Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill and Hillary Scott. Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
9 star acts. 14,000 screaming fans. $500,000 raised and counting. By all accounts Keith Urban’s first We’re All For The Hall concert was a dazzling success. The event benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was held last week (10/13) at the Sommet Center, and featured Urban, Vince Gill, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. Thanks to the superb line-up and tickets priced around the $30 mark, the show sold out quickly.
Proceeds have crossed the half-million dollar mark and are expected to grow with the addition of corporate donations from 70 companies, and the auction of a Taylor Swift guitar.
Among those donors are Verizon and Samsung who provided an online broadcast of the concert that was seen by nearly a million fans. In addition to watching from home, “Fans came from all over the United States and as far away as Canada,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “Many took the opportunity to visit the Museum. We credit this unprecedented exposure for bringing twice as many tourists into the Museum than is usual on an October Tuesday. Museum attendance during the days following the concert put the week in the ranks of the top ten since we opened in May 2001.”
“To those on the stage and behind the stage, to all of the corporate partners who gave so generously, and to all of the fans who made the night what it became,” said Urban, “thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ve never been so moved by the power that music has to bring people together, not only to share an experience, but to do such good in the process.”
The Urban and friends show is becoming an annual fundraiser and a date has already been set for next year’s We’re All For The Hall—Oct. 5, 2010.
Gill, who serves as president of the Museum’s Board of Officers and Trustees, created the All for the Hall fundraising initiative which encourages artists of all levels to donate one night’s take to the institution.
Paisley Run Ends; Swift and Evans Gear Up
/by Sarah SkatesKeith Urban made a grand exit at the end of his tour earlier this week. Now Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night outing is winding down. Meanwhile, Sara Evans is planning a Christmas tour, and Taylor Swift is already selling out her 2010 outing.
The first round of tickets for Swift’s Fearless 2010 tour went on sale this morning, and all 15 shows sold out within minutes, including four dates in the New York area selling out in two minutes. Joining her for 37 concerts in North America, plus seven shows in Australia will be Kellie Pickler and Gloriana. Swift is set to host Saturday Night Live on Nov. 7, and will be one of the few artists to also serve as the musical guest that evening. Next week Swift visits Dancing with the Stars (Oct. 27) and Ellen (Oct. 29).
CMA Songwriter Series Hits Nashville
/by adminBob DiPiero
The CMA Songwriter Series continues Tuesday Nov. 10 with a special Nashville performance at Limelight. Scheduled to appear are Bob DiPiero, Randy Houser, Brett James, Rivers Rutherford and Victoria Shaw. Among the performers who have benefited by recording songs from this elite group of songwriters are artists such as George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, John Michael Montgomery, Kenny Chesney and many more.
DiPiero will host the event. Tickets can be purchased for $10 at http://www.limelightnashville.com or call 615-780-3098.
Jake Owen Hosts on ABC.com
/by adminOwen is set to escort fans backstage and behind the scenes offering a glimpse of the events which lead up to the show. The singer/songwriter is also nominated this year in the New Artist of the Year category and his single “Eight Second Ride” is now No. 21 on the Country Breakout™ chart.
This year’s Award show will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood live from the Sommet Center in Nashville. 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.
Twitter Usage Hits 19%
/by adminPewResearch has released new findings pertaining to Twitter usage. According to the research, 19% of Internet users are using Twitter or another similar service to “share updates about themselves, or to see updates about others.” Previous April 2009 surveys showed only 11%. The growth was fueled mostly by three distinct groups—social network website users, those connecting via mobile devices and users under age 44.
The report also concludes that owning a wireless internet device makes users “significantly more likely to Tweet” and is a factor in predicting whether someone uses Twitter or another status update service. “As of September 2009, 54% of internet users have a wireless connection to the internet via a laptop, cell phone, game console or other mobile device. Of those, 25% use Twitter or another similar service, up from 14% of wireless users in December 2008.”
According to a Harvard Business School report referenced in the research, “the top 10% of prolific Twitter users accounted for over 90% of tweets.”
For more details regarding age, other demo info, mobile access and more visit pewresearch.org.
Alan Jackson Collection Coming To Cracker Barrel
/by Sarah SkatesThe popular restaurant and retail concept has been growing its business as a non-traditional music retailer since 2003. The Alan Jackson Collection is the first time Cracker Barrel has developed a complete line of merchandise around a star. Jackson was involved in its creation and approved all the goods based on what he thought would appeal to his fans.
This year Cracker Barrel has released exclusive albums by Zac Brown Band, George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, and Dolly Parton.
Magnolia, Mullins, Messina, And More
/by Sarah SkatesSteel Magnolia (Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones) recently taped "CMT Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith."
Eric Church (L) joined NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne for the Budweiser One Night Stand at Coyote Joe's in Charlotte, NC. Photo: HHP Images
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Megan Mullins has been playing with pop star Shakira lately, adding keyboard, fiddle and background vocals. As part of the gig, Mullins has appeared on Dancing With The Stars, America’s Got Talent, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Saturday Night Live, and will tour Europe and Latin America. In the meantime, her label Stoney Creek is readying her next single for radio, and working labelmate Ash Bowers’ debut single “Stuck.” Bowers is on the road opening for Jason Aldean’s Wide Open Tour, and Eric Church’s Young and Wild (er) Tour.
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Jo Dee Messina is focusing on fan interaction. She has given out her cell phone number (615-866-1681) to followers on Twitter and Saynow, and is inviting them to give her a call. One night she spent an hour and a half chatting with fans on the phone. She kicks her fan involvement up another notch this weekend with the addition of her “Nightcap with Jo Dee” after-show parties following select dates on her Music Room Series Tour. The party will be broadcast live across the Internet.
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Darryl Worley recently visited The Country Vibe with Chuck and Becca on WTVF-Nashville Newschannel 5+. On the show co-hosted by Chuck Long and Becca Walls, Worley discusses his latest project which features Jamey Johnson, Mel Tillis, Bill Anderson, John Anderson, Ira Dean, John Cowan and Steve Harwell (Smashmouth). The Country Vibe with Chuck and Becca reaches 45 million households.
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Country rapper Colt Ford appears on the bonus track of the upcoming Joe Nichols CD release, Old Things New. The song is a remix of Nichols’ No. 1 hit “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” and will be promoted to dance clubs. Old Things New will be in stores Oct. 27 via Universal Records South.
Ford is also offering 62 customized versions of his hit football song “Tailgate.” The Average Joe’s Entertainment artist spotlights the SEC and select pro teams for the versions at 40 radio markets and online. His debut album Ride Through The Country is No. 31 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and features special guests John Michael Montgomery, Jamey Johnson, and Adrian Young (No Doubt). In addition, Ford’s Wal-mart exclusive CD/DVD release sold 2,276 albums its first week in stores. He’s been opening select dates this fall for Jason Aldean and Larry The Cable Guy.
We’re All For The Hall Nets $500,000 And Counting
/by Sarah SkatesFaith Hill, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill and Hillary Scott. Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
9 star acts. 14,000 screaming fans. $500,000 raised and counting. By all accounts Keith Urban’s first We’re All For The Hall concert was a dazzling success. The event benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was held last week (10/13) at the Sommet Center, and featured Urban, Vince Gill, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. Thanks to the superb line-up and tickets priced around the $30 mark, the show sold out quickly.
Proceeds have crossed the half-million dollar mark and are expected to grow with the addition of corporate donations from 70 companies, and the auction of a Taylor Swift guitar.
Among those donors are Verizon and Samsung who provided an online broadcast of the concert that was seen by nearly a million fans. In addition to watching from home, “Fans came from all over the United States and as far away as Canada,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “Many took the opportunity to visit the Museum. We credit this unprecedented exposure for bringing twice as many tourists into the Museum than is usual on an October Tuesday. Museum attendance during the days following the concert put the week in the ranks of the top ten since we opened in May 2001.”
“To those on the stage and behind the stage, to all of the corporate partners who gave so generously, and to all of the fans who made the night what it became,” said Urban, “thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ve never been so moved by the power that music has to bring people together, not only to share an experience, but to do such good in the process.”
The Urban and friends show is becoming an annual fundraiser and a date has already been set for next year’s We’re All For The Hall—Oct. 5, 2010.
Gill, who serves as president of the Museum’s Board of Officers and Trustees, created the All for the Hall fundraising initiative which encourages artists of all levels to donate one night’s take to the institution.
Urban Taxi; Terri Clark Tour; Free Bucky
/by adminKeith Urban (see video above) ended his tour’s North American dates in a taxi. While playing the final bars of “Better Life,” the Aussie guitar hero left the stage at Buffalo’s HSBC Arena, walked through the hallways and into the street where he hopped a cab. The sold out crowd, watching the exit on the digital video screen were unsure at first if it was real or just a stunt but soon realized when the confetti flew that the show had ended.
Bucky Covington will headline a free show following the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kroger On Track For The Cure 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park on October 24. The Lyric Street artist and former American Idol contestant is currently at radio with “Gotta Be Somebody” from his upcoming CD I’m Alright scheduled for release in spring 2010. The single debuted last week on the MusicRow Country Breakout chart.