Chesney Searches For Big Stars

Sarah Skates – 03/26/2008

Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney has started a contest to select opening acts for each of the 34 cities on his summer tour. The Big Star Competition, named for his 2003 hit about a karaoke singer making it big, will allow a deserving local band to open for Chesney in their hometown. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000, an audition with Sony BMG executives, and use of a tour bus to play the final weekend’s shows in Tulsa, St. Louis and Indianapolis.

Chesney says he has been thinking about this “for a couple years now. People told me I was crazy...and logistically, it's taken a whole lot of people to sort out just how to do it.” Stadium shows will feature a battle of bands the night before the actual concert. Arena and auditorium concerts will have their Big Star Battle of the Bands a couple weeks prior in a local club. Winners in each market will be assigned their own tour manager. The Poets & Pirates Tour sponsored by Corona Extra opens April 18-19 in Connecticut and includes 14 stadium stops.

Adkins Pens TV Title Song

Sarah Skates – 05/09/2008

Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins wrote and recorded the title song for truTV Network's new series Black Gold. The real-life show follows a crew drilling for oil in west Texas. Adkins brings personal experience to the song, he previously worked as a roughneck and derrickman on offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Black Gold comes to truTV from renowned storyteller/executive producer Thom Beers (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers), and is set to premiere Wed., June 18, at 9 PM CT.

Underwood Opry Induction This Weekend

Sarah Skates – 05/09/2008

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood’s Grand Ole Opry induction will be televised tomorrow night (5/10) during GAC’s Opry Live, airing at 7 PM CT. Before the induction, the network will show a special half-hour documentary, Road to the Opry: Carrie Underwood, at 6:30 PM, including Underwood and her mom discussing her childhood musical influences and her career today.

Jeremy McComb Packs The Rutledge

05/09/2008

Parallel Records’ Jeremy McComb showcased for an industry crowd at the Rutledge on Wednesday night (5/7), performing songs from his album My Side Of Town, set for release on May 13.

Pictured (L-R): Ron Huntsman, Huntsman Ent.; Hunter Kelly, ABC Radio; David Newmark, CO5; McComb (back); Robin Rhodes, Mediabase; Larry Holden, Country Weekly; Jason Price; Aaron Brougher, Mgr. Parallel Ent.; and Vanessa Parker-Davis, SPLASH! PR.

Artist News Friday (5/9/08)

Universal Records South will release Jennifer Hanson's new studio album as a digital exclusive on June 3. Thankful features all new music written by Hanson, and co-produced by her and Nick Brophy. Label GM...

Phil Vassar and Friends Celebrate New Album

05/08/2008

Universal Records South recording artist Phil Vassar recently hosted a cocktail party at his home to celebrate the release of his new album Prayer of a Common Man.

Pictured (L-R): Fletcher Foster, Sr. VP/GM Universal Records South; Teddi Bonadies, VP Natl. Promotion Universal Records South; WMIL OM Kerry Wolfe; Vassar; Sirius' Scott Lindy; and Redlight Mgmt.'s Greg Hill.

Lifenotes: Jerry Wallace

Sarah Skates – 05/08/2008

Jerry Wallace at Fan Fair 1975. Photo: Alan Mayor

Jerry Wallace, known for the million-selling hit “Primrose Lane,” passed away on May 5 in California from congestive heart failure. Nicknamed “Mr. Smooth,” Wallace was a successful pop artist before switching to country. His 1964 release “In The Misty Moonlight” was written by Cindy Walker and began his country transition. His biggest country hit was 1972’s “If You Leave Me Tonight I’ll Cry.” During the late 1960s and through the mid ‘70s he was signed to Mercury, Liberty, Decca, MCA, and MGM.

ACM Awards Set Stage For New Singles

Sugarland and Kellie Pickler will debut songs during the May 18 ACM Awards, airing live on CBS. Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will perform “All I Want To Do,” the lead single from their...

Lifenotes/Benefit News Thursday (5/8/08)

A memorial service for Tom Oteri will be held Sun., May 18. He died April 26, 2008 at age 69. Oteri was the founder and CEO of the multi-award winning music publishing company, of...

Artist News Thursday (5/8/08)

Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd are planning their first tour together. The Rock and Rebels Tour includes dates through August in cities such as Houston, Toronto, and Hartford. Kid Rock and his Twisted Brown Trucker...

Shelton Hits “Home” With Listeners

Sarah Skates – 05/06/2008

Warner Bros. is releasing a special edition of Blake Shelton’s Pure BS today (5/6) which includes current hit single “Home.” The track, recorded and released after the album’s first pressing, was such a hit the project is being re-released so it can be included. “Home,” originally written and recorded by Michael Buble, is currently #6 on the Music Row Country Breakout Chart.

Shelton started adding it to his live show, and got such a positive response he released it digitally and as a single in February. It is featured in radio ads for the Pepsi Stuff MP3 download promotion. The song also ended up on Blake Shelton: Collector’s Edition, a hits package available only at Wal-Mart. Pure BS Deluxe Edition will include two other new self-penned tracks, “Chances” and “I Can’t Walk Away,” as well as hits from the first edition “Don’t Make Me” and “The More I Drink.”