Jessica Harp Has Free iTunes Video of the Week

/by

harpNew Warner Bros. artist Jessica Harp, formerly known as the blond half of chart-topping duo The Wreckers, has gone brunette and set out on a solo career with new single, “Boy Like Me.” This week, the Scott Spear-directed video for “Boy Like Me” is featured on iTunes as “Music Video Of The Week,” and is available for free download. The song is the leadoff track from Harp’s upcoming solo debut, A Woman Needs, which is scheduled for a summer release. You can watch a preview of the “Boy Like Me,” video below or get the complete video for free by clicking here.

Gibson Sponsors Film Fest and Oprah School

/by

gibson_logoGibson Guitar has announced its sponsorship  of the 2009 Nashville Film Festival. The instrument manufacturer will present a Gibson acoustic guitar — customized with artwork by acclaimed Nashville-based mixed media painter Mandy Lawson — to legendary actor William Shatner as part of Festival’s “President’s Impact Award” for Shatner’s film, Gonzo Ballet. Gibson will also host a private VIP reception at the Nashville Gibson Entertainment Relations Showroom in downtown Nashville on Friday, April 17. On Saturday, April 18, the Nashville Film Festival will award the Gibson-sponsored “Impact of Music Award” to the feature film that most effectively explores or celebrates the impact of music on the human experience. Recipients of this award will receive an Epiphone guitar. A list of films in contention can be found here. The Nashville Film Festival, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary, takes place April 16-23, 2009 at Regal Green Hills Cinema.

In other Gibson news, the Gibson Foundation, the company’s philanthropic division, has announced a commitment to work with the music department at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa through 2012, providing both instruments and financial support to the school’s music program. In addition to its relationship with Oprah’s Leadership Academy, the Foundation is advancing music education throughout the world through such organizations as the Grammy Foundation, MENC (National Association of Music Education) and the International Society of Music Education.

CMA Offers Strong Lineup, Individual Tickets

/by

cma-logoCMA Music Festival’s Nightly Concerts at LP Field are the place to see country’s biggest stars all gathered on one big revolving stage, and tickets are now available on a nightly basis. Beginning Saturday, April 18, at 9:00 AM/CT, tickets to the individual Nightly Concerts will go on sale for $40 for reserved seats on the lower and club levels, and $30 for general admission in the upper deck of LP Field. Recently added to the lineup of stars performing at the Nightly Concerts are Lee Ann Womack, Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram, and the Zac Brown Band. The complete nightly schedule is as follows:

Thursday, June 11 – Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Julianne Hough, Reba McEntire, and Brad Paisley

Friday, June 12 – Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, and Zac Brown Band

Saturday, June 13 – Trace Adkins, Jack Ingram, Jamey Johnson, Martina McBride, and Lee Ann Womack

Sunday, June 14 – Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, John Rich, and Taylor Swift

To order tickets you can call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378), visit www.ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Anderson and Stroud Reunite for Bigger Hands

/by

andersonPerennial country star John Anderson has reunited with James Stroud, the producer behind his early ‘90s career resurgence and a long string of hits including “Seminole Wind,” “Straight Tequila Night” and “Money in the Bank.” The pair has teamed to coproduce Bigger Hands, the singer’s first release for Country Crossing records, a division of Stroud’s recently launched Stroudavarious Records. Anderson cowrote all of the album’s 12 songs and included his own version of “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” the current hit single from John Rich, who cowrote the song with Anderson. The album’s leadoff single, “Hot Coffee and Cold Beer,” brings the singer back to his earliest hitmaking days in the ‘80s. It was one of the last songs Anderson wrote with his late friend and collaborator Lionel Delmore, his cowriter on the 1982 smash hit single, “Swingin’.” Bigger Hands is scheduled for a June 9 release.

“James and I have recorded quite a bit over the years, and he even played that signature drum track on my comeback single “Straight Tequila Night,” Anderson said. “I feel like we’re giving this one our very best effort and it is feeling pretty true to what I do.”

BMI Signs Chris Farren

/by

Grammy-winning songwriter/producer/publisher Chris Farren has signed with BMI for performing rights representation. Cofounder (with Ken Levitan) of Combustion Music,  Farren took home a Grammy for Country Song of the Year for Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take The Wheel.” He’s also earned two previous Grammy nominations, 11 ASCAP Awards, and has credits on over 20 million record sales.

farren

Pictured (l-r): BMI’s Jody Williams, Chris Farren, and BMI’s Beth Mason.

Executive Promotions at RCA, SESAC

/by

hunterSESAC has announced the promotion of Hunter Williams to Senior Vice President, Strategic Development/Distribution & Research Operations. Williams began his career with SESAC over 16 years ago and most recently served as Vice President, Royalty Distribution & Research Services. In his new role, Williams will be responsible for developing new business opportunities utilizing SESAC’s licensing, distribution and copyright management capabilities. He will also continue to oversee all royalty distribution operations, including the development of the company’s distribution policies and performance tracking systems. In addition, Williams will continue to oversee the company’s research division, which helps drive the strategic development of the company through business and industry analysis.

norbert-nixIn other news, Keith Gale, Vice President, National Promotion, for RCA Records Nashville, has announced the promotion of Norbert Nix to National Director of Promotion for the label.  Most recently Regional Director, Nix joined RCA Nashville in July of 2006 and remains based in Nashville, where he reports directly to Gale. Nix came to RCA with a twenty-year background in the music industry, with experience in artist management and booking, as well as a decade-plus tenure in promotion and artist development for Mercury Nashville. In 2001, Nix began a four-year stint with Nashville’s Refugee Management and subsequently helmed his own artist management & publishing enterprise, N2 Entertainment.

Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Join “Divas Nashvegas”

/by

divasDivas Nashvegas 2009, the annual Nashville fundraising event benefiting the Oasis Center, has announced country stars Kenny Rogers and Wynonna as this year’s headline performers. Presented by HCA and hosted by acclaimed musical comedy duo, Doyle and Debbie, this year’s event is set for Saturday, May 16  at 7:00 PM in the Loveless Barn at the Loveless Cafe. Also featured will be a rare appearance by legendary country duo The Judds. Naomi Judd will join daughter Wynonna onstage to sing some of their classic hits. Oasis Center has dedicated Divas Nashvegas 2009 to six of Nashville’s greatest “Do Right Divas” who have made this community a better place for children and youth: Genma Holmes, Ellen Martin, Jana Davis, Tammy Genovese, Sally Shepherd, and Renata Soto.

Divas Nashvegas was named as one of the hottest parties of the year in 2007 and 2008 by NFocus Magazine. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Oasis Center. Over the past four years, the event has raised in excess of $800,000 for Oasis Center’s programs. Ticket prices start at $250. Full tables and premier concert seating are also available. To purchase tickets, please contact Marsha Crane at 615-983-6863 or mcrane@oasiscenter.org. Now in its 40th year of operation, Oasis Center provides nationally recognized services designed to help youth overcome barriers that could prevent them from transitioning into a healthy adulthood. For more information, visit www.oasiscenter.org or call 615-327-4455.

Gary Churgin To Continue At Harry Fox

/by

churgin-photo-1Music rights licensing organization The Harry Fox Agency (HFA) announced today that its President & CEO, Gary Churgin, has accepted a contract extension to continue to lead the organization through 2011. HFA’s governing Board of Directors unanimously voted to extend Churgin’s contract, confirming the work of he and his team in transforming HFA into a key player in the digital music marketplace. During this hfatenure, HFA transformed its technology systems and business processes, adding new online applications for publishers and licensees through a new registered user area of www.harryfox.com, including the licensing platform eMechanical®, the catalog maintenance tool eSong®, and a completely revamped version of Songfile®, the popular online licensing store aimed at the smaller-quantity licensee.

Churgin was appointed President and CEO in January 2001. Since then, HFA has expanded its offerings, adding licensing for online subscription services, lyrics, ringtones, digital background music, Express Live, and more to its traditional mechanical licensing business. Churgin is also active representing HFA and its affiliate publishers globally, serving on the Management Committee for BIEM, the international organization representing mechanical rights societies. HFA currently has reciprocal agreements with over 30 rights societies that collectively represent over 100 territories around the world. “I’m thrilled to be able to continue to lead HFA during one of the most major evolutions of the music industry in the modern era,” Churgin said.

CMT Music Awards Finalists Announced

/by

cmtCMT has announced the start of voting today (4/13), announcing finalists for the 2009 CMT Music Awards, country music’s only entirely fan-voted awards show. Dynamic duo Sugarland leads the pack with six first-round nominations followed by Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift who have four each. Beginning today (4/13), at 10:00 AM/CT, fans can vote on CMT.com to determine the final nominees for CMT’s eighth annual awards show. Videos that debuted on CMT between January 18, 2008 and February 23, 2009 are eligible. This year’s awards includes a new category, CMT Performance of the Year, spotlighting a live performance from the past year. Finalists were determined by an industry panel that includes noted country music journalists, as well as music industry, music retail and CMT executives. Streaming clips of nominated videos can viewed at CMT.com.

The first round of voting runs on CMT.com from April 13 through May 11. On Tuesday, May 19, CMT will announce the four fan-voted finalists in each of the categories, with the exception of Video of the Year. Fans can then vote at CMT.com through June 15 to determine the overall winners. 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 message throughout the broadcast to determine the night’s big winner. The 2009 CMT Music Awards airs live on Wednesday, June 17 on CMT and CMT.com.

The nominees in each of the 2009 CMT Music Awards categories include:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Trace Adkins – “You’re Gonna Miss This” (Director: Peter Zavadil)
•   Kenny Chesney featuring The Wailers – “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven” (Director: Shaun Silva)
•   Toby Keith – “God Love Her” (Director: Michael Salomon)
•   Kid Rock – “All Summer Long” (Director: Deaton Flanigen)
•   Lady Antebellum – “Lookin’ For A Good Time” (Director: Chris Hicky)
•   Brad Paisley – “Waitin’ On A Woman” (Directors: Jim Shea & Peter Tilden)
•   Rascal Flatts – “Every Day” (Director: Deaton Flanigen)
•   Sugarland – “All I Want To Do” (Director: Shaun Silva)
•   Taylor Swift – “Love Story” (Director: Trey Fanjoy)
•   Carrie Underwood – “Just A Dream” (Director: Roman White)

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Trace Adkins – “You’re Gonna Miss This”
•   Jason Aldean – “She’s Country”
•   Alan Jackson – “Good Time”
•   Jamey Johnson – “In Color”
•   Toby Keith – “God Love Her”
•   Brad Paisley – “Waitin’ On A Woman”
•   Darius Rucker – “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”
•   Keith Urban – “Sweet Thing”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Julianne Hough – “That Song In My Head”
•   Miranda Lambert – “More Like Her”
•   Martina McBride – “Ride”
•   Heidi Newfield – “Johnny & June”
•   Kellie Pickler – “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful”
•   Taylor Swift – “Love Story”
•   Carrie Underwood – “Just A Dream”
•   Lee Ann Womack – “Last Call

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Eli Young Band – “When It Rains”
•   Gloriana – “Wild At Heart”
•   Lady Antebellum – “Lookin’ For A Good Time”
•   Little Big Town – “Fine Line”
•   The Lost Trailers – “Hollerback”
•   Rascal Flatts – “Bob That Head”
•   Rascal Flatts – “Every Day”
•   Zac Brown Band “Chicken Fried”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Brooks & Dunn – “Put A Girl In It”
•   Caitlin & Will – “Stupid Boy”
•   Carter Twins – “Heart Like Memphis”
•   Joey + Rory – “Cheater Cheater”
•   Montgomery Gentry – “Roll With Me”
•   Sugarland – “All I Want To Do”
•   Sugarland – “Already Gone”
•   Sugarland – “Love”

USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Carter Twins – “Heart Like Memphis”
•   Gloriana – “Wild At Heart”
•   Julianne Hough – “That Song In My Head”
•   Joey + Rory – “Cheater Cheater”
•   Jamey Johnson – “In Color”
•   Lady Antebellum – “Lookin’ For A Good Time”
•   James Otto – “Just Got Started Lovin’ You”
•   Zac Brown Band – “Chicken Fried”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire – “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
•   Kenny Chesney featuring The Wailers – “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven”
•   Brad Paisley and Keith Urban – “Start A Band”
•   Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – “Please Read The Letter”
•   The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe – “Old Enough”
•   Rehab featuring Hank Williams, Jr. – “Bartender Song”
•   Sugarland, Little Big Town and Jake Owen – “Life In A Northern Town”
•   Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood – “Another Try”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
•   Caitlin & Will – “Stupid Boy” from CAN YOU DUET
•   Alan Jackson, George Strait, Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley – “Country Boy” from CMT GIANTS: ALAN JACKSON
•   Toby Keith – “She’s A Hottie” from the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
•   Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)” from CMT CROSSROADS: ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON
KRAUSS
•   LeAnn Rimes – “Nothin’ Better To Do” from the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
•   Sugarland, Little Big Town and Jake Owen – “Life In A Northern Town” from the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
•   Taylor Swift and Def Leppard – “Photograph” from CMT CROSSROADS: DEF LEPPARD AND TAYLOR SWIFT
•   Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn – “Raise The Barn” from the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS

WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•   Kevin Costner & Modern West – “Backyard”
•   Def Leppard and Tim McGraw – “Nine Lives”
•   Def Leppard and Taylor Swift – “Photograph”
•   Kid Rock – “All Summer Long”
•   John Mellencamp featuring Karen Fairchild – “My Sweet Love”
•   Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – “Please Read The Letter”
•   The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe – “Old Enough”
•   Rehab featuring Hank Williams, Jr. – “Bartender Song”

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
•   Kristin Barlowe (award eligible videos include: Martina McBride’s “Ride” and Chuck Wicks’ “All I Ever Wanted”)
•   Deaton Flanigan (award eligible videos include: Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” and Rascal Flatts’ “Every Day”)
•   Trey Fanjoy (award eligible videos include: Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and George Strait’s “Troubador”)
•   Wayne Isham (award eligible videos include: Darius Rucker’s “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” and “It Won’t Be Like This For
Long”)
•   Shaun Silva (award eligible videos include: Sugarland’s “All I Want To Do” and Kenny Chesney’s “Everybody Wants To Go To
Heaven” featuring The Wailers)
•   Eric Welch (award eligible videos include: Heidi Newfield’s “Johnny & June” and the Carter Twins’ “Heart Like Memphis”)
•   Roman White (award eligible videos include: Carrie Underwood’s “Just a Dream” and Reba McEntire’s “Every Other Weekend”)
•   Peter Zavadil (award eligible videos include: Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” and Joey + Rory’s “Cheater Cheater”)

Robbins Closes Nashville Offices; Stark Departs

/by

Phyllis Stark

Phyllis Stark

[updated 4/13/2009]

Robbins Entertainment president Cory Robbins has issued the following statement clarifying information released last Thursday:
“Robbins Nashville is not closing. It is correct that we are closing our Nashville office, but we are continuing in the country format with the same commitment.”We will be partnering with an outside promotion firm to work our records.

“Details about our next release, Ward Davis’ ‘Don’t Open That Door,’ will be announced in the coming weeks.”

Robbins Nashville will close its Music City office at the end of April and VP A&R Phyllis Stark will exit her position. About one month ago the label’s decision  to outsource its promotion department resulted in the departure  (3/11) of promo executives VP Tony Benken  and Dir. National Promotion Joe Redmond. Label President Cory Robbins was in Nashville during CRS, (3/5) meeting with independent promotion companies and announced the label had signed artist Ward Davis. The New York-based label intends to release another country single during this quarter.

Stark will continue to work with Robbins Nashville as a part time consultant, but is searching for her next career opportunity and freelance writing work. (p.stark@comcast.net). She joined the label in April 2007 and previously serving as Billboard Nashville Bureau Chief.robbins