Recently singled out by Country Weekly magazine as an “artist to watch in 2010,” Open Road/Lofton Creek Records artist Gwen Sebastian is starting to see her dreams come true. Her new single, “V.I.P. (Barefoot Girl),” moves up from No. 37 to No. 33 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart.
Raised in rural Hebron, North Dakota, and now living in Nashville while maintaining a heavy touring schedule, Sebastian can completely relate to “V.I.P. (Barefoot Girl),” which she wrote with Dean Miller (Terri Clark’s “A Little Gasoline” and Trace Adkins‘ “I’m Gonna Love You Anyway”) and Brian Eckert. When she sings, “I’m a barefoot girl walking in a high heel world,” she means it.
Sebastian and her band have a full schedule of summer tour dates with more than 30 shows in July and August. She’s also taking time to visit country radio stations along the way. She calls performing in front of a crowd “my favorite thing to do. That’s my outlet.”
“I want to make sure that everybody that comes out to see me has an experience, that they’re forgetting about everyday life,” Sebastian says. “When people are paying money to come see you, you have to make sure they’re getting something special. So I want to make sure they are part of the show, that each and every person feels like they are on stage with me, and that every song means something.”
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
July 21 Washington County Fair, Washington, Iowa
July 22 WXFL Radio Concert (with Bo Bice), Muscle Shoals, Ala.
July 23 Fairibault County Fair, Blue Earth, Minn.
July 27 Stevens County Fair, Hugoton, Kan.
July 30 Rhythms Bar & Grill, Englewood, Colo.
Aug. 6 Sublette County Fair (with Luke Bryan), Big Piney, Wyo.
Aug. 7 Private party, Rock Springs, Wyo.
Aug. 13-21 Montana Fair, Billings, Mont.
Aug. 26-27 Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, Minn.
Aug. 29 WOKO Country Club Music Festival, Essex Junction, Vt.
Westwood One Offers Urban’s Backstage Experience
/by contributorRecorded on location at several shows around the country, Urban answers fan questions and talks about his 2010 Summer Lovin’ tour. The fans themselves will be a part of the show, and give their favorites moments from the tour. In addition, the show spotlights Urban’s biggest hits from the past few years.
Urban’s tour sponsors, Kingsford Charcoal and KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce, present this show free to all radio stations so fans will be able to share in the excitement. For more information, contact Donny Walker at 917-957-5028 or donny_walker@westwoodone.com
Friday Photos – Artists on the Road
/by contributorRepublic Nashville’s Sunny Sweeney was in Sacramento recently where she paid a visit to one of the city’s top rated TV morning shows, Good Day Sacramento. Sweeney performed two songs from her upcoming album, including her current single “From A Table Away.”
(l-r) Good Day Sacramento anchor Cody Stark, Sunny Sweeney and anchor Tina Macuha.
Warner Music’s James Otto recently visited with WGH staff before his performance in Virginia Beach.
(L-R): Chris Stacey, Sr. VP Promotion Warner Music Nashville; WGH PD John Shomby; and Otto.
Pandora Reaches Major Listener Milestone
/by contributor“Pandora plays the music of tens of thousands of artists every day,” Kennedy said. “It’s a very promising sign for the industry that music fans are so quickly embracing this new form of radio.”
“The New Music Seminar convenes the architects of the next music business and Pandora is certainly one of them,” said New Music Seminar Director Tom Silverman. “This milestone is a major building block in the foundation of the next music business. We congratulate Pandora on its achievement.”
Pandora’s collection consists of hundreds of thousands of songs from 90,000 separate artists, 80 percent of which are played each month. In the curated Pandora collection, each piece of music is carefully analyzed by musicians to create a unique musical DNA that makes up the Music Genome Project and enables Pandora’s unique form of personalized radio. www.pandora.com
Bentley Brings Bluegrass to Late Night TV
/by contributorThe award-winning singer/songwriter will perform the aching ballad “Fallin’ For You” on the Late Show with David Letterman on Tuesday, July 27 and the poignant and romantic “Draw Me A Map” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, July 28.
“A lot of times when you get invited to do these shows, you end up doing the same song over and over…usually whatever your current radio single is at the time,” Bentley says. “It’s really flattering that folks were listening and asking for deeper album cuts. I love being able to highlight as many of these songs as possible because I think they are all special.”
Critical acclaim continues to roll in for Up On The Ridge with Entertainment Weekly most recently highlighting “Bad Angel” as the sole country track on their 10-song Perfect Summer Playlist. Other artists making the short list include Maroon 5, Gaslight Anthem and The Roots.
For a full list of upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.
Jamie O’Neal Partners With Cripple Creek
/by contributor“Jamie O’Neal does a tremendous job representing the face of country music and women’s outerwear, something that is really important to the Cripple Creek brand,” says Sidran, Inc. President, Roland Mizrahi. “We hope that this is just the beginning of a long and lasting relationship between Jamie O’Neal and Cripple Creek.”
“I am thrilled to announce this new relationship with Cripple Creek” O’Neal says. “Whether it’s a hooded fleece for a fall day at the park or studded leather jacket for backstage, Cripple Creek has something for every occasion.”
Toby Keith Readies “Bullets In The Gun”
/by contributorFrom his first single and No. 1 smash “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” back in 1993 to his recent single “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song),” Keith has written the majority of his biggest hits.
Keith’s American Ride Tour opened last month at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. Sponsored by Ford Trucks, the tour will hit dozens of cities through its Sept. 25 conclusion in Boston.
Remaining July dates:
July 22 Boise
July 23 Portland, OR
July 24 Seattle
July 25 Vancouver
July 27 Paso Robles, CA
July 29 Sacramento
July 30 Los Angeles
July 31 Las Vegas
Borman Ent. Announces Staff Additions, Promotions
/by contributor“We’re delighted to see Randy thrive and thrilled Doug and Michael agreed to join us,” says Gary Borman. “All three are experienced, excellent marketers and very welcome additions to our management team.”
Corcoran comes from the Nashville office of Nettwerk Management, where he worked with artists including Jars of Clay, Landon Pigg and Matt Wertz for the past five years. Corcoran has also done tour management for Guster, Phantom Planet and Ben Kweller.
Aitken is a 20-plus year veteran of the Nashville entertainment industry. Specializing in marketing, his previous positions include Pro Tours, Inc., RPM Management, Outback Concerts and the NHL’s Nashville Predators.
Brown has spent the past six years assisting with Borman clients and supporting the tour marketing efforts for the entire company roster. He previously served as marketing coordinator at Warner Brothers Nashville, working on projects by Faith Hill, Blake Shelton and Big & Rich.
Borman Entertainment’s current roster includes Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Alison Krauss, Randy Montana and Michael Franti.
BMI, ASCAP and Songwriters Hall Set Awards Dates
/by contributorBMI announced today (7/21) that the 58th annual BMI Country Awards will take place Tuesday, November 9 at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. The black-tie, invitation-only gala is the oldest awards ceremony saluting country music’s top songwriters.
Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, along with Nashville Writer/Publisher Vice President Jody Williams and Assistant Vice President Clay Bradley, the BMI Country Awards will salute the songwriters and publishers of the top BMI country songs played on American radio and television during the previous year. The organization will also bestow prestigious honors on the genre’s Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and most-performed Song of the Year, also known as the Robert J. Burton Award.
The evening will culminate with the presentation of the BMI Icon award to a country legend who has rendered “a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” The Icon recipient will be announced in the coming months.
With more details to be announced in the next couple of weeks, ASCAP has announced a date and venue change for their annual ASCAP Country Awards. This year’s event will take place on September 14 at the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville.
Sandestin Festival To Benefit Gulf Wildlife
/by contributorA cross-section of country and rock’s most acclaimed songwriters and performers will come together on Florida’s gulf coast during the weekend of August 13 and 14 for the inaugural Sandestin Music Festival. Sponsored by BMI, TrustCore, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sunquest Cruises and Southwest Airlines, the festival is all about great music for a great cause. Donations collected will support the National Audubon Society and its efforts to help the birds and other wildlife affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Legendary guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper, contemporary country hitmakers Jeffrey Steele, Danny Myrick, Marty Dodson and James Slater, acclaimed guitarist/singer/songwriter Lee Roy Parnell, Grammy-winning bluesman Delbert McClinton, powerhouse vocalist Lari White, and up-and-comer Kree Harrison will perform with the 2,400-acre Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort serving as the backdrop.
Entry to the Sandestin Music Festival is free for the public with a printed ticket via www.sandestinmusicfestival.com. While there is no charge for admittance, festival organizers are asking for donations to benefit the National Audubon Society’s Gulf Coast efforts. Donations may be made online at www.sandestinmusicfestival.com or through $10 text donations during the event.
VIP Packages are available to the first 150 overnight guests to book accommodations at Sandestin Florida Beach Resort via www.sandestin.com for the Sandestin Music Festival Weekend. The VIP Package includes priority seating and a meet-and-greet with all the performers on the Solaris, the area’s only dining and entertainment yacht, after the show on Saturday. VIP pass holders also will receive a bag filled with one-of-a-kind memorabilia, including autographed CDs from participating artists, an autographed Sandestin Music Festival program and a photo with their favorite artist.
“We invite everyone to gather their families and join us for a wonderful weekend of top-shelf entertainment,” says John Russell, Sandestin resort chief and president of Sandestin Investments LLC. “These talented artists represent the best in the industry. We are so fortunate to have such an incredible line up of award-winning performers. This is the perfect way for us to cap the summer season.”
“BMI constantly seeks out new ways for our songwriters to connect with new audiences, and the first annual Sandestin Music Festival is an ideal opportunity,” says Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. “Live music ensconced in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s paradisiacal setting is a perfect way for fans to really get to know the masters behind the hits and to support worthwhile efforts on the Gulf Coast.”
Gwen Sebastian Hits the Road and the Charts
/by contributorRaised in rural Hebron, North Dakota, and now living in Nashville while maintaining a heavy touring schedule, Sebastian can completely relate to “V.I.P. (Barefoot Girl),” which she wrote with Dean Miller (Terri Clark’s “A Little Gasoline” and Trace Adkins‘ “I’m Gonna Love You Anyway”) and Brian Eckert. When she sings, “I’m a barefoot girl walking in a high heel world,” she means it.
Sebastian and her band have a full schedule of summer tour dates with more than 30 shows in July and August. She’s also taking time to visit country radio stations along the way. She calls performing in front of a crowd “my favorite thing to do. That’s my outlet.”
“I want to make sure that everybody that comes out to see me has an experience, that they’re forgetting about everyday life,” Sebastian says. “When people are paying money to come see you, you have to make sure they’re getting something special. So I want to make sure they are part of the show, that each and every person feels like they are on stage with me, and that every song means something.”
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
July 21 Washington County Fair, Washington, Iowa
July 22 WXFL Radio Concert (with Bo Bice), Muscle Shoals, Ala.
July 23 Fairibault County Fair, Blue Earth, Minn.
July 27 Stevens County Fair, Hugoton, Kan.
July 30 Rhythms Bar & Grill, Englewood, Colo.
Aug. 6 Sublette County Fair (with Luke Bryan), Big Piney, Wyo.
Aug. 7 Private party, Rock Springs, Wyo.
Aug. 13-21 Montana Fair, Billings, Mont.
Aug. 26-27 Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, Minn.
Aug. 29 WOKO Country Club Music Festival, Essex Junction, Vt.