People Country Special On CMT

Sarah Skates – 05/05/2008

CMT has partnered with People for a half-hour special to coincide with the magazine’s popular country issue. Hosted by CMT Insider’s Allison DeMarcus, People Country Special on CMT will show an exclusive interview and photo shoot with Kenny Chesney, visit the homes of Clint and Lisa Hartman Black and Luke Bryan, and share Jack Ingram’s secrets for Texas barbecue. In addition, Carrie Underwood reveals her favorite things and LeAnn Rimes, Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Brown and Jewel are featured backstage at People’s photo booth at the 2008 CMT Music Awards. The special premieres Saturday, May 17 at 12:30 p.m., CT and will encore on Sunday, May 18 at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., CT.

People’s Country Special issue is available at newsstands on Friday, May 16 for four weeks. With a distribution of 1 million, the special issue is being published four times in 2008. The special show is produced by CMT with Lewis Bogach as executive producer.

Hitmakers Shine In Key West

05/05/2008

ASCAP hit songwriters and friends soak up some sun during the 19th annual Key West Songwriter Festival. Many local venues hosted a variety of show during the event.

Pictured (L-R) front: NSAI's Erika Wollam-Nichols; ASCAP writers Chris Tompkins, Liz Hengber, Chris Wallin, Rachel Thibodeau, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Gerald O'Brien; and ole music's Shane Barrett and Gilles Godard. Back: ASCAP's Ralph Murphy; ASCAP writers Brett Jones, Josh Kear, Dave Berg and Don Schlitz; and ASCAP's Mike Sistad. Photo: Jessica Tompkins

Flatts Bob Across Country

Sarah Skates – 05/05/2008

Rascal Flatts will kick off the Bob That Head Tour June 13 in St. Louis, Missouri. Joining the band are opening acts Taylor Swift, and songwriters Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley, whose hits include Flatts favorites “Take Me There,” “Fast Cars and Freedom,” and “I Melt.” The outing is set for more than 30 dates, running through the end of September. No Nashville stop is scheduled, but the tour will play Aug. 1 at Atlanta’s Lakewood Amphitheater.

The Flatts’ most recent Still Feels Good Tour ranked as the best selling country tour for the first quarter of 2008, according to Pollstar. Since 2006, the vocal group has performed for 2 million fans in 156 cities. They have sold more than 17 million albums since launching in 2000.

Carriage House Music Series

05/05/2008

ASCAP songwriters Kerry Kurt Phillips and J. Fred Knobloch performed at the Carriage House Music Series on April 30. The series takes place at the Belle Meade Plantation, which also enjoys event proceeds. The next installment is Oct. 15.

Pictured (L-R): Phillips, Knobloch and ASCAP's Earle Simmons. Photo: Mary Katherine Simmons

The Producer’s Chair

Sarah Skates – 05/02/2008

Norro Wilson

The Recording Artists’ Music Alliance is hosting monthly interviews with producers at Douglas Corner. The Producer’s Chair is an hour long discussion with the guest. Norro Wilson is lined up for the next session on Thurs., May 22 at 6 PM. Last month the group welcomed Buddy Cannon. There is no cover charge to attend. www.rama-info.com.

GAC Is Looking For A Star

Sarah Skates – 05/02/2008

GAC is hosting a talent competition in conjunction with Music Nation. Winner of The Next GAC Star will have a video featured on GAC & GACTV.com, and score a recording deal from Original Signal Records. Entries are being accepted at www.musicnation.com, and weekly voting will run May 23 through July 21. Each week two semi-finalists will be selected—one fan voted and the other selected by the industry staff, for a total of 16 semi-finalists. A panel of celebrity judges will then narrow that 16 down to six finalists who will fly to Nashville for the televised competition in September. The Next GAC Star winner will be selected by fan voting during the televised finals.

Yearwood Hosts Words and Music Night

05/02/2008

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum hosted its annual Words and Music Night on Tuesday (4/29). The recital was hosted by hit recording artist and Museum board member Trisha Yearwood and featured students and professional songwriters performing songs that they composed in the Museum's Words and Music program during the 2007-2008 school year. The Words and Music program guides students through the songwriting process, allowing them to write lyrics in the classroom that are later set to music by professional songwriters. The program recently received the generous support of Ford Motor Company Fund, whose executives were also in attendance.

Pictured (L-R): Ford Motor Co. Fund Community Relations Mgr. Jim Graham, Ford Motor Co. Fund and Community Services Pres. Jim Vella, Yearwood, Museum Dir. Kyle Young, Dir. Education and Museum Programs Justine Gregory. Photo: Donn Jones

Fashion Show For Charity

Sarah Skates – 05/02/2008

The 2nd annual Country Weekly Fashion Show presented by Wrangler will take place at the Wildhorse Saloon Wed., June 4 at 8 PM. Confirmed to walk the runway to benefit Musicians On Call are Katie Armiger, Sarah Buxton, Carter’s Chord, Christian Cane, Ashley Gearing, Adam Gregory, Jennifer Hanson, Marcel, CMT’s Can You Duet Joey Martin, Lorrie Morgan, Erika Page-White, Danielle Peck, Mica Roberts, Phil Stacey, Crystal Shawanda, Fisher Stevenson, Trent Tomlinson, GAC Country Music Across America host Storme Warren, Jimmy Wayne, Emily West, Bryan White, Chuck Wicks, Trent Willmon, Blake Wise, NBC’s American Gladiator Hollywood Yates, and Chris Young. Neal McCoy will host and GAC Nights’ Suzanne Alexander will emcee.

Musicians On Call brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Since opening its first national chapter in Nashville in April 2007, the organization has played for over 3,000 people at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. www.musiciansoncall.org. Tickets for the fashion show went on sale today (5/2) at www.ticketmaster.com.

ASCAP To Receive Payment For Online Streams

ASCAP will receive backdated licensing fees from AOL, RealNetworks and Yahoo! for their online performance of musical works. The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York yesterday (5/1) determined a payment...

Industry News Friday (5/2/08)

James “Jim” Henry Hager died yesterday (5/1) evening of an apparent heart attack. He was half of the world famous Hager Twins who gained national fame as part of the original 1969 cast of Hee...