Kenny Chesney to Co-Headline Stadium Tour with Zac Brown Band

Kenny Chesney announced his return to the stage for a nine stadium “Goin’ Coastal Tour”. When the four time CMA/ACM Entertainer of the year sets out on the 2011 tour, he will be joined by co-headliners The Zac Brown Band, plus special guests Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker. “With four acts on the bill, we’ve […]

SESAC Promotes Edwards

SESAC has announced the appointment of Maxine Edwards to Vice President, Broadcast Operations. Edwards previously served as Vice President, Licensing Administration & Process Development. In her new position, she will be responsible for directing and evaluating strategic licensing initiatives within the broadcast and digital media industries. She will continue to work out of the SESAC […]

Big Machine Publicity Adds Burr

Big Machine announces it has added Erin D.D. Burr to its publicity department as PR Account Manager. Burr’s primary focus will be the day-to-day facilitation of publicity initiatives for the Republic Nashville label roster, which includes The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Jaron And The Long Road To Love, Sunny Sweeney and SHEL. “I am […]

NYC Songwriters Series, Aldean’s Kind of Party, and Currington in Georgia

Eric Church, Bob DiPiero, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Luke Laird recently performed a sold-out show for CMA’s Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub in New York City. Broken Bow Records’ Jason Aldean celebrated with publishers, producers and writers for the release of his latest album, My Kinda Party, at Red Rooster’s in Nashville. Mercury artist Billy […]

Sara Evans Presents; Kid Rock Performs

Kid Rock is back, and set to perform on the 44th Annual CMA Awards set to air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 10. The show will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Kid Rock is nominated for Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You See,” his duet with the Zac […]

Brown Opens Nashville Format Office

Anastasia Brown has joined LA/NY based Format Entertainment, which specializes in music supervision, production and soundtracks for film. Format has worked on films such as Iron Man 1 & 2, Sex and the City 1 &2, The Blindside, Alvin and The Chipmunks 1 & 2, and Swingers. Brown will head up a Nashville Format branch, […]

Pinecastle Records Reopens Under New Ownership

The bluegrass label Pinecastle Records has been reactivated by its new owner, physician Dr. Lonnie Lassiter. One of the leading bluegrass imprints, the company was closed last February because of the health issues of its previous owner, Col. Tom Riggs. Lassiter purchased the company from the Riggs family in August, and the label began rebuilding […]

Duets for Juice, Viewer Poll at GACTV.com

Juice Newton‘s Duets Album Grammy and CMA award-winning artist Juice Newton will release a duets record, Duets: Friends & Memories, on November 16th, featuring a soulful twist on classic pop songs. Newton’s first single, “Funny How Time Slips Away,” with Willie Nelson, is out now. Newton also joins forces with Glen Campbell, Frankie Valli, Melissa […]

Rascal Flatts as “Real Heroes,” NAMM stays in Nashville

Rascal Flatts Honored in Nashville Lifestyles Nashville Lifestyles magazine recently honored Rascal Flatts as the cover subject for their November issue, highlighting the supergroup as “real heroes” for their considerable charitable contributions in Nashville area. Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus serve as spokespersons for Hendersonville-based the Jason Foundation, a nonprofit […]

No. 1 Parties in Nashville, More Photos

BMI and ASCAP joined forces to throw a party at Rooster’s in Nashville, celebrating Josh Turner’s #1 hit, “All Over Me.” The song was co-written by the “Peach Pickers”—the songwriting power trio of Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip. The Pickers have also collaborated on Joe Nichols’ “Gimmie That Girl,” and Blake Shelton’s “All […]

Gloriana To Perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Gloriana will perform their hit single “Wild At Heart” at the 84th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The foursome will ride aboard a float and sing their R.I.A.A. Gold single for more than 3.5 million attendees and a projected TV viewing audience of 50 million. “The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is such an iconic holiday […]

Facebook to Offer Places Deals

Facebook announced today it will soon update its mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, reports Mashable.com. Among the good news is that Android users will now be integrated into the Places and Groups functionality. Apple users will also soon be able to add photos. Also part of today’s announcement, it was revealed that Deals […]

Moving Swift-ly To No. 1

Music industry pundits at desks across the major music centers will be pounding out the story of Taylor Swift’s great debut week sales numbers—1.047 million! But maybe the real story is how Swift’s success flies in the face of conventional industry wisdom. “Album sales are falling, consumers only want to buy single tracks, piracy has destroyed sales, you can’t compete with free…” These are the current excuses for an industry in dire straits. So how does one explain Swift’s incredible result? What prompted over one million consumers to engage and relate to this young lady from Hendersonville, TN?

Unlike many of the top charting female artists of today, Ms. Swift eschews tabloid behavior and asks fans to focus on her music. With Speak Now she offers an emotion-packed journey bursting with insight into real life events. In some universal way her life contests connect with similar moments that have brushed the fabric of others as well.

Bill Anderson Salute, “My Country” Book Party, More Photos

••••Over 30 stars turned out to honor Bill Anderson with a special episode of Country Music’s Family Reunion Show on RFD-TV. Anderson, who regularly hosts the show, found himself switching roles with Vince Gill for the salute featuring Roy Clark, Jamey Johnson, Jon Randall, Jessi Alexander, Rhonda Vincent, Con Hunley, Jeannie Seely, Jean Shepard, The […]

Radio Use Shrinks; Concert Industry Faltering

Radio’s Future II: The 2010 American Youth Study conducted by Edison Research and sponsored by Radio-info.com contains a multitude of slides showing changes in attitude toward radio and other media since the study was conducted a decade ago in 2000. Results are based upon 1,533 interviews nationwide, split almost evenly between age 12-24 demo and […]

Ticket Details For Garth Brooks In Nashville

Fans who want to get in to see Garth Brooks’ first full-scale concert in 10 years will be manning their computers and phones on Saturday morning (11/6). The die-hard devotees will be hitting the box office tomorrow (11/4). As announced last week, Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood are set for a flood relief benefit at […]

DISClaimer Single Reviews (11/03/10)

There is nothing particularly earth shattering to report this week. The column is very much a mixed bag, everything from rocking Elvis to bluegrass Rhonda. Steven Dale Jones is holding down the singer-songwriter slot. Katie Armiger is here with youth appeal. Rosehill, Lathan Moore and Bill Rice have returned and confirmed themselves as promising. Our […]

Events At The Hall: Williams Family Exhibit, Marshall Chapman

Marshall Chapman performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Oct. 30 to celebrate the official release of her new book, They Came To Nashville. The book features Chapman’s conversations with fifteen artist-songwriters, including Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson and Miranda Lambert, about their first forays to Music City. ••• The Country Music […]

Worley’s Cancer Center; Lawrence’s Turkey Fry; Tippin/Stroud Benefit CD

I WANNA PLAY!: An Album To Put Musical Instruments Into The Hands Of Every Child In America was co-produced by Aaron Tippin and James Stroud, and features Lorrie Morgan, George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, Ray Price, Neal Sedaka and more. And making a special vocal appearance are the students of W.O. Smith Music School. Tippin is also […]

Kelly Parkes

“Nothing” Edge Records/Lofton Creek Kelly Parkes is releasing her new single “Nothing” to country radio. The feisty 23 year-old from rural Lancaster County, Penn., loves performing and cites Carrie Underwood as her favorite vocalist. Her recording session was produced by Darran Smith (Tim McGraw) and Lofton Creek Records chief Mike Borchetta. Parkes also recently sang […]

ACM Names New Board

The Academy of Country Music is announcing its new board of directors. This year, there are 13 qualifying professional categories that are elected by the Academy’s membership. In addition to the elected positions, director-at-large positions have been appointed by Chairman Bill Mayne, President Sarah Trahern and Vice President Butch Waugh. Directors are elected from each […]

Steve Richard

“Eighty Acre Church” Force MP “Steve Richard paints a warm picture of rural America with ‘Eighty Acre Church’ and our listeners can truly relate. It’s a great song, and I know I’ll never look at an old man on a tractor the same way again!” Lee Richey, PD/MD, WCJW/Warsaw, NY “Steve Richard is one of the most talented, insightful singer/songwriters […]

The Songwriter Agency Opens In Nashville

The Songwriter Agency, a firm centered on booking hit songwriters in mainstream venues, has opened its doors in Nashville. Music industry veterans Paul Compton, Randy Harrell, and Rod Parkin co-founded the agency, which already has a roster of over 30 country, rock, and pop writers. Among those on the roster are Regie Hamm (David Cook’s […]

Aldean’s “Party” Starts Today

It’s street day for Broken Bow star Jason Aldean, who is wrapping a successful 2010 with the release of his fourth studio album My Kinda Party. “We took more time to make this record than any other we’ve done, and I definitely think you can hear that in the singing,” says Aldean. Among the album’s […]

Reba Previews New Album; McGraw Single Out Today

The Valory promotion team is traveling across the country letting fans and radio preview the new album from Reba. All The Women I Am lands in stores Nov. 9, and until then the ‘Rate The Reba’ tour is hitting anywhere from 2-5 cities per day. The dates are a mix of VIP listening sessions for […]

Bentley To Kick-off CMA Awards Day; Last Day For Voting

•••Reminder: Voting for the final ballot of the CMA Awards closes today (11/2).••• Dierks Bentley will kick-off CMA Awards day (11/10) with a performance on ABC News’ Good Morning America, and will take the stage again that night on The 44th Annual CMA Awards. Also on Good Morning America, CMA Awards co-host Brad Paisley and […]

The Judds and Shania Twain Set For TV Series

The Judds and Shania Twain will each star in new original series for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, a multi-platform media company that will debut Jan 1, 2011 on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The Judds follows the lives of duo Naomi and Wynonna Judd as they prepare for their first tour in ten […]

Sound Exchange Offers New Artist Checklist

SoundExchange is a non-profit performance rights organization appointed by congress to pay digital royalties earned through play on Internet radio, satellite radio, cable TV music channels plus revenue collections from foreign societies. The organization recently distributed $54.8 million to recording artists and sound recording copyright holders in Q2 2010 payments, its largest ever quarterly payments. […]

ACM Awards Voting Timeline

The Academy of Country Music has announced the ballot timeline for professional membership voting for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be held in Spring 2011 on an as-yet-unannounced date. Details and timeline for fan voting will be announced at a later date. In addition, the Academy is announcing that new membership […]

Photos: Warner Patio Party; Jamey Johnson; Joe Diffie

••••Warner Music Nashville hosted its final Pickin’ On The Patio party of the inaugural season last Thursday. Over 300 attendees were treated to a songwriter round with tunesmiths Jim Collins (“She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”), Tony Arata (“The Dance”) and Marv Green (“Amazed”), whose demos of these smash hits are featured on the recent Warner […]

Underwood Performs/Writes Narnia Title Track

Carrie Underwood will be on the silver screen this holiday season, well at least her voice will. Underwood, has co-written the title song, “There’s A Place For Us” from the upcoming film The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 10. A rough cut of the film […]

Industry Items: Rondal Richardson, Rob Crosby, Third Coast

••••Rondal Richardson has been named entertainment industry relations manager for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In this newly created position, Richardson will develop and strengthen relations between VUMC and professionals in music, athletics and performing arts. Richardson was previously the manager for Wynonna Judd. Throughout his career and with his business, Greater Purpose Productions, he has […]

SESAC To Honor Jim Lauderdale

SESAC will honor the top songwriters and publishers in the Country and Americana genres at the SESAC Nashville Music Awards on Monday, November 8, 2010 at the performing rights organization’s Nashville headquarters. This year, SESAC will be presenting revered artist/songwriter/producer Jim Lauderdale with the “Inspiration Award.” His genre-defying songs have been recorded by George Strait, […]

ABC’s Robin Roberts Spotlights Nashville

Reporter Robin Roberts will host an hour-long special Wed., Nov. 3 on ABC, giving viewers a pass into the homes and private lives of country music stars. In The Spotlight With Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville will feature Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes and others. See photos from the special below.

American Media, Owner of “Country Weekly,” Announces Restructuring

American Media Inc. today (11/1) announced it will engage in a financial restructuring through a prepackaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. The process is expected to begin in about two weeks and last about 60 days. American Media, Inc. is the publisher of Country Weekly, Star, Shape, Men’s Fitness, The National Enquirer and more. The […]

2011 Country Radio Hall of Fame Inductees

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® has announced that Dale Carter, Charlie Cook, Dene Hallam, Barry Kent, Bill Payne and Lee Rogers will be inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Dale Carter, Barry Kent and Lee Rogers are the 2011 On-Air Personality inductees. Charlie Cook, Dene Hallam and Bill Payne are the Radio inductees. The […]

Cracker Barrel Offers Smokey Robinson Collection

Cracker Barrel, known for releasing exclusive product from country and bluegrass artists, is expanding its music collection with a new album by legendary hit-maker Smokey Robinson. Starting today, Nov. 1, he is visiting national media in Nashville and New York to promote Now and Then. The CD features six live versions of classics, including “Going […]

Unveiling of Rascal Flatts Surgery Center at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital

The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt honored Rascal Flatts in the naming of its Pediatric Surgery Center. The band has donated more than $3 million to Children’s Hospital. The Rascal Flatts Surgery Center features a new specialized radiology suite, offering patients expanded services, and will house all of Children’s Hospital’s existing and new […]

The Highway Girl Does “Ring of Fire”

Indie artist and Internet pioneer Samantha Murphy, also known as The Highway Girl, partnered with licensing and royalty service RightsFlow to raise awareness for Limelight, a service that assists artists with clearance for cover songs for release. Murphy wrote, produced and is featured in the informational video “Ring of Fire,” which explains how the Limelight […]

Vezner Has An App

Grammy winning songwriter Jon Vezner has aptitiude. His new music video, “I’ve Got An App For That” co-written with Si Kahn highlights what may be becoming an addiction for millions of people worldwide. The music video, created by filmmaker Louise Woehrie of Whirlygig Productions is inspired by Vezner’s wry humor and deadpan persona. Using a […]

Best Lawyers Recognizes Horsnell and Sullivan

Best Lawyers has named Christian Horsnell of Milom Joyce Horsnell Crow PLC in the area of Intellectual Property Law; and Robert Sullivan of Loeb & Loeb in the area of Entertainment Law as Lawyers of the Year from the Nashville entertainment community. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored annually. […]

Initial MerleFest Lineup Announced

MerleFest 2011 has announced their initial lineup, slated for April 28th – May 1st, 2011. Doc Watson will host the artists at the Wilkes Community College campus in Wilkesboro, N.C., in celebration of what Doc refers to as “traditional-plus” music—the unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass, old-time music, Americana, […]

Broken Bow Signs Cook; Blackmon in ASCAP’s SCORES Program

Broken Bow Signs Kristy Lee Cook Broken Bow Records announced the signing of Kristy Lee Cook to a recording and publishing deal on Broken Bow Music and Magic Mustang Music. Singer-songwriter Cook, who appeared on the seventh season of American Idol, is also known for her work as a host for The Outdoor Channel’s Outdoor’s […]

Music City Walk of Fame Inductees Announced

Music City Inc. announced the inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: Eddy Arnold, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Hebb, Kris Kristofferson, Rascal Flatts and Mel Tillis. This eighth class of honorees will be recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, November 7th, at the […]

Sunny in California, Nichols in Indianapolis & Nail in Milwaukee

Republic Nashville artist Sunny Sweeney hit the California coast, celebrating her current single, “From a Table Away,” the highest charting debut single from a female artist since 2007’s Kellie Pickler. Show Dog artist Joe Nichols visited Hank FM in Indianapolis, supporting his current single, “The Shape I’m In.” MCA’s David Nail stopped in the WMIL […]

SESAC Ups Riggle, Signs Rickman

Gregory Riggle has been promoted to Vice President, Industry Relations & Business Communication at SESAC. Riggle, who was formerly Associate Vice President, Broadcast Licensing, started his career with SESAC in 1986 in the Broadcast Licensing Department before serving as Vice President in the Writer/Publisher Relations Department. Riggle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications […]

Performance Royalty Consensus Still Elusive

The debate between radio and the record labels over the payment of performance royalties continues to slog through a quagmire of conflicting views. Inside Radio recently conducted an unscientific poll which shows that 75% of its readers  believe, “It’s a tactical error to concede that radio should pay for the performance of music.” One reader […]

Weekly Chart Report (10/29/10)

RADIO NEWS WGH/Norfolk PD John Shomby is handling music and programming duties for Max Broadcasting Group Holdings’ WCMS/Elizabeth City-Nags Head, NC after the departure of PD/MD Ray Turner. WCMS is currently seeking Turner’s replacement. SPIN ZONE Taylor Swift’s third album Speak Now is flying off shelves and headed toward a monster sales week, while its […]

GAC Ups Trahern and Gordon

GAC has promoted Sarah Trahern to General Manager/Sr. Vice President. Trahern will report to GAC President Ed Hardy and have broader responsibilities related to strategic planning and as well as more day-to-day management over all departments at GAC. “Sarah has demonstrated strong leadership, solid business acumen and incredible resourcefulness while contributing significantly to the growth […]

Pickin’ On the Patio at Warner Music Nashville

Join Warner Music Nashville at their signature Pickin’ On The Patio event today, Thursday, October 28th. Atlantic Records’ Ty Stone and Reprise Records’ the JaneDear Girls are the featured performers in this incredibly successful inaugural season of Patio shows, which kicked off in May. Past performers include Gloriana, The Invite, Alissa Moreno, Jim Collins, Tony […]