Tornado Destroys Malaco Records

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Last week’s tornadoes in Mississippi left much of the Malaco Records complex in ruins in Jackson.
According to WJTV in Jackson, the label headquarters and recording studio were completely destroyed. The company’s warehouse and archives, however, were spared. Many of the employees were inside the buildings when the storm hit last Friday. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
Malaco Records opened in 1967, and has been the home of many major blues and gospel artists. “Misty Blue” by Dorothy Moore was on Malaco in 1975, and the label’s studio has also produced Jean Knight’s “Mr Big Stuff” (1971), King Floyd’s “Groove Me” (1970), Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell” (1979) and other hits. The label’s slogan was “The Last Soul Company.”
Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Mississippi Mass Choir, Eddie Floyd, David Porter, Z.Z. Hill, Denise LaSalle, Little Milton Campbell, Johnnie Taylor, Walter Hawkins, the Rev. James Cleveland, Dorothy Norwood, Tyrone Davis and many other blues, soul and gospel veterans flocked to the company.
Malaco Christian Distribution was based in Nashville, and the label helped launch the recording-studio careers of such Nashville notables as J. Fred Knobloch and James Stroud.
Label director Tommy Couch Jr. plans to re-open the company next Tuesday in temporary offices in North Jackson.

Ticketmaster To Try Dynamic Pricing

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Ticketmaster will introduce dynamic ticket pricing this year, which will change the cost based on consumer demand. The company has partnered with MarketShare to develop a suite of tools to help clients adjust prices before and after the on-sale date. The tools will use a wide range of data sources, such as historical ticket sales, search and video activity, and social media data.
Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard says that with the new system “clients will be able to retain economic value that is normally siphoned off by the secondary market, and to sell more of their tickets that go unsold today. Meanwhile, more fans will have more opportunities to enjoy live entertainment events because tickets will be more accessible and pricing options will broaden.”
Ticketmaster plans to roll out dynamic pricing starting with sporting events and concerts. As part of the initiative it has launched its own LiveAnalytics.

MarketShare is a leading company that has worked with entertainment outfits as well as numerous global brands.

Nashville Film Festival Breaks Records, Names Winners

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Marshall Curry's If A Tree Falls won the Documentary Channel Grand Prize at the 2011 NaFF.


With more films yet to be viewed today (4/20) and tomorrow (4/21), the 2011 Nashville Film Festival has already broken its previous records for attendance and number of tickets sold. The event kicked off last Thursday (4/14) and wraps tomorrow night with the Closing Night Party at Mercy Lounge.
The festival’s top jury prizes have been awarded to Andrew Haigh’s Weekend, a tale of two men in a weekend affair, and Marshall Curry’s If A Tree Falls, a documentary about extreme environmentalist collective Earth Liberation Front. Weekend took the Bridgestone Grand Jury Prize for the narrative competition, and If A Tree Falls earned the Documentary Channel Grand Prize in the documentary competition. Weekend’s Tom Cullen earned best actor recognition and Guadalupe Alonso of Last Summer of La Boyita (an Honorable Mention in the narrative category) was named best actress.
Other honors included the New Directors Competition, with the grand prize going to Mike Magidson’s Inuk. Jacob Hatley’s music profile Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm was presented with the Gibson Impact of Music Award, the top prize in Music Films/Music City Competition.
Still to come tonight (4/20) are the Tennessee premiere of Michael Tully’s Septien, which was filmed entirely in and around Nashville, as well as Will Gray’s Broke, a documentary about music artists struggling to find ways to thrive in a rapidly changing industry.

ASCAP’s Music Lounge at The Nashville Film Festival featuring Andy Davis, Angel Snow, Keegan DeWitt and The Bridges. (L-R): Jesse Willoughby (ASCAP), Keegan DeWitt, Angel Snow, Andy Davis, Jeremy Byrd, Isaaca Byrd, Peter Groenwald, Brittany Painter, Stacey Byrd and Natalie Byrd. Photo credit: Anna Maki

"Paper Airplane" Glides To No. 1

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Paper Airplane, the latest from Alison Krauss and Union Station, glided into the No. 1 spot on both the Country and Bluegrass album charts moving 83,000 units in its debut week [Nielsen Soundscan]. It marks a career best for the band who hadn’t offered new music in seven years.
Meanwhile, the Country Strong soundtrack got a boost from the movie’s DVD/home rental release. The album landed at No. 3 on the Country chart with almost 19,000 units sold, for a RTD total of 213,000. At least three songs from the flick are on the digital tracks chart. And a companion volume offering more music debuted with 6,500 units.

Aldean and Clarkson on "Idol."


On the digital tracks chart, downloads of Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson‘s “Don’t You Wanna Stay” jumped 64% following their American Idol performance last week. Even before the added 59,000 units, the track was already past the platinum point.
Other debuts include Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama” which sold 56,000 downloads. He played the song on the recent ACM Awards.
All-genre album sales are down 2.9% YTD, while Country album sales are hurting more with a 10% slide.

GMA Dove Awards Tonight In Atlanta

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Jason Ingram is tonight's leading nominee. Pictured at the 2011 SESAC Christian Music Awards where he was named Songwriter of the Year.


The GMA Dove Awards will be handed out tonight (4/20) in Atlanta, as the show moves from its longtime Nashville home for the first time. Thanks to the new location, organizers are reporting a 60% boost in ticket sales versus the same time last year.
Jason Ingram is the leading nominee heading into the ceremony with 12 nods—the most ever received in one awards season.

Among the other top nominees are Chris Tomlin, TobyMac, Jason Crab, and Francesca Battistelli. For a complete list click here.
The View’s Sherri Shepherd will host the event at the Fox Theatre, which is being taped to air on GMC on Easter Sunday, April 24 at 7 p.m. ET.
Set to perform are Kenny Rogers with Point of Grace, as well as Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, Kirk Franklin, Chris Tomlin, and more.
There will also be a pre-show event hosted by Jason Crabb with a performance by Guy Penrod.

CMT Award Nominations Coming Wednesday

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CMT’s Evan Farmer will present the nominees for the 2011 CMT Music Awards live on the Today show Wed., April 27, airing at 9:00 am CST. Farmer will appear with hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb.
The Band Perry will also be on hand during the nomination announcements to perform “You Lie.” This is the first time that CMT and NBC have partnered to announce the CMT Music Awards nominations. Voting will begin on CMT.com immediately following this announcement.
Also for the first time, a sneak peek of the nominees for the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year category will be available on Monday, April 25 at usaweekend.com.
The 2011 CMT Music Awards mark the 10th anniversary of the awards show and will air live from Nashville on Wed., June 8 on CMT and CMT.com. More details to be announced.
 

Lisa Manning Joins WSM-FM

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Longtime radio host Lisa Manning is joining the 95.5 FM WSM team, handling afternoons. She will be in the chair next week.
Locally Manning has worked at WGFX, WKDF, WSIX and WSM-AM.
The station cluster also welcomes Megan Good to the Cumulus Nashville team. She will be acting as Promotion Director for 95.5 FM WSM, WTN, and i106.
These announcements were made yesterday (4/19) by Dan Bowen, Director, Programming and Operations for 95.5 FM WSM.

Sugarland Sells Out Nashville Arena, Debuts Video

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Sugarland's The Incredible Machine Tour. Photo credit: Valarie Allyn Bienas


Sugarland played a sold-out show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Saturday night (4/16), drawing a crowd of 14,000 fans for the event with special guests Little Big Town and Matt Nathanson. This stop on The Incredible Machine Tour marked Sugarland’s first headlining gig in Music City.
Kristian Bush says that a highlight of the show each night is the performance of new single “Tonight.” “When Jennifer gets to the first big ‘Always’ and holds it forever, and the band finally kicks in, and the electric guitars rumble to life under her note, it really turns the room into a stadium,” he says. “I love how the audience starts to cheer and scream and how that energy carries us and the song to a new place. It makes a man want to play guitar!”
Yesterday (4/19) the duo released the video for “Tonight” exclusively through iTunes. AOL will begin streaming it tomorrow (4/21). Directed by Marcus Raboy (Santana, Mary J. Blige, Avril Lavigne), the video shot at the old Woolworth mansion in New York City plays like a striking fashion spread with numerous lighting and wardrobe looks.

Jennifer Nettles in the "Tonight" video.


In more news from Jennifer Nettles, she is spearheading the Attic Community Playground online auction, which will run through May 11 on CharityBuzz to benefit music education. Up for bid is the chance to see and/or meet Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and, of course Sugarland.
The Mercury Nashville duo is the reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Duo of the Year and has sold more than 9 million records to date.
 

DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/20/11)

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Vince Gill


We have a nice mix of newcomers and established stars this week.
The three contenders for the DisCovery Award are Hunter Hayes, Russell Hitchcock and Jim Quick. Although Hitchcock might not be a household name, he has sold millions of records as a vocalist in Air Supply. So even though I heartily recommend his CD, it doesn’t seem fair to give the honor to him. Despite his tender age, Hayes is apparently already a vet, too. That leaves the much deserving Jim Quick, whose bruiser voice is a must listen.
Among our established hit makers this week are Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and Alison Krauss. But the most established one of them all is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame who wins the Disc of the Day prize. For enduring greatness, hearty applause for Vince Gill from this corner.
JIM QUICK/Down South
Writer: Gary Nicholson/Gary Nichols; Producer: Gary Nicholson; Publisher: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Gary Nicholson/Fame, ASCAP/BMI; iSuwanee (track) (www.isuwanee.com)
—Jim Quick’s CD is comprised entirely of Gary Nicholson songs. Its title tune and single is a grinding, gritty, swampy, bluesy rocker with groove to spare. Quick sings with Deep Dixie assurance and sass.
DIERKS BENTLEY/Am I The Only One
Writer: Jim Beavers/Jon Randall Stewart/Dierks Bentley; Producer: Jon Randall Stewart; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Beavertime/Reynsong/Wha Ya Say/Big White Tracks/Works & Music, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (CDX)
—Twangy, romping, thumping and loads and loads of fun. Dierks is ready to party, but his buddies bail on him. Not to worry: He finds a babe who’s flying solo, too.
LUKE BRYAN/Country Girl (Shake It For Me)
Writer: Luke Bryan/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Jeff Stevens & Mark Bright; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/EMI Blackwood/String Stretcher, BMI; Capitol Nashville (CDX)
—A little on the sleazy, trashy side, but not without its charms.
ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION/Paper Airplane
Writer: Robert Lee Castleman; Producer: Alison Krauss & Union Station; Publisher: Farm Use Only, BMI; Rounder (CDX)
—This hushed ballad wafts by like clouds, creating patterns of sunshine and shadow. The Jerry Douglas dobro notes are pure poetry.
VINCE GILL/Threaten Me With Heaven
Writer: Vince Gill/Amy Grant/Will Owsley/Dillon O’Brian; Producer: Vince Gill, John Hobbs & Justin Niebank; Publisher: Vinny Mae/Grant Girls/The Loving Company/Willie-O/Dillon O’Brian, BMI; MCA Nashville (CDX)
—This gorgeous meditation would be heart melting even acoustic and unadorned. As it happens, the production swells with inspiring choral backing, celestial guitar work and echoey ambiance. If it doesn’t produce a lump in your throat, you are made of stone.
SUNNY SWEENEY/Staying’s Worse Than Leaving
Writer: Jay Clementi/Radney Foster/Sunny Sweeney; Producer: Brett Beavers; Publisher: WB/Mountain Morning/House of Sea Gayle/Little Mojo/Big Music Machine/Three Minute Movie/Super 98, ASCAP/BMI; Republic Nashville
—This country gal’s voice delivers perfectly on this dandy tempo tune with rolling rhythm and steel embellishments. I remain an enormous fan.
HUNTER HAYES/Storm Warning
Writer: Gordie Sampson/Busbee/Hunter Hayes; Producer: Dann Huff & Hunter Hayes; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Happy Little Man/Dash8/Bughouse/Bug/BMG Platinum/Hello I Love You, BMI/ASCAP; Atlantic
—He looks and sounds quite young, but evidently already has an extensive, multi-album background as a Cajun artist in his native Louisiana. His bopping, pop-ish single bubbles right along and will doubtless play well to Taylor Swift’s audience as he opens dates on her Speak Now Tour.
BURNS & POE/Second Chance
Writer: Burns/Poe/Stipe; Producer: Mark Oliverius; Publisher: Morris Bedell/Poe Haus/Studio 33/Checks to Rex/Pen, SESAC/BMI; Blue Steel (track) (www.burnsandpoe.com)
—The conversational, swapped lines are expertly delivered in the verses. The ultra-hooky choruses find them harmonizing delightfully. It’s all about overcoming romantic misunderstandings, with deep-twang guitar in the background.
SEAN PATRICK McGRAW/My So Called Life
Writer: Sean Patrick McGraw/Bruce Wallace; Producer: Sean Patrick McGraw; Publisher: Seananigan, no performance rights listed; Little Engine (track)
—The title tune to Sean’s self-marketed CD is a raucous rave-up that wails the working-man’s blues with gusto. Perseverance is the name of the game, here.
RUSSELL HITCHCOCK/Far Enough Away from Colorado
Writer: Wes Hightower/Don Poythress/Rob Rappaport/Jimmy Ritchey; Producer: Rob Rappaport; Publisher: Sixteen Stars/Universal-MGB/Don Poythress/Canalco/Better Angels/Universal-Careers/Fox Ridge, BMI/ASCAP; Better Angels (track)
—In an unusual move, two singles are being released simultaneously from this fellow’s Tennessee double CD collection. One is a tender ballad called “Hold Me Like You Love Me.” The other is this a more countryfied story song about a man starting over by farming in Nebraska and trying to forget what he left behind in Denver. Gloriously melodic. If Aussie Hitchcock’s voice sounds familiar, it’s because you heard him in Air Supply during the ’80s (”Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Even the Nights Are Better,” “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” etc.).

Swift Leads Digital Download Sales Race

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According to the RIAA’s latest tally, Taylor Swift is the top-selling digital single artist with over 22.5 million career song downloads to date.
Though it is early in 2011, she is facing competition for the most career downloads from Lady Gaga (20 million digital singles as of February), Rihanna (19 million) and the Black Eyed Peas (17.5 million).
Swift sold more digital downloads during the past decade (2000-2009) than any other RIAA certified artist.
Additionally, all three of Swift’s Big Machine Records albums are RIAA certified triple-Platinum or higher with Taylor Swift (2006) 4x multi-Platinum, Fearless (2008) 6x-multi Platinum, and Speak Now 3x multi-Platinum.