Rascal Flatts Sued for Copyright Infringement; Pleads Trite
- Sugarland isn’t the only country group amidst a lawsuit at the moment. Everyone’s favorite trio, Rascal Flatts, was named in a suit by a songwriter from New York for copyright infringement. Joe Don Rooney’s lawyers defended the song, saying:
“To the extent that ‘No Reins’ shares any similarities with the plaintiff’s alleged copyrighted work, any such similarities between the two works are the result of coincidence and/or the use of common or trite ideas.”
- Heidi Newfield received five ACM nominations, more than any other performer except for Brad Paisley’s six. Why do you think she received so many?
- I found the spelling of “Blue Grass” to be perplexing on Michael Martin Murphey’s latest CD, but BluegrassJournal.com has the answer. Apparently, it’s old school. They also have a video of Murphey’s “Close to the Land.”
- Several artists, including Todd Snider, Hayes Carll, Dierks Bentley and Randy Rogers, share their favorite love song with Austin360.com along with their comments about the song.
- Tom O’Neil thinks Kenny Chesney should throw in the towel and remove his name from the ACM Entertainer of the Year race due to his comments about fan voting last year.
- Charley Pride dropped in on the Arkansas Senate to lead them in a sing-a-long. If you want to sing a long yourself, Music City Records released a two-disc compliation of Pride’s hits a couple of weeks ago.
- Jamey Johnson and Shooter Jennings will appear on CMT Crossroads on March 23.
- Much like any other venue he plays, Robert Earl Keen couldn’t leave the Ryman without playing “The Road Goes on Forever.” He shares the story behind that song with Chris Parton over at CMT.
- Frank De Blase over at Rochester City News interviewed Kevin Kast, formerly from punk band The Blastoffs, about his new country outfit called The Lovesick Heartstabbers.
Who’s gonna get this? Blastoff fans? Country music fans?
I don’t think anyone that’s into Garth Brooks is going to like what we’re doing. But at the same time, I’d go out to Water Street to see Hank Williams III play and the place would be packed. Where are these people? I’m kind of aiming toward pulling them in. I know they’re around. Even though this is New York State, people love country music up here. - Music Fog recorded a video of Jason Eady performing “When The Money’s All Gone,” the song he’s giving away on his website, at Steamboat earlier this year. Go watch it, then download the MP3 for free.
- Tift Merrit graced NPR’s Mountain Stage with her presence and they have the performance available for your listening pleasure.
- The Smoking Gun has the skinny on Rascal Flatts’ concert rider. They require the services of one female masseuse who charges $1.00 per minute, which about 50% of the average a spa charges in New York City. (via reader email)
- Razor X wonders which stars you feel faded too soon or never quite reached the level of success they deserved.
- The Greencards are set to release their next album in April, but in this Q&A, the interviewer wonders how two Australians and an Englishman met up in Austin to form a band:
Eamon McLoughlin: Yes, very unlikely, but it felt very natural at the time. We met in Austin, Texas, a town that is a big draw for people who want to play live music to fun crowds. Local people love their local artists and they just love original music so anyone who gets a taste of it wants to immediately come back for more. I spent a year there while attending the University, and as soon as I could I moved back in search of work. I met Kym in a studio. He had hired me to play on a record for an artist he was working with. We stayed in touch and after that I met Carol. We all realized we had plenty in common–culturally and musically. We were big fans of many of the same artists and it just felt like a good fit.
- If you haven’t picked up a copy of the Willie and the Wheel album yet, be sure to enter our giveaway, then head over to Amazon and grab a free copy of “Hesitation Blues.”
- HearYa indie blog is co-sponsoring the Bloodshot Records SXSW showcase and reveals part of the lineup. In other news, your favorite country music blog (us) is working on the logistics of a sponsorship in the very near future. Stay tuned for more details.
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February 12, 2009 at 10:50 am Permalink
Crossroads Episode + Shooter + Jamey Johnson + a 6pack + me on my couch = HEAVEN!
February 12, 2009 at 10:55 am Permalink
I’m wondering why anyone would want to claim responsibility for creating any Rascal Flatts-type material. There’s the obvious financial motive of course, but is it worth the damage to one’s reputation?
February 12, 2009 at 10:59 am Permalink
If Rascal Flatts pleads anything,it should be guilty to charges of being talentless hacks.
February 12, 2009 at 11:05 am Permalink
At least the Flatts’ attorney admits their music is trite.
And as I said yesterday in the original ACM announcement, I think Heidi’s nominations are well-deserved. She’s a fabulous vocalist who – like Mr. Gilbert mentioned in his article – was overshadowed by the antics and cheesy-ness that was Trick Pony.
February 12, 2009 at 11:08 am Permalink
According to BMI, the writers on “No Reins” are Jay DeMarcus, Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher. So are Wendell and Neil being sued too, or just the “band”?
February 12, 2009 at 11:10 am Permalink
I have to agree with JR – I think that Heidi deserved her nominations, I have enjoyed her album greatly and I believe that I read on some blog that the five women who got the female vocalist noms are the only five women to have had a #1 single last year…but not sure where I read that (sorry, read to many blogs).
February 12, 2009 at 11:11 am Permalink
Other than being a good vocalist, though, what makes Newfield’s nominations well-deserved? There are plenty of good vocalists that didn’t receive the attention she did and she doesn’t exactly have the commercial success to make her more enticing.
February 12, 2009 at 11:39 am Permalink
Trite…that’s awesome! I’ll force myself to watch that Crossroads… Not a big Shooter fan.
February 12, 2009 at 11:48 am Permalink
CMT finally got it right on pairing up Jamey & Shooter. That will definitely be worth watching.
I still giggle when I see Taylor Swift nominated for “Female Vocalist”. As far as Heidi’s nominations, I think Johnny & June is a powerful song because what better love story to share than that of them two. They cared deeply about each other, they went through trials & tribulations, and when one left this earth, the other followed soon after. The rest of Heidi’s album is just alright, but that one song was very strong.
February 12, 2009 at 12:20 pm Permalink
Lanibug,
The four women besides Lee Ann Womack were the only ones to score top 10 hits. I think it’s quite a surprise about Heidi but the ‘voters’ do remember her from Trick Pony so perhaps that helped?
February 12, 2009 at 12:33 pm Permalink
rascal flatts are under charging for massages?
their concert sucks AND they are cheap
February 12, 2009 at 12:48 pm Permalink
Super, super excited about Jamey/Shooter. I think the interviews with the two of them might be even more interesting than the music.
February 12, 2009 at 1:13 pm Permalink
Did Rascal Flatts just concede that their music was trite while trying to defend themselves? Ouch.
February 12, 2009 at 1:26 pm Permalink
@ Brady: I think Heidi’s nominations are deserved because of the quality of her album, and also because of the song ‘Johnny and June’. It was (and still is) one of very few name-dropping songs I even like.
Also, after being a lead vocalist for a band and going solo, it’s rare for a singer to have the success Heidi has enjoyed. Look at Richie McDonald’s career for an example. She completely reinvented herself as a soloist and emerged with one of the best album of the year in my opinion.
Who else should the nod have went to? Country music hasn’t seen very many female acts score hits at radio this past year. So, even if only commercially, I think Heidi’s recognition is well-deserved.
February 12, 2009 at 2:04 pm Permalink
I’d consider to her album to be average to slightly above average at best, but even so, I don’t mind the Female Vocalist nomination. Single, Song, and Video are a bit much, especially considering “Johnny and June” wasn’t that great of a song. I’m glad she got recognized, but think it was a little much for the quality of her output. I do hope she’ll build on this and put out better material next time around.
February 12, 2009 at 2:11 pm Permalink
I thought the nomination for video of the year for Johnny and June which wasn’t to good or Rememrable.
February 12, 2009 at 3:11 pm Permalink
Haha even Joe Don’s lawyer thinks Rascal Flatts’ music is trite. Ironies abound!
February 12, 2009 at 4:33 pm Permalink
Ashton Shepherd’s album had much more depth and heart than Heidi Newfield’s. Seriously, Heidi must be very well-liked, because she could not have earned those nominations based on her recent album alone.
February 12, 2009 at 5:36 pm Permalink
I definitely don’t think that Newfield’s album was even honorable mention quality for best album of 2008 let alone one of the best of the year.
Her voice is good, but I still think it’s amazing that she received these nominations over others, especially outside of female vocalist (and I even question female vocalist in reality).
February 12, 2009 at 7:34 pm Permalink
Brady asked: “Other than being a good vocalist, though, what makes Newfield’s nominations well-deserved?”.
Brady, never under estimate the power of a nice set of boobs! (lol)
I don’t care for Heidi’s music at all and can’t stand “Johnny & June” as its strikes me as a bad Miranda Lambert track. I don’t think Heidi deserved any of those nominations to be honest. I agree with Jaime that Ashton Shepherd kicks Heidi’s butt as both a singer and a songwriter. It’s just that Ashton only hit the # 20 spot on the singles charts so she didn’t make the club.
The ACM nominations used to show a little more integrity than the CMA’s, but I don’t know any more.
How many times will they have to bleep Shooter on “Crossroads”? The suspense is killing me….
February 13, 2009 at 4:17 pm Permalink
To be fair to RF, I just looked at the song in question (by Pat Benetar) and it’s a very weak case… the song’s are no more similar than hundreds of others are to each other.
February 16, 2009 at 8:59 am Permalink
I have to agree with Drew in the above statement about RF’s ripping off PB songwriter’s work. I do detect the similarity melody instantly with different instruments, but most works are always copied off of one another…no matter what.
As for KC…seems his gay-bashing, 100+ women-bedding comment has tarnished his image and future sales for a long run…I’m trying to estimate how many girls have now taken down (no-tore down) his posters on their walls. :)
May 25, 2009 at 5:48 pm Permalink
i aslo have to agree with drew, every song has similarities, and it is a very weak case. anyways who is going to win the case: rascal flatts who are known around the world or some song writer who isn’t known around the world and wants to make some quick money? you tell me.
May 25, 2009 at 5:50 pm Permalink
I think that’s the legal theory Coldplay is relying on.
June 10, 2009 at 1:33 am Permalink
Rascal Flatts didn’t steal anything from anyone! That guy is just trying to get some money. The songs only sound a little alike in the beginning, but they are nothing alike at all.
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