Luke Bryan Launches CMT Tour With Sold-Out Show

Luke Bryan kicked-off his headlining tour earlier this month. CMT ON TOUR: Luke Bryan Tailgates & Tanlines launched with a sold-out show at Terminal 5 in New York City, and setting an attendance record in Utica, New York. The tour features special guests Lee Brice, Josh Thompson and CMT’s Next Superstar winner Matt Mason. Dates […]

Photo Spread: Octagon Ent., Bill Anderson, Edens Edge

Octagon Entertainment and Ramblin Music hosted an open house and block party earlier this month to mark Octagon’s official Music City launch.

CMA Celebrates Country Music Month, Honors Mayor Dean

The Country Music Association is celebrating Country Music Month with 45 days of promotions, events, and activities leading up to the annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Aaron Lewis’ “Country Boy” Goes Gold

Aaron Lewis’ debut single “Country Boy” recently went gold, selling over 500,000 copies. The song is one of seven tracks on his Town Line EP, which was produced by James Stroud and released earlier this year on Nashville’s R&J Records. “Country Boy” also features vocals by George Jones and Charlie Daniels. The “Country Boy” music […]

Conrad To Be Honored At Songwriters Dinner

John Van Mol, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation, announced today that music publisher David Conrad will be honored with the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award. The award will be presented at the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Oct. 16. “David is everything a songwriter could want […]

InstiGator Hires Quigley; Thorpe Joins Warner

InstiGator Entertainment recently hired Brooks Quigley as Director of Promotion. Quigley will join Gator Michaels and Mallory Opheim at InstiGator Entertainment’s Nashville office. “I’ve had the honor of working with Brooks over the last decade and am fortunate to bring someone with his blend of expertise and experience, in both radio and records, into our […]

NBN SoundLand: Day 3

It’s all about the music, and Day 3 of Next Big Nashville’s SoundLand offered a ton of sounds from regional and national artists.

Artist Updates: Aldean, Bryan, Bentley, Kane

Artist news from Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, and Christian Kane.

NBN SoundLand: Day 2

Day two of SoundLand, presented by Next Big Nashville presented more musical options, more musical genres, and more Nashville locations. Following the work day, festival VIPs schmoozed at the super-swanky new location of Virago prior to the music start, where they enjoyed complimentary drinks and food courtesy of SunTrust, The Orchard, and Loeb & Loeb. […]

Word Entertainment Celebrates 60 Years

Word Entertainment, the Christian music division of Warner Music Group, commemorates its 60th anniversary in the industry this year. The label’s 60 year milestone coincides with the Sept. 20 release of Word: Six Decades of Hits, a 3-CD set including 51 songs and bonus recordings. The set is divided up into three parts: The Early […]

TV Show “Troubadour, TX” Follows Rising Singers

The show from London Broadcasting and 41 Entertainment follows Stephanie Urbina Jones, Rick Trevino, Zane Williams and more.

Sony Music Nashville Names New VP Sales

Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton and Sony Music Entertainment Executive VP Sales & Distribution Darren Stupak name a new VP Sales for Sony Music Nashville.

Rimes To Release New Album With A New Perspective

In her upcoming album, Lady & Gentlemen, LeAnn Rimes puts a feminine twist on songs previously recorded by male artists. Slated for release Sept. 27, Rimes covers country artists such as Waylon Jennings, George Jones and Merle Haggard. “This album was born out of the memories of when I first fell in love with country […]

Hank Williams Box Set Released

Time Life and the Estate of Hank Williams released Hank Williams: The Legend Begins earlier this month as a 3-CD box set. The newly-released material features previously unreleased recordings from Hank Williams when he was fifteen and seventeen years old, including the songs “Fan It” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” The set also features recordings of […]

Hall Of Fame Exhibit To Feature Owens And Haggard

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opens a new exhibit, The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country, on Saturday, March 24, 2012. Slated for a two year run, the exhibit will explore the significance of the Bakersfield Sound and follow the timeline of its development. The exploration is specifically geared […]

Party Pics: Leadership Music Reunion

Party pictures from Leadership Music’s Alumni Reunion at the Noah Liff Opera Center last week (9/13).

Weekly Chart Report (9/23/11)

Texas makes a strong showing on this week’s CountryBreakout Chart.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

Words you’ll never hear an artist say: “Aw man, do I have to be No. 1 again?”

Charlie Cook On Air

I attended the National Association of Broadcasters meeting in Chicago this month and a lot of the meeting was really good. There were great panels, great food, and good networking. But some of it was upsetting.

Photos: Capitol Street Party, ACL, Gloriana, BJE Conference

Photos from Capitol Street Party, Austin City Limits Festival, Belmont’s Best Job Ever Conference and Gloriana

NBN SoundLand: Day 1

SoundLand, presented by Next Big Nashville kicked off last night (9/21) with an opening VIP reception at TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall. Complimentary beverages were provided by Starr Hill brewery and Firefly Skinny Vodka.

Industry Ink (9/22)

News from Catt Gravitt, Kenny Vaughn, Tiffany Bearden, Melissa Schleicher, Sue Fabisch and Ilene Angel

Highest Paid Country Stars

See who ranked this year, and comparisons to last year.

Darren Warren Working Debut EP

Darren Warren’s debut EP Cowboy Up And Party Down was released last month and the title track single is Top 40.

Jake Owen’s “Barefoot” Goes Platinum

RCA recording artist Jake Owen celebrated multiple achievements this week.

Artists Give Back With Benefit Concerts And More

The Judds for Franklin Theater • Jimmy Wayne saves the music • Stars at America’s Greatest Picnic • 30 Days of Hope • Martina Fans Making Strides • Holiday Notes From Home

Photography Book Follows Jamey Johnson’s Journey

Friends and industry mentors provide insight into the songwriter and artist.

Grammy Museum, Opry To Honor Randy Travis

Randy Travis is celebrating 25 years in country music tonight at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, and next month at the Grand Ole Opry.

IEBA Reveals Award Noms, Adds Showcases

IEBA’s showcase line-up and educational panels are growing with three newly announced additions to the schedule. The annual industry conference runs Oct. 2 – Oct. 4 in Nashville, TN.

Swift Package Due In Time For Holidays

Taylor Swift’s Broadway inspired Speak Now World Tour is coming to a living room near you. Swift announced today that the show will be released as CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray sets. The sets can be purchased in stores and through online retailers starting Monday, Nov. 21, in time for the holiday season. Click here to watch […]

CBS Radio Snubs CMA Awards Coverage

CBS Radio stations are withdrawing from the upcoming CMA Awards radio remotes, MusicRow has confirmed.

Country Singing A Pretty Sales Tune

  Lady Antebellum comes roaring out of the physical and digital bins this week to dominate the Nielsen SoundScan sales sphere. The trio’s newest, Own The Night, racked up over 347,000 units (25% digital) giving it the No. 1 position on both the country albums and Top 200 albums charts. The new collection’s performance weighs […]

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/21/11)

Let’s take a break from the Music Row mainstream and listen to some platters that have, shall we say, a little more class?

Bobby Karl Works The ACM Honors

One of the cool things about the ACM Honors is that it features unexpected and unpredictably wonderful performances. Or, as host Joe Nichols put it, “musical moments that you won’t see anyplace else.”

First CMA Awards Performers Revealed

The star-packed lineup for The 45th Annual CMA Awards launches with today’s (9/20).

NSAI Salutes No. 1 Songwriters

Despite the rain, crowds flocked to the tented parking lot of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) yesterday (9/19) for its annual salute to songwriters who hit No. 1 in the past year.

Songwriter News From Mac McAnally and More

Heading into the CMA Awards as reigning Musician of the Year, McAnally is releasing a live album, and producing new band Mockingbird Sun.

Photo Spread: NATD Honors Gala

Honorees include Karl Dean, Alabama, Barry Trotz, Jim Gosnell, and Tony Conway.

Live Nation and UMG Announce Strategic Partnership

Live Nation Entertainment and Universal Music Group announced this week that they are forming a strategic partnership of both companies’ management assets. UMG, along with Live Nation’s Front Line Management Group, will introduce a joint venture management company with the aim of building artistic brands through sponsorships, strategic marketing, and more. Each unit will operate […]

Neil Portnow To Keynote Americana Conference

Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow will open the Americana Music Festival and Conference with the Keynote address on Thurs., Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. His address will be followed immediately by an Artist Development panel moderated by NPR Music’s Ann Powers and featuring Joy Williams and John Paul White of The Civil Wars, and members […]

CMA Details Staff Changes

The Country Music Association has detailed three new hires, plus a few promotions and reassignments across departments. In Communications, Amanda Eckard has been promoted to Senior Manager of Creative Services from Manager of Creative Services and former Tennessean reporter Christian Bottorff has joined the staff as Manager of Creative Services. Eckard will focus on the […]

Industry Ink Tuesday (9/20/11)

Nashville soundtrack for film Promised Land • Jensen Arrowsmith • Sarah Trahern • ASCAP DIY-U with Latocki • SESAC/StreamLicensing • Ed Hill • Cathy Lemmon

BMI Annual Revenues Continue Upward

Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®), the music rights management organization further extended its 20-year record of annually increasing revenue collections for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 with revenues in excess of $931 million. Revenues for 2010 totaled $917 million. According to BMI it will distribute royalties of $796 million to the over 500,000 songwriters, […]

The Raconteurs’ Earth Shaking Show at Third Man

As The Raconteurs tore through their show at Jack White’s Third Man Records, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the crowd not fully enthralled by the earth-shaking beats and crashing, dance-party rhythms.

Hunze To Lead Parallel Music

“We are up and running and are looking for great writers,” says Tim Hunze, who now heads up Parallel Music Publishing’s Nashville offices. “We believe being a boutique publisher is perfect for today’s ever changing environment.” Parallel Music Publishing is a partnership between Hunze, Parallel Entertainment Founder & CEO, J.P. Williams, and C.T. Wyatt, who runs […]

All For The Hall Los Angeles

Evening focuses on guitars and their stories, and includes a surprise announcement from Gibson about a special limited-run guitar.

Rodney Atkins Debuts Video, Preps Album Launch

Rodney Atkins is heading into the Oct. 4 release of his new album with a rising single and video. He’s also set to perform at the CMA Songwriters Series in NYC.

Overseas Fans Embrace Country

Fans worldwide continue to embrace country music, drawing a growing number of tours overseas, including recent outings by Dolly Parton, Lorrie Morgan and Dailey & Vincent.

CRB Re-Brands As Country Radio Seminar

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. is officially re-branding itself and continuing operations under the name Country Radio Seminar. The organization has also set a special presentation from a renowned futurist for CRS 2012.

Swift’s Sold-Out Traveling Sound Emporium

“I’m a hopeless romantic,” Taylor Swift told the 15,000 screaming fans jammed into Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Sept. 16. Indeed, her 14-track Speak Now album, which has sold 3.65 million copies in 46 weeks, is packed with stories of love—won and lost.