Group shot from Country Cares
Jewel plays with a patient.
The 21st annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar was held over the weekend (1/15-16) in Memphis. Artists and radio representatives from around the country gathered to continue building on the successful radio fundraising program that has made more than $365 million to support St. Jude’s mission of finding cures and saving lives.
There were sessions on planning successful radiothons, tours of the hospital, meet and greets with patients and their families, and opportunities to learn more about treatment at St. Jude.
Attendees included Country Cares founder Randy Owen, Carrie Underwood, Jewel, Joe Nichols, Little Big Town, Darryl Worley, Blaine Larsen, Steve Azar, Danny Gokey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steel Magnolia, and many others. The 2010 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar concluded Saturday evening with the always popular Songwriters’ Dinner with performances by Owen, Lee Miller, Wayne Carson, Brice Long, Jim Weatherly and Wynn Varble.
Carrie Underwood visits a patient.
“You realize how hard St Jude’s works to put the power to get well in their hands,” Larsen marvels. “They try really hard to let them go home, whether it’s to apartments near the hospital or back to where they actually come from… which they do by working aggressively on a treatment protocol that the family can take back to their doctors… since children do better when they’re in a more natural environment. You see these kids, the families… and they’re fighting for their lives. That’s something to be scared about… only there’s so much joy, so much faith.”
Country Cares founder Randy Owen visits a patient's bedside.
Little Big Town with a patient.
Stars Offer New Web sites, Movies, More
/by Sarah SkatesLady A's Hillary Scott, and Taylor Swift. Swift has been posting pics she takes with her new Sony camera as part of her endorsement deal with the electronics giant.
Taylor Swift’s “Today Was A Fairytale” is out now at iTunes. The song is from the film and soundtrack Valentine’s Day, being released by her label Big Machine. She also appears in the new movie. Swift graces the cover of PEOPLE’s Star Style Special Issue, on stands now. She also has a totally revamped web site.
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Lady Antebellum sold out their headlining Ryman debut minutes after the March 11 show went on sale. So the band added a second show, set for March 10, and both nights sold out within 30 minutes.
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Brooks & Dunn have a new web site, developed, designed and managed by Sparkart Group, Inc. Ryan Bitzer, Sparkart Nashville’s VP of Business Development, works locally for the Oakland-based company whose other music clients include Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Evanescence, Janet Jackson, and The Killers. Brooks & Dunn’s The Last Rodeo tour launches April 23.
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TouchTunes Interactive Networks, the digital jukebox company, is hosting The Miranda Lambert Join The Revolution Sweepstakes. Fans can enter for a chance to win a fly-away trip for two to see Lambert in concert with Brad Paisley. Fans can enter on the digital jukeboxes or through the TouchTunes Facebook page.
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Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D is set to open across the nation on April 21. He has been at Sony Studios in Los Angeles working on the project.
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New UMG Nashville artist Laura Bell Bundy debuts “Giddy On Up,” her first music video and digital single this week. Check out this clip of her characters from Cooter County talking about the world premiere of her music video. Bundy has already found success on Broadway, playing “Elle Woods” in Legally Blonde.
Americana Showcase Submissions; Last Day For WMBA
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Hall, Varble, and Corbin Chosen For WCRS Live Showcase
/by Freeman“Every part of BMI’s Country repertoire will be expertly represented by the storyteller, Tom T. Hall; NSAI Songwriter of the Year, Wynn Varble; and new, red hot Mercury Nashville artist, Easton Corbin,” says BMI’s Jody Williams. “Tom T.’s songs are part of BMI’s cornerstone. Wynn is experiencing the hottest years of his career, and the future belongs to Easton Corbin. This is going to be a magical event.”
Previously announced for CRS 2010 was the ASCAP-sponsored “Storytellers With Darius Rucker,” which is set for Wednesday, February 24 at 4 – 5:20 pm and replaces the annual KCRS Live! Showcase. Joining the Capitol artist for an acoustic songwriting round will be frequent Rucker collaborators and co-writers Frank Rogers, Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley and Rivers Rutherford. CRS 2010 takes place February 24-26 at the NCC.
Colgate Country Showdown Winner Announced
/by Michelle2009 Colgate Country Showdown National Final Winner, Karla Davis, stands alongside LeAnn Rimes as she receives her check for $100,000.
Karla Davis, representing radio station WRHI Rock Hill in South Carolina, was named “Best New Act in Country Music” at the 28th Annual Colgate Country Showdown on January 14. Davis won the Grand Prize check of $100,000. The North Carolina native recently moved to Nashville and is sponsored by Takamine Guitars.
LeAnn Rimes hosted and performed at the televised event, which will be nationally syndicated to air in spring 2010. The national finalists performed in front of a panel of industry executives; Jim Catino (Sony Music), Rod Essig (CAA), Fletcher Foster, Fred Foster (Atlantic Records), Cris Lacy (Warner Music Nashville), and Brian Mansfield (Nashville correspondant for USA Today).
Rimes and the finalists, which included Kendall Phillips, Casey Lee Smith, Terry Lee Spencer, and Whisky Row, paid tribute to former contestant and country music legend, Garth Brooks. Many of today’s top country artists have competed in past competitions including; Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, and Miranda Lambert.
Photos From Country Cares for St. Jude Kids
/by Sarah SkatesGroup shot from Country Cares
Jewel plays with a patient.
The 21st annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar was held over the weekend (1/15-16) in Memphis. Artists and radio representatives from around the country gathered to continue building on the successful radio fundraising program that has made more than $365 million to support St. Jude’s mission of finding cures and saving lives.
There were sessions on planning successful radiothons, tours of the hospital, meet and greets with patients and their families, and opportunities to learn more about treatment at St. Jude.
Attendees included Country Cares founder Randy Owen, Carrie Underwood, Jewel, Joe Nichols, Little Big Town, Darryl Worley, Blaine Larsen, Steve Azar, Danny Gokey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steel Magnolia, and many others. The 2010 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar concluded Saturday evening with the always popular Songwriters’ Dinner with performances by Owen, Lee Miller, Wayne Carson, Brice Long, Jim Weatherly and Wynn Varble.
Carrie Underwood visits a patient.
“You realize how hard St Jude’s works to put the power to get well in their hands,” Larsen marvels. “They try really hard to let them go home, whether it’s to apartments near the hospital or back to where they actually come from… which they do by working aggressively on a treatment protocol that the family can take back to their doctors… since children do better when they’re in a more natural environment. You see these kids, the families… and they’re fighting for their lives. That’s something to be scared about… only there’s so much joy, so much faith.”
Country Cares founder Randy Owen visits a patient's bedside.
Little Big Town with a patient.
Community: Haiti Benefit, Trey Bruce, Dan Harr, Josh Ragsdale
/by Sarah SkatesThe Nashville Area Red Cross and the Music City Community Chorus are presenting a benefit concert tomorrow night, Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Limelight. Pam Tillis, Buddy Jewell, John Cowan, Troy Johnson and others will perform Handel’s Messiah along with a chorus and an orchestra made up of members of the Nashville Symphony. The Nashville Area Red Cross’s portion of the proceeds will go to disaster relief efforts in Haiti. The show also benefits the Music City Community Chorus, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, directed by vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams.
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A benefit for Dan Harr, owner of web site Music News Nashville, has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tues., Feb. 2, at Limelight in Nashville. Harr was diagnosed with cancer in May 2009 and has been undergoing treatment. Artist headliners and auction items are needed. If you have items you can donate, please mail them to: Susan Greene, 256 Seaboard Lane, #G-103, Franklin, TN 37067. Or call her to arrange pick-up at 615-210-5306. A headliner artist and songwriter/artists are needed for the evening. Please contact Harr at 770-316-2922 or 615-948-7425 if you have a performer who can participate.
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Sara Qualls, mother of Chrysalis Music VP A&R Nashville Trey Bruce, passed away Sun., Jan. 17. Visitation will be 5-7 PM, Jan. 19 at Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis. Funeral services will be held Wed., Jan. 20 at 10 AM.
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A bone marrow donor has been found for musician Josh Ragsdale. Read more at his brother’s blog.
Country Music Hall of Fame’s Carl Smith Dies
/by Sarah SkatesGrowing up in the East Tennessee town of Maynardville, Smith learned to play guitar and eventually joined the military. He came to Nashville in 1950 and was soon given a regular spot on WSM and appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.
His first hit came in 1951 with “Let’s Live A Little,” followed by “Mr. Moon,” “If Teardrops Were Pennies” and many more over the next few years, resulting in a string of Top Twenty singles. “Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way,” was his biggest-selling single.
In 1957 Smith married Goldie Hill, a rising country singer who gave up her career following their wedding. In the 1970‘s Smith followed suit, and retired to a horse farm in Franklin. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
Smith was married to June Carter from about 1952–1956, and they had daughter Carlene Carter.
He was preceded in death by wife Goldie Hill. He is survived by sons, Carl M. (Pam) Smith, Jr. and Dean (Tammy) Smith; daughters, Lori Lynn Smith and Carlene Carter (Joe) Breen; twelve grandchildren; and twelve great grandchildren.
Visitation will be tonight (1/18) from 5-8 p.m. at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. The funeral will be tomorrow (1/19) at 11 a.m., with visitation preceding from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., also at Williamson Memorial with Eddie Stubbs and Friends officiating. Interment at Williamson Memorial Gardens. Honorary Pallbearers will be Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Bare, Keith Bilbrey and Charlie Dick.
Lost Highway Loses Two
/by adminJim Flammia
MusicRow has learned that Lost Highway’s VP Artist/Media Relations, Jim Flammia; and VP Adult Alternative Promotion, Ray Di Pietro have exited their Nashville-based positions.
Di Pietro is said to be forming an artist services promotion/marketing type company to be named, Bitter Little Dutchboy. Di Pietro can be reached at raybld99@gmail.com. Flammia can be reached at jimflammia@gmail.com
Ray Di Pietro
Reports surfaced yesterday (1/14) that Universal Music Group had trimmed its national staff by as many as 50 positions spread across many of the company’s labels and its distribution divisions.
UMG typically does not respond to questions about changes but did release this official statement, “Universal Music Group is continuing to transform our organization to better serve our artists and business partners. Given the current economic climate, we have to be as agile and efficient as possible. Unfortunately, these ongoing efforts have resulted in some redundancy. However, UMG will now be even better positioned to compete in the growing global, digital marketplace.”
SESAC To Offer Watermarked Files
/by adminHunter Williams, Senior VP of Strategic Development at SESAC, said, “Technology is changing the way music is consumed at the B2B level. Creators need tools to authenticate and protect their intellectual property (IP) as it travels through the digital domain. Copyright owners expect greater accuracy and transparency in accounting from their business representatives. Similarly, music consumers are looking for better efficiency in licensing content that they wish to exploit. The Ruby DS system responds to these needs in a very direct way.”
SESAC, ACC, and DigSound are inviting parties to join the Beta Launch of Ruby DS. It is not necessary to be a SESAC affiliate in order to participate. Those interested should visit SESAC.com for more information. Ruby DS is another step in SESAC’s ongoing mission to embrace the latest technologies for the benefit of its member writers and publishers plus streamline the copyright usage process for its clients.