People’s Choice Nominations

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

Many country stars are among the nominees for the 33rd annual People’s Choice Awards, airing Jan. 9 on CBS. Potential nominees were compiled with the help of market research company Knowledge Networks who polled a sample of men and women ages 18-49.
Favorite Female Singer: Faith Hill, Shakira, Carrie Underwood
Favorite Male Singer: Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith
Favorite Country Song: "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood; "What Hurts The Most," Rascal Flatts; "When the Stars Go Blue," Tim McGraw

Roe Entertainment Signings

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

Roe Entertainment has added Jesse McReynolds; Karl Shiflett & Big Country; and The SteelDrivers to its growing roster of bluegrass talent. Jim Roe started the booking agency in November 2005 with two acts, Randy Kohrs and Audie Blaylock, after spending almost a decade in sales roles with MCA Nashville and Skaggs Family Records.

Flatts Crossover

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

Rascal Flatts have scored their first No. 1 crossover single as "What Hurts The Most" tops the R&R mainstream AC chart.

Belmont Hosts NARAS/MEIEA Summit

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

On Nov. 11 The Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University will host the 2006 Music Industry Education Summit, the first-ever joint summit between NARAS and the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA). The day-long event is composed of panels, roundtable discussions, and workshops aimed at bridging the gap between music educators and those who work in the industry. The event will include keynote speaker Daryl Friedman, VP of Advocacy & Government Relations for NARAS, plus Tracy Gershon, VP A&R at Warner Bros.; Bill Hearn, Pres./CEO of EMI Christian Music Group; Denise Stiff, owner of DS Management; Mark Montgomery, managing partner/manager at echomusic, and Ken Levitan, Pres. of Vector Management/Co-pres. of Combustion Music. Belmont professors David Herrera, James Elliott and Dave Tough will serve as panel facilitators. A songwriting session by Mike Reid ("I Can't Make You Love Me") will wrap up the Saturday seminar. That night, the college and the Showcase Council will present the Country Music Showcase 2006 at 7 p.m. at Belmont University's Curb Event Center. Performing at this year's free event are Belmont students Greg Bates, Justin Wilson, Emily White and Mary Lauren Walden.

Some Hearts Goes 4x Platinum

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

Newly crowned CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood just keeps getting good news. Now the RIAA has issued Quadruple-Platinum certification of her 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville debut album, Some Hearts. The album's sales jumped 21% this week. Carrie's label says she joins Gretchen Wilson as the only solo female country artist in the past decade to release a debut album selling four-million units. The album was released almost exactly one year ago on Nov. 15, 2005.

Grammy Nominations To Be Announced Dec. 7

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

Rascal Flatts will help announce this year’s Grammy nominations along with artists Mary J. Blige, James Blunt, Josh Groban, Justin Timberlake, and others. The press conference takes place Dec. 7 at Hollywood’s Music Box @ The Fonda at 8:30 a.m. PT. The 49th Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 11, 2007, and will air on CBS.

Pickler’s Debut Struts Into First Place

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

Kellie Pickler’s debut album, Small Town Girl, sold 79,133 copies its first week of release. It came in at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

Brooks & Dunn All Time Top CMA Winners

Sarah Gilbert – 11/09/2006

Brooks & Dunn are now officially the most-awarded act in CMA history. When they recently captured CMA Awards for Vocal Duo, Single, and Music Video, the duo’s career total reached 19 wins, more than any other artist or act. Apart from his 19 awards as half of Brooks & Dunn, Ronnie Dunn nabbed one more CMA trophy as Craig Wiseman's co-writer on “Believe,” this year’s Song of the Year.

Universal Gets Zune Royalty

Universal Music has secured a deal with Microsoft giving the largest music company a royalty from sales of both software and hardware. Microsoft has agreed to pay a percentage of sales from both downloaded music...

Publishers Weigh Bonus Tracks & Reduced Rates

The trend in recent years has been for labels to give most or all of the major retail accounts different versions of new album releases featuring unique bonus material. Most key releases now include an extra song or two exclusive...