The O2, southeast London, has become one of the world’s most popular entertainment venues. Its owners Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) will be appointing Tom Miserendino as the President and Chief Executive of AEG Europe, on Thursday 4th October. The O2 is AEG’s flagship venue in Europe, hosting a variety of events including the ATP World Tour tennis championships next month. AEG also owns a number of leading entertainment sites in Scandinavia and Germany. These will all be overseen by Miserendino. Miserendino will be taking over from Jay Marciano who relocated to AEG’s headquarters in Los Angeles earlier this year, after his promotion to Chief Operating Officer. The management reshuffle has followed an attempt to sell the entire company for as much as £6 billion. The sales process attracted interested bidders from around the world, but was aborted by AEG. Miserendino has most recently been working as the head of AEG Live, the touring and concert arm of the group. He has worked for AEG for over a decade. Mr Miserendino is expected to take over European operations at the start of December –one of AEG’s most important regions outside of its home market in the US.

The O2 and SJM Concerts in association with the Country Music Association have announced details of the 2014 Country To Country Festival set to take place at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday and Sunday March 15 and 16. Headlining Country to Country 2014 will be Grammy award winning and multimillion selling Brad Paisley. Paisley is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer who with 22 number one singles in the US returns to The O2 after a triumphant show there in 2011. After a storming set at Glastonbury 2013, three time GRAMMY award-winning Zac Brown Band return to the UK to also headline the event. Having toured extensively in the US the band look forward to their first headline UK Arena show. C2C 2014 will also see the return of country superstars the Dixie Chicks, who will be performing in the UK for the first time in eight years. Rascal Flatts join the lineup after their phenomenal two sold out shows at London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in July. Also confirmed to perform is platinum selling artist Dierks Bentley, and Chris Young who has just released his latest album ‘A.M’ A further two special guests are soon to be announced to complete the prolific line up. Legendary broadcaster Bob Harris will again be compering the festival: “It is a very exciting time for Country music in the UK. C2C 2013 was a fantastic experience and next year’s festival promises to be another massive milestone.  I am thrilled to be compering again and providing huge coverage on ‘Bob Harris Country’ on BBC Radio 2 when Nashville comes to London.  See you at the O2!” The inaugural C2C 2013 event set the standard very high, welcoming over 17,000 fans from around the UK, Ireland and Europe to The O2 for the weekend. CMA Board President Ed Hardy said: “CMA is proud of our support and involvement in C2C. The reaction of the fans after the first year and the outstanding support from our artist’s community gives us the opportunity to broaden our music in the UK and Europe. This celebration of Country Music at The O2 is fast becoming an annual tradition and we are excited to play a part in growing the country music genre in the international marketplace.” With more artists still to be announced C2C: Country to Country is not to be missed: Tickets on sale at 9am Friday 11 October from: www.axs.com/c2c / 08448 24 48 24 and www.gigsandtours.com / 0844 811 0051

Grammy-Award-winning band Mumford and Sons have revealed that they are planning to take an ‘indefinite hiatus’ from music, after their Babel US tour finished on September 21st. Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, keyboard player Ben Lovett said: “We just know we’re going to take a considerable amount of time off and just go back to hanging out and having no commitments or pressure or anything like that… I don’t think we’ve had actually much time in the process to be with other people and living a life outside of the band.” Mumford and Sons’ second album, BABEL, was released in September 2012 and won the Grammy for ‘Album of the Year’. The band closed this year’s Glastonbury Festival weeks after bassist Ted Dwane was taken to hospital to remove a blood clot on the brain. They have been on tour since the album’s release, and have spoken about the need to take some time out to relax. The band featured as Maverick’s cover story in January/February 2013.

Keith Urban’s seventh studio album FUSE has taken the top spot on both the United States and Canadian Pop and Country Charts, marking a first for the three-time Grammy Award winner. It is the second time in the United States (2009’s DEFYING GRAVITY) that Urban has hit number one on Billboard’s Top 200 and Country Album Charts and the first time that Urban has taken the number one album spot in Canada. In Australia, mid-week indicators show FUSE at number one, which would also mark Urban’s first number one album in that country. FUSE, which has already produced Urban’s 15th number one single Little Bit of Everything, is the singer’s 4th number one Country Album in The United States. It shows no signs of slowing as the second single from the album, just released this week, marks Urban’s biggest radio add week of his career. We Were Us, featuring Miranda Lambert, was written by Jimmy Robbins, Nicolle Galyon and Jon Nite and was co-produced by Nathan Chapman and Urban.

There is a larger contingent of British performers at this year’s Americana Music Association Convention that takes place in Nashville this week than ever before. BBC Radio 2 host Bob Harris brings ‘BBC Introducing’ to Americana Convention BBC Radio 2 host Bob Harris brings ‘BBC Introducing’ to Americana for the first time. BBC Introducing launched in 2007 and is the new music brand at the BBC that supports unsigned and under the radar musicians in the UK & has since extended to stages at major festivals such as Glastonbury and SXSW. Harris premieres the show to the Hard Rock Cafe, Nashville presenting three of the hottest and freshest new acts on the scene Friday, September. 20, 2013, 5-8 pm. The showcase, which includes Emily Barker from Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The Communion Presents showcase during Americana Convention Communion Presents is an artist-led organisation co-founded by Ben Lovett (Mumford & Sons) that combines elements of live promotion, publishing, recording, and production to create a hub for songwriters and musicians to develop and flourish in an increasingly competitive industry environment. “Support, respect, brotherhood, growth and development are some of the values that make up the Communion organisation. This exists on and off stage. We champion musicians who encourage one another, regardless of genre, or level of commercial success,” shares Lovett. The Communion Presents showcase during Americana will feature the UK’s Bear’s Den, Willy Mason, The Lone Bellow, Black Prairie, and Justin Townes Earle on Thursday, September 19 from 4:30 – 7:30 pm at Nashville’s Downtown Presbyterian Church, 154 5th Ave North. “The British Are Coming” as Belcourt Taps welcomes to Nashville Britain’s Top Songwriters to Invade Music City to co-write with Hot Hit Makers A British invasion is headed for Nashville, as Music City hosts a unique cultural exchange between the elite Nashville songwriters and creative British songwriters in a week long live music event (United Kingdom/Nashville Songwriter Exchange Collaboration) set to take place from September 16-25, 2013. The event, which is open to the public, will focus on bringing cultures together to plan musical collaboration and showcasing music talents internationally. Organised by The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the visit will feature selected artists and writers from the UK meeting with many of Nashville’s top songwriters and performers. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, expressed his excitement about this cultural experience, commenting: “This is a fantastic opportunity to gain even more experience in one of the greatest music cities in the world. Rising London musician Robbie Boyd won our Gigs busking competition and we are thrilled that he is part of this delegation.” The Nashville’s Welcoming Reception will take place at Belcourt Taps on Tuesday September 17, 2013 at 4:30pm. Kicking it off will be Billboard country artist Lee Roy Parnell, along with an all-star cast. “Nashville is proud to be home to some of the world’s best musicians and songwriters, and that creative community helps make our city a unique global music center,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said. “I’m pleased to welcome these British songwriters and companies to Music City for this cultural exchange. We’re always pleased when songwriters from around the world come to Nashville to take part in the collaborative experience our songwriting community is known for.” Performance by the US team in collaboration with this event, will be held daily in the afternoon and nightly at Belcourt Taps. There will be multiple indoor and outdoor stages, and hosted by Television Entertainment Reporter Susan Branham. It will feature a diverse variety of music including rock, urban, country, blues and electronic. Centered around the Americana Music Festival that takes place September 18-22, this event creates a cultural and musical experience. “I’m excited to unite these two cultures together,” expressed Rose Melillo, industry veteran and owner of Belcourt Taps. “Nashville has many talented performers and for the UK to see that and believe in our artists is surreal.” These collaborations will include extensive business sessions at Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriter’s trade association, as well as education, mentorship and the opportunity to network amongst the industry. Music Sector Specialist for UK Trade & Investment, Phil Patterson, has partnered with fourteen British writers and companies and a team of US veteran music professionals. The writers and artists include James Otto (numberone hit singer/songwriter), Lee Roy Parnell (hit country singer/songwriter), Ira Dean (former bass player for country trio Trick Pony), Marty Raybon (number one singer/songwriter and former lead singer of Shenandoah), Hilary Williams (granddaughter of Hank Williams), Steve O’Brien (hit songwriter – Brooks & Dunn “Rock My World”), Steve Cropper (guitarist, producer and songwriter of “Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay”), Earl Bud Lee (award-winning hit songwriter – “Friends In Low Places”), Kenny Olson (rock lead guitarist- Kid Rock), Brad Stewart (current bassist for rock band FUEL), and Will Rambeaux (hit songwriter and producer – Faith Hill “Wild One”, etc). Other special guest heavy hitters include Roger Cook, Anthony Smith, Shannon Lawson, Larry Redmon, Pino Squillace, Jon Nicholson, Sammy Hudson, Dan Daly, ISHI, Daisy Mallory, The Band 13, Robbie Boyd, Dillon Dixon, Cory Fox Fardell, Stephen Carey, Chas Sandford, Blue Miller, James House, bree, Natasha Borzilova, Lotte Mullan, Paul Steel, Matt May, Mark Hill, Jessica Sharman, Jackie Wilson, TJ Howard, Allen McKendree, Travis Gilbert, Stewart Mann and the Statesboro Revue. The enthusiasm of the involved artists gives confidence in what promises to become a staple in the Nashville music calendar. UK Trade & Investment are looking into repeating the exercise in the UK next spring after reviewing this week’s business outcomes. In addition to the support of the UKTI and NSAI, sponsors include Spokes Buzz, Band Swap, Czann’s Brewing Company, and New Belgium Brewing. Executive chef Jane Marcum will be catering all the private parties during this week. Any donations and money raised during this event will go straight to Last Chance For Animals (LCA), a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to

Scotty McCreery has gradually revealed the cover of his new album on his official website by challenging fans to uncover the image by sharing the page on Twitter and Facebook. Fans who participated in the challenge also have the opportunity to win a special flyaway package to an album launch event in New York. SEE YOU TONIGHT is produced by Frank Rogers (Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker) and features several tracks co-written by McCreery, including the album’s title track, which is also his current single. This is the first album where McCreery had a hand in writing some of the songs. “This album is a big step from where we were. I have been writing for a long time now, since I was a kid, but these are the first songs I’ve had a chance to record and release to the public and I’m excited,” says McCreery. “I was lucky to have my first single off the record be one that I co-wrote. I am excited about letting folks hear it. We have been working on this for the better part of a year now, so it’s a long time coming.” “I grew up loving old-school country, and you’ll hear those things come out on this record,” he continues. “You will hear the contemporary country, but you will always hear the steel guitar and fiddle and those little nuances that make the older country what it was. I definitely am trying to stay true to my tastes as an artist on this album.” SEE YOU TONIGHT is the follow up to McCreery’s Platinum-selling album, CLEAR AS DAY, which topped the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country charts, earning him a spot in the Guinness World Records Book for being the youngest male in history to score a number one album on the all-genre chart with a debut release.

Cassadee Pope is opening up about her parents’ divorce in 11, a new song now available on iTunes, from her upcoming debut Country album FRAME BY FRAME. The dynamic songstress offers up a preview of her new music and a very personal look into her life now. “As a kid, when you go through something like your parents’ divorce, weird things go through your mind and you have no control. 11 has me opening up probably more than I’ve ever done before,” explained Cassadee. A recent Rolling Stone feature delves further into Cassadee’s journey and new music, including 11 and the previously released You Hear A Song. Produced by Dann Huff – with Nathan Chapman, Max Martin and Shellback contributing – more from the 11-song project will be available in the coming weeks. The album’s lead single, Wasting All These Tears, has already catapulted to the number one spot on the iTunes Top Country Songs chart and sold over 250,000 downloads. Currently, Cassadee is opening for Rascal Flatts’ LIVE & LOUD Tour.

Siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil – the trio better known as The Band Perry – have celebrated their fourth number one song for their most recent hit Done. The celebration marks a milestone for Reid and Neil Perry, as this is their very first number one song as writers. “Done was the last song we wrote for PIONEER. When we finished it, we knew the album was complete. In Done we are giving voice to the underdog. We were feeling like underdogs ourselves at the time we wrote it. It’s about rising above whatever circumstances are getting you down.” said Neil Perry. Music industry insiders packed the historic Bridge Building in downtown Nashville to share in the success of Nashville’s hottest new country trio. The party hosted by BMI, SESAC, Red Light Management, WME, BMLG and Major Bob Music, honoured The Band Perry and co-writers John & Jacob. John & Jacob first met Reid and Neil Perry when they opened for The Band Perry on some of the trio’s shows in the UK. The talented duo struck up a relationship with the band, which easily transitioned into co-writing. “Done” is John & Jacob’s very first cut as songwriters and also their very first number one.

Show Dog-Univeral Music recording artist Joel Crouse has digitally released his brand new single Oh Juliet as a thank you to his fans for their support. Crouse said: “Here’s some new music for the patient fans and the new ones I made on the Taylor tour. You guys rock… Hope you enjoy Oh Juliet.” Written by Joel Crouse, Jamie Houston & Marcus Hummon, Oh Juliet further increases the exciting anticipation for the release of his debut album. Crouse recently supported Taylor Swift for her RED Tour and he opened for Darius Rucker at the Williamette Country Music Festival, joining him onstage for Family Tradition. The 21-year-old musician, was hand-picked by Swift herself, like all her opening acts. Course commented on the star:”With Taylor, what you see is what you get. She’s very genuine, down to earth and cool.

Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), global leader in music rights management, honoured the country superstar, Carrie Underwood, with multiple BMI “Million-Air” Awards at a recent reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame. BMI’s Associate Director of Writer/Publisher Relations, Leslie Roberts joined Underwood onstage to present the certificates, honouring the prolific performance records of songs Mama’s Song and Good Girl, with one million performances each, and All-American Girl, with two million to date. Roberts commented: “With a catalogue boasting more than 13 million performances, Carrie has become one of the most successful songwriters in country music today.” BMI’s Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams said: “We at BMI could not be more proud and are excited to celebrate these continued incredible achievements with her.” The BMI “Million-Air” Award is given to songwriters, composers and publishers whose songs accumulate over one million U.S. broadcast performances. It has been bestowed upon many of BMI’s iconic songwriters, including Sir Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Isaac Hayes and Roy Orbison. The acknowledgement is a mark of respect and praise. The three tracks honoured at the reception alone, played back-to-back, would total nearly 23 years of continuous play, indicative of Underwood’s impressive accomplishments. www.bmi.com