News Release assignemnt, PR Writing

This is a sample news release.  I found all the information online for the most part.  None of the interviews were conducted by myself.

News From

Country Music Association

One Music Circle South
                                                For more information contact:

Nashville, Tennessee 37203                                                             Valerie Wire

615-244-2840                                                                                             812-598-7521

www.cmaworld.com                                                                                vannwire@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

September 30, 2010

44^th Annual CMA Awards to be held Nov. 10

The 44^th Annual CMA Awards will be held Nov. 10 in Nashville.  The event will be held in Nashville’s newly named Bridgestone Arena and broadcasted live at 8/7c p.m. on ABC-TV.  The hosts for this show for the second year in a row will be country megastars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

         “The 2010 CMA Awards promises spectacle, accolades and countless special moments,” said Steve Moore, CEO of CMA, “It truly is country music’s biggest night.  It would be a mistake to miss such an event.”  The nominees for the biggest award of the night, Entertainer of the Year, are Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, and Lady Antebellum. Several performers for the evening include Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, and a special appearance by Alan Jackson.

         “I was so incredibly thrilled and humbled when I realized I was nominated for nine [CMA] Awards,” Lambert said. “I feel so blessed to have come so very far.”  Miranda, who is recently engaged to fellow country star Blake Shelton, now holds the record for the most CMA nominations for a female country artist.  Other nominees for this year include Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, George Strait, Sugarland, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts and many others. Ticket prices for the event range from $128-$610 and are available at ticketmaster.com.  For more information on the event, visit www.cmaawards.com.

         One special aspect of the CMA Awards is their collaboration with a sponsor of the event, Chevrolet, to honor men and women in uniform.  “Chevrolet Salute’s America’s Heroes” was launched Sept. 13 and will run until Nov. 1.  People are invited to nominate friends or family members who went above and beyond demonstrating the spirit of the military while in uniform.  The winner will receive a trip for two to the 44^th Annual CMA Awards as well as a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.  For more information or to submit nomination letters visit www.youreverydayhero.com.

         "Our service men and women give so much," said Phil Caruso, Chevrolet National Promotions Manager. As soldiers have the important task of protecting freedom and selfless giving to their communities, “We at Chevrolet feel that it is vitally important to recognize those contributions. Chevrolet is proud to combine its support of both NASCAR and Country Music through its partnerships with Jeff Gordon, Brad Paisley, Hendrick Motorsports, and CMA to help tell the stories of these American Heroes."

         To see the outcome of the nominations, the performances, as well as whatever else may unfold throughout “Country Music’s Biggest Night” be sure to tune in to the live broadcast at 8/7c p.m. on ABC-TV.

         The Country Music Association is intended to heighten the awareness and support of country music as well as provide a forum for industry leadership dialogue toward this goal.  The CMA Awards are held every year to honor country music artists, musicians, producers, publishers, songwriters, video directors and industry executives.  These individuals are honored for their achievements over the past year in America’s most popular music genre.  The CMA Awards display a wide variety of talent throughout the night for entertainment.  For more information on the event or CMA contact Valerie at vannwire@gmail.com.

# # #

First round of CMA announcers announced! -- Country Hound, 10/27

As if there were not reason enough already to stay glued to the 44^th Annual CMA Award’s, the first group of presenters were recently released.  The string of high profile celebrities and country super stars are sure to make “Country Music’s Biggest Night” only bigger.

The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Jerrod Niemann, Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes, Chris Young, Kellie Pickler and NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon are all confirmed announcers.

The Band Perry, who is composed of siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry recently released their self-titled, debut album and are nominated for their first CMA Award, Vocal Group of the Year.

Bryan also received his first CMA nomination this year for his current album, “Doin’ My Thing.”   His nomination is for New Artist of the Year.

Corbin released his self-titled debut album earlier this year and is nominated for New Artist and Single of the Year for his song, “A Little More Country Than That.”  These are his first two CMA nominations.

Little Big Town is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year.  So far, the members Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Kimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet have received eight CMA Award nominations. 

McGraw, who will release his “Number One Hits” album on Nov. 30, as won a total of 11 CMA Awards.  These awards include Entertainer (‘01), Male Vocalist (91,’’ 00) and Album (’98, ’99).

Niemann received his first CMA Awards nomination for New Artist of the Year.

Currently, Rucker is the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year.  His new alubm entitled “Charleston, SC, 1966,” was recently released.

Rimes is set to release a new album in early 2011.  She also won the Horizon Award in’97.

Young received his first CMA nomination in the New Artist of the Year category this year.  His current album is entitled, “The Man I Want to Be.”

Pickler’s current album is self-titled.  She has won two CMA Award nominations in her career.

Gordon won the NASCAR Cup Series championship four times, the Brickyard 400 four times and the Daytona 500 three times.

Kevin Costner to host CMT'S "Artist of the Year" -- Country Hound, 10/27

Kevin Costner is often associated with being a film icon.  He is an Academy Award winner, an actor and a musician, and for one night he will be the host of “CMT Artists of the Year,” which is to premiere Dec. 3 from 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m ET.

Costner’s role as host for the first ever “CMT Artists of the Year” is appropriate considering his love of country music.  However, many do not know that for the last three years, Costner has been a part of a band, Modern West, who made the Billboard Country charts in 2009 with their debut album, “Untold Truths.” Last year, their sophomore album, “Turn it On,’ was released in Europe.

“From the moment this show was envisioned, Kevin Costner was at the top of our wish list to host,” senior vice president, music events and talent for CMT, Josh Hamlin said.  “His reverence for country music is profound and he understands exactly the kind of passion and commitment it takes to be at the top of one’s game, as these artists are.  He is the perfect complement to our five honorees.”

The inaugural event will be celebrating the year’s most successful country music artists.  The 90-minute special is set to celebrate Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum by bringing them together for an evening of performances.

CMA Awards Book -- Country Hound, 10/25

With the 44^th Annual CMA Awards right around the corner, author Deborah Evans Price is making headlines with her first book, “The CMA Awards Vault: Country Music’s Biggest Night!”  The book, which is the first to comprehensively cover The CMA Awards from its birth in 1967 to today, is now available nationwide.

The unique ‘scrapbook’ is a 144-page spectacle that tells the extensive story of the CMA Awards.  “The CMA Awards Vault” is intended to give the reader the feeling of being front row center at each show.  It goes about this endeavor by containing never-before-published memorabilia, photographs, and artwork as well as replicas of items tucked into pockets throughout the book.  Examples of these replicas include a program from the first CMA Awards in 1967, a note to the CMA from the Charlie Daniels Band in 1980, a ticket to “The 40^th CMA Anniversary” show, as well as the set-design blueprint from the 2009 CMA Awards.

While Price is scheduled to appear on numerous talk shows over the next few weeks, fans arriving in Nashville for the “44^th Annual CMA Awards” have the chance to see Price at special events.  One event is the chance to have first-of-its-kind book personally autographed by Price.  This opportunity will be Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at Davis Kidd Booksellers, 2121 Green Hills Village Drive.  Then, on Nov. 5, Price will appear at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Fifth Ave. S., with video director and CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton.

At the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum event, Price and Deaton will discuss the historic background of the 43-year-old CMA Awards.  This is to include exclusive behind-the-scene stories about what it takes to bring the industry together for a network variety, as well as performances, fashion trends, and other topics.  This event is open and invited to the general public and is scheduled to take place from noon-1:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater.

The foreword of the book was written by four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Kenny Chesney.  The afterword was written by Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Mandrell.  The hardcover 12 by 10-inch book with slipcase is available for $49.94 in bookstores or online.  The book, which is published by Whitman Publishing, LCC, of Atlanta can also be ordered at CMAawards.com and WhitmanVaultBooks.com.  CMA members are able to purchase the book for a discounted $35 plus shipping/handling with the use of the coupon code GBR10 at the online checkout at CMAawards.com.

“The 44^th Annual CMA Awards” are to be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.  They will be broadcast live Wed., Nov. 10 from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC from 8-10 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the award show are on sale now.  They can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000, or in person at the Bridgestone Arena box office.  Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level seating.  All prices include tax, but exclude applicable service/handling fees.

Jimmy Dean & Don Williams newest Hall of Famers -- Country Hound, 10/25

Jimmy Dean is now a name to not only be associated with breakfast sausage, but the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Dean and fellow vocalist Don Williams were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the presence of friends, family and peers on Sunday night.

Dean built his career as a multi-faceted entertainer through the media of singer, comic and television pioneer.  Williams made his name known in a workman style manner by ditching the party scene and devoting his time and energy to the discovery and delivery of well-constructed songs.

Unfortunately, neither musician was able to claim the honor in person.  Dean passed in June, only a few months after receiving the phone call informing he would forever be remembered in the Hall of Fame’s Rotunda amongst the likeness of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and Dean’s childhood idol, Gene Autry.

Hall of Famer Bill Anderson said during his induction speech that Dean called him shortly after receiving the news, in shock. “He said, ‘Bill-o, I never thought I’d make it… I figured I’d pissed off too many people down there!’”

Williams, on the other hand, had been planning to attend the night’s induction ceremony, but had to cancel last minute due to a mild case of bronchitis.  He had even scheduled a small tour and played in Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium twice in the week before the induction, which he was able to “battle through,” William’s manager Robert Pratt said at the induction. “He’ll be very proud and very honored when I give him this [medallion] tomorrow in Texarkana,” Pratt said.

William’s is receiving a bit more acknowledgment than in the past thanks to Keith Urban naming his stomping arrangements as a large influence to his current recordings.  He is also being noted through a remake of William’s 1980 ballad, “I Wouldn’t Be a Man,” which is Josh Turner’s most recent single.

Dean was honored by Trace Adkins and the Jordanaires teaming up to perform the million-selling “Big Bad John.”  During which, Biff Watson – the house band’s musical director who played guitar on numerous of Dean’s singles – recreated the trademark pick-axe sound through hitting a hammer on a percussion block, which was suspended from a hanger.  This was the exact way the sound was generated in the original recording by Hall of Famer Floyd Cramer.

Though the night was full of cheer and jest – from Daily & Vincent’s version of Dean’s “Harvest of Sunshine” to a botched “Little Black Book” by Roy Clark, as warned – it was still heart-felting and emotionally driven.  Bill Anderson found himself becoming coked up several times as he honored Dean with a moving, expressive and articulate speech.  Dean may have been known as a firm and insisting person, but Anderson recalled several acts of kindness the late singer extended without display.  Anderson specifically noted the lyrics in “Big Bad John,” a song where a heroic miner is honored as “a big, big man.”

“He didn’t have a thing,” Anderson whispered, “on Jimmy Dean.”

Source: http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2010/10/25/jimmy-dean-don-williams-join-hall-of-fame/