Baldrica Named President of Average Joes

Average Joes Entertainment has hired industry veteran Tom Baldrica as President. The label is home to Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert, Josh Gracin, and Corey Smith.

Earlier this year Baldrica ended his role as VP, Marketing for Sony Music Nashville, after 17 years with the label group.

“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Average Joes Entertainment,” he says. “At this time of unprecedented change and reinvention in the music business, the Average Joes philosophy and strategy represents the future. I am proud to be a part of it.”

“We are pleased to add Baldrica’s experience and expertise to our team,” adds Shannon Houchins, CEO of Average Joes Entertainment. “For someone who has been instrumental in the landscape of the country music format to truly understand our approach to the music industry is exciting.”

A Minnesota native, Baldrica got his start in radio, and eventually moved to Atlanta to become the Southeast Region Promotion Manager for BNA Records. He worked his way through the BNA ranks, where he was pivotal in building the careers of stars Kenny Chesney and Lonestar.

BNA eventually became part of Sony Music Nashville and in 2006, Baldrica was elevated to Vice President of Marketing Sony Music Nashville (including the Arista Nashville, BNA Records, Columbia Records and RCA Records imprints). In this role he directed the artist development, media, creative and strategic marketing departments, working with Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Sara Evans, and more.

He currently sits on the board of directors of Country Radio Broadcasters, and the W.O. Smith/Nashville Community Music School.

Baldrica can be reached at tom@averagejoesent.com or by calling (615) 733-9983.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (12/1/10)

This week the newsmakers come not from the ranks of our country stars, but from the members of Nashville’s ever expanding pop/rock community.

A slew of Music City’s biggest headliners from this world have buzz-worthy current releases. Kings of Leon, Sheryl Crow, Paramore, Michael W. Smith and Leon Russell head a parade of record makers you need to support.

We have a tie for Disc of the Day. I simply could not choose between Sheryl Crow and Leon Russell, so I won’t. Buy them both at once. By the way, both Elton & Leon and Kings of Leon are available on vinyl LPs.

I don’t give out a Song of the Day award, but if I did it would be for “How We Love.” By the time Beth Nielsen Chapman finished singing it, tears were rolling down my cheeks.

Our DisCovery Award goes to the John Jorgenson Quintet. Its twirling gypsy sound will make you delirious.

PARAMORE/Playing God
Writer: Hayley Williams/Josh Farro; Producer: Rob Cavallo & Paramore; Publisher: WB/But Father I Just Want to Sing/Josh’s/FBR, ASCAP; Atlantic/Fueled By Ramen (track)
—The new single from the Brand New Eyes CD is a jangly rumbler with a hard rocking chorus. Hayley’s snarly soprano is especially effective in this diatribe against a judgmental partner. Rocking, literate and melodic, all at the same time.

MARSHALL CHAPMAN/Big Lonesome
Writer: Chapman/Krekel; Producer: Michael Utley & Marshall Chapman; Publisher: none listed; TallGirl (track) (www.tallgirl.com)
—The title tune to Marshall’s new CD is surprisingly countrified. Particularly since the harmony vocalist and guitarist is the late, rocking Tim Krekel, to whom the CD is dedicated. But there you have it, complete with twanging electric, steel and dobro. Fear not fans, on the rest of the album, she’s as eclectic as ever, serving up everything from blues (”Mississippi Man in Mexico”) to pop (”Falling Through the Trees”) to swing (”Sick of Myself”) to rock (”I Love Everybody”) and even a cover of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” In fact, this is her best collection in years.

JARS OF CLAY/Out Of My Hands
Writer: Jars of Clay/Gabe Ruschival/Jeremy Lutito; Producer: Jars of Clay; Publisher: Bridge Building/Pogostick/Chigostick/Dudie, BMI; Gray Matters/Sony/
Essential (track)
—This million-selling Christian alt-rock band’s current The Shelter CD is comprised of collaborative tracks with other like-minded music makers (Brandon Heath, David Crowder, Amy Grant, etc.). This shuffled, meditative, melodic tune features Mike Donehey. Definitely pop-crossover material.

KINGS OF LEON/Radioactive
Writer: Caleb Followill/Nathan Followill/Jared Followill/Matthew Followill; Producer: Angelo Petraglia & Jackquire King; Publisher: Pistola/Sinderella’s Grass Slipper/McFearless/Coffee Tea or Me/Bug/Silent But Violent, ASCAP/BMI; RCA (vinyl 45)
—Anthemic, in a U2-ish kinda way. The guitars are a stuttering, twittering swirl of sound, and the lead vocal soars. The B-side of the 45 features the West Angeles Mass Choir, which underscores the song’s seriousness of purpose. The New York Times has called its Come Around Sundown parent album, “the rock blockbuster of the new season.” Ain’t that nice? Be looking for it somewhere in tomorrow’s list of announced Grammy Award nominees.

SHERYL CROW/Sign Your Name
Writer: Maitreya Sananda; Producer: Doyle Bramhall & Justin Stanley; Publisher: none listed; A&M (track)
—Sheryl’s current CD is called 100 Miles from Memphis because her hometown of Kennett, MO is, indeed, 100 miles to the north. The collection is informed by the soul music that Memphis is noted for, perhaps nowhere more so than on this cover of the sensuous Terence Trent D’Arby smash of 1988. Sheryl’s version is appropriately slinky, funky and groove soaked. The harmony singing comes courtesy of guest star Justin Timberlake, who is famously a Memphis native. (Elsewhere on the album, Keith Richards makes an appearance.) Essential listening.

JOHN JORGENSON/One Stolen Night
Writer: Jorgenson; Producer: John Jorgenson; Publisher: Jorgensongs/Bug, BMI; J2 (track) (www.johnjorgenson,com)
—This Middle Tennessee guitar slinger—formerly of The Desert Rose Band (1986-1994)and Elton John’s touring troupe (1994-2000)—has two current albums on the market. This is the swoon-y title tune to a gypsy/flamenco/jazz collection by The John Jorgenson Quintet (which also includes violinist Jason Anick, bassist Simon Planting, percussionist Rick Reed and rhythm guitarist Kevin Nolan). On this gorgeous CD, John plays guitar, bouzouki, clarinet and soprano sax. The other album is Istiqbal Gathering, a pop-classical collaboration with Orchstra Nashville and The Turtle Island Quartet. Recorded live, it is a rich sonic marvel with Jorgenson’s acoustic guitar surrounded by strings and things. Both albums are superb listening experiences.

ELTON JOHN & LEON RUSSELL/If It Wasn’t For Bad
Writer: Leon Russell; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Publisher: Young Carney, ASCAP; Decca (track)
—I am a huge, huge Leon Russell fan. So is Elton John, which is the reason for their new collaboration, The Union. Appropriately, the set’s first single belongs to the senior member of the team. Nashvillian Russell is just as soulful as ever, and John slips easily into his swampy, steamy vocal groove. Leon’s gin-house/gospel piano leads the way. Listening to these two masters together is beyond heavenly. This is easily one of the greatest albums of 2010, regardless of genre.

KIM RICHEY/Wreck Your Wheels
Writer: Kim Richey/Mando Saenz; Producer: Nielson Hubbard; Publisher: Chrysalis Songs/Red Equals Luck/Scramblemusic/Carnival, BMI/ASCAP; Thirty Tigers (track) (www.kimrichey.com)
—The title tune to Kim’s new CD is a steady-thumping romantic dreamscape that is sparely arranged to spotlight her languid vocal phrasing. Get a load of this supporting cast on the disc—Jeremy Lister, Will Kimbrough, Matthew Ryan and David Henry, plus producer Hubbard contributing bass, piano, glock, organ and overall haunting atmosphere. Delicious-sounding pop nirvana.

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN/How We Love
Writer: Beth Nielsen Chapman; Producer: Beth Nielsen Chapman; Publisher: Prismlight, SESAC/PRS; BNC (track) (www.bethnielsenchapman.com)
—As usual, she is gloriously melodic and ultra heartfelt on this stunning ballad from her new, self-produced Back to Love collection. Her yearning vocal and Gary Malkins’s elegant piano playing are joined by a magnificently supportive mass of violas, cellos and violins. If this doesn’t bring a lump to your throat, you are made of stone, my friend.

MICHAEL W. SMITH/Save Me From Myself
Writer: Lau Hojen/Soren Balsner/Morten Thorhauge; Producer: Michael W. Smith & Bryan Lenox; Publisher: Bert’s Songs/Universal, ASCAP; Sony/Reunion/
Provident (track)
—This CCM star hasn’t had a big pop crossover hit since 1991 (”Place in This World”). But his brilliantly produced new Wonder CD could definitely change that. This sonically dense lead off track/single piles electronics, keyboards and his tenor vocal on top of blustering beats in a way that is stirring, to say the least. The album also includes two secular love songs, “You Belong to Me” and “Forever Yours.”

CRS New Faces Performers Announced

Top to Bottom: The Band Perry, Easton Corbin, Lee Brice, Josh Thompson, Jerrod Niemann

Country Radio Broadcasters has announced the performers for the 2011 New Faces of Country Music Show, to be held Friday, March 4 during Country Radio Seminar at the Nashville Convention Center.

Performers selected for the show include The Band Perry (Republic Nashville), Lee Brice (Curb Records), Easton Corbin (Mercury Nashville), Jerrod Niemann (Sea Gayle/Arista), and Josh Thompson (Columbia Nashville).

Earlier in 2010, CRB expanded the New Faces voting process to include any employee of a commercial full-time country station. Previously, only CRS registrants were allowed to vote.

“Our New Faces show is always one of the highlights of Country Radio Seminar because attendees get a chance to see some of Country radio’s brightest up-and-coming stars,” says CRB President Mike Culotta. “The CRB board chose to include more of the Country radio industry in the voting process this year, which we feel gives us a better understanding of what Country radio listeners out there are really responding to in terms of the newer acts. Congratulations to all of this year’s New Faces performers. I know it’s going to be a terrific show!”

The regular registration rate for CRS 2011 is $499 and available at www.crb.org.

Americana Music Association Names New Board

The Americana Music Association recently held annual elections for its Board of Directors. The 2011 executive committee will be elected by the new board in January.
Ten incoming directors have been elected to serve two-year terms beginning January 1, 2011.

Incoming or re-elected Americana Board Members:
Tim Fink; VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC
Todd Ohlhauser; Co-owner, Mercy Lounge / Cannery Ballroom
Mary Gauthier; Artist/songwriter
Al Moss; President, Al Moss Promotions
Sylvia Giannitrapani; Southeastern sales rep, Ryko Distribution
Tim McFadden; Owner, Tim McFadden Management, LLC
Amanda Hale-Ornelas; Director, Media Relations, New West Records
Bob Benckert; CFO, Alternate Root
Jessie Scott; Partner, Music Fog
Holly Lowman; Manager, Ramseur Records

Board members remaining to serve the second of two-year terms:
Ashley Capps; President, AC Entertainment
Joan Kornblith, Correspondent and Program Host, Voice of America
Pam Matthews, Owner, DuVoyant Music
John Allen; Vice President, Bug Music
Chip Taylor, songwriter, artist
David Macias; President, Thirty Tigers

At-Large board members: Rodney Crowell, Raul Malo, Buddy Miller