TAYLOR SWIFT PLANS NATIONAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES TO LAUNCH NEW CD, RED, IN STORES OCTOBER 22ND

PAID SONG DOWNLOADS FROM RED TOP 3.8 MILLION IN ADVANCE OF RELEASE VIA ITUNES SONG ROLL-OUT

TAYLOR TO BE “FOLLOWED” DURING RELEASE WEEK BY HER TWITTER FOLLOWERS AND FACEBOOK FRIENDS
 

 

Nashville, TN – October 17, 2012 – Six-time GRAMMY Award winner Taylor Swift’s highly-anticipated fourth studio album, Red, arrives in stores on October 22nd, and Taylor will make several national TV appearances during release week to launch the Big Machine Records album.

On release date, October 22nd, a select group of Taylor’s Twitter followers and Facebook friends will join her in New York, where they will literally “follow” her during her release week events, providing live updates to millions of fans around the world via social media postings. Taylor currently has more than 19.7 million Twitter followers and 34.9 million Facebook likes.

Taylor will be live in Times Square for ABC’s “Good Morning America” on both October 22nd and 23rd  (7:00 a.m. ET/PT), and on the 23rd she will be the lead guest and perform on “The Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 ET/PT on CBS).

On the 24th Taylor will be live on ABC’s “The View” for a performance and chat, and on the 25th she will make a special concert appearance on the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
On the 26th, she will guest on ABC’s “Katie” with Katie Couric, and that same evening she will be featured on ABC’s “All Access Nashville with Katie Couric – A Special Edition of 20/20” primetime special (9:00 ET/PT).

Also, the week of October 22nd will be “Taylor Swift Week” on “Entertainment Tonight,” and Taylor will also be interviewed next week on “Access Hollywood,” “E! News,” and “Extra.”

In addition to her TV appearances that week, Taylor will sit down for a live Q&A session with an audience at the SiriusXM studios in New York. "SiriusXM's Town Hall with Taylor Swift" will air live on The Highway on October 22nd at 2:00 pm ET. And, on the 24th, Taylor will visit Scholastic’s New York headquarters, where she will again this year take time out from her busy release week schedule for a special literacy event as part of their “Read Every Day” literacy campaign.

After the New York media events, Taylor will return to Nashville, where she'll take part in the Taylor Swift Worldwide Radio Remote presented by Papa John's. With 72 stations broadcasting live from Music City on Friday, October 26th, the radio event will cover four formats--Country, CHR, Hot AC, AC--and five continents, with stations from as far away as South Africa and New Zealand. In addition, Taylor Swift fans are fully engaged in the launch of Red, with more than 300 radio contest winners receiving VIP experiences at several of Taylor’s media stops.

Taylor is featured on the cover of Rolling Stone’s current Hot List issue, as well as on the November covers of Glamour and Marie Claire UK.

Red is already making huge inroads at both radio and retail. Individual digital paid song download sales have already exceeded 3.8 million, and the album’s lead single, “”We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” has been officially certified Double Platinum. “Never Ever” spent 3 weeks at #1 atop Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart, topped the iTunes charts in 32 countries, and set a new record for the biggest digital sales week ever for a female artist. In addition, four more songs from Red, “Begin Again,” “Red,” “I Knew You Were Trouble.” and “State of Grace” have been released on iTunes, with exclusive previews on “Good Morning America,” and all topped the all-genre iTunes charts within hours of release.

Red is available for special pre-sale at: www.taylorswift.com and http://smarturl.it/REDtarget.

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Beyonce To Perform February 3 During The PEPSI SUPER BOWL XLVII HALFTIME SHOW On CBS

NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global music icon and 16-time Grammy-Award winner BEYONCE will perform in the PEPSI SUPER BOWL XLVII HALFTIME SHOW on CBS at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 3, 2013, the NFL and CBS announced today.
The Pepsi Super Bowl halftime show is the most-watched musical event of the year. More than 112.5 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year's show.  The Super Bowl and halftime show will be broadcast worldwide. 
Beyonce joins an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes Madonna, The Black Eyed Peas, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.
PepsiCo continues to leverage its diverse multi-brand portfolio – including Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Quaker and Tropicana - with the NFL to connect with fans and enhance their NFL experience.  This year, Pepsi returns as the title sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show bringing the brand's Live for Now mind-set and one-of-a-kind consumer engagement platforms to provide fans a halftime experience worthy of pop-culture's biggest stage.
The PEPSI SUPER BOWL XLVII HALFTIME SHOW is an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER and directed by HAMISH HAMILTON . 
SOURCE PEPSI SUPER BOWL XLVII HALFTIME SHOW

JASON ALDEAN’S NIGHT TRAIN ROLLS INTO RELEASE WEEK POWERED BY FAN BUZZ AND EARLY NATIONAL MEDIA PRAISE

Entertainment Weekly Awards The Album An A-, Calls Aldean's Delivery "EPIC" Nashville, TN – Oct. 15, 2012 – Capping off a record-breaking year in sales, radio airplay and touring numbers, CMA Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year nominee Jason Aldean released one of 2012’s most buzzed about new albums, NIGHT TRAIN . Release week kicks off in New York City with national media appearances including Good Morning America (10/16) and Live! with Kelly and Michael (10/17), among others. On Oct. 18, fans will want to track Aldean and the NIGHT TRAIN closely online for release week surprises not to be missed. Follow the countdown and watch it live on 10/18 at www.jasonaldean.com. "We posted the full stream of the album on iTunes this past week, and the fan reaction has been incredible…really more than I ever expected," says Aldean. "They've been messaging me and tweeting about their favorite songs, and I love getting that feedback directly from them. I named the album NIGHT TRAIN because I think it sums up where my career is at the moment and how quickly things seem to be moving…it's almost hard for me to even comprehend. That name wouldn't work without my fans, so I want to thank them for allowing me to continue to make records and for buying tickets to my shows. 2013 is already stacking up to be an exciting year with some big surprises in store for them!" After being spotlighted in The New York Times and USA Today as one of the most anticipated albums of Fall, NIGHT TRAIN reviews are already rolling in, with USA Today featuring it on the cover of today's Life section and the Newark Star Ledger raving that it is "a country album that leads with its intelligence and muscle. There is no better persuader in Nashville — no artist better suited to convincing the uncommitted pop listener who’d like to give country music a try, but doesn’t know where to start." Entertainment Weekly calls Aldean's delivery "EPIC," Billboard points to the singer pushing the limits to move his "sound forward sonically, vocally and lyrically," and Country Weekly concludes with "it's clear he can do it all pretty damn good." In true Aldean fashion, NIGHT TRAIN offers 15 songs that cover broad turf, expressly building on his reputation for finding quality songs and defying categorization. Highlights include an unapologetic celebration of the American work ethic on "The Only Way I Know," a collaboration with friends Luke Bryan and Eric Church, the intense vocal deliveries of mid-tempo love songs "Staring At The Sun" and the title track, and the addictive ear worm that's sure to prompt an onset of nostalgia for the year "1994." The album has already produced a record-breaking, three-week No. one single with “Take A Little Ride” and comes on the heels of the top-selling country album of last year and reigning CMA Album of the Year MY KINDA PARTY. The Georgia native recently earned three Country Music Association Awards nominations for the Nov. 1 show, in the categories of Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for "Dirt Road Anthem." Additionally, he has sold out every show on his MY KINDA PARTY TOUR presented by State Farm®, – often in minutes at the day of on sale – and has broken over 40 venue attendance records. The tour has gone on to sell an unparalleled 1.9 million tickets and wraps Oct. 27 in Dallas, TX. For a full list of appearances and more information on NIGHT TRAIN, please visit www.jasonaldean.com. ###

Smashing Pumpkins bring new music to Chaifetz, Corgan sends best wishes for the Cardinals

by Scott Kiefer
It's about being fresh, and giving an experience to the fans
by Scott Kiefer
For 90's alt-rocker Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, it's all about making new music and taking the journey with the band, rather than hashing out a greatest hits tour to keep his music alive. Fronting his band, with all new members Mike Byrn on drums, Nicole Fiorentino on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Jeff Schroeder on rhythm guitar, Corgan and the Pumpkins are currently on a nationwide tour that stops at the Chaifetz Arena Thursday night.
"We are opening the show by playing the entire Oceania album," Corgan said in a telephone interview. "The Smashing Pumpkins are and always have been about bringing new music to the people. However, this time we are doing it in a different manner."
 The band has been on tour promoting the album, and has been splitting the show into two parts, the first part playing Oceania in its entirety, and in the second portion of the show, the band plays their hits and cuts from their previous albums, which have been few and far between.
"A lot of people have went out and played their albums in entirety on like the 25th anniversary and things like that," Corgan said. "We are taking a different approach, by introducing our new music to the people this way. It will give them the opportunity to not only maybe hear the music for the first time, but to actually experience the music. This is an experience, not just a concert."
Corgan believes that there may be some risks involved but feels that after the fans who attend the shows hear the music, it will give them the opportunity to make up their own minds.
"The music video isn't as prominent as it was in the nineties," Corgan said. ""It's harder to get radio airplay today more than ever, and this is the way for the people to actually get to hear the music. After that, they can decide if they want to go out and buy the record or not. Too many times, people just get to hear the songs that are chosen for them to hear, whether it be the label or a song is pushed by radio. This way, they get to hear the whole album and make up their own mind."
The Smashing Pumpkins began the fall leg of the tour on October 10 in Washington and will continue through November 4 in Connecticut.
In addition to the music, Corgan says the band focused on a visual experience for the concert-goers as well.
"We have Sean Evans on board with us, he designed Roger Waters "The Wall"  stage design and lighting technologies for his last tour," Corgan said. "We've got something that is technologically new, and designed just for us."
Corgan is speaking of sphere that projects images that correlate with the music in the show. However, without the new technology, it wouldn't be possible, according to Corgan.
"It seems for whatever reason that when something is projected in a circular design, them images tend to blur around the edges," Corgan said. "At first we thought that we wouldn't be able to accomplish what we wanted, but Sean and his team designed a specific computer program that will make the images clear. It is actually groundbreaking."
Speaking of technology, Corgan says he feels that in today's environment, with the internet, and mass media, that today's youth don't really get the chance to experience rock and roll.
"Let's face it," Corgan said, "Rock and Roll is about two things: youth and having a good time. It always has been, and always will be. There's no changing that. With the internet blasting things away at you 24/7 from your computer, your phone, not mention television, and whatever else device there is, it's hard to keep the attention span of today's youth. Or anybodies for that matter. They may know about something, but if it's not good, they aren't going to remember it. When I make music that's what I strive for, to make something that people are going to remember. That they are going to experience. Hopefully, they will remember the experience of the first time they heard the music. That's what we're trying to do with this tour."
Corgan also said that playing the older music is a part of any tour by any act.
"We've got to play the hit songs, and cuts off the older albums, we'd be stupid if we didn't," Corgan added. "With that being said, we will always be making new music, and looking for new fans but we aren't intending to forget about the music we made along the way. I will never let the Pumpkins turn into a greatest hits band, that goes out every year and plays the same old show, and never moves forward like some of these bands have over the years. We'll keep making new music, and looking for new fans all over the world to bring it to."
The band have already begun work on their next album, in which according to Corgan they are optimistic in aiming for a December 2013 release date.

Sidenote:
An avid Chicago Cubs baseball fan, Corgan is very familiar with St. Louis Cardinals baseball. This interview being done before the Cards advanced to the NLCS, Corgan had this to say about the team:
"I have been to see the Cardinals play at Busch Stadium my entire life when the Cubs played there," Corgan said. "I have also seen the Cardinals play here in Chicago. They are a first class baseball club, by any one's standards. St. Louis is a great baseball town, too. I think (Mike) Matheny is doing a great job as a manager, but I can still see some 'Tony ball' in there. I think it's going to be a great mix. I honestly do wish them the best of luck in the post-season."

Who: The Smashing Pumpkins
When: October 18 7:30 p.m.
Where: Chaifetz Arena
Tickets: $35 and $49.50
How: www.metrotix.com

THE WORLD'S TOP PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE BAND,

THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW

RETURNS TO THE FOX THEATRE ON NOVEMBER 16!

 

 

St. Louis, MO/October 16, 2012 –Fox Concerts and The Nine Network presents The Australian Pink Floyd Show “Exposed in the Light” Tour at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Friday, November 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now through MetroTix and prices start at $35.

 

It's clear that the Australian Pink Floyd Show is the world's top Floyd tribute act - after all, they performed at David Gilmour's 50th birthday party. Comprised of members Steve Mac, Colin Wilson, Jason Sawford, Paul Bonney, David Domminney Fowler, Alex McNamara, Mike Kidson, Emily Lynn, and Lara Smiles, the Australian Pink Floyd Show has sold over three million tickets worldwide.

The band states "We are also delighted to confirm that Pink Floyd veteran Lorelei McBroom will be appearing on this tour. Lorelei’s credentials are staggering; she toured with Pink Floyd on the 'Momentary Lapse of Reason' and 'Delicate Sound of Thunder' tours, appeared in the videos for 'The Dogs of War,' 'On The Turning Away”' and the 'Pink Floyd Live In Venice' TV broadcast. She also performed 'The Great Gig In The Sky' with Pink Floyd; a song she will now perform with TAPFS."

And for the Exposed in the Light Tour, the band has created a whole new, incredible show. New lasers, new lights, and more video effects have all been added, but as Colin Wilson recently explained, the focus is always on the classic music of Pink Floyd. “For us, of course, the music has always come first. For the new dates we’ll be putting the Pink Floyd catalogue under the spotlight, breathing life into some material that would otherwise not get heard and ensuring that our audiences are just blown away by the show. We’re really excited about this next step.”

Originally formed in 1988, the Australian Pink Floyd Show has received steady praise over the years, including Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who described the group on BBC 5 Live as “Very good, probably better than we are.”

Come the fall, fans starved for live Floyd will be getting an audio and visual feast!

 

Tickets for The Australian Pink Floyd Show are on sale now at the Fox Theatre box office. To charge by phone call MetroTix at 314/534-1111 or online at www.metrotix.com. For more information, please visit www.aussiefloyd.com.

 

DIO DISCIPLES ANNOUNCE U.S. TOUR IN SUPPORT OF 'THE VERY BEAST OF DIO VOL. 2'

 

With the October 9^th release of 'The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2,' the all-star group, Dio Disciples, couldn't have picked a better time to launch their next set of U.S. tour dates. Beginning October 20^th and running until November 20^th, Dio Disciples will be rocking venues nationwide.

Dio Disciples is comprised of singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest) and Oni Logan (Lynch Mob), guitarist Craig Goldy (Dio), bassist Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen), keyboardist Scott Warren (Dio,Heaven & Hell), and drummer Simon Wright (Dio, AC/DC, UFO).

The group touches upon almost every era of Dio's stellar career, as you can expect to hear faithful and heavy renditions of all the Ronnie James Dio classics, including "Man on the Silver Mountain," "Neon Knights," "Heaven and Hell," "Holy Diver," "Rainbow in the Dark," and "The Last in Line," among countless others.

Dio Disciples has issued the following statement: "We could NEVER replace Ronnie and that is not our intention - there will ever only be one RJD. Dio Disciples is a celebration of the music and legacy of the greatest singer in the world, Ronnie James Dio."

 

The 17-track 'The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2' CD (released via Niji Entertainment) picks up exactly where the first volume left off - from 1996 onward. And in addition to featuring such latter-day Dio classics as "Killing the Dragon," "Push," and "Fever Dreams," the compilation will also include several rarities that fans have long requested on a single disc - "Electra" (which previously was only a part of the ultra-rare 'Tournado' box set), "Prisoner of Paradise," and "Metal Will Never Die."

 

It has been over two years since the legendary Ronnie James Dio passed away after a battle with cancer. But his music continues to live on - as heard by the upcoming 'The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2' and Dio Disciples tour dates.

 

CONFIRMED DIO DISCIPLES TOUR DATES:

Confirmed tour dates:

10/20/2012  Anaheim, CA  House of Blues   

10/21/2012  San Luis Obispo  Slo Brew   

10/23/2012  Seattle, WA  El Corazon   

10/24/2012  Portland, OR  Hawthorne   

10/26/2012  Las Vegas, NV  Hard Rock on Strip   

10/27/2012  Tempe, AZ  Club Red   

10/28/2012  Ventura, CA  Ventura Theatre   

10/30/2012 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick

10/31/2012  Hollywood, CA  The Avalon  The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund 2nd Annual Gala 

11/04/2012 Dallas, TX Trees

11/08/2012  Ft. Wayne, IN  Pierre's   

11/10/2012  Detroit, MI  Harpo's   

11/13/2012  Portland, ME  Asylum   

11/15/2012  Sayerville, NJ  Starland   

11/16/2012 Pawtucket, RI The Met

11/17/2012  Amityville, NJ  Revolution   

11/18/2012  Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance   

11/20/2012  Allentown, PA  Crocodile Rock

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

 

www.facebook.com/DioDisciples

ronniejamesdio.com

www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio

www.facebook.com/nijientertainmentgroup

 

DIO DISCIPLES

Some fans figured that with the passing of Ronnie James Dio in 2010, one of metal's greatest voices of all-time had been silenced forever. But Dio's music continues to live on, and many of his friends and/or former band mates are making sure of it, as they have united as Dio Disciples – a concert celebration of the former singer of Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell, Rainbow, Elf (and successful/respected solo artist). And over the past few years, Dio Disciples has been celebrating the amazing music of Ronnie James Dio throughout the world.

Dio Disciples have issued the following statement: "We could NEVER replace Ronnie and that is not our intention - there will ever only be one RJD. Dio Disciples is a celebration of the music and legacy of the greatest singer in the world, Ronnie James Dio. The band just finished a European tour that was very well received. At times, there were tears, the crowd sang along and it was a great honoring and remembrance of the incredible music of Ronnie James Dio."

In concert, the band (which is comprised of singers Tim "Ripper" Owens and Oni Logan, guitarist Craig Goldy, bassist Bjorn Englen, keyboardist Scott Warren, and drummer Simon Wright) touches upon almost every era of Dio's stellar career, as you can expect to hear faithful and heavy renditions of all the Ronnie James Dio classics.

Long considered one of heavy metal's greatest all-time vocalists, Ronnie James Dio has sung and co-written some of the most classic compositions within the realm of hard rock/heavy metal - "Man on the Silver Mountain," "Stargazer," "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll," "Neon Knights," "Heaven and Hell," "The Mob Rules," "Holy Diver," "Rainbow in the Dark," and "The Last in Line," among countless others. Ronnie also co-founded the all-star Hear 'n Aid project in 1985 (spawning the hit song, "Stars"), which helped raise one million dollars for famine relief in Africa within a year.

 

And there is no denying the impressive resumes of all of the Dio Disciples members. Tim "Ripper" Owens has fronted Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Hail!, and Yngwie Malmsteen's band, Oni Logan has fronted Lynch Mob, Bjorn Englen has been a member of Yngwie Malmsteen's band, while Craig Goldy, Simon Wright, and Scott Warren all played in various incarnations of Dio and/or Heaven & Hell. Additionally, Goldy was a member of Rough Cutt and Giuffria, Wright was a member of AC/DC and UFO, and Warren played with Type O Negative.

 

The power and timeless quality of Ronnie James Dio's music continues to live on. Dio Disciples are helping keep the flame burning brightly, as they will continue to spread the word through sold out concerts the world over.

 

DIO DISCIPLES:

Tim "Ripper" Owens - vocals

Oni Logan - vocals

Craig Goldy - guitar

Bjorn Englen - bass

Simon Wright - drums

Scott Warren - keyboards

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH “CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS” HOSTED BY JENNIFER NETTLES OF SUGARLAND

Two-Hour Special Tapes Nov. 3 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Featuring Performances by Dierks Bentley, Colbie Caillat, Katherine Jenkins, Lady Antebellum, John Legend, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Nettles, The Band Perry, and Keith Urban Nashville Audience Encouraged to Bring an Unwrapped Toy to the Taping to Make the Holidays Brighter for Children in Need Jennifer Nettles returns to host "CMA Country Christmas" which will air live this holiday season on the ABC Television Network. Photo credit: Donna Svennevik/ABC  NASHVILLE – Some of the most powerful and emotionally moving voices in music come together to celebrate the holidays on “CMA Country Christmas,” which tapes in front of a live audience Saturday, Nov. 3 (7:30 PM/CT) at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The special, which features Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland as host for the third year, airs this holiday season on the ABC Television Network. "I am so excited to be hosting this year and I love inviting the audience to get into the spirit of the season by bringing a toy for donation! It is such a joy to watch this holiday special grow — in not only its talent roster, but moreover in its charitable celebration of the season,” Nettles said. “It is important to all of us that there is a charitable component to everything we do,” said Robert Deaton, Executive Producer of “CMA Country Christmas.” “Utilizing the Christmas special taping as an opportunity to shine a light on a worthy endeavor is a perfect opportunity to give back to the community and reflects the values and heart of our industry and this city.” Artists scheduled to perform and celebrate the season with songs and stories include Dierks Bentley, Colbie Caillat, Katherine Jenkins, Lady Antebellum, John Legend, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Nettles, The Band Perry, and Keith Urban. Jennifer Nettles and children of CMA staffers are the first to donate toys for "A Gift For All."  Photo credit: Karen Hicks/CMA For the first time, audience members are being encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the taping to help make the holidays brighter for Nashville area children. The Nashville-based, non-profit group Generosity, will have volunteers on site with specially marked bins to collect the toys, which will be distributed to families in need this holiday season. “Our artists are extremely generous and so are our fans,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “It is our goal to make sure no child goes without a present this Christmas and we are grateful to our partners at Generosity for helping to make this a dream come true for children in Nashville.” "After working with homeless and impoverished children for several years, Generosity is so pleased to partner with the Country Music Association to collect gifts for these precious ones,” said Bethni Hemphill, founder of Generosity. “With the wide scope of the CMA and the generous hearts of Country Music fans, we know that together we will be able to show love and care to many more children with A Gift For All."  Volunteers from Generosity will start accepting toys Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1:00 PM/CT at the Bridgestone Arena. You do not have to have a ticket to the show to drop off a toy. According to Hemphill, the gifts will be distributed to homeless and needy children on Christmas night (Dec. 25) during a special service held under the Jefferson Street Bridge. The Bridge Ministry feeds these children and hundreds of homeless people every Tuesday night under the Jefferson Street Bridge. Tickets for “CMA Country Christmas” are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or Ticketmaster outlets; by calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, located at 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, Nashville). Tickets for “CMA Country Christmas” are $50 for Club Level and $100 for Lower Level reserved seating. Ticket prices include tax, but exclude applicable service fees. In 2011, the premiere broadcast of “CMA Country Christmas” drew more than 9 million viewers, which was an increase of nearly 23 percent over the inaugural broadcast in 2010. Adults 18-49 increased year-to-year by nearly 50 percent. Not only were initial airings better than in the previous year, DVR playback increased, too. Total viewers who watched the show within a week of premiere increased 2 million viewers from 2010 to 2011 (9.624 vs. 7.663). Full "CMA Country Christmas" show details can be found at CMAChristmas.com. Fans can connect with CMA online at Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic (#CMAChristmas), YouTube.com/CountryMusicAssoc, and Pinterest.com/CMAworld. October is Country Music Month. Learn more at CountryMusicMonth.com, and join the conversation on Twitter using official hashtag #CountryMusicMonth. “CMA Country Christmas” is a production of the Country Music Association. Deaton is the executive producer, Paul Miller is the director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate. About Generosity: Generosity was founded in 2012 by running partners Shaun Daugherty and Bethni Hemphill as a place to fundraise for charities close to their heart, and to volunteer in their community and around the world. Their principal mission is to ease the suffering of others by responding to crisis as well as serving the ongoing needs of the community. Generosity serves a wide variety of local, national, and international charities including Toys for Tots, The Bridge Ministry, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity. Generosity supports programs in American Samoa that work with children and teenagers to better their lives through sport camps, mentoring, and tutoring. Chevrolet™ is the Official Ride of Country Music. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the CMA Awards. Pepsi is the Official Beverage Partner of the Country Music Association.

Dierks Bentley Returns to CMA Songwriters Series in New York

By Bob Doerschuk

© 2012 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

Add caption

Bob DiPiero, Jim Beavers, Dierks Bentley and Jaren Johnston perform at Joe’s Pub in New York City.  

Photo credit: Kevin Yatarola

On Sept. 6, former CMA intern Dierks Bentley renewed his ties to the organization during a visit to New York City. Midday was devoted to a visit to PS 103, the Hector Fontanez School, in the Bronx, where a CMA donation of $20,000 enabled the school to open a music program for students for the first time.

Dierks Bentley performs at PS 103, The Hector Fontanez School, in the Bronx.  

Photo credit: Fernando Leon

To commemorate this first outreach beyond the Nashville area of CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program, the artist shared his thoughts with an assembly of fourth-graders about the value of learning about music – and was delighted when they started singing along as he performed “5-1-5-0,” which they had rehearsed prior to his arrival.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of this, to get a bunch of musical instruments to the classroom so teachers for the first time can have music as an option for their curriculum,” he reflected while on his way out from Manhattan for this event. “I’m really excited to see how all the money that’s been raised through CMA is being used here.”

Hours after receiving his surprise serenade, Bentley was back in Manhattan to participate in that evening’s CMA Songwriters Series show at Joe’s Pub, along with Jim Beavers, Jaren Johnston and host Bob DiPiero. The atmosphere there was a bit different than at PS 103. Certainly the audience was older. But both of these CMA initiatives are about bringing music to people in ways they might not yet have experienced.

“The big goal tonight is just to represent Country Music and CMA, to show all the work that goes into Country Music and provide a wide spectrum of what it is,” Bentley said. “What makes Country Music great, what comes out of these writers’ nights, is the song. We pass along, hopefully, some great songs to people, whether they’re Country fans or not. If they weren’t Country fans before, hopefully they’ll walk out as new ones.”

Most who take part in the Songwriters Series work behind the scenes, writing words and music that singers might turn into hits. Usually, though, at least one participant is a high-profile performer too. For them, these shows provide an interesting contrast to their usual onstage presentations.
“It’s totally different,” Bentley acknowledged. “Before my live shows, I’ll be listening to the Foo Fighters or Van Halen at the loudest possible volume, jumping up and down, going crazy. You have to get ready to go out and fight. Tonight, it’ll be a laid-back hang with the guys. We’ll have some beers, laugh and catch up. Then we’ll go out onstage with that same vibe, sit down on our stools, tell some stories and have fun with the crowd.”
Some preparation is involved, but spontaneity characterizes most of what happens in the CMA Songwriters Series. “There are definitely no set lists,” Bentley said. “You keep some songs in the back of your head and pick what you’re going to do by feeding off the guy before you and setting up the guy after you. If the two songs before you are about whiskey or something depressing, you want to pick it up — or vice versa. That’s completely different from what I do every other day.”

A key goal is to introduce the unsung heroes of Music Row and spotlight their songs as examples of modern Country craftsmanship. But there are performance elements in this setting too, just as on an arena stage. “This is really Bob DiPiero’s thing,” Bentley said. “He’s the top — the Kenny Chesney of writers’ rounds. He can hold the audience in the palm of his hand. Guys like Bob and Rivers Rutherford, they just smoke me every time in these writers’ nights.”

Having played his share of writer nights at the Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner Café and elsewhere as a newcomer to Nashville in the mid ‘90s, Bentley more than holds his own in any live situation — including a roomful of young fans at PS 103. That experience stirred memories of his experiences with music education, at Phoenix Country Day School in Arizona.

“They didn’t have electric guitars in the school band,” he remembered. “So I wanted to play bass guitar, but a guy named Ryan Fox had already lined that up. So I had to go with the saxophone, which was definitely not my instrument of choice. But it ended up being great. I learned to read music and to play along with other people. It definitely planted a seed and showed me that music could be played rather than just listened to.

Bentley thought for a second and then laughed. “I should have brought that saxophone along and donated it today. It might have had more use than it’s getting now.”

Upcoming shows in the CMA Songwriters Series will include Oct. 24 at Joe’s Bar in Chicago and Oct. 25 at Joe’s Pub in New York City; both will feature DiPiero as host, with Kendell Marvel, Leslie Satcher and Sunny Sweeney at both shows. And on Wednesday, Oct. 31, the CMA Songwriters Series debuts at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, with host DiPiero, Kristian Bush of Sugarland and Brantley Gilbert confirmed thus far.

For more information on the CMA Songwriters Series, visit www.CMASongwritersSeries.com.

A LIFE ONCE LOST: New Official Website is LIVE -- Head to www.ALifeOnceLostOfficial.com Now!

 

Stereokiller.com Streaming New Track ‘Empty Form’ Today

 

 

 

On Tour with REVOCATION and KEN MODE this Fall

 

Pre-Order ‘Ecstatic Trance’ Now – In Stores in North America on October 22 and Internationally on November 16 via Season of Mist

 

 

A LIFE ONCE LOST has just unleashed the brand new, official band website at www.alifeoncelostofficial.com. Head there to buy tickets for their upcoming tour, read about current band news, and more! The website launch comes just one week before the release of the band’s new album, Ecstatic Trance, due out in North America on October 22^nd and internationally on November 16^th via Season of Mist.

 

To give fans another taste of Ecstatic Trance, Stereokiller.com is currently streaming another new track, ‘Empty Form’. Head to this location now to stream the track. After listening, make sure to pre-order the album! Ecstatic Trance is available for pre-order in four different versions: jewel case, CD Digipack (EU version), LP, translucent orange LP, and grey mixed LP. Each LP version comes with a poster and dropcard. To take a look at all versions and any other merch items, head to the Season of Mist E-Shop!

 

A LIFE ONCE LOST recently announced a full U.S. tour with Revocation, visiting a venue near you this October and November. Support will come from KEN mode. The tour kicks off this Thursday, October 18^th in Trenton, NJ and comes to a close in Manchester, NH on November 17^th with another A LIFE ONCE LOST only date capping on November 18^th in Amityville, NY.

 

A LIFE ONCE LOST w/ Revocation, KEN mode

10/18 – Trenton, NJ @ The Backstage at Championship Bar (no KEN mode)

10/19 – Quebec City, QC @ Union Commerciale

10/20 – Toronto, ON @ Wreck Room

10/21 – Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar

10/22 – Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge

10/23 – St. Paul, MN @ Station 4

10/24 – Winnipeg, MB @ Osborne Village Inn

10/26 – Calgary, AB @ Vern’s (with tour line up plus Frightenstein and Sub-Atomic Chaos)

10/27 – Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop (with tour line up plus Fuquored)

10/29 – Tacoma, WA @ The Loch’s

10/30 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon – Lounge

10/31 – Portland, OR @ Rotture

11/1 – San Francisco, CA @ The Sub Mission

11/2 – Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar

11/3 – Tempe, AZ @ Rocky Point Cantina

11/4 – El Paso, TX @ House of Rock

11/5 – San Antonio, TX @ Korova

11/6 – Austin, TX @ Red 7

11/7 – Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall (no Revocation or KEN mode, w/ Rwake, Dysrhythmia)

11/8 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (with tour line up plus Aborming)

11/9 – Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah @ Tremont Music Hall

11/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

11/11 – Albany, NY @ Bogies

11/12 – New York, NY @ The Studio At Webster Hall

11/13 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott

11/14 – Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Electriques

11/15 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground

11/16 – Portland, ME @ Studio 250

11/17 – Manchester, NH @ The Paper House

11/18 – Amityville, NY @ Ollie’s Point (ALOL only)

 

 

www.alifeoncelostofficial.com

www.ecstatictrance.net

www.facebook.com/ALOLOfficial

www.twitter.com/ALOLOfficial

www.youtube.com/ALOLOfficial

www.myspace.com/alifeoncelost

 'A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS' ALBUM SERIES CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE RELEASE OF TWO ALBUMS TODAY

Country Superstar Martina McBride Added to Album

 


Photo Credit: Randee St. Nicholas

Photo Credit: Randee St. Nicholas

 

Nashville, TN – 16 October 2012 - The ‘A Very Special Christmas’  holiday music series, benefitting Special Olympics, will celebrate its 25^th anniversary this holiday season with the release of two new albums of holiday music advancing the Special Olympics movement and bringing joy and peace to athletes and their families around the world.

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS 25^TH ANNIVERSARY, BRINGING JOY TO THE WORLD:
Featuring Christina Aguilera “Oh Holy Night,” Francesca Battistelli “December 25,” Michael Bublé “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,”  Cheap Trick “I Want You for Christmas,” Vince Gill “Breath Of Heaven (Mary’s Song),” Amy Grant “Tennessee Christmas,” Jewel*“Angels We Have Heard On High,” Dave Matthews “The Christmas Song (9.18.10, Chicago, IL),” Martina McBride*“Please Come Home for Christmas,” Jason Mraz “Winter Wonderland,” One Republic “Christmas Without You,” Rascal Flatts “Mary, Did You Know,” Train “Joy to the World,” Lauriana Mae, Jono, and Grayson Sanders “Something In the Air,” Jordin Sparks “Do You Hear What I Hear,” and Wonder Girls “Best Christmas Ever”

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS, BRINGING PEACE ON EARTH:
Featuring Meredith Andrews “(He Has Come For Us) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Chris August “Jesus, Savior,” Francesca Battistelli “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” Big Daddy Weave “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” Jason Castro “Gloria (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard On High),” Natalie Grant “I Believe,” Group 1 Crew “O Holy Night,” for KING & COUNTRY “Baby Boy,” Dara Maclean “Bethlehem Skies,” Point of Grace “Labor Of Love,” Jamie Grace “Christmas Together,” NEEDTOBREATHE “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” BarlowGirl “For The Beauty Of The Earth (Nativity Version),” Building 429 “We Three Kings,” Mark Schultz “When Love Was Born,” and Sidewalk Prophets “Because It's Christmas”

“This album series has been a remarkable gift to our Special Olympics athletes,” said Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman and CEO, Special Olympics. Thanks to the generosity of countless incredible people across the music industry, the legacy from the ‘A Very Special Christmas’ album series continues to support and sustain our work to bring the joy of sport to people with intellectual disabilities which in turn fosters a global community of acceptance and inclusion.”

Special Olympics changes lives through the power of sport, as the world’s largest organization dedicated to year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities.

Since 1987, the biggest and brightest voices in the recording industry have generously lent their time and talents to Special Olympics to create the holiday album series ‘A Very Special Christmas,’ the single most successful benefit recording series in musical history generating more than $109 million in royalties to benefit Special Olympics.

Grants from the Christmas Record Trust have enabled Special Olympics to implement programs worldwide, from the United States to Timor Leste, China to Uganda, Cambodia to Haiti and more. In the United States, these funds have also supported Special Olympics programs in urban areas such as New York City, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Each successive album of the series has honored the quality of its predecessors with timeless recordings of holiday music by some of the most influential and talented artists of their time.  U2, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Madonna, Sting, Bon Jovi, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Wyclef Jean, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, No Doubt, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Vanessa Williams and Bryan Adams are among the stars who contributed tracks to previous albums and whose songs for ‘A Very Special Christmas’ have become perennial favorites on the radio and at holiday celebrations over the years.

Learn more about ‘A Very Special Christmas’ at www.averyspecialchristmas.org

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS 25^TH ANNIVERSARY  and A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS: BRINGING PEACE ON EARTH are available for download on iTunes and at retailers nationwide, including Best Buy, Walmart, Target and more.

More about Special Olympics:  www.specialolympics.org
                                                                      

THE COWBOY RIDES AWAY TOUR IS A “STRAIT”AWAY SELL-OUT 

 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ) – George Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour featuring special guest Martina McBride was so popular when tickets went on sale Friday morning that six tour markets sold out within the first few hours—with Lubbock, Texas selling all 15,431 tickets within just 15 minutes.  

 
“I never expected the fans would react like this. It’s just incredible,” shared an ecstatic Strait upon learning the news.  “I really do have the best fans in the world, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all on the road very soon.”

 
In addition to Lubbock, sold out cities include Oklahoma City, Okla., St. Paul, Minn., Albuquerque, N.M., Las Vegas, Nev., and Las Cruces, N.M. In select markets, remaining single show tickets are still available for purchase. 

 
The full list of tour dates is listed below with tickets available by visiting www.GeorgeStrait.com; ticket prices begin at $69.50 with V.I.P. packaging available for purchase.   

 

THE COWBOY RIDES AWAY TOUR – 2013 DATES

JAN 18  |  Lubbock, Texas  | United Spirit Arena

JAN 19  |  Oklahoma City, Okla.  | Chesapeake Energy Arena

JAN 25  |  Salt Lake City, Utah  |  Energy Solutions Arena

JAN 26  |  Nampa, Idaho  |  Idaho Center

JAN 31  |  Sacramento, Calif.  |  Power Balance Pavilion

FEB 1  |  Fresno, Calif.  |  Save Mart Center

FEB 2  |  Las Vegas, Nev.  |  MGM Grand Garden Arena

FEB 15  |  St. Paul, Minn.  |  Xcel Energy Center

FEB 16  |  Grand Forks, N.D.  |  The Alerus Center

FEB 22  |  Buffalo, N.Y.  |  First Niagara Center

FEB 23  |  Hartford, Conn.  |  XL Center

MAR 1  |  Knoxville, Tenn.  |  Thompson-Boling Arena*

MAR 2  |  Lexington, Ky.  |  Rupp Arena

MAR 17  |  Houston, Texas  |  Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

MAR 22  |  Greenville, S.C.  |  Bi-Lo Center**

MAR 23  |  Greensboro, N.C.  |  Greensboro Coliseum Complex

APR 5  |  Albuquerque, N.M.  | The Pit

APR 6  |  Las Cruces, N.M.  |  Pan American Center

APR 12  |  N. Little Rock, Ark.  |  Verizon Arena+

APR 13  |  New Orleans, La.  |  New Orleans Arena*

JUN 1  |  San Antonio, Texas  |  Alamodome++

*On-Sale date Oct. 19, 2012

** On-Sale date Oct. 26, 2012

+ On-Sale date Dec. 14, 2012

++ On-Sale date March 9, 2013 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ELI YOUNG BAND, BRANTLEY GILBERT, LADY ANTEBELLUM, AND BLAKE SHELTON PERFORM ON "THE 46th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" NOV. 1 ON ABC.

Tickets for “Country Music’s Biggest Night™” Sold Out Fourth Year in a Row NASHVILLE – Nominees for “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum, and reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton join the performance lineup for “Country Music’s Biggest Night™.” Tickets for the three-hour gala have sold out for the fourth year in a row. “The 46th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted for the fifth time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Thursday, Nov. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Paisley, The Band Perry, Underwood, and Zac Brown Band.      New to the Vocal Group of the Year category with their first CMA Awards nomination is the Eli Young Band. But it wasn’t the only “first” associated with the group. Songwriters Will Hoge and Eric Paslay, each received their first CMA Awards nomination for Song of the Year for writing “Even if It Breaks Your Heart,” which was recorded by the Eli Young Band. The song was the first No. 1 for Hoge, who is a solo artist in his own right. Paslay also has a blossoming solo career and has penned songs for Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, and Love and Theft. Gilbert received his first CMA Awards nomination in the New Artist of the Year category in 2012 and he will be making his first CMA Awards performance on the three-hour gala. Artists can only be included in this category two times. Lady Antebellum, the reigning Vocal Group of the Year for the past three consecutive years, is nominated in that category again in 2012. The group is also nominated for Album of the Year for Own The Night, which the group produced with Paul Worley making them eligible to receive a second trophy for producing the nominated record. Shelton received four CMA Awards nominations including a shared nomination for Song of the Year for “Over You” with wife Lambert. Only a handful of married couples have penned Song of the Year nominees including “Mommas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” by Ed and Patsy Bruce (1978), and two songs by Sanger D. “Whitey” Shafer: “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” with his third wife Darlene Shafer in 1985, and “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” with his fourth wife Lydia Shafer in 1987. Tammy Wynette and George Richey wrote “’Til I Can Make It On My Own” with Billy Sherrill, which was nominated for Song of the Year in 1976, but they did not marry until 1978. In addition to Song of the Year, Shelton picked up nominations for Entertainer of the Year; Male Vocalist of the Year; and Single of the Year for “God Gave Me You,” produced by Scott Hendricks. Popular singer/songwriter Dave Barnes received a Song of the Year nomination for writing “God Gave Me You.” Winners of “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Monday, Oct. 22 (5:00 PM/CT). Full 2012 CMA Awards details, including nominations and performers are available at CMAawards.com, which also includes CMA Awards history, a searchable database of past CMA Awards nominees and winners, host information, merchandise and much more. The CMA Awards Store has T-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, tote bags, and more official merchandise for fans to purchase online. Fans can connect with CMA online at Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic (#CMAawards), YouTube.com/CountryMusicAssoc, Pinterest.com/CMAworld, and by downloading the free CMA Awards app available for iPhone and Android. October is Country Music Month. Learn more at CountryMusicMonth.com, and join the conversation on Twitter using official hashtag #CountryMusicMonth. The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 11,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was formed in 1958 as the first trade organization to promote an individual genre of music. The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC television for the first time – making it the longest-running annual music awards program on network television. The Awards aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005. The CMA Awards moved to ABC in 2006, where it will remain through 2021. “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. Chevrolet™ is the Official Ride of Country Music. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the CMA Awards.