Trisha Yearwood To Perform “A Celebration of Paul Newman’s Dream”

Trisha Yearwood will perform along with Josh Groban and Paul Simon at an event to support Paul Newman’s programs for children facing serious illnesses.

Joanne Woodward will host the event, billed as Paul Neuman’s Dream, which is scheduled to take place April 2 at New York’s Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. Camp alumni from the network of 14 camps worldwide will be in the audience for an evening of music, and appearances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Jimmy Fallon.

The 2010 Celebration of Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camps raised more than $3 million and featured guests including Renee Zellweger, Bette Midler, Bill Cosby, Stevie Wonder, John Mellencamp, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett.

Show-only tickets for this year’s event begin at $35 and escalate to $1,500, to include a post-performance supper, inquiries accepted with the Lincoln Center Box Office.

Photo: “Drink In My Hand” No. 1 Party

L-R: (back row) Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, Universal Music Publishing Group; Mike Dungan, President/CEO, Capitol Records, Nashville; Jody Williams, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Nashville, BMI; and Troy Tomlinson, President/CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville; (front row) co-writer Luke Laird, Eric Church, and co-writer Michael Heeney.

Music industry professionals gathered at BMI’s Nashville office yesterday (Feb. 28) to celebrate Eric Church’s first No. 1 song, “Drink in My Hand.” The rowdy anthem is the second single off of Church’s hit album, Chief. The song was co-written by Luke Laird, who has nine No. 1 hits to his credit, and Church’s long-time collaborator, Michael Heeney, who now has three No. 1s.

Sugarland Launches Fan Interactive Tour

Sugarland has announced the launch of In The Hands of the Fans, their sixth consecutive headlining tour this April. The interactive tour, with opening acts Lauren Alaina and Canaan Smith, will rely solely on fan interaction and requests to determine the set list played in each city.

“The fans will make the requests that will help form the set list and guide the show through texts, handwritten signs, the Internet (Twitter, Facebook, etc), phone calls made during the show and selections directly from the stage,” explained Nettles. “The fans will become the conductors as well as the audience. If it’s on one of our records or if we’ve played it on a stage it is fair game.”

Specific guidelines and details will be forthcoming on the duo’s website about how to specifically engage with the interactive tour.

In The Hands of the Fans dates:

4/5­ – Toledo, OH
4/6 – Youngstown, OH
4/10 – Niagara, ON
4/11 – Niagara, ON
4/13 – Pikeville, KY
4/14 – Louisville, KY
4/19-20 – Thackerville, OK
4/21 – Mississippi State, MS
4/26 – Virginia Beach, VA
4/27 – Charlotte, NC
4/28 – Raleigh, NC
5/25 – Rancho Mirage, CA
5/31 – San Diego, CA
6/1 – Mountain Valley, CA
6/21 – Oshkosh, WI
6/22 – Cadott, WI
6/23 – Chicago, IL
7/21 – Harrington, DE
7/22 – Bristow, VA
7/27 – Tampa, FL
7/28 – Valdosta, GA
7/29 – West Palm Beach, FL
8/3 – Cincinnati, OH
8/10 – Sturgis, SD
8/17 – Brownsville, OR
8/18 – Stateline, NV

Industry Ink (2/29/12)

(L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Julie Stuckey, and Leslie Roberts; AC Entertainment’s Neeley Polka; one of 2011’s Road to Bonnaroo winners Chancellor Warhol; Mercy Lounge’s Drew Mischke, Toy’s Alana Grace, AC Entertainment’s Carissa Stolting; Colorfeels’ Parker Cason; and BMI’s Penny Everhard and Thomas Cain. Photo: Drew Maynard

BMI, Mercy Lounge, the Nashville Scene and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival kicked off the 2012 edition of the Road to Bonnaroo music competition at 8 off 8th on Monday, Feb. 27. The lineup featured local bands Colorfeels, By Lighting, Toy, The Hollywood Kills, Quichenight, Sam & Tre, Laura Reed, and Brandon Jazz & His Armed Forces. By Lightning emerged as the winner, earning a coveted performance slot at Bonnaroo, June 7-10 in Manchester.

The second round of Road to Bonnaroo 2012 will be held Monday, March 26 at Mercy Lounge. Performers include Wild Cub, Five Knives, The Running, Tesla Rossa, Static Revival, Marquee Mayfield, Nikki Lane, and Evan P. Donahue.

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Billy Dean and Ron Rainey

Billy Dean has signed an exclusive artist management contract with Beverly Hills-based Ron Rainey Management. He joins existing Rainey clients The Marshall Tucker Band, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Alvin Lee, and Kid Creole and the Coconuts, among others.

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Flat Earth Music has announced the signing of Canadian-born singer/songwriter Dawson Reigns to a publishing deal. Reigns scored a hit in 2010 with “If Crazy Wasn’t So Beautiful,” and also released singles “Someone Watching Over Me” and “Empty Handed.” Now a Nashville resident, Reigns has been working with other writers in town on material for his next album.

(L-R): David Wilson, Flat Earth Bus. Development Dir.; Reigns; Todd Wilkes, Flat Earth Creative Dir.

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Heath Forbes

Luna Chica Records International has signed country artist Heath Forbes to the artist roster. The Monroe, LA native is currently touring with former NFL player Kyle Turley and will be opening for David Allan Coe in spring. Complete tour dates at heathforbes.com.

Bigger Picture Group Promotes Powers, Cahill

President, Bigger Picture Artist Ventures Michael Powers

Bigger Picture Group today announced the promotions of founding partners Michael Powers and Bob Cahill. The industry vets head up the Bigger Picture Artist Ventures division which includes the promotion team and recorded music departments, where Powers is now president, and Cahill is appointed executive vice president/general manager.

In addition, Matt Corbin was promoted to vice president of promotion, and radio exec Allen Mitchell was hired to the promotion team.

Powers and his team were instrumental in the promotion of Zac Brown Band’s highly successful two albums and nine consecutive No. 1 singles.

Exec. VP/GM, Bigger Picture Artist Ventures Bob Cahill

“Both Michael and Bob bring years of experience, credibility and sensibility to our partnership,” says Keith Stegall, chairman and chief creative officer of Bigger Picture Group. “As we continue to distill the essence of Bigger Picture Group, we’re blessed to have such an amazing executive talent pool.”

Dungan Gets UMG Start Date, Lewis Plans New Venture

(L-R): Mike Dungan, Luke Lewis

Universal Music Group officially announced today (2/29) the appointment of Mike Dungan to Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Nashville Entertainment. The move was first reported by MusicRow on Feb. 24. He will succeed current Chairman & CEO Luke Lewis, who has decided to focus on launching a new music venture in partnership with UMG, with details to be announced shortly.

Lewis will continue to lead UMG Nashville until Dungan takes office starting May 1. The announcement was made today by Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of UMG, and Zach Horowitz, President & COO of the company, to whom Dungan co-reports.

“UMG is committed to expanding opportunities for artists on Music Row and Mike’s appointment is testament to that fact,” stated Grainge. “He is one of music’s most formidable creative executives, whose determination, talent and passion for music have given rise to the careers of countless superstar artists. We’re delighted to welcome him to the UMG  family.”

“I am thrilled to join the Universal team, honored to represent the fine roster of artists under the storied MCA, Mercury, and Lost Highway labels, and proud to have the opportunity to expand on the great legacy that Luke Lewis has built,” said Dungan.

“Mike is one of the best music executives in the business, with a great eye for talent, great ear for songs and great instincts for artist development,” commented Horowitz. “We’re thrilled he has chosen to make UMG his home.”

“During his long, successful tenure leading our Nashville family of labels, Luke has been a bold maverick in applying fresh new approaches to nurture and break country artists,” added Grainge. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with him.”

Credited as one of the leading executives behind country music’s broadening appeal, Dungan has for the last twelve years served as President & CEO of Capitol Nashville, where he assembled a stylistically diverse roster of superstars, including Lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan.

Dungan joined Capitol following time as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Arista Nashville. He was instrumental in developing the careers of artists including Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Pam Tillis, Diamond Rio, and BlackHawk. Prior to that he held a variety of promotion, sales, and marketing positions with Arista, RCA Records and BMG Distribution.

Little Big Town Previews New Album Via Livestream

Capitol Nashville’s Little Big Town will be hitting the studio this week with new producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Wallflowers) to record their fifth studio album.

Karen, Kimberly, Jimi and Phillip will be giving fans a glimpse inside the studio and the recording process tonight (Feb. 29) via Livestream. The band will give fans details on the new record with a live chat beginning at 5:45 PM/CT and then leave the stream open for the rest of the night. Use the following link for access to the live feed (compatible with most smartphones): http://new.livestream.com/littlebigtown/studiocam.

Baby Boom: Randy Montana, Matt Kennon, Jay DeMarcus

Matt Kennon with daughter

Big congratulations go out to a few country singers who are adding to their families.

Matt Kennon (“The Call”, “You Had To Pick On Me”) and wife Tisha proudly welcomed their daughter Shayne Matisse on Thursday, Feb. 23. “I knew the second I saw her, I was a goner,” says Matt. “A beautiful little gift has entered our lives.”

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More recently, Mercury Nashville’s Randy Montana and his wife Montgomery announced the birth of their daughter, Sullivan Mae, on Monday, Feb. 27. She is the couple’s first child, and weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds, 4 ounces. Mother, daughter, and father are all doing well.

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Jay and Allison DeMarcus

Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus and wife Allison will soon be adding to their family as well. The couple recently announced they are expecting a second child, due this summer. The couple’s daughter, Madeline Leigh, was born in December 2010. “This was definitely a huge surprise, but we’re so thankful and excited that Maddie is going to have a brother or sister,” says Jay. “We’re really gonna have our hands full!”

MusicRowPics: Thomas Rhett Artist Visit

Valory Music Co. artist Thomas Rhett stopped by MusicRow headquarters yesterday (2/28) with Valory VP Promotion, George Briner, to share his music and visit with the staff. Rhett, who joked about his grade school nickname “T-Rhett,” is no stranger to Country music. The young musician grew up immersed in it, often hitting the road with his father, country artist Rhett Akins. But it wasn’t until he was in college that Rhett decided to pursue a Country music career for himself. He signed his first publishing deal with EMI in 2010 and landed his first cut, “I Ain’t Ready To Quit,” on Jason Aldean’s multi-platinum album, My Kinda Party. A year later, he signed a record deal with Valory.

The Georgia native played “What’cha Got In That Cup,” an up-tempo number co-written with his father. Rhett then confessed the favorite song he’s ever written was his follow-up performance, “If I Could Have A Beer With Jesus.”

He also performed his new single, “Something To Do With My Hands,” which is now available on iTunes, and currently climbing MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

Rhett is currently scheduled to appear on select dates with Miranda Lambert‘s On Fire tour, and his debut album is expected later in 2012.

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Swift Extends ACM Invitation to Teen Battling Cancer

It looks like Taylor Swift won’t be single at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards. The ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee has a date: 18-year-old Kevin McGuire. According to a Facebook event page, “Taylor Swift Take Kevin McGuire To Prom!” created by McGuire’s sister Victoria, the New Jersey teen was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 13. McGuire beat the illness in April 2010 but recently relapsed, prompting Victoria to start petitioning Swift to take Kevin to prom.

Upon seeing the petition, Swift intervened. While she regretfully told the teen that she would be unable to attend his upcoming prom, she said she would do him one better. “The ACM Awards are coming up.. Would you be my date?” she countered.

“Taylor, I would l love to go with you. Thank you!” McGuire said on Philadelphia’s CBS 3.

“Thank you so so so so so much!” McGuire’s sister recently posted to Facebook. “The McGuire family could never show how grateful we are to all of you! We have won in more than one way.. we got Taylor to take Kevin on a date, and we have made so many good friends along the way!”

The 47th annual ACM Awards air Apr. 1 on CBS. Swift is nominated for Female Vocalist, Video of the Year (“Mean”), and Entertainer of the Year.