Follow CountryBlips on TwitterMusicRow
| Recent Articles |
“Soundstage” Sets Country Line-up
Acclaimed PBS music show Soundstage has a Country-packed line up for its eighth season, kicking-off Jan. 21 with a concert from superstar Tim McGraw.
On Feb. 18 Faith Hill is backed by a full orchestra, to perform selections from her greatest hits. ...
“Time” Readies Tablet Prototype [video]
The news media, including newspapers, magazines and more is going through a time of intense change, much like the music industry. Time has proactively been developing a new interactive distribution prototype that seemingly is being groomed for a new ...
Tags:
Music
Charlie Daniels Christmas With Friends
Charlie Daniels gathered many musician friends for his new GAC special, A Twin Pines Christmas, premiering tonight (12/3) at 7 PM/CT. Among those performing holiday favorites are The Grascals, Kathy Mattea, Aaron Tippin, Dan Tyminski and the Cox ...
Tags:
Music
Charlie Daniels
Kathy Mattea
Aaron Tippin
Swift Leads Country Grammy Noms
Taylor Swift snagged eight Grammy nominations when they were announced last night, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Swift is joined in several categories by Music City rockers Kings of Leon, who tied with Keith ...
Tags:
Music
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Carrie Underwood
Book Review: 25 Notes for the Successful Musician
Chad Jeffers is a successful in-demand road musician; he currently tours as Carrie Underwood’s steel guitar player and previously toured with Keith Urban, playing a variety of instruments. He was also a member of the group Pinmonkey, which had ...
Mansion at Fontanel Opening Venue, Restaurant, More
The famed Mansion at Fontanel, Barbara Mandrell’s former estate, is being turned into an entertainment attraction that will include an outdoor music venue, restaurant, microbrewery, distillery, walking trails, memorabilia museum and more. The ...
Genovese Leaving Top CMA Post
Country Music Association CEO Tammy Genovese is leaving the organization where she has worked for 24 years. Steve Moore, Sr. VP of AEG Live, who recently moved into the CMA Board Chairman seat will fill in in the interim.
After a long career with the ...
Tags:
Music
Currington’s Global South Relief Organization
Billy Currington has established Global South Relief, an organization that will deliver supplies to various Central American countries in need. In conjunction with Nashville songwriters Brett Jones, Scotty Emerick and Dallas Davidson, Currington will ...
Valentine Leaving Columbia Nashville
Alex Valentine, Director, Regional Promotion, Columbia Nashville is leaving the company effective December 14.
Jimmy Rector, Columbia’s VP, National Promotion has no plans to accept resumes for Valentine’s replacement.
Tags:
Music
Grammy Nominations Special Tonight
“The Grammy Nominations Concert Live — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night,” takes place tonight (10/2) at Club NOKIA in Los Angeles. The special will air on CBS from 8-9 pm CT and marks the second time for Grammy nominations to be announced live ...
Urban Toasts No. 1 With Steve McEwan
Songwriter Steve McEwan celebrated another trip to the top of the charts with Keith Urban yesterday (12/1) in Nashville. Urban’s rendition of “Only You Can Love Me This Way,” co-written by his fellow BMI songwriters McEwan and John Reid, marks the ...
Rogers Adds Second Symphony Show
Country and pop music icon Kenny Rogers has added a second date to his scheduled appearance with the Nashville Symphony in early 2010. Rogers quickly sold out his February 5, 2010, engagement at Schermerhorn Symphony Center and – due to the high ...
Tags:
Music
Kenny Rogers
Shelton Release Due In Early 2010
“Hillbilly Bone,” the lead single and title track from Blake Shelton’s new album will hit digital retailers on Dec. 22. The song and video feature Shelton’s pal Trace Adkins, and the video is already available for paid download.
Also on Dec. 22 Blake ...
Underwood Makes Big Donation To Humane Society
Animals were the big winners as superstar Carrie Underwood, together with 19 Recordings and Sony Music Nashville, recently presented The Humane Society of the United States with a check for $200,000. The check reflected the charitable proceeds from ...
Gator Michaels Exits Warner Bros.
After seven years with Warner Music, Sr. VP Promotion Gator Michaels exited the company today (12/1). Filling the vacancy is Director of National Promotion Bob Reeves, who will report directly to new label President/CEO John Esposito, who took office ...
Tags:
Music
AMA Announces New Board Members
The Americana Music Association recently held annual elections for its Board of Directors and the results are in. Nine new directors will be joining the board for 2009-2010.
New Americana Music Association Board Members:
Finance
Ashley ...
Bess Lomax Hawes Dies
Lifelong folk-music champion Bess Lomax Hawes died Friday, November 27 at the age of 88 in Portland, Oregon.
In 1941-43 she was a member of The Almanac Singers alongside Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. In 1948, she wrote the folk classic “M.T.A.,” ...
Tags:
Music
Woody Guthrie
Underwood’s CMT Special Airs Tonight
CMT will premiere Carrie Underwood: Invitation Only tonight at 8 pm CT. Taped before a small audience in Nashville’s Studio A, the special will feature Underwood performing her hits and music from her new album Play On, as well as candidly answering ...
Toby Keith Concludes Sold-Out European Tour
Toby Keith recently wrapped his first European tour, which included a two week sold-out run of nine shows in six countries. Keith opened the tour in Glasgow, Scotland Nov. 9 before playing London’s Hammersmith Apollo (Nov. 10), Dublin’s ...
Tags:
Music
Toby Keith
GE Sale Of NBC To Comcast Likely
A deal between General Electric and Comcast to sell TV network NBC Universal to Comcast moved a step closer to reality yesterday amid reports of a key agreement between G.E. and Vivendi, essential to complete the sale. G.E. has offered to buy ...
Tags:
Music
FBMM’s John McCarthy To Retire
After 41 years in business, CPA John McCarthy has announced plans to retire from Flood, Bumstead, McCready and McCarthy, Inc. (FBMM) effective December 31, 2009. He will continue to work as a CPA on a limited independent basis.
McCarthy has spent 41 ...
Tidbits: Valory Signing, Green Leaving ASCAP, Fontanel For Sale
Valory’s newest artists and CMT Can You Duet finalists JB Rocket recently spent time getting to know the Valory promotion staff. New music from the band, made up of Jonathan Cox and Brandon Green, is due next year. Pictured (l-r): Chris Loss, Brooke ...
Songs Score Big With Soundtracks: “The Climb,” “Southern Voice”
Songwriters Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe had stellar success with their song “The Climb,” which spent an amazing 15 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s AC Chart. As the lead single from Hannah Montana: The Movie, “The Climb” was ...
Country On Oprah’s Christmas Show Today
Sugarland and Tim McGraw are among the superstars set for Oprah’s Holiday Music Extravaganza, airing today Monday, November 30. The episode focuses on duets, pairing Sugarland with Oscar winning actress, Jennifer Hudson for a Christmas standard. ...
Susan Boyle Sales Boiling
Thanksgiving record sales are primed to set some records this year. British Idol sensation Susan Boyle, based upon early results for the week is expected to sell from 625-675k units for the week ended 11/29 according to Hits Daily Double advance ...
Tags:
Music
Urban Down Under: Awards Show, Tour
Keith Urban opened Australia’s Aria Awards over the weekend with a performance of his hit “Kiss A Girl.” Next up he launches his “Escape Together World Tour” in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 11. The entire production set-up used on ...
Leadership Music Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Leadership Music will host a 20th Anniversary celebration open exclusively to Leadership Music alumni. The event is set for Tues., Dec. 1, at the Hutton Hotel in downtown Nashville (1808 West End Avenue) and begins at 5 p.m. in the Vista ...
Tags:
Music
Nashville Acts Join For Benefit Concert
On Wednesday, December 2 at 7:30 PM, many of Nashville’s country and pop artists will perform at the Mercy Lounge to raise funds and awareness for the Global Food Crisis Fund. Scheduled to appear include Leigh Nash, Carter’s Chord, Julie Roberts, ...
BMI Promotes Jessica Frost
BMI has promoted Jessica Frost to Director, Business Development/Licensing. Based in the organization’s Nashville office, Frost began working for BMI in 1999 as a Customer Relations Executive. She was promoted to Account Representative in 2000, ...
Tags:
Music
Messina Adds 2nd Show For Holiday Concert
Jo Dee Messina has announced the addition of a second Nashville show for a special holiday concert on Sat. Dec. 5 at the Brentwood United Methodist Church. All proceeds from the performances will go to Harvest Hands Community Development Corp. Tickets ...
Tags:
Music
Jo Dee Messina
Hot Duos: Joey and Rory, Burns and Poe
Husband and wife duo Joey+Rory have been touring in Scotland and Ireland in recent weeks. The duo’s new single, “It’s Christmas Time,” is available digitally. They are also promoting Merry Kidmas, a children’s album ...
Tags:
Music
Artists Thank Troops: Lee Ann Womack and More
Lee Ann Womack was in Hawaii last week to visit with Wounded Warriors and perform for troops and their families at Schofield Barracks. Visiting the island of Oahu as part of “A Tropic Homecoming,” sponsored by the USO, Womack welcomed home more than ...
Lawrence’s Turkey Fry Today
Tracy Lawrence will again host his annual Mission Possible Turkey Fry, today, Nov. 24, to raise money, generate awareness and provide food for the Nashville Rescue Mission. Now in its fourth year, the pre-Thanksgiving event is open to the public. ...
FlySongs Forms To Connect Songs With Film/TV
FlySongs will specialize in the music of Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana and represent it to the film and television industry. The new company will actively seek to place compositions in movies, television specials, soundtracks, primetime and cable ...
Tags:
Music
Ray Bruce To Sharp Objects
Nashville-based Sharp Objects, a song plugging and artist development company has added Ray Bruce to its marketing and promotions department. Bruce’s new title will be Creative Director/Special Projects Coordinator and he will report to company ...
Tags:
Music
Combustion Promotes Chris Van Belkom
Combustion Music has promoted Chris Van Belkom to Sr. Creative Director. He previously served as Creative Director and has spent five years with the publisher, helping oversee the careers of songwriters including Blair Daly, Ashley Gorley and Gordie ...
Tags:
Music
Chris Young
Lifenotes: Dene Hallam
Lifelong radio man Dene Hallam is being mourned by friends in the industry following his death on Friday night (11/20) following a brief illness. The veteran programmer was currently working as PD for the Moby In The Morning show in Atlanta. Hallam ...
Tags:
Music
Gloriana Scores AMA Breakthrough
Gloriana dazzled odds makers Sunday night (11/22) when the group won the fan-voted T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award at the 2009 American Music Awards. The honor was decided by fans who were encouraged to text vote right until the end of the show. ...
Tags:
Music
Gloriana
Sound And Speed Returns To Music City
Sound & Speed returns to Nashville Jan. 8-9, and tickets are now available at ticketmaster.com and opry.com and www.soundandspeed.org. This year’s fifth annual event, hosted by Sprint and presented by SunTrust will include two nights of ...
Tags:
Music
Ryman Auditorium
XL Video: New Nashville Shop For Tour Planning
From the Nashville Post:
One of his hands is already in The Claw. With the other, Ken Gay is out to grab a hold of Nashville’s concert scene.
Gay is the general manager of the XL Video Nashville, the local outpost of a global player in the lighting of ...
Jimmy Wayne Webchat; Dolly Opens Nashville Store
It’s release day for Jimmy Wayne who is back with his Valory Music Co. album Sara Smile. To mark the occasion he’s hosting a live Ustream video chat with fans tonight beginning at 7 PM/CT which will include an acoustic set and will be ...
Tags:
Music
Jimmy Wayne
Dolly Parton
Sony Adds Uhlir To Marketing Department
Ray Uhlir joins Sony Music Nashville as Senior Director, Marketing and Artist Development, reporting directly to Marketing VP Tom Baldrica. Uhlir most recently served as VP of Brand Licensing for Gibson Guitar.
Baldrica, who made the announcement ...
Tags:
Music
Sony Music Nashville
Hall of Fame To Salute Bill Anderson
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Hall inductee Bill Anderson on December 12 as part of its quarterly programming series Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters. The 1:30 p.m. program, which will be held in the Museum’s ...
Lance Smith And CMT Part Ways
After more than eight years on CMT, host Lance Smith is leaving the network to focus on his acting career. Smith joined CMT in 2001 as the network’s first VJ and went on to host over 400 episodes of the CMT Top 20 Countdown. He has logged ...
Tags:
Music
Connie Smith
Griggs Suffer Devastating House Fire
Country singer Andy Griggs and his family lost their home in a devastating fire this past Saturday. Thankfully, they all escaped without harm, but sadly, the house is being called a total loss.
An official statement released by publicist Vanessa Davis ...
Tags:
Music
Andy Griggs
James House
AMA Photos, Swift Big Winner
Taylor Swift was the top winner at last night’s American Music Awards, receiving five trophies at the all-genre fan-voted show. Country as a whole was well-represented at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, snagging several awards as well as ...
Tags:
Music
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Carrie Underwood
Gloriana
Miss Doris Kidnapping Takes Unexpected Turn
With the request of a $5,000,000 ransom authorities are now taking a closer look at last weekend’s abduction of ASCAP’s Ms. Doris.
Members of the Nashville CSI were at ASCAP earlier today looking for further evidence.
ASCAP’s Connie Bradley had been ...
City Paper: Judge Dismisses All Charges Against John Rich
General Sessions Judge Aaron Holt has dismissed the harassment and assault charges filed against country singer John Rich.
“I’m relived the story is now out there accurately. It’s a good feeling,” Rich said after Friday’s hearing.
CLICK HERE to read ...
Upcoming Release from Gokey and Tomlinson
Trent Tomlinson is set to release a three song digital exclusive EP, A Guy Like Me, on Nov. 23 at all online music stores. The project features previously unreleased tracks “That’s How It Still Ought To Be” and “Henry Cartwright’s Produce Stand,” plus ...
