Weekly Chart Report (4/22/11)

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Atlantic/WMN artist Hunter Hayes (L) started his radio tour through Texas Monday with a stop into KKBQ/Houston. He met with PD Johnny Chiang, and the two seem to have really hit it off, if their pearly white smiles are any indication. Hayes’ debut single “Storm Warning” goes for adds May 16.


SPIN ZONE
The results are in, and the people can’t live without Keith Urban’s “Without You.” Urban’s latest takes over the No. 1 spot most recently occupied by Rascal Flatts’ “I Won’t Let Go.” It’s going to get very tight in the next few weeks, as the barrage of superstar singles all fight for position. The Top 10 alone contains Kenny Chesney, Ronnie Dunn, The Band Perry, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and more. Expect to see them getting competition from Eric Church’s “Homeboy” (No. 13), Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl” (No. 14), and Chris Young’s “Tomorrow” (No. 15) very soon.
The lovefest for Blake Shelton continues, as “Honey Bee” again picks up the week’s greatest increase in spins, which propels it on to No. 23 in its third week charting. Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” may be a topic of discussion because of its rap-inflected verses, but you’d never know it from looking at the chart. This week it collects 423 new spins and makes a huge jump to No. 39. Also seeing big response is Jake Owen’s latest, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.” The summer-ready anthem packs on 351 extra spins to move to No. 43.
Big debuts include Sugarland’s “Tonight,” which lands at No. 65, Rodney Atkins’ “Take A Back Road” at No. 73, Brantley Gilbert’s “Country Must Be Country Wide” at No. 74 and Stealing Angels’ “Paper Heart” at No. 75.
Frozen Playlists: KYYK, WCMS
 







Upcoming Singles
April 25
Ash Bowers/I Still Believe In That/Stoney Creek
Mark Cooke/I Love It/CVR/Quarterback
Brantley Gilbert/Country Must Be Country Wide/Valory
Randy Houser/In God’s Time/Show Dog-Universal
Rodney Atkins/Take A Back Road/Curb
Brother Trouble/Summer’s Little Angel/Blaster/Bigger Picture
Jennette McCurdy/Generation Love/Capitol
Susan Hickman/Just Missed This Train/4 L Clover
Corey Wagar/Hurricane/GTR
May 2
Sunny Sweeney/Staying’s Worse Than Leaving/Republic Nashville
Lucy Angel/Serious/GForce
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New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Sugarland/Tonight/Mercury — 65
Jason Michael Carroll/Numbers/For The Lonely/Quarterback — 72
Rodney Atkins/Take A Back Road/Curb — 73
Brantley Gilbert/Country Must Be Country Wide/Valory — 74
Stealing Angels/Paper Heart/Skyville — 75
Mark Cooke/I Love It/CVR — 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros./WMN — 547
Jason Aldean /Dirt Road Anthem/Broken Bow — 423
Dierks Bentley /Am I The Only One/Capitol — 380
Brad Paisley/Old Alabama/Arista — 378
Jake Owen/Barefoot Blue Jean Night/RCA — 351
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Lucy Angel/Serious/GForce — 250
Rachel Holder/Chocolate/All Entertainment — 232
Austin Hicks/I Still Pledge Allegiance/Lick — 196
Ashley Gearing/Five More Minutes/Curb — 191
Corey Smith/Twenty One/Average Joe’s — 184
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Jake Owen/Barefoot Blue Jean Night/RCA — 25
Jason Aldean/Dirt Road Anthem/Broken Bow — 23
Sugarland/Tonight/Mercury — 17
Randy Houser/In God’s Time/Show Dog-Universal — 17
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros./WMN — 17
Rodney Atkins/Take A Back Road/Curb — 15
Brantley Gilbert/Country Must Be Country Wide/Valory — 15
James Wesley/Didn’t I/Broken Bow — 13
Stealing Angels/Paper Heart/Skyville — 12
Lucy Angel/Serious/GForce — 12
Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett/Knee Deep/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 10
Jason Michael Carroll/Numbers/For The Lonely/Quarterback — 10

Josh Kelley has been on the road with Miranda Lambert’s tour since last fall and last week he passed through Ft. Myers, Fl. This summer, he’ll be out on the road with Taylor Swift. (L-R): MCA regional Louie Newman, Kelley, WCKT/Ft. Myers PD Todd Nixon.


Edge Records/Loftoncreek artist Kelly Parkes recently visited with XM 11 at its Cincinnati studio. Parkes performed her new single "Girl With A Fishing Rod" and her previous single "Nothing.” (L-R): XM 11‘s Jordan, Parkes, XM 11‘s Kent Terry, Lofton Creek Pres. Mike Borchetta.


David Bradley recently stopped by the KVWF-Wichita, KS studios to visit with the staff. Bradley’s single “Hard Time Movin’ On” is currently at No. 30 on the CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): KVWF Mornings/MD Colby Ericson, Bradley, KVWF PD Ron Allen.

McCurdy Raises $140k For St. Jude Children’s Hospital

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When marketing a new single joins hands with raising funds for a worthy charitable cause it elevates the artist involved and becomes even more unique when that artist is a teen. Jennette McCurdy, star of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, decided to promote her new single with a cross country mall tour, Generation Love For St. Jude. And made a personal mission to raise $100,000 for the Children’s Research Hospital in the process. Along the way she performed for thousands of fans, and raised money by signing autographs and selling charity CDs with all proceeds to benefit the cause.
“What a great few weeks this has been,” said McCurdy. “What made it even better was the opportunity to partner with St. Jude and not only bring awareness to their life-changing facility, but also raise money to help the patients that come through their doors. I’m proud and honored to be associated with St. Jude and their amazing cause!”
The tour was named after the young artist’s new single “Generation Love,” produced by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts and available digitally now. A music video for the track, produced by Roman White is set to premiere on CMT’s Big New Music Weekend (April 22-24). The single will also appear on the artist’s debut country album scheduled for fall.
Buzz Jackson of KIIM in Tuscon, AZ said, “After a record-breaking crowd of over 4,000 came out for her mall show, it’s clear Jennette strikes a chord with listeners.” Birmingham, Alabama WDXB’s Tom Hanrahan said, “A mob scene would be an accurate description of the event we did here recently.”
 

Tour Press

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Following the success of his overseas tour dates last year, Toby Keith will be returning to Europe this fall. He is set for a run of 12 shows on his Locked & Loaded Tour, visiting arenas and concert halls in the UK, Holland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Keith’s 2010 American Ride Tour ranked as one of Pollstar’s top outings of the year, bringing more than a million fans to venues worldwide.
His new album Bullets In The Gun debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre chart in October 2010, rolling Keith into his 18th-straight year with a chart-topping album and/or single.
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Billy Currington set a record at famed San Antonio establishment Cowboy’s recently. His headlining show sold close to 5,500 tickets, breaking the record at the venue for pre-sales and total tickets sold. The show set an all-time high for total revenue for the venue.
Currington is also on Kenny Chesney‘s 2011 Goin’ Coastal Tour, and recently celebrated his fifth consecutive No. 1 single—and seventh overall—with “Let Me Down Easy.”
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Joe Nichols will kick off his The Shape I’m In Australian Tour April 29 in Toowoomba, QLD. This tour marks the third visit to Oz for the singer, and follows his well-received performance there at last month’s CMC Rocks The Hunter festival. Promoter Rob Potts says, “He sold out of product at each of his previous shows. He has been diligent and consistent about coming back to Australia to develop his fan base here, and I feel like that’s paying off for him.”
Back in the states, Nichols recently teamed up with Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth, Texas for a benefit concert for victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
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Lady Antebellum just made the long trek back to the States from their first ever tour to Australia and New Zealand. The trio won over fans and critics during their six shows opening for Keith Urban before heading to New Zealand for their own headlining show at Auckland’s Civic Auditorium. Australia and New Zealand left Lady A with additional souvenirs, Platinum plaques signifying the certification of their album Need You Now in both countries.

Gaskin Fires Up The Press

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“I fell in love with a sad song and a teardrop at a young age,” said Gaskin at today's event.


Columbia newcomer Bradley Gaskin entertained a roomful of press and media mavens this afternoon (4/21) at Sony Music’s Chet Atkins Place venue. Promo VP Jimmy Rector was wearing a smile as wide as the Cheshire Cat, obviously proud to show off his imprint’s latest talent.
But it was the Celebrity Apprentice, John Rich, who held the mic to introduce Gaskin, since Rich discovered the singer on MySpace and is producing his music. “A year ago he was hanging sheetrock in Duck Springs, Alabama,” Rich told the crowd. “And today he’s in Nashville with a song on the radio. He’s a true blue collar, working man, success story.”
Gaskin strummed acoustic guitar sitting on a stool, accompanied by a lone fiddle player. He told the crowd how one evening in 2005 when he returned from working with his dad, and covered in sheetrock dust, he grabbed his guitar and decided to write a country song with some honest emotion. That song turned out to be “Mr. Bartender” which has recently gone to radio and is currently at No. 42 and climbing on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart.
It was Gaskin’s wife who was insistent that he should put a recording of the song on MySpace. “I didn’t even have a computer,” smiled Gaskin. “But she did. In fact one of my friends said it was too country and didn’t fit what was currently going on. But apparently they were wrong.”
After finding the singer’s MySpace page, Rich’s development company invited Gaskin to come perform at the Get Rich Talent Search. Gaskin won the competition. In February Rich brought his new discovery to Sony where was signed PDF (pretty damn fast).
As part of a four song set at today’s event, Gaskin respectfully performed Keith Whitley’s classic “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”  “I fell in love with a sad song and a teardrop at a young age,” said Gaskin who confided that as a youngster he would grab a broom or even a fly swatter and pretend he was singing to a crowd. Now, that dream is coming true.
 

Artist Action: Dolly Plans Album, Tour

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Dolly Parton caught up with former collaborator Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) while in London as part of a European press tour in support of her forthcoming Better Day album. Featuring 12 original songs, the album will be released on Dolly Records this summer. She will debut the first single “Together You & I” with a live performance May 26 on Ellen and will launch a worldwide tour in July.

Pictured (l-r): Neil Warnock, CEO of the Agency Group (Dolly and Yusuf's agent), Yusuf Islam, Dolly Parton, and Danny Nozell (Dolly's manager).


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Jake Owen’s new single “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” scored over 20,000 first-week downloads according to Nielsen SoundScan. It is the lead single from his forthcoming third album, due in stores late summer, with tracks produced by Joey Moi (Nickelback), Rodney Clawson and Tony Brown.
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Matraca Berg has signed with Keith Case & Associates for booking representation. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee will release her new album May 17. The Dreaming Fields is her first album in 14 years. For booking info call 615-327-4646.
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Alan Jackson performed at the “Coming Home Concert” in Rogersville, TN recently. The sold-out event was organized by veteran country radio and TV personality Charlie Chase – a Rogersville native – to benefit the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life of Hawkins County.”
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Margaret Durante premiered the video for her new single, “Maybe Tonight,” on Tuesday (4/19) exclusively through AOL’s The Boot.   The video, directed by Kristin Barlowe for Taillight TV, was shot in downtown Nashville. The song was co-written by Durante along with Rachel Proctor and Blair Daly and is on the singer’s new four-song digital EP for Emrose/Stroudavarious Records.

Photo: Ann-Marie Hensley


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Kenny Rogers is working on his autobiography, tentatively scheduled for a fall 2011 release by HarperCollins. Rogers is also gearing up for his first tour of South America – a five-date run in May that includes stops in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Santiago, Chile; and Bogotá, Columbia.

Music at the Film Festival

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SESAC hosted the panel “Music Supervisors 101: The Basics Of Song Placement” as part of the Nashville Film Festival. Among the participating music supervisors were Andrea von Foerster (500 Days Of Summer), Alethia Austin (The Cursed), Jon Ernst (The Hills), Chris Mollere (The Vampire Diaries), Marcy Bulkeley (Music Supervisor/BLT & Assoc) and Richard Glasser (Motion Picture Music/Weinstein Co.). The enlightening panel was moderated by Jim Scherer, President of Whizbang Inc.

Pictured (l-r): Jim Scherer, Marcy Bulkeley, Alethia Austin, Chris Mollere, SESAC’s Tim Fink, Andrea von Foerster, Richard Glasser & Jon Ernst. Photo: Peyton Hoge

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BMI sponsored the official party celebrating the world premiere of documentary Wish Me Away, which debuted at the 2011 Nashville Film Festival. The film follows the groundbreaking journey of BMI singer/songwriter Chely Wright as she becomes the first openly gay artist within country music’s mainstream.

Pictured (l-r): BMI’s David Preston and Alison Smith, manager Russell Carter, Chely Wright, Red Light Management’s Fletcher Foster, and Wish Me Away directors Beverly Kopf and Bobbie Birleffi. Photo: Tanya Braganti

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Earlier this week the ASCAP Music Lounge @ The Nashville Film Festival with Sorted Noise Entertainment featured Michael Castro, Holly Cormier, Perrin Lamb and The Co. Today’s (4/21) ASCAP Music Lounge will be at The Rutledge at 4PM with Katie Herzig, Jeremy Lister, Mikky Ekko and Alyssa Bonagura.

Pictured (l-r): Nate Fleming (The Co), Perrin Lamb, Collin Brace (The Co), Michael Castro, Annie Beaty (Sorted Noise), Holly Cormier, Troy Akers (The Co), Nathan Spicer (The Co), Thad Beaty (Sorted Noise), Jesse Willoughby (ASCAP), Jason Collum (Sorted Noise). Photo: Anna Maki

 

Tomorrow Is "Girls' Night Out"

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Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country – The Concert of the Year airs tomorrow night (4/22) at 9:00 PM ET on CBS.
The special tribute features performances by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, John Fogerty, Vince Gill, the JaneDear girls, The Judds, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Pistol Annies (ft. Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley), Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood.
Among the show’s honorees are:
The Judds – Recognized for being the ACM’s most award-winning female duo having won Vocal Duo of the Year seven years in a row, 1984 – 1990 and Song of the Year in 1984 for “Why Not Me.”
Miranda Lambert – Recognized for being the only female artist in the Academy’s history to ever win Album of the Year, twice, first for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in 2007 and again for Revolution in 2009.
Loretta Lynn – Recognized for her amazing 50-year career as a leading female artist in country music, which includes being the only female artist to win Artist of the Decade, Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.
Martina McBride – Recognized by ACM Lifting Lives for her dedication to raising social consciousness of domestic violence and encouraging female empowerment through her music. She is a three-time Female Vocalist and was also awarded the ACM Humanitarian Award in 2004 for her charitable work.
Jennifer Nettles – Recognized for being one of only two female artists in the Academy’s history to ever perform and solo write the winning Song of the Year, in 2007, with “Stay.”
Reba – Recognized for winning Female Vocalist more times than any other artist in the Academy’s history – a whopping seven times.
Carrie Underwood – Recognized for being the only female artist in the Academy’s history to ever win Entertainer of the Year, twice, first in 2008 and again in 2009. Underwood has won Female Vocalist three times and has won a total of ten ACM Awards.
Ticket proceeds from the live event went to ACM Lifting Lives®.

Inman Joins Sony Music Nashville

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Sony Music Nashville has announced the addition of Ann Inman to the company as Manager, Media. She started her new role today (4/21), and is reporting to label VP, Media & Corporate Communications Allen Brown.
“It is such a privilege to welcome Ann to our company,” says Brown. “Her solid business ethic, experience and charisma make her a wonderful addition to our media team!”
Previously with Capitol Records Nashville since 2005, Inman served as the label’s Public Relations Coordinator and worked with Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, and Keith Urban among others. She is a 2004 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, and interned with Capitol’s marketing department while in school.
This is the latest development in Nashville’s ongoing media team musical chairs.
Reach her at ann.inman@sonymusic.com.

McGhee Aligns With 1 Degree Sports Mgmt

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McGhee Entertainment has aligned with Alan Bullington’s 1 Degree Sports Management, whose roster includes NBA player Rajon Rondo, PGA Tour golfer Kenny Perry and many others. The two companies are located at 21 Music Sq. W. in Nashville.
Doc McGhee, CEO of McGhee Entertainment comments, “Managing any celebrity’s career, whether the client is an artist or an athlete, centers around the ability to have a well-crafted platform in place with a team structured to deliver in today’s fast-paced environment, and we are doing just that through partnerships with companies like 1 Degree Sports Management.”
Bullington, Managing Partner of 1 Degree, shares his thoughts about the collaboration, “Our objective and responsibility is to help each client realize his professional goals, on and off the course, court or field. Our alliance with McGhee Entertainment will allow us to jointly capitalize on the pervasive overlap between sports and entertainment and maximize each athlete’s international exposure, sponsorship evaluation, and activation through the relationships McGhee has developed over the last three decades.”
McGhee Entertainment was formed in 1983 with offices originating in New York City. The current artist roster includes KISS, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger, Chris Cagle, Hootie & The Blowfish, Darius Rucker, Drew Davis, Rodney Atkins, Adam Brand, Heidi Newfield, Jeremy Lister, Sacha Edwards, Down, Cheyenne Kimball, Vintage Trouble, Dirty Guv’nahs, and The Willis Clan. McGhee Entertainment currently has offices located in Nashville, and Los Angeles.
Bullington may be reached via email at alan@1degreesportsmanagement.com.

Francesca Battistelli Named Dove Awards Artist of the Year

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Francesca Battistelli


Dove Award winners in the overall categories

Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Female Vocalist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris August
Group of the Year
NEEDTOBREATHE
New Artist of the Year
Chris August
Song of the Year
“Sometimes I Cry”; Jason Crabb (artist), Gerald Crabb, Christian Taylor Music (BMI)
Songwriter of the Year
Gerald Crabb
Producer of the Year
Ian Eskelin

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Francesca Battistelli took top honors at last night’s (4/20) GMA Dove Awards where she was named Artist of the Year. The Fervent Records artist also received her second consecutive trophy for Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song Of The Year for her hit “Beautiful Beautiful.”
Other multi-award winners at the show at Atlanta’s Fox Theater included Chris August, Jason Crabb and Point of Grace garnering three Doves each.
First-time nominee August was honored as Male Vocalist and New Artist, as well as Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.

Sherri Shepherd hosts the GMA Dove Awards. Photo Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images


The inaugural Uplift Someone award, which recognizes individuals who better the world and inspire others to do the same, was presented to Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth.
The View’s Sherri Shepherd hosted the show which was taped for television and will air on GMC Sunday, April 24  at 7 p.m. PT.  Click here to download a complete list of winners.