SESAC Awards Move To New Home

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The 2011 SESAC Nashville Music Awards will celebrate the year’s most successful songwriters and publishers at a new venue, The Pinnacle at Symphony Place. The move to The Pinnacle marks a location change for the awards event which was hosted at SESAC’s Nashville headquarters for almost two decades. The black-tie, invitation-only event will be held on Nov. 7, and will honor the top songwriters and publishers in Country and Americana music.

•  Joined by newly signed affiliate Mary Francis, SESAC executives Tim Fink and Amy Beth Hale celebrated the release of So Much In Between by Darin & Brooke Aldridge (Mountain Home) during the International Bluegrass Music Association Conference. The project was produced by acclaimed SESAC songwriter/musician Jerry Salley and features songs by some of Nashville’s most exciting writers including SESAC affiliates, Salley, Francis, singer/songwriter Karyn Williams, and Bernie Nelson. Darin & Brooke Aldridge were nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year at the IBMA Awards.

Pictured (L-R): Jerry Salley, SESAC’s Amy Beth Hale, Karyn Williams, Bernie Nelson, Darin Aldridge, Brooke Aldridge, SESAC’s Tim Fink and Mary Francis. Photo: Ed Rode

 

Lady A, Lambert And The Band Perry To Perform At CMAs

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Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and The Band Perry join this year’s lineup for the 45th Annual CMA Awards.

Reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Lady A, is nominated again this year for the award. Likewise, Lambert is the reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. She is nominated this year for both Female Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for her performance of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn.

The Band Perry is nominated for four CMA Awards this year. The group is nominated for New Artist and Vocal Group of the Year, while their single “If I Die Young” is nominated for both Single and Music Video of the year. Additionally, Kimberly Perry picked up a Song of the Year nomination for writing “If I Die Young.” This is her first solo nomination.

The 45th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. on the ABC. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. Paisley and Underwood will also perform together in their first live televised-performance of their No. 1 song “Remind Me.”

Artist Action: Blake Wise, Hunter Hayes, Luke Bryan, Elizabeth Cook

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Blake Wise on the set of his video.

Blake Wise’s single “Can’t Live Without You” debuted on iTunes yesterday (10/4) and is already going for adds at radio. The Broken Bow artist taped the video at Castle Recording Studio with director John Fucile of SmackDab Media. See it here.

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Hunter Hayes is revving up for the release of his self-titled debut on Tues., Oct. 11. He’s set for the national TV premiere of single “Storm Warning” on the Late Show with David Letterman on release day. Hayes recently wrapped touring with Taylor Swift, made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and is on his first headlining tour.

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Elizabeth Cook will appear tonight on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Like last month’s visit to Letterman, Cook will be putting in couch time, not performing. She is nominated for three Americana Music Awards at the Oct. 13 event, and will perform Oct. 7 show on The Lawn at Cheekwood.

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Luke Bryan performed the first three of six shows over the weekend on his third annual Farm Tour, playing in front of 19,000 fans. The tour continues with the final shows in Statesboro, Valdosta and Carrollton, Georgia. Proceeds from the concerts will be used to fund college scholarships for a student from a local farming family. Bryan will resume CMT On Tour: Luke Bryan Tailgates & Tanlines Fri., Oct. 13 in Johnson City, Tenn.

Luke Bryan's Farm Tour opening weekend.

Country Sales: 4th Quarter Futures

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Getting Graphic About Sales
The above graph is a week-by-week tally of how the YTD Country sales units compare with the previous year.

The blue bars show YTD % (year-to-date) change for 2010 compared with 2009; and the green bars show 2011 compared with 2010. Actual quarterly sales numbers (source: Nielsen SoundScan) are below the graph. For example at the end of Q1 2011 country was down about 13%. By Q2 2011 the deficit was only about 1%.

For the week ended 10-2-11 country album sales (physical and digital) are a healthy 9% ahead of last year. (All-genre sales are up 3.4%.) However, based upon the upcoming release schedules (compared with last year) our best guess is that we will start to see the green bar shrink in coming weeks. Will it fall into negative territory? Let’s hope not…

Looked at another way, we need to add about 15 million units over the next 13 weeks or about 1.54 million units every week. (Putting the 1.54 million in perspective, country album sales this past week totaled about 660,000.)

The Current Week’s Tally
The past week’s album sales were led by Lady Antebellum’s new release (No. 1; 75k) now in its third week. Jason Aldean continues to bust out of sales bins earning a No. 2 position after 48 weeks shifting almost 21k units for the week. Brantley Gilbert, who co-wrote Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” holds the No. 3 spot in his third week with sales of about 20k.

New on the chart this week is a debut from Curb’s LeAnn Rimes at No. 7 scanning about 12k units (45% were digital).

Last week’s article about TEA (track equivalent albums) flushed out some good responses. Most of which tried to point out that track sales are not as profitable as album sales. Perhaps that is true when viewed across the traditional record label budget and sales structure. But that structure is evolving rapidly. This year country fans have already purchased 111 million country tracks with a value of about $140 million dollars which is equivalent to about 14 million albums!!!! (Any label that doesn’t care about its tracks income, please send it to me, I’ll be happy to bank it in my account and even pay the proper royalties on the label’s behalf.)

On this week’s Digital Genre Country tracks list Blake Shelton rides the roost with “God Gave Me You” churning over 57k paid downloads. The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” remains the second best selling track moving almost 43,000 units and Rodney Atkins “Take A Back Road,” also deserves mention holding the No. 3 position with over 39k downloads.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (10/5/11)

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Things are definitely looking up.

I can’t remember a recent listening session with so many well-done platters. Jake Owen has the audio production to beat. Mark Willis has the week’s most striking song. Gloriana is glorious. Kenny Chesney’s bringing the star power. David Bradley has humor and good times on his side.

And then there’s the Disc of the Day. The new trio Pistol Annies is comprised of  three deluxe singer-songwriters—Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley.

Their record will take your breath away.
Since those ladies are the only ones with a debut CD today, they also win the  DisCovery Award.

DAVID BRADLEY/If You Can’t Make Money
Writer: Jon Randall/Brad Paisley/Bill Anderson; Producer: Brady Seals; Publisher: Reynsong/Wha Ya Say/House of Sea Gayle/Sony-ATV Tree/Mr. Bubba, BMI/ASCAP; Gecko (track)
—Get a load of those songwriter credits. Too bad they couldn’t find anybody talented to pen this thing. It’s a chugging bopper with plenty of humor in the lyric and a party crowd shouting in the background. A good time was had by all.

JAKE OWEN/Alone With You
Writer: Catt Gravitt/J.T. Harding/Shane McAnally; Producer: Joey Moi &  Rodney Clawson; Publisher: Songs of Maxx/Tunes of R and T Direct/Razor & Tie/Songs Music/A Mighty Seven/Songs for Beans/JTX/Little Blue Egg/Crazy Water/Kobalt, SESAC/BMI/ASCAP; RCA (track)
—Wonderfully atmospheric, with a deep-twang sonic bed, a sexy mood and a swirling melody. This fevered dream of pent-up desire is nothing short of a minor masterpiece. Do you hear that noise? It’s superstardom knocking on Jake’s door.

AMY DALLEY/Coming Out Of The Pain
Writer: Dalley/Sizemore; Producer: New Voice Entertainment; Publisher: Bro N Sis/Madjacksongs, BMI; AmyDalley (track) (www.amydalley.com)
—The title tune to Dalley’s new CD comes on like gangbusters with its gunshot percussion and grinding guitars. It’s a driving, female-empowerment song of survival.

SCOTTY McCREERY/The Trouble With Girls
Writer: Phillip White/Chris Tompkins; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Jorjax/Big Loud Songs/Angel River/Big Loud Bucks, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury/19 (track)
—Scotty’s sophomore single is a softly drawled ballad of romantic confusion. His vocal performance sounds like the teen he is, but Bright’s production is a model of sophistication.

MATT GARY/Beautiful Life
Writer: Frank J. Myers/Gary Baker/Nicky Chinn; Producer: Frank Myers; Publisher: Sixteen Stars/Frank Myers/HoriPro/WB/On the Bluff/Ten Ten/Nicky Chinn, BMI/ASCAP; 17/Quarterback (www.mattgarymusic.com)
—There’s hard times all around, but when you have love, nothing else matters. This soaring, propulsive rocker practically begs you to turn it up.

KENNY CHESNEY/Reality
Writer: Kenny Chesney/Brett James; Producer: Buddy Cannon & Kenny Chesney; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; BNA (track)
—The track behind him is boiling hot, perhaps a little too much so. The song and his vocal performance are both totally classy.

NEAL McCOY/A-OK
Writer: Barry Dean/Luke Laird/Brett Eldredge; Producer: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton & Brent Rowan; Publisher: none listed; Blaster (www.nealmccoy.com)
—The whistling and finger-snap opening correctly predict that you’re in for a breezy, good-times tune. Lightweight, but harmless.

GLORIANA/(Kissed You) Good Night
Writer: Tom Gossin/Josh Kear; Producer: Matt Serletic; Publisher: Gossin/Global Dog/Lunalight, ASCAP; Emblem/Warner Bros.
—I remain a fan. Young love has seldom sounded so tuneful, harmonious and downright delicious. Everything about this audio confection pleases me. Play it again.

PISTOL ANNIES/Hell On Heels
Writer: Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley; Producer: Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Reynsong/Ayden/Ten Ten, BMI/ASCAP; Columbia (track)
—The Pistol Annies CD leads off with this bluesy, moody title tune that grabs you by the ears and doesn’t let go. This thing hisses like a rattlesnake ready to strike. All three of these gals have smokey, sensuous vocal chops with attitude to spare.

MARK WILLS/Crazy Being Home
Writer: Chris Lindsey/Brad Warren/Brett Warren/Robin Lindsey; Producer: Chris Lindsey; Publisher: none listed; Gracie/Starlight (track)
—This is what is so great about country music. No other genre tells stories this powerfully. And what other style would even think to write a song about a soldier’s post traumatic stress disorder? Strong stuff. Wills walks it like he talks it: He has gone to Afghanistan seven times to sing for the troops.

Black River Taps Industry Vet For VP Post

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Doug Johnson

Black River Entertainment COO Gordon S. Kerr and General Manager Greg McCarn announced today that 30-year music industry professional Doug Johnson has joined Nashville-based Black River Entertainment as the label’s Vice President, A&R, effective today (10/4).

“I am so pleased to have Doug join our Black River staff. His outstanding background and proven success in the music industry is a tribute to his hard work and commitment to musical excellence,” shares Kerr. “I look forward to Doug’s contribution to the Black River family!”

Johnson’s diverse talents include success as a recording engineer, mixer, musician, songwriter (“Three Wooden Crosses,” “Love Like Crazy,”) producer and record company executive, most recently with Curb Music. In his new role with Black River, Johnson will oversee creative direction for the label’s roster including Craig Morgan, Sarah Darling, Glen Templeton, Due West and Jeff Bates.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Black River Entertainment family. I love this business, the music, the people who make it and those of us crazy enough to dream we can make the world a better place with it,” adds Johnson. “I am honored that Gordon and Greg are trusting me to be an asset in regards to the Black River roster, staff and future. I appreciate the opportunities Mike Curb has given me over the past nine years and wish Mike, the Curb staff and roster continued success.”

Black River Entertainment also operates the newly renovated Sound Stage recording studios, Ronnie’s Place recording studio, Black River Publishing, and Black River Management.

Johnson can be reached at [email protected].

Apple Offering Falls Short of Expectations

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Apple’s first major new product announcement without the venerable Steve Jobs on the podium stumbled badly today. “This is my first product launch since being named CEO—I’m sure you didn’t know that,” Mr. Tim Cook joked at the event’s start.

The company announced a 4S model with faster processor, better camera and voice command software (Siri), but missing was the iPhone 5, a bigger screen and 4G download speeds. Tech journalists seemed disappointed with the new offering and the company stock at mid afternoon had tumbled almost 5% to about $355 a share.

A 4S 16 gigabyte version will sell for $199 with a 2-year contract, and a 32 gigabyte model for $299. Earlier models will be discounted.

Also mentioned at the Apple event was updated versions of the iPod Nano and Touch music players plus the launch of the iCloud and IOS 5 software coming Oct. 12.

 

McBride To Turn Empire State Building Pink

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Martina McBride will turn the lights of the Empire State Building pink on Oct. 14 to help the fight against breast cancer. The pink carpet event and concert will be the culmination of her upcoming release week promoting Eleven, which streets Oct. 11 via Republic Nashville. This will be the first time in history that an artist has performed a private concert from the landmark building.

Martina McBride: Light Up The Sky, in partnership with Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, will be showcased exclusively on Clear Channel Radio’s websites.

Much of the promotion for McBride’s new album includes pink ribbon events to raise breast cancer awareness. She will take an Amtrak train from Los Angeles to New York City, making 11 stops along the way to meet with fans and survivors and perform three mini concerts.

The lead single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” addresses cancer and the music video features survivors and their supporters including celebrities Robin Roberts, Hoda Kotb, Sheryl Crow and Katie Couric.

Also on the schedule, McBride’s new installment of CMT’s Invitation Only premieres Mon., Oct. 17 at 10:00 – 11:00 p.m., ET/PT. See clip below.

 

Lehning Joins Adams and Reese

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Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law attorney Ryan M. Lehning has joined the Adams and Reese Nashville Music Row office as Special Counsel and a member of the Special Business Services Practice Group.

Lehning, who has been practicing law since 2002, previously served as Senior Counsel for SoundExchange in Washington, DC, the collective designated by the United States Copyright Office to collect and distribute royalties for digital audio sound recording performances to performing artists and record labels. Prior to that, he served as Counsel for Sony BMG Music Entertainment in New York, where he worked with the record company’s law department handling copyright, trademark, e-commerce, new media and other intellectual property matters. Lehning received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2002, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and French from Belmont University, in 1997.

Lehning’s practice focuses on domestic and international IP matters, both with new media and the new and old copyright laws. Ryan has worked for a broad scope of clients in the music, film, television, software and book publishing industries. He has experience providing counsel to major copyright owning trade associations and companies with respect to emerging technology issues primarily associated with secondary liability, copyright licensing, digital distribution and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. He is the former co-chair of the Washington, DC Chapter of the Copyright Society of the United States of America, and he is a former board member of the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies (AARC).

“The Lehning name is legendary in the music industry, and we are delighted to bring the last Lehning to Music Row to join his family and ours, where his talents belong,” said Linda Edell Howard, Adams and Reese Entertainment and New Media Team Leader and a Partner in the Music Row office.

 

Bentley Joins “Wounded Warrior Project” With Tour Launch

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Multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has joined forces with country radio and Believe in Heroes™, a Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) initiative, for his 2011 Country & Cold Cans Tour. Bentley will host pre-show parties with fans across the nation at select tour dates leading up to Veterans Day November 11, 2011. The tour begins Thursday, October 6 in  Lacrosse, WI.

Aiming to support and honor wounded veterans who have sacrificed, each pre-show party will be a chance for fans to give back to veterans and win prizes from Bentley including ticket upgrades, merchandise and autographed limited edition handwritten lyrics of the new single “Home.”

“I meet so many service men and women at our shows, so I love being able to support the Wounded Warriors Project and honoring the heroes who have served our country,” says Bentley. “This program fits perfectly with the message of ‘Home,’ so we are going to do what we can between now and Veterans Day to really honor these people.  I hope fans will plan to get there early and be part of it!”

The 2011 Country & Cold Cans Tour, with special guests Jerrod Niemann and Eli Young Band, continues through Nov. 19 in Denver, Colorado. For a full list of tour dates and more info on upcoming “Believe in Heroes” events, visit: www.dierks.com or www.woundedwarriorproject.org.