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Nashville Planning Artist Residence

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An artist residence for Music City is in the works thanks to a partnership between the Nashville Music Council, Metro Development Housing Authority and Mayor Karl Dean’s office. Several cities across the country have artists residences, offering affordable housing to members of the creative community, and supporting them culturally and economically.

It remains unofficial, but MusicRow has learned that the Ryman Lofts at Rolling Mill Hill will be located downtown on Hermitage Avenue. The 60 apartment complex is being designed by Nashville-based Smith Gee Studio. Construction is set to begin in July 2011, with occupancy planned for Summer 2012. It will offer a floor-plan that is conducive to artistic endeavors, including ample common space. The one- and three-bedroom rental apartments will be easily accessible to downtown and the new greenway currently under construction on the bluff overlooking the Cumberland River.

The Hermitage Ave. location is near the one-time home of Captain Thomas Ryman, who oversaw the 1890s construction of the church which is today the Ryman Auditorium.

More on artist residences here and here.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (12/8/10)

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Brad Paisley performs “This is Country Music” at The 44th Annual CMA Awards (11/10). Photo: John Russell

The moment this listening session began, the rest of the platters might as well have packed up and gone home.

As soon as I saw Brad Paisley’s “This Is Country Music” in the stack, I knew what the Disc of the Day was going to be. And it is.

One interesting trend of this edition of DisClaimer was the presence of offspring of famous country families. Both of them, coincidentally, are named Nathan. Nathan Stanley is descended from Opry star Ralph Stanley. Nathan Osmond comes from the clan of Osmonds. He is also the DisCovery Award winner.

JOE HAND/Million Million Years
Writer: Joe Hand; Producer: Joe Hand; Publisher: McHand, BMI; Songsfamous (track) (www.joehand.com)
—Songwriter Hand has cleverly titled his CD Songs Famous People Should Sing. Furthermore, he specifies which artists he thinks each song is suited for. This upbeat, positive love song, he says, would be good for Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Lonestar and/or Emerson Drive. It is somewhat wordy, but the chorus is hooky.

STEEL MAGNOLIA/Last Night Again
Writer: Joshua Scott Jones/Meghan Linsey/Hillary Lindsay; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: Universal/Kind Vibe/Meghan Linsey/Steel Mag/EMI Blackwood/Raylene, ASCAP/BMI; Big Machine
—Sweetly sexy. They hooked up last night, and both are ready for a repeat performance. The track bops nicely, and their harmony singing is splendid.

MATT BAILIE/Man Behind These Eyes
Writer: Matt Bailie/Donnie Van Zant/Aaron Sherz; Producer: Chip Martin & Matt Bailie; Publisher: MDB True Vibe Entertainment/Shanty Town, ASCAP/BMI; True Vibe (track) (www.mattbailiemusic.com)
—Did you write it with no melody on purpose?

BRAD PAISLEY/This Is Country Music
Writer: Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois; Producer: Frank Rogers; Publisher: House of Sea Gayle/Words & Music, ASCAP; Arista
—I was completely charmed by this when he introduced it during the CMA telecast last month. Evidently, a lot of radio folks were too, for it has become the second song from the awards show that they’ve asked for now (the other being the Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson duet). In addition to having the coolest lyric, it boasts an absolutely brilliant guitar solo. This just might be country music’s national anthem.

NATHAN OSMOND/Feels Like Heaven
Writer: Jim Collins/Marv Green/Dean Sams; Producer: Gary Baker & Nathan Osmond; Publisher: Hope N Cal/Living Big/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI; Ntune (track) (801-553-3480)
—Nathan is the son of Alan Osmond of The Osmonds. He’s definitely inherited the family’s musical genes. He sings with plenty of conviction and emotion. The title tune to his CD is a wide-open power ballad with a chorus that leaves him room to cut loose into his upper register. Seven tunes are co-produced with Gary Baker, and the other four are co-produced with Lonestar’s Dean Sams.

ALABAMA/Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way
Writer: Waylon Jennings; Producer: Alabama & Witt Stewart; Publisher: Universal Songs of PolyGram, BMI; Scatter/Big Machine (www.waylonjennings.com)
—This doesn’t stray far from Waylon’s original arrangement. A few lyrics are altered, which irritated me. And, frankly, I missed the swagger and snarl of Waylan’s delivery. It is drawn from a forthcoming tribute album titled The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings.

LUCY BILLINGS/Daddy’s Last Drive
Writer: Lucy J. Billings; Producer: John Jennings; Publisher: none listed; Sassy Time (track) (www.lucybillings.com)
—Producer Jennings is previously noted for his work with the esteemed Mary Chapin Carpenter. Why he chose to work with this bland, wimpy, limp vocalist is beyond me.

THE GRASCALS & DOLLY PARTON/I Am Strong
Writer: Jamie Johnson/Susanne Mumpower-Johnson/Jenee Fleenor; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BluGrascal (track) (www.grascals.com)
—The Grascals upcoming CD is a Cracker Barrel project that teams the band with various country celebs (Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Tom T. Hall, Darryl Worley, Joe Nichols, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels). The package’s single is an empowering anthem that’s far more country than bluegrass. It’s about a child with cancer, and a portion of the album’s proceeds benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

NATHAN STANLEY & VINCE GILL/The White Dove
Writer: Carter Stanley; Producer: Nathan Stanley & Alan Maggard; Publisher: none listed;  NS (track) (615-248-8105)
—Nathan is the 17-year-old grandson of Ralph Stanley. He has a pure and true Appalachian tenor voice, and his My Kind of Country CD indicates that he already has plenty of fans in the country community. His collaborators on it include Gene Watson, Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart & Connie Smith, Ricky Skaggs, John Anderson and Jimmy Dickens, as well as his father and grandfather. This performance with Vince on high harmony is the lovely, mournful bluegrass waltz initially popularized by his forebears The Stanley Brothers.

GURF MORLIX/Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet Dream
Writer: Blaze Foley; Producer: Gurf Morlix; Publisher: Texas Ghostwriters/Bug, BMI; Rootball (track) (www.gurfmorlix.com)
—Blaze Foley was one of the great characters in Texas music. Morlix, noted for his work producing Lucinda Williams and other roots music makers, is releasing an entire album of his late friend’s compositions. It is a listening delight, throughout. This title tune is a witty and wacky outing with Morlix rasping the lyric and strumming dandy twang guitar. On “If I Could Only Fly,” Foley’s best known song, he is joined by Kimmie Rhodes on harmony vocal. Heartily recommended.

Lucinda Williams Sets March Release

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Lucinda Williams is prepping for the March 1 release of her new album Blessed, on Lost Highway. For the 12-song project she paired with Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was, and co-producers Eric Liljestrand and Tom Overby.

Williams recruited Elvis Costello for guitar work on the track “Seeing Black.” Also making appearances on the album are Rami Jaffe on keyboards, and Matthew Sweet on vocals. The project contains a new version of “Kiss Like Your Kiss,” which originally appeared on the True Blood: Music From The HBO Original Series – Volume 2 soundtrack. That song was recently nominated for a Grammy for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Williams, a three-time Grammy winner, is releasing a deluxe edition of Blessed with bonus material titled The Kitchen Tapes.

Kennedy Center Honors Haggard, McCartney

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Kennedy Center Honorees Merle Haggard, Bill T. Jones, Sir Paul McCartney, Jerry Herman and Oprah Winfrey.

Washington D.C. was glowing with star power on Sunday night, Dec. 5, for the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors. Merle Haggard was among the esteemed honorees, alongside Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Bill T. Jones, and Jerry Herman.

Vince Gill opened the salute to Haggard, calling him the “poet of the common man.” Willie Nelson narrated Haggard’s video biography before performing with Sheryl Crow as part of the tribute. Also taking the stage were Kris Kristofferson and Miranda Lambert for Haggard’s “Silver Wings,” and Gill and Brad Paisley on “Workin’ Man’s Blues.” Nelson then recruited Kid Rock and Jamey Johnson onstage for “Ramblin’ Fever.”

On hand to salute McCartney were No Doubt, Dave Grohl and Norah Jones, Steven Tyler, James Taylor, and Mavis Staples.

Oprah was honored by Julia Roberts, Sidney Poitier, John Travolta, Barbara Walters, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Rock.

The gala will air Dec. 28 on CBS.

Travis Tritt Signs With Parallel Entertainment

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Travis Tritt has signed with manager J.P. Williams of Parallel Entertainment, home to Larry The Cable Guy and others. The Los Angeles-based talent management and production company handles a wide range of entertainment projects, including feature films, DVD premiere features, comedy and music albums, and television series and specials.

Parallel has produced one-hour specials for Comedy Central and HBO, as well as several motion pictures. Among its most popular offerings are the Blue Collar Comedy and Larry the Cable Guy franchises.

Vassar To Headline Nashville New Year’s Eve

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Phil Vassar will headline Nashville’s Bash On Broadway New Year’s Eve party. The free block party starts at 7:30 PM with performances by Will Hoge, Heidi Newfield and Damien Horne. GAC and Sirius/XM host Storme Warren will emcee the event on Lower Broadway leading up to the midnight Guitar Drop and fireworks.

Also on the Music City calender: On Dec. 29 Zac Brown Band plays Bridgestone Arena
, and Little Texas performs a free outdoor concert downtown prior to the Battle of the Bands. Dec. 30 brings the Music City Bowl at LP Field
, where Trace Adkins will sing the national anthem and Ashton Shepherd will perform “God Bless America.” There is a pre-game concert downtown with Tim Akers and The Smoking Section.

American Country Award Winners

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Lady Antebellum

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum were big winners at the first American Country Awards last night (12/6) in Las Vegas. Underwood took home six awards, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (for Play On), and Touring Package of the Year. Lady Antebellum earned honors for Single of the Year (“Need You Now”) and Artist of the Year: Duo or Group. Mercury’s Easton Corbin picked up three awards, and Blake Shelton scored two.

Rascal Flatts and Alan Jackson received career achievement awards.

According to zap2it.com the show gave the Fox network a third place tie in ratings for the evening, with 5.97 million tuning in and a 3.6 rating/5 share. Among adults 18-49, Fox trailed CBS and NBC with a 1.5 rating.

Winners are in bold red below.

ARTISTS
Artist of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Duo or Group
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Easton Corbin

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Easton Corbin
Danny Gokey
Jaron and The Long Road To Love
Jerrod Niemann
The Band Perry

Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban

Artist of the Year: Female
Jewel
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

ALBUMS
Album of the Year
Doin’ My Thing, Luke Bryan
Need You Now, Lady Antebellum
Revolution, Miranda Lambert
Haywire, Josh Turner
Play On, Carrie Underwood

SINGLES
Single of the Year: Male
“Do I,” Luke Bryan
“Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“That’s How Country Boys Roll,” Billy Currington
“Gimme That Girl,” Joe Nichols
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner

Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
“Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Pray for You,” Jaron and The Long Road To Love
“Lover, Lover,” Jerrod Niemann
“Keep on Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“Beer on the Table,” Josh Thompson

Single of the Year
“Do I,” Luke Bryan
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Gimme That Girl,” Joe Nichols
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner

Single of the Year: Female
“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert
“Wrong Baby Wrong,” Martina McBride
“Consider Me Gone,” Reba McEntire
“Didn’t Know How Much I Loved You,” Kellie Pickler
“Cowboy Casanova,” Carrie Underwood

Single of the Year: Duo or Group
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Little White Church,” Little Big Town
“Unstoppable,” Rascal Flatts
“Keep On Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“Toes,” Zac Brown Band

Alan Jackson is honored.

TOURING
Touring Headline Package of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Toby Keith
Martina McBride & Trace Adkins
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait & Reba McEntire
Sugarland
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

VIDEOS
Music Video of the Year
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner
“The Man I Want To Be,” Chris Young

Music Video: Male
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Southern Voice,” Tim McGraw
“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner
“The Man I Want To Be,” Chris Young

Music Video: Breakthrough Artist
“Giddy On Up,” Laura Bell Bundy
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Lover, Lover,” Jerrod Niemann
“Keep on Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“If I Die Young,” The Band Perry

Music Video: Female
“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert
“Consider Me Gone,” Reba McEntire
“Didn’t Know How Much I Loved You,” Kellie Pickler
“Cowboy Casanova,” Carrie Underwood
“Work Hard, Play Harder,” Gretchen Wilson

Music Video: Duo or Group
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Little White Church,” Little Big Town
“Unstoppable,” Rascal Flatts
“Keep on Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“Highway 20 Ride,” Zac Brown Band

EMI Celebrates Holiday Kick-Off

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EMI Music helped start the holiday’s for writers, staff and friends at its 2010 Holiday Casino Party. The “in the chips” festivities included dinner and  Casino play plus a raffle.

(L-R) Alice Peacock, Brian Henningsen, Clara Henningsen, Dallas Davidson, Sarah Davidson, Jeremy Stover, Rachel Proctor, Aaron Henningsen, Michael Knox, Ross Copperman, EMI Exec. VP/GM Ben Vaughn, Tom Luteran, Steve McEwan, Laura Wright, Josh Van Valkenburg, Keith Anderson, James T. Slater, Jerry Flowers, Matt Fleener, Jamie Paulin, Missy Wilson, Kelley Lovelace, Chris Gillis and Zach Hammitte.

Nettles Helps VH1 Divas Salute The Troops

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(L-R): Keri Hilson, Katy Perry, and Jennifer Nettles during the opening number of VH1 Divas Salute The Troops. Photo: Getty Images/VH1.com

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles helped VH1 Divas Salute The Troops in last night’s (12/5) television special. She joined pop, rock and hip-hop stars Katy Perry, Keri Hilson, Nicki Minaj, Paramore and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals for the show taped primarily last week at San Diego’s Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

The stars donned military-inspired wardrobe for much of the evening, including Nettles, Hilson and Perry in World War II-era uniforms for a cover of the 1940s classic “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” More here.

MC Lyte unexpectedly joined Jennifer Nettles for a duet of "Stuck Like Glue." Photo: Getty Images/VH1.com

Katy Perry parachuting to the stage for "California Gurls." Photo: Getty Images/VH1.com

Chesney Stadium Stop At NY/NJ Meadowlands

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Kenny Chesney’s Goin’ Coastal Tour is set to play the New York area on Aug. 13, 2011. Also starring will be Zac Brown Band with special guests Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker.

Tickets for the mega show go on sale Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. “This lineup represents the very best that country music has to offer,” said Mark Lamping, President and CEO of the New Meadowlands Stadium. “We look forward to hosting these terrific acts in August 2011, and providing a prominent stage for country music in the New York and New Jersey region.”

Fans can buy tickets at http://kennychesney.com and http://www.newmeadowlandsstadium.com. The Kenny Chesney Official Fan Club will be offering presale tickets for all shows on Kenny’s 2011 Tour prior to the general public on-sale. To get access to these exclusive presales, fans can go to http://kennychesney.com

Kenny Chesney 2011  Tour
(Stadium dates only – starring Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band, with Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker)
Sat Mar 19 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James  Stadium (on sale Sat Dec 11)
Sat Apr 16 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium (on  sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Jun 4 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field – (on sale Fri Dec  3)
Sat Jun 11 – Green Bay, WI – Lambeau Field (on sale Sat Dec 11)
Sat  Jun 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field SOLD OUT
Sat Jul 2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field (on sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Jul  30 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium (on sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Aug 13 –  Rutherford, NJ – New Meadowlands Stadium (on sale Sat Dec 11)
Sat Aug 20 –  Detroit, MI – Ford Field (on sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Aug 27- Foxboro, MA –  Gillette Stadium SOLD OUT

The tour is billed as  Corona Extra presents Kenny Chesney’s Goin’ Coastal Tour, starring Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band.