- W.O. Smith School students
The White House Music Series will celebrate Country Music on July 21 with performances by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and Union Station. Forty students from the W.O. Smith/Nashville Community School of Music will be able to attend the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., concert and educational workshop at the White House, thanks to the Country Music Association underwriting all their travel costs with funds from CMA Music Festival and “Keep the Music Playing,” which supports music education.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was asked to provide an educational component at the workshop, and will send one of the students who participated in its Words & Music educational program during 2008-09, Sal La Rosa, and Gary Michael Smith, the professional songwriter who added a melody to Sal’s lyrics, to the workshop to perform their composition “The Girl in the Hallway.”
The educational workshop will host 120 middle and high school students from across the country. In the evening Paisley and Krauss will perform in the historic East Room before the President – who will make opening remarks – the First Lady, students, White House staff, and Members of Congress.
In addition to the White House event on July 21, the W.O. Smith School student musicians are scheduled to meet U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville), sit in on the House of Representatives while it is in session, and visit monuments on the National Mall.
GAC (Great American Country), which has supported the W.O. Smith School since 2005, will have a video crew on board the student’s bus in addition to taping the performances in the White House East Room for a one-hour news special hosted by Storme Warren, airing exclusively on GAC in early August.
The music series, hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama, celebrates the arts and arts education. It launched last month with a focus on Jazz and will continue in the fall with Classical music.
The Country Music Celebration is presented with assistance from The Country Music Association, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and produced by the Grand Ole Opry and Great American Country Television.
Symphony To Showcase Americana Connection
/by Sarah SkatesAmericana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly, points out that “Some of the best-known classical composers, from Dvořak to Copland, have long used roots music as a foundation for composition.”
“Classical Americana,” a First Tennessee Special Event, will be partially arranged into segments which will be introduced by a narrator. A unique feature of the program is that a musician will present a traditional version of a familiar work, such as “Simple Gifts,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” or “When the Saints Go Marching In,” which then will be followed by the full orchestra performing a well-known classical composition that makes use of that original.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 18. Details at http://www.nashvillesymphony.org.
White House Celebrates Country With Paisley, Krauss; CMA Underwrites 40 W.O. Smith School Students
/by Sarah SkatesThe White House Music Series will celebrate Country Music on July 21 with performances by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and Union Station. Forty students from the W.O. Smith/Nashville Community School of Music will be able to attend the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., concert and educational workshop at the White House, thanks to the Country Music Association underwriting all their travel costs with funds from CMA Music Festival and “Keep the Music Playing,” which supports music education.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was asked to provide an educational component at the workshop, and will send one of the students who participated in its Words & Music educational program during 2008-09, Sal La Rosa, and Gary Michael Smith, the professional songwriter who added a melody to Sal’s lyrics, to the workshop to perform their composition “The Girl in the Hallway.”
The educational workshop will host 120 middle and high school students from across the country. In the evening Paisley and Krauss will perform in the historic East Room before the President – who will make opening remarks – the First Lady, students, White House staff, and Members of Congress.
In addition to the White House event on July 21, the W.O. Smith School student musicians are scheduled to meet U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville), sit in on the House of Representatives while it is in session, and visit monuments on the National Mall.
GAC (Great American Country), which has supported the W.O. Smith School since 2005, will have a video crew on board the student’s bus in addition to taping the performances in the White House East Room for a one-hour news special hosted by Storme Warren, airing exclusively on GAC in early August.
The music series, hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama, celebrates the arts and arts education. It launched last month with a focus on Jazz and will continue in the fall with Classical music.
The Country Music Celebration is presented with assistance from The Country Music Association, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and produced by the Grand Ole Opry and Great American Country Television.
UMGN Promotes Stuve, Gavron
/by Sarah SkatesRegina Stuve
Universal Music Group Nashville Chairman, Luke Lewis announces the following promotions effective immediately: Regina Stuve is promoted to Senior Director of Artist & Media Relations for UMG Nashville (formerly Director of Artist & Media Relations). Stuve reports directly to Jason Owen, Senior Vice President of Artist Development & Marketing for UMG Nashville.
Amanda Gavron
Amanda Gavron is promoted to Coordinator of Promotion for MCA Nashville (formerly Assistant). Gavron reports directly to Van Haze, Vice President of National Promotion for MCA Nashville.
Michelle Branch, ZBB, Love & Theft, Katie Armiger
/by MichelleMichelle Branch wrote on her official message board that she recently finished mixing the last track for her upcoming solo CD, “I can’t believe I’m finally officially finished. It’s been well worth the wait. (At least I think so.)” The album’s first single, “Sooner or Later,” will premiere on her website July 20.
Zac Brown Band is premiering its new video for “Toes” exclusively on The Boot, watch it here.
Love And Theft will be the first country artist featured in the ABC Music Lounge. Visitors to www.musiclounge.abc.go.com will see Love And Theft featured on the homepage and in the ABC Music Lounge Discovers section with artist profiles and music. Other acts featured in the Lounge include Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Adele, No Doubt and Lady GaGa. The trio has also been selected as Clear Channel Radio’s NEW! featured country artist for July. One benefit of this is that visitors to the country station websites will be able to preview five tracks from Love And Theft’s upcoming debut album, World Wide Open, which will be released August 25.
Katie Armiger (center) has been on her National Mall Tour, which will include a stop today (7/15) at Opry Mills Mall at noon and 6 p.m.
Chesney Tour In “Pollstar” Top 10
/by Sarah SkatesRascal Flatts are at No. 17 on the list, followed by George Strait at No. 29.
Chesney and Dave Matthews had the cheapest ticket prices of any music acts in the Top 10, reflecting a commitment to fans. “We’ve really tried to keep the prices reasonable…to put on a good show,” Chesney says, “but especially to give people for those few hours a reason to just have a good time!”
Joining Chesney on the road are Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. The mix of football stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters includes several sold-out shows.
Photo Fabulous: Kate Kacey & Hazel, Urban/Aldean, Piven, Etc.
/by Sarah SkatesKate & Kacey stopped by Hazel Smith’s kitchen last week to tape CMT’s "Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith."
Keith Urban asked his openers Dierks Bentley and Jason Aldean to join him onstage for the 1975 Eagles hit "Take It To The Limit" at two separate tour dates, but each secretly devised last-minute "cheat sheets" to help them with the song. Bentley scribbled the lyrics on his forearm with a Sharpie, and Aldean taped the printed lyrics sheet to his mic stand. Once he realized what both acts were up to, Urban didn't let either get away without a little public humiliation in front of both sold-out crowds. Thankfully, the fans were happy to come to the rescue with an arena-wide sing-a-long. Click the photo to see the videos.
Actor Jeremy Piven of HBO’s hit show “Entourage” was in Nashville recently for the CMT red carpet premiere of his new film, "The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard." The Emmy-winner then hit Lower Broadway for some serious honky-tonking at the famed Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge where he partied with a Music City “entourage” that included country duo Halfway to Hazard and Jaron Lowenstein of Evan and Jaron. (Pictured) Front seat: Jeremy Piven, Chad Warrix (H2H); Back Seat: Jaron Lowenstein (behind driver’s seat), David Tolliver (H2H)
Laura Bryna appeared on FamilyNet’s “Mornings with Lorri and Larry” show (in 15 million households nationwide) on July 9 to perform her song “Hometown Heroes” and unveil the cover of "Southern Beauty" magazine which she adorns. She also spoke about her work as the Air Guard's celebrity spokesperson as well as with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (L-R): Lorri Allen, Laura Bryna and Larry Estepa
Bug Music Promotes Johnson, Adds Williams
/by Sarah SkatesSara Johnson, Ed Williams
Bug Music Publishing has announced two new executive appointments in the Creative Services division at its Nashville offices. Sara Johnson has been promoted to Senior Director of Creative Services, Nashville and Ed Williams has been appointed to Director of Creative Services, Nashville.
Johnson and Williams will oversee all aspects of copyright development, writer management and client relations effective immediately. Both will report to Roger Murrah, Senior Vice President, Nashville.
Johnson was formerly Creative Director and has been with the company over two years. Prior to his new appointment Williams has held various positions throughout the music industry, including publishing, producing demo sessions, casting and pitching songs, as well as assisting in day-to-day artist management.
“With all of the songs our writers are creating, along with the number of amazing copyrights already in Bug Music’s vast catalogs, I’ve been very pleased with the great work Sara is doing, getting our songs heard and recorded,” said Murrah. “She and I both feel strongly that Ed Williams is ideally suited to help us increase our activity even more.”
Headed by CEO John Rudolph, Bug Music boasts over 250,000 copyrights including the classics “What a Wonderful World,” “Fever” and “Happy Together.” The catalog is also home to hit songs by Johnny Cash, Ashley Gorley, Pete Townshend, Townes Van Zandt, Kara DioGuardi, Ryan Adams, and Kings of Leon.
Based in the Bug Music Nashville office at 33 Music Square West, Suite 104B, Johnson can be reached at sjohnson@bugmusic.com and Williams at ewilliams@bugmusic.com.
MusicRow Now on Facebook, More
/by Sarah Skates—————————-
Facebook is worth $6.5 billion, estimated by a deal the social networking site made with a Russian Web firm called Digital Sky Technologies. The New York Post reports that Facebook is letting its employees sell their stock to the company which invested $200 million in it in May. Digital Sky will purchase up to $100 million in common stock at a price of $14.77 a share, which places Facebook’s value at $6.5 billion.
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Rhino Entertainment, a division of WMG, debuted “Digital 45s” today through online retailers. For $1.49 or $1.99, the buyer gets a reissue of two songs—the original single, and the B-side track, as well as digital versions of the original artwork. Among the available tracks are “Take I Easy”/”Get You In The Mood” by The Eagles and “Kiss”/”Love or Money” by Prince. The label says this is a way to sell music at a value point that lies between the single and the EP. It also celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 45-single.
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Even though Michael Jackson‘s This Is It tour isn’t happening, his handlers are still cashing in by selling the merchandise, online and at retail. The major run was scheduled to begin yesterday (7/13) in London.
Partnerships Equal Expanded Services
/by Sarah Skates(L-R): Ramona E. Simmons, Global Eyes Entertainment; Lee Williams, CMR Nashville; and Preston Sullivan, Global Eyes Entertainment
Two long-time entertainment companies have joined forces to offer country music artists, labels and managers an outlet to build their global footprints. Global Eyes Entertainment (GEE), a Nashville-based international artist development company founded in 1997, and London’s country radio station, CMR Nashville, have reached a strategic partnership agreement to offer radio promotion packages.
Ramona E. Simmons, founder of GEE, and partner, Preston Sullivan, will run the Nashville office. Lee Williams works for CMR Nashville.
GEE/CMR Nashville can be reached at 9 Music Sq. S. #360, Nashville, TN 37203; 615-882-0242; www.globaleyesentertainment.com and www.cmrnashville.com.
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E1 Music and the Progression Music Group have formed the Red Dirt Music Company, providing artist management and record label services, with a focus on Texas music. PMG General Manager Ben Ewing will oversee operations of the company with label resources provided by E1 Music. Chuck Rhodes is serving as Director, Country Division of E1 Music.
Also at E1, Alan Grunblatt is the newly named President, replacing Bob Frank. He previously served as GM and executive VP and will report to E1 CEO Michael Koch.
The Red Dirt Music Company is located at the PMG offices in Nashville with a satellite office in Austin, Texas. It can be contacted at 615-847-3702 or ben@progressionmusicgroup.com.