for HP,
Taylor Swift for Target,
Keith Urban for Target,
Ricky Martin for the American Cancer Society,
Jennifer Lopez for Venus razors,
Eminem (in cartoon form) for Brisk beverages,
Queen Latifah for Cover Girl….
Nicole Kidman
You could also be noticed by just walking in.
Jewel rocked the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder Grecian-draped, pale yellow frock that disguised her being pregnant with a baby boy. Proud papa-to-be
Ty Murray was by her side.
Julianne Hough also looked great, in a ruffled and purple hued creation, but said she was jet lagged from a flight from Hong Kong.
Hillary Scott of Lady A debuted a new hairstyle with brunette bangs.
Miranda Lambert wore a floor-length, one-shouldered, double-strapped metallic number that hugged her curves. Titian tressed
Nicole Kidman was a dish in a strapless, rose-petal-patterned gown.
Nicki Minaj wore what appeared to be a giant Q-tip on her head and a leopard-print dress and tights. Bedraggled looking
Miley Cyrus continued her red-carpet-catastrophe tradition.
Lady Gaga arrived in her egg.
Rocking the Hard Rock viewing fiesta were
Anthony L. Smith, Gabe Dixon, Shannon Sanders, Karen Clark, Barry Landis, John Oates, Jed Hilly, Becky Hobbs, Lane Brody, Mark Collie, Trent Summar, Larry Sheridan, Lori Badgett, Ashley Gearing, John Lomax III and of course our hostesses with the mostestest,
Ashley Ernst and
Lynn Aurelius.
New Paisley Project Coming In May
/by Sarah SkatesReigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley is slated to release his new album, This Is Country Music, on May 24 via Arista. Paisley once again teamed with longtime producer Frank Rogers for the upcoming release, which will be his first all-new studio album since 2009’s acclaimed American Saturday Night. In between studio efforts, he also released Hits Alive in November 2010.
The lead single and title track is already a hit at radio, climbing to No. 4 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart this week.
The digital single for “This Is Country Music” is available, and fans who pre-order the album for $9.99, will also receive an immediate download of the single. In addition, pre-orders will entitle purchasers periodic access to exclusive content.
Amid work on the new album, Paisley is currently headlining his H2O Frozen Over Tour.
Paisley has proven to be a consistent hitmaker, with 18 No. 1 singles to his credit (including the last 14 in a row) and career sales in excess of 12 million albums.
Matraca Berg Plans New Release
/by Sarah SkatesPlus news on projects from George Jones, Ralph Stanley, Jeff Bates and Kenny Rogers.
>>Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Matraca Berg will release her first album in fourteen years on May 17. “I knew when I was writing these songs that they where a bit deeper and darker,” she says of The Dreaming Fields, “so I knew it was up to me [to share them]. When I perform and look at the audience, I realized these stories I’m writing are their stories too.”
>>George Jones is back with new material for the first time in more than 5 years. “I Ain’t Ever Slowin Down,” written by Al Anderson and Stephen Bruton; and “I Should Have Called,” by Eddie Raven, are on a new greatest hits compilation. The tracks were produced by Jones’ longtime producer Keith Stegall in 2006. From Bandit Records, George Jones: The Hits will be available exclusively at WalMart starting today (2/15).
>>Kenny Rogers will become the first artist to release a second album through the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® exclusive music program when The Love of God becomes available March 7. The CD is an inspirational collection of classic songs, along with new recordings of contemporary songs. Guests include The Whites, Winfield’s Locket, and Point of Grace.
>>Black River artist Jeff Bates’ new release hits the streets today (2/14). One Day Closer, his second album for the label, covers the circle of life he has experienced in recent years with the deaths of his parents and the birth of his daughter. In addition to the six song EP, Bates recorded a live DVD that features all the music from One Day Closer with bonus tracks highlighting previous singles.
>>Ralph Stanley will release A Mother’s Prayer, a newly recorded collection of hymns and spirituals, April 19 on Rebel Records. Among the project’s contributors are Sara Evans, Billy and Terry Smith, Clinch Mountain Boys’ fiddler Dewey Brown, and grandson Nathan Stanley.
Berg’s new collection covers sensitive issues like domestic violence (“If I Had Wings”), fading beauty (“Silver and Glass”), selling the family farm (“The Dreaming Fields”), and a son sent off to war (“South of Heaven”).
Berg scored her first No. 1 at age 18, and has since provided pivotal hits for the Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Gretchen Wilson, Linda Ronstadt and Dusty Springfield. Her most recent 1997 release Sunday Morning To Saturday Night was critically acclaimed.
TV Round-up with Red, Steel Magnolia, Aaron Lewis
/by Michelle>>Nashville-based rock group Red performed “Faceless” on Conan last week (2/8). The Provident Label Group act will also perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tomorrow (2/16). Red’s latest release, Until We Have Faces (2/1/2011) was the highest debut in the country, claiming the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Top 200 its first week out. Further, it remained in the Top 5 on both iTunes’ Overall Album and Rock Album charts its entire street week. www.redmusiconline.com.
Pictured on Conan (L-R): RED band members: Joe Rickard, Randy Armstrong; Host Conan O'Brien; Anthony Armstrong, and Michael Barnes. Photo: Meghan Sinclair/Team Coco
>>Stroudavarious Records artist Aaron Lewis recently stopped by CMT for a series of interviews in support of his debut solo single, “Country Boy,” from his forthcoming Town Line EP, due for a March 1 release.
Pictured (l-r): Jordan Berliant, Partner, The Collective; Derek Simon, Vice President, Marketing & Artist Development, Stroudavarious Records; Stephen Linn, Sr. Director Music Programming & Promotion, CMT; Aaron Lewis; and Jay Frank, Sr. Vice President Music Strategy, CMT.
>>Steel Magnolia performed on The Late Show with David Letterman Monday, Feb. 7.
Pictured: Meghan Linsey (R) and Joshua Scott Jones (L) of Steel Magnolia hang with Green Bay Packers quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers (C) backstage.
Morning News From The Web
/by Sarah Skates>>A post-Grammy sales bump is expected for Lady A, Mumford & Sons, Arcade Fire, and more, according to HitsDailyDouble.
>> Rumors of an Apple streaming music service have been circulating for a while. The latest clues are an expected upgrade of its cloud-based MobileMe media storage service, and the debut of a smaller, less expensive version of the iPhone. Read more from the Wall Street Journal.
>>Bonnaroo promoter AC Entertainment has signed on to present the Louisville Forecastle Festival. Read on.
>>CAA has teamed with Qualcomm to launch Creative Mobile Labs. The company will pair the creative minds CAA represents with mobile app developers. More here.
Grammy Reaction Around The Web
/by Sarah SkatesLady A celebrates backstage. Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage
Nashville is on a Grammy winning streak. Last night’s wins by Lady Antebellum marked the third year in a row that a Nashville act has been the show’s top winner. Last year Taylor Swift scored big, and in 2009, the most trophies went to Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.
It is a testament to the versatile sounds coming out of Music City, and to the far-reaching visibility of Country music in particular. It gives a boost to the genre that will hopefully translate into album sales.
While Lady A stole the show, the band was shut out for Album of the Year in a night of several key upsets. Instead, the coveted Album prize went to Arcade Fire. It was equally surprising that Esperanza Spalding was named Best New Artist, and that leading nominee Eminem went into the show with ten nods, but left with just two trophies.
Many morning-after critics point to these eye-opening wins as evidence of shifting industry dynamics between old and new schools of thought. And a few of them are picking on Lady A’s name.
The Washington Post pointed out the show’s performance collaborations pairing young and revered faces: “And as the beleaguered recording biz continues to unravel, Grammy organizers tried to hold things together the only way they know how: with a big trans-generational group hug.” The paper also called Lady A “the adorable country-pop trio with the slavery-era name.”
On a lighter note, Dierks Bentley helped jump-start Grammy festivities with a show at Troubador in West Hollywood. It was a who’s-who of Nashville nominees including Miranda Lambert, Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Blake Shelton, Zac Brown, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Lady A, Hayley Williams and more. Read about it here.
Benefits: BAMS, W.O. Smith, Children's Hospital
/by Michelle>>Clay Walker and AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM golf tournament playing partner Michael Bolton won the celebrity challenge event in Pebble Beach, CA, Wednesday, February 9. The duo walked away with a $19,000 purse to be split between their own respective charities. Clay Walker will give the proceeds to his foundation Band Against MS (BAMS), which provides educational information and funding programs for those living with MS.
Pictured (l-r): Walker and Bolton at the 18th green after winning the event.
>>The 10th Annual Birdhouse Thing benefit for the W.O. Smith Music School is scheduled for Thurs., March 10 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the school on 8th Ave. S. in Nashville. This year, Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Sara Evans, Josh Turner, Kellie Pickler and many others have donated tickets and meet and greet passes for a stop on their 2011 tour. These celebrity auction items will be available online March 8-22 at www.mclemoreauction.com.
Each year, event organizers provide wooden birdhouses to local Nashville visual artists, architects, and public figures who then add their own artful design. These birdhouses, designed by visual artists Edie Maney, Diana Wiles, Bob McGill and others, will be available at both live and silent auction at the event.
Tickets are on sale for $50, and are available online at www.birdhousething.com, by calling the W.O. Smith Music School at (615) 255-8355 or by emailing info@wosmith.org.
>>Music City Tennis Invitational Pre-tournament Songwriter Showcase was held at the Bluebird Café on Feb 10. The benefit concert is a kick-off event for the 38th Annual MCTI benefiting the Center for Child Development at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The tennis tournament will be held April 30-May 1 at the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Tennis Center at Vanderbilt.
(L-R) Kathy Ashworth, Bill Riddle, Patsy Wells, Patsy Bradley, Bob DiPiero, Dr. Tyler Reimschisel, Gary Burr, Victoria Shaw, Jim Photoglo
Grammys Score Best Ratings In A Decade
/by Sarah SkatesThe show’s ratings have been on a steady rise in recent years, with a 3 percent increase over last year’s broadcast which attracted 25.8 million viewers.
In the key adults 18-49 demographic, last night’s Grammys had the best delivery since 2004.
Here’s a look at some other ratings magnets from 2010:
Oscars—41.3 million viewers
American Idol season finale—24.2 million
CMA Awards—16.45 million
ACM Awards—13 million
Grammy Ads Feature Growing Number of Celebs
/by Sarah SkatesNearly one out of four advertisements during last night’s (2/13) Grammy Awards featured a celebrity endorsement, according to a report by Greenlight, a company specializing in licensing and rights clearance.
Among the other findings of the GreenLight Ad Gauge:
• celeb ads were up 47% over last year, and up more than 250% from 2009
• 23% of ads featured licensed pop music
• 35% of ads featured either a celeb endorsement or licensed music, up from 26% of ads in 2010
MusicRow’s Bobby Karl noted the numerous celeb spots during this morning’s column about the awards. He said:
GreenLight’s full report can be downloaded here.
AdAge has recently weighed in on the pros and cons of celebrity endorsements.
Bobby Karl Works The Grammy Viewing Party
/by Bobby KarlMiranda Lambert on the Grammy red carpet.
Chapter 358
The Nashville Grammy viewing party had door prizes, a dance DJ upstairs hosted by Red Bull, the Gibson Guitar tour bus parked outside and a generally merry atmosphere.
It was held at the Hard Rock downtown (2/13), so you know the food stations were first rate. The parking lot I chose had a broken machine, so I got away free. And the balmy weather couldn’t have been better.
As a viewing experience, if I wasn’t such a Recording Academy fan, I doubt that I would have stayed tuned in. Several of the much-vaunted “only-at-the-Grammys” collaborations failed to fizz. Early in the telecast, the Bruno Mars, B.o.B. and Janelle Monae mash-up was just a big flapdoodle about nothing. Katy Perry looked fabulous but sang flat. Arcade Fire’s performance featured kids on bicycles wheeling around pointlessly, plus disorienting camera work.
Mick Jagger’s “Everybody Needs Somebody” tribute to the late Solomon Burke was sung in a two-note range. Both of Rihanna’s appearances (with Eminem and Drake, respectively) were less than thrilling. The video flame effects used several times during the show looked exactly like the ones in Logan’s Steak House ads. The dancers deployed during the Muse tune were just weird.
On the plus side — at least for this community — was the fact that just about every time a Nashvillian appeared, the show perked up. First on was Martina McBride, more than holding her own during the show-opening Aretha Franklin tribute alongside Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams and a clearly outclassed Florence Welch (from Florence & The Machine). Miranda Lambert sounded scared and a little timid during her simply staged performance of “The House That Built Me,” but her genuine emotion carried the day.
(L-R) Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, and Yolanda Adams.
“First Grammy performance ever – first Grammy ever,” said Miranda upon winning her Female Country Vocal prize. “It means the world to me. Thank you very much. I love country music.”
Americana stars The Avett Brothers shone brightly alongside Mumford & Sons and Bob Dylan during their folk-rock Grammy moment. Those kids in Lady Antebellum can sure-enough sing. The trio’s flawless harmonies were the most pitch-perfect of the entire show, both on the Teddy Pendergrass tribute “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and on their own “American Honey” and “Need You Now.” The group picked up a stunning five Grammy Awards during the night.
Lady A performing during the Grammy Awards.
“This has been a huge, huge year for us,” said Lady A’s Charles Kelley when the group won Country Album of the Year. “This past year has changed our lives,” echoed Hillary Scott when they won the overall Song of the Year. “Thank you to everyone who loved this song,” added their collaborator Josh Kear. When Record of the Year was announced, Hillary exclaimed, “We’re so stunned, we started walking the wrong way.” Added Charles, “We’ve cried our eyes out backstage.” Lady A also won Country Group and Country Song.
Continuing the Nashville performance excellence was Keith Urban. He sang “Jolene” as a tribute to Lifetime Achievement winner Dolly Parton alongside Norah Jones and a lost-at-sea seeming John Mayer. Non-Nashville musical highlights included Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber & Usher (with super tumblers), flamboyantly feathered Cee Lo Green & Gwyneth Paltrow and “Evergreen” Barbra Streisand.
John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban singing a tribute to Dolly Parton.
CBS evidently urged the Recording Academy to use its non-musical TV stars as presenters throughout the show, so it was extra welcome to see our homies doing some of these honors. Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown, Paramore, Kings of Leon, Jewel, Kris Kristofferson and Miley Cyrus were all among the other presenters.
Unseen, but scoring triumphs was the triple Grammy winning CD by The Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Other pre-telecast local honorees included Marty Stuart, Larry Carlton, Patty Loveless, The Black Keys, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Alan Jackson & The Zac Brown Band, Jack White, Bela Fleck and Keith Urban.
Even if you weren’t on the show, you had a good chance of being seen. Just about every commercial break featured a music star – Taylor Swift for Cover Girl, Carrie Underwood for Olay, Jennifer Hudson for Weight Watchers, Justin Bieber for CSI, Alecia Keys for HP, Taylor Swift for Target, Keith Urban for Target, Ricky Martin for the American Cancer Society, Jennifer Lopez for Venus razors, Eminem (in cartoon form) for Brisk beverages, Queen Latifah for Cover Girl….
Nicole Kidman
You could also be noticed by just walking in. Jewel rocked the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder Grecian-draped, pale yellow frock that disguised her being pregnant with a baby boy. Proud papa-to-be Ty Murray was by her side. Julianne Hough also looked great, in a ruffled and purple hued creation, but said she was jet lagged from a flight from Hong Kong. Hillary Scott of Lady A debuted a new hairstyle with brunette bangs. Miranda Lambert wore a floor-length, one-shouldered, double-strapped metallic number that hugged her curves. Titian tressed Nicole Kidman was a dish in a strapless, rose-petal-patterned gown. Nicki Minaj wore what appeared to be a giant Q-tip on her head and a leopard-print dress and tights. Bedraggled looking Miley Cyrus continued her red-carpet-catastrophe tradition. Lady Gaga arrived in her egg.
Rocking the Hard Rock viewing fiesta were Anthony L. Smith, Gabe Dixon, Shannon Sanders, Karen Clark, Barry Landis, John Oates, Jed Hilly, Becky Hobbs, Lane Brody, Mark Collie, Trent Summar, Larry Sheridan, Lori Badgett, Ashley Gearing, John Lomax III and of course our hostesses with the mostestest, Ashley Ernst and Lynn Aurelius.
Sony Signs Bush Hawg
/by MichelleSony Music Nashville has officially welcomed the band Bush Hawg as the newest act on its RCA Nashville roster. Bush Hawg’s debut album will release later this year.
Pictured (back, l-r): Bush Hawg producer/manager Michael Knox; Sony Music Nashville Creative Services VP Scott McDaniel; Marketing Sr. VP Paul Barnabee; Promotion Sr. VP Skip Bishop; Chairman & CEO Gary Overton; and Sales VP Kerri Fox-Metoyer; RCA Nashville Promotion VP Keith Gale; Sony Music Nashville A&R VP Jim Catino; and Buddy Lee Attractions President Kevin Neal. (front, l-r): RCA Nashville Natl. Director of Promotion Norbert Nix; and Bush Hawg band members Jim Phipps, Russ Caldwell, Craig Hand, Shaun Ames, Alex Wilshire, and Ben Helton. Photo credit: Alan Poizner