ACM NEWS: Performers for the 7th Annual ACM Honors will include host Dierks Bentley, musical director Frank Liddell, presenters Deana Carter, David Nail, Darius Rucker and Steve Wariner along with musical tributes by Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Paul Franklin, Kree Harrison, Robert Earl Keen, Lorrie Morgan, Jesse Keith Whitley, Chris Young and Thompson Square. More are expected to be announced leading up to the event at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium September 10th.
AMERICANA NEWS: Lucinda Williams is scheduled to perform an intimate showcase of her self-titled album, celebrating the 25th anniversary of its release, to close the 2013 Americana Music Festival & Conference on Sunday, September 22 at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley. Americana Music Festival & Conference registrants will receive invitations by September 3rd for the special 3rd & Lindsley performance, with a limited number of tickets on sale to the public. This is not a wristband showcase.
ARTIST NEWS: Hit duo and musical pioneers, The LACS, released their third studio album, KEEP IT REDNECK, in August, via BackRoad Records, a division of Average Joes Entertainment. The LACS’ unique blend of music and their widespread popularity was recently profiled in the Wall Street Journal. The video for “Keep It Redneck” garnered the fastest rising views in The LACS’ history already reaching over 250,000 views. The LACS also recently wrote and performed the opening theme song for Animal Planet’s new reality show, “Mud Lovin’ Rednecks,” which highlights a down-home gang of childhood friends in Alabama as they attempt to start a first time mud bog business on their property.
BLUEGRASS NEWS: Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby’s reuniting is proving to be another major success for the two musical icons. Skaggs and Hornsby recently learned that CLUCK OL’ HEN debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album Chart. The album is a fresh collection of songs from the duo. The live tunes were originally recorded when the two music icons went on tour in support of their first collaborative album. Skaggs and Hornsby hit the road this fall, embarking on the ‘Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder’ Tour. CLUCK OL’ HEN is available in retail stores and online. For more info visit skaggsfamilyrecords.com & www.brucehornsby.com.
BUSINESS BUZZ: Congratulations to my friend Rick Baumgartner on his recent promotion to Dir./National Promotion of Hitshop Records. “From day one, Rick has proven he is here to win and make a difference in our unique environment,” says VP/Promotion Diane Monk Harrison. “Adds Baumgartner, “I’m thrilled to move into this National position. Diane and Skip [Bishop] are incredible to work with and I am honored by their confidence as we continue to build HitShop.” Baumgartner has held promotion positions at Warner Bros., Decca, Atlantic, Broken Bow, Equity, Black River and elsewhere; he’s been with HitShop since it launched in January.
CD RELEASES: Justin Moore will be releasing his third album, OFF THE BEATEN PATH, on September 17th. Pre-orders have already begun for the deluxe version of the album, which is available as part of exclusive merch bundles or with instant access to early-released tracks. You can pre-order the Deluxe Edition of OFF THE BEATEN PATH at iTunes, Walmart, and Amazon. Get your album now and check out Justin’s newly-launched website here.
DOVE AWARDS NEWS: Jay DeMarcus has been nominated for five 2013 Dove awards including Producer of the Year, Inspirational Album of the Year (Producer), two Southern Gospel Performances of the Year (Producer), and Southern Gospel Album of the Year (Producer). His album of the year nomination comes from his role as producer with Ed Cash and Wayne Haun on Jason Crabb’s album LOVE IS STRONGER. His Southern Gospel Performances of the Year nominations as a producer are from “Stubborn” (Psalm 15) by Michael English, and “What the Blood is For” by Jason Crabb. Jay was also nominated for Southern Gospel Album of the Year as a producer in collaboration with Bill Gaither and Benjy Gaither on Michael English’s album Some People Change. The Dove Awards will be held at Nashville’s Allen Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, and will be broadcasted on the UP Television Network.
INDIE NEWS: “Burning Georgia Down”, written by Mark Bumgarner and Milan Miller (2012 & 2013 IBMA Song of the Year Nominee) is the current spotlight track single from Mark’s “On My Way Back Home” album. Some of you may recognize the song as first being released on Balsam Range’s (seven time 2013 IBMA Nominees) 2007 debut album “Marching Home”. You can find out more about Mark at his website, www.markbumgarnermusic.com.
INDUSTRY NEWS: Billy Dean has been recruited by Kenny Rogers to play the lead role in this year’s edition of the critically-acclaimed Broadway-style Christmas production, THE TOY SHOPPE, scheduled to run November 1 through December 21 at the Starlite Theatre in Branson, MO. The original music and story were written and arranged by music legend Kenny Rogers and producer/director Kelly Junkermann. Dean will take on the role of Toy Shoppe owner Hank Longley, normally played by Rogers. Tickets are available now through the Starlite Theatre website www.starlitetheatre.com or by phoning the box office at 866-991-8445.
LABEL NEWS: (EMI Nashville) Alan Jackson will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City October 28th. Jackson plans to highlight song selections from his upcoming THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM, which is set for release September 24th.
MEDIA NEWS: ALABAMA & Friends, the new album featuring two new songs from the legendary group and some of today’s hottest stars singing some of Alabama’s biggest hits just hit stores yesterday. Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line, Jamey Johnson, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts and Trisha Yearwood are featured on the project singing their own version of ALABAMA classics including “Tennessee River,” “Love in the First Degree,” “Old Flame,” “Lady Down on Love” and “The Closer You Get.”
MUSIC NEWS: Randy Houser’s recent smash hit “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than one million units. This is the first Platinum digital single for Houser, who has been frequently praised by industry, critics and fans as one of Nashville’s best vocalists since he released his first album in 2008. The song spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart, and was the second consecutive No. 1 single from his album HOW COUNTRY FEELS, following the Gold-certified title song. For tour dates and more information, visit RandyHouser.com
NUMBER ONE NEWS: Tim McGraw recently celebrated his latest number one song for the multi-week hit “Highway Don’t Care” with Taylor Swift, featuring Keith Urban on guitar. The monster collaboration is McGraw’s 34th No. one song and second No. one from his Big Machine Records debut, TWO LANES OF FREEDOM. On hand for the celebration were songwriters Brett Warren, Brad Warren and Mark Irwin, Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta, Keith Urban as well as a packed room of friends, industry and press.
PUBLISHING NEWS: Congrats to my friend Jason Matthews. Has signed a co-pub deal with Warner/Chappell Music. The Grammy nominated singer-songwriter has had tracks cut by Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton and others.
TOUR NEWS: Lady Antebellum has extended their headlining TAKE ME DOWNTOWN TOUR with new dates scheduled for 2014. Previously announced guests for the 2013 run, Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves, will also continue with the group for the second leg of the tour that begins Jan. 9 in Charleston, WV and runs through April. The 50-plus city North American tour will open Nov. 8 in Southaven, MS. Lady A will accept the “Jim Reeves International Award” at this fall’s ACM Honors. For updates on tour dates and ticket info, visit www.ladyantebellum.com.
VIDEO NEWS: The Coleman Brothers are gearing up for the release of their new music video for “Back on the Farm,” making its official debut on October 21, 2013. The video was filmed in the Coleman’s’ home state of Texas, and is a reflection of family, friends and life on the road. Directed by Michael Walters of HD Texas Video Productions, “Back on the Farm” will include several special people in the lives of brothers Greg and Denny Coleman, including their parents, as well as good friend and Texas legend Larry Butler. The single is the third release from The Coleman Brothers’ second studio album, KEEPIN’ IT REEL. More info at www.thecolemanbrothers.com.
WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT: www.globalsongwriters.com / nashvegas.com, / www.cdxcd.com
WHO’S LOOKING * WHO’S CUTTING: Rodney Atkins, Rascal Flatts, Mark Chesnutt, Jake Owen, Mo Pitney, Rusty Williams and Clay Walker.
Send me music stuff, I love to get it! / Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com TN/USA. Google “Preshias”
