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Charlie Daniels To Appear on "Legends & Lyrics" Show July 4

Charlie Daniels will appear on a new singer-songwriter series called "Legends & Lyrics," airing Saturday, July 4 at 10 p.m. on local Nashville public television channel WNPT.

The program, which debuted on May 9, pairs legendary songwriters and performers with promising new talent in an "in-the-round" writer's format that features performances and interviews with the artists.

Daniels' episode will also feature appearances from Phil Vassar and Jimmy Webb.

Daniels recently returned from his third international trip to visit military troops in Iraq and Kuwait and is currently touring the U.S. through the end of 2009.

The first season of "Legends & Lyrics" features acts including Kris Kristofferson, Kenny Loggins, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin and John Hiatt, as well as rising artists The Laws, Stephanie Chapman, Corinne Chapman, Jonathan Singleton, Nathan Lee, Mike Musick, Will Hoge and more. Each episode will also include a one-on-one conversation with a featured guest, such Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn, Ray Stevens, Steve Cropper, Cowboy Jack Clement and others.

"Legends & Lyrics" is produced by Nashville-based production company Song-Writers In The Round, LLC. Season one episodes were filmed on location in 1080 high-definition in Nashville, Tenn. at the Masonic Lodge and Shreveport, La. at the Scottish Rite Theatre.

3rd Annual Fourth of July Music City 10k/5k Unites Soldiers and Civilians

On July 4, 2009 the third annual Fourth of July Music City 10k/5k, hosted by Nashville organization I Run For The Party, will be run simultaneously by currently deployed members of the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan. The events will take place in downtown Nashville, Tennessee and at the Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. When pilot and Chief Warrant Officer 2nd class Lori Rinck contacted Race Director, Emmit Martin, the idea for twin events came to full form. Martin stated,"To say that we are honored by the request from our troops would be an understatement."

The 10 hour time difference won't stop soldiers and civilians from competing together for the winning race time. Participants will review results and pictures in celebration of our freedom and a live web-chat before the race. Finishers in both Nashville and Afghanistan will receive commemorative t-shirts, food and beverages. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

The Music City 10k/5k in Nashville, sponsored by the Country Music Hall of Fame will be held on July 4, 2009, starting at 8 a.m. at Hilton Hotel Park in downtown Nashville with children's activities to follow. To sign up today, visit www.irunfortheparty.com or register when you arrive on race day.

The Rhythm at Music Row Sues Condo Buyers

The Rhythm at Music Row has become the latest new Middle Tennessee condo development to sue buyers who try to back out of their purchases.

Rhythm Partners LLC, the Brentwood-based developer of the 14-story, 105-unit condo building that came online this spring, filed suit Friday against four buyers who would not or could not close on their units.

The suits, filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, accuse the buyers of violating the terms of their contracts and ask for the developer to be awarded the full purchase price of the units, plus legal costs. The units range in price from $317,000 to $539,000.

The sour economy, tight lending conditions for buyers and a glut of new condos coming onto the market in the past year have combined to slow sales and create financial headaches for condo developers.

There are legal conflicts with reluctant buyers at several Nashville-area high-rise residential developments.

Bristol Development has filed suit against buyers who pulled out of purchasing units at the Bristol West End in Midtown Nashville. Jamison Station in Franklin has successfully forced buyers to the closing table with suits against them.

Icon in the Gulch, a joint venture of Bristol Development and Marketstreet Enterprises, is also the defendant in several suits by buyers who signed contracts on units there, but claim the developers were deceptive in their promises and their dealings regarding the development.

Terrazzo in the Gulch has also been sued by buyers claiming they were misled and that information was not disclosed properly. Terrazzo’s developer is Crosland Tennessee.

Several local condo developments have been put into receivership by lenders. They include the Braxton in Ashland City, 5th & Main in East Nashville and Rolling Mill Hill in downtown Nashville.

Thanks to Turner Hutchens

Music City Star Train Service on July 4th

The Regional Transportation Authority will be operating a special Music City Star train on July 4. The train will depart from Lebanon at 4 p.m. with stops in Martha, Mt. Juliet, Hermitage and Donelson before arriving at Nashville's Riverfront Station at approximately 5 p.m. The return train to Lebanon leaves 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Nashville fireworks. Tickets cost $10 each, and children under 4 are free. A limited number of tickets are available. The last day to purchase tickets online is Friday, June 26. Tickets can also be purchased with a credit card over the phone by calling (615) 862-5925.

The Bellamy Brothers and the Bacon Brothers Team Up on "Guilty of the Crime"

Legendary Country duo, The Bellamy Brothers, have released a new single and video with The Bacon Brothers, titled "Guilty of the Crime."

"Guilty of the Crime" is currently in medium rotation on CMT Pure and featured worldwide on CMT.com. Directed by Laura Lyness, the video was shot in a single day inside an actual prison in Memphis, Tenn. The video features both sets of brothers and former "Beverly Hills 90210" star Shannen Doherty.

Pictured l to r: David Bellamy, Kevin Bacon, Howard Bellamy and Michael Bacon.

"This song gave all of us an opportunity to do something a little different," says David Bellamy. "We had a great time recording and filming with the Bacon Brothers and feel like we had the perfect song to bring both of our styles together. Having Shannen Doherty in the video was an added bonus, and shooting in a real, working prison gave the whole thing the right look and vibe."

"Guilty of the Crime" is the first single from the Bellamy Brothers forthcoming album, The Anthology, Vol. 1. It will be available Aug. 1 on their website (www.BellamyBrothers.com) and at iTunes. The collection will be released in stores on Sept. 29.

Sell More Digital Music Downloads By Targeting Twitter Users

A recent NPD Group study suggests Twitter users purchase 77 percent more digital music downloads than non-tweeting Web users.

“NPD’s latest music-acquisition study shows that there are segments of consumers who are more actively integrating Twitter as a key tool for communicating and networking,” said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD. “Based on their music-purchasing history, active Twitter users are simply worth more to record labels and music retailers than those who are not using Twitter.”

Awareness increased during the first quarter 2009 to 52 percent among U.S. Internet-users from 22 percent in fourth quarter 2008. NPD’s consumer tracking shows that a third of Twitter users reported purchasing a CD in the prior three months. A similar number bought a digital download.

Twitter users actually purchased 77 percent more digital downloads than those not using the 140-character-per-message social network. Twitter users also were twice as likely than average Web users to visit MySpace Music and Pandora.

“Twitter has the potential to help foster the discovery of new music, and improve targeted marketing of music to groups of highly-involved and technologically savvy consumers, but it has to be done right,” Crupnick said. “There must be a careful balance struck between entertainment and direct conversation on one hand, and marketing on the other.”

Thanks to Music Row

Is Hickory Hollow Mall Ready to Close Its Doors for Good?

Malls have a natural lifespan, as population centers shift, architecture evolves, and shopping habits change. But a sharp recession is clearly accelerating the demise of vulnerable retailers--and some of the shopping centers they inhabit. Plunging sales are one obvious reason. Many retailers are also saddled with heavy debt taken on in recent years to fund aggressive growth. And the credit crunch has made cash scarce for firms that need it most.

To gauge which malls are in trouble, U.S. News analyzed data from Green Street Advisors, an investment research firm in Newport Beach, Calif., that specializes in publicly owned real estate companies. Their data includes occupancy rates, sales per square foot, and quality grades for about 650 of America's biggest shopping centers. The average property in the data set has sales of about $420 per square foot and an occupancy rate of 92 percent, good for an A- grade.

The malls at the bottom of the list earn grades of C- or D, with falling sales at many stores and a high proportion of discount retailers that tend to draw the least lucrative consumers. As a rule of thumb, malls with sales of $250 per square foot or lower are struggling. "It's hard for many retailers to be profitable at $250," says Jim Sullivan of Green Street. And nine out of 10 malls at the bottom of Green Street's list have sales at or below that threshold.

Included in the bottom 10:

Hickory Hollow Mall, Nashville, Tenn. (Occupancy rate of 82 percent; Sales per square foot: $187). Dillard's has left, and other departed tenants include Linens 'N Things and Steve & Barry's, two of the biggest casualties of the recession. Two of four anchor slots are vacant, and the theater recently switched from first-run movies to late-run discount flicks. With a lack of retailers, the mall may convert some of its space to office use. One new tenant: the local police, who recently opened a recruiting station at the mall.

Was Michael Jackson the Hank Williams of Our Generation?

As you've watched the continual coverage on the death of Michael Jackson, you may believe that the media has gone on overload. To focus so much time and talk on Jackson's life and death, putting the spotlight on the outpouring of emotion from fans, it may be hard to believe one entertainer could command this much attention. But if you look back in history at another superstar's life, you'll see a lot of parallels between then and now.

People woke up the morning of January 1st, 1953, to the completely unexpected news that the biggest recording star of the day had died. At that time, Hank Williams Sr was that generation’s Michael Jackson. Of course, back then they did not have the internet, satellites, and the other technologies we use now to share news and information in an instant. But the media covered Williams' life much in the same way it's now covering Jackson's. And ironically there are a number of striking similarities.

Like Jackson, Hank Williams Sr. was dominated by his parents. In Michael's case, he was often physically and emotionally abused by his father, Joe. Hank Sr was emotionally controlled by his mother, Lillie.

Both Michael and Hank had an innate gift for music that was apparent at an early age, yet both were totally unprepared for the dark side of fame. Both sold millions of records and were pop icons. Michael gave us the "moonwalk," while Hank Sr. gave us the saying "Hey good lookin, whatcha got cookin’."

Both entertainers dealt with very public scandals. Hank Williams Sr. was arrested for falling asleep drunk with a lit cigarette in his hand, causing his hotel room to catch fire. His divorce from first wife Audrey was highly publicized, along with being fired by the Grand Ole Opry for not fulfilling his performance obligations. Claims of sexual abuse with a child vaulted Michael Jackson into the national spotlight daily as his court case was covered.

Both Hank Sr and Michael had money woes that forced them each to find the spotlight again. When Hank remarried, he held public wedding ceremonies from town to town to raise money. Ironically, Hank's second wife was Johnny Horton’s widow… a woman named Billie Jean. Before he died, Michael was working on his comeback tour. Right before Hank Sr died, he was just kicking off a comeback tour.

Unfortunately, both superstars had substance abuse problem that more than likely contributed to their deaths. Hank's original problem was with alcohol, but that led to morphine and other painkillers that he used to ease his severe back pain caused by spina bifida. In fact, it's believed that before Hank Sr got into the car that he would later die in, he was given a shot of B-12 mixed with morphine.

During his court trial, Michael was given painkillers, Valium, and other drugs to deaden the pain of the accusations made against him. Now news is coming out that Michael may have been given a shot of Demerol at home before his death. Demerol is a synthetic narcotic - very similar to morphine.

The media and fans have reacted to each superstar's death in much the same way. Of course in Hank Williams Sr's day, news travelled slower than it does now. But in 1953, 250,000 people stood in the streets of Montgomery, AL, the day after Hank Sr's funeral. Right now, people are gathering in Los Angeles to remember Michael Jackson.

Both performers are members of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame - Hank Williams Sr was inducted in 1987 as an Early Influence, Michael Jackson was inducted in 2001 as a Performer. Michael Jackson was 50 when he died - Hank Sr was only 29.

As news spread about Hank Williams Sr's death in 1953, people wept. One service man who got the news while overseas couldn't believe that his hero had died, and he broke down. That service man was George Jones. It's too early to tell how much of an impact Michael Jackson's death will have on a possible future entertainer, but it is easy to see how much of an impact both superstars have had on the world of music.

Thanks to ACC