Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest to Marry?

Looks like the wedding bells aren't ringing just yet for Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest. Asked about recent rumors that the American Idol host was planning to propose, Hough, 22, tells Entertainment Tonight with a smile: "Well, that's news to me, and I think it's news to him."

The couple, linked since early summer, have kept their relationship very low-key. But Hough does reveal for ET, in an interview scheduled to air Wednesday, her favorite part of their July trip to Italy, when she and Seacrest, 35, were photographed smooching on his yacht. "Eating, eating, eating, eating," the star of the upcoming Footloose remake says of the European jaunt. "I definitely had to get into shape for this movie after that little trip. But it was amazing."

Hough, a professional ballroom dancer, famously won two seasons of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. The current season is a thrill for her, too, as she watches her brother Derek partner with Jennifer Grey. "Growing up watching Dirty Dancing, she was a huge inspiration to me to be a dancer, to be an actress, to follow my dreams," Hough says. "And to watch her … and my brother dance, it was so emotional, very inspiring, and she just was beautiful and stunning. It was just really beautiful to watch." Thanks to Tim Nudd

Rodney Atkins Named One of 25 Most Beautiful In Nashville

Rodney Atkins is having quite a fall with his mega-hit “Farmer’s Daughter” sitting at No. 5 this week on the charts, a top selling special release Cracker Barrel presents Rodney Atkins, all while being named one of Nashville’s 25 Most Beautiful People by Nashville Lifestyles. Atkins took a break from the studio last night to attend a party last night for the honorees.

“This is a really nice honor,” stated Atkins. “It feels nice to be recognized in this way. And the magazine sure does know how to throw a beautiful party,” he adds with a wink. Atkins joined a few other friends that made the list this year, including fellow artist Troy Gentry.

With “Farmer’s Daughter” heading to the top of the charts and his digital single sales soaring, Rodney is on a full tilt touring schedule, while stopping in Nashville to put the finishing touches on his upcoming Curb Records full length project.

Blake Shelton To Headline CRS 2011 Music City Jam

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® and the Academy of Country Music® have announced Reprise Recording artist Blake Shelton as headliner of the 2011 CRS Music City Jam, to be held Wednesday, March 2, 2011. 

The annual Music City Jam is one of Country Radio Seminar’s premier events and has showcased some of the biggest stars in Country music, including performances by Taylor Swift at CRS 2010, Tim McGraw (2009), Brad Paisley (2008), Toby Keith (2007) and Keith Urban (2006).   

“Blake Shelton is unquestionably one of the hottest artists in Country music today,” says CRB President Mike Culotta.  “His trademark sense of humor and string of No. 1 hits have endeared him not only to his fans, but Country radio as well.  I can’t think of a better fit for this year’s Jam, and I know he will put on a memorable performance for those attending one of Country Radio Seminar’s most anticipated events.”

The Academy of Country Music will once again sponsor the Music City Jam, now in its sixth year at CRS. 

“The Academy is thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with CRB, to host the Jam and bring talented artists directly to country radio,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “With Blake there is never a dull moment, and I can’t wait to see him entertain the crowd.”

Shelton is having one of the best years of his career in 2010, releasing two SIX PAK albums, Hillbilly Boneand All About Tonight, as well as receiving a flood of honors and awards.  Both SIX PAK title-track singles, “Hillbilly Bone” (recorded with good friend Trace Adkins) and “All About Tonight,” went to No. 1.  All About Tonight debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan Top Country Albums chart and No. 6 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, making it his highest charting record to date.  Shelton is the only solo male Country artist to earn more than one chart-topper so far this year on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.  

Shelton’s career thus far has seen him hit No. 1 seven times, including “All About Tonight,” “Hillbilly Bone,” his back-to-back multi-week No. 1 singles “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” and “Home,” his five-week No. 1 debut single, “Austin” and two additional multi-week No. 1 singles with “The Baby” and “Some Beach.” 

So far in 2010, Shelton has won both an ACM and CMT Award and earned four CMA Award nominations, including one for Male Vocalist of the Year. 

 
Country Radio Seminar 2011 is held March 2 – 4, 2011, at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville, Tenn

Famed Nashville Venue The STAGE On Broadway to Open Location in Austin

Ruble and Brenda Sanderson and Brad Sanderson, owners of Nashville’s renowned live music venue, The STAGE on Broadway, have announced plans for an Austin, Texas-based location called The STAGE on Sixth.

The Austin location, to be located at 508 East 6^th Street, bolsters the stature of the historic East 6th Street entertainment district as a world class destination for live music.  The STAGE on Broadway is known locally and internationally as a premier live music venue for up-and-coming and established Country music artists.  Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Bret Michaels and Jason Aldean are just a few of the stars that have performed at The STAGE.  

The STAGE on Broadway has also been the location for numerous music video shoots, including Hank Williams Jr.’s “Why Can’t We All Just Get a Longneck” and Delbert McClinton’s “Lone Star Blues.”  The venue has also been seen in television shows, including “What Not To Wear,” “Nashville Star,” “Gone Country,” and most recently, the major motion picture “Country Strong,” starring Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow.  During Nashville’s Country Radio Seminar, The STAGE on Broadway has hosted “Texas Music Night,” showcasing artists like Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Jason Boland & the Stragglers and many other great Texas artists.

 

As the Sandersons looked for an Austin location for The STAGE, they enlisted the help of the Downtown Austin Alliance. 

“The DAA’s retail team, Linda Asaf and Molly Alexander, helped us find a choice location for The STAGE.  It is in the heart of the E. 6th Street Entertainment District, near great local iconic businesses Esther’s Follies and Casino el Camino, to name a few,” stated Brenda Sanderson.  

Added Molly Alexander, Associate Director of the DAA, “Having The STAGE in Austin will add to the live music mix on 6th Street.  We are thrilled to have a true honky tonk, featuring Country and Western music, finally back in the mix.”

 

Both Austin and Nashville have a strong passion for live music, sharing many of the same musicians and writers. 

“We hope to bring a little bit of Nashville to the vibrant Austin music scene, while opening up more opportunities for Austin’s up and coming new artists to have a place to showcase their talent,” said Ruble Sanderson.  “Austin has an eclectic music scene, and we couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of being a part of it.”

 

Brandon Reineke, formerly of Houston, Texas, will be The STAGE on Sixth’s general manager.  Brad Sanderson describes Reineke as having “a creative and innovative background in restaurant and entertainment venue management.”

 

The STAGE on Sixth expects to be open in time for a big New Years Eve celebration and will be a part of SXSW 2011 and all of the exciting events that make Austin the Live Music Capital of the World.

SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE TO PRESENT “BEHIND THE CURTAIN AT TODAY’S RECORD LABEL” WITH LIVE PERFORMANCE BY ADAM BRAND AT IEBA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5

Sony Music Nashville will present a panel discussion, “Behind the Curtain at Today’s Record Label: Exploring Mutually Beneficial Collaborations Between Those Selling Tickets and Those Selling Music” Tuesday, October 5 as part of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s 40th anniversary conference in Nashville.

Panelists will include Sony executives: Gary Overton – Chairman and CEO, Paul Barnabee – Sr. VP Sales and Operations, Skip Bishop – VP Promotion, Heather McBee – VP Digital Business, Allen Brown – VP Media & Corporate Communications, Moderated by Maurice Miner – Director of Syndicated & Satellite Radio. The panel discussion will be followed by a live performance by Arista Nashville recording artist, Adam Brand.

TIM KASHER TO RELEASE DEBUT SOLO ALBUM THE GAME OF MONOGAMY OCTOBER 5TH, 2010 ON SADDLE CREEK

Tim Kasher is set to release his debut solo album, The Game Of Monogamy, on October 5th, 2010 via Saddle Creek. Recorded this past January in Whitefish, MT, at SnowGhost Music and in his rental home in the small town, the album marks the first time Kasher - frontman for celebrated acts Cursive and The Good Life - has written, recorded, and produced an album under his own name.

The Game Of Monogamy is more of an arranged record than any of Kasher's past releases, filled with theatrical arrangements and lush instrumentation to create his own blend of classic pop. Ornamented with strings, harp, oboe, flute, and trombone, among other instruments, the songs vary in sound from vibrant and catchy ("Cold Love," "I'm Afraid I'm Gonna Die Here") to sweeping and grand ("No Fireworks," "Monogamy"), and from hushed and spare ("Strays," "The Prodigal Husband"), to urgent and fraught ("A Grown Man," "Bad, Bad Dreams"). This moody orchestral pop evokes a 1950s-esque, conservative atmosphere, setting the stage for a dilemma that remains thoroughly modern. The protagonist's arc in The Game of Monogamy spans the wide range of distinctly human emotions tangled up around relationships in a starched shirt society. Call it the score for our collective sexual plight: expression routinely becomes repression in the name of romance.

Kasher enlisted Patrick Newbery (trumpet/keys for Cursive; also of Lacona and Head of Femur) to help with the arrangements, the production, and to play on the record. Friends Erin Tate (Minus The Bear) and Matt Maginn (Cursive) also stopped by to add some drum and bass parts, respectively, and members of the Glacier National Symphony were recruited for the classical instrument parts.

On July 27th, Kasher will headline a show at the Tonic Room in Chicago and perform material from the new album for the first time with a backing band. More solo touring news will be announced soon.

The Game Of Monogamy track listing:

Monogamy Overture
A Grown Man
I'm Afraid I'm Gonna Die Here
Strays
Cold Love
Surprise, Surprise
There Must Be Something I've Lost
Bad, Bad Dreams
No Fireworks
The Prodigal Husband
Monogamy

WME SHOWCASE ARTISTS AT THE STAGE MONDAY, OCTOBER 4

WME will showcase some of its brightest stars at The Stage on the evening of Monday, October 4. The lineup includes: Lee Brice, James Otto, Jerrod Niemann, Steel Magnolia, Chris Young and Randy Houser.

“HOW THE POWER PLAYERS CONTINUE MAKING MONEY”

IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) will present a power panel of industry leaders from each sector of live entertainment to demonstrate how they continue to be successful in an ever-changing economy on Monday, October 4 as part of the International Entertainment Buyers Association conference. Moderated by Glenn Smith of Glenn Smith Presents, power players include: Chris Janese of Gail & Rice, Leroy Shafer of Rodeo Houston, Ralph James of The Agency Group, Lori Otelsberg of Signature Entertainment & Promotions, John Siehl of IAAM and Ed Warm of Joe’s Bar. Paradigm Agency will deliver another great night of artists Sunday, October 3 at The Stage on Broadway hosted by Storme Warren. Don’t miss: Roger Creager, Greg Hanna, Walker Hayes, Jars of Clay, Jaron & The Long Road To Love, Brantley Gilbert, Bucky Covington and WAR!

 

“We have seven of the most diverse power players representing every segment of live entertainment buying, ready to fill you in on how they continuously maintain their success levels ... you won't want to miss this one!” explains IEBA President and Conference Chair, Linda Smith.

Interstate Music Mail-in Rebate

Loretta Lynn Honored by Artists, Industry at 50th Anniversary Event

Country music icon Loretta Lynn was showered with an assortment of industry awards and heartfelt praise at her invitation-only 50^th anniversary celebration, held at Lynn’s Hurricane Mills ranch on Friday, Sept. 24.

The Academy of Country Music®, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® and BMI® each made presentations during the evening’s event.  Billed as “A Tribute to an American Icon,” the celebration honored Lynn’s 50 years in the Country music industry.  Ronnie McDowell presented Lynn with a hand-painted portrait of the legendary performer, and noted Nashville arranger and composer Bill Walker gave Lynn an arrangement of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” originally penned for the television special, “Loretta Lynn on Broadway.” 

Selected media and industry, as well as Lynn’s close friends and family, attended the packed ceremony.  The evening’s activities included a catered reception, media Q&A session and the multiple award presentations, hosted by John Carter Cash.  A performance by Lynn’s sister, Crystal Gayle, followed the event at 9 p.m.

Loretta Lynn answers questions from the press during her “A Tribute to an American Icon” 50^thanniversary celebration.  Photo: © Eric Adkins Photo

Kevin Costner & Modern West to Host Performance and Q&A at IEBA Conference

IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) is honored to present a very special performance by Kevin Costner with his band Modern West immediately followed by a question and answer session led by GAC on-air talent, Suzanne Alexander. The performance and Q&A session will take place on Monday, October 4 in the main ballroom of the Hilton downtown as part of the IEBA 40th Anniversary Conference.

“We are thrilled to have such a renowned entertainer as Kevin Costner not only perform, but spend time with our attendees in an intimate setting. It is a rare, but very special gift to our members, and it will be a top highlight of our 40th anniversary,” explained Executive Director, Tiffany Davis.

Born out of a life-long love of music, Kevin Costner & Modern West is comprised of a tight-knit group of longtime friends including; Kevin Costner (lead vocal/guitar), John Coinman (guitar), Blair Forward (bass), Larry Cobb (drums), Park Chisolm (vocals/guitar), and Teddy Morgan (lead guitar/producer). The band draws their influences from a broad tapestry of American music and beyond, resulting in a cool, rock-western vibe.

The story goes back over 20 years when Costner met John Coinman in a downtown warehouse in Los Angeles during an acting workshop. Coinman was a musician with an intense interest in acting and Costner was an actor with an intense interest in music. Fast-forward to today and you have Kevin Costner & Modern West – the culmination of long-time friends playing original material and favorite cover songs written by some of music’s giants. The first single “Turn It On” is the title track to their recent Canadian release.

IEBA HALL OF FAME INAUGURAL INDUCTION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 AT 5:00 PM

The International Entertainment Buyers Association will induct the inaugural class of the IEBA Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 3 at 5:00 PM in the ballroom of the Hilton in downtown Nashville. The induction will officially begin the organization’s 40th Anniversary Conference, which runs October 3-5. Acclaimed trumpeter, Joey Pero, will open the ceremony and several surprise guest artists will present honors. A cocktail reception will immediately follow sponsored by Romeo Entertainment Group, Academy of Country Music and Variety Attractions.

"There is no better way to pay respect to the visionaries and leaders of the live touring industry than the creation of the IEBA Hall Of Fame. How fitting that our inaugural induction will take place during the association’s 40th anniversary, and will prove to be a highlight of this year's conference," stated Chairman of the Board, Barry Jeffrey.

IEBA is proud to introduce you to the inaugural class of the IEBA Hall of Fame.

Ron Baird

Dick Clark

Charlie Daniels

Barbara Hubbard

George Moffett

Dale Morris

Joan Saltel

Erv Woolsey

Grand Ole Opry

Posthumous Inductees:

Henry Ade

Sonny Anderson

Dick Blake

Paul Buck

Johnny Cash

Danny Davis

Billy Deaton

Dave Douds

Danny Fleenor

John Hitt

Myles Johnson

Bette Kaye

Shorty Lavender

Buddy Lee

Hubert Long

Jack McFadden

Bob Neal

Florine Oler

Wesley Oler

Harry (Hap) Peebles

Don Romeo

Sonny Simmons

E.O. Stacy

Lon Varnell

Lawrence Welk

FREE Online Recording Production Software Training!

Ableton Live Intro, Live 8 or Suite 8 Recording Production Software - FREE Online Training Available! Ends October 31, 2010.

The Dig's October 2010 Tour Dates

OCT. 12 ATLANTA, GA THE DRUNKEN UNICORN*
OCT. 13 CHAPEL HILL, NC LOCAL 506*
OCT. 14 WASHINGTON, DC BACKSTAGE @ THE BLACK CAT*
OCT. 15 PHILADELPHIA, PA KUNG FU NECKTIE*
OCT. 16 NEW YORK, NY THE MERCURY LOUNGE*
OCT. 17 CAMBRIDGE, MA T.T. THE BEAR'S*
OCT. 19 CHICAGO, IL EMPTY BOTTLE*
OCT. 22 DENVER, CO LARIMER LOUNGE*
OCT. 23 SALT LAKE CITY, UT KILBY COURT*
OCT. 25 SEATTLE, WA CROCODILE CAFÉ*
OCT. 26 PORTLAND, OR DOUG FIR LOUNGE PATIO*
OCT. 28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA BOTTOM OF THE HILL*