Christie’s Country Sale; Taylor Swift Inks Deal to Write Greeting Cards; New Music Magazine Launches in January
- On December 3, Christie’s will hold The Country Music Sale, its first sale dedicated to the creation, history, and evolution of Country Music. The foundation of the sale consists of property from the estate of Hank Thompson, but also includes memorabilia from Roy Rogers, Hank Snow, Hank Williams, and many more classic country artists. There are 150 items in all, ranging from boots, belt buckles, and hats to the more expensive Nudie suits and instruments. Browse all the items on Christie’s website.
- Whether you’re looking to improve your songwriting or need a slice of humble pie, Guy Clark suggests reading Dylan Thomas.
- Ronnie Fauss (MySpace), who released his debut EP New Songs for the Old Frontier, Volume 1 earlier this year followed recently by a three-song release, I Can’t Make You Happy, shared his list of favorite country albums with Country California.
- Taylor Swift reached a deal with American Greetings Corp. to write and design greeting cards.
- The U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 maintains that if an artist or author sold a copyright before 1978, they or their heirs can take it back 56 years later, and if the artist or author sold the copyright during or after 1978, they can terminate that grant after 35 years. That means it won’t be long until record labels start poopin’ cinder blocks — or losing valuable copyrights. Epicenter’s Eliot Van Buskirk notes that one way labels are trying to work their way around the impending loss is through re-recordings of the originals, or digital remasters, which they believe would reset the copyright claim. (via The Bluegrass Blog)
- Faith Hill and her business manager of 16 years parted ways.
- Because of personal experience, My Kind of Country’s Occasional Hope is drawn to the subject of adoption in country songs and asks if you actively search for songs of any particular topics.
- Texas artist Aaron Watson is in the process of building a Nashville team and will self-produce his next album, due out in the spring.
- A new music magazine, M Music & Musicians, will launch in January, covering everything from rock, pop and hip-hop to R&B, country, folk and jazz. The head honchos consist of former Performing Songwriter staff, including Chris Neal, who is leaving Country Weekly. Big congrats and lots of luck to him and the rest of the M crew.
- For week 23 of Nashville or Bust, Nathan Rabin covered George Strait’s early career.
Before I began Nashville Or Bust, I had a vague sense that Strait was popular, but I didn’t grasp the full extent of his enormous popularity. He’s sold nearly 60 million albums, making him the 10th best-selling American artist in history. From the comments in this column, it seems like Strait is the Exception that proves the rule that contemporary mainstream country sucks. He’s the mainstream, incredibly popular country act that even people who don’t like mainstream country enjoy. He’s like the Garth Brooks it’s okay to like.
- Twangville is giving away four copies of the new Wrinkle Neck Mules album Let the Lead Fly.
- Maxim listed the hottest women of country music, but GAC’s Jason Mease feels the list could have been improved with the addition of a few more women.
- Stephen Deusner on the new Carrie Underwood album:
Carrie Underwood’s new album isn’t meant for iPods or headphones—or, for that matter, for individuals. It’s a more public record than a private or personal one, sometimes for better but usually for worse.
- On a slightly belated note, The 9513 hit the three year mark three days ago and continues to grow daily, so thanks to everyone who reads, comments, and tells their friends about us. And a special thanks to all our writers who hit their one year marks with The 9513 in the past month: C.M. (Oct. 22), Karlie (Nov. 10), Pierce (Nov. 14), and Juli (Nov. 18).
Popular Stuff
Sponsor
While the voice of country’s future took home this year’s big honor, a legendary voice from country music’s past scored a win for Album Of The Year. Check out the winners in The 9513's 2nd Annual Country Music Awards now!
Josh Turner's fourth album, Haywire, furthers his reputation as one of the leading men in contemporary country, a true, traditional voice in an ever-changing Nashville scene.
Having played on more than 500 albums and toured with artists that range from Hank III to Dolly Parton, Randy Kohrs has become one of the go-to musicians when there’s a need for a resophonic guitar
Sammy Kershaw – “Better Than I Used To Be”
As the title track off his upcoming album, “Better Than I Used to Be” is a straight-up look back on the career of a country music staple.
Emily West Featuring Keith Urban – “Blue Sky” Emily West turns in a gorgeous performance on “Blue Sky,” hitting notes few of her contemporaries can reach.
What does Alan Jackson like on his eggs?
Cheese and corn; he still likes bologna; a load of salsa; hens? Answers to the questions you'd never dream of asking. (
In each and every instance, the best country albums of the past ten years were built on the backs of songs -- stories about you and me from birth to death and stories that paint landscapes rooted in every region of America and beyond. These are the top country albums of the decade.Tagged In This Article
Aaron Watson // Carrie Underwood // Faith Hill // Garth Brooks // George Strait // Guy Clark // Hank Snow // Hank Thompson // Hank Williams // Nudie suits // Ronnie Fauss // Roy Rogers // Taylor Swift // Wrinkle Neck Mules
Current Discussion
- Jon: What's the difference between "the vocal" and "her delivery?"
- Carlie: Why does it seem like even Carrie's biggest hits are never good according to the amateur, biased opinions on the ...
- Waddy: I think it bizarre that both Doc Watson and Ralph Stanley have received the National Medal of Arts, the highest ...
- Razor X: This almost sounds like a parody.
- Paul W Dennis: I hope subsequent singles are better as this one is brutal - it could be much better than this and ...
- Jon: Try to keep up, will you, Jim?
- Vicki: More will vote for Classic Country performers for Entertainter of the year, etc and on GAC and CMT Top 20.
- Michelle: It isn't old people only living out in rural areas. All age groups are living in rural areas. I bought ...
- stormy: I don't know that it will help country with its existing fans base, but it will help music in all ...
- mickey michael: A lengthy comment is necessary to make a small but important correction regarding the 1950's version of the song. ...
25 Comments
RSS for comments on this post | Trackback URI for this post
November 18, 2009 at 11:13 am Permalink
Alert: Adam Steffey and Kym Warner are doing some small venue shows together between December 8th and the 13th in Virginia and Maryland areas. I would have preferred a gig in Los Angeles…
Link: http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_001150.shtml
That Christie’s auction sounds cool. I don’t think any of those clothing items would fit me though…
Its good to hear that Aaron Watson will be going a different direction with album production on his nest project. As much as I like Asleep At The Wheel I didn’t care for Ray Benson’s production style of Aaron’s previous two studio albums.
That best part about the Maxim list of the hottest women in country music is the silly comments that are associated with most of the pictures. The pictures aren’t near as interesting as FHM’s notorious “Women of Country Music” issue from a few years back! (lol)
November 18, 2009 at 11:21 am Permalink
…while a few great artists achieved such a level of popularity that people refer to them by their first names only – in george strait’s case you wouldn’t even think of it. respect comes in all shapes and sizes, i guess.
November 18, 2009 at 11:28 am Permalink
Congrats on the 3 year mark! I love reading the 9513. You guys do an amazing job!
Dave
November 18, 2009 at 11:33 am Permalink
has it been 3 years??? You mean I have wasted over a 1,000 days coming here to get my country music news and gossip? As well as some snark? and who knows how many hours? Congrats guys!!!
November 18, 2009 at 1:02 pm Permalink
Congrats on 3 years. I’ve been reading your blog for a year now almost daily. Keep up the good work, especially the opinion pieces and CMA coverage.
November 18, 2009 at 1:10 pm Permalink
Congratulations on the anniversary!
The Maxium feature is pretty obnoxious but I’m not familiar with the “Women of Country Music” issue.
Taylor Swift is so overexposed that there is no way she won’t soon be nothing but a distant memory. Hmmmm… better as a memory? Yes.
November 18, 2009 at 1:11 pm Permalink
Congratulations on your anniversary.
November 18, 2009 at 1:15 pm Permalink
Hooray, you have escaped the terrible two’s!
November 18, 2009 at 1:22 pm Permalink
So Taylor Swift is going to start writing greeting cards. So how is this any different than what she’s doing already?
November 18, 2009 at 1:33 pm Permalink
So Taylor Swift is going to start writing greeting cards. So how is this any different than what she’s doing already?
Well, for one thing, she won’t be singing the verses on the greeting cards. That alone is a huge improvement over what she’s doing now.
November 18, 2009 at 2:02 pm Permalink
“Taylor Swift is so overexposed that there is no way she won’t soon be nothing but a distant memory.”
I think that’s a triple negative.
November 18, 2009 at 2:02 pm Permalink
Thanks for the shout out, y’all!
November 18, 2009 at 3:43 pm Permalink
In 3 short years, you guys sure have built up a solid name for yourselves.
It’s probably due to payoffs and kickbacks, rather than hard work… which is ok by me… this is country music, after all… but I digress.
Larry says “Cheers!”
November 18, 2009 at 4:01 pm Permalink
congrats on the 3 year anniversary.
November 18, 2009 at 4:21 pm Permalink
The 9513 and Taylor Swift both debuted in 2006. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.
November 18, 2009 at 4:26 pm Permalink
Happy belated anniversary.
November 18, 2009 at 4:34 pm Permalink
Congratulations, kids. Keep up the good work.
November 18, 2009 at 5:09 pm Permalink
1096 days and counting. Well done my children.
November 18, 2009 at 5:11 pm Permalink
Dale Watson, is that you?
November 18, 2009 at 5:19 pm Permalink
…there are some seriously good blogs on country music – and then there’s the 9513 with its community. excellent work y’all, congrats.
November 18, 2009 at 6:30 pm Permalink
Michael said: “Taylor Swift is so overexposed that there is no way she won’t soon be nothing but a distant memory. Hmmmm… Better as a memory? Yes.”
I have to disagree with you on this one Michael. Taylor has already become an entrenched popular culture media icon and a “product brand” that’s on the same path as Oprah, Rachel Ray, Ellen Degeneres, and Martha Stewart. All the female followers of these gals never seem to tire of them and Taylor has just started out with a huge, young audience. Taylor is so self-disciplined and cautious regarding her career and behavior she’s in it for the long haul if she plays her cards right. Unlike Miley Cyrus, Taylor’s success is not based on a wildly popular Disney Channel TV sitcom, so Taylor’s career has “legs” that Miley’s won’t. If Taylor were to “outgrow” the confining label of being pigeon holed as purely a “country music artist”, that would be okay by me.
November 18, 2009 at 7:12 pm Permalink
@Rick there have been a quite a few singers from Disney that have been able to maintain career long after their Disney connection like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera.
I do agree with you though that Taylor career will continue for long amounts of time.
November 18, 2009 at 8:18 pm Permalink
Yes Troy, but Miley was never a Mouseketeer in the New Mickey Mouse Club! (lol)
November 19, 2009 at 5:56 am Permalink
Congrats for a website with honesty.
November 23, 2009 at 4:35 pm Permalink
Congrats on the three-year mark and also to my fave snarky guy (here anyways) Chris N.
Leave a Comment