Benefit News Thursday (4/17/08)

Thad Cockrell, Roman Candle and Kate York perform tonight (4/17) at 9 PM at the Mercy Lounge. Proceeds benefit the Mocha Club, an organization based on the idea that donations of $7 per month, or...

Artist News Thursday (4/17/08)

Ashton Shepherd will appear on Good Morning America's spring concert series Mon., April 21. Shepherd recently released Sounds So Good and co-wrote eleven of the album's twelve tracks.

Toby Keith, star and co-producer...

Artists’ Charities Win Big At The 2008 CMT Music Awards

The biggest winner of the 2008 CMT Music Awards is charity, with $70,000 in donations from CMT One Country, CMT’s pro-social initiative. $5,000 ($10,000 for Video of the Year) will go to the winner...

CMA Fest Adds To Nightly Lineup

Sarah Skates – 04/16/2008

Trace Adkins, Bucky Covington, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, James Otto, Kenny Rogers and Randy Travis have been added to the performance lineup for the Nightly Concerts on the VAULTT Concert Stages at LP Field. The festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, June 5-8.

Other artists already confirmed to appear at LP Field include Rodney Atkins, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Dwight Yoakam. www.CMAfest.com.

Tim McGraw Offers Limited Edition of Hits Package

Tim McGraw becomes the latest artist to join the Wal-Mart-only crowd. He will release an limited edition combo pack of both his greatest hits CDs on April 29, available only at Wal-Mart...

Artist News Tuesday (4/15/08)

Willie Nelson's Willie's Place, an alternative fuel truck stop and entertainment hub in Texas will re-open July 1 with a week of shows. The renovated Earth Bio-Willie Theater will welcome performers including Nelson...

Shawna Russell to Appear on Nationally Syndicated TV Show

04/14/2008

Oklahoma singer-songwriter Shawna Russell appeared on the nationally syndicated television show Inside Music Row on Sunday, April 13. The episode showed Russell performing and interview footage recorded during a recent club show in Nashville just prior to the release of her debut CD Goddess. It will appear in over 80 markets nationwide.

Pictured (L-R): Inside Music Row's Brian Covert, Russell, and camera man James Denham. Photo: Patti Doyal, CDA Promotions

Azar Opens Ride Records

Sarah Skates – 04/14/2008

Steve Azar has launched Ride Records and will release new project Indianola in conjunction with his Dang label. Industry veteran Harry Nelson is on board as National Director of Radio and Media Promotion for Ride. He can be reached at (207) 281-3314 or hnelson@riderecords.com. The first single to country radio will be “I Won’t Let You Lead Me Down.” Azar spent 2007 touring with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. His last CD, Waitin’ on Joe, produced the hit single “I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday).”

Ride Records, a division of Ride Entertainment Group, also plans to sign and develop new artists in all music formats. National distribution will be handled through an agreement with Redeye. Houston based Bubble Up Digital Media Solutions will provide online marketing and promotion, and Hot Schatz PR will handle national publicity and artist development. Azar is booked by Darin Murphy at CAA.

10-10-10 for Brad Paisley

04/11/2008

On April 10 Brad Paisley was honored at Nashville restaurant radius10 at an event hosted by Sony BMG Nashville, celebrating Paisley’s triple milestones of 10 No. 1 singles, 10 million albums sold, and 10 years as an artist on Arista Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Paisley producer Frank Rogers, frequent co-writer Kelley Lovelace, ASCAP Sr. VP Connie Bradley, Paisley, Sony BMG Nashville Chairman Joe Galante, Brad’s dad Doug Paisley, and frequent co-writer Chris DuBois. Photo: Jen Cook

Artist News Friday (4/11/08)

Lady Antellebum was chosen by Yahoo! Music to be one of four artists involved in their "Who's Next?: User's Choice," a program which will also feature Forever The Sickest Kids, Paddy Casey and Tristan Prettyman...