Ash Bowers
Stoney Creek Records artist Ash Bowers has been added to Jason Aldean’s upcoming Wide Open tour set to launch Jan. 22. Bower’s first Wide Open appearance begins 1/28 in Austin, TX.
“I was lucky enough to open a few dates for Aldean in November last year and had a blast playing for those big crowds,” says Bowers. “When I was told I was going to join in on the fun again I was thrilled. What a great way to kick off a new year!”
Bower’s debut single “Stuck” never charted on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, but hopes are high for his second attempt, “Ain’t No Stopping Her Now” set to ship on Jan. 15. The new song was written by Bowers and Kyle Jacobs, who co-wrote “More Than A Memory” for Garth Brooks. Other Stoney Creek artists include Megan Mullins and Crossin Dixon. Stoney Creek is part of the Broken Bow Records family, Aldean’s label home.
As previously announced Capitol’s Luke Bryan (“All My Friends Say”) is also part of the tour for most of the dates. For more info visit www.jasonaldean.com
2010 WIDE OPEN TOUR DATES w/ASH BOWERS
1/28 Austin, TX Cedar Park Center
1/29 Beaumont, TX Ford Park Arena
1/30 Tyler, TX Oil Palace 2/4 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center
2/5 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
2/18 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
2/19 Highland Heights, KY Bank of Kentucky Center
2/20 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena
2/25 Wilkes-Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
2/26 Univ. Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
3/10 Ames, IA Hilton Coliseum
3/12 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center
3/18 Broomfield, CO The Odeum
3/19 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena
3/20 Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena
3/21 Pocatello, ID Holt Arena
3/25 Sioux City, IA Tyson Events Center
3/26 Lincoln, NE Pershing Center
3/27 St. Charles, MO Family Arena
Jessica Harp
/by ProgrammerPlaylistWarner Music Nashville
Warner Music Nashville is releasing Jessica Harp’s empowering new single “A Woman Needs” to country radio, and it goes for adds January 19. To coincide with the release, Harp is offering three “making of the video” webisodes and the exclusive premiere of the song’s video on AOL’s The Boot. The webisodes will be part of a contest where fans will obtain a code to enter a page at www.jessicaharp.com/awomanneeds and the winner will win a weekend getaway to Nashville and a meeting with Harp. “A Woman Needs” parts 1 and 2 are posted Theboot.com and Part 3 will be available Friday, Jan. 22. The full video will post on Monday, Jan. 25. A winner for the contest will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 4 at www.jessicaharp.com.
In June 2004, Harp set out for Nashville to finalize a solo recording contract as a country artist. Fate intervened along the way when her best friend (pop star Michelle Branch) called and asked her to form a country/pop duo, which the girls dubbed The Wreckers. A No. 1 country single, a gold album, a Grammy-Award nomination, and high-profile tours with Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban followed, but Harp could never shake the feeling of wanting to show the world what she could do on her own.
Now she has that chance with the upcoming release of her major-label solo debut A Woman Needs — a breezy modern-country collection that finds the honey-voiced Harp telling appealingly relatable stories about her life, loves, and heartbreaks. “Country music is about real people and real things, and that always spoke to me not only as a music fan, but as a singer-songwriter,” Harp says. “I like to tell stories with my songs. This is the album I have dreamed of making since I was eight years old and singing along to my mom’s Judds and Reba McEntire records.”
“In a way, it’s like going back to square one after being in a successful band,” she continues, “but at the same time, it makes everything that I’ve done on my own feel that much stronger because I know I have stood on my own two feet and, against all odds, proven myself all over again.”
www.jessicaharp.com
http://www.myspace.com/jessicaharp
May Moves To Warner/Chappell VP/GM
/by adminPrior to joining Warner/Chappell Music, May was one of the Founding Partners of global music publisher R2M Music LLC, from 2006 to 2009, where he worked on catalog valuations and acquisitions and integrated acquired catalogs into R2M Music’s portfolio. He also spent 11 years with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, including from 2001 to 2003, as VP of Global Administration where he headed the company’s U.S. and international royalties, copyright, licensing and information systems departments.
Last Fall the Warner/Chappell Nashville office also brought veteran Steve Markland on board as VP of A&R. Markland reports to Gershon.
Westerman Follows Hill To Red Light
/by adminSandra Westerman
MusicRow has learned that Sandra Westerman will be leaving her VP position at Borman Entertainment to move to a similar role at Red Light Management in Coran Capshaw’s Nashville office starting Jan. 19. Westerman spent over 17 years with Borman Entertainment. She can now be reached at Sandra.Westerman@redlightmanagement.com
Westerman was active in the day-to-day role for former Borman client Faith Hill who recently joined the Red Light roster.
According to a MusicRow story on Jan. 8, Hill’s career will be overseen by Red Light principle Coran Capshaw and President Will Botwin from the firm’s New York offices. Earlier last year, Hill’s superstar husband Tim McGraw also signed with Red Light for career management after leaving his long time association with RPM Management.
Nashville In LA: Bryan, Urban, Orbison
/by Sarah SkatesL-R: Bob Romeo, ACM Executive Director, Luke Bryan. Photo: Michel Bourquard /Courtesy ACM
Music City stars have been making the rounds on the west coast.
The Academy of Country Music welcomed professional ACM member and Capitol Records Nashville artist Luke Bryan to their offices for a visit when he was in Los Angeles earlier this week to tape CBS’ The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
——————————
Keith Urban made his new video in Los Angeles last month. The two-day shoot directed by Noble Jones took place mostly at the Santa Monica pier. The video is for new single “’Til Summer Comes Around” which he co-wrote with Monty Powell. Urban will return to LA for the Jan. 31 Grammy Awards where is a four-time nominee.
——————————
It was just revealed that the legendary Roy Orbison will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony on Jan. 29. His family Barbara, and sons Roy Jr. and Alex will be there for the event. The late musician is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Aldean Adds Ash To Tour
/by adminAsh Bowers
Stoney Creek Records artist Ash Bowers has been added to Jason Aldean’s upcoming Wide Open tour set to launch Jan. 22. Bower’s first Wide Open appearance begins 1/28 in Austin, TX.
“I was lucky enough to open a few dates for Aldean in November last year and had a blast playing for those big crowds,” says Bowers. “When I was told I was going to join in on the fun again I was thrilled. What a great way to kick off a new year!”
Bower’s debut single “Stuck” never charted on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, but hopes are high for his second attempt, “Ain’t No Stopping Her Now” set to ship on Jan. 15. The new song was written by Bowers and Kyle Jacobs, who co-wrote “More Than A Memory” for Garth Brooks. Other Stoney Creek artists include Megan Mullins and Crossin Dixon. Stoney Creek is part of the Broken Bow Records family, Aldean’s label home.
As previously announced Capitol’s Luke Bryan (“All My Friends Say”) is also part of the tour for most of the dates. For more info visit www.jasonaldean.com
2010 WIDE OPEN TOUR DATES w/ASH BOWERS
1/28 Austin, TX Cedar Park Center
1/29 Beaumont, TX Ford Park Arena
1/30 Tyler, TX Oil Palace 2/4 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center
2/5 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
2/18 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
2/19 Highland Heights, KY Bank of Kentucky Center
2/20 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena
2/25 Wilkes-Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
2/26 Univ. Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
3/10 Ames, IA Hilton Coliseum
3/12 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center
3/18 Broomfield, CO The Odeum
3/19 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena
3/20 Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena
3/21 Pocatello, ID Holt Arena
3/25 Sioux City, IA Tyson Events Center
3/26 Lincoln, NE Pershing Center
3/27 St. Charles, MO Family Arena
Sony Sets Schedule For Jackson, Gokey, Thompson
/by Sarah SkatesAlan Jackson
Sony is starting 2010 with a full slate of releases scheduled through the spring. Superstar Alan Jackson has a new Arista Nashville album, Freight Train, coming March 30. That month also brings the March 2 release of American Idol finalist Danny Gokey’s debut project. And first on the docket for 2010 is newcomer Josh Thompson Feb. 23 release.
For Jackson’s 18th album he reunited with longtime producer/collaborator Keith Stegall; the combination that has helped boost the singer to over 50 million album sales. Stegall, Kylie Sackley, and Vickie McGehee co-wrote the lead single, “It’s Just That Way,” which is climbing MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart at No. 43 after just three weeks, and earned a flattering review from critic Robert Oermann. “It’s Just That Way” is one of three songs on the album that feature acclaimed bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent on background vocals. Jackson also enlisted Lee Ann Womack for a remake of the Vern Gosdin/Janie Fricke duet “Till the End.” Jackson wrote or co-wrote eight of the album’s dozen tracks, including one he penned with Roger Murrah, with whom he wrote the now-classic, “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.” Freight Train is the follow-up to his Good Time collection which produced three No. 1 singles.
Danny Gokey
The 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville camp is preparing for the March 2 release of Gokey’s Mark Bright-produced debut album, My Best Days. The first single, “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me,” is earning airplay and is available as a digital single. Fans who pre-order the album at dannygokey.com will receive the CD, an instant download of “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me,” and an autographed CD booklet (while supplies last). Gokey has been on a radio tour and was in Nashville last weekend to participate in Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust, where he made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
Josh Thompson
Sony is also offering incentives to fans who pre-order Josh Thompson’s Feb. 23 release Way Out Here. Fans who pre-order the album on joshthompsonofficial.com will also receive an autographed booklet. At the site they can stream and purchase the four tracks from his self-titled digital EP, and play the “Whack-A-Beer” game, named for his single “Beer on the Table.” Next month he heads out on the 32-date Jagermeister Country Tour with headliner Eric Church.
CMA Songwriters Series Returns to Joe’s Pub
/by Freeman“The CMA Songwriter Series is something I’ve wanted to be part of for a long time, but the timing just never worked out until now,” says Bentley. “I love all the small clubs and songwriter venues around the city, the vibe and acoustics at Joe’s Pub are great. It’s fun to break it all back down, get rid of the big stage and the lights and video screens where it’s just you and a bunch of your buddies and a couple of guitars. It’s really intimate and you’re reminded real quick how important the songs are and that they are the foundation of the Country Music that’ll stand the test of time.”
Tickets for the 6:30 and 9pm ET shows at Joe’s Pub are $25 each. For information about Joe’s Pub or to order tickets, visit www.joespub.com or call (212) 967-7555 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM/ET.
Web Network Debuts At Top Of comScore Rankings
/by MichelleVEVO, a new music video and entertainment service, was the most visited U.S. web network in the Entertainment-Music category last month (Dec 09) with 35,395,000 unique visitors according to comScore. VEVO was created in a partnership with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Media Company. It’s powered by YouTube.
The service launched December 8. The VEVO Network platform represents a strategy where its content is available on VEVO.com, YouTube and through a VEVO-branded embedded player, creating the largest music video audience network online.
Music videos from Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Drake, Lady Gaga, Jay Sean, Shakira, Britney Spears and Young Money are the most popular on VEVO this week. The Top 5 U.S. Entertainment-Music networks on the web, according to comScore Media Metrix data, for December 2009 also include: MySpace Music, AOL Music, Warner Music and MTV Networks Music.
National News: Labels Face Antitrust Suit; Arbitron; Bergman Catalogue
/by Sarah SkatesAn antitrust lawsuit alleging price fixing of digital downloads by the major labels has been reinstated by a federal appeals court. EMI, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, are among the defendants in the case that will be allowed to proceed. The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the October 2008 decision of a lower court which dismissed the case.
————————
Board member William Kerr has been named President/CEO of Arbitron following the resignation of Michael Skarzynski.
————————
Spirit Music Group has acquired Threesome Music, the song catalogue of acclaimed multiple Grammy, Oscar and Emmy-winning songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Through the agreement, Spirit will acquire rights to more than 300 songs recorded by such classic artists as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Celine Dion and Luciano Pavarotti. The catalog also includes timeless standards recorded by Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson.