Tag Archive for: Awards

2009 CCMA Fans’ Choice Award Nominees

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The Canadian Country Music Association announced today the nominees for the 2009 CCMA Fans’ Choice Award:  George Canyon, Doc Walker, Jessie Farrell, Aaron Pritchett and Johnny Reid.

Beginning Friday, July 24 until Sunday, September 6 at 11:59 p.m. EST, the public can vote online at www.CMT.ca for their favorite Canadian Country Star. The winner will be announced during the CCMA Awards at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday, September 13, 2009. The show will broadcast nationally on CBC Television at 8 p.m. with encore broadcasts on CMT in Canada.

Other nominees will be announced at a media conference in Toronto, ON Wednesday, July 29.

George Canyon is a multiple CCMA Award winner, two-time JUNO Award winner, and an ECMA winner. Vancouver’s Jessie Farrell was winner of three CCMAs in 2008 and nominated for a 2009 JUNO Award. Aaron Pritchett has toured with the likes of Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith, and garnered CCMAs for Independent Male Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. 2008 Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year winner and 2008 Male Artist of the Year, Johnny Reid recently saw his album Dance With Me go Gold in just over 48 hours and platinum in two months. The band Doc Walker took home six awards at last year’s CCMAs and recently won a JUNO for Country Recording of the Year.

Tickets for the CCMA Awards are available at www.ticketmaster.ca.

Mattea, Hot Rize To Host IBMA Awards

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ibmaKathy Mattea and the legendary bluegrass band Hot Rize will co-host the 20th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

Mattea’s current album Coal is an acoustic style offering focusing on coal mining stories from Appalachia. The album remained on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album chart for 26 weeks in 2008-2009, including 2 weeks at No. 1. She is the beloved singer of classics like “Eighteen Wheels and A Dozen Roses” and “Where’ve You Been.”

The members of Hot Rize have a long association with IBMA. In fact, they took home the Entertainer of the Year trophy at the very first International Bluegrass Music Awards in 1990. The band is made up of IBMA past presidents Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick and Tim O’Brien, who was also named Male Vocalist of the Year in 1993 and 2006. Also in Hot Rize are bass player/renowned public radio etown host Nick Forster, and Bryan Sutton, winner of the IBMA for Guitar Player of the Year numerous times.

AMA To Honor Sam Bush

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Ssamam Bush will receive the Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist award at the 8th Annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony, presented by the Gibson Foundation, on Thurs., Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. As co-founder and leader of the seminal progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival for 18 years, Bush was among the first purveyors of newgrass–the wild bluegrass stepchild that features rock ‘n’ roll grooves and extended virtuosic jams–and he continues to burn as one of the genre’s most brilliant lights, both as a sideman and the leader of the Sam Bush Band.

Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association, praised Bush’s standing as one of the greatest mandolin players ever. “Sam has created his own genre and has become such an integral part of the Americana community,” Hilly said. “It’s such a privilege to honor him this year.”

The past 20 years have found Bush performing as a sideman with Emmylou Harris; special guest artist with the likes of Lyle Lovett and Bela Fleck & The Flecktones; spearheading boundary-stretching collaborations with Edgar Meyer, Mark O’Connor and David Grisman; and driving nearly every “bluegrass supergroup” imaginable with his mandolin playing. Bush’s newest album, Circles Around Me, will be released Oct. 20 on Sugar Hill Records.

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist is one of several career honors that will be handed out during the awards ceremony on Sept. 17, to be hosted by Jim Lauderdale with Buddy Miller leading his all star band. Running Sept. 16-19, the 10th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference will offer seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center by day, and bring a stellar lineup of musical showcases each evening. Conference registrations currently at the early bird discount rate of $350 for members and $450 for non-members are available here.

NAMM, Jamey, Billy, Jimmy, Nashville Music Awards, Symphony Sale

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nashmusicawards

The deadline has been extended to Friday, July 24 for submissions for the Nashville Music Awards. Revived in a partnership with Next Big Nashville (NBN) and Leadership Music, Inc. (LM), the Nashville Music Awards (NMA), were produced by LM from 1995 through 2000. The NMAs recognized outstanding contributions in all genres of music. Winners will be announced during the NBN festival taking place Wednesday, October 7 through Sunday, October 11, 2009, and are chosen by popular vote via online balloting. Details, nominations and eligibility requirements at www.nashvillemusicawards.com.

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Summer NAMM is going on this weekend at the Nashville Convention Center. The second annual gathering of the music products industry will be held July 17-19. NAMM unites its member manufacturers, retailers and distributors under one roof for the summertime musical instrument and products show.
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The debut single from Jamey Johnson‘s forthcoming album is entitled “My Way To You.” The song, co-written by Johnson and Charlie Midnight, is now available to radio stations via Play MPE. On August 3, “My Way To You” will be available as a free download at www.jameyjohnson.com. On August 11, the digital e-single will be available for download at iTunes and all other digital partners. The follow-up album to Johnson’s critically acclaimed That Lonesome Song will hit stores this fall and will also be released on vinyl.

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Billy Currington’s recent album, Little Bit of Everything, has been in the Top 10 on the Country Albums Chart the last two weeks, selling over 11,000 units each week. His hit single from the album, “People Are Crazy,” is powering up the Country Breakout chart, and is currently at No. 7.
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Near the end of his set at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night, Jimmy Wayne said to the crowd, “Come on and join me for some sweet tea and a baked sweet potato at Santa Fe,” referring to a nearby restaurant. By the time Wayne arrived at the restaurant, about a dozen fans were waiting in the parking lot and lobby to see if he’d really show up, and within 15 minutes about two dozen total were seated around tables together. Fans from Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota and other states got to know each other, and share sweet tea with Wayne. At the end of the evening, the artist got his guitar from his car, and invited his fiddle player Jake Clayton to join him in a couple more songs.

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Saturday (7/18) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., tickets to the select events at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center are only $15. That’s a savings of more than $60. This deal is available only on-site at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Nashville Music Awards Noms End 7/15

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nmalogoNext Big Nashville and Leadership Music are working together to revive the Nashville Music Awards (NMA), which were originally produced by Leadership Music from 1995-2000. The NMAs recognize all genres of music, and celebrate the diversity and quality of artists and music professionals who call Nashville home. Winners of this year’s awards will be announced on the first evening of the 2009 Next Big Nashville festival, opening Wed., Oct. 7 at the Cannery Ballroom.

Submissions for nominees are being accepted from the public at www.nashvillemusicawards.com in 19 categories (listed below) until July 15. Final nominees will be chosen by committees of music industry experts and will be announced in August. Popular online voting will determine the winners. For a look at past winners, visit the Web site.

1.  Artist of the Year
2.  Best New Artist
3.  Song of the Year
4.  Next Big Nashville Award (for Emerging Independent Artists)
5.  Songwriter of the Year
6.  Poster / Album Artwork / Packaging of the Year
7.  Instrumentalist of the Year
8.  Music Video / Film of the Year
9.  Made in Music City Award: for a recording made in Nashville by a non-Nashville artist
10. Bluegrass / Old-Time Music Album of the Year
11. Country Album of the Year
12. Folk / Americana Album of the Year
13. Urban Recording of the Year
14. Gospel / Contemporary Christian Album of the Year
15. Jazz / Blues Album of the Year
16. Pop / Rock Album of the Year
The last three categories are not voted on by the public:
17. Heritage Award
18. Brian Williams Ambassador Award (formerly titled the “Bridge Award”)
19. Innovator of the Year: for a Nashville music-related tech innovator

Music Biz Whiz Kids

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David Plyler.

Pictured at the finalists meet and mingle (L-R): Jensen Sussman, Mandy Gallagher, SESAC's Justin Levenson, David Plyler, and Katy Brown.

There are several familiar names on Music Row among the finalists for the 2009 Nashville Emerging Leader Awards (NELAs), given out annually by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashville. The organizations say the awards are proof of the demographic’s strong leadership, community impact and success. Many of the nominees are members of music business organization SOLID.

In the Arts, Entertainment, and Music Business category, the finalists are Jessica Baum, Bluewater Music Services Corporation; Katherine Beakes, Universal Music Group; Lucia Folk, CMT; Danny Ray Martin, East Nashville School of Music and Jensen Sussman, Sweet Talk Publicity.

Other finalists with strong ties to the music business are Katy Brown of Musicians On Call, who is nominated in the Community Service Nonprofit category; and Mandy Gallagher of SunTrust Bank, nominated in the Financial Services section.

SESAC President/COO Pat Collins has already been announced as the 2009 Sage Award Winner, given out in conjunction with the honors to one of Nashville’s top leaders who has made a significant impact on the city’s young professional demographic.

The 2009 NELAs Awards Ceremony will be 7-9 PM, Thurs., July 30 at Lipscomb University, with a pre-event reception at Cabana from 5-6:30 PM.

Bobby Karl Works The MusicRow Awards

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(L-R): Song of the Year co-writers James Otto, Jamey Johnson and Lee Thomas Miller performed "In Color." Photo: Alan Mayor

(L-R): Song of the Year co-writers James Otto, Jamey Johnson and Lee Thomas Miller performed "In Color." Photo: Alan Mayor

The readers have spoken, and they have class.

Both Jamey Johnson and James Otto were double winners at this year’s MusicRow awards ceremony. Jamey won the Breakthrough Artist award as well as the Song of the Year prize for “In Color,” co-written with James and Lee Thomas Miller. Because James also co-wrote his big hit “Just Got Started Loving You” he was named this year’s Breakthrough Songwriter.

“We put pieces of our own lives in it,” said Jamey of “In Color.” “That’s what songwriting is supposed to be about, isn’t it?”

“It’s been 12 years in Nashville, and one great year,” said James. He thanked his mom, his wife and publisher Tracy Gershon.

“I’m going to write an article about perseverance,” said Doak Turner. “As soon as I heard James say that, I was inspired.”

winners“This is the greatest town in the world and the greatest business in the world,” said Lee. He interrupted a Disneyworld vacation with his wife and four kids to be at the ceremony.

“This is one of our favorite events,” said Ralph Murphy welcoming the crowd to the host venue, ASCAP. “Mr. David Ross has built a career on integrity and its spirit of perseverance and dedication.”

“This is our 21st MusicRow Awards,” said Boss Ross. “We are here to celebrate the core of our industry’s creativity and its spirit of perseverance and dedication.”

Representing the AFM, newly elected treasurer Craig Krampf addressed the gathering, saying, “What an incredible, special town we have in Nashville. None of us should ever take it for granted. Congratulations to our winners. We’re very proud of you.”

Prior to the ceremony, Craig said he’d gone over the books and found that the first quarter of this year has been the third most lucrative in this AFM chapter’s history. Considering the economic times, that’s saying quite a lot.

MusicRow’s Jon Freeman and Sarah Skates presented this year’s Musician Awards. These were first presented way back in 1989 and remain the only honors given to Music City’s session musicians.

“I remember when you and I had a future in this town,” quipped bass winner Glenn Worf to me before the ceremony. He has won his honor every year since 1992.

Ilya Tonshinsky (guitar) and Gordon Mote (piano) were first-time winners. “I didn’t expect this at all,” said Ilya. “We actually get to make a living playing!” exclaimed Gordon. Previous 13-time winner Steve Nathan was there to congratulate Gordon, which I thought was incredibly endearing. As well as undeniably classy.

Fiddle winner Jonathan Yudkin gave a shout-out to the mag. “We have to maintain a level of awareness of what’s going on,” he said. “David Ross and MusicRow do an excellent job doing that.” It’s the truth.
“Keep my number handy,” said session vocalist winner Wes Hightower. He has won his category every year since 2001. As is the custom, Christie King handed out the framed awards and Alan Mayor snapped away.
Winners not present were steel guitarist Paul Franklin, engineer Justin Niebank and drummer Shannon Forrest. Chris DuBois accepted for Producer of the Year Frank Rogers, who is on vacation, “on a beach somewhere, hopefully with his shirt ON,” said Chris.

Guests snacked on fried chicken strips, jumbo berries, chips and spinach dip, chicken-salad sandwiches and other tasty ASCAP delights.

Many commented that they love the event because they get to have reunions with folks they don’t see often on the Row.

Pete Fisher, Woody Bomar, Scott Hendricks, Sherrill Blackman, Gary Overton, Martha Moore, Keith Stegall, Alan Kates, Allen Brown, Brian Nelson, Pat Higdon, Steve Fishell, Kyle Lehning, Chuck Thompson, Michelle Ross, Susana Ross and Barry Coburn were there. Eli Ball is back in Tune Town, running a new firm called Lyric Financial, which gives loans to writers and publishers, among other services.

The awards are swell, but the real deal is that this is always a dandy party. Just ask Jeff Walker, Dean Unkefer, Karen Staley, Kay Clary, Bob Paxman, Jody Williams, Dennis Banka, Don Cusic, Dale Bobo, Charles Dorris, Chris Ferrell, Steve O’Brien, Pat Rolfe, Cathy Gurley, Susan Stewart, Terry Elam or Neal Spielberg.

(L-R): MR News Editor Sarah Skates with the Top Ten Album All-Star winners Glen Worf, Ilya Toshinksky, Gordon Mote, Wes Hightower and Jonathan Yudkin. Photo: Alan Mayor

(L-R): MR News Editor Sarah Skates with the Top Ten Album All-Star winners Glen Worf, Ilya Toshinksky, Gordon Mote, Wes Hightower and Jonathan Yudkin. Photo: Alan Mayor

(L-R): MR Publisher David M. Ross with Song of the Year writers and publishers EMI Blackwood's Gary Overton, Jamey Johnson, Warner-Tamerlane's Tracy Gershon, New Songs of Sea Gayle's Chris DuBois and Lee Thomas Miller. Photo: Alan Mayor

(L-R): MR Publisher David M. Ross with Song of the Year writers and publishers EMI Blackwood's Gary Overton, Jamey Johnson, Warner-Tamerlane's Tracy Gershon, New Songs of Sea Gayle's Chris DuBois and Lee Thomas Miller. Photo: Alan Mayor

Kristofferson Named BMI Icon, Awards Date Set

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photo: Mary Ellen Mark

photo: Mary Ellen Mark

Kris Kristofferson will be honored as a BMI Icon at the U.S. music rights organization’s 57th annual Country Awards. Slated for Tuesday, November 10 in Nashville, the black-tie, invitation-only gala will celebrate the songwriters of the past year’s most-performed country songs from the BMI catalog. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Nashville Writer/Publisher VP Jody Williams, the event will honor the Country Songwriter of the Year, Country Publisher of the Year and Most Performed Country Song of the Year, also known as the Robert J. Burton Award.

The Icon designation is given to BMI songwriters and artists who have had “a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Kristofferson, who will be saluted with an all-star musical tribute that evening, joins an elite list of past honorees that includes country music stalwarts Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, Charlie Daniels, Loretta Lynn and last year’s honoree Hank Williams Jr., along with multi-genre nobility like the Bee Gees, James Brown, Crosby, Stills & Nash and more.

With the penetration of a poet and the humbling grace of a troubadour, Kristofferson built a legendary career recognized for versatility and authenticity. He has received 48 BMI Country and Pop Awards for his compositions including “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Why Me,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” Three Grammys line his shelves. He is a three-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, and eight of his compositions have generated substantially more than one million performances.

While he wrote most of his masterpieces alone, his co-writers include giants Shel Silverstein, Marijohn Wilkin, and Fred Foster. He has starred in numerous films, including Lone Star, the Blade trilogy, Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, A Star Is Born, for which he garnered a Golden Globe, and Songwriter, for which he received an Oscar nomination. Along with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, Kristofferson also formed the Highwaymen. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Songwriters Hall of Fame. Recording now for New West Records, he will release a new album in September. A Rhodes Scholar capable of choosing virtually any path, Kristofferson decided to write songs, and for that, purveyors and lovers of American music are eternally grateful.

Latocki Enters Web Solutions Partnership, Wins AIGA Awards

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The LTC Team

The LTC Team

Latocki Team Creative (LTC) and Creative State, an award-winning provider of Web sites and custom Web applications, are partnering to provide custom Web solutions for Nashville corporations and the entertainment industry. “Creative State is a company we believe in,” says Luellyn Latocki, LTC owner and creative director. “We’re looking forward to working with them to provide our clients with cutting-edge Web sites and top-notch Web services that are imperative to the success of an artist’s career. It’s a perfect partnership between independent companies committed to finding and providing custom, branded, creative solutions for our clients.”

Also from Latocki Team Creative, the company won six awards at AIGA Nashville’s first Case Awards Show, held June 20 at the Cannery Ballroom.

The honors included:
Best of Products and Packaging for Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock and Roll 4-disc set (Sony Legacy)
Best of Media Packaging: Entertainment for Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock and Roll
Merit Awards: Sales Kits/Press Kits for Coondog Corporate Events, Print Self-Promotion for LTC’s mini-portfolio, Identity System/Stationery Package for LTC’s stationery, and Brand Identity Design for Sweet Talk Publicity.

CMT Awards Are Channel’s Most-Watched Show of Year

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Capitol Nashville’s Emily West and American Idol judge Randy Jackson at the CMT Music Awards.

Capitol Nashville’s Emily West and American Idol judge Randy Jackson at the CMT Music Awards.

More than 9.6 million viewers cumulative* tuned in for the premiere and encore telecasts of the 2009 CMT Music Awards on Tuesday, June 16 on CMT. This makes it the network’s most-watched telecast of the year, and ranks it third in the history of the awards. Increased fan interaction online led CMT.com to a record 7.5 million votes for this year’s Awards, up 45% from last year’s 5 million. The entire show can be viewed at CMT.com.

Fans also flocked to CMT.com after the show, where the site hit an all-time high with over 1 million single-day streams on Wednesday, June 17. Taylor Swift and T-Pain’s “Thug Story” became the most-streamed video for the day and now holds the record for best video premiere ever on CMT.com. Sugarland’s “Love Shack” featuring the B-52s is the No. 2 streaming performance from the show, with Kellie Pickler’s “Best Days Of Your Life” ranking No. 3.

Immediately following the live awards show telecast, CMT’s new series The Singing Bee became the channel’s highest-rated series debut of all time. Also on CMT is the new season of Can You Duet, which premiered Sat., June 20 with judges Naomi Judd, Big Kenny, and Big Machine Records President and CEO Scott Borchetta.

*Nielsen Media Research (cume P 2+ / 1 minute qualifier); includes live 2009 CMT Music Awards telecast which aired at 8 p.m. ET, along with the retelecast at 11:30 p.m ET.

Bryan Adams will share the stage with country rocker, Jason Aldean, when the pair team up for CMT CROSSROADS. CMT CROSSROADS: BRYAN ADAMS AND JASON ALDEAN taped before an invitation only audience at the Factory (Frankin, Tenn.) in May and premieres Friday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT. Margaret Comeaux-Executive Producer, CMT; Brian Philips-President, CMT; Bryan Adams; Jason Aldean; John Hamlin-Senior VP, Production and Development, CMT; Bill Flanagan-EVP Editorial Director, MTVN; and Tom Forrest, Executive Producer, Taillight TV. Photo: John Russell

Bryan Adams will share the stage with country rocker, Jason Aldean, when the pair team up for CMT CROSSROADS. CMT CROSSROADS: BRYAN ADAMS AND JASON ALDEAN taped before an invitation only audience at the Factory (Frankin, Tenn.) in May and premieres Friday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT. Margaret Comeaux-Executive Producer, CMT; Brian Philips-President, CMT; Bryan Adams; Jason Aldean; John Hamlin-Senior VP, Production and Development, CMT; Bill Flanagan-EVP Editorial Director, MTVN; and Tom Forrest, Executive Producer, Taillight TV. Photo: John Russell