Industry News Tuesday (10/14/08)

Sarah Skates

Music Row’s Robert K. Oermann was recently a guest speaker for the Women's Music Business Association, where WMBA Pres. Brandi Simms gave him one of the organization’s new T-shits. WMBA begins open enrollment for new members tomorrow (10/15). Prospects are invited to the meeting on Tues., Oct. 21, 6:30 PM at the NSAI studio. Click to visit WMBA web site.

The Deluxe Fan Pack of Kenny Chesney’s Lucky Old Sun hits stores today (10/14/08) via Blue Chair/BNA Records. iTunes hosted a “Countdown To Kenny Chesney’s Lucky Old Sun,” offering one track from the new album every week leading up to release. The music-only version will be released Oct. 21.

Also out today on Mercury Nashville is Billy Currington’s third album, Little Bit Of Everything. Co-produced by Carson Chamberlain and Currington, the project consists of 12 tracks, 5 of which Currington had a hand in writing.

Winners of the 2008 CMA Broadcast Awards were announced Friday, Oct. 10 when Bucky Covington called the honorees on-air to share the news. The CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year and CMA Radio Station of the Year recipients will be recognized during the The 42nd Annual CMA Awards, airing live on ABC, Wed., Nov. 12 from the Sommet Center.
2008 CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year Winners:
National - Lon Helton, "CMT Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton," (Westwood One)
Major Market - Randy Price and Dave McKay, "Randy & Dave," WQYK, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla. (CBS Radio)
Large Market - Gerry House, Mike Bohan, Duncan Stewart, Al Voecks, and Richard Falklen, "Gerry House & The House Foundation," WSIX, Nashville, Tenn. (Clear Channel)
Medium Market - Andy Ritchie, Alison West and Jimmy Holt, "Andy & Alison and the Morning Crew," WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn. (Citadel)
Small Market - Brian Gary and Todd Harding, "The Good Morning Guys," KUAD, Ft. Collins-Greeley, Colo. (Regent Broadcasting)
2008 CMA Radio Station of the Year Winners:
Major Market - WQYK, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.
Large Market - WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
Medium Market - WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
Small Market - WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.

BMI will launch a new showcase series on Tues., Oct. 21. BMI Presents at 12th & Porter will take place every other month at 6 PM, highlighting diverse Nashville songwriters. The inaugural installment will feature roots rockers Keith Gattis and Adam Hood. Gattis—signed with Crossfire3 publishing—is a studio musician who has had songs recorded by Miranda Lambert and Gary Allan, and has also produced projects by Waylon Payne, Cory Morrow and The Gougers. Hood signed his first publishing deal with Carnival Music earlier this year.

Doug Morris has extended his position as UMG Chairman/CEO by signing a new long-term deal with the record label. Also soon to be on-board at UMG is former Capitol Chairman/CEO Jason Flom.

Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart are reuniting for an acoustic tour next month. The run starts out with several dates in California before heading to the east coast. They will perform solo sets as well as their hits together, such as "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'," "This One's Gonna Hurt You (For A Long, Long Time)" and "Honky-Tonkin's What I Do Best." Tritt and Stuart also had the successful No Hats Tour back in the ‘90s.

Jeffrey Steele and his band will perform at the Carriage House Music Series at Belle Meade Plantation on Wed., Oct. 15. Doors open at 6 PM for complimentary cocktails, and dinner by Loveless Cafe. The music begins at 7 PM with special guest Quinn Loggins. Tickets are available by calling 615-356-0501, ext. 27 or at www.bellemeadeplantation.com. Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door (if available). The night also features a silent auction. 100% of the proceeds go to Belle Meade Plantation’s preservation and educational programs.

Penny Dionne and Troy McConnell will sign copies of their new book Songplugger: The Cuts and The Bruises on Wed., Oct. 15 from 6– 8 PM at Borders on West End.

Author David Wild will be reading from his new book He Is…I Say…How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond at Davis-Kidd Bookstore in Green Hills on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 PM. The New York Times best-selling author has written Diamond’s liner notes and produced VH1’s Neil Diamond: Behind the Music. The music journalist has been a writer for the CMA Awards, and a contributing editor at Rolling Stone.

Digital music delivery system Play MPE has surpassed over 100 million total deliveries to music industry recipients. It has also reached another landmark moment by sending out over 100,000 songs in the Play MPE System. Among the record companies that use Play MPE are Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, EMI Music Group, Sony and many major independent labels.

The MySpace MyAds program is now available to the public and is being largely targeted toward musical artists. For a minimum of $25, ad buyers can create their own banner ads and then gear it toward MySpace users with related interests.