Hall of Fame Revamps Exhibit, Plans Ray Stevens Salute

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Ray Stevens

Staffers at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum have been busy preparing for big events this month featuring Ray Stevens and songwriters Kent Blazy and Cory Batten—all in the midst of an exciting revamp of its permanent exhibit.

The Hall will salute Ray Stevens on Saturday, April 24, as part of its Nashville Cats series focusing on musicians. Although best known for comedic hits like “The Streak,” and country/pop standards such as “Everything Is Beautiful,” Stevens is also a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer who has contributed to recordings by Patti Page, Dolly Parton, and Elvis Presley. Hosted by Bill Lloyd, the tribute to Stevens will include a brief performance and in-depth interview illustrated with vintage recordings, photos and film clips. It will also be streamed live. Details here.

The Hall’s annual Words & Music Night, which pairs local students with professional songwriters to help perform their original compositions, is set for April 27. Songsmiths Kent Blazy and Cory Batten, writers of tons of hits including Garth Brooks’ “Ain’t Going Down (Til the Sun Comes Up),” Chris Young’s “Gettin’ You Home (the Black Dress Song),” and Blake Shelton’s “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” will perform and host.

Words & Music Night is the culmination of the yearlong Words & Music program about songwriting, which had more than 4,300 student participants this school year, who wrote songs which were put to music by professional songwriters.

Justine Gregory, director of education and public programming for the Museum, explains, “When the students perform their songs on the Ford Theater stage with professional songwriters, it is not only a proud moment for the audience of parents, teachers and Museum staff, but also an evening of first-rate entertainment.”

Meanwhile, additions and revisions to the Museum’s core exhibition, Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music, are expected to be completed next month. The updates focus on country music’s last five decades, highlighting country-rock, pop-country, southern rock, full-strength classic country, and the “Urban Cowboy” craze.

The transformation includes new oversized portraits, video clips and artifacts such as Dolly Parton’s handwritten lyrics to “Jolene,” Tom T. Hall’s acoustic guitar he purchased from songwriter Merle Kilgore, and items from Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, and Tanya Tucker.

Other updates focus on the mid-1980s arrival of artists like Dwight Yoakam, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, Randy Travis and Steve Earle, and the ’90s boom when Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and Alan Jackson ruled the charts. New cases show the contributions of hitmakers like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, and celebrate contemporary bluegrass and Americana artists, ranging from Alison Krauss and Del McCoury to Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale.

Tour News: Swift’s Millionth Ticket; Reba’s Surprise Guests

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(L to R): Robert Allen (13 Management), Mike Dugan (AEG-TMG), Andrea Swift (13 Management), Taylor Swift, Rachel (1 Millionth fan), Louis Messina (AEG-TMG), Scott Neal (INTRUST Bank Arena).

Taylor Swift and Reba excited fans with big surprises at their respective tour stops last week.

Swift welcomed the 1 millionth fan to her Fearless Tour Thursday (4/1) at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. College student Rachel was attending her third Swift show when she was surprised at her seat and notified she was the 1 millionth ticket holder. She received a backstage meet and greet, and upgraded front row tickets.

Since Swift launched the outing almost one year ago, every show has sold out. With The Messina Group/AEG Live handling North American dates, the 2010 run will continue through this summer. In total, the Fearless Tour will visit 87 cities.

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Reba backstage following her set with Kix Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Kelly Clarkson, Ronnie Dunn and comedienne Melissa Peterman.

Reba surprised fans at Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena Friday night (4/2) as part of her co-headlining tour with George Strait and special guest Lee Ann Womack. Among the surprise guests joining her onstage to perform were Brooks & Dunn, Kelly Clarkson, and tourmates Womack and Melissa Peterman. The show hits Nashville on April 28.

Reba is also set to perform two hits on tomorrow night’s (4/6) Dancing with the Stars The Results Show on ABC.

Photos: Tin Pan South Wrap Up [Updated 4/6]

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A few highlights from Tin Pan South’s Thursday (4/1), Friday (4/2) and Saturday night shows.

Thursday:

BMI offered a stout lineup of storytelling guitar-slingers as part of the annual Tin Pan South songwriters’ festival. A deep crowd filled the Rutledge as Big Al Anderson, Shawn Camp and Pat McLaughlin delivered an acoustic set of originals followed by a full-band finale stacked with audience favorites.

Pictured are (l-r): (front row) BMI’s Clay Bradley, Al Anderson, and Shawn Camp; (back row) Pat McLaughlin and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Photo by Drew Maynard

Casey Beathard during his round at Douglas Corner Café.

Over at Douglas Corner, Kendall Marvel began the late round with “I’d Have Done A Lot Of Things Different,” and segued into “Right Where I Need To Be” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You.” Marla Cannon-Goodman showcased her hits “The Fool,” “Don’t Make Me” and “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo,” which she co-wrote with Casey Beathard. He performed crowd favorites “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems”, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” and “Don’t Blink.” Phil O’Donnell offered his hits “She Won’t Be Lonely Long,” “Sounds Like Life To Me” and “Back When I Knew It All.”

Also on Thursday, SESAC hosted a night of music at Nashville’s Listening Room club, showcasing the talents of affiliates Ken Johnson, Lance Miller, Plumb, and Brice Long. A special appearance by recording artist Craig Campbell capped the evening, as he debuted music from his upcoming album due out via Bigger Picture.

Pictured (left to right): SESAC’s John Mullins & Shannan Tipton-Neese, Plumb, SESAC’s Amy Beth Hale, Lance Miller, NSAI’s Susan Myers, Brice Long, Ken Johnson & SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Ed Rode

Friday Night:

The Hard Rock Café was hoppin’ during both shows. The early Multiple Sclerosis Society Benefit began with NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison introducing NSAI member Ron Russell, who opened the show with a song dedicated to his late brother who passed away from MS. Heidi Newfield took things up a notch with her Trick Pony smash “Pour Me.” She then performed “Johnny & June,” her first big solo hit, while the crowd sang along. Bobby Pinson entertained with “Don’t Ask Me How I Know,” as well as a medley of his Sugarland smashes – “All I Want To Do” and “Already Gone.” Kim Tribble’s tunes ranged from the witty “One In Every Crowd” to a more somber “I Can Still Feel You” before being joined onstage by Journey’s Jonathan Cain.

(L-R): Kim Tribble, Heidi Newfield and Bobby Pinson at The Hard Rock Café. Photo: Bev Moser

Jeffrey Steele at the Hard Rock Café.

Saturday:

Jeffrey Steele & Band kept things rockin’ until the wee hours of the morning at the Hard Rock Café. Going through Steele’s catalogue of hits and more, the band performed “I’m Tryin’,” “My Town,” “These Days,” “Speed,” “Hell Yeah,” “Gone,” “What Hurts The Most,” “Every Time I Hear Your Name,” “Me And My Gang,” “My Wish” and “Brand New Girlfriend.” Also appearing were surprise guests LoCash Cowboys.
Music City Unsigned, Otterball.com & WLRT sponsored both shows at 3rd & Lindsley on the final evening of Tin Pan South. Taking the stage during the early show were pop/rock songwriters Butterfly Boucher, Thad Cockrell, Katie Herzig, Daniel Ellsworth and Matthew Perryman Jones.

L-R: Butterfly Boucher and Thad Cockrell Photo: Bev Moser / Moments By Moser

Amy Grant Returns With New Release

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Amy Grant released her first new album in six years last week (3/30). Somewhere Down the Road, out on EMI/Sparrow, reached No. 1 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel iTunes chart; SoundScan numbers will be out this week. Her first radio single since 2003, “Better Than A Hallelujah,” is already climbing the charts and being well-received at radio.

The 12-track set includes six new songs, two previously unreleased tracks from Grant’s musical vault, a newly recorded version of “Arms of Love,” and three songs from her catalog. Among the new songs are a duet with her 17-year-old daughter Sarah Chapman. Her husband Vince Gill has producer credits.

Grant has been making the promotional rounds, with stops over the weekend at the CBS Early Show and Fox & Friends. Later this week, she is set for interviews with Nightline, Guideposts.com, Premiere Radio Networks, and SELF Magazine. She currently graces the cover of CCM magazine’s April digital issue.

Grant’s career spans over 25 years, more than 30 million in album sales, and six GRAMMY® Awards.


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CMT Awards: Aldean, Lady A, Sugarland Lead First Round Noms

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Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Sugarland scored four first-round nominations each to lead the pack for the 2010 CMT Music Awards. Garnering three each were Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.

Beginning today, Monday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m., ET, fans can vote on CMT.com for their favorite artists to determine the final nominees for CMT’s ninth annual awards show. The 2010 CMT Music Awards premiere live on Wednesday, June 9 on CMT and CMT.com.

The first round of voting runs from Monday, April 5 through Monday, May 3, only at CMT.com, where fans will select from the top nominees in each category. On Tuesday, May 11, CMT will announce the four finalists in each of the categories, except VIDEO OF THE YEAR.  Fans can then vote online at CMT.com through June 8 to determine the winners. The final nominees for VIDEO OF THE YEAR will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can vote at CMT.com and via text message throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

Nominees are below. Awards go to the artists, except where noted.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director.  Final nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.

Jason Aldean – “The Truth”
Kenny Chesney – “Out Last Night”
Toby Keith – “American Ride”
Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”
Miranda Lambert – “White Liar”
Brad Paisley – “Welcome to the Future”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”
Carrie Underwood – “Cowboy Casanova”
Keith Urban – “‘Til Summer Comes Around”
Zac Brown Band – “Toes”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean – “The Truth”
Kenny Chesney – “Out Last Night”
Billy Currington – “People Are Crazy”
Toby Keith – “American Ride”
Tim McGraw – “Southern Voice”
Brad Paisley – “Welcome to the Future”
Darius Rucker – “Alright”
Keith Urban – “‘Til Summer Comes Around”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Laura Bell Bundy – “Giddy On Up”
Miranda Lambert – “White Liar”
Martina McBride – “I Just Call You Mine”
Reba McEntire – “Consider Me Gone”
Kellie Pickler – “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”
Carrie Underwood – “Cowboy Casanova”
Lee Ann Womack – “Solitary Thinkin’”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Gloriana – “How Far Do You Wanna Go?”
Lady Antebellum – “American Honey”
Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”
Rascal Flatts – “Here Comes Goodbye”
Rascal Flatts – “Summer Nights”
Trailer Choir – “Rockin’ the Beer Gut”
Zac Brown Band – “Highway 20 Ride”
Zac Brown Band – “Toes”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Bomshel – “Fight Like a Girl”
Brooks & Dunn – “Indian Summer”
Brooks & Dunn – “My Maria” from INVITATION ONLY: BROOKS & DUNN
Caitlin & Will – “Address in the Stars”
Joey + Rory – “Play the Song”
Steel Magnolia – “Keep On Lovin’ You”
Sugarland – “Keep You”
Sugarland – “Nightswimming/Joey”

USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Ryan Bingham – “The Weary Kind”
Luke Bryan – “Do I”
Laura Bell Bundy – “Giddy On Up”
Easton Corbin – “A Little More Country Than That”
Randy Houser – “Boots On”
Justin Moore – “Small Town USA”
Steel Magnolia – “Keep On Lovin’ You”
Chris Young – “Gettin’ You Home”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams – “Heaven” from CMT CROSSROADS: BRYAN ADAMS AND JASON ALDEAN
Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons – “Honky Tonk Stomp”
Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews – “I’m Alive”
Jamey Johnson and Shooter Jennings – “Somewhere Between Jennings and Jones” from CMT CROSSROADS: SHOOTER JENNINGS AND JAMEY JOHNSON
John Mellencamp featuring Karen Fairchild – “A Ride Back Home”
Kellie Pickler featuring Taylor Swift – “Best Days of Your Life”
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins – “Hillbilly Bone”
Sugarland featuring The B-52s – “Love Shack” from the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams – “Heaven” from CMT CROSSROADS: BRYAN ADAMS AND JASON ALDEAN
Dierks Bentley – “Sideways” from the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Lady Antebellum – “Lookin’ For A Good Time” from the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Reba McEntire – “Consider Me Gone” from INVITATION ONLY: REBA
Tim McGraw – “Southern Voice” from INVITATION ONLY: TIM McGRAW
Brad Paisley – “Then” from the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Sugarland featuring The B-52s – “Love Shack” from the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Carrie Underwood – “Temporary Home” from INVITATION ONLY: CARRIE UNDERWOOD

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Deaton Flanigan (award eligible videos include: Jason Aldean’s “The Truth” and Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home”)
Darren Doane (Zac Brown Band’s “Toes” and “Highway 20 Ride”)
Trey Fanjoy (Reba McEntire’s “Consider Me Gone” and Lady Antebellum’s “American Honey”)
Chris Hicky (Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” and Justin Moore’s “Small Town USA”)
Michael Salomon (Toby Keith’s “American Ride” and Dierks Bentley’s “Sideways”)
Shaun Silva (Kenny Chesney’s “Out Last Night” and Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights”)
Roman White (Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” and Kellie Pickler’s “Best Days of Your Life”)
Theresa Wingert (Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova” and Martina McBride’s “I Just Call You Mine”)

Sony/ATV Promotes Abbey Burkhalter

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Troy Tomlinson, President/CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville, has announced the promotion of Abbey Burkhalter to Creative Director. Formerly Creative Manager, Burkhalter joined Sony/ATV in February 2006. In the past four years, she has been responsible for a significant number of major recordings and singles, and has played an integral role as liaison between Sony/ATV’s Nashville roster and the publishing company’s Los Angeles and New York writers. Burkhalter will continue to report to Senior Vice President of Creative, Terry Wakefield.

BMI Expands Duties For Sr. Execs Esworthy, Conlon, O’Neill

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(L-R): Bruce Esworthy, Michael O'Neill, Richard Conlon

BMI President & CEO Del Bryant today (4/5) announced a new alignment in the company’s senior management team, with elevated responsibilities for Nashville based Bruce Esworthy, and New York based Richard Conlon and Michael O’Neill.

BMI Chief Financial Officer Esworthy adds new duties as Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration, overseeing Human Resources and Facilities in addition to managing the Finance & Accounting departments.

Conlon has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Communications & New Media. In his expanded role, Conlon assumes responsibility for BMI’s Corporate Communications & Marketing and Corporate Planning departments. He was previously Vice President, New Media and Strategic Development.

O’Neill now holds the newly established position of Senior Vice President, Repertoire & Licensing. In this expansion of his role, he adds oversight of BMI’s Writer/Publisher Relations, Performing Rights and Special Projects departments to his Licensing responsibilities. He was previously Senior Vice President, Licensing. The three executives will report to Bryant.

The realignment follows the announced retirements of BMI Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer John Cody, and Landmark Digital Services Managing Director Robert Barone at the end of 2010.

Currington Gold, Lonestar Live and More

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Currington’s Sophomore CD Goes Gold
Billy Currington’s Little Bit Of Everything CD, produced by Currington and Carson Chamberlain, was awarded RIAA Gold Certification yesterday, marking sales exceeding 500k units. Amongst his peers gathered at ASCAP and BMI, Currington also received honors for single “That’s How Country Boys Roll”, which climbed to No. 1 earlier this month and became his third consecutive chart-topper and fifth overall. Co-writers Dallas Davidson and Brett Jones were recognized alongside Currington, who was celebrating his first No. 1 co-write.

Lonestar Goes Live on QVC
Lonestar performed an exclusive live concert during the QVC Presents Q Sessions Live broadcast on March 31. The special live performance included several of the group’s greatest hits such as “Amazed” and “I’m Already There” as well as selections from Lonestar’s forthcoming album, Party Heard Around The World, due out April 27 on Saguaro Road Records.

Mark Chesnutt To Perform for Troops
Lofton Creek’s Mark Chesnutt is heading to South Korea to bring some US troops a taste of home. the singer will take his neo-traditional country to the Pacific, playing several shows at U.S. Air Force bases in the region.

Chesnutt will perform at Camp Casey April 8, Camp Humphreys April 9, and Kunsan Air Base April 10. While in Korea, Chesnutt will also tour the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), that separates North and South Korea.

Veronica Ballestrini’s Networking Success
Rising country artist Veronica Ballestrini made a different kind of guest appearance at this week’s Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. As part of NSAI Spring Training’s “Here’s How I Did It” panel, the singer/songwriter talked about her successes with new media and establishing a fan base via her independent grassroots campaign. The panel, scheduled in conjunction with Tin Pan South activities, explored non-traditional avenues artists and songwriters have utilized to launch their careers.

Ballestrini currently has more than 140,000 Facebook friends and her songs have streamed more than 12 million times. She joined songwriters Tom Douglas, Elizabeth Eckert and Bud Tower on the panel.

Ballestrini will soon join her fans on a summer cruise to the Bahamas.  Departing from Miami on August 27, the 3-day excursion will make stops in CocoCay and Nassau—including a visit to the location where Ballestrini shot her forthcoming music video “Don’t Say.”

Moontoast, Gill Auction for Veterans

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Social commerce network Moontoast.com has announced the launch of an auction that will partner the website with Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill to benefit the charity Challenge America, a national initiative to provide support to our country’s returning wounded military. 

Moontoast, a site which connects Guides (“those who know”) and Explorers (“those who want to know”), will invite people to bid online for a chance to win one-on-one time with Gill. The highest bidder will receive 90-minutes of Gill’s time and can choose to experience it either in-person, via phone lines or via Moontoast’s Live Video Player. The winner can talk guitars, get some golf tips or just hang out.

Vince Gill

“We are seeing lots of brands and individuals embrace the Moontoast platform as a way to monetize their knowledge, experience and expertise, but Vince is the first to use Moontoast for philanthropy,” says Chief Marketing Officer, Michael Haje. “We think he’s going to raise a lot of money for Challenge America, and at the same time show other artists, athletes and celebrities that Moontoast can be an efficient and effective vehicle for good.”

“The funds raised through this innovative, online auction will help Challenge America continue to ‘connect the dots’ for our country’s returning injured military and their families to resources for a successful transition from battlefield to home front,” said Houston Cowan, Challenge America founder and executive director.

The auction begins today and will run through midnight CT on April 16. To participate, visit http://www.moontoast.com/vincegill/ChallengeAmerica

Services Set for Pirates of the Mississippi Member

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Dean Townson

A memorial service will be held tomorrow, Saturday, April 3, for Pirates of the Mississippi’s Dean Townson. Townson died at age 50 on March 25.

Kenneth Dean Townson was the bass player and harmony singer for the Pirates from 1990 to 1995. He sang on all of the group’s hits, including 1991’s “Feed Jake.” He was also the co-writer of the band’s songs “Just for You” (1992) and “Rodeo Queen” (1994). He was formerly a member of the gospel group Bridge.

Dean Townson is survived by his wife Lorraine, son Parker and daughter April, as well as by his parents, brother and sister.

The service will be held at 3 p.m. at Faith Is the Victory Church, 3344 Walton Lane, which is behind Maplewood High School in Madison.