NYT Paywall Starts March 28

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After months of speculation, The New York Times has announced a plan to charge  for digital subscriptions. In a letter sent to readers, the publication said, “Today marks a significant transition…[one] we hope you will see as an investment in The Times, one that will strengthen our ability to provide high-quality journalism to readers around the world and on any platform. The change will primarily affect those who are heavy consumers of the content on our Web site and on mobile applications.”
The changes began for Canadian readers today (3/17) and are expected to impact U.S. readers and the rest of the world on March 28. Home delivery subscribers will continue to receive full access across print, computer, smartphone and tablet platforms. For those who are not paid print subscribers, here’s how the rules will work.

  • On NYTimes.com, you can view 20 articles each month at no charge (including slide shows, videos and other features). After 20 articles, we will ask you to become a digital subscriber, with full access to our site.
  • On our smartphone and tablet apps, the Top News section will remain free of charge. For access to all other sections within the apps, we will ask you to become a digital subscriber.
  • The Times is offering three digital subscription packages that allow you to choose from a variety of devices (computer, smartphone, tablet). More information about these plans is available at nytimes.com/access.
  • Again, all New York Times home delivery subscribers will receive free access to NYTimes.com and to all content on our apps. If you are a home delivery subscriber, go to homedelivery.nytimes.com to sign up for free access.
  • Readers who come to Times articles through links from search, blogs and social media like Facebook and Twitter will be able to read those articles, even if they have reached their monthly reading limit. For some search engines, users will have a daily limit of free links to Times articles.
  • The home page at NYTimes.com and all section fronts will remain free to browse for all users at all times.

Access to web and smartphone app is $15 every four weeks. Web and tablet app is $20 every four weeks and Access across all apps and web is $35 every four weeks.
“Our decision to begin charging for digital access will result in another source of revenue, strengthening our ability to continue to invest in the journalism and digital innovation on which our readers have come to depend,” said New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. “This move will enhance The Times’s position as a source of trustworthy news, information and high-quality opinion for many years to come.”
Newspapers, not unlike the music industry have been suffering as they grapple with how to monetize in the digital era. At first, newspapers and other news sites believed that high traffic would create advertising demand that would make up for lost subscription revenue and print advertising. Unfortunately, that has not worked in most cases. Similarly, in the music industry digital download sales have not made up for the loss in physical sales.
The New York Times paywall will be a closely watched experiment by many other journalistic endeavors who will be carefully measuring if consumers are willing to pay for news and stories.

Miranda Lambert On Raging Tour, Redbook Cover

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Miranda Lambert is in the middle of a successful tour, including a sold-out show at the Houston Rodeo last night (3/16).
With almost 74,000 in attendance, it was the rodeo’s largest crowd this year, and the third largest in its 79-year history.
Lambert’s Revolution Continues tour opened earlier this year at famed Billy Bob’s Texas, where she became the first artist to sell out back-to-back shows in the history of the venue.
Fans can read more about the singer and her fiancee Blake Shelton, in her cover story for the April issue of Redbook (on newsstands now). Under the headline “Country Glamour and True Grit,” Redbook talks to Lambert about her pending nuptials, performing onstage, exercise, and getting advice from Reba. Shelton also participated in the exclusive interview, sharing his insight about their careers and romance.
Lambert is up for seven ACMs at the April 3 awards show.

Photos from the April issue of Redbook. (R): Publisher Ree Guyer-Buchanan admires Lambert's ring.

Gaga Passes Rihanna And Swift In Digital Single Sales

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Lady Gaga is named by the R.I.A.A. in its February 2011 report as the highest-certified artist of digital singles in Gold & Platinum history. Gaga has tallied 20 million downloads sold and her 6X Platinum “Just Dance” ties with the Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” also at 6X Platinum. Closely following Lady Gaga is Rihanna and Taylor Swift with 19 and 18.5 million downloads respectively. Black Eyed Peas are the group with the most digital singles certs (17.5 million).
The Recording Industry Association of America is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. A complete chart of the criteria for digital and physical sales certs can be found here. In addition an online searchable database with aritsts and awards can be found here.
RIAA February 2011 Certifications
Digital—Gold Single
Billy Currington/Pretty Good At Drinkin Beer/Merc-9/21/2010
Thompson Square/Are You Gonna Kiss Me…/Stoney Creek-8/3/2010
Gold Albums
Alan Jackson/34 Number Ones.Arista Nash-11/22/2010
Brad Paisley/Hits Alive/Arista Nash-11/2/2010
The Band Perry/TBP/Big Machine-10/12/2010

Publishing Notes

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Jeremy Spillman (L) has signed Jared Crump (R) to his new company.

Hit songwriter Jeremy Spillman has launched his own publishing and production outfit, Brave Music Company. With cuts by Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Trace Adkins, and Brantley Gilbert, Spillman is celebrating his most successful single yet, Eric Church’s “Hell On The Heart.”

Now Spillman has signed Jared Crump to Brave Music. The new artist/songwriter moved to Nashville two years ago from Texas, and recently celebrated his first cut. Spillman is also working with and producing rising artist Carly Pearce. Contact him at [email protected].
• • • • • •

Brittany Spyksma


Brittany Spyksma has returned to her post as Creative Manager at Dan Hodges Music following a year-plus hiatus, during which Anthony Corder held the job.
In turn, Corder has left DHM to become office manager/creative head at Anchor Down Entertainment.
Spyksma can be reached at [email protected].
Corder can be reached at [email protected].

Cassandra Tormes Joins Cotton Valley Records

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Cassandra Tormes


Cotton Valley Records (CVR) has hired Cassandra Tormes as Creative Director where she will be responsible for developing and exploiting the Cotton Valley Worldwide Publishing catalogue. In addition to working with songs and songwriters, she will assist CVR’s management and label divisions to raise the company’s profile.
Producers J. Gary Smith and John Smith founded Cotton Valley Music, LLC, in 2010. It is comprised of CVR, CVR Management and Cotton Valley Worldwide Publishing. The roster includes Mark Cooke, rock band Goodbye June, and Steve Holy.
Longtime music publishing exec. Tormes was most recently Creative Director at Cherry Heart Music.
She can be reached at [email protected] or 615-730-9845. The company is located at 713 18th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203.

Toby Keith Building Retreat For Pediatric Cancer Patients And Families

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The upcoming Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic will raise money to build a home away from home for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Now in its eighth year, the event is set for May 20-21 in Norman, Oklahoma. With a “Denim & Diamonds” theme, it will again feature live and silent auctions, dinner, entertainment and golfing.
Proceeds benefit the Toby Keith Foundation’s efforts to build the OK Kids Korral, which will provide a home for pediatric cancer patients and their families while they receive treatment in Oklahoma City.
“We are doing our best to address issues that arise while a child is in treatment such as weakened immune systems and sensitivity to light,” says Keith of the house. “More than anything, we want it to be a home of inspiration, encouragement and hope.”
Keith’s personal connection to the cause dates to 2003 and the devastating loss of Allison Webb, the young daughter of close friends. In Webb’s memory, the singer helped her family create Ally’s House, which provides financial assistance to families of children with cancer. He extended his efforts last year by turning his foundation’s focus to creating a cost-free, state-of-the-art overnight lodging facility where multiple families can enjoy a relaxing haven as they work to get their little ones healed.

White House Pushing For Radio Performance Royalty

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The Obama Administration is pushing for legislation to ensure artists are paid when their sound recordings are played over the radio. The recommendation came earlier this week as part of a white paper released by White House U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel. The 20-page memo was sent to Congress.
This ongoing debate about the performance royalty has been a hot-button issue in the music business in recent years. Radio stations and their trade group the National Association of Broadcasters have been fighting the royalty, arguing that playing the artist’s music is free advertisement for the act, which in turn drives sales. Meanwhile, record labels and artists have been arguing to have the performance royalty instituted, arguing that without music to play, radio stations wouldn’t attract as many listeners.
Another key point in the new white paper, is a recommendation to make illegal streaming a felony offense.

Cody Entertainment Group Opens Nashville Office

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Winchester, VA based Cody Entertainment Group has opened its new Nashville office. The address is 1300 Division St., Ste. 207, Nashville, TN 37203 and the phone number is 615-750-5399.

Cody Entertainment Group has been in business 35 years, providing full production services and staging for fairs, festivals and other events nationwide. The company also acts as the exclusive booking agency for vocal group Ricochet. Company President Phil Smallwood ([email protected]) is the group’s agent.

Impresario Carlton Haney Dies In Carolina

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Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Carlton Haney, once dubbed “The P.T. Barnum of Country Music” died Wednesday afternoon at age 82.
Haney inaugurated the first multi-day bluegrass festival – there are now more than 500 such events annually. He was the publisher of the national periodical Muleskinner News. He ran the New Dominion Barn Dance in 1956-64, booked Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys in 1953-55 and managed Reno & Smiley & The Tennessee Cut-Ups in 1956-65.
He played important roles in the careers of Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and The Osborne Brothers. He was also a songwriter, television producer, promoter and spoken-word recording artist.
Haney was featured prominently in the 1971 movie Bluegrass: Country Soul, which was reissued on DVD in 2006.
Carlton Haney started the bluegrass-festival movement with a Labor Day weekend event at Fincastle, VA in 1965. He promoted early bluegrass festivals in Berryville, VA; Camp Springs, NC; Gettysburg, PA and Escoheag, RI. He also worked on the landmark 1964 Newport Folk Festival. At his peak, the colorful entrepreneur promoted more than 100 major shows in some 30 cities.
During his time with Reno & Smiley, he wrote songs for the group, including “He Will Forgive You,” “Kneel Down,” “Never Get to Hold You in My Arms Anymore” and the 1961 top-30 novelty hit “Jimmy Caught the Dickens (Pushing Ernest in the Tubb).” He also helped initiate the group’s Top O the Morning TV show on WDBJ in Roanoke, VA.
The International Bluegrass Music Association gave him its Award of Merit in 1990. He was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1998.
Carleton Haney suffered a stroke on March 3 and died of its complications two weeks later in Greensboro, NC. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Citty Funeral Home at 308 Lindsey Street in Reidsville, NC (www.cittyfh.com).

TJ Martell Gala Lines Up Star Talent

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Rascal Flatts will receive the Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award


Organizers of the T.J. Martell Foundation 2011 Honors Gala have assembled an all-star list of performers, presenters and honorees for its upcoming event, scheduled for March 28 at the Hutton Hotel. For the night’s biggest honor, Kix Brooks and Dr. Jonathan Gitlin will present the Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award to Rascal Flatts.
Entertainment for the evening will include performances by rock guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx, country star Lorrie Morgan, and a capella group Committed, known from NBC’s The Sing-Off.
Several other honors will also be handed out. Judge Randall Wyatt Jr. and famed journalist John Seigenthaler will present the Spirit of Nashville Award to Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.
Gov. Bill Haslam and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will present the Lifetime Humanitarian Award to K.S. “Bud” Adams, Tennessee Titans founder, owner, CEO and president.
Dr. Julie Gerberding and actress Dawn Wells will present the Lifetime Medical Achievement Award to Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the Department of Preventative Medicine at Vanderbilt University.
The invitation-only event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and a premiere silent auction. The main program begins at 7 p.m. with dinner, the awards presentation, entertainment and a live auction.
Funds raised by the event pay for innovative cancer research at 10 top research hospitals in the United States, including the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. The first two Honors Galas raised a total of $900,000 and this year is shaping up to be even more successful.
Table sponsorships range from $10,000 to $100,000 and individual tickets are available for $500 or $1,000. Ads honoring the honorees may also be purchased in the commemorative journal. For more information, log onto www.HonorsGala.org.