Clear Channel Cuts Official

Clear Channel Communications has officially confirmed cuts that reduced its workforce by approximately 1850 employees or 9%.

CC CEO Mark Mays wrote in a company-wide email:
“As I’ve mentioned previously, we are facing an unprecedented time of distress in the general economy—and the ripple effects have hit some of our largest customers hard.
Today, we had the unpleasant task of bringing our Outdoor and Radio businesses’ staffing in line with these challenging economic conditions. In doing so, we enter 2009 as a solid company and in the most competitive position possible.
We have thought carefully and at some length about the steps we need to take as a company to succeed during this unprecedented downturn. As a result, we have eliminated approximately 1,850 positions across Corporate, Outdoor and Radio. While a significant portion of these positions represent a realignment in our sales departments, the positions span all departments and represent approximately 9% of the total Clear Channel Communications workforce.
One of the things that has kept Clear Channel strong throughout our history is a willingness to deal with difficult situations in an immediate way—to make the tough decisions today in order to secure a strong future. It is this trait that has gone furthest in enabling us to weather many difficult downturns in our 37-year history. It always requires clarity, collaboration and courage.
Please know that these have been difficult decisions—yet necessary ones. We will miss those who are departing—even as we renew our shared commitment to success among all of us who will stay.
Everyone in our investor group, on the Board, and in the executive leadership team remains bullish about the long-term growth prospects for Clear Channel. We continue to believe that the Outdoor and Radio businesses offer excellent opportunities.
We need to remain highly entrepreneurial and innovative. We also need to remain focused and compassionate. If we continue to manage our business carefully, and invest with discipline in the right strategic opportunities, we will navigate this downturn effectively and emerge even stronger and better positioned when things improve.
Starting now, it is our ability to bring creative thinking to the current business climate—to focus on the benefits we deliver for customers – to show extreme focus and commitment—that will create results.
Clear Channel Communications has more resources than any of our peers. The tools are here. The support is here. It’s time to use them to create lasting competitive advantage for our customers—and for our company.
Please know that we continue to be extraordinarily appreciative of all of the passion and hard work that each of you continues to commit to this phenomenal business. We will get through this together.
We’re in this together. We have the best team. And we all have important work to do. As we head into the New Year, I know we will meet the oncoming challenges with focus, determination and grace.“

Country Thunder Adds Markovchick

Kim Markovchick

Kim Markovchick

Kim Markovchick has joined Country Thunder as VP Sales and Marketing. Her more than 20 years of experience most recently included three years as Sr. Director of Marketing at Sony Nashville/Sony BMG. Previously Markovchick spent 17 years at Mercury Nashville, ending as VP/Marketing.

Country Thunder General Manager Craig Morris says Markovchick will work to “utilize the synergy between this label and the other components of Graham Entertainment.” He adds, “Kim, along with last year’s addition of former Big Machinist Bobby Young as SVP/Promotion and Artist Development, are only the beginning of the rebuilding and reorganization of Country Thunder.”

Markovchick can be reached at kim@ctrmail.net and (615) 438-7537.

Jo Dee Welcomes Baby Boy

Jo Dee pictured during pregnancy with husband Chris. Photo: Krista Lee Photography

Jo Dee pictured during pregnancy with husband Chris. Photo: Krista Lee Photography

Jo Dee Messina and her husband Chris Deffenbaugh were thrilled to welcome their first child, a boy, on Mon., Jan. 19 in a Nashville-area hospital. Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born at 1:01 PM, and weighed in at 6 lbs., 15 oz. Noah, mom and dad are all doing very well. The couple was married in October 2007.

Messina is readying her sixth studio album, Unmistakable, for Curb Records and will begin a solo tour in April. Deffenbaugh owns and operates Deffenblaster Enterprises, which builds custom road cases.

Nashville Goes International

Numerous Nashville artists and songwriters are planning trips overseas in the coming months. Representing Music City to the international community will be a wide mix of artists and songwriters from a variety of genres.

For the fifth year, Nashville songwriters will share their talents at Ireland’s Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival & Song Writing Convention. Going overseas for the Feb. 18-22 event will be Nanci Griffith, Josh Rouse, Raul Malo, Tift Merritt, Tia Sillers, Mark Selby and Steve Harley, who will play alongside numerous Irish artists. More than 100 musicians are set to participate in 30 concerts and 20 workshops at the festival celebrating the art of songwriting and the Sister Cities link between Belfast and Nashville.

Country artist Charlie Allen is on a two-week media tour of France, England and Scotland to promote his single, “Proof,” which recently hit No. 1 on Europe’s Hotdisc “Independent Top 20” chart and No. 3 on its “Top 40” radio chart. While in France, the River Run Records artist will attend MIDEM in Cannes, which brings together 9,000 professionals from over 90 countries.

John Oates will headline three shows in Japan, Feb. 2-5, as his first solo concerts in the country. His performances will spotlight his new solo album, 1000 Miles Of Life, which features guest artists Jimmy Wayne, Blues Traveler’s John Popper, Bonnie & Bekka Bramlett, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas.

Here in the states, international participation at SXSW is way up this year. Forty percent of the bands invited to perform at SXSW 2009 hail from outside the US, with a majority coming from UK, Canada, and Mexico, respectively. The total number of countries with invited acts stands at 52 as compared with 43 countries represented at SXSW 2008. Perhaps even more significant than the number of international bands that apply and perform at SXSW, is the number of international business people who continue to flock to Austin. International registration is already up 33% for 2009.

BMI Honors Gospel In Nashville

BMI recognized the substantial contributions of gospel pacesetters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe Winans at the 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Fri., Jan. 16 in Nashville. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only celebration attracted gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends.

Kirk Franklin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, and 2008 Trailblazers honoree Vanessa Bell Armstrong were among the artists who paid homage to the honorees. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant also presented an award for Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year to Marvin Sapp and his esteemed collaborator Matthew Brownie in recognition of their co-written hit “Never Would Have Made It,” which was recorded by Pastor Sapp.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

Bread Founder Launches NashFilms Records

Robb Royer

Robb Royer, founding member of ‘70s rock band Bread, has opened NashFilms Records on Music Row. With a background also including work as a producer and director, Royer originally planned to start a motion picture production company, but it evolved into a record label when he began working with pop/dance artist Karissa Hope la Cour and released her current single “Moved By The Music.”

NashFilms has an in-house studio and video production bay. The team includes Jessie Royer-Holmes heading day-to-day operations, production manager Harrison Holmes, and Don Murry Grubbs handling publicity. Joe Mattis, President of SlugFest Records Nashville, has been brought in to act as head of the label’s Advisory Board. Next up, NashFilms is planning the release of music project The Finnigan Bros.: The 1990 Sessions.

Top Artists Support Worthy Causes

Many big name artists are set for benefit concerts in Nashville over the next few weeks. On Feb. 2 Dolly Parton, Ronnie Dunn, Kellie Pickler, Keith Anderson, Jennifer Hanson, Mark Nesler, and Matt Gary will turn out for the Gift of Music benefit at the Wildhorse Saloon. The 7 PM fundraiser for the W.O. Smith Music School is being presented by The Dustin J. Wells Foundation, which was established to honor the memory of Dustin (son of Dennis J. Wells, D.D.S., and nephew of music producer Kent Wells) who lost his life in a 2005 car accident. Last year’s Gift of Music concert raised more than $50,000. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster and start at $45. VIP tickets are $500.

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Lorrie Morgan, Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence, Joe Diffie and guest Jesse Whitley will perform at the Life Through Music Concert to benefit Grammy-winning Nashville bassist Chris Kent who has Multiple Myeloma. The concert will be Thurs., Feb. 5, 7 PM at the Cannery Ballroom. Tickets start at $25, and VIP tickets including artist meet & greet and drinks are available for $65. For tickets go to www.mercylounge.com or www.ticketweb.com.

Lady A Making National TV Rounds

Lady Antebellum has scheduled several upcoming national television performances, including NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 22, and a two-song performance on The Early Show’s “GRAMMY Concert Series” on CBS, Sat., Feb. 7. Additionally, in anticipation of the Grammy nominated band’s opening slot on Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival tour of arenas and stadiums, Lady A will be featured on DirectTV’s Concert Series through March 15. “I Run To You” is the third single from the trio’s hit debut album and is working its way up the Country Breakout chart.

Publishers Snap Up Rights To Hall of Famers’ Songs

Primary Wave Music Publishing, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, has purchased the late Tennessee Ernie Ford’s catalog from his estate, Billboard reports. The transaction includes about 170 songs by the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. Also a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Ford released nearly 50 albums during his career. Though Ford is best known for his biggest hit “16 Tons,” he did not write the song and therefore it is not included in the catalog.

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Gospel Music Hall of Famer BeBe Winans has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Evergreen Copyrights. According to Billboard, the deal is comprised of songs on his upcoming albums, including a reunion project with CeCe Winans. His latest single, “Right Now (We Need One Another),” features Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd and CeCe.

Clear Channel Hires Lindy, Despite Looming Layoffs

Clear Channel Communications will begin restructuring across the board next week, making changes expected to save the company $400 million, according to The NY Post. With 30,000 employees worldwide, CCC’s plan includes laying off workers in its radio, outdoor advertising and international divisions. In an attempt to consolidate duties and cut programming costs, CCC might also adopt a “national programming” model that would require less local-level staffing, the Post says. Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners purchased CCC last year for $17.9 billion.

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Scott Lindy, Sirius’s former Sr. Country PD, is taking over as Clear Channel Atlanta’s Director of Operations, as well as handling PD duties for the cluster’s WUBL (94.9 the Bull)/Atlanta. He left the satcaster in September during its merger with XM. Succeeding the recently promoted Clay Hunnicutt, Lindy begins his new duties in Atlanta next week.