Gill, Flatts, Steele, and Walker Headline Big Benefit Shows

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Vince Gill will headline the 12th annual Jammin’ to Beat the Blues concert to benefit the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee (MHAMT) on Monday, April 19 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Gill will be joined by yet-to-be-announced guest performers, and the show will be hosted by SouthComm CEO Chris Ferrell. Tickets start at $29.50 and go on sale Friday, February 12 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster outlets and the Ryman box office.

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Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, Jason Michael Carroll, Keith Anderson, Little Big Town and special guests will perform at the 3rd annual Gift of Music concert Monday, February 22, 7:00 p.m., at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. All proceeds will benefit the W.O. Smith Music School which has been providing 50 cent music lessons to Nashville’s underserved children for 25 years. Reserved seats and general admission tickets sold out in 20 minutes but VIP tickets are still available. The $500 VIP admission includes prime seating, dinner, valet and a chance to win autographed memorabilia. They can be purchased by calling 615-371-8878.

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The 3rd Annual Jeffrey Steele & Friends benefit concert and dinner is set for Thursday, March 11 at Rocketown in Nashville. The event benefits the Alex LeVasseur Fund (of the Community Foundation of Middle Tenessee) and its programs that help underprivileged and at-risk youth by motivating them in school and life. Artists slated to perform at this year’s event will be announced on twitter.com/thealexfund as well as at RememberAlex.com.

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Clay Walker is headlining his Chords of Hope MS Benefit Concert on Tuesday, February 23 at the Wildhorse Saloon. Also on the schedule are SHeDAISY, Lee Brice and Chuck Wicks. Tickets are available through the Wildhorse Saloon, starting at $10. All proceeds from the concert will go toward multiple sclerosis research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For ticket information, please visit www.wildhorsesaloon.com or call (615) 902-8211.

NashvillePost: Gibson goes on defensive against price-fixing claims

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From the NashvillePost.com:

Iconic Nashville-based guitar manufacturer Gibson said claims it colluded with other manufacturers and a retailer in a price-fixing scheme are “wholly without merit.” Gibson, along with competitors Yamaha and Fender, retailer Guitar Center, and the National Association of the Music Merchants, an industry group, are charged in a number of lawsuits in California and Washington, D.C., alleging a conspiracy to secure higher retail prices. The suits are filed under the names of various purchasers of guitars and are expected to be treated as a class action. Read more here.

“Pete” Peterson Passes

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Vanderbilt University professor Richard “Pete” Peterson—one of the first sociologists to seriously study country music—has died at age 77.

During his career, Peterson studied the Nashville music industry, popular culture, the definition of musical genres, the aging of the fine-arts audience and the impact of digital technology on music. In addition, he was a former consultant to National Public Radio.

When he arrived at Vanderbilt in 1965, he realized that the campus was just a few blocks away from the center of Nashville’s music business. So he began a scholarly quest to explore the development of country music.

He befriended artists such as Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Hank Snow and Charley Pride and went on the road with The Oak Ridge Boys when they were still a gospel act.

One of his first studies was of Fan Fair (now known as the CMA Music Festival). After many years of further study and numerous articles and scholarly convention presentations, in 1997 he published Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity (University of Chicago Press). At the time, the late Eddy Arnold said that Peterson, “appreciates the importance of country music and respects how it achieves that importance.”

Peterson passed away on Thursday, February 4. He is survived by his wife, Claire Clark, and three children, Michael, David and Ruth. A campus memorial service is being planned.

Josh Turner Goes Haywire Feb. 9

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Josh Turner’s latest release Haywire hits streets Feb. 9 with a standard and deluxe version. Deluxe includes the 11 tracks that appear on the standard release plus two unreleased songs and live versions of “Your Man,” and “Long Black Train.” Deluxe also includes music video “Why Don’t We Just Dance” plus behind-the-scenes recording studio footage.

Turner will also be featured on the Great American Country network’s Origins series where the baritone singer shares personal stories about career and family.

Rider Named Stoney Creek GM

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Stoney Creek Records CEO/President Benny Brown announced today (2/8) the addition of April Rider as General Manager of Operations for Stoney Creek Records, effective Feb. 15.

Rider recently exited her position as Curb Records VP Promotion after ten years with the label. She now joins fellow former Curb promo exec Carson James at Stoney Creek, an imprint of Broken Bow Records.

“We are excited to have April join the Stoney Creek family. Her extensive knowledge and successful background will continue to move the Stoney Creek imprint to new levels of success,” says Brown.

Rider adds, “With such a great staff and artist roster to work with, I am thrilled for this exciting opportunity to grow my career. I look forward to working with my longtime colleague and friend Carson James, and the rest of the Stoney Creek family.”

April Rider can be reached at april@stoneycreekrecords.com and by phone at 615-320-1372.

Turner On Letterman; Lambert Meets Foxx; Steel Magnolia In LA

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Josh Turner is set for his first performance on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight (2/8), as he preps for tomorrow’s release of both deluxe and standard versions of his fourth studio album, Haywire, via MCA Nashville. “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” the hit lead single is at No. 7 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart. Up next, Turner is going on a two-week run out west, starting in Salt Lake City on Feb. 13 and ending in Los Angeles on February 28.

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Turns out that actor/singer Jamie Foxx is big fan of Miranda Lambert. The two celebs met for the first time in LA recently at Foxx’s post-Grammy party at the Conga Room. She was celebrating her first Number One single, “White Liar,” and a presenting slot on the Grammys where she was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Jamie Foxx and Miranda Lambert

When Lambert walked in the room, Foxx grabbed a microphone and rapped a few lines of, “White Liar” and said, “Everybody, Miranda Lambert’s in the house!” A fan of country music, Foxx has performed on the CMA Awards and last year, sang on the George Strait Artist of the Decade All-Star Concert.

Lambert will return to the City of Angeles this month on tour with Brad Paisley and she will also perform “White Liar” on Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

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Steel Magnolia soared to No. 19 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart last week with their hit, “Keep On Lovin’ You,” from the Valentine’s Day Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, out via Big Machine. Now the duo is headed to L.A. to make their late-night debut on TBS’s Lopez Tonight! hosted by actor and comedian George Lopez, airing at 10 pm/CT on Thurs., Feb. 11. 

The late-night appearance caps off a whirlwind week for Steel Magnolia who will attend the Valentine’s Day movie premiere in LA on Monday, alongside the film’s stars.

Warner Ups Reeves To VP Promotion

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Bob Reeves

Warner Music Nashville announced today (2/8) the promotion of Bob Reeves from National Promotion Director to VP Promotion. In this new role, Reeves will continue to work with artists in the Warner Music Nashville family, which includes Atlantic Nashville, Reprise and Warner Bros. Nashville.

“When I came on board and saw all of the terrific A&R team we had working to develop our wonderful roster of artists, I also saw that we have in Bob an incredibly talented executive with the breadth of experience and creativity to help us take WMN to the next level,” says WMN Pres. John Esposito. “Throughout the course of his 20-year career, Bob has exhibited entrepreneurial initiative and has brought a very creative approach to getting the music of so many great artists to their fans. I look forward to working with him to drive even greater success for all of Warner Music Nashville artists.”

Reeves’ career includes time at Albany, NY’s WPTR radio; promotion gigs with CORE Records, River North, and Sony Music’s Monument and Epic; his own marketing and promotion partnership Integrity Nashville; and National Promotion Director stints with Midas and Montage. Since joining Warner Bros. Nashville in 2006, Reeves has been a part of No. 1 singles by Big & Rich, James Otto, and Blake Shelton.


Judds Reunion Tour; Orbison’s Hollywood Star

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Wynonna Judd

The Judds are reuniting for a tour. Wynonna Judd made the announcement about re-teaming with her mother, Naomi Judd, for on CBS’s Saturday edition of The Early Show this weekend. Wy also performed on the broadcast and sat down for an interview. The show was shooting live from Lummus Park in South Beach, Miami, as a lead in to  last night’s (2/7) Super Bowl.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

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The late Roy Orbison was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week. The ceremony took place in front of Capitol Records, where Orbison’s star is next to those of his friend John Lennon and fellow Traveling Wilbury member George Harrison. Saluting Roy’s passion for Harley Davidsons, his friends Dan Aykroyd and Dwight Yoakam opened the event by riding in on motorcycles. Orbison’s wife Barbara, and their sons Wesley, Roy Jr. and Alex, were in attendance along with T-Bone Burnett, Phil Everly, Olivia Harrison, Eric and Tania Idle, Chris Isaak, David Lynch, Jason Mraz, Barbara Bach Starkey, Joe & Marjorie Walsh, and more.

Also during Grammy week, Barbara Orbison’s company was thrilled with all the wins that went to Taylor Swift and her album, Fearless, because the publisher has several cuts on the project.

IEBA Board; Tin Pan Passes; CRS Rates

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The International Entertainment Buyers Association has elected several new board members and a new executive committee. The organization is also busy planning its 40th anniversary conference, set for October 3-5 in Nashville.

IEBA Executive Committee
Chairman: Barry Jeffrey, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
Outgoing Chairman: Randy Wright, Integrity Events
President: Linda Smith, Glenn Smith Presents
VP: Rick Murray, Greylock Entertainment
Treasurer: Karen Clark, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Secretary: Larry Werner, Panhandle Productions

Newly-elected IEBA Board members— Todd Boltin, Variety Attractions; Christy Bowen, Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo; Jim Carter, Murray State University; Charlie Davis, Paradise Artists; Jeff Hill, CAA; Greg Janese, Paradigm Agency; Scott Morris, ICM; Lori Otelsberg, Signature Entertainment and Promotions; Huston Powell, C3 Presents; Brenda Tinnen, AEG Kansas City.

Watkins College of Art, Design & Film student Michael Korfhage created the Tin Pan South logo.

Among the local board members in the middle of 3-year terms are Steve Lassiter, APA; Fran Romeo, Romeo Entertainment Group; Clarence Spalding, Spalding Entertainment; Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium; and Philip Lyon, Lyon & Phillips, PLLC – legal counsel. The IEBA staff consists of executive director Tiffany Davis and assistant Andrew Farwell.

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The 18th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival presented by Regions Bank will be held Tuesday, March 30 – Saturday, April 3, in Nashville. Produced by NSAI, the world’s largest all-songwriter festival features seasoned pros and new faces performing in some of Music City’s best listening rooms. Fast Access Passes, which provides preferred access to all the shows, go on sale Wednesday, March 10 at tinpansouth.com. Proceeds from the festival benefit the NSAI Legislative Fund.

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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has extended its first ever $99 Unemployment Rate and approved the on-site sale of single-day passes for CRS 2010, to be held Feb. 24-26, 2010.

The $99 Unemployment Rate offers a financial break to those currently without work but still wanting to attend Country Radio Seminar. The new deadline to apply for the Unemployment Rate is Feb. 15, 2010.  This registration provides attendees access to educational events and songwriter showcases only. Tickets to the Music City Jam™, New Faces of Country Music Show® and daily luncheons must be purchased separately.

Underwood First CMA Music Festival Performer

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Carrie Underwood surprised one of her biggest fans last week with a phone call telling her she will be among the stars performing at this year’s CMA Music Festival Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13 in Nashville.

Underwood took time out of her packed Super Bowl rehearsal schedule, where she sang the national anthem last night, to call 15-year-old Riley Ahlstrand with the news. Ahlstrand, an ardent fan of the Festival, was being interviewed by WKRN News 2’s Brad Schmitt when Underwood called him and Ahlstrand to share the news.

Ahlstrand came to WKRN’s attention after she sent an email to CMA: “My dream is to meet Carrie Underwood, and the CMA Music Festival is my absolute favorite thing. I want more than anything for Carrie Underwood to appear at CMA Music Festival this year. Thank you so much for everything that you do, and for putting on such a spectacular week June 10-13! This truly is the ultimate fan experience.”

Underwood’s video for “Temporary Home” debuted on iTunes with a two-day exclusive, Feb. 2-3, and shot to No. 1. Now it is in Hot Shot rotation on CMT and in Turbo rotation on GAC.

Looking ahead, Underwood will make her first appearance at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl on Sat., Oct. 2, with a concert performance that will involve the renowned Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Fans can also be watching for Carrie on upcoming covers of Cosmopolitan and Allure.