T
he upcoming George Strait tour will be a huge outing, with Lee Ann Womack just added to the dates, alongside previously announced superstar Reba McEntire. The arena tour kicks off in early 2010 and continues through late Spring. On the schedule are more than 20 nationwide dates, starting in late January, and going through April.
“’Does Ft Worth Ever Cross Your Mind’? ‘Whoever’s In New England’? ‘The Fireman’? ‘Little Rock’? ‘Wrapped’? ‘The Last To Know’? We’re talking classic country from the source,” praises Womack. “I can’t 
imagine a better tour to be on than George Strait and Reba McEntire — and now I’m not imagining!”
2010 TOUR DATES
Date City
22-Jan Baltimore, MD
23-Jan Greensboro, NC
29-Jan Knoxville, TN
30-Jan Charlottesville, VA
5-Feb Phoenix, AZ
6-Feb Las Vegas, NV
18-Feb St Louis, MO
19-Feb Wichita, KS
20-Feb Tulsa, OK
25-Feb Atlanta, GA
26-Feb Orlando, FL
4-Mar Memphis, TN
5-Mar New Orleans, LA
6-Mar Little Rock, AR
26-Mar Portland, OR
27-Mar Tacoma, WA
8-Apr Omaha, NE
9-Apr Kansas City, MO
10-Apr Des Moines, IA
Updated: Kidnappers’ Demands
/by Sarah SkatesPhoto taken 11/19
[UPDATED 11/19]
Miss Doris
[11/16] Miss Doris, the smiling face who stood guard at the ASCAP elevator for the last 17 years, was abducted over the weekend. The MusicRow staff received a mysterious ransom note this morning from the bandits.
Connie Bradley, ASCAP’s Nashville leader and longtime friend to Miss Doris, was so distraught she was not able to comment on the situation.
ACM Brings Stars To Rodeo, Gets Visit From Gokey
/by Sarah SkatesAt the ACM offices in Los Angeles, staffers enjoyed a recent visit from Danny Gokey (L). While there he signed up for professional membership and performed songs from his 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville debut album, set for release in spring 2010. Pictured with ACM Executive Director Bob Romeo (R). Photo: Getty Images/Courtesy of ACM
For the fourth consecutive year, the Academy of Country Music will host a stage at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. A mix of rising talent and stars will perform at the event, which opens Dec. 3 with Heidi Newfield and closes Dec. 12 with Joe Nichols.
The Academy of Country Music Stage will include performances from Ash Bowers, Easton Corbin, Halfway to Hazard, LoCash Cowboys, Sean Patrick McGraw, David Nail, Sunny Sweeney, and Josh Thompson.
Kix Plays Tootsie’s; Band Perry Opry Debut
/by Sarah SkatesKix Brooks dropped into legendary country bar Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Nov. 17 and thrilled patrons with performances on both the front and back stages.
Famed honky-tonk Tootsie’s scored an impromptu performance by Kix Brooks on Tuesday night (11/17). While a few nights earlier, next door at the Ryman Auditorium, up-and-comers The Band Perry made their Opry debut.
The Band Perry made their Grand Ole Opry debut on Fri., Nov. 13. The Republic Nashville trio, comprised of siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry, performed their first single, “Hip to My Heart,” along with another self-penned song, “If I Die Young.” Kimberly called the experience on the Ryman stage "a holy moment." (l to r) Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry, warming up backstage
Stephen Allen Davis, Mark Brown Start Publishing Co.
/by Sarah SkatesPictured are (l-r): BMI’s Jody Williams, Stephen Allen Davis, and Molet Music’s Mark Brown. Photo by Drew Maynard
Longtime Music Row publisher Mark Brown and songwriter Stephen Allen Davis recently stopped by BMI to affiliate their new publishing venture, Molet Music. While the two were in the organization’s Music Row offices, BMI’s Jody Williams surprised the Grammy-nominated Davis with a Million-Air certificate recognizing more than 3 million performances of his composition “Stand Beside Me,” recorded by Jo Dee Messina. The song marks just one of Davis’s accomplishments as a songwriter: The impressive list of artists who have recorded his work also includes Frank Sinatra, Joe Cocker, Meatloaf, Tom Jones, Alabama, Reba McEntire, and Charlie Rich.
Video Sites: Vevo Launching, Hulu Expanding
/by Sarah SkatesM
usic video site Vevo has set a Dec. 8 launch date, while the already popular Hulu, which offers mostly films and TV shows, is gearing up to become a music destination.
Hulu already shows some music videos, but a new agreement with EMI is the site’s first wide-ranging deal with a major label. Exclusive material from EMI’s Norah Jones will be the first content featured under the new arrangement.
Superstar Strait Tour With Lee Ann Womack And Reba
/by Sarah SkatesT
he upcoming George Strait tour will be a huge outing, with Lee Ann Womack just added to the dates, alongside previously announced superstar Reba McEntire. The arena tour kicks off in early 2010 and continues through late Spring. On the schedule are more than 20 nationwide dates, starting in late January, and going through April.
“’Does Ft Worth Ever Cross Your Mind’? ‘Whoever’s In New England’? ‘The Fireman’? ‘Little Rock’? ‘Wrapped’? ‘The Last To Know’? We’re talking classic country from the source,” praises Womack. “I can’t
imagine a better tour to be on than George Strait and Reba McEntire — and now I’m not imagining!”
2010 TOUR DATES
Date City
22-Jan Baltimore, MD
23-Jan Greensboro, NC
29-Jan Knoxville, TN
30-Jan Charlottesville, VA
5-Feb Phoenix, AZ
6-Feb Las Vegas, NV
18-Feb St Louis, MO
19-Feb Wichita, KS
20-Feb Tulsa, OK
25-Feb Atlanta, GA
26-Feb Orlando, FL
4-Mar Memphis, TN
5-Mar New Orleans, LA
6-Mar Little Rock, AR
26-Mar Portland, OR
27-Mar Tacoma, WA
8-Apr Omaha, NE
9-Apr Kansas City, MO
10-Apr Des Moines, IA
File Sharing Harms Paid Music Purchases
/by Sarah SkatesSome observers believe that music file sharing can fuel paid purchases because it exposes listeners to new music they might not have heard otherwise. To test this theory, Jupiter Research surveyed 5000 European consumers to see how illegal trading affects music spending and found that the overall impact of file sharing is negative.
The results show that a majority of illegal music sharers do not buy music, and were deemed “freeloaders” because they showed little willingness or ability to pay for music. Jupiter said this group would be a good target for ad-supported “free” music services and subsidized “feels like free” offerings.
Elsewhere, the survey showed that physical CDs still dominate over digital product and that converting physical-format buyers to digital buyers, rather than losing them as paying customers, is a key goal for the future of the industry. Physical-only buyers represent 44% of European consumers.
Other findings show that a third of those who pay for digital music also share files illegally, spending an average of €98 per year, or $165.
Clay Walker Helms Soundtrack For Flick Ft. Lee Ann Womack
/by Sarah SkatesWalker’s EL Music released the soundtrack which contains 14 never before heard songs from the EL Music catalog. Together with Noble Things supervising music producer, songwriter and fellow Texas native, M. Jason Greene, Walker co-wrote and recorded the song “Double Shot of John Wayne,” which appears in the film. Their collaboration also resulted in the song “A Lotta Good Beer Went Down,” which appears on the soundtrack performed by Tracy Byrd and Zona Jones. Elsewhere on the album are Country mainstays such as Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chesnutt, and Pam Tillis, joined by up-and-comers Bo Bice, Lane Turner, The Drew Davis Band, Dobie Gray, The Rachels, Blaine Larsen, Nikki Williams, Brock Goodwin and Jenny Gill.
Walker is also working a new studio album for longtime label home Curb Records. The lead single, “She Won’t Be Lonely Now,” will be out in December, with the album to follow in 2010.
Jeff Walker, Gail Davies–Int’l Country Ambassadors
/by Sarah Skates(L-R): Brazilian artist Rodrigo Haddad, singer/songwriter/producer Gail Davies, AristoMedia President Jeff Walker and international promoter Judy Seale. Photo: Patricia Presley
AristoMedia Group President and CMA board member Jeff Walker, and singer, songwriter and producer Gail Davies were honored with the 2009 International Country Music Ambassador Awards last week during events surrounding the CMA Awards. Davies received her award from Brazilian Country artist Rodrigo Haddad, and Walker received his award from international Country music promoter Judy Seale.
Walker and Davies were first announced as award recipients at International Country Music Day, hosted by the Country Music Association of Spain annually on Sept. 17 to honor the birth of Hank Williams.
Hall of Fame Salutes Mary Martin
/by Sarah SkatesLast night (11/17) the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum presented an in-depth interview with visionary music industry executive Mary Martin. The program was the 2009 installment of the Museum’s Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, made possible by the Gibson Foundation. Martin spoke with host Jay Orr for nearly two hours, sharing highlights of her storied career, including encouraging Bob Dylan to work with The Band, signing Leonard Cohen to his first management deal, signing Emmylou Harris to her first record deal at Warner Bros., and managing Van Morrison and Rodney Crowell, among many other achievements. The annual program was established in 2007 to honor music industry leaders who are legatees of pioneering manager and booker Louise Scruggs.
Pictured (L-R): Gary Scruggs, VP of Museum Programs Jay Orr, Martin, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs and Gibson Foundation Executive Director Nina Miller. Photo: Donn Jones