The Country Music Association (CMA) announced the 2010 winners for the Broadcast Awards, culled from CMA members who are full-time, on-air personalities and CMA member radio stations in the U.S. and Canada. All entries were judged by a panel of distinguished broadcast professionals representing all market sizes and regions as ranked by Arbitron.
“We are thrilled to be able to honor Country radio,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “While there are quite a few familiar faces among the broadcast personality winners, it is exciting to see so many radio stations winning for the first time. It speaks to the great job these broadcasters are doing in their individual markets.”
The Broadcast Personality of the Year nominees are judged on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and biographical information. The Station of the Year candidates are determined by airchecks, rating history, community involvement and format leadership.
CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominee Little Big Town and CMA Best New Artist nominee Chris Young notified winners on the air. The CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year and CMA Radio Station of the Year recipients will be recognized during “The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” airing on ABC live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, November 10.
The 2010 CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year winners are as follows:
National – Lon Helton, “CMT’s Country Countdown USA” (Westwood One)
Major Market – Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray Stevens, “Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray in the Morning,” WUSN, Chicago, Ill. (CBS Radio, Inc.)
Large Market – Gerry House, Mike Bohan, Richard Falklen, Al Voecks and Duncan Stewart, “The House Foundation,” WSIX, Nashville, Tenn. (Clear Channel Communications)
Medium Market – Andy Ritchie, Alison Mencer, and Jimmy Holt, “Andy & Alison and the Morning Crew,” WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn. (Citadel Communications Corp.)
Small Market – Bill Poindexter and Melissa Turner, “The Dex and Mo Show,” WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Clear Channel Communications)
The 2010 CMA Radio Station of the Year winners are as follows:
Major Market – KWJJ, Portland, Ore.
Large Market – KAJA, San Antonio, Texas
Medium Market – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
Small Market – WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.
ISC Deadline Extended , Glee Strikes a Chord
/by contributorThe International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has extended the deadline for entries to December 3rd, 2010.
ISC accepts entries from amateur and professional songwriters, awarding over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including a Grand Prize package of $25,000 cash and $20,000 in merchandise. Winners also benefit from extensive publicity and international exposure to industry professionals and music fans. Since 2004, three of the five Grand Prize winners have been signed to major record labels, one to a high-profile independent label, and one to a publishing deal.
Judges for ISC this year include over 60 high-profile artists and music industry executives including Peter Gabriel, Wynonna, Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Rihanna, Timbaland, Ben Harper, Craig Morgan, Michael W. Smith, Regina Spektor, Joe Nichols, Train, Jeff Beck, Ben Folds, Monte Lipman, Steve Lillywhite, Kim Buie, Brian Malouf and Lisa Ramsey Perkins.
More information and entry forms are available at www.songwritingcompetition.com.
Chord Overstreet
Glee Strikes a Chord
Paul Overstreet, who has penned songs for George Jones, Randy Travis and Kenny Chesney, clearly passed the music gene to his sons. Paul’s youngest son, Chord, joined the cast of the hit Fox show Glee this season as McKinley High’s new quarterback, Sam Evans. Paul’s oldest son, Nash, is in the band Hot Chelle Rae, who released their debut Lovesick Electric on Jive Records last year.
Deluxe Edition of New Reba CD Available
/by contributorBoth versions of the album are now available for pre-sale at www.REBA.com and on www.thevalorymusicco.com. All The Women I Am marks Reba’s first project with award-winning producer Dann Huff (Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) and includes the smash “Turn On the Radio,” the break-out “Somebody’s Chelsea,” co-written by Reba, and the popular cover of Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy.”
This is her second album for The Valory Music Co., the sister label to Big Machine Records.
File Sharers Won’t Allow A Target on Their Hard Drive
/by adminIf the Internet was like Dodge City in the 1800s, then a team of well intentioned, quick draw US Marshals could be expected to tame the law breakers. Unfortunately, the Internet is virtual in nature and was created with its own laws of the digital jungle. One of those laws—which overrides all else—is that by design, information online is porous. Data slips through the internet like water through a screen door. For every imaginable digital lock there is a digital key.
The plan being suggested by many these days is that the ISP should carefully monitor its users by IP address to see who is consuming extra large chunks of bandwidth and warn them against sharing content illegally. Peer2peer file sharers, however will not stand around waiting for a target to be attached to their hard drives. They have already created new hacks for P2P networks that obscure the user’s true IP address making them invisible to the ISP. Go take a look at BTGuard–Anonymous Bittorrent Services (http://btguard.com). This site advertises, “BTGuard gives you an anonymous IP address and encrypts your downloads. Not even your ISP will know what you’re doing.”
A few months ago UK Broadband company TalkTalk echoed these issues. When asked about making the ISP responsible for enforcing piracy it told Sky News, “It’s profoundly unfair—it is like making a bus company responsible for shoplifters who use their buses to get to the shops. It is futile since people will switch to undetectable methods and encrypted services.”
Asking ISPs to police the Internet is unrealistic.
What To Do?
No one in the history of the Internet has ever been able to illegally download even a single track without an Internet connection. So the answer is simple. Mandate that all ISP users pay a content fee before they get connected. Looked at another way, they are paying on the way into the store. For more details on such a plan and how it might work visit here.
Tech Toys ‘N Apps: Verizon, iPad, Android, Tweetdeck
/by adminLike the music industry where a glut of new product miraculously arrives in time for the fourth quarter holiday season, a slew of new tech toys and applications are also coming to the party. First on the list is Verizon’s announcement that it will begin offering Apple’s iPad on Oct. 28. Verizon compatible technology will be absent from the iPad however, so the carrier will bundle it with it MiFi Mobile Hotspot. Verizon Wireless will offer three iPad Wi-Fi + MiFi bundles: the iPad Wi-Fi 16GB for $630, the iPad Wi-Fi 32GB for $730 and the iPad Wi-Fi 64GB for $830. Verizon will also introduce a special monthly access plan for iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for $20 a month or a 5GB plan for $60 per month. Earlier this week rumors grew loud that iPhone and Verizon would arrive at the 2011 prom as tech’s newest couple.
Another pairing of convenience is Skype and Facebook. Earlier this year the two began to interconnect, facilitating calls to Facebook friends using Skype, but now Skype Version 5.0 has brought slick new features and improvements. Features include up to 10-way calling plus many cosmetic and design improvements.
CMA announces Broadcast Awards Winners
/by contributor“We are thrilled to be able to honor Country radio,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “While there are quite a few familiar faces among the broadcast personality winners, it is exciting to see so many radio stations winning for the first time. It speaks to the great job these broadcasters are doing in their individual markets.”
The Broadcast Personality of the Year nominees are judged on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and biographical information. The Station of the Year candidates are determined by airchecks, rating history, community involvement and format leadership.
CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominee Little Big Town and CMA Best New Artist nominee Chris Young notified winners on the air. The CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year and CMA Radio Station of the Year recipients will be recognized during “The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” airing on ABC live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, November 10.
The 2010 CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year winners are as follows:
National – Lon Helton, “CMT’s Country Countdown USA” (Westwood One)
Major Market – Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray Stevens, “Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray in the Morning,” WUSN, Chicago, Ill. (CBS Radio, Inc.)
Large Market – Gerry House, Mike Bohan, Richard Falklen, Al Voecks and Duncan Stewart, “The House Foundation,” WSIX, Nashville, Tenn. (Clear Channel Communications)
Medium Market – Andy Ritchie, Alison Mencer, and Jimmy Holt, “Andy & Alison and the Morning Crew,” WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn. (Citadel Communications Corp.)
Small Market – Bill Poindexter and Melissa Turner, “The Dex and Mo Show,” WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Clear Channel Communications)
The 2010 CMA Radio Station of the Year winners are as follows:
Major Market – KWJJ, Portland, Ore.
Large Market – KAJA, San Antonio, Texas
Medium Market – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
Small Market – WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.
Terra Firma And Citigroup Prepare for Court Battle
/by adminGuy Hands
Years and months of debate, wounded pride, sagging financials, conflicting reports and more will collide next week as Citigroup and Terra Firma face off in a New York court to decide a lawsuit brought by Terra Firma’s Guy Hands alleging that he and his company were deceived during the auction process which resulted in the purchase of EMI Music. The case is made all the more personal because Hands and Citigroup’s dealmaker David Wormsley, had been friends and involved in numerous previous unrelated deals together.
According to the New York Times, “At the trial, Citigroup’s lawyers are expected to depict his lawsuit as a Hail Mary pass to try to salvage a failed investment and portray Mr. Hands as having a classic case of buyers’ remorse.” Mr. Hands says that Mr. Wormsley unfairly drove up the auction price by misrepresenting that there was another bidder for the company.”
The $6.7 billion purchase of EMI has not worked out well for Hands and Terra Firma. Despite attempts to lower costs and trim expenses, the private equity firm has had to inject about $150 million to keep the company doors open. Citigroup has not been able to hand off any of the $4.3 billion in loans it has on the deal and attempts between Hands and Citigroup to restructure the loans have been unsuccessful.
Terra Firma is hoping to recover $8 billion in damages plus punitive damages.
Roots Radio Hit By Lightning
/by admin“We’re very excited about our new association with Music City Roots,” said Lightning 100 General Manager Fred Buc. “Nashville is fortunate to be one of the few cities in the U.S. where you can always hear quality music and learn about new artists and styles. The addition of Music City Roots: Live from the Loveless Cafe is a natural fit in our menu of diverse specialty programming, and at the same time, will expand Lightning 100’s brand and musical mission.”
John Walker, co-creator and co-producer of Music City Roots says of the new Lightning 100 relationship: “We’re thrilled to partner with a local station with such a great history of independence and forward-thinking. We’re also truly excited as Music City Roots begins to expand its national and international vision.”
The show’s new airwave home will come with several changes. Emcee Eddie Stubbs will depart and veteran announcer Keith Bilbrey will fill his slot. Bilbrey will be joined each week by musical host Jim Lauderdale and journalist/interviewer Craig Havighurst.
The Nashville Scene recently named the Loveless Barn and the show as Nashville’s Best New Roots Music Venue, “akin to what the Opry must have been like 60 years ago.” AOL’s country music blog The Boot declared it a “must-see” experience.
Painted Guitar Auction To Help Teens
/by adminThe Hear The Music Live guitar will be auctioned on eBay.com during Nov. 9-19, 2010.
The Hear The Music Live guitar will be auctioned on eBay.com Nov. 9-19, 2010. Hear The Music Live’s primary focus is to reach out to pre-teens and teens in residential treatment foster care group homes to give them the opportunity to attend a concert in their local area (e.g. 90% of the children that Hear The Music Live sends to concerts have never been to a live concert). Hear The Music Live was founded by Steven Nornhold in the summer of 2009. To date, Hear The Music Live has sent over 2000 pre-teens and teens from residential foster care group homes to see live concerts and meet music performers throughout the U.S.
Famous Nashville artist, Mandy Lawson painted the auction guitar. She has painted guitars for top country music artists such as Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, and others. Artists that have signed the guitar include Tim McGraw, The Judds, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, Rodney Atkins, Gloriana, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Katie Armiger, Kellie Pickler, Cowboy Troy, Mark Wills, John Rich, Pam Tillis, Chris Young, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Jimmy Wayne.
Hometown Salutes The Band Perry
/by adminThe Band Perry returned to its hometown Greeneville, TN (10/10) to offer thanks for the town’s support in the form of a free concert. Siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid were surprised when over 5,000 fans showed up and the town also declared Oct. 10 to The Band Perry Week. The CMA-nominated band released its self-titled debut album on October 12, featuring the Gold-certified single, “If I Die Young” and the Top Twenty hit, “Hip To My Heart.”
The Band Perry signed autographs for over four hours. Photo: Phil Gentry
Photos: Toby’s Team; Underwood Tour; Jordyn Shellhart
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Carrie Underwood was presented a plague commemorating her sold-out hometown stop in Tulas, OK. Photo credit: Jeremy Charles
Carrie Underwood performed a sold-out show this week in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the BOK Center for nearly 12,000 fans. The concert was the closest her tour will get to her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, about 45 minutes away. Underwood also headlined the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas Saturday night performing for over 10,000 fans. Special guests on the bill were Billy Currington and Sons of Sylvia. Underwood’s “Play On Tour,” hydrated by vitamin water® and sponsored by Olay, continues tonight (10/13) in Nashville. It will play over 100 cities in 2010 before wrapping December 19 in Calgary, Alberta Canada.
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L-R: Michelle Goble, ACM; Jordyn Shellhart; Rick Barker, Nashville To You
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Columbia Nashville Recording artist Jordyn Shellhart to the office for a visit when she was in Los Angeles this week. While at the Academy, Shellhart signed up for ACM professional membership and performed a few songs for the staff including the heartfelt “I Won’t Give Up On You.” The young singer-songwriter recently made her Grand Ole Opry debut on her 16th birthday. Shellhart’s debut album on Sony Music Nashville, In A Room was released earlier this year to Best Buy and iTunes.