Country artist Jon Pardi will release his debut album, Write You A Song, Jan. 14, 2014. Pardi’s high-energy approach, perfected on stages throughout his native California, has its stamp all over his Capitol Records Nashville debut. Continue Reading →
Archive | October, 2013
Jon Pardi To Release WRITE YOU A SONG Jan. 14
Song Review: Rachel Farley | “Midnight Road”
My favorite song on radio right now has got to be this new mid tempo track entitled “Midnight Road” from Red Bow Records recording artist Rachel Farley and produced by Michael Knox. Continue Reading →
Eric Church’s New Single Will Be Shipped To Radio Oct. 22nd
“The Outsiders,” the first single off the upcoming new studio album from Eric Church (EMI Records Nashville), will be available for digital purchase and shipped to radio on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The song was written by Church and Casey Beathard and produced by Jay Joyce, Church’s longtime producer. The single will officially go for adds on Monday, Oct. 28. Continue Reading →
Highlights And Interviews From The Colt Ford Celebrity Golf Classic
FOCUS had the pleasure of being invited to cover the 2nd annual Colt Ford Celebrity Golf Classic just outside of Atlanta at the beautiful Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. All money raised during the event went to support St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
The weekend featured a fun pairing party the night before the golfing event and a day of golfing with many celebrities present including Colt Ford, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Sister Hazel, Jamey Johnson, Laura Bell Bundy, Tyler Farr, LoCash Cowboys, The LACS, Josh Kelley, and many others! Following the full day of golfing was a celebration party featuring a 3-hour long jam by all of the artists participating.
Rising Recording Artists And NAfME Salute Music Teachers
Casey James
On October 27, 2013, some of music’s top new recording artists will come together at the historic Grand Ole Opry House to shine the spotlight on the work of music teachers and show their gratitude for all that educators do to spread the joy of music in our nation’s schools. The special concert will kick-off the 2013 National Association of Music Education’s (NAfME) National In-Service Conference, and admission is FREE to all conference attendees, invited guests and All-National Honor Ensemble students. Continue Reading →
Chris Young Is First Country Artist To Participate In The Recording Academy® ReImagined Series
RCA Records singer-songwriter Chris Young recently performed an impressive rendition of Eric Clapton’s classic hit “Change The World” for an installment of ReImagined – a new online series launched by the GRAMMY Awards® and The Recording Academy®, which spotlights contemporary artists talking about and performing their own take on GRAMMY®-honored songs. Young’s stirring performance, shot in Los Angeles late last month, and an interview about the song can be seen exclusively at GRAMMY.com beginning today. Continue Reading →
Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas Webisode Series And Pre-Order
Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas which will be released on October 29 is now available for pre-order at retailers across the country. Also launched this week is a four part webisode series, A Robertson Family Christmas Story. The webisode series was shot in Nashville, Tennessee during the CMA Music Festival this past June. Each episode focuses on members of the Robertson family competing to see who can announce the Christmas album with the largest stunt. A Robertson Family Christmas Story Part 1: Operation Willie Claus can be viewed here. Additional episodes including Part 2: Human Snow Globe, Part 3: Si Cones and Part 4: Santa Suit Surprise can be unlocked here. Continue Reading →
The Band Perry Awarded Gold Plaques For PIONEER
PHOTO (L TO R): DANN HUFF, SCOTT BORCHETTA, REID PERRY, KIMBERLY PERRY, NEIL PERRY, AND JIMMY HARNEN
PHOTO CREDIT: RICK DIAMOND
In a surprise celebration backstage at the taping of their first CMT Crossroads, Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry of The Band Perry were presented with gold plaques for their sophomore album, PIONEER, by Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta, Republic Nashville President & Big Machine Label Group EVP Jimmy Harnen and album producer Dann Huff. Continue Reading →
Craig Campbell Added To The Line-up Of Chords Of Hope Benefit Concert
Clay Walker’s Fourth Annual Chords of Hope benefit concert announces that they have added Bigger Picture Group recording artist Craig Campbell to the evening’s lineup. Produced by Walker’s charity Band Against MS and presented by The Big 98 WSIX, the event is set to place on Wednesday, October 30 at the Wildhorse Saloon with proceeds going to the MS Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Continue Reading →
Perspective 2013: Changing The Perception Of Entitlement To Free Music
Nashville Music Community Joins Charitable Foundation To Host Benefit Dinner, Auction and Concert Event To “Save The Music” And Educate The Public
Save The Music America (STMA), a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) charity organization founded as a national initiative to protect copyrighted music work product and to educate the masses about responsible and legal music downloading, is pleased to announce its inaugural Perspective 2013 benefit dinner, auction and concert event. Scheduled to be held amidst one of the mega songwriting communities in the country, the Save The Music America Perspective 2013 will take place Thursday evening, December 5, 2013 at 6:00PM in Nashville, TN at the Titans Stadium West Club, LP Field (located on One Titans Way). The charity’s mission is to change the perception and commonplace of downloading and sharing music illegally and to reveal and realize both the short and long-term effects and damages of FREE music to the financial foundation, livelihood and future of the music entertainment industry and our songcrafters.
Highlights of the evening will include performances by top-notch entertainers, a fine-dining experience, a premier auction and an educational symposium. With the objective to foster an environment for innovative ideas and well-intended plans to change the unlawful downloading climate, the symposium will be supported by industry professionals, artists, songwriters, music manufacturers and session players as representatives of those personally and directly impacted by the digital environment and illegal music downloading.
“There won’t be a music business unless we change the way our society is behaving,” states Dave Pomeroy, President of The Nashville Musicians Association. “Save The Music America is a vital organization that is standing up to demand the public to take notice of the problem while teaching music fans to do the right thing when downloading songs or full albums.”
Research has demonstrated that music piracy is directly accountable for over 12 billion dollars in lost revenue and the loss of 70,000 industry-related jobs (many on Music Row). NSAI reports over 90% of American songwriters are unable to rely on their craft as a sole source of income. STMA’s primary objective is to enlighten “Generation X, Y & Z” to preserve the art of music and create awareness via its compelling PSA awareness campaigns and eventually traveling from school to school with a definitive Music 101 education curriculum.
“With the emergence of Napster, the record industry has been struggling to ‘compete with free’ since the late nineties and until we attack the core of the problem (the social perception that people feel they are entitled to free music), we will never get a foothold on piracy,” introduced Mark Dreyer, Executive Director for STMA. “We have identified the problem and now we need the backing to implement the essential educational programs. Results take time, money and industry support; there is power in numbers and with voices standing together, we can change the way ‘acquiring’ music is perceived. To all artists and industry professionals: please, lend your voice and talent in support of this initiative. By joining our team, you will empower a movement crucial to forever change the future of music.”
Net proceeds from Save The Music America: Perspective 2013 will directly fund the STMA education programs. Perspective 2013 benefit tickets are on sale now; quantities are limited (available at www.nowplayingnashville.com and www.savethemusicamerica.org). Tickets pricing includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, symposium and concert. This event is sponsored in part by: Anderson Musical Instrument Insurance Solutions, Batson Guitar Company, MuZook., NSAI and Top Promoter-a division of Hit Lab. Additional partners are welcome.
As part of a preliminary public and industry awareness campaign to support the overall endeavor, SMTA has plans to host a series of Music City music events (featuring renowned songwriters). Details to follow.
About Save The Music America
Established in 2011, SMTA is a non-for-profit organization with a mission to educate the public and create awareness of intellectual property protection and copyright laws. STMA provides effective ways to counteract illegal downloading of music and media through PSA awareness campaigns designed to capture the hearts and minds of America’s music fans. The goal is to produce future generations with a conscience, preserving the arts and the constitutional rights of people within the creative industries, as well as the history of American music.
STMA has the support of over 80 artists and industry professionals and with a number of PSA campaigns to assist in the movement to restore social Internet responsibility, the organization continues to create empowering messages designed to reach the nation’s younger demographic to “Take The Pledge To Download and Share Music Responsibly.”
For more information on Save The Music America, visit: www.savethemusicamerica.org or contact STMA Executive Director, Mark Dreyer / 615.255.1068 / events@savethemusicamerica.org.
