Singer/songwriter/guitarist Duane Jarvis, familiar to music fans both as a sideman for artists like Lucinda Williams and John Prine, as well as for his own critically acclaimed releases, has been waging a valiant battle against colon cancer over the course of the past 16 months. Jarvis’ cancer has now reached terminal status and he will […]
by Steve Goetzman, steve@goetzmanconnect.com In America we look up to a man of principle after doubt is satisfied we’ve placed our fingers in his wound looked him in the eye and maybe pressed a little to be sure he is hurting. For we intend to align ourselves and tell his story and should be certain […]
Valory Music Company artist Reba McEntire will perform April 5 at the Academy of Country Music Awards, debuting her new single, “Strange” for the TV audience. Leading up to the performance, McEntire fans can hear a sneak preview of “Strange” via a special widget available at www.thevalorymusicco.com/reba. The widget also includes a countdown to the […]
The fans have been patiently waiting and it’s finally arrived — the official Kellie Pickler Fan Club. The Fan Club, created at www.kelliepickler.com, provides an environment for fans to get engaged in the singer’s career. Pickler Fan Club members will receive the first shot at tickets to Pickler’s shows, rare photos & videos, a members-only […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00LB Cantrellhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2009-03-27 15:13:362009-03-27 15:13:36Pickler Establishes Official Fan Club
Scottish-born, Nashville-based Canadian country artist and Moraine Music writer/artist Johnny Reid’s new album, Dance With Me, leaped to Gold status in Canada within 48 hours of its release. Produced by Grammy-winner Brent Maher, Dance With Me currently sits at #1 on Billboard’s Canadian Country Album chart and #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Album chart. The […]
Benny Brown, President/CEO of Broken Bow Records, which launched the careers of Craig Morgan and Jason Aldean, has announced the opening of its new imprint, Stoney Creek Records. The label will be located at 705 18th Ave South. Industry veteran Denise Roberts will serve as Stoney Creek’s VP of Radio Promotion. Joining her as Regional […]
Distinguished honorees and a host of dignitaries, guests and artists gathered at Nashville’s Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza hotel on Wednesday (3/25), for the TJ Martell Foundation’s inaugural Honors Gala. The event raised over $400,000 to benefit cancer, leukemia and AIDS research. Honorees for the evening included The Honorable Al Gore, former Vice President of the United […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00LB Cantrellhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2009-03-27 14:16:022009-03-27 14:16:02T.J. Martell Gala Raises $400,000 For Cancer Research
“Believers” Universal Records South “Believers,” the new single from Joe Nichols, has shipped to radio. According to the artist, it is the perfect fit for him, both musically and personally. “This song is about passion—when people have passion about something, the sky’s the limit,” says Nichols. “It’s also about believing in something bigger than what’s […]
Four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride has teamed with the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (NTDAH) in a new program called My Time to Shine, that was announced in conjunction with the release of her new album, Shine. As the mother of three daughters, McBride is passionate about the need to increase […]
The Academy of Country Music announced today that Lady Antebellum, Miley Cyrus, Jamey Johnson, Reba McEntire, John Rich and Lee Ann Womack are scheduled to perform as part of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. They join previously announced performers Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Heidi Newfield, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Taylor […]
Black River Music Group artist Sarah Darling is taking an innovative, hands-on approach to promoting the songs from her upcoming album, Every Monday Morning. The rollout of the album will include full-length videos for several tracks created by some of the top film schools in the country and overseen by veteran director Ryan Smith. Black […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00LB Cantrellhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2009-03-26 09:48:392009-03-26 09:48:39Black River’s Sarah Darling Goes To Video School
Nashville pop and country star Dan Seals has died at age 61. “Dan lost a two-year battle with lymphoma,” reported his longtime friend and manager Tony Gottlieb. “He was a beautiful man.” Seals sang the Country Music Association’s 1986 Single of the Year, the upbeat, nostalgic “Bop.” It was also a significant pop-crossover chart success. […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Robert K Oermannhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2009-03-26 09:10:052021-02-04 13:25:29Dan Seals Passes
Veteran record producer and songwriter Aubrey Mayhew died last weekend at a Nashville hospice facility. He was 81. Over the course of his long and storied career Mayhew worked with a wide range of artists that ran from country outlaw Johnny Paycheck to Hollywood leading man Clint Eastwood all the way to jazz legend Charlie […]
Country newcomers Gloriana have been tapped by the ACM to document their first trip to the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas for an exclusive web series at CBS.com. The group will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the days leading up to their first ACM experience, including a radio tour performance, their […]
This week’s SoundScan action centers on the amazing power of American Idol. Execs will recall that AI featured the Grand Ole Opry last week and more specifically, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. So how did they do? Probably no surprise to anyone, Carrie led the sales pack. Her duet with Randy Travis, “I […]
The Country Music Association has added five more artists to the CMA Music Festival lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, and Taylor Swift will join previously announced LP Field performers Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Julianne Hough, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, […]
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British songwriters and composers have launched a new website — www.fairplayforcreators.com — to highlight concerns over the use of their work on the Internet. The site, an online forum set up by UK performing rights society PRS For Music, was created in response to the March 9 decision by Google to block access to premium […]
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Nashville Earth Hour 2009 celebrity spokeswoman Jo Dee Messina will debut her new single, “Shine,” in the dark. The Curb artist will perform for the crowd gathered at Nashville’s Sommet Center Plaza moments after Nashville’s Lower Broadway and major skyscrapers go dark to celebrate Earth Hour this Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 PM/CT. More than […]
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Gibson Guitar has announced that it will lay off 70 workers. News of these additional layoffs comes on the heels of an earlier announcement that the company would lay off 50 workers worldwide. At the time of that announcement, the company pointed out that the move involved less than 5 percent of the company’s total […]
Universal Music Nashville’s Jason Owen has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Artist Development and Marketing for the label. In his new position, Owen will wear many hats. In addition to directing all publicity, creative and video activities for MCA and Mercury Nashville, he will also oversee the digital and marketing departments for both […]
The Academy of Country Music has announced winners of awards that will not be televised during the live telecast of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on April 5. Dolly Parton will receive the Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout […]
Oprah is calling it the country lineup of the year. She will be be taping a special country music themed show later this week featuring Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker. “Are you a fan of good country music?” she asks. “Is country music the soundtrack of your life?” All four acts will […]
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The New Zealand government has rejected legislation that would have required Internet service providers to terminate accounts of chronic copyright offenders. In a defeat for content owners, the government announced that they would scrap a key section of the legislation, which was due to be implemented this Friday (3/27). Although both the copyright owners and […]
Universal Records South artist Phil Vassar will be featured on Feed The Children’s one-hour special on Hallmark Channel’s Americans Feeding Americans this Wednesday (3/25) at 6 PM/CT. Americans Feeding Americans reaches out to viewers to help Feed The Children in their ongoing effort to get emergency food to families caught in the current economic crisis. […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00LB Cantrellhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2009-03-24 09:28:032009-03-24 09:28:03Vassar Joins Hallmark To Feed The Children
The ever-youthful Dolly Parton is no stranger to magazine covers, but the singer’s appearance on the cover of the May/June issue of AARP Magazine may turn a few grey heads. In the cover story, Parton, 63, is candid about growing up poor, never having children, and clearing up rumors about her closest relationships. She also […]
U.S. music rights licensing organization The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), announced today that its 2008 royalty collections from all sources was $307.1 million, a 22% decline from 2007. Also in 2008, HFA issued over 2.44 million mechanical licenses, a 62% increase over 2007. Digital downloads also increased, by almost 47% over 2007, bringing the […]
EMI Music announced today (3/23), that its President of Digital Music, Douglas Merrill will leave the company as its digital unit is integrated into its main operations. Formerly with Google, Inc., Merrill has been with EMI less than a year. EMI has promoted Cory Ondrejka to the newly created title of Executive Vice President of […]
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Ted Jarrett As a recording artist, songwriter, producer, manager and record label executive, Ted Jarrett was one of the leading figures of the Nashville R&B community. He died Saturday, March 21, at age 83. Jarrett’s many contributions were highlighted by the award-winning 2004-2005 Night Train to Nashville exhibit and record albums by the Country Music […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Robert K Oermannhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2009-03-23 16:09:252009-03-23 16:09:25Lifenotes: Ted Jarrett and Ed Dye
East Tennessee native Dolly Parton, official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has released a new eight-song CD entitled Sha-Kon-O-Hey! to benefit Friends of the Smokies. The CD retails for $10, $8 of which Parton will donate to the nonprofit organization that is devoted to protecting the Smokies. The Sha-Kon-O-Hey! […]
Sony/ATV Nashville has signed hit songwriter/producer Keith Stegall to a multi-year publishing deal. The co-writer of the pop standard, “We’re in This Love Together,” Stegall is also the writer of nine No. 1 country singles, including “I Hate Everything” by George Strait and “Don’t Rock The Jukebox” by Alan Jackson. As Jackson’s longtime producer, Stegall […]
William Donald “Bill” Johnson, acclaimed pedal steel guitarist for artists including Red Sovine, George Jones and Marty Robbins, died March 17 in Tallassee, Alabama. In addition to his steel playing, Johnson made his mark as a songwriter, most notably with “A Wound Time Can’t Erase,” which was recorded by over 150 artists, including Jack Greene, […]
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SOURCE, the nonprofit organization of executive women in the Nashville music industry will honor Joyce Jackson, Peggy Lamb, Pat McCoy, Sandy Neese, Margaret Parker, and the late Marion Keisker MacInnes with its 2009 Foundation Awards. The 7th annual awards dinner will be held Thursday, July 30 at the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum. Jackson’s […]
Cox Enterprises Inc. announced today (3/23) that it is beginning a $3.80 per share cash tender offer for the remainder of Cox Radio Inc.’s publicly held shares, for a total payment of about $69.1 million. Cox Enterprises owns a roughly 78 percent equity stake in Cox Radio with a voting interest of about 97 percent. […]
Nashville production music company 615 Music has redesigned its website and launched a comprehensive new music search engine called “615 Music Search.” The company will unveil its new website and Music Search features at the NAB convention in Las Vegas April 20-23. According to 615 Music President and CEO Randy Wachtler, the newly launched “615 […]
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Country outlaws Shooter Jennings and Jamey Johnson came together at Nashville’s Rocketown recently to shoot an episode of CMT Crossroads. The duo’s rowdy performance, which was taped before a live audience, will premier Monday, March 23 at 9:00 PM/CT on CMT. The episode features Jennings and Johnson collaborating on Johnson’s “High Cost of Living,” “Between […]
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No Depression, the roots music publication, has created a “community-driven website” powered by the ning.com platform. (Nashville’s Digital Nashville organization is also powered on the Ning platform.) Located at community.nodepression.com the new network allows the formation of niche communities based around a variety of themes. Readers can create a member page, plus share music, videos, […]
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The Americana Music Association is now offering members the opportunity to obtain affordable health insurance coverage. The program, known as Americana Sound Healthcare, is designed for members who are self-employed, involved with small businesses that cannot easily offer coverage, or otherwise not in a position to afford coverage. True Group plans are also available to […]
Nashville music industry veteran Joe Boyland passed away earlier this week at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was 61. Boyland moved to Nashville in 1980 and worked with Judds manager Woody Bowles before founding Hit List Music in 1986. He subsequently worked with a host of artists including Celine Dion, […]
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Share and share alike. We’re giving out two Disc of the Day awards today. One is for traditional country excellence. And that, hands down, belongs to a masterful honky-tonk stylist, Mark Chesnutt. Long may he sing. The second goes to a modern, rocking-country disc maker. That would be Jack Ingram, who has the first summertime […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Robert K Oermannhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2009-03-20 14:22:052009-03-20 14:22:05DISClaimer (3/20/09)
Rascal Flatts and Lyric Street are celebrating the record-breaking success of the pre-release single “Here Comes Goodbye” at iTunes. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the track sold 125,884 downloads, delivering the highest first-week paid sales ever by a country artist for a debut single and the song is one of four tracks to be made available […]
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“Up To Him” Rocky Comfort/Nine North The multiple rhymes are just about brilliant. Tracy, as usual, delivers the goods as a vocalist on this common-man’s anthem. —Robert K. Oermann, MusicRow Tracy Lawrence is set to deliver his second album from his own Rocky Comfort Records, an inspirational collection titled The Rock (produced by Lawrence and […]
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“I’m Still Me” Golden/Nine North Every once in a while, talent and personality do what they should: attract immediate and enthusiastic support from fans and fellow artists. Case in point: Steve Williams, the lead singer for Williams Riley, one of country music’s most exciting newcomers. Some of music’s top names have rallied in support of […]
Warner Bros. Records Artist John Rich will release his new solo album, Son Of A Preacher Man, on Tuesday, March 24. As the album’s debut single, “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” climbs toward the Top 10, Rich called on a couple of famous friends — actor Mickey Rourke and Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson […]
Country’s biggest star Garth Brooks will appear on tonight’s edition of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno tonight (3/19), where he will share the couch with his country’s biggest star — President Barack Obama. Unlike Brooks, who has appeared on Leno’s show 21 times, tonight will mark Obama’s first talk show appearance as President. Brooks […]
Martina McBride’s 10th studio album, Shine, is set for release next Tuesday, March 24 on RCA Records. Featuring the singer’s current hit single “Ride,” the album’s title stems from her personal philosophy. “I love the word—I think it’s really positive and strong and powerful,” says McBride, “and that’s one of my favorite lyrics from the […]
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The Academy of Country Music is on high-tech roll. First it was online fan voting, and now the ACM has announced that updates on the 44th Annual ACM Awards will be sent to fans via Twitter, the microblogging application that allows users to send short messages called “tweets” to people’s cell phones and Twitter homepages. […]
Stringtown Records artist John Michael Montgomery has signed to Creative Artists Agency for booking representation and with Splash! Public Relations for publicity. The singer, who recently filmed a 30-minute infomercial for Time/Life on their Country Music Explosion package, is currently promoting “Forever,” the latest single from Time Flies, his Stringtown debut. In other Stringtown news, […]
Sales for the week ended 3/15/09 remained tepid as Taylor Swift continued to account for almost 23% of the entire Current Country list. Kelly Clarkson’s CD scored Top 200 No. 1 success with a solid debut totaling 254,671 units. Unfortunately, the Idol alum, now managed by Nashville-based Starstruck Management, was unable to match last week’s […]
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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and CMT have announced the winners of the 9th Annual NSAI/CMT Song Contest, which awards two top prizes, one industry-voted and one chosen by online voting. Brooklyn resident David Stewart was chosen by industry judges for his song, “Damn, I Miss You.” Online voters chose “I Found Everything,” written […]
Grand Ole Opry week, night one, took American Idol by storm as the eleven contestants performed songs made famous by Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Johnny Cash, Dolly, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline. “The odds were 100,000 to one at the beginning of this contest,” said host Ryan Seacrest at the top of the […]
Singer/Songwriter Duane Jarvis Enters Hospice
/by LB CantrellSinger/songwriter/guitarist Duane Jarvis, familiar to music fans both as a sideman for artists like Lucinda Williams and John Prine, as well as for his own critically acclaimed releases, has been waging a valiant battle against colon cancer over the course of the past 16 months. Jarvis’ cancer has now reached terminal status and he will […]
Principled—Dan Seals
/by contributorby Steve Goetzman, steve@goetzmanconnect.com In America we look up to a man of principle after doubt is satisfied we’ve placed our fingers in his wound looked him in the eye and maybe pressed a little to be sure he is hurting. For we intend to align ourselves and tell his story and should be certain […]
Reba’s “Strange” Widget
/by LB CantrellValory Music Company artist Reba McEntire will perform April 5 at the Academy of Country Music Awards, debuting her new single, “Strange” for the TV audience. Leading up to the performance, McEntire fans can hear a sneak preview of “Strange” via a special widget available at www.thevalorymusicco.com/reba. The widget also includes a countdown to the […]
Pickler Establishes Official Fan Club
/by LB CantrellThe fans have been patiently waiting and it’s finally arrived — the official Kellie Pickler Fan Club. The Fan Club, created at www.kelliepickler.com, provides an environment for fans to get engaged in the singer’s career. Pickler Fan Club members will receive the first shot at tickets to Pickler’s shows, rare photos & videos, a members-only […]
Moraine’s Johnny Reid Goes Gold
/by LB CantrellScottish-born, Nashville-based Canadian country artist and Moraine Music writer/artist Johnny Reid’s new album, Dance With Me, leaped to Gold status in Canada within 48 hours of its release. Produced by Grammy-winner Brent Maher, Dance With Me currently sits at #1 on Billboard’s Canadian Country Album chart and #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Album chart. The […]
BBR Launches New Label
/by LB CantrellBenny Brown, President/CEO of Broken Bow Records, which launched the careers of Craig Morgan and Jason Aldean, has announced the opening of its new imprint, Stoney Creek Records. The label will be located at 705 18th Ave South. Industry veteran Denise Roberts will serve as Stoney Creek’s VP of Radio Promotion. Joining her as Regional […]
T.J. Martell Gala Raises $400,000 For Cancer Research
/by LB CantrellDistinguished honorees and a host of dignitaries, guests and artists gathered at Nashville’s Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza hotel on Wednesday (3/25), for the TJ Martell Foundation’s inaugural Honors Gala. The event raised over $400,000 to benefit cancer, leukemia and AIDS research. Honorees for the evening included The Honorable Al Gore, former Vice President of the United […]
Joe Nichols
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“Believers” Universal Records South “Believers,” the new single from Joe Nichols, has shipped to radio. According to the artist, it is the perfect fit for him, both musically and personally. “This song is about passion—when people have passion about something, the sky’s the limit,” says Nichols. “It’s also about believing in something bigger than what’s […]
McBride Program Helps Teens “Shine”
/by LB CantrellFour-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride has teamed with the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (NTDAH) in a new program called My Time to Shine, that was announced in conjunction with the release of her new album, Shine. As the mother of three daughters, McBride is passionate about the need to increase […]
ACM Awards Adds Performers
/by LB CantrellThe Academy of Country Music announced today that Lady Antebellum, Miley Cyrus, Jamey Johnson, Reba McEntire, John Rich and Lee Ann Womack are scheduled to perform as part of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. They join previously announced performers Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Heidi Newfield, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Taylor […]
Black River’s Sarah Darling Goes To Video School
/by LB CantrellBlack River Music Group artist Sarah Darling is taking an innovative, hands-on approach to promoting the songs from her upcoming album, Every Monday Morning. The rollout of the album will include full-length videos for several tracks created by some of the top film schools in the country and overseen by veteran director Ryan Smith. Black […]
Dan Seals Passes
/by Robert K OermannNashville pop and country star Dan Seals has died at age 61. “Dan lost a two-year battle with lymphoma,” reported his longtime friend and manager Tony Gottlieb. “He was a beautiful man.” Seals sang the Country Music Association’s 1986 Single of the Year, the upbeat, nostalgic “Bop.” It was also a significant pop-crossover chart success. […]
Little Darlin’ Producer Aubrey Mayhew Passes
/by LB CantrellVeteran record producer and songwriter Aubrey Mayhew died last weekend at a Nashville hospice facility. He was 81. Over the course of his long and storied career Mayhew worked with a wide range of artists that ran from country outlaw Johnny Paycheck to Hollywood leading man Clint Eastwood all the way to jazz legend Charlie […]
ACM and CBS.com Spotlight Gloriana
/by LB CantrellCountry newcomers Gloriana have been tapped by the ACM to document their first trip to the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas for an exclusive web series at CBS.com. The group will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the days leading up to their first ACM experience, including a radio tour performance, their […]
American Idol Powers Country Sales
/by bossrossThis week’s SoundScan action centers on the amazing power of American Idol. Execs will recall that AI featured the Grand Ole Opry last week and more specifically, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. So how did they do? Probably no surprise to anyone, Carrie led the sales pack. Her duet with Randy Travis, “I […]
CMA Festival Adds Five More Performers
/by LB CantrellThe Country Music Association has added five more artists to the CMA Music Festival lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, and Taylor Swift will join previously announced LP Field performers Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Julianne Hough, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, […]
UK Songwriters Post Online Response To Google
/by LB CantrellBritish songwriters and composers have launched a new website — www.fairplayforcreators.com — to highlight concerns over the use of their work on the Internet. The site, an online forum set up by UK performing rights society PRS For Music, was created in response to the March 9 decision by Google to block access to premium […]
Messina Set to “Shine” for Earth Hour 2009
/by LB CantrellNashville Earth Hour 2009 celebrity spokeswoman Jo Dee Messina will debut her new single, “Shine,” in the dark. The Curb artist will perform for the crowd gathered at Nashville’s Sommet Center Plaza moments after Nashville’s Lower Broadway and major skyscrapers go dark to celebrate Earth Hour this Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 PM/CT. More than […]
More Layoffs at Gibson Guitar
/by LB CantrellGibson Guitar has announced that it will lay off 70 workers. News of these additional layoffs comes on the heels of an earlier announcement that the company would lay off 50 workers worldwide. At the time of that announcement, the company pointed out that the move involved less than 5 percent of the company’s total […]
Owen Upped at Universal
/by LB CantrellUniversal Music Nashville’s Jason Owen has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Artist Development and Marketing for the label. In his new position, Owen will wear many hats. In addition to directing all publicity, creative and video activities for MCA and Mercury Nashville, he will also oversee the digital and marketing departments for both […]
ACM Announces Off-Camera Winners
/by LB CantrellThe Academy of Country Music has announced winners of awards that will not be televised during the live telecast of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on April 5. Dolly Parton will receive the Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout […]
Oprah Hosts Country
/by bossrossOprah is calling it the country lineup of the year. She will be be taping a special country music themed show later this week featuring Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker. “Are you a fan of good country music?” she asks. “Is country music the soundtrack of your life?” All four acts will […]
New Zealand Govt Rejects Copyright Law
/by LB CantrellThe New Zealand government has rejected legislation that would have required Internet service providers to terminate accounts of chronic copyright offenders. In a defeat for content owners, the government announced that they would scrap a key section of the legislation, which was due to be implemented this Friday (3/27). Although both the copyright owners and […]
Vassar Joins Hallmark To Feed The Children
/by LB CantrellUniversal Records South artist Phil Vassar will be featured on Feed The Children’s one-hour special on Hallmark Channel’s Americans Feeding Americans this Wednesday (3/25) at 6 PM/CT. Americans Feeding Americans reaches out to viewers to help Feed The Children in their ongoing effort to get emergency food to families caught in the current economic crisis. […]
AARP Magazine Spotlights Dolly
/by LB CantrellThe ever-youthful Dolly Parton is no stranger to magazine covers, but the singer’s appearance on the cover of the May/June issue of AARP Magazine may turn a few grey heads. In the cover story, Parton, 63, is candid about growing up poor, never having children, and clearing up rumors about her closest relationships. She also […]
Mechanical Royalties Suffer
/by LB CantrellU.S. music rights licensing organization The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), announced today that its 2008 royalty collections from all sources was $307.1 million, a 22% decline from 2007. Also in 2008, HFA issued over 2.44 million mechanical licenses, a 62% increase over 2007. Digital downloads also increased, by almost 47% over 2007, bringing the […]
EMI Digital Chief Merrill To Exit
/by LB CantrellEMI Music announced today (3/23), that its President of Digital Music, Douglas Merrill will leave the company as its digital unit is integrated into its main operations. Formerly with Google, Inc., Merrill has been with EMI less than a year. EMI has promoted Cory Ondrejka to the newly created title of Executive Vice President of […]
Lifenotes: Ted Jarrett and Ed Dye
/by Robert K OermannTed Jarrett As a recording artist, songwriter, producer, manager and record label executive, Ted Jarrett was one of the leading figures of the Nashville R&B community. He died Saturday, March 21, at age 83. Jarrett’s many contributions were highlighted by the award-winning 2004-2005 Night Train to Nashville exhibit and record albums by the Country Music […]
Dolly Unveils Sha-Kon-O-Hey!
/by LB CantrellEast Tennessee native Dolly Parton, official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has released a new eight-song CD entitled Sha-Kon-O-Hey! to benefit Friends of the Smokies. The CD retails for $10, $8 of which Parton will donate to the nonprofit organization that is devoted to protecting the Smokies. The Sha-Kon-O-Hey! […]
Sony ATV Signs Stegall
/by LB CantrellSony/ATV Nashville has signed hit songwriter/producer Keith Stegall to a multi-year publishing deal. The co-writer of the pop standard, “We’re in This Love Together,” Stegall is also the writer of nine No. 1 country singles, including “I Hate Everything” by George Strait and “Don’t Rock The Jukebox” by Alan Jackson. As Jackson’s longtime producer, Stegall […]
Pedal Steel Guitarist Bill Johnson Dies
/by LB CantrellWilliam Donald “Bill” Johnson, acclaimed pedal steel guitarist for artists including Red Sovine, George Jones and Marty Robbins, died March 17 in Tallassee, Alabama. In addition to his steel playing, Johnson made his mark as a songwriter, most notably with “A Wound Time Can’t Erase,” which was recorded by over 150 artists, including Jack Greene, […]
SOURCE Names 2009 Honorees
/by LB CantrellSOURCE, the nonprofit organization of executive women in the Nashville music industry will honor Joyce Jackson, Peggy Lamb, Pat McCoy, Sandy Neese, Margaret Parker, and the late Marion Keisker MacInnes with its 2009 Foundation Awards. The 7th annual awards dinner will be held Thursday, July 30 at the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum. Jackson’s […]
Cox Radio Going Private
/by LB CantrellCox Enterprises Inc. announced today (3/23) that it is beginning a $3.80 per share cash tender offer for the remainder of Cox Radio Inc.’s publicly held shares, for a total payment of about $69.1 million. Cox Enterprises owns a roughly 78 percent equity stake in Cox Radio with a voting interest of about 97 percent. […]
615 Unveils New Site and Search Engine
/by LB CantrellNashville production music company 615 Music has redesigned its website and launched a comprehensive new music search engine called “615 Music Search.” The company will unveil its new website and Music Search features at the NAB convention in Las Vegas April 20-23. According to 615 Music President and CEO Randy Wachtler, the newly launched “615 […]
Jennings Meets Johnson at Crossroads
/by LB CantrellCountry outlaws Shooter Jennings and Jamey Johnson came together at Nashville’s Rocketown recently to shoot an episode of CMT Crossroads. The duo’s rowdy performance, which was taped before a live audience, will premier Monday, March 23 at 9:00 PM/CT on CMT. The episode features Jennings and Johnson collaborating on Johnson’s “High Cost of Living,” “Between […]
No Depression Adopts Community Model
/by bossrossNo Depression, the roots music publication, has created a “community-driven website” powered by the ning.com platform. (Nashville’s Digital Nashville organization is also powered on the Ning platform.) Located at community.nodepression.com the new network allows the formation of niche communities based around a variety of themes. Readers can create a member page, plus share music, videos, […]
Americana Assoc. Offers Health Coverage
/by LB CantrellThe Americana Music Association is now offering members the opportunity to obtain affordable health insurance coverage. The program, known as Americana Sound Healthcare, is designed for members who are self-employed, involved with small businesses that cannot easily offer coverage, or otherwise not in a position to afford coverage. True Group plans are also available to […]
Industry Veteran Joe Boyland Dies
/by LB CantrellNashville music industry veteran Joe Boyland passed away earlier this week at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was 61. Boyland moved to Nashville in 1980 and worked with Judds manager Woody Bowles before founding Hit List Music in 1986. He subsequently worked with a host of artists including Celine Dion, […]
DISClaimer (3/20/09)
/by Robert K OermannShare and share alike. We’re giving out two Disc of the Day awards today. One is for traditional country excellence. And that, hands down, belongs to a masterful honky-tonk stylist, Mark Chesnutt. Long may he sing. The second goes to a modern, rocking-country disc maker. That would be Jack Ingram, who has the first summertime […]
Question: To Pre-Release Or Not
/by bossrossRascal Flatts and Lyric Street are celebrating the record-breaking success of the pre-release single “Here Comes Goodbye” at iTunes. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the track sold 125,884 downloads, delivering the highest first-week paid sales ever by a country artist for a debut single and the song is one of four tracks to be made available […]
Tracy Lawrence
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“Up To Him” Rocky Comfort/Nine North The multiple rhymes are just about brilliant. Tracy, as usual, delivers the goods as a vocalist on this common-man’s anthem. —Robert K. Oermann, MusicRow Tracy Lawrence is set to deliver his second album from his own Rocky Comfort Records, an inspirational collection titled The Rock (produced by Lawrence and […]
Williams Riley
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“I’m Still Me” Golden/Nine North Every once in a while, talent and personality do what they should: attract immediate and enthusiastic support from fans and fellow artists. Case in point: Steve Williams, the lead singer for Williams Riley, one of country music’s most exciting newcomers. Some of music’s top names have rallied in support of […]
Rich Enlists Rourke, Kristofferson for “Detroit” Video
/by LB CantrellWarner Bros. Records Artist John Rich will release his new solo album, Son Of A Preacher Man, on Tuesday, March 24. As the album’s debut single, “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” climbs toward the Top 10, Rich called on a couple of famous friends — actor Mickey Rourke and Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson […]
Garth Meets Obama on “Tonight” Tonight
/by LB CantrellCountry’s biggest star Garth Brooks will appear on tonight’s edition of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno tonight (3/19), where he will share the couch with his country’s biggest star — President Barack Obama. Unlike Brooks, who has appeared on Leno’s show 21 times, tonight will mark Obama’s first talk show appearance as President. Brooks […]
McBride Set To Shine
/by FreemanMartina McBride’s 10th studio album, Shine, is set for release next Tuesday, March 24 on RCA Records. Featuring the singer’s current hit single “Ride,” the album’s title stems from her personal philosophy. “I love the word—I think it’s really positive and strong and powerful,” says McBride, “and that’s one of my favorite lyrics from the […]
ACM Feeds Fans Via Twitter
/by LB CantrellThe Academy of Country Music is on high-tech roll. First it was online fan voting, and now the ACM has announced that updates on the 44th Annual ACM Awards will be sent to fans via Twitter, the microblogging application that allows users to send short messages called “tweets” to people’s cell phones and Twitter homepages. […]
The News From Stringtown
/by LB CantrellStringtown Records artist John Michael Montgomery has signed to Creative Artists Agency for booking representation and with Splash! Public Relations for publicity. The singer, who recently filmed a 30-minute infomercial for Time/Life on their Country Music Explosion package, is currently promoting “Forever,” the latest single from Time Flies, his Stringtown debut. In other Stringtown news, […]
Flatts Set Country Digital Single Sales Tally
/by bossrossSales for the week ended 3/15/09 remained tepid as Taylor Swift continued to account for almost 23% of the entire Current Country list. Kelly Clarkson’s CD scored Top 200 No. 1 success with a solid debut totaling 254,671 units. Unfortunately, the Idol alum, now managed by Nashville-based Starstruck Management, was unable to match last week’s […]
NSAI and CMT Announce Song Contest Winners
/by LB CantrellThe Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and CMT have announced the winners of the 9th Annual NSAI/CMT Song Contest, which awards two top prizes, one industry-voted and one chosen by online voting. Brooklyn resident David Stewart was chosen by industry judges for his song, “Damn, I Miss You.” Online voters chose “I Found Everything,” written […]
Idol Goes Opry and Survives (almost)
/by bossrossGrand Ole Opry week, night one, took American Idol by storm as the eleven contestants performed songs made famous by Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Johnny Cash, Dolly, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline. “The odds were 100,000 to one at the beginning of this contest,” said host Ryan Seacrest at the top of the […]