Music News

Travis Tritt has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Category 5 Records and will be the flagship artist of the newly formed independent label. A national billboard campaign will begin in Nashville on Feb. 15th.

Emmylou Harris will receive the Dale Franklin Leadership Award from Leadership Music on Sept. 19th during a tribute banquet at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Reuters has confirmed that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s office has issued subpoenas to nine U.S. radio groups including Clear Channel Communications, Citadel Broadcasting, and CoxRadio. Reports cite questions concerning pay for play “schemes” involving Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson and John Mayer. Over 100 stations are now under FCC investigation fo their involvement in Payola schemes.

James Monroe, entertainer and son of Bill Monroe, plans to open the James Monroe Bluegrass Music Hall, a 700-seat music hall and RV campground in Franklin, Ky. in early April. The grand opening will feature the Kentucky Springtime Bluegrass Special on April 19th-22nd and will feature acts such as The Grascals, Gary Brewer, Dean Osborne, Mac Wiseman, The Hatfield Band and others. For more info visit www.bluegrassmusichall.com.

Lee Ann Womack recently modeled in The Heart Truth/Red Dress Fashion Show put on by the National Heart Lung Blood Institute as part of Olympus Fashion Week in New York.

New Epic Records singer/songwriter Ashley Monroe has been busy with her first radio tour, which included stops in California and Arizona. She wrote or co-wrote seven songs on her debut album Satisfied; the title cut will be released shortly.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts has produced the latest album from Chicago. Chicago XXX, is due out March 21st, & is the group's 30th release. The album is the result of a partnership between two Warner Music Group labels, Rhino Records, and Warner Bros. Records.

Gretchen Wilson has sung “Sunday Morning Coming Down” for the upcoming tribute album The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson. The project is due out June 27 on American Roots Publishing in honor of Kristofferson’s 70th birthday. The Pilgrim was produced by Randy Scruggs and is a follow-up to the Grammy-winning Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster.

credit: MusicRow