In fact, our local boys, who go by the group name of Street Corner Symphony, made it all the way to the finals in the second season of the show and finished in third place, rallying fans across the country with their modern blend of a cappella. The guys caused quite a sensation on the show with their versions of Radiohead’s “Creep,” Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” and even a Beatles medley that would have made the original band proud.

To celebrate their progress on the show, Street Corner Symphony performed Tuesday night at Exit/In and the response for tickets was so overwhelming a second late set was added to the lineup.

“This is a great town and a beautiful moment in time for us to come together,” Jeremy Lister told the audience.

Hosted by industry insider Dean Shortland, the group was joined by some very famous faces including Yale’s own a capella group, The Whiffenpoofs, a highly lauded bunch that has been around since 1909 and each year chooses 14 new seniors to make up the voices. They too competed on “The Sing Off” but were voted off in the early rounds.

And winners of “The Sing Off,” Alabama gospel group ‘Committed’ also made an appearance but it was two local faces that caused the biggest stir in the audience. Singer/songwriter Ben Folds, who was one of the judges on the television show, surprised guests when he joined Street Corner Symphony on stage during the early show and Alison Krauss drew huge applause when she dropped in for the late show to sing her tune, “Maybe” backed by all three groups.

Krauss has been publicly acknowledged as one of Street Corner Symphony’s biggest influences and it seems she’s quite fond of them too.

“I looked for different phones so I could call in and vote again and again,” she told the crowd. “I couldn’t even sleep the night before the finale.”

Original Heather Byrd article at http://nashville.metromix.com/events/essay_photo_gallery/byrds-eye-view-street/2392365/content

Ahead of that release, church leaders, pastors and youth workers are getting an opportunity to take an early look during a series of screenings (information at www.soulsurferwave.com.). Interlínc, which works to share Christian music with youth leaders, has also shared an early teaser promo for the film via YouTube.

Underwood plays a youth counselor in the film, which is based on the life of surfer Bethany Hamilton, who fights her way back to the sport she loves after losing her arm in a shark attack. The cast also includes Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid, with 17-year-old AnnaSophia Robb portraying Hamilton.

The country star spoke with the Associated Press about the movie in September, and said she was pleased with her first big-screen work.

“I really liked how everything turned out, including myself,” Underwood said in an interview Tuesday. “I was really expecting the worst from myself, and I really surprised myself.”

Learn more about Hamilton and the film at www.soulsurferwave.com.

Published by TUNEIN The Tennessean 1-11-11

Full Article:
Clear Channel Reports $5 Billion Loss : MusicRow

Believe that one and let me unload some shares of GM stocks on you today — for $500 a pop.

So lies a big difference in the rock, pop and Top 40 Country world compared to the stars of bluegrass. Indeed, you can walk right up to Dr. Ralph Stanley’s CD table at a festival, buy his latest release and have him sign it. Or, if you just happen to already have a copy that you didn’t buy at Doctor Ralph’s table full of goodies, no matter — the iconic Ralph Stanley will still oblige you with an autograph.

In a February online survey undertaken by the International Bluegrass Music Association, many respondents — 31 percent –said they most often purchase their recordings that way, directly from the artist or record label. That was topped only by the 42 percent of respondents who said the bought their CDs online from Web sites. Just over 13 percent buy their CDs in the mass retail market while another 10.5 percent get their recorded music products via direct mail.

Full Article:
Bluegrass fans put spin on CD-buying habits | BluegrassJournal.com

These artists claim that necessary assurances and contract requirements for them to take part in the concert were never received, while the event promoter insists that these performers have reneged on prior agreements. The tone has turned ugly, with the following headline posted on the official Bluegrass Hotel website: Bluegrass Stars Jilt Major Charity.

Full Article:
The Bluegrass Blog: Bluegrass Hotel Turning Sour

This legislation (H.R.848) seeks to require broadcast radio (terrestrial transmitter-based) to pay royalties to artists and performers each time a song is played. These royalties are currently paid to copyright holders (songwriters) by statute, and this proposed legislation would extend payments to include the named artist and studio musicians as well.

Proponents point out that these performance royalties are currently paid for satellite and internet radio, and that many other nations require them to be paid for broadcast radio as well. The Recording Industry Artist Association (RIAA) and record labels see it as a possible revenue stream to help offset declining income from CD sales, as do session players and artists.

Radio industry organizations argue that this doubling of payments would be an undue burden on their operating expenses, and that the airplay serves as important free publicity for the artists and labels.

Though bluegrass and traditional music formats are not likely to be discussed in the hearing, the legislation is being followed closely by industry folks in our community, with the same battle lines as described above.

The hearing begins at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) and can be seen via online streaming video.

Witnesses expected to testify include:

* Billy Corgan – Vocalist and Lead Guitarist, The Smashing Pumpkins
* Mitch Bainwol – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Recording Industry Artist Association
* Paul Almeida – President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
* W. Lawrence Patrick – President, Patrick Communications
* Stan Liebowitz, Ph.D. – Ashbel Smith Distinguished Professor of Managerial Economics, University of Texas at Dallas
* Steve Newberry – Chairman of the Radio Board, National Association of Broadcasters

via:
The Bluegrass Blog: bluegrass music news

Compact Disc was born in 1982 in Germany, after some years of gestation in the Netherlands. It first appeared in retail form in the form of Billy Joel’s 52nd Street on Oct. 1, 1982.

CD led a long, expensive and uproarious, if sometimes quarrelsome, life. It was never happier than when accidentally dropped on a hardwood or tile floor. It was then eager to make a disheartening noise upon striking the floor and springing open, scattering all its many pieces across the floor.

The cause of death of Compact Disc was said to be irrelevance. Symptoms of that lingering malady had become more noticeable of late. No memorial services are planned at this time.

Entire Article:
CMT : News : NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Death of CD Confirmed

Rejoice all you Del-heads McCoury Music is preparing to release a 5 disc, definitive collection of the music of Del McCoury on May 12.

Celebrating 50 Years Of Del McCoury will include 50 tracks marking Del’s five decades in bluegrass, plus a 12 page color booklet.

All of the music was recorded with The Del McCoury Band, the bulk of it in a recent set of marathon sessions. These involved recutting better than 30 songs from the first 40 years of Del’s long career, coupled with 18 top tracks from his recent recordings.

The box set will retail for $49.95, or as Chris Harris with McCoury Music put it, “50 years/50 songs/50 dollars.” This is one every McCoury fan will want to own, and any serious collector of bluegrass music should have in their library.

Original Article:
The Bluegrass Blog » Celebrating 50 Years Of Del McCoury: bluegrass music news

John Lennon shows off new automated console. Sean sits by his side.

John Lennon (with son Sean) shows off the new automated mixing board at New York’s Hit-Factory, 1980. “It looks like he’s turning Sean on to the world of music,” says photographer Bob Gruen.

Full Article:

Great Singers In the Studio and Behind the Scenes : Photos : Rolling Stone

We were please to have Taylor Swift in the studio this week.  Taylor is wonderful to work with in the studio and is very easy-going and focused.

Look for Taylor’s new album “Fearless” which will make it’s debut on Nov. 11.  For more info on Taylor visit her website at TaylorSwift.com.

Engineer Collin Peterson with Taylor