DVD Kiosk Rental On The Rise

In 2010, more DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BDs) were rented from standalone kiosks like Redbox and Blockbuster, than in retail stores. This according to the latest research by The NPD Group.
“Consumers are obviously responding positively to the perceived value and convenience of kiosks,” said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD.
According to NPD, Netflix and other subscription services comprised 41% of video rentals in the third quarter of 2010, followed by kiosk rentals at 31%, and in-store rentals at 27%.
Compared to the third quarter of 2009, kiosk rental increased 10 percentage points, subscription rental share rose 2%, and in-store rental share declined by 13%.
Crupnick adds, “Traditional video retailers will no doubt experience even more competition in the coming year, as kiosks appear more frequently in grocery store chains, mass merchandisers, and quick-serve restaurants, and as competition intensifies from an assortment of on-demand rental offerings.”

Country Cares for St. Jude

Randy Owen visits with a St. Jude patient at Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar.


Many members of the country music community spent the weekend in Memphis to help kick off the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon season. The event, spearheaded 22 years ago by Randy Owen, drew more than 800 artists, label representatives, radio station personnel and executives.
Country Cares is one of the nation’s largest radio fundraising programs, having generated more than $385 million for St. Jude since it began in 1989.
More than 30 artists visited St. Jude patients, including Owen, Ronnie Dunn, Joanna Smith, Justin Moore, The Band Perry, Jake Owen, Casey James, Katie Armiger, Frankie Ballard, Craig Campbell, Ashley Gearing, the JaneDear Girls, The Grascals, Walker Hayes, Joey & Rory, Josh Kelley, Jennette McCurdy, Randy Montana, Troy Olsen, and Eli Young Band.

Frankie Ballard enjoys an activity with St. Jude patient Anna Pike.


Ronnie Dunn and St. Jude patient Ella hang out during Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar.


Josh Kelley meets St. Jude patient Carissa at Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar.



Steve Jobs Taking Medical Leave

Apple boss Steve Jobs is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence.
During his absence, day-to-day control of the company will be in the hands of Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook. Jobs will retain the title of CEO and said in a letter to employees that he will be involved in “major strategic decisions” for the company.
This is the second time Jobs has taken time off for health concerns, but this is the first time without a timetable for his return.
In January 2009 he took leave and returned the following June after undergoing a liver transplant. Jobs was treated for pancreatic cancer in 2004.
Many speculators believe he chose today to share the news because the U.S. stock market is closed for the MLK holiday, and the announcement would likely have a negative impact on Apple stock.
More here.

Memorial Set For CDB Guitarist Tommy Crain

Friends and family will gather Friday evening at Soundcheck Nashville to honor he music and the memory of longtime Charlie Daniels guitarist Tommy Crain.
Crain died last Thursday, Jan. 13. He was 59 years old.
During his 15-year tenure in the Charlie Daniels Band, the guitarist recorded more than 20 albums with the group. He co-wrote more than 60 songs, including such hits as “In America” (1980), “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” (1980), “Carolina” (1981), “Boogie Woogie Country Fiddle Blues” (1988), “Cowboy Hat in Dallas” (1989) and the Grammy and CMA Award winning “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (1979).
He joined the Charlie Daniels Band in 1975, following the first Volunteer Jam, and remained with the group until 1989. Previously, Tommy Crain had performed in the Flat Creek Band with his brother Billy, as well as in Buckeye. Following his CDB years, he fronted The Crosstown All Stars. He was regarded as among the most influential musicians in Southern rock music.
“Tommy Crain will always be a part of the CDB family, and his music will always be a part of the CDB sound,” said Daniels in a statement. “We have lost a good friend, and the world has lost a unique, creative and precious human being. We send our deepest condolences to the family of our brother Tommy Crain. You were special, buddy. We’re gonna miss you.”
In addition to brother Billy, Tommy Crain is survived by wife Melissa, parents John and Helen Crain, daughter Ann, sister Sherry Crain Aldridge, grandson Hunter McDuffee and numerous nieces and nephews.
The memorial celebration on Friday will begin with visitation at 4 p.m. Testimonials and the musical tribute will be at 5 p.m. Soundcheck Nashville is at 750 Cowan Street.
Donations can be made to the the Nashville chapter of Musicians on Call, 1313 21st Ave., Oxford House, Suite 1002, Nashville, TN 37232.

Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert

Luke Bryan will host and perform during the second Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert.


The Nashville Alliance for Public Education, along with the Country Music Association and the Nashville Symphony will host a student concert Tuesday, Feb. 1 (6:30 PM/CT) to celebrate the return of the city’s world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the development of our next generation of musicians and performers during the second Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert presented by SunTrust Bank.
Capitol Records Nashville artist and CMA Board member Luke Bryan will host the event and perform with Nashville School of the Arts guitar student Sam Hunter.
The All Stars Concert will feature a variety of musical styles from arts programs in Metro Nashville’s 139 elementary, middle, and high schools.
The Nashville Alliance has partnered with CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program since 2006 and has provided more than 4,000 musical instruments and music labs for nearly 70 Metro public schools. To date, the program has raised more than $4.7 million from the proceeds of the annual CMA Music Festival to purchase much-needed musical instruments and equipment. In 2010, CMA donated more than $1.4 million to the effort, which includes a $1 million endowment ($200,000 annual contribution) of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words & Music” program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting.
The Keep the Music Playing All Stars concert is free to students’ families and schools through the support of SunTrust Bank.
“Putting instruments in the hands of children is one of the most important initiatives undertaken by CMA on behalf of our artists,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Supporting music education is an investment in the future. Metro students who participate in arts programs have a 95 percent graduation rate and access to scholarships. These music students care about how music is made and where it comes from. They are our most ardent ambassadors.”

BNA Talent Signs Lopez And Tallant

"I traded in my Hollywood stilettos for some cowboy boots and headed over to Nashville. I'm loving this city," comments Patricia Lopez, a six-foot bilingual host nicknamed 'Longlegs.' "My alignment with BNA Talent Group is the perfect start to 2011."


BNA Talent Group, located on Music Row, continues to increase its footprint in country music programming with the announcement of its signing of TV and radio hosts Patricia Lopez and Shane Tallant. BNA Talent Group represents hosts, actors and recording artists for television, feature film and commercial representation.
Lopez recently made her country television debut hosting Great American Country’s “Late Shift” and “Holiday Moments Video Block,” and previously was the co-host on Rick Dees radio show from Los Angeles.
Tallant, an EMMY Award recipient, most notably is the host of HGTV’s ” Designed to Sell ” and recently was the co-host of Nashville Fox affiliate’s “Tennessee Mornings.” Tallant is also engaged to Autumn House of Capital Records.

"I plan on being in Nashville for a long time and working within a field that I have a passion for, country music. I think Josh and BNA Talent understand this goal and we make a great team," says Tallant, who currently appears in the feature film, Country Strong.


“By increasing our footprint in the country music industry, the spotlight will remain on our collection of hosts, actors and artists with Nashville connections in film, network and cable programing,” says BNA Talent Group owner and veteran agent, Josh Robbins. “The additions of Patricia Lopez and Shane Tallant continues that goal.”
BNA Talent Group opened in 2009 and is located at 1301 16th Ave South, Ste 203, Nashville, TN, 37212. Robbins can be contacted at josh@BNAtalent.com or by calling (615) 457-1164. The company’s roster also includes CMT’s Katie Cook and Author/Music Industry Executive Anastasia Brown.

Former CDB Guitarist Tommy Crain Passes

MusicRow extendes its condolences to family and friends of longtime Charlie Daniels Band guitarist Tommy Crain, who passed away yesterday (1/13) in Franklin. He was 59. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Ella Helen Crain, and survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thomas Crain; his wife, Melissa Williams Crain; daughter, Ann Crain McDuffee; grandson, Hunter McDuffee; brother Billy Crain; sister Sherry Crain Arledge; and many nieces and nephews.
Crain grew up in Nashville, where he attended Parmer School and Montgomery Bell Academy. He joined the Charlie Daniels Band in 1975, where he stayed for over 15 years playing on more than 20 albums and co-writing over 60 songs, including the classic “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”
“Tommy Crain will always be a part of the CDB family and his music will always be a part of the CDB sound,” says Charlie Daniels. “We have lost a good friend and the world has lost a unique, creative and precious human being. We send our deepest condolences to the family of our brother Tommy Crain. You were special, buddy. We’re gonna miss you.”
Since he left CDB in 1989, Crain focused on helping wife Melissa’s career in equestrian endurance riding. He was employed by Rogers Remodeling as well as Southbound Trains, both of Franklin, TN and leader of Tommy Crain and the Crosstown Allstars of Atlanta.
A memorial service will be held for friends and family and details are pending. Donations may be made to the Nashville Local Chapter of Musicians On Call, 1313 21st Ave., Oxford House, Suite 1002, Nashville, TN, 37232.

Saporiti Joins Savannah Music Group

(L-R) Bob Saporiti, General Manager of Savannah Music Group; Dean Unkefer, SPI President; and Dave Gibson, Chief Creative Officer of Savannah Music Group after the Texaco Country Showdown.


“It’s nice to be back among the living,” smiles Bob Saporiti new General Manager of Savannah Music Group. “We’re already having a blast.”
Saporiti was appointed to the new SMG position shortly before the holidays replacing Ed Salamon who joined the company Oct. 1. Savannah Music Group consists of three principals including SMG President Dave Gibson, Group Chairman Jeff Cohen and Creative Director Daisy Dern.

SMG Creative Director Daisy Dern.


Saporiti, a Nashville industry veteran had a career as a top independent radio promoter and then became key player at Warner Nashville, focusing especially on international marketing. In 2001 he retired from the record business as Warner’s then Sr. VP/GM.
“We’re going to focus on our core business which is music publishing,” says Saporitti. “In fact we are signing deals with writers that have six month reversion clauses. If we can’t get something done with a song in that time, then the writer ought to be able to get it back.”
SMG has three song pluggers and its staff writer roster includes Kevin Grant, the Mulch Brothers and Nolan Neal.

TV Roundup: John Rich, Lady Antebellum

John Rich will follow in the footsteps of Trace Adkins and Clint Black as he joins the upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice, Donald Trump revealed yesterday (1/13) on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. The season kicks off March 6 and the typically bonkers cast includes LaToya Jackson, Gary Busey, Star Jones, Real Housewives of Atlanta’s NeNe Leakes, former baseball star Jose Canseco, Lisa Rinna, David Cassidy, supermodel Niki Taylor, Survivor winner Richard Hatch, Marlee Matlin, Meat Loaf, Mark McGrath, Playboy Playmate Hope Dworacyzk, Lil Jon, and Dionne Warwick.
•  •  •  •  •
Lady Antebellum’s current hit single “Hello World” will be featured on an upcoming episode of NBC’s drama NCIS, which will air Tuesday, January 18. Fresh off a massive 2010, Lady Antebellum is currently nominated for six Grammys and its hit “Need You Now” will be featured on the 2011 Grammy Nominees Album available January 25.

Wii Game Blends Country Hits With Dancing

GameMill Entertainment recently announced Country Dance for the Nintendo Wii, a one of a kind interactive dance video game featuring over 25 country hits. Slated for a Spring release, Country Dance will include the following songs and more:
Carrie Underwood – “Cowboy Casanova”
Brad Paisley – “Water”
Sugarland – “Stuck Like Glue”
Trace Adkins – “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”
Zac Brown Band – “Chicken Fried”
Rascal Flatts – “Life Is A Highway”
Blake Shelton – “All About Tonight”
Miranda Lambert – “White Liar”
Johnny Cash – “Ring of Fire”
Developed by High Voltage Software, Country Dance will support up to four players in both collaborative and competitive modes. Players will use the Wii Remote to replicate onscreen dance moves, and new songs and rewards will be unlocked as play progresses.
“With the popularity of country music and the dance genre, it seemed fitting to come out with a dance game featuring some of country’s most popular artists and songs,” says Gary Miller, President at GameMill Entertainment. “Between the top-notch choreography and chart-topping hits, this game is sure to get the entire country dancing!”
Now might be a good time to start perfecting the choreography from the “Cowboy Casanova” video.