Lifenotes: Don Butler [updated]

[Update] Visitation will be held Sunday, February 6th from 1-4pm at Brentwood United Methodist Church in the Narthex; a private ceremony will be held for family. Donald W. Butler, Sr., a founder of the Gospel Music Association and longtime Christian music businessman, has died. He was 80 and had been battling a lengthy illness. In […]

Military Performances

Adam Craig Band Performs for Heartland Heroes • Craig Morgan at Camp Victory/Baghdad

Luna Chica Starts 2011 With Momentum

Luna Chica Records International is looking ahead with new signings, a new international division, and multi-channel digital success. The label’s internet-driven business model launched in May 2010 and signaled what GM/Dir. of A&R Brenda Cline calls a “re-birth.” “We are very proud of the level of talent that we have delivered to radio and the […]

Benefit News: Tiger Jam and Chords of Hope

>>Keith Urban and John Mayer will perform together Sat., April 30 to benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation. The two Grammy winners will plug in their guitars at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for an exclusive VIP concert event. “I’m thrilled these two talented musicians are joining us for Tiger Jam,” event host […]

Weekly Chart Report (2/04/11)

SPIN ZONE It’s Blake Shelton’s world right now, but thankfully he lets us stay here and read his Twitter feed. This week he’s on top of the CountryBreakout chart with “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” which surges ahead of Luke Bryan’s “Someone Else Calling You Baby” with a gain of 111 spins. Positions […]

Artist Notes

Keith Urban on Good Morning America • Sean Patrick McGraw’s Song Kicks Off Super Bowl • Steel Magnolia On David Letterman • Grascals on TV

Radio Visits

DJ Miller Earns Billboards Hot Shot Debut • Colt Ford Does His Country Thang • The Dirt Drifters Continue South • Guy Penrod Visits WSM

Platinum Parade: Lambert and Swift

Miranda Lambert’s Platinum Parade • Taylor Swift’s Record-Breaking 2010

Luke Bryan Set For Capitol CRS Luncheon

Luke Bryan will perform at the Capitol Records Nashville luncheon at CRS 2011. The event is scheduled for Friday, March 4, from noon – 1:50 p.m. in the CMA Performance Hall inside the Nashville Convention Center. Capitol Records Nashville President/CEO Mike Dungan says, “Luke delivers one of the best live performances in Country music. We are […]

Dallas Davidson Celebrates String of Hits

Songwriter Dallas Davidson had an explosive 2010. He was a co-writer on five singles to hit the top of the charts last year, including “That’s How Country Boys Roll” (Billy Currington), “Gimmie That Girl” (Joe Nichols), “Rain is a Good Thing” (Luke Bryan), “All About Tonight” (Blake Shelton), and “All Over Me” (Josh Turner). All […]

Today's Famous Facts

Republic Nashville loses Bartholomew • Voorhis opens bookkeeping firm • CMHoF hosts Norro Wilson and free admission • MCTI Songwriter Show

Thirty Tigers Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Marketing, management and distribution company Thirty Tigers is celebrating its 10th year in business this March. Co-founded by David Macias and Deb Markland, the company started as a small home-based consultancy, and today is a nine-person outfit with national distribution, and a Grammy-award winning release to its credit. Last year, Thirty Tigers’ sales totaled more […]

Faxon's Note To EMI Staff

Last week’s sudden takeover of EMI by lien holder Citigroup shocked industry analysts who were not expecting any ownership changes until late March. MusicRow has obtained a copy of a letter from EMI head Roger Faxon that was sent to all EMI employees. Faxon, spins the development as a “good thing – for EMI, for […]

Performance News: Toby, Currington, JaneDear girls

Toby Keith Returns to The Opry • Billy Currington Celebrates 10th Top 10 On Leno • the JaneDear girls Featured on Access Hollywood

Music Videos: Reba, Sarah Darling

Taillight TV produces Reba video • Sarah Darling gets carried away

CRS 2011 Events Highlight Diverse Talent

Details about CRS 2011 are starting to emerge and Arista Nashville’s Ronnie Dunn and Columbia Nashville’s Joanna Smith will be performing at the 2011 Sony Music Nashville luncheon Thursday, March 3 from 12:30 – 2:20 pm in the NCC’s CMA Performance Hall. “It’s such a pleasure to have Ronnie Dunn and Joanna Smith representing the exciting […]

Facebook Helping CMA Music Festival Connect With Fans

Preparations are underway for the 2011 CMA Music Festival, and proving the power of Facebook, the organization will use the social media site to announce the first festival performers.

CMT Debuts Sitcom, Hires Development Exec.

As CMT expands its reach into original programming, the network has hired experienced development executive Jayson Dinsmore. This news comes following a successful debut of CMT’s first scripted sitcom, Working Class. Dinsmore is on board in the newly-created position Executive Vice President, Development. He will oversee all development for the channel, based primarily out of […]

Shelton, Bentley Named As Grammy Presenters

More performers and the first group of presenters have been announced for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Sunday, Feb. 13. Nashville is represented twice on the presenters list as nominees Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Norah Jones, Selena Gomez, LL Cool J, and Nicki Minaj have been included in the initial lineup. In what sounds like […]

Juno Award Nominees Announced

The 2011 Juno Award Nominees were announced by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) yesterday (2/1). In the Country Album of the Year category (sponsored by Country Style), nominees include: Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Love Rules; Dean Brody, Trail in Life; Deric Ruttan, Sunshine; Gord Bamford, Day Job; and Johnny Reid, A Place […]

Country Stars At Super Bowl Events

Country music will be well-represented at Sunday’s (2/6) Super Bowl when the Green Bay Packers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (2/2/11)

Country music’s major labels seem to be slumbering in winter doldrums, but Nashville’s pop/rock community is livelier than ever.

Musical Chairs

New gigs for Megan Knutson, Emilee Warner, and Wayne Leeloy

ACM Noms Highlight New Country Class

Today’s ACM nominations were filled with new names and rising superstars, including Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert who landed Entertainer of the Year nominations for the first time.

Artists On Tour: Paisley, Shelton, Campbell

Brad Paisley’s H2O Frozen Over • Blake Shelton’s 2011 All About Tonight Tour • Craig Campbell Joins Willie Nelson’s 2011 Country Throwdown Tour

Signings: Alan Jackson, Emerson Drive, Mountain Heart

Alan Jackson inks publicity deal • Emerson Drive partners for radio promo • Mountain Heart finds PR home

Leah Seawright

“On The Backroads” Skytone Records Leah invites friends in radio to join her for a special performance during CRS on Wednesday, March 2, at 10 pm in the Renaissance Hotel’s Fisk Room. Leah Seawright’s “On The Backroads,” which she co-wrote with producer Frank Green, is the tale of young and rebellious love set to a […]

Jacob Lyda

“I’m Doin’ Alright” Davis Music Group/Nine North Davis Music Group’s singer/songwriter Jacob Lyda’s debut single, “I’m Doing Alright” has been released to country radio and is going for adds. Nine North Records has been tapped to oversee radio promotion initiatives. Showcasing Lyda’s traditional honky-tonk vocal style, “I’m Doing Alright” was written by Lyda and Paul […]

Citigroup Acquires EMI

EMI Group has been taken over by Citigroup, the bank who financed Terra Firma’s 2007 purchase of the music company for £4 billion. The bank seized 100% of the share capital and reduced EMI’s debt by 65% from £3.4 billion to £1.2 billion. Following this development, EMI has more than £300 million cash available. Last […]

Firm Renamed Crownover, Blevins

Attorney Derek Crownover has added partner Allen Blevins and renamed the firm Crownover, Blevins. Crownover’s previous partner Joel Tisinger has relocated to his hometown Carrollton, Georgia and taken an in-house legal position at a healthcare technology company. Blevins and Crownover have been friends since law school. Blevins is a Knoxville native, where he previously managed […]

ACM Off-Camera Noms

The Academy of Country Music is announcing nominations for the Musician/Bandleader/Instrumentalist (MBI) and Industry Awards categories, which, due to time constraints, are not televised during the ACM Awards. Instead, these awards will be presented at the ACM Honors, held each fall in Nashville. Musician / Bandleader / Instrumentalist (MBI) Awards Producer Of The Year Nathan […]

ACM Radio Nominees Announced

The Academy of Country Music announced nominees in the radio categories, which due to time constraints, are not televised during the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, but are instead honored at a special pre-Awards reception. ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL Kix Brooks – American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks Big D and […]

Lambert Leads Final ACM Nominees List

Nominations were announced today (2/1) for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, set to air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2011 on CBS. Miranda Lambert leads the artist nominations with seven, including Top Female Vocalist, her first nod for Entertainer of the Year, as well as […]

Red Light To Manage Wynette Legacy

Red Light Management will partner with Bicycle Music and its affiliate, The AF Circle C Fund, to exploit Tammy Wynette’s name, likeness and image rights. Through its affiliate the AF Circle C Fund, Bicycle Music controls substantial copyright interests in Wynette’s catalog of works and master recordings as well as her name, likeness, image rights and trademarks (Stand By Your Man™, Tammy Wynette™, and First Lady of Country Music™).

The Revolution Continues For Miranda Lambert

Columbia Nashville’s Miranda Lambert is preparing to hit the road again through 2011. The Revolution Continues tour will pick up February 24 in St. Louis, featuring special guests Justin Moore and Josh Kelley. Additionally, Lambert will join Alan Jackson for his first Australian tour in March, which is already sold out. Full dates are included […]

CRS News: UMG Luncheon, Digital Rodeo Party

UMG Nashville announces luncheon line-up. Digital Rodeo party to close seminar.

Jon Loba To Head Broken Bow/Stoney Creek

CEO Benny Brown has appointed Jon Loba Senior Vice President/Label Group of This Is Hit, Inc., parent company of Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records. Loba will report directly to Brown, effective tomorrow (2/1). “I am thrilled to have Jon Loba back on our team,” says Brown. “Jon has an insurmountable amount of knowledge, […]

Loss Named Valory Promo Boss

Chris Loss has been promoted to VP Promotion for The Valory Music Co. effective immediately. This follows the announcement of Jon Loba’s exit from the label today to run Broken Bow. Loss previously served as Dir. National Promotion/West Coast Promotion for Valory, as well as Dir. of West Coast Promotion for Lyric Street prior to […]

Sugarland's Latest Ships Platinum

Sugarland’s latest album, The Incredible Machine, recently received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) indicating shipments of more than one million units. This marks the duo’s fourth consecutive release to reach platinum or multi-platinum status. It brings Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush‘s career total to more than 9 million records. Sugarland’s […]

Peermusic Inks Vicky McGehee

Peer Music has purchased Vicky McGehee‘s Middle Child 2 Music catalog, and signed her to an exclusive songwriter and co-publishing deal. The announcement was made by peermusic’s Kevin Lamb and Michael Knox, both of whom are based in peer’s Nashville offices. The deal includes Vicky’s back catalogue as well as her future works. Among McGehee’s hits is […]

Industry Updates: ACM Noms Tomorrow

ACM noms • ASCAP Christian Music Awards • CountryRadio.TV launches • Dreamcatcher Management/Kenny Rogers Productions • Cara Owen’s new gig • Road To Bonnaroo • Sam Phillips documentary

SS Debuts Digital Song Genre Rpts

One of the latest offerings from Nielsen SoundScan, the company that tracks sales of recorded product, is a series of Digital Song Genre Reports. These new lists compliment the Digital Song Genre charts which were created at the start of 2010. “Nielsen SoundScan’s new digital song genre capabilities are an additional tool to help our […]

Bobby Karl Works Taylor Swift's Heavy Metal Party

The occasion was “Heavy Metal at the Hard Rock,” a bash staged downtown on Friday evening (1/28). We gathered to celebrate world conquest by the 21-year-old music phenom. Specifically, her Triple Platinum success with her Speak Now CD, her No. 1 triumph with “Mine” and her cumulative U.S. sales of 13 million.

Photo Roundup: Carter's Chord; DiPiero and Anderson

KNIX/Phoenix morning show personality Barrel Boy saw that the Robertson sisters of Carter’s Chord tweeted how much they love In n’ Out Burgers so he thought he would surprise them with lunch. The girls are also slated to play the Grand Ole Opry with Toby Keith and Trace Adkins tomorrow (1/29) and they just finished […]

Henley Goes Country?

Eagles member Don Henley is reportedly in Nashville working on a solo album of country songs with Stan Lynch of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers fame. The collection would be Henley’s fifth studio album as a solo artist and his first since Inside Job (2000). “Stan is one of my best friends, my son’s godfather,” […]

Twitter Rankings Back On Track

Nashville music trade publication MusicRow and new media marketing group AristoWorks have re-launched a chart to track Country music artists’ popularity among Twitter users. MusicRow’s Country Twitter Chart first debuted in June 2009 and has consistently been a top traffic destination at www.musicrow.com. Recently Twitter made changes to its Active Programming Interface (API) which temporarily […]

EMI—The Hands Saga Continues

Financial analysts believe that there is a strong likelihood that Hands/EMI will be unable to produce the $200 million necessary to satisfy the company’s agreements with Cititgroup at the end of March 2011. If that shortfall does indeed occur, then the music business would default to Citigroup. And here is where the plot gets thicker…

Artist News: Carrie Underwood To Sing National Anthem

Carrie Underwood To Sing National Anthem At CRS • Luke Bryan Prepares For Spring Break • Lyda Offers Music For Free >>Carrie Underwood will perform the national anthem to officially open Country Radio Seminar 2011 on Wednesday, March 2. This marks the first time she has performed the national anthem at CRS, which runs March […]

Weekly Chart Report (1/28/11)

SPIN ZONE The battle for CountryBreakout No. 1 song is heating up, but Luke Bryan’s “Someone Else Calling You Baby” remains on top for a second consecutive week. But a trio of superstar hits—Blake Shelton’s “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” Lady Antebellum’s “Hello World,” and Taylor Swift’s “Back To December”—is right behind Bryan, […]

Skyville's First Promotion Team Hire

Theresa Ford is joining Skyville Records as the label’s first promotion team hire. A former Lyric Street promo rep, Ford has more than fifteen years radio promotion experience. She will help the label establish a top promotion team to work with Stealing Angels and all future Skyville artists. Ford’s new role at Skyville Records has […]