Broken 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.
Canadian 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.
For 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.
Capitol’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.
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.
Artist News: Aldean, Eric Church, Lady A, Johnny Reid and More
/by LB CantrellCapitol 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.
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
/by LB CantrellRenowned 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
/by LB CantrellThe 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.

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.
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”
/by LB CantrellMusicrow.com reformatted 4 iPhone
/by bossrossMusicRow.com has been reformatted for speed and ease of design for iPhone, iPod touch, Google Android and Blackberry Storm mobile surfers.
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
/by LB CantrellThe special will simulcast on cmt.com and a version will be available on CMT Mobile. Fan voting began on April 13
and 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
/by LB CantrellCountry Stars Read For Kids
/by LB CantrellOver 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.
Anastasia Brown to Judge “Peace Song Challenge”
/by LB CantrellThe Grand Prize winner will receive an exclusive Gibson Guitar, an official “Agent of Peace” fleece jacket, inclusion in a major publicity announcement and posting of their song on the Bring Peace Not Pain’s website and YouTube. The winner will also be featured in an international news story and may have the opportunity to perform his/her song at several upcoming events and be given the opportunity to promote his/her music as the official song of the campaign. Five runner-up entrants will receive an official “Agent of Peace” fleece jacket and mention on the website. Submissions for the contest are due by July 25 and must be submitted with a signed Official Entry form, copy of the Rules and Regulations, a CD of the song and written lyrics. All must be signed and dated by the original composer and be accompanied by a letter stating that they are original works. For more information, click here.
Pat Higdon Rises To UMPG Presidency
/by LB CantrellA Nashville native, Higdon broke into the music industry in the early ‘70s as a recording engineer at Nashville’s Woodland Sound before moving to Cedarwood Publishing. He then spent seven years with MCA Music, rising to MCA’s Vice President of Nashville operations. In the late `80s, he moved to Warner/Chappell Music, where he served as Senior Director of Creative Services. In 1989 Higdon founded Patrick Joseph Music as a joint venture with Warner/Chappell. He established a similar relationship in 1992 with Los Angeles-based Windswept Pacific Entertainment. The success of Patrick Joseph Music’s boutique catalog caught the attention of Universal Music Publishing Group and Higdon was tapped to run the Nashville operation in 1999. In his position with Universal, Higdon manages a catalog that spans the width of the musical landscape, from the 1940’s Folk/Blues of the Delmore Brothers, the 1950’s and 1960’s classics of Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly, country classics from Webb Pierce, Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, and the works of Bob McDill, Pat Alger, Dickey Lee, Kostas, Mel Tillis, Marijohn Wilkin, Stephanie Bentley, Matraca Berg, Gary Burr, Troy Verges, Craig Wiseman, Emmylou Harris, Ed Hill, Marcus Hummon, and many more.
“What we’ve achieved is a testament to this company’s artists, songwriters, catalogues, and employees,” said Higdon. “I’m pleased to build on the great results we’ve achieved artistically and commercially over many years. I firmly believe in the mantra of great songs and great songwriters and have always invested in careers for the long haul. We’re building a catalogue at UMPG that I believe will weather the test of time.”