Briefs: ZBB/Buffett “Crossroads”; Ride Records Hiring

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Zac Brown Band

Known for his high-energy sold-out shows, beach inspired tropical tunes and devoted and enthusiastic fans, singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett will share the stage with this year’s breakout artist known for its Southern Rock and dynamic stage show, the Zac Brown Band. They team up for the latest episode of the critically-acclaimed CMT Crossroads series. The show will tape before an invitation only audience next month in Nashville. The episode will premiere in March 2010 on CMT.

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Mark Wescott

Mark Westcott

Ride Records, the independent label founded by artist Steve Azar, has added Mark Westcott as Midwest Regional. Westcott’s recent experience includes regional promotion duties for Curb and Epic. Prior to moving to country promotion in 1994, he served in various local and regional posts for Columbia Records and Motown Records. Based in Chicago, Westcott takes office at Ride on Tuesday, December 1. He can be reached at mark.westcott@comcast.net or 847.397.6860.

The Ride promotion team also includes VP David Shaw and Harry Nelson. Azar’s new single “Sunshine” will be out in January 2010.

UMGN Inks Josh Kelley

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Musician jkJosh Kelley is working on a country project through his new deal with Universal Music Group Nashville. Kelley signed with the label in September and is currently in the studio recording an album slated for release in 2010.

Formerly a pop/rock artist, Kelley is a one-time Music City resident who has returned to Nashville. He was previously signed to Hollywood Records and has five studio albums to his credit.

On the family front, the Georgia native is married to actress Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy, 27 Dresses, Knocked Up) and is brother to Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley.

“I could not be more excited about adding Josh to our UMG family,” says UMG Nashville’s VP A&R Brian Wright. “The creativity in his lyrics and passion to be the best artist he can be is second to none. Josh is an artist who sings from his soul and it makes you listen to every word of every song. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to hear this record.”

“Universal is a perfect home for me and my music,” agrees Josh. “They have an awesome track record of allowing artists to be who they really are, and have already been so supportive of my new music. I’m stoked to be part of such a talented group of artists and staff.”

Updated: Kidnappers’ Demands

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doris

Photo taken 11/19

[UPDATED 11/19]

Subject: Miss Doris: Our demands

We are YeHawd – an army fighting for the common good of our people.

She talks so much we have been force to gag her. We don’t care how much she misses talking to people when they wait for the elevator. We don’t care how long she has known Garth Brooks,

Craig Wiseman, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley or “that sweet little” Brad Paisley.

We demand $5,000,000 for the safe return of Ms. Doris. We wanted $10,000,000, but we are willing to take just $5,000,000 as her guards have taken a liking to her.

The money should be in unmarked bills. Leave the cash in a brown paper bag on the loading dock of the old Sony Records building (the old Quonset Hut location) this Saturday.

Remember. Aspirin bottles.

doris

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.

We identify ourselves only as YeHawd – an army of people fighting for the rights of our people. We have Miss Doris. She is fine for now. Only a few cuts and scratches – the old girl can put up a fight. Yet she has not complained. She continues to stand for women everywhere.

We are holding Miss Doris for ransom and will contact you later with our demands. If our demands are met, Miss Doris will be returned unharmed. But, if our demands are not met we WILL send her to an aspirin factory where she will be dismembered and inserted in aspirin bottles.

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

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While in Los Angeles, Danny Gokey visited the ACM offices, signed up for professional membership and performed for staffers, offering songs from his forthcoming 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville debut album, set to release in spring 2010. (Photo L-R: Danny Gokey, Bob Romeo, ACM Executive Director)  Photo: Getty Images/Courtesy of ACM

At 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

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Last night, Kix Brooks (of Brooks & Dunn fame) dropped into country music’s legendary honky-tonk, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway in Nashville, where he surprised patrons with impromptu performances on both the front and back stages.  

Kix 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 Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut Friday the 13th proved to be a very lucky day for Republic Nashville recording artist The Band Perry, as the trio – siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry – made their Grand Ole Opry debut on the stage of the historic Ryman Auditorium on November 13. The band performed their first single, “Hip to My Heart,” along with another self-penned song, “If I Die Young.” Kimberly Perry said, “Debuting at the Opry on The Ryman stage was a holy moment for the three of us.  (l to r) Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry, warming up backstage at the Ryman before their 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.

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bmi

Pictured 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

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Mvevousic 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.

huluVevo has Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group on board, with YouTube powering the back-end video technology. A launch party will be held in New York.

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

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Tgeorge-straithe 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 leeannwomackimagine 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, OKreba
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

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Jupiter_Research_study_on_o

Some 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

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nobleNew movie Noble Things features an appearance by Lee Ann Womack and a Clay Walker-produced soundtrack with offerings from numerous Country artists. The film opened in select theaters Oct. 30 and the soundtrack is available via iTunes and other digital outlets.

Walker’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.