Wes Vause Raised to VP, Media, BNA

Sarah Skates – 10/02/2008

Wes Vause has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice President, Media, for Sony Music Entertainment’s BNA Records. Most recently Senior Director, Media, Vause is an eight-year company veteran. Based in Nashville, and reporting to Sony VP Media Allen Brown, Vause will continue to spearhead label publicity for BNA and its roster of artists including Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Pat Green, Blaine Larsen, The Lost Trailers, Craig Morgan, and Kellie Pickler.

With today’s (10/2) announcement, Brown praised, “For the past eight years, Wes has been a vital leader in the artist career building process of the BNA Records roster and a core contributor to the success and growth of Sony Nashville. It is a great thrill for me to recognize his promotion to Vice President. In consideration of his commitment, drive and vast experience, coupled with his admirable spirit and style, Wes is so deserving of this career achievement.”

Douglas Completes Residencecy

10/02/2008

Dobro master Jerry Douglas recently (9/30) wrapped up a four-show stint as the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum's 2008 Artist-in-Residence. Each one-of-a-kind evening in the Museum's intimate Ford Theater featured set lists and special guests drawn from across the wide swath Douglas has cut into contemporary acoustic music. Among the guest performers at the final show were Garth Brooks, John Cowan, Tim O'Brien, Maura O'Connell and Trisha Yearwood.

(L-R): Cowan, Douglas's mgr. D.J. McLachlan, Brooks, Yearwood, Russ Barenberg, Douglas, O'Connell, O'Brien and Museum Dir. Kyle Young. Photo: Donn Jones

Benefits/Lifenotes Thursday (10/2/08)

LIFENOTES
Congrats to Luellyn Latocki of Latocki Team Creative on her recent engagement to James Hensley.

Congratulations to Hank Cochran who recently was given an “all clear” on his most recent CT scan. Cochran, who...

Industry News Thursday (10/1/08)

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host the Nov. 12 CMA Awards at the Sommet Center and have also been announced as performers for the show. They are the reigning CMA Male and Female Vocalists...

IBMA Songwriter Showcase at World of Bluegrass

10/01/2008

ASCAP sponsored the IBMA Songwriter Showcase at the Nashville Convention Center on Sept. 30 as part of the annual International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass events. Ron Block, Sierra Hull and Cia Cherryholmes hosted the showcase, which featured Louisa Branscomb, Kathy Chiavola, J. D. Crockett, Dennis Duff, Keith Harden & Rick Alan Carpenter, Erika Chambers, Emma & Bryan McDowell, Kent Riggs, Becky Schlegel and Michael VanBrackle.

(L-R): ASCAP VP Dan Keen, Cherryholmes, Hull, IBMA Special Projects Dir. Nancy Hays and Block. Photo: Alan Mayor

Copyright Recapture Marks Four Years of Growth

10/01/2008

Copyright Recapture celebrated its fourth anniversary with “A Night of Rock Legends” at the Bluebird Café featuring Jim Peterik, Jimmy Hall, Kelly Keagy and Jeff Carlisi. The company was started to help songwriters understand their rights and opportunities, and has evolved into a multi-faceted company offering a wide range of services. Peterik, a member of Survivor and Ides of March, is the writer of “Eye of the Tiger,” “Vehicle," and countless others. Keagy, the drummer and singer for Night Ranger is the writer of “Sister Christian.” Carlisi, the former guitarist for .38 Special, is responsible for many of that band’s hits. Hall, of Wet Willie and “Keep on Smiling,” fame rounded out the lineup. The show was part of the NSAI “Songposium” Performance Series.

(L-R): Wes McBride, co-owner of Copyright Recapture; Jon Conley; Keagy; Brent McBride, co-owner of Copyright Recapture; Peterik; Carlisi; Hall; and Jeff Adams.

KOCH Parent Company Prepares For Growth

Sarah Skates – 10/01/2008

Entertainment One (E1), the parent company of KOCH Entertainment, has received $150 million in financing, in a deal led by JP Morgan. This money will replace the company's existing debt facilities and will provide additional capital for its continued growth. Along with JP Morgan, participating banks include Bank of America, Barclays and Toronto Dominion Bank. As part of the financing, E1 commissioned an independent third party report that valued its film and music library—which includes over 3,700 film titles and approximately 15,000 music tracks—in excess of $175 million.

Entertainment One is a leading international entertainment company with operations in Canada, the U.S, Holland, Belgium and the UK, where it distributes, acquires and owns filmed entertainment and music content in all media.

Americana Radio Shows Potential

Sarah Skates – 10/01/2008

Americana Music has some untapped potential as a radio format, according to a national online survey of 3,000 listeners. Fielded by Jonathan Little of TroyResearch and Lou Patrick of Evolution Research, the research project was conducted during August 2008 and the results were presented at the recent Americana Music Association Convention in Nashville.

The study, which focused on determining potential listenership, showed that 14.1% of respondents would listen all or most of the time to an Americana station. Almost 30% of the survey respondents said they would listen “some of the time.” Patrick and Little determined that Americana stations would draw listenership mostly from the Adult Alternative (AAA) and Country. The largest listener age group would be 25-34, and overall, the stations would have a slightly larger male audience than female.

The survey also showed that the term “Americana” elicited a favorable impression, but only about one-third of those surveyed had heard the term before.

Digital Royalty Rates Could Change

Sarah Skates – 10/01/2008

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have passed the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008, which would allow further negotiations between SoundExchange and webcasters like Rhapsody and Pandora. The two sides disagree on a rate set by the Copyright Royalty Board in 2007 which the webcasters believe is too high. Now awaiting the President’s signature, the bill would set a lower royalty rate retroactive to 2006, and would be active through 2015.

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The Copyright Royalty Board will vote tomorrow (10/2) on whether to raise royalty rates on paid digital downloads. The National Music Publishers Association is pushing the CRB for a 66% increase, from 9 cents a track to 15 cents. Digital stores such as iTunes and Amazon.com would experience a significant impact if the rate hike passes. Among the groups opposing the increase are record labels and the Digital Media Association.

Rock Band To Release AC/DC Edition

Sarah Skates – 10/01/2008

A special AC/DC edition of video game Rock Band will be available exclusively in the U.S. at Wal-Mart this November. AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack, will be released by Harmonix and MTV Games, with licensing from Columbia Records. It is made up of 18 remixed live recordings including "Highway To Hell," and "Back in Black." Throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand the game will be available in early December. AC/DC’s latest album Black Ice is also a Wal-Mart exclusive. Guitar Hero, a game similar to Rock Band, already has an Aerosmith game and is working a Metallica version.