Regions Helping Keep Orbison’s Legacy Alive

04/30/2008

Regions Financial Corp. recently unveiled an exhibit at its Music Row branch honoring the life and music of Roy Orbison. The exhibit features a variety of artifacts ranging from a 1980 Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “That Loving You Feeling Again” with Emmylou Harris, to a poster from the acclaimed concert Roy Orbison & Friends: A Black & White Night. Exhibit items were selected by widow Barbara Orbison, and son Roy Orbison, Jr. Among Orbison’s classic hits are “Oh, Pretty Woman,” and “Only the Lonely.” The Regions Music Row branch is located at Roundabout Plaza. The Roy Orbison exhibit is free and open to the public.

Pictured (L-R): Barbara Orbison; Roy Orbison Jr.; and Lisa Harless, Sr. VP Regions Entertainment and Sports Division.

Stars Set For ACM Charity Motorcycle Ride

Sarah Skates – 04/30/2008

Click to register for the Ride, starting at $35.

More than 25 country artists will participate in the Academy of Country Music 5th Annual Charity Motorcycle Ride on Sat., May 17 in Las Vegas. Montgomery Gentry will host the event for the fifth time, with participating artists including Keith Anderson, Bluefield, Sarah Buxton, Carolina Rain, Stephen Cochran, Ira Dean, 2 Foot Fred, Randy Houser, Emma Mae Jacob, Jamey Johnson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Cody McCarver, Jeremy McComb, Richie McDonald, Craig Morgan, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, The Road Hammers, The Roys, Rhonda Towns, Whiskey Falls, Tommy Lee Wilson, and Wolf/Hollywood Yates.

The Ride, benefiting the ACM’s Charitable Fund, is one of the events surrounding the May 18 ACM Awards at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena. It will kick-off from the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson—the largest Harley-Davidson dealership in the nation—and will cruise through the desert and mountains, circling back to Fremont Street for a free concert.

Swift Sales Triple Platinum

Sarah Skates – 04/29/2008

Click to see Swift’s appearance on GMA.

Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut album has passed the 3 million sales mark. She shared the news this morning (4/29) on Good Morning America; the ABC morning show where she celebrated the album’s release on Oct. 24, 2006. Swift was honored as “Superstar of Tomorrow” at the 10th Annual Young Hollywood Awards over the weekend, becoming the first musician to receive the award. Tomorrow (4/30) she visits Live With Regis and Kelly. Swift is the only female solo artist in Country music history to write or co-write every song on a Platinum debut.

International Country Music Conference Honors

Sarah Skates – 04/29/2008

Beverly Keel

The International Country Music Conference (ICMC) will present the Belmont Book Award for the best overall country music book to Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry, written by Holly George-Warren and published by Oxford University Press. The group’s Lifetime Achievement Award will go to the Country Music Hall of Fame Foundation and Library, marking the first time the award will go to an institution. The 2008 Charlie Lamb Awards for outstanding country music journalists will go to Beverly Keel, The Tennessean and MTSU, in the contemporary category, and Barry McCloud in the lifetime category.

All awards will be presented at the ICMC, which will be held at Belmont University May 22-24. The winner of the Belmont Book Award will receive a check for $1,000, funded by the Mike Curb Family Foundation. Recipients in the journalist category will receive a check for $500 each, funded by Gary and Peggy Walker, owners of The Great Escape, in honor of legendary country music journalist Charlie Lamb.

Conference registration is $100, and due by Friday, May 16. Checks should be sent to James Akenson, Box 5042, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505. www.internationalcountrymusic.org

Murrah Colton Entertainment Hires AJ Burton

Sarah Skates – 04/29/2008

AJ Burton

Murrah Colton Entertainment has added AJ Burton in the newly created position Manager/A&R Resources. Beginning May 1 he will work with MCE president Doug Colton to build the company’s emerging rock/pop/urban and Latin divisions, scout and develop new talent, and represent SongShack, the film, television and advertising arm of Murrah Music Group. A native of Centralia, Illinois, Burton spent the last five years as Coordinator, Business Affairs/Creative for Windswept Holdings LLC (now Bug Music). He can be reached after May 1 at 615-329-4236 and aj.burton@murrahcolton.com.

Music Row Contributes To City Paper

Sarah Skates – 04/29/2008

Click to read

Music Row will contribute to sister publication the City Paper every Monday, beginning with yesterday’s (4/28) edition. The recap of music business highlights will appear in the publication’s print and online versions.

City Paper: Venue Closing, Makes Room For Retail

Julianne Hough Rewards CMT One Country Volunteers

04/29/2008

Two-time Dancing With The Stars champ and Mercury Nashville recording artist Julianne Hough was a special guest at a recent 2008 CMT Music Awards pre-party honoring CMT One Country volunteers and partners. Sponsored by Garnier, the event rewarded volunteers who had given back to their communities.

Pictured (L-R): Eli Litt, Mgr. Integrated Mktg. CMT; Anthony Barton, VP Integrated Mktg. CMT; Hough; Lucia Folk, Dir. Public Affairs CMT. Photo: Ed Rode/CMT

Industry News Tuesday (4/29/08)

The 2008-2009 Agenda Committee for CRS-40 has been assembled to plan educational events for the March 4-6, 2009 seminar at the Nashville Convention Center. The volunteers are headed by CRB Agenda Chairman Keith Kaufman...

Nashville Film Festival Wraps

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