Quick Pics

Connie Smith kicks-off residency • Hit songwriters at Miller Harris Benefit • East Side Sounds

Apple’s Steve Jobs Steps Down

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced his resignation from that post yesterday, and was elected […]

Gibson Guitar Raided

Gibson’s plants in Nashville and Memphis were raided today by federal agents. Law enforcement is not giving any details in the case, but The Tennessean reports that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents were executing search warrants at the offices. Today’s searches could be related to past investigations about […]

Frank DiLeo Passes

Legendary music businessman Frank DiLeo died today (8/24) following a lengthy illness. He was 63 and is best known as Michael Jackson’s manager during the pinnacle of the star’s career in the 1980s. DiLeo resumed the role in the months leading up to Jackson’s death, and continued working for his estate following the star’s passing. […]

Eli Young Scores Solid Debut

Eli Young Band’s “Life At Best” debuted with sales of 35K units, including a notably high 46 percent digital downloads. Plus more news from Soundscan.

Hunter Hayes Plans Album Release

Multi-instrumentalist Hunter Hayes will release his debut self-titled album on Atlantic Records October 11.

Indiana State Fair Tragedy Claims Seventh Life

In wake of disaster, Chesney reschedules concert as a safety precaution, and five dead at Belgium festival

Weblinks: Sony, Aerosmith, Amy Winehouse

Aerosmith classics coming to iTunes • RCA pop/rock restructuring • Winehouse toxicology report

Ticket Technology War Escalates

Touring is big business and filling the seats in a club or a giant stadium starts with one transaction—the ticket sale. The service charges that are collected from the sale of tickets is also big business. Ticketmaster, owned by Live Nation Entertainment is the big dog in this market, currently dominating ticket sales at venues […]

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/24/11)

You’d be a fool to ignore the new sounds being made by Eric Church, Chris Young, Billy Yates, The Kentucky Headhunters or Billy Burnette. All of them are guaranteed to brighten your day. […]

GAC To Sponsor Own The Night Tour

GAC has announced it will sponsor Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night 2011 tour which will feature Josh Kelley on all dates and Randy Montana and Edens Edge on a rotating basis. The 21-city tour begins Nov. 11 in Knoxville, then moves on to Macon, GA. (11/12) and Pikeville, KY. (11/13). “GAC and everyone who works […]

Snapshots: Paisley, EYB, Hoge, Nick Lowe

Artist photos from Brad Paisley, Eli Young Band, Will Hoge and Nick Lowe.

Artists Pitch In For Upcoming Benefits

Upcoming benefits with Hank3, Joey+Rory, Charlie Daniels, David Nail, and songwriter Reggie Hamm.

Marcus & Colvin Form Entertainment Law Firm

Kent Marcus, Esq. and Jeff Colvin, Esq. have combined forces to form Marcus & Colvin, LLP., a Nashville entertainment law firm.

Marcus & Colvin Form Entertainment Law Firm

Kent Marcus, Esq. and Jeff Colvin, Esq. have combined forces to form Marcus & Colvin, LLP., a Nashville entertainment law firm.

CMA Offers Lifetime Memberships

The Country Music Association is now offering a Lifetime Membership option for individuals that have been a CMA member for 10 years and in the music industry for at least 15 years.

Signings: Jenkins, Lehoux, Stephenson

Signing news for Matt Jenkins, Jimmy Lehoux and Larry Stephenson.

Zac Brown Band Partners With Jack Daniel’s

Zac Brown Band and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey have announced a one-of-a-kind partnership, the famed distillery’s first with a major music artist in over a decade.

Zac Brown Band Partners With Jack Daniel's

Zac Brown Band and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey have announced a one-of-a-kind partnership, the famed distillery’s first with a major music artist in over a decade.

CMA Honors International Broadcaster of the Year

RTE broadcaster Sandy Harsch recently received good and bad news when Brad Paisley revealed to her that she had been named CMA International Broadcaster of the Year.

Songwriter Jerry Leiber Passes

Jerry Leiber, Songwriters Hall of Fame Member and lyricist for legendary songwriting team Leiber & Stoller, passed away in Los Angeles yesterday (8/22) at the age of 78.

Artist News: Armiger, Jaron, Durante, LBT

Katie Armiger to play Grand Ole Opry • Jaron & TLRTL Announces Fall Tour • Margaret Durante’s New Blog • Little Big Town covers a classic

Sacks & Co. Expands Nashville Office

A former staff attorney for Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper is joining Sacks & Co.’s Nashville team.

Sacks & Co. Expands Nashville Office

A former staff attorney for Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper is joining Sacks & Co.’s Nashville team.

Jackson To Perform At 9/11 Concert

Alan Jackson will perform at the Washington National Cathedral Sept. 11 for “A Concert for Hope,” marking the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

CMT Adds New Sr. VP

The network continues to build a team that will lead the development of original programming with the hiring of this television veteran.

WMG Leaders Switch Roles

Chief executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. will assume Chairman Stephen Cooper’s role, and in turn, Cooper is becoming CEO.
 This follows the purchase of Warner about two months ago by Access Industries.

Vince Gill Offers First Music In Four Years

The Country Music Hall of Fame member has a single hitting airwaves next week and an album on the fall release line-up.

Average Joe's Hires Director of Label Operations

The ever-expanding record company is beefing up the team with the addition of an experienced industry exec.

Average Joe’s Hires Director of Label Operations

The ever-expanding record company is beefing up the team with the addition of an experienced industry exec.

NATD Plans Inaugural Honors Gala

The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) will salute industry leaders at an Honors Gala on Wed., Sept. 14 at Nashville’s Hermitage Hotel.

Americana Festival Reveals Showcases

More than 100 acts are set for the nighttime showcases at the Americana Music Festival, ranging from genre trailblazers to rising stars. The event runs Oct. 12-15 in select Nashville clubs.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Names New Class

This year’s inductees have been revealed, with the official ceremony set for Sunday, October 16 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

More About The Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees

A 2011 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York, John Bettis is the only songwriter of his generation who has repeatedly topped the Pop, Country, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. His biggest Country hits include “Heartland” (George Strait), “Only One Love In My Life” (Ronnie Milsap) and “One Of A Kind Pair […]

Weekend Notes, Artist Updates

Laura Bell Bundy on Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith • Women Rock For The Cure’s Pink Trash Ball • Jason Aldean to donate proceeds from Roanoke concert to Susan G. Komen • Paisley sells out O2 Arena in London, jams with Ronnie Wood

Montgomery Gentry Album Arrives After Difficult Year

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry—award-winning duo Montgomery Gentry—will soon release the duo’s seventh studio album, Rebels on the Run. The new 11 song collection will be available from their new label home Average Joe’s Entertainment, on Oct. 4, 2011. “In a lot of ways the past year has been has been nothing but hell,” said Eddie […]

Buddy Killen Circle To Gain Apartment Complex

According to the Nashville Business Journal, the long vacant site at 1515 Demonbreun St. across from the Tin Roof and the one-time location of the Barbara Mandrell Museum, is now slated to become home to a $40 milllion apartment project. Lionstone Group, based in Houston, is said to be selling the land now a parking […]

An Evening With Martina McBride

An industry-packed crowd attended “An Evening With Martina McBride” this week at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater. Presented by Republic Nashville, the listening party offered attendees a live performance of McBride’s upcoming CD Eleven slated for an Oct 11 release.

Spotify Limits Boost Paid Users

The U.S. music industry was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Spotify. And now that it is here, numbers and stats are flying in all directions as execs try to decipher consumer reactions. MusicAlly.com has published some new information which shows the music platform successfully added paying subscribers as a result of implementing more restrictions on […]

Will Hoge Previews New Album

Nashville singer/songwriter Will Hoge treated industry friends and guests to a selection of new songs at The Standard on Wednesday (8/17). Hoge’s seventh studio album, Number Seven (Ryko), is due out September 27.

Taylor Swift's "Haunted" Featured In True Blood

Rolling Stone is reporting that True Blood’s music supervisor, Gary Calamar, has confirmed this Sunday’s episode […]

Taylor Swift’s “Haunted” Featured In True Blood

Rolling Stone is reporting that True Blood’s music supervisor, Gary Calamar, has confirmed this Sunday’s episode […]

Quarterback Promotes Gholson to East Coast Region

Quarterback Records has announced the promotion of Traci Gholson to East Coast Manager of Promotion. Gholson moves up from the Promotion Coordinator position, which she started in March 2011.

Kentucky Headhunters Return; Deborah Allen Releases New Album

The boys who made “Dumas Walker” famous in 1989 are back with their first studio album since 2003. The Kentucky Headhunters have just released a new single, “Great Acoustics,” from their upcoming album Dixie Lullabies on Red Dirt Records scheduled for release Oct. 18. Holly Gleason recently wrote for No Depression, “Twenty years after being […]

Musicians Team For Benefits At Ryman

On the schedule are Craig Wiseman’s Stars For Second Harvest, and the star-studded Let Us In: Women and Cancer Fund Benefit

Charlie Cook On Air

I was listening to an AC station in the West Virginia radio chain that I work for and heard “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry. Of course, they also play “Need You Now,” selected Taylor Swift songs, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw and even a recent Kenny Chesney. I was thinking how lucky they are to be able to play only the cream of the format.

ACM Announces $661,000 Endowment

The Academy of Country Music announces a $661,000 endowment to ACM Lifting Lives, made on behalf of the artists who participated in the taping of […]

Weekly Chart Report (8/19/11)

It’s been a short 10 week trip for Toby Keith’s “Made In America” to arrive at No. 1, which it accomplishes today after gaining 145 new spins.

CMA Songwriters Series To Stream Boston Show

CMA’s Songwriter Series heads to Boston for an Aug. 25 show with a stellar cast of performers and for the first time will be audio-streamed. Joining host Bob DiPiero for the sold-out Royale Nightclub show are Matraca Berg, Brett James, Wendell Mobley, Craig Wiseman and superstar Kenny Chesney. The hit-packed songwriters in the round event will […]

Colt Ford Takes Nashville To Georgia For Big Benefit

Athens, Georgia native Colt Ford recruited some of his Nashville buddies for a benefit show in his hometown on Tuesday (8/16) to raise money for the families of one injured and one fallen police officer.