Alabama Music Hall Honors Johnson, MacAnally

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Jamey Johnson

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board has announced the selection of seven people to be inducted during the 13th Induction Banquet and Awards Show to be held in the Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala. on Thursday, March 25. Included among this year’s inductees is Mercury Records artist Jamey Johnson, who will be honored with the Alabama’s Rising Star Award.

David Johnson, Executive Eirector of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, said, “We are proud to be returning to Montgomery for this celebrated event honoring our state’s great music achievers and unmatched musical heritage. During this event, the audience will be entertained by some of the most successful and talented Alabamians in the music industry as well as witness seven achievers being awarded with our most prestigious honor – induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.”

The inductees and their categories are:

Performing Artist/Group
The Blind Boys of Alabama and Eddie Levert, (lead singer of the O’Jays.)

Alabama’s Rising Star Award
Jamey Johnson

Jerry Wexler Award
Former Muscle Shoals recording artist Mac Davis

Arthur Alexander Songwriter’s Award
Singer/songwriter Mac McAnally

Music Creator
Songwriter/producer Buddy Buie and  session musician Jerry Carrigan

Entertainment Industry
Record producer/musician Paul Hornsby

John Herbert Orr Pioneer Award
The late Muscle Shoals musician Terry Thompson and State Senator Bobby Denton.

Governor’s Award
A. Nugent

Music industry Award
Integrity, Inc. Chief Executive officer Michael Coleman

Sam Phillips Innovator’s Award
Concert promoter Tony Ruffino

Media Award
Original MTV veejay Alan Hunter

Martina Joins With SunnyD To Helps Kids

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Martina McBride is partnering with Cincinnati-based Sunny Delight Beverages Co. (SunnyD) for Time To Shine, a national marketing campaign designed to encourage “the shining moments of children.” This marks SunnyD’s first music and entertainment partnership, and the company promises a sponsorship that will “connect with Martina’s fans who share an optimistic and youthful outlook with the brand.” The campaign will include a national TV, print and retail campaign, national consumer promotion, and concert tour sponsorship.

As part of the promotion, consumers can pick up a bottle of SunnyD, go to www.sunnyd.com and share a brief story about how their child shines. The grand prize winner receives $10,000 and a VIP trip to meet McBride at a performance in Nashville. Monthly winners are also chosen to receive gifts (scholarships and/or other prizes) to encourage them to continue achieving excellent results. Each entrant will receive a free three-month Martina McBride fan club membership and access to exclusive behind the scenes footage from the SunnyD Shine All Night Tour.

McBride has also recorded a “SunnyD” jingle and will be featured in SunnyD TV commercials as well as in print ads in magazines such as People and Better Homes & Gardens.

“SunnyD is delighted to be partnering with Martina McBride for the Time to Shine promotion,” says Mark Ozimek, Assistant Brand Manager for SunnyD. This partnership is a great fit as it brings together two enduring, spirited brands that encourage children to achieve their best.”

National Folk Festival Heads To Nashville

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The National Council for the Traditional Arts, along with Mayor Karl Dean and Compass Records Group, announced today (3/10) that Nashville has been selected as the host city for the National Folk Festival in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The National Folk Festival is the oldest and longest-running multi-ethnic traditional arts festival in the nation. The Festival will be presented in downtown Nashville for three consecutive years, with the final year in Nashville marking the Festival’s 75th anniversary. Nashville won this honor in a competitive process involving 40 cities across the nation.

“No city in the United States can match the raw talent, creativity, and long history of making music like we have here in Nashville,” says Mayor Dean. “You combine that with our growing international diversity and growing recognition and appreciation for the arts, and you have a city that is well primed to host the National Folk Festival and to create an event of a caliber worthy of serving as the celebration of its 75th anniversary.”

The festival is expected to draw upwards of 80,000 attendees in its first year, increasing to over 150,000 by year three and is expected to have an estimated $10-15 million in economic impact per year. The Festival’s stay is also intended to lay the groundwork for a new annual festival that will continue in Nashville after the National Folk Festival moves on in 2014.

Nashville’s National Folk Festival will be operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and will be produced in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, and the Compass Records Group. A fundraising effort to support the festival is underway and both corporate and private sponsorship are being sought. For more details, contact Compass Records at 615-320-7672.

Gathered at ASCAP to announce Nashville as the new home of the National Folk Festival are (l-r) ASCAP's Dan Keen, Compass Records' Alison Brown, Jerry Douglas, Emmylou Harris, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, ASCAP's Marc Driskill, Compass Records' Garry West and National Council for the Traditional Arts' Julia Olin.

Nation’s Capitol Embraces Country

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John Rich performs as Lorrie Morgan looks on

Reports from the the CMA board meeting, currently underway in Washington DC, have been very positive, with Story Tellers and Story Keepers: Creating and Preserving Country Music, a day-long program for the CMA Board at the nation’s library, garnering some very positive press in today’s (3/10) Washington Post.

The day concluded with a special concert for Washington bigwigs that featured the music and storytelling of country stars Kix Brooks, John Rich and Lorrie Morgan, along with songwriters Victoria Shaw and Bob DiPiero and producer/musician Randy Scruggs. Commenting on the show, the Post’s Chris Richards said, “these men and women certainly know how to serve their country,” and noted that “there was confident stage swagger to spare.” Richards continued, “It’s also the latest event in what feels like a growing institutional embrace of country music in Washington. The Kennedy Center held a star-studded country festival in 2006, and the Obama administration has included country in its continuing genre-specific White House Music Series.

You can read the entire Washington Post article here.

CMA donated a leather-bound DVD collection of four decades of CMA history to the Library of Congress' archive. (l-r) CMA Board President Steve Buchanan, Library of Congress Music Division Chief Sue Vita, Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington, and CMA Board Chairman Steve Moore. Photo: Mitchell Layton

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.