Little
Big Town helps GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown
If Halloween candy didn't fill the sweet tooth for GAC’s Top 20 Country
Countdown viewers, they’ll get an extra special treat this week that is sure to
satisfy. Host Nan Kelley brings us her interview with Little Big Town from
earlier in the week. Karen, Kimberly, Jimi and Phillip chat with Kelley about
their new music, the rapidly approaching CMA Awards, and the most recent
addition to the band.
And for a double dose of guest action, founder of the multi-platinum group,
Lonestar, Dean Sams, drops by to give Kelley the lowdown on the Lonestar’s new
Christmas album, My Christmas List, and the special GAC Nights on which the
group will be performing some of the tunes. Plus, viewers will get a sneak peak
of a clip from Sams’ GAC special, Celebrity Dream House, in which he takes on
the job of contractor while attempting to build his own dream house outside of
Nashville.
In other Countdown news, Carrie Underwood holds on to the No. 2 spot for the
second week in a row with “So Small,” but she can’t quite seem to shake Mr.
Adkins. Trace keeps his firm grasp on the No. 1 spot for “I Got My Game On” for
four weeks in a row, but a debut video from Garth Brooks shakes up the Top 5 and
looks to make a run for the spot.
The Countdown also welcomes additional debuts this week from Jason Aldean with
“Laughed Until We Cried,” Clay Walker with “Fall.” Tune in to find out where
they all land.
Plus, Top 20 Countdown will get you ready for the 41st Annual CMA Awards as well
with nominee and performance news. Next week’s countdown is all about the CMAs
as Kelley and the gang review the show’s biggest winners and most exciting
highlights.
Comedian
Bone Hampton Performs at Gospel Superfest in Atlanta
Comedian Bone Hampton recently entertained and amused the audience at the "Stage
Two" session of Gospel Superfest "Live in Atlanta," held at The Cathedral of
Turner Chapel Church in Marietta, Ga. Other performers at Gospel Superfest "Live
in Atanta" included gospel music greats such as Tramaine Hawkins, Hezekiah
Walker, Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, The Anointed Pace Sisters and J.
Moss, among others.
Bone Hampton is featured on the newly released "Thou Shalt Laugh 2: The Deuce,"
a DVD hosted by comedy legend and five-time Emmy® Award winner Tim Conway ("The
Carol Burnett Show," "SpongeBob SquarePants"). Featuring some of the brightest
talent in Christian comedy, including Bone, Taylor Mason ("Taylor's Attic"),
Thor Ramsey ("Bananas"), Victoria Jackson ("Saturday Night Live") and Daniel
Nainan, "Thou Shalt Laugh 2: The Deuce" comes from the producers of the popular
Blue Collar Comedy Tour. For more information on Bone Hampton and "Thou Shalt
Laugh 2: The Deuce," visit
www.bonehampton.com.
Point
Of Grace Embarks On Third Annual Continuously Sold-Old Winter Wonderland Tour
Award winning and platinum-selling Word recording artist Point of Grace will
embark on its 3rd annual 15-city Christmastime tour in support of their
critically acclaimed project, Winter Wonderland. Consistently sold-out, the tour
will launch Nov. 27 in Chicago, IL this year and will run through Dec. 15. The
Winter Wonderland tour brings the warmth of the season to life in performances
that celebrate family and holiday traditions.
Each evening the Winter Wonderland tour will feature an entertaining, eclectic
blend of Christmas melodies in bold, memorable settings. Infusing traditional
hymns with new life, the renowned harmonies of Point Of Grace’s Heather Payne,
Shelley Breen, Denise Jones and Leigh Capillino will be featured in the familiar
holiday classics including, “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” and “Jingle Bells,”
alongside new holiday favorites such as, “All Is Well” and the special “Santa
Medley,” among others.
Building on tradition, the tour will once again highlight accomplished
singer/songwriter Scott Krippayne who recently won the American Idol Songwriting
Competition with the song “This Is My Now,” performed and recorded by American
Idol season six winner Jordin Sparks.
In addition to Krippayne, Point Of Grace will also invite a local church choir
from each city to join them in the second half of the evening’s festivities.
Capturing the magic of the season with brilliant backdrops and sets, Frosty The
Snowman, Rudolph and Santa himself will pay a visit to the stage for this
holiday spectacular.
Scott
Borchetta Launches Recording Label 'The Valory Music Co." As Sister Imprint To
Big Machine Records
Scott Borchetta, President/CEO of Big Machine Records, announced today the
official launch of "The Valory Music Co.," a sister imprint to his independent
Big Machine Records label.
"Our objective for The Valory Music Co. is to continue the momentum that has
been achieved with Big Machine by not only replicating our current culture and
our recent successes, but also by taking everything that we've learned over the
last two years and pouring it into this exciting new venture," explains
Borchetta. "We continually re-engineer what we think we know and we feel like
we've identified an incredible opportunity with the simultaneous availability of
some incredible artists and record executives. The energy that has come together
for this launch is truly incredible."
"We are extremely excited to announce that we have entered into a multi-album
deal with one of the most amazing female vocalists of all-time, Jewel,"
continues Borchetta.
With over 27 million albums sold worldwide and with three Grammy nominations
under her belt, Jewel's Country roots go back to her upbringing.
"I grew up on a ranch in Alaska, and my favorite memories are of sitting around
a camp fire with my father and listening to the songs he wrote and sang. It was
pure country music, and it has made me a sincere fan of country music ever
since," says Jewel.
Her first single for The Valory Music Co. is scheduled for the first quarter of
'08.
The Valory Music Co. will have its own exclusive promotion branding team while
utilizing existing Big Machine Records backroom services. Jon Loba, who comes to
the label after leading Broken Bow Records to incredible success, will lead the
new branding team as VP of Promotion & Artist Development. Chris Loss joins the
team from Lyric Street Records where he had become the leading West Coast
promotion force in Country Music. Chris will elevate his status at Valory as
National Director of Promotion and continue to cover the West Coast from his
Scottsdale, AZ office. Southeast promotion & marketing will be directed by one
of the brightest new talents in Country Radio promotion, JoJamie Hahr. JoJamie
comes to The Valory Music Co. branding team from successful stints at MCA & BBR.
Another incredible young talent, who is new to promotion but not new to Country
Radio, is Miranda Williams. Most recently from CMT Radio Networks, Miranda will
direct promotion & marketing for the Southwest region.
Borchetta continues, "We live in a world of consumers who 'want it now', while
in the same breath, artists want their music 'out now'. When we sign an artist
there is an incredible amount of excitement in that moment that can be lost when
an artist has to sit and wait a year or longer to get their music out. With the
current artist development process being so slow, I found it very frustrating
for artists who had to wait for their proper turn in the marketplace.
Big Machine, in essence, is full right now from an artist development and brand
building perspective. Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram and Pearl
Records' Garth Brooks are currently in play with hit singles in the marketplace.
We have an incredible new Danielle Peck album that will be released in early
'08. To add any more releases to the Big Machine branding team severely weakens
chances for success. I made a very conscious decision earlier this year - I
either had to drop some artists that I truly believe in and stop taking artist
meetings or find another opportunity for these great artists and their music.
Today, The Valory Music Co. is that opportunity!"
The Valory Music Co.'s initial artist roster will also include Country Soul
singer Jimmy Wayne whose debut self-titled album has sold nearly 500,000 copies
as well as newcomer Southern Country stylist Justin Moore.
Project
Paper Doll - Make Something Happen
The inaugural year of Project Paper Doll (PPD), a celebrity driven auction of
original artwork, is proving to be a big one. Thanks to eBay, PPD will generate
national awareness and support for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at
Vanderbilt, a leading provider in pediatric health care, currently ranked 23rd
in the nation by U.S.News & World Report.
Over 50 wooden paper dolls, representing the signature symbol in the Children’s
Hospital logo, have been turned into “one of a kind” pieces of art by artists
and celebrities from around the country. The totally unique pieces of art have
been created by some of America’s biggest stars, including Carrie Underwood,
George Strait, Jimmy Buffett, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, Rodney
Atkins, Tracy Byrd, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Dierks Bentley,
George Jones, Hootie & the Blowfish, Ryan Newman (NASCAR), Kenny Rogers plus
many others.
A national online auction launching the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) will be
facilitated by eBay’s Giving Works division. In addition, eBay has selected
Project Paper Doll as the back cover feature for its holiday catalog distributed
to over six million households.
An unveiling of the wooden paper dolls decorated and autographed by stars from
the aforementioned country music industry as well as sports, television and film
will take place at the PPD Kick-Off Party Nov. 15 hosted by PPD Honorary
Chairman Joe Galante (chairman of Sony/BMG Nashville).
The founders of Project Paper Doll are Bryan and Traci Frasher (Bryan is the VP
of national promotion for Arista Nashville at Sony/BMG). “My wife, Traci, is a
true visionary and when she came to me with the idea of what is now ‘Project
Paper Doll’, I knew it was the perfect vehicle to serve the kids at the
Children's Hospital. This project connects their hearts to the hearts of the
Nashville entertainment and business community and, through eBay's involvement,
the rest of the country. The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
is a wonderful place and needs our help to continue taking care of not only our
children, but children everywhere," Bryan says.
Fans and collectors can log onto eBay on Nov. 23 to bid on their favorite paper
doll decorated and autographed by their favorite celebrity. The artwork will be
auctioned off in three groups. Launch dates are Nov. 23 for a 10-day auction,
Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 for seven-day auctions, with the final group concluding on
Dec. 18. The highest bidder wins a treasure, and the Monroe Carell Jr.
Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt gains the continued ability to get children
well on their way!
Note: Please contact the publicists below to obtain images of decorated and
autographed paper dolls by Carrie Underwood and original cast of the Dukes of
Hazzard. Click on this link to see some other “Paper Dolls” (photographed by
Matthew Starling) decorated by artists such as George Strait, Lee Ann Womack,
Tanya Tucker, Michael McDonald and William Lee Golden to name a few.
Visit
http://www.matthewstarling.com/paperdolls/index.html for more
information
Trace
Adkins Book Signing In Nashville
Country Music superstar Trace Adkins will be signing copies of his new book, "A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions From a Freethinking Roughneck," at Books-A-Million in Nashville at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 17th. Books-a-Million is located at 6718 Charlotte Pike in Nashville. Trace Adkins is a multi-platinum selling artist who has been a consistent hit-maker for Country Music for the past decade. With 'Personal Stand," he delivers his maverick manifesto on politics, personal responsibility, fame, parenting, being true to yourself, hard work, and the way things ought to be and proves again why he is one of our most original and thought-provoking entertainers working today.
Christine
Evans Wins 'Video of the Year" at GMA Canada's Covenant Awards
Christine Evans, 17 year old Canadian Christian indie artist, now breaking in
the U.S. market, walked away with Video of the Year Honors for her video Push in
last week’s 29th Annual GMA Canada Covenant Awards.
Presented in Calgary, the award represents Canada’s top honor in Christian
music.
It represents the first Covenant Award win for the young artist who has swept
Canadian charts and several coveted Island Music Awards over the past several
years. Push was awarded Album of the Year honors in the 2007 Island Music Awards
this past April, adding to her previous Song of the Year honors in 2004 and
2005.
The Push video, a promotional production surrounding the release of her
critically acclaimed second album release of the same name, was produced and
directed by Jason Bourque of Gold Star Productions in Canada.
Push represents a collection from Christine Evans of compelling, self-written
original material that reveal a depth of feeling and insight with concise pop
poetics and innovative melodic hooks.
A Christmas single from Christine--her self-written Take Me To Bethlehem--will
debut in the U.S. market at Christian radio this month for the '07 holiday
season
Kenny
Chesney Plays To Over 1.2 Million in Just 57 Dates
With “Don't Blink” resting at #1 on Billboard's Country Singles chart for its
third straight week, the two-time and current Country Music Association and
three time and reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year counts
up his 2007 Flip-Flop Summer Tour tally. Even with the most affordable ticket
out there, Kenny Chesney still walks away knowing he rocked 1, 215, 733 fans
from Omaha, Nebraska to Atlanta, Georgia.
Along with 6 NFL Stadiums -- in such unlikely country markets as Boston,
Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Seattle -- as well as an SRO at
New York City's Madison Square Garden, Chesney brought his personal brand of
throwing the year's best party to gross close to $75 million in the process --
with an average ticket price of just $61.82.
“I know I've said it before but I really do try to make sure that the people who
wanna come out and party with us can,” says the man whose brand new album, Just
Who I Am: Poets & Pirates also contains the 5 week #1 “Never Wanted Nothing
More,” the year's longest running chart topper to date. “Whether it means taking
on the extra overhead of going into a stadium - with all that entails -- or just
keeping the ticket prices as reasonable as possible, if people wanna come get
crazy with us, I want to see their faces and hear those voices when they're
singing along.”
While the NFL Stadiums involve multiple day set-ups and more production expense,
this year's Flip Flop Stadium Summer shows - featuring Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland,
Sara Evans and Pat Green - join Tim McGraw & Faith Hill's Soul II Soul and
Christina Aguilera's Pussycat Dolls/Dainty Kane tour as nominees for Billboard's
Top Tour Package.
And while the Tour Package nomination allows Chesney to share the honor with his
bandmates, Flip Flop Summer 2007 also puts him neck'n'neck with the Police and
Justin Timberlake for the year's Most Attended Tours at this year's Billboard
Touring Awards. While not always one to measure up in terms of grosses --
because he keeps his tickets affordable for his young adult audience.
“I know what it's like to not be able to go to a show you’re dying to see, and
if I can help give my fans the opportunity to get here, or bring a date and make
a little less, well, it's okay. It's always way more fun when everybody's out
here, having a good time, feeling the moment. Some things really are important…
and helping other people make those memories is one of them.”
Slated to perform on next Wednesday, Nov. 7th's Country Music Association Awards
-- broadcast live on ABC -- Chesney is nominated for Entertainer, Male Vocalist,
Video for “You Saved Me” and Vocal Event with Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw for
“Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” Not bad for a man who's rocked well over 7
million country music fans over the past six years.
Country
Artist David Joseph Embarks On Second Leg of 40-City Military Base Acoustic Tour
Country music newcomer, David Joseph, recently kicked off the second leg of a
nationwide PX and Base Exchange acoustic tour of 40 military installations Oct.
18. The tour wraps up at Ft. Mead, Maryland December 23 (see tour dates below).
At each free performance, Joseph pays tribute to the members of the military and
their families with up to 1,000 DVD giveaways of his touching debut music video,
“I’m Coming Home.” To date, over 25,000 DVDs have been given away thanks to a
partial financial contribution from Schneider National Trucking.
Heard on radio stations nationwide and abroad, “I’m Coming Home,” is touching
the hearts of listeners globally. The uplifting song is about a soldier’s news
to his family that he’s coming home. Originally written by Joseph for a “Coming
Home” conference for military chaplains in Nashville, the poignant tribute
quickly spread beyond the conference and has garnered national attention. The
track is the first single from Joseph’s critically acclaimed Regal Records debut
album, “I’m Coming Home.”
A portion of the proceeds from Joseph’s album will benefit Fisher House, a
program that supports America’s military in their time of need by providing a
home-away-from home for families of ill or seriously ill patients receiving
medical treatment.
“I’m honored to perform for the soliders and their families and let them know
how much we really appreciate what they have done and what they continue to do,”
said Joseph.
For more information on David Joseph, visit myspace.com/DavidJosephCountry or
www.DavidJoseph.org.