Walden’s Puddle Palooza Gets Wet

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The 2010 Walden’s Puddle “Puddle-Palooza” benefit concert and festival was held Aug. 21 at Nashville’s Yogi Bear™ Jellystone Park and hosted by the Music Valley Merchants Association. Strong afternoon rains curtailed a portion of the concert. The event raises funds for Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. In addition to the concert, other family-friendly activities offered include swimming, hiking, mini-golf, hayrides, volleyball, appearances by Jellystone’s Yogi Bear™ and more. Artists scheduled to perform included John Anderson, Lane Brody, Cerrito, Rodney Crowell and the Notorious Cherry Bombs, Jypsi, HLN news anchor Robin Meade, Victoria Shaw, Keni Thomas, Emily West and additional special guests.

(L-R) Lane Brody and John Anderson greet the crowd. Photo: izzynashville.com

Promo Update: Big Machine; Quarterback

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Kris Lamb

Big Machine Label Group has named Mandy McCormack National Director, Radio Marketing, and added Kris Lamb to fill her former West Coast Regional post.

In the newly-created role, McCormack will work with Sr. Director, New Media & National Promotion Strategy John Zarling in managing national promotion campaigns for artists on the Big Machine and Valory rosters. 

McCormack has been on the Big Machine team since 2005 and handled promotion in the Midwest, Southwest and West.

Mandy McCormack

Lamb most recently held the West Coast role at Lyric Street Records where he served for five years. His track record also includes time at KMLE/Phoenix. As the West Coast Regional, Promotion & Marketing, he will report to Big Machine Records VP/Promotion Jack Purcell. “He’s an airplay assassin to the ‘nth degree and rounds out the label group’s west coast airplay trio now known as: Loss, Lamb & Lewis with the motto…’play me or your PPM dies’,” says Purcell.

McCormack will remain based in Los Angeles and can be reached at mandy.mccormack@bigmachinemail.com and 615-419-1513. Lamb will be based in Phoenix and begins with the label today (8/23). Contact him at kris.lamb@bigmachinemail.com and at 615-418-0580.

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Quarterback Records has hired Bill Lubitz as Director of Promotion, West Coast/Southwest, effective today. “When we started talking with Bill we quickly realized he is the perfect addition to Quarterback’s team,” says Quartback head Chris Allums.

Lubitz comes to Quarterback after a stint with Stoney Creek Records, handling the west coast for the launch of that imprint. He is a 10-year radio veteran, most recently serving as Music Director with Clear Channel’s KWNR in Las Vegas. Lubitz is based in Las Vegas and can be reached at billlubitz@quarterbackrecords.com or 702-580-6886.

Chesney Shares Details of Deluxe Edition

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Kenny Chesney will release a deluxe edition of his upcoming album Hemingway’s Whiskey. The CD-plus-DVD set will be out September 28, just like the regular package.

The expanded set’s CD includes two bonus tracks and an in-depth conversation with Chesney about each of the songs. The DVD’s half-hour of content includes a thank you from Kenny to the fans, and a video cut by cut on each of the 13 tracks on the Deluxe Edition. Quantities of the deluxe edition will be limited.

The album’s lead single, “The Boys of Fall,” is at No. 3 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart and is available at all digital retailers.

Hemingway’s Whiskey – Deluxe Edition
1. The Boys of Fall
2. Live A Little
3. Coastal
4. You And Tequila (featuring Grace Potter)
5. Seven Days
6. Small Y’all (Duet with George Jones)
7. Where I Grew Up
8. Reality
9. Round And Round
10. Somewhere With You
11. Hemingway’s Whiskey
12. Ain’t Ever Going Back Again (Bonus Track)
13. I Didn’t Get Here Alone (Bonus Track)

The Country Network To Air Via Sinclair

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The new music video channel The Country Network (TCN) has been picked up by Sinclair Broadcast Group and will be available in some markets by October. Tammy Genovese joined TCN’s Music Row office as Pres. TCN Nashville in April.

TCN and Sinclair have entered into an agreement to launch TCN’s star-hosted music video programming on the broadcast digital tier in most of Sinclair’s markets. Sinclair is one of the nation’s largest broadcast groups, with 58 stations in 35 markets covering 22% of the U.S. television households. TCN will launch in October in 28 Sinclair markets reaching 17% of the country, with the remaining Sinclair markets expected to come on board by early 2011.

TCN founder and CEO Warren Hansen says several more agreements are in the works, and should be announced in the near future.

TCN is dedicated exclusively to airing country music videos, with the slogan “all Country Music, all the time.” The outlet is already streaming live.

Stars At Christmas 4 Kids and Buds-N-Suds Benefits

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Montgomery Gentry, Jake Owen, and Sawyer Brown will perform at the Charlie Daniels Band’s annual Christmas 4 Kids concert. The show will be Monday, November 22 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The accompanying Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet will take place on Monday, December 13 in Hendersonville, TN. Ticket details at www.christmas4kids.org

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Jerrod Niemann has been added to the star-studded line-up for this year’s Buds-n-Suds Music Festival. Presented by Big 98 Country, the music festival will take place on Wednesday, August 25 at Loser’s Bar and Grill, with proceeds to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

Niemann will join previously announced artists Lee Brice, Stoney LaRue, Sixwire with special guest Keith Anderson, Ira Dean, James Wesley, Coldwater Jane, and performance painter Rachel Kice.

Advance concert tickets can be purchased at www.budsnsuds.com at a discounted price of $15, or on the day-of show for $20. VIP tickets are available online for a $60 donation.

Another Buds-n-Suds event is set for Aug. 28. The Charity Canoe Trip at Foggy Bottom Canoe Rentals in Kingston Springs, TN will benefit the MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief Fund. Cost is $30/individual or $55/couple. Price includes canoe, lunch and commemorative T-shirt. Details and reservations by contacting Karen Light at hrtoflight@gmail.com.

One Group of Moderators For All CRS Panels

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In a departure from the usual format for Country Radio Seminar, all of the panels at the 2011 conference will be moderated by the same group of country radio veterans.

The five individuals chosen by the CRB Board of Directors as the inaugural class of CRS moderators are Charlie Cook (McVay Media), Erica Farber (The Farber Connection, LLC), Dan Halyburton (McVay Media), Lon Helton (Country Aircheck) and Charlie Morgan (Emmis Broadcasting).

This group will share the responsibility of overseeing and directing 17 different educational panels over three days at CRS 2011, to be held March 2-4, 2011, at the Nashville Convention Center.

“In making this unprecedented change in our seminar, the vision of Country Radio Broadcasters was to implement a team of moderators who possess the specialized skills to draw the best from our panelists and audience participants,” says CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne. “We feel that this is the best way to encourage open dialogue and useful ‘take away’ information from each session. Our goal is to provide each participant with the necessary tools to increase revenue, increase ratings and advance their career.”

Looking forward, CRB plans to recruit a pool of at least 20 individuals to choose from to assemble each year’s class of moderators.

In the past two years, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has implemented several changes for CRS, including a digital liners program, the CRS 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, and a $99 unemployment registration rate. For details visit www.CRB.org.

Photos: WMBA Week; FBMM Helps Habitat

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The Women’s Music Business Association kicked off WMBA Week by visiting the CMA to share Izzie’s Italian ice. The WMBA is also serving free Izzie’s Ice at Owen Bradley Park this Wednesday from 11am – 1pm, and invites the Music Row community to stop by. The group is celebrating its new non-profit status with events all week. For a schedule visit www.wmbanashville.org.

(L-R): Aaron Hartley, WMBA President Brandi Simms, Sarah McGrady, Kasey Cleckler, sponsor Elizabeth Gammans- Izzie's Ice, Betsy Walker, Mala Patterson, Holly Ashby, Lindsay Puddy, WMBA VP Penny Dionne, and Kyle Quigley

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Staffers from music business management firm Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy braved the heat last weekend to help with a Habitat for Humanity build.

Side Projects: Montgomery’s Restaurant; Wayne’s Book

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Eddie Montgomery is busy planning the Sept. 14 grand opening of his steak house in hometown Harrodsburg, Ky. The 20,000 square foot entertainment and dining complex is called Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse. It is set on 23 acres, which Montgomery says will soon be the site of an outdoor entertainment amphitheater, nearby hotel and other family-friendly attractions.

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Jimmy Wayne has signed a book deal with Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. The company will publish his first novella, Paper Angels, in Fall 2011. The book, to be co-authored with well-known Christian novelist Travis Thrasher, will be inspired by Wayne’s childhood growing up in the North Carolina foster care system.

Aldean Brings The “Party” This Nov.

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Jason Aldean has set a Nov. 2 release date for his fourth studio album, My Kinda Party. After spending more weeks at No. 1 on the country radio charts than any other artist in over a year, the star’s fans are itching for new music. The title track is already at radio.

Aldean’s upcoming release includes 15 tracks, ranging from a duet with Kelly Clarkson on “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” to his unique version of southern rap on “Dirt Road Anthem.” He reunited with longtime producer Michael Knox for the outing, which will be delivered via Broken Bow Records.

“The album is named My Kinda Party because it’s totally representative of what I like and what my fans have come to expect on my records and at the ‘party’ we throw at our shows,” says Aldean. “I think the key is knowing who you are as an artist and taking it to an extreme without ripping anybody else off…it’s all about knowing what it is that sets you apart.”

Aldean has sold more than 3.5 million units.

My Kinda Party tracklist

1. Tattoos On This Town (Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley, Michael Dulaney)
2. Dirt Road Anthem (Brantley Gilbert, Colt Ford)
3. Church Pew or Barstool (Josh Thompson, Adam Craig, Michael Howard)
4. Just Passing Through (David Lee Murphy, Kim Tribble)
5. Fly Over States (Neil Thrasher, Michael Dulaney)
6. My Kinda Party (Brantley Gilbert)
7. I Ain’t Ready to Quit (Thomas Rhett Akins, Jaron Boyer, Ben Stennis)
8. It Ain’t Easy (Justin Weaver, Caitlyn Smith, Jon Mabe)
9. Country Boy’s World (John Edwards, Jayce Hein, Ronny Vines, Tommy Curry)
10. Heartache That Don’t Stop Hurting (Brett James, Leslie Satcher)
11. Texas Was You (Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley, Tony Martin)
12. Don’t You Wanna Stay (Paul Jenkins, Jason Sellers, Andy Gibson)
13. See You When I See You (Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley, Tony Martin)
14. If She Could See Me Now (Bryan Edwards, Bill Luther, Justin Weaver)
15. Days Like These (Neil Thrasher, Mike Busbee, Wendell Mobley)

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With today’s addition from Aldean, here’s a recap of some of the fall releases which could boost holiday album sales.

Sept. 21—Zac Brown Band, You Get What You Give (Atlantic/Southern Ground)
Sept. 28—Kenny Chesney, Hemingway’s Whiskey (Blue Chair/BNA)
Oct. 5—Toby Keith, Bullets In The Gun (Show Dog – Universal)
Oct. 19—Sugarland, The Incredible Machine (Mercury)
Oct. 25—Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Big Machine)
Nov. 2—Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party (Broken Bow)
Nov. 16—Rascal Flatts, Nothing Like This (Big Machine)

Full release schedule here.

Radio Welcomes Jesse Lee and Adam Brand

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Jesse Lee In Wisconsin
Jesse Lee stopped by to see John & Tammy at WMAD in Madison, WI and spent some time on the air with the morning team and visited with station PD Mike Ferris.

(l-r) John, Tammy, Jesse Lee, Mike Ferris (PD)

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Adam Brand In Atlanta
Arista Nashville’s Australian newcomer Adam Brand was in Atlanta recently, where his visit included a call on WKHX/Kicks 101.5. Brand is currently on the road and making friends in support of his U.S. debut single, “Ready for Love.”

(l-r): WKHX PD Mark Richards; Brand; station MD Mike Macho; and Arista Nashville Regional Promo Mgr Tyler Waugh.