Tag Archive for: featured-2

Jason Delkou Signs With SESAC

(L-R) Bigger Picture’s Alan Kates, SESAC’s John Mullins, Jason Delkou, SESAC’s Tim Fink and Bigger Picture’s Jeff Carlton. Photo: Ed Rode


Singer/songwriter Jason Delkou, who is signed to Bigger Picture Group, affiliated with SESAC during a recent visit to its Nashville headquarters.

Review: Sherrie' Austin Performs On StageIt

This week, Sherrie’ Austin performed on StageIt.com promoting her independent CD, Circus Girl, coming out in the fall. The June 15 performance was one in a series, as part of her “Jumpstart” campaign to help fund her new independent venture.
Accompanied by Will Rambeaux who was out of view, Austin performed with her guitar from the living room couch and offered an interactive connection with her fans. Viewers simultaneously chatted online. In between songs, Austin read and responded to many of the comments.
She told us this was the first time she has co-produced a record and is very excited about the songs on the upcoming CD.
After a couple of songs, she brought out on stage (i.e., her couch), Shane Stevens, who co-wrote the No. 1 hit by Lady Antebellum, “American Honey.” Both Stevens and Austin performed the song and thanked the audience for their “tips.” (Viewers purchase credits online and award performers by tipping them during the show.)
After I chatted “How did you write that song?” Shane saw the comment and shared the story of how he, Hillary Lindsey, and Cary Barlowe got the idea from a bottle of whiskey bearing the same name.
Although performances usually broadcast “one to many,” this was the definitive “one to one.”
Throughout the show, Austin teased us with a “big announcement” coming soon. Viewers tried to get it out of her, but her lips were sealed. One thing viewers did get from her was another show. After fans chatted they wanted to do this again, she spent a few minutes with Shane checking their schedules, and set her next date on StageIt for June 28, 8pm. She even asked the fans if that date worked for them and solicited song suggestions she should sing next time.
She ended the show with a haunting acoustic version of “Streets of Heaven” and gave viewers a true interactive experience.

Fun Photo Friday

In between dates opening for Taylor Swift, Frankie Ballard made his second CMA Music Festival appearance. Ballard’s schedule included autograph signings, a performance at the Chevrolet™ Riverfront Stage and a surprise appearance at Blake Shelton’s fan club party. Ballard also had the chance to hang with a bunch of media girls at the famed Wildhorse Saloon. Ballard’s Top 30 hit “A Buncha Girls” is quickly climbing the country radio singles charts.

(L-R) Back Row: Alanna Conaway (Taste of Country), Brittany Perlin (The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson), Jensen Arrowsmith (Warner Music Nashville), Ashley Dvorkin (FOX News), Sarah Lai (Warner Music Nashville) and Carden Griscom (Warner Music Nashville) Front Row: Allison Barrie (FOX News), Frankie Ballard, Lindsay Mayer (ABC), Linda Kim (E! News) and Tree Paine (Warner Music Nashville) Photo: Courtesy of Warner Music Nashville

• • • •

Power-trio Lady Antebellum recently stopped by CMT Top 20 Countdown to chat with host Evan Farmer about their third studio album, Own the Night, along with their newest single, “Just a Kiss.” This all new episode of the show premiered this morning, June 17 at 10am CT.

(L-R): Evan Farmer; Hillary Scott; Charles Kelley; Dave Haywood Photo: Amber McSwain

• • • •

Jimmy Wayne opened for his idols Daryl Hall and John Oates recently (6/15) at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, NY.  Wayne has often spoken of his admiration for the pop duo legends, and even covered their hit “Sara Smile” on his last CD. Wayne, who made his debut at LP Field during Music Fest last week, is currently at work on a new CD.

(L-R): Hall, Wayne and Oates. Photo: Kevin Ferguson

• • • •

During the 2011 CMT Music Awards, Keifer Thompson, half of the duo Thompson Square, who grew up right outside Joplin, MO, wanted to show his support for the victims of recent tornados. He did so by wearing a black tee-shirt with white lettering simply saying, “Joplin, MO.” The tee-shirt worn by Keifer Thompson is now available for purchase with all proceeds being donated to the Joplin Red Cross to assist in relief efforts. For more details visit www.thompsonsquare.com.

While backstage at the awards show, Kiefer ran into the Gilbert family from Joplin, MO. They shared their personal story of loss during the storms with Keifer, and thanked him for spreading awareness. (L- R) back row: Tiffany Gilbert, Eric Gilbert, Amy Gilbert, Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square. Front row: Lexi Gilbert


 
 
 
 

Which Nashville Musicians are Highest Paid?

Lately Forbes magazine is rivaling even Santa Claus when it comes to list making. The financial sheet compiles all kinds of entertainer lists, including highest paid bosses, Top Celebs, and more. This week’s revelation comes in the form of the World’s 25 Highest Paid Musicians.
Six Nashville notables grace the list along with brief descriptions of how they amass all the loot. Here’s a brief synopsis of our local boys (and girls) who made good. For the complete list click here, but be prepared to wade through an annoying photo slider that makes you click 25 times to see the entire list.
11. Toby Keith ($50 million)
Keith profits from music plus an endorsement deal with Ford, a mezcal line and a restaurant chain called I Love This Bar And Grill.
13. Taylor Swift ($45 million)
Swift’s new album Speak Now is certified triple-platinum; touring grosses some $750,000 per night.
15. Brad Paisley ($40 million)
Country star had a banner year, thanks to strong touring backed by sponsorships from Chevy, Skinny Water, and Sea Ray boats.
18. Tim McGraw ($35 million, tie)
McGraw made big bucks in 2010 despite his label’s decision to delay his new album. In addition to a lucrative tour, McGraw starred in Country Strong with Gwyneth Paltrow and his line of cologne is among the best selling celebrity scents.
23. Rascal Flatts ($34 million)
The country stars grossed $45 million on 61 shows over the past 12 months, adding to their coffers with heavy radio play and endorsements from JC Penny and others.
24. Kenny Chesney ($30 million)
Chesney grossed nearly $40 million on 24 shows in support of his new album, Hemingway’sWhiskey.

Weekly Chart Report (6/17/11)


Frankie Ballard (R) called KEEY/Minneapolis MD JD Greene to help play during Travis Tritt's "Modern Day Bonnie & Clyde" at his June 25 album release party at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill Minneapolis.


SPIN ZONE
At least No. 1 isn’t so far away, Justin Moore. After a two week run at the top by Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee,” Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” takes over the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 spot to give the young Valory Music Co. artist his second No. 1 single. Positions 3-5 are all Capitol Records, with Dierks Bentley’s “Am I The Only One” leading the pack, followed by Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and Lady Antebellum’s “Just A Kiss.”
It’s also a week of big debuts. Fresh from his performance at the CMT Music Awards, Toby Keith’s “Made In America” makes a huge leap to debut at No. 35 and gains 785 spins in the process. In doing so, he slightly overshadows other really big debuts from Alan Jackson (“Long Way To Go,” No. 63), Dolly Parton (“Together You And I,” No. 70) and Ronnie Dunn (“Cost Of Livin’,” No. 73)
Thompson Square’s followup to No. 1 single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” is “I Got You” and it’s looking very healthy at No. 18 after a gain of 242 spins. At the lower end of the chart making its debut at No. 75 is LoCash Cowboys’ “You Got Me.” Someone really needs to do a mashup of these two. And poised for big debuts in the coming weeks are Kellie Pickler’s “Tough” and J.T. Hodges’ “Hunt You Down.”
Frozen Playlists: WBYZ, WCMS, WHWK, WJMQ, WJVL, WMEV, WYVY


Upcoming Singles
June 20
Sara Evans/My Heart Can’t Tell You No/RCA
JT Hodges/Hunt You Down/Show Dog-Universal
Colt Ford/She Likes To Ride In Trucks/Average Joe’s
Shania Twain/Today Is Your Day/Mercury
DJ Miller/Between Sundays/Evergreen/Nine North/Spinville
June 27
Christian Kane/Let Me Go/Bigger Picture
Brett Eldredge/It Ain’t Gotta Be Love/Atlantic/WMN
Marlee Scott/Beautiful Maybe/bigride/CO5
Ronnie Dunn/Cost of Livin’/Arista
Alan Jackson/Long Way To Go/ACR/EMI
Rascal Flatts feat. Natasha Bedingfield/Easy/Big Machine
Brian Robinson/Without God, Where Does That Leave America/Lamon
• • • •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Toby Keith/Made In America/Show Dog-Universal — 34
Alan Jackson/Long Way To Go/EMI — 63
Ronnie Dunn/Cost Of Livin’/Arista —73
Craig Campbell/Fish/Bigger Picture — 74
LoCash Cowboys/You Got Me/R&J Records — 75
Sara Evans/My Heart Can’t Tell You No/RCA — 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Toby Keith/Made In America/Show Dog-Universal — 785
George Strait/Here For A Good Time/MCA — 504
Brad Paisley feat. Carrie Underwood/Remind Me/Arista — 408
Scotty McCreery/I Love You This Big/19 Ent./Mercury — 399
Alan Jackson/Long Way To Go/EMI — 368
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Toby Keith/Made In America/Show Dog-Universal — 55
George Strait/Here For A Good Time/MCA — 36
Alan Jackson/Long Way To Go/EMI — 35
Dolly Parton/Together You And I/Dolly Records/Warner Music Nashville — 27
Ronnie Dunn/Cost Of Livin’/Arista — 21
Scotty McCreery/I Love You This Big/19 Ent./Mercury — 15
Jerrod Niemann/One More Drinkin’ Song/Arista — 14
Brad Paisley feat. Carrie Underwood/Remind Me/Arista — 11
Joe Nichols/Take It Off/Show Dog-Universal — 11
Darius Rucker/I Got Nothin’/Capitol — 10
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Shawna Russell/Get Right or Get Left/Way Out West Records — 218
Jody Booth/Golddigger/Vigilante Music — 205
Brother Trouble/Summer’s Little Angel/Blaster Records — 201
J. T. Hodges/Hunt You Down — 199
Alison Krauss & Union Station/Paper Airplanes/Rounder — 193

Newcomer Corey Wagar is currently on a radio tour in support of her debut single “Hurricane,” which is climbing MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): WZZS/Zolfo Springs, FL MD Billy Brown, Corey Wagar, Carolyn Kneller, Gordon Brown (Wagar guitarist)


Rodeowave artist Phil Vassar stopped by WUSY/Chattanooga recently for a "get together" to talk about his latest single "Let's Get Together." His forthcoming album is slated for fall release. (L-R): WUSY MD/Afternoon Drive host Dex, Vassar, WUSY Afternoon Drive Host Mo, Rodoewave's Teddi Bonadies, WUSY OM Gator Harrison and Rodeowave's Bill Macky

Artist Updates: Sunny Sweeney, Margaret Durante, LeAnn Rimes

Sunny Sweeney performed to a packed crowd in Louisville, KY recently (6/10) at 4th Street Live! Her set included several tunes from her album, due out on August 23, including her current single, “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving” and the Top 10 hit, “From A Table Away.”

Pictured (L-R): Sweeney and WAMZ PD Coyote Calhoun. Photo: Shari Roth, Courtesy of Republic Nashville

• • • •

Margaret Durante dropped by the MusicRow offices on Tuesday (6/14) to visit with the staff and perform a few songs from her Maybe Tonight digital EP.

Front Row (L-R): Tim McFadden, R&J Records; David Ross, Music Row; Margaret Durante; Sarah Skates, Music Row; Jon Freeman, Music Row. Back Row (L-R): Christie King, Music Row; Scott Siman, RPM Management; Schatzi Hageman, Hot Schatz PR; Sherod Robertson, Music Row Photo: Courtesy Hot Schatz PR

• • • •

















LeAnn Rimes





LeAnn Rimes released her new song “Give” this week (6/14). “’Give’ is a powerful song with a message that I believe needs to be shared with the world, especially in these times,” Rimes says. “I’m so honored to sing this song and help spread that message.” Click to listen to the song.