Writer’s Den Adds Alex Heddle

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Alex Heddle has recently been added to the team at Writer’s Den Music Group as Catalog Manager/Song Plugger. Heddle formerly oversaw all creative aspects at Propel Music, where he spent the past two years.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Alex’s experience and enthusiasm as a part of our group,” says Head of Publishing, Bobby Rymer. “We look forward to working together as we continue to grow the company.”

Artist Run-Down: Dunn Goes Solo; Urban Seeks Fan Input

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Keith Urban’s camp is seeking fan feedback about the cover of his upcoming album, Get Closer, in stores on November 16. Which one do you like better? Vote on his Facebook page.

Ronnie Dunn is self-producing a solo album expected to release in 2011 on the Arista Nashville label.

Steve Azar was a recent guest on Southern Fried Flicks With Hazel Smith. His single “Sunshine (Everybody Needs A Little)” is Top 30 and climbing.

Catch Blake Shelton tonight (9/29) on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He’ll perform “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking.”

Jewel “got in the ring” to film the music video for her new single “Ten.”

Matt Gary has partnered with the Quarterback Records team (founder Chris Allums and Ettinger Talent Associates’ John Ettinger) for promotion of his second single “I’m Just Sayin.’” Written by Frank Myers, Gary B. Baker and Billy Montana, it goes for adds October 11.

Congrats to Love And Theft’s Brian Bandas and girlfriend Kelly Barons who were married over the weekend.

Joe Nichols was in the house—and onstage— when Nickelback kicked off their latest tour at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The band did a short rendition of Nichols’ “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” and then their own hit “Rockstar.” The audience got a surprise when the band brought Nichols onstage to sing along (video below).

Pictured (l-r): Nickelback's bassist Mike Kroeger, frontman Chad Kroeger, Nichols, and Nickelback's drummer Daniel Adair and guitarist Ryan Peake.

Crystal Ball Signals Publishing Change

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The Crystal Ball began flashing this morning, offering only an incomplete message as is its wanton way. The data source from the Shiny Globe seemed to flow from our industry’s publishing sphere, showing an imminent departure. While we are unable to pull the rabbit from our info chapeau, it seems that this 30-year industry veteran has a resume that includes A&R, artist management, concert promotion and TV production. Her past signings include this year’s top CMA nominee..

CMA Awards Sets First Performers

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Top nominee Miranda Lambert is one of the performers scheduled for the CMA Awards.

The star-packed lineup for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” launches with today’s announcement that Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and the pairing of Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson are the first group of performers confirmed for “Country Music’s Biggest Night.”

“The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

All of the just-announced performers will vie for awards that night. Lambert, the top nominee for 2010, goes into the show with nine nominations. She will compete for Entertainer of the Year with five-time nominee Lady Antebellum and four-time nominee ZBB. Shelton is up in four categories, Bentley is nominated in three, and Chesney and Jackson will go for one each.

“Country Strong” Soundtrack Features Nashville’s Finest

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The Country Strong soundtrack will be out weeks before the movie hits theaters, and the tracklist reads like a who’s who of Nashville songwriters, producers and artists. (See below).

Due out October 26 via Sony, the soundtrack includes many mainstream Nashville country stars, as well as songs from film stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, and Leighton Meester. Paltrow appears on four tracks, including the title track single, which boasts background vocals by Vince Gill and Patty Griffin. McGraw and Paltrow duet on “Me and Tennessee,” written by Paltrow’s husband, Chris Martin, of Coldplay fame.

Sony will release the film in Los Angeles and Nashville on December 22, and nationwide on January 7.

In album sequence, below is the complete tracklist:

Gwyneth Paltrow – “Country Strong”
(Jennifer Hanson/Tony Martin/Mark Nesler) Produced by Byron Gallimore

Chris Young & Patty Loveless – “Love Don’t Let Me Down”
(Marv Green/Troy Olsen) Produced by James Stroud

Sara Evans – “A Little Bit Stronger”
(Luke Laird/Hillary Lindsey/Hillary Scott) Produced by Tony Brown

Garrett Hedlund – “Chances Are”
(Nathan Chapman/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose) Produced by Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten for Carnival Productions

Lee Ann Womack – “Liars Lie”
(Sally Barris/Morgane Hayes/Liz Rose) Produced by Frank Liddell and Chuck Ainlay for Carnival Productions

Ronnie Dunn – “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Double)”
(Wayne Carson Thompson) Produced by Ronnie Dunn

Gwyneth Paltrow – “Shake That Thing”
(Mark Irwin/Josh Kear/Chris Tompkins) Produced by Byron Gallimore

Hank Williams, Jr. – “Thirsty”
(Dallas Davidson/Rhett Akins/Brett Eldredge) Produced by Michael Knox

Faith Hill – “Give in to Me”
(Billy Falcon/Rose Falcon/Elisha Hoffman) Produced by Jay Joyce

Trace Adkins – “Timing Is Everything”
(Natalie Hemby/Troy Jones) Produced by Kenny Beard

Leighton Meester – “Words I Couldn’t Say”
(Gregory Becker/Tammi Kidd/Steve Robson) Produced by Nathan Chapman

Gwyneth Paltrow – “Coming Home”
(Bob DiPiero/Tom Douglas/Hillary Lindsey/Troy Verges) Produced by Byron Gallimore

Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow – “Me and Tennessee”
(Chris Martin) Produced by Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw, and A. Martin

Album produced by Randall Poster and Shana Feste, and executive produced by Tim McGraw.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/29/10)

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As we head into the fall, the stars are beginning to come out.

This week, we have new music by honcho Toby Keith, as well as from Billy Currington and Lee Brice, both of whom are coming off career highs. It appears that Capitol/EMI rules the roost, label-wise, since it is presenting fine new tunes from both Troy Olsen and newcomer Walker Hayes.

Guess who has a lock on the DisCovery Award? That’s right, polish one for the man with the most personable single of the day, Walker Hayes. You’re going to love the pants offa “Pants.”

There are a five ballads in this stack of platters. One of them was so lovely it earned its singer a Disc of the Day. That would be Billy Currington.

JASON STURGEON/Rollin’ On
Writer: Jason Sturgeon/Dane Clark; Producer: Dane Clark & Jason Sturgeon; Publisher: none listed; Toolpusher (track)
—The mid-tempo song is wistful and easy-going. He sings quite well, ranging from a conversational baritone in the verses to a strong upper register in the choruses.

FRED EAGLESMITH/Careless
Writer: Fred Eaglesmith; Producer: Fred Eaglesmith; Publisher: Sweetwater/Bluewater, SOCAN/SESAC; Lonesome Day (Canada) (track)
—I have long admired this singer-songwriter. His ragged vocal rasp is loaded with personality. On this lead-off track and single from his current Cha Cha Cha CD, the instrumental bed has a faintly Latin groove. As usual, the song craftsmanship is top notch. I could have done without the chirping backup chicks, however.

TOBY KEITH/Bullets in the Gun
Writer: Toby Keith/Rivers Rutherford; Producer: Toby Keith; Publisher: Tokeco Tunes/Universal/Memphianna, BMI/ASCAP; Show Dog Universal
—Toby winds up in the wrong bar, with the wrong woman. With the track roaring around him, he spins a tale of robbery, murder and escape into Mexico with a finale filled with firing federales. Exciting.

STEVE RICHARD/Eighty Acre Church
Writer: none listed; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Publisher: none listed; Force MP (track) (www.steverichardmusic.com)
—The material is strong, but he doesn’t have the vocal firepower to dominate the production.

BILLY CURRINGTON/Let Me Down Easy
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
—Dreamy and languidly romantic. The steel and organ passages are particularly pretty, as is the mid-song guitar solo.

KEVIN WELCH/A Patch of Blue Sky
Writer: Kevin Welch/Claudia Scott; Producer: Keley Warren; Publisher: MonkeyHead/Lovely Monster, SESAC; Music Road (track) (www.kevinwelch.com)
—The title tune to Kevin’s current collection is a stately ballad where he yearns for better times. As usual, he delivers it with plenty of soul. This longtime Nashvillian split for Austin several years ago, but he obviously took all of his record-making talents with him.

LEE BRICE/Beautiful Every Time
Writer: Lee Brice/Rob Hatch/Lance Miller; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Mike Curb/Sweet Hysteria/Magic Mustang/Songs of StyleSonic/Melvin’s Pistol/Melvin’s Bullets, BMI/SESAC; Curb (CDX)
—This beefy power ballad boasts an absolutely killer chorus. Brice’s big, bruising voice wrings every drop of emotion out of it. Nice work.

TROY OLSEN/Good Hands
Writer: Troy  Olsen/Marv Green; Producer: Troy Olsen; Publisher: Hillbilly Poetry/Riio Nuevo/Warner-Tamerlane/Made For This Music/The Good The Bad The Ugly, BMI; EMI (CDX)
—I have liked everything this guy has released so far. This rolling number has crystal-clear sound and a vocal that’s perfectly set in the mix. I totally dig the enthusiastic shouts, too. The lyric is a dandy, mixing in references to Willie’s guitar, Geronimo’s rifle and Billy Graham’s Bible. Essential listening.

WALKER HAYES /Pants
Writer: Walker Hayes; Producer: Marshall Altman; Publisher: Breaking New Ground/On a Walk/Sony-ATV, BMI; Capitol Nashville (CDX)
—Cool, groovy, crunchy and packed with pluck. The gist of this bopper is that, “She can wear the pants as long as I can take ‘em off her.” He’s full of little vocal tricks like woo-hoos, spoken asides and falsetto swoops. Completely charming.

DANIEL SMITH/Until I Close My Eyes for Good
Writer: Daniel Smith; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Daniel Smith, no performance rights listed; DLS  (615-385-4943)
—This lushly orchestrated love ballad wallows shamelessly in cliches, but manages to be engaging in an over-the-top kind of way.

Opry Returns Home, Invites Shelton To Join

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Trace Adkins asks Blake Shelton to join the Grand Ole Opry.

The Grand Ole Opry returned to the Grand Ole Opry House last night (9/28) for the first time since the May floods ravaged the show’s longtime home. Nine-year Opry member Brad Paisley and 61-year Opry veteran Jimmy Dickens opened the show, singing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” while standing on the famed circle of wood from the Ryman Auditorium that was covered by 46 inches of water during the flood. It has been painstakingly refurbished and returned to its rightful spot center stage. The Opry continued throughout the summer from other Nashville venues without missing a single broadcast.

“This night shows the heart of the Opry like I’ve never seen it before,” Paisley said. “Every single artist on that stage tonight was absolutely overcome with emotion when that curtain went up. This American tradition is stronger than ever, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

During the show Blake Shelton received an invitation to become an official Opry member. After he and Opry member Trace Adkins performed their hit “Hillbilly Bone,” Adkins handed Shelton—who is known for his active Twitter account—an iPhone with a tweet inviting him to join the Opry on Oct. 23. Shelton said, “This moment right here is hands-down the highlight of my career.”

Throughout the show, duets included Martina McBride and Connie Smith, Dierks Bentley and Del McCoury, Josh Turner and Lorrie Morgan, and Montgomery Gentry and Charlie Daniels Band. The show closed with an all-star guitar jam featuring Paisley, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner, Ricky Skaggs, and Marty Stuart.

“This was an historic, seminal night for the Grand Ole Opry,” said Opry President Steve Buchanan. “Seeing country music’s top artists share unforgettable performances on stage after watching the endless hours of work a virtual army put into making sure the Opry House recovered from the flood and opened ahead of schedule gives me the utmost confidence in the Opry’s future.”

The Opry House’s post-flood refurbishment includes 18 new dressing rooms, a Grand Ole Opry Member Gallery, a completely reconstructed Opry Shop, and a host of technical advancements such as HD projection.

The night kicked off the Opry’s month-long 85th Birthday Celebration, which is scheduled to include performances by Craig Morgan, Kevin Costner, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and more. One highlight will be when the Opry Goes Pink on Oct. 15 to promote breast cancer awareness, with appearances by The Judds, and actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

Two videos below.

The Stage On Broadway Expands To Austin

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Ruble and Brenda Sanderson, and Brad Sanderson, owners of Nashville’s live music venue, The Stage on Broadway, have announced plans for an Austin, Texas location called The Stage on Sixth. The new location will be in the historic East 6th Street entertainment district and should be open in time for a big New Years Eve celebration.

Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Bret Michaels and Jason Aldean are just a few of the stars that have performed at The Stage on Broadway. The venue has also been the location for numerous music video shoots, including Hank Williams Jr.’s “Why Can’t We All Just Get a Longneck” and Delbert McClinton’s “Lone Star Blues.” The venue has also been seen in television shows, including What Not To Wear, Nashville Star, Gone Country, and most recently, the major motion picture Country Strong, starring Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow.

“We hope to bring a little bit of Nashville to the vibrant Austin music scene, while opening up more opportunities for Austin’s up and coming new artists to have a place to showcase their talent,” said Ruble Sanderson. “Austin has an eclectic music scene, and we couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of being a part of it.”

Brandon Reineke will be The Stage on Sixth’s general manager.

Symphony’s Season Includes McBride, Folds

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Martina McBride will join the Nashville Symphony to perform holiday favorites on Dec. 10. The “Home for the Holidays” concert will be at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena, while the symphony’s permanent home the Schermerhorn continues to undergo repairs from the May floods.

On Saturday, November 27, Ben Folds and the Nashville Symphony will perform “Keys to Music City,” a benefit for the orchestra and two local volunteer firefighting organizations, the Williamson County Rescue Squad and Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department. Folds’ only appearance in the Nashville area this year, “Keys to Music City” will conclude his U.S. tour in support of Lonely Avenue, his collaboration with novelist Nick Hornby.

Tickets for both concerts are available at NashvilleSymphony.org or by calling the Nashville Symphony Box Office at 615-687-6400.

VIP tickets are also available for Ben Folds, which include a post-concert meet-and-greet with the artist. Call 615-687-6401 for more information.

Followill To Speak at NBN/Digital Summit

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Caleb Followill

Next BIG Nashville (NBN) and Leadership Music Digital Summit (LMDS) open today (9/28) with a packed line-up of events, including a music festival and conference featuring a just-announced keynote from Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill. The Artist Keynote will take place on Thursday, September 30 at The Curb Event Center at Belmont University at 4:30 pm.

Also on September 30, the Summit will address the issue of Net Neutrality in a conversation entitled, “Pipes, Capitalism, and Creativity: Is Middle East Peace Easier?,” moderated by Mitch Bainwol, Chairman/CEO of the RIAA. In this exclusive face-off, key players from every conceivable side (ISP’s, Content Providers, Creatives, Public Interest Groups…) of the debate come together in what promises to be a lively and provocative exchange on the issue of a “free” internet vs. freedom through corporate control. The panel features Christian Castle, Managing Partner, Christian L. Castle, Attorneys; Jim DeLong, Visiting Fellow, DigitalSociety.org; Mike McKeehan, Verizon; Julie Samuels, Staff Attorney, Electronic Freedom Foundation; Derek Slater, Senior Policy Analyst, Google Inc.; and Alex Curtis, Public Knowledge.

The multi-genre music festival and digital conference runs through Oct. 2. Check musicrow.com for more coverage as the event unfolds. Full schedule here.