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Life Note: Joe Nichols & Wife Heather Welcome Daughter Georgia Blue

By on May 25, 2014 in In The Press

Joe NicholsMulti-platinum country star Joe Nichols and his wife Heather are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Georgia Blue Nichols.

Georgia was born at 8:06 am CST May 20th in the star’s native Texas. The brown-eyed girl weighed in at 7 lbs and 4 oz. Georgia is 19 ½ inches in length and has beautiful brown hair.

Joe and Heather Nichols, who have been married since 2007, are also parents to older sister Dylan who turned two years old on April 17th. Nichols is also father to daughter Ashelyn, 15, from a previous marriage.

Baby and mother are both happy and healthy.

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AT&T U-Verse® Fan Fair X Offers More To Do And See Than Ever Before During The 2014 CMA Music Festival!

By on May 24, 2014 in The Latest

LeAnn Rimes

Appearances by Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, LeAnn Rimes, and Many More; Panel Discussions; CMA Screening Room; Big & Rich Talk About Their Latest Musical Offering; Marketplace; Three Stages; Celebrity Tour Busses; XBowling; and Activities and Performances for Families

X marks the coolest daytime spot for Nashville’s “signature” event in the AT&T U-verse® Fan Fair X with autograph signings, concerts, lifestyle exhibits, a marketplace, interviews with the stars, demonstrations, and much more inside the Music City Center during 2014 CMA Music Festival, June 5-8 in Nashville.

Artist of the Day LeAnn Rimes will kick things off Thursday, June 5 (9:30 AM/CT).The CMA Award-winning singer will cut the ribbon, officially opening Fan Fair X. Following the ribbon cutting, Rimes will perform and answer questions on the CMA Close Up Stage before signing autographs at CMA Central, CMA’s autograph hub in the center of all the Fan Fair X action.

The CMA Close Up Stage is one of THREE stages inside Fan Fair X, where fans can discover new music, learn more about the stars they admire, and hear the hits from the writers who created them. Fan Fair X is open Thursday through Sunday, June 5-8 (10:00 AM-5:00 PM/CT). Venue doors open at 9:00 AM/CT each day.

CMA Close Up Stage
Each morning during the Festival, a different Artist of the Day will take to the CMA Close Up Stage to kick off the day’s events (10:15–11:00 AM/CT). Opening day will feature Rimes discussing her new VH1 TV show that will be shown in the CMA Screening Room. Friday’s Artist of the Day will be Sara Evans, who will be joined by longtime video director Peter Zavadil, as they discuss her career and share an insider look at her video highlights. Craig Morgan will get the action started as Artist of the Day on Saturday, and Lady Antebellum will make a special Artist of the Day performance on Sunday.

Another artist making a CMA Close Up Stage appearance in 2014 is Kix Brooks, who will  present his American Country Countdown radio program from Fan Fair X on Saturday, June 7 (11:15 AM/CT) with special guests. Brooks is also donating a package from his Arrington Vineyards winery as part of the Keep the Music Playing Silent Auction in Fan Fair X, which benefits music education.

On Thursday, June 5 (noon), fans will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as Billy Ray Cyrus will preview his upcoming film “Like A Country Song” in the CMA Screening Room. More than 200 lucky fans will join Cyrus for the exclusive screening, after which he and other cast members will take to the CMA Close Up Stage for a question and answer session. On Saturday, June 7 Cyrus will be signing autographs in CMA Central.

Nashville’s hit tunesmiths will be featured on the CMA Close Up Stage throughout the event via the SESAC Songwriters Series, which will present shows on Thursday, June 5 (12:30 PM/CT) and Sunday, June 8 (1:00 PM/CT and 1:45 PM/CT). The Thursday show will feature Craig Campbell, Rob Hatch (who penned “Goodnight Kiss” performed by Randy Houser), Jim Lauderdale, and Lance Miller (who penned “Drink to That All Night” performed by Jerrod Niemann). The first show Sunday will present Curb recording duo American Young and the second will feature John and Jacob.

On Sunday, June 8 (4:15 PM/CT), Mark Collie will be part of a panel on the CMA Close Up Stage that includes filmmaker Ken Mandel, Warden David Mills,and Chaplin Dean Yancey from Collie’s documentary “The Mountain,” which will be showing in the CMA Screening Room (2:00 PM/CT). Collie will perform a song written for the movie and answer questions regarding the film that revisits the real life prisoners and people who inspired his acclaimed album Alive at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.

On Friday, June 6 (1:00 PM/CT) professional bull riders Reese Cates and Cory Rasch will talk about what it takes to go up against opponents 10 times their size. It’s not if a rider will get hurt, but when. These two cowboys will discuss injuries, daily routines, and their lives as bull riders. Fans can also take their shot at lasting eight seconds on a mechanical bull located at the Professional Bull Riders booth.

AT&T U-verse® Showcase Stage
This marks the third year that AT&T U-Verse has been the title sponsor of Fan Fair X. Showcasing some of the best up-and-coming BMI songwriters, rising stars, and legends in Nashville, the AT&T U-verse® Showcase Stage will be the place to discover new talent and see longtime favorites. Performing (in alphabetical order; all artists are subject to change) are Justin Adams, Ruth Collins, Kayla Conn, Josh Dorr, Emily Earle, Brooke Eden, Skylar Elise, Crystal Gayle, Haley & Michaels, Levi Hummon, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Rain, Sonia Leigh, Elizabeth Lyons, MamaDear, Nu-Blu, Danika Portz,  Rae Lynn, Sophie Rose, Gracie Schram, Cole Taylor, The Muddy Magnolias, The Shuggah Pies, and James Wesley. Making appearances will be Charlie Daniels, Dan + Shay, Sarah Darling, Jana Kramer, Sam Moore, Lorrie Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, and more.

Fans will also be able to experience AT&T U-verse TV, the exclusive home of Country Deep™. Country Deep is an interactive TV app that brings fans closer to the Country artists they love, offering exclusive Country Music content including music videos, live performances and artist interviews. More info is available at uverse.com/CountryDeep and @CountryDeepTV.

Durango Music Spot
A perennial favorite with attendees, the Durango Music Spot will bustle all four days with music from Festival favorites including (in alphabetical order and subject to change): Lynn Anderson, Roo Arcus, Taylor Baker, David Ball, Mandy Barnett, Blue Mother Tupelo, T. Graham Brown, Shawn Camp, Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Band, Jimmy Fortune, Kenny Foster, Teea Goans, Amber Hayes, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, James House, Rob Ickes with Trey Hensley and friends, Buddy Jewell, Kelly Lang, Bobby Marquez, Lisa Matassa, Lesley McDaniel, Moore & Moore, Mac Powell, Lulu Roman, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Jeannie Seely, Ashton Shepherd, TG Sheppard, Daryle Singletary, Ray Stevens, Doug Stone, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Payton Taylor, The Roys, Mark Wills, and Billy Yates.

The Durango Music Spot operates Thursday through Sunday, June 5-8 (11:00 AM-4:00 PM/CT). The stage is hosted by and broadcast live on 650 AM WSM, WSMOnline.com, and the 650 AM WSM Official Mobile App.

Get On The Bus
Located inside the Music City Center and Fan Fair X for the duration of the Festival will be the tour buses of two Country Music legends offering fans a glimpse into life on the road for Kix Brooks and Country Music Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell. The Mandrell bus was used on her final tour when she announced her retirement.

Plus, Dierks Bentley’s truck, known as Big White, which was featured in the lyrics and video of his No. 1 song “I Hold On,” will be on display in Fan Fair X.

XBowling
Throughout the Festival, Sports Challenge Network will have bowling lanes set up for tournaments and exhibitions inside Fan Fair X where celebrities, professional bowlers, and fans will be encouraged to try their hand in mini-tournaments and challenges.  Making appearances inside Fan Fair X to play against select winners are George Ducas, Lindsay Ell, Joshua Scott Jones, Lonestar, Natalie Stovall & The Drive, David Shelby, Lizzie Sider, The Henningsens, Trent Tomlinson, Trick Pony, and Mark Wills.

Nashville’s Signature Event
Getting a coveted autograph from an admired artist or celebrity is the heart of what CMA Music Festival is all about – the interaction and relationship between Country Music artists and their devoted fans.

Launched in 2012 and back in 2014 is an online autograph drawing so fans don’t have to spend time waiting in long lines only to leave empty handed and disappointed. The procedures for autograph seekers will enhance the overall Festival experience, improve safety, and make the process for securing a treasured autograph with the most popular artists equitable for all Festival goers.

Of the numerous artists appearing in Fan Fair X over the four-day event, most signings do not require tickets. In these instances, fans may freely join the line formations for non-ticketed signings. A select few signings require tickets. This system helps ensure crowd safety is maintained inside Fan Fair X.

To sign up for a chance to win tickets to these ticketed sessions and events fans must enter online at CMAfest.com from Wednesday, May 21 (10:00 AM/CT)−Tuesday, May 27 (11:59 PM/CT). Fans will be prompted to create an account and complete the online entry form by selecting the artists they would like to meet from the list of ticketed signings (please note, only one account per person is permitted). Once the form is complete, fans are automatically entered into the random ticket drawings for each artist selected. If drawn, the fan will receive two tickets to that session. Winners will be notified by email by Friday, May 30.

New in 2014, fan entry to the HGTV Lodge in Fan Alley will be included in the drawing. Artists currently scheduled to be part of the HGTV Lodge include Frankie Ballard, Dierks Bentley, Kristian Bush, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Tyler Farr, Gloriana, Jana Kramer, Love and Theft, Dustin Lynch, Kip Moore, Craig Morgan, Jon Pardi, Parmalee, Eric Paslay, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner, Charlie Worsham, and more.

Some of the artists who will be making appearances inside Fan Fair X include: Lauren Alaina, Danielle Bradbery, Kristian Bush, Eli Young Band, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, Brantley Gilbert, Brenda Lee, Little Big Town, Lonestar, Dustin Lynch, Neal McCoy, Scotty McCreery, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, David Nail, Jamie O’Neal, Parmalee, Jep and Jessica Robertson, and Justin Martin from “Duck Dynasty,” Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, The Band Perry, The Swon Brothers, Thompson Square, Trick Pony, Chuck Wicks, Wynonna, Chris Young, and more.

CMA’s longtime partner Chevrolet, the Official Ride of Country Music, will also have artists signing in their Fan Fair X booth including Chelsea Bain, Jaida Dryer, George Ducas, LoCash Cowboys, Small Town Pistols, Smithfield, Trent Tomlinson,The Roys, and more.

See it Here First!
This year Fan Fair X will feature the CMA Screening Room, which will allow fans to experience exclusive previews of films by and featuring their favorite artists, as well as programming from ABC, A&E, and VH1. In addition to the screenings of the Billy Ray Cyrus film and Mark Collie documentary, A&E will be previewing an episode of their new series “Big Smo,” which follows the life of Warner Brothers Recording Artist Big Smo on his journey as a larger-than-life Country rapper taking his unique musical style to new heights with the support of his family and lifelong friends.

The ABC Television Network will present fans with the opportunity to watch ABC shows before they premiere on TV. And another “first look” opportunity will occur as fans of LeAnn Rimes get to watch an episode of VH1’s “LeAnn & Eddie,” a satirical look at the lives of one of the most gossiped about celebrity couples.

Something for the Kids
Back in 2014 are special activities in Fair Fair X just for children and families. Kid-friendly activities include inflatable bounce houses; face painting and balloon artists; the Nashville Symphony instrument petting zoo with mini lessons by Nashville Symphony members; a music recording studio experience from Notes for Notes, a beneficiary of The CMA Foundation’s Keep the Music Playing program; arts and crafts provided by JoAnn Fabric & Craft Stores; the Nashville Public Library and Wishing Chair Productions Puppet Truck will present “The Frog Prince” each day; and Now Playing Nashville will provide various family friendly activities like cornhole, hula hoops, and hopscotch.

Kidde Fire Safety, a global leader in home fire safety products, invites Country Music fans to celebrate their own “unsung heroes” with fun activities promoting home safety including a chance to score giveaways from Disney’s “Planes: Fire & Rescue,” which will be in theaters on July 18, and meet fire safety advocates and artists.

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, through its partnership with Disney, which is made possible through The CMA Foundation’s Keep The Music Playing initiative, will present a Disney Musical Mash-Up, where children take part in a karaoke-style sing-along using costumes, songs, and props from their favorite feature films including Disney’s “Aladdin,” “The Jungle Book,” “101 Dalmatians,” and “The Aristocats.” There will also be a Make a Mini-Musical area where children recreate a scene from Disney’s “Aladdin” including the lively song “Friend Like Me.” The interactive program includes a warm-up activity led by professional artists on key elements of musical theatre, including singing cues and choreography. Each participant receives a keepsake script of the scene courtesy of Disney Theatrical Group and Music Theatre International.

Entertainment Value
Fan Fair X is free to all CMA Music Festival four-day ticket holders. If you do not have a four-day Festival ticket, CMA is making tickets available to Fan Fair X  for $10 a day; or $25 for a four-day pass. CHILDREN 8 AND UNDER ARE FREE. Tickets are available onsite and in advance through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or the CMA Music Festival Box Office by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) (price includes handling fees). Visit CMAfest.com for details.

Tickets for 2015 CMA Music Festival are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or the CMA Music Festival Box Office by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Visit CMAfest.com for details.

Up-to-the-Minute Information
Fans can stay in the loop by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive enews or download the CMA Music Festival App presented by AT&T U-verse® for iPhone or Android. Fans can also connect with CMA at Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Pinterest.com/CMAworld, Instagram.com/CMA, and by texting FESTIVAL to 66937 (standard text/data rates may apply).

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA. Chevrolet™ is the Official Ride of Country Music. Bud Light is the Official Beer of the CMA Music Festival. Pepsi is the Official Soft Drink of the CMA Music Festival. Bad Boy Buggies are the Official UTV of the CMA Music Festival. AT&T U-verse® is the TV and Internet partner of CMA Music Festival. Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse services. Call or go to www.att.com/u-verse to see if you qualify.

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Craig Morgan And FARM BOY Brand Partner For Co-Branded Merchandise

By on May 24, 2014 in In The Press

Craig MorganCountry music star and award-winning TV host CRAIG MORGAN and lifestyle brand FARM BOY® have announced a partnership to develop and produce co-branded merchandise. The newly launched line currently includes two men’s/women’s t-shirt designs and can be purchased at CraigMorgan.com and stops along Morgan’s 2014 The Journey Tour, with additional merchandise to be added in the coming weeks. The new co-branded merchandise line can also be purchased during CMA Music Festival in Nashville from the Farm Boy Farm Girl booth inside Fan Fair X. Morgan is scheduled to sign autographs for fans in the Farm Boy Farm Girl booth at 3:00pm on Friday, June 6 during the festival.

The “International Harvester” singer, who lives in rural Dickson County, Tennessee and farms his acreage, including an organic vegetable garden and honeybees, is a natural fit with the Farm Boy Brand.

 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Craig Morgan!” share Farm Boy Brand co-founders Dan Adamson and Brian Goldenman. “He is a great reflection of the Farm Boy Brand with his farming background, outdoor enthusiasm, humor, and pride for all that is country. Craig and Farm Boy Brand are a perfect match.”

 

In preparation for the partnership and in support of his recent tour and CD (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-journey-livin-hits/id692246023) The Journey (Livin’ Hits), featuring the top 15 single “Wake Up Lovin’ You,” CraigMorgan.com (http://www.craigmorgan.com) has been re-launched with a new look and additional fan features. The newly designed website includes a user-friendly interface that also combines Craig’s music, TV, touring, merchandise and philanthropy in one location. Fans can visit the site now to purchase the new Craig Morgan and Farm Boy co-branded merchandise as well as keep up with the Black River Entertainment singer’s musical and outdoor adventures.

ABOUT CRAIG MORGAN: One of country music’s best-loved artists, Craig Morgan has made a name for himself with massive radio airplay of his signature hits: “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” “International Harvester” and “This Ole Boy.” He’s recently released his new album The Journey (Livin’ Hits), featuring the soulful single “Wake Up Lovin’ You,” on Black River Entertainment. Craig received one of country music’s highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. Prior to becoming a country music and TV sensation, Craig Morgan spent seventeen years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserves. He is an avid supporter of America’s military personnel and a recipient of the 2006 USO Merit Award. In addition to a prolific country music career, he hosts the award-winning show “Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors,” airing on Outdoor Channel. For more information on Craig Morgan, visit www.craigmorg
an.com (http://MonarchPublicity.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=50a202cb32563783d232c7132&id=ce5d8c0cc7&e=b53986c6dc) and engage with him on Facebook (http://MonarchPublicity.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=50a202cb32563783d232c7132&id=74383820eb&e=b53986c6dc) , Instagram (http://MonarchPublicity.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50a202cb32563783d232c7132&id=0431ae79ae&e=b53986c6dc) and Twitter (http://MonarchPublicity.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50a202cb32563783d232c7132&id=e1ce501911&e=b53986c6dc) .

ABOUT FARM BOY: The seeds for FARM BOY® and FARM GIRL® brands were planted around 1994 when Dan Adamson, an award winning graphic designer, and Brian Goldenman, with a rich background in sales, combined their skills to create a company that was both fun and original. Adamson & Goldenman, both Midwest farm boys, always held a fond attachment to farming and the rural lifestyle. From their rich childhood memories of collecting eggs, baling hay, and playing in the hayloft, Dan and Brian created FARM BOY® and FARM GIRL® brands to capture the heartfelt pride and meaningful connections of farming and rural life. Check it all out at FARMBOYBRAND.COM.

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Gearing Up For The 24th Annual City Of Hope Celebrity Softball Game

By on May 24, 2014 in The Latest

Looks like another great line-up of celebrities this year!

Here’s our coverage from last year:

WHAT: 

24th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game

Country music’s hottest stars have some fun off the stage during CMA Music Festival as they go to bat against cancer. Fans from all over the country come to see their favorite artists compete in the annual softball game that benefits cancer research at City of Hope. When team iHeartRadio, coached by Bobby Bones, and team Grand Ole Opry led by Pete Fisher take the field, a wild and comedic game ensues where anything can happen.

WHO:  

Florida Georgia Line, Sara Evans, Brantley Gilbert, Danielle Bradbery, actress/host Alison Sweeney, Jana Kramer, Jamie Lynn Spears, Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery, Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker, Chase Rice, Lindsay Ell, Lauren Alaina, Dee Jay Silver, Chuck Wicks, Kree Harrison, Sarah Darling, Brothers Osborne, Alecia Davis (CMT Hot 20 Countdown), Chip Esten (“Nashvhille”) and Bobby Bones (“The Bobby Bones Show”).

WHERE:    

Greer Stadium
534 Chestnut St.
Nashville, TN 37203

WHEN:    

Saturday, June 7    9:15am – pre-game festivities/game begins

 

For tickets and more about City Of Hope, go to:  http://cityofhope.org/softball

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Rodney Atkins To Host Fourth Annual ‘Music City Gives Back’ Concert On June 3

By on May 24, 2014 in In The Press

Rodney AtkinsCountry fans heading to Nashville in June for the CMT Music Awards and CMA Music Fest will have the chance to join chart-topping country artist Rodney Atkins for his annual “Music City Gives Back” concert in downtown Nashville on Tuesday, June 3. Now in its fourth year, the show will feature an all-star lineup of Atkins’ friends including Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Josh Thompson and more and will benefit Nashville’s W.O. Smith Music School. The event will kick off at 6:00 p.m. CT at 1st Avenue and Broadway and is free to the public.

Carl Black Chevrolet and Wrangler® are returning for the fourth year as presenting sponsors for Music City Gives Back. Both sponsors will stream the show live on CarlBlackRadio.com and WranglerNetwork.com, a first-of-its-kind mobile and online destination that serves as a centralized hub for all Western lifestyle content, respectively. Ally Financial will also be joining the event this year as a stage sponsor. Cumulus Media stations NASH-FM 103.3 and WSM-FM 95.5 will be on site, with “NASH Nights Live” Host Shawn Parr broadcasting live and “America’s Morning Show” Host Blair Garner introducing artists as they hit the stage.

“I am so excited to be part of this event for the fourth year in a row and to have such a great group of artists give their time and talent to help out,” said Atkins. “I’ve always believed that music is a great healer and it’s important to me as an artist to use that platform to give back.”

Founded in 1984, W.O. Smith Music School provides music instruction to children from low-income families for the nominal cost of 50 cents per lesson. An all-volunteer teaching artist faculty of 220 gives music lessons to more than 650 students annually. Instruments and all learning materials are loaned to the students at no additional expense.

Atkins is currently working on his fifth studio album for Curb Records and performing headlining dates across the country. For more information, please visit www.RodneyAtkins.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook @RodneyAtkins.

About Ally

Ally Financial is a leading automotive financial services company powered by a top direct banking franchise. Ally’s automotive services business offers a full suite of financing products and services, including new and used vehicle inventory and consumer financing, leasing, inventory insurance, commercial loans and vehicle remarketing services. Ally Bank, the company’s direct banking subsidiary and member FDIC, offers an array of deposit products, including certificates of deposit, savings accounts, money market accounts, IRA deposit products and interest checking. Ally’s Corporate Finance unit provides financing to middle-market companies across a broad range of industries. With approximately $148.5 billion in assets as of Mar. 31, 2014, Ally operates as a financial holding company. For more information, visit the Ally media site at http://media.ally.com or follow Ally on Twitter: @Ally.

About Carl Black Chevrolet
Carl Black Chevrolet is one of General Motor’s top dealers with locations in Atlanta, Nashville and Orlando as well as online at www.carlblack.com. CarlBlackRadio is an internet station available on the Tune In platform that features current singles, past hits and favorite album cuts of top Country artists broadcast inside the showrooms and ready for easy access with the GM 4G LTE digital dashboards available on new 2015 GM Models.
About Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media (CMLS) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands in order to deliver choices for listeners and advertisers and create opportunities for shareholders. As the largest pure-play radio company, Cumulus’ exclusive audio content is fully distributed through approximately 460 owned an operated stations in 89 U.S. media markets, over 10,000 broadcast radio affiliates and through numerous digital channels, including a national streaming/mobile platform and partnership with digital audio provider, Rdio. For more information, visit www.cumulus.com.

About Wrangler®
Wrangler® Western Wear, a VF Corporation brand, is available nationwide in specialty stores, including work apparel chains, farm & fleet, and western stores, as well as through online and catalog retailers, and www.wrangler.com. To find a retailer or for more information on the Wrangler® family of products, visit www.wrangler.com or call 888-784-8571. To access the latest western lifestyle, rodeo and county music live streamed video, news and more, visit the Wrangler Network at www.WranglerNetwork.com.

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NASHVILLE Becomes Thriving Franchise for ABC Studios, Lionsgate, Opry Entertainment and Big Machine Records

By on May 23, 2014 in In The Press
(l-r) Chris Carmack, Sam Palladio, Chaley Rose, Jonathan Jackson, Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Will Chase Photo By: Chris Hollo

(l-r) Chris Carmack, Sam Palladio, Chaley Rose, Jonathan Jackson, Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Will Chase Photo By: Chris Hollo

They play the roles of Country music superstars on the ABC hit primetime drama but “Nashville” cast members are becoming real-life chart-toppers with original music escalating to the top of sales charts and LIVE performances to sold-out crowds in major markets.

 

ABC Studios, Lionsgate, Opry Entertainment and Big Machine Records — the entertainment heavyweights behind the show — have turned the “Nashville” audience into real fans. Viewers have become key purchasers of music, tour tickets and other branded merchandise in a mere two seasons of the show. ABC announced last week that the show will return to Nashville for a third season this fall.

 

“‘Nashville’ has quickly become more than just a TV series; it has become a serious multimedia franchise,” said Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of Big Machine Label Group – the record label who markets and distributes music from the show. “It’s rare that a TV show brand can surpass its presence on the small screen, but the strong music sales prove that there’s a passion and a real connection between the viewers and the cast.”

 

Immediately following the April 23 broadcast of ABC’s “NASHVILLE: On The Record,” a special album of LIVE song recordings from several cast members entitled Nashville: On The Record (LIVE) was released to iTunes. Immediately propelling to #1 on the iTunes all-genre chart, the project is still in the Top 5 Country albums nearly two weeks later. Additionally, all three previously released THE MUSIC OF NASHVILLE soundtracks jumped into the Top 15 on the iTunes Country Albums chart during the same time period.

 

“On The Record has always been a celebration of the songwriters and a gift to our fans, we are thrilled that it is also bringing new viewers to the show and music in a way that is so authentic to Nashville,” said ABC’s Dawn Soler.

 

To date, the soundtracks have sold over 600,000 copies and over three million individual track downloads.

 

THE MUSIC OF NASHVILLE Season 2, Volume 2 was released to all digital retailers on May 6. The standard version includes 11 tracks while a special deluxe edition containing 21 tracks is now available exclusively at Target.

 

The first-ever “Nashville” Concert Tour with series stars Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Chris Carmack and Will Chase, delivered over and above in Chicago; Washington, DC; Philadelphia and New York City, with sell outs at all stops. Fans screamed the names of their favorite “Nashville” characters as they performed original songs from the show onstage. The tour is presented by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation and produced by Opry Entertainment. ABC affiliates in each city provided promotional support and shared the excitement if the “Nashville” tour.

 

“The response from the audience at the live shows has been overwhelming. The excitement begins with the first note and builds to a fervor with moments where the audience is singing along to each word,” said Steve Buchanan, President Opry Entertainment Group and “Nashville” executive producer. “The tour highlights the extraordinary talent of our cast and underscores the passionate musical connection created between the tv show and its fans.”

 

“’Nashville’ is a shining star in the television world – a first-rate drama and a musical franchise that continues to build on its passionate fan base. The must-have musical download story evidenced by the chart-topping OTR performance confirms what we have known all along – America loves Nashville,” said Lionsgate’s Kevin Beggs.

 

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THE BAND PERRY FAMILY BECOME LAUREATES IN JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BUSINESS HALL OF FAME

By on May 22, 2014 in In The Press

The Band PerryThe Band Perry Family were 2014 inductees at the Junior Achievement Tri-Cities TN/VA Business Hall of Fame gala of record attendance on Tuesday May 13th. The superstar sibling trio and their parents, who call Greeneville home, are the first laureate family to join the long line of the prestigious regional entrepreneurs and business leaders honored by Junior Achievement.

 

“We are proud to pay tribute to a family that stayed true to a dream now opening doors to success. Along the way, they have taken many opportunities to give back and make a lasting impact on this region,” said Cathy Salley, Junior Achievement president.

 
Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry quickly catapulted into the mainstream with the success of their Quintuple-Platinum, breakout hit, “If I Die Young” from their self –titled debut album release which was released in 2010.  In April they took home the award for ACM “Vocal Group of the Year” at the 49thAcademy of Country Music Awards.

 

“Receiving this honor is very humbling to us.  It is important for us to be good role models for young people so they will know that they can make their dreams come true.   We continue to realize our dreams every day, but we also know that it requires hard work and determination.  We hope we can set an example in the way we conduct ourselves as people and as business owners,” says The Band Perry.

 
From day one, the business venture that is The Band Perry has had a handful of hallmarks: Hard work and dedication to craft, unwavering commitment to the family’s common goals, attention to detail, and discipline.

 
More than a decade ago, Dr. Stephen Perry and Marie knew their children had talent. “We also knew what many young artists fail to understand,” says Steve. “If you have reasonable talent, that is half the battle. Time spent practicing is the other half.”
Early on, the family made a commitment to themselves and to each other—they would not be outworked. “We did not get in a hurry,” says Steve. “We have a saying, ‘Time spent in the practice room shows – and time not spent in the practice room shows.’” Knowing they would never get a second chance to make a first impression, the three young artists threw themselves into their craft, learning to play new instruments, honing vocal skills, and studying showmanship.

 

 

“One key reason we install laureates is to hold up their dreams, their will and their vision as inspiration for future leaders,” Salley said. Junior Achievement teaches young people that no matter how young or old you may be, hard work is the best answer to many of the toughest questions in business. There is no age quota on success. And you need not have a wealth of experience to have the experience of earning wealth.

 

In March, The Band Perry wrapped their first-ever headlining tour, the We Are Pioneers World Tour through Europe, Canada and the United States. The band played in 42 States, 15 Countries, and logged over 147,962 MILES. Later this summer, The Band Perry will join Blake Shelton for a series of dates on his TEN TIMES CRAZIER TOUR 2014.

 
Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Junior Achievement USA is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.

 
Junior Achievement’s programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.
Locally, Junior Achievement of Tri-Cities TN/VA reaches more than ten thousand students per year in over 460 classrooms. JA programs are taught by volunteers throughout our region.

 

 

About The Band Perry

 
The Band Perry have skyrocketed into the mainstream since releasing their platinum-certified, self-titled debut album on Republic Nashville in 2010, which scored the sibling trio a string of hits, including the quintuple-platinum “If I Die Young” (#1 on Billboard’s Country and AC charts), platinum “You Lie” and gold “All Your Life” (#1 Country).  Fronted by Kimberly Perry and rounded out by her younger brothers Reid and Neil, the band has sold over 11.3 million tracks from their debut and gold-certified sophomore album, PIONEER, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and #2 All Genre. PIONEER alone has garnered more than 3.3 million single downloads. In addition to acclaim from top critics across the country, PIONEER has produced two consecutive #1 Country smashes – the platinum “Better Dig Two” and gold “DONE.” – which earned Reid and Neil their first chart–topper as songwriters. “Chainsaw,” their thunderous new single, is already Top 15 and climbing on the country radio charts.   The Band Perry enjoyed sold–out headlining dates and recently finished their first global headline tour, the WE ARE PIONEERS World Tour, in March. This summer, the trio will hit the road with Blake Shelton on his Ten Times Crazier Tour, and they recently joined Blake as the guest advisors for his team during Season 6 of “The Voice.” In the past year, The Band Perry has taken over the American television airwaves with unforgettable performances on the ACM, CMA, Grammy and Billboard Music Awards as well as American Idol, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Ellen, The Talk, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman.  They also appeared on a banner episode of “CMT Crossroads” with rockers Fall Out Boy and performed as part of the Super Bowl XLVIII NFL Tailgate Party on Fox.  They recently took home the 2014 ACM Award for “Vocal Group of the Year,” adding to their host of ACM, CMA, ACA and CMT Music Awards.  The Band Perry have also amassed GRAMMY, Teen Choice, AMA, and Billboard Music Award nominations, cementing the sibling trio as one of the hottest acts in recent history. For a list of all tour dates and more, visit thebandperry.com  / thefansperry.com.

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Please Vote For FOCUS On The 615 For #MustFollowBlog Starting TODAY!

By on May 20, 2014 in The Latest

CMchattys-vote-now-cmchatlive1Hey, peeps! Could use your help starting today! We have made it to the final round of the 1st annual CMChatty Awards after thousands of votes have been cast (yay!) and voting begins TODAY! You can cast your votes now through end of day May 26th at Twitter, Facebook, and Google +.

What ARE the CMChatty Awards, you might ask???

Country Music Chat, home of the Monday Night #CMchat Twitterview, has partnered with Country Outfitter, Joe’s Bar in Chicago, Hashtracking.com, NashvilleGab, Hostgator, Meshfire and ourselves here at CMchatLIVE.com to bring you the, “1st Annual #CMchattys Awards” honoring your favorite peeps and tweets to follow online!

All you have to do is go here  to find us under “Must Follo(jue @

Thank you sooooo sooooo much if you decide to cast your vote for us!! And, as always, thanks for checking us out!!

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Carrie Underwood Honors Soldiers With Song Written For ACM Military Tribute Show

By on May 19, 2014 in In The Press

Keep Us Safe Carrie UnderwoodCarrie Underwood, an 11-time Academy of Country Music Award winner, co-penned a song specifically for the Academy’s military tribute show, ACM PRESENTS: AN ALL-STAR SALUTE TO THE TROOPS.  Carrie’s performance of “Keep Us Safe” will debut during the broadcast on Tuesday, May 20, 9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.  Coinciding with her performance, the song will be available digitally with proceeds benefiting ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy.

 

“When we were approached to be a part of the show, I was so excited to do something to honor our troops and because ACM Lifting Lives does such great work.  I wanted to take the time to really think about what song I wanted to perform,” shares Carrie.  “I had a writing session scheduled with my co-writers and friends Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally, and I guess the show was weighing on my mind. I think we all left the session knowing the song was special because it basically wrote itself that day!”

 

In addition to being a three-time ACM Top Female Vocalist, in 2010 she became the first female artist to win ACM Entertainer of the Year twice.

 
ACM PRESENTS: AN ALL-STAR SALUTE TO THE TROOPS is produced for television by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan and R.A. Clark are executive producers. Barry Adelman is producer. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

 
About ACM Lifting Lives
ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.  Through partnerships with artists and strong ties in the music industry, ACM Lifting Lives develops and funds music-related therapy and education programs, and serves members of the community who face unexpected hardships through its Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund. Through generous donations and the support of artists and fans, ACM Lifting Lives is able to fund everything from disaster relief and helping communities in need, to music education in schools and music camps for those with disabilities, to supporting programs that use music therapy as a means to help our veterans and wounded warriors, while providing grants to help them ease back into life. For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.

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Superstars Miranda Lambert And Carrie Underwood To Perform “Somethin’ Bad” Duet On 2014 CMT Music Awards

By on May 19, 2014 in In The Press

Superstars Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood will perform their new duet “Somethin’ Bad” on the 2014 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Wednesday, June 4 at 8:00 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena.  With Miranda’s new album Platinum coming in just two weeks, fans can now pre-order the album at http://smarturl.it/mlplatinum and receive “Somethin’ Bad,” and Miranda’s hit single “Automatic,” now.

 
Miranda and Carrie have both garnered 2014 CMT MUSIC AWARDS nominations, including videos in the Video of the Year category.  Miranda leads the nominations this year with a total of six, with five previous wins, and Carrie has received the most career CMT MUSIC AWARDS wins for a female artist with nine.  Voting is open now through June 1 online at CMT.com and at CMT Mobile.  The Video of The Year finalists will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com, CMT mobile and via text message throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.  For more information as it becomes available, follow @CMT on Twitter and Instagram, use hashtag #CMTawards and like the CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Facebook.

 
Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert is the reigning four-time CMA and reigning five-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year (the first time anyone has won 5 consecutive years). Her last album, Four The Record, made history when it debuted atop Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, making Miranda the first country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of her first four albums debut at # 1. All four of those albums have also been certified Platinum, which is the name of her fifth studio album, due out June 3rd.

 
The first single off of Platinum, “Automatic,” is Miranda’s highest charting first week single to date.  Written by Miranda, Nicolle Galyon and Natalie Hemby, the autobiographical song reflects on the days of pay phones, learning to drive a stick shift, driving to Dallas to buy an Easter dress, recording the country countdown on her cassette recorder and more.

 
In addition to her award winning music, Miranda has designed a shoe line that is available at DSW and other retailers across the country. She also dedicates much of her time to her MuttNation Foundation. The foundation has raised more than $1.5 million to aid organizations and governmental institutions or entities whose purpose is to build animal shelters for better care; increase pet adoption and encourage responsible pet guardianship; rehabilitate sick or unsocialized animals; fund spay/neuter programs; reduce/eliminate euthanasia of healthy animals.  She also owns two life style boutiques, general stores she named, The Pink Pistol. The stores are located in her hometown of Lindale, TX and Tishomingo, OK.

 
Six-Time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide and placed 18 singles at #1, with nine of those as co-writes, all within four albums since winning American Idol in 2005.  She has won a vast array of awards including six GRAMMYs® and three female vocalist awards from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM).  In 2010 when Carrie garnered her second win as ACM Entertainer of the Year, she became the first female artist to win the award twice.  Carrie has won a total of 11 ACM Awards, 5 CMA Awards, 7 American Music Awards, 6 People’s Choice Awards, 9 CMT Music Awards, 12 American Country Awards, 9 BMI Songwriter Awards, and is a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.  In the spring of 2013, Carrie wrapped her highly successful headline arena tour, “The Blown Away Tour,” where she performed a total of 112 dates in 110 cities, in 6 countries across 3 continents, playing for more than 1 million fans and selling out every concert in 2013.

 
This past December, Carrie starred as Maria Von Trapp in NBC’s three-hour live broadcast of The Sound of Music, based on the original musical, delivering a ratings bonanza as the show ranked #1 across all half hours of the broadcast.  More than 44 million viewers saw some or all of the groundbreaking December 5 event and Dec 14 re-airing.  Carrie is also the voice of primetime television’s #1 program, Sunday Night Football on NBC, singing the opening theme song, “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.”  She was recently named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

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