CMA Artists and Stories

Vintage Country Television Finds New Life on DVD

Ride the Road to CMA Music Festival 2008

• A&R for Hire: Scouting Talent in a Changing Industry
• NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Chuck Wicks
• NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Laura Bryna

A&R for Hire: Scouting Talent in a Changing Industry
By Edward Morris

® 2008 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

As major record labels evolve plans for sailing toward their goals on uncertain seas, and as independents seek to compete with music industry giants, a new breed of entrepreneurs is finding ways to identify talented artists and help find their paths toward success.

Some of these visionaries are dedicated to providing the A&R services that are indispensable yet not always easy to accommodate in ever-tightening budgets. These services include helping a new artist develop a distinctive voice and image, find the right songs to record, do preproduction work or even produce finished albums, assemble support teams and help negotiate recording and publishing contracts and allied legal agreements. Read More...

Issue Date: 12/4/2007   Jack Ingram Ponders Life's Lessons on 'THIS IS IT' NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jason Isbell NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Johns NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Angela Hacker NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Rissi Palmer NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Halfway to Hazard Jack Ingram Ponders Life's Lessons on 'THIS IS IT' By Holly Gleason © 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc. "This world is tough and we all know it," said Texas firebrand Jack Ingram, unapologetically. "Music is my touchstone. For me, songs that turned a line never made me cry, but songs about people's lives ." His voice, raspy from throwing his whole soul at what he sings and then talking about it to anyone who'll listen, drifted off. He didn't need to complete the thought. It was, after all, obvious. The truth is that with his first No. 1 for last year's "Wherever You Are," stints opening for Brooks & Dunn, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley, his upset win of the CMT "Wide Open Video of the Year" for the Top 10 single "Love You," anointment from Mediabase as Most Played New Artist of 2006, and This Is It, his breakout Big Machine Records album, debuting in the Top 5, whatever Ingram is doing seems to be working. Read More...

John Prine and Mac Wiseman Visit the Great American Standard Songs By Andy Ellis © 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc. At Nashville's Station Inn, the mood was festive. A crowd had filled the legendary bluegrass club to help John Prine and Mac Wiseman celebrate the release of their album, Standard Songs for Average People, on Oh Boy Records. But as the sounds of revelry rose in the bar, the objects of this festivity joked and chatted on their own in the dressing room. "Mac," said Prine, taking a swig of bottled water, "I've never attended a release party. Do you know what we're supposed to do?" "Well, I haven't either," replied Wiseman. "But I think we just mingle with folks as they listen to the record. It appears they're gathering some sort of steam out there. I'm thinking about taking up a collection shortly." As the album pulsed through the sound system, Wiseman's sweet tenor and Prine's gravelly baritone intertwined through classics written by Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills and other Country Music giants. Against this backdrop of timeless tunes and exuberant party guests, the two legendary writer/performers revealed how their ambitious collaboration came about. Read More...

New Artists

NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Elana James
By Bob Doerschuk

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

Elana James' self-titled debut is swinging musical proof that, sometimes, a bump in the road can provide the perfect wakeup call. James spent eight successful and well-traveled years as fiddler/vocalist for acclaimed Austin, Texas-based western swing outfit, Hot Club of Cowtown. Hot Club was touring with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson when the decision was made to take an extended break. Right at that moment, Dylan called, and James began touring as a member of his band. Read More...

NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jason Meadows
By Bob Doerschuk

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

America got to know Jason Meadows as the young man with the chiseled good looks, self-deprecating charm and rugged but tuneful voice who made it all the way to second place in the third season of "Nashville Star." But though he looked and sounded right at home on a sleek stage set, bathed in a high-tech halo of spotlights, part of his charm was that sense that there was someplace else closer to his heart. Read More...

NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Kendel Carson
By Bob Doerschuk

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

Kendel Carson, 22, began taking classical violin lessons at 3, started playing fiddle music at 9 and divided her childhood between those two worlds. Though she rose to perform as a soloist with the Victoria Symphony and had a steady gig with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, she felt drawn toward Celtic, folk and Country fiddle, blended in combinations unique to the traditions of her British Columbia home. Read More...

Major Stories

The Wreckers: No Longer Standing Still
By Bob Doerschuk

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

The studios of CMT seemed like an island of tranquility on this late afternoon in Nashville. Here, with lights down low, with exposed brick walls and Oriental carpet encouraging an intimate coffeehouse ambience, The Wreckers - Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp perched on stools and harmonized, for maybe the thousandth time, on the chorus of "My, Oh My."

The crew, working for CMT's "Studio 330 Sessions" program featured on http://www.cmt.com/, captured the weave of their voices, the smiles that flashed between them, the crisp rhythm from Branch's mandolin as it locked into husband Teddy Landau's bass line. The feel was fresh, as if they'd just gotten to know the tune yesterday. And as the last notes rang into silence and the cameras dimmed the picture to black, Branch eased slowly onto the floor and stomped her tingling right foot, muttering, "Come on! Wake up!" Read More...

T. J. Martell Foundation: Music Leads the March Against Deadly Diseases
By Bob Doerschuk

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

You might think that the T. J. Martell Foundation's greatest contribution to combating leukemia, cancer and AIDS is financial.

You would, however, be wrong, according to Tony Martell, the record industry veteran who launched this organization more than 30 years ago and is the Foundation's Chairman of the Board.

"I was visiting Mount Sinai [Hospital, in New York]," he recalled, "and this patient grabbed my hand and said, 'I know about your Foundation. You give us something that you probably don't even know.' I thought for a minute and said, 'What is that?' "And he said, 'You give us hope.'" Read More...

Music Without Boundaries: Country Artists Find Worldwide Success

By Deborah Evans Price

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

The appeal of Country Music extends far beyond U.S. borders, so savvy artists realize the value of developing a fan base abroad. Penetrating foreign territories takes time and commitment, but for acts that have guitar (or keyboards, drums, etc.) and will travel, the payoff can be substantial.

Curb Records' the Bellamy Brothers, who received the 2002 CMA International Artist Achievement Award, are among the most successful Country acts touring overseas, with two European tours slated for this year.

"International touring is a big part of our career," said David Bellamy. "The first time we went to Europe we got a call from Warner Bros., and they said, 'You guys have a hit in Holland!' By the time we started going over there in 1976 'Let Your Love Flow' was rocking. It peaked at No. 1 in Germany for eight weeks. Since then we've done 50 tours."

For the past 12 years, the Bellamys have been represented overseas by Judy Seale, President of Nashville-based Judy Seale International. Seale began working in the international market during her early days with the Jim Halsey Company.

"Jim was a pioneer in getting Country Music overseas," Seale said. "He introduced me to it and gave me a promotion to VP of International. The very first tour was with Brenda Lee. We went to Japan for three weeks. It was a great learning experience and I started making contacts." Read More...

Bristol, VA-TN (February 14, 2007) Officials from the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance announced a partnership with The Southern Ledger, http://stage.southernledger.com/, to provide content in the form of weekly essays, reviews, and other items of interest. Officials also commented that they were examining promotional opportunities beneficial to both organizations, as well as to the community.