Lady A "Need You…" Climbs 5X Platinum

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Country fans are showing their love in the form of purchases during this hot summer season. The latest RIAA sales report for July 2011 shows Nashville music warmly represented. The magic numbers to qualify for Gold and Platinum awards are 500,000 and one million respectively.
Capitol Nashville lead the Nashville labels with the equivalent of 3 million units of singles and albums certified this month. Close behind with 2 million units each were BNA, Broken Bow and Mercury.
Lady A and Shania were the only Nashville acts to earn multi-platinum awards, for “Need You Now,” and “You’re Still The One,” respectively.
The number of singles represented this month greatly outnumbers albums, as 19 different singles won awards and three albums were certified.
RIAA stats are based upon shipments from manufacturers to retailers and are not necessarily actual sales. For example, it is common to see a Gold song with under 500,000 scans on SoundScan.
 
July 2011 Certifications
Multi-Platinum Single
Lady Antebellum/Need You Now/Capitol Nashville/5X
Platinum Single
Jason Aldean/Dirt Road Anthem/This Is Hit (BBR)
Jason Aldean/My Kinda Party/Broken Bow
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA
Kenny Chesney/Summertime/BNA
Lady Antebellum/Just A Kiss/Capitol Nashville
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros. Nashville
Gold Single
Gary Allan/Watching Airplanes/MCA Nashville
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Records Nashville
Easton Corbin/A Little More Country Than That/Mercury
Billy Currington/Let Me Down Easy/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Crazy Girl/Republic Nashville
Lady Antebellum/Just A Kiss/Capitol Nashville
Little Big Town/Little White Church/Capitol Nashville
Jake Owen/Eight Second Ride/RCA Nashville
Jake Owen/Barefoot Blue Jean Night/RCA Nashville
Blake Shelton/Honey Bee/Warner Bros. Nashville
George Strait/Troubadour/MCA Nashville
Sugarland/Settlin’/Mercury
The Band Perry/You Lie/Republic Nashville
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA Nashville
Platinum Album
Zac Brown Band/You Get what You Give/Homegrown/Atlantic
Rascal Flatts/Nothing Like This/Big Machine
Gold Albums
Rascal Flatts/Nothing Like This/Big Machine
Chris Young/The Man I Want To Be/Mercury
Multi-Platinum Single
Shania Twain/You’re Still The One/Mercury (2X; released 1/27/1998)

Signing News From Major Bob, Magic Mustang

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Cary Barlowe


Cary Barlowe Re-Ups With Major Bob
Major Bob Music has re-signed Cary Barlowe to an exclusive worldwide songwriting deal. The two-time Grammy nominee has had genre-crossing cuts from Tobymac, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum’s No. 1 “American Honey,” and Danny Gokey’s current single, “Second Hand Heart.”
Barlowe also continues his rock career as a writing member of both The Honeymoon Thrillers and Luna Halo.
“Major Bob Music is extremely excited to continue the momentum and success we have achieved with Cary,” says Jesse Frasure, Director of A&R, Major Bob Music. Going into his fifth year with Major Bob, we still have much more to accomplish and are honored to help build his brand in a variety of genres.”
Magic Mustang Inks Producer/Songwriters
Magic Mustang has signed Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy and Rich Redmond to publishing deals. The writers are three of the four members of Nashville-based music production company, NV, who recently produced the Stoney Creek Records’ chart-topping debut album for Thompson Square.
“Not only are they brilliant musicians and producers, they are incredible songwriters,” says Magic Mustang Creative Director Juli Griffith. “These talented guys were already part of our BBR/SCR family, producing many of our acts and part of Jason Aldean’s band, so I am thrilled to officially add them to the Magic Mustang roster.”
Current roster of writers on the Magic Mustang team include Jason Aldean, Sherrie Austin, Rob Hatch, John Edwards, Westin Davis, Ash Bowers, Blake Wise and Thompson Square.

Pictured (L-R): Kurt Allison, CEO/Pres. Benny Brown, BBR/SCR Creative Dir. Juli Griffith, Magic Mustang Music, and Tully Kennedy.


 

R&J Adds To Radio Team

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Chris DeCarlo

R&J Records has tapped Chris DeCarlo to head southeast promotion duties for its roster which includes Aaron Lewis, Andy Gibson, Margaret Durante, LoCash Cowboys, Rob Lane and Alexa Carter.

DeCarlo brings over 20 years of music business experience to the role. Her career began with Pittsburgh radio heavyweights WDVE and WDSY, then moved to promotion stints at A&M and RCA Records. Most recently, DeCarlo has run a voiceover and production house, DeCarlo-Mitchell Productions.

“We are so excited to have Chris on our team here at R&J,” says National Head of Promotion Tim McFadden. “We looked long and hard to find a professional with Chris’ credentials. I have known her since her very successful radio days and have watched her strong career in promotion. Chris is exactly who we needed to take charge in the Southeast.”

DeCarlo joins Bill Catino, Jon Conlon (West Coast), Bill Heltemes (Midwest), David Shaw (Northeast) and coordinator Kelsey Lantrip on the label’s promotion team. R&J Records was launched in June by acclaimed producer and label executive James Stroud.

DeCarlo can be reached at (412) 398-1212 or [email protected].

R&J Adds To Radio Team

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Chris DeCarlo


R&J Records has tapped Chris DeCarlo to head southeast promotion duties for its roster which includes Aaron Lewis, Andy Gibson, Margaret Durante, LoCash Cowboys, Rob Lane and Alexa Carter.
DeCarlo brings over 20 years of music business experience to the role. Her career began with Pittsburgh radio heavyweights WDVE and WDSY, then moved to promotion stints at A&M and RCA Records. Most recently, DeCarlo has run a voiceover and production house, DeCarlo-Mitchell Productions.
“We are so excited to have Chris on our team here at R&J,” says National Head of Promotion Tim McFadden. “We looked long and hard to find a professional with Chris’ credentials. I have known her since her very successful radio days and have watched her strong career in promotion. Chris is exactly who we needed to take charge in the Southeast.”
DeCarlo joins Bill Catino, Jon Conlon (West Coast), Bill Heltemes (Midwest), David Shaw (Northeast) and coordinator Kelsey Lantrip on the label’s promotion team. R&J Records was launched in June by acclaimed producer and label executive James Stroud.
DeCarlo can be reached at (412) 398-1212 or [email protected].

Strong Ratings For CMA Fest Special

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Zac Brown Band and special guest Alan Jackson perform during "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Photo: Donn Jones / CMA


Last night’s (8/14) CMA Music Festival television special drew an average audience of 7 million viewers, about one million more fans than last year’s broadcast. CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock aired 8:00-11:00 p.m. on ABC. It came in second place most of the night, and moved into first place during the final hour. Leading the night was CBS with Big Brother and Same Name.
This was the CMA Music Festival special’s second largest audience in six years.
TV ratings aren’t the only indicator of a successful broadcast…stay tuned for news from Soundscan.
TV Ratings courtesy of Nielsen.

Dierks Bentley Announces Fall Tour

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Dierks Bentley is gearing up for the first leg of his Country & Cold Cans Tour, which launches Oct. 6 in Lacrosse, WI. Guests Jerrod Niemann and Eli Young Band will join Bentley for the 22 city run that ends Nov. 19 in Denver, CO.
Fan club members can begin purchasing tickets tomorrow at www.dierks.com, and the general public sale begins Friday, August 19. Full dates will be announced soon.
“It’s been a killer summer playing festivals all over the country and partying with the most die-hard country music fans out there,” says Bentley. “We’re going to crank up the ‘Country & Cold Cans’ tour in the Fall and keep it going. I can’t imagine that I’ll have to convince Jerrod or EYB to have a cold beer or two…they are always up for the party.”
Bentley is currently finishing his sixth album for Capitol Nashville, and its first single “Am I The Only One” is scaling the charts.

Yandell Joins CGP Elite

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(L-R) Steve Wariner, Merle Atkins Russell and Paul Yandell


During his lifetime Chet Atkins bestowed the title of Certified guitar Player on just four guitar pickers; Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, the late Jerry Reed, and Steve Wariner. At a program Saturday marking the opening of the new Chet Atkins exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum®, Atkins’ daughter Merle asked Steve Wariner to help her continue the tradition and read a proclamation that officially conferred the last and final “c.g.p.” title on Paul Yandell, the master guitarist who had been Atkins’ bandleader and confidant for over 30 years.
“I was thrilled to be invited to help honor Paul like this,” said Wariner. “He’s an incredible player and a dear friend to me, as he was to Chet. What a cool class thing for Merle and the Atkins family to do. So completely right!”
Paul Yandell was an accomplished player by the time he left high school in western Kentucky, arriving in Nashville in 1955. He began his career with The Louvin Brothers, working with them until 1959 and playing on many of their greatest hits. After serving in the Army, Paul joined the Kitty Wells show, where he stayed from 1961-1970. He joined Jerry Reed in 1970, and as Paul says, he “went to college” learning from Jerry. Paul joined Chet Atkins in 1975 and supported Chet in his career for the next 25 years. In 2009, he performed at the ceremony during which Atkins was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Urban, Andersons Donate Habitat House

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Charlie and Moll Anderson, and Keith Urban present Regina Olum and her family with their new Habitat for Humanity home. Olum lives in the four-bedroom home with her son and her mother.


Keith Urban joined Moll and Charlie Anderson in Knoxville Friday (8/12), where they gave new meaning to the term “urban renewal” by presenting the keys to a new Habitat for Humanity home.
The house is the second of what will be 10 homes planned for “Music Row” in Knoxville. The houses are underwritten by the Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation from an annual benefit concert featuring a country music act. Urban performed at the fundraiser last fall that netted $250,000 for the cause.
The Andersons have confirmed longtime Habitat for Humanity supporter Reba McEntire as the entertainer for the private fundraiser in their home this year.
In lieu of a down payment, Habitat for Humanity homeowners are required to complete 500 hours of sweat equity, mostly in the form of budgeting and homeowner classes. In addition, the family pays a mortgage on the home at zero-percent interest over 25 to 30 years. The mortgage payments go back into building more simple, decent and affordable homes.
 

Vince Gill Celebrates Opry 20th Anniversary [video tribute]

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(L-R): Steve Buchanan, Pres. Grand Ole Opry Group, Martina McBride, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Pete Fisher, VP and GM Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo


Vince Gill was surrounded by family, loved ones and fellow artists as he celebrated his 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night (8/13). Among those joining Gill on stage throughout the show were wife Amy Grant, daughter Jenny Gill, Jimmy Dickens, Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, and The Time Jumpers.
The Country Music Hall of Fame member opened the show before a sold-out crowd by performing “Gotta’ Travel On” in honor of Opry member Billy Grammer, who passed away this week. Gill played the 1959 hit on a Grammer Guitar he’d purchased just weeks ago.
He teamed with Harris on her hits “Two More Bottles of Wine” and “If I Needed You.” He joined McBride for her take on his first No. 1 single, “Take Your Memory With You,” and accompanied Grant on her song “True Love.” Jenny saluted her dad with a performance of his hit “If You Ever Have Forever In Mind.”
Gill spoke candidly with the audience, sharing that more than 20 years earlier he hadn’t been able to accept the Opry’s very first invitation to play the show because it conflicted with accompanying Jenny at her grade school talent show. “The friendships I’ve built here mean more to me than every song I’ve ever sung out here on this stage,” added Gill. “I wouldn’t know how to do [music] without this place.” Fittingly, he closed the evening by coming full-circle, with a performance of the first song he ever sang on the Opry, “When I Call Your Name.”
During the show the fans were treated to the following video salute.

Sugarland Forced To Cancel Date Following State Fair Tragedy

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Sugarland is dealing with the tragedy that occurred at the Indiana State Fair Saturday night (8/13). Just before the duo was scheduled to perform, high winds caused the stage to collapse, killing five people. [See previous report below].
The band, who is touring with opener Sara Bareilles, was forced to cancel its show the following night (8/14) at the Iowa State Fair. According to the Iowa Festival: “Aside from coping with the magnitude of the accident, the ongoing investigation prevents the band from getting what may remain of their stage equipment.”
In the wake of the disaster, Jennifer Nettles posted this statement on the band’s official website:

I am so moved. Moved by the grief of those families who lost loved ones. Moved by the pain of those who were injured and the fear of their families. Moved by the great heroism as I watched so many brave Indianapolis fans actually run toward the stage to try and help lift and rescue those injured. Moved by the quickness and organization of the emergency workers who set up the triage and tended to the injured. There are no words to process a moment of this magnitude and gravity. There are only prayers for peace in the hearts of the bereft, and prayers of thanksgiving for those who were spared or safe. A piece of our heart is left in that grandstand. May God provide peace and healing to the people of Indianapolis.
We wish to pass along our most sincere thanks for the messages of love, prayer, and support from our fan family. We’ll post any further updates here as they become available.

[Original post 8/14] Five people were killed and more than 40 others were injured Saturday (8/13) at the Indiana State Fair’s Sugarland concert. [Photos here.]
The stage collapsed during heavy rain and high winds before the start of the concert. The winds were estimated at between 60 and 70 mph.
“We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope you’ll join us. They need your strength,” was Tweeted on Sugarland’s Twitter account after the accident. According to Sugarland reps, the band and its crew are safe.
A memorial service was scheduled for today (8/15) for those who died during the tragedy. The state fair was to re-open following the service.