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ACM Tapes Girls Night Out For CBS

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If you had your pick of all the talented, and attractive women in country music for a night out who would you pick? Well, you don’t have to choose because the Academy of Country Music is making the decisions for you with the organization’s latest CBS TV Special to be called—Girl’s Night Out: Superstar Women Of Country.

Miranda Lambert


Dedicated to “honoring today’s most incredible female country music performers,” the show will be produced by dick clark productions and taped on April 4, 2011 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The ACM 46th Awards take place the night before, so the timing maximizes the schedules for some artists also appearing on the Awards. Ticket sales from the event, now available at Ticketmaster, will benefit ACM Lifting Lives and are priced at $200, $150 and $100.
Artists chosen to appear on the show will be recognized for special or unique achievements. The first performers announced to appear on the special, plus the achievements they will be recognized for are listed below.
• Miranda Lambert – Will be recognized for being the only female artist in the Academy’s history to ever win Album of the Year, twice, first for “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” in 2007 and again for “Revolution” in 2009
• Martina McBride – Will be recognized by ACM Lifting Lives for her dedication to raising social consciousness through songs such as “Independence Day” and “Concrete Angel,” which raise awareness of domestic violence and encourage female empowerment; McBride has won Top Female Vocalist three times, in 2001, 2002 and 2003
• Jennifer Nettles – Will be recognized for being only one of two female artists in the Academy’s history to ever solo write and perform Song of the Year, in 2007, with “Stay”
• Reba – Will be recognized for winning Top Female Vocalist more times than any other artist in the Academy’s history – a whopping seven times
• Carrie Underwood – Will be recognized for being the only female artist in the Academy’s history to ever win Entertainer of the Year, twice, first in 2008 and again in 2009 (she is the reigning Entertainer of the Year, since Awards recognize the previous calendar year’s work)

The Boot Campaign

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The Roys, George Jones and Josh Turner

One-by-one country music stars are taking off their cowboy boots and replacing them with army boots. The Boot Campaign, started by five Texas women—the “Boot Girls” (Ginger, Leigh Ann, Sherri, Heather and Mariae)—was inspired by retired US Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, author of the book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 and founder of the Lone Survivor Foundation. The campaign encourages Americans to purchase a pair of army combat boots to wear in support of our nation’s troops. Proceeds are donated to partner charities, including the Lone Survivor Foundation. For more information about the Boot Campaign, go to www.bootcampaign.com.

Country music stars involved include legends George Jones, Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis, Lee Greenwood and Charlie Daniels; hit-makers Josh Turner, Phil Vassar, Joe Nichols, Randy Houser, Gretchen Wilson, Justin Moore, Chuck Wicks, Colt Ford, Joey + Rory and Jack Ingram; bluegrass artists The Grascals and The Roys; Texas sensations Robert Earl Keen; and many more.


(L-R): Captain Ivan Castro, Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell (retired), Trey Fanjoy, Joe Nichols and Captain Chad Fleming (retired).


Joe Nichols Gets His “Boots On”

The video for Show Dog-Universal artist Joe Nichols’ “The Shape I’m In” pays tribute to those in the military who were injured in battle, but are making the most of their lives. The video was made in partnership with The Boot Campaign and the Lone Survivor Foundation. Directed by award winner Trey Fanjoy, the video features special appearances by Lone Survivor  Foundation founder and former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell as well as Captain Chad Fleming (retired) and Captain Ivan Castro.
Fleming lost his left leg in battle, but has finished 5K runs, Triathlons, a long-distance bike rides. Castro, blinded by enemy fire, became the first blind graduate of the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, GA. Castro has also completed marathons and triathlons.
An extended version of the music video (below) includes an additional message from Luttrell. For more information on the Lone Survivor Foundation please visit www.LoneSurvivorFoundation.org.

Shelton Extends "All About Tonight" Tour

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Blake Shelton may have an important co-hosting gig with Reba coming up at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards April 3, but he’s certainly not going to sit around and worry about it. In fact, the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year is making use of the time by extending his first ever headlining tour into 2011, which will run up to and after the ACM Awards.
The 2011 All About Tonight Tour will resume on Friday, January 28 in LaCrosse, WI, with opening guests including Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry and Chris Young (check schedule for guest lineup). Full dates for the 20 city tour are included below.
“I’m excited to get back out there and perform for my fans,” says Shelton. “They made last year the best year of my life and I hope to make each night of this tour one of the most memorable nights of their lives. I’m hoping this tour will prepare me for co-hosting the ACM awards with the queen of country music, Reba. There’s no better practice as my fans are always great at keeping me on my toes.”
2011 All About Tonight Tour Dates:
Date — City, State
1/28 — LaCrosse, WI
1/29 — Bemidji, MN
2/3 — Jonesboro, AR
2/5 — Cape Girardeau, MO
2/8 — Tulare, CA
2/17 — San Antonio, TX
2/18 — Winnie, TX
2/19 — Waco, TX
2/25 — Brookings, SD
2/26 — Duluth, MN
3/11 — Fayetteville, NC
3/12 — Augusta, GA
3/16 — Austin, TX
3/17 — Highland Heights, KY
3/18 — Corbin, KY
3/19 — Huntington, WV
3/26 — Orlando FL
4/9 — Auburn, AL
4/16 — Valdosta, GA
5/7 — Catoosa, OK

Living In The Sales Moment

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Wouldn’t it be nice? If you could just enjoy the present without worrying about the future? And, as a life recipe there may be merit in that approach. However, for Nielsen SoundScan number jockeys, we can’t help but peer around the corner, (even if it is piled high with snow) to see what lies ahead. Today, country music album sales are a healthy 10.6% ahead of last year. (So, if all you want to know is today’s good news, stop reading and switch to another article.)
OK. You’re still reading so I assume you want to be prepared for next week’s SoundScan reality check. Here goes… Lady Antebellum released Need You Now during the week ending 1-31-10 and opened with an exuberant 481,000 units. This year there are no releases planned that will balance that number (Joe Nichols Greatest Hits is scheduled for 1/25), so assuming next week we sell just a little more than this week, your scribe calculates that country’s YTD album sales balance will take a 21 point dive ending up at about -11.5%. A number which will worsen week by week until new product steps up to balance the 2010 Lady A sales.
Of interest this week is the iTunes-only debut of an Eric Church Caldwell County EP, digital-only which spurred almost 7,000 units. The 4-song package was selling today (1/26) for $3.99. Sunny Sweeney also released a self-titled digital-only EP that sold 1.6k. Amazon priced Sweeney’s 5-track set today at $4.52; while iTunes asked $4.95.
The highest selling country current digital albums were Taylor Swift Speak Now (7.5k), the above mentioned Mr. Church and Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party (5.6k). The highest selling digital album of the week was a debut from the Decemberists King Is Dead which moved over 60k units.
Saucy Singles
The country digital tracks top 100 list continues to churn over one million units per week. This week 1.25 million of those files found new homes traveling from the cloud to new hard drives and solid state media. Taylor Swift-“Back To December”, Jason Aldean-“Don’t You Wanna Stay”, Kenny Chesney-“Somewhere With You”, Stoney Creek’s Thompson Square-“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and the Band Perry-“If I Die Young” held the first five positions. Big Machine/Republic Nashville own spots one and five, Broken Bow Records/Stoney Creek owns two and four, and each pair of artists is responsible for about 100k downloads.

Beavers & Warrens Top Charts

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BMI hosted a luncheon to honor the team behind Tim McGraw’s latest No. 1 hit “Felt Good on My Lips” Thursday, January 20 in Nashville. This is the first time brothers Jim Beavers and Brett Beavers and Brett Warren and Brad Warren have topped charts together. Their collaboration became the 23rd chart-topper for McGraw.

(L-R) back: Brett Warren, Jim Beavers, Tim McGraw, Brett Beavers and Brad Warren. Front: Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, Curb Records’ Mike Rogers, BMI’s Jody Williams, Chrysalis' Abbe Nameche, and Chrysalis Music Nashville’s Dale Bobo. Photo by Rick Diamond

DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/26/11)

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The lesson in today’s stack of platters is that there is life after major labels.
Elizabeth Cook, Jeff Bates, Josh Gracin and Jason D. Williams are all here to tell us they’re still standing tall. So is singer-songwriter extraordinaire Lori McKenna, who wins the Disc of the Day with a stunning album that dropped just yesterday.
Give a DisCovery Award to Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. That lesson is, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
SARAH DARLING/Something To Do With Your Hands
Writer: Sarah Darling/Jason Deere; Producer: Jimmy Nichols; Publisher: Want a Fresh One/Sarah Darling/Songwriters of Platinum Pen/Big Bad Deere, ASCAP/BMI; Black River (track) (www.sarahdarling.com)
—The tune is somewhat simplistic and sing-songy, but the production is so crunchy, crisp and captivating that you hardly notice it. A winner.
JASON D. WILLIAMS/You Look Like I Could Use A Drink
Writer: Jason D. Williams/Todd Snider/Dan Baird/Keith Christopher; Producer: Todd Snider; Publisher: This Name Doesn’t Make Any Sense/Nobody’s Collecting on These Songs/Bug/Where’s the Check/Bag Daddio, BMI; Rockabilly (track) (www.rockinjasondwilliams.com)
—It has been six years since this piano-pumping wild man and Jerry Lee Lewis disciple has issued a new CD. Fear not, his Killer Instincts collection finds his powers undimmed. This baby rawks. Recorded in Music City, the cast includes not only producer Snider, but Bobby Bare Jr., Jim Hoke, Amy LaVere, Dan Baird and Kenny Lovelace, among others.
JENNY & ASHLEY/Indescribable
Writer: Ashley Cooke/Jonathan George/Anthony Mazza; Producer: Darran Smith; Publisher: none listed; Lofton Creek
—Youthful, bopping and pop-ish, with more than a nod toward the Taylor Swift audience.
JEFF BATES/One Day Closer
Writer: Patrick Jason Matthews/Jeff Bates; Producer: Jimmy Nichols & Jeff Bates; Publisher: Steel Wheels/Matthews Millions/Big Loud Bucks/Melrose Nashville/Landa, BMI; Black River (track)
—Jeff’s disc reentry is a six-song EP with a gospel theme. Its title tune is a stirring, soulful ballad wherein he looks forward to the day when the Lord will resolve all his unanswered questions here on earth. Wisely mixed with his gripping voice and the involving lyric right up front.
CARTER’S CHORD/A Little Less Comfortable
Writer: Phillip White/Emily Robertson/Joanna Robertson; Producer: Toby Keith & Mark Wright; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Jorjax/Sing Station/Boomer Sooie/Emily Robertson, BMI; Show Dog Universal
—The verses throb with yearning, and the thing truly comes alive when the trio harmonies kick in on the choruses. The shuddering, twanging, echoey guitar passages are cool, too.
LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL/Four Letter Word
Writer: Lukas Nelson; Producer: Lukas Nelson, Anthony LoGerfo, John Avila & Tato Melgar; Publisher: none listed; POTR (track) (www.promiseofthereal.com)
—Lukas is Willie’s son, and the two are touring together this year. In this romping, lead-off track to his debut CD, Lukas sings in a tenor twang while the band gallops along behind him. He won’t be tied down, because, “forever is a four-letter word.” Highly enjoyable. Also check out the chiming ballad “The Sound of Your Memory” and the electrified, political, Willie-penned “Peaceful Solution.”
ELIZABETH COOK/All The Time
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Agent Love, SESAC; 31 Tigers (track) (www.elizabeth-cook.com)
—Elizabeth’s Welder CD came out last summer, but somehow got lost in my ever-expanding pile of things-to-be-reviewed. New producer Was, plus her Nashville instrumental buddies, have finally come up with a sound that perfectly captures her hillbilly-yet-hip personna. This lively lead-off track sort of fuses Appalachia with India, if you can imagine that. This whole record is a masterpiece, from “Heroin Addict Sister” to “Mama’s Funeral” to “El Camino” to “Yes to Booty.” If you haven’t bought this yet, do so at once.
RECKLESS KELLY/I Hold The Bottle, You Hold The Wheel
Writer: Pinto Bennett; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Famous Motel Cowboy, BMI; RK (972-800-0004)
—The song is a dandy. The mix is muddy.
STAR DeAZLAN/A Man Who Can Dance
Writer: James Slater/Tim Nichols; Producer: Doug Johnson; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Green Ivy/Bug, BMI; Curb
—Pert and perky, with just a splash of Latina spice.
JOSH GRACIN/Only When It Rains
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Average Joe/Full Scope (track) (www.joshgracin.com)
—Josh has a five-song sampler that includes this atmospheric, drama-packed anthem of lost love. The choruses give him plenty of room to show off his range. How did Lonestar let this one get away?
LORI McKENNA/Buy This Town
Writer: Lori McKenna; Producer: Barry Dean; Publisher: Universal, no performance rights listed; LM (track) (www/lorimckenna.com)
—This brilliant song crafter is self-releasing her newest collection. I was immediately drawn to this stately, poetic, yearning ballad of need and longing. Half the songwriters in this city surely wish they could come up with something as shining as this polished little gem. The title tune, “Lorraine” paints motherhood with a series of vivid, scintillating everyday details. “The Luxury of Knowing” will floor anyone who has ever been in a difficult relationship. Everywhere you turn, there’s a touch of genius here. I am completely in love with this record.

Sony Music Unlimited Sets Sights On U.S.

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Sony has rallied support among the major labels—Warner Bros., Universal and EMI—to form a streaming music service that the partners hope will challenge Apple’s iTunes (now passed the 10 billion downloads mark) and give their artists an additional platform from which to be heard. Dubbed Music Unlimited Powered by Qriocity (sounds like- curiosity) the service opened last December in the U.K and Ireland and this past weekend (1/22) in France, Germany and Spain. It is expected to open for U.S. consumers first quarter 2011.
Music Unlimited is available on Sony’s Playstation 3 game console, Blu-ray Disc player, Bravia televisions, personal computers, and will be on smartphones using Google Inc.’s Android operating systems. The new online cloud-based offering contains over six million songs and gives its major label partners more control over business model and revenue, without having to interact with additional entities.
Users are required to pay for song access choosing either basic plan for 3.99 euros per month or the premium plan which costs 9.99 euros /month. Unlike iTunes which allows users to enjoy their song files offline, Music Unlimited users must be connected for the files to stream. The Sony site also has no plans to offer free content or ad supported only content. “Free doesn’t make any money,” said Thomas Hesse, head of digital operations and corporate strategy Sony Music Entertainment.
Analysis: The corpses from a number of streaming and download services lie strewn about the digital highway such as LaLa, the original Napster and many more. Others, like Spotify, have been rumored to reach the U.S. but not yet arrived. However, Sony’s size and its installed hardware user base gives Music Unlimited added market clout—the company expects to have about 350 million devices in the marketplace over the next few years. However, it appears that users have to be connected to listen to the songs they have purchased. In the future that should not be a problem as wireless connectivity seeps further into our world’s infrastructure. However, at this time, there are many areas even inside major cities nicknamed “dead zones” where the signal is not robust, and this may slow adoption of a streaming only model.

Chesney, Cannon Reach Milestone

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Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney


Kenny Chesney and producer Buddy Cannon are celebrating a milestone. Chesney’s latest No. 1 hit “Somewhere With You,” marked the star’s 21st time at the top of the charts, and his 20th charttopper produced by Cannon. Chesney says he knew the song by Shane McAnally and John Harding was very unique the first time he heard it.
Since their first pairing on the 1997 album I Will Stand, the Cannon/Chesney collaboration has resulted in numerous multi-platinum albums. Among Cannon’s co-producers are Chesney and Norro Wilson.
In more news from the East Tennesean, his “No Shoes Radio” is now being distributed on the A.P.E. Radio network. Dubbed A.P.E. for “artist personal experience,” the distribution includes Clear Channel Radio’s “iheartradio” network, made up of hundreds of local radio station websites, the iheartradio mobile app (12 million downloads), and widgets. The Chesney-programmed channel is still available at www.NoShoesRadio.com and iTunes radio.
As Chesney preps his summer tour, 12 dates are on sale and have moved more than 400,000 tickets.

Role Reversal For Radio Promoters Matthew Hargis, Bobby Young

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Bobby Young (L) and Matthew Hargis (R)


Radio promotion executives Matthew Hargis and Bobby Young have essentially traded posts. Hargis has left his role handling southeast regional promotion for Capitol Records Nashville, and joined Republic Nashville as National Director of Promotion. In turn, Young has exited his post as Republic’s National Promotion Director to fill the vacancy left by Hargis at Capitol. They take office on Feb. 1.
In his new role, Hargis will oversee all aspects of the radio promotion department and radio activities for the Republic Nashville roster, which includes Martina McBride, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band and Sunny Sweeney. “I am honored and thrilled to be joining this stellar team of professionals led by Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen, says Hargis. “The Republic Nashville artist roster is bursting with talent that continues to blaze new trails with fresh, exciting music.”
The move reunites Hargis with former colleague, turned Republic Nashville President Harnen. “As long as I have known and worked with Matthew, he has always been the person who delivered solutions…a ‘go to guy,'” says Harnen. “It’s like having a Sherman tank in your garage. He has a unique way of looking at any situation and providing a fresh approach, not to mention he is one of the nicest human beings you will ever meet.”
Hargis will report directly to Harnen and can be reached at 615-324-7903 or matthew.hargis@republicnashville.com.
••••
Bobby Young will be based in Nashville and report directly to Capitol’s VP Promotion Shane Allen. He will join the promotion team in working Capitol artists Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and more.

“I am more than thrilled that Bobby has agreed to join our family at Capitol,” said Sr. VP, Promotion, Steve Hodges. “I couldn’t think of a better qualified candidate, anywhere! His vast knowledge of the ever-changing record business and his extensive promotion experience will be a tremendous asset, not only to the promotion department, but to our entire building.”
“I’ve admired the winning work ethic and champion environment at Capitol Records Nashville, and I consider the opportunity to be a member of this team and to work for Steve Hodges and Shane Allen second to none,” said Young.  “It’s a real blessing. I’m looking forward to not only working with Capitol’s great roster of artists, but also to being back in the Southeast working hands on with my friends in radio.”

Photos: Paisley, the JaneDear girls, Jacob Lyda

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Paisley Joined By GB Packers QB Onstage • the JaneDear girls Go Shopping With A Fan • Newcomer Jacob Lyda Performs A Private Showcase

Brad Paisley appropriately kicked off his H2O Frozen Over Tour in frozen Green Bay, WI last week (Jan. 21). The sold-out crowd was taken to another level of frenzy when Aaron Rodgers (L), starting quarterback for the NFC Champion Green Bay Packers, joined Paisley for a duet on “Still A Guy.” (Photo: Ben Enos)

Before the opening date of the Jason Aldean tour, the JaneDear girls and one lucky winner from KSSN/Little Rock, AR, had a shopping spree at a local mall. Pictured (L-R): KSSN Promotion Director Matt Cruz, Danelle Leverett, KSSN winner Denise Womble, Susie Brown, and WMN Senior VP Promotion Chris Stacey.

Davis Music Group and Nine North Records team members recently gathered for a private listening party at the Hard Rock Cafe featuring DMG’s Jacob Lyda. Among the collection of songs performed was Lyda’s new single, “I’m Doing Alright.” Pictured (L-R): Nine North’s Gregg Stevens, Tom Moran, DMG’s Mike Ulvila, Glenn Noblit, Nine North’s Brooks Quigley, DMG’s Gator Michaels, Winne Davis, Jacob Lyda, Randy Root, Nine North’s Larry Pareigis, Stan Marczewski and Kevin Mason.