The carefully managed 43rd Annual CMA Awards info stream continues to tantalize with new details regarding performers and presenters. Just announced is a duet with Kid Rock and four-time nominee Jamey Johnson—their first ever on TV, and Martina McBride will perform during the show.
Newly announced presenters include nine-time CMA Award winners The Judds, Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson, and six-time CMA Award winner Lee Ann Womack. Kid Rock will also present an Award during the evening.
Performers already announced include Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Dave Mathews, Billy Currington, Vince Gill and Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.
Previously announced presenters include Dale Earnhardt Jr.; stars of ABC’s “The Middle” Neil Flynn and Patricia Heaton; Julianne Hough; nominee Randy Houser (for both New Artist and Music Video of the Year for “Boots On”); nominee Jake Owen (New Artist of the Year); Kellie Pickler; LeAnn Rimes; and ABC News’s Robin Roberts, co-anchor of “Good Morning America” and host of the upcoming “Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville” ABC television special (airing Nov. 10). Love And Theft will host the Pre-Telecast Awards.
Tickets for the 2009 CMA Awards can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Sommet Center box office.
“The 43rd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the 
Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
More Music Debuting Via Exclusive Agreements
/by Sarah SkatesThrough a partnership between Nokia, Island Def Jam Music Group, and Universal Music Group International, she will perform the new tracks in a secret London location for a globally streamed concert on Nov. 16. There will be simultaneous listening parties in multiple locations worldwide, and bloggers at the event will record, broadcast and share elements of the concert with fans via social networking.
The event coincides with the release of Nokia’s new X6 entertainment device. The mobile phone company is also offering exclusive Rihanna content to its Comes With Music customers, such as an exclusive version of Rated R with a bonus track, remix and more. Nokia will also make available an exclusive Rihanna application, exclusive footage, and the track, “Wait Your Turn” from the album before its release.
McMurry Entertainment Opens On The Row
/by MichelleHoward Fields
Longtime music businessmen Howard Fields and Everett Zinn have launched McMurry Entertainment Group, an independent music company based in Nashville. The enterprise is a three-way partnership between Fields, Zinn and Wyoming entrepreneur Doris McMurry, and is comprised of a record label and management company all under the MEG moniker. In the works are a distribution deal and artist signings to be announced in the coming weeks.
Consultant Larry Shell will head up MEG’s A&R efforts. Most recently, he was VP of A&R at Broken Bow Records. Claire Cook will oversee publicity for the new company and consult on public relations and marketing efforts.
Fields, a former army lieutenant colonel, has been involved in artist management since 1992 and has worked with such artists as Kenny Rogers, Jo Dee Messina, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and Ashley Gearing. Zinn published George Strait’s early hits, including “Unwound,” “Down and Out,” and “Marina Del Rey.”
McMurry Entertainment Group is located on Music Row at 1103 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212; Phone 615-457-1515; Fax 615-457-1616. E-mails addresses include: hfields@mcmurryentertainment.com, lshell@mcmurryentertainment.com, and ccook@mcmurryentertainment.com.
CMA Update: Kid Rock Duets W/ Jamey Johnson; Martina Sings
/by adminNewly announced presenters include nine-time CMA Award winners The Judds, Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson, and six-time CMA Award winner Lee Ann Womack. Kid Rock will also present an Award during the evening.
Performers already announced include Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Dave Mathews, Billy Currington, Vince Gill and Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.
Tickets for the 2009 CMA Awards can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Sommet Center box office.
“The 43rd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the
Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
Reba Makes Media Rounds, Wy Joins Tribute Show
/by Sarah SkatesWynnona has joined the Gibson Guitar tribute to the late innovator Les Paul, set for Thurs., Nov. 19 at the Ryman. The free concert will feature Paul’s godson Steve Miller, John Rich, Emerson Drive, JD Souther, Steve Wariner, Joan Jett, Ace Frehley, Zakk Wylde, Jennifer Batten, and Josh Kelly. Also set to perform are jazz artists Sarah Partridge and Anna Wilson. The Les Paul Trio, known for their Monday night performances with Paul at the Iridium in New York prior to his death, will serve as the house band. For fans that missed out on getting a free ticket in October, Gibson will soon be releasing a special allotment of tickets to the general public on the website www.gibson.com/lespaultribute.
Tracy Lawrence Turkey Fry, Guitar Center Food Drive
/by Sarah Skates———————–
Guitar Center is holding a nationwide food drive at all of its retail locations until Nov. 15. The donations will go to local food banks. As a special thanks, anyone who donates a non-perishable item will receive a coupon for 10% off their next Guitar Center purchase. Guitar Center Nashville is at 721 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tennessee 37204.
Free LimeWire Compilation Of Nashville Acts
/by Sarah SkatesCurated by the staff of Nashville Scene, Ear to the Ground: Nashville is a 17-track compendium featuring rising talents including Cortney Tidwell, Those Darlins, JEFF the Brotherhood, Caitlin Rose, Glossary, and The Protomen.
“When LimeWire approached us about putting together a free compilation of Nashville bands, it was probably the easiest ‘yes’ we’ve said in a while,” says Steve Haruch, Music Editor of Nashville Scene. “Any time we have a chance to get the word out to a wider audience about what’s going on here, we jump at it.” More from the Scene here.
Cracker Barrel Opens Store Downtown For CMA Awards
/by MichelleHe will appear at the store to sign autographs on Tues., Nov. 10 from 9 to 11 AM. Starting at 6:00 AM, fans who purchase an item from The Alan Jackson Collection will be able to get numbered tickets for a place in the autograph line. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition to Jackson merchandise and his exclusive new CD, Songs of Love and Heartache, other titles in Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program are from Zac Brown Band, George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, and Dolly Parton.
For photos from The Alan Jackson Collection’s items, click here.
CMA To Host Marketing Summit
/by Sarah SkatesThe
Country Music Association will host its fourth annual Marketing Summit next week, designed to inform executives from national corportations about entering successful partnerships with country music and its artists. Brown-Forman, Chevy, Coca-Cola, Cotton Inc., Cracker Barrel, Dollar General, General Mills, Nissan, Shoney’s, Tasti D-Lite, TIAA CREF and Wrangler are among the big name companies on the docket.
The Summit will meet Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10 -11 in Nashville with educational panels, speakers, and case studies, with topics ranging from star-building, to tour sponsorships, to connecting with the consumer. Executives will be introduced to the CMA Awards, CMA Music Festival, as well as other Country Music events and artists. In addition, there will be a presentation from ABC Television Network executives about their commitment to Country, including the CMA Awards and CMA Music Festival television specials.
Attendees will observe the taping of a television show at GAC, take a tour of a recording studio, experience the recording process with Jamie O’Neal, and witness intimate acoustic performances by rising artists. Julie Talbott, Executive VP of Premiere Radio Networks, will host a tour of the Premiere Radio remotes broadcasting nationally from Nashville and participants will get a behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the CMA Awards. The Summitt culminates with “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards” on Nov. 11.
3 Doors Down Local Side Project, Golf Tournament
/by Sarah Skates3 Doors Down
Local musicians Todd Harrell (3 Doors Down), Jon Nicholson (Muzik Mafia), Kenny Olson (Kid Rock’s band), and Shannon Boone have formed a new band called 7dayBinge. They recorded their self-titled debut album recently at the Sound Kitchen and will release it via Rock Ridge Music. The self-produced album will be available digitally on Dec. 8, and in hard copy on Jan. 26, 2010.
Meanwhile, Harrell’s 3 Doors Down bandmates are planning the first annual Rivergate Studios Celebrity Rock-n-Golf Tournament to benefit Lyrics for Life, the non-profit organization that helps fight childhood cancer. Tournament players will join more than 25 music and sports celebrities including Gary Allan, 3 Doors Down, Sister Hazel, Halfway To Hazard, 38 Special, and Ira Dean on Mon., Nov. 9 at Hendersonville’s Bluegrass Yacht and Country Club. An after party/all-star jam will follow at 12th And Porter. Rivergate Studios, co-owned by Chris Henderson (3 Doors Down) and Bobby Capps (38 Special), is co-hosting the event. Sponsorships and VIP golf packages are available at www.rivergatestudios.net.
Industry Poll: Who Will Win Entertainer?
/by Sarah SkatesMusicRow.com has just posted an industry poll on the home page. Vote anonymously and tell us who you think will take home the big prize at next week’s CMA Awards. A new fan poll by CMT.com says Taylor Swift will win Entertainer of the Year on Nov. 11.
If Swift wins, she’ll become the youngest artist ever to win Entertainer and join an elite group of only six other women ― the Dixie Chicks, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Reba and Shania Twain ― who have received the CMA’s highest honor. A win in this category would also mark the first win for a female since the Dixie Chicks took the top prize in 2000.
CMT commissioned its annual poll using a random sample of 1,000 country music fans ages 18 and older. Complete CMT poll results are as follows:
1) Entertainer of the Year – Taylor Swift
2) Album of the Year – Taylor Swift’s Fearless
3) Song of the Year – Carrie Underwood’s “I Told You So” written by Randy Travis
4) Female Vocalist of the Year – Taylor Swift
5) Male Vocalist of the Year – George Strait
6) Vocal Group of the Year – Rascal Flatts
7) Vocal Duo of the Year – Brooks and Dunn
CMT goes live with its annual, exclusive coverage of the CMA Awards Red Carpet on Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00-8:00 p.m., ET/PT.
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