Fighting Hunger With “Stars For Second Harvest”

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is gearing up for the 6th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on September 28 at 7:30 PM at the Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Hosted by acclaimed songwriter Craig Wiseman, the concert will feature an unplugged acoustic style performance by some of music’s brightest stars including Uncle Kracker, […]

Luke Bryan and BMI Bring On The “Rain”

Well-wishers gathered in BMI’s Music Row lobby on Tuesday (9/21) to toast the chart-topping collaboration of longtime friends and BMI affiliates Luke Bryan and Dallas Davidson. “Rain is a Good Thing,” which Bryan recorded and the pair co-wrote, marks Bryan’s second consecutive chart-topper and gold digital single and Davidson’s fifth No. 1. To cap off […]

Farm Aid One–25 Years Ago

Tony Conway (L) and Buddy Lee (R) at the University of Illinois stadium at 2 a.m. just after Bob Dylan and Tom Petty finished sound check. The event was Farm Aid One. It attracted a sold out crowd of 80,000 fans, featured over 60 artists and was broadcast live on TNN. Note the TV interview […]

Chesney Heads To CMT’s “Invitation Only”

Kenny Chesney is the latest star headed to the Invitation Only stage when an all-new episode of the show premieres Monday, September 27 at 9:00 PM-10:00 PM/CT on CMT. Taped before a small studio audience in Nashville, the Invitation Only series features artists performing their biggest hits and new favorites, as well as answering questions […]

New Book Chronicles CMA Awards History

The glamour, history, backstage stories, and memorable moments from more than 40 years of the annual CMA Awards are collected in a new, unique book, The CMA Awards Vault, now available nationwide. Author Deborah Evans Price traces the show’s 43-year run from a one-hour, radio-only broadcast in 1967 to the glittery three-hour, network television spectacle […]

Memorial Set For Engineer Bill Porter

A memorial service for pioneering Music Row studio engineer Bill Porter will be held at 5:00 PM on Friday, Sept. 24, at RCA Studio B. He died at age 79 on July 7 of Alzheimer’s disease in Ogden, Utah. Porter was the long-time engineer at the famous RCA Studio B. As such he was behind […]

Shania Twain To Publish Autobiography

Mercury Records artist Shania Twain has signed an agreement with Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, to publish her autobiography, it was announced today by Judith Curr, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Atria Books and Washington Square Press. Atria plans to publish the book in spring 2011. In this yet to be titled […]

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/22/10)

What is past is present. This week, The Judds and Ken Mellons are returning with records that reinvent their respective sounds. Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow & Miranda Lambert revisit a country classic and earn a Disc of the Day honor in the bargain.

Appraising The Strategic Value of Airplay For Indie Artists

According to conventional wisdom and recent CMA research studies, radio remains a dominant force in shaping the country star constellation. Last year’s CMA study showed that 79% of country fans 18-54 listen to country radio. (The next largest category was 54% that visit the web once or more per month to find country music content.) […]

CMA Songwriter Series Returns To Nashville

After a string of sold out shows in New York City, the popular CMA Songwriters Series will return to Nashville on Tuesday, Nov. 9 (10:00 PM/CT) at Limelight, as part of the festivities leading up to The 44th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 10. Featuring RCA Nashville artist Chris Young (“Getting You Home,” “Drinkin’ […]

Country Hall To Honor Dan Penn

Master country-soul craftsman Dan Penn will treat guests to a rare Nashville performance and an in-depth interview on October 16 as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s programming series Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters. The 1:30 PM program, which will be held in the Museum’s Ford Theater, is included with Museum […]

NSAI Throws “World’s Largest #1 Party”

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted industry professionals on Monday evening (9/20) for the World’s Largest #1 Party, presented by Avenue Bank and The Recording Academy® to celebrate veteran hitmakers and talented newcomers. NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison and NSAI President, Grammy-nominated songwriter Steve Bogard kicked off the festivities with two organizational awards – […]

Photos: Country Artists Make The Rounds

Grascals On the Gridiron Two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year The Grascals sang the National Anthem during the Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers pre-game ceremonies last Sunday (9/19). “It was a huge honor to sing the National Anthem for our favorite NFL team,” said Grascal Jamie Johnson. • • • Eldredge & Lee at CRB […]

Bellamy Brothers

The latest single from legendary duo the Bellamy Brothers is “Back In The Day,” a rocking little slice of nostalgia that yearns for the simplicity of younger days. This single is the followup to the Howard and David Bellamy’s controversial “Jalapenos,” which proved a little too topically hot for U.S. radio stations but its video […]

Grand Ole Opry Comes Home on GAC

The Grand Ole Opry returns to its historic home – the Grand Ole Opry House – for the first time since being displaced as a result of May’s historic Nashville flood and Great American Country (GAC) will present it live in Country Comes Home: An Opry Celebration on Tuesday, September 28 at 8:00 PM/CT. Among […]

Seattle Success For Bentley’s “Miles & Music”

Capitol Records artist Dierks Bentley’s Miles & Music For Kids event in Seattle on Saturday, Sept. 18, continued despite heavy rains, bringing in $50,000 for Seattle Children’s Hospital. “Rainy days aren’t typically when most people are itching to get out the motorcycle for a leisurely afternoon ride,” laughed Bentley. “But…we’ve come to learn over the […]

Shelton to Headline CRS Music City Jam

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® and the Academy of Country Music ® have announced Reprise Records artist Blake Shelton as headliner of the 2011 CRS Music City Jam, to be held Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The annual Music City Jam is one of Country Radio Seminar’s premier events and has showcased some of the biggest stars […]

Bobby Karl Works The ACM Honors

Chapter 346 Inviting fans to the ACM Honors turned out to be an excellent idea – the event was punctuated by star-struck cheers of delight and spontaneous standing ovations. There was a whole new level of energy at this fourth annual gig. The appearances of Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Martina McBride and […]

Monroe Re-Signs; Bice Opines

Wrensong/Reynsong reports it has re-signed Ashley Monroe to a new publishing deal. Bo Bice stopped into the WKLB Boston Country 102.5 studio for a live webcast last week, where he played songs from his latest album ‘3’, including the current country single “You Take Yourself With You” and answered some questions with morning show host […]

MTV And Swift Offer “Speak Now” Promotion

CMT and MTV Networks will host an international streaming event and online contest to celebrate the release of Taylor Swift’s new album Speak Now at the United Nations in New York on the album’s release date, Monday, October 25. The online contest, Speak Now With Taylor Swift In New York City, is live now at […]

Next Big Nashville/Digital Summit Announce Lineup

Next BIG Nashville (NBN) and Leadership Music DIGITAL SUMMIT (LMDS) have announced the final schedules for their upcoming September 29- October 2 festival and conference in Nashville. Events include; 150+ bands performing during the four-day, multi-genre music festival in Nashville’s coolest venues, the digital summit, featuring guest speakers and panelists from every corner of digital […]

Lady A Plays For Musicians On Call

Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit organization that brings live music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities, announced a special performance by renowned trio Lady Antebellum at City Winery in New York on October 13, 2010. The show, which will benefit MOC, is part of the organization’s Month of Music initiative, a series of […]

Salamon Named CEO of Savannah Music Group

Ed Salamon has been named chief executive officer of Savannah Music Group, effective Oct. 1. Salamon approached SMG President Dave Gibson after Savannah took the unprecedented step among music publishing companies and record labels of opposing mandatory Performance Rights fee legislation. Since both believe that proposed legislation could reduce the amount of music played on […]

Mandy Barnett Brings Holidays To Cracker Barrell

The newest CD in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store’s music program is Winter Wonderland, a holiday album from Mandy Barnett. In addition to the title track, holiday standards such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Marshmallow World,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “White Christmas” are all included in the holiday collection. In […]

Music Rising Supports Gulf Coast Culture

Music Rising, an award-winning initiative co-founded in 2005 by U2’s the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, has announced a $1 million program in partnership with Tulane University to develop a college curriculum that will provide a permanent, comprehensive and definitive study of the musical heritage of New Orleans […]

Loretta Lynn’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

Country music legend Loretta Lynn will celebrate her 50th year making music with a special invitation-only event to be held this Friday (9/24) at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Held on-site at Lynn’s 18,000 square foot Coal Miner’s Daughter Museum and billed as A Tribute to an American Icon, the evening’s activities […]

Worley’s Tennessee River Run A Big Success

Darryl Worley’s ninth annual Tennessee River Run took place this past weekend (9/16 through  9/18). Once again, the singer/songwriter put together an all-star cast to participate in the three-day festival. Worley performed with a stellar lineup including hit songwriters Wynn Varble, Jim “Moose” Brown and Phil O’ Donnell, and artists including The Marshall Tucker Band, […]

DISClaimer Pop/Rock Single Reviews (9/20/10)

It’s high time we checked up on Nashville’s ever-expanding pop/rock community. There’s a little big of everything to sample, from the hard rock of November to the singer-songwriter vibe of Alyssa Bonagura, from the over-the-top personality of Joanna Cotten to the introspective-and-hooky Dave Barnes, from the soul sisters of Kentucky Thunder to the new-wavey Jeff the Brotherhood.

BMG Rights Adds Evergreen

In a deal reportedly valued at $80 million, KKR-backed BMG Rights Management has gone shopping, gobbling Evergreen Copyright Acquisitions, its fourth company this year. Earlier this year BMG Rights snagged Cherry Lane Music, Adage IV and Stage Three music. According to reports in the New York Post, Evergreen was founded in 2006 and owns rights […]

Bone Collector CD Melds Hunting and Country

Noted outdoorsman Michael Waddell (Bone Collector) has joined forces with country songwriters Rhett Akins (“Gimme That Girl,” “All About Tonight”) and Dallas Davidson (“Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” “Start a Band”). The resulting collaboration, a “hunting album” entitled, Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector: The Brotherhood Album featuring Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson comes out on Reprise Records on […]

Katie Armiger is a “Nice Girl” in GAC Sweepstakes

Up-and-coming country artist Katie Armiger teamed up with GACTV.com to celebrate the release of her upcoming album, Confessions of a Nice Girl. On August 31st, GAC kicked off the contest, giving a lucky fan the opportunity to win a trip for two to Nashville to attend Armiger’s album release party on September 29th. Kelly Johnson […]

IEBA Adds Conference Performers

IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) has announced additional performances at this year’s 40th Anniversary conference. On Monday, October 4, the legendary “I Will Survive” singer Gloria Gaynor will follow this year’s keynote speaker, Jim Morey, with a performance in the main ballroom at the Hilton Suites in downtown Nashville. CAA will provide a host of stars […]

Brentwood Skatepark To Be Dedicated to Alex LeVasseur

Songwriter Jeffrey Steele has announced that the official groundbreaking for the the new Alex LeVasseur Memorial Skatepark at the Brentwood YMCA. The Y’s current skatepark, which is over 10 years old, was completely submerged during the Nashville flood in early May. The park, in desperate need of repair and renovation, will be torn out, re-designed, […]

Target And Taylor Offer Deluxe “Speak Now”

Target has announced its partnership with superstar Taylor Swift on her third album, Speak Now. Target will offer an exclusive deluxe version of the album that features three new music tracks, three remixed music tracks, and 30 minutes of video content with the four-time GRAMMY® Award winner.  The special deluxe version of Speak Now will […]

Warner Bros. Readies Song Demo Collection

Warner Bros. Records is getting ready to offer music lovers a peek into the songs that artists hear before they become a No. 1 hit. The Original Songwriter Demos is a collection of original demo performances of some of country music’s most influential hits performed by the songwriter’s themselves. Volumes one and two of the […]

Zac Brown Band Goes “Live” Online With Ustream


On Sunday, September 19, Zac Brown Band will stream their live show from the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre, powered by Ustream via ZacBrownBand.com. The band will perform songs from their new album You Get What You Give, as well as material from their double platinum major label debut The Foundation. The concert will debut the […]

Weekly Chart Report (9/17/10)

RADIO NEWS Following Lotus Broadcasting’s flip of KUUB to sports, several staff members have exited. Those departing include MD/afternoons Big Chris Hart (775-830-1320 or bigchrishart@hotmail.com), morning co-host Woody (775-842-4314 or woodyyourmicsopen@gmail.com) and morning co-host Malayna (775-219-3032 or malaynajoy@gmail.com). KUUB will also be removed from MusicRow’s CountryBreakout reporting panel beginning with the upcoming week. SPIN ZONE […]

Earl Scruggs Hospitalized

Bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs has been hospitalized in North Carolina with an undisclosed illness. The banjo master was in Chapel Hill on Wednesday (9/15) for a sold-out show at the University of North Carolina. He was taken to the hospital shortly after arriving to the venue. Family members say the 86-year-old banjo great is feeling […]

Sony Songstress Exits Label

Once again the Scribe’s famed crystal ball is aglow. Unofficial it remains, but the Shiny Globe shows a female headliner with the same first and last name initial leaving Sony Music Nashville. She recently switched management and is seemingly intent on adding new elements to her career. In fact the Optical Oracle opines that Warner […]

John Dennis Forms New Management Firm

Manager John Dennis, previously managing partner of Parallel Entertainment, has launched a new management company, Dennis Entertainment. Clients include: Montgomery Gentry, Billy Currington, and Coldwater Jane. Company contact information is as follows: John Dennis – John@DennisEnt.com Alicia Jones – Alicia@DennisEnt.com Aaron Kinssies – Aaron@DennisEnt.com Grace Schoper – Grace@DennisEnt.com 209 10th Ave S, Ste 506 , […]

Universal Publishing’s Annual Tailgate Party

UMPG Nashville hosted the UMPG Tailgate Party yesterday (9/15) celebrating the success of their songwriters over the past year. The event was held in the company’s Music Row parking lot. Pat Higdon and Kent Earls presented the Excellence in A&R Award to UMG Nashville’s Joe Fisher. UMPG Nashville’s Trent Summar and The New Row Mob turned […]

Montgomery Gentry Leaves Columbia

Award winning duo, Montgomery Gentry, has amicably left their long time label, Columbia Records. It’s official. The platinum pals hit career high points with songs like “My Town,” “Hell Yeah” and trophies such as CMA Duo of the Year (2000) and ACM Top New Group/Duo (2000). The group’s latest release, For Our Heroes, was a […]

NASH2O Provides “Instrumental” Flood Relief

Dozens of guitars, mandolins and other instruments – straight from the hands of artists such as Peter Frampton, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Vince Gill and a host of others – are headed for the online auction block through nonprofit organization NASH2O (Nash-two-Oh) to support flood relief efforts in Nashville. Proceeds go to three […]

ole Wins CCMA Music Publisher of the Year

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has honored ole as Music Publisher of the Year for the 4th consecutive time. This marks the fourth win in the category in the six years since the company’s founding on September 28, 2004. ole, one of the world’s largest independent music publishers, was also named CCMA Music Publisher of the […]

SESAC Spurs Blood Drive/Food Campaign

SESAC invites everyone to come and support its Blood Drive, Spare Change/Canned Food Drive on Mon. Sept. 20. from 10-2 p.m. Please come for a good cause…[lunch provided]

Houser’s “Cadillac” Ready To Roll

Show Dog-Universal Records artist Randy Houser will celebrate the release of his sophomore album, They Call Me Cadillac, in New York on September 21 with a performance on ABC’s Good Morning America. Directly following the visit, Houser will make a series of appearances on the nationally syndicated show Better TV as well as Fox News, […]

Cumulus Goes Commercial Free For Habitat

On Tuesday, October 12, Cumulus Nashville’s five radio stations (Classic Hits 97.1 RQQ, 95.5 The Wolf, i106 All the Hits, SuperTalk 99.7 WTN and 92Q), will go commercial free from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM to raise money for the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity (NAHFH). NAHFH invests in people and property, converting renters to […]

Nashville Label Releases Curtis Mayfield Tribute

Songwriter/producer/publisher Jerry Michael will celebrate the launch of his new Nashville record label, Cool Pepper Disc, by releasing a new CD in late September honoring the late R&B/soul recording artist/songwriter Curtis Mayfield. The label’s debut project, The Impressions’ 50th Anniversary Salute to Curtis Mayfield, will feature 17 Mayfield-penned hits, including “Keep on Pushin’”, “Amen”, “People […]

Luke Bryan Partners With NRA

The National Rifle Association’s NRACountry has announced a partnership with ACM Top New Artist Luke Bryan’s 2010 Farm Tour. The tour across Georgia kicks off on September 28. “I just love what the NRA family has been doing for the kids in my home state of Georgia,” said Bryan. “They have given hundreds of thousands of […]

Rich Helps Bring Country Back to NYC

Country music’s coming to the city with the help of Reprise Records artist, John Rich. Ocean County, New Jersey’s country station, THUNDER 98.5 FM, recently announced the re-position of two of its radio formats beginning today (9/15). In their new expansion, the station will begin broadcasting into central New Jersey expanding to New York City […]