Save The Dates: Capitol Party, CMA Tix

/by

Get out your calendars, these important dates have just been announced…

Capitol Records Nashville is planning its 3rd annual Street Party on Demonbreun for Wed., Oct. 13. More info to come.

••••••

Tickets for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 18 (10:00 AM/CT), and can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Bridgestone Arena box office. Ticket prices begin at $110, plus fees.

•••••

And a reminder: CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airs Wednesday, Sept. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Tim McGraw serves as host for the special which was taped during June’s CMA Music Festival.

Chris Young Signs With ShopKeeper Management

/by

Chris Young received a CMA Award nomination for Best New Artist this morning's (8/31) press conference, where he also helped reveal the nominees. Photo: John Russell / CMA

RCA Nashville recording artist Chris Young has signed an exclusive management agreement with Marion Kraft’s ShopKeeper Management.

The company also represents Miranda Lambert on Columbia Nashville and Josh Kelley on MCA Nashville.

Additionally, Shopkeeper has hired Crystal Dishmon to serve as the day-to-day contact for all artists on the roster. Megan Pool is continuing in her role as coordinator for Kraft and all artists.

The company can be contacted at (615) 383-0163 or by mail at ShopKeeper Management, P.O. Box  22128, Nashville, TN  37202.

Email addresses: [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

CMA’s 2010 Broadcast Awards Finalists

/by

Final nominees for the nation’s top Country radio stations and broadcast personalities were delivered to Country Radio today (8/31), when Steel Magnolia revealed the 2010 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year finalists live from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The announcements were carried live to Country radio stations by CMA’s official radio partner Premiere Radio Networks.

The winners will be notified in mid-October and will be acknowledged at “The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” on Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) and broadcast live by ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return to host “Country Music’s Biggest Night” for a third year.

Click here to see the other nominees revealed this morning. Additional CMA Award final nominees will be announced tomorrow, Sept. 1 (8:30 AM/All time zones) on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

CMA BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:
National
“The Crook & Chase Countdown” (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) –  Jim Owens Entertainment and Premiere Radio Networks
“CMT’s Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton” (Lon Helton) – Westwood One
“The Lia Show” (Lia Knight)  – Dial Global

Major Market
“Ben & Matt Show” (Ben Campbell and Matt McAllister) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
Paul Schadt Morning Show” (Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, and Geof Knight) – WKKT, Charlotte/Gastonia, N.C.; Rock Hill, S.C.
“The Laurie DeYoung Morning Show” (Laurie DeYoung) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
“Steve Austin” (Steve Austin) – WQYK, Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla.
“Randy and Dave” (Randy Price and Dave McKay) – WQYK, Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla.
“Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray in the Morning” (Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray Stevens) – WUSN, Chicago, Ill.

Large Market
“Bucky & Bob: The Talk of Austin” (Bucky Godbolt and Bob Cole) – KVET, Austin, Texas
“Karen, Scott and Radar in the Morning” (Karen Dalessandro, Scott Dolphin, and Tony “Radar” Hess) – WMIL, Milwaukee/Racine, Wis.
“The House Foundation” (Gerry House, Mike Bohan, Richard Falklen, Al Voecks, and Duncan Stewart) – WSIX, Nashville, Tenn.
“Eddie Stubbs Show” (Eddie Stubbs) – WSM, Nashville, Tenn.
“Chris Carr & Company”  (Chris Carr, Jeffrey “Maverick” Bolen, and Jason Statt) –WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio

Medium Market
“Mornings with Brian and Kellie” (Brian Pierce and Kellie Michaels) – KFDI, Wichita, Kan.
“The Kat 103 Morning Show with Steve Lundy, Gina, and Craig” (Steve Lundy, Gina Melton, and Craig Allen) – KXKT, Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.
“Tom & Becky in the Morning” (Tom Owens and Becky Palmer) – WBBS, Syracuse, N.Y.
“Kevin Richards Show” (Kevin Richards) – WGNA, Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y.
“Andy & Alison and the Morning Crew” (Andy Ritchie, Alison Mencer, and Jimmy Holt) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.

Small Market
“Scotty and Carissa in the Morning” (Scotty Cox and Carissa Loethen) – KCLR, Jefferson City, Mo.
“Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry) – KKNU, Eugene/Springfield, Ore.
“The Good Morning Guys” (Brian Gary, Todd Harding, and Susan Moore) – KUAD, Ft. Collins/Greeley, Colo.
“The Jess Wright Show” (Jess Wright and David Conrad) – WFRE, Hagerstown, Md.; Chambersburg/Waynesboro, Pa.
“The Dex and Mo Show” (Bill Poindexter and Melissa Turner) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.

CMA RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
Major Market
KEEY – Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
KWJJ – Portland, Ore.
WIL – St. Louis, Mo.
WSOC – Charlotte/Gastonia, N.C.; Rock Hill, S.C.
WYCD – Detroit, Mich.

Large Market
KAJA – San Antonio, Texas
KASE – Austin, Texas
KVET – Austin, Texas
WQDR – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
WTQR – Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, N.C.

Medium Market
KFDI – Wichita, Kan.
KXKT – Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.
WBBS – Syracuse, N.Y.
WGNA – Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y.
WIVK – Knoxville, Tenn.

Small Market
KCLR –Jefferson City, Mo.
KUAD – Ft. Collins/Greeley, Colo.
WFRE – Hagerstown, Md.; Chambersburg/Waynesboro, Pa.
WGSQ – Cookeville, Tenn.
WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.

Miranda Lambert Gets Five CMA Nods

/by

Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, and Chris Young pose with CMA leadership at this morning's press conference. (l-r) CMA Board President Gary Overton, Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Nashville; CMA CEO Steve Moore; Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey of Steel Magnolia; Justin Moore; Chris Young; and CMA Board Chairman Steve Buchanan, Senior VP, Media and Entertainment, Gaylord Entertainment. photo: John Russell / CMA

Reporting by Sarah Skates, Jon Freeman

Miranda Lambert earned five CMA Award nods at today’s (8/31) announcement of final nominees in select categories.

Justin Moore and Chris Young announce final nominees in select CMA categories. photo: John Russell / CMA

Justin Moore and Chris Young unveiled the nominees in seven categories this morning from the stage of the historic Ryman auditorium. Steel Magnolia announced finalists for the 2010 CMA Broadcast Award Personality and Radio Station of the Year, plus the finalists for the CMA National Broadcast Personality. Click here for radio nominees.

Final nominations are being revealed as part of a two-day, two-city announcement, with the second round coming tomorrow (9/1) morning courtesy of Lambert and Dierks Bentley on ABC’s Good Morning America at 8:30 AM.

This year’s 44th Annual Awards show tagged “Country Music’s Biggest Night” will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday,  Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM ET) on ABC.

“The CMA Awards final nominations are the most anticipated annual announcements in Country Music,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “By making the announcements over two days, we hope to focus even more attention on all the deserving nominees and their accomplishments.”

CMA’s official radio partner, Premiere Radio Networks, will carry the Awards and Broadcast Award nominations live to Country Radio as they are announced each day.

Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones of Steel Magnolia perform "Just By Being You (Halo & Wings)" before they announce the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists. Photo: John Russell/CMA

2010 FINAL NOMINEES

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
“A Little More Country Than That” — Easton Corbin; Producer: Carson Chamberlain (Mercury Nashville)
“Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins; Producer: Scott Hendricks (Reprise Records)
“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum; Producers: Paul Worley, Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
“The House That Built Me” — Miranda Lambert; Producers: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke (Columbia Nashville)
“White Liar” — Miranda Lambert; Producer: Frank Liddell, Wrucke (Columbia Nashville)

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“A Little More Country Than That” — Writers: Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble
“Need You Now” — Writers: Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Josh Kear
“The House That Built Me” — Writers: Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin
“Toes” — Writers: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins, Shawn Mullins
“White Liar” — Writers: Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Hillbilly Bone” — Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins; Director: Roman White
“Need You Now” — Lady Antebellum; Director: David McClister
“The House That Built Me” — Miranda Lambert; Director: Trey Fanjoy
“Water” — Brad Paisley; Director: Jim Shea
“White Liar” — Miranda Lambert; Director: Chris Hicky

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Paul Franklin — Steel Guitar
Dann Huff — Guitar
Brent Mason — Guitar
Mac McAnally — Guitar
Randy Scruggs — Guitar

Coming tomorrow morning
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer)
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to each Artist)

NaSHOF Announces New Inductees

/by

Clockwise: Stephen Foster, Pat Alger, Steve Cropper, Paul Davis

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame To Induct Pat Alger, Steve Cropper, Paul Davis and Stephen Foster

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) has announced this year’s inductees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: From the Songwriter category, hit writers Pat Alger and Steve Cropper; From the Songwriter/Artist category, the late Pop/Country star Paul Davis; and by special induction, America’s first professional songwriter Stephen Foster.

The four new inductees will be welcomed into the elite songwriting fraternity by their peers at the 40th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony, presented by AT&T, on Sunday, October 17, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

“Pat, Steve, Paul and certainly Mr. Foster have all written remarkable songs that we’ve lived our lives by through the years, and all of them are so deserving as Hall of Fame inductees,” said Roger Murrah, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. “Stephen Foster was writing songs before we even had genres.”

Alger’s songwriter credits include hits such as “Goin’ Gone” (Kathy Mattea) and “The Thunder Rolls” (Garth Brooks). Cropper’s resume is known for Pop/R&B classics such as “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” (Otis Redding) and “In The Midnight Hour” (Wilson Pickett). Davis popularized many of his own compositions, “I Go Crazy” and “Sweet Life.” Foster, regarded as America’s first professional songwriter, is remembered for Civil-War-era compositions such as “Camptown Races” and “Oh! Susanna.”

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony features tributes and performances of the inductees’ songs by special guest artists. NaSHOF’s sister organization, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), also presents its annual awards for the year’s best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by the professional songwriters division.

Tickets for the event are $200 each. A limited number of seats are available to the public this year and may be purchased by contacting event director Mark Ford at [email protected].

For more information visit http://www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com

Commerce Secretary In Nashville To Discuss Piracy

/by

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was in Nashville today (8/30) for a meeting between members of government and local music business leaders to discuss music piracy. NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison moderated the discussion featuring leaders from all levels of government: Locke, Mayor Karl Dean, Governor Phil Bredesen, and Congressman Jim Cooper.

Some of Nashville’s best creative minds and most seasoned music executives turned out for the event at Belmont University. Among those Herbison called on to offer personal experiences and opinions were songwriter Fred Knobloch, artist Big Kenny and publisher Barry Coburn.

Gary Locke

Locke spent the morning touring Music Row businesses, getting a first-hand view of how almost 20,000 jobs in Music City are directly connected to the music business. Another 55,000 jobs are indirectly supported by it, according to a study by Belmont.

Locke avoided any specifics, but says the Obama administration is focusing on establishing global intellectual property norms, promoting compliance, and strengthening the international copyright system. The Administration’s new Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator has released a Joint Strategic Plan. Locke also firmly established the Administration’s support of artist payment via the Performance Rights Act.

Look for more in-depth coverage of the event in Wednesday’s @MusicRow (paid subscribers only).

Kelly Parkes

/by

Kelly Parkes brings a feisty innocence to her debut single, “Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight”, on Edge Records/Lofton Creek Records. Not one to sit on the sidelines, this tiny, five foot one, 23 year-old vocalist from rural Lancaster County, Penn., is proving herself as a force to be reckoned with.

“‘Nothin’ Good Ever Happens After Midnight’ is a kick-ass, feisty song about just wanting to have a good time and making choices,” explains Parkes with trademark confidence. “Sometimes you break the rules, have some fun, and sometimes it’s hard to live life without regret… but we try to anyway…”

Parkes recently sang the National Anthem live on the SPEED Channel for a nationally televised NASCAR Truck race.  She’s also currently proving herself on the road as she meets radio programmers on her first national radio tour.

http://www.myspace.com/kellyparkes
http://www.emcnash.com
http://www.springbarrelsongpluggingservices.com

Trailer Choir Streams Direct-To-Fan Concert

/by

Trailer Choir will stream a direct-to-fan concert performance on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on CMT.com. In addition to singing many of its fan favorites such as “Rockin’ The Beer Gut,” and “Shakin’ That Tailgate,” the trio will also take questions from a select audience of contest winners.

The live stream event is part of an ongoing series on CMT.com that has featured artists such as Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Joey & Rory, Joe Nichols and Blake Shelton. Trailer Choir’s Crystal, Butter and Big Vinny were discovered by Toby Keith and signed to his Show Dog Universal Music record label.

To watch the live stream, visit: http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/545919/cmtcom-live-streaming-event.jhtml.

CMA Hosts Second Tweet n’ Greet (#cmatv)

/by

Lady Antebellum

The action will extend across multiple screens during the Sept. 1 airing (ABC, 8-11p.m. ET) of the CMA’s broadcast special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock. Fans will be able to visit ABC.com to view twitter feeds from a variety of artists including Julianne Hough(@JulianneHough), Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum), Reba McEntire (@Reba), Tim McGraw (@TimMcGrawArtist), Blake Shelton (@BlakeShelton), Keith Urban (@KeithUrban), and Zac Brown Band (@ZacBrownBand).

On CMAfest.com fans will also will able to read artist’s observations about the three hour special plus behind the scenes insight, anecdotes and memories using their Facebook account.

“As an event, CMA Music Festival is about these unique interaction opportunities between the artist community and the fans,” said Ben Bennett, CMA Digital Marketing Manager. “The Tweet ‘N’ Greet is a fun, inventive way of translating that artist/fan connection to the ABC broadcast. The artists and fans get to communicate while they share the common experience of watching the television show.”

The “Tweet ‘N’ Greet” will create an interactive feed between the fans and artists. Fans will have a direct connection to some of their favorite performers, not only allowing them the opportunity to ask questions, but also providing them with behind-the-scenes access. The official hashtag for the event is #cmatv. Fans using the hashtag will be entered to win prizes during the show.

CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock is hosted by McGraw and features Taylor Swift in the first network television performance of her new single “Mine.” Also performing are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, McEntire, McGraw, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Shelton, Josh Turner, Uncle Kracker, Carrie Underwood, Urban, and Zac Brown Band.

Jerrod Niemann’s No. 1 and Jesse Lee Visits KJUG

/by

Songwriter Dan Pritzker actually wrote “Lover, Lover” for his band Sonia Dada in 1992, and the tune, originally titled “You Don’t Treat Me No Good,” was a #1 hit for the group in Australia. Jerrod Niemann’s recording of Pritzker’s hit marks his very first climb to the top spot as an artist. Niemann earned his first #1 as a songwriter with Garth Brooks’ “Good Ride Cowboy.” BMI feted Niemann’s accomplishment on Aug. 23 in their Music Row offices.

(L-R) BMI’s Jody Williams, engineer Brian Kolb, producer Dave Brainard, Sea Gayle Music’s Chris Dubois, Jerrod Niemann, songwriter Dan Pritzker, Sony Music’s Gary Overton, BMI’s Perry Howard, Sea Gayle Music’s Frank Rogers, and Sony Music’s Skip Bishop.

Jesse Lee challenged KJUG PD Dave Daniels (L) and APD/MD Adam Jeffries (R) to some animated rock, paper, scissors. To figure out the score realize that paper covers rock, but scissors cut paper. MusicRow called Daniels to find out what stakes the trio might have been wagering, but he was unavailable for comment.

(L-R) Dave Daniels, Jesse Lee and Adam Jeffries.