(L-R): EMI’s Hannah Post, Missy Wilson, Josh Van Valkenburg, Dallas Davidson, EMI EVP/GM Ben Vaughn, Laura Wright, and “Big” Tom Luteran.
EMI Music Publishing’s Dallas Davidson will be honored in this year’s Billboard year-end issue as the Hot Country Songwriter of the Year. The award recognizes his nine charted country singles including multiple No. 1 country hits “That’s How Country Boys Roll” (Billy Currington), “Rain Is A Good Thing” (Luke Bryan), “Gimmie That Girl” (Joe Nichols), “All About Tonight” (Blake Shelton), and “All Over Me” (Josh Turner). Davidson also received multiple BMI Awards this year with additional chart-toppers including “Start A Band” (Brad Paisley/Keith Urban), “Put A Girl In It” (Brooks & Dunn), “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” (Trace Adkins), and “Barefoot and Crazy” (Jack Ingram).
Davidson recently appeared in the TODAY Show Weekend’s “Secrets of Songwriters” special to talk about the tricks of his craft and was also awarded the CMA Triple Play Award earlier this year for “Rain Is A Good Thing,” “That’s How Country Boys Roll” and “Gimmie That Girl.”
Additionally, Davidson recently celebrated the release of the full-length album, Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector: The Brotherhood Album featuring Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson (Warner Bros.), a collection of songs written by Davidson and Rhett Akins.
Garth Concert Update
/by Sarah SkatesBrooks has partnered with the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program and is asking fans to bring a new, unwrapped toy to his concerts in Nashville. The gifts for children in need will be collected upon entry and will be distributed throughout Middle Tennessee.
Among Brooks’ guests will be performers Trisha Yearwood and songwriter Karyn Rochelle. Rochelle has penned hits including “Georgia Rain” and “This Is Me You’re Talking To” (Yearwood); “Red High Heels,” “I Wonder,” and “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” (Kellie Pickler); and “A Table Away” (Sunny Sweeney).
For concert arrival times see the box below. For a recap on parking, click here.
Joe Nichols “Greatest Hits” In The Works
/by Sarah SkatesNichols will wrap touring in December and take a short break for the holidays before gearing back up in 2011, when he will be busy promoting the Greatest Hits release.
Track Listing
Gimmie That Girl
The Shape I’m In
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
Brokenheartsville
Size Matters
The Impossible
What’s A Guy Gotta Do
It Ain’t No Crime
Cool To Be A Fool
I’ll Wait For You
George Jones At The Ryman; Little Jimmy Dickens Turns 90
/by Sarah SkatesGeorge Jones
George Jones will perform at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium next year. The show is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. through Ticketmaster.com, Ryman.com, and the Ryman box office. Tickets prices are $49.50 / $39.50 / $29.50.
More upcoming shows at the Ryman:
Amy Grant and Vince Gill • Dec 21 and Dec 22
Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith • Feb 22, 2011
A Prairie Home Companion • Mar 26, 2011
Amos Lee with The Secret Sisters • April 8, 2011
Always…Patsy Cline • Jun 17 – Jul 24, 2011
••••••
Little Jimmy Dickens
Little Jimmy Dickens will celebrate his 90th birthday with an invitation-only party on Saturday, December 18.
The performer and Grand Ole Opry star will greet industry guests and close friends at Rippy’s Bar & Grill in downtown Nashville.
BMI Hires Nada Latto
/by Freeman“Nada is a veteran HR executive with over 20 years of well-rounded leadership experience in a number of broad and progressive HR environments,” says Esworthy. “Her valuable experience, insight and leadership will help us guide the human resource element of BMI to higher levels of achievement.”
Latto was previously employed with the Oreck Corporation, where she was involved with all HR functions. Prior to Oreck, Latto was Sr. VP of HR at Ozburn-Hessey Logistics in Brentwood. She holds a BS in Consumer Services from Middle Tennesse State University and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Terra Firma Could Default on EMI Loan
/by Sarah SkatesSources told the New York Post that Terra Firma investors refuse to put any more money into the record label. Earlier this year Hands convinced them to plow $156 million into EMI to keep it from defaulting on the Citigroup loan.
Last month, Hands and Citigroup met in the courtroom, and Hands lost the lawsuit in which he claimed Citi convinced him to overpay for EMI.
Among EMI’s Nashville labels are EMI Christian Music Group and Capitol Records Nashville.
Jim Lauderdale Re-ups With Bug
/by Sarah SkatesBug Music CEO John Rudolph made today’s announcement. “We are thrilled to renew our deal with Jim—a talented writer and dynamic performer who has achieved great success in both country and Americana music—and honored to represent his body of work,” Rudolph said. “Jim’s genre-breaking contributions to music are immeasurable, and we look forward to more successes.”
Among the other songwriters signed to Bug are Kara Dioguardi, Luke Bryan, members of Kings of Leon, Gordie Sampson, and Ryan Adams, as well as songs by Johnny Cash.
Montana’s “1000 Faces” Video; Riversong Signs Hess
/by contributorRandy Montana Stars in “1,000 Faces”
Mercury Nashville artist Randy Montana recently shot a video in downtown Nashville for his upcoming single, “1,000 Faces,” written by Montana and Tom Douglas. The video, directed by Robert Deaton and George Flanigen, utilized over 60 extras to convert the closed city streets into a swarm of bustling pedestrians around Montana and his band. Photo: Alex Ferrari
(L-R): Stephen Hoell, Judd Sulcer, Homeland Ent. Group VP/GM Scott Godsey, and Steve Hess.
Riversong Records Signs Steve Hess and Southern Salvation
Riversong Records (a division of Homeland Entertainment Group) announces the recent signing of Steve Hess and Southern Salvation. The Nashville trio is comprised of baritone vocalist and pianist Steve Hess (nephew of Gospel Music Hall of Famer Jake Hess), lead singer Stephen Hoell and tenor singer Judd Sulcer. Their first project, Straight From The Heart, is set to be released the first week of January 2011.
Davidson Named Hot Country Songwriter of the Year
/by contributor(L-R): EMI’s Hannah Post, Missy Wilson, Josh Van Valkenburg, Dallas Davidson, EMI EVP/GM Ben Vaughn, Laura Wright, and “Big” Tom Luteran.
EMI Music Publishing’s Dallas Davidson will be honored in this year’s Billboard year-end issue as the Hot Country Songwriter of the Year. The award recognizes his nine charted country singles including multiple No. 1 country hits “That’s How Country Boys Roll” (Billy Currington), “Rain Is A Good Thing” (Luke Bryan), “Gimmie That Girl” (Joe Nichols), “All About Tonight” (Blake Shelton), and “All Over Me” (Josh Turner). Davidson also received multiple BMI Awards this year with additional chart-toppers including “Start A Band” (Brad Paisley/Keith Urban), “Put A Girl In It” (Brooks & Dunn), “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” (Trace Adkins), and “Barefoot and Crazy” (Jack Ingram).
Davidson recently appeared in the TODAY Show Weekend’s “Secrets of Songwriters” special to talk about the tricks of his craft and was also awarded the CMA Triple Play Award earlier this year for “Rain Is A Good Thing,” “That’s How Country Boys Roll” and “Gimmie That Girl.”
Additionally, Davidson recently celebrated the release of the full-length album, Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector: The Brotherhood Album featuring Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson (Warner Bros.), a collection of songs written by Davidson and Rhett Akins.
Benefits: Toys For Tots, Music City Community Chorus
/by Freeman• • • •
CMA Songwriter Series; CMT Radio Live On Tour
/by contributorBob DiPiero, Brett James, Little Big Town and Lori McKenna headlined the most recent CMA Songwriters Series, held in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on December 4. This was the second CMA-produced songwriters event held at the Library in 2010, with plans in the works for another one in Spring 2011. (L-R): DiPiero; Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild; James; McKenna; Library of Congress’ Chief of the Music Division Sue Vita; Pres./CEO The Smith-Free Group and CMA Ex-Officio Board Member Jim Free; Library of Congress’ Head of Acquisitions and Processing Section Denise Gallo, Ph.D; Special Asst. to the Librarian of Congress Suzanne Hogan; and Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet. Photo: Mitchell Layton
• • •
CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan was in Decatur, Ill Wednesday night (12/8) as part of the CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan on Tour. The city won the opportunity to host this free concert with the “Bring CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan to Your City” competition on Eventful. Alan and affiliate, WDZQ/95Q-FM in Decatur, were broadcasting live and hosted a concert featuring Justin Moore along with Thompson Square and Brett Eldredge at the Lincoln Square Theater. (L-R) back: Westwood One’s Sue Falco; WDZQ’s Tricia LeVeck; VP Radio MTV Music Group Lori Megown; Eldredge; WDZQ’s Rhiannon; CMT’s Sr. Dir. Music Programming & Promotion Stephen Linn; Thompson Square’s Shawna Thompson; and WDZQ’s Toby Tucker. Front: Moore; Alan; WDZQ’s Kimmy K; and Thompson Square’s Keifer Thompson. Photo: Dingo O’Brien