Bluegrass and Brides–Hard to Tell Apart ?!

The following post appeared in Facebook on today and was cause for quite a few chuckles.

Wilma Lee - Gone at age 90

Another pioneer of our business is lost to us now.  Wilma Lee Cooper, a perennial favorite with  Grand Ole Opry fans, died on Tuesday Sept. 13th at her home in Sweetwater, Tenn. She was 90.

In 1994 the International Bluegrass Music Association presented Ms. Cooper with its Award of Merit. In 2001 the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America inducted her into its Preservation Hall of Greats.  Quite ironically, much of the bluegrass world missed the news in the wake of the huge celebration activities surrounding the 100th Birthday commemoration for Bill Monroe who was born on the same day.

LEADERSHIP BLUEGRASS SEEKING APPLICANTS ...

Dates set for March 8-10, 2012, Deadline to apply: Nov. 15, 2011 

  Every year IBMA's Leadership Bluegrass program brings together a cross section of music industry professionals to take an intensive look into the future challenges and opportunities our music faces, and our next class is slated for Thursday, - Saturday, March 8-10, 2012, in Nashville, Tennessee. Those interested in participating are encouraged to apply for a limited number of openings.

 Here are a few comments from graduates of Leadership Bluegrass 2011:

Broadcasting Bluegrass Couple Lead Workshop at IBMA Conference!

Renowned radio show hosts and members of the Florida State Bluegrass Band, Ernie and Debi Evans go national in 2011.
The broadcasting DUO recently accepted an invitation from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) to lead and conduct the “Internet Broadcasting—Audio and Video Streaming” seminar this year at the World of Bluegrass convention in Nashville, TN.

Bluegrass Museum Website Features Prescription Bluegrass Blog NEWS!

Visitors to the International Bluegrass Museum's Website will now get a special News feature of 

Bluegrass News from the Museum and Points Beyond!

A list of the most recent headlines from the Prescription Bluegrass Blog with each headline hyper-linked to the full story can be found on the Museum's News Page.

"This partnership will ensure that our web site visitors can get up to the minute bluegrass news with one easy click." -  Gabrielle Gray, IBMM Executive Director

"From the mountains of Kentucky to the cyber surfer in Hawaii, now everyone can stay up to date on bluegrassmuseum.org thanks to Brian McNeal and his great Prescription Bluegrass Blog." -Danny "Hootenanny" Clark, IBMM Marketing Director

New IBMA Website Coming This Month

Be on the lookout for a brand new look to the IBMA Website at ibma.org

In an article in this month's newsletter entitled: Bluegrass Nation & New IBMA Website, progress on an initiative to recruit new Life Members (whose investments will be earmarked to partially underwrite these developments) is largely responsible for the board approving the funding for a new website for IBMA and World of Bluegrass events.

IBMA Offers May 19 Webinar: "Media Training Masterclass - Making the Media Work for You"

Publicity is an essential tool in promoting an artist’s career, a new product or an event. But once you are in front of the microphone, are you prepared to deliver your message in a concise, engaging manner? 

Whether you are an artist, a manager, a record label or independent publicist, an event producer, an association leader who produces events—or even a broadcaster, from the other side of the interview desk—you’ll take away valuable and practical advice from this session.