Keith performing for the sold out crowd in Helsinki, Finland.
Toby Keith recently wrapped his first European tour, which included a two week sold-out run of nine shows in six countries. Keith opened the tour in Glasgow, Scotland Nov. 9 before playing London’s Hammersmith Apollo (Nov. 10), Dublin’s Olympia Theater (Nov. 12), Belfast’s Odyssey Arena (Nov. 13) and jumping across the North Sea for shows in Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; Oslo, Norway and, finally, Bergen, Norway.
Keith’s stop on the popular Swedish talk show Skavlan was one of the highest-rated episodes of the year. He was also the subject of cover stories or features appearing in the Irish News, Sunday World, Up Country, American, Irish Star, The Newsletter and more.
Underwood’s CMT Special Airs Tonight
/by FreemanCMT will premiere Carrie Underwood: Invitation Only tonight at 8 pm CT. Taped before a small audience in Nashville’s Studio A, the special will feature Underwood performing her hits and music from her new album Play On, as well as candidly answering questions from fans.
In other Underwood news, our web calendar had previously listed the incorrect date for Fox’s upcoming Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special. The correct date for the show is December 7, and it will air at 7pm CT.
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Pictured at Invitation Only taping (L-R): Brian Philips - President, CMT; Joe Galante - Chairman, Sony Music Nashville; Butch Waugh, EVP, Sony Music Nashville; Underwood; John Hamlin - Senior Vice President, Production and Development, CMT; Laurissa Ryan - Senior Director, Talent Relations, CMT; Margaret Comeaux - Senior Director, Music and Events Production, CMT; Jay Frank - Senior Vice President, Music Strategy for CMT; and Ann Edelblute - 19 Entertainment; Photo credit: Rick Diamond/WireImage
Toby Keith Concludes Sold-Out European Tour
/by MichelleKeith performing for the sold out crowd in Helsinki, Finland.
Toby Keith recently wrapped his first European tour, which included a two week sold-out run of nine shows in six countries. Keith opened the tour in Glasgow, Scotland Nov. 9 before playing London’s Hammersmith Apollo (Nov. 10), Dublin’s Olympia Theater (Nov. 12), Belfast’s Odyssey Arena (Nov. 13) and jumping across the North Sea for shows in Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; Oslo, Norway and, finally, Bergen, Norway.
Keith’s stop on the popular Swedish talk show Skavlan was one of the highest-rated episodes of the year. He was also the subject of cover stories or features appearing in the Irish News, Sunday World, Up Country, American, Irish Star, The Newsletter and more.
GE Sale Of NBC To Comcast Likely
/by adminThese figures value the entire NBC Universal sale price at about $29 billion, somewhat less than the $30 billion that was agreed to last month by both G.E. and Comcast.
A New York Times article (12/1) reports that a completed deal could be announced as soon as Thurs., 12/3.
The deal holds great potential value for Comcast, which would become a content developer in addition to its current transmitter role. If completed, the new NBC Universal would be a Comcast/G.E. joint venture. Comcast would hold a 51% stake adding in cash and its cable channels. G.E. would retain 49%. Insiders expect G.E. to eventually sell its share to Comcast.
FBMM’s John McCarthy To Retire
/by Sarah SkatesAfter 41 years in business, CPA
John McCarthy has announced plans to retire from Flood, Bumstead, McCready and McCarthy, Inc. (FBMM) effective December 31, 2009. He will continue to work as a CPA on a limited independent basis.
McCarthy has spent 41 years in the financial management business specializing in tax, audit and financial management for Touche Ross, Memphis; Herman Bensdorf & Co.; Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman and for the last 15 years with FBMM, which specializes in financial management for the entertainment and sports industries. Following his retirement, McCarthy can be reached at 615-557-7121 or McCarthyCPA@tds.net.
Photos: Currington On Parade; Stars Visit Children’s Hospital
/by MichelleBilly Currington performed his No. 1 hit "People Are Crazy" for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. He rode the Herald Square Express float from Central Park to 34th Street where he performed in front of the NBC cameras.
O-Seven Artist Management along with their acts Bucky Covington, Sawyer Brown and Love And Theft shared some holiday cheer at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital with a surprise guitar pull. Next the crew visited the Ronald McDonald House for a birthday lunch for one of the children undergoing treatment at Vanderbilt. Pictured at the Ronald McDonald House Front- Christopher, Hobie Hubbard (Sawyer Brown), Bucky Covington. Back- Stephen Barker Liles (Love And Theft), Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown), Don Harris (O-Seven Artist Management), Brian Bandas (Love And Theft)
Songs Score Big With Soundtracks: “The Climb,” “Southern Voice”
/by Sarah SkatesASCAP recently hosted a #1 party for "The Climb." Pictured L-R: ASCAP's John Briggs, Lyric Street & Disney Music Publishing's Doug Howard, Jessi Alexander, Disney Music Publishing's Kos Weaver, Jon Mabe, Stage Three Music's Tim Hunze and Missy Roberts. Photo Credit: Kay Williams
Songwriters Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe had stellar success with their song “The Climb,” which spent an amazing 15 weeks at #1 on Billboard‘s AC Chart. As the lead single from Hannah Montana: The Movie, “The Climb” was also voted Best Song from a Movie at the 2009 MTV Music Awards. It was published by Disney Music Publishing, Hopeless Rose Music, Mabe It Big Music and Stage Three Music.
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Also celebrating a hit song in a movie are longtime charttopping tunesmiths Bob DiPiero and Tom Douglas, who co-wrote the new Tim McGraw single “Southern Voice.” The radio hit is featured in the new movie The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock and McGraw. The film raked in $34.5 million at the box office over its opening weekend to land at No. 2, just behind the wildly popular New Moon vampire flick.
Country On Oprah’s Christmas Show Today
/by Sarah SkatesTim McGraw on Oprah. Photo: Oprah.com
Sugarland and Tim McGraw are among the superstars set for Oprah’s Holiday Music Extravaganza, airing today Monday, November 30. The episode focuses on duets, pairing Sugarland with Oscar winning actress, Jennifer Hudson for a Christmas standard. Sugarland is promoting their new holiday album Gold And Green. McGraw will sing the John Lennon classic “Happy Christmas” alongside R&B star Alicia Keys. Also performing are Andrea Bocelli, Mary J. Blige and David Foster.
Susan Boyle Sales Boiling
/by adminAmerican Idol runner up, Adam Lambert’s CD also debuted this past week and is set to move between 210-230k units to take the No. 2 spot overall. Other expectations include Carrie Underwood moving 100-120k units (a nice jump from last week’s 86k), Taylor Swift, Fearless at 85-100k and Swift’s Holiday Collection moving 75-90k (strong move from last week’s 45k units). Casting Crowns hit the chart last week (11/22) with over 167k units and is expected to scan 75-90k this week.
As usual, the Nielsen SoundScan results will be released Wed. 12/2, and we can then view exact numbers and rank the accuracy of the HDD crystal ball.
Urban Down Under: Awards Show, Tour
/by Sarah SkatesKeith Urban at the Aria Awards
Keith Urban opened Australia’s Aria Awards over the weekend with a performance of his hit “Kiss A Girl.” Next up he launches his “Escape Together World Tour” in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 11. The entire production set-up used on the U.S. leg of the tour—two stages, lighting, video screens, etc.—will make its way across the Pacific Ocean to Australia in time to be assembled for the tour’s debut.
Immediately following his appearance on The American Music Awards, and his win there for Best Male Country Artist, Urban flew to Sydney, Australia for the Aria Awards, which are the Australian equivalent to the Grammys.