Artists, Songwriters To Honor Todd Cerney

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Todd with wife, Kip Kirby


On Mon., Feb. 28 a star studded lineup will come together to honor songwriter Todd Cerney, recently diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. Grammy nominated Cerney, is known for writing hits such as “I’ll Still Be Loving You” by Restless Heart, “Good Morning Beautiful” by Steve Holy, and “No Mercy” by Ty Herndon. Artists set to perform include Restless Heart, Steve Holy, Ty Herndon, Bo Bice and Jeff Bates.
A series of songwriters will also perform including Rivers Rutherford, Fred Knobloch, Rich Fagan, Pete Huttlinger, Lisa Carver, Wood Newton, Trevor Finlay, Doug Gill, Lynn Langham and Jim Parker, followed by performances from Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden (“Everlasting Love”), Casey Kelly and Leslie Ellis, Bill Lloyd, and Thom Shepherd & the Nashville Hit Songwriters Band. Special guest Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits will join Restless Heart onstage to sing his 1967 classic, “A Kind of a Hush.”  Also reuniting especially for this fundraiser will be Nashville cult favorite The Piggys, a legendary Nashville rock band that hasn’t played live together in more than 25 years.
There will be a Silent Auction at the event with numerous items for bidding, including Todd’s own handwritten, personally-autographed lyric sheets for his two biggest hits, “I’ll Still Be Loving You” and “Good Morning Beautiful.”
The Todd Cerney Benefit Concert will be held Monday, Feb. 28 at the Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall located at 1530 Demonbreun Street, just off Music Row’s Roundabout. There is plenty of free parking across the street. Doors open at 6 pm, and music starts at 6:30 pm. Admission is $15 at the door, and all proceeds from the event will go toward the mounting medical bills for Todd’s illness. Donations may be made at any time to the Friends of Todd Cerney account through Regions Bank in Nashville.

Lifenotes: Don Butler [updated]

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[Update] Visitation will be held Sunday, February 6th from 1-4pm at Brentwood United Methodist Church in the Narthex; a private ceremony will be held for family.
Donald W. Butler, Sr., a founder of the Gospel Music Association and longtime Christian music businessman, has died. He was 80 and had been battling a lengthy illness.
In May 1964, Butler and two others chartered the GMA. He later spent 15 years as Executive Director of the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Research Library and Museum.
His 35-year career included time as President of Nashville’s Sumar Talent Agency, and working with artists like The Stamps Quartet and The Blackwood Brothers. As a television producer, he handled the GMA Dove Awards, and syndicated shows Singing Time in Dixie and Glory Road.
Butler was actively involved in NARAS, including time as a national vice president, president of the Nashville chapter, and a national trustee. Among the other organizations he worked with were WO Smith Music School, the Nashville Music Association and the Nashville Entertainment Association.
Butler served as Vice President of Academics for the Stamps-Blackwood School of Music. He was an author, composer and popular speaker.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Butler completed post graduate work at Emory University and Southern Methodist University.
He is survived by wife Peggy and other family members. Arrangements have not been finalized at this time. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gospel Music Association Trust Fund, PO Box 144, Goodlettsville, TN 37070.

Military Performances

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Adam Craig Band Performs for Heartland Heroes • Craig Morgan at Camp Victory/Baghdad

Adam Craig Band Performs for Heartland Heroes

The Adam Craig Band performed for the third annual Heartland Heroes Hunt January 28 in Garden City, Kansas. Heartland Heroes Hunt was born out of a high school graduation project that Garden City resident, Tim Telinde and his daughter, Mackenzie, worked on together. Activities include swimming and games for the kids, manicure and hair appointments for the wives, and a day of pheasant hunting for the soldiers. Telinde, who owns a hunting and guide business in Garden City, and fellow business man, Brian Beavers, meet with Warrior Transition Teams at Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Riley, Kansas each year to choose up to 20 families to come to the all-expenses paid weekend.

(L-R): Tim Telinde; Adam Craig Band’s Brian Smith, Adam Craig, Jimi Hendrix and Ryan Jones; Retired First Sergeant TJ Inslee; and Heartland Heroes Hunt VP Brian Beavers.

Craig Morgan at Camp Victory/Baghdad

Craig Morgan recently completed his Not Alone Tour through Kuwait and Iraq, his ninth overseas visit to US troops stationed abroad. During his visit to Camp Victory in Baghdad on Monday (1/31), Morgan and his band played for approximately 1,000 soldiers stationed at the base.

Luna Chica Starts 2011 With Momentum

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Luna Chica Records International is looking ahead with new signings, a new international division, and multi-channel digital success. The label’s internet-driven business model launched in May 2010 and signaled what GM/Dir. of A&R Brenda Cline calls a “re-birth.”
“We are very proud of the level of talent that we have delivered to radio and the extremely positive feedback we are receiving,” she comments.
Joining the Luna Chica roster are the diverse talents of Don and Steve White, the Red Dirt Rangers, Christi Bauerlee, Tarryn Smith, and Marty Grebb. They join existing Luna Chica artists Jesse and Noah Bellamy, Tommy Job, Burrito Deluxe and Ty Crook.
Red Dirt Rangers ended up at No. 1 on the AirPlay Direct’s Top 50 Americana/AAA Albums chart for December 2010 and at No. 2 for January 2011 with Ranger Motel. Digital releases of Jesse and Noah’s “I Want Texas For Christmas” and Grebb’s “The Very Best Christmas” both garnered significant download attention from radio stations worldwide. Grebb’s album, High Steppin’, charted at No. 2 on the AirPlay Direct’s Top 50 Blues Albums chart in January.

Jesse and Noah Bellamy


Luna Chica also announced the launch of its international division, with European radio CMR Nashville owner Lee Williams directing. International artists are expected to be announced soon.

Benefit News: Tiger Jam and Chords of Hope

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>>Keith Urban and John Mayer will perform together Sat., April 30 to benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation. The two Grammy winners will plug in their guitars at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for an exclusive VIP concert event.
“I’m thrilled these two talented musicians are joining us for Tiger Jam,” event host Tiger Woods said. “We have had so much success with this event over the last 13 years, raising more than $12 million for programs of my Foundation, and we are excited to continue that tradition.”
Evening highlights will include top-notch epicurean fare plus exclusive live and silent auctions featuring one-of-a-kind luxury items. Following the dinner and auctions, the celebration will move to the Mandalay Bay Events Center stage, where Woods will welcome Urban and Mayer. Concert tickets go on sale Feb. 12 at all Ticketmaster locations and Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400.
>>In honor of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, multi-platinum recording artist Clay Walker and friends will gather at the famed Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on March 2 to present Chords of Hope, a benefit concert aimed at raising money and awareness for MS which currently affects over 400,000 Americans. All proceeds from the second annual Chords of Hope will benefit MS research taking place at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. MS is a cause is very close to Clay’s heart, as he has been living with the disease for nearly 15 years. Tickets to Chords of Hope are available at the Wildhorse Saloon or by calling (615) 902-8211. Guest artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Weekly Chart Report (2/04/11)

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Davis Music Group's Jacob Lyda performed his new single, "I'm Doing Alright," for the staff at WDRM in Huntsville, AL. (L-R): WDRM's AJ McCloud, Lyda and WDRM's Jim Tice.


SPIN ZONE
It’s Blake Shelton’s world right now, but thankfully he lets us stay here and read his Twitter feed. This week he’s on top of the CountryBreakout chart with “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” which surges ahead of Luke Bryan’s “Someone Else Calling You Baby” with a gain of 111 spins.
Positions 3-11 are all showing positive movement, with Taylor Swift’s No. 3 “Back To December” looking like a soon-to-be No. 1 contender. A few paces back, Billy Currington’s “Let Me Down Easy” (No. 7), Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson’s “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (No. 8), Darius Rucker’s “This” (No. 10) and Thompson Square’s “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” (No. 11) all score triple digit spin gains.

Back Porch Productions hosted Craig Morgan, Luke Bryan, Chuck Wicks, Lee Brice, Thompson Square at the K92FM All Star Acoustic Jam with host Kix Brooks at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida on January 16. (L-R): Back Porch Productions Founder/CEO Carly Horvat; Wicks; and Back Porch staffers Ashley Roeder and Lauren Denig.


This chart also has the exciting and triumphant debut of Ronnie Dunn’s first solo single, “Bleed Red.” Programmers jumped all over the song and it easily snapped up our highest debut at No. 46. Keith Urban’s latest, “Without You,” also had a huge debut, landing at No. 65 with no prior reports.
It’s tough out there with numerous superstar singles blasting up the chart, but a few independent artists are making some noise. Burns & Poe’s “How Long Is Long Enough” is still gaining spins at No. 28, for starters. And at No. 35, Eric Lee Beddingfield’s“The Gospel According To Jones” continues to move upward. Katie Armiger’s “Best Song Ever” is just a hair behind at No. 36, and the Bellamy Brothers are now at No. 40 with “Back In The Day.”
RADIO NEWS
Bold Gold Media’s WDNB Thunder-102/Liberty, NY held its 5th Annual Thunder Blood Bowl at Monticello Casino & Raceway on Wednesday, January 26th. The event is one of the largest blood drives in New York’s Sullivan County, and this year 78 units of blood were donated for the local blood bank. “Our ‘ThunderHeads’ never cease to amaze me in their capacity to give,” comments Market Manager/GM/morning co-host Paul Ciliberto. “We even had eight first time donors during this drive.”







Upcoming Singles
February 7
Joanna Smith/Georgia Mud/Columbia
David Nail/Let It Rain/MCA
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol
Colt Ford/Country Thang/Average Joes
Doobie Brothers/World Gone Crazy/HOR/CO5
February 14
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/Arista
Bridgette Tatum/Hillbilly Rockstar/Root 49/Quarterback
• • • •  •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/ Sony — 45
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 64
Jamey Johnson/Heartache/Mercury — 76
Matthew Huff/As TIme Goes By/MGH Records — 77
Aaron Lewis/Country Boy/Stroudavarious — 79
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/Sony — 627
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 368
Miranda Lambert/Heart Like Mine/Columbia — 331
Zac Brown Band/Colder Weather/Bigger Picture — 263
Reba/If I Were A Boy/Starstruck/Valory — 247
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Sean Patrick McGraw/My So Called Life/Little Engine Records — 184
Lathan Moore/Love In Your Life/Blue Steel Records — 179
Emma King & The Heartsets/I’m Not Forgotten/PLC — 168
The Grascals/I Am Strong/BlueGrascal — 157
Scott Lindsey/Miss Lead Me On/Gray Trailer — 147
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/Arista — 45
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 30
David Bradley feat. Rodney Crowell/Hard Time Movin’ On/Gecko — 13
D.J. Miller/Whatever It Takes/Evergreen — 12
Reba/If I Were A Boy/Starstruck/Valory — 10
Carter’s Chord/A Little Less Comfortable/Show Dog-Universal — 10
Aaron Lewis/Country Boy/Stroudavarious — 9

Gloriana with KNCI staffers after a listener event. (L-R): Tom, KNCI afternoon jock Kodiak, Rachel, KNCI PD Byron Kennedy, Cheyenne, KNCI Promo Dir. Matt Viera, and Michael.


Sunny Sweeney played a sold out show at Club Rodeo in San Jose on Jan. 28. (L-R): Republic Nashville Pres. Jimmy Harnen, KRTY GM Nate Deaton, Sweeney, KRTY GSM Tina Ferguson and KRTY Night Jock Indiana Al.

Artist Notes

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Keith Urban on Good Morning America • Sean Patrick McGraw’s Song Kicks Off Super Bowl • Steel Magnolia On David Letterman • Grascals on TV
>>Keith Urban will debut “Without You”, the second single off of his recently released CD Get Closer, with a performance on ABC’s Good Morning America Feb. 17. The song is the follow up to his 24th top 5 hit “Put You In A Song.” Also, Urban will appear on FOX Sunday, Feb. 6 to help kick off Super Bowl XLV as part of the pre-game festivities broadcast live from the Cowboys Stadium in North Texas. Tickets for his recently announced Get Closer 2011 World Tour will go on sale beginning Feb. 11.

Sean Patrick McGraw


•••
>>Westwood One’s Super Bowl game broadcast will kick off live from Cowboys Stadium with a special rendition of Little Engine Records recording artist, Sean Patrick McGraw’s song “Git Yer Cowboy On,” off his April 2  EP release My So Called Life. McGraw customized some of the lyrics to be apropos to this year’s Super Bowl.
•••
>>Big Machine recording act Steel Magnolia will perform “Last Night Again,” on the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS this Monday, Feb. 7. The act, whose self-titled debut album soared to No. 1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart only 12 hours upon its release, also scored a 2011 Academy of Country Music Award nomination this week for “Top Vocal Duo.” Steel Magnolia will resume tour dates with Blake Shelton on Feb. 18 in Winnie, Texas.
•••
>>The Grascals recently wrapped up an East Coast promotional tour for their new CD, The Grascals & Friends – Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin. The CD is available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®.

Pictured: A full day at Fox News Channel included performances and interviews on Fox & Friends, Fox News Live and Fox & Friends "After The Show Show." Grascals members Terry Eldredge and Jamie Johnson with host Ashley Dvorkin. (Credit: Jeremy Westby)

Radio Visits

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DJ Miller Earns Billboards Hot Shot Debut • Colt Ford Does His Country Thang • The Dirt Drifters Continue South • Guy Penrod Visits WSM

DJ Miller Earns Billboard’s Hot Shot Debut

Evergreen Records recording artist DJ Miller has been visiting stations on his second radio tour in support of his “Whatever It Takes” from his debut album, scheduled for a May 17 release. Miller earned Billboard’s “Hot Shot Debut” for the week ending Jan. 31. (L-R): Radio promoter Jack Pride, WBCT/Grand Rapids PD Doug Montgomery, Miller, WBCT air personality Bobby Bare.

Colt Ford Does His “Country Thang”

Colt Ford popped into WUBL The Bull’s studio bright and early last Friday (1/28) to be a guest on their morning show “Caffeinated Radio.” They played his new single, “Country Thang,” on air and talked with listeners about his concert that night at Wild Bill’s Atlanta. (L-R): WUBL’s Kristen Gates, Ford and WUBL’s Jason Pullman.

The Dirt Drifters Continue SE

The Dirt Drifters made their way south during their current radio tour visiting WKHX and MD Mike Macho in Atlanta. (L-R): Nick Diamond, Matt Fleener, Warner Music Nashville Pres./CEO John Esposito, Ryan Fleener, Macho, Jeremy Little, and Jeff Middleton.

Guy Penrod Visits WSM

Servant Records’ Guy Penrod visited with WSM morning host Bill Cody earlier this week as a part of a radio promotional tour for his current single, “Pray About Everything,” from his debut country CD, Breathe Deep. Photo: Jim Alderdice

Platinum Parade: Lambert and Swift

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Miranda Lambert’s Platinum Parade • Taylor Swift’s Record-Breaking 2010

Miranda Lambert’s Platinum Parade

Columbia Nashville’s Miranda Lambert surprised the entire staff of Sony Music Nashville when she personally delivered plaques of her Platinum Certified album Revolution while serving her signature drink, Miranda-ritas.

(L-R): James Bledsoe, Mailroom Coord.; Denise Thomas, Facilities Mgr.; Lambert and Jan Baines, Project Mgr. IS&T. Photo: Tanya Welch

Taylor Swift’s Record-Breaking 2010

Big Machine Label Group’s Taylor Swift celebrated another record-breaking year at a party staged Friday, January 28 at Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe. BMI saluted the chart-topping success of Swift’s self-penned “Mine,” the lead single from her triple platinum album Speak Now. Nielsen SoundScan presented Taylor with a plaque commemorating the historic debut week sales of Speak Now. In its first week of release the album sold more than 1,047,000 copies, marking the best-selling debut week for a female country artist, ever. Swift is Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan’s top-selling artist of 2010 and has sold a total of more than 20 million albums and over 35 million individual song downloads.

(L-R): producer Nathan Chapman, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, Taylor Swift, BMI’s Jody Williams, and Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta. Photo: Jamie Walls


(L-R): Big Machine Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta; Nielsen Ent.'s Eric Weinberg; Taylor Swift; Nielsen Ent.'s Josh Bennett; Big Machine Label Group VP Sales, Mktg. & Interactive Kelly Rich; and Producer Nathan Chapman. Photo: Jamey Walls

Luke Bryan Set For Capitol CRS Luncheon

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Luke Bryan will perform at the Capitol Records Nashville luncheon at CRS 2011. The event is scheduled for Friday, March 4, from noon – 1:50 p.m. in the CMA Performance Hall inside the Nashville Convention Center.
Capitol Records Nashville President/CEO Mike Dungan says, “Luke delivers one of the best live performances in Country music. We are proud and excited to feature him at our luncheon!”
“With No. 1 hits like ‘Do I’ and ‘Rain is a Good Thing,’ and his current Top 5 single, ‘Someone Else Calling You Baby,’ Luke Bryan has proven to be one of the hottest new acts in Country music,” adds CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne. “Country radio recognized Luke’s talent when he broke onto the scene a few years ago, and now we are thrilled to have him perform for us at the Capitol Records Nashville luncheon at CRS 2011.”
CRS 2011 will be held March 2-4, 2011, in downtown Nashville, Tenn.