Julianne Hough, Jake Owen, Zac Brown Band Win Early ACM Awards

Julianne Hough, Jake Owen and Zac Brown Band all received new artist awards from the Academy of Country Music on Friday. Hough was named top new female vocalist, Owen was named top new male vocalist and the Zac Brown Band was named top new vocal duo or group.

The three artists will now compete for overall top new artist during the live telecast of the ACM Awards on April 5 on CBS. The winner will be determined by fan voting.

CMA RELEASES MAJOR CONSUMER RESEARCH SEGMENTATION STUDY

The Country Music Association released key findings from its 2008 Country Music Consumer Segmentation Study during CRS-40 at the Nashville Convention Center today. The extensive research project is the foundation of CMA's mission to be a repository for information useful to the music industry, while providing timely education for its members.

"During these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever that we provide value for our members and we encourage them to turn to us as a resource for information about our consumers that they could never afford to collect on their own," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

CMA made a significant investment in the research, which is the largest and most comprehensive study in the 50-year history of the Association. The compelling findings offer new insights into the Country Radio listener and Country Music consumer. The study was conducted last fall, with a follow up in November to better reflect the changing economic climate. The results were culled from a phase one sample of nearly 7,500 individuals; a second callback sample of 1,850; and 10 focus groups from three regions of the country including Charlotte, Chicago, and Phoenix.

"The project is perhaps the most far-reaching and comprehensive study of Country Music consumer attitudes and behavior ever undertaken," said Brian Philips, President of CMT and a member of CMA's Board of Directors. "The broad sample of more than 7000 consumers gives it statistical reliability we haven't seen before. A terrific starting point as the CMA prepares the blueprint for our future."

The study was created to define the Country Music consumer: to identify their behaviors and tastes, to closely examine what motivates them to invest in the artists and music. Once identified, the "Core," comprised of "CountryPhiles" and "MusicPhiles," needs to be nurtured and maximized, while the next group of consumers is developed and groomed.

Leo Burnett Company and Starcom MediaVest Group conducted the qualitative and quantitative research study utilizing their proprietary BrandProspect Segmentation techniques. The Chicago-based company's list of clients and research partners include the Walt Disney Company, Clear Channel, General Motors, Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, McDonald's, Kraft, Wal-Mart, Nintendo, Hallmark, Visa, Best Buy, ESPN, and many others.

Carol Foley (EVP, Director of Research Services for Leo Burnett) and Jana O'Brien (former EVP, Chief Consumer Officer for Starcom MediaVest Group and current Principal for The Right Brain Consumer Consulting, LLC) presented the findings.

"Only the CMA has the scope and perspective to conduct such a major, single-source piece of research that considers all aspects of the Country Music industry yielding a 360-degree perspective on the Country Music consumer and key opportunities for growth for all constituencies in the short- and long-term," said Randy Goodman, Chairman of CMA's volunteer Board of Directors and President of Lyric Street and Carolwood Records.

"I want to thank Consumer Research Committee chairman, Joe Galante, and co-chair David Ross for their leadership on making this project come to life," Goodman continued. "It is my hope that this is only the beginning of the CMA taking the lead in providing consumer information and thus support to our many members."

"It is critically important that CMA take a leadership role in honestly assessing business revenue generators by providing the means for our members to navigate - and in some cases redefine - how they do business as a result of this information," said Galante, CMA Board member and Chairman of Sony Music Nashville. "CMA is committed to routine evaluation of the research and funding additional consumer studies if the need exists."

With consumer insight comes potential industry revenue as CMA strives to identify and define the Country consumer and better understand their behavior and what external forces influence them. The study was designed to examine different segments of fans who presently - and possibly in the future - provide financial support for the music industry.

The approach is three-fold:

1. Isolate, and if necessary, segment current core customers on relevant criteria
2. Among those remaining, segment on most relevant criteria to create various growth potential groups
3. Define and remove various groups of poor prospects

Approximately 2 in 5 American adults ages 18-54 (39.6 percent) qualify as "Country Music Fans," as defined by the study. These individuals further split into two major groups based on current and potential revenue contribution: a small group or "Core," who account for the vast majority of Country Music spending; and the larger group "Low-Funding" who engage heavily for free in the Country Music pipeline, but represent future revenue growth potential.

"The 'Low Funders' don't spend a lot of money, but they do spend a lot of time with Country Music," O'Brien explained.

For the most part, they are who you think they are. Demographically, The Core Country Music user is "a bit" more likely to be Caucasian and from smaller towns. They skew slightly female, but there is no significant age or income difference from non-Country Music users.

What does distinguish them from Poor Prospects is a blend of attitudes and behavior across three key dimensions: Affinity ("I like it"); Engagement ("I consume it for free'); and Revenue ("I buy it").

When it came to "Affinity," consistently across ages and genders, County Music and some form of rock music were the genres the subjects of the study would not want to live without. Country was favored because of the relevance to real life and universal truths; appropriateness for the family; buddies, BBQ, beer, dancing and fun; the outdoors; and its staying power and enduring appeal.

All genres can be mapped perceptually. In perceptual research, Country Music owned an area characterized by meaning and virtue. Rock on the other hand, is largely perceived as provocative and music-based. This helps explain why Country and rock were "can't live without" formats for the Country Music core.

A key learning from this data was that it was important to present new artists in a manner that illustrated their personal ties and commitment to the essence of the genre in order to connect with the people who buy the records and concert tickets in a very tangible and sincere way.

Both qualitative and quantitative revealed a clear hierarchy of engagement in Country Music across predominantly free media pipelines with radio at the top, followed by television, Internet, and print. With 79 percent of Country adopters listening to Country radio it is the pinnacle Country Music connection with an average of more than 24 hours spent listening each month.

They know what they like, and don't like. They like the "free" nature of the medium. They appreciate that it is family-friendly and acceptable for all ages. They like the mood enhancing, energizing quality of the music. And, in general, DJs are a plus. But there are minuses, too, including radio's perceived repetitiveness and limited song list; the general lack of identifying the artists was a frustration; and the number of commercials led to channel surfing or switching to CD or iPod listening.

An aggregate 81 percent engage in one or more TV pipelines to find Country Music, but spend less time doing it - 13 hours a month versus 24 for Country radio. Popular choices include CMT (53 percent); the CMA Awards (48 percent); the ACM Awards (40 percent); GAC (27 percent); and "Nashville Star" (25 percent).

The Internet is reshaping the media habits of Country Music users and consumers with Web access. The key to online engagement is access - for those 71 percent of those who have it, the Internet becomes the central medium. Not surprisingly, younger Country Music enthusiasts are much more likely to have a digital Country Music engagement focus and will undoubtedly carry this tendency into their future years.

Like their interests, the dollar of the Country Music user is spread across a range of revenue sources. The largest percentage still purchase CDs (54 percent). Among Country consumers ages 18-54, 65 percent are "CD-dominant" and 35 percent are "Digital-dominant" based on total Country Music acquired. And once they become "Digital-dominant" Country Music acquirers, they contribute very little CD revenue.

Digital-dominants pay for less than half of the Country Music they acquire with far more unpaid acquisition via CD ripping versus illegal downloads. The percentage of Country Music volume paid for by Digital-dominants is 38 percent, compared to 67 percent for CD-dominant users.

Currently CD copying (piracy) is more prominent than illegal downloads. Thirty-eight percent have borrowed a Country CD to copy compared to 23 percent who have gotten free downloads. "They look at copying CDs as 'sharing' not 'stealing'," O'Brien offered.

Overall, 1 in 4 Country Music supporters attended a Country concert in the past year, which translates to 11 percent of the US adult population ages 18-54. They see it as the "best way" to experience the music. They believe it deepens the artist/fan relationship. There is a strong interest in cross-genre concerts with Country and rock. On the negative side, they felt "ripped off" by the price of merchandise and they were frustrated by unknown or hidden fees that increased the cost of the concert-going experience.

So, who is not a fan? There are three types of "Poor Prospects" that account for 60.4 percent of the American adult population ages 18-54:

1. Disengaged Gift Givers (7.9 percent), who dislike Country Music, but sometimes give it as a gift to people who like it
2. Music Rejecters (34.5 percent), who are not engaged with music of any kind
3. Country Music Rejecters (18 percent), who are engaged with music, but dislike Country Music

"Don't waste valuable financial resources or time on this group," Foley said. "We encourage you to write off the 'Poor Prospects' because this group is the least likely to become Country Music consumers capable of generating future income for the industry."

The industry's "bread and butter" is the "Core." They are music lovers who drive extensive revenue and they can be divided into two groups: CountryPhiles and MusicPhiles.

CountryPhiles skew slightly female (54 percent) versus the average American adult, they are more likely to be married, Caucasian and from small towns. They are passionate fans of Country Music. They appreciate the core values of the format and the artists. And, their commitment translates to both significant engagement time and industry revenue.

"Protecting and more fully leveraging this group should be the Country Music industry's top priority, because even small erosion among this group has substantial negative revenue implications," Foley said. "The good news is that they are not entirely drained as a revenue stream and the study revealed opportunities to generate more engagement."

They engage with many Country Music portals, but less with digital. Only half have home Internet, but many access the Internet elsewhere - at work or away from home. There were three key reasons driving lack of home Internet access: the cost, they had no interest/or need, and their inexperience or content concerns. Fifty-eight percent of this group did claim that they want to have Internet connectivity in the near future.

This group accounts for a major proportion of total Country Music related media hours - especially with radio (33 percent). CountryPhiles claim Country radio as the No. 1 vehicle for introducing new Country Music.

They are very CD/album oriented and are willing to pay for music. More than half (55 percent) believe you really miss something when you only purchase songs rather than the whole CD by an artist. Fifty-six percent believe it is important to support the artists they love by paying for their music.

MusicPhiles skew male (55 percent) versus the average American adult, they are younger, more diverse (especially Hispanic) and more urban. They are extremely hip, high tech, engaged music lovers who happen to include Country Music in the mix. "They like it, more than they love it," O'Brien said.

MusicPhiles are "music ambassadors" who spend as much or more on buying Country Music CDs for others as for themselves. Though heavily involved with all sorts of media, they are not as deeply engaged with Country radio, TV or Web. In contrast to the CountryPhiles, they are much more tech-savvy and digitally focused. They have large CD and digital libraries and their Country Music collections exceed those of CountryPhiles. While they spend less time with Country radio than CountryPhiles, they still cite it as their No. 1 source when it comes to discovering new music.

MusicPhiles and CountryPhiles collectively contribute a significant amount of money to the format, so it was important to look at the impact of current economic conditions on these two Core Country Music segments with additional research conducted in November.

Nearly 9 in 10 CountryPhiles have negative perceptions of the overall state of the economy and 6 in 10 express personal financial challenges. Versus total American adults, MusicPhiles are less intensely negative about the overall economy, and fewer (51 percent vs. 59 percent) express personal financial challenges.

More than half of CountryPhiles claim they are already spending less on Country Music as well as many other discretionary items. "We do not see this trend reversing anytime soon," O'Brien said.

With that in mind, it is important to maximize and grow the potential spending of the "Low-Funders." There are five distinct types of people who have a strong Country Music affinity and a fair amount of engagement, but who fail to generate much revenue:

1. Today's Digital: have some potential to engage with digital content, but are resistant to traditional media and to revenue of all types
2. Today's Traditional: CountryPhiles in training. This group just hasn't made the revenue commitment, yet
3. Classical Digital: Men, very into gritty rock-influenced, classic artists. Operating almost entirely online with weak revenue
4. Classic Traditional: Older and fixated on classic artists. They are feeling "left behind." They spend time with traditional media, but are having declining revenue behaviors because of the impression that there is nothing left to buy
5. Pop Country: Very urban, responding to new, female, pop-leaning Country artists. MusicPhiles in training.

Obviously, "Today's Traditional" and "Pop Country" groups have better revenue growth potential than the other three.

The implications for CMA and the Country Music industry are clear. The Core Country Music target is small (7.6 percent), but dedicated and a huge revenue generator for the business. They account for a major proportion of Country radio listening and they feel and crave a strong connection to the format.

The Low Funding segment is a much larger consumer base (36 percent) with potential growth. They are listening to radio online and offline and are notable and diverse in their unpaid engagement with Country Music.

From the beginning, CMA sought to establish a Consumer Definition as a baseline for current and future study. "With this information, we have a platform for continued growth and an opportunity to layer in additional studies as questions arise and our fans continue to evolve," Goodman said.

This major research initiative demonstrates CMA's commitment to providing actionable, industry-building consumer insight for its members.

"We intend to present the findings in a very direct way and continue to respond to changes in the marketplace," said Genovese. "We want our constituent groups to understand fully the challenges we face and have a clear vision of what needs to be done to find and engage our consumer in a way that will help build a base of revenue."

CMA will provide information from today's presentation on the CMA member Web site, where CMA members can access the presentation and audio files with their member password. In addition, CMA is investigating opportunities and forums to present the findings to the industry and business community at a future date, with more in depth analysis and updated findings. Information will also be included in CMA's bi-monthly member publication CMA Close Up, beginning with the April/May edition.

"Research is always important, but at a time of huge industry and consumer pressures, it is crucial to cooperatively apply resources to strategic research that provides a fact-based foundation to kick start industry growth," Genovese said.

Nashville Green Hour Events

Team Green Flashlight Hike
When: Saturday, March 28
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
What: Team Green is leading a flashlight hike ending with an inspirational view of Downtown shutting off its lights one block at a time. Click here for more details.

Bongo Birthday Party: Flick and Flicker
When: Saturday, March 28
Time: 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Bongo Java & fido
What: Bongo Java will celebrate its 16th birthday with a candlelit showing of Sixteen Candles. The movie will start around 8:30 p.m., when Bongo Java turns out its lights in honor of Earth Hour. This event is free! fido is also encouraging patrons to pop in and enjoy coffee and dessert by candlelight.

DrinkHaus Candlelit Viewing Party
When: Saturday, March 28
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: The DrinkHaus Espresso & Tea
What: DrinkHaus will celebrate by candlelight while waiting for downtown Nashville to go dark. Located in Germantown, the DrinkHaus has a great view of the skyline, and the party starts at 8 p.m. This event is free and DrinkHaus will provide samples to any customer who is observing Earth Hour.

The Musical "Always ... Patsy Cline" Returns to the Ryman

Thursday marked 46 years since Patsy Cline died in a horrific plane crash, and the anniversary provided an appopriate moment for a renewal of her legacy. Officials with Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the home of the Grand Ole Opry at the time Patsy was a member, announced the six-week return of Always ... Patsy Cline, a two-person musical that leans on the singer’s life story and classic songs.

Mandy Barnett, who’s taken the role of Patsy many times, will portray her once again when the production opens April 15. Always features 20 of Patsy’s songs, including "I Fall To Pieces," "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" and "Sweet Dreams." Mandy appeared at the announcement, performing two titles with piano player Tony Migliore: "Crazy" and "Faded Love," a Bob Wills song Patsy recorded just four weeks before her death. Mandy’s clear and powerful voice is similar to the Country Music Hall of Fame member, and she invested the material with some of the same glides and dramatic phrasing that Patsy typically used.

Patsy, WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs said, had "one of the most special voices that ever appeared on this stage."

The Ryman has a distinct connection to Patsy. She gave her first Opry performance at the Ryman in July 1955 after an introduction by Ernest Tubb and became a member of the Opry in January 1960. She received three standing ovations when she sang "Crazy" at the venue for the first time in 1961. The Ryman was also used for location shooting during production on the 1985 biopic Sweet Dreams. Husband Charlie Dick and daughter Julie Fudge were both on hand at the Ryman for the Always announcement.

During the run, the concert hall will also exhibit a collection of Patsy’s memorabilia, including autographed black-and-white photos, the front page of The Tennessean from 1963 with a story about the discovery of the wreckage and the playbill from her final performance in Kansas City. Always ... Patsy Cline will be featured four times weekly at the Ryman from April 15 through May 23.

Taylor Swift Named Host of CRS-41 Music City Jam

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® and the Academy of Country Music® have announced Taylor Swift as the host and headliner of next year's CRS-41 Music City Jam at the Nashville Convention Center.

"I can't think of a bigger star to host the Music City Jam at CRS-41 than Taylor Swift," said CRB Executive Director Ed Salamon. "We're thrilled to have her headline next year's event and continue the tradition of superstar talent that has performed in years past."

Each year, Country Radio Seminar's Music City Jam has showcased some of the biggest stars in country music, including performances by Brad Paisley at CRS-39 in 2008, Toby Keith in 2007 and Keith Urban in 2006. Tim McGraw hosted this year's show at CRS-40.

"Taylor is an amazing talent, and we are thrilled to have her at the Music City Jam in 2010," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. "I can't wait to see what she surprises everyone with. She always has a trick up her performance sleeve."

The Academy of Country Music will once again sponsor the Music City Jam next year. The show is preparing to enter its sixth year in 2010.

Big Machine recording artist Taylor Swift sold more albums in 2008 than any other artist, in any genre of music, and has had singles top both the country and pop radio charts. Her debut album, released in 2006, has been certified three times platinum, as has her sophomore release, Fearless. She currently holds the Billboard all-genre record for most Top 20 debuts in a calendar year.

Taylor won the 2007 ACM Top New Female Vocalist Award and is nominated for Top Female Vocalist and Video of the Year at this year's ACM Awards. She launches her first-ever headlining tour this spring, the TAYLOR SWIFT FEARLESS 2009 TOUR. All shows that have been put on sale have sold out in record time, including one at Los Angeles' STAPLES center, which sold out in just two minutes.

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. For more information about this year's CRS-40, visit the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. website at www.crb.org or call 615-327-4487.

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.

Founded in 1964, the Academy of Country Music is an artist and industry-driven organization that provides the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. The Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards promoting Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

This Weekend at the Opry!

Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner , Ray Price, Ricky Skaggs, Emerson Drive, Jason Michael Carroll, Rhonda Vincent, Del McCoury Band, and many more!

You can also head to the Tuesday Night Opry on March 10 to see performances by Little Big Town, Eric Church, Jimmy Wayne, The Grascals, Diamond Rio, and more!

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® Announces 2009 Class of Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame Members

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® announced the 2009 class of Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame inductees at CRS-40 in downtown Nashville.

Chuck Collier and Gerry House were inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame, and Bob McKay and Moon Mullins were selected as this year's Country Music Radio Hall of Fame inductees. Merle Haggard received the Career Achievement Award and Shelia Shipley Biddy was presented with the President's Award.

Jack Ingram performed "Are the Good Times Really Over" and Emmylou Harris performed "Kern River" prior to Haggard's reception of the Career Achievement Award.

From L to R: Hall of Fame Inductees Chuck Collier (DJ), Bob McKay (Radio), Moon Mullins (Radio), Shelia Shipley Biddy (President's Award) and Gerry House (DJ). Photo: Bev Moser


From L to R: CRB Executive Director Ed Salamon, Jack Ingram, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, guitarist Carl Jackson, CRB President Becky Brenner. Photo: Bev Moser

Nashville Casting Call for Dierks Bentley's New Music Video

Have you ever wanted to be an extra in a music video? Now's your chance! This Monday, March 9th, you have the chance to be in the new Dierks Bentley "Sideways" video being shot at the FUSE Night Club in Nashville, TN!

If you are interested, please gather some of your friends and come on down to Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Follow the instructions below so you have a better chance of making it in the video.

Date: Monday, March 9th, 2009

Call Time: 12 (noon) - 10PM (if selected you must stay this entire time)

Location: Opryland Hotel- Magnolia Lobby

Parking: Look for signs for self free parking

Wardrobe: Nighttime, upscale club look

Girls: Shorts, skirts, jeans, black pants. Please bring a few changes to pick from. We'd love to see you dressed in "country cool".

Guys: No white shirts, No t-shirts unless it's designer, NO logo's on shirts or hats, colored or black shirts with collars are fine to wear. We'd also love to see some guys dressed in "country cool" attire!

Bring a few wardrobe changes with you to the shoot!

**IMPORTANT** - Please be advised that not everyone will be picked to be in the video. And anyone who is selected is not guaranteed face-time in the video.

Come on out with your friends this Monday! Be dressed and ready to party with Dierks in his video!

Let them know you're comin' by emailing them. Click Here to email them and include "Sideways Video Shoot" in the subject line.

Ray Price Comes to the Country Music Hall of Fame

Join Ray Price as he discusses Hank Williams in a special program hosted by WSM personality Eddie Stubbs on March 7, 2009 at 1:30 PM inside the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Ray Price considered Hank Williams a mentor and close friend. The two Country Music Hall of Fame members roomed together in a Nashville house in 1952. Williams garnered Price his first invitation to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, and the two co-wrote a song, “Weary Blues (from Waiting).” They planned to meet for lunch in Ohio on New Year’s Day, 1953, but Williams died the previous evening. To this day, Price includes a Williams song in every performance, as a tribute to the man he feels he owes so much.

New Category and Voting Procedures Instituted for the Country Music Hall of Fame

The Country Music Association is instituting new category and voting procedures for coveted entry into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Three new members will continue to be inducted every year, with one each coming from the new categories, which will be renamed and defined as follows beginning with the 2010 ballots:

Modern Era: An artist becomes eligible for induction in this category 20 years after they first achieve national prominence. They will remain eligible for that category for the next 25 years. This replaces the former “Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present” category.

Veterans Era: An artist becomes eligible for induction in this category 45 years after they first achieve national prominence. This combines the former “Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975″ (which was voted on annually) and “Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War II” (which was voted on every third year in rotation) categories into one.

Rotating Categories: The third slot will continue to be a rotating category, with each group in the spotlight every third year. The Recording and/or Touring Musician and Non Performer slots will remain, joined by a new Songwriter category.

“In the past, songwriters and industry executives shared the same category that rotated every three years,” explains Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “With these new changes, the songwriters and non-performers now have their own rotating categories. This allows these talented and influential men and women a more frequent opportunity to join this intimate fraternity.”

CURSIVE AND SADDLE CREEK OFFER FANS SPECIAL PRICING PROMOTION LEADING UP TO THE MARCH 10TH RELEASE DATE

Saddle Creek and Cursive began offering the band's new album Mama, I'm Swollen as a digital download for only $1 through the Saddle Creek website, launching a special promotion to allow fans to buy the album early at a lower cost. For the next eight days, the new album will be available as a digital download at a pro-rated price that will increase by $1 each day (i.e., the price is $2 on March 2nd, $3 on March 3rd, $4 on March 4th, etc.). When the record hits stores on March 10th, the digital album will then remain at the regular price of $9.

The band will be on the road during March, playing eight shows around the release of Mama, I'm Swollen and leading up to multiple performances at SXSW.

Cursive will also make their national television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman on Friday March 13th.

Last week, Cursive debuted two tracks from Mama, I'm Swollen online - "From The Hips" and "I Couldn't Love You" - which Stereogum deemed "an anti-intellectual think piece" and "insanely catchy, wild-eyed '80s pop...rad", respectively. "From The Hips" is currently available for a free mp3 download here.

Saddle Creek also has CD and deluxe LP physical editions of Mama, I'm Swollen available. These include a download card for additional bonus music and videos, varying artwork with handwritten lyrics by Cursive frontman Tim Kasher, and an instant MP3 download of the record. For more information on these album versions, please visit the Saddle Creek website.

Cursive March tour dates:

MAR. 9 BROOKLYN, NY MUSIC HALL of WILLIAMSBURG (sold-out)
MAR. 10 NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM (sold-out)
MAR. 12 LOS ANGELES, CA SPACELAND (sold-out)
MAR. 13 LOS ANGELES, CA THE TROUBADOUR (sold-out)
MAR. 14 SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH (sold-out)
MAR. 15 PHOENIX, AZ RHYTHM ROOM
MAR. 16 ALBUQUERQUE, NM THE LAUNCHPAD
MAR. 18 SAN ANTONIO, TX WHITE RABBIT

CMT debuts Radio Live with Cody Alan

Country cable channel CMT is making a foray into radio this week when it debuts a new syndicated program, Radio Live with Cody Alan.

The show airs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. weeknights and it launches Monday in 58 markets. Radio Live features a mix of country songs, interviews and performances. It also serves as a location for event coverage from venues such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where CMT is sponsoring live in-store performances.

The first show aired last night with TV host Jimmy Fallon of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as a guest. Today’s show will feature Dolly Parton, followed by Reba McEntire on Wednesday, Taylor Swift on Thursday and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers and Clint Black on Friday.

Nashville listeners can hear the show on 95.5 WSM-FM “The Wolf.”

Nashville Gears Up For 40th Anniversary Celebration of Country Radio Seminar

Mark your calendar this week to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Country Radio Seminar in downtown Nashville, the preeminent annual event for country music radio industry personnel.

Who: Country music radio industry executives, artists and employees from all across the country

What: The 40th anniversary of Country Radio Seminar, the annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas within the country music industry

When: Wednesday, March 4 through Friday, March 6, 2009

Where: The Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

This year's CRS-40 boasts an impressive lineup of educational panels, talented speakers and performances from some of the hottest names in country music.

"Although there is no denying that our nation's economy affects the country radio industry greatly, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. feels that the 40th anniversary of CRS continues to offer exceptional value to our attendees. We have created a good balance of education, entertainment and networking opportunities, the importance of which cannot be overstated in our industry," says CRB Executive Director Ed Salamon.

A streamlined agenda of panels, performers and events at this week's CRS-40 follows below.

Tuesday, March 3:
The Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame events unofficially mark the beginning of CRS each year. The Hall of Fame Cocktail Party begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. The Dinner and Induction Ceremony follows at 6 p.m. This year's 2009 inductees are Chuck Collier and Gerry House (DJ Hall of Fame) and Bob McKay and Moon Mullins (Radio Hall of Fame). Merle Haggard will receive the Career Achievement Award and Shelia Shipley Biddy will be presented the President's Award.

Wednesday, March 4:
Wednesday's events kick off at 9 a.m. with the Opening Ceremonies and Award Presentation. The keynote address, delivered by marketing expert Seth Godin, will follow at 10 a.m. in the Performance Hall, with the Motivational Speaker/Life Coach panel at 11:15 a.m. This year's speaker will be former No. 1 country artist Sylvia Hutton.

New label Golden Music will sponsor Wednesday's luncheon, featuring performances by Benton Blount and Williams Riley. The previously scheduled morning Artist Radio Taping Session (sponsored by SESAC) will now be combined with the afternoon A.R.T.S. panel. As a result, the afternoon session will be extended by one hour (2:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.).

Performers at ASCAP's KCRS Live! will include artists and songwriters Jimmy Wayne, Kelley Lovelace, Ashley Gorley and Jonathan Singleton. The popular Music City JamTM (7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall) will be hosted this year by Tim McGraw and sponsored by the Academy of Country Music.

Additionally, two educational panels will be featured Wednesday afternoon: "Country Radio As Seen Through The PPM Lens," sponsored by Arbitron, and "Back to the Future: 1969-2049."

Thursday, March 5:
Designated as Music Industry Town Meeting Day, single day registration for Thursday's activities may be purchased on-site for $265. The day's agenda includes the return of the Tech Track and Small Market Track panels. Tech Track panels include "Spinning a Web" and "40 New Media Ideas." Small Market panels include "Come Hell or High Water: Disaster Preparedness," "You're a PD, Now What?" and "Champagne Production on a Beer Budget." Sixteen panels will be offered in all during the day between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Thursday's events begin at 9 a.m. with The Country Music Association revealing the results of its 2008 Country Music Consumer Segmentation Study, conducted by Leo Burnett Co. and Starcom MediaVest Group. Sony Music Nashville's luncheon (noon - 1:50 p.m.) will feature performances by Miranda Lambert and Jake Owen. At 4:10 p.m. Bobby Pinson, Paul Overstreet, Josh Turner and Jamey Johnson will perform during WCRS Live! (sponsored by BMI and Country Aircheck).

Friday, March 6:
Friday is Radio Sales Day. Single day registration, including entrance to the New Faces of Country Music Show®, is available for $370 on-site. Friday's events will kick-off with the Managers' Breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by CRS-40's second research study, which will present findings from the Edison Research / CRB National Country P1 Study 2009 at 10 a.m.

Panels during the day will focus on important topics that affect the Country Radio format, such as consumer habits, promotional and research ideas, voicetracking and tools to increase sales. Prominent sales panels include "20 Ideas Even a PD Would Love," "PPM! Selling the Country Format," "What's NTR Got To Do With It?" "Creative Closing" and "A Car Dealer Tells All About Advertising." More than a dozen panels will be offered during Friday's activities.

Friday's luncheon, sponsored by Capitol Nashville, will feature performances from Darius Rucker and Little Big Town. Also during lunch, Operation Troop Aid, a non-profit charity organization, will send 500 care packages from CRS-40 to deployed U.S. troops. Packages will contain phone cards, MP3s, beef jerky, trail mix, hand wipes, hand sanitizer, cookies, candy, granola bars, toiletry items and thank you letters. At 4:10 p.m., Barbara Mandrell will interview Kix Brooks during the Life of a Legend series.

One of Country Radio Seminar's most popular events, The New Faces of Country Music Show and Dinner (sponsored by R&R and CMA) starts at 6:30 p.m. with performances from Lady Antebellum, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, Chuck Wicks and The Zac Brown Band. CRS-40 will then officially close with the unique 40th Anniversary Jam: A Musical Thanks to Radio, to be held at Cadillac Ranch and sponsored by DigitalRodeo.com. Artists will cover their favorite radio hits from the last 40 years, featuring performances by Emerson Drive, Andy Griggs, Julianne Hough, Jamie O'Neal, James Otto, Blake Shelton, Jimmy Wayne, Chuck Wicks, Mark Wills and Darryl Worley, among others.

A new CRS documentary can be seen during the three-day seminar at the Renaissance and Hilton hotels in downtown Nashville. The film, produced by Art Vuolo and titled WCRS-TV, chronicles various CRS highlights over the last 21 years.

CRS-40 will be held March 4-6, 2009 at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Detailed seminar information and a full agenda can be found online at www.CRB.org. On-site registration is still available for $699 and may be purchased at the Convention Center.

Country Artist Adam Gregory to Perform at CRS-40 New Faces Cocktail Reception

Rising country artist Adam Gregory will perform at this year's New Faces of Country Music® Cocktail Reception at CRS-40 on Friday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m.

The 45-minute event, sponsored by Big Machine/NSA/Midas Records, will take place outside the CMA Performance Hall in the Convention Center, immediately prior to the New Faces of Country Music® Dinner and Show at 6:30 p.m.

"Last year was Adam's first CRS experience," says Gregory's manager Lawrence Mathis. "At that time, we were promoting his debut U.S. single, 'Crazy Days,' and this year we're here promoting 'What It Takes.' In the last twelve months, we've been out on the road pretty much non-stop, and we've made a ton of new friends at country radio who have helped push both of those singles into the Top 40. 'What It Takes' continues to climb the charts, and we're excited about seeing some of those familiar faces, saying thanks and performing at CRS-40."

Gregory has been chosen as Clear Channel's Online Featured Artist of the Month for March and was previously named one of their Online Artists to Watch this past fall. Clear Channel's featured artist programs run on more than 400 Clear Channel sites nationwide.

Currently, Gregory is out on the road through the end of March on his "What It Takes 2009" tour, playing club shows and making special appearances at events in conjunction with Nashville-based charity organization Soles4Souls.

Clint Black Latest Country Star to Appear on Celebrity Apprentice

Last season, country star Trace Adkins appeared on NBC's hit show Celebrity Apprentice, going all the way to the finale, and ending the show as the runner-up to Piers Morgan. This season, Celebrity Apprentice gets a little country once more as country star Clint Black will appear on the show.

The show debuts on Sunday, March 1 at 9:00 pm ET/PT. The first episode features the teams trying to sell as many cupcakes as possible in New York City. Project leader for the men is former NFL player Herschel Walker, while Joan Rivers leads the women's team.

Watch a clip of Clint explaining why he believes he will win it all because of his "lucky hat."

Thanks to Shelly Fabian