Last night’s Dateline NBC piece on Taylor Swift was undeniably flattering. The hour-long segment followed her through preparations for a headlining tour, portraying her as one of the most hands-on young entertainers in the business. She was shown participating in every aspect of her career—designing the stage, auditioning back-up dancers, decorating her backstage vibe room and tour bus, and leading concert rehearsals—all while posting messages for her Twitter followers.
Her mother and closest confident Andrea Swift told the newsmagazine, “Every single decision that’s made, whether it’s talking about artwork that’s gonna go on the side of the buses for the tour or a script that needs to be read, you know, almost invariably, someone in the room says, ‘Have you checked with Taylor?’”
Swift told NBC’s Hoda Kotb it can be hard to be in charge of people twice her age. “There are times when you get frustrated, but the one thing you always focus on is treating people well. You just cannot storm off and freak out. People don’t take you seriously if you scream, if you raise your voice, especially when you’re a 19-year-old girl.”
Dateline asked promoter Louis Messina about her string of sell-out dates. “Throughout my whole career, I’ve never seen anything like this. I said this to her as Bruce Springsteen was the voice of his generation, Taylor is the voice of her generation.”
With 7 million albums sold, Swift and her team are as driven as ever. Scott Borchetta, President & CEO, Big Machine Records told Dateline, “You have to be careful in this moment. You’re never bigger than the game. The minute you think you’re bigger than the game is the minute that you start to lose the game.”
Also making an appearance on the show was hard working Nashville publicist Paula Erickson, seen rushing Swift off to the red carpet of Hannah Montana: The Movie.
Courtesy: Dateline NBC
Steve Martin Plays The Opry
/by Sarah SkatesPete Fisher, McEuen, Martin, Gill and Steve Buchanan
Actor/comedian/writer Steve Martin made his Grand Ole Opry debut Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd. He was greeted with a standing ovation before performing songs from his first music album, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo.
Friend John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), who produced the album and assembled an all-star cast to record with Martin, appeared on the show along with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Stuart Duncan, and Tim O’Brien, ending with an encore of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”
John McEuen, Steve Martin, Vince Gill
Photos: 2009 Copyright Grand Ole Opry by Chris Hollo
Swift Gets Positive Press On Dateline
/by Sarah SkatesLast night’s Dateline NBC piece on Taylor Swift was undeniably flattering. The hour-long segment followed her through preparations for a headlining tour, portraying her as one of the most hands-on young entertainers in the business. She was shown participating in every aspect of her career—designing the stage, auditioning back-up dancers, decorating her backstage vibe room and tour bus, and leading concert rehearsals—all while posting messages for her Twitter followers.
Her mother and closest confident Andrea Swift told the newsmagazine, “Every single decision that’s made, whether it’s talking about artwork that’s gonna go on the side of the buses for the tour or a script that needs to be read, you know, almost invariably, someone in the room says, ‘Have you checked with Taylor?’”
Swift told NBC’s Hoda Kotb it can be hard to be in charge of people twice her age. “There are times when you get frustrated, but the one thing you always focus on is treating people well. You just cannot storm off and freak out. People don’t take you seriously if you scream, if you raise your voice, especially when you’re a 19-year-old girl.”
Dateline asked promoter Louis Messina about her string of sell-out dates. “Throughout my whole career, I’ve never seen anything like this. I said this to her as Bruce Springsteen was the voice of his generation, Taylor is the voice of her generation.”
With 7 million albums sold, Swift and her team are as driven as ever. Scott Borchetta, President & CEO, Big Machine Records told Dateline, “You have to be careful in this moment. You’re never bigger than the game. The minute you think you’re bigger than the game is the minute that you start to lose the game.”
Also making an appearance on the show was hard working Nashville publicist Paula Erickson, seen rushing Swift off to the red carpet of Hannah Montana: The Movie.
Courtesy: Dateline NBC
Rucker Reaches Out via iPhone
/by bossrossInside the tour dates area are direct links that open mobile Safari and enable fans to purchase tickets. Music Video has both still images and embedded videos that are loaded on the phone and can be viewed with or without a network connection. Darius TV is dedicated to behind-the-scenes humorous video clips and outtakes.
The app’s look and feel is clean and intuitive. Fans will appreciate having a “clubhouse” where they can go at any time to hangout and get the latest news. Like a web site, content can be updated when desired, giving the artist a direct-to-the-fan syndicated information channel. Artist apps have been extremely popular in other music formats and range from the simple, but informative—like Rucker’s version—to collections of bells and whistles with built in contests, social networking access and even the ability for fans and the artist to chat online in the app’s private chat room.
As today’s media landscape continues to fragment, it becomes more difficult to attract a large-scale audience in one place at the same time making social networking and iPhone-type apps more important than ever. Newspapers, network TV and radio are examples of media with shrinking audience. Consumers have now added new on-demand media outlets to their infotainment choices and view that content across a variety of screens—TV, computer and mobile.
“Fans can now access my music, tour stops and stay in touch with me through their devices so it’s my way of saying ‘thanks’ for spreading the word about the music,” says Darius Rucker. Savvy marketers realize that Rucker’s gift is a two way street that will please fans and pay career dividends.
Worley Parties for Cystic Fibrosis
/by LB Cantrell“Darryl Worley has been our honorary chairman for a number of years,” said Dave Kelly, Program Director 103.3 WKDF . “He usually brings with him some good friends to help us raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis, and he always brings a good time!” Additional performers for the will be announced shortly. Tickets for the 103 WKDF Beach Party can be purchased here.
615 Music Nabs Emmy Nominations
/by LB CantrellCharlie Allen
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“Proof”
River Run/Big 7
—Robert K. Oermann, Music Row.
So far, 2009 has been a banner year for Charlie Allen. Allen has seen his music gain acceptance around the world, and his media visibility has never been higher.
In January, he made a promotional appearance at MIDEM in Cannes, France, and performed an invitation-only showcase event at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London, England. And, he just celebrated his second No. 1 single in Europe. Recently, he was a featured guest on a special Memorial Day edition of Geraldo at Large on FOX News and currently is preparing for his second appearance opening the mega festival, Bonnaroo, in June. Allen’s new single, “Proof” is from his CD, That Was Then, This Is Now.
Allen hails from the east Tennessee town of Bristol, which is credited with being the birthplace of modern country music. (It was there that Ralph Peer first recorded The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and others, creating what is now referred to as “The Big Bang” of country). Allen has been performing since childhood, when at age 7, he was singing onstage at Panther Hall in Ft. Worth, TX., and appearing in concert with iconic artists such as Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis, among others.
http://charlieallenonline.com/
Big Tractor Re-Signs Wade Kirby
/by LB CantrellBig Tractor Music has announced the re-signing of hit songwriter Wade Kirby. First signed to the company in 2004, Kirby worked with Big Tractor for three years before shifting to another publisher, only to return after 8 months. His latest chart-topper is George Strait‘s No. 1 single, “I Saw God Today,” which garnered Grammy, ACM and CMA nominations. Kirby also co-wrote Joe Nichols‘ current single, “Believers.” He started his career as a road musician with acts including Ray Price and Earl Thomas Conley. Kirby’s songs have been recorded by George Strait, Gretchen Wilson, Darius Rucker, Kenny Rogers, Jeff Bates, Chris Cagle, Erika Jo, Emerson Drive, Rodney Atkins, George Canyon, Rhett Akins, Jace Everett, Faith Hill, John Michael Montgomery, Pam Tillis, Neal McCoy, Brad Johner, Billy Currington, Craig Morgan and Jason Aldean.
“I couldn’t be happier to have Wade Kirby staying on board at Big Tractor,” says General Manager Jason Krupek. “Having a hard-working hit songwriter like Wade at the company assures Big Tractor an exciting opportunity for future growth and success.”
(l-r) Big Tractor GM Jason Krupek; Wade Kirby; and Big Tractor Creative Director Cynthia Anderson
The South Will Rise Again at BamaJam
/by LB CantrellElzemeyer Talent Opens Nashville Outpost
/by LB Cantrell“It was a natural next step for ETA to expand into the Nashville area,” said Elzemeyer. “Just as Memphis has a rich history in the entertainment business, within both the film and music industries, so does Nashville. I am thrilled that we have had the opportunity to expand our business.”
For more information, click here.
Christopher Michael Johnson
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“The Day We Changed The Rules”
Lofton Creek/Big Dog Records
—Mike Borchetta [President, Lofton Creek Records (former VP, Curb Records)]
“Wow, what a song… it’s a 3 minute long hook.”
—Keith Hill
“Good lyrics, good delivery, good story, good add.”
—Dan Hollander [WLLX/Lawrenceburg, TN]
“Lofton Creek could be in line for another ‘I Loved Her First’ this could be it…Should rattle the cash register.”
—Dr. Bruce [KFTX/Corpus Christi, TX]
Christopher Michael Johnson’s father once wrote a short story predicting that his young son would one day grow up to be a rock star, an item that was discovered years later by Johnson’s mother after his father’s untimely passing.
Amazingly, Johnson had already spent four years in Nashville working to build a career as a country singer without any prior knowledge of his father’s prophecy. The singer eventually returned to his Missouri roots, started a business and a family, but continued to pursue his dream of playing country music.
He was led back to Nashville, where producer Brien Fisher introduced him to Lofton Creek President Mike Borchetta, who signed him to the label. Johnson began working with Fisher on his upcoming full length album Gettin’ Ready To Fly, which is due out late summer 2009. The latest single from the project is “The Day We Changed The Rules.”
Johnson has also started a non-profit organization for children with cancer, in honor of his father, and is a supporter of the American Cancer Society.
http://www.christophermichaeljohnson.com/home.html