CMA’s reigning “New Artist of the Year” Lady Antebellum just debuted the lead single from its forthcoming Capitol Nashville sophomore album. “Need You Now” goes for radio adds on Aug. 24 and was written by group members Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, along with co-writer Josh Kear. Haywood says this of the new project, “The songs are more personal, the production is bigger, and I think we are in a stronger place vocally than we’ve ever been…just from all the touring we’ve done this year. We’re really anxious to get home and get it finished.” In the meantime, Lady Antebellum has returned to the recording studio to put the finishing touches on the yet-to-be-titled album. For a sneak peak of “Need You Now,” click here.
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“Why Don’t We Just Dance” is the debut single from Josh Turner’s forthcoming album entitled Haywire, to be released on Nov. 10. The song, written by Jim Beavers, Jonathan Singleton and Darrell Brown, will be sent to radio stations across the country tomorrow (8/12) at Noon CT via Play MPE. On Aug. 19, “Why Don’t We Just Dance” will be available for streaming at www.joshturner.com and it will be for sale Aug. 25 at iTunes and all other digital partners.
The UMG Nashville artist also recently awarded his first namesake scholarship to a 2009 graduate of his alma mater high school in Hannah, SC. The scholarship is for students who want to pursue an education within music or the arts.
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Stroudavarious Records has released Anthony Smith’s “Bringin’ Back The Sunshine,” his debut single for the label. This country rocker is taken from Smith’s Sunshine album (coming this winter) and was written by Smith and Jess Leary. Production duties were handled by Smith and acclaimed producer and Stroudavarious CEO James Stroud. “Bringin’ Back The Sunshine” will be available for download via digital music retailers in early September as part of the specially-priced Sunshine EP.
A video for the track directed by Taillight TV’s Traci Goudie is nearing completion. The video stars Derek Phillips (of NBC’s Friday Night Lights) and Danielle Rene, who is set to appear in the upcoming film, Tree Of Life, with Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.
As a songwriter, Smith has contributed hits to projects by George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry and countless others.
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Cupit Records’ Ben Gregg is set to release his debut single, “Radio Waves,” on Aug. 17 via Play MPE and CDX. It is from his forthcoming self-titled CD slated for an early 2010 release. “Radio Waves” was written by Jerry Cupit. Gregg can also be seen on an upcoming episode of RFD-TV’s Music & Motors television series, performing, participating in a NASCAR pit crew challenge, and in interview segments.
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Travis Rush is letting fans pick his new single from ten tunes posted at www.TravisRush.com/NewMusic. The single will be announced Oct. 27 and will be released to radio in early 2010 with GrassRoots Promotion’s Nancy Tunick leading the charge. In conjunction with the single release date, Rush has moved back his debut album release to March 16, 2010. The project is on Mason Records and will be distributed digitally by IODA and in retail stores by Burnside Distribution.
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The New Relics will release their debut single “Beautiful” to country radio on Sept. 7. Based out of Morgantown, WV, their new CD is named Monongalia and the single is being worked by Debbie Gibson
Palmer of Spinville Records. The New Relics have spent the last few years touring mostly the east coast and building a solid fan base.
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A new album by Montana native Ben Bullington features Rodney Crowell on guitar and vocals on the song “Toe The Line.” The CD, White Sulphur Springs, is out via King Easy Records, home to Darrell Scott, Jon Pousette-Dart and more.
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The Civil Wars, a duo comprised of local songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White, have released a 10-song live digital album.
Songwriter Shows To Benefit NSAI
/by Sarah SkatesNSAI’s successful concert series, “It All Begins With A Song,” continues with the Charlie Daniels Band on Thursday, Aug. 27 at the Wildhorse Saloon. Prior to the CDB, Old Union will take the stage. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com, as well as at www.wildhorsesaloon.com. General Admission tickets start at $25. Reserved Seating tickets are $40. A limited number of $100 tickets are available and include a Meet & Greet with the Charlie Daniels Band. Show begins at 7:30 p.m.
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Elevation Music Publishing presents “An Evening of Music in Support of NSAI” on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the Listening Room (209 10th Ave. S., #200 in Nashville). There will be a $10 cover for the 8 p.m. show, which features George Teren (“When I Get Where I’m Goin’” / “Stealing Cinderella”), Dave Berg (“If You’re Goin’ Through Hell” / “Stupid Boy”), Luke Laird (“So Small” / “Last Name”) Kelley Lovelace (“I’m Still A Guy” / “All American Girl”), Rivers Rutherford (“Livin’ In Fast Forward” / “Ain’t Nothin’ About You”) and Aaron Scherz (“The Rock” by Tracy Lawrence).
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On Thursday, Aug. 20 there will be a Legislative fundraiser at the Bluebird with James T. Slater (“Forever” by John Michael Montgomery / “High Cost Of Living” by Jamey Johnson) hosting the show called “Mothers and Fathers of Invention.” It will feature local artists and their musical parents, including James and his parents, Los Perdidos; Leslie Satcher and her mother; Jennifer Hanson and her father; along with special guests. Proceeds benefit the NSAI Legislative Fund. $35 Gold Circle seats / $15 regular seats. Reservations at www.bluebirdcafe.com.
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ASCAP Planning Songwriters Workshops
/by Sarah SkatesServing as moderator for the Pop workshop will be songwriter/artist Robert Ellis Orrall. He is writer of three No. 1 songs and three hundred cuts recorded by artists like Lindsay Lohan and Taylor Swift. He also started Nashville’s rock label Infinity Cat Recordings which was previously home to Be Your Own Pet.
Confirmed presenters at the Christian workshop include the co-writers of ASCAP’s 2009 Christian Song of the Year, Matthew West and Sam Mizell. Also featured will be skilled music executives from EMI, Word, INO Records and others. Music businesswoman Cindy Wilt-Colville will facilitate.
The workshops are provided by the ASCAP Foundation free of charge to promising new songwriters who are ASCAP members or non-members. Attendance is limited.
How to apply: Submissions must two original songs (may be co-written)on a CD only, with typed lyrics and a brief bio/resume. CD must be labeled, including song titles, writer’s name, address, phone number and email; mailed or dropped off to ASCAP Nashville, Attention: 2009 ASCAP Foundation Pop or Christian Songwriters Workshop, Two Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203. Submissions will not be returned. Pop submissions should be marked attention: Jesse Willoughby.
For details on the Pop Workshop, click here, or contact Jesse Willoughby at (615) 742-5000. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 4.
Submissions for the Christian Workshop are due Mon., Aug. 31. For questions, call ASCAP at (615) 742-5000.
Web Initiatives Help Nichols Support Troops, Single
/by Sarah SkatesWhile he was on a tour in Iraq performing for the servicemen and women, he had the video crew documenting the excursion also interview the soldiers about what they believe in. The result is a moving video posted on YouTube titled Believers Challenge From Iraq. “Believers” is the lead single from Nichols’ new CD Old Things New, scheduled for release later this year by Universal Records South.
He also has e-cards and Web site banners (shown below) available featuring the song and the troops. Send an e-card by clicking the banner, or click here to add the banner to your own site.
Nichols has also been making the promotional rounds, including a recent visit to Crook & Chase.
Nichols will perform music from his upcoming CD release "Old Things New" on "The Crook & Chase Show" this week. Recorded in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the episode will premiere on RFD-TV Thurs., Aug. 13 at 7 PM/CT. Pictured (l-r): Nichols, Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase.
Dierks Celebrates “Sideways” With Tailgate Party
/by Sarah SkatesDierks Bentley’s team celebrated his latest No. 1, “Sideways,” with a Summer Tailgate Party outside the Sony/ATV offices on Monday, August 10th. Bentley co-wrote the hit with Jim Beavers and it is the second consecutive chart-topper form his album Feel That Fire. His new single is the romantic tune “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes.” Bentley is currently on Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night tour.
Rucker Goes Platinum, Plus Updates From 821, CMHF, And CMT
/by Sarah SkatesIn celebration of Live’s success, Rucker will be giving a free performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Aug. 24 that will air on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Aug. 27. He will also appear Aug. 31 on ABC’s CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock special. He is currently on the road with Rascal Flatts’ Unstoppable Tour.
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Nashville’s 821 Entertainment Group and Strike Entertainment are working on a new Hank Williams biopic that will be a feature film. Check tomorrow’s (8/12) subscriber-only @MusicRow for the rest of the story.
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The second season of CMT’s original series Can You Duet ended on a ratings high note this past weekend when the finale episode revealed Steel Magnolia as the winning duo. More than 4.2 million viewers (Nielsen Media Research) tuned in for the show’s four weekend airings, with 1.9 million of those falling in the P18-49 demo. Across all airings to date this season, Can You Duet was seen by some 26 million total viewers, with 12 million P18-49.
Steel Magnolia (Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones) won a recording contract with Big Machine and the day after the finale, “Keep On Loving You,” the single they performed on the show was a Top 30 Country track on iTunes and the most streamed video on CMT.com.
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The Country Music Hall of Fame And Museum’s annual All for the Hall fundraiser makes its West Coast debut on Thursday, October 1, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. The benefit will feature ensemble performances by Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam and others. Paid subscribers can look for all the details in @MusicRow on Friday.
Touring News: ZBB, Paisley, Lucinda, Miranda
/by Sarah SkatesThe Zac Brown Band embarks on its first headlining tour Sept. 24 in Cary, NC. The band will spread its message of “Love, Peace and Chicken Grease” throughout the Southeast, with current dates lined up in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Texas. The 2009 Breaking Southern Ground Tour will hit mainly amphitheaters and theaters during September and October, with more dates to be added soon. It will feature Southern Ground artists Levi Lowrey, Nic Cowan and Sonia Leigh.
Photo L-R: Levi Lowrey, Nic Cowan, Zac Brown & Sonia Leigh
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Reigning ACM and CMA Male Vocalist Brad Paisley continues his 46-city American Saturday Night tour with three consecutive recent sell-outs of over 22,000 tickets each—Bristow, VA; Chicago, IL; and Indianapolis, IN. Joining him on the road are Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne.
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Miranda Lambert takes a break backstage at Kenny Chesney's Qwest Field stadium show in Seattle to hang with KMPS PD Becky Brenner. Lambert's anticipated third album, Revolution, is set to release Sept. 29. Pictured L-R: Columbia Nashville's Larry Santiago, Lambert, KMPS PD Becky Brenner
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Lost Highway recording artist Lucinda Williams is planning a series of special performances to celebrate her 30th anniversary as a recording artist. The 30th Anniversary Tour will include multi-night stands focused on specific periods of the Grammy winner’s long career. Each show will contain two sets, the first featuring selections from a specific period of her celebrated career, followed by a full second set containing songs from throughout her career.
The tour begins Sept. 18 at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN. Then, on October 3-5 Williams will play a three-night stand at New York’s The Fillmore at Irving Plaza, and will hit Chicago a week later for another three-night stand at the Park West on October 13-15. Williams will also be performing a two-night stand in Toronto on October 10th & 11th. More multi-night shows will be added in early 2010 and she will make one night stops in many other cities.
Brad Allen’s Upstart Working With Buddy Jewell, New Revolution
/by Sarah SkatesBrad Allen
Brad Allen has launched ALL Entertainment and signed Buddy Jewell as the first artist. After 20 years in the music business, Allen is weaving his record label management, production, and publishing experience into a full-service entertainment company. The multi-genre, multi-format operation will also handle CCM artists as well as house a movie/DVD division. Allen most recently co-headed A&R at Midas Records and co-produced Adam Gregory’s single “Crazy Days.”
ALL Entertainment has partnered with New Revolution Entertainment to handle radio promotion of Jewell’s first single, due mid-September. This agreement re-aligns Allen with promotion vets Rob Dalton and Jeff Solima, who together reached the top of the Country Music charts with Emerson Drive’s No. 1 single for Midas, “Moments.” New Revolution is also working with new group Gloriana, helping drive its debut single into the Top 15 of the national country charts.
Buddy Jewell
Stay tuned—Allen hints at a number of other announcements on the horizon.
Jewell’s self-titled debut album on Columbia Records was certified Gold, and garnered two back-to-back top five hits with “Sweet Southern Comfort” and “Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey’s Song).”
New Music Now: Lady A, Josh Turner, More
/by Sarah Skates————————————-
The UMG Nashville artist also recently awarded his first namesake scholarship to a 2009 graduate of his alma mater high school in Hannah, SC. The scholarship is for students who want to pursue an education within music or the arts.
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Stroudavarious Records has released Anthony Smith’s “Bringin’ Back The Sunshine,” his debut single for the label. This country rocker is taken from Smith’s Sunshine album (coming this winter) and was written by Smith and Jess Leary. Production duties were handled by Smith and acclaimed producer and Stroudavarious CEO James Stroud. “Bringin’ Back The Sunshine” will be available for download via digital music retailers in early September as part of the specially-priced Sunshine EP.
A video for the track directed by Taillight TV’s Traci Goudie is nearing completion. The video stars Derek Phillips (of NBC’s Friday Night Lights) and Danielle Rene, who is set to appear in the upcoming film, Tree Of Life, with Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.
As a songwriter, Smith has contributed hits to projects by George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry and countless others.
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Cupit Records’ Ben Gregg is set to release his debut single, “Radio Waves,” on Aug. 17 via Play MPE and CDX. It is from his forthcoming self-titled CD slated for an early 2010 release. “Radio Waves” was written by Jerry Cupit. Gregg can also be seen on an upcoming episode of RFD-TV’s Music & Motors television series, performing, participating in a NASCAR pit crew challenge, and in interview segments.
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Travis Rush is letting fans pick his new single from ten tunes posted at www.TravisRush.com/NewMusic. The single will be announced Oct. 27 and will be released to radio in early 2010 with GrassRoots Promotion’s Nancy Tunick leading the charge. In conjunction with the single release date, Rush has moved back his debut album release to March 16, 2010. The project is on Mason Records and will be distributed digitally by IODA and in retail stores by Burnside Distribution.
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The New Relics will release their debut single “Beautiful” to country radio on Sept. 7. Based out of Morgantown, WV, their new CD is named Monongalia and the single is being worked by Debbie Gibson
Palmer of Spinville Records. The New Relics have spent the last few years touring mostly the east coast and building a solid fan base.
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A new album by Montana native Ben Bullington features Rodney Crowell on guitar and vocals on the song “Toe The Line.” The CD, White Sulphur Springs, is out via King Easy Records, home to Darrell Scott, Jon Pousette-Dart and more.
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The Civil Wars, a duo comprised of local songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White, have released a 10-song live digital album.
Brooks & Dunn Prepare Last Rodeo Tour
/by Sarah SkatesAlmost twenty years ago, then Arista Records head Tim Dubois introduced a Texan with a classic country voice, Ronnie Dunn, to a rockin’ Louisiana musician, Kix Brooks. It was the beginning of the biggest duo in modern country music. Now the pair has announced it will go out on top, with a greatest hits album called #1s…and then some coming Sept. 8, and a farewell tour to follow.
Brooks & Dunn have 19 CMA Awards and are the most awarded duo in the organization’s history. Only George Strait holds more CMAs, with 22 of the coveted trophies lining his shelves. The duo has received over 80 different kinds of awards, including 26 ACMs, and have been named Entertainer of the Year four times (3 ACM, 1 CMA).
Twenty-three No. 1 hits such as “Brand New Man,” “Boot Scootin Boogie,” “My Maria,” “Red Dirt Road,” and “Play Something Country” have spawned album sales upwards of 30 million. Many of these charttoppers will be on #1s … and then some. True to its title, the 30-song, double-disc collection will feature classics (“Neon Moon,” “That Ain’t No Way to Go,” “Only in America” and ACM and CMA Song of the Year “Believe”) as well as two new tracks, including the current hit, “Indian Summer.”
Brooks & Dunn also stay busy outside of the duo. Dunn has twice been named the BMI Country Songwriter of the year and has received 23 BMI Million Airplay Awards for songs he wrote or co-wrote that have attained one million radio spins.
Brooks is host of internationally syndicated radio program, “American Country Countdown.” He is also active in the industry and the community, serving on the CMA Board, and as CMA President in 2004, and Chairman in 2005. He also sits on the boards of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.