Taylor Swift’s six-times-Platinum album, Fearless was officially recognized as the Most Awarded Album in the History of Country Music last night at a private dinner in Nashville. Fearless is the only album in history to win the all-genre Album of The Year Grammy, plus Country Album of the Year Awards from the Grammys, the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and the American Music Awards.
Representatives from NARAS, The American Music Awards, The Country Music Association, and the Academy of Country Music all joined Big Machine Records Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta in honoring Swift for her achievement. Other speakers praising Swift included her producer Nathan Chapman, BMI’s Jody Williams, SonyATV Music’s Terry Wakefield, ole’s Gilles Godard and MusicRow Publisher David Ross. Wakefield noted his boss Troy Tomlinson was on vacation, but desperately wanted to attend this party, so Wakefield brought a life-size cardboard cutout of the publisher. Swift later thanked everyone saying, “I never expected I would get to stand up at awards shows as much as I have. I’m proud of the people this happened to along with me. We’ve all had a lot change for us. I’ve seen a lot of you get new cars, but other than that you’re the same people.”
“We tend to always look forward when it comes to Taylor, but tonight it was time to stop for a moment and look back on one of the most successful music works of all time,” said Borchetta of the historic evening. “The eighteen months of our lives known as the ‘Fearless‘ era have been history-making, euphoric and triumphant. The sales, the airplay, the accolades and the awards have all just been incredible. But most important to me is that my friend Taylor and her collective team of family, record label, management and her road family continue to raise the bar with work ethic, achievement and enjoyment. Dreams do come true.”
(l-r): John Grady, Academy of Country Music Board Chairman; Steve Moore, Country Music Association Board Chairman; Susan Stewart, NARAS South Regional Director; Swift; Larry Klein, American Music Awards Producer; Kelly Rich, Big Machine VP of Sales & Marketing; Scott Borchetta, President & CEO of Big Machine Records. Photo Credit: Krista Lee for Krista Lee Photography
Leadership Music Deadline Approaches
/by contributorApplications forms are available here.
Applications should be completed by those music industry professionals who have not previously applied for the program. Those who have applied within the past two years should submit an update form. Applications will be accepted through March 26 via
Mail: Applications, Leadership Music, P.O. Box 158010, Nashville, TN 37215-8010
Fax: 615.770.7092
E-mail: office@leadershipmusic.org
Pam Tillis Joins Wheeling Jamboree Board
/by contributor“Radio shows like the Jamboree are an endangered species,” says Tillis. “They only survive if artists are passionate about their importance on the musical landscape.”
Tillis made her first stage appearance at age 8 and has gone on to sell over seven million albums, landing six No. 1 hits. Tillis was named 1994’s CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and has received 10 other CMA nominations as well as seven ACM nominations and three Grammy nominations throughout the course of her career.
Also joining the Jamboree’s Board of Directors is Nashville-based artist manager, Matt Spicher. Son of Wheeling Jamboree member Buddy Spicher, Matt Spicher is a 20-year Nashville veteran whose credits include working with Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart, Tillis, Ricky Skaggs, engineering a Grammy winner and co-producing Tillis’ Rhinestoned album. Spicher replaces retiring board member Brian Long.
Board members officially welcomed the Nashville board additions to the program’s leadership team at the monthly board meeting on Thursday (3/18).
The “World’s Original Wheeling Radio Jamboree” is one of the last remaining shows of its kind, playing second only to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in longevity.
Country Weekly Readies Annual Fashion Show
/by contributorThe Wildhorse will be serving a buffet lunch, which will be included in this year’s ticket price. During lunch, there will also be an acoustic performance by a special artist. The doors will open at 11 a.m. and the acoustic show will start at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Fashion Show at noon. Immediately after the Fashion portion of the event, some of the artists will also perform.
Premium seating tickets close to the runway are available. General admission tickets start at $35. For tickets and more information click here.
Texas Showman Johnnie High Dies
/by contributorJohnnie High with young LeAnn Rimes
Johnnie High, the music impresario behind Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue in North Texas for more than 30 years, died Wednesday (3/17) of congestive heart failure. He was 80. High’s Opry-style show helped launch the careers of country stars including LeAnn Rimes, Gary Morris, the Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack and many others. High also made it possible for many North Texans to live out their dreams onstage before members of a loyal audience, some of whom attended the show faithfully for years.
“It’s hard to let go of a man who has done so much for this industry,” said longtime friend Bill Mack. “He was determined to help people get into one of the most complex businesses in the world.”
High began his Saturday show in 1974 after converting an old movie theater outside of Dallas into the Grapevine Opry. There, he gave Boxcar Willie and Rimes, then a child, some of their first stage experience.
Since 1995, Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue has been a weekly fixture at a former Arlington movie theater. It now airs nationally in syndicated television.
Cumulus Radiothon’s Huge Success
/by contributorListeners called in pledges and dropped off donations at Camper’s Corner RV Superstore and Lexus of Nashville ranging from one meal ($2.26) to thousands of dollars. Because of the generosity of people within the Nashville community and the range of the radio signals, the radiothon was able to reach its goal, raising around $120,000 with more pledges still rolling in.
“We are proud to have been a part of something amazing and issuing a call to action that will make a real impact on the Nashville community,” say Mark Sullivan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cumulus Nashville. “Thank you, Nashville, Smyrna, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, and to all those in our listening area who answered the call. You never cease to amaze me.”
“We are grateful for Cumulus Broadcasting’s efforts on behalf of the poor and hurting of our community. The outpouring of generosity from this year’s event will provide over fifty-thousand meals to hungry men, women and children arriving at our doors seeking help,” explains Don Worrell, President and CEO of the Nashville Rescue Mission.
Shoney’s® Catering donated food for all the workers of the radiothon this year. Other sponsors for the radiothon include Fifth Third Bank and Buffalo Wild Wings.
UMG Tests Lower CD Prices
/by contributorUMG labels also plan to market more deluxe versions of albums that can sell at higher prices for the more devout music fans and collectors. The company is hoping that the lower prices will be offset by increasing CD sales.
Back in 2003, UMG became the first major to address declining sales when it initiated Jumpstart pricing, which offered CDs at $10.35. The other majors balked at lowering prices until years later.
“After extensive consumer research and conversations with our retail partners, we found that there is a large segment of consumers who want to purchase CDs, but have been holding back due to a difficult economy and the value proposition of physical media,” said UMGD President/CEO Jim Urie. “This test will seek to address these issues by offering a greater selection at sharper pricing, creating an even more compelling physical entertainment option for music consumers. We think [the new pricing program] will really bring new life into the physical format.”
UMG plans to maintain its current pricing for digital product.
Swift Celebrates “Most Awarded” Status
/by contributorRepresentatives from NARAS, The American Music Awards, The Country Music Association, and the Academy of Country Music all joined Big Machine Records Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta in honoring Swift for her achievement. Other speakers praising Swift included her producer Nathan Chapman, BMI’s Jody Williams, SonyATV Music’s Terry Wakefield, ole’s Gilles Godard and MusicRow Publisher David Ross. Wakefield noted his boss Troy Tomlinson was on vacation, but desperately wanted to attend this party, so Wakefield brought a life-size cardboard cutout of the publisher. Swift later thanked everyone saying, “I never expected I would get to stand up at awards shows as much as I have. I’m proud of the people this happened to along with me. We’ve all had a lot change for us. I’ve seen a lot of you get new cars, but other than that you’re the same people.”
“We tend to always look forward when it comes to Taylor, but tonight it was time to stop for a moment and look back on one of the most successful music works of all time,” said Borchetta of the historic evening. “The eighteen months of our lives known as the ‘Fearless‘ era have been history-making, euphoric and triumphant. The sales, the airplay, the accolades and the awards have all just been incredible. But most important to me is that my friend Taylor and her collective team of family, record label, management and her road family continue to raise the bar with work ethic, achievement and enjoyment. Dreams do come true.”
(l-r): John Grady, Academy of Country Music Board Chairman; Steve Moore, Country Music Association Board Chairman; Susan Stewart, NARAS South Regional Director; Swift; Larry Klein, American Music Awards Producer; Kelly Rich, Big Machine VP of Sales & Marketing; Scott Borchetta, President & CEO of Big Machine Records. Photo Credit: Krista Lee for Krista Lee Photography
Country Dominates RIAA Certifications
/by contributorBig Machine superstar Taylor Swift scored the highest Gold & Platinum album certification of any artist in January and February. Swift earned the top spot when her Album of the Year Grammy-winning Fearless certified 6x multi-Platinum in February. Her song “Today Was A Fairytale” from the Valentine’s Day soundtrack went Gold in less than a month, totaling more than 500,000 downloads sold since its January release.
Arista Nashville’s Carrie Underwood racked up several winter accolades. She not only scored a 3x multi-Platinum album award for Carnival Ride but also Gold and Platinum album awards for her latest release, Play On. With Play On Underwood continues a winning streak that has seen all three of her albums certified Platinum or higher.
Other albums taking Platinum plaques in January and February included Norah Jones’ The Fall, Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, Daughtry’s Leave This Town, Rihanna’s Rated R, Alicia Keys’ The Element of Freedom and Justin Bieber’s My World.
Another country standout was Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan, who received his first Gold song awards for his single, “Do I.”
Country veteran Alan Jackson earned his 15th career Platinum award for Good Time in February. Jackson’s career album sales have reached 43 million since the release of his debut, Here in the Real World in 1990.
Gretchen Wilson Opens Online Store
/by contributorThe package is offered at $49.99 and includes:
I Got Your Country Right Here CD
32-page full-color photo book never-before-seen pictures of Wilson at work and at play
Poster-size replica of the U.S. Constitution
3′ x 5′ “I Got Your Country Right Here” Flag
“We wanted to have an online store where my fans could order something they may not have been able to get at a concert or something unique like the Deluxe Edition package,” Wilson says. “My fans know what I stand for, and I feel like this will be something they will be proud to display in their homes.”
Wilson established her own Redneck Records label last year. Her debut single for the label, “Work Hard, Play Harder,” recently cracked the Top 30. She is currently in the final week of her two-month club tour promoting the new album and will be back in Nashville to perform at Operation Yellow Ribbon at Lipscomb University Allen Arena on Tuesday, March 23.
“Ride For Reading” Readies Benefit
/by contributor“This is Ride For Reading’s biggest fundraiser of the year,” says founder Mathew Portell. “We’re so excited to be able to share a night of great music for the sake of literacy in our community. It’s going to be a great night.”
Ride for Reading, established in 2008 by dedicated and determined 4th grade teacher and avid bicyclist Portell, will distribute books to Paragon Elementary School in Nashville via bicycle the morning of the benefit concert.