Music News 8/12/2010

The dates for the 2011 CMA Music Festival are Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, 2011. Four-day ticket packages will go on sale Monday, Aug. 23 at 10:00 AM CT. Fans can purchase their tickets at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also purchase them through CMAfest.com or 1-(800)-CMA-FEST. Ticket prices are based on the level of seating at LP Field for the Nightly Concerts, and range from $115 to $325 plus handling fees. Since the 2010 CMA Music Festival sold out in advance, fans should order their tickets for next year now in order to reserve their place at what USA Today named “the crown jewel of country music festivals.”

“We are excited to celebrate 40 years of CMA Music Festival and Fan Fair in 2011, and look forward to the fans joining us for all the fun,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “We were fortunate that CMA Music Festival sold out completely in 2010 for the first time. Due to this strong demand, we suggest that fans buy their tickets now rather than waiting until it is too late.”

The 2010 Festival attracted more than 65,000 fans from all 50 states and 26 nations. The event was filmed for the seventh consecutive year, and will air as a three-hour special on Wednesday, Sept. 1 (7:00-10:00 PM CT) on the ABC Television Network. Hosted by Tim McGraw, the special will feature performances from Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Uncle Kracker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.

(L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Green Hills Pres. Woody Bomar, manager Dan Herrington, Brigitte DeMeyer, Green Hills Creative Director Bonnie Baker, and manager Mitchell Fox. Photo: Michelle Stephens

>>Americana artist/writer Brigitte DeMeyer has signed a publishing agreement with Nashville’s Green Hills Music Group. The soulful touring artist plays festivals worldwide and has opened shows for such headliners as Bob Dylan, Dan Fogelberg and Marc Cohn. The longtime San Francisco resident recently relocated with her family to Nashville, which she calls her “spiritual home.” Her most recent album, Red River Flower, was recorded in Nashville with producer Brady Blade and features many of her musical heroes including Buddy Miller, Chris Donohue, Phil Madeira, Mike Henderson and Al Perkins. DeMeyer is managed by Herrington-Fox Management.

DeMeyer will perform on the Green Hills Music Writers Night at the Bluebird Cafe at 6:00 on Aug. 26.

Green Hills Music Group opened in 2007 and also markets the music of Steve Williams, Georgia Middleman, Bob Regan, Rick Giles, Bonnie Baker, Paul Nelson, Warren Wilken and J. Fred Knobloch.

>>ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) will honor Alan Jackson with its prestigious Founders Award at the ASCAP Country Music Awards on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. The invitation-only gala will be held at the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville.

With album sales totaling more than 50 million, Jackson is a fitting recipient for the Founders Award, which is bestowed on songwriters and composers who have made pioneering contributions to music. During his 20-year career, Jackson has scored 34 No. 1 hits and won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Country Song for “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” 16 CMA Awards, and 16 ACM Awards. He is a seven-time ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year and a recipient of the ASCAP Golden Note Award. Among his biggest hits are “Don’t Rock The Jukebox,” “Chattahoochee,” “Gone Country,” “Drive (For Daddy Gene),” and “Small Town Southern Man.”

He ranks among other renowned Founders Award recipients, including musical innovators such as Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Smokey Robinson, Emmylou Harris, James Taylor and Jackson Browne.

The ASCAP Country Awards will also salute the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed country songs from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. Honors will be presented for Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year. The evening will feature performances by several award-winning songwriters and artists.