Ram Truck and ACM Introduce Text-To-Vote

The Ram Truck Brand and the Academy of Country Music announced today the first-ever text-to-vote for the Entertainer of the Year fan-voted category, the highest accolade bestowed on an artist as part of the 45th Annual ACM Awards. 

This text-to-vote powered by Ram Truck will provide fans with the first-time opportunity to utilize texting to […]

Orchard Opens Nashville Office

The Orchard, a global leader in music and video distribution and comprehensive digital strategy, has announced it has opened a new office on Nashville’s Music Row. “Nashville has always had it right; it’s about the songs,” commented Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard. ”We hope to apply our expertise around the digital music business to […]

Brian Rhoades Joins EMI Nashville Promotion Staff

Senior Vice President Promotion Steve Hodges has announced the hiring of Brian Rhoades as Director of Promotion, Northeast for EMI Records Nashville. Rhoades, along with the other previously announced promotion staffers Chuck Swaney (Mid/Southwest), Trudie Daniell (Southeast) and Ron Bradley (West Coast), will work as a liaison between the label and country radio stations across […]

Stars Come Out For Best Cellars Dinner

Dierks Bentley, Mike Diamond, Danny Gokey, Jewel, Julianne Hough, Big Kenny, Gary Allan, Sarah Buxton, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton and Phil Vassar will be in attendance to assist the T.J. Martell Foundation with celebrating the Eco-Energy Best Cellars Dinner on Monday, April 26 at the Hutton Hotel. The event, sponsored by Eco-Energy Inc., […]

Ben Vaughn To Head EMI Music Publishing

EMI Music Publishing announced today (4/15) that Ben Vaughn has been appointed to run its Nashville operations. As Executive Vice President and General Manager of EMI Music Publishing Nashville, Vaughn will lead the company’s creative, administrative, and commercial business in the country music capital. Vaughn, who was previously Vice President of Writer & Artist Development, […]

Judds To Open CMA Festival

Superstar duo The Judds will kick off 2010 CMA Music Festival with the opening daily concert on the Riverfront Park Stage at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 10. “The Judds performing on the Riverfront Park Stage – that is something worth waking up for!” says Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “We are so […]

Sweet Tweets: Ads Come To Twitter

Yesterday Twitter launched its first profit spinning initiative, a promising advertising component called Promoted Tweets. A handful of big name advertisers including Starbucks, Sony Pictures, Virgin America, and Best Buy are the first on board.

Overton to Head Sony Music Nashville

Sony Music Nashville will announce Gary Overton as its new CEO this afternoon, sources tell Billboard.biz. Overton, currently EMI Music Publishing’s executive VP and GM, will replace Joe Galante who announced yesterday that he is exiting his position of chairman of Sony Music Nashville. Galante is expected to assist during a transition period. In turn, […]

Writer’s Den Adds iPhone App

Nashville’s Writer’s Den Music has become the first known music publishing company to launch an iPhone Application. Designed by Writer’s Den Music Group Internet Marketing staff member Adam Moore, the app allows subscribers to hear the latest demos from the company’s writers, find out where and when their writers are playing around Nashville, watch exclusive […]

Warner Adds Four to Promotion Staff


Warner Music Nashville has added four people to its promotion staff. The four will join Warner West Coast regional rep Rhonda Christensen, who was hired in March. The new team members are part of a new two-team promotion department that will report directly to Warner’s Senior Vice President Promotion Chris Stacey. The new promotion staffers […]

Artist News: Luke, Brad, Dierks, Bucky & More

Luke Bryan And Longhorn Team For Sweepstakes Live at LongHorn and Luke Bryan have teamed up to host a new sweepstakes to give fans the chance to win the ultimate country music experience. Two grand prize winners will get to meet Bryan and ride on a tour bus with him throughout the Midwest. They’ll also […]

Disney Confirms Phased Closure For Lyric Street—Flatts To Remain

NASHVILLE, TN – April 14, 2010 – Disney Music Group (DMG) announced today that they will close operations at Lyric Street Records, DMG’s label presence in Nashville. “The Lyric Street team has had an amazing run, building a slate of well-known artists including the superstar act, Rascal Flatts,” said Bob Cavallo, Chairman of Disney Music […]

Reports Say Lyric Street Doors To Close

Various—but unofficial— reports, are surfacing, saying that Lyric Street Records will shutter its doors. All Access was first to break the story. Chief Lyric Street staffers include President Randy Goodman and Sr. VP A&R Doug Howard. It also includes promo staffers Kevin Herring, Dale Turner, John Ettinger and Chris Palmer. The label’s roster also includes […]

“Sunday Mornin’ Country” Celebrates Roy Clark

Country Music Hall of Fame member Roy Clark will be honored with a musical tribute at the 31st Sunday Mornin’ Country Celebration at TPAC’s James K. Polk Theatre, Sunday, June 13, at 2:30 pm. Tickets for this country/gospel music celebration are $20, and available here.  The concert will reunite many of the original Hee Haw […]

Chairman Joe Galante Announces Departure from Sony Music Nashville

Nashville, TN – Joe Galante, Chairman of Sony Music Nashville, today confirms the next step of his 39-year music business career by announcing his decision to leave the company. Galante will continue his role as chairman until a new Nashville label group leader is named. Subsequently, he will actively participate in a transition consultancy once […]

DISClaimer 4/14/10

In a surprising and refreshing listening session, we were served a heaping helping of honest country sounds. Alan Jackson, Miss Leslie, Easton Corbin and Laura Dodd all turned in excellent efforts with nary a pop note in the bunch.

ACM Awards Offer Online Preview

The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions have developed a weeklong “online experience” in support of the upcoming 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The series will stream through the official ACM Awards widget on CBS.com/acma, ACMcountry.com and other partner sites. The widget can be downloaded here. The streams will feature exclusive […]

Concord Music Group Acquires Rounder

The Concord Music Group today (4/14) announced the acquisition of Massachusetts-based independent music label Rounder Records.

ACM Events With Toby Keith, Josh Thompson and Emily West

Toby Keith’s performance of “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” on the upcoming ACM Awards (Sun., April 18) will be sold on iTunes to benefit ACM Lifting Lives. Keith will be joined by Dave Koz to perform the song he wrote in memory of Wayman Tisdale, a former NBA player and accomplished jazz bassist who passed […]

Videos and Pics: Lady A, Buddy Jewell, Better Angels, Baldrica

ASCAP Reorganization Continues

There has been no official word, but MusicRow has heard that the realignment at ASCAP Nashville included a number of personnel changes today, most notably in the writer rep department. Thought to be exiting due to this re-organization are Herky Williams, John Briggs, Pat Rolfe, Dan Keen and Charlene Wilhite. Remaining on board are Ralph […]

New Music From Jo Dee Messina, Marty Raybon

Marty Raybon, best known for a long string of hits with former band Shenandoah, has a new album that landed on shelves April 6. At His Best was released through Grand Vista Records. JoAn Anderson Fox heads up Grand Vista Records and is working with Grassroots Promotion and Quarterback Records for radio promotion. Webster & […]

File Sharing Site Disses UK’s Digital Economy Bill

The UK recently enacted the Digital Economy Bill (Digital Economy Bill another report) to restrict music piracy by giving copyright holders the ability to “spy” on those infringing their rights via file sharing. The idea is that after being identified, the offending parties will then be disconnected from the Internet. In effect, this plan, which […]

Stars Set For Music Saves Mtns. Concert; Steele Plans Skate Festival

Alison Krauss and Big Kenny recently joined the already star-studded lineup of Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea and more for the Music Saves Mountains concert. Presented by the Gibson Foundation and set for May 19 at 8 p.m. at the Ryman Auditorium, proceeds will go to the Natural […]

Colt Ford Concert Live In HD

When Colt Ford takes the stage April 30 at Murray State University in Kentucky, fans at home will be able to stream the show live via media delivery portal True View Live. The Tampa-based interactive company will film and broadcast the show in a streaming, High-Definition format with no buffering or stream interruption. Fans can […]

CMT Awards Tap Top Producer and Director; GRAMMY Awards Date

CMT has tapped Executive Producer Jesse Ignjatovic, (MTV Video Music Awards) and Director Hamish Hamilton (The 82nd Annual Academy Awards 2010) to produce and direct the 2010 CMT Music Awards, it was announced today (4/13) by John Hamlin, SVP Production, Development and Talent, CMT. When the CMT Music Awards are broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone […]

Chesney Covers “People Country,” Gives Fans Film Preview

Kenny Chesney covers the May issue of PEOPLE Country, and in an exclusive interview talks about his break from touring, his girlfriend, and his concert film Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D. In conjunction with the film, Chesney is giving fan club members in the cities where the movie was made—Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and […]

Lambert Added To CMA Fest; Summer Tours Name Supporting Acts

Miranda Lambert is the latest addition to the performance line-up at the CMA Music Festival. Single-night tickets to the Festival’s Nightly Concerts at LP Field go on sale Sat., April 17, for the event running Thursday through Saturday, June 10-13, in downtown Nashville. Individual nightly concert tickets start at $30 and are available by calling […]

Genovese To Head New Country Video Network

Tammy Genovese has been tapped by new video network, The Country Network (“TCN”), to serve as President, TCN Nashville. She has already consolidated the company’s operations to Nashville and will open the principle office at 40 Music Square West, Nashville, Tennessee 37212 on Monday, April 19. The Country Network is currently airing in HD on […]

Big Machine Signs Edens Edge; CMT Radio Hires Jenn Nixon

Big Machine Records has added country trio Edens Edge to its label family. The band is comprised of Hannah Blaylock (lead vocalist), Dean Berner (harmony vocals, guitar, dobro) and Cherrill Green (harmony vocals, mandolin, banjo, and guitar), with a style deeply rooted in country and bluegrass. Scott Borchetta, President & CEO of Big Machine, discovered […]

NaFF Offers Music Panels, Films

Music will be a big part of the Nashville Film Festival, running April 15-22 at the Green Hills Cinema. There are more than 220 films from over 38 countries on the line-up, as well as numerous workshops and panel discussions. Here’s a quick run down of the music events at NaFF. Ticket details here. PANELS/WORKSHOPS […]

Country on Price Is Right, Celeb Apprentice, Idol

Country celebrities will be popping up all over national television this week. The Price is Right will have a country themed episode on Fri., April 16 in celebration of the upcoming ACM Awards on Sun., April 18, both will air on CBS. At the long-running game show, 2010 ACM Award nominees Blake Shelton and Bomshel […]

Shelton Tweets: Kiss My Country Ass!

Mad at your ex-wife? Your girlfriend? Your boss? Let Blake Shelton Tweet Her Right. As part of a radio station viral campaign, fans can send a tweet to their friends (or enemies) that links to a video featuring the singer’s signature bone-dry delivery. Choose a victim type from the drop down menu, tweet them and […]

Screenwriters, Smith, Wynette and a Little Tennis

Attention Prospective Screenwriters With more songwriters per capita than any other town in America, it stands to reason that there must some potentially successful screenwriters in the Nashville mix. Any tunesmith looking to expand his or her creative pallet would do well to hop over to Los Angeles film and entertainment industry website The Wrap […]

SoundExchange Announces Big Payout

SoundExchange, the non-profit performance rights organization appointed by Congress to pay digital royalties to recording artists and sound recording copyright holders, announced today that it has begun sending out checks in its largest-ever quarterly distribution. A total of $51.7 million in royalties from digital transmissions, including Internet radio, satellite radio, and cable TV music channels, […]

Lady A Grabs Biggest Slice

Momentum for Country YTD album sales stumbled this week—despite two debuts—as the format’s gain over last year slipped from 15% to 13%.

Music and Marketing – Joined at the “Hip”

With popular songs becoming more and more identified with specific products, and flashy corporate messages vying for onstage space with band logos, today’s music fans are left wondering just where the marketing ends and the music begins. The Wall Street Journal’s John Jurgenson posed that pertinent question today (4/9) in an eye-opening article that turns […]

Carrie Underwood Play On Tour

Carrie Underwood’s latest tour, set to hit 54 cities across North America with support acts Sons of Sylvia and Craig Morgan, presents an artist who has grown into her superstar role,

CMA Names Warnke VP Strategic Partnerships

The Country Music Association announced today (4/8) that industry veteran Sheri Warnke would be joining the professional staff of CMA as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, effective immediately. “Sheri has already done an outstanding job of building marketing relationships for the industry and corporate brand partners for CMA’s core events, CMA Music Festival and the […]

Jewel Sets Nationwide Tour

Valory Music Co. artist Jewel will embark on a cross-country tour this summer, presented by Country Financial. The Star Light Café Tour will find the three-time Grammy nominee performing acoustically in support of her sophomore country album, set to hit retailers June 8. “I am so excited to hit the road as part of the Country […]

Strickland Exits Golden Music

Brinson Strickland, President and CEO of Golden Music Nashville, has exited the label. No other staff changes have been made. 

Strickland released this statement: “I’m proud of the amazing team we put together to promote both Williams Riley and Benton Blount, however I felt it was the right time for me to transition into another opportunity.” […]

Sparkart Spotlights Darius Rucker

Sparkart Group, Inc., an Oakland-based, full-service independent digital agency, is on board to develop, design, and manage the official website of Capitol Records Nashville artist, Darius Rucker. The new site is now live at www.dariusrucker.com. Rucker joins Sparkart’s roster of notable music clients including Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Janet Jackson, The Killers, and Carrie Underwood, […]

Judds Invite Fans to “Name That Tour”

In preparation for their highly anticipated 2010 final tour, superstar duo The Judds are inviting fans to become part of Judds “herstory” by naming their upcoming tour with The Judds Name That Tour Contest. “We have shared so many memorable moments with our fans over the last 26 years and we know that we would […]

Shania Twain Heads To TV


People magazine reports that country superstar Shania Twain is getting ready to star in her own television show. Why Not? With Shania Twain, an hour-long series, will premiere on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. “The show will follow [Twain] as she begins her climb back to the top, a personal journey filled with risk, revelations […]

ACM Awards Adds Performers, Presenters

The Academy of Country Music has announced that Laura Bell Bundy, Billy Currington, John Fogerty, Jack Ingram featuring Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith with Dave Koz, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker are scheduled to perform as part of the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire. In addition, Kristen Bell, […]

Trace Adkins Comics? There’s an App For That

Show Dog-Universal Artist Trace Adkins recently became a comic book action hero with the release of Luke McBain, an original, four-issue comic book mini-series, inspired by Adkins’ persona and Southern roots. Previously available only at comic book stores across North America, Luke McBain comics are now being offered as their own app through the ComicStore digital […]

Leadership Music Names Oertley Chief Staff Executive

The Board of Directors of Leadership Music has named music industry veteran Karen Oertley to the position of Chief Staff Executive for the educational, non-profit organization, effective April 26. In her new role as Executive Director, Oertley will assume responsibility for directing the planning of the yearly class program, and fundraising, event committee supervision, community […]

Artist News: Jamie Tate, Steel Magnolia, Laura Bell Bundy, Mark Wayne Glasmire and More

Jamie Tate Records With 82nd Airborne Chorus Bodell Records artist Jamie Tate was in Nashville last Wednesday (3/31) to record a song, “I’ll Give My All,” with the world-renowned 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus. The session took place at Black River Music Group’s recording studio, where the 82nd Airborne Chorus contributed back-up vocals to Tate’s patriotic anthem. The […]

Sirius/XM Unveils All-Alan Jackson Radio

SIRIUS XM Radio announced today (4/7) that it will launch Alan Jackson’s Freight Train Radio, a seven-day long, commercial-free music channel celebrating the music and career of the country music superstar. The channel will launch on Friday, April 9 at 11:00 pm CT and will run until Thursday, April 15 at 10:59 pm CT on […]

DISClaimer 4-7

B-o-r-i-n-g. In general, that’s what this week’s listening session was. There is nothing in this stack of platters that will change your life. Indeed, most of these discs will barely rouse you from your spring slumbers. The most exciting thing here comes courtesy of our DisCovery Award winner. Kyle Park is a triple threat as a singer, writer and producer. Lend him your ears.