FUNL Showcase, Louvin Album, Secret Sisters

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L to R: David Kastle (The Orchard), Tamara Alan (FUNL Music), Pam Browne (FUNL Music), Amber Hayes, and Ty Herndon. Photo by www.izzynashville.com

•••Nashville-based independent label FUNL Music hosted a double-feature showcase last night (10/19) at the Mercy Lounge with performances by Ty Herndon and Amber Hayes. Herndon’s Journey On earned the chart-topping singer a Dove Award earlier this year for “When We Fly.” Hayes’ current single, “C’mon,” is approaching Top 40 status on the Music Row Country Breakout chart.

O'Shea

•••DigitalRodeo.com is producing a new series called O’SHEA USA to air on Australia’s Country Music Channel (CMC). The 2-3 minute episodes will be hosted by Australia natives O’Shea, giving a behind-the-scenes look into life as up-and-coming Country artists and reporting from various Country music events around the U.S.

•••Charlie Louvin is releasing a new album via True North Records on Nov. 9. The Battles Rage On was inspired by his experiences in the Korean War. The Country Music Hall of Fame member is set for the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium on release day. Special guests on the album include Del McCoury and Jamie Dailey.

•••The Secret Sisters’ “My Heart Skips A Beat” is the iTunes Free Single Of The Week. The Nashville duo has worked with T. Bone Burnett and Jack White.

•••Web rumors abound that John Rich has been cast for the upcoming season of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. Warner Music Nashville reps won’t confirm or deny.

•••Gary Allan will have minor surgery in late November to remove a polyp from a vocal cord. He is expected to make a full recovery.

•••Nashville pop singer Alyssa Bonagura will be the opening act on Raul Malo’s November UK tour. She recently graduated from Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts and released The English Diaries. Check out her video of “Myself with Someone Else.”

•••Keni Thomas has been to New York to sing the national anthem at Yankee Stadium three times this season.

Keni Thomas on the Jumbotron at Yankee Stadium.

Warner Releases Songwriter Demos

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The original songwriter demos to some of country music’s biggest hits are being released today by Warner Bros. Records. Some of Nashville’s best songwriters are represented in the two-volume series. And the CD/digital booklet for Original Songwriter Demos contains the stories behind each hit as told by the writers.

It is available online at www.originalsongwriterdemos.com as well as at all digital retailers. Several Nashville shops will also carry the project including The Bluebird Cafe, The Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Grand Ole Opry Gift Shop.

Track listing for the Original Songwriter Demos:
Volume 1
1. The Dance – Garth Brooks (Tony Arata)
2. Strawberry Wine – Deana Carter (Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison)
3. Something Like That – Tim McGraw (Rick Ferrell, Keith Follese)
4. Independence Day – Martina McBride (Gretchen Peters)
5. Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts (Jeff Hanna, Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd)
6. It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson (Jim Brown, Donald Rollins)
7. She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy – Kenny Chesney (Jim Collins, Paul Overstreet)
8. I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack (Mark Sanders, Tia Sillers)
9. Amazed – Lonestar (Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo)
10. The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert (Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin)

Volume 2
1. Check Yes Or No – George Strait (Dana Hunt, Danny Wells)
2. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Garth Brooks (Kent Blazy, Garth Brooks)
3. It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Stephony Smith)
4. If You’re Going Through Hell – Rodney Atkins (Dave Berg, Annie Tate, Sam Tate)
5. I Swear – John Michael Montgomery (Gary Baker, Frank Myers)
6. How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes (Diane Warren)
7. Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You – Brooks & Dunn (Rivers Rutherford, Tom Shapiro)
8. Every Day – Rascal Flatts (Alissa Moreno, Jeffrey Steele)
9. How Forever Feels – Kenny Chesney (Wendell Mobley, Tony Mullins)
10. Jesus Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood (Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Brett James)

Virginia Davis To Lead B.A.D. Management

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(L-R): Borchetta, Davis, and Azoff

Front Line Management CEO Irving Azoff, Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta and Front Line artist manager Virginia Davis have formed B.A.D. Management, under the Front Line umbrella.

Davis, who joined Front Line in 2007, will oversee operations of the new company. She represents Jewel, and now adds fellow Big Machine group artists Steel Magnolia and Edens Edge to the roster.

Davis’s experience includes time as General Manager of Warner Bros. imprint RAYBAW Records, as well as National Marketing & Sponsorship Director for NSAI.

Eric Arnold, formerly of William Morris Endeavor, also joins B.A.D. as an artist manager. 
The B.A.D. offices will be located at 60 Music Square East, Suite 200, Nashville TN 37203.

Sugarland Unleashes Incredible Machine

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It’s release day for Sugarland, who are on the road celebrating and promoting their adventurous fourth album, The Incredible Machine. The duo, known for pushing country’s music boundaries, drew from a myriad of influences for the new project which weaves together pop/rock anthems, upbeat country, and even throws in a dash of reggae on the lead single “Stuck Like Glue,” already certified Gold. Among Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush’s inspiration was the ‘80s culture of their youth, citing John Hughes films, and music by The Pretenders and Blondie.

Past success—totaling 8 million albums sold—encouraged Sugarland to slide further away from what might be considered mainstream country on the new album. Bush credits the fans, record label UMG Nashville, and the industry. “It’s as if the industry and the culture have singled out the biggest risks we’ve taken on a record, a song like ‘Stay’ for example, and celebrated those,” he says. “They’ve embraced us at those times. We’ve tried to learn from that and this is what we’ve made…In the story of who we are, this album is more us than we’ve ever been.”

Sugarland stopped by CMT Radio Live to chat up host Cody Alan. The interview airs tonight (10/19) at 7 PM. (L-R): Kristian Bush, Cody Alan, Jennifer Nettles

“We are in a place of discovery,” adds Nettles. “It is the essence of who we are as people in this band. There is never a moment where we think, ‘This is good enough.’ There’s always a place for growth.”

Last night Sugarland performed at the Best Buy Theater in New York City as part of  “Unstaged: An Original Series from American Express.” Award-winning filmmaker Kenny Ortega (This is It, High School Musical, Dirty Dancing) directed the performance which streamed live on YouTube, and is still available. Surprise guests included Ronnie Dunn, Little Big Town and Jon Bon Jovi.

Tomorrow night (10/20) they return home to Atlanta for an album release party and performance at the Fox Theatre. Then it is off to New York for an appearance on The Today Show, followed by visits to Ellen, Chelsea Lately, Nate, CNN Heroes, CMA Country Christmas and VH1 Divas.

The band has relaunched its website to coincide with the album launch. Built by Ground(ctrl), it will include a fan community, with a new option called the SugarPass, offering more access to the band, advance ticket pre-sales, and limited edition merchandise.

A Deluxe Edition of The Incredible Machine offers a documentary titled Blood Love Hope Lust and Steam that chronicles the creation of the album and tour. The package also includes the music video for the lead-off hit single “Stuck Like Glue,” as well as a never-before-seen live performance music video for the title track.

Sugarland will perform on the CMA Awards and vie to retain their title of Vocal Duo of the Year.

Faith, Martina Set For Local Benefit For Babies

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Faith Hill and Martina McBride will headline the upcoming Rock the Cradle concert to benefit Baptist Hospital’s Beaman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The show is set for Tues., Oct. 26 at the Loveless Barn.

The evening includes a cocktail reception and dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by the performances at 8 p.m. A live auction featuring exclusive travel and entertainment packages will also be a part of the festivities.

Money raised will go to the NICU and the families of its patients, supporting clinical, financial and emotional needs. This can include providing overnight accommodations for families from out-of-town so they can be closer to their sick baby, or providing medical travel for babies who need to go to a hospital out of state for specialized treatment.

Individual show tickets are available for $150, and include dinner, beverages and first come, first serve general seating for the performance. Visit www.baptisthospital.com/foundation or call (615) 284-2569 to purchase tickets.

Paisley Renames Winter Run: H2O Frozen Over

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Photo credit: Josh Rhinehart / Music Allies

Brad Paisley’s H2O World Tour stopped in Gulf Shores, AL last week, drawing over 35,000 fans for the free show that was part of “Concerts for the Coast” series to restore tourism to the region. Paisley’s outing continues through Nov. 20 with Justin Moore and Darius Rucker as special guests.

Gearing up for the winter leg of the tour, Paisley has renamed the run the H2O Frozen Over Tour. It kicks off in the frozen tundra of Green Bay, WI on January 20. Rucker will continue as special guest and Jerrod Niemann will join the outing. The show stops February 26 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

The H2O Tour began at the end of May and in less than five months has played to over 750,000 fans, including 70,000 at AquaPalooza, and 51,000 at Gillette Stadium.

Paisley at the Gulf Coast benefit. Photo: Josh Rhinehart / Music Allies

Bentley, Aldean Donate Big Bucks

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Luke Bryan (L) and Bentley get the fans going with the crowd-favorite “Fishin’ in the Dark.” Photo: Chris Hollo

Dierks Bentley’s fifth annual “Miles & Music for Kids” raised more than $250,000 for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

On Sun., Oct. 17, a pack of 1200 bikers rode to his concert where 5000 fans packed Riverfront Park for a jam-style concert featuring Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Del McCoury, Heidi Newfield, Jerrod Niemann, Mat Kearney and Laura Bell Bundy. The “Miles & Music for Kids” series has raised over $1.5 million for Childrens Miracle Network hospitals in Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Seattle.

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Multi-platinum country rocker Jason Aldean donated proceeds from his Oct. 15 show in Evansville, Ind. to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® as part of his 5th Annual “Concert For The Cure.” Roberts Stadium was blanketed in pink to support the cause and an impressive $132,000 was raised, the most in the event’s 5-year history.

“We started this in memory of a close friend, and I know she would be proud of how much we were able to donate from the show in Evansville,” says Aldean. “I saw a lot of fans in the crowd wearing pink too, and thanks to them and everyone else that came out, we were able to raise more money than ever before.”

CMA Christmas Concert To Air On ABC; More Awards Performers

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Brad Paisley will perform on the CMA Christmas Special, and perform on and co-host the CMA Awards.

CMA is planning a big-name Christmas concert which will be taped for television the night after the CMA Awards. Joined by some of their family members, Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, and Sugarland will perform and share their favorite holiday traditions.

CMA Country Christmas will tape in front of a live audience on Thursday, Nov. 11 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The special will air Monday, Nov. 29 (9:30-11:00 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Paul Miller is the director and David Wild is the writer.

Sugarland is one of the performers slated for the CMA Christmas special, and the CMA Awards.

The CMA Awards will air live from the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET) on ABC, and it has just been announced that Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert will salute Loretta Lynn’s 50 years in the music business by performing her signature song, “Coal Miner’s Daughter” on the show. In 1972, Lynn became the first woman to be voted CMA Entertainer of the Year.

Previously announced CMA Awards performers include Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and the pairing of Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host and perform.

Official CMA Awards merch is available at CMAawards.com, including the CMA Awards Vault book. Written by Deborah Evans Price, it has a foreword by Kenny Chesney, an afterword by Barbara Mandrell and an archive of artist interviews, never-before-seen photographs and memorabilia.

The Judds Help Opry Go Pink, Prep For Tour

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The Judds flip the switch to turn the Opry pink to fight breast cancer. Copyright: 2010 Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo

The Judds were on hand at The Grand Ole Opry Friday night (10/15), helping Women Rock For The Cure and Susan G. Komen for the Cure turn the Opry Pink. This was the second annual “Opry Goes Pink” show, to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. The Judds “flipped the switch” turning the Opry’s signature barn backdrop pink and then kicked into their current single “I Will Stand by You.”

The mother-daughter duo are busy this month visiting national media in Nashville and New York to promote their anticipated final tour, The Judds: The Last Encore, which kicks off the day after Thanksgiving. Dates are scheduled through mid December. Among their upcoming appearances are Good Morning America (10/21), Today (10/21), Crook & Chase, and features in People Country and CMA Close-Up.

Wynonna and Naomi Judd will ride the Santa Train on Nov. 20, making 14 stops in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee to deliver 15 tons of toys – more than $300,000 worth – to thousands of residents who live along the route.

BNA Signs Casey James; Bluewater Inks Billy Livsey

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American Idol alum Casey James recently inked a record deal with 19 Recordings/BNA Nashville. New music from The Casey James Band is expected next year.

Pictured (l-r): Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, James, Sony Music Nashville A&R Executive VP Renee Bell

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Bluewater Music has signed a worldwide administration agreement with musician, producer and songwriter, Billy Livsey. He was an in-demand session player during the 70’s and 80’s, recording with rock n’ roll greats such as Tina Turner and Ronnie Lane. After success in England, he relocated to Nashville to write country hits for artists such as George Strait, Lorrie Morgan, Tanya Tucker and Mark Chesnutt. “With a catalog of 700+ songs strong, Billy is one of the hardest working people I know,” says Bluewater Music COO, Peter Roselli. “We’re proud to be taking care of Billy’s great catalogs.”

Pictured (L-R): Peter Roselli, Billy Livsey