GAC To Re-Air ACM Awards

Great American Country (GAC) will present an encore presentation of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday May 31 at 8 PM/CT. This year, GAC and GACTV.com expanded their longstanding partnership with the Academy of Country Music by hosting the first-ever fan vote for nominees in the Top New Artist categories. In […]

Flatts, Aldean Set To Boost Country Sales

Two big releases due April 7 — from Lyric Street’s Rascal Flatts and Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean — could bring a welcome boost to 2009 country sales. Fresh from their seventh consecutive ACM Vocal Group of the Year win, Rascal Flatts will celebrate the release of their sixth album, Unstoppable, with a day-of-release appearance on […]

Stars On Deck For City Of Hope

Country stars Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Montgomery Gentry and Josh Turner are among the celebrities who will be participating in the 19th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge on Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at Nashville’s Greer Stadium. Billed as the unofficial kickoff to CMA Music Festival, this year’s game will be held […]

BamaJam Join Forces With Talladega

Ronnie Gilley Entertainment’s BamaJam Music & Arts Festival has announced a cross-promotional partnership with Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway. The partnership is designed to cross-promote the spring 2009 Talladega Superspeedway races and the BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, scheduled for June 4-6 in Enterprise, Ala. BamaJam Music & Arts Festival will have a prominent presence at the […]

Industry Vets Open Herrington/Fox Management

Industry veterans Dan Herrington and Mitchell Fox have announced the formation of Herrington/Fox Management, a full-service, artist and project management company headquartered in Nashville. Herrington, who recently sold his Dualtone Records label to Cal Turner IV, brings more than 20 years of record company and music publishing management experience to the company. Fox got his […]

Storme Warren Tweets For GAC at ACMs

GAC’s Headline Country added a new component to coverage of Sunday’s ACM Awards. Show host Storme Warren was on the orange carpet providing live updates via the online social network, Twitter. Additionally, Warren plucked a fan from the bleachers to the orange carpet to file the Twitter updates visible at www.twitter.com/headlinecountry.

Rich Pacts With Crown Royal

Warner Bros. artist John Rich and Crown Royal Canadian Whisky are teaming up to offer one winner a “special mentorship experience.” The For Every King, A Mentor contest includes a trip for two to Nashville for a behind-the-scenes look into Rich’s performing, producing and songwriting career; a tour of the mansion where his CMT show […]

NY Sen. Schumer Introduces Ticketing Legislation

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer has introduced legislation designed to crack down on ticket resellers and ensure that fans get the opportunity to obtain concert tickets at face price. The legislation would give fans two days to buy tickets before they became available to ticket resellers to sell on the secondary market. The legislation also […]

Country “Sidekick” Frank Oakley Passes

Frank Oakley, a well-liked music executive who worked with country artists including Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Faron Young and Willie Nelson, died on April 2. He was 83. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Oakley was a veteran of WWII and a former police officer. His country music career began in 1961, when he was hired […]

Craig Morgan’s Easter Surprise; Big Kenny’s Mountaintop Crusade; GAC’s Backstory

Big Kenny Alphin is joining forces with Sheryl Crow, Kathy Mattea and Emmylou Harris to launch a new campaign, Music Saves Mountains, to halt mountaintop removal coal mining in Tennessee and across Appalachia. The musicians are urging people to contact Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and encourage him to support the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act […]

CMT Camp Nashville Offers Discount

Founders of CMT Camp Nashville, the first-ever multi-artist fantasy camp for country music, have reduced the $7999 price of the camp by nearly 40% for anyone who registers before April 15. The $1000 spouse packages will be discounted by 50%. CMT Camp Nashville will provide campers with five days in the role of a country […]

Charley Pride Takes Stand Surprises Fan

Country Music Hall of Fame member Charley Pride showed up in the town of Leduc in Alberta, Canada on Thursday (4/2), to take a stand against online ticket scalping and surprise a dedicated fan in the process. Determined to catch Pride’s show at the Jubilee Auditorium in nearby Edmonton, longtime fan Jacqueline Sharp ended up […]

Arts & Business Council Sponsors Law Clinic

(Updated 4/6/09) The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville’s Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and the Tennessee Bar Association Sports & Entertainment Law Section are hosting a Nashville Entertainment Law Clinic in the SunTrust Community Room at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Saturday April 18, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. […]

AC Entertainment Acquires Great Big Shows

Knoxville-based AC Entertainment, co-creator of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, has announced that it has acquired Nashville-based concert promotion company Great Big Shows. The new partnership will strengthen AC Entertainment’s Nashville presence and expand its resources for event creation, management and production nationwide. The relationship between the two entertainment companies began when Rick Whetsel, […]

DISClaimer (3/27/09)

Pretty is as pretty does. Pert Emily West is a living doll. And now she has the single that has the potential to make her the star she deserves to be. Give the little lady a Disc of the Day prize. There’s a band in Texas called Spur 503. I have reviewed them once before, […]

Rascal Flatts’ Unstoppable Drops Next Week

Lyric Street kingpins Rascal Flatts will release their sixth studio album, Unstoppable on Tuesday (4/7), two days after their ACM Awards appearance, and they’re not stopping there. The hitmaking trio will appear on NBC’s Today Show on April 7, followed by guest spots on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 13 and The Late Show […]

Zac Brown Band Wants You at Bonnaroo

ACM Top New Artist nominees Zac Brown Band, along with Bonnaroo Music Festival and CMT have announced The Bonnaroo Music Festival Flyaway with Zac Brown Band Sweepstakes. The winner, along with a guest, will receive a prize package that includes a five-day/four-night Bonnaroo getaway, including flights, hotel, two tickets to the Festival and the opportunity […]

Urban’s Defying Gravity Rises to the Top

With first week sales being projected to total somewhere in the lofty neighborhood of 150,000, Keith Urban’s Defying Gravity does indeed seem to have wings. The album appears likely to top the country charts its first week out and if predictions based upon first day sales from chart watchers at Billboard and Hits magazines pan […]

Duane Jarvis Passes

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Duane Jarvis, known to music fans as a sideman for artists like Lucinda Williams and John Prine, as well as for his own critically acclaimed album releases, died of colon cancer this morning in his Los Angeles apartment. He was 51. Jarvis, who was a well-known and much-loved figure on the Nashville music scene […]

Aaron Tippin Keeps On Truckin’ With CB Contest

Blue collar country singer Aaron Tippin has announced an innovative contest that promotes and expands on the trucking theme of his latest release, In Overdrive. In conjunction with mobile communications equipment merchandiser Barjan, CB Radio manufacturer Cobra, and Petro Truck Stops, Tippin has created a contest that recalls the days when CB radio was king. […]

Music City Tennis Invitational Set to Serve

The Music City Tennis Invitational committee announced today (4/1), that the annual charity tennis tournament will be held on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Vanderbilt University’s Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center. Arista artist Brad Paisley will serve as this year’s celebrity spokesperson for the tournament, with Fox 17 Tennessee Mornings co-host […]

Shawna Russell

“Fire In The Desert” Way Out West Records “A scorcher” —Chris Neal, Country Weekly Shawna Russell has released her new Way Out West Records single “Fire In The Desert” to country radio. The follow-up release to her hit single and video, “Should’ve Been Born With Wheels,” “Fire In The Desert” is a hot summertime rocker […]

Steve Martin to Make Opry Debut

Emmy-winning actor/comedian/writer Steve Martin will make his Grand Ole Opry debut May 30 with a performance from his first music album, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. Martin’s longtime friend John McEuen, who produced the album, will appear on the show along with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Stuart Duncan, Tim OBrien, and more. […]

NY Times Profiles John Rich

Tuesday’s New York Times (3/31), includes a feature on Warner Bros. artist John Rich. In an article titled “Protest From the Right Side of Country,” Times writer Jon Caramanica interviews the singer about his latest single, “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” describing the song as “shockingly topical” and indicative of Rich’s “acumen in gauging and channeling the […]

Hall of Fame Spotlights Kitty Wells

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present a panel discussion featuring country music’s first female superstar, Hall of Fame member Kitty Wells. The program, scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at 1:30 PM, is titled Finding Her Voice: Kitty Wells and Her Country Sisters. Taking part in the panel will be singer/songwriters Carlene […]

ACM Names Video and Vocal Event Winners

With the awards show still a few days away, RCA’s Brad Paisley is already a double-ACM Award winner—Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year. His “Waitin’ On A Woman” clip, which co-starred TV icon Andy Griffith, is the 2009 winner of Video of the Year, and “Start A Band,” his guitar-slinging duet […]

Ringbacks Up, Downloads Down Among Consumers

Two research studies released today (3/31), reveal some interesting trends in how consumers are interacting with music. A study conducted by Port Washington, New York-based market researchers the NPD Group finds that U.S. teens are listening to more music in more formats, but buying and sharing significantly less music. According to NPD, teens acquired 19 […]

Ticketmaster President Sean Moriarty Resigns

With Ticketmaster Entertainment and Live Nation recently announcing plans to merge, Ticketmaster has announced that President/CEO Sean Moriarty has resigned, effective March 24. Moriarty has also resigned from the company’s board of directors. His role at the company has been uncertain since last November when Ticketmaster acquired a controlling interest in Irving Azoff’s Front Line […]

Corlew Music Group Staffs Up

Corlew Music Group has announced the signing of songwriter Jaron Boyer and the addition of veteran songplugger Penny Dionne to the CMG staff. A native of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Boyer moved to Nashville in 2003 and has been honing his songwriting skills ever since. Dionne is the owner of publishing company Little Vixen Music and serves […]

Music City Comes Together For Nashville4Africa

Big & Rich’s Big Kenny Alphin and Nashville singer/songwriter Damien Horne will host the inaugural Nashville4Africa benefit concert with the African Children’s Choir at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on April 22. The event will also include performances by Faith Hill, Dierks Bentley, Martina McBride, Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down), Ashley Cleveland, The SteelDrivers, Michael Rhodes […]

“The Price Is Right” Salutes ACMs

CBS’s The Price Is Right and show host Drew Carey will celebrate the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards with a special country-themed edition of the venerable daytime game show this Friday (4/3) at 10 AM/CT. The episode will feature appearances by ACM host Reba McEntire, ACM Top Female Vocalist nominee Heidi Newfield and […]

Doc Walker Nabs Album Of The Year Juno

At ceremonies held on Saturday (3/28), in Vancouver, British Columbia, Open Road artist Doc Walker walked away with the 2009 Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year for their album, Beautiful Life. Doc Walker (Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw and Murray Pulver) have four previous Juno nominations and the band also took home six 2008 […]

Jeffrey Steele Takes Manhattan

Nashville hit writer Jeffrey Steele performed at Joe’s Pub in New York City last Wednesday (3/25), and the New York Times was there. Times writer Jon Caramanica turned in a rave review of Steele’s hit-filled performance, praising the singer/songwriter’s storytelling skills and citing his “detail-rich and emotionally specific lyrics” and “brute skill rescuing even unappealing […]

Opry Mainstay Hal Durham Passes

Longtime Grand Ole Opry announcer and General Manager Hal Durham passed away last weekend at his home in Cape Coral, Florida. He was 77. A native of McMinnville, Tennessee, Durham started his career at Knoxville’s WROL while he was still attending the University of Tennessee. In 1964, he moved to Nashville to work at WSM […]

Singer/Songwriter Duane Jarvis Enters Hospice

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Duane Jarvis, familiar to music fans both as a sideman for artists like Lucinda Williams and John Prine, as well as for his own critically acclaimed releases, has been waging a valiant battle against colon cancer over the course of the past 16 months. Jarvis’ cancer has now reached terminal status and he will […]

Principled—Dan Seals

by Steve Goetzman, [email protected] In America we look up to a man of principle after doubt is satisfied we’ve placed our fingers in his wound looked him in the eye and maybe pressed a little to be sure he is hurting. For we intend to align ourselves and tell his story and should be certain […]

Reba’s “Strange” Widget

Valory Music Company artist Reba McEntire will perform April 5 at the Academy of Country Music Awards, debuting her new single, “Strange” for the TV audience. Leading up to the performance, McEntire fans can hear a sneak preview of “Strange” via a special widget available at www.thevalorymusicco.com/reba. The widget also includes a countdown to the […]

Pickler Establishes Official Fan Club

The fans have been patiently waiting and it’s finally arrived — the official Kellie Pickler Fan Club. The Fan Club, created at www.kelliepickler.com, provides an environment for fans to get engaged in the singer’s career. Pickler Fan Club members will receive the first shot at tickets to Pickler’s shows, rare photos & videos, a members-only […]

Moraine’s Johnny Reid Goes Gold

Scottish-born, Nashville-based Canadian country artist and Moraine Music writer/artist Johnny Reid’s new album, Dance With Me, leaped to Gold status in Canada within 48 hours of its release. Produced by Grammy-winner Brent Maher, Dance With Me currently sits at #1 on Billboard’s Canadian Country Album chart and #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Album chart. The […]

BBR Launches New Label

Benny Brown, President/CEO of Broken Bow Records, which launched the careers of Craig Morgan and Jason Aldean, has announced the opening of its new imprint, Stoney Creek Records. The label will be located at 705 18th Ave South. Industry veteran Denise Roberts will serve as Stoney Creek’s VP of Radio Promotion. Joining her as Regional […]

T.J. Martell Gala Raises $400,000 For Cancer Research

Distinguished honorees and a host of dignitaries, guests and artists gathered at Nashville’s Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza hotel on Wednesday (3/25), for the TJ Martell Foundation’s inaugural Honors Gala. The event raised over $400,000 to benefit cancer, leukemia and AIDS research. Honorees for the evening included The Honorable Al Gore, former Vice President of the United […]

Joe Nichols

“Believers” Universal Records South “Believers,” the new single from Joe Nichols, has shipped to radio. According to the artist, it is the perfect fit for him, both musically and personally. “This song is about passion—when people have passion about something, the sky’s the limit,” says Nichols. “It’s also about believing in something bigger than what’s […]

McBride Program Helps Teens “Shine”

Four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride has teamed with the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (NTDAH) in a new program called My Time to Shine, that was announced in conjunction with the release of her new album, Shine. As the mother of three daughters, McBride is passionate about the need to increase […]

ACM Awards Adds Performers

The Academy of Country Music announced today that Lady Antebellum, Miley Cyrus, Jamey Johnson, Reba McEntire, John Rich and Lee Ann Womack are scheduled to perform as part of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. They join previously announced performers Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Heidi Newfield, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Taylor […]

Black River’s Sarah Darling Goes To Video School

Black River Music Group artist Sarah Darling is taking an innovative, hands-on approach to promoting the songs from her upcoming album, Every Monday Morning. The rollout of the album will include full-length videos for several tracks created by some of the top film schools in the country and overseen by veteran director Ryan Smith. Black […]

Dan Seals Passes

Nashville pop and country star Dan Seals has died at age 61. “Dan lost a two-year battle with lymphoma,” reported his longtime friend and manager Tony Gottlieb. “He was a beautiful man.” Seals sang the Country Music Association’s 1986 Single of the Year, the upbeat, nostalgic “Bop.” It was also a significant pop-crossover chart success. […]

Little Darlin’ Producer Aubrey Mayhew Passes

Veteran record producer and songwriter Aubrey Mayhew died last weekend at a Nashville hospice facility. He was 81. Over the course of his long and storied career Mayhew worked with a wide range of artists that ran from country outlaw Johnny Paycheck to Hollywood leading man Clint Eastwood all the way to jazz legend Charlie […]

ACM and CBS.com Spotlight Gloriana

Country newcomers Gloriana have been tapped by the ACM to document their first trip to the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas for an exclusive web series at CBS.com. The group will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the days leading up to their first ACM experience, including a radio tour performance, their […]

American Idol Powers Country Sales

This week’s SoundScan action centers on the amazing power of American Idol. Execs will recall that AI featured the Grand Ole Opry last week and more specifically, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. So how did they do? Probably no surprise to anyone, Carrie led the sales pack. Her duet with Randy Travis, “I […]

CMA Festival Adds Five More Performers

The Country Music Association has added five more artists to the CMA Music Festival lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, and Taylor Swift will join previously announced LP Field performers Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Julianne Hough, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, […]