Keith Urban Readies New Single, Album

On September 13, Capitol Nashville artist Keith Urban will release the debut single “Put You In A Song,” from his forthcoming release, Get Closer, due Tuesday, November 16. “Put You In A Song” was co-written by Urban, Sarah Buxton and Jedd Hughes and is co-produced by Dann Huff and Urban. Capitol is offering country radio […]

“House Foundation” To Close Its Doors

Gerry House, longtime king of morning radio in Nashville, announced on the air this morning (9/3) that his show, The House Foundation, which airs on Clear Channel/WSIX will come to an end on December 15. House is calling it quits after 30 years in country radio, citing his desire to devote more time to other […]

Secondary Programmers Address Change, Music and a Crowded Marketplace

With the radio audience being offered more listening options than ever, the programmer’s job is constantly evolving to stay competitive. One not only has to keep a station sounding great, but also address the audience through social media and maintain that elusive balance between focus and diversity.

“Lost Boy” Walkathon Set For Sept. 18

The Lost Boys Foundation of Nashville is hosting the first-ever Music Row Walkathon, “Journey of Hope,” set to begin on Saturday, September 18, in Owen Bradley Park on the south side of Music Circle, with participants walking the length of Music Row West and then down Music Row East back to the park. It’s an […]

Nashville Continues Eco-Friendly Concert Series

Live On the Green, a free, outdoor concert series on Nashville’s Public Square, starts its second season on Sept. 9 with a star-studded lineup including platinum recording artists Five for Fighting and Tonic. The six-week concert series is produced by locally-owned radio station Lightning 100 in partnership with the Nashville Mayor’s Office and takes place […]

Frank Offers Hit Formula

Jay Frank, CMT’s Senior VP, Music Strategy and author of Futurehit.DNA, stands at the forefront of the new music industry with his theories on the elements of a hit song. Now artists have the opportunity to put these ideas to music as part of the Futurehit.DNA Songwriting Challenge. The music industry veteran will give three […]

Katie Armiger, GAC Unveil “Nice Girl” Sweepstakes

Rising country artist Katie Armiger has once again teamed up with GACTV.com to give fans a chance to celebrate the release of her third album, Confessions of a Nice Girl. 

“GAC’s Katie Armiger Nice Girl Sweepstakes” is going on now through September 8, and fans can enter to win a trip for two to Nashville […]

Nashville’s 615 Acquires Kingsize Music

Nashville-based 615 Music, one of the world’s leading providers of production music to the entertainment, broadcast, advertising, and corporate industries, and the recent winner of a national Emmy Award for “Outstanding Original Song” for NBC’s Today Show, has acquired noted production music library Kingsize Music NYC. 

Based in New York, the Kingsize Music Library is […]

Loretta Lynn Tribute Album Takes Shape

Country music icon Loretta Lynn is about to get the full-blown tribute-album treatment. In honor of of her 50th career anniversary, a diverse group of artists has contributed tracks for the November 9 album release of Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. 

The artists, personally chosen by Lynn, include (in alphabetical order) Sheryl Crow, […]

Paisley and Bon Jovi Sing For the Gulf

Two of the biggest names in music – Brad Paisley and Bon Jovi – will use their star power to help bring attention and tourists back to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The two free concerts on the beach are slated for the weekend of October 15-17 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Bon Jovi performing on […]

SOURCE Celebrates Nashville’s Women

The SOURCE Awards, an annual celebration honoring women in the Nashville music industry for their tireless work and contributions to the business, took place this past Thursday, August 26 at the Noah Liff Opera Center. Celia Froehlig, Carol Phillips, Sherytha Scaife, Liz Thiels and Ruth White were celebrated and thanked for contributing their knowledge and […]

ASCAP Launches App for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

John A. LoFrumento, CEO of ASCAP , today announced the launch of ASCAP Mobile, a new app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The app provides ASCAP’s songwriter, composer and publisher members with 24/7 access to their membership, catalog, performance and royalty information via ASCAP’s secure Member Access online portal. Additionally, the app’s interface allows […]

CMA Music Fest On ABC Tonight

Attention country music fans. Tonight’s the night. Tune in to ABC for CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock. The three-hour special, which attempts to capture all the music and excitement of Nashville’s annual country music extravaganza, kicks off at 8:00 PM/ET, with country superstar Tim McGraw serving as host. The special features performances by […]

ole Signs Hit Songwriter Monty Powell

ole music publishing has signed a catalog purchase and worldwide co-publishing deal with songwriter/producer Monty Powell. Powell has been responsible for hit songs that have helped drive the sales of more than 50 million albums in total by artists like Restless Heart (“Dancy’s Dream”), Diamond Rio (“Norma Jean Riley,” “Nowhere Bound”), Billy Ray Cyrus (“Could […]

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/1/10)

You say you want some tempo tunes? Well, step right up. This week’s stack of platters contains a bevy of boppers. Marty Stuart, The McClymonts, Blaine Larsen, Mason Douglas and Eric Heatherly are all tapping their toes. Margaret Durante and Jewel are both breezy, too.

A Big Week For Little Big Town

With a No. 1 album and a CMA Awards nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, Capitol Nashville’s Little Big Town has a lot to celebrate this week. The vocal quartet’s new album, The Reason Why, debut this week at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top […]

Lo Cash Cowboys Play “Double Header”

Stroudavarious Records artists LoCash Cowboys will play a double header on Thursday night (9/2). The country duo – Preston Brust and Chris Lucas – will first perform the National Anthem at LP Field as the Tennessee Titans take on Super Bowl XLIV champions, the New Orleans Saints, and then immediately depart for their 10:00 PM performance that […]

Brooks Takes “Country Countdown” On The Road

Brooks & Dunn’s Last Rodeo Tour will come to a close tomorrow night (9/2) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. While it may be the duo’s last concert together, this will not mark the end of life on the road for Brooks, who hosts the nationally syndicated American Country Countdown for Citadel Media. Throughout 2011, Brooks will […]

Dierks And Miranda Reveal Final Five CMA Categories On GMA

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert announced the final nominees in five CMA Awards categories live from the “Good Morning America” studios in the heart of New York City’s Times Square on the ABC Television Network. The nominees were available on the Good Morning America website after they were announced in the 7:30am ET […]

Save The Dates: Capitol Party, CMA Tix

Get out your calendars, these important dates have just been announced… Capitol Records Nashville is planning its 3rd annual Street Party on Demonbreun for Wed., Oct. 13. More info to come. •••••• Tickets for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 18 (10:00 AM/CT), and can be purchased by logging on […]

Chris Young Signs With ShopKeeper Management

RCA Nashville recording artist Chris Young has signed an exclusive management agreement with Marion Kraft’s ShopKeeper Management. The company also represents Miranda Lambert on Columbia Nashville and Josh Kelley on MCA Nashville. Additionally, Shopkeeper has hired Crystal Dishmon to serve as the day-to-day contact for all artists on the roster. Megan Pool is continuing in […]

CMA’s 2010 Broadcast Awards Finalists

Final nominees for the nation’s top Country radio stations and broadcast personalities were delivered to Country Radio today (8/31), when Steel Magnolia revealed the 2010 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year finalists live from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The announcements were carried live to Country radio stations by CMA’s official radio partner Premiere […]

Miranda Lambert Gets Five CMA Nods

Reporting by Sarah Skates, Jon Freeman Miranda Lambert earned five CMA Award nods at today’s (8/31) announcement of final nominees in select categories. Justin Moore and Chris Young unveiled the nominees in seven categories this morning from the stage of the historic Ryman auditorium. Steel Magnolia announced finalists for the 2010 CMA Broadcast Award Personality […]

NaSHOF Announces New Inductees

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame To Induct Pat Alger, Steve Cropper, Paul Davis and Stephen Foster Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) has announced this year’s inductees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: From the Songwriter category, hit writers Pat Alger and Steve Cropper; From the Songwriter/Artist category, the late Pop/Country star Paul […]

Commerce Secretary In Nashville To Discuss Piracy

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was in Nashville today (8/30) for a meeting between members of government and local music business leaders to discuss music piracy. NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison moderated the discussion featuring leaders from all levels of government: Locke, Mayor Karl Dean, Governor Phil Bredesen, and Congressman Jim Cooper. Some of Nashville’s […]

Kelly Parkes

Kelly Parkes brings a feisty innocence to her debut single, “Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight”, on Edge Records/Lofton Creek Records. Not one to sit on the sidelines, this tiny, five foot one, 23 year-old vocalist from rural Lancaster County, Penn., is proving herself as a force to be reckoned with. “‘Nothin’ Good Ever Happens […]

Trailer Choir Streams Direct-To-Fan Concert

Trailer Choir will stream a direct-to-fan concert performance on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on CMT.com. In addition to singing many of its fan favorites such as “Rockin’ The Beer Gut,” and “Shakin’ That Tailgate,” the trio will also take questions from a select audience of contest winners. The live stream event is part […]

CMA Hosts Second Tweet n’ Greet (#cmatv)

The action will extend across multiple screens during the Sept. 1 airing (ABC, 8-11p.m. ET) of the CMA’s broadcast special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock. Fans will be able to visit ABC.com to view twitter feeds from a variety of artists including Julianne Hough(@JulianneHough), Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum), Reba McEntire (@Reba), Tim McGraw (@TimMcGrawArtist), […]

Jerrod Niemann’s No. 1 and Jesse Lee Visits KJUG

Songwriter Dan Pritzker actually wrote “Lover, Lover” for his band Sonia Dada in 1992, and the tune, originally titled “You Don’t Treat Me No Good,” was a #1 hit for the group in Australia. Jerrod Niemann’s recording of Pritzker’s hit marks his very first climb to the top spot as an artist. Niemann earned his first #1 […]

Espo Performs At Patio Pickin Event; Joanna Smith Visits ACM

The ACM recently welcomed Joanna Smith at the organization’s Los Angeles offices. Smith became a professional member and sang “Gettin’ Married” in an impromptu performance for the ACM staffers. Photo: Michel Bourquard Warner Music Nashville, together with Aramark, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Frugal MacDoogal, GiGi’s Cupcakes, Jubilee Beer, Skylar Wilson Productions, Sunrise of […]

Hall of Fame Opens Wynette Exhibit, Ends Miller Residency

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum recently (8/19) hosted a reception for its new exhibition Tammy Wynette: First Lady of Country Music, Presented by Great American Country Television Network. The exhibit, which runs through June 12, 2011, features video narration by Faith Hill. The reception was supported by RJ Young. ••••••••••••• Buddy Miller […]

Blake Shelton To Debut First Concert Special

Blake Shelton’s first television concert special will premiere Wed., Sept. 8 on GAC. Shot at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Indiana, Blake Shelton Live: It’s All About Tonight includes 90 minutes of hits and new music from the Reprise Records artist. Concert footage is interspersed with candid conversations with the star. The special was produced by […]

AFM President Clarifies Engineer Position

As President of the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257, I must clarify the statements made in last Friday’s article in MusicRow regarding engineers joining the Musicians Union. It was premature to say that engineers can “now sign the card on recording sessions.” What should have been said is that we were “considering the possibility […]

McClymonts Join Aldean Tour

Australia’s female fab three, The McClymonts will play a series of tour dates starting Sept. 10 with Jason Aldean. The sister trio, Brooke, Sam and Mollie, also have just released their Gold-in-Australia CD, Chaos and Bright Lights in the U.S. The album was produced by Adam Anders and the sisters wrote or co-wrote all 12 […]

Bobby Karl Works The Dale Franklin Award Dinner

The speeches were kept to a minimum, and that left more time for music, music, music. The good folks at Leadership Music are going to be hard-pressed to top the talent parade that performed at this year’s Dale Franklin Award ceremony. Staged Sunday evening (8/29) at the Renaissance Hotel ballroom, the event saluted Fred Foster, […]

MR Artist Roster (Aug./Sept. 2010)

Purchase The Artist Roster Issue On The Cover: BLAKE SHELTON Label: Reprise Records Current Album: All About Tonight Current Single/Video: “All About Tonight” Current Producer: Scott Hendricks Hometown: Ada, Oklahoma Management: Starstruck Management Group Booking: William Morris Endeavour Recent Hits: “Hillbilly Bone” (No. 1), “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” (No. 1), “Home” (No. 1) Awards: ACM […]

RECORD INDUSTRY CONFESSIONS: Distribution & The Years Of Denial

Could it be that the music industry, which has always controlled distribution of its product, is now stymied by its inability to recognize it can no longer “lock the store at night?” Industry Analysis by David M. Ross

Friday Photos: Artists On Parade

Rich And His Uncle In St. Louis Warner Bros. Records artist John Rich and his pal, Atlantic Records artist Uncle Kracker, recently stopped by WIL in St. Louis to visit with station MD Danny Montana. • • • Trace Adkins Comes In Peace Trace Adkins brought together several radio stations at a recent stop in […]

Randy Rogers Band Hits No. 1

MCA Nashville recording artist the Randy Rogers Band made a splash this week with their new album landing at No. 1 on the iTunes country albums chart and No. 2 on the iTunes all genre album chart just behind pop superstar Katy Perry. Their new album, Burning The Day, entered the chart ahead of Fantasia, Usher, […]

Source Honors Nashville Women

SOURCE is movin’ on up, in every way. The organization’s eighth annual awards presentation honoring women in the Nashville music business featured a new venue, more attendees than ever, the announcement of its exhibit at the Nashville Airport, splendid food and an excellent roster of honorees. 

Beginning with the last, saluted this year were Celia […]

615 Music Adds Danielle Wade

Nashville’s 615 Music, one of the world’s leading providers of production music to the entertainment, broadcast, advertising, and corporate industries, and the recent winner of a national Emmy Award for “Outstanding Original Song” for NBC’s Today Show, has retained UK-based representative Danielle Wade. Ms. Wade will represent 615 Music’s extensive catalog throughout the United Kingdom. […]

Musicians Union Welcomes Recording Engineers

[Note: This announcement has been updated and clarified] The Nashville Chapter of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257, have reached an understanding that could dramatically benefit recording engineers in the Nashville community. Recording Engineers can now join the Nashville AFM and sign the Union cards as a musician […]

BLOOD, SWEAT & FACEBOOK: The Publicist’s Expanding Radio Role

With CD sales continuing to slide, label budgets and staffs shrinking and the bottleneck at radio getting ever tighter, the rules are changing and the roles rearranging for the recording artist’s “team members.” In an increasingly niche-oriented scenario, public relations has begun to loom larger in the overall picture.

Weekly Chart Report (8/27/10)

SPIN ZONE The CountryBreakout Chart’s Top 4 songs aren’t budging, at least not this week. Lady Antebellum’s “Our Kind Of Love” has the advantage of a comfortable lead in spins and holds the No. 1 spot for a third consecutive week. Closing the gap behind the Capitol trio is Billy Currington’s “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ […]

Nashville Opera Names Kira Florita Sr. Dir.

Nashville Opera, the acclaimed performing arts organization, has named civic and business leader Kira Florita to the newly created position of Senior Director for Advancement. The company has strategically focused on collaborating with a wide range of organizations and businesses to extend the reach of the art form, and Ms. Florita’s experience will assist in […]

Quarterback Records Partners With Ettinger Talent

Quarterback Records and John Ettinger’s newly-established management/consulting firm, Ettinger Talent Associates have formed a joint venture which places Quarterback founder Chris Allums and Ettinger as co-principals of an enlarged Quarterback Records. “This is a huge step for Quarterback,” said Allums. “John’s reputation in Nashville and throughout country radio is one of integrity and success. We […]

Swift Video Gets Global Cross-Channel, Debut

Taylor Swift’s new video “Mine” will debut Fri. Aug. 27 and reach more than 160 countries around the world. CMT, MTV, VH1 and MTV International will team up to present the global premiere. The first single from Swift’s upcoming album Speak Now, “Mine,” was rushed to radio after reportedly being leaked across the Internet. It […]

Underwood, Paisley Return as CMA Hosts

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will reunite to host “Country Music’s Biggest Night(TM)” for a third time in 2010. The 44th Annual CMA Awards airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. “Carrie and Brad have done a tremendous job hosting and we are […]

Randy Houser Visits ACM Offices

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Show Dog-Universal Music Recording Artist and ACM Professional Member Randy Houser to the office for a visit when he was in Los Angeles this week. Houser’s new album, They Call Me Cadillac, releases on September 21 and will feature forthcoming single, “A Man Like Me.” Houser appeared on the […]

CMT To Showcase “Artists of the Year”

Country music’s top artists and celebrities from all facets of entertainment will gather for an evening of star-studded performances, tributes and camaraderie in celebration of the first ever, CMT Artists of the Year, a 90-minute special premiering Friday, December 3 on CMT. Performers and host to be announced. CMT Artists of the Year will recognize […]