Charlie Daniels’ Christmas For Kids Concert

The Charlie Daniels & Friends annual Christmas For Kids Concert is slated for Nov. 23 at the Ryman Auditorium, with Gretchen Wilson and Phil Vassar among the special guests. The Celebrity Tour Bus Show will also raise money by allowing visitors to tour the buses of more than sixty stars at the Hendersonville Wal-Mart from […]

Kellie Pickler’s Video and Other New Music

Kellie Pickler’s video for her newest single, “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You,” makes its world television premiere during CMT Top 20 Countdown tomorrow (9/11) 10:00–12:30 p.m. CT and online at CMT.com immediately following. Filmed in the Dominican Republic, the new video was directed by Roman White. In addition, CMT Power Picks becomes […]

Special Edition Swift CD Set For Oct. Release

A new Platinum Edition of Taylor Swift’s Fearless album is headed for stores in time for the holiday sales rush. Big Machine Records will release the CD/DVD set on Oct. 27, containing new music and video extras such as her video collaboration with T-Pain on “Thug Story,” and exclusive new behind-the-scenes photos shot by Taylor’s […]

Adkins, Songwriters, And More Local Benefits

Trace Adkins will headline the Southern Shindig concert on Fri., Sept. 25 at the Loveless Barn. This event is part of the annual Soldier Ride, which honors wounded soldiers. Tickets include dinner, beer, wine and the concert, and are on sale now at www.southernshindig.org or by calling 904-405-1156. All proceeds go to programs that support […]

Tidbits: Digital Summit, SOLID, Symphony and More

The Leadership Music Digital Summit will be held March 22 and 23, 2010. More information to follow. ———————————- The Music Row Turkey Bowl, hosted by SOLID, is set for Sat., Nov. 21 at Ted Rhodes Park (2400 Metro Center Blvd.) in Nashville, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The 24th annual co-ed flag football tournament has become […]

Mandrell Enters Steel Guitar Hall of Fame

Barbara Mandrell became the first woman to be inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame at the International Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, September 5. Known as the “Sweetheart of the Steel,” Mandrell was a multi-instrumentalist by the time she was 10. She was on tour with The Johnny Cash […]

Driskill Returns to ASCAP as VP/GM, Nashville

Nashville, TN, Sept. 9, 2009: Connie Bradley, Senior Vice President of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) today announced that Marc Driskill has joined ASCAP as Vice President & General Manager, Nashville. In this newly established position reporting to Bradley, Driskill will direct the goals and objectives of the Nashville Membership staff […]

Photos From CMA’s Big Announcement

Nominations for the CMA Awards were revealed today, live on Good Morning America and CMT Insider. Check out photos of the big announcement.

Save The Date: Grammy Noms To Be Announced

Nominations for the Grammy Awards will be announced Wed., Dec. 2, live on CBS. The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night® will be a one-hour special broadcast live from Club NOKIA in Los Angeles at 7 PM/CT. Nominations in several categories will be revealed and there will be performances by past […]

Twestival Hits Nashville

Twestival Nashville—a volunteer-run, charity fundraising event for people who know each other through the micro-blogging service Twitter—will take place tomorrow (9/10) at the Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar. Hosted by local Web site Nashvillest.com, the event will raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee and its Great Nashville Duck Race. The first […]

Apple Updates iPod Lineup

Apple revealed some updates to its lineup of iPod devices at a press event today (9/9) in San Francisco, most notably a built-in video camera for the Nano. The Nano makeover will also include the addition of a built-in FM tuner as well as a larger screen and will be priced at $149 (8GB) and […]

Georgia Boys Give Back: Luke Bryan, Zac Brown Band

Capitol Records Nashville artist Luke Bryan is planning a Farm Tour to benefit charities in local farming communities. With the inaugural show set for Oct. 5 in Statesboro, Georgia, these special one-off shows will continue throughout Bryan’s career with additional dates already planned for 2010. GAC’s Top 20 Countdown will film their show on site […]

All For The Hall Adds Etheridge

Academy and Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum artist Melissa Etheridge has been added to the star-studded line-up of performers at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s All for the Hall Los Angeles fundraiser, which will take place on Thurs., Oct. 1 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Etheridge joins previously announced performers Vince […]

CMA Broadcast/Radio Nominations

Final nominees for the nation’s top Country radio stations and broadcast personalities were delivered to Country Radio today, when Chuck Wicks revealed the 2009 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year finalists live from Premiere Radio Networks’ New York City studios. The winners will be notified in mid-October and will be acknowledged at […]

Swift’s Sales Pass 10 Million Mark

Just three years after the release of her debut album, Taylor Swift has surpassed the 10 million milestone for album sales. The 19-year-old’s sales tally is comprised of actual full albums sold and doesn’t include track equivalent albums (TEA), which is made up of paid downloads. Additionally, Swift has sold over 20 million paid song […]

Reba Making The Media Rounds In L.A.

Reba McEntire’s new album, Keep On Loving You, holds steady at the top of the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart for the second week in a row. Reba’s first solo studio album in six years—and her first on new label The Valory Music Co.—remains in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, […]

Treehouse Expands Promotion Staff

Treehouse Records has announced the addition of Brad Helton to its promotion staff, effective September 14. Helton comes to the label with experience in the promotion departments of Montage Music Group, Equity Music Group and Lofton Creek Records. “Brad’s tenacity and knowledge of the ins and outs of promotion has impressed me,” said Treehouse Promotion […]

Win A Date With Gretchen Wilson, And More

Gretchen Wilson is hosting a charity auction, which ends with the winner getting a date with her. Seven of the highest bidders will get to drive a car in a Demolition Derby Exhibition Heat, then the winner of the derby gets a date with Wilson. The auction will take place at The Stage in downtown […]

Belmont Series Launches With Wynonna

Wynonna Judd will help launch the inaugural Professional-in-Residence series at Belmont University. Judd, manager Kerry Hansen, and long-time producer and musician Don Potter will contribute to the three-part panel discussion series designed to give a group of Belmont seniors the opportunity to engage with music industry professionals in a conversational Q&A setting. The topic of […]

Movies In Music City

Rising artist Minnie Murphy will appear in the new film Bailey, which is being shot around Nashville. When the project is released in 2010, she will be seen performing her original song “Bluer than Blue” at one of the many juke joints featured in the movie. She got the gig after producer Rhoads Rader saw […]

Rascal Flatts To Open Oprah’s New Season

Rascal Flatts will make its second appearance on Oprah this Thursday, September 10. The band will head to Chicago today (9/8) to be part of the hit daytime show’s 24th season kick-off celebration. Rascal Flatts will join the Black Eyed Peas, James Taylor and Jennifer Hudson to perform live for the crowds on Michigan Avenue […]

Urban Announces We’re All For The Hall 2010

Keith Urban’s “We’re All For The Hall” benefit concert for the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum sold out almost immediately. The stellar line-up for the Oct. 13 show at the Sommet Center in Nashville includes Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town and other big-name […]

Levitan To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Ken Levitan will receive the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for an Executive at the Americana Music Association’s 8th Annual Honors and Awards ceremony, on Thurs., Sept. 17 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. As founder and Co-President of Vector Management, Levitan guides the careers of Americana stalwarts Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, John […]

Country Stars With Nashville Lifestyles

Nashville Lifestyles showcases several Country singers in its new issue. In the cover story, Reba McEntire talks about her career and latest album Keep on Loving You. The September issue focuses on Music City’s Best Dressed which includes singer/songwriter Keith Anderson. He says he counts on “self-confidence (and a great cologne) to make any ensemble […]

IMI Music Partners With Weather Channel

IMI Music has partnered with The Weather Channel for the launch of www.theweatherchannelmusic.com. This new initiative becomes the climate obsessed channel’s first offering in the digital music space under the signature franchise, “The Weather Channel Presents…” Grammy Award nominees, IMI, have written and produced music for a variety of media including E! Network, PBS, NBC, […]

Photo Friday: Carrie, Megan, EYB, Jonathan Singleton

Carrie Underwood performed 2 sold-out shows last weekend at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival. Her first scheduled “evening with” show on August 30 was the fastest sell-out in Ravinia’s history, which prompted the addition of a second show on August 31. The second concert also sold-out immediately and approximately 38,000 fans were on hand for the performances. […]

New Music: Joe Nichols, Chris Young, Terri Clark, More

Joe Nichols was surrounded by WIVK “Believers” when he performed at the Cotton Eyed Joe in Knoxville recently. The Universal Records South artist will release his first album in almost two years on Oct. 27. Old Things New, features his current Top 30 hit single, “Believers.” ——————————- Chris Young released his sophomore album, The Man […]

Worley Plans Exciting River Run

Darryl Worley is planning lots of events around his 8th Annual Tennessee River Run, with a concert, golf tournament and worship event, all to benefit the Darryl Worley Foundation. Both the morning and afternoon flight for the golf tournament have sold out. A total of 65 teams have registered to play the Shiloh Golf Course. […]

ASCAP To Salute JD Souther

J.D. Souther, one of the principal architects of the Southern California country-rock sound and the pen behind numerous hits by the Eagles and others, will receive the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award this fall. He will be honored during the 47th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, set for Monday, October 19, at Nashville’s legendary Ryman […]

CMA Award Nominees To Air On ABC, CMT

The final nominees for the 2009 CMA Awards will be revealed  Wednesday, Sept. 9, with some of the nominations airing on Good Morning America and the remainder following on a special edition of CMT Insider. The final nominees in select categories will be announced live during ABC’s Good Morning America with Darius Rucker and Lee […]

Faith’s Fragrance And More

A series of webisodes follows Faith Hill as she gears up to launch her first fragrance this fall. Premiering each week on FaithHill.com, these exclusive videos highlight all the behind the scenes action as Hill prepares for this upcoming release. You can watch the first videos here. —————————— Kenny Chesney officially launched Blue Chair Bay […]

Underwood’s Rockin’ New Single

The lead single from Carrie Underwood’s third album, Play On, is out now and fans can hear it at her official Web site and on YouTube. The rock influenced song “Cowboy Casanova” offers a cautionary word about a sneaky man. Underwood wrote the track with Mike Elizondo and Brett James, one of the writers behind […]

Country In New York: Reba, Worley and Jypsi

Reba recently performed her new single “Consider Me Gone” live on Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series from Central Park. While in New York City she also visited the Times Square set of Yahoo!’s fashion program The Thread to talk about her music and clothing line. Other stops included Sirius-XM’s New York City headquarters for […]

B&D Plan “Today” Show Performance

Brooks & Dunn will celebrate the release of their 30-song, double-disc #1s … and then some with a performance on NBC’s Today on album street date, Tues., Sept. 8. They will be singing their ACM and CMA Song of the Year winner, “Believe,” joined in the special performance by the renowned Boys Choir of Harlem. […]

Love And Theft Debut At No. 10

World Wide Open, the debut album from Carolwood Records trio Love And Theft, bowed at No. 10 on Nielsen Soundscan’s Country Top 75 chart today (9/3). With more than 12,500 units sold first week this gives Love And Theft the top-selling newly released artist album this week. Digital album sales account for 21% of units […]

Cracker Barrel CDs From ZBB, George Jones

The Zac Brown Band, known for its hit “Chicken Fried” is the latest group to release an album through Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. The restaurant chain, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will offer an exclusive new version of the Zac Brown Band’s CD The Foundation. Available Sept. 7, it will have new artwork and three […]

Artist Photos: Carroll Visits ACM and Much More

The Academy of Country Music welcomed professional member Jason Michael Carroll to its offices when he was in Los Angeles last week. Carroll was on the west coast promoting his new single, “Hurry Home,” which was one of four songs he sang for ACM staffers. Carroll’s latest album, Growing Up Is Getting Old, is out […]

John Styll Exits GMA

John Styll, President and CEO of the Gospel Music Association and the Christian Music Trade Association, has left the organization. No further details have been confirmed at this time. During his six year tenure leading the organization, Styll served as Executive Producer of the GMA Dove Awards, and oversaw GMA Music Week, the GMA Gospel […]

Hirings and Signings

Lou Ramirez has been hired as Southeast Director of Promotion & Marketing for Golden Music Nashville, the new record label launching flagship act Williams Riley. Ramirez comes from KAJA-FM in San Antonio where was APD/MD and on-air personality. Effective Tuesday, Sept. 8, he will report to Darlene Starr, National Director of Promotion & Marketing, and Brad […]

CMA Music Fest Special Wins Ratings

CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock won last night’s (8/31) ratings for ABC with 7.8 million viewers according to Zap2It.com. It came in first at both the 8 and 9 PM/ET slots, and second at 10 PM. Year-to-year ABC’s CMA Music Festival special posted huge increases, jumping by +2.5 million viewers and by +43% […]

Rounder Records 40th Anniversary Celebration

Rounder Records will celebrate 40 years of making music with a concert by its star artists Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bela Fleck, Irma Thomas and others yet to be announced. Minnie Driver will host the October 12 event at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN. The […]

Charlie Daniels Headlines NSAI Benefit

Charlie Daniels Band headlined the second concert in NSAI’s “It All Begins With A Song” Performance Series at the Wildhorse Saloon on Thursday night (8/27). The packed house was treated to a few tunes by Old Union prior to an energetic performance by the CDB, which included hits “Long Haired Country Boy,” “The South’s Gonna […]

News From Trace, Luke, Brad and More

Trace Adkins has joined the cast of the independent feature film Lifted, currently shooting in Birmingham. Written and directed by Lexi Alexander (Punisher: Warzone) and produced by Deborah Del Prete (Wedding Planner), Lifted is about a young singer whose family life is disrupted when his Marine father is re-deployed to Afghanistan. Adkins plays country superstar, […]

SOLID Recruitment, NELA Winner

SOLID (Society of Leaders In Development) will hold its new member recruitment party on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at The Rhythm condos located on 501 Demonbreun Street, 5th Floor. Potential members are invited from 5:00 to 7:30 PM to meet and mingle with current SOLID members and alumni. Food and drinks will be provided. Those who […]

Tech Trail: Apple, Twitter, And Rock Band

Love And Theft’s Brian Bandas, Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles are active Twitter users and recently drew on the social networking site to connect with their fans on the release of their debut album, World Wide Open. Last Tuesday, Love And Theft, or @LNTweet as they are known to their Twitter followers, Tweeted that […]

Warner Music Group Expands Nashville Operations

Warner Music Group Corp. is expanding its Nashville operations with the formation of Warner Music Nashville, which will include Warner Bros. Nashville, Word Entertainment, and the re-launched Atlantic Nashville label. The story was first reported by MusicRow on Aug. 21, via a subscriber-only Breaking News Bulletin. The division will be led by music industry veteran, […]

Songwriters Hall Names New Class

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) is pleased to announce this year’s inductees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: from the Songwriter category, prolific writers Kye Fleming and Mark D. Sanders; and from the Songwriter/Artist category, late Country music icon Tammy Wynette. The three new inductees will be welcomed into the elite […]

George Strait’s Video Premieres on CMT

CMT presents the exclusive world premiere of George Strait’s top 5 hit, “Living For The Night” available now on CMT.com and CMT Mobile. “Living For the Night” will have its broadcast premiere Monday, August 31 at 6:00 a.m., ET/PT on CMT and will be in Hot Shot rotation. CMT will extend its promotion of Strait’s […]

Artist News Notes

Saguaro Road Records is inviting Tanya Tucker look-a-likes to email their photos to tanyacontest@gmail.com by Sept. 20, along with name and contact information. Three finalists who most resemble the singer will be selected and fans will vote for the grand prize winner, who will be announced in late September. The winner will receive an autograph from […]

Radney Foster, BBR, Steve Wariner and JabbRRR

Tomorrow Radney Foster will release of his album Revival on a custom Interactive Flash Drive. It contains the album, five new bonus tracks, exclusive photos, and the feature-length (90-minute) documentary Behind the Confessions which Foster produced with his wife Cyndi and film maker Jeff Horny. The interactive flash drive, designed to look and act like […]