The Country Music Hall of Fame is partnering with New Haven Records to release Sunday in the Country: 12 Inspiring Hits From Today’s Top Country Artists. Set for a March launch at Christian retail through Provident-Integrity Distribution, the CD will be released to mainstream outlets through Sony Distribution.
Artists featured on the project include Trace Adkins, Alabama, Diamond Rio, Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner and Lee Ann Womack.
“For more than 20 years, our company has focused on the uniquely American genres of country, southern gospel, and black gospel music,” says New Haven Records President Ken Harding. “Sunday in the Country, the third project in our outstanding partnership with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, has the potential to be our most successful release in the series.”
“Inspirational songs have always had an important place in the country music canon,” adds Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Director Kyle Young. “The songs that comprise Sunday in the Country uphold this rich tradition, offering hope, fellowship, solace and gratitude. New Haven Records has been releasing meaningful country and gospel recordings for two decades, and we’re pleased to be partners with them on this project.”
Joining collections such as Three Wooden Crosses, Amazing Grace, Country’s Salute to Gospel and Songs for Worship—Country, this newest compilation represents the top-voted selections in a survey sent to hundreds of country radio programmers. The list was then reviewed by historians at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, who developed the final selection for the project in association with Harding.
Sunday in the Country track listing:
“Long Black Train”
Josh Turner
“I Believe”
Diamond Rio
“But for the Grace of God”
Keith Urban
“Blessed”
Martina McBride
“Drugs or Jesus”
Tim McGraw
“Muddy Water”
Trace Adkins
“Go Rest High on That Mountain
Vince Gill
“Holes in the Floor of Heaven”
Steve Wariner
“Up to Him”
Tracy Lawrence
“Angels Among Us”
Alabama
“Get Up in Jesus’ Name”
Lee Ann Womack
“I Found Jesus on the Jailhouse Floor”
George Strait
Musicstartshere.org Starts Here
/by contributorOver 250 music industry folks gathered to celebrate the launch of the new site, which was founded by Doak Turner and Will Carter. The site offers up over 100 video clips featuring music industry professionals, from songwriters to artists to representatives from ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Also featured are an image coach, a vocal coach, an entertainment attorney a banker and other professionals, all offering real-world advice to musically inclined hopefuls looking to Nashville as their creative launching point.
The Launch Party included many of the professionals that are on the site, including hit songwriters Byron Hill, Rory Bourke and Rand Bishop. Also on hand were Avenue Bank executives Ron Samuels, Cooper Samuels, Ron Cox, Lisa Meiers, as well as musicians Luis Espaillat and Justin Levinson, vocal coach Kim Wood Sandusky, image coach Suzzanne Skinner, entertainment attorney Philip Lyon and American Songwriter magazine’s Douglas Waterman. Sponsors donating prizes included French’s Boots, Rock & Load U, Hal Leonard Books and NSAI.
“This is a great illustration of what Nashville is,” said Ralph Schulz, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “Nashville is an entrepreneurial city and entrepreneurship is about taking an idea and making it happen. Musicstartshere.org is so important and necessary and is fulfilling a great need for this city. It is going to help so many people accelerate their success in this community and we will continue to encourage Musicstartshere.org as we move forward.
Who’s That Girl?
/by contributorCountry music fans checking out the cover of the latest issue of Elle will have no trouble recognizing country superstar/cover girl Taylor Swift. However, the artistically rendered photo shoot inside the magazine may leave those same fans scratching their heads. As famous and ubiquitous a face as she is these days, her newly straightened hair and high fashion-model poses make it a bit difficult to realize just who it is you’re looking at. She may look different, but she still looks great.
Cowboy Jack’s Digital Milestone
/by contributorWhen Cash’s hit was released in 1957, Clement was working at Sun Records, launching a career that would grow to encompass songwriting, arranging, recording and producing, and flourish for nearly six decades. He continues to be active, hosting the Cowboy Jack Show on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Outlaw Country, which airs on Saturdays (1-5 p.m. CT) and Sundays (5 -9 p.m. CT). Upcoming projects include the development of a television series and preparations for a live event to benefit the National Health Care for the Homeless Council with The Old Crow Medicine Show, Marley’s Ghost and special guests at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre on April 29.
Among the songs on Clement’s hit list are “Ballad of a Teenage Queen,” “I Know One,” “Got Leavin’ on Her Mind,” “Just A Girl I Used to Know,” “Let’s All Help the Cowboy Sing the Blues” and “Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog.” As a producer, he helped launch the careers of Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride and George Jones. He has also served as a producer for Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, Townes Van Zandt, Carl Perkins and U2.
Juno Noms Spotlight Country
/by contributorWinners will be declared at the Juno Gala Dinner & Awards on Saturday, April 17 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. A complete list of Juno nominees can be found here.
Penuell To PD at WSM-FM
/by contributorRussell Penuell (Russell P.)
Cumulus Nashville has announced the promotion of Russell Penuell (Russell P.) to Program Director of WSM-FM, effective immediately. Penuell replaces Charley Connolly, who departs the company to pursue other opportunities. Penuell began his career in radio at the age of 13 and by the age of 21, became one of the youngest Program Directors in the United States. Also known as Russell P. (3 – 7 afternoon drive) to Wolf listeners, Penuell brings award-winning experience to his new position.
“Russ’s contribution to the success of The Wolf/Nashville has been remarkable, says Cumulus SVP of Programming, Jan Jeffries. “During my time of programming The Wolf/Dallas on a daily basis, Russell was a key ‘go to’ person. His work ethic, prior to Dallas and Nashville, as PD in Ft. Myers and Shreveport, is second to none.”
Rick Marino
Further, beginning Monday, March 8, Rick Marino will move into Connolly’s vacant co-host position on Wake Up with the Wolf. With stints at country stations WSIX and WKDF, as well as other formats in the market (Mix 92.9 and The River), Marino has been a fixture on the Nashville air waves since 1994. He now joins Deanna Lee for Wake Up with the Wolf with Rick & Deanna.
“Rick is a world-class morning talent,” Jeffries says. “His successful history of mornings in Nashville makes him the perfect choice for mornings at The Wolf/Nashville. We thank Charley Connolly for his tenure and wish him the best in his future endeavors”
Moving into the midday slot is Wolf/Dallas (KPLX) host, Smokey Rivers. Rivers has 30 years in radio and recently served as Weekday Host from 10 – 3 p.m. on KPLX, with over one million listeners.
CMA Board Brings Country Music History to Washington
/by contributorJohn Rich
The Library of Congress and the Country Music Association (CMA) today announced Story Tellers and Story Keepers: Creating and Preserving Country Music, a day-long program for the CMA Board of Directors at the nation’s library, including a comprehensive tour of the historic Jefferson Building, an extensive orientation to the Library’s music, sound recording, and folk collections focusing on country music, and a concert in the Coolidge Auditorium.
The purpose is both to build on the Library’s already unparalleled collections of sound recordings, moving image, and printed music collections with a more robust presence of the country music genre, and to further the Library’s goal of maximizing access and awareness of its collections to music scholars and music lovers around the world. The day’s activities are designed to lay the groundwork for future joint efforts that may include the acquisition and preservation of country music collections, online presentations, and educational outreach.
Lorrie Morgan
“Country music is a record of American history and America’s stories. I cannot think of a more appropriate collaboration than to expand the presence of country music and its reflection of the American experience to the global users of this historic and unrivaled collection,” says Steve Moore, Chairman of the CMA Board of Directors.
To demonstrate the reach and impact of the genre, the CMA Board of Directors is bringing a line-up of country stars to the Coolidge Auditorium for a special invitation-only performance on the evening of March 9. Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn, Lorrie Morgan, and John Rich of Big & Rich will take the stage along with songwriters Victoria Shaw and Bob DiPiero. CMA will commemorate the event by donating a leather-bound DVD collection of four decades of CMA Awards broadcasts, anniversary television specials, and the most recent jewel in CMA’s TV coffers, the annual CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, to the Library’s collection.
Hall of Fame Offers “Sunday In the Country”
/by contributorArtists featured on the project include Trace Adkins, Alabama, Diamond Rio, Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner and Lee Ann Womack.
“For more than 20 years, our company has focused on the uniquely American genres of country, southern gospel, and black gospel music,” says New Haven Records President Ken Harding. “Sunday in the Country, the third project in our outstanding partnership with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, has the potential to be our most successful release in the series.”
“Inspirational songs have always had an important place in the country music canon,” adds Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Director Kyle Young. “The songs that comprise Sunday in the Country uphold this rich tradition, offering hope, fellowship, solace and gratitude. New Haven Records has been releasing meaningful country and gospel recordings for two decades, and we’re pleased to be partners with them on this project.”
Joining collections such as Three Wooden Crosses, Amazing Grace, Country’s Salute to Gospel and Songs for Worship—Country, this newest compilation represents the top-voted selections in a survey sent to hundreds of country radio programmers. The list was then reviewed by historians at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, who developed the final selection for the project in association with Harding.
Sunday in the Country track listing:
“Long Black Train”
Josh Turner
“I Believe”
Diamond Rio
“But for the Grace of God”
Keith Urban
“Blessed”
Martina McBride
“Drugs or Jesus”
Tim McGraw
“Muddy Water”
Trace Adkins
“Go Rest High on That Mountain
Vince Gill
“Holes in the Floor of Heaven”
Steve Wariner
“Up to Him”
Tracy Lawrence
“Angels Among Us”
Alabama
“Get Up in Jesus’ Name”
Lee Ann Womack
“I Found Jesus on the Jailhouse Floor”
George Strait
Shiny Globe shows New Imprint Imminent
/by adminOver recent years we have seen second imprints arrive and depart. In fact, companies such as Sony Music Nashville, UMGN, WMG, Big Machine and Broken Bow currently have two or more imprints.
What are some of the elements for second label success? In some cases, the new imprint is created and then acts are signed. However, if a label has a roster bursting at the seams with success, say a trio of platinum acts plus a group of mid-level artists all starting to break through, then a second imprint could be the perfect prescription to help capitolize and grow those assets. Either way, the additional resources allow a label to effectively expose and launch more artists in less time.
What might a second imprint look like? If the newly-formed entity mirrors the model used by most other Nashville labels, it will feature a fully staffed second promotion team that will utilize existing resources from other divisions inside the label.
Gokey Returns to “Idol” Tonight
/by contributorYesterday, Gokey celebrated his album release in and around Atlanta, GA, with a day of TV and radio interviews, an in-store appearance and an impromptu performance for the University of Alabama women’s basketball team. Members of the team, in town for an SEC tournament game, spotted Gokey dining in the same restaurant and asked if he might sing for them. With the blessing of restaurant management, Gokey and band grabbed their gear and delivered a performance and autographs on the spot.
In addition to his American Idol performance tomorrow, fans can be on the lookout for Gokey in non-restaurant settings in the days to come, including a Thursday CD signing at a Barnes & Noble in Los Angeles, and a Friday performance and CD signing at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.
CMA Fest Adds Performers
/by contributorThe Country Music Association has announced the latest additions to the artist lineup for the upcoming 2010 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13 in Nashville. Newly added artists include Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Kellie Pickler and superstar Tim McGraw, who will make his first appearance at the Festival since 2001.
Previously announced artists include Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band. All of the announced artists will perform during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.