Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus during the 2008 American Music Awards in November. Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus ranked among Forbes’ new list of the top 12 highest-earning celebrities under 30. The powerful group, with an average age of 23, collectively pulled in $410 million between June 1, 2008 and June 1, 2009.
Cyrus, 16, banked $25 million to tie for No. 7 along with the Jonas Brothers, actor Daniel Radcliffe and model Gisele Bündchen. The magazine says that her bottom line was boosted by 4 million in album sales, $86 million in gross ticket sales, and her popular Disney Channel series/film Hannah Montana. She also lent her likeness to schoolgirl friendly products like backpacks and lunchboxes.
Swift, 19, came in 12th on the list with earnings of $18 million. As the top-selling U.S. artist of 2008, she sold over 4 million units, and banked through touring, and endorsements. The Internet savvy Swift also scored with a significant number of digital downloads, becoming the first country artist to sell 2 million downloads with three different songs.
Beyoncé Knowles, 27, was the highest paid on the list, raking in about $87 million, nearly double the $45 million earned by No. 2, Formula 1 racer Kimi Raikkonen. Knowles, a global brand, released a double album, starred in two films, endorsed numerous products like American Express and L’Oreal, and has her own clothing brand.
Rounding out the Top 5 are No. 3: NBA superstar LeBron James, 24, with $40 million; No. 4: Britney Spears, 27, $35 million; and No. 5: tennis great Roger Federer, 27, $33 million.
Cyrus, Swift Score Spots on Forbes’ Under 30 List
/by Sarah SkatesTaylor Swift and Miley Cyrus during the 2008 American Music Awards in November. Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus ranked among Forbes’ new list of the top 12 highest-earning celebrities under 30. The powerful group, with an average age of 23, collectively pulled in $410 million between June 1, 2008 and June 1, 2009.
Cyrus, 16, banked $25 million to tie for No. 7 along with the Jonas Brothers, actor Daniel Radcliffe and model Gisele Bündchen. The magazine says that her bottom line was boosted by 4 million in album sales, $86 million in gross ticket sales, and her popular Disney Channel series/film Hannah Montana. She also lent her likeness to schoolgirl friendly products like backpacks and lunchboxes.
Swift, 19, came in 12th on the list with earnings of $18 million. As the top-selling U.S. artist of 2008, she sold over 4 million units, and banked through touring, and endorsements. The Internet savvy Swift also scored with a significant number of digital downloads, becoming the first country artist to sell 2 million downloads with three different songs.
Beyoncé Knowles, 27, was the highest paid on the list, raking in about $87 million, nearly double the $45 million earned by No. 2, Formula 1 racer Kimi Raikkonen. Knowles, a global brand, released a double album, starred in two films, endorsed numerous products like American Express and L’Oreal, and has her own clothing brand.
Rounding out the Top 5 are No. 3: NBA superstar LeBron James, 24, with $40 million; No. 4: Britney Spears, 27, $35 million; and No. 5: tennis great Roger Federer, 27, $33 million.
Country Stars Align For Ft. Campbell Troops
/by Sarah Skates101st Airborne Division insignia (the "Screaming Eagle")
Carrie Underwood, John Rich, Rodney Atkins and Jake Owen will perform Aug. 14-15 as part of nearby Ft. Campbell’s Week of the Eagles to welcome home troops from overseas deployment. The free event, celebrating the homecoming of the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles,” is open to the public.
Week of the Eagles is held every other year and is usually planned by the Fort Campbell staff, but radio broadcaster Cumulus upped the ante this year by arranging for the superstar performers.
The entire celebration runs Aug. 14-20, with the concerts kicking off the party on Aug. 14-15. Other events include a 10K/5K run, an air show, and a Vietnam veteran tribute.
For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fortcampbellmwr.com.
Underwood, Love And Theft, Randy Rogers Band
/by Sarah SkatesCarrie Underwood has scored a platinum digital certification for “All-American Girl” and gold digital certification of “Just A Dream.” All five of her singles from the nearly triple-platinum Carnival Ride have been certified gold or platinum for digital downloads.
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The Randy Rogers Band took time off from touring to hit the golf course together for their Inaugural For Sake Of The Shot Golf Tournament, presented by Bud Light. The event was held at The Bandit Golf Club in New Braunfels, TX on June 12. Randy Rogers Band and friends Wade Bowen, Kyle Park and Ryan Beaver hit the links for a four-man scramble, playing along side loyal RRB fans. The sold-out tournament raised $52,049 for charitable organization Camp Sweeney. A guitar signed by George Strait was auctioned off for $1,200, adding to the total.
Capitol Signs Teen From TV
/by Sarah SkatesIn a blog on her website www.jennettemccurdy.com, she tells fans, “I am in the Capitol Family along with such unbelievable greats as Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, and Trace Adkins — to name a few. These are artists I bow down to!…I am honored, ecstatic, elated, and overwhelmed with joy! Capitol’s expertise in country music will allow me the opportunity to give you guys the best I have to give in songwriting, singing and performing.”
The teen has guested on numerous other shows, including Will and Grace, Judging Amy, Malcom In The Middle, Law & Order: SVU, Medium, and CSI. She also appeared in Faith Hill’s video for “The Way You Love Me.”
Michael Jackson: Detailing The Sales
/by bossrossThe following slides were created by Nielsen Soundscan to show the enormity of the impact of Jackson’s recent sales.
Dailey & Vincent Sign With Columbia Artists
/by Sarah SkatesThe duo is made up of Jamie Dailey, former lead singer and guitarist for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; and Darrin Vincent, who most recently was guitar and mandolin player and harmony vocalist with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Joined by band members Jeff Parker, Joe Dean, and Adam Haynes, the group is in the midst of its 2009 Rolling Your Way Tour, which includes over 130 dates.
Dailey & Vincent took home an unprecedented seven honors at the most recent International Bluegrass Music Awards. They also accomplished a feat no other artist has done—winning Entertainer of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year in the same year.
1st Annual Pink Trash Ball
/by bossrossThe Pink Trash Ball will feature classic eighties DJ-spun music and hot pink theme complete with pink carpet arrival and signature pink cocktails. The best King and Queen in trashy pink attire will also be chosen. There is no cover charge but a $10 donation is suggested. Visit www.womenrockforthecure.org or www.twitter.com/wrftc
WRFTC was founded in 2007 by four friends with ties to the music industry: Jensen Sussman, Liz Lee Schullo, Rebekah Lee Beard and Tara Austin who met through the Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID), an organization for young music business professionals. Since then, WRFTC has worked to support the Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure®, raising money and increasing breast cancer awareness locally.
TV/Video: Paisley, Duncan, Wayne, and Another McGraw
/by Sarah SkatesPictured (l-r): "Live with Regis and Kelly" guest co-host, actor Jerry O’Connell; Paisley; and Kelly Ripa.
Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley was in New York last week to promote his new album, American Saturday Night, and his trip to the Big Apple included a performance on a Reege-free edition of Live with Regis and Kelly. After the three-week #1 success of the new album’s first smash, “Then,” Paisley’s new single, “Welcome to the Future,” is impacting country radio.
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Whitney Duncan‘s new, summertime video for single “Skinny Dippin’” was shot against the picturesque scenery of Xanadu Ranch in nearby Arrington, TN. Roman White directed the video and Randy Brewer produced. Duncan’s forthcoming album on Warner Bros., Right Road Now, will feature the single, and was produced by John Shanks and Mark Bright. All tracks on Right Road Now are co-written by Duncan, who has also written singles for artists including Lee Ann Womack and Crystal Shawanda.
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Jimmy Wayne‘s new music video for “I’ll Be That” was shot during his concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in his hometown, Charlotte, NC. Producer/director Todd Cassetty made sure the video has a fun, summertime feel. To capture the excitement of the concert—which was part of opening night of Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night Tour—Cassetty and his team from Todd Cassetty Welding Service utilized multiple cameras. A camera crew also followed Wayne throughout the day, capturing meetings with fans and radio station visits to add to the video.
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Sean Patrick McGraw makes his national television debut on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, July 14 where he will perform new single, “Dollar Ain’t Worth A Dime.” Fans can catch him on tour with Toby Keith and Trace Adkins this summer as part of Keith’s America’s Toughest Tour. McGraw is signed to Little Engine Records, has a new video on CMT, and will release a new album this year.
Lifenotes: Mel McDaniel Hospitalized; More
/by Sarah SkatesMel McDaniel
Mel McDaniel has been hospitalized in Nashville after suffering a heart attack, reports the Tennessean. The Grand Ole Opry member is known for hits including “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On,” “Stand Up” and “Louisiana Saturday Night.”
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Pam Green, Westwood One’s Director/Artist Relations, has been released from the rehabilitation center and is back home at her condo in New York following injuries to her arms. During the next few weeks she’ll be recuperating and continuing physical therapy. Well wishes can be sent to ww1pgreen@aol.com.
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Billy Lee Riley, Sun Records artist and house band member, is battling stage four bone cancer. Though he and his wife Joyce are receiving assistance from MusiCares, they are still suffering financially. Riley, a rockabilly singer and multi-instrumentalist, was a sideman on numerous classic Sun sessions, and his band the Little Green Men eventually became the studio’s house band. Donations can be sent to Billy Lee Riley, 723 Crest Drive, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401.
Free, Weekly Concerts Return Downtown
/by Sarah SkatesThe concert series will feature local artists as well as national acts with roots in Music City, and will highlight environmentally friendly practices. Lightning 100 is recruiting artists for Live On the Green to appeal to a large cross-section of Nashville’s music fans. Artists booked to date include Citizen Cope, Here Come the Mummies, Space Capone, and Ricky Young.
Dean has made growing live music in Nashville a goal of the Music Business Council, which was formed earlier this year. Lightning 100’s Team Green will be responsible for incorporating sustainable practices into Live On the Green, including recycling, reusing materials, reducing energy use, and offering local healthy food vendors. Live On the Green is sponsored by MGD 64 and The City Paper. www.liveonthegreen.net.