Sony/ATV Promotes Berschback, Inks Kristen Kelly

Sony/ATV has promoted Duff Berschback to Sr. VP, Legal Affairs and Business Development, Nashville and signed RCA artist Kristen Kelly to an exclusive publishing deal.

CMT Awards Crank Star Power; Sugarland Helps Heartland

Sugarland and Little Big Town Help Tornado Victims • CMT Awards Crank Up The Star Power

Post Holiday Highlights

Colleen Taylor Joins BMLG • Spalding Addresses SOURCE • Hall Of Fame Readies Atkins Exhibit • Jaron Fans Salute Armed Forces

Artist Visits: Photo Spread

Zac Brown Band shoots video for “Knee Deep” • Paisley performs on GMA, celebrates 19th No. 1 • Bradley Gaskin visits Crook & Chase

CMA Awards Live On ABC Nov. 9

The Country Music Association and ABC Television Network have announced that The 45th Annual CMA Awards will air live Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. “The CMA Awards recognizes the best in the format – that’s what makes this ‘Country Music’s Biggest Night’,” says CMA CEO Steve […]

Benefits: Morgan, Atkins, Bowen

Craig Morgan’s 5th annual Charity Ride and Concert • Rodney Atkins headlines Music City Gives Back concert • Wade Bowen raises over $127k with concert and golf tournament

Artist Action (5/31/11)

Randy Montana performs at Jimmie Jam • Bill Anderson welcomes new grandchild • Matt Gary to perform at NASCAR race • The Roys on Somebody Cares telethon

Amazon's Gaga Loss Leader Losses

Fans and music industry observers were taken aback last week by Amazon.com’s offering of the new Lady Gaga album for a mere 99¢. On Monday (5/23), the stultifying crowd of traffic severely compromised the Amazon servers. So to prove it could, “ramp up” to meet any demand, the online retail giant offered the mega-sale again […]

Reba And Blake Raise $500,000 For Tornado Victims

Reba and Blake Shelton raised $500,000 for victims of recent tornadoes in Atoka County, OK during two sold-out Tornado Relief Concerts in Durant on May 25 and 26. Susie McEntire-Eaton and Kelly Clarkson made a surprise guest appearance at the May 26 relief show. The artists entertained for over two hours each night, opening with a […]

Catalog Cast Picks A Song For Scotty McCreery

America got to hear newly crowned American Idol Scotty McCreery’s first single “I Love You This Big” on Wednesday (5/25), but he also recorded another song that has yet to be be released. Written by veteran hitmakers Tim Nichols and Jonathan Singleton, the song is “Out Of Summertime” and its journey to meet Scotty was an unusual one.

Billy Dean, Spokesperson for Naturipe Farms

Grammy Award-winning country artist Billy Dean has been chosen as celebrity spokesperson for Naturipe Farms.  Dean is currently writing and recording songs for their promotional videos and appearing at retail events and media tours throughout the year.  Dean’s “Earning our Place on Earth” and “A Seed” are featured on a five-song EP, sponsored by Naturipe. “I am so honored for this […]

Otto Performs On StageIT

Everyone gets a front row seat at James Otto’s StageIt.com concert on June 2 @7p.m. CDT. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase virtual tickets to his CMA-Fest kick-off acoustic show which will be broadcast live from his home studio. Otto will give fans an exclusive sneak-peak of his brand new music that hasn’t even […]

Seen And Signed

Songwriter Jason Mizelle recently signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell. • • • The Nashville Country Club spoke with Sara Evans at her #1 Party for “A Little Bit Stronger” at Nashville’s Cabana Restaurant.

her Nashville Music Issue Hits Stands

The June issue of her Nashville features Her Music City.  This month’s issue highlights five successful women, Kay Clary, Virginia Hunt Davis, Kim Buie, Sally Williams, and Kylie Sackley, who have made a name for themselves in the music industry. These leaders discuss everything from their humble beginnings to favorite achievements including what it takes to […]

Weekly Chart Report (5/27/11)

Nice girls rule, y’all. Taylor Swift’s “Mean” is the CountryBreakout Chart’s new No. 1 song, easing ahead of previous chart topper “You Lie” by nice girl-fronted The Band Perry.

In Color: Photo Friday

Kellie Pickler, Trace Adkins, Nan Kelley, Craig Morgan, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry • Big Kenny • Blake Gray and David Kroll

Friday Updates (5/27)

Tyler Reeve signs booking & management deals • Luke Bryan partners with LongHorn Steakhouse • BMI promotes Michael Drexler

Big Loud Parking Lot Party Pics

Revelers flocked to Big Loud Shirt’s 16th Ave. S. offices last night (5/25) for the company’s annual Parking Lot Party.

New Tunes From Kellie Pickler, Josh Kelley, Eden's Edge

••• Josh Kelley’s new single, “Gone Like That,” arrived at radio this week, and he performed it Tuesday on CBS’s The Talk. He co-wrote the song with Clint Lagerberg and Nicolle Galyon, and it has special meaning for him because the positive feedback he got from the song convinced him to pursue a country music […]

BRE Powers Up Promo Team

Black River Entertainment Promotion VP Rick Baumgartner has added Brian Hatfield (Northeast) and Megan Good (Southeast) to the BRE promotion staff. Hatfield hails from WSKF-FM in Asheville, NC where he spent the last seven years in various positions. “I’m extremely excited to be a part of the Black River Entertainment promotion team,” says Hatfield. “I […]

Church Finds Gold In Carolina

Eric Church’s recent album, Carolina has just been Gold certified by the RIAA for sales over 500,000 units. Carolina features “Smoke A Little Smoke” and “Love Your Love The Most” which have also been certified Gold, having sold over 500,000 digital copies each. “It’s always been my goal to make records that are a complete […]

WBMA Honors Members At Hard Rock Cafe

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) recently celebrated the talents and contributions of its members with a special gathering sponsored by the Hard Rock Cafe, titled, Wonder Woman Awards and Cocktail Party. The evening’s top honor, the Wonder Woman Award went to Jen Smith. The WMBA is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering opportunities within […]

"A Little Bit Stronger" No. 1 Party

Revelers packed Cabana yesterday (5/25) to salute the songwriters of the multi-week Sara Evans No. 1, “A Little Bit Stronger.” BMI, ASCAP and SESAC teamed to host the event honoring their respective affiliates Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, and Hillary Scott.

Bank of America on Music Row Robbed

The Music Row branch of Bank of America was robbed this morning according to a story on WSMV. WKRN reports a suspicious item was left at the bank, and the robber stated it was a bomb before fleeing the scene. Police sent the bomb squad robot to investigate, and determined the item was harmless. As […]

Industry Ink Thursday (5/26)

News from A2IM • Format Entertainment/Anastasia Brown • Ruby Records • James Burton • Greg Sims

Eye On Idol (5/26/11)

I can hardly believe my own eyes. What a shocker. One of the most unbelievable upsets in American Idol hist—okay, who am I kidding?

Updates From CMA Music Festival and CMT Awards

• CMT Music Awards organizers have added performances by Big & Rich, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and Luke Bryan. Recently announced host Kid Rock will perform with Sheryl Crow. The show premieres live on Wed., June 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT on CMT and CMT.com. Already announced performers include Jason Aldean, Keith […]

Photos From The Road (5/25/11)

Corey Wagar Brings “Hurricane” to WCJW • David St. Romain stops at KWNR • Lucy Angel Gets “Serious” With WMDH

Golden "Honey Bee"

How sweet it is! “Honey Bee” recorded by Blake Shelton buzzes beyond the hive to become the fastest rising single ever to sell over 500,000 units by a male country soloist—in seven weeks. The track was introduced during the ACM awards, hosted by Shelton and Reba, and downloaded 138,000 units its very first week. The […]

Peermusic Signs Rachel Farley

peermusic has signed 15-year old Rachel Farley to an exclusive songwriter/co-publishing agreement, announces peermusic VP Kevin Lamb. Farley was brought to the attention of peermusic via Sr. Creative Director Michael Knox (Jason Aldean, Montgomery Gentry, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Josh Thompson, Frankie Ballard) who is producing her debut CD for Average Joe’s Entertainment. The new […]

Bug Acquires Sugar Hill Publishing Rights

Bug Music CEO John Rudolph announced today the company has entered into an exclusive agreement to administer rights to Sugar Hill Records’ music publishing catalog. The deal gives Bug Music worldwide rights to a 600-title library containing a “who’s who” of country, bluegrass and Americana music. The rosters at Sugar Hill Records’ two publishing companies, […]

Whiskey Myers Meets Industry And Media

(Nashville, TN) Texas-based Southern Country rockers Whiskey Myers debuted material from their recently released Firewater album last night for an industry crowd at downtown Nashville venue The Rutledge. Firewater, released April 26, earned a No. 3 debut on the iTunes Country Albums chart and a No. 26 debut on Billboard’s Country Albums chart. The five-piece […]

Willie Nillie Photos

Same name edition: Miss Willie Brown, Anastasia Brown, and Willie Nelson’s Throwdown

Luke Bryan Debuts Video, Sets "CMT Crossroads" Date

Luke Bryan is gearing up for the Aug. 9 street date of his third studio set with this week’s release of the video for lead single “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” Directed by award-winner Shaun Silva, the video was filmed last month in Los Angeles at Siren Studios. Single stats are boding well for […]

Eye On Idol (5/25/11)

American Idol viewers got a taste of things to come last night (5/24) as finalists Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina previewed their would-be first singles.

Tim McGraw Countersues Curb Records

Tim McGraw has filed a countersuit against longtime label home Curb Records, according to today’s Tennessean. The news broke last week that Curb was suing the superstar for breach of contract. According to the newspaper, McGraw is seeking punitive damages, an advance payment for his latest recordings, and a legal ruling that he has fulfilled […]

Warner Releasing Music From Three Rising Acts

Warner Music Nashville is working new releases from rising acts Frankie Ballard, Jason Jones and Mandy Barnett. The label is also bringing back its Pickin’ On The Patio parties starting tomorrow night (5/26). Frankie Ballard’s full-length debut album hit shelves this week and he is celebrating with a string of performances in his home state […]

Entertainment Audience Fragmentation Spurs Decline In Perceived Value

Public Relations firm Edelman, with offices in 53 cities and over 3,700 employees worldwide, has released findings from its fifth annual Value, Engagement and Trust in the Era of Social Entertainment survey. Results from the 2011 study show that compared with 2010, consumers believe they are getting 68% less value from entertainment sources in all […]

Signing Pics: Dean Alexander, Ahmande Grimes

Dean Alexander Builds Team Elektra recording artist Dean Alexander has signed with J.P. Williams and C.T. Wyatt of Parallel Entertainment for management representation. He has inked with Paradigm Nashville for booking. Alexander joined Warner Music Nashville in early 2010 and is currently in the studio working on his debut album. Parallel Entertainment is known for its […]

Bigride Records Launches With Marlee Scott

Bigride Entertainment has launched new division Bigride Records, expanding the artist management business that has been headed by Gerry Leiske since 1997 and achieved success with country band Emerson Drive. Marlee Scott is the label’s flagship artist and her debut U.S. single, “Beautiful Maybe,” goes for adds June 27. She is currently on a radio […]

DISClaimer Single Reviews (5/24/11)

It’s John Rich’s world, we just live in it. On Sunday, he won this season’s Celebrity Apprentice championship. He’s a publisher on the No. 1 hit “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” He has two new Warner “Six Pak” albums, Rich Rocks! and For the Kids. And now he has two tunes in the same “DisClaimer” column

Industry Ink Tuesday (5/24)

Sharp Objects expands • Clay Bradley to bank board • R&J Records addition • Letters for Lyrics honored • Richard Marx named Songwriter Icon

Jamey Johnson Plans New Album, Produces Other Artists

Jamey Johnson has been working on a new album for Mercury Nashville, as well as manning production for other acts. His upcoming project will be his follow-up to the gold-certified, critically acclaimed two-disc set The Guitar Song. “I’ve written some and recorded a bunch,” he says, “not necessarily new songs that I wrote, but just […]

Grady Forms Management Alliance

New York based Crush Management and Nashville music vet John Grady have joined forces to form a new venture. Along with Crush principals Jonathan Daniel and Bob McLynn, Grady will open Crush Nashville. The first two artists on the Crush Nashville roster are Sony Music Nashville recording artist Kristen Kelly, and the duo of Sarah […]

Gaga's Fans Put Their Paws Up For New Album

Lady Gaga’s fans (affectionately known as “Little Monsters”) attacked Amazon on Monday when the retail giant offered one-day-only full downloads of her new album Born This Way for 99 cents. The resulting surge in traffic and purchases choked Amazon’s servers, leaving many customers unable to download or stream the album.

Picture Party

Songwriters Go Coastal • Book Party For “Business Wisdom of The Beatles” • Justin Moore Visits ACM

Bentley's Miles & Music for Kids Riding Strong

Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music for Kids” rolled through Columbus, Ohio on Sun., May 22, raising over $143,000 for Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Nearly 1,000 bikers stretched eight miles behind Bentley as he led the pack of motorcycles to the LC Pavilion where an additional 4,000 fans joined for the afternoon concert featuring Bentley and pals […]

Cook and Plant Lead Americana Honors Nominations

Nominees for the 2011 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards were announced today at a special event held at New York City’s Gibson/Baldwin Showroom. Elizabeth Cook and Robert Plant lead the field of nominees, earning three acknowledgements apiece including Artist of the Year nominations for both. Additionally, Cook’s Welder is up for Album of the […]

Serletic Snags $10.8 Million For Music Platform

Music Mastermind was founded in 2007 by Matt Serletic, former Virgin Records Chairman/CEO and the GRAMMY Award‐winning hit maker behind Matchbox Twenty, Gloriana, Carlos Santana, and others; and Bo Bazylevsky, a top Wall Street bond trader, senior hedge fund portfolio manager, and the former Global Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Trading at J.P. Morgan. The […]

Industry Ink Monday 5/23

RIAA Salaries • Gaga’s “Born This Way” album for 99 cents • VH1’s Behind The Music: Miranda Lambert coming July 13 • RPM Writer Nathan Stoops to play “Idol” finale