Brad Paisley photo by Jim Shea, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Brad Paisley was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year and Ben Hayslip was honored as Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP’s 49th Annual Country Music Awards held November 6 in Nashville. Other big winners of the night were “The House That Built Me,” written by Allen Shamblin, for Country Song of the Year and Sea Gayle Music as Publisher of the Year. The ASCAP Awards honored the writers of country music’s most performed songs from April 2010 to March 2011 as well as Don Williams and The Civil Wars, who both received special ASCAP awards.

A total of 36 songs were honored as the most played on country radio and the writers of the Top 5 most performed songs gave performances throughout the show. Those performances included “All Over Me,” by Ben Hayslip and Josh Turner, “Gimmie That Girl,” by Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson, “The House That Built Me,” by Allen Shamblin, “The Man I Want To Be,” by Brett James, Tim Nichols and Chris Young and “Roll With It,” by Tony Lane and Johnny Park. Dierks Bentley, last  year’s ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year, opened the show with a performance of his current single, “Home.”

The night also included a special musical tribute to Don Williams.  Keith Urban and Little Big Town paired for “We’ve Got a Good Fire Goin,’” while Lee Ann Womack performed “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good.” Don surprised the audience with a performance as well before being honored with ASCAP’s Golden Note Award, which is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Kenny Chesney performs at the iHeartRadio Festival. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Clear Channel

Kenny Chesney is ending another record-setting summer on tour with the news that he now has 10 platinum albums. Kenny’s Hemingway’s Whiskey was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling more than one million units. The album has produced three No. 1 hits as well as “You and Tequila,” Kenny’s duet with Grace Potter, which is currently at No. 3 on the charts and has been certified gold.

The news of Kenny’s platinum milestone comes just after he wrapped his 2011 Goin’ Coastal Tour. Selling more than 1.3 million tickets, the tour is one of the year’s biggest and included more than 60 shows. Kenny co-headlined Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas over the weekend, with acts like Lady Gaga, Jay-Z and Cold Play.

See photos from the iHeartRadio Festival! >> Continue Reading

ShareThis

Kenny Chesney photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

If you can’t make it to Boston tonight to see Kenny Chesney and fellow songwriters Bob DiPiero, Matraca Berg, Brett James, Wendell Mobley and Craig Wiseman as part of the CMA Songwriter’s series, you can stream the event online. NoShoesRadio.com and CMASongwritersSeries.com will both carry the show from Boston’s Royale Nightclub starting at 8/7c.

Tonight’s show isn’t your only chance to catch Kenny in Boston this weekend, however. Kenny has moved his show scheduled for Sunday, August 28 to tomorrow, August 26, in light of the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene. Following the devastating stage collapse as a result of high winds just before Sugarland took the stage at the Indiana State Fair almost two weeks ago, Kenny made the decision to move the show with the safety of his fans in mind. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Little Big Town at the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp. Photo credit: Getty Images/Courtesy of ACM Lifting Lives.

The 2nd Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp is underway in Nashville this week and stars including Little Big Town and Carrie Underwood are lending their time to the program. The camp is open to campers with developmental disabilities who are also talented in music and serves as a study of Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities. ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, funds the camp, which allows the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities to advance it’s mission of improving the lives of those with developmental disabilities.

On Monday, campers were treated to a songwriting workshop with Gary Allan, Odie Blackmon and Brett James. They crafted a song from concept to final lyrics and will record the song with Carrie and producer Mark Bright. Last year’s song penned by the campers, Chris Young and Brett was performed by campers during the 46th Annual ACM Awards. Later Monday evening, Little Big Town participated in Art N’Music, a session that allowed campers to create Warhol style self-portraits while using music to inspire them. Continue Reading

ShareThis

l-r: Brett James, Gary Allan & Odie Blackmon. Photo credit: Getty Images/Courtesy of ACM Lifting Lives.

Yesterday morning at the University School of Nashville, Gary Allan, Brett James (co-writer of Carrie Underwood‘s “Jesus Take The Wheel”) and Odie Blackmon (co-writer of George Strait‘s “She’ll Leave You With A Smile”) had a very special co-writing session. The trio of songwriters created a tune called “Harmony” with campers at the 2nd Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp, a week-long residential program open to campers nationwide with developmental disabilities, talented in music. The Camp has a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities and providing music enrichment through performance and education. ACM Lifting Lives funds the costs of the Camp, enabling the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities to advance its mission of improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through research, training and service.

Just after finishing the song with the campers, Gary chatted with us about why he wanted to be involved with the organization and revealed what the songwriting session was like. After our interview, he went back to the campers and they rehearsed the song (which they’ll sing on the Grand Ole Opry with Darius Rucker this weekend!). At the end of the clip, you’ll hear a snippet of their heartfelt composition, ”Harmony.” Watch it now!

Gary and Darius aren’t the only artists involved with the Music Camp this week. Last night Little Big Town helped the campers create Andy Warhol-style portraits and tonight, Wynonna‘s singing Karaoke with the campers!

ShareThis

Kenny Chesney photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Kenny Chesney will take part in the popular CMA Songwriters Series when it makes its debut in Boston on August 25. Kenny will appear with songwriters Matraca Berg (“You and Tequila,” “Strawberry Wine”), Brett James (“Jesus Take The Wheel,” “When The Sun Goes Down”), Wendell Mobley (“I Melt,” “There Goes My Life”), Craig Wiseman (“Live Like You Were Dying,” “The Good Stuff”) and Bob DiPiero (“Southern Voice” “Clear Blue Sky”), who will also serve as the evening’s host. The show is at the newly renovated Royale Nightclub.

“We are extremely excited to be working with CMA for the first time here at Royale,” said Jamison La Guardia, Director of Marketing and Events for Royale Nightclub. “Having a world class artist such as Kenny Chesney performing along with some of the best songwriters from Nashville will surely make this an event to remember!” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Darius Rucker photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Chart-topping country music star Darius Rucker and ACM Lifting Lives® are partnering for a once-in-a-lifetime musical event to benefit the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC).  For the first time performing together, twenty-five ACM Lifting Lives music campers with developmental disabilities will join Darius on the ACM Awards stage to perform “Music from the Heart,” a song the campers wrote collectively last summer with ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp songwriters Brett James and Chris Young.  The special moment will be performed during the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 3, 2011, 8-11 p.m. LIVE ET/ DELAYED PT) on CBS.

Brett James has created a new arrangement of the song, customized for this never-before-seen performance. Chris, along with Music Camp friend, country singer and star of the upcoming remake of the classical movie musical Footloose, Julianne Hough, will introduce Darius and the 2011 Lifting Lives Music Camp moment to viewers.

The special performance will support the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, whose mission is to facilitate discoveries and best practices that make positive differences in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and their families.  The VKC has hosted a music camp for people with Williams Syndrome, Autism and other developmental disabilities for six years, and this past summer, ACM Lifting Lives sponsored the camp for the first time.  Being so touched by the experience, the Academy has sought to do more for those with developmental disabilities ever since.

“People with disabilities often have rare abilities, and in some cases those abilities involve a special talent or affinity for music,” said Darius. “I am honored to join ACM Lifting Lives and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center to highlight how music can better the lives of young people with developmental disabilities on country music’s biggest night.”

ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. For the third consecutive year, ACM Lifting Lives will partner with an artist and a benefiting charity to create a very special moment on the stage of the ACM Awards.  Last year, ACM Lifting Lives raised funds and awareness for Stand Up To Cancer from downloads and direct donations as a result of Toby Keith’s performance “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” with Dave Koz in memory of fellow musician Wayman Tisdale on the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Viewers will be given the option to make a donation of their choice to the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center by dialing 1-888-9-LIFTING or may make a $5 donation by texting DREAM to 27722.  All proceeds will benefit the VKC’s mission and research to improve the lives of young adults with developmental disabilities.  Donations may also be made online at www.acmliftinglives.org or www.kc.vanderbilt.edu.   

“The need is huge,” said Dr. Elisabeth Dykens, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Director. “One in five children has a lifelong developmental disability, and 20 percent of American families have a family member with a disability. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center researchers, clinicians and educators are at work every day of every week on discoveries and best practices. We’re so grateful to ACM Lifting Lives for this moment of great generosity that will allow us to help even more families.”

“The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center is an amazing place,” said Erin Spahn, Executive Director ACM Lifting Lives. ”Here, people and families across the country who are affected by developmental disabilities can benefit from world-class science and find understanding, companionship, and hope. Our goal is to shine a light on the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center so that viewers will know that they or their loved one are not alone. They may even have a future beyond their wildest dreams, just like the men and women who will make up the choir behind Darius at the ACM Awards.”

ShareThis

CMA congratulates this year's crop of artist/songwriters on receiving a Triple Play Award at this year's CMA Songwriters Luncheon. Pictured (l-r): Steve Moore (CMA CEO), Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Victoria Shaw (songwriter and Chair of CMA's Community Outreach & Education Committee), Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, and Gary Overton (CMA Board President). Photo credit: John Russell / CMA

It was three cheers for three No. 1s at the annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon with the presentation of the CMA Triple Play Awards, which honor songwriters who pen three chart-topping hits in a 12 month period.

The Triple Play Awards were presented at the Second Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, which was held at the Pinnacle at Symphony Place in Nashville and attended by several artist/songwriters including Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban in addition to hit tunesmiths from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, as well as songwriter members of CMA, NSAI, and representatives of some of the most successful publishers in Music City.

In alphabetical order, the recipients of CMA’s Triple Play Award included: Continue Reading

ShareThis

Carrie Underwood performing in a pickup truck, suspended high above the crowd at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on October 13, 2010.

One thing is very clear about Carrie Underwood: She’s not afraid of heights!

Carrie brought her Play On Tour to Music City’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday night, playing quite often with the altitude in the place. A series of hydraulic platforms lifted her at times 15 feet above the stage, which was already several feet above the venue’s floor. A swing lifted her 12 feet or so as she belted out “Just A Dream.” And the night’s biggest effect had her singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” from the back of a pickup truck that travelled over the audience, hung from a track cabled to the ceiling.

But the real heights were the tone and volume of her performances. Carrie’s recordings are always big, but in person, she’s even more impressive, kicking out those challenging vocals for an hour and 45 minutes, letting up only long enough for the occasional costume change. She hit those notes with impressive precision, not only holding the tones but also delivering them with power.

Continue Reading

ShareThis

The 48th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards were handed out on September 14, 2010 at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium. Pictured (l-r): Dierks Bentley, Artist/Songwriter of the Year; Josh Kear Song of the Year for “Need You Now,”; Chris DuBois, Publisher of the Year, Sea Gayle Music ; Brett James, Songwriter of the Year and Tim DuBois, ASCAP vice-president and managing executive, Nashville. Photo by Kay Williams.

Dierks Bentley won Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Josh Kear took Song of the Year for co-writing “Need You Now” with Lady Antebellum, and Brett James walked off with Songwriter of the Year during the star-studded ASCAP Country Music Awards for songwriters Tuesday at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium.

Dierks picked up the Songwriter/Artist trophy after two of his songs — “Sideways” and “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes” — were recognized among the performing rights agency’s most performed songs of the year.

Dierks played a bluegrass version of “Sideways” during the two-hour presentation in which each of ASCAP’s Top 5 songs was rendered live. Chris Young sang “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” songwriter David Lee Murphy played “Big Green Tractor,” Darius Rucker offered “Alright” and Josh Kear teamed with Lady A for a dramatic acoustic version of “Need You Now.” Josh was cheered heavily by the songwriting community when he sang some of the lines that Charles Kelley usually sings — Josh proved he was an admirable singer in addition to being an ace songwriter.

Continue Reading

ShareThis