- 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.
Crook & Chase, Chesney, Clark, and Harry Potter
/by Sarah SkatesThe "Crook & Chase" show on RFD-TV is hitting all the hot spots in Music City this summer. Tomorrow (7/16) Lorianne and Charlie will give viewers a tour of the Willie Nelson and Friends General Store and Museum, which is celebrating its 30th Anniversary.
When Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival hits Seattle’s Qwest Field on July 31, he will give a special sand bar performance for a select number of fans the night before. The lucky ticket holders—available through his Web site, local radio stations and other outlets will enjoy an hour-long set.
“We wanna get in there and really blow it up…because the Seattle fans are incredible,” he says. “So, we figured rather than just coming in and me and the guys doing a soundcheck, we could warm-up with something a little bit more—and start what is normally an all-day experience the night before.” The tour is currently in the Top 10 of Pollstar‘s Midyear Tour Rankings.
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Proof that all the consumer entertainment dollars haven’t run dry… Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opened at midnight, bringing in $22.2 million at the box office. This is an all-time record for a midnight showing, beating the previous winner—The Dark Knight which scored $18 million. (Both are Warner Bros. pictures.) The previous HP, Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix debuted in 2007 with $12 million in midnight receipts and went on to gross $139.7 mil. over its first 5 days. Some predictions estimate that this HP6 could haul in as much as $200 mil. in the first 5 days.
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Terri Clark has released a live recording called Road Rage, culled from a series of performances over the past few years. It includes the hits, new songs, her take on the blues chestnut “Love Me Like A Man” and the Black Crowes‘ “Hard To Handle.”
NSAI/Frost Specialty Offering Group Infringement Insurance
/by Sarah Skates“Until now, this kind of coverage was cost prohibitive or unavailable to most songwriters,” said NSAI President, Grammy-nominated songwriter Steve Bogard. “Typically a songwriter or composer had to purchase a minimum of $1,000,000 in infringement coverage when in fact, the majority of infringement claims are resolved for less than $100,000,” Bogard continued. “We addressed that problem and the overall cost of such insurance.”
The NSAI/Frost Group Copyright Infringement Policy will offer coverage amounts beginning at $100,000 for less than $1,600 annually. Coverage at this low level was generally unavailable prior to creation of this group plan. More coverage is available for those who require it.
Contact Robert Frost at 615.322.9171 for more information.
New Videos From Big Kenny, Caitlin & Will, Rascal Flatts
/by Sarah SkatesPhoto Credit: Kristin Barlowe
Big Kenny returned to his family farm in Culpeper, VA to film the video for his debut solo single “Long After I’m Gone.” Co-directed by Big Kenny and Christian Holiday, it is receiving immediate heavy rotation on CMT and GAC. Fans can watch the video and get a free download of the track at www.bigkenny.tv. The song is written by Big Kenny, Richie Supa and Marc Beeson and co-produced with Chris Stone.
“Long After I’m Gone” makes its way into Big and Rich’s summer show as both Big Kenny and John Rich perform a few of their solo projects’ songs. The 35-city run culminates in Atlantic City on Sept. 5.
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Columbia Nashville duo Caitlin & Will are premiering the video for new single, “Address In The Stars” exclusively on Opry.com today. This will be the first time Opry.com has premiered a music video and it will be available for 24 hours. “Address In The Stars,” is one of six tracks already released on Caitlin & Will’s self-titled digital EP, available on all major services. The video, directed by Steven L. Weaver (Revolution Pictures), tells the story of the song co-written by singer Caitlin Lynn about her aunt’s passing of breast cancer in 2006.
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Rascal Flatts have taken a unique approach to the video for its latest hit single “Summer Nights” by not appearing in the music video itself. Instead, Gary, Jay and Joe Don can be seen in the intro and outro. Directed by Shaun Silva and shot in Pismo Beach, California, “Summer Nights” can be seen on TV and online starting July 20. The song is climbing the country radio charts, and also being used in ESPN’s Major League Baseball coverage.
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.