CMA Close Up News Service
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc
Countdown To 2006 CMA Music Festival - June 7, 2006
By Ryan Noreikas
The 2006 CMA Music Festival is so big it will take an extra day just to accommodate all of the concerts, artist appearances and activities this year.
The Second Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade will be held on Wednesday, June 7, at 2:45 PM , and will feature artists and sports celebrities riding in classic Chevy vehicles and the newest model cars. Participants include Luke Clausen.... Read full story
2006 CMA Music Festival Breaks Attendance Record With More Than 161,000 Country Music Fans Attending - June 13, 2006
By Wendy Pearl
CMA Music Festival set a new attendance record in 2006 with 161,590 people attending the four-day Festival, June 8-11, in Downtown Nashville.
"It was an amazing event on many different levels - from the caliber of the artists and our surprise guests, to our incredibly enthusiastic fans, who traveled from around the globe to be here, and the growing support from Nashville and our surrounding.. Read full story
Aaron Tippin: Family Man and Country Idealist - June 20, 2006
By Deborah Evans Price
It's clear where Aaron Tippin stands. Beginning with his breakthrough single, "You've Got to Stand for Something," Tippin's songs have consistently verbalized solid working class values such as belief in God, family and America.
While some artists find themselves changing because of record company politics or varying consumer trends, Tippin has built a successful career by forging his own path and sticking to his ideals... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: The Wreckers - June 20, 2006
By Peter Cronin
With her background as a successful pop solo artist, Michelle Branch likens her participation in the new duo, The Wreckers, to a "chance to start over at a new school." Sure enough, although their unique vocal chemistry may occasionally bring to mind some classic duos, The Wreckers (consisting of Branch and musical partner Jessica Harp) serve up a brand of Country Music that is anything but old school. Stand Still, Look Pretty, their Maverick Records / Warner Bros. Records Nashville debut, released on May 23, is an intriguing blend of singer-songwriter... Read full story
Kris Kristofferson: A Friend To Freedom - June 27, 2006
By Chris Neal
Kris Kristofferson looks back at the road behind him - and ahead to the future. In November 2004 at the CMA Awards in Nashville, Kristofferson was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. More than a year later, he still can't quite believe it.
"It makes me feel kind of awestruck," said Kristofferson, enjoying a day off from his current tour in Park City, Utah. "I never envisioned that. I figured that might be a little bit of a stretch, to expect recognition from the powers-that-be."... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Megan Mullins - June 27, 2006
By Peter Cronin
Indiana native Megan Mullins began studying violin at 18 months, using the Suzuki method. At 3 years old she won the Indiana State Fair Showmanship Award at the State Fiddle Championship performing "Rocky Top." Soon after, Mullins and her brother Marcus were performing together, eventually appearing on the Grand Ole Opry.
Mullins became Concert Master in the Fort Wayne Youth Symphony at 10 and won the Ohio Grand Champion Fiddle contest the same year. She followed up the.. Read full story
Tracy Lawrence: Loving Life - June 30, 2006
By Rob Patterson
Tracy Lawrence, as gracious as he is hardworking, just has to confess to his interviewer: "It's gonna be a long day, brother." It's springtime, he's home in between dates opening for George Strait and has just taken his daughters to school and wedged in a quick workout at the gym. More than 15 years after he arrived in Nashville in an old Toyota Corolla with a guitar and some very big dreams, Lawrence still labors with the devotion of a scrappy and ambitious newcomer. Lawrence has album sales in the millions and a series of No. 1 singles to his credit. He considers himself a Country Music lifer... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Bomshel - June 30, 2006
By Peter Cronin
Music producer Chuck Howard started putting together his dream female duo with Kristy Osmonson (now professionally known as Kristy O), an energetic performer and talented harmony singer who plays fiddle, acoustic guitar and mandolin. Howard and Osmonson already had several songs put aside for the act before they found its other half.
The perfect compliment to Osmonson revealed herself to Howard during a trip to Colorado. Standing in line at a music event, Howard struck up a... Read full story
Getting To Know Rusty Walker - July 11, 2006
By Gary Voorhies
Radio remains king when it comes to reaching Country Music fans. The business is competitive, with more than 2,000 radio stations in the United States playing Country Music. Many stations turn to independent radio consultants to gain an edge. The consultants help develop listener-friendly play lists, personalities, promotions and programs.
Rusty Walker, President/Owner of Rusty Walker Programming... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Ashley Monroe - July 11, 2006
By Peter Cronin
At the age of 19, Ashley Monroe is already an "old soul" and a seasoned music business veteran.
Growing up just east of Knoxville in the East Tennessee town of Corryton, Monroe was something of a musical prodigy, working a steady gig in nearby Pigeon Forge by the time she was 11. At 13, her idyllic world was turned upside down when her father passed away suddenly and her family went into "freefall." Shattered and in... Read full story
Canada's Jason McCoy Goes Global - May 30, 2006
By Todd Sterling
For the second consecutive year a Canadian performer has won the CMA Global Country Artist Award. Ontario native Jason McCoy is this year's recipient, following a 2005 win by fellow Canuck Paul Brandt.
"I'm honored to be nominated with such world class talent and humbled to have won," McCoy said. A triple threat - guitarist, singer and songwriter - McCoy has built a loyal audience in his home country over the past decade. Sins, Lies & Angels.. Read full story
Country Industry Makes Inroads To World of Sports - July 18, 2006
By Amy Green
Hank Williams Jr. made the question famous, but a growing number of Country artists - Big & Rich and Tim McGraw among them - have moved to "the big leagues" to lend their names to promote national sports events and shows. Artists long have sung the national anthem during pre-game shows - both Brooks & Dunn and Carrie Underwood performed for the last NBA Playoff series of games. And acts have long rendered their own tunes at halftime shows. What's new is Country's more prominent place in promoting national sports. More than a decade after Williams first asked his rowdy question on.... Read full story
CMA'S Joe Talbot Award Posthumously Presented To Industry Leader Louise Scruggs
July 25, 2006 -- By Wendy Pearl
Fifty years ago, Louise Certain Scruggs, wife of famous banjo innovator Earl Scruggs, took on the role of manager and booking agent for the now legendary bluegrass outfit Flatt and Scruggs, making her the first female manager and booking agent in Country Music history. On May 8, this extraordinary woman was posthumously honored by CMA with the presentation of the Joe Talbot Award during a reception at CMA. Earl Scruggs and sons Gary Scruggs and Randy Scruggs accepted the award on her behalf. "With her driving business ethics and ability to see outside the box, Louise significantly... Read full story
Louise Scruggs: The Woman Behind The Banjo Man - July 25, 2006
By John Hood
Earl and Louise Scruggs had a business relationship that lasted a half century and - more importantly - a love affair that lasted a lifetime. It's a partnership that blossomed into one of the most creative, fruitful artist/manager relationships the music industry has ever seen. In fact, Louise played such a pivotal role in her husband's career that the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum made her an integral part of its "Banjo Man: The Musical Journey of Earl Scruggs" exhibit, which opened in March 2005 and continued through June 2006. As the exhibit traced Earl's musical journey, it also chronicled Louise's... Read full story
Popular CMA Songwriters Series Continues At Joe's Pub In New York City - August 1, 2006
By Wendy Pearl
What began as a way to introduce some of Nashville's finest songwriters to New York City in advance of the CMA Awards in 2005 is being extended into 2006 as the CMA Songwriters Series returns to Joe's Pub for four nights of concerts spanning five months.
"These are exactly the sort of inroads we were hoping to make when we launched the Songwriter Series last year," said CMA Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese. "Hosting the CMA Awards in New York generated enormous interest and support for the format and the songwriters are the foundation of that success. What we discovered... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Jake Owen - August 1, 2006
By Peter Cronin
Jake Owen, Country artist, was almost Jake Owen, golf legend. When he was 12, the Vero Beach, Fla., native made up his mind that he would compete with Tiger Woods. "I decided to start playing golf because I wanted to do something with my dad," Owen said. "Once I started playing, I found out that I was pretty good." But a waterskiing accident abruptly ended his professional golfing aspirations. "I had to have reconstructive surgery," he said. "I was so depressed." While recuperating from his injury, Owen picked up an old guitar, and those hours on the fairway with his dad finally paid off. "My dad loved... Read full story
