DiPiero, who is set for the CMA Songwriters Series, also performed at The Bluebird Cafe’s annual Concert Series at the Sundance Resort in Utah on July 2-3. He was joined by fellow hitmakers Karyn Rochelle and Al Anderson. Performances took place at Zoom restaurant, in downtown Park City, and outdoors at Sundance Resort’s Eccles Stage. (L-R): Al Anderson, Robert Redford, Karyn Rochelle and Bob DiPiero
CMA Songwriters Series: Now in its fifth year, the popular CMA Songwriters Series will revisit New York City. Joe’s Pub will host another night spotlighting several of Nashville’s finest songwriters on Thursday, July 30 (6:30 and 9:30 PM/ET). Hosted by Bob DiPiero (“Take Me As I Am” recorded by Faith Hill, “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl” recorded by Brooks & Dunn, “Blue Clear Sky” recorded by George Strait, and “Gone” recorded by Montgomery Gentry), other participating songwriters include platinum-selling Mercury Nashville recording artist Billy Currington (“I Got a Feeling,” “Why, Why, Why,” and “Walk A Little Straighter,” all recorded by Currington), Keith Follese (“Something Like That” recorded by Tim McGraw, “The Way You Love Me” recorded by Faith Hill, “Before You Kill Us All” recorded by Randy Travis, and “I Love You” recorded by Martina McBride), and Jason Sellers (“Strange” recorded by Reba McEntire, “Some People Change” recorded by Montgomery Gentry, and “I Still Miss You” recorded by Keith Anderson).
New Series Planned For Nashville: A free concert series will take place in downtown Nashville on the Public Square this fall. Mayor Karl Dean and Lester Turner, Owner of Lightning 100, will announce details tomorrow (7/7) afternoon at a press conference, including some of the artists scheduled to perform.
GMA To Host Training Camp: The Gospel Music Association will host Immerse, a training experience and talent competition offering participants access to artists and songwriters who will perform, teach, mentor and create with registrants. It will take place in Nashville July 29- August 2. Registration levels are poised to outpace past GMA music training events, and more than 20 artists are confirmed including Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Kirk Franklin and Phil Stacey. The deadline to register for the talent and songwriting competitions is tomorrow (7/7). Details at www.experienceimmerse.com.
World of Bluegrass: Early bird registration rates for the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass end tomorrow (7/7), giving a $100 discount off the gate price. The event, which includes a conference and the IBMA Awards, runs Sept. 28-Oct. 4. www.ibma.org.
New Underwood Album Coming Nov. 3
/by Sarah SkatesEarlier this year, Underwood became the first country artist in history to achieve 10 #1 singles from her first two albums.
The reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and three-time, reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist is in the process of recording her new project, with the first single expected to arrive at radio late this summer.
Underwood’s collection of chart-toppers began with the instant success of her post-American Idol single, “Inside Your Heaven,” which debuted atop Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in the summer of 2005. It was the first of five #1s to top the BDS or Mediabase charts from her 7x-Platinum debut, Some Hearts, with the others including the Grammy-winning “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats,” as well as “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” and “Wasted.”
Industry Celebrates Vince Melamed Album
/by Sarah SkatesJim Tract, Vince Melamed, and J.D. Souther
On June 25 hit songwriter Vince Melamed celebrated the release of his debut solo album with music industry friends. The party was hosted by Adroit Recrods at the Green Hills home of Vince and his wife, Meredith. Melamed wrote or co-wrote “Walkaway Joe,” “What Mattered Most,” “I’ll Take That As a Yes,” and “She’d Give Anything.” These hits plus six other songs appear on the album What Matters Most, produced by Adroit Records Pres. Jim Tract.
Tim Boylan, Vince Melamed, Victoria Shaw, and John Lomax
Tim Boylan, Vince Melamed and Pat Higdon
Updates: Gina Hilburn, Laura Huie, Heather and Bobby Young, Beckett Service
/by Sarah SkatesPictured from left: Patrick Davis, Gina Hilburn, Harley Allen, Lisa Carver and Marv Green
Songwriters Patrick Davis, Harley Allen, Lisa Carver and Marv Green came together for a recent benefit show to help longtime Warner Music Group employee Gina Hilburn in her fight against cancer. The event took place Friday, June 26 at the Bluebird Café, and raised nearly $4,000 which included contributions from friends and co-workers, ticket sales, auction items and a matching gift contribution from the Roger Jennings Davis Memorial Fund. To make a donation, please send a check to Roger J. Davis Memorial Fund, 1708 2st Ave South #101, Nashville TN 37212, and indicate “For Gina.”
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Nashville-based media coach Laura Huie has changed her contact info. She can now be reached at Laura.Huie@gmail.com or 615-415-2460. Laura is owner and operator of Huie Media, a company that specializes in artist media training. She has worked with artists on major labels including Sony/BMG, Warner Bros. and Lyric Street Records, as well as independent artists. She also continues to work as a television producer/writer for various media outlets and just wrapped working as a segment producer on the fifth season of “Gospel Dream,” which airs on the Gospel Music Channel.
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Heather Young, Director of Radio Marketing for Dierks Bently, and Bobby Young, Director of National Promotion/Republic Nashville, welcomed daughter Addison Lea Young today, July 6. Proud Daddy reports that she was born at 1:52 PM, “with 10 toes, 10 fingers, and 2 beautiful eyes,” weighing 7 lbs. 15 oz.
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Reminder: The memorial service for famed musician/producer Barry Beckett will be this Sunday, July 12 at 5 PM at the Musicians Hall of Fame.
Updated: BMI Moving Jobs From NY To Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesBMI will move about 30 jobs from its New York office to Music Row starting this fall and continuing for the following 6-8 months. Only a few employees who currently hold the mostly administrative functions will be given the option of relocating. Hiring to fill the positions could start as soon as late summer.
Robbin Ahrold, a NY-based spokesman for BMI, explained that a majority of the organization’s administrative jobs were already in Nashville and that having them all located in the same office should increase efficiency. Remaining in New York will be a few executives, and staffers who deal in TV licensing, international licensing and legal matters.
The move of the jobs was precipitated by a relocation of the New York office from Midtown to the 7 World Trade Center office tower. BMI had been in the Midtown location for more than 20 years, but its lease ended and it will move in about a year. Overall, Ahrold said the effect on the Nashville operations would be “modest.”
Songwriters Series Take Nashville Nationwide, Plus GMA and IBMA
/by Sarah SkatesDiPiero, who is set for the CMA Songwriters Series, also performed at The Bluebird Cafe’s annual Concert Series at the Sundance Resort in Utah on July 2-3. He was joined by fellow hitmakers Karyn Rochelle and Al Anderson. Performances took place at Zoom restaurant, in downtown Park City, and outdoors at Sundance Resort’s Eccles Stage. (L-R): Al Anderson, Robert Redford, Karyn Rochelle and Bob DiPiero
CMA Songwriters Series: Now in its fifth year, the popular CMA Songwriters Series will revisit New York City. Joe’s Pub will host another night spotlighting several of Nashville’s finest songwriters on Thursday, July 30 (6:30 and 9:30 PM/ET). Hosted by Bob DiPiero (“Take Me As I Am” recorded by Faith Hill, “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl” recorded by Brooks & Dunn, “Blue Clear Sky” recorded by George Strait, and “Gone” recorded by Montgomery Gentry), other participating songwriters include platinum-selling Mercury Nashville recording artist Billy Currington (“I Got a Feeling,” “Why, Why, Why,” and “Walk A Little Straighter,” all recorded by Currington), Keith Follese (“Something Like That” recorded by Tim McGraw, “The Way You Love Me” recorded by Faith Hill, “Before You Kill Us All” recorded by Randy Travis, and “I Love You” recorded by Martina McBride), and Jason Sellers (“Strange” recorded by Reba McEntire, “Some People Change” recorded by Montgomery Gentry, and “I Still Miss You” recorded by Keith Anderson).
New Series Planned For Nashville: A free concert series will take place in downtown Nashville on the Public Square this fall. Mayor Karl Dean and Lester Turner, Owner of Lightning 100, will announce details tomorrow (7/7) afternoon at a press conference, including some of the artists scheduled to perform.
GMA To Host Training Camp: The Gospel Music Association will host Immerse, a training experience and talent competition offering participants access to artists and songwriters who will perform, teach, mentor and create with registrants. It will take place in Nashville July 29- August 2. Registration levels are poised to outpace past GMA music training events, and more than 20 artists are confirmed including Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Kirk Franklin and Phil Stacey. The deadline to register for the talent and songwriting competitions is tomorrow (7/7). Details at www.experienceimmerse.com.
World of Bluegrass: Early bird registration rates for the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass end tomorrow (7/7), giving a $100 discount off the gate price. The event, which includes a conference and the IBMA Awards, runs Sept. 28-Oct. 4. www.ibma.org.
“Soundstage” On GAC, Kid Rock’s Beer, SheDaisy, and Rascal Flatts
/by Sarah SkatesDisney Music Group labelmates SHeDAISY and The Jonas Brothers headlined the Stadium of Fire 4th of July celebration at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Pictured backstage (L-R): Kevin Jonas, Kelsi Osborn, Kassidy Osborn, Joe Jonas, Kristyn Osborn, Nick Jonas
GAC To Present The Best of Soundstage: Great American Country (GAC) is pleased to present the best of the legendary music television series, Soundstage, and will air nine Country episodes beginning with Sugarland on July 12 at 7 PM/CT. The groundbreaking series aired from 1974–1985 before returning in 2003 and continues to feature outstanding high definition concert performances. The schedule is: Alison Krauss + Union Station (7/19), Trace Adkins (7/26), Lee Ann Womack/Billy Currington (8/2), Trisha Yearwood (8/9), Travis Tritt/Nickel Creek (8/16), Martina McBride (8/23), Kenny Chesney (8/30), and a George Jones Tribute (9/20).
Flatts Set For Today Show: Rascal Flatts will head to the Big Apple this Friday, July 10 to perform on NBC’s Today show as part of the Summer Concert Series. They’ll perform new single “Summer Nights,” from their latest album Unstoppable, as well as a couple of their biggest hits. The date of the appearance also coincides with lead singer Gary LeVox’s birthday. Gary, Jay and Joe Don will then head back out on their Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour with two dates in New York this weekend- Darien Center and Syracuse.
American Badass Beer: Consumers will get their first taste of Kid Rock’s new American Badass Beer at a July 17 concert in his hometown of Detroit. Kid poured $7 million into the venture which has reportedly boosted the economy in his home state by creating about 400 jobs. He is said to have played a major role in everything from the beer’s taste (American style lager) to the design of its label.
AristoVideo & Travis Television Form DownCast
/by LB CantrellThe arrangement integrates broadcast-quality video content with a distribution network that services an extensive list of radio, television, national and regional video programs, newspapers, trade publications, celebrity and entertainment shows, wire services, closed-circuit partners, global outlets and a full range of online destinations.
“This is a service that has been in development between AristoVideo and Travis Television since the beginning of the year,” says AristoVideo Senior Vice President Craig Bann. “We feel like this alliance is a natural marriage between two companies that have a proven history of success in the entertainment industry. From download to broadcast, DownCast will provide clients with top-notch, professional video content that is created and then distributed in a format that is already prepared for streaming and broadcast use
In addition to its video delivery mechanism, DownCast is designed to provide outlets with easily accessible tour press materials and a variety of content in advance of album releases. Outlets are notified electronically as new assets are uploaded. The system provides on-demand access to video content, digital photos, audio clips and press materials as needed on a secure, password-protected server.
Atkins and Waltrip On GAC’s “Drafting Partners”
/by LB CantrellRodney Atkins and NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip were featured on GAC’s Drafting Partners, which premiered July 2 and was taped at Lowes Mother Speedway.
The new GAC series combines one of country’s hottest stars and one of NASCAR’s coolest drivers for an insider’s look at the colliding worlds of country music and motorsports.
Rodney Atkins (L) and Michael Waltrip (R)
Plugger Group Meets Blake Chancey
/by LB CantrellPictured L to R: Anthony Corder, Dan Hodges Music; Tina Crawford, Magic Mustang Music; Blake Chancey; Stevie Erickson, ole Songs; and Ben Strain, Monument
The Perfect Pitches Plugger Group recently met with noted producer Blake Chancey at the cocktail lounge The Patterson House on Division Street.
R.J. Curtis Is Arista’s New Reg. Promo. Mngr.
/by Sarah SkatesR.J. Curtis will be Arista Nashville’s new Regional Promotion Manager, Midwest beginning July 20. He will relocate to Music City to serve the region previously helmed by Tyler Waugh, who segues to the Southeast territory.
Skip Bishop, Vice President, National Promotion for Arista Nashville stated, “Bringing R.J. into the Arista family just felt like a natural fit. His plethora of talents and rigid high standards will be a tremendous contribution to our team. R.J.’s unshakable passion for music and remarkable knowledge of radio’s inner workings are a perfect match for our DNA.”
Curtis is well known throughout the industry, most recently as Country Editor for Radio & Records, and for his more than 25 years of experience in radio, including 16 years at KZLA Los Angeles. He is a past member of the CMA and ACM Board of Directors and current CRB Board of Directors Vice President.