Eric Durance at Cat Country

06/18/2008

Wind-up Nashville/Nine North recording artist Eric Durrance recently visited Cat Country Charlotte to promote his debut single “Angels Fly Away.”

(L-R): Nine North’s Larry Pareigis, WKKT PD Bruce Logan, Durrance, Nine North’s Lloyd Stark, Wind-up Nashville and Porter/Gentry’s Teddy Gentry, and WKKT MD Ryan Dokke.

‘Roo Weathers Small Attendance Drop

Sarah Skates – 06/18/2008

Bonnaroo ticket sales were down this year, but still drew over 70,000 people to last weekend’s event in Manchester, Tenn. This was only the second time since the festival started seven years that it didn’t draw a sold-out crowd of 80,000. Over 150 acts, including headliners Pearl Jam, Metallica, and Widespread Panic, played the four-day event.

Ticket prices, starting at about $210, increased slightly year over year. Still, promoter Ashley Capps told USA Today correspondent Brian Mansfield that the increase didn’t offset a rise in expenses. Festival producers A.C. Entertainment and Superfly Presents upped VIP pass allotment 33% over previous years, according to Billboard. Those tickets, priced at more than $1100 per pair, sold out.

This doesn’t signal an overall downward trend for festivals. The CMA Music Festival, held the weekend prior, experience a 9% bump in total attendance.

Nashvillians Score Teen Choice Noms

Sarah Skates – 06/18/2008

Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Paramore are among the nominees for the Teen Choice 2008 awards, celebrating the hottest teens in film, television, music, comedy, sports and fashion. Miley Cyrus, a four-time nominee, will host the show airing Mon., Aug. 4 (7 PM CT) on FOX. The surfboard awards will be handed out during the 10th annual broadcast from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA.

Swift is up for Choice Music: Breakout Artist against Colbie Caillat, Flo Rida, Jordin Sparks, and Leona Lewis. Underwood secured a nom for Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon Female along with Hayden Panettiere, Jessica Biel, Kate Hudson and Lauren Conrad. Paramore is up for Choice Music: Breakout Group beside Day 26, Girlicious, Jonas Brothers, and OneRepublic.

TV hit Gossip Girl and its cast lead this year’s nominations with 14, followed by Chris Brown with nine, and Justin Timberlake with three. JT is the reigning Teen Choice champ and has won 21 surfboards since 1999.

Starting today, fans ages 13-19 can vote at www.teenchoiceawards.com. Additional nominees, musical guests, attendees and presenters to be announced.

Del Casino Bets on Adams and Reese

Sarah Skates – 06/17/2008

Attorney Casey Del Casino is joining Adams and Reese as special counsel on July 1, reports NashvillePost.com. He was a previously a partner at Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis. Del Casino is a 1988 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law and has also worked as a sole practitioner, and music publisher in New York, according to the news outlet.

Garth Lends Hand For Ears

Sarah Skates – 06/17/2008

Garth Brooks played a private benefit over the weekend in St. Paul, Minn. On Sat., June 14 he performed an acoustic set at the eighth annual "So the World May Hear" concert for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, raising $5 million to help children with hearing problems, according to the Minneapolis St. Paul Star Tribune.

The 1,500 guests paid $1,250 each to attend the “black tie affair,” and hear Brooks sing those words in his classic hit “Friends In Low Places.” The newspaper says the 45 minute show included covers of Cat Stevens' "Wild World," Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson," James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," George Strait's "Unwound," Bob Seger's “Night Moves" and Billy Joel's "Piano Man," as well as plenty of his Garth hits.

Atlantis Music Conference Returns

Sarah Skates – 06/17/2008

Click To Visit Atlantis

Preparations are underway for the 2008 Atlantis Music Conference & Festival, running Sept. 17-20 in Atlanta at the CW Midtown Music Complex. The 10th Anniversary event aims to provide education and networking opportunities for up-and-coming musicians and established industry professionals from around the country. There will be panel discussions, keynote addresses and more than 200 acts showcasing at area venues. The music festival will feature a diverse mix of rock, hip-hop, R&B, Country, singer/songwriter, soul, Latin, pop, metal and more. Artist showcases are open to conference registrants. The general public can attend by purchasing wristbands or tickets at the door. Based on previous years, organizers expect a total of more than 30,000 participants and attendees.

Can You Duet Winners

06/17/2008

CMT'S music competition series Can You Duet announced winners Caitlin Lynn and Will Snyder during last Friday night's (6/13) finale. Lynn and Snyder now have a recording contract with Sony BMG Nashville.

(L-R): John Hamlin, Sr. VP Production and Development; Melanie Moreau, VP Development; judges Aimee Mayo, Brett Manning and Naomi Judd; Snyder and Lynn; Jay Frank, Sr. VP Music Strategy and Laurissa Ryan, Sr. Dir. Artist Development and Relations.