Taylor Swift Photo: Alan Mayor
Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift emerged as the biggest winners with three and two trophies, respectively, at last night’s 2009 CMT Music Awards. Paisley took home top honors for Male Video of the Year (“Waitin’ On A Woman”), Collaborative Video of the Year (“Start A Band” with Keith Urban), and CMT Performance of the Year, along with Alan Jackson, George Strait and Dierks Bentley (for Alan Jackson’s “Country Boy” from CMT Giants: Alan Jackson). Swift brought home Female Video of the Year and the night’s highest honor for Video of the Year (“Love Story”). It was her second consecutive year to sweep these categories.
Racking up for the seventh consecutive year, Rascal Flatts won Group Video of the Year (“Every Day”); while Sugarland captured their third-in-a-row Duo Video of the Year (“All I Want To Do”).
Hosted by actor/comedian Bill Engvall, the Awards kicked off with an opening sketch featuring the hilarious collaboration between rap artist T-Pain and Swift, rapping to a new version of Swift’s hit “Love Story,” called “Thug Story.”
Brad Paisley Photo: John Russell
Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, Toby Keith, and Paisley performed. In addition, a number of surprise performances marked the evening as Sugarland took the stage with Atlanta neighbors the B-52s for a confetti-filled version of their hit “Love Shack.” Urban ventured into the crowd with his No. 1 single, “Sweet Thing,” and then later joined Jason Aldean onstage for his rockin’ No. 1 hit, “She’s Country.” Swift and Def Leppard closed the show with a recreation of their CMT Crossroads performance of “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
A stage sponsored by Nationwide Insurance hosted up-and-coming artists Jason Michael Carroll, Carter Twins, Eric Church, Eli Young Band, Gloriana, and Joey + Rory. These six acts combined with the 13 main stage performances marked a record 19 total performances. A record seven million votes were cast online at CMT.com and on mobile to determine who walked away with trophies. The evening’s winners are as follows:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director.
* Taylor Swift – “Love Story” (Director: Trey Fanjoy)
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist
* Brad Paisley – “Waitin’ On A Woman”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist
* Taylor Swift – “Love Story”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)
* Brad Paisley with Keith Urban – “Start A Band”
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)
* Alan Jackson featuring Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and George Strait – “Country Boy” from CMT Giants: Alan Jackson
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Best video director of the year; awarded to the director for his or her body of work from the past year
* Trey Fanjoy (award eligible videos include: Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and George Strait’s “Troubador”)
GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists
* Rascal Flatts – “Every Day”
WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist outside the mainstream of country music; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration)
* Kid Rock – “All Summer Long”
DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists
* Sugarland – “All I Want To Do”
USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female, or group/duo)
* Zac Brown Band – “Chicken Fried”
Sugarland & the B-52s perform at the CMT Music Awards. Photo: John Russell
Bonnaroo Attendance Up From 2008
/by Sarah SkatesThe Troo Music Tent at Bonnaroo featured Nashville bands The Features, The Protomen, and Heypenny. The groups won festival slots through “The Road to Bonnaroo” competition, co-sponsored by BMI, Bud Select, and venue partner, Mercy Lounge. Pictured at the tent are (l-r): BMI Sr. Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations Mark Mason, Bonnaroo co-founder and producer and AC Entertainment President Ashley Capps, Mercy Lounge GM Drew Mischke, BMI Dir. of Writer/Publisher Relations Bradley Collins, BMI Asst. VP Writer/Publisher Relations Clay Bradley, and BMI Assc. Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations Dave Claassen. Photo: Erika Goldring
Early estimates project that 75,000 people attended Bonnaroo last weekend in Manchester, Tenn. This is an increase from 70,000 in 2008, and just shy of the 80,000 tickets that would sell out the festival. Producers Ashley Capps of A.C. Entertainment, and Jonathan Mayers of Superfly Presents, arranged for about 125 acts this year, and are already working on the line-up for 2010 and 2011, because the event can be years in the making. Celebrities are regular attenders at the annual festival, with Drew Barrymore, Justin Long and Cameron Diaz all being spotted this year.
Paisley, Swift Big Winners At CMT Music Awards
/by FreemanTaylor Swift Photo: Alan Mayor
Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift emerged as the biggest winners with three and two trophies, respectively, at last night’s 2009 CMT Music Awards. Paisley took home top honors for Male Video of the Year (“Waitin’ On A Woman”), Collaborative Video of the Year (“Start A Band” with Keith Urban), and CMT Performance of the Year, along with Alan Jackson, George Strait and Dierks Bentley (for Alan Jackson’s “Country Boy” from CMT Giants: Alan Jackson). Swift brought home Female Video of the Year and the night’s highest honor for Video of the Year (“Love Story”). It was her second consecutive year to sweep these categories.
Racking up for the seventh consecutive year, Rascal Flatts won Group Video of the Year (“Every Day”); while Sugarland captured their third-in-a-row Duo Video of the Year (“All I Want To Do”).
Hosted by actor/comedian Bill Engvall, the Awards kicked off with an opening sketch featuring the hilarious collaboration between rap artist T-Pain and Swift, rapping to a new version of Swift’s hit “Love Story,” called “Thug Story.”
Brad Paisley Photo: John Russell
Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, Toby Keith, and Paisley performed. In addition, a number of surprise performances marked the evening as Sugarland took the stage with Atlanta neighbors the B-52s for a confetti-filled version of their hit “Love Shack.” Urban ventured into the crowd with his No. 1 single, “Sweet Thing,” and then later joined Jason Aldean onstage for his rockin’ No. 1 hit, “She’s Country.” Swift and Def Leppard closed the show with a recreation of their CMT Crossroads performance of “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
A stage sponsored by Nationwide Insurance hosted up-and-coming artists Jason Michael Carroll, Carter Twins, Eric Church, Eli Young Band, Gloriana, and Joey + Rory. These six acts combined with the 13 main stage performances marked a record 19 total performances. A record seven million votes were cast online at CMT.com and on mobile to determine who walked away with trophies. The evening’s winners are as follows:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director.
* Taylor Swift – “Love Story” (Director: Trey Fanjoy)
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist
* Brad Paisley – “Waitin’ On A Woman”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist
* Taylor Swift – “Love Story”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)
* Brad Paisley with Keith Urban – “Start A Band”
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)
* Alan Jackson featuring Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and George Strait – “Country Boy” from CMT Giants: Alan Jackson
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Best video director of the year; awarded to the director for his or her body of work from the past year
* Trey Fanjoy (award eligible videos include: Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and George Strait’s “Troubador”)
GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists
* Rascal Flatts – “Every Day”
WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist outside the mainstream of country music; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration)
* Kid Rock – “All Summer Long”
DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists
* Sugarland – “All I Want To Do”
USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female, or group/duo)
* Zac Brown Band – “Chicken Fried”
Sugarland & the B-52s perform at the CMT Music Awards. Photo: John Russell
Legends Toast Hank Cochran
/by Sarah SkatesPictured are (l-r): Bobby Bare; BMI Assistant Vice President Writer/Publisher Relations Clay Bradley; Theresa & Merle Haggard; Hank Cochran; songwriter Dale Dodson; BMI Vice President Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams and BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. (Photo: Peyton Hoge)
Living legends gathered to salute iconic songwriter Hank Cochran Monday, June 15 at BMI’s Music Row offices. Merle Haggard, Bobby Bare, Dean Dillon, Jamey Johnson, Lee Ann Womack, Gene Watson, Red Lane, and Whitey Shafer took turns delivering acoustic versions of Hank Cochran classics, while guests including Elvis Costello, Cowboy Jack Clement, Jeannie Seely, Dallas Frazier, Scotty Emerick, Shawn Camp, Jim Lauderdale and others listened intently. Willie Nelson couldn’t be at the reception, but he called and jovially addressed Cochran and the crowd via speaker phone.
The party was a well-kept secret from Cochran: He believed he was simply stopping by BMI to pick up numerous BMI Million-Air certificates, recognizing the millions of performances generated by hits including “Make the World Go Away,” “She’s Got You,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “The Chair,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me,” “Is It Raining at Your House,” “That’s All That Matters,” “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” and “This Ain’t My First Rodeo.” However, an intimate gathering of friends and family awaited him as well, and Haggard led the small crowd in greeting—and pleasantly surprising—the beloved troubadour.
2009 CMT Music Awards Street Closures
/by Sarah Skates2009 CMT Music Awards street closures:
–5th Avenue (Broadway to Demonbreun): This section of 5th Avenue will remain closed from 8:00 PM on Sunday, June 14th through 6:00 AM on Wednesday, June 17th.
–Demonbreun (West bound from 4th to 6th Avenues): This section of Demonbreun will be closed from 10:00 AM on Monday, June 15 through 12:00 AM on Wednesday, June 17th.
–Demonbreun (East Bound from 4th Avenue to 6th Avenue: This section of Demonbreun will be closed from 10:00 AM through midnight on Tuesday, June 17th.
–5th Avenue at Franklin: This section of 5th Avenue will be closed to the public at 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM on June 17th.
–5th Avenue Sidewalk (Between Broadway and Demonbreun): This will be closed from 10:00 AM on June 16th – 12:00 AM on June 18 th (midnight after the show).
Updated: Nashville Prepping For Tonight’s CMT Awards
/by Sarah SkatesRumors abound that Taylor Swift will perform tonight with T-Pain. Photo: CMT.com
Updated 2:15 PM: Jamey Johnson will be presented the inaugural Rhapsody Music Without Limits Award on the red carpet at the CMT Awards. The honor is for artists who have the ability to push boundaries with their artistry, exhibiting a willingness to explore and introduce new sounds into an existing music genre.
Randy Houser’s hit single “Boots On” will be the theme song for the CMT Music Awards Red Carpet Show. The song will be used as the bumper in and out of commercials. A recent hot topic of conversation for several media outlets, including, The CBS Early Show, CNN and Perez Hilton’s site, the video for “Boots On” incorporates the YouTube viral video of a 4-year-old rocking out to the song. The viral video is closing in on a million combined streams and continues to receive traffic on a daily basis.
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The 2009 CMT Music Awards are tonight (6/16) at 7 PM at the Sommet Center. The list of stars set for appearances or performances is an incredible mix of Country’s finest and celebs from outside Nashville. Just announced are presenters Toby Keith, Alison Krauss, Kellie Pickler, Heidi Newfield, Tennessee Titans’ Kerry Collins, ventriloquist (America’s Got Talent) Terry Fator, model Karolina Kurkova, and Melissa Peterman.
Leading up to the main show, the one-hour 2009 CMT Music Awards Red Carpet special will start at 6 PM with hosts Katie Cook and Lance Smith.
Hosted by actor/comedian Bill Engvall, there will be performances by Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Keith, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and British rockers Def Leppard. Jason Michael Carroll, Carter Twins, Eric Church, Eli Young Band, Gloriana and Joey + Rory will perform on the Nationwide Insurance performance stage.
Previously announced presenters include American Idol’s Randy Jackson, Dancing With The Stars’ recent champions Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas, The O’Reilly Factor’s Bill O’Reilly, actor Luke Wilson, rockers Kid Rock and Ted Nugent and rap artist T-Pain. In addition, country stars Rodney Atkins, Billy Currington, Julianne Hough, Naomi Judd, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack and CMT’s Cook and Smith will be on-hand to present.
Voting for the fan-voted show is now closed. The final nominees for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can vote at CMT.com and via text on their Verizon Wireless phones throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.
Sugarland To Debut CD/DVD Set Exclusively At Walmart
/by Sarah SkatesThe accompanying 10-track CD includes Sugarland’s take on covers made famous by Beyonce (“Irreplaceable”), B-52’s (“Love Shack”), Pearl Jam (“Better Man”), Edie Brickell (“Circle”), Kings of Leon (“Sex On Fire”) and R.E.M. (“The One I Love,” “Nightswimming”). The CD also includes live recordings of three of Sugarland’s biggest hits, including their Grammy-winning song, “Stay,” and “All I Want To Do.”
Philanthropy Is A Big Part of CMA Music Festival
/by Sarah SkatesSteve Moore, President of CMA's Board of Directors; Valory Music artist Jimmy Wayne; and CMA CEO Tammy Genovese at the "Be Instrumental" used band instrument drive on June 11 during the CMA Music Festival.
The “Be Instrumental” used band instrument drive, organized by the Nashville Alliance for Public Education and CMA during CMA Music Festival, drummed up lots of support for deserving music students and programs in Metro Nashville Public Schools. The level of interest from the community compelled the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to offer to be a drop off location through the end of the month for anyone who wasn’t able to donate during the Festival. Donations of gently used instruments are tax deductible and donors will receive a discount on Museum admission.
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The first-ever Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction held outside the Ryman Auditorium Friday, June 12 raised $40,000 for the Opry Trust Fund, which assists members of the country music community in need. Pictured in the foreground are guitars painted by Craig Morgan and Dolly Parton. The Parton guitar alone raised $7,000, while a guitar designed by Carrie Underwood brought in the highest bid at $9,000. Opry member Steve Wariner (shown onstage) kicked off the event with a performance and served as celebrity auctioneer alongside GAC-TV and 650 WSM radio personality Bill Cody. A guitar contributed by Wariner is among several items available in an online component of the auction currently running at opryauction.com.
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The 26th annual YWCA auction with Martina McBride raised $72,195 at Nashville’s Hall of Fame Park on Saturday. McBride, Chris Young, Jason Michael Carroll, Bo Bice, Erika Dunlap, and others participated in the auction. High ticket items included a signed Dolly Parton guitar that sold for $4,000, and a one-of-a-kind McBride signed quilt (made of rare tour shirts) which sold for $3,600. McBride enhanced the auction with personal items, including the dress she wore while performing for Stevie Wonder earlier this year at the White House. McBride supports the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and its commitment to breaking multi-generational cycles of poverty and violence while working to eliminate racism.
Treehouse Records Launches Blaine Larsen
/by Sarah SkatesBlaine Larsen
Blaine Larsen will be the flagship artist of Treehouse Records, the new label launched by Morris Management Group’s Dale Morris, Clint Higham and Mike Betterton, through a partnership with Front Line Management and TicketMaster CEO Irving Azoff. “This is a labor of love for Blaine, because we believe in him,” Higham explained today.
Larsen, 23, has been signed with Morris Management for five years, where the firm has grown his career and feel he is poised for major success. When deciding what the next move was for Larsen, Higham says, “We didn’t want to wait in line at another label.” Morris Management Group was already under Front Line Management’s umbrella when the companies began considering opening a label. “We thought, ‘labels are gearing up to be in management, so why couldn’t we do the same thing,’” Higham explains.
Clint Higham
One advantage to the small roster he says is that while “other labels are asking [radio] for 20 artists, we’re asking for one.” Larsen is starting his radio tour today, with the first single due in July. The album, seven months in the making, is complete. Besides radio, digital marketing will also be a large component of Larsen’s launch because he is already very active online.
Larsen, a former BNA Records artist, had a Top 20 hit in 2005 with “How Do You Get That Lonely,” followed a year later by “I Don’t Know What She Said,” which went Top 25. The relationship didn’t last, but Higham adds, “We have nothing but respect for Joe Galante and his team.”
Treehouse, which shares its moniker with the nickname for the Morris Management offices, will be housed with Morris Management for the time being.
Announcements about staff and distribution are expected in the coming weeks. As far as any other acts being added to the roster, Higham says, “Only time will tell.”
Music Festival Hits All-Time Attendance High
/by bossrossDespite a troubled economy and falling festival ticket sales across the nation, the 2009 CMA Music Festival reeled in its best attendance numbers ever, notching a 7.2% increase over the previous year. Average 2009 daily attendance was 56,000. In 2008 the average daily attendance was 52,000.
According to the CMA, a great deal of the uptick was due to single ticket sales plus crowds at the festival’s free zones and various concert venues. This year the Riverfront stages were free to the community for the first time. Other free areas included the Dr Pepper®-McDonald’s® Family Zone, Fun Zone, Sports Zone, and the new Music City Zone on the Public Square at Metro Courthouse. Single night tickets at LP Field were especially well received jumping 19.5% this year.
Heidi Newfield performs at the Riverfront Stage Thurs., June 11. Photo: Theresa Montgomery
Bobby Karl Works CMA Music Fest (6/14)
/by Bobby KarlChapter 312-C
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Jack Ingram performs at the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field in Downtown Nashville June 14. Photo: John Russell
Sunday Fan club activities began in the morning for Jo Dee Messina at The Belcourt Theater and concluded with Pam Tillis at The Wildhorse Saloon that evening.
In the Sports Zone downtown, we had the fourth annual Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race, sponsored by New Holland. The man to beat was last year’s champ, Darby Ledbetter, a country record maker who is also a three-tour veteran of the Middle East. Mark Collie, Megan Munroe, Richie Fields, Chuck Leavell, lead singer Adam Craig of TelluRide and dozens of other contestants tried to unseat him. But Darby prevailed for the second year in a row. Joey & Rory competed. Rory Feek can wear all the overalls he wants, but his wife Joey Martin’s tractor-race time was better. By the way, the tractors ran on Biodiesel fuel.
It was so humid on Sunday that even a short walk would leave your clothes soaked. Nevertheless, the outdoor attractions at Riverfront included Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, fast-rising Gloriana, the Eli Young Band and Darryl Worley. Booked at the Hard Rock were Matt Stillwell and The Block Family Band, among others. At the Sommet stage, your choices included The Grascals, Bomshel and T. Graham Brown. Inside the Sommet Center, rehearsals were underway for Tuesday’s CMT Awards. There’s no rest for the weary.
Sage Keffer was slated to open and Miko Marks to close at the final day in the popular, air-conditioned Acoustic Corner. I always feel a twinge of sadness on Sunday afternoon when the booth dismantling begins in the Convention Center. It’s like the circus is folding up its tents.
But there was still one more evening of music and memory making to go at LP field. Soaking up the final concert in the hospitality suite were Dale Bobo, Bill Bennett, the Chamber’s Butch Spyridon, Steve Moore, former vice mayor Howard Gentry, Ben Farrell and Charlie Monk. Bobby Cudd brought his teen daughter to see Taylor Swift on the big stage. Dan Ekback reported that he has a new publishing gig, with Platinum Pen.
Miranda Lambert performs at the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field June 14. Photo: John Russell
Now it can be told: the suite’s annual bartender turns out to be “Rockit” Roger Richardson. His single “The First Cowboy in Space” was reviewed in last Friday’s “DisClaimer” column and is available on the current CDX.
The jets roared overhead one last time. Jack Ingram kicked off the show. On “Barbie Doll,” everyone sang along. For “Barefoot and Crazy,” they were on their feet. During “Love You” Jack waded into the crowd, singing and high-fiving fans. Co-host Melissa Peterman observed, “I’ll be his Barbie Doll any day.” Heidi Newfield did an acoustic set. She committed the perennial error of wearing black on the black CMA Fest stage, rendering her nearly invisible. Impending Opry cast inductees Montgomery Gentry were up next.
Co-host Lance Smith brought on Miranda Lambert. The fiery Miranda informed the stadium that she’d come all the way from the Lone Star State to show them how it’s done, “Texas style.” Taylor Swift was next, followed by a surprise appearance by Sugarland. Then came Kenny Chesney, a bunch of beach balls and the end of another fabulous Fest.