DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/20/11)

We have a nice mix of newcomers and established stars this week. The three contenders for the DisCovery Award are Hunter Hayes, Russell Hitchcock and Jim Quick.

Swift Leads Digital Download Sales Race

According to the RIAA’s latest tally, Taylor Swift is the top-selling digital single artist with over 22.5 million career song downloads to date. Though it is early in 2011, she is facing competition for the most career downloads from Lady Gaga (20 million digital singles as of February), Rihanna (19 million) and the Black Eyed Peas […]

Industry Ink: Stanley Generation Records Opens

Hirings at Thinking Bee • Third Coast inks Janie Fricke • Keith Burns’ daughter fights cancer • WMG’s Danielle Taylor welcomes baby • Allen Butler preps for PGA tour

Adams and Reese Music Row Office Celebrates 10th Year

Adams and Reese recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Nashville Music Row office with a festive event and presentation to founding partner Sam Bartholowmew. Bartholomew, current Of Counsel with Adams and Reese, saw the need to service the entire Nashville Music Row community by starting an entertainment practice and presence there. “Only someone as wonderful […]

Capitol Promotes Allison Hardy

Capitol/EMI Records Nashville has promoted Allison Hardy to Manager, Media & Public Relations. She has been part of the label’s team since interning with the company in 2008 and has worked in the promotion and marketing teams over the last three years. Her most recent stint was Coordinator of the Marketing Department, reporting to Cindy […]

Flying Island Entertainment Plans For Launch

Entertainment attorney Nancy Eckert and booking veteran Louis Newman have announced the formation of Flying Island Entertainment, a Nashville-based artist services company to address the needs of both up-and-coming and established artists. GrassRoots Promotion’s Nancy Tunick will oversee the staffing of Flying Island’s radio division, as well as serving as its label and promotion consultant. […]

"Rolling Stone" Declares Nashville "Best Music Scene"

In its new Best of Rock issue, Rolling Stone lists Nashville as the nation’s Best Music Scene. The one-page spread covers Music City restaurants, bars, venues, shopping and record stores, with quotes from local rockers about their favorite hangs. Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill prefers Losers, and Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney can be found […]

Photo Spread: Judds, Lunabelles, SOLID

The Judds Donate to St. Jude • Mark Wright Speaks at SOLID • The Lunabelles at CMA EDU

Nine North Adds Two Staffers

Nine North Records has added Jim Dorman and Will Robinson to its staff, effective May 2.

Sugarland Added To CMA Music Fest Lineup

Sugarland joins the growing list of performers for the 2011 CMA Music Festival’s Nightly Concerts at LP Field. The award-winning Mercury Records duo will take the stage Friday, June 10.

Kenny Chesney Joins BMI

Kenny Chesney has joined the BMI family of songwriters. The superstar has been building a repertoire of hits for more than a decade, leading to his recent twenty-first No. 1 “Somewhere With You.”

Study Finds DVDs And BluRay Discs Dominate Digital Video Options

Consumers are still using DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BD) more than all other digital  video options combined reports market research group NPD. According to the company’s March 2011 study that included 9636 completed surveys from U.S. consumers, 77% of those surveyed reported watching a movie via DVD or BD for an average of four hours […]

Star-Studded Events Calendar

MusicRow’s social scene is heating up—Paisley and Urban added to the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award Gala • Grammy Block Party • Music Supervisor Speed Networking • Best Cellars Dinner

Signings at EMI CMG and Bluewater

Megan James and Fred Wilhelm join EMI CMG • Cody Canada inks with Bluewater

Weekend Wrap-Up: Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Whitney Duncan

Luke Bryan performed on the Tuesday Night Opry last week and was joined onstage by NBC’s Lester Holt. Holt played bass on Bryan’s current single “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” for an Opry “I’m With The Band” segment, which spotlights celebrities from different fields performing on the Opry stage. • • • • • […]

Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee" Treats The Single Like A Full Length Album Release

Clearly, a plan was in place. And when SoundScan revealed the single’s impressive sales results, MusicRow “tracked” Peter Strickland where he graciously shared some of the behind-the-scenes elements leading to Blake’s strong showing.

Corey Wagar

“Hurricane” GTR Records Corey Wagar is releasing her hook-filled new single “Hurricane” to country radio. Wagar co-wrote the song with Gordon Brown and it’s a standout track from her forthcoming album On The Edge. The single goes for adds May 12, and Jerry Duncan Promotions is spearheading the radio promotion effort. The 17-year-old singer grew […]

Shawna Russell

“Get Right Or Get Left” Way Out West Records Thank you early believers: KFAV, KKOW, KLMJ, KREK, WMEV, WPPL, WUPY WYVY, KCNY, KMGO, KSMA, KXOX, WATX, WTHO, WYBL & KBCN! “She’s a wailer. And this take-a-hike-buddy attitude is perfect for her rocking vocal chops.” —Robert K. Oermann, MusicRow “Shawna is now truly ready to compete with […]

Lucy Angel – "Serious"

“Thanks to radio for all the support for ‘Serious!’ You can now hear it on KBCN, KBCR, KCJC, KFAV, KGMN, KGRT, KITX, KLMJ, KMGO, KMKS, KNAF, KREK, KTJJ, KVOM, KVVP, KXOX, KYYK, KZZY, WATZ, WCJW, WDHR, WDNB, WDXX, WEZJ, WIFE, WJMQ, WJNR, WKBQ, WKSR, WPPL, WTHO, WUPY, WYBL, WYVY KBCN, KBCR, KCJC, KFAV, KGMN, KGRT, KITX, […]

Jack White Named Music City Ambassador

Mayor Karl Dean and the Nashville Music Council honored Jack White and his Third Man Records with the inaugural Music City Ambassador Award on Saturday, April 16.

Joe Redmond Switches Career Gears

Longtime radio promotion exec Joe Redmond is leaving the music business to open a bakery in Murfreesboro with his wife. “I want to thank all my friends and co-workers through the years in the record and radio industries for the kindnesses shown me, and the opportunities provided me these past 17 years,” he says. “I […]

Eye On Idol (4/15/11)

Wednesday (4/13) night’s American Idol was themed Songs From the Movies, and kicked off with appropriately dramatic footage of Pia Toscano’s surprise elimination last week. Y’know, like a pivotal scene in a movie. So I figured we were in for a white knuckled, mind-bending results show on Thursday (4/14).

In Color: The Roys, Stealing Angels, Jason Sturgeon

The Roys will perform at Nashville Station Inn on May 5 for a free  hour-long performance on 650 AM WSM Radio’s monthly Station Inn Sessions With Mike Terry. Lee and Elaine are scheduled to sit down with Terry for a live interview that will broadcast worldwide via www.wsmonline.com. The appearance is the duo’s first in Nashville since […]

Photo Corner: Shows & Benefits

Wynonna on Southern Fried Flicks • Trace Adkins on CMT’s Next Superstar • Kevin Carter’s 10th Annual Waiting for Wishes Celebrity Waiter’s Dinner

Weekly Chart Report (4/15/11)

Rascal Flatts ascends to the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 spot with “I Won’t Let Go,” making the band’s second No. 1 single since its 2010 move to Big Machine Records.

CMA Fest Nightly Tickets; City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge

Beginning April 16, at 10:00 AM/CT, tickets to the individual CMA Music Festival Nightly Concerts at the LP Field will go on sale for $35 (plus applicable handling fees) for general admission in the upper deck of the venue. Fans can purchase their tickets through Ticketmaster or CMAFest.com. The 2011 CMA Music Festival takes place […]

Colt Ford Prepares New Release

Average Joes Entertainment artist Colt Ford will release his third studio album, Every Chance I Get, to digital and physical partners on May 3. Sales of existing Ford albums have passed the 500,000 mark and he has sold almost two million digital singles. Since his first release three years ago, he has performed over 500 […]

McCarn Joins Black River Entertainment

  Greg McCarn, former GM of ScatterTunes and VP Sales, Marketing and Media at Lyric Street Records, has been named General Manager of Black River Entertainment. His appointment was announced today by Black River Chief Operating Officer Gordon Kerr. In his new role McCarn will oversee the label’s marketing, promotion, public relations, sales and digital […]

Jennette McCurdy Partners With Fashion Line

Plus Miss Willie Brown headed to Bonnaroo and The Band Perry on VH1 Songwriters Series.

Nashville Film Festival Opens Today

The Nashville Film Festival opens today (4/14) and runs through April 21, with most screenings and events at the Regal Green Hills Cinema. As always, there are numerous music-related events and movies. Tonight’s offerings include Bloodworth starring Kris Kristofferson, and a movie about the 2010 Nashville flood. Friday (4/13) the fun continues with red carpet […]

Former Managers Sue Rascal Flatts

Former Rascal Flatts managers Turner Nichols—Trey Turner and Doug Nichols—are suing the three band members in Davidson County Chancery Court

Reba, Paul Simon Honored

Reba celebrated her 35th No. 1 this week, and BMI saluted Paul Simon at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.

Dot Records Magnate Randy Wood Dies

Randy Wood, who founded Dot Records and brought Nashville native Pat Boone to pop-music stardom, has died in California at age 94. The entrepreneur’s Randy’s Record Shop, based in Gallatin, was a key institution in the evolution of rock ‘n’ roll. Wood sold r&b records to white teenagers via mail order by advertising via the […]

Sugarland Station Sweetens iheartradio Lineup

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush have debuted their web-based Sugarland Radio station for Clear Channel and Frontline Management’s Artist Personal Experience (A.P.E.) Radio.

Phil Vassar and LBT Raise $100,000 At Benefit Concert

Plus Tracy Lawrence’s celeb golf tourney, Music City Tennis Invitational, Charlie Kelley’s Blue Note Fund, and Foundation for Bluegrass grants.

Natalie Kilgore Leaving BMLG To Launch Division of GPJ

Natalie Kilgore is leaving her post as Head of Publicity for the Big Machine Label Group to create and lead a new Public Relations Division for George P. Johnson’s Entertainment Marketing Group. GPJ is a premier experience and event marketing agency working with brands including Coca Cola, RAM, Swarovski, Nissan, Blackberry and the Olympics. In […]

Artists On Stage and Screen

Gamma Blast Director/Editor Jeff Johnson directs Billy Currington’s “Let Me Down Easy” video • Trisha Yearwood, Eve, and Lee Ann Womack perform at Good Housekeeping’s “Shine On” event • Sara Evans appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno • Trace Adkins will serve as a guest judge on this week’s episode of CMT’s Next Superstar

Music Council Partners With Entrepreneur Center

The Nashville Music Council and Nashville Entrepreneur Center have launched a partnership to provide direct support to local start-ups in music, digital media and entertainment. The partnership includes a formalized agreement to work together to nurture and support business ideas with the potential to impact the digital media and music entertainment sector. “Cities seeking to […]

Ashton Shepherd Sets Sophomore Release

It’s been three years since Ashton Shepherd released her debut album to promising critical acclaim. Now, she is heading into her sophomore album for MCA Nashville with rising single “Look It Up” leading the way (No. 19 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart). It is the first song she recorded for the new project and has […]

Aldean To Perform On "Idol"

Jason Aldean will team up with Kelly Clarkson to perform their No. 1 hit “Don’t You Wanna Stay” on Fox’s American Idol tomorrow (4/14) 7 pm CT. Later in the evening, Aldean will perform his new single “Dirt Road Anthem” on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS. “Don’t You Wanna Stay” has […]

Artist News Wednesday

John Michael Montgomery • Kris Kristofferson • Chely Wright • Eric Lee Beddingfield • Chris Young • Jacob Lyda

Awards Sales Bumps Fading Fast

Once upon a time, Nashville sales execs enjoyed a great amusement ride called the “Post Awards Bump.” Marketers would line up to ride this thrilling machine a few times each year

Industry Ink Wednesday (4/13)

Twenty Ten signs Attwater • Lindsay Bertelli launches Reach LLC • WRVW and WSM AM have reasons to celebrate

McGraw Tour Opens In Texas

Tim McGraw kicked off his Emotional Traffic Tour with special guests Luke Bryan and The Band Perry on Friday, April 8 in Corpus Christi, TX. The run of arenas and amphitheaters will cover at least 60 dates through August.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/13/11)

Every doggie has his day. This week, it’s the puppy platters that are in the winner’s circle. None of the major-label offerings made my ears wild with excitement. But two pieces of indie product did.

Review: McEntire Tour Ends On High Note

Reba McEntire’s flawless performance delighted an April 9 Louisville, KY audience at the city’s new KFC Yum Center. Staged in the round, the Chockie, Okie redhead’s musical portion was nestled between opener Lee Ann Womack and closer George Strait.

Frankie Ballard Debut Coming In May

Warner Bros.’s new guitar slinger Frankie Ballard is gearing up for the May 24 release of his debut project. For the album he teamed with producer Michael Knox, known for work with Jason Aldean. The lead single “Tell Me You Get Lonely” resulted in a hit video, and strong lead-in to his current single “A […]

[updated 4/13] Bobo, Hunze Exit BMG Chrysalis

MusicRow has also learned that Tim Hunze, Sr. VP of BMG Rights Management has exited the company. Hunze headed the Nashville office of Stage Three Music, and was brought under the BMG Chrysalis umbrella when it acquired Stage Three. Hunze can be reached at timhunze@gmail.com and 615-414-1097. ••••• Dale Bobo is exiting his role as […]

Photos: Charley Pride, Margaret Durante, Jeremy McComb

Charley Pride has been honored with a road marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail. The ceremony was held Tuesday, March 29 on Highway 3 in Pride’s hometown of Sledge, MS. A portion of the highway has also been renamed “Charley Pride Highway.” “I’m honored and humbled at the same time. It was wonderful!” says Pride. “Who’d have thought […]

NYP: EMI Will Be Sold As Single Unit

With rumors swirling about the auction of Warner Music Group, prognosticators have let the upcoming sell of EMI slide to the back-burner. But today (4/12) the New York Post reports that Citigroup, which took control of EMI in February, plans to sell the company as a whole, instead of selling off separate recording and publishing […]