Verizon To Sell Apple's iPhone

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iPhone lovers, rejoice. After what seems like years of speculation, the beloved Apple Inc. smartphone will finally be unshackled from the oppressive tyranny of AT&T and available for use through the Verizon Wireless network. Viva la revolucion!
Verizon’s version of the iPhone 4 will be available for purchase Feb. 10, with the 16 GB version retailing for $199.99 and the 32 GB edition going for $299.99. A special Verizon-only feature will allow the phone to serve as a mobile hotspot connecting up to five devices. No information has been released on the cost of data plans, but tuaw.com reports that Verizon’s Android phones have the mobile hotspot capability for $20/month on top of the $30/month unlimited data plan. Apple originally released iPhone 4 for sale through AT&T in June 2010.
This development will likely allow Verizon to siphon significant business from AT&T, whose exclusive contract with Apple to carry the iPhone has been a major competitive advantage. And with Verizon’s network being the nation’s largest, Apple stands to reap great rewards from tapping its massive customer base.
So this begs the question: who will be making the switch?

BMI Live Offers Royalties For Any Size Show

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BMI has launched BMI Live, a program enabling songwriters to register their concerts, regardless of venue size, to be considered for payment.
Mike O’Neill, BMI Senior Vice President, Repertoire and Licensing, says the program is designed to ensure that performing songwriters in any stage of their careers receive payment for concerts of all sizes, from coffee shops to football stadiums.
Available only online, BMI Live is open to all of the organization’s affiliates. To qualify, songwriters need to enter their live musical performances on www.bmi.com. Songwriters can submit performances up to six months after the show date.
BMI will pay royalties to both writers and publishers via direct deposit in its June distribution for performances occurring July 1 through December 31, 2010. Concert performances eligible for the June royalty distribution must be entered by March 31, 2011. The distribution from BMI Live will be made quarterly after this initial June 2011 launch.

McGraw Tour Presale; Hill's Floral Collection

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Presale tickets for select dates of Tim McGraw’s recently announced Emotional Traffic Tour will be available today (1/11) for those registered at mcgrawfan.com. The trek gets underway in spring with special guests Luke Bryan and The Band Perry. Shows available for presale include Corpus Christi, TX (4/8); Bossier City, LA  (4/10); Savannah, GA (4/17); and Wichita, KS (5/19). Additional dates for the tour are expected to be announced shortly, and tickets will go on sale to the public Saturday, January 15.
The other half of the McGraw household is also keeping busy, as Faith Hill has announced “The Collection by Faith Hill” in collaboration with Teleflora, the world’s leading flower delivery service. The collection was developed with Teleflora to reflect Hill’s style and taste, and will be revealed during a high-visibility Super Bowl XLV commercial spot on Fox Sunday, February 6. Hill will star in the Valentine’s Day-themed ad, which will feature the collection’s first installment, the Valentine’s Bouquet.

Garth Tickets at Wynn Las Vegas

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The next series of Garth Brooks concert dates at the Wynn Las Vegas were recently announced, and tickets will go on sale Saturday, January 15. Brooks has performed to sold-out audiences at the hotel’s intimate Encore Theater since December 2009 when he announced that he would end his retirement and become a resident headliner at the Wynn Las Vegas. Tickets for these concert dates are $225 plus service charge and tax ($253 total).
Concert Dates:
March 25 & 26
April 8 & 9
June 3 & 4
June 24 & 25
July 22 & 23
Concert times:
Fridays: 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
Tickets are available exclusively at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-65-GARTH.

“All About Tonight” Goes No. 1

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The Georgian songwriting trio of Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, also known as the “Peach Pickers,” celebrated their third No. 1 song in a year at a party held at BMI on January 7. Recorded by Blake Shelton, “All About Tonight” hit No. 1 in 2010 as did “All Over Me,” recorded by Josh Turner and “Gimmie That Girl” by Joe Nichols. “All About Tonight” also marks the 45th No. 1 single produced by Scott Hendricks.

(L-R) back: BMI’s Jody Williams; Warner Music Nashville’s Chris Stacey and John Esposito; BMI’s Leslie Roberts; EMI Music Publishing Nashville’s Ben Vaughn; producer Scott Hendricks; and BMI’s Perry Howard. Front: Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, and Ben Hayslip. Photo: Steve Lowry

News Items: Ballard, Wilson, Casting Crowns

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Frankie Ballard’s Opry Debut • Gretchen Wilson Quits Smoking • Casting Crowns On Huckabee


Frankie Ballard Makes Opry Debut

Warner Bros. Records newcomer Frankie Ballard made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday (1/7) at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Ballard got the crowd going with his new single “Tell Me You Get Lonely” and the up-tempo rocker “Get On Down The Road.” His debut album will be released later this year.

(L-R): Pete Fisher, VP/GM Grand Ole Opry; Frankie Ballard; and Steve Buchanan, Pres. Grand Ole Opry Group.


Gretchen Quits Smoking

In front of over 1000 New Year’s Eve revelers in Rosenberg, Texas, Gretchen Wilson smoked her last cigarette. Following the concert, she threw away her remaining cigarettes, lighters, ash trays and any other reminders of her long-time habit. “I figured if I said it from stage in front of my fans, I’d stick to it. And so far I have,” said Wilson.

(L-R): singer/songwriter and backup vocalist Bekka Bramlett and Gretchen Wilson.


Casting Crowns Performs On Huckabee

Grammy, AMA and Dove Award-winning Artist of the Year Casting Crowns performed its new single “Glorious Day” on FOX News Channel’s Huckabee show last weekend (1/8). Governor Huckabee interviewed lead singer and Pastor Mark Hall about the group’s dedication to student and family ministry in Atlanta and the groups’ hit songs and platinum-selling albums. With special guests Huckabee on bass guitar and FOX correspondent Lauren Green on keys, the band debuts its third radio single off its Gold album Until the Whole World Hears.

(L-R): Mark Hall, Melodee DeVevo, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Lauren Green, Juan DeVevo and Blair Masters.

Kenny Chesney, Documentarian?

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Kenny Chesney’s love of football (see also: “The Boys Of Fall”) continues with the announcement that he has produced a one hour special for ESPN’s Year of the Quarterback series about former University of Tennessee quarterback Condredge Holloway. The special, titled “The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story,” is set to air February 20, 7 pm CT on ESPN.
Chesney wore Holloway’s number as a high school football player, and idolized the college gridiron star. Holloway was the first African American quarterback in the Southeastern Conference, and went on to professional playing success with the Canadian Football League.
“Condredge has meant so much to so many and is a very important figure in my life and to the history of college football,” says Chesney. “I’m excited, with the help of Shaun Silva, to tell his story, to show his journey, and to help show the world just how influential he was to how the game is played today and how many doors he opened for so many athletes that have followed in his footsteps.”

Big Yellow Dog Re-ups Kear, Signs Anderson

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Big Yellow Dog Principals Kerry O'Neil and Carla Wallace with Josh Kear (center).


Big Yellow Dog Music has re-signed hit songwriter Josh Kear, and added songwriter “Big Al” Anderson to its roster. The company’s principals Carla Wallace and Kerry O’Neil have also promoted Brooke Arrington to Creative Director, assisting Wallace with songplugging and creative duties. The end of 2010 marked the publishing house’s 13th year in business, during which time it celebrated its 13th No. 1 single.

Creative Director Brooke Arrington


Among Kear’s hits is Lady Antebellum’s multi-award-winning smash “Need You Now.” The title track from the band’s current album was the most played song of 2010 across all formats, and is nominated for a 2010 GRAMMY Award for Song of the Year and Best Country Song. Kear won a GRAMMY in 2007 for Best Country Song for Carrie Underwood’s charttopper, “Before He Cheats.” Both songs have been awarded ASCAP Song Of The Year.
“Big Al” Anderson is a renowned songwriter and former member of the college of musical knowledge known as The New Rhythm and Blues Quartet, or more simply, NRBQ. He is behind hits for artists ranging from George Jones to Etta James to the Allman Brothers.
Additional staff writers at Big Yellow Dog Music include Shawn Camp, Daniel Tashian, Karyn Rochelle, Madeleine Slate, Pat McLaughlin, Logan Mize and Nikki Williams.
Brooke Arrington can be reached at 615-385-3130 or Brooke@bigyellowdogmusic.com.

Carla Wallace, "Big Al" Anderson and Brooke Arrington

Boot Founder Gets CMA Media Award

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(L-R) CMA Director of Media Relations Scott Stem, Beville Darden and CMA VP of Corporate Communications Wendy Pearl


The CMA has announced that its 2010 Media Achievement Award will go to Beville Darden, co-founder and editor of the Country Music news Website, TheBoot.com, which is distributed via AOL Music. Darden has also served as a music writer/reporter for both AOL.com and Spinner.com. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, Ala., she attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Later she was a television news writer before a stint as an on-air personality at WSM Radio.
The CMA Media Achievement Award was established to recognize outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to Country Music. Print and Internet journalists, columnists, authors, editors, syndicated radio reporters, television writers, producers and bookers are eligible to win this award.
“I am beyond humbled,” said Darden. “A CMA Award? I can’t carry a tune in a bucket! But it is my honor every single day to write about those who can. The Country Music industry has been so welcoming to The Boot, and we owe our success to all of the wonderful publicists, labels, and artists who work so closely with us to bring unique content to Country Music fans. Thank you to the voters and to my wonderful friends at CMA!”
TheBoot was founded in 2004 and receives more than 64,000 site visits per day according to StatBrain.com. CMA’s recent consumer research study reveals that 14 percent of Online CountryPhiles and 10 percent of Online MusicPhiles visit AOL Music (TheBoot) for Country Music content once a week or more. Content is posted daily and archived with 2,800 features currently stored in the Country news category.
Past winners of the CMA Media Achievement Award include:
1982 Jack Hurst
1983 Neil Hickey
1984 Dolly Carlisle
1985 Red O’Donnell
1986 No Award
1987 David Zimmerman
1988 Robert K. Oermann
1989 Bob Claypool
1990 Dick Heard
1991 No Award
1992 Mark McEwen
1993 Lynn Lester
1994 Judy Massa
1995 Clay Smith
1996 Tisi Aylward
1997 Jay Orr
1998 Chet Flippo
1999 Hazel Smith
2000 Neil Pond
2001 Harry Chapman
2002 Jim Patterson
2003 Denise Quan
2004 Alanna Nash
2005 Mark Bracco
2006 Donna Hughes
2007 Storme Warren
2008 Monica Escobedo
2009 Cynthia Sanz

[updated 1/11] Lifenotes: Juri Bunetta

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MusicRow extends sincere condolences to Al Bunetta and his family on the passing of his son, Juri Bunetta, yesterday (1/9).
The 19-year-old died from injuries sustained during a single-car accident on Interstate 65 on Saturday night.
He was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he later died.
Al Bunetta has managed and overseen the careers of John Prine and the late Steve Goodman for over 30 years. He is a Grammy winning producer, music publisher, and co-founder of award-winning Oh Boy Records.
The Bunetta family thanks friends and loved ones for their thoughts, prayers and support during this difficult time.
A service will be held on Friday January 14th, 2011 at 3 PM at
Rehoboth United Methodist Church
2601 Cage’s Bend Rd.
Gallatin, TN 37066
Flowers are welcome and appreciated at the church. The family asks that any donations be made in Juri Bunetta’s name to Small World Adoption Programs, PO Box 1109, Mt Juliet, TN 37121 or online at www.swa.net.
If you have any questions, please call 615.742.1250 x2 or email info@ohboy.com.