The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has announced that Toby Keith will receive NMPA’s 2013 Songwriter Icon Award  and U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch will receive the 2013 President’s Award. Both awards will be presented at NMPA’s Annual Meeting in New York City on June 12. “The NMPA is pleased to recognize Toby Keith and U.S. Rep.Ted Deutch for their contributions to songwriting, music publishing and creator’s rights,” said NMPA President and CEO David Israelite. “Toby Keith’s talent as a singer/songwriter is remarkable, but his dedication to fans, his work with the USO, and his commitment to music and songwriting as a craft has greatly influenced the industry. Congressman Deutch’s ability to tackle complex issues with an open mind has made him a powerful advocate for the rights of artists,” continued Israelite. “I look forward to honoring them both in front of our full membership.”

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George Strait will release his highly anticipated 40th studio album, Love Is Everything May 14 on MCA Nashville. Strait rejoined Tony Brown to co-produce the album, which features 13 new tracks, including the lead single “Give It All We Got Tonight.”

Strait co-wrote three songs alongside his son Bubba Strait and legendary songwriter Dean Dillon on the album including “That’s What Breaking Hearts Do,” “The Night Is Young,” and “I Believe,” in addition to a self-penned track “I Just Can’t Go On Dying Like This.“

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Taylor Swift, who is spending her summer headlining sold-out stadiums and arenas in North America has announced she is taking the tour to Australia and New Zealand later this year. Swift will perform stadium shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, as well as an arena date in Auckland. Notably, Taylor Swift will be the first solo female artist in twenty years to undertake a national stadium tour of Australia, the last being Madonna’s Girlie Show tour in 1993.

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News Briefs: Shania Twain has added 22 new show dates this fall to round out the first year of her two-year Caesars Palace residency. She sold out her first 24 performances of Shania: Still the One. Tickets are on sale now for another 12  shows scheduled between mid-October and mid-December. ••• The Bellamy Brothers, who have concerts in Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Norway in June and July, will return to South Africa for concerts in Dec. 2013. ••• ABC Television has announced renewals and cancellations for next season. Devoted Nashville fans are cheering that  the Music City-based drama will return. On the other hands, devoted Reba fans are not happy that her Malibu Country has been canceled. ••• Marty Stuart’s annual Late Night Jam on June 5 will present Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Connie Smith & The Sundowners, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bobby Bare with Brandy Clark, and a few surprises. The Jam will benefit MusiCares and CMA’s Keep The Music Playing. Tickets: ryman.com.  ••• APA  Nashville has signed Phil Vassar to its talent roster. ••• Collin Raye will perform on the Grand Ole Opry May 14. •••The new LeAnn Rimes album, Spitfire, is due June 4 on Curb Records. ••• Little Big Town was recently announced as a nominee for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song “Good Afternoon” for Good Afternoon America on ABC. The song was co-written by LBT’s, Brett Warren and Brad Warren and produced by Jay Joyce. The Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place  June 16 in Beverly Hills, CA. and air on the HLN cable network..

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Whisperin’ Bill Anderson will serve as moderator of the First Annual Hank Williams Songwriting Workshop, Nov. 7-10, at the Hank Williams Museum, in Montgomery, AL.  Core instructors include Bobby Tomberlin, Bradley Gaskin, and Arty Hill. The  Workshop will include songwriting seminars, one-on-one critiques, jam sessions and more. An acoustic concert Saturday night, headlined by Anderson, will also be open to the public.  Information: contact Beth Petty  334-262-3600 or hankwilliamsmuse@bellsouth.net

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Janie Fricke, one of country music’s original 80’s ladies, is being spotlighted in a new Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum exhibit. Radio Romance: Mainstream Country in the 1980s highlights a collection of artists that heavily incorporated pop influences into their country music. The exhibit traces Fricke throughout various points in her career including her early days as a popular background vocalist. She is featured alongside other revolutionary pop-country artists Barbara Mandrell, Eddie Rabbitt and Steve Wariner. The exhibit is located on the 2nd floor inside the Sing Me Back Home exhibit and will run through April 2015.

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Acclaimed Director/Producer/Manager Sherman Halsey has recently celebrated two consecutive weeks at #1 on CMT with the hit Tim McGraw video, “One of Those Nights.” This marks the 30th music video Halsey helped create with the McGraw. He also produced and directed McGraw’s three award-winning prime time NBC specials. One of the specials, Reflected, was the highest rated among television networks for an entire year. “A video is one of the most powerful ways for an artist to communicate their vision of who they are and where they see themselves” said Halsey.”Videos enable the artist to connect that image or brand with an audience and have impact like no other medium,” Halsey explains. “Whether it’s CMT, GAC, YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Therefore, a music video is worth a 1,000 words a second for 3 minutes,” he adds. Sherman Halsey produced and directed the video “Indian Outlaw” credited with helping to break McGraw’s extraordinary career. Over the years, he’s continued to produce and direct videos that helped establish McGraw’s image and brand. Being part of breaking a new artist through video has been Halsey’s trademark,  creating music videos that helped launch the careers of numerous superstars including The Mavericks and Dwight Yoakam, in addition to McGraw. “Videos give the artist a ‘stage’ or platform  to present their image, tell their story and project their persona to millions of people with total control of every element: lighting, editing, angles, lenses, styling, makeup…every element,”  he says. With a professional background that includes artist management and marketing, Sherman Halsey served as president of Century City Artists and executive vice-president of The Jim Halsey Company and has guided the careers of several acts including James Brown, Dwight Yoakam, Ronnie Dunn and more. In addition to producing and directing, he manages artists with his father, legendary artist manager and agent, Jim Halsey. He recently moved his headquarters from Los Angeles to Nashville. He continues to produce television shows and specials through his production company, The Halsey Company.  He’s represented by TackleBox Films (tackleboxfilms.com) for music videos and commercials and is working with Moo TV (www.mootv.com) on live events.

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Mark Chesnutt releases his new single entitled “When The Lights Go Out (Tracie’s Song)” May 15. Chesnutt wrote and recorded the song as a loving autobiographic dedication to his wife, Tracie. Vocals on this single–from Mark’s own independent label, Nada Dinero Records–were recorded in casual comfort at the home of producer Jimmy Ritchey (who produced Chesnutt’s last three albums Savin the Honky Tonk, Heard It In A Love Song and Rollin With the Flow).

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Several generations of Dukes of Hazzard fans will gather in Nashville June 8 for Dukes of Hazzard Fan Fair with the entire cast of the show: John Schneider (Bo), Tom Wopat (Luke), Catherine Bach (Daisy), James Best (Rosco), Sonny Shroyer (Enos) and Rick Hurst (Cletus) will join Jones for the day’s events, which will culminate with a Hazzard Hoedown concert at the Nashville Palace featuring the whole cast onstage with Cooter’s Garage Band. The event will be centered at Cooter’s Place on McGavock Pike, across from the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. For directions, tickets and more information call (615) 872-8358 or visit cootersplace.com.

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The Roys celebrate their new album, Gypsy Runaway Train, with pre-release events on May 16. The duo invites their fans and friends worldwide to tune in to wsmonline.com for a live stream as they host the station’s Guest Artist Seriesfrom 2-3 p.m.  That evening the  Music City locals can  join them at The Silver Dollar Saloon for a preview of the new music from their upcoming (June 4) Rural Rhythm Records’ CD.  Pre-order the album from Amazon.

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Tickets for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field reportedly sold out a record-setting six weeks in advance of the 2013 CMA Music Festival. “If you didn’t get a ticket for LP Field there are nine other entertainment and music stages, plus special events, and activities throughout downtown Nashville to enjoy,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “And with the expansion of our autograph signings, concerts, and family events into the new Music City Center – which we have dubbed Fan Fair X – local and regional residents have affordable, access to great entertainment with hundreds of our most popular artists.” Attendees can find free music throughout downtown Nashville with non-stop performances. Lineups for the stages, including the Chevrole Riverfront Park Stage, the Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza, Transitions Performance Park, The Buckle Stage on Broadway, BMI Tailgate Party, and more will be announced through CMA’s social networks! It all runs June 6-9.  Visit CMAfest.com for the latest information.

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Nineteen artists representing seven different countries have ben announced for the 2013 Global Event shows to be held June 3-4 during CMA Music Festival .Performing June 3 (6:30pm) at The Stage On Broadway: Kaylee Bell (Toyota Star Maker Winner – New Zealand), Jill Johnson (Sweden), Rodrigo Haddad (Brazil), Small Town Pistols (Canada), Natalie Howard (Australia), Jason Blaine (Canada), Jody Direen (Horizion Award Winner – New Zealand), Baylou (CRA/NA2N Winner – Australia), Michelle Wright (Canada) and The Wolfe Brothers (Australia).  On  June 4 (6:30pm) at The Second Fiddle. the lineup will include Madison Kozak (Canada), Hicks (Sweden), Jason Hastie (Canada), Richie Scholl (Australia), Ward-Thomas (UK), Two Rocks Band (Switzerland), Morgan Evans (Australia), Greg Hanna (Canada) and David Bradley (UK).  AristoMedia and the CMA sponsor the event.

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• May 25-26  – Bayou Country Superfest, Baton Rouge, LA

• May 30-Ju 2  – Nashville Songwriters Festival, Nashville, TN

• Jun. 6-9   – CMA Music Festival, Nashville, TN

• Jun. 13-16 – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN

• Sept.21-22 – Country Night Gstaad, Switzerland’

• Sept. 26 – International Bluegrass Music Awards, Raleigh, NC

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