Cumulus Radiothon’s Huge Success

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Cumulus Nashville is reporting that its 4th Annual Radiothon for the Nashville Rescue Mission was a huge success. Tuesday (3/16), all five of the cluster’s stations (SuperTalk 99.7-WTN; 92Q Nashville’s Big Station-WQQK; 95.5 The Wolf-WSM; 97.1 RQQ Nashville’s Rock Station-WRQQ; and i106-All the Hits-WNFN) went commercial-free from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the goal of raising enough money for 56,000 meals for Nashville’s homeless.

Listeners called in pledges and dropped off donations at Camper’s Corner RV Superstore and Lexus of Nashville ranging from one meal ($2.26) to thousands of dollars. Because of the generosity of people within the Nashville community and the range of the radio signals, the radiothon was able to reach its goal, raising around $120,000 with more pledges still rolling in.

“We are proud to have been a part of something amazing and issuing a call to action that will make a real impact on the Nashville community,” say Mark Sullivan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cumulus Nashville.  “Thank you, Nashville, Smyrna, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, and to all those in our listening area who answered the call. You never cease to amaze me.”

“We are grateful for Cumulus Broadcasting’s efforts on behalf of the poor and hurting of our community.  The outpouring of generosity from this year’s event will provide over fifty-thousand meals to hungry men, women and children arriving at our doors seeking help,” explains Don Worrell, President and CEO of the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Shoney’s® Catering donated food for all the workers of the radiothon this year.  Other sponsors for the radiothon include Fifth Third Bank and Buffalo Wild Wings.

UMG Tests Lower CD Prices

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The Universal Music Group has announced that it will begin testing a new pricing structure in the second quarter designed to get single CDs in stores at $10 or less. The company’s Velocity program will introduce the lower CD prices. Single CDs will have the suggested list prices of $10, $9, $8, $7 and $6.

UMG labels also plan to market more deluxe versions of albums that can sell at higher prices for the more devout music fans and collectors. The company is hoping that the lower prices will be offset by increasing CD sales.

Back in 2003, UMG became the first major to address declining sales when it initiated Jumpstart pricing, which offered CDs at $10.35. The other majors balked at lowering prices until years later.

“After extensive consumer research and conversations with our retail partners, we found that there is a large segment of consumers who want to purchase CDs, but have been holding back due to a difficult economy and the value proposition of physical media,” said UMGD President/CEO Jim Urie. “This test will seek to address these issues by offering a greater selection at sharper pricing, creating an even more compelling physical entertainment option for music consumers. We think [the new pricing program] will really bring new life into the physical format.”

UMG plans to maintain its current pricing for digital product.

Swift Celebrates “Most Awarded” Status

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Taylor Swift’s six-times-Platinum album, Fearless was officially recognized as the Most Awarded Album in the History of Country Music last night at a private dinner in Nashville. Fearless is the only album in history to win the all-genre Album of The Year Grammy, plus Country Album of the Year Awards from the Grammys, the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and the American Music Awards.

Representatives from NARAS, The American Music Awards, The Country Music Association, and the Academy of Country Music all joined Big Machine Records Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta in honoring Swift for her achievement. Other speakers praising Swift included her producer Nathan Chapman, BMI’s Jody Williams, SonyATV Music’s Terry Wakefield, ole’s Gilles Godard and MusicRow Publisher David Ross. Wakefield noted his boss Troy Tomlinson was on vacation, but desperately wanted to attend this party, so Wakefield brought a life-size cardboard cutout of the publisher. Swift later thanked everyone saying, “I never expected I would get to stand up at awards shows as much as I have. I’m proud of the people this happened to along with me. We’ve all had a lot change for us. I’ve seen a lot of you get new cars, but other than that you’re the same people.”

“We tend to always look forward when it comes to Taylor, but tonight it was time to stop for a moment and look back on one of the most successful music works of all time,” said Borchetta of the historic evening. “The eighteen months of our lives known as the ‘Fearless‘ era have been history-making, euphoric and triumphant. The sales, the airplay, the accolades and the awards have all just been incredible. But  most important to me is that my friend Taylor and her collective team of family, record label, management and her road family continue to raise the bar with work ethic, achievement and enjoyment. Dreams do come true.”

(l-r): John Grady, Academy of Country Music Board Chairman; Steve Moore, Country Music Association Board Chairman; Susan Stewart, NARAS South Regional Director; Swift; Larry Klein, American Music Awards Producer; Kelly Rich, Big Machine VP of Sales & Marketing; Scott Borchetta, President & CEO of Big Machine Records. Photo Credit: Krista Lee for Krista Lee Photography

Country Dominates RIAA Certifications

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The Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) January and February Gold and Platinum reports show that, relative to other formats, country music is going strong. Capitol Nashville’s Lady Antebellum’s sophomore album Need You Now was certified Platinum in just one month this winter, with legions of fans lining up to bring the power trio their second RIAA Platinum album award. In addition, the album’s title track, “Need You Now,” went 2x multi-Platinum.

Big Machine superstar Taylor Swift scored the highest Gold & Platinum album certification of any artist in January and February. Swift earned the top spot when her Album of the Year Grammy-winning Fearless certified 6x multi-Platinum in February. Her song “Today Was A Fairytale” from the Valentine’s Day soundtrack went Gold in less than a month, totaling more than 500,000 downloads sold since its January release.

Arista Nashville’s Carrie Underwood racked up several winter accolades. She not only scored a 3x multi-Platinum album award for Carnival Ride but also Gold and Platinum album awards for her latest release, Play On. With Play On Underwood continues a winning streak that has seen all three of her albums certified Platinum or higher.

Other albums taking Platinum plaques in January and February included Norah Jones’ The Fall, Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, Daughtry’s Leave This Town, Rihanna’s Rated R, Alicia Keys’ The Element of Freedom and Justin Bieber’s My World.

Another country standout was Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan, who received his first Gold song awards for his single, “Do I.”
Country veteran Alan Jackson earned his 15th career Platinum award for Good Time in February. Jackson’s career album sales have reached 43 million since the release of his debut, Here in the Real World in 1990.

Gretchen Wilson Opens Online Store

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Singer/songwriter/record company owner Gretchen Wilson has announced the opening of her new online store at www.redneckrecordsstore.com. In addition to her new album, I Got Your Country Right Here, and other fan-favorite Gretchen Wilson merchandise, the Grammy Award-winning country star is offering fans an exclusive I Got Your Country Right Here — Deluxe Edition. The first 500 copies sold will be personally autographed by the singer.

The package is offered at $49.99 and includes:
I Got Your Country Right Here CD
32-page full-color photo book never-before-seen pictures of Wilson at work and at play
Poster-size replica of the U.S. Constitution
3′ x 5′ “I Got Your Country Right Here” Flag

“We wanted to have an online store where my fans could order something they may not have been able to get at a concert or something unique like the Deluxe Edition package,” Wilson says. “My fans know what I stand for, and I feel like this will be something they will be proud to display in their homes.”

Wilson established her own Redneck Records label last year. Her debut single for the label, “Work Hard, Play Harder,” recently cracked the Top 30. She is currently in the final week of her two-month club tour promoting the new album and will be back in Nashville to perform at Operation Yellow Ribbon at Lipscomb University Allen Arena on Tuesday, March 23.

“Ride For Reading” Readies Benefit

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Ride For Reading, a Nashville area non-profit organization founded by avid cyclists with a goal to provide books to children of low income families, is hosting a benefit concert on Friday, March 26 at 3rd and Lindsley from 6-9 p.m. The evening will feature performances from singer/songwriters Sean McConnell, Megan James and Ashley Ray and is designed to bring awareness to the organization. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and can be purchased here.  All proceeds go to benefit Ride for Reading.

“This is Ride For Reading’s biggest fundraiser of the year,” says founder Mathew Portell. “We’re so excited to be able to share a night of great music for the sake of literacy in our community. It’s going to be a great night.”

Ride for Reading, established in 2008 by dedicated and determined 4th grade teacher and avid bicyclist Portell, will distribute books to Paragon Elementary School in Nashville via bicycle the morning of the benefit concert.

Ken Domash

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“Countrified”

Thunder Mountain Records

Singer/songwriter Ken Domash hails from St. Louis, Missouri, and his debut single to country radio is “Countrified.” Ken’s arrival in Nashville came courtesy of a few friends–or rather, fans–who helped pool money to send the singer to town to record. “Countrified” is the title track from Ken’s debut album, and it’s a revved up ode to finding the country guy or gal within oneself.

Ken writes all of his own music, drawing from a lifetime of experiences and using his vivid imagination to fill the gaps. He records in Nashville and has played with some of the best in the country while honing his sound. Nashville promoters are calling his sound “cutting-edge country.” Call it whatever you like, Ken just hopes you have fun with it.

http://www.domashmusic.com/

NASCAR’s Waltrip Bros. Host Charity Event

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The Waltrip Brothers, Darrell and Michael, of NASCAR fame, will serve as hosts for the First Annual Waltrip Brothers’ Charity Championship (WBCC) a dinner and golf tournament on June 2 and 3 in Nashville at Opryland’s Gaylord Springs Golf Links. The events will raise money for the the National MS Society and Motor Racing Outreach (MRO).

The Waltrip Brothers Charity Championship will depend on individual donations as well as sponsorships from businesses and organizations. Interested parties can help by providing sponsorship funds, by donating goods and services or by celebrity participation.

The Waltrip Brothers’ Charitable Fund was created to support the philanthropic initiatives of Darrell and Michael Waltrip. While individually, the Waltrips have given millions of dollars to numerous charity organizations, the 2010 WBCC will be their first combined effort to give back to two organizations that have personally touched them.

Click here for more information.

Faith Hill Meets Abba at R&R Hall of Fame

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Country superstar Faith Hill took center stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony on Monday night (3/15). Hill was there to salute Hall of Fame inductees Abba, performing a version of the band’s smash hit, “The Winner Takes It All.” Accompanied on piano by Abba member Benny Andersson, Hill delivered a straight-ahead interpretation of the soaring ballad. The country diva’s version of the pure pop classic can be viewed below.

Kentucky Music Hall Adds Inductees

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Keith Whitley, Patty Loveless, Steve Wariner, John Michael Montgomery, The Goins Brothers, Molly O’Day and Larnelle Harris are  the newest inductees into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Robert Lawson, Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Executive Director, along with Connie Hunt, event ceremony executive producer, made the announcement today (3/17).

“This year’s inductees include some of the most recognizable music artists in the world,” says Lawson. “The ceremony taking place in April 2011 will feature performances by this year’s class as well as some of this state’s greatest music achievers.”

The 2011 Induction Ceremony will be held in the Lexington Center Bluegrass Ballroom in Lexington, Kentucky on April 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. For more information about the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum call 1-877-356-3263 or click here.