MR Exclusive: ACM Expands Entertainer Category To Eight Nominees

When the Academy of Country Music Awards take place next year, there will be eight artists vying for the night’s coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy. After much deliberation, the ACM has decided to add three nominees to the previous final slate of five artists in the category, starting with the upcoming show on an […]

Photos: Sony Salutes Waugh Upon Retirement

“We Are Family”—Sony Music Nashville said goodbye to friend and EVP/GM Butch Waugh on his last week in the office. As an employee of 27 years, Waugh accumulated a series of “Butchisms,” or recognized catchphrases within the SMN family, some of which were printed on the T-shirts worn by the entire staff during his farewell […]

Cracked House Foundation

After 28 years, Gerry House’s radio team the House Foundation is splitting up. Blaming budget cuts at the Clear Channel owned station, ringleader House told The Tennessean that Dec. 23 will be the last day on the WSIX morning show for newsman Al Voecks and sportscaster Duncan Stewart. Remaining on-air will be Country Music DJ […]

Bob Doyle, WMEE Sign The Band Perry

Artist management team Bob Doyle & Associates has signed Republic Nashville act The Band Perry, and Doyle’s publishing company Major Bob Music has also entered an agreement with the rising group. William Morris Endeavor Entertainment is handling booking for the band. The Band Perry, made up of siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry, is busy […]

Big D And Bubba Re-up With Premiere

Big D and Bubba, hosts of one of the most widely syndicated Country morning radio shows in the U.S., have renewed their long-term contract with Premiere Radio Networks. Broadcasting Monday through Friday from 6 – 10 a.m. ET, The Big D and Bubba Show will continue to be heard on more than 50 radio stations […]

Rucker, Wilson, and Opry Special On TV

Darius Rucker will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America tomorrow (12/16) to perform “History In The Making.” He will also appear on the show’s Christmas Day special to perform a holiday tune he co-wrote with producer Frank Rogers, “Candy Cane Christmas.” •••• Gretchen Wilson recently taped an episode of CMT’s Southern Fried Flicks television show […]

Faith, Chesney, Make End-of-Decade Lists

As the 2000s come to a close, publications are reflecting on the decade gone by. Here are some highlights: Faith Hill is the only artist, in any musical genre, to have two of the Top 10 most played songs of the decade (according to Nielsen BDS). Released in November 1999, “Breathe” stands at No. 4 […]

Phil Vassar Releases New Album Today

Phil Vassar’s fifth studio album Traveling Circus hits streets today (12/15). Taking a very hands-on approach, he wrote or co-wrote every song, produced the album himself and hired his road band to play on it. He wrote the current single “Everywhere I Go,” with Jeffrey Steele. The video has been added to rotation on CMT […]

Books With Songwriter Ties: “Chicken Soup,” “Have Her Over For Dinner”

Local songwriter/artist Matt Moore is branching out with the release of his first cookbook, Have Her Over for Dinner: a gentleman’s guide to classic, simple meals. The Georgia native has shared the stage with Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, and Luke Bryan but has also long enjoyed cooking. His latest outing offers more than 100 recipes—ranging from […]

Musical Chairs: John Paul, RJ Jordan, The Boxcars

Dial Global has hired John Paul as Sr. Dir. of Country Programming. The former KUPL Portland PD will be based in Denver, and fills the vacancy left by Jim Murphy’s exit last week. Paul will oversee the “Mainstream Country,” “Classic Country,” and “True Country” formats by working with their PDs. He will also serve as […]

CRS New Faces Line-Up Revealed

On Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 the popular New Faces of Country Music® show and dinner will officially close CRS 41. Set to perform are Gloriana (Emblem Records), Randy Houser (Universal South), Love and Theft (Lyric Street), Justin Moore (Valory Music Co.), and Chris Young (RCA). Country Radio Seminar runs Feb. 24-26, 2010 at the Nashville […]

Wilson Rejoins Columbia Promo, Friedman Gets New Role

Jimmy Rector, Vice President, National Promotion, for Columbia Nashville today announces the return of Mike Wilson to the Sony Music Nashville family as Director, National Promotion, for Columbia Nashville. Most recently National Director of Promotion for Universal Records South, Wilson had previously worked in promotion for Sony Music Nashville’s RCA Nashville imprint for more than […]

Garth Brooks Is Back, Vegas Gig Gets Rave Reviews

Garth Brooks’ Vegas gig at the Wynn started Friday night (12/11), officially marking the end of his nine year retirement. He’s committed to 15 weekends per year for about the next five years at Wynn’s Encore Theatre, with multiple shows scheduled for each weekend. The superstar dressed in a hooded sweatshirt, jeans and work boots […]

Josh Turner To Release Two “Haywire” Versions

Josh Turner will release a deluxe version of his new album, Haywire, on Feb. 9. The deluxe version will include the 11 songs that appear on the standard version (also in stores on February 9) plus two previously unreleased songs as well as live audio tracks of his hits “Your Man” and “Long Black Train.” […]

Martell Foundation To Honor Brooks And Dunn

The TJ Martell Foundation will salute Brooks & Dunn with its first-ever Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award at a gala event on Monday, March 22. The superstar duo will be feted along with several others at the 2010 T.J. Martell Foundation Honors Gala at the Hutton Hotel. Michael Bolton will also be honored that […]

Emmylou, Lady A Among MusiCares Gala Performers

A superb tribute line-up is set for the MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring Neil Young on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 in Los Angeles. Scheduled to perform at the annual highlight of Grammy week are Emmylou Harris, Lady Antebellum, Sheryl Crow, Patty Griffin, T Bone Burnett, Norah Jones, Dave Matthews, James Taylor, Elton John, […]

Video: Paisley on Leno’s Ten @ Ten

Brad Paisley joined Jay Leno via satellite on Friday night for the Ten @ Ten segment. Here’s the video in case you missed it.

Publishing Update: BMG Rights Mgmt.; Israelite Re-ups

BMG Rights Management, the global company which purchased the Crosstown Songs America catalog earlier this year, has officially established it US operations and announced the opening/transitioning of offices in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. The Nashville office will continue being headed by Dann Huff along with Sr. VP Creative Darrell Franklin. The publisher is […]

Citadel To File Chapter 11

Citadel Broadcasting plans to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection before the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal reports. The radio broadcaster is in talks with lenders over the prearranged bankruptcy plan which has lenders exchanging Citadel’s $2 billion in debt for about 99.5 percent equity in the reorganized company, the Journal said. The […]

Jason Michael Carroll Headlines In Nashville

Booming Movie Biz Headed For Biggest Year Yet

Hollywood is on track for its biggest year ever. TheWrap.com reports that domestic box office receipts will zoom past the $10 billion mark for the first time in history by the end of 2010. It’s surprising news considering the recession and the fact that there were almost 20 percent fewer films released in 2009 than […]

Video Preview: Love And Theft, Joe Nichols, Chris Young

Love And Theft’s Brian Bandas, Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles gathered on 5th Avenue in Nashville to shoot the music video for their latest single, “Dancing in Circles.” Directing was Kristin Barlowe, who also directed their video for hit single, “Runaway.” While filming, a group of unexpected protesters rallied in the streets and the […]

Video: Cledus T. Judd “Tiger By the Tail (Tale of Tiger Woods)”

Reacting at warp speed to the Tiger Woods controversy, Cledus T. Judd has released “Tiger By The Tail (Tale of Tiger Woods),” a parody of the 1965 Buck Owens song “Tiger By The Tail.” Judd skillfully mines the golfing lexicon for double entendres, while brandishing his putter. The song offers the refrain “She was teed […]

Underwood Tour Opening In March

Carrie Underwood has a spring headlining tour in the works. Her Play On Tour, hydrated by vitaminwater®, opens March 11 in Reading, PA, and will hit more than 45 dates across North America. The arena run goes through the end of May and will feature special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia. Tickets for […]

Grammys To Honor Loretta Lynn, Harold Bradley, Walter Miller

Loretta Lynn, Harold Bradley, and Walter Miller will be honored by the Recording Academy this Grammy season. They will be feted at a special invitation-only ceremony to be held Saturday, Jan. 30, as part of Grammy week. A formal acknowledgment will also be made during the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards telecast, set for the next […]

Nielsen Spins Off “Billboard,” “Hollywood Reporter”

The Nielsen Company is selling eight publications, including Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, to e5 Global Media LLC, a new company formed by Pluribus Capital Management and Guggenheim Partners. Pluribus was founded earlier this year by James A. Finkelstein, George Green, and Matthew Doull. Former Bear Stearns head Alan Schwartz is running Guggenheim, a privately […]

Photos: Nashville Songwriters At New Orleans Festival

New Orleans-based Songfest Foundation, Inc., an organization founded to benefit Louisiana and Gulf Coast musicians, held its second annual New Orleans Songwriters Festival December 3-5. The event was sponsored by ASCAP, and performers included J.D. Souther, Don Schlitz, Allen Toussaint, Dennis Matkosky, and more.

Montgomery Gentry and Friends Support Martell Foundation

Montgomery Gentry and friends Chris Young, Jon Stone, Tim Nichols, Wade Hayes, Trent Willmon and Jim Quick with Coastline raised $80,000 at the first annual Country on the Beach benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation’s fight against cancer and AIDS. The event was held Dec. 3-6 in Cancun, Mexico, and featured an all-inclusive guest package with […]

John Rich, Rascal Flatts and Others Spread Christmas Cheer

Country stars are spreading holiday cheer by participating in special Christmas tree lighting events across the nation. Rascal Flatts are in Nashville today (12/10) to visit the kids at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt by flipping the switch on the trees lining the hospital’s Main Street. The trio has raised over $3 […]

Mac McAnally Co-Produced New Jimmy Buffett Album

As a member of the Coral Reefer Band, McAnally has long been a key Buffett collaborator. He has produced a number of Buffett’s studio albums, and has writing credit on three of the new collection’s 12 songs. McAnally is also a Show Dog Nashville recording artist, touring performer, musician and songwriter. He was most recently honored […]

Jason Aldean Extends Tour With Luke Bryan

After selling out the entire fall run of his Wide Open arena tour, country rocker Jason Aldean has extended the tour into 2010. Rising star and fellow Georgia native Luke Bryan will join Aldean as a special guest on the nearly 30-city run, kicking off in Greenville, SC on Jan. 22 and including an already […]

New Exhibit Puts Reba In The Spotlight

Reba McEntire is the subject of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s latest spotlight exhibit. Reba McEntire: Put On Your Red Dress, Baby offers the attention-grabbing red gown worn by the superstar on the 1993 Country Music Association Awards as the exhibit centerpiece. Designed by McEntire’s longtime stylist, Sandi Spika, the silk and jersey […]

CMA Donates $1 Million Plus For Music Education

The CMA is donating $1,066,632 in proceeds from the 2009 CMA Music Festival to Nashville public schools music education programs, as part of the “Keep the Music Playing” campaign. The announcement came during a special concert event last night (12/8) at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center to reveal the “Keep the Music Playing All-Stars,” representing the […]

Benefit News: Hit Songwriters Help Good Causes

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) presents its Annual Tunes for Tots Benefit at 12th & Porter on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 6-8 PM. Performing will be Chris Wallin (“Don’t Blink”), Wynn Varble (“Waitin’ On a Woman”), Erin Enderlin (“Last Call”), artist Ty Herndon and more. Admission is free with an unwrapped new toy or monetary […]

Underwood’s Ratings Fare Well

Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special scored 8.9 million viewers to lead the 8 PM/ET hour last night (12/7) among the major networks. Her FOX special slipped to second place with (8.2 million) during the 9 PM slot, getting bumped by CBS’s Two and a Half Men (15.2 million)/The Big Bang Theory (14.7 million). This […]

Lady A Set For Sugar Bowl, Titans Performances

Lady Antebellum will perform the national anthem twice this month. They will open the Tennessee Titans home game vs. the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 13, at 3pm CST, and they will also ring in the New Year at the Allstate® Sugar Bowl matchup between the University of Cincinnati and the University of Florida in […]

Industry News: UMGN’s Big CRS Show, WMEE Signing

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® has announced a star-studded lineup for UMG’s luncheon at the Ryman Auditorium during CRS 2010, to be held Feb. 24-26, 2010. UMG artists performing include: Gary Allan, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Mallary Hope, Julianne Hough, Jamey Johnson, David Nail, Randy Rogers Band, Sugarland, Josh Turner and Lee Ann Womack. […]

Seasonal Tunes Range From Classic To Kooky

It’s Christmastime and artists are vying for airplay with holiday singles. Some are taking the traditional route, like Darryl Worley with “Jingle Bells,” while others are branching out with fun, unique offerings. Phil Vassar is even giving his Christmas set away for free. Trailer Choir has a new “Holla’ Day” version of their hit, “Rockin’ […]

Messina Benefit Raises $30,000

Jo Dee Messina performed two special shows this weekend with youth and children’s choirs at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Messina partnered with Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation (CDC) for the effort, which helped raise over $30,000. Over 3,000 fans attended the performances, where Messina performed selections from her Christmas album A Joyful Noise. The evening […]

Rascal Flatts Tour Runs Through March

Rascal Flatts today announced the final leg of their Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour, sponsored by JCPenney with associate sponsor Hershey’s. The tour will restart on January 15 & 16 in Uncasville, CT at the Mohegan Sun Arena and the band will perform 23 shows through March 13, wrapping in Oklahoma City at the […]

Sony Preps 2010 Launch of Thompson, Gokey

Sony Nashville is building up to the 2010 launches of new artists Josh Thompson and Danny Gokey. Both acts have already released their first singles to radio, and their full-length debut albums will arrive after the first of the year. Thompson’s debut album Way Out Here is due Feb. 23, 2010 via Columbia Nashville. He […]

Dierks Hosts Benefits, Heads For TV

Dierks Bentley will be the first country artist to perform on the late night show Lopez Tonight today (12/8) at 10pm CST on TBS. Bentley will be joined by special guest Patty Griffin for a performance of “Beautiful World,” recently nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award in the “Country Collaboration with Vocals” category. In related […]

CMA Exec. Dir. Search Coming In January

The Country Music Association’s national search to replace former head Tammy Genovese, who resigned from the company Dec. 2, will commence in January 2010 to coincide with the new CMA Board Session. According to CMA Board Chairman Randy Goodman, a search committee will be named before year end, and its members will hire a national […]

Taylor Swift–On Demand

Taylor Swift is getting her own On Demand channel via Comcast cable. Through an exclusive partnership the cable provider will show her hit music videos, behind-the-scene clips and special programming such as her recent Saturday Night Live episode. Much of the content will be available in high definition for the first time. Videos included in […]

Rascal Flatts To Appear on “CSI”

Rascal Flatts will appear on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, slated to shoot in January and air early 2010. The series airs on Thursdays at 8 pm CT on CBS Television. The band will play themselves in a storyline that finds one of the members in harm’s way. Back in 2006, Rascal Flatts members Gary LeVox, […]

Americana Assc.’s Star Lyric Sheet Auction

Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Bon Jovi are among the superstar artists and songwriters who have donated handwritten lyric sheets to an auction to benefit the Americana Music Association. The auction is the centerpiece of an evening of entertainment called An American Artform, which includes performances by acclaimed singer/songwriter John Hiatt and friends. Tickets also […]

Tonight: Carrie’s Christmas Special W/ Paisley, Parton

Carrie Underwood headlines a two-hour holiday variety special tonight (12/7) on FOX. She will perform Christmas classics, as well as music from her new album Play On and her other monster hits. Underwood will be joined on stage by special musical guests including fellow Country stars Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley. Also on board to […]

Hit Songwriters Set For Nashville Underground Show

Nashville Underground, the record label started by artist/songwriters/husband-and-wife team Lari White and Chuck Cannon to showcase Music City’s elite group of tunesmiths is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month. They’ve lined up an all-star concert of hit writers and put together a new 4-disc retrospective set to mark the occasion. Performing at 3rd & Lindsley […]

Jason Aldean Goes Platinum

Only eight months after its release, Jason Aldean’s third studio album Wide Open has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of one million copies. This makes Aldean the first solo country artist in 2009 to release an album that earned Platinum status in the same calendar year. Wide Open sales were spurred by […]

Brooks And Dunn Map “Last Rodeo”

Brooks & Dunn are going out with a bang. After announcing their pending retirement earlier this year, the duo has planned a farewell tour launching April 23, 2010 and running through August 8, 2010. The Last Rodeo will be a celebration of their 20 hitmaking years together, with 47 shows including a yet-to-be-announced Nashville stop. […]