DISClaimer Reviews (5/5/09)

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The stars are twinkling brightly this week.

Such A-listers as Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban all have sparkling new singles. The first two are boasting new sonic splendor, courtesy of Michael Knox, who produced both. David Lee Murphy’s work with Kevin Fowler also deserves a shout-out.

Our Disc of the Day is unquestionably Keith Urban’s “I’m In.” The DisCovery Award goes to Kelly Kenning, who is a Texan and sounds it.

KELLY KENNING/Broken Bones
Writer: Tony Ramey/Si Hill/Joanna Smith; Producer: Kelly Kenning & David Chamberlain; Publisher: O Tex/Square One, BMI; Airastar/Davis (www.kellykenning.com)
—The rodeo cowboy gets his heart busted in this dandy story song that name-checks one western town after another. Well written.

KEITH URBAN/I’m In
Writer: Radney Foster/Georgia Middleman; Producer: Dann Huff & Keith Urban; Publisher: Universal-PolyGram/St, Julien/On My Mind, ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (track)
—The fifth single from Defying Gravity is an insanely catchy romp. More hooks than a tuna boat. If the song seems familiar, it’s because you remember it from Radney Foster’s 1998 CD See What You Want to See or his 2001 collection Are You Ready for the Big Show. The former also contained Radney’s version of “Raining on Sunday” which Mr. Urban has also memorably covered.

TENA RAE HELM/Nobody’s Watching
Writer: tena Rae Helm/Bobby Terry; Producer: Bobby Terry; Publisher: FireRae, BMI; Fire Rae (www.tenarae.com)
—Relentlessly perky. Unbearably bouncy. Painfully sweet.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Undo It
Writer: Carrie Unerwood/Kara DioGuardi/Marti Frederiksen/Luke Laird; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Carrie-Okie/Sunshine Terrace/Bug/Half of My Publishing/Art in the Fodder/Arthouse/Universal-Careers/High Powered Machine, BMI; Arista
—You’d think that with four writers, one of them would have come up with a melody. Carrie sells this one with sheer attitude.

BILL RICE/Rockstar
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bill Rice & Roger Blevins Jr.; Publisher: none listed; Aaron Ave
—His voice is too lightweight for the material. The production overwhelms him.

TRACE ADKINS/This Ain’t No Love Song
Writer: Tony Lane/Marcel/David Lee; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Sony-ATV Harmony/Universal/Chaggy Buss/Universal-Careers, ASCAP/BMI; Show Dog Universal
—Contrary to the title, it IS a love song. And Trace sings it splendidly. The production work on this slab of audio dynamite is mighty potent. I remain a fan.

CERRITO & LANE BRODY/South Of The Border
Writer: none listed; Producer: Eddie Bayers Jr., Felipe de la Rosa & Cerrito; Publisher: none listed; Checo
—Yes, it’s the 1939 Gene Autry standard. This arrangement dresses the tune up with Mexicali trumpets and castanets, plus a verse in Spanish.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/While You’re Still Young
Writer: Jim Collins/Tony Martin/Wendell Mobley; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
—Their voices have never sounded stronger. And this is the best written, best sounding  single they’ve put out in ages. A refreshing and welcome change of pace.

KEVIN FOWLER/Pound Sign
Writer: David Lee Murphy/Jim Collins/Tony Martin; Producer: David Lee Murphy; Publisher: Old Desperados/N2D/Carol Vincent/Songs of Elevation/Big Green Tractor/Sony-ATV, ASCAP/BMI; Lyric  Street
—“Today I feel like pound sign (#), question mark (?), star (*), exclamation point (!),” goes the chorus. It seems he partied too hard last night and now he has a mean hangover. Bopping and cute.

BOMSHEL/Just Fine
Writer: Kelley Shepard/Kristy Osmunson/Lee Brice; Producer: Chuck Howard; Publisher: Getting Grown/KupKake/Osmunson/Mike Curb/Sweet Hysteria, BMI; Curb
—The rhythm track is nervous sounding. They sing it with feisty energy, but is the so-so song worth the effort?

Montgomery Gentry Build a Playground

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Lexington, Kentucky is getting a new playground. 2010 ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian Award winners Montgomery Gentry, recently asked country music fans and consumers to help select the city where a new KaBOOM! playground will be built in their honor by The Home Depot. From April 12–30, 2010, fans voted for one of six pre-selected cities (Atlanta, Denver, Lexington, Ky., Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Toledo, Ohio) to determine the playground location. An organization in Lexington will receive a new, custom-designed KaBOOM! playground built by The Home Depot associates.

More than 54,000 votes were cast with Lexington receiving nearly 65 percent of the votes. Montgomery Gentry will attend and participate in the playground build in the fall of 2010.

The ACM/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. Montgomery Gentry received the Award on April 18, 2010 during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Gretchen Wilson Joins Dollar General in Literacy Fight

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Dollar General Corporation is partnering with British home and health care products company Reckitt Benckiser and country music star Gretchen Wilson to launch Literacy Rocks. The sweepstakes, which launched May 3 in Dollar General stores, offers customers the opportunity to win an exclusive concert experience with Gretchen Wilson or autographed CDs.

To kick-off Literacy Rocks, Reckitt Benckiser donated $250,000 to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to support literacy initiatives. In addition, for every Lysol®, Air Wick® or Finish® product purchased at Dollar General, Reckitt Benckiser will donate 5 cents to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, up to $75,000.

“We are pleased to offer our customers the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Gretchen Wilson, as well as help the Dollar General Literacy Foundation,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “The funds raised through this promotion will support literacy programs in the communities we serve.”

Literacy and education are two initiatives close to Wilson’s heart. Until recently, she was one of the million Americans who hadn’t finished high school. In 2008, at the age of 34, she earned her GED. As a dedicated mother, it was important for her to earn the diploma not only for herself, but to show her daughter the importance of education. Through her participation in the Literacy Rocks sweepstakes, Wilson is helping others reach their own education dreams.

The sweepstakes begins May 3 and ends June 14. Click here for more information.

CMA Offers Chance To Win CMA Fest Lifetime Tickets

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In celebration of CMA Music Festival’s 39-year legacy, fans will be given the chance to be a part of all the great moments yet to come with the first-ever CMA Music Festival Lifetime Ticket Giveaway sweepstakes. The promotion will yield one lucky winner two seats per year to future CMA Music Festival events for as long as that winner wishes to redeem the prize. The premium-located seats in LP Field’s lower level retail for $200 each, bringing the prize value to a minimum of $400 per year.

“It’s the mother of all prizes,” says Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “In 2011, this legendary event will celebrate its 40th year of bringing artists and fans together. In celebrating the rich history of Fan Fair and CMA Music Festival, we also look ahead to the event’s next chapter, and we’re thrilled our Lifetime Ticket winner will be there for all of the exciting things to come.”

Starting this week, fans can enter the CMA Music Festival Lifetime Ticket Giveaway sweepstakes online at CMAfest.com. Helping to spread the word and drive entries at CMAfest.com will be promotional partners including Country Weekly, DigitalRodeo.com, GAC: Great American Country, Grand Ole Opry, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, MySpace Karaoke, Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, NowPlayingNashville.com, Roughstock, The Country Network,103 WKDF, WKRN-TV Nashville, 95.5 The Wolf, 98 WSIX, 650 AM WSM,  and niche partner Web sites including CountryHound.com, CountryMusicIsLove.com, and CountryMusicTattleTale.com. Additionally, artists performing at 2010 CMA Music Festival will also be spreading the word to their fans through their respective digital platforms, including official websites, social media and e-mail and mobile database outreach.

“We’re reaching out to partner with our friends in the music industry,” says Ben Bennett, CMA Manager of Online Promotions and Mobile Marketing. “We invite all our partners to help get the word out about this incredible prize – everybody from the amazing artists who have helped make the CMA Music Festival what it is today to our partners at radio and our professional colleagues as well. It’s our goal to let every Country fan out there know about this prize and give each one a chance to win big!”

To enter the sweepstakes through CMA’s digital channels, fans can visit www.CMAfest.com. The contest runs now through Sunday, June 13, when one winner will be chosen from all eligible entries received online, through text message and other entry points.

Loveless and Frist – Flood-Related Freebies

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Nashville’s Loveless Cafe was fortunate enough to keep above water during the weekend’s devastating flood, and tonight (5/5) the venerable eatery will give a little back to those suffering through this disaster. Tonight’s  presentation of the popular Music City Roots series at the Loveless Barn, with artists donating their time, will be free to the public. Donations for flood victims will be accepted at the door, with all money collected going to the Community Foundation. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the show – featuring Elizabeth Cook, The Wrights, Kevin Gordon and Stephen Simmons – starts at 7:00 PM.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is also offering Middle Tennesseans respite from the events of recent days with a free admission offer that has now been extended through Sunday, May 9. The decision to extend the free admission offer was made this morning (5/5) by Executive Director Susan H. Edwards.

Cracker Barrel Offers “Wynonna Weekend”

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National collective contesting company Free Promo Network (FPN) has joined forces with Cracker Barrel for their upcoming A Weekend with Wynonna in Music City promotion. Participating radio stations will be allowed take part in this national contest on a trade-for-mention basis, allowing their listeners the chance to win a trip for two to Nashville to meet Wynonna and see her perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

Winners will also receive a copy of Wynonna’s new CD, Love Heals, which will be available exclusively through Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores on May 24. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

For more information, or to sign up, stations can contact Corey Duke at 615-453-9115 or contact@freepromonetwork.com.

CMA Broadcast Awards Submission Schedule

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Beginning Friday, May 21, the Country Music Association will accept online submissions for the 2010 CMA Broadcast Awards for Broadcast Personality, Station, and National Broadcast Personality of the Year at Broadcast.CMAawards.com. The site will continue to accept submissions through 5:00 PM/CT, Thursday, July 1.

Categories for submission include Broadcast Personality and Station of the Year in four different market sizes (major, large, medium, and small), as well as CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year.

To submit an entry, CMA member radio stations and broadcast personalities in the U.S. and Canada should log on to Broadcast.CMAawards.com, where guidelines and instructions for entries are posted. All entries must reflect performances and events between June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010.

CMA’s panel of judges, who are radio and industry professionals, will be able to view and evaluate the entries online. After the judges’ scores are recorded, Deloitte & Touche LLP® will tabulate.

Winners will be notified in early October and recognized at The 44th Annual CMA Awards, which will be held later this year in Nashville. The annual gala, known as “Country Music’s Biggest Night,” will be broadcast live on the ABC Television Network.

For more information about CMA Broadcast Award entries contact Brandi Simms, CMA Senior Manager of Awards Balloting & Election Administration, at BSimms@CMAworld.com.

Chelsea Field

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“Things I Should Have Said”

Moxy/Edgehill

“She definitely has the vocal firepower to pull off this searing, sizzling rocker. Go, baby. You are coming in loud and clear.”
—Robert K. Oermann, MusicRow

“Things I Should Have Said” is the debut single from Moxy Records artist Chelsea Field. At 19 the singer left her home in Marion, Ohio for Nashville to pursue a career in music. It was here she started putting the pieces in place for the release of her upcoming debut album, produced by award-winning songwriter/producer Trey Bruce (Trace Adkins, Chris Ledoux, Sir Cliff Richard). As a songwriter herself, Chelsea continued to craft new material while fielding submissions from some of Nashville’s finest writers in her search for just the right collection of songs.

“For better or worse, the songs you choose to put on your album determine how people perceive you and your style as an artist,” she explains. “It was important for me to find the songs that fit me, because while one song might be great for another singer, it won’t come across to the fans as mine if it sounds like somebody else.”

As a performer, Field has opened shows for stars like Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Billy Currington, Phil Vassar, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich and many others. The opportunity to work with some of country’s biggest and brightest has taught her much about performing live and being a star.

“I’ve got all the confidence in the world right now,” she says of her new material and live show. “Really, I’ve been a performer all my life, and being out in front of all those fans are some of my favorite moments of this whole process… I’ve been waiting all my life for this.”

http://www.myspace.com/chelseafieldfan
http://chelseafieldofficial.com/

[wpaudio url=”https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/10201549/cfld-tishs.mp3″ text=”Chelsea Field – Things I Should Have Said” dl=”0″ autoplay=”1″]

ole Unveils Online Admin Web Portal

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Jennifer Beavis

International, independent publisher ole, with offices in Toronto, L.A. and Nashville has launched “adminow,” an online resource for the company’s administration clients.

“It’s akin to online banking,” explains Jennifer Beavis, Senior Director, Administration. “It complements ole’s expert, global customer service, and delivers the immediate transparency ole’s clients have come to expect from mainstream financial institutions.”

According to ole, the company has customized an end-to-end royalty accounting system that includes the automated reconciliation of royalty and accounting systems. The newly unveiled “adminow” improves on the system by offering clients the ability to securely view their detailed account histories, song registrations, splits and royalty income per song, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additional analysis tools are also on the way to assist clients in managing their businesses. Included will be access to instant advances on pipeline income that they will also be able to track online as it is earned. Clients will also be kept well-informed with news relevant to the world of copyright and music publishing.

Michael McCarty, ole president says, “ole is committed to staying on the leading edge of both technological and client service innovations in the music publishing industry. The slogan “transparent technology.powered by people” is intended to convey the true ole difference – even though we have great technology, quality music publishing service comes down, in the end, to personal service.”

How To Lend A Hand, Get Help

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Photo by Jude Ferrara

The City Paper is keeping a running list of charitable initiatives to help flood victims.

The MusiCares staff wants to remind everyone of their willingness and ability to help those in the music community affected by the recent floods. Call them at 615-327-0050, or toll free at 877-626-2748 or visit www.musicares.com.

Eric Brace & Peter Cooper are donating proceeds from their performance tonight (4/4) at The Station Inn to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for flood relief. Set starts at 9 pm, following the Doyle & Debbie show.

Music City Roots: Live from the Loveless Cafe is hosting a free show tomorrow night (4/5) because they say “There’s nothing like music to embody the spirit of this city, and encourage everyone to persevere.” Performers donating their time include Elizabeth Cook, 
The Wrights, 
Kevin Gordon
, and Stephen Simmons. Doors open at 6, show starts at 7 PM. 
Donations will be accepted at the door for the Community Foundation.