BMI and Country Aircheck-sponsored showcase to feature Matraca Berg, Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna

Natalie Hemby

Lori McKenna

Photo Release:
Nov. 8, 2011

Marlee Scott Contact:
Christy Watkins – Aristo P.R. – (615) 269-7071 – christy@aristomedia.com
Ryan Moore – Aristo P.R. – (615) 269-7071 – ryan@aristomedia.com

BigRide Entertainment artist Marlee Scott appeared as an honorary host at Nashville’s Kentucky Derby Prelude Party, held Monday, Nov. 7, at Nashville event space aVenue. Presented by BMI, Cigna, York Sisters and Buffalo Trace, the festivities featured appearances by a host of celebrities, including Rob Bironas, Eddie George, Laura Bell Bundy, Steve Holy, Danielle Peck and others.  Scott sang “My Old Kentucky Home” for a packed house of sponsors, artists, musicians, sports figures and more.  All proceeds from the event benefit Blessings in a Backpack.

About Blessings in a Backpack:
Feeding the future of America, Blessings in a Backpack is a unique program designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for the federal Free and Reduced Price Meal program, and have little to no food on the weekends.  For more information visit www.blessingsinabackpack.com

For more information on Marlee Scott, visit www.MarleeScott.com.

Photo Credit: Aristo P.R.

 

Pictured L to R: BigRide Entertainment’s Marlee Scott and former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George.

(Nashville, Tenn. – Aug. 29, 2011) Delta Rock Records artist Deborah Allen was recently recognized by BMI for two million broadcast performances of her crossover smash, “Baby I Lied,” and one million broadcast performances of “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Baby,” a No. 1 hit for Janie Fricke. Allen has written songs recorded by an impressive list of artists, including LeAnn Rimes, Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless, Brooks & Dunn, Janie Fricke, Mickey Gilley, Sheena Easton, Diana Ross and Fleetwood Mac, among others.

The Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter just released her latest album, titled Hear Me Now, on Aug. 16. “Anything Other Than Love” is the project’s first single. Allen was in Memphis during Elvis Week (Aug. 10-15) to perform her Elvis tribute, “Amazing Graceland,” which was featured on the front page of Elvis.com and the official Elvis Facebook page. Allen is pictured below with BMI’s David Preston (l) and Jody Williams (r).

Photo Credit: AristoMedia.
* Click image below to download hi-res.

(Nashville, Tenn. – Aug. 10, 2011) Country artist Lacy Green recently visited BMI’s Nashville offices during a brief break from her ongoing radio tour.  Green, who is signed with BMI, was in town for a series of writing sessions with producer Ronnie Bowman.  Since June, the 22-year-old North Carolina native has been out on the road visiting Country radio in support of her debut single, “For the Summertime.”  Green also entered into a sponsorship agreement in July with NYC-based fine jewelry company, SLANE.  Green continues to work on her debut album for SwanGate Records, due out later this year.  For more information, visit www.LacyGreen.com.

CRS songwriter showcase sponsored by BMI and Country Aircheck

(Nashville, TN – Nov. 8, 2010) – Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® has announced Jerrod Niemann, Dallas Davidson and the legendary Whitey Shafer as the lineup for CRS 2011’s WCRS Live! songwriter showcase, sponsored by BMI and Country Aircheck.

“Once again, we’ve put together a perfect picture of the BMI family of Country hit makers – red-hot, rising star Jerrod Niemann, mega-hit songwriter Dallas Davidson and the legendary Whitey Shafer,” says Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Nashville.  “This will be a show that has it all from three of the finest songwriters Nashville has ever seen.  BMI could not be more proud of all these guys.  This is gonna be cool!”

Adds Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton, “Year after year BMI presents a top notch WCRS Live! with great songwriters and artists.  We’re proud to co-sponsor this ‘must-hear’ event with them.”

The WCRS Live! showcase is one of the performance highlights each year at Country Radio Seminar, held March 2-4, 2011, in downtown Nashville.  WCRS Live! takes place Thursday, March 3, at 4:25 – 5:40 p.m. in the Nashville Convention Center.

For more information on CRS 2011, visit www.CRB.org.

About Whitey Shafer:
With a career spanning more than four decades, Whitey Shafer is one of Nashville’s most accomplished songwriters.  Born and raised in Whitney, Texas, Shafer moved to Nashville in 1967, where he began a career that includes such hits as “The Baptism of Jesse Taylor” (Johnny Russell), “Tell Me Lying Eyes Are Wrong” (George Jones) and “I Wonder Do You Think of Me” (Keith Whitley).  Along with Lefty Frizzell, the two legends collaborated together on songs like “That’s The Way Love Goes,” “I Never Go Around Mirrors,” “Bandy The Rodeo Clown,” “Lucky Arms,” “I Can’t Get Over You To Save My Life” and others.  With help from a couple of his ex-wives, Shafer also wrote several hits for George Strait, including “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” and “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.”  John Michael Montgomery, Lee Ann Womack and Kenny Chesney are just a few of the contemporary artists that have recorded Shafer’s compositions.  Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989, Shafer lives near Nashville with his wife Tracy.  Visit www.myspace.com/whiteyshafer for more information.

About Jerrod Niemann:
Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury, Jerrod Niemann’s chart-topping debut album for Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville, is a far cry from a typical Country album.  From the opening song, “They Should Have Named You Cocaine,” to his first No. 1 single, “Lover, Lover,” to his current single, “What Do You Want,” listeners find themselves in for an extraordinary ride.  Niemann wrote or co-wrote most of the album’s songs with his friends, including Jamey Johnson and Dallas Davidson.   Although Niemann had already experienced triumphs as a songwriter – having songs recorded by Garth Brooks, Jamey Johnson, Julie Roberts and Blake Shelton – he recorded Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury out of a yearning to be a performer himself.  He scored his first No. 1 hit with the song, “Lover, Lover” in 2010.  A CMA New Artist of the Year nominee and three-time ACA nominee, Niemann will perform with Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker on the H20 Frozen Over Tour in January and February 2011.  Visit www.jerrodniemannofficial.com for more information.

About Dallas Davidson:
Dallas Davidson arrived in Nashville in January 2004. His first cut was a song called “Kiss My Country Ass,” recorded by Rhett Akins and Hank Williams, Jr.  However, it was an unconventional club-thumper that ignited Davidson’s career.  Along with friends Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser, the trio wrote Trace Adkins’ mega-hit, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” which topped charts and playlists in both dancehalls and dance clubs.  His first trip to the top of the charts proved to be a harbinger of chart-climbing success.  Since then, Davidson’s work has been recorded by Tim McGraw, Jamey Johnson, Jack Ingram, Josh Turner, Rodney Atkins, Blake Shelton and more.  He has scored seven additional No. 1s, including Brad Paisley and Keith Urban’s “Start a Band,” Brooks & Dunn’s “Put a Girl in It,” Billy Currington’s “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” Joe Nichols’ “Gimmie That Girl,” Luke Bryan’s “Rain is a Good Thing,” Blake Shelton’s “All About Tonight” and his latest, Josh Turner’s “All Over Me.”  Visit www.dallasdavidson.com for more information.

About CRB:
The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ® is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country Music Industry to ensure vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.  More information may be obtained at: www.CRB.org or at the CRB office at (615) 327-4487.

About CRS:
The Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas in the Country music industry.  Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.  CRS 2011 will be held March 2-4, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn.  Limited time, $399 registration is currently available online at www.CRB.org or by contacting the Country Radio Broadcasters at (615) 327-4487.

(Nashville, TN – Jan. 25, 2010) A packed house turned out Friday, Jan. 22 at the Nashville BMI offices to recognize singer-soldier-songwriter Darby Ledbetter for his ongoing 10-year service in the National Guard and his emerging career as a Country artist.  Following in the footsteps of artists like Kid Rock and Three Doors Down, Ledbetter is only the third artist chosen by the National Guard to have one of his songs, (“I Won’t Let My Guard Down”) chosen for a national movie theater ad campaign.  Ledbetter is preparing to deploy for his fourth combat tour overseas, with plans to release his debut album, Soldier Up, in the near future.

Photo Credit: Bev Moser, Moments By Moser

National Guardsman and Country singer Darby Ledbetter poses with several artists at his media event at BMI on Friday, Jan. 22.  L to R: Lee Roy (The Roys), Lane Brody, Ledbetter, Elaine Roy (The Roys), Aaron Tippin, Ty Williams.

National Guardsman and Country singer Darby Ledbetter (c) poses with Dewayne Brown (left; Label & Artist Development, RED Distribution) and international promoter Judy Seale

(right; President, Judy Seale Entertainment) at his media event, held at the BMI offices last Friday, Jan. 22.

Showcase Sponsored by BMI and Country Aircheck

(Nashville, TN – Jan. 18, 2010) – Legendary artist, songwriter and storyteller Tom T. Hall will headline WCRS Live! with fellow singer-songwriters Wynn Varble and Easton Corbin at this year’s CRS 2010, to be held Feb. 24-26, 2010.

The annual WCRS Live! acoustic songwriter showcase, sponsored by BMI and Country Aircheck, takes place Thursday, Feb. 25, at 4:10 – 5:30 p.m. in the Nashville Convention Center during CRS 2010.

“Every part of BMI’s Country repertoire will be expertly represented by the Storyteller, Tom T. Hall; NSAI Songwriter of the Year, Wynn Varble; and new, red hot Mercury Nashville artist, Easton Corbin,” said Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville.  “Tom T.’s songs are part of BMI’s cornerstone.  Wynn is experiencing the hottest years of his career, and the future belongs to Easton Corbin.  This is going to be a magical event.”

Adds Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton, “We at Country Aircheck could not be more pleased to help present our friends at Country radio with this phenomenal lineup of music makers. Tom T. Hall is a true living legend and nothing more need be said.  Wynn Varble is not only an accomplished songwriter, but one of our favorites since his holiday ’08 visit to our offices.  And Easton is simply one of the most promising new artists in the format.  We can’t wait.”

Tom T. Hall’s catalog of No. 1 hits includes “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died,” “Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine,” “A Week in a Country Jail” and “Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet),” among others.  His career spans six decades, producing No. 1 hits for artists such as Jeannie C. Riley in 1968 (“Harper Valley P.T.A.,”), to Alan Jackson in 1996 (“Little Bitty”).  An accomplished author, artist and songwriter, Hall was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Wynn Varble was named Songwriter of the Year at the 2009 NSAI awards, where he also won Song of the Year for the Brad Paisley No. 1, “Waitin’ on a Woman.”  Varble’s first No. 1 came in 2003 with “Have You Forgotten,” recorded by Darryl Worley.   Since moving to Nashville in 1992, Varble has penned songs for artists including Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Darryl Worley, Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan, Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler and newcomer Easton Corbin.

Mercury Nashville will release Easton Corbin’s self-titled debut album March 2.  Produced by Carson Chamberlain and containing four co-writes from the newcomer, it also boasts a Top 20 single with the introductory track, “A Little More Country Than That.”  Fans can sample other tracks by the Trenton, Fla. native by purchasing the four-song EP available now at www.eastoncorbin.com.

For more information on CRS 2010, visit www.CRB.org.

About CRS:
The Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas in the country music industry.  Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.  CRS 2010 will be held Feb. 24-26, 2010 in Nashville, Tenn.  Regular Rate registration expires Jan. 31 and is currently available online at www.CRB.org or by contacting the Country Radio Broadcasters at 615-327-4487. Follow CRS 2010 on Facebook, or on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/OfficialCRS.

About CRB:
The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. ® is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country Music Industry to ensure vitality and promote growth in the Country Radio format.  More information may be obtained at: www.CRB.org or at the CRB office at 615-327-4487.

The legendary, Grammy-award winning Charlie Daniels Band headlined the second concert in NSAI’s “IT ALL BEGINS WITH A SONG” Performance Series at the Wildhorse Saloon on Thursday night (8/27). The packed house was treated to a few tunes by Old Union prior to an energetic performance by the CDB, which included hits from “Long Haired Country Boy” and “The South’s Gonna Do It Again” to a powerful version of “How Great Thou Art.” As the night concluded, Charlie was presented with BMI MillionAir Awards for one million performances of “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “In America,” “Drinking My Baby Goodbye,” and four million performances of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” He also received specially autographed lyrics of the “Tennessee Waltz” from NSAI for his contributions to the music industry. During their final song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” the CDB was accompanied by Pro Golfer John Daly. For more information on the series, visit www.nashvillesongwriters.com and check out the CDB at www.charliedaniels.com.

Pictured (L-R): AristoMedia President Jeff Walker; NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison; Charlie Daniels’ Manager/Co-owner Blue Hat Records David Corlew; Daniels; Daly and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams.

Photo Credit: Bev Moser / Moments By Moser