Music News: 4/1/10

BMI and ASCAP co-hosted a spirited celebration at Cabana on March 23 to honor the four-week #1 smash “Why Don’t We Just Dance.” Recorded by Josh Turner and co-written by Jim Beavers, Darrell Brown, and Jonathan Singleton, the song marks Turner’s third chart-topper and is the debut single off his February 2010 release, Haywire. Pictured are (l-r): ASCAP’s Tim Dubois, co-writer Jonathan Singleton, Crosstown Songs’ Megan Galbraith and Darrell Franklin, MCA Nashville’s Van Haze, Kobalt Music Publishing’s Whitney Daane, MCA Nashville’s Royce Risser, co-writer Darrell Brown, Josh Turner, co-writer Jim Beavers, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, producer Frank Rogers, and BMI’s Jody Williams.

>>Congratulations to RowFax member Dave Tough and JD Dohnal for winning the Grand Prize Country Award Session I  in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The Nashville writers won prizes such as $5,000 in project studio equipment from various brands, a $500 gift certificate from MusiciansFriend.com and more. They are now competing for the Overall Grand Prize Country award. Voting ends April 27 to determine the 12 Lennon Award Winners in each category. Voting is allowed once per category, per day at www.jlsc.com/vote.php

>>The Country Music Association has announced that Fontanel Mansion, the 27,000 square foot log home formerly owned by Country Music Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell, will open to the public on June 1. Fontanel Mansion has partnered with the CMA to offer CMA Music Festival Attendees an exclusive ticket and discount on admission to tour the home between June 7 and 13. Additionally, Fontanel will donate $1 from the sale of each CMA attendee’s tour ticket to the CMA’s Keep the Music Playing charity, benefiting music programs in Metro Public Schools. For details visit www.fontanelmansion.com.
>>Marty Stuart has signed with Sugar Hill Records and is set to release a new studio album this summer. Stuart and the famed independent label have a history together that dates back 27 years, when his first solo album, Busy Bee Café, came out on the label in 1982.