Inside Music Row

The Country Music Association tapped Little Big Town to help launch a new education-based national college initiative called C-M-A-E-D-U.  The program is designed to reach undergraduate college students with a hands-on opportunity to hone their skills in marketing and promotion. Belmont University was chosen to host the pilot program for C-M-A-E-D-U and currently has more than 115 members so far.  Students are required to attend monthly meetings and work closely with the CMA and the country music community. We caught up with the foursome at a special celebration at Nashville’s Belmont University to talk about this new experience.

Nashville and Country Music News that includes The Judds, Own Network, Oprah Winfrey, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Costa Sunglasses, The Bellamy Brothers, Judy Seale International, Ronnie Dunn, Brooks and Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson, Walmart, we go inside the song with Angela Kaset as she talks about Lorrie Morgans hit "Something in Red."

Margaret Durante was attending Clemson University for an education in music and the music business.  However, it wasn’t until she moved to Nashville that her education really got started.  Soon after the big move, she attracted the ear of producer James Stroud, and he believed in her enough that he signed her to his new label imprint Emrose Records, as well as producing her new album ‘Maybe Tonight’.  We caught up with Margaret and James in the studio for a preview of her new music.

For our weekly Songwriter Tip, brought to you by Nashville Songwriters Association International.  This week we sit down with Bob Regan as he talks about how to use repetition when writing new material.

In 2010, more than 43-thousand people in the United States have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  The prognosis is poor, with less than five percent of those diagnosed still alive after diagnosis.  It is sometimes called a silent killer because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms, and it’s not usually diagnosed until it’s quite advanced.  Merlin Littlefield was heavily involved in the music business for over thirty years until he passed away from the disease.  Now his wife is working with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness and to double the survival rate of this deadly disease.  Kelly Lynn caught up with her and a few friends at a tribute in his honor at ASCAP’s Nashville office.

Very few artists have had as successful a career as Kenny Rogers.  After over fifty years in the music business, Kenny is still putting out incredible songs while still playing his classic hits.  His new disc album ‘The Love Of God’ available only in Cracker Barrel stores is a wonderful collection of classic hymns and contemporary gospel music. It’s quite a departure from his ‘Gambler’ days, but it shows a much different side that his fans should enjoy.  

Nashville and Country Music News that includes Julianne Hough, Tom Cruise, Rock of Ages, Brad paisley, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Jerrod Niemann, Shania Twain, Steve Wariner, THe ACM Awards. We go inside the song with Troy Jones as he talks about Billy Curringtons hit Pretty Good at Drinking Beer.

The New Relics hail from West Virginia, and deliver a sound that is more than country music.  It’s a journey about great songs.  Influenced by artists like John Mellencamp, Train, Pat Green, and Jack Ingram, The New Relics have blended the sounds of country, rock and Americana.  Kelly Lynn caught up with them at a special show at Nashville’s Tin Roof on Demonbreum.

Now it’s time for our weekly Songwriter Tip, brought to you by Nashville Songwriters Association International.  NSAI helps songwriters of all levels and abilities.  This week we sit down with pro member Wood Newton as he talks about making rhymes work.

The 19th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival is ready to kick off next week.  Produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International, the event is the largest songwriter festival in the world.  In 2010, over 300 songwriters performed over 70 shows at various venues in and around Nashville.  Kelly Lynn caught up with a few of the performers, sponsors and special guests as they announced the lineup for this year’s festival.

One of the highest professional honors for any country artist would be induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  It’s a very limited, prestigious club of entertainers that have achieved success that most new artists only dream of.  It takes lots of hard work and dedication through the years to make it into this elite group.  The CMA announced their newest class into the Hall of Fame, and Reba McEntire, Jean Shepard, and songwriter Bobby Braddock, made this year’s cut.  Emotions were running high, especially for Reba, who was unable to make the trip back to Nashville, as she was caring for her father who had just suffered a stroke and was in a coma.  We did manage to catch up with emcee Kix Brooks along with Bobby and Jean to talk about their induction.

Bailey brings you the latest country entertainment news from Music City, U.S.A. In this show, you can check out the latest from Toby Keith, George Jones, John Denver, Faith Hill, CMA Fest and Bonnaroo. We go 'Inside The Song' with Doug Johnson to talk about a huge hit he had for Randy Travis...'Three Wooden Crosses.'