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Nashville's premier entertainment blog including album, song and show reviews and exclusive artist interviews.
Mercury Nashville’s Kacey Musgraves will release her sophomore album, Pageant Material, on June 23. The album features her current single “Biscuits,” which is climbing the charts at country radio. Musgraves co-wrote all tracks on Pageant Material and also co-produced with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird.
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From left: Fred Beteille of YouTube, Music Biz Chairman; Pete Townshend;
Roger Daltrey; James Donio, President of Music Biz; and Steve Harkins of
Baker & Taylor, Music Biz Vice Chairman.
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) kicked off Music Biz 2015 week in Nashville with a special tribute to the pioneering Rock band The Who. Music Biz Chairman of the Board Fred Beteille of YouTube honored the band with the Outstanding Achievement Award for 50 Years of Musical Excellence at a special ceremony held May 11. A video of the presentation will be shown during the Music Biz 2015 Awards Luncheon, which takes place on Thursday, May 14 at 12:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel in Nashville. The Who are not available to accept their award in person, as they are performing at a benefit concert in Chicago that evening with their friends Eddie Vedder, Joe Walsh, Joan Jett, Simon Townshend and others to raise money and support programs for teenagers and young adults with cancer at the University of Chicago Medicine along with other local children’s charities.
The Award was created especially for The Who, the band is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a 60+ date tour of North America and Europe. THE WHO have sold over 100 million records since forming in 1964; they brought together four different personalities and in effect produced a musical hurricane. Each of them was a pioneer – Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey. They exploded conventional rhythm and blues structures, challenged pop music conventions, and redefined what was possible on stage, in the recording studio, and on vinyl. In conjunction with their tour, they released the compilation album The Who Hits 50!, which includes “Be Lucky,” their first new material in eight years. The band is donating $1 from each ticket sold on “THE WHO HITS 50!” North American tour, as well as the band’s royalties from their new song, “Be Lucky,” to Teen Cancer America, a charity founded in 2011 by band members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. Just announced in Nashville yesterday, Teen Cancer America will be working in partnership with Vanderbilt Hospital to develop a specialized facility for teenagers with cancer.
“The Who is one of the most successful and influential bands in the history of Rock, and we’re thrilled to honor them as they commemorate 50 years of incredible music,” said Beteille. “It’s the perfect way to get Music Biz week started in Nashville, as we celebrate those who have done so much to build this business just as we move toward a future of prosperity for artists, songwriters, labels, publishers, and every other stakeholder in the industry.”
Over the course of their career, The Who has released one Triple Platinum album, four Double Platinum albums, eight Platinum albums, and five Gold albums in the U.S., along with 16 Top 40 singles on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, along with myriad other awards. They are also listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as “The Loudest Band in the World.”
Music Biz 2015 is going on today through May 14 in Nashville, marking the first time the annual conference has been held in “Music City” in the Association’s almost-60-year history. It is the music industry’s premier event, giving the commerce and content sectors a place to meet with trading partners, network with new companies, and learn about new trends and products impacting the music business. Each year at the event, Music Biz honors outstanding achievement from artists and executives, and in addition to The Who, this year’s honorees include Jack White, Meghan Trainor, Martina McBride, The Doobie Brothers, Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta, and Waterloo Records & Video Inc. Owner John T. Kunz.
About the Music Business Association
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is a membership organization that advances and promotes music commerce — a community committed to the full spectrum of monetization models in the industry. It provides common ground by offering thought leadership, resources and unparalleled networking opportunities, all geared to the specific needs of its membership. By leveraging the legacy of the former National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) and its hub for digital initiatives, digitalmusic.org, Music Biz brings a unique perspective and valuable insight into the trends and changes that innovation brings. Today, we put our collective experience to work across all delivery models: physical, digital, mobile and more. Music Biz and its members are committed to building the future of music commerce — together.
On May 26, lowercase people records will release Jon Foreman’s The Wonderlands: Sunlight, the first in a four-EP series, digitally. See below for track listing. The ambitious solo project from the lead vocalist/guitarist of GRAMMY®-winning rock band Switchfoot has been 10 years in the making and will feature 24 songs in total – one for each hour of the day.
Georgia musicians dominate the country music charts and on May 12, the Peach Pickers have once again assembled a star-studded group of friends for the 2nd Annual “Jameson® Irish Whiskey Presents Georgia On My Mind.” Participating artists include Lauren Alaina, Lee Brice, Craig Campbell, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Four Wheel Drive (featuring Travis Denning, Jon Langston, Jordan Rager and Cole Taylor), JAMP Masters, Kevin Kinney, and Maggie Rose along with hosts and performers Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip (The Peach Pickers). The concert, to be held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., benefits the Georgia Music Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports programs of music preservation, education and outreach. Tickets are $49.50 and $39.50 and available at ryman.com.
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Country music legends and American music icons The Oak Ridge Boys have just recorded an all-new gospel recording, which will be available everywhere on May 26th. Rock of Ages, Hymns and Gospel Favorites (Gaither Music Group), a 15-song project produced by Ben Isaacs (Gaither Vocal Band, The Isaacs) and group member Duane Allen, showcases the group’s award-winning, four-part harmonies and celebrates their musical roots.
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Country music star, Clay Walker announced today that he will be hosting the sixth annual Chords of Hope Benefit Concert at 3rd & Lindsley during Nashville’s CMA Fest on Wednesday, June 10th.The concert, presented by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners and produced by Clay’s charity Band Against MS (BAMS), will help raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS) research with proceeds going to the MS Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Doors open at 6:30 PM and tickets are now available HERE via Eventbrite.
Chris Carmack, star of ABC’s hit series “Nashville” has just released the new track “Being Alone,” available now on iTunes. The passion-driven song will be included on his forthcoming EP, PIECES OF YOU, slated for release this spring. Although previously featured on the album THE MUSIC OF NASHVILLE: SEASON 2 with the popular “What If I Was Willing,” “Being Alone” marks Carmack’s first independent release signifying his career as a solo artist.
Lady Antebellum’s WHEELS UP 2015 TOUR took off at high velocity this weekend with “the biggest production the band has ever mounted” (Rolling Stone). “No one can accuse them [Lady Antebellum] of not going all out in terms of stage design and visual effects,” heralded the Lubbock Avalanche Journal who also noted the group’s “harmonies are as strong as ever.” Their 65-city WHEELS UP 2015 TOUR presented by Quicken Loans, descended on Lubbock, Houston and Dallas, TX for opening weekend and will navigate across the country this summer with special guests Hunter Hayes and Sam Hunt.
Pictured L-R: Moe Bandy, U.S. Rep Marsha Blackburn, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Tennessee Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey, Nancy Jones, WSM-AM Host Bill Cody, Naomi Judd, John Rich.
Some of the biggest stars in country music turned out for a red carpet event Thursday, April 23, to commemorate the grand opening of the George Jones Museum, celebrating the life and work of one of the icons of country music. More than 800 people turned out for the gala event.
Award-winning singer/songwriters Mike Reid and Phil Vassar have been confirmed to perform at the inaugural Dueling Pianos for Waves event on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at BA Properties in Franklin, TN. Patrons will have the opportunity to browse an incredible collection of classic and exotic cars, while enjoying delicious food and drink. All proceeds from the event will benefit Waves, Inc., a local nonprofit in Williamson County providing services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
