DISClaimer (5/1/09)

mlambert-flowers150Move over, boys.

Despite terrific new singles by guys like James Otto and Zona Jones, this week belongs to the fairer sex. Tanya Tucker is back with hillbilly oomph. Megan Mullins sparkles in her upbeat I’m-outta-here toe tapper. Wynonna heats up the joint with one of her most soul-drenched performances yet.

Martina McBride’s ultra powerful ballad vocal makes a great song even greater. One spin of “I Just Call You Mine” will make a believer out of you.

jesselee-girlthing150And what can I tell you about Miranda Lambert? Her recording of her own “Dead Flowers” grabbed me by the throat and held me paralyzed. What a woman. What a Disc of the Day.

Somebody at Atlantic Records has good country ears. First The Zac Brown Band, and now a pert blonde thrush named Jesse Lee. Give the little lady a DisCovery Award.

MIRANDA LAMBERT/Dead Flowers
Writer: Miranda Lambert; Producer: Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Columbia (CDX)
—Shimmering, hypnotic, profound beauty. She has never sounded better or deeper. Wake up, radio: This woman CONNECTS with us.

MEGAN MULLINS/Long Past Gone
Writer: Megan Mullins/Marla Cannon Goodman; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: Mosaic/Sony ATV/Glitterfish/Buna Boy, BMI; Stoney Creek (CDX)
—This gifted gal plays multiple instruments, and she writes ‘em and sings ‘em like a perfectly seasoned pro. This is a crunchy, kiss-off bopper with plenty of attitude and rhythm that’s well worth spinning.

TANYA TUCKER/Love’s Gonna Live Here
Writer: Alvis E. Owens; Producer: Pete Anderson; Publisher: Sony ATV Tree, BMI; Saguaro Road (CDX) (www.saguaroroad.com)
—Tanya’s revival of this 1963 Buck Owens classic is spot-on, right down to the steel guitar fills. Delightful listening.

ZONA JONES/Bluer Than Blue
Writer: Randy Goodrum; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: Let There Be Music/Springcreek, ASCAP; Rocky Comfort (www.zonajones.com)
—I have always loved this ballad, originated by Michael Johnson on the pop charts back in 1978. Zona’s immense warmth of tone and Stroud’s production bring it gently yet firmly into the country realm.

JAMES OTTO/Since You Brought It Up
Writer: James Otto/Dave Berg/Rivers Rutherford;

Producer: Paul Worley; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Eldorotto/Cal IV/Stupid Boy/Universal/Macirhyco, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros
—This rumbles into a steady groove from the very first notes. Soul man Otto provides the manly, sexy come-on. Somewhere, the spirit of Conway Twitty is smiling.

MARTINA McBRIDE/I Just Call You Mine
Writer: Joss Cates/Ty Lacy/Dennis Matkosky; Producer: Dann Huff & Martina McBride; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; RCA (track)
—This power ballad sports plenty of production muscle, plus a lyric of deep romantic devotion. “Everyone calls you amazing/I just call you mine” is the pay-off, but the whole chorus is fabulous, not to mention the bridge. By the time she hit the finale, I had goosebumps all over.

WYNONNA/I Hear You Knocking
Writer: Dave Bartholomew/Pearl King; Producer: Brent Maher & Don Potter; Publisher: Unart Catalog, BMI; Curb (track)
—Wy is way too young to remember the 1955 Smiley Lewis R&B original. Maybe that’s why she turns it into a fiery, soul-sister manifesto with such ease and gusto. Righteously rocking.

STEVE AZAR/Moo La Moo
Writer: Steve Azar/A.J. Masters/Jim Femino; Producer: Steve Azar & Justin Niebank; Publisher: Riverzar/Cotton City/Jim Femino/Carol Vincent/La Luna Tunes/Weebie Writin’/Nice Shot, BMI/SESAC; Ride (www.steveazaralive.com)
—This funky hand clapper has the no-money blues. You might as well bop and smile in these belt-tightening times.

LUKE BRYAN/Do I
Writer: Luke Bryan/Charles Kelley/Dave Haywood; Producer: Jeff Stevens; Publisher: Planet Peanut/Murrah Music/Bug/Warner-Tamerlane/Radiobulletspublishing/DWHaywood, BMI; Capitol Nashville
—Formerly noted as a happy pup, Luke tries on a sad, losing-love ballad. He’s not as convincing as he is on the peppy stuff, but the song is strong enough that it really doesn’t matter.

JESSE LEE/It’s a Girl Thing
Writer: Jesse Lee/Rachel Proctor/Victoria Banks; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Jesse Lee/Circle C/Full Circle, BMI/ASCAP; Atlantic
—It’s a chugging rocker with plenty of truth about the differences between the sexes. Ms. Lee sings it with sass and smarts. However, I don’t think turning the radio up and singing along to a favorite song is exclusively “a girl thing.” So there.

Sugarland’s Nettles Put On Vocal Rest

jenniferSugarland’s Jennifer Nettles has been sidelined due to vocal problems. A press release from Keith Urban’s publicist today announced new opening acts for the Aussie superstar’s inaugural shows on his Escape Together World Tour in Uncasville, Connecticut. The news section of Sugarland’s website is reporting that Nettles “has received doctor’s orders to rest her voice for the next 10 days due to a viral tonsil condition.” Replacing Sugarland as Urban’s opening acts for these initial shows will be Jason Aldean and Little Big Town.

Artist News: Aldean, Eric Church, Lady A, Johnny Reid and More

aldeanBroken Bow’s Jason Aldean’s current chart-topper, “She’s Country,” has been certified gold by the RIAA for having sold more than 500,000 digital downloads. “She’s Country” is also spending its second week at the top of the country chart, and is the fastest rising single of his career to date. Over the last few months it has been the most streamed country song on MySpace, one of the most downloaded country songs of the year and the No. 1 ringtone in all genres. In other Aldean news, the singer will host his annual Jason Aldean: Concert For The Cure June 12 during CMA Music Festival at the Wildhorse Saloon to benefit Susan G. Komen For The Cure. Following his stadium performance, Aldean will invite a few special guests to join him for a late night concert that will also feature a silent auction with items from some of country music’s biggest stars. Fellow Georgia-native Luke Bryan is the first guest performer to be added to the lineup. Tickets are available through  www.jasonaldean.com and Ticketmaster.

reidCanadian country star and reigning CCMA Top Male Artist Johnny Reid’s latest album, Dance With Me, has been certified Platinum (80,000 in sales) eight weeks after its March 10 release. Dance With Me has remained in the top-3 on the Canadian Country Sales Chart, spending three consecutive weeks at No. 1, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album also remained in the top-10 on the Top 200 Sales Chart for six consecutive weeks after the album’s release. Leadoff single “A Woman Like You” peaked at No. 2 on Canadian country radio.

Capitol artist Eric Church will perform three special shows at Nashville’s Rutledge During the CMA Music Festival, June 11-13. Each performance will feature Church presenting his music in some new ways. The June 11 “Stripped” performance offers a chance to see Church and his band perform acoustically. Likewise, at the June 12 “Deconstructed” event Church will let his fans see behind the songwriting curtain. Accompanied by his co-writers, Church will break down each song musically and lyrically and discuss the songwriting process. Finally, the June 13 “Requested” show will feature a set list made up entirely of fan requests. Beginning May 11, fans will have a chance to vote on songs they would like to hear. Church will also perform at the CMA Music Festival’s Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park on June 12.

baFor anyone who’s been looking all over town for Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, he’s up in the Great White North! The venerable singer/songwriter is in the middle of a Canadian tour that includes appearances from Ontario to New Brunswick to Nova Scotia to Prince Edward Island. In what is being billed as A Night With A Legend, the Country Music Hall of Famer will deliver 11 shows in 12 days while offering audiences a close-up view of his legendary career through his songs and the stories behind them.

lady-aCapitol’s Lady Antebellum packed a powerful message about paying it forward into the video for their current hit single, “I Run To You.” Now, the trio has partnered with Brita’s FilterForGood campaign and is asking fans to visit the band’s website (www.ladyantebellum.com) to post examples of how they pay it forward in their own communities. Lady A will be reading through the stories and giving away some cool prizes along the way. The band’s self-titled debut album has held its place on iTune’s Top 10 Country Albums for over a year since it’s debut last April.

jack Big Machine’s Jack Ingram will join some of Texas’ best songwriters for a roundtable discussion on the impact of songs and their creation for an upcoming article in Texas Monthly magazine. Editor John Spong will bring together a roundtable panel including country hitmaker Ingram, Grammy-winner Guy Clark (“The Randall Knife”), folk avatar Patty Griffin (“Let Him Fly,”), Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen (“The Road Goes On Forever”) and Songwriter Hall of Famer Sonny Throckmorton (“Why Not Me”).

In its third annual outing, the Stagecoach Country Music Festival, held in the high desert country of Indio, California on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, had its most successful year yet. The festival, which featured some of the top names in country and Americana music, joins the ranks of major U.S. festivals after attracting more than 50,000 music fans a day. Headliners included Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Reba and Kid Rock, along with more than 30 additional acts.

Belmont to Host Int’l Country Music Conference

belmontThe 26th annual International Country Music Conference, to be held May 21-23 in Nashville, Tenn. in the Frist Lecture Hall of the Gordon E. Inman Center at Belmont University, will host a broad cross-section of panels and topics in the field of country music. This year’s ICMC will feature more than three-dozen panels on a variety of influential artists and subjects in all country-related genres, including Bluegrass, Americana, Western Swing, Country Rock, Honky-Tonk, Gospel and more. Notable artists to be profiled in selected presentations will include Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, Gram Parsons, Kitty Wells, Cowboy Troy, Charlie Louvin and Jimmie Rodgers, among others.

Renowned author and country music expert Don Cusic will co-host the panel “Defining Country Music: What It Is and Does It Matter?” Additional ICMC panels will cover subjects ranging from international topics (“Teaching Country Music in Australia: Teaching Australian Country Music” and “New Zealand Country”), regional interests (“A Cajun Music Mystery: Dr. James F. Roach, ‘Song of the Crocodile,’ and the First Commercial Recording of a Cajun Folksong”) and political themes (“Barack Obama, Country Music Stardom, and a New Black American Narrative”). A number of panels will be packaged together and presented on specific themes, including the Bluegrass genre and artists Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers. The Belmont University Book Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award and The Charlie Lamb Awards will also be presented at this year’s conference. Registration is $100 and checks should be sent to James Akenson, Box 5042, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN, 38505. The complete 2009 ICMC Program Schedule can be found here.

Songwriters Invade Key West

The 14th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival boasted a record number of songwriters, as anchor-sponsor BMI arrived in the Florida hotspot with more than 150 troubadours in tow. Presented by Better Angels Music and benefiting the Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation, the festival started in style on Wednesday 4/29), with BMI’s kick-off party at La Concha Hotel.
key-west
Front row (l-r)  BMI’s Beth Mason and Bradley Collins; writers James Slater and Tim Nichols. Middle row (l-r_  GAC’s Storme Warren; BMI’s Perry Howard; Copyright Exchange’s Chip Petree; BMI’s Mark Mason; This Music’s Rusty Gaston; writer Luke Laird. Back row (l-r) writer Jimmy Yeary; Copyright Exchange’s Richard Orga; Better Angels Music’s Rob Rappaport; Copyright Exchange’s Dwight Wiles; writer Marty Dodson; Karen Williams; BMI’s Jody Williams; writers Chuck Cannon and David Lee; BMI’s Clay Bradley; writers Dave Pahanish and Wynn Varble. (Photo by Brian Tipton)

Between songwriter showcases and other gatherings, ASCAP hosted its 4th Annual ASCAP/ole Key West Songwriters Festival Fishing Tournament. This year’s winner was Major Bob Publishing’s Jesse Frasure, and the fish he caught was truly a whopper.

ascap

Pictured back on dry land are (l-r) ole CCO Gilles Godard; ASCAP’s Ralph Murphy; ole Chairman & CEO Robert Ott; winner of the Biggest Fish Award and Major Bob Director of A&R Jesse Frasure; ASCAP’s Mike Sistad and Jesse Willoughby. (Photo: Alan Mayor)

Rascal Flatts and Hershey Offer “Summertime S’mores”

smoresIn a promotion that just might make you break into the chorus of “Melt,” the Hershey Company has joined forces with country superstars Rascal Flatts to celebrate the magic of s’mores. Hershey’s will be a sponsor of Rascal Flatts’ American Living Unstoppable 2009 concert tour and bring the partnership to life with a national television commercial and the Hershey’s S’mores Rocks Your Block promotion, giving fans the chance to win an exclusive s’mores-themed block party with Rascal Flatts at center stage.

flattsThe promotion will bring unprecedented Rascal Flatts access to fans nationwide. Celebrating gooey s’mores, the promotion will offer Rascal Flatts-themed prizes to consumers each day from May-September. One lucky fan will “rock their block” with a private block party for 100 friends featuring Rascal Flatts while others will win $2,500 Visa gift cards to create their own s’mores-themed block parties. Other prizes include VIP trips to Rascal Flatts concerts and 100,000 music downloads. The sweepstakes will be promoted at retail on specially marked Hershey’s products. Click here for your chance to win.

Musicrow.com reformatted 4 iPhone

iphone

MusicRow.com has been reformatted for speed and ease of design for iPhone, iPod touch, Google Android and Blackberry Storm mobile surfers. iphonemenu When visiting  MusicRow.com using one of the aforementioned mobile devices the information will automatically display in the fast loading, quick read mobile format. At the top of the new page is a menu link which offers access to special sections on the site including the Country Breakout radio chart, CD/single/events release calendar, advertising information and  subscription link.

In recent weeks Apple was rated highest among smartphone manufacturers by J.D. Power. According to Cnet the iPhone owns a 66.61% share of web browsing in the mobile space. The next closest share is by the RIM Java2ME browser which gets 9%.

Pickler and Smith To Host CMT Noms

0afe5571-3048-8909-ccbd16b39692dfad_200For the first time, CMT will be interrupting its regularly scheduled programming to present the 2009 CMT Music Awards Nominee Special on Tuesday, May 19 at 9:00 – 9:30 AM/CT. The 30-minute special, hosted by 2008 USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year winner Kellie Pickler and CMT’s Lance Smith, will feature the music and videos of country music’s elite as decided by fan voting.

The special will simulcast on cmt.com and a version will be available on CMT Mobile. Fan voting began on April 13 lanceand continues through May 11, only at CMT.com. On Tuesday, May 19, CMT will announce the four finalists in each of the categories, with the exception of Video of the Year. Fans can then vote online at CMT.com through June 15 to determine the winners. 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.

The 2009 CMT Music Awards premieres live on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM/CT on CMT and CMT.com with performances by Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and British rockers Def Leppard.

Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser Play for Opry Fund

jameyjohnson_08_v_eCountry stars Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser, along with friend and fellow songwriter Jerrod Niemann, will be bringing “The Traler Park Revival Show” to the Ryman Auditorium on May 28 at 7:30 PM. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Opry Trust Fund which provides financial assistance to members of the country music industry in times of need. Years ago, the three artists got together often and played as “The Traler Park Show.” “The name ‘Traler Park’ originated years ago when myself and several guys, including Jamey, shared a writer’s room at the UA Tower in randyhouser1Nashville,” says Houser. “We named the room Trailer Park, so a sign went up above the door, TRALER PARK, and it stuck — misspelling and all.” Pre-Sale tickets are available at jameyjohnson.com; randyhouser.com; myspace.com/jameyjohnson; myspace.com/randyhouser and myspace.com/jerrodniemann. Tickets are $20 and will be available at ryman.com, opry.com, 1-800-SEE-OPRY, and the Ryman and Opry House Box Offices on April 24.

Country Stars Read For Kids

Over sixty country musicians from Canada and the United States are partnering with the Waterloo Public Library (WPL) in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada to celebrate libraries and support family literacy in the community through an innovative program dubbed Country Musicians Rock and Read for Kids. Artists participating include Paul Brandt, Kix Brooks, George Canyon, Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans, Adam Gregory, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Jason McCoy (Road Hammers), Jessie Farrell, James Otto, Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker. The musicians have shared the title of their favorite book with WPL, ranging from fiction to non-fiction, new releases and old favorites, adult and children’s books. Each musician has also donated an autographed CD or other memento to the project. WPL will be packaging each donated item with a copy of the musicians’ favorite books and auctioning them off on October 24 to support family literacy projects at WPL. Community members are encouraged to follow the progress of the project on Twitter (WaterlooLibrary) or get the latest updates on Country Musicians Rock and Read for Kids on the Facebook site. The library is also partnering with KIX 106.7 for the project, which is being timed to coincide with Canadian Library Month and Ontario Public Library Week in October.