Crowdsourcing Engages Fans, Fuels Traffic

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Crowdsourcing has been growing in popularity among marketers in recent years and offers numerous ways to engage music fans. The buzzword is derived from the concept of outsourcing a service to a crowd, instead of seeking answers internally. Essentially, it taps the consumer masses for collaboration and feedback.
Today crowdsourcing continues to evolve, with a variety of industries using it for product development, research, and marketing. In return for participation—usually done online—consumers receive prizes ranging from cash to gift cards to artist merch.
Crowdsourcing fuels peer-to-peer marketing, where fans encourage their friends to participate, and share videos, exclusive content, and coupons.
The music biz has been using it for fan engagement, such as recent initiatives by Paul McCartney and Florence and the Machine. The industry brains behind the famed Beatle created a contest where fine artists designed a work inspired by his music. A similar competition was held to design a dress for Florence and the Machine singer Florence Welsh, which solicited 60 million votes according to a press release from Talenthouse, the social crowdsourcing company that was tapped by Universal Music Group for both projects. From a marketing perspective, it is a way to drive traffic to the artists’ websites and social networks, as well as engage consumers who entered the contests or voted for the winners.
Social media is a key component of most crowdsourcing websites, because the companies require a Facebook or Twitter account to log in. Some, like Talenthouse, run user voting through the social media sites. Connecting through Facebook allows marketers to gather the user’s FB info, including gender, list of friends, “likes,” email address, and access to post to the wall, with user permission.
Numerous crowdsourcing websites have popped up in recent years such as Krush.com, Crowdtap.com, and Prizes.org. Each site works a little differently, but they mostly have users answer polls, solve problems, or give feedback on products. Among the big-name brands on board are Old Navy, American Express, and Adidas.

Promo Change at Warner Music Nashville

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Warner Music Nashville’s W.A.R promotion team member Rhonda Christensen will be leaving the company on Aug. 31. She has chosen to step down from her post as West Coast Regional in order to spend time taking care of her family, in the wake of health issues on the homefront.
Christensen says, “It was an honor for me to help launch the W.A.R. Promotion team and to make a significant impact on new artists like Frankie Ballard, Brett Eldredge and Gloriana…but right now, I need to focus on my family.” Warner Music Nashville is accepting applications for her position, send resumes to [email protected].

Signing Stories

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Management: BMI singer-songwriter Corey Hunt has signed a management agreement with Chris Keaton’s new company, Chris Keaton Presents. Hunt recently relocated to Nashville from North Carolina. Keaton can be reached at (615) 313-7211 or [email protected].

(L-R): BMI's David Preston, Corey Hunt and Chris Keaton


 
Publishing: Songwriter Trent Summar has re-upped with Universal Music Publishing Nashville and Nicholson Music Group. He’s had cuts by Billy Currington, Jack Ingram, Gary Allan and Pat Green. Plus, Summar is expected to have writing credits on upcoming releases by Kip Moore, Brett Eldredge, and The Dirt Drifters.

Publicity: Don Murry Grubbs’ Absolute Publicity has signed Dailey & Vincent for representation. The duo is the reigning IBMA Entertainer of the Year.

Dailey & Vincent were joined onstage by Vince Gill during Springer Mountain Farms Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman on July 21. Photo: Ryman Archives


 

Next Big Nashville’s Soundland Shares Line-up

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Next Big Nashville Soundland is drawing top nationwide talent as well as some of the brightest up-and-comers from the Nashville scene. The recently revealed line-up includes Foster the People, Caitlin Rose, Ghostland Observatory, M Ward, Justin Townes Earle, JEFF The Brotherhood, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Those Darlins, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Robert Ellis, PUJOL, and Madi Diaz.

Now in its sixth year, the music event will take place in Nashville Sept. 21–24.

“I’m very proud of what we have accomplished over the last several years with Next BIG Nashville but, looking forward, we saw an opportunity to push the idea of the festival even further. And that new vision deserved a new name,” said NBN co-founder Jason Moon Wilkins of the new moniker Soundland. “This new event now gives us an opportunity to embrace the entire creative community – from arts to film to food and more.”

Beyond the music lineup, SoundLand will be adding outdoor stages, arts, local food trucks and more interactive fun, culminating in an all-day party at Public Square Park in downtown on Sat., Sept. 24.

“Alongside the music festival, we’ve completely reinvented the industry component; moving away from a traditional conference with panels into what we’re calling Field Trips,” said Kevin Brown, Partner in Next BIG Nashville. “Sponsors have really gravitated toward what we’re doing in 2011, and fans have too. We’re off to a screaming start.”

Next Big Nashville's Soundland Shares Line-up

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Next Big Nashville Soundland is drawing top nationwide talent as well as some of the brightest up-and-comers from the Nashville scene. The recently revealed line-up includes Foster the People, Caitlin Rose, Ghostland Observatory, M Ward, Justin Townes Earle, JEFF The Brotherhood, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Those Darlins, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Robert Ellis, PUJOL, and Madi Diaz.
Now in its sixth year, the music event will take place in Nashville Sept. 21–24.
“I’m very proud of what we have accomplished over the last several years with Next BIG Nashville but, looking forward, we saw an opportunity to push the idea of the festival even further. And that new vision deserved a new name,” said NBN co-founder Jason Moon Wilkins of the new moniker Soundland. “This new event now gives us an opportunity to embrace the entire creative community – from arts to film to food and more.”
Beyond the music lineup, SoundLand will be adding outdoor stages, arts, local food trucks and more interactive fun, culminating in an all-day party at Public Square Park in downtown on Sat., Sept. 24.
“Alongside the music festival, we’ve completely reinvented the industry component; moving away from a traditional conference with panels into what we’re calling Field Trips,” said Kevin Brown, Partner in Next BIG Nashville. “Sponsors have really gravitated toward what we’re doing in 2011, and fans have too. We’re off to a screaming start.”

Joe Nichols To Host ACM Honors

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The Academy of Country Music has tapped Joe Nichols to host the 5th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place Mon., Sept. 19 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
This is Nichols’ first time hosting the show, and the second time it will be held at the Ryman Auditorium, which will be recognized at the event as ACM Venue of the Year. Nichols, an ACM Award winner, says leading the evening is “definitely a high point in my career.”
Tickets will be made available to the public via Ticketmaster, with on-sale details coming next week.
Those being honored at the event include Special Award recipients Garth Brooks, John Dorris, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Reba, Taylor Swift and the film Country Strong. Hank Cochran will also be honored posthumously. The evening also recognizes winners of the MBI (musician, bandleader, instrumentalist) and Industry categories, which are not presented during the live telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards. See the complete list of winners.

Memorial Services For Kenny Baker, Jack Barlow

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Kenny Baker


A memorial service is scheduled for late bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker. The revered musician was a longtime member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. See the full obituary.
Lance Leroy and Bobby Osborne will host the memorial service on Wed., Aug. 3 at 7 PM at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Music Valley Drive.
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Jack Barlow


Country singer Jack Barlow died July 29 after struggling with a longtime illness. He was 87.
The Illinois native had a hit in the 1960s with first release “I Love Country Music.” He went on to record four albums and release numerous singles including “Catch the Wind.” Barlow was a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry during this time.
By the 1970s he began singing jingles for Big Red chewing gum and others. He later voiced commercials for Busch Beer, Budweiser, Chrysler, Dollar General, Kraft, Uncle Ben’s Rice, Dodge, and Kellogg’s.
Barlow got his start in the music business as a radio DJ, following his time in the Navy during WWII.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Dianne, several children and grandchildren.
A public memorial will be held Aug. 13 from 5-9 p.m. at Harpeth Hills Memory Garden Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy. 100, Nashville, TN 37221.

Hirings At Cold River, TJ Martell

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Cold River Records has hired Jenelle Scott as Day to Day Manager for flagship artist Katie Armiger. Scott’s background includes time at Webster & Associates PR, handling accounts for Wynonna Judd and Lee Brice.
“We’re thrilled that Jenelle chose the Katie Project as her next mission. She has layers of experience and we know she’ll hit the ground running,” remarked label head Pete O’Heeron.
Scott is already on the job and will join Armiger on the road next week in Colorado where the singer is opening dates for Brice and Darius Rucker.
Effective today, Scott can be reached at [email protected].
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Cindy Francis Lovelace


The T.J. Martell Foundation’s Southern Region office has added one staffer and promoted another. The music biz led charity for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research has hired Cindy Francis Lovelace as Director of Development for the Southern Region, and promoted Melissa Goodwin to Director of Administration for the entire Foundation. Laura Heatherly remains onboard as CEO.
Lovelace has served on the Martell Board for four years and celebrates six years as a breast cancer survivor. She has over thirty years experience in media and marketing. While in radio, she was instrumental in establishing partnerships with the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, CMA, Tin Pan South, and Steeplechase, as well as leading major charitable fundraising alliances with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Goodwin has been with the T.J. Martell Foundation since 2005. As Office and Events Manager for the Southern Region, she coordinated the Ride for a Cure and Wirtgen Golf Tournament. In the new role as Director of Administration for all three offices, she will focus on human resources, finance, and contracts in addition to still working on Ride for a Cure.

Black River Beefs Up Marketing Dept.

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Katie McCartney


Black River Entertainment has tapped Katie McCartney as Director, Marketing. In the new role, she will handle the day-to-day marketing activities of all artists on the label’s roster.
McCartney was most recently with Sony Music Entertainment as Manager of Marketing and Artist Development. Prior to that the MTSU grad held promotion and marketing posts at Lyric Street Records.
“We are thrilled that Katie is joining our team at Black River,” shares General Manager Greg McCarn. “She brings a great skill set and marketing background to the table and her enthusiasm and dedication are contagious.”
“I’m beyond excited for the amazing opportunity to become a part of the Black River family,” adds McCartney.

Mike McVay Headed To Cumulus

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Programming consultant Mike McVay has announced that he will head to Cumulus Media in Atlanta September 1, where he will become Sr. VP/Programming alongside Jan Jeffries. He will exit the consultancy he founded 28 years ago, which has grown to include divisions for syndication, new media, and Listener Driven Radio. The move should take place around the time that Cumulus Media’s $2.4 billion purchase of Citadel closes.
McVay Media also recently added radio veteran Charlie Cook as President, and it will soon be renamed McVay/Cook & Associates. Cook’s new weekly radio column for MusicRow, “Charlie Cook On Air,” started last week.