Chesney’s Video, Gloriana’s Single, Durante’s Scream Stream

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Chesney's new video.

Kenny Chesney’s high-octane live show is the centerpiece of the music video for new single “Reality.” Directed by longtime collaborator Shaun Silva, the four-minute reel highlights the star’s summer Goin’ Coastal Tour. See it here.

Over the weekend, Chesney performed an intimate acoustic set for former President Bill Clinton at the “Decade of Difference” event, celebrating 10 years of the William J. Clinton Foundation. Grace Potter joined Chesney for “You and Tequila.” Other performers included Lady Gaga, Usher, and Bono. Watch the concert on Yahoo!

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Gloriana released new single, “(Kissed You) Good Night,” to iTunes on Monday (10/24). Written by band member Tom Gossin with hit writer Josh Kear, the song is from Gloriana’s forthcoming second studio album on Emblem Music Group/ Warner Bros. Records. Gloriana, made up of brothers Tom and Mike Gossin, along with Rachel Reinert, is on the road through the end of the year.

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On Sun., Oct. 30, Margaret Durante will host her first live online broadcast called Margaret’s Halloween Scream Stream LIVE! The party celebration will take place at 7pm ET / 6pm CT and will feature lots of Halloween fun, music, giveaways and a chance to chat with Margaret. Watch it here.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (10/26/11)

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Toby, Trace, Blake, Dolly, Merle and more—it’s all stars and no waiting in this week’s column.

Our Female Vocalist Disc of the Day goes to the indomitable Dolly Parton. Long may she sing. Trace Adkins, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard and our surprise winner, Billy Currington, vied for the Male Disc of the Day. Billy was the one who was smart enough to dip into the catalog of the late, great Harley Allen for his new single.

Owing to the glut of big-name record makers, there was, alas, no room for any worthy DisCovery Award.

TOBY KEITH/Red Solo Cup
Writer: Jim Beavers/Brett Beavers/Brad Warren/Brett Warren; Producer: Toby Keith; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Beavertime/BMG/Chestnut Barn/Chrysalis One/EMI Blackwood/StyleSonic, BMI; Show Dog (track)
—It’s sing-along drinking song with a spare banjo-guitar accompaniment. The recording sounds strikingly “live” and un-produced, and is therefore quite refreshing.

RODNEY ATKINS/He’s Mine
Writer: Casey Beathard/Phil O’Donnell/Tim James; Producer: Ted Hewitt & Rodney Atkins; Publisher: Sony-ATV Acuff-Rose/Sixteen Stars/Immokalee/Hodges House of Songwriters/Warner-Tamerlane/T-Bird’s, BMI; Curb (track)
—This, on the other hand, is totally compressed, auto-tuned and electro-produced within an inch of its life. The lyric has the Dad showing pride in his boy no matter what happens, good or bad.

KEITH URBAN/You Gonna Fly
Writer: Jaren Johnston/Chris Lucas/Preston Brust; Producer: Dann Huff & Keith Urban; Publisher: Sony-ATV Harmony/Texa Rae/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Sony-ATV Tree, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol Nashville (track)
—The fourth single from Keith’s Get Closer collection is an upbeat, uplifting ode to escape and hope. His singing is super convincing, and the guitar solo blisters.

DOLLY PARTON/The Sacrifice
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Dolly/Warner (track) (www.dollypartonmusic.net)
—The woman’s ongoing creativity is one of the wonders of our time. Five decades into her career, she is still writing and singing as powerfully as ever. This pulse-quickening little rocker is an autobiographical tale of how she willed herself to be a winner. And, boy, did she.

BILLY CURRINGTON/Like My Dog
Writer: Scotty Emerick/Harley Allen; Producer: Carson Chamberlain & Billy Currington; Publisher: Florida Room/BPJ/Coburn/Harley Allen, BMI; Mercury Nashville (track)
—For locating great songs, Currington has some of the best ears in Music City. This wickedly clever ditty praises the affections of a pooch, as compared to the judgmental attitudes of his gal. I grinned. So will you.

MERLE HAGGARD/Working In Tennessee
Writer: Merle Haggard; Producer: Merle Haggard & Lou Bradley; Publisher: Merle Haggard, BMI; Hag/Vanguard (track) (www.merlehaggard.com)
—The title tune to the Hag’s new CD is a quick-step western swinger. Guitarist Reggie Young, pianist Doug Colosio and fiddler Scott Joss all get in some hot licks while the vocalist offers some light-hearted, bluesy digs at Tune Town.

TRACE ADKINS/Million Dollar View
Writer: David Lee Murphy/George Teren; Producer: Kenny Beard & Mark Wright; Publisher: Old Desperados/Carol Vincent & Associates/EMI Blackwood/Terenator/Done and Dusted, ASCAP/BMI; Show Dog Universal
—As you might expect, the finest view isn’t from a beach, a mountaintop, a high rise or a vacation spot. It’s gazing at his baby in their humble, little living room. The band cooks with gas on this mid-tempo bopper, and Trace totally owns it, vocally.

HAYES CARLL/Stomp And Holler
Writer: Hayes Carll; Producer: Brad Jones; Publisher: Highway 87/Bug, SESAC; Lost Highway
—Perennial Americana fave Carll wails the bad-boy lyric like a wounded honky-tonk survivor. Guitars crash and scream all around this catchy rocker.

BLAKE SHELTON/Footloose
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros. (track)
—I have said it before, many times: There is absolutely no point to remaking an oldie unless you’re going to put your own stamp on it and reinvent it. This merely apes the 1984 Kenny Loggins arrangement, right down to the grinding guitar licks.

CLAY DUSTIN/I’ll Take That Job
Writer: David Chamberlain/Mark Sherrill; Producer: David Chamberlain; Publisher: Handle It/Key/Mark, SESAC; PureHeart (track)
—The full title is “I’ll Take That Job That Johnny Paycheck Shoved.” His singing isn’t particularly distinctive, but Dustin is country right down to his boots.

CMA Country Christmas, New Awards Merch

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Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles will return to host CMA Country Christmas for the second year. The two hour special featuring country’s hottest artists performing holiday favorites will tape Nov. 10 at the Bridgestone Arena and air at 8 pm CT Thursday, Dec. 1 on ABC.

“The recurring themes you find in Country Music are the foundation of what makes the holidays so meaningful – the comfort of home, family, and friends,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “‘CMA Country Christmas’ will be wrapped in those traditions.”

Tickets for the taping are $25 for upper level seating and $50 for club level.

CMA has also launched a new merch store at www.cmaawardsstore.com, featuring a selection of official items including a hat, tote bag, coffee mug, and six apparel selections. One of those items, the black event T-shirt (pictured), was inspired by the 2011 CMA Awards Program Book cover created by Eva Oglander.

Additionally, CMA Awards co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood had to beat some tough competition for their hosting gig, if a video on Paisley’s website is to be believed.

SoundExchange Distributions Continue Growing

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SoundExchange, the non-profit performance rights organization (PRO) that was appointed by the Copyright Royalty Board to collect and distribute statutory performance royalties owed to recording artists and sound recording copyright owners, reports it has distributed almost $88 million to more than 18,300 payees during the Q3 2011. This distribution, the organization’s largest to date was collected from royalties paid by Internet radio, satellite radio, and cable TV music only channels.

“We’ve processed an unprecedented amount of digital performance data this quarter, which is proof positive that consumers are listening, purchasing and enjoying music in more ways than ever,” said SoundExchange President Michael Huppe. “These payments are the result of billions of digital performances by thousands of music services every month. It is our responsibility to ensure that this upsurge of digital performances can be converted into a reliable revenue stream for those who created the music.”

SoundExchange has seen a dramatic increase in payments to artists and labels since it began, as the accompanying graph shows. In 2010, total distributions were $249.2 million up from $155.5 million in 2009.

 

Industry Ink: Green Hills Music Group Signing

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(L-R): Grin Like A Dog Songs’ Leslie Mitchell, Steve Mitchell and Green Hills Music Group’s Woody Bomar

Green Hills Music Welcomes Steve Mitchell
Green Hills Music Group is partnering with Grin Like A Dog Songs to promote the catalog of songwriter Steve Mitchell. The Canadian hitmaker recently relocated to Nashville from Vancouver, BC where he was a member of the Juno Award winning band The Paperboys. He is an international touring act whose music has been included in documentaries, film and TV.

Green Hills president Woody Bomar shares, “I am so impressed with Steve’s unique writing as well as his musicianship and his passion for developing new artist talent. He is a joy to work with.”

Green Hills Music Group started in 2007 and markets the music of Bob Regan, Bonnie Baker, Rick Giles, Georgia Middleman, Steve Williams, Paul Duncan, Patricia Summers and Dave Rivers. The company’s current releases include cuts by Hunter Hayes, The Dirt Drifters, Jaclyn North, Matt Stillwell and Six West.

Publisher Mickey Goldsen Passes
Publisher Mickey Goldsen died Oct. 19 at home in Encino, Calif. He was 99. His career included heading Capitol Records’ publishing division in the 1940s, where he worked alongside such legends as Johnny Mercer, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. In 1950 Goldsen founded Criterion Music Corp., where he served as CEO until his death. The publisher is home to classics including “These Boots are Made for Walkin’,” “Tiny Bubbles,” “Doctor My Eyes,” “Dream,” “Moonlight in Vermont,” “Papa Oom Mow Mow,” “Seven Year Ache,” and dozens of Charlie Parker compositions. Services were held Mon., Oct. 24 in Mission Hills, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MusiCares, The Child and Family Guidance Center of Northidge, or the Society of Singers. More here.

Avery Earls Arrives
Sr. VP of Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville, Kent Earls, and Martha Earls, Partner and co-GM of Effusion Entertainment are happy to announce the birth of their baby girl. Avery Caroline Earls was born Oct. 19, weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 15 1/2 inches long.

Strong Ratings For Canadian Country Awards
Last month’s broadcast of The Canadian Country Music Awards was another smash-hit for the Canadian Broadcasting Channel, with the show attracting an average audience of nearly 750,000 viewers. At its peak, the two-hour broadcast pulled in almost one million viewers and more than 3.1 million Canadians watched some part of the show. Among the performers at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario were Johnny Reid, Ronnie Dunn, Luke Bryan, and Dean Brody. Country Music Week 2012 is happening in Saskatoon, SK from Sept. 6-9.

UMPG Promotes Brian Lambert
Universal Music Publishing Group, North America has promoted Brian Lambert to Executive Vice President/Head of Film & Television Music. From the company’s Santa Monica, Calif. headquarters, Lambert will report directly to President of Universal Music Publishing Group, North America Evan Lamberg.

Matt Mahaffey Moves To Nashville
Pop/rock artist/writer/producer Matt Mahaffey has relocated to Franklin, Tenn. following a decade in Los Angeles working on projects including DreamWorks’ Shrek, and his own releases under the Self moniker. The Murfreesboro native has built a new studio and recently finished work on an album by Atlantic Records artists I Fight Dragons. He is also working on a new Self project. Reach Mahaffey via David Surnow at Solid Music Company, [email protected] or (213) 610-1065.

Tuesday Photos

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Museum Honors Fontana

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum recently (10/22) honored drummer D.J. Fontana in its quarterly Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians series. Throughout the program, which included rare recordings and videos, Fontana discussed his time as the staff drummer for the Louisiana Hayride before he joined Elvis Presley and the Blue Moon Boys. Fontana played on over 400 Presley recordings including “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog” and “Heartbreak Hotel.” Fontana also recorded with Waylon Jennings, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Keith Richards and Ringo Starr. (L-R): Fontana, Jerry Chesnut, Country Music Hall of Fame member Gordon Stoker, David Briggs, Scotty Moore and program host Bill Lloyd.

Photo: Donn Jones

She’s Country Tour Launches

The She’s Country Tour featuring Heidi Newfield with Bridgette Tatum and special guests kicked off with an industry launch party at 12th & Porter in Nashville. The first phase of the all-girl tour, sponsored by Pendleton Whisky, begins next week in Little Rock, AR and runs through December. (L-R): Tatum; Carolyn Miller, 343 Agency; Newfield; and Mike Snider, co-head Paradigm Nashville.

Photo: Randi Radcliff

Neal McCoy Visits MusicRow

Blaster Records artist Neal McCoy stopped by the MusicRow offices last Wednesday (10/19) to preview his latest single, “A-OK,” from his twelfth career album, XII, which is set for a first quarter 2012 release. (L-R): MR’s Christie King, Caitlin Rantala and Sherod Robertson; McCoy; and MR’s Michelle Stephens and Jon Freeman.

Lambert Readies Album Launch

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For Miranda Lambert fans, the two year wait since her last solo outing is almost over. The feisty CMA Female Vocalist of the Year will take the wraps off her new collection Four The Record Nov. 1. The new 14-track set includes the self-penned Lambert songs “Safe,” and “Dear Diamond,” two songs that paint a portrait of both sides of the relationship spectrum. She covers the Gillian Welch & David Rawlings song “Look At Miss Ohio,” and the album closes with the ethereal “Oklahoma Sky,” written for Miranda by singer-songwriter friend Allison Moorer.

Before the official release, five tracks from the album will be “leaked” beginning Oct. 24 and a new track will premiere each day. Fans can click HERE to find info about how to listen to the music. After listening to each song there will be a QR code to unlock and collect an exclusive Miranda Lambert badge. Those collecting all five badges will be eligible to enter for a flyaway trip to meet Miranda and see her in concert.

Lambert’s launch week will kick off with a performance of “Baggage Claim” on The Today Show. On Wednesday, Nov. 2, she will appear on Live With Regis & Kelly where she will be interviewed and also perform the song. Miranda will also appear on the cover of the current issues of Billboard Magazine and Ladies Home Journal.

A Limited Deluxe Edition version of the album that includes a bonus song and a DVD featuring Miranda sharing stories behind each song will also be released.

Miranda will perform on the 45th Annual CMA Awards on Wed., Nov. 9. She is nominated in the Female Vocalist and Musical Event categories. Last August the newly married Texas-born singer songwriter released a unique album with trio Pistol Annies. Titled Hell on Wheels, the disc was only available in digital format and sold almost 42,000 units.

 

Songwriters Share Insight

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(L-R): John Oates, Matraca Berg, Jim Lauderdale, Angel Snow

Songwriters John Oates, Matraca Berg, Jim Lauderdale and Angel Snow teamed for a panel discussion about their craft at the recent Americana Music Conference, sharing stories about influences, mentors, co-writing and more.

Lauderdale’s humor kept the session rollicking along, minus a minor interruption from his ringing cell phone. “Hold on, it’s Lady Gaga,” he laughed.

With hits by George Strait and the Dixie Chicks, Lauderdale explained that developing songwriting talent is a gradual process. He also shared how some of his best songs are ones that veer a little off the beaten path. “When I think a song sounds like a hit for a particular artist, those don’t get cut,” he noted. “And it’s the other, more unique ones, that get recorded.”

Berg agreed, “The songs I was afraid to play for my publisher Pat Higdon were always the ones he liked the most.”

All four panelists are active artists, and many of them have used the money from their mainstream cuts to help fund their artist careers.

Snow’s first big break came from three recent tracks released by Alison Krauss and Union Station. Panel moderator John Allen of Bug Music noted Krauss’s love of serendipitously finding previously unknown writers such as Snow. The rising writer also discussed her mentor and frequent co-writer Viktor Krauss.

Panelists agreed on the virtues of co-writing. Having another talent in the room is a good sounding board for ideas, can help complete a song, and aid in the editing process. Oates shared that some of his biggest hits have been written with women because they bring a new perspective to the song. Trust and putting egos aside is key to successful co-writing. Panelists likened it to a dance; trying not to step on toes or control the session. And if a writing appointment isn’t going smoothly, Allen noted that it is important to “know when to take your marbles and go home.”

Berg told the story about her most recently successful co-write, “You And Tequila,” written with Deana Carter and currently nominated for CMA Song of the Year. In 2002 Berg was at a memorial service for renowned songwriter Harlan Howard, who had given the younger tunesmith her first shot of tequila. Howard’s children continued the tradition, giving Berg so many tequila shots that night that she still hadn’t fully recovered two days later when Carter showed up to write, resulting in the lyric “You and tequila make me crazy.”

The writers discussed their influences and the importance of publishers in their careers. Philadelphia-bred Oates grew up on the city’s R&B scene. Younger artist Snow joked that she grew up on Jim Lauderdale and Hall and Oates.

Oates was originally hired along with Daryl Hall as a songwriting team at Cameo Records, a Philly label that acted as a local incarnation of New York City’s famed Brill building. With numerous smashes to his credit, Oates explained that writing a hit is no easy task, because on some level it must tap into society’s collective subconscious.

Berg penned her first No. 1 with mentor Bobby Braddock at age 18. She also cited early influence Red Lane, who often made up nursery rhymes for her as a child. Berg elaborated on how Higdon has relentlessly fostered her career over the years. “[The publisher-writer relationship] is a very personal and fragile thing. Pat let me find my own way. He was there with advice, or to critique if I wanted, but was hands off and didn’t force me to write with the latest hit songwriter. He never told me to write for the market.”

From their experiences, these song experts agree that unique, honest writing will continue to win.

For more on Matraca Berg, check out the recent Publisher Special issue of MusicRow magazine, which includes her essay “My Journey to the Core of Country Music.”

Urban Plans Hall Benefit [updated]

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[New on-sale date] Keith Urban and an all-star lineup of his friends will descend upon Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, January 18 for his third “We’re All For The Hall” concert benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Tickets go on sale Nov. 4, Dec. 2 and are priced from $25-35.

In addition to performances from CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee Urban, the show will feature guest performances by Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Little Big Town, and the Oak Ridge Boys. More artists are expected to be announced later.

“The support that this event has received over the past couple of years, I think, really speaks to the commitment to and the importance of preserving the past and protecting the future of country music,” says Urban. “We’ll have some great bands performing—part of our ‘All Together Now’ theme for the night—an especially fitting concept that we hope will capture the spirit of the evening.”

The “All For The Hall” initiative addresses the museum’s long-term financial needs, providing a safety net for its work.

“The first two ‘We’re All for the Hall’ concerts have been landmarks for this institution,” says Museum Director Kyle Young. “They have been the most successful fundraisers in the museum’s history, together raising roughly $1 million. And they have not only set a new standard for fundraising and event coordination, but also brought together an entire community and helped us to see what can be done by individuals when there is a collective passion for a cause.

“It is beyond gratifying” continues Young, “when the artists we love and chronicle, artists like Vince and Keith, offer us their leadership and financial support. Keith Urban grew up in a home where country music was cherished. He knows the music’s history and its heroes. He is one of country music’s greatest champions and he is one of this museum’s heroes.”

Terrestrial Radio Reacts To Growing Online Audience

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Arbitron has released new data showing that the online radio audience has doubled every five years since 2001 to 57 million in 2011. However, September figures show the traditional audience grew slightly this past year to 241.4 million. According to a recent article in the New York Post, “a number of private-equity players are making bets that radio is ripe for transformation, thanks to the growth of mobile and huge interest in digital music platforms.”

However, lest anyone unplug their terrestrial radio, Arbitron also says that 81% of listeners still use am/fm and only 11% listen to online only. “The total terrestrial market is $16 billion and streaming is around $500 million,” says Arbitron’s Paul Krasinski. “It’s a budding industry starting to grow.”

Despite the fact that a huge gap exists between the well established terrestrial industry and newer online entities, there is lots of activity on all sides. For example, Clear Channel’s iHeart Radio app recently relaunched. It offers access online to almost all of the company’s hundreds of stations, plus includes interactive features that resemble some of the other players in the online space such as Pandora.

“Consumers require more control, and the challenge is that traditional radio doesn’t provide it,” says Slacker CEO Jim Caddy. “Look at TV and time-shifting — all those things are now reinventing radio. You can ask it to play what you want.”