Roots Music Report

Miller Williams, the father of singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, has died.  The prolific writer and teacher has died Thursday night (Jan. 1) at a hospital in Fayetteville of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Williams was a longtime professor at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He helped found the university's publishing arm, the University of Arkansas Press, in 1980, and directed it for almost 20 years. He has written, translated or edited more than 30 books, including a dozen poetry... Read More

Taylor Swift’s 1989 was 2014’s most-discussed album release, similar to the buzz Beyoncé’s surprise self-titled album received in 2013. The numbers show that 1989 deserved the attention, in the last week of 2014 it became the top-selling album of 2014 in the United States. According to Soundscan data, Swift’s album sold 3.66 million copies. The album has only been out for nine weeks, but it narrowly beat out Disney’s Frozen soundtrack sales (the... Read More

Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Dickens, the Grand Ole Opry's most beloved and diminutive ambassador, died Friday at a Nashville area hospital. He was 94. Mr. Dickens starred for decades on the "Opry," where he was a vital part of the scene both onstage and backstage. His dressing room was an essential stop for performers on the show, and it was there that he held court for a variety of artists, some of whom came to the Opry more than a half century after Mr. Dickens' 1948 debut. He remained a vital performer... Read More

You Tube's most viewed music videos released in 2014 1) Katy Perry - "Dark Horse" - 715,803,197 2) Enrique Iglesias- "Bailando (Espanol)" - 587, 653, 823 3) Shakira - "Can't Remember to Forget You ft. Rihanna" - 442, 424, 676 4) Shakira - "La La La (Brazil 2014)" - 417, 921, 827 5) Jason Derulo - "Wiggle ft Snoop Dogg" - 400, 095, 326 6) Iggy Azalea - "Fancy (Explicit) ft Charli XCX" - 389, 794, 386 7) Sia - "Chandelier (Official Video)" - 369, 018, 399 8)... Read More

Posted Tuesday, December 30th 2014 @ 1pm   Another day, another list featuring King George reigning at the top. StubHub has released its year-end rundown of the highest ticket sales on tour in 2014, and George Strait represented the country crowd at No. 2. The iconic country hit maker and his farewell The Cowboy Rides Away Tour was bested on the list only by British boy band One Direction. Meanwhile, Luke Bryan lands at the No. 3 spot due to the 1.7 million fans who attended his concerts this... Read More

12/30/2014 1. Taylor Swift - 1989 - 483.000 2. Ed Sheeran - X - 387.000  3. AC/DC - Rock Or Bust - 364.000  4. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour - 277.000  5. One Direction - Four - 265.000  6. Nicki Minaj - The Pinkprint - 245.000  7. Pentatonix - That's Christmas To Me - 234.000  8. Tohoshinki (Dong Bang Shin Ki) - With - 233.000  9. Pink Floyd - The Endless River - 233.000  10. Michael Bublé - Christmas - 210.000  11. Soundtrack - Frozen - 182.000  12. D'Angelo... Read More

Joe Cocker Dead At 70 Very sad news breaking today as Joe Cocker, one of the most recognizable voices in music history, has passed away at 70. Cocker’s agent Barrie Marshall confirmed his passing to the BBC stating that he was “simply unique” and “it will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”  iTV.com is reporting that Cocker’s cause of death was due to lung cancer. Born in Sheffield, England in 1944, Cocker started out singing... Read More

For a list of all nominees, please visit: http://www.grammy.com/nominees. The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences 57th Annual GRAMMY® Awards nominees (born-or-based in Texas) for recordings released during the eligibility year October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014: Pepe Aguilar (San Antonio) Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) for Lastima Que Sean Ajenas Beyoncé (Houston) Album of the Year for Beyoncé Best R&B Performance for Drunk In Love (featuring Jay Z) Best R&B... Read More

Download PDF 1. RECORD OF THE YEAR Fancy   Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX The Arcade & The Invisible Men, producers; Anthony Kilhofler & Eric Weaver, engineers/mixers; Miles Showell, mastering engineer Track from: The New Classic Label: Def Jam Recordings Chandelier   Sia Greg Kurstin & Jesse Shatkin, producers; Greg Kurstin, Manny Marroquin & Jesse Shatkin, engineers/mixers; Emily Lazar, mastering engineer Track from: 1000 Forms Of... Read More

Frankie Ballard, Sam Hunt, Maddie & Tae, Eric Paslay and Cole Swindell chosen to perform at show, held on Feb. 27, 2015   (Nashville, Tenn. – Dec. 1, 2015) – Country Radio Seminar officials have announced the CRS 2015 New Faces of Country Music Show performers. The five acts to appear are Frankie Ballard (Warner Bros./WAR), Sam Hunt (MCA), Maddie & Tae (Dot), Eric Paslay... Read More

LOCASH Signs to Label; Key Team Members Announced What do you get when you take one of Nashville’s biggest all-star lineups of music professionals and partner them up with one of the hardest working acts in the business? You call that Reviver Records, which opens up its’ Nashville operation today.   Longtime music industry executive David Ross will lead the team at Reviver as President/CEO. With a career history that began at Alpha Distributors and has flourished over the years with stops at S*... Read More

WORLD'S TOP 20 BEST-SELLING ALBUMS THIS WEEK  1. One Direction- Four - 881.000  2. Taylor Swift - 1989 - 315.000  3. Pink Floyd - The Endless River - 213.000  4. Nickelback - No Fixed Address - 162.000  5. Johnny Hallyday Officiel - Rester Vivant - 138.000  6. Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways - 117.000  7. Pentatonix - That's Christmas To Me - 108.000  8. Ed Sheeran - X platina.gif - 97.000  9. SAM... Read More

Trio Set to Perform at Charlie Daniels & Friends Christmas for Kids Concert this Monday at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 22, 2014) – There’s an old saying about there being strength in numbers. Country Music fans will no doubt find that out with the upcoming tour that teams up three of Country Music’s most distinctive stylists of the past two decades – Ty Herndon, Andy Griggs, and Jamie O’Neal. Separately, the numbers don’t lie – and together, they are... Read More

published by Bob Cherry  Three more board members of the International Bluegrass Music Association have tendered their resignations. Brian Smith, Henri Deschamps and Elizabeth Wightman joined others who have earlier submitted letters of resignation including Executive Director Nancy Cardwell, Craig Ferguson and Dwight Worden. Board Chairman Jon Weisberger had also offered to resign however the recent board vote was to not accept that resignation. Resigning members have offered differing... Read More

  RED DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCES LIMITED EDITION VINYL RELEASES AVAILABLE FOR BLACK FRIDAY   Twenty-Three Limited Edition Vinyl Releases Available November 28 To Include The Lone Bellow "When You Go" 7" Single KORN KORN 20th Anniversary LP Gov't Mule Stoned Side Of The Mule, Vol. 1 LP (November 12, 2014 - New York, NY) - RED... Read More

BUDDY LEE ATTRACTIONS BOOSTS TALENT ROSTER WITH FOUR STELLAR NEW ACTS IN COUNTRY AND BLUEGRASS Kristen Kelly, Lower 40, Ralph Stanley II & Judge Talford Sign Exclusive Deals NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 12, 2014) – Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc. (BLA) continues to substantiate its knack to seek and sign superb talent to attract audiences of all genres. Owner/CEO Donna Lee has just announced the agency’s most recent additions to the BLA roster including national recording artist Kristen Kelly, country group Lower 40 and the... Read More

Rounder Signs Renowned Roots Musician and Composer Pokey LaFarge   Nashville, TN – November 12, 2014 - Rounder Records is pleased to announce the signing of acclaimed musician, songwriter, bandleader, and roots music preservationist Pokey LaFarge.   After spending the better part of 2014 on a world tour that took his band across the United States, Europe, India, Australia, and New Zealand, LaFarge and noted producer Jimmy Sutton have been putting the finishing touches on his new studio album, which is the follow-up to... Read More

  Nashville, TN (November 12, 2014)-RPR Media, a Nashville-based public relations company, launched the very first episode of the newly created web series yesterday via their YouTube channel.  The new series titled “Reed All About It” is hosted by owner and senior publicist Brandy Reed who is well known for her work alongside musicians/artists from Texas and Oklahoma for over a decade.  “Reed All About It” is a carefully crafted news segment that... Read More

The RMR charts will now generate every... Read More

"Outlaw Country's Real Deal" - Wall Street Journal    “A haunting, burning, world-weary tour de force on the ways of the world” —UNCUT   “Arguably his most fully realized album in a 50-plus-year career.” —ESQUIRE     NPR Morning Edition Feature Rolling Stone Feature   Texas Monthly Feature   Wall Street Journal... Read More

By BEN SISARIO OCT. 29, 2014  NY Times  Irving Azoff Launches 'Global Music Rights' to take on ASCAP and BMI Global Music Rights has lured clients with the promise that it can wring royalties that are as much as 30 percent higher from radio stations and online outlets than they can get through ASCAP or BMI, according to three people with knowledge of the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity.  The management of performing rights ? how royalties are paid when songs are played on the radio, streamed... Read More

WCOM FM becomes the latest reporting radio station to the Roots Music Report radio airplay charts.  Thanks for reporting and thanks for playing the... Read More

Rarely in life do we get to honor someone whose singing style ushered in a new way to do it. Ray Price passed away Dec 16, 2013, and Country’s Family Reunion is honoring Ray’s memory by getting together those who knew him best with a CFR Ray Price Tribute. Janie Price, Ray’s widow, joins Bill Anderson and a room full of Ray’s friends, band members and Country artists who all paid tribute to his songs, his style and his life. Here are some of the people who came to the taping: Johnny Bush,... Read More

Scott Dean Announces October 27 Release of Full-length Debut,"All Over Again" "In My Arms" Single At Radio Now Through Dave Smith Promotions   Dallas, Texas (October 21, 2014) - Scott Dean is pleased to announce that  ALL OVER AGAIN, the full-length album featuring his fourth radio single "In My Arms,"* is scheduled to be released on October 28, 2014. A collection of nine original songs, a standout remake of the Buddy Alan Owens classic "A Whole Lot of Something" (which... Read More

Roots Music Reports, Shane Cody Bartosh has been officially named Music Director at KZMU FM 90.1 & 106.7. Covering the following areas. Moab, Monticello, Castle Valley, La Sal, Thompson Springs, Crescent Junction and Green River, Utah. He will now be selecting which new music releases will be added to the stations playlist.  Att: Radio Promoters and Artists.  Call times are every Monday between 10am till 2pm MST. Phone... Read More

HBO will begin marketing a streaming version of its service next year, CEO Richard Plepler told an investor conference, saying that the "stand-alone over-the-top" version will not require a pay-TV subscription. He provided no other details except to say that HBO would link with "current partners" and possibly others for the Web-only service. Time Warner has come under pressure from investors to unlock more value from... Read More

Nashville, TN (October 09, 2014) -- Trailblazing musician Dr. Ralph Stanley has been elected a fellow in the humanities and arts category of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in a class that also includes actor and director Al Pacino, novelists John Irving and Annie Proulx, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and oceanographer and discoverer of the Titanic, Robert Ballard, among others. In May, Stanley was awarded an honorary doctor of music degree from Yale University.  It... Read More

Blind Pig Records will release the following albums from celebrated guitarists JW-Jones and Jimmy Thackery on October 14th: JW-JONES   "BELMONT BOULEVARD" JW-Jones, a red hot young Canadian guitar slinger/songwriter, is set to break out in the U.S. and worldwide music scenes with his new release on renowned American roots music label Blind Pig Records, entitled Belmont Boulevard. Canada’s national newspaper, the Globe and Mail, based in Toronto, referred to Jones as "one of this country's top blues... Read More

NATD Honors to Be Held November 11, 2014 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 8, 2014) – The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) today announced six industry leaders who will be recognized at the 4th annual NATD Honors Gala, scheduled for November 11, 2014 at the Hermitage Hotel. Honorees include Governor Bill Haslam, Rob Beckham, Partner and Co-Head of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment; Vanderbilt University’s Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin; Founder and CEO of Parallel Entertainment J. P. Williams;... Read More

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces Nominees for 2015 Induction.  Visit www.rockhall.com to vote for your... Read More