Facebook Prioritizes News Feeds

Edison Research Strategy VP Tom Webster has written an interesting blog regarding Facebook’s practice of “attention rationing” with respect to its news feed.
Webster points out that the social network’s news feed changed its flow a while back from a “chronological, roughly real-time stream of your friends’ activities, to something a little more ‘selective.’ ” As Webster notes,

…with Facebook enjoying massive mainstream adoption, understanding how it ranks and prioritizes items in your news feed is of great importance. For brands and companies the game is still to produce compelling content that readers and “likes” will value and interact with. Webster explains, Facebook’s optimization algorithm, EdgeRank, essentially scores your interactions with your Facebook friends, and promotes items in your stream from people you favor with your attention, every time you read their profiles, click on their links, or comment on their updates. Close friends are assigned more weight than distant acquaintances, comments are weighted more heavily than the easily-given “likes,” and newer tends to trump older.

Has the new algorithm improved the user experience? Webster seems to think so, although he realizes that marketers now must try to engage and interact with all their fans to get the benefits of having a large number of “likes.” And for those who love lists, there’s three conclusions on how to make the most of the new EdgeRank optimization algorithm.

Mike Fisher Moves To Preds

Carrie Underwood’s hockey-star hubby Mike Fisher has been acquired by the Nashville Predators and will make his local debut on Saturday (2/13) night when the team takes on Colorado at the Bridgestone Arena.
Canadian Fisher joins the Preds from the Ottawa Senators. He is a veteran center and is tied for his team’s lead in goals with 14.
More from the City Paper.

Around The Web


Online buzz about Doug Morris, Twitter, Gaylord, and Warner.
>>UMG chairman Doug Morris’s attempted move to Sony Music Entertainment isn’t going as planned according to the New York Post.
>>Twitter is worth between $8 billion and $10 billion according to the latest estimates. Among the interested purchasers are Facebook and Google, who have had very preliminary meetings. Read more from the Wall Street Journal.
>>Gaylord Entertainment and Warner Music Group posted losses in their respective 2010 year-end reports, released this week.
Gaylord was hit hard by the Nashville flooding.
Warner chief executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. said that the company has 360 deals with 55 percent of its artists, which he hopes will improve the situation going forward. More here.

Nashville Winners At "Pollstar" Awards

Concert industry trade publication Pollstar handed out its 22nd annual awards on Feb. 5. Several Nashvillians, and executives with strong country music connections, were among the winners at the party at Los Angeles’ Club Nokia. The awards are voted on by members of the live entertainment business, and based on touring from 2010.
Best New Touring Artist – Lady Antebellum
Theatre of the Year – Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)
Third Coast Booking Agent of the Year – John Huie (Creative Artists Agency)
Personal Manager of the Year – Coran Capshaw (Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)
Complete list here.

Fab Photos (2/10)

WMN execs at SOLID event • GAC and High Five Entertainment win Emmy • Gloriana and Grammys take students to studio • New artist Chris Cavanaugh
SOLID’s first After Work(shop) of 2011 featured Warner Music Nashville execs discussing Blake Shelton’s “SIX PAK” model. On hand were Peter Strickland, Sr. VP Brand Management & Sales, and Chris Stacey, Sr. VP Promotion. The event was held earlier this week at Marathon Village.

L-R: Heath Baumhor, SOLID Education Chair; Peter Strickland, WMN Sr. VP Brand Management & Sales; Chris Stacey, WMN SVP Promotion; and Sarah McGrady, SOLID Education co-chair

• • • • •

Great American Country and Nashville production company High Five Entertainment were honored with a Midsouth Emmy Award for GAC’s 2010 live telethon that raised $2 million to benefit flood victims. Awards were presented Jan. 25 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

L-R: Edie Lynn Hoback; Martin Fischer of High Five Entertainment; Sarah Trahern, SVP/GM, Great American Country. Photo: Tommy Lawson

• • • • •

Gloriana teamed up with the GRAMMY Foundation recently to give two GRAMMY Camp Alumni the chance to go into the studio with the band in Nashville. Belmont students Joseph LeMay and Christine Jamra were handpicked to spend the afternoon with Gloriana and their producer/Emblem Music Group label owner Matt Serletic. Gloriana, who will release a new single to radio next month, are putting the finishing touches on their second album set for release later this year. For information on GRAMMY Camp for high school students visit www.grammyintheschools.com.

L-R: Rachel Reinert, Joseph LeMay, Matt Serletic, Cheyenne Kimball, and Christine Jamra


• • • • •
Risinig artist Chris Cavanaugh recently spent the day writing with lead singer of Collective Soul, Ed Roland. Cavanaugh is signed to Double B Musik Publishing, and his debut project is being produced by Josh Thompson and Cliff Audretch. Cavanaugh and Thompson are managed by Julianne Drenon at CreekHouse Entertainment.

L-R: Ed Roland and Chris Cavanaugh

Stars Go Blue Benefit Concert

The 3rd Annual “Stars Go Blue” benefit concert for colon cancer is scheduled for March 16 at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The event benefits the Blue Note Fund, a Colon Cancer Alliance program which provides financial support for colon cancer patients in need of financial assistance.
The theme of this year’s show is “Couples in Country Music” featuring multi-platinum MCA recording artist and Grand Ole Opry member Josh Turner and his wife and band member, Jennifer, along with Grammy winning singer Linda Davis and her husband singer/songwriter, Lang Scott. Also performing is “Stars Go Blue” creator and Grammy nominated producer/artist Charlie Kelley with his wife, GAC personality Nan Kelley.
Tickets are $100.00 per person and include the concert in the Ford Theater, a VIP cocktail reception, and auction after the concert. For tickets or more information, please visit www.thestarsgoblue.com.
Over the past two years, friends and fellow musicians such as Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Hal Ketchum, Jamie O’Neal, Rodney Crowell, Mike Snider, Wade Hayes and others have lent their talents to “Stars Go Blue,” helping to raise over $30,000 to date.

Industry Ink: Shock Ink Adds Online Marketing

Shock Ink expands • Craig Morgan/BNA split • Bluewater signs NeedToBreathe • CMA debuts “Member of the Month” • Jay Frank web feature • Duncan/Spinville work The New Relics • Class Act signs The Hillbenders • Verge Network launches
>>Entertainment publicity company Shock Ink has expanded its offerings to include online and social media campaigns. Founder Elaine Schock has hired Chip Schutzman to spearhead the new division. As founder of Miles High Productions, Schutzman directed music programming for House Of Blues Entertainment. For over a decade he has consulted for and directed more than 150 campaigns. Shock Ink represents clients including Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Jeff Dunham, Ben E King and David Lee Roth.

Craig Morgan


>>Radio-info.com reports that Craig Morgan and BNA Records have amicably parted ways.
>>Bluewater Music has signed a foreign administration agreement with NeedToBreathe. The band is busy prepping the release of its fourth album and a run on Taylor Swift’s tour. In 2010, NeedToBreathe took home three Dove Awards. Their music has been played in countless films and television programs, including P.S. I Love You, When In Rome and Desperate Housewives.
>>CMA is launching a “Member of the Month” feature on CMAworld.com in April, spotlighting an organization member and their achievements. The editorial team of CMA’s award-winning publication CMA Close Up will select the member, with help from suggestions sent to CloseUp@CMAworld.com (put “Member of the Month” in the subject line). “We look forward to celebrating those members whose positive spirit exemplifies the best of Country Music,” said Wendy Pearl, CMA Vice President of Corporate Communications and CMA Close Up Executive Editor. “I want to give special credit to CMA Close Up Editor Bob Doerschuk, who created this idea.”
>>Jay Frank, CMT’s Sr VP of Music Strategy, is featured in a new online video series launched by branded entertainment and music marketing agency BlinkerActive. See it here.
>>Blues Alley Records has once again teamed with Jerry Duncan at Duncan Promotions and Spinville Records’ Jack Pride for radio promotion of The New Relics’ single “Dixie Queen.” This is the band’s third single that the Blues Alley/Duncan/Spinville team has worked at radio, with the first two hitting the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart. “Dixie Queen” will be released Feb. 14 and goes for adds March 7.
>>Mike Drudge’s Class Act Entertainment has signed The Hillbenders for booking. The company also represents J.D. Crowe & The New South, Michael Martin Murphey, The Whites, and others. Drudge can be reached at 615-262-6886.
>>Verge Network, Inc. a syndicator of radio station content for online and mobile devices, has launched in Nashville, Kansas City, and Little Rock. The company has named three senior
executives: Steven Ludwig, President; Grant Merrill, VP/Sales; and Dan Holiday, VP/Operations. They can be reached at firstname.lastname@RadioChanged.com. A recruiting search is under way for a National Sales Manager.

CMT Teams With "Idol" Producers For Singing Competiton

Nigel Lythgoe


CMT is launching a singing-songwriting competition with producers Nigel Lythgoe and his son Simon Lythgoe, both known for work on American Idol. CMT’s Next Superstar is already in production and the 10-installment show is on track to debut in April.
Though the focus is on performing and songwriting, the series will also include media challenges for the contestants, such as photo shoots, media training and music videos. Lots of on-location shoots are expected, ranging from Nashville venues to trips to Memphis and Texas.
Some details have yet to be announced, including the judging panel and the Nashville mansion where the contestants will live.
Each week, one finalist will be eliminated and America will have the final vote to determine who will win. The show’s finale will be held at Ryman Auditorium and the winner will be revealed during the CMT Awards in June, with a single to be released in tandem. The winner will also get a slot on the CMT Tour.
Simon will be in Nashville running the show, while Nigel plans to stay in Los Angeles with Idol. Former CMT exec Bob Kusbit also executive produces in his first outside project for the network. Brad Johnson and Melanie Moreau serve as executive producers for CMT.
“Country music is all about storytelling, personalities and putting yourself into the songs,” Nigel told the Hollywood Reporter. “This show is not about going to a set, it’s about being in a location that has history to it. We’re down and dirty in the heart of Nashville.” More here.

IEBA Announces 2011 Board

IEBA Board


The newly elected IEBA Board of Directors held their first board meeting of the year January 25 at the new host hotel for IEBA’s annual conference, the Sheraton Downtown Nashville. The board participated the previous day in several committee meetings followed by a cocktail reception. As previously announced, the dates for the 2011 conference are October 2-4.
IEBA Officers
Linda Smith, Glenn Smith Presents – chairman
Barry Jeffrey, WME – immediate past chairman
Rick Murray, Greylock Entertainment – president
Lori Otelsberg, Signature Entertainment – vice president
Karen Clark, Pinnacle Financial Partners – treasurer
Renee Pearson, Minnesota State Fair – secretary
Larry Werner, Panhandle Productions – international

IEBA Board of Directors
Mike Betterton, Dale Morris & Associates*
Todd Boltin, Variety Attractions
John Bolton, SMG Tulsa
Michael Boltzman, AEG Live / Events*
Christy Bowen, Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Lori Bowman, Integrity Events*
Jim Carter, Murray State University
Charlie Davis, Paradise Artists
Ali Harnell, AEG Live / The Messina Group*
Jeff Hill, CAA
Kell Houston, Houston Productions*
Greg Janese, Paradigm Agency
Jason Kane, Rodeo Houston
Steve Lassiter, APA*
Hugh Lombardi, TD Garden*
Kevin Meyer, Meridian Entertainment Group*
Nicole More-Hardy, Neste Event Marketing
Scott Morris, ICM
Kevin Neal, BLA*
Jon Petrunak, SMG*
Fran Romeo, Romeo Entertainment Group
John Ruffino, Red Mountain Entertainment
Clarence Spalding, Spalding Entertainment
Brenda Tinnen, AEG Kansas City
Ed Warm, Joe’s Bar*
Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium
Philip Lyon, Lyon & Phillips, PLLC – legal counsel
*Newly elected or appointed to the IEBA Board of Directors.
The IEBA staff consists of executive director, Tiffany Davis and operations and event manager, Candice Johnson.

SoundExchange Names Huppe President

Michael Huppe


SoundExchange’s Board of Directors announced today that longtime Executive Vice President and General Counsel Michael Huppe will be the nonprofit’s new President.
Huppe succeeds former head John Simson, who announced his intention in July to return to creative work, ending his ten-year stewardship of the non-profit he had led since its inception.
In recent years, Huppe directed SoundExchange’s approach to rate-setting proceedings and a series of business-positive agreements with industry services, including much-publicized accords with webcasters.
Previously, he served as Senior Vice President for Business & Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel with the RIAA.
SoundExchange had record-high distributions in 2010; evidence of the group’s expanding role and importance in the industry.