Alan Jackson Starts iTunes Countdown; Lady A Adds To Ryman Line-up

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One new track per week from Alan Jackson’s upcoming 18th album will be available for purchase exclusively on iTunes starting today (3/9) and leading up to the March 30 release of Freight Train.

First up on the iTunes Countdown is “Hard Hat and a Hammer.” Each track downloaded ahead of March 30 will count toward the purchase of the full album through iTunes’ Complete My Album feature. The subsequent tracks are “Every Now and Then” (available March 16) and “Where I Belong” (available March 23).

For each new track every week, fans will be able to visit Billboard.com for a 48-hour exclusive preview of the song immediately prior to its Tuesday release on iTunes, with each posting remaining on Billboard.com for a week from its debut.

“It’s Just That Way,” the first hit single from Freight Train, is currently available as a digital single through the iTunes Store.

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Capitol Records Nashville band Lady Antebellum has invited rising UMG Nashville artists Josh Kelley and Randy Montana to open their sold-out concerts at the Ryman Auditorium on March 10 and 11. Kelley is brother to Lady A’s Charles Kelley. Josh Kelley and Nashville native Montana, son of Billy Montana, will perform short acoustic sets prior to Lady A’s headlining debut on the Ryman’s historic stage.

Underwood’s “Play On Tour” Opens Thursday

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Carrie Underwood’s Play On Tour will kick off this Thursday, March 11 in Reading, PA with special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia. The Play On Tour, hydrated by vitaminwater® and sponsored by PEDIGREE® Brand, is currently slated for more than 50 dates running through June 20. She is scheduled mostly for arenas in the U.S. and Canada.

Tour Director Raj Kapoor put together what is likely to be one of this year’s biggest country music tours by bringing in top name collaborators including Michael Jackson’s This Is It Production Designer Michael Cotten, and Emmy Award winning Costume Designer Soyon An. Underwood’s camp reports that fans will get a few surprises at the shows, world-class production and special effects.

Underwood’s previous tour, 2008’s highly successful Carnival Ride Tour, wrapped after 137 shows with over 1.2 million fans in attendance.

Luke Bryan Recruits Celeb Friends For ACM Support

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Fan voting is open for the ACM Awards in the new artist categories and singers are coming up with unique ways to reach out for votes. Luke Bryan rounded up celebrity friends for a video for his bid for ACM Top New Solo Vocalist. His spoof of the “Don’t Vote” video used during the 2008 presidential campaign features 23 celebs, such as Capitol Nashville labelmates Dierks Bentley, Kenny Rogers and members of Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum, as well as Jason Aldean, Haylie Duff, Blake Shelton, and baseball star Chipper Jones.

The video, already considered a viral success with over 20,000 views, has created a buzz since being posted last Wednesday (3/3) on Bryan’s official YouTube page. In addition the video has been picked up by numerous media sites and radio station web sites.

UMPG Re-Signs Two Hit Songwriters

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UMPG has recently re-signed Rivers Rutherford and Luke Laird to exclusive world-wide publishing agreements.

Rutherford, who originally signed with UMPG in 1996 has had 8 No. 1 hit songs, and has enjoyed numerous awards and nominations from ASCAP, Billboard, ACM and CMA. Rutherford received the ASCAP Song of the Year in 2002 for "Ain't Nothin' 'Bout You" recorded by Brooks & Dunn and was honored with ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year award in 2006. Rutherford's songs have been recorded by Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, Reba McEntire, Gary Allan, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, Deana Carter, Justin Moore, Darius Rucker, Trick Pony, and Montgomery Gentry. Pictured (L-R): UMPG Nashville’s President Pat Higdon and UMPG Nashville’s Senior Vice President-Creative Kent Earls; Seated: Rivers Rutherford; Photo by: Kay Williams

Luke Laird has had numerous No. 1 hits including “Last Name” and “So Small” both off Carrie Underwood’s "Carnival Ride" CD which has scanned over 3 million units to date. Laird also co-wrote four songs on Underwood’s third and most recent release "Play On," including her current single, “Temporary Home.” “Hillbilly Bone,” recorded by Blake Shelton and featuring Trace Adkins, is another current Laird penned single climbing the country charts. Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Lee Ann Womack, Jessica Simpson, Holly Williams, Clay Walker, Jessica Harp, Julianne Hough, Little Big Town, Katharine McPhee, Joe Nichols and Laura Bell Bundy are just a few of the artists who have recently chosen to record Luke’s work. Pictured (l-r): UMPG Nashville’s Senior Vice President – Creative Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville’s President Pat Higdon. Seated: Luke Laird; Photo by: Kay Williams

Parton Opens Nashville Store; New Wynette Biography

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Dolly Parton will celebrate the official grand opening/ribbon-cutting ceremony for her first retail store, Trinkets & Treasures, on Friday, March 12. The 1000 sq. ft. space at 126 2nd Ave. N. in downtown Nashville is designed to reflect Dolly’s classic song “Coat of Many Colors,” with a mix of pink, yellow, red, blue, green and purple.

Fans on hand at the ribbon cutting can win a meet and greet with the superstar through raffles, a “Dress Like Dolly” look-alike competition, and a contest for fans dressed in the most “Dolly gear.”

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A new Tammy Wynette biography hit bookstore shelves last week. For the project, writer Jimmy McDonough interviewed numerous friends and family members of the late songstress, including George Jones and producer Billy Sherrill. Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen (Viking) has earned praise from the New York Times.

Wynette died in 1998, leaving a legacy of work, including 17 No. 1 hits such as “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “Take Me to Your World,” and “Stand by Your Man.”

McDonough appears tonight (3/9) at Nashville’s Davis-Kidd Booksellers at 7 pm.

Swift Launches iPhone App, Brings Tour Back To US

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Taylor Swift’s Fearless 2010 Tour began its run through the US over the weekend, with sold-out shows in Tampa, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale/Sunrise, FL. The 39-date tour is visiting arenas and stadiums in 31 cities throughout the US and Canada over the next three months. Last month, she took the Fearless tour overseas, playing eight sold-out shows in Australia and Japan.

In other Swift news, this week Big Machine Records launched the official Taylor Swift iPhone application. The free app features Facebook and Twitter connectivity and is available here. Built using Mobile Roadie’s leading mobile app platform, the app is enabled with push notification so that any time the superstar releases new music, videos or photos, fans will be instantly updated on their iPhones. Fans can also see her most up-to-date tour information, find and connect with other fans in their area, and share photos with each other.

Bentley Explores Bluegrass Roots On New Album

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Dierks Bentley today (3/8) revealed details about his upcoming album, which has him delving deep into bluegrass and roots music. Up On The Ridge will be released this summer and features Bentley working with some of the finest acoustic musicians in the world.

For the album he joined with longtime collaborators the Del McCoury Band as well as new musical partners Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. The disc also features vocal and instrumental contributions from Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Tim O’Brien, Sam Bush, and many others.

“It’s my version of bluegrass music,” offers Bentley, who says the genre is his first love. “It’s not just banjos cranked up to eleven. It throws out a big net.” For the album he worked with award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Jon Randall and respected recording engineer Gary Paczosa. Some songs from the project are from Bentley’s proven pen, and others come from what might be unexpected sources, like Bob Dylan.

Oscars Score In Ratings, “Weary Kind” Wins Song

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Pictured at the post party for a Nashville screening of "Crazy Heart." (L-R): BMI's Jody Williams, Lost Highway recording artist Ryan Bingham, T-Bone Burnett, Jeff Bridges, and New West Records President Cameron Strang. Photo: Erika Goldring

Country music had a much deserved moment in the Hollywood spotlight last night (3/7). “The Weary Kind,” written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song during the telecast which drew the highest ratings since 2005.

Bingham, a Lost Highway artist, and Burnett penned the song for Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges as a past-his-prime country singer. Bridges also won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of “Bad Blake.” Bridges, Bingham and Burnett all won in similar categories during the recent Golden Globes.

Also at the Oscars, Sandra Bullock was named Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in The Blind Side, a film that also starred Tim McGraw in a supporting role.

According to preliminary data from Nielsen, last night’s Academy Awards drew an average audience of 41.3 million viewers. This is the show’s highest ratings in five years, since 2005 when 42.2 million people tuned in. The Oscars sank to record low viewership in 2008 with 31.8 million. By last year its numbers had rebounded, making this the second consecutive year of ratings growth.

CBS reports that Nielsen is counting digital video recorder data for the first time this year, which could make comparison to last year’s ratings a little off.

Below is Bingham’s performance of “The Weary Kind” on SIRIUS XM’s Outlaw Country.

FBMM Names New VP and Owner/Shareholder

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Carmen Romano, Jr.

Carmen Romano, Jr., managing director of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. has become a vice president and owner/shareholder of the company. Romano joins founding owners Chuck Flood, Frank Bumstead, and Mary Ann McCready together with owners Jamie Cheek (2006) and Duane Clark (2008).

Romano has been an entertainment industry business manager for the past twenty years and prior to joining FBMM to open their New York office in 2004, was president of Progressive Business Management. He is a graduate of Bloomfield College, an active member of NARAS and currently resides in Livingston, New Jersey.

Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy Inc. is a Nashville-based firm, founded in 1990, which specializes in financial and business management and represents a diverse roster of artists including Rascal Flatts, Kings of Leon, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Gary Allan, Joe Nichols, Gnarls Barkley, Vince Gill, My Chemical Romance, Dierks Bentley, Pearl Jam, Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, MGMT and John Hiatt, among others.

Leadership Music Accepting Applications

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Leadership Music is accepting applications for its next class of entertainment industry professionals. The eight-month-long education program, which starts in September 2010 and ends in May 2011, will continue be based in Nashville. Participants are required to attend orientation and monthly day-long sessions on Fridays, as well as two-day opening and closing weekend retreats.

Application forms and information are available at www.leadershipmusic.org. Deadline to submit applications is March 26. Those who have completed applications in the last two years need only submit an updated form. Applications can be submitted three ways:

Mail: Applications, Leadership Music, PO Box 158010, Nashville, TN 37215-8010
Fax: 615-770-7092
Email: office@leadershipmusic.org