NASHVILLE, TN (Country
Radio Broadcasters, Inc.) - Country
Radio Broadcasters, Inc. is pleased to announce the artists confirmed to perform at the 2006 Country
Radio Seminar¹s (CRS-37) New Faces of Country
Music Show on Friday, February 17, 2006. The participating artists are Jason Aldean, Keith Anderson, Jeff Bates,
Little Big Town and Van Zant.
The New Faces of Country Music Show, one of the major highlights of the seminar each year, will include individual 20-minute performances by the five chosen artists. All artists selected for CRS-37¹s New Faces of Country Music Show have enjoyed notable Country radio airplay during the qualification period with career launching singles and represent the standards of Country radio. New Faces artists were selected and voted upon by representatives of the radio industry. Previous CRS radio registrants were asked to select five participants from the ballot as distributed in early November.
Jason Aldean signed to Broken Bow Records in January 2004. His self-titled debut album, produced by Michael Knox, hit stores in July with the first single "Hicktown" getting more adds in the first five weeks on the charts than any other debut single since Gretchen Wilson¹s �Redneck Woman.� The accompanying video got heavy airplay on CMT and Jason was a featured artist on CMT Insider hosted by Katie Cook. Jason co-wrote three of the eleven songs on the album, including �Even If I Wanted To,� �You¹re The Love I Want To Be In� and �She Loved Me.� The hit single �Hicktown� was written by John Rich, Big Kenny and Vicky McGehee.
Keith Anderson moved to Nashville in the late 1990s and regularly played the city's best-known music clubs. In 2002, he won the 10th annual Jim Beam Country Band Search held at the Wildhorse Saloon. That same year, Garth Brooks and George Jones recorded a hit duet of "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)" which Anderson helped co-write. The duet received Grammy, CMA and ACM nominations. In 2004, Gretchen Wilson included Anderson's composition "The Bed" on her debut album, Here for The Party, co-written with Vicky McGehee and John Rich. His own solo album, Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll, featuring the Top 10 single "Pickin' Wildflowers," was released by Arista Nashville and debuted at No 13 on Billboard¹s Top Country albums. Anderson was 2005¹s only new solo artist to land a debut single in the Billboard and R&R country Top 10. His latest release �XXL� has already received national radio and video airplay.
In August of this year, Jeff Bates was named one of Country Weekly¹s Country Music Hottest Bachelors. But it¹s not just his looks that are hot. Jeff¹s music career is just starting to take off. In 2002, Jeff signed to RCA Records Nashville after a recovering from a very dark period in his life. His 2003 debut release Rainbow Man helped garner him a Top 10 hit on the Billboard and R&R charts with the single �The Love Song.� In October 2005, Jeff released his second album, Good People, off RCA.
The vocally gifted foursome Little Big Town made their first public appearance in 1998 at the Grand Ole Opry. Since then they have been busy recording and performing. The quartet began with Kimberly Roads and Karen Fairchild, who started singing together at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Fairchild moved to Nashville in 1994 to work for a booking agent on Music Row. Roads moved a year later. After they reunited, they invited Jimi Westbrook (a friend of Fairchild's) to sing with them and accompany them on guitar. He moved to Nashville in 1998. Through one of Fairchild's co-writers, they met another singer-guitarist, Phillip Sweet, who solidified the quartet in 1998. After moving around to different labels, they finally found a home at Equity Music Group. In October of 2005, they released their debut album off the label, The Road to Here. �Boondocks� is the first single off the album.
Van Zant, the new Columbia Records duo comprised of Southern Rock brothers Johnny and Donnie, hold the distinction of having the highest-selling debut country album of 2005 with Get Right With The Man. Their first single �Help Somebody� was a multiple week, Top 10 country smash, and their follow-up �Nobody Gonna Tell Me What To Do� has all indications of topping the debut. The Redneck Revolution Tour will be the first opportunity for fans to see them perform as a duo, as both are fulfilling commitments with their respective bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special through the end of 2005 and they will rejoin their respective bands for the 2006 tour season.
Ronnie Milsap Honored with CRB Career Achievement Award
In 1998, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. established the CRB Career Achievement Award to honor artists who have been major influences on the growth of Country radio. This recognition goes beyond the creation of hit records, although obviously an achievement in itself. The award is presented to deserving artists to recognize their contributions that have specifically affected Country radio's success. The award will be given at the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Ceremony, Tuesday, February 14, 2006.
This year, CRB is proud to present the CRB Career Achievement Award to legendary Country music pioneer Ronnie Milsap. Milsap, who has influenced the Country music genre for more than 30 years, has earned his keep with top honors. He has won six Grammys, six Billboard awards, eight CMA awards, three ACM and four Cashbox awards, has had an astounding 40 No. 1 singles and has sold well over 23,000,000 records.
While Milsap continues to be synonymous with Country music, he's always been about much more than that, delving into blues, R&B and even a touch of pop from time to time.
The CRB, Inc. has already announced the recipient and inductees for the following awards President¹s Award, Country Music DJ Hall of Fame and Country Music Radio Hall of Fame. Jack Lameier will receive the President¹s Award. Terry Dorsey, Lon Helton and Arch Yancey will be inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame. Jonathan Fricke and Ed Salamon will be inducted into the Country Music Radio Hall of Fame. All of the above awards will be presented Tuesday night at the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Award Ceremony.
Capitol Records Nashville Sponsors Friday¹s Lunch Dierks Bentley and Eric Church Perform
Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has announced the showcase performers for Friday 's lunch at the 37th Annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS-37). The lunch is scheduled for noon to 1:50 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2006 and will take place on the Nashville Convention Center¹s Level 1 in the CMA Performance Hall. Friday's lunch will be sponsored by Capitol Records Nashville and will feature special performances by Dierks Bentley and Eric Church.
Dierks Bentley's reputation as a Country renegade, blending traditional Country with a newer edge, has garnered the attention of fans and critics alike. Consistently ranked at the top of the charts, his self-titled debut CD spawned the hit singles "What Was I Thinkin'," "How Am I Doin'?" and "My Last Name" and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His sophomore album, Modern Day Drifter, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts in 2005 and was recently certified Gold by the RIAA, taking him from talented newcomer to chart-topping Country mainstay. His current single has been No. 1 for the past two weeks.
The Phoenix native moved to Nashville at 19, paid his dues playing the famous honky tonks of Nashville's lower Broadway and from those early days while a researcher at cable network TNN he developed a deep admiration for the Opry and its members. He joined the ranks of some of his heroes recently when he was inducted in to the Grand Ole Opry as the youngest current member. Bentley's long and varied list of awards and accolades includes 2005 CMA Horizon Award nominee, CMT's Breakthrough Video Award, Top New Artist of the Year by Billboard and R&R, Breakout Artist of the Year by Music Row magazine and one of the Top 10 Breakout Artists of the Year by �Access Hollywood.�
New Capitol Records Nashville artist Eric Church will also showcase his talent as he opens for Dierks at the Friday luncheon. The North Carolina-born artist knew he always wanted to be a songwriter and soon began getting cuts, including Terri Clark¹s �The World Needs A Drink.� Capitol Records Nashville caught wind of Church¹s talent and signed him. Once signed, Church recorded an album and the result is a CD that launches Church with a firm identity both musically and lyrically, and gives him his own niche in a diverse Country landscape.
Toby Keith Honored by Department of Veterans Affairs
CRB, Inc. has announced that Toby Keith will be the recipient of The Secretary¹s Award for Outstanding Service to American Veterans. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson will make the presentation.
Keith was selected to be the recipient of this prestigious award in recognition of his consistent and steadfast support of veterans and his many musical contributions in saluting the service and sacrifice of veterans, those who serve in uniform and their families.
The Secretary¹s Award is bestowed to select individuals in recognition of their service to the Department of Veterans Affairs and American veterans. Past recipients include actress Bo Derek, entertainer Wayne Newton and NASCAR driver Richard Petty, among others. Following the presentation, Secretary Nicholson will deliver brief remarks.
Already Announced: Keith Urban Featured Performer for Wednesday's (2/15) Music City Jam!
CRB, Inc. has already announced Country artist Keith Urban as the host and headliner for this year¹s Music City Jam. The concert will take place on the opening night of the 37th Annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS-37) following the NCVB Welcome Reception.
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) and United Stations Radio Networks will sponsor the event.
Keith Urban has sold over 6 million albums worldwide and produced six No 1¹s and eleven Top 5 hits in with just three albums. Urban's self-titled U.S. debut featured three Top 5 hits, including the No 1 single "But For The Grace of God." In 2001, he was awarded the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist Award as well as the Country Music Association's Horizon Award. Urban's double platinum release Golden Road produced three No 1¹s including "Somebody Like You," "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me" and "You'll Think of Me." Be Here, Urban's current release, went double platinum in just under a year and spawned the No 1 singles "Days Go By" and " Making Memories of Us," the Top 5 single "You're My Better Half" and his current hit "Better Life," which is racing up the charts. Urban is the reigning Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year and the 2005 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist.
Urban will invite special surprise guests to join him throughout the night on stage. This will be the second year for the Music City Jam. The first Music City Jam was held last year with Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich and the rest of MuzikMafia. It replaced the Super Faces Show, which was originally a performance by one of the Academy of Country Music award winners from the previous year. The new informal concept of the evening was successful in transforming what was a more formal sit down dinner into a party.
