“You First”
Show Dog Nashville
Mac McAnally has worn many hats in his storied career—producer, vocalist, guitarist, chart-topping songwriter, member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer band—and his recording artist cap recently earned a nice feather in “Down The Road,” his No. 1 duet with Kenny Chesney. Now, McAnally and his new label Show Dog Nashville look to build on that success with the release of “You First,” which impacts radio April 27.
A poignant series of vignettes about brotherly love, “You First,” is the first release from McAnally’s upcoming Show Dog debut album.
The single follows the successful of “Down The Road,” a song penned by McAnally and recorded by Kenny Chesney, who invited the Mac to sing on the track with him. It was McAnally’s sixth No. 1 as a writer and first as a recording artist, which led to an ACM Vocal Event of the Year nod.
Significant as those milestones are, however, they only tell part of McAnally’s accomplishments. From his days as a Muscle Shoals session musician, Mac has given musical support to artists including Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dolly Parton and many more. He’s a longstanding member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer band, and his production credits include Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat.
Mac was named 2008 Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association, the same year he was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. He is also a 2007 inductee to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. McAnally signed his first record deal at the age of 16 and was the first artist signed to the legendary Geffen Records.
http://www.macmcanally.com/
Mrs. Paisley Had a Baby!
/by LB CantrellACM Ratings Jump 21 Percent
/by LB CantrellIndustry averages have shown sales increases of more than 20% during the week that precedes the Easter holiday, but the ACM Awards had an even greater impact on record sales for artists who performed at the event. According to Nielsen Soundscan, Lee Ann Womack’s sales increased 117%, Sugarland’s sales increased 112%, Carrie Underwood’s sales increased 99%. Taylor Swift’s sales increased 98% and George Strait’s sales increased 94%. Julianne Hough saw sales increase 110% and Kellie Pickler showed an increase in sales of 174%. Trace Adkins’ sales increased 98% for American Man: Greatest Hits Vol. I & II and a whopping 110% for X, featuring “Til The Last Shot’s Fired,” which he performed on the Awards with the West Point Glee Club. Additionally, Wounded Warrior Project has received almost $50,000 in direct contributions through its dedicated ACM Lifting Lives donation page and from live audience viewers who made donations on-site following the Awards.
“We’ve virtually doubled our audience, reaching 47% more viewers in 2008 and 2009 combined,” said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. “And I believe we still have room to grow. We are already planning next year’s show and considering how to elevate viewership.”
Martina’s Wine, B&D’s M&Ms, Bluebird Gets “Amplified” and More
/by LB CantrellAlready famous as country music’s biggest-ever duo, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have now become “Shell-ebrities.” The pair have been
turned into green and blue M&Ms for a new ad campaign. You can see Brooks & Dunn’s candy-coated likenesses and turn yourself into an M&M by clicking here.
To celebrate the release of AMPLIFIED!, a book of 16 short stories by contemporary singer/songwriters, The Bluebird Cafe will present a special AMPLIFIED! Book Release Show featuring contributors Robbie Fulks, Mary Gauthier, Jon Langford and David Olney on May 14 at 9:00 PM. Reservations will be available at 8:00 PM/CT on April 28. www.bluebirdcafe.com.
Country icon Ray Price will be a guest of Mike Huckabee’s on the Fox Network’s Huckabee show, this Saturday evening (4/18), at 7:00 PM/CT. The show airs twice on Sunday as well. Price is currently on tour with his best friend Willie Nelson.
Big Machine duo Kate & Kacey will appear on the Fox network, performing the national anthem tomorrow (4/18), at the Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup Series Race at the Phoenix International Speedway. Live race coverage will kick off (with the national anthem) at 6:45 PM/CT.
Marco Club Connection is offering three high-energy remixes of Emblem artist Gloriana’s debut single “Wild At Heart” to dance clubs across the country. Grammy Award-winner and Emblem label head Matt Serletic produced the “Stomp Your Boots” and “Bottle Rocket” remixes, while veteran Australian producer Mark Moffatt remixed the “Porch Party” version of the hit single from the fast-rising quartet.
MCN Presents Concert Series & Sweepstakes
/by LB CantrellThrough a special sweepstakes, MCN is also offering a chance for an all-access trip to Nashville. One winner and their guest will get to experience Nashville V.I.P. style during CMA Festival week, including all seven MCN events plus the Country Weekly Fashion Show. Sponsored by MCN, YallWire and Country Weekly, the sweepstakes ends May 1. The winner and a guest will receive round-trip airfare to Nashville, accommodations for five nights, two tickets to all seven concerts in the MCN Fan Club Concert Series, a meet-and-greet with every Fan Club Concert Series artist and two tickets to the Country Weekly Fashion Show. To enter, click here.
CMA To Unveil Research
/by LB Cantrell“Giving our members the tools necessary to analyze the enormous amount of data we collected and make it applicable to their day-to-day operation is the logical next step,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese. “From booking agents to artist managers to record labels, there is something for everyone who relies on the country music consumer in this study.”
Seats to the free Town Hall meeting are limited and are available to CMA individual and organizational members only. Attendees may also bring a limited number of guests to the event based on the level of their CMA membership. CMA members who would like to attend must register online, and they can do so here.
Songwriter Paul Williams Elected ASCAP President
/by LB Cantrell“It’s a great honor and privilege to be elected President and Chairman of the Board of ASCAP,” Williams said. “On behalf of my fellow Board members, I would like to thank Marilyn for her extraordinarily productive work and the dedication she has shown over the last fifteen years.”
Mac McAnally
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“You First”
Show Dog Nashville
A poignant series of vignettes about brotherly love, “You First,” is the first release from McAnally’s upcoming Show Dog debut album.
The single follows the successful of “Down The Road,” a song penned by McAnally and recorded by Kenny Chesney, who invited the Mac to sing on the track with him. It was McAnally’s sixth No. 1 as a writer and first as a recording artist, which led to an ACM Vocal Event of the Year nod.
Significant as those milestones are, however, they only tell part of McAnally’s accomplishments. From his days as a Muscle Shoals session musician, Mac has given musical support to artists including Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dolly Parton and many more. He’s a longstanding member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer band, and his production credits include Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat.
Mac was named 2008 Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association, the same year he was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. He is also a 2007 inductee to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. McAnally signed his first record deal at the age of 16 and was the first artist signed to the legendary Geffen Records.
http://www.macmcanally.com/
Robert Johnson Blues Foundation Names New Generation Award Winner
/by LB CantrellLeadership Music Names Dale Franklin Award Winners
/by LB CantrellCMT Nom for Newfield’s “Johnny and June”
/by LB CantrellApril 17 – Port Huron, MI
April 18 – Grand Rapids, MI
April 24 – Kennesaw, GA
April 25 – Clewiston, FL
May 1 – Nashville, TV
May 22 – Miami, OK
May 24 – Roanoke, VA
May 25 – Cincinnati, OH
June 6 – Enterprise, AL
June 12 – Chicago, IL
June 13 – Winstock, MN
June 19 – Marinette, WI
June 26 – Oshkosh, WI
June 28 – Grand Junction, CO