Gloriana, Crystal Shawanda Perform On Macy’s Parade

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Gloriana

Gloriana and Crystal Shawanda are among the country artists performing on tomorrow’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Gloriana will sing its Gold single “Wild At Heart” during the 84th annual event in New York City, airing live on NBC from 9am to 12pm.

Shawanda, whose radio hits include “You Can Let Go,” will perform “Let’s Come Together” on tomorrow’s event. She is a First Nations member of the Ojibwe band in her native Canada, and will represent the Onieda Indian Nation on its “True Spirit of Thanksgiving” float. More than 3.5 million people are expected to attend the Thanksgiving Day parade and more than 50 million viewers tune in nationwide.

Also performing are Kanye West, India.Arie, Jessica Simpson, and Gladys Knight.

Chuck Wicks will help kick off the holiday season in Atlanta at the 63rd annual lighting of the Macy’s Great Tree on Thanksgiving evening. More than 100,000 fans are expected to attend the event at Atlanta’s Lenox Square Mall, and another half-million are expected to watch the live broadcast on WSB-TV. Wicks’ new single, “Old School,” is about to hit radio. It is from his second album, due in 2011.

Eldredge Opry Debut; Edens Edge Performs at ASCAP

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After recently being named CMT’s “Next Big Thing,” Atlantic Recording artist Brett Eldredge is making career highlights with his Opry debut and performing at Maria Shriver’s “March on Alzheimer’s” in Los Angeles and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s “For the Love of George” charity event in Nashville. His emotionally powerful single “Raymond” continues to climb the Country charts. (L-R): Brett’s Grandmother Shirley Eldredge, Brett Eldredge, Country legend Bill Anderson and Brett’s Grandfather Spizz Eldredge.

Big Machine Records’ Edens Edge performed at a private event on Nov. 10 at ASCAP’s Nashville office, for approximately 20 top level executives, including Dick Schultz, founder of Best Buy; Jeff Peterson, Director of Innovation and Strategy at General Mills; and Tani Austin of Starkey Hearing Foundation. Pictured with Edens Edge (Hannah Blaylock, Cherrill Green and Dean Berner) are Schultz and his wife, Maureen; and Shirley and Michael Benson.

Amazon Launches MP3 Gifting

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Before now, giving the gift of digital music would have meant fighting crowds at Best Buy and Target for iTunes gift cards. But with the arrival of Amazon’s MP3 Gifting service, it can be done without ever leaving home.

Launched shortly after the company’s new Kindle Book Gifting service, Amazon’s MP3 gifting allows consumers to buy albums or individual tracks, personalize the purchase with a custom message, and enter the gift recipient’s email address. Recipients will be alerted with an email message letting them know they have a gift waiting. There’s no risk either–if the recipient doesn’t want the chosen album, it can be exchanged for store credit. The service works with all Amazon MP3 downloads.

American Country Awards To Salute Alan Jackson

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Alan Jackson will be honored with the Greatest Hits Award at the American Country Awards on Dec. 6. He will also perform during the show, airing live on FOX from Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Jackson has sold more than 50 million albums during his 20-year career, making him a fitting recipient for the Greatest Hits Award.

Hosted by Trace Adkins, the fan-voted American Country Awards will also feature previously announced performers Adkins, Easton Corbin, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, Steel Magnolia, Josh Turner and Uncle Kracker. There will be appearances by Laura Bell Bundy, Rodney Carrington, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Bret Michaels, Ty Murray, Jeff Dunham and Michael Waltrip.

American Country Awards is executive-produced by Bob Bain (TEEN CHOICE 2010, Kids’ Choice Awards). Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; Fletcher Foster is co-producer; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the special.

Visit www.theacas.com for a complete list of categories and nominees.

Barry Tashian Headed For Boston Hall of Fame

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The Remains, 1966 (L-R): Bill Briggs, Chip Damiani, Barry Tashian and Vern Miller. Photo: Ed Freeman

Nashville singer, songwriter and musician Barry Tashian is to be inducted into the Boston Music Awards Hall of Fame on December 5 because of his 1960s career in the rock band The Remains.

As Boston college students, The Remains were signed to Epic Records in New York, but came to Nashville in 1965 and 1966 to record at the Quonset Hut with producer Billy Sherrill. The group’s debut album was reissued on CD and vinyl in 1999. A Remains Greatest Hits CD appeared in 2007. The Remains were the subjects of the 2009 documentary film America’s Lost Band.

During a brief career, The Remains appeared on such national TV programs as Hullabaloo and The Ed Sullivan Show. The band was chosen as an opening act on the final Beatles U.S. tour in 1966. That experience led to Tashian’s 1997 book Ticket to Ride. After the tour, The Remains broke up.

Tashian next surfaced as a sideman for Gram Parsons in the 1970s. He moved to Nashville in 1980 and was the lead guitarist in Emmylou Harris’s Hot Band in 1980-88. He records and performs today in the Americana/folk duo Barry & Holly Tashian with his wife. Son, Daniel Tashian is a Nashville pop mainstay.

The Remains last reunited for a CD and tour in 2002. In addition to Tashian on lead vocals and lead guitar, the group includes Vern Miller on bass, Bill Briggs on keyboard and Chip Damiani on drums. Tashian says they plan to perform at the induction ceremony.

“All four of us consider it a privilege and an honor to be inducted,” said Tashian.

Swift Announces World Tour

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Taylor Swift’s Speak Now is going international following the announcement of her Speak Now World Tour 2011, which gets underway February 9 in Singapore. The global trek currently has 87 shows scheduled, spanning 19 countries in Asia, Europe and North America. Tour dates for New Zealand and Australia are planned for later in the year.

During the first quarter of 2011, Swift will tour through Asia and Europe before launching her North American tour May 27 in Omaha, NE. Six stadium shows, including the Dallas Cowboys Stadium and Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, are on the itinerary. The North American leg is sponsored by Covergirl, and tickets start at $25.

She will perform in Nashville September 16 and 17.

Swift’s 2009-10 Fearless Tour ran for 15 months, playing 107 dates in 88 cities and five countries.

Initial Dates for Speak Now World Tour 2011:
February 9—Singapore
February 11—Seoul, South Korea
February 13—Osaka, Japan
February 16 & 17—Tokyo, Japan
February 19—Manila, Philippines
February 21—Hong Kong
March 6—Brussels, Belgium
March 7—Rotterdam, Holland
March 9—Oslo, Norway
March 12—Oberhausen, Germany
March 15—Milan, Italy
March 17—Paris, France
March 19—Madrid, Spain
March 22—Birmingham, UK
March 25—Belfast, Northern Ireland
March 27—Dublin, Ireland
March 29—Manchester, UK
March 30—London, UK
May 27 & 28—Omaha, Nebraska
May 29—Des Moines, Iowa
June 2 & 3—Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
June 4—Orlando, Florida
June 7—Columbus, Ohio
June 8—Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 11—Detroit, Michigan
June 14 & 15—St. Paul, Minnesota
June 18—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 21—Buffalo, New York
June 22—Hartford, Connecticut
June 25—Foxborough, Massachusetts
June 30—Greensboro, North Carolina
July 1—Knoxville, Tennessee
July 2—Louisville, Kentucky
July 8—Charlotte, North Carolina
July 9 & 10—Atlanta, Georgia
July 14—Montreal, Quebec
July 15 & 16—Toronto, Ontario
July 19 & 20—New York, New York
July 28—Grand Rapids, Michigan
July 29—Indianapolis, Indiana
July 30—Cleveland, Ohio
August 2 & 3—Washington, DC
August 6—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 9 & 10—Chicago, Illinois
August 13—Lexington, Kentucky
August 14—St. Louis, Missouri
August 18 & 19—Edmonton, Alberta
August 23 & 24—Los Angeles, California
September 1 & 2—San Jose, California
September 3—Sacramento, California
September 6—Portland, Oregon
September 7—Seattle, Washington
September 10 & 11—Vancouver, British Columbia
September 16 & 17—Nashville, Tennessee
September 21—Tulsa, Oklahoma
September 24—Kansas City, Missouri
September 27—Denver, Colorado
September 28—Salt Lake City, Utah
October 4—Little Rock, Arkansas
October 5—New Orleans, Louisiana
October 8—Dallas, Texas

Signings: New Frontier and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band; Mark Hybner and Thom Shepherd

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

New Frontier Touring has signed Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for exclusive worldwide representation. The multiple Grammy and CMA award-winning band is known for its Will the Circle Be Unbroken album, and classic hits such as “Mr. Bojangles” and “Fishin’ In the Dark.”

For booking contact:
New Frontier Touring
Paul Lohr
paullohr@newfrontiertouring.com
615-321-6152
•••••

Thom Shepherd, Photo: Dan Harr

Mark Hybner Management has signed singer/songwriter Thom Shepherd. Shepherd’s song’s have been cut by Craig Morgan (“Redneck Yacht Club”), David Ball (“Riding With Private Malone”), Montgomery Gentry (“A Man’s Job”), Kevin Fowler, Bucky Covington, Colt Ford and a host of others.

As a performer Shepherd tours the world, most recently completing a ten-day cultural exchange mission tour through Saudi Arabia where he played a series of shows for Saudi citizens, Marines, and U.S. Embassy employees.

Contact: Mark Hybner Management
Mark Hybner
361-772-5678
mhybner@hybnerent.com

Thompson Entertainment Group
Chuck Thompson
615-742-8004
cthompson@thompsonentertainmenmtgroup.com

Canadian Tunesmiths Honored At SOCAN Awards

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Songs performed by George Canyon, Doc Walker, Johnny Reid and The Road Hammers were among the songs honored at the annual SOCAN Awards last night (11/22) in Toronto, ON. Sarah McLachlan was a standout winner, earning nine SOCAN Classic Awards for songs that reached at least 100,000 radio plays. Composer Galt McDermot (Hair) was named SOCAN’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Vancouver-based Songwriter/producer/instrumentalist Brian Howe was given the International Achievement Award for his work with Hinder, Daughtry, David Cook, Puddle of Mudd and more. Canadian rockers Nickelback also earned multiple recognitions for their hits “Gotta Be Somebody” and “If Today Was Your Last Day.”

SOCAN Country Songwriting Awards:

“Just Like You” (Performed by George Canyon)
Composers: George Canyon, Gary Harrison, Richard Marx; Publisher: None

“One Last Sundown” (Performed by Doc Walker)
Composers: Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw, Jon Mabe; Publishers: ole, Roots 3 Music Inc.

“A Woman Like You” (Performed by Johnny Reid)
Composers: Johnny Reid, Brent Maher; Publisher: Johnny Mac Entertainment Inc.

“Homegrown” (Performed by The Road Hammers)
Composers: Chris Byrne, Jason McCoy, Larry Haack, Bobby Taylor; Publisher: Airstrip Music

Chesney Stadium Sell-out; Currington W/ Babyface; Atkins Brings Country To Jersey

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Rodney Atkins. Photo: Matthew Ryan/Wanderer Arts Photography

Kenny Chesney sold out Boston’s Gillette Stadium on Saturday morning (11/20) in just 8 minutes. The August 27, 2011 stop on his Corona Extra sponsored Goin’ Costal Tour is the first official sell-out of his 2011 concert season.

This marks Chesney’s sixth sell-out at the venue, each time totaling almost 60,000 tickets. Chesney is fresh off his 20th No. 1 single “The Boys of Fall.”

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Rodney Atkins brought country music to New Jersey with style. He was the first country artist to perform at the Starland Ballroom, a local legend, and played to a sold-out crowd.

Starland’s Jon Vena credits the genre’s growth in the market to the addition of new country station, WKMK Thunder 106. Atkins’ latest single, “Farmer’s Daughter,” is still climbing the charts and is currently in the Top 5. The single has sold close to 500,000 downloads on iTunes.

Among the acts who have previously graced the stage at Starland are Justin Timberlake, The Black Crowes and Social Distortion.

•••••

Billy Currington surprised fans at his show at Joe’s Bar in Chicago last week by bringing out superstar artist and producer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds for a soulful collaboration of “Change The World.” See video below.

Back in September, Currington and Edmonds met in Los Angeles to write and struck up a friendship. Edmonds joined Currington on a three-day run for more writing sessions last week.

Average Joes Inks Corey Smith

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L to R: Manager Marty Winsch, Corey Smith, and Average Joes Entertainment's CEO Shannon Houchins.

Average Joes Entertainment has signed Corey Smith through a partnership with UNDERtone Records. Smith’s debut for the label headed by CEO Shannon Houchins is expected early next year.

Smith has been steadily releasing albums since 2002 on UNDERtone Records. His five projects to date have collectively sold over 200,000 albums and over 760,000 digital singles according to Nielson Soundscan. In addition, Smith fans have downloaded over 800,000 free digital singles from www.coreysmith.com.

Smith is represented by Metro Talent Group’s Cass Scripps for booking and Marty Winsch for personal management.

Booking:
Metro Talent Group
Cass Scripps
(770) 395-1000
cass@metrotalentgroup.com

Manager:
Mountain Entertainment
Marty Winsch
(864) 962-8220
mntnent@aol.com