Sony Musical Chairs

/by

Lauren-(L.T.)-ThomasSony’s revolving door has Lauren (L.T.) Thomas replacing Kates Rogers as Arista Nashville’s new National Promotions Coordinator. Thomas joins the label on Mon., Oct. 12. Her most recent job was Associate Director of Promotion for Golden Music Nashville, and her background also includes a five-year stint as Promotions Manager for KMLE Phoenix. Rogers exited on Fri., Oct. 2.

Pat Green and Keith Anderson are no longer signed to Sony. Green was on the BNA imprint and Anderson was part of the Columbia roster. Also, Caitlin & Will, who were picked up by Columbia following their win of CMT’s Can You Duet, are no longer a duo.

Lifenotes: BMI Board Member Don Thurston

/by

Don Thurston, a former BMI Board member who was instrumental in developing the organization’s Nashville office, has died at age 79 after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease. During his 60-year career he founded and served as President of Berkshire Broadcasting. In addition to the BMI board, he was the National Association of Broadcasters Joint Radio-TV Chairman, NAB Radio Chairman, and was acknowledged with the NAB’s Distinguished Service Award.

Jack Sander, BMI Board Chairman, released this statement:

“We were saddened to learn of the passing of one of the broadcast industry’s most admired and respected leaders, a man who played a seminal role in the growth of BMI, our former Board member, Don Thurston. Don served on the Board from 1990 to 2005, was its chairman from 1994 to 1997, and led the initiative to move much of its operations staff to a new, state of the art building on Music Row in Nashville, saving the company tens of millions in operating expenses and preparing its technical infrastructure for the digital age.”

Premiere Radio Picks Up Crook And Chase

/by

ccPremiere Radio Networks has added The Crook & Chase Countdown to its lineup of nationally syndicated radio programs. The company will assume distribution rights to the four-hour weekend radio program on October 10, 2009, and it will be available for air between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m. local time. The Crook & Chase Countdown will continue to be based in Nashville, Tenn.

The program was most recently syndicated by United Stations Radio Networks. It is currently heard on more than 160 stations in the U.S. For affiliations, please contact Premiere Radio Networks at 818-377-5300.

Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase have hosted successful radio and television programs together on a continuous basis for more than 25 years, and are one of the longest running broadcast duos in the industry. In 1989, the pair ventured into radio with the debut of The Crook & Chase Countdown. In addition to hosting the popular radio show, they host the weekly TV show Crook & Chase on RFD-TV. Crook is also host of Lorianne Crook’s Celebrity Kitchen on RFD-TV and can be seen on various specials, such as the CMA Celebrity Close-Up on GAC. Chase co-hosts the weekday news program Tennessee Mornings on FOX 17 in Nashville.

Paisley Extends Tour

/by

brad-paisley-ar10If you were feeling bummed about missing Brad Paisley on tour this summer, fret not: you now have a chance to redeem yourself. The hotshot singer, guitar-slinger, songwriter and all around superstar has extended his successful American Saturday Night Tour into 2010 with 19 additional dates. Joining him for the 2010 dates, which start Jan. 7 in San Antonio and end March 6 in Charleston, S. Carolina, will be special guests Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore.

Paisley has a busy fall leading into his 2010 trek, as he’s still got a few October dates remaining on the first leg of his American Saturday Night Tour. Then in November he’ll co-host the 43rd Annual CMA Awards with Carrie Underwood. He’s also the most-nominated artist at the event, with seven total nominations–including Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (American Saturday Night) and Entertainer of the Year.

McGraw to Film In Nashville

/by

tim-mTim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow will star in a movie that will be filmed in Nashville in January and February. The soundtrack will reportedly be comprised of all Nashville artists, and some possible locations for the shoot include McGraw’s farm.

Eighty percent of the film is set to be shot here. The only reason that production will have to relocate to make the remainder of the movie is because it will be winter in Nashville, with no leaves on the trees.

Nashville leaders managed to woo producers away from Austin and convince them to make the movie in Music City. Tennessee offers several incentives for production companies to make films here, including a 32 percent cash rebate for spending $1 million with a company based in this state.

Good Reasons To Get Out: Free Music, Fundraisers, and More

/by

mwMichael W. Smith and Jeremy Camp have added their voices to the “Hope For Samoa” free benefit concert being organized by The Katinas to aid their homeland battered by the recent 8.2 magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami. The concert is tonight, Wednesday, October 7, 7 PM at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tenn. Natalie Grant and Melinda Doolittle were already set to appear. Admission is free with a love offering to benefit the “Samoa Relief Fund.” Tax deductible donations may also be made at www.katinamissions.org

———————————
The Nashville Humane Association’s 20th Anniversary Dog Day Festival will be Saturday, October 10 at Centennial Park. Festivities begin at 10AM with contests, paws parade, and live music featuring Jessica Miller at 1PM, followed by Tailgate South, The Lewis Sisters, Jaron Boyer & Friends, and Stephanie Hargrove. For details on event and contests please www.nashvillehumane.org. Proceeds denefit the Nashville Humane Association. $5 suggested donation and children under 5 get in free.

———————————

Katie Armiger, Emily West, Kathy Mattea, Lani Nash, and Mindy Smith will perform at the For The Love of George event Friday, October 9 at the Country Music Hall of Fame to support the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

———————————

Nashville Symphony and Regions Bank will host the Regions free Day of Music at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Saturday, October 10, from 10AM until 10PM. This free event, now in its fourth year, will showcase more than 25 performances by a diverse selection of Nashville-based artists and ensembles. Guests will also be able to explore the Symphony Center, and the box office will also offer an exclusive Buy-One, Get-One-Free ticket special available only on-site.

———————————
The Loveless Cafe is gearing up for the fifth annual Biscuits & Bluegrass fall festival, to be held on Saturday, October 10 from 11AM until 5PM. This free event, will feature biscuit samples for everyone, the ever-popular biscuit eating contest, a live all-star bluegrass pickin’ circle and a cash bar so be sure to bring your instrument for the impromptu pickin’ parties. There will also be many children’s activities including face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo as well as arts and crafts demonstrations for adults and kids including: weaving, pottery, wood turning, fabric dyeing, painting and jewelry making.

———————————

The sixth and final concert of the 2009 Bluebird on the Mountain series will feature singer-songwriters Don Henry, Kim Richey and Craig Carothers on Oct. 10 at 7PM. Held on the scenic grounds of Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory, the series showcases artists from the Bluebird Café. A limited number of tickets for the show are available through Ticketmaster, which will add a handling fee. Tickets are $95 for a carload.

Nashville Music Awards Return Tomorrow

/by

NashMusicAwardsThe Nashville Music Awards return tomorrow night (10/7) through a partnership between Leadership Music and the Next BIG Nashville conference and festival. Recognizing outstanding contributions in all genres of music, and celebrating the diversity and quality of artists and music professionals who call Nashville their home, awards will be handed out at the Cannery Ballroom as part of the opening night of NBN.

This year marks the first partnership between Leadership Music and Next Big Nashville for this annual awards presentation. The NMAs were previously produced from 1995-2000 by Leadership Music.

Tomorrow’s awards reception is open to NMA nominees, Next Big Nashville badge holders, Leadership Music Alumni, and media. For more information on how to purchase a Next Big Nashville badge visit www.nextbignashville.net.

The 2009 winners in 19 categories were chosen by popular vote via online balloting. Voting is now closed. Click here to see the nominees. Eligible recordings or projects must have been active in the marketplace between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 and NMA awards are limited to persons and organizations residing in Davidson County and surrounding counties.

Lee Ann Womack Works The Windy City

/by

lawLee Ann Womack spent the weekend performing in Chicago at three different events. Friday night, Oct. 2 she represented Nashville alongside hitmaking tunesmiths Bob DiPiero (“If You Ever Stop Loving Me”), Scotty Emerick (“I Love This Bar”) and Dean Dillon (“The Chair”) as part of the Country Music Association’s Songwriter Series at Joe’s Bar.

Saturday afternoon (10/3) she played in Grant Park as part of the Chicago Country Music Festival, and also visited Wrigley Field to perform the national anthem before the Cubs took on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Womack has also launched a new, free-of-charge fan club called the Country Music Appreciation Society & Social Club. Members will receive access to meet and greets and more.

This weekend she is off to perform in Gulf Shores, AL and at the Houston, TX House of Blues.

Rocketown Expands To Florida

/by

rcktRocketown, the Nashville hangout geared toward teens, is opening a second location in Pompano Beach, Florida. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the venue will provide a safe, fun, and free atmosphere for middle and high school students, offering cool learning opportunities about things like photography, music composition, digital recording and film editing. Tutoring will also be available. The 13,000-square-foot facility is being renovated and is expected to open in mid-October. It will also host concerts and events with a cover charge.

The Nashville location is the brainchild of CCM artist Michael W. Smith, and Operations and Program Director Theresa Mazza told the newspaper, “It’s been hugely successful.”

Performers Added To Dierks’ Sunday Event

/by

dDierks Bentley announced today (10/6) that members of multi-platinum rock band 3 Doors Down (lead vocalist Brad Arnold and guitar player Chris Henderson), will join his fourth annual “Miles & Music for Kids” charity motorcycle ride and concert this Sun., Oct. 11 in Nashville. The already star-studded lineup of performers includes Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Wynonna, Michelle Branch, Heidi Newfield and more.

Tickets for the family-friendly event start at $20 and are still available for the ride and concert through Ticketmaster. The motorcycle ride departs Cool Springs Harley Davidson at 1:00pm CT and will travel through beautiful Williamson County and downtown Nashville, culminating in a jam session at Riverfront Park.

In the three previous years, “Miles & Music for Kids” has raised over $500,000 for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. For more information visit www.dierks.com.