Willie Nelson is working with MySpace Music to promote his latest album, a collection of jazz standards called American Classics being released today (8/25) by Blue Note. He is playing his hometown bar in Maui, Hawaii tonight as part of MySpace’s popular “Secret Show” franchise. The event at Charley’s Restaurant & Saloon will also feature special guest indie rockers Band of Horses. Tommy LiPuma produced the project which features guest vocalists Norah Jones and Diana Krall. It premiered on MySpace, streaming in its entirety beginning Sat., Aug. 22. MySpace is also currently featuring a video about the making of the album here.
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Up and coming country duo O’Shea is presenting An Affair To Remember on Aug. 26 in celebration of the one year anniversary of their weekly Wednesday night gig at local hot spot Blue Bar. The evening serves as a thank you to the duo’s supportive fans. Doors open at 6:00pm followed by a complimentary champagne toast at 6:30pm. O’Shea take the stage at 7:00pm. No cover charge but table seating is limited.
Hailing from Australia, the talented husband and wife team, Mark and Jay O’Shea, are featured in Nashville Lifestyles’ The Hot List issue and recently taped an episode of Words & Music. O’Shea made their reality TV debut as one of the Top 5 duos on this year’s season of CMT’s Can You Duet. They balance their weekly shows in Nashville every Wednesday with weekend opening spots for Jimmy Wayne, Sara Evans and The Oak Ridge Boys, to name a few.
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Kellie Pickler is putting her affinity for shoes to work for a good cause. She continues her support of Soles4Souls Thurs., Aug. 27 in New York City by teaming with Ladies’ Home Journal. She will collect new and gently worn shoes that afternoon before her show at Madison Square Garden. The drop point for the shoes will be the entrance to the Garden and will be open from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Pickler joins her friend Taylor Swift on the Fearless Tour 2009 for the sold out show that night.
Nashville-based Soles4Souls collects and distributes free footwear to people in need around the world. Since its inception, the charity has distributed more than 5 million pairs, which equals about one pair every 13 seconds.
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Jo Dee Messina has added more dates to her successful, intimate Music Room Series Tour. She started the unique shows this spring and has added more dates in October and November. The fall tour will kick off Fri., Oct. 23 in Ft. Pierce, Florida, for an initial run of 14 dates. Modeled after her music room at home, the tour gives fans a chance to view a side of Messina that is rarely seen in her full band shows. Touring with just three musicians, she performs stripped-down versions of her numerous No. 1 singles, favorite covers and songs she’s written but not yet recorded. Each show is driven in large part by audience requests.
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The debut single and video from newly-signed Black River/Cherry Heart recording artist Ty Williams will premiere Thurs., Aug. 27 on nationally syndicated TV show The Daily Buzz, airing mainly on The CW. “Barn On The Rooftop” will be the first country music video to premiere on the show and it includes appearances by show hosts Kia Malone and Mitch English. Gamma Blast’s Chad Denning directed the video. “Barn On The Rooftop” goes for adds at country radio on Aug. 31 and will be available Sept. 8 on iTunes. Williams’ self-titled debut album is scheduled for release later this year.
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Broken Bow/Holeshot Records artist and avid motorcycle rider Krista Marie will perform at the opening reception of the 22nd Annual Tennessee Lifesavers Conference 2009 on Wed., Aug. 26. Tennessee Lifesavers hosts around 400 law enforcement, prosecutors, judicial personnel, educators, and others who are interested in learning about highway safety. She is also scheduled to sing the national anthem at the 5th Annual Law Enforcement Challenge in Nashville on Fri., Aug. 28. The Law Enforcement Challenge is a competition designed to recognize and reward the best overall traffic safety programs across the State of Tennessee and across the country.
Willie, Kellie, O’Shea And More
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Hailing from Australia, the talented husband and wife team, Mark and Jay O’Shea, are featured in Nashville Lifestyles’ The Hot List issue and recently taped an episode of Words & Music. O’Shea made their reality TV debut as one of the Top 5 duos on this year’s season of CMT’s Can You Duet. They balance their weekly shows in Nashville every Wednesday with weekend opening spots for Jimmy Wayne, Sara Evans and The Oak Ridge Boys, to name a few.
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Nashville-based Soles4Souls collects and distributes free footwear to people in need around the world. Since its inception, the charity has distributed more than 5 million pairs, which equals about one pair every 13 seconds.
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Jo Dee Messina has added more dates to her successful, intimate Music Room Series Tour. She started the unique shows this spring and has added more dates in October and November. The fall tour will kick off Fri., Oct. 23 in Ft. Pierce, Florida, for an initial run of 14 dates. Modeled after her music room at home, the tour gives fans a chance to view a side of Messina that is rarely seen in her full band shows. Touring with just three musicians, she performs stripped-down versions of her numerous No. 1 singles, favorite covers and songs she’s written but not yet recorded. Each show is driven in large part by audience requests.
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The debut single and video from newly-signed Black River/Cherry Heart recording artist Ty Williams will premiere Thurs., Aug. 27 on nationally syndicated TV show The Daily Buzz, airing mainly on The CW. “Barn On The Rooftop” will be the first country music video to premiere on the show and it includes appearances by show hosts Kia Malone and Mitch English. Gamma Blast’s Chad Denning directed the video. “Barn On The Rooftop” goes for adds at country radio on Aug. 31 and will be available Sept. 8 on iTunes. Williams’ self-titled debut album is scheduled for release later this year.
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Broken Bow/Holeshot Records artist and avid motorcycle rider Krista Marie will perform at the opening reception of the 22nd Annual Tennessee Lifesavers Conference 2009 on Wed., Aug. 26. Tennessee Lifesavers hosts around 400 law enforcement, prosecutors, judicial personnel, educators, and others who are interested in learning about highway safety. She is also scheduled to sing the national anthem at the 5th Annual Law Enforcement Challenge in Nashville on Fri., Aug. 28. The Law Enforcement Challenge is a competition designed to recognize and reward the best overall traffic safety programs across the State of Tennessee and across the country.
Opry Brings Back Country Classics Series
/by Sarah SkatesAmong the season’s early highlights:
Sept. 10: Country Music Goes to the Movies with some of the genre’s all-time best which have appeared on the silver screen, including “Coca-Cola Cowboy” from Mel Tillis, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and a favorite or two from the award-winning O Brother, Where Art Thou? Among those appearing will be Tillis, and The Whites .
Sept. 17: A Salute to Hank Williams . Opry Country Classics marks his birthday with performances of songs written and inspired by the most influential singer/songwriter in country music history. Among those appearing: Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, and Holly Williams.
Sept. 24: A Salute to George Jones . Some of his biggest fans are also some of country music’s biggest stars. Among those paying tribute to the Hall of Famer will be Jimmy Dickens, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, and Tanya Tucker. Jones himself will also perform.
Oct. 1: The Perfect Country & Western Song Show. Opry Country Classics puts together the makings of the “Perfect Country & Western Show” based upon the lyrics of “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” It’ll be a night of classics about mamma, trucks, trains, prison, and, yes, getting drunk. Ray Price is the Spotlight Artist for the evening.
A season pass for Opry Country Classics can be purchased for all eight shows for the price of only four shows. Fall Four-Packs are also available for less than the price of three shows. For more information, visit opry.com or call 615-871-OPRY.
House Of Blues Sponsors Gary Allan’s Fall Run
/by Sarah SkatesAllan has recently finished recording a new studio album with longtime producer Mark Wright, and looks forward to debuting his new music to fans on the road. The first single off the MCA Nashville album, “Today,” is at radio now.
Named “country music’s mainstream maverick,” by Rolling Stone magazine, Allan has sold over 6 million albums, released 4 No. 1 hits and 10 Top 10 hits at country radio.
TV Time: Mandrell, Gloriana, Reba, Oaks
/by Sarah SkatesLorianne Crook, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie Chase
Barbara Mandrell appeared on Crook & Chase as part of the show’s six-week stint of live tapings at the Country Music Hall of Fame. In the interview, she discussed her passion for gardening and the upcoming public dedication of the Nashville Music Garden on Sept. 29. Located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Demonbreun (in the Hall of Fame Park), the 2,700-square-foot public garden honors those that have made a positive impact on Nashville’s entertainment industry. The garden was conceptualized three years ago when Mandrell gave her namesake rose to friend and avid gardener Pat Bullard, trustee of the LifeWorks Foundation.
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Reba McEntire will perform her new song, “Consider Me Gone” on NBC’s hit summer series America’s Got Talent Wed., Aug. 26 (9-10 p.m. ET). McEntire released her 31st studio album, Keep on Loving You, on Aug. 18. The lead single from her new album, “Strange,” has become her second consecutive Top 10 single of 2009 and her new single, “Consider Me Gone,” is currently rising up the country charts.
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The Oak Ridge Boys’ performance at South By Southwest in Austin was taped for repeated airings on Direct TV and broadcast live from the festival. The SXSW Live premiere is scheduled for Mon., Sept. 7 at 9:00PM ET/PT. The Oak’s set includes their own songs like “The Boys Are Back,” “Tryin’ to Love Two Women,” and “Elvira,” as well as covers such as the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge.”
The Oaks will also appear on Feed The Children’s “Americans Feeding Americans” television special.
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Gloriana is back in New York City this week opening for Taylor Swift on her Fearless 2009 Tour at Madison Square Garden on Aug. 27. While in town the group will have their first national television performances live on Good Morning America Fri., Aug. 28 and the Today Show, which will air on Friday as well. The band is promoting its self-titled album (Emblem Music Group/Warner Bros. Records), which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200. The album had the best first week sales of any new country artist with a debut album in 2009. Their single “Wild At Heart” is the best selling song by a new country act in 2009 having sold 300,000 copies to date.
Hot Tickets: Lambert and Chesney Sell-Out
/by Sarah SkatesRecently "People Magazine Country," Cotton Incorporated and Lambert hosted a VIP party in Nashville to coincide with the launch of her print campaign representing "The Fabric Of Our Lives." Lambert is featured on the back cover of the current "People Magazine Country Special Issue" and the Aug. 17 cover of Country Weekly.
Tickets for Miranda Lambert’s Revolution At The Ryman went on sale Friday and were gone by the end of the weekend. At the Sept. 24 event she will perform her entire new album, Revolution, before it is released on Sept. 29. The new single, “White Liar,” written by Lambert and Natalie Hemby has quickly become a fan favorite in concert and is rising at radio. She explains, “This songs sounds like a lot of my influences. I feel like it’s a huge staple on this album because it’s different.” Adding, “I love songs that create images, tell a story that people can make up there own little movie to in their minds.”
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Kenny Chesney is taking the concept of his surprise, last-minute Keg in the Closet shows to the arena level. The small events typically take place in the bars of SEC college towns.
While waiting to take the stage and play to a sold out crowd of 49,000 at Detroit’s Ford Field, tickets quietly went on sale for a just-added Sept. 17 show at Bloomington, IL’s US Cellular Coliseum. Tickets were gone in about 3 minutes.
Chesney’s Corona Extra presents Sun City Carnival recently played his fifth consecutive sell-out in Boston’s stadium, and fourth consecutive sell-out at Ford Field in Detroit.
Also on the schedule is a Sept. 15 intimate show at Times Square’s Hard Rock Café as part of the vaunted chain’s Ambassadors of Rock program. The Sun City Carnival’s final hurrah will be at Indianapolis’ Lincoln Oil Field.
Jim Foglesong, Allen Reynolds and Garth Brooks Honored
/by Sarah SkatesHonorary Chairs Crystal Gayle and Steve Wariner, Leadership Music executive director Kira Florita, Leadership Music board president Pat Collins, tribute performer John Conlee, Honorary Chair Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Jim Foglesong, Allen Reynolds, tribute performer Martina McBride, Honorary Chair Cowboy Jack Clement, speaker John McBride, and LMDFA tribute show producer Garth Fundis. Photo credit: Steve Lowry
NASHVILLE – Label executive Jim Foglesong, producer/songwriter Allen Reynolds and artist Garth Brooks were honored with the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award during an all-star musical tribute August 23 in Nashville. Among those saluting the three country music giants were Martina McBride, Steve Wariner, Kathy Mattea, Hal Ketchum, Cowboy Jack Clement, Crystal Gayle, John Conlee, Lee Greenwood and Brooks’ wife, artist Trisha Yearwood. The honorees’ legendary careers intertwined when Brooks was signed to Capitol Records with Foglesong at the helm, and Reynolds produced his groundbreaking albums.
The Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award, presented annually by the educational non-profit organization of music professionals, was created “to recognize music trailblazers who exemplify the highest quality of leadership and leading by example.” More than 700 music industry executives, collaborators, friends and family attended this year’s dinner at the Renaissance Hotel.
In depth coverage of this event was presented in this morning’s subscriber-only @MusicRow, in the popular “Bobby Karl Works The Room” column.
Rucker And Team Toast Platinum Album
/by Sarah Skates(Top row L-R) Charles Vegara, (McGhee Entertainment), Jason Hauser (McGhee), Melanie Wetherbee (McGhee), Doc McGhee (McGhee), Mike Dungan (President/CEO Capitol Records Nashville) & Cindy Mabe (SVP Marketing Capitol). (Bottom row L-R): Steve Hodges (SVP Promotion Capitol), Scott McGhee (McGhee), Rucker, Frank Rand (McGhee), & Frank Rogers ("Learn to Live" Producer).
Capitol Records Nashville threw a party for Darius Rucker last week to celebrate the success of his country debut album Learn To Live which was just certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over one million copies.
Rucker will continue the celebration tomorrow (8/25) at his No. 1 party for his latest song “Alright.” All three of Rucker’s singles (“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” and “Alright”) have shot to the top of the Country Singles charts.
After his No. 1 party, Rucker will head to the Grand Ole Opry House to perform a free show for Samsung AT&T’s 3rd Annual Summer Krush series. A portion of the performance will air on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Thurs., Aug. 27. He will also be one of the artists featured Aug. 31 on ABC’s CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, as well as upcoming Unstoppable Tour dates with Rascal Flatts.
Carroll Makes Video, Darling Chats, Ingram Tries For World Record
/by Sarah SkatesCarroll searches for a runaway in his new video "Hurry Home."
Jason Michael Carroll’s latest video, “Hurry Home,” tells the story of a father anxiously awaiting word from his runaway daughter. Carroll portrays a friend helping search for the missing girl.
The story hits close to home because when he was a child, Carroll’s aunt was missing for more than 15 years after running away. “I felt that if we were going to make a video for ‘Hurry Home,’ it was important to try to do something to help, even in a small way,” he says, “and that’s why we chose to include information at the end of the video about the National Runaway Switchboard.”
The video for “Hurry Home” is online now at www.jasonmichaelcarroll.com.
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CMT.com will be streaming live as country star Jack Ingram attempts to break the world record for most radio interviews in a 24-hour period beginning Tuesday, August 25 at 8:00 a.m., ET. A first for CMT.com, the website will have video and audio of this event live from New York City as Ingram conducts 215 total back-to-back radio interviews during this time. CMT Radio Live host Cody Alan will conduct the final interview with the singer as the event concludes on Wednesday morning. The live stream will be available beginning Tuesday by going to CMTLive.CMT.com.
This event is to promote Ingram’s new album Big Dreams and High Hopes, out tomorrow (8/25).
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Tomorrow (8/25) Black River artist Sarah Darling will conduct a live, on-line chat for fans. The chat will take place at 7:00 PM (Central) on Darling’s StickAm page. Fans can connect via www.sarahdarling.com. Questions are now being accepted at questions@sarahdarling.com.
Love And Theft’s Multimedia Launch Week
/by Sarah SkatesLove And Theft's Brian Bandas, Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson played their hit single "Runaway" on NBC's "Today Show" and were excited to meet host Kathie Lee Gifford. The band's debut album, "World Wide Open," will be in stores Tuesday.
With their debut album World Wide Open set for release tomorrow (8/25), Love And Theft’s Brian Bandas, Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles are preparing for a jam-packed launch week.
In addition to their Friday (8/21) performance of their Top 20 hit “Runaway” on NBC’s Today Show, Love And Theft can be seen in coming episodes of CMT Insider, CMT Top 20 countdown, GAC’s Headline Country and GAC’s On The Streets.
Release week for the Carolwood Records album kicked off with a performance at a radio station show in Atlanta Sunday night after which the band returned to Nashville for four days of satellite radio tours, set to stream live on AOL’s “The Boot.” The remainder of the week will include a visit to Sirius XM’s Music Row Happy Hour along with more satellite radio tours, radio station visits and concert appearances in Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Various stores will have different limited edition versions of World Wide Open. Stephen, Brian and Eric spent tens of hours on buses, airplanes and in hotel rooms autographing the signature edition that can be found in Target stores. At Wal-Mart and walmart.com the album will contain a code to download demo/acoustic versions of three songs. And the CDs at Best Buy will contain a poster of Love And Theft inside the package.
Online outlets will also offer up some love from Love And Theft. At iTunes fans who download the full album will receive two previously unreleased bonus tracks. Amazon will offer up a bonus track as well.
Love And Theft has also created an exclusive website for its first record. With a visit to www.worldwideopencd.com, fans can preview and pre-order the album, access free Love And Theft wallpaper and buddy icons, participate in a “Tweet Your Love” contest and register for a wake up call from the band.
Fans can also text the word ‘WAKEUP’ to 66937 on their cell phone to register to receive a phone call from the band on Tuesday morning, release day. Love and Theft even made a commercial for the album, and the code can be found at www.youtube.com/loveandtheft.
Miley Is Latest To Offer Walmart Exclusive
/by Sarah SkatesSporting an outfit from her new clothing line Miley Cyrus & Max Azria.
The new Miley Cyrus album, The Time of Our Lives on Hollywood Records, will be released Aug. 31, 2009, exclusively at Walmart stores and Walmart.com. With an $8 retail price, the offering will have seven tracks – including the single “Party In The USA,” which debuted this week at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 following three consecutive weeks as the No. 1 most added song at Top 40 Radio. The song is currently the most downloaded MP3 on Walmart.com.
In addition, Cyrus and fashion designer Max Azria of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, Inc. have teamed up to create a new apparel line which launched this month exclusively in Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com. Walmart is also the sponsor of the Miley Cyrus North American Tour.
“Party In The USA” has sold over 225,000 units. It is the highest debut by a female solo artist since Carrie Underwood’s “Inside Your Heaven” (in July of 2005.)
Miley is scheduled to perform the hit on The Today Show August 28. She is currently filming the new drama based on a book by romantic novelist Nicolas Sparks called The Last Song and will embark on a 45-city North American tour beginning in September.