National News: BMG Chrysalis, SoundExchange, Sanctuary5B

/by

BMG Chrysalis yesterday (11/16) announced the appointment of Wendy Griffiths as SVP, Marketing at the Los Angeles offices, responsible for all US marketing initiatives. Additionally, Griffiths will collaborate with the A&R department and international affiliates and will report to Laurent Hubert, EVP, COO.

“This job is the culmination of everything I have done previously in the music business,” said Griffiths, whose experience comes from 25 years as SVP at Warner Brother Records in the video and film departments.

Griffiths played a key role in the development of Alanis Morissette, Green Day, Michael Bublé, Michelle Branch, Muse, Linkin Park and developed global marketing campaigns for Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, Neil Young, Cher, and Eric Clapton.

• • •

Jonathan Bender, COO, SoundExchange

SoundExchange announced the appointment of Jonathan C. Bender as COO, to oversee operational structure, repertoire management and tracking database to collect and distribute music royalties on behalf of artists and labels.

“Jonathan has a solid reputation, most notably for pioneering digital content development for some of the world’s leading record labels, and a track record in growing and transforming organizations,” said SoundExchange President Michael Huppe.

Jonathan holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and brings more than 20 years of music industry expertise to his position where he served in senior operational roles at Concord Music Group, Universal Music Group, and EMI Music.

• • •

Sanctuary5B Entertainment, the management home to Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top and others, has entered an ongoing partnership with Synergy Global Entertainment (SGE). The exclusive agreement is set to produce a variety of tours, destination festivals and other branded projects.

“The opportunity to work closely with [Sanctuary5B] is something I have imagined for a long time, and now it is a reality. We collectively have a very broad base of experience that will allow us to have laser focus on developing and creating new entertainment ventures,” said John L. Reese, founder and President of Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc.

SGE’s 2012 festival lineup will include six to eight major festivals performing over 250 dates and playing to over 2 million fans in over 20 countries.

5B Artist Management and Sanctuary Artist Management merged earlier this year to create Sanctuary5B Entertainment.

Corey Smith Premieres Video On CMT

/by

Corey Smith’s new music video, “Maybe Next Year,” premieres today (11/16) on CMT and CMT.com. In addition to the exclusive airing, Smith will take part in a live chat on Facebook, kicking off at 6 PM/CT tonight. Fans will be able to ask questions and interact directly.

“Maybe Next Year” is the new single from Smith’s 2011 release, The Broken Record (Average Joes Entertainment). The video was directed and produced by David Poag through Team Genius and filmed in Nashville.

CMT.com will launch the “Maybe Next Year Sweepstakes” later this month. The contest will allow fans to send photos of themselves finishing the phrase, “Maybe Next Year…” for the chance to win a trip to see Smith live at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC on Dec.31.

The song addresses the crossroads everyone faces transitioning from childhood into adulthood. “Although I wrote ‘Maybe Next Year’ in my late 20’s, I think it serves as a friendly reminder of the fact that we can all use a little self-improvement, no matter how old we are,” shares Smith. “I’m happy that fans will be getting to see the song come to life in such a vivid way. I hope they are as pleased with the video as I am.”

Industry Ink Wednesday

/by

The Nashville Music Garden recently presented legendary clothier Manuel Cuevas with a namesake rose. Lynn Anderson was on hand to do the honors. It will be planted next spring in the Walk of Fame Park. The Nashville Music Garden is hosting a fundraising eBay auction with tons of celeb memorabilia starting Nov. 25. Click for details. Pictured (L-R): Host of NPT’s “Volunteer Gardener,” Troy Marden, Manuel, Country legend Lynn Anderson, Nashville Music Garden Founder, Pat Bullard and “Manuel Cuevas” rose hybridizer, Whit Wells of Wells Mid-South Roses. Photo: Katherine Bomboy

• Songwriters Troy Verges and Daniel Tashian have recorded a new album under the moniker The Boxwoods. Magic Hour is available digitally with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Salvation Army until the end of the year.

• Mitzi Matlock Music Publishing has a few reasons to celebrate as it enters its second year. The company has a cut on the new Montgomery Gentry album called “Damn Baby!,” and its song “Looking For America” was recorded by Mark Wills. MM Music is home to Bernie Nelson, Benita Hill, Lorna Flowers and actor Darryl Van Leer.

Curb recording artist Ashley Gearing attended the Commandant’s Marine Corps Ball in Bethesda, MD recently as a celebrity guest and was escorted by Lance Cpl. John Baxley.

• John Rich, Lucas Hoge, Leslie Satcher and Monty Holmes performed at ThanksUSA’s 2011 Benefit Concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on Monday (11/14).

• James Otto is joining Steel Magnolia on the road, filling in as Meghan Linsey’s counterpart on the Reba tour while Joshua Scott Jones is in rehab.

• Match Eyewear and Danny Gokey are partnering for the singer’s signature eyewear collection. There will be 12 frames available, set to debut in March 2012.

• Jesse Lee has self-released an 8-song EP. The former Atlantic Records artist worked with producers Mark Bright, Paul Worley, and Nathan Chapman on the project. Among the writers on the album are Eric Church, Stephanie Chapman, Kara Dioguardi, Chris Tompkins, Marty Dodson, Brad Crisler, Luke Laird, Marv Green and Tony Mullins.

• Amy Kurland, original founder of the Bluebird Cafe, and her brother Peter Kurland, a sound engineer and owner of the Darkhorse Theater have published a new book by their father, musician Sheldon Kurland, whose group The Shelly Kurland Strings was instrumental in establishing the Nashville Sound. An Adult Guide to the Orchestra is a witty look at symphony orchestras and is available at the Symphony Store in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and at Amazon.com.

• Big Vinny from Trailer Choir has signed with Heather Cook’s Cook’n Up Music for songplugging services. The band’s new single “Love Me First” is about Vinny’s journey on The Biggest Loser. Cook’n Up also offers music publishing, and administration services.

Gary Morris was the headliner at Kid Gig 2011 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Kid Gig is the annual fundraiser for Sea Star Kids, an organization that provides a Christian summer camp experience for Ukraine's children in need. Lisa Harless of Regions Bank emceed the event. (L-R): Sea Star Kids founder Dr. Gary Jerkins, Morris and Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless.

Americanafest Sets Attendance Records, 2012 Dates

/by

The Americana Music Association will host its 2012 Festival & Conference in Nashville, TN from Sept. 12-15. The announcement comes on the heels of one the music association’s most successful events yet.

The 2011 Americana Music Association Festival and Conference saw the participation of over 10,000 fans, 300 performing artists and 1,000 music industry professionals during the four-day celebration of American Roots inspired music.

The most significant increase in attendance took place at the conference portion of this year’s event, where industry and artists gathered for a series of educational workshops and seminars. Peaking at over 1,130 attendees, a 25% gain over last year, registration for the conference has now increased by 35% since 2009. The 2011 Festival & Conference also stimulated a boost in new AMA memberships, with a 13% increase in members in the last 12 months. Membership now stands at 1356.

The association’s capstone event, the Americana Music Honors & Awards show sold out the Ryman Auditorium for the first time in its ten-year history.  The program was broadcast live on Nashville Public Television (WNPT-Channel 8). Additionally, for the first time in the event’s history, it will be broadcast nationwide by PBS. ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival is set to air this Sat., Nov. 19.

“This year’s event reflects the growing national and international popularity of the Americana genre,” says AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly. “That artists like Gregg Allman, Robert Plant and Lucinda Williams along with industry leaders like Neil Portnow, Rich Bengloff and Michael Huppe have flown to Nashville to be a part of our community is a huge honor.”

Lawrence To Host Sixth Annual Turkey Fry

/by

Tracy Lawrence is preparing to host the sixth annual “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., will benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Since the launch of the “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry, Lawrence and his friends have donated more than 5,000 turkeys, serving almost 35,000 meals and raised more than $100,000 for the Nashville Rescue Mission.

This year Lawrence is getting help from his sports and entertainment friends, including 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold, Restless Heart, American Idol’s Lacey Brown, The Roys, The McClymonts, and Tennessee Titan cheerleaders and football players Rob Bironas, Daniel Graham, and Jordan Babinaeux. Each of them will join Lawrence in an effort to help prepare and fry more than 500 turkeys that will serve more than 7,000 meals this holiday season.

“The Nashville Rescue Mission is a blessing to our community,” said Lawrence. “Each year I am humbled by the outpouring of support from friends who give their time to be part of the turkey fry, which allows us the opportunity to help raise awareness of the great services that the Nashville Rescue Mission provides everyday to the homeless and those in need.”

The sixth annual event will be held in the parking lot of the Nashville Rescue Mission. “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry is free and open to the public, though donations to the Nashville Rescue Mission are requested.

Do The MusicRow Awards Predict CMA Winners?

/by

Pictured at the MusicRow Awards, hosted by ASCAP. (L-R): Bob Doyle & Associate's Kates Snyder, Neil Perry, Republic Nashville Pres. Jimmy Harnen, Reid Perry, Kimberly Perry, MR's David Ross, Jesse Frasure, and manager/publisher Bob Doyle.

Examining this year’s list of MusicRow Award winners is like peering into a Crystal Ball of future CMA Award winners. Last week The Band Perry took home three CMA trophies, after also taking home honors for the same achievements at the MusicRow Awards, held in June at ASCAP. And this isn’t the first time this has happened.

This trend has become especially clear since the trade publication instituted reader voting. Essentially, many of the same people vote for both awards ceremonies.

In 2011, The Band Perry won MusicRow Breakthrough Artist and CMA New Artist of the Year. The trio’s hit “If I Die Young” received Song of the Year honors from both organizations, also earning sole writer Kimberly Perry the MR Breakthrough Songwriter prize. Additionally, the monster TBP hit won CMA Single of the Year. MusicRow doesn’t give a comparable award.

In 2010 MusicRow readers bestowed Song honors on “The House That Built Me,” and in 2009 they chose “In Color,” both of which went on to win the CMA trophy.

Almost every year since 2006, MusicRow’s Breakthrough Artist winners also received the CMA New Artist/Horizon Award later the same year, including Zac Brown Band (2010), Lady Antebellum (2008), Taylor Swift (2007), and Carrie Underwood (2006).

CMAs Barely Budge Albums, But TEAs Talk

/by

 

No one wants to sound cynical as the holiday season approaches, but really, why do you think there are so many Award shows? If you used the word “marketing” in your answer then you are correct.

It’s about selling product. That includes TV ratings and ads, which do little for our industry and selling music product which is of great importance to Music City. So when you see reports later this week spinning the numbers, like “Sugarland’s sales jumped 132% from the previous week,” please note the tremendous boost landed them at No. 32 on this week’s country albums chart (according to Nielsen SoundScan) with a total of under 4,000 units sold. In fact, the duo’s entire bump was a meager 1,500 units.

 I’m not picking on Sugarland. The Band Perry, the second largest percentage album gainer in the wake of the Awards won three trophies and saw sales jump 112%. That sounds great, but it placed them at No. 7 with an increase of about 10,000 units. Fans went out to “Shake It” for Luke Bryan, but only increased his week over week (w/w) total by 34% or about 6,000 units.

The point here is that the Award show hardly influenced album sales. In fact, Top 75 country album sales actually dropped 4.9% this week compared to last week. But what about track sales?

A few months ago we asked, “Are tracks the new albums, in terms of marketing strategy?” Looking at this week’s country track sales you could say, “Perhaps.” Country track sales increased this week by 51% to 3.452 million tracks. Taylor Swift leads the Love Story on this chart. According to Big Machine Sales VP Kelly Rich, they released six Taylor tracks (11/8) that were included last year on a Target exclusive version of Speak Now. Contractually they were able to release them now as digital tracks and wanted to position them in the marketplace in time to catch momentum from the CMA Awards and Thanksgiving’s black Friday. iTunes gave the new material great positioning and the plan worked. The top three country tracks this week are all Taylor. In fact the six new tracks sold over 435,000 units this week! Fans didn’t offer up much album love, but it was all kisses in the tracks arena. The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Eric Church and Lady Antebellum also made great showings.

In closing, it’s time once again to invite everyone to TEA. Track Equivalent Albums that is (10 tracks= 1 album). This week’s country tracks calculate to 345,200 albums which would increase this week’s total country album sales (891k) by almost 40%. My question is, wouldn’t it be especially helpful if we could allocate the TEA album sales directly by artist.

It was a great show, as the strong ratings attest. I believe that the numbers in this article are trying to show us something. I believe that if the country sales industry starts paying more attention to tracks we will find better ways to exploit the excitement that an award show can generate. “I want it now!” That is the impulse that track downloads satisfy and perhaps why they are growing. Getting trusty SoundScan, our industry’s measuring stick, to delve deeper into tracks and TEA, would be in everyone’s best interest.

 

Voting Open For CRS New Faces Show

/by

Voting is now open to all country radio station employees for the CRS 2012 New Faces of Country Music Show, which will be held on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center.

Any employee of a commercial, full-time Country formatted radio station is allowed to vote for the 2012 New Faces of Country Music Show performers. This year’s nominees are: Craig Campbell, Edens Edge, Hunter Hayes, David Nail, Sunny Sweeney, Thompson Square, James Wesley and Eli Young Band. Voting for the five finalists will remain open at CountryRadioSeminar.com through Wednesday, Nov. 23. The top five emerging artists will be selected to perform at the showcase event.

“The New Faces show at Country Radio Seminar has always been about giving new artists the opportunity to show us who they are and giving programmers a sense of what the future holds,” says New Faces Committee Chair John Crenshaw. “We at CRS believe in involving all of radio in deciding in who should have this opportunity. This is where stars can emerge in a matter of 20 minutes, in large part because of the participation of Country radio.”

The official New Faces of Country Music qualification criteria is at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (11/16/11)

/by

Since this is awards season, let’s chop the DisClaimer honors into categories this week.

Our Vocal Collaboration Award goes to Matt Nathanson & Sugarland. Drop what you’re doing and go out and buy his Modern Love pop CD right now.

Our Female Vocalist Award is a no-brainer. Faith Hill rules. The Male Vocalist Award goes to an artist of a completely darker stripe, the wicked good Greg Garing.

The Vocal Group prize is a toss-up between Sawyer Brown and Stealing Angels, with the gals grabbing the bouquet.

DANIEL WARREN/Brent Creek
Writer: Daniel Warren; Producer: Al Hurschman & Daniel Warren; Publisher: Chaprielle, BMI; Quarterback (www.danielwarrenband.com)
—The track is breezy and wafting with sighing organ and deftly plucked guitars. His song is nicely written, but his voice is quite thin and lacks authority.

JASON CASSIDY/What If
Writer: Cassidy/Stockton/Diggs; Producer: Doug Deforest, Jody Booth & Jason Cassidy; Publisher: none listed; Blake-A (www.jasoncassidymusic.com)
—I have liked this fine country vocalist in the past, and this single is another in a string of solid efforts by him. The ballad is extremely well constructed, and his resonant singing has ache and longing in all the right places. A winner.

FAITH HILL/Come Home
Writer: Ryan Tedder; Producer: Byron Gallimore & Faith Hill; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tunes/Velvet Hammer/Midnight Miracle, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
—Introduced on last week’s CMA Awards telecast, this ballad of lovers separated by war has timely emotional heft. Faith sings it in her upper soprano range, which brings out the pain of loneliness.

THE KENNETH BRIAN BAND/Welcome to Alabama
Writer: Kenneth Brian; Producer: Johnny Sandlin; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Southern Shift (track) (www.kennethbrian.com)
—This bluesy Southern-rock outfit has connections. Its CD features such notable guests as David Hood, Jason Isbell, Bonnie Bramlett, Charlie Hayward and James Pennebaker, not to mention Allman Brothers producer Johnny Sandlin. This title tune is strikingly reminiscent of classic-era Charlie Daniels.

GREG GARING/My Time for Leaving
Writer: Greg Garing; Producer: Todd Perlmutter; Publisher: none listed; L.E.S. (track)
—The greatest of all the neo honky-tonk performers on Lower Broadway is back with a collection titled, simply, Greg Garing. It kicks off with this doom-y, echoey ballad punctuated by squalling saxophone. His singing remains hair raising in its intensity. Spooky, scary and thoroughly hypnotizing.

LAUREN ALAINA/Georgia Peaches
Writer: Mallary Hope/Blair Daly/Rachel Proctor; Producer: Byron Gallimore; Publisher: none listed; Mercury/19 (CDX)
—The American Idol runner-up’s second single is a bright rocker celebrating the fairer sex of the state of Georgia. She gives shout-outs to the state’s Alan Jackson and Jason Aldean along the way. I still say this teen sings better than winner Scotty McCreery does.

STEALING ANGELS/Little Blue Sky
Writer: Caroline Cutbirth/Tayla Lynn/Jennifer Wayne/Keith Follese/Adrienne Follese; Producer: Paul Worley; Publisher: Shaw Enuff/Red Leo/Multisongs/How Bout That Skyline/BMG Chrysalis/Songwriters of Platinum Pen/Little Dutchess/The Family Business/3 In the Key, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC; Skyville (CDX) (615-320-7052)
—I was crazy about this group’s debut single, and this follow-up is just as good. I know it’s confusing with so many female trios out there right now, but this is the one to keep your ears on. Superb melody, heartbeat percussion, stunning production and celestial vocals, this has it all. Stay tuned for the passage where all three voices weave together like an audio tapestry.

SAWYER BROWN/Travelin’ Band
Writer: Mark A. Miller; Producer: Mark A. Miller; Publisher: Travelin’ Zoo, ASCAP; Beach Street (CDX) (615-799-2229)
—Miller reflects nostalgically back on the glory days of his band. Strikingly autobiographical, it specifically mentions having hits like “Some Girls Do” and “Used to Blue,” touring with Kenny Rogers, wearing ‘80s haircuts and identifying various band members by name. Undeniably wistful and quite moving.

DANNY CLICK/I Feel Good Today
Writer: Danny Click; Producer: none listed; Publisher: One Bullet, no performance rights listed; DC (1-800-584-5524)
—He sings in an earnest, sincere tenor. The production is rather dull, and the bopping song with its downbeat lyric is just so-so.

MATT NATHANSON & SUGARLAND/Run
Writer: Matt Nathan/Jennifer Nettles/Kristian Bush; Producer: Kristian Bush, Matt Nathanson, Jennifer Nettles & Mark Weinberg; Publisher: Little Victories/Stage Three/BMG Chrysalis/Jennifer Nettles/Dirkpit, ASCAP/BMI; Vanguard (track) (www.mattnathanson.com)
—I was so smitten with this when they performed it on the CMA show that I bought Matt’s Modern Love sophomore CD just so I could hear it again. It is just as throbbing and sexy and melodic as I remembered it. Maybe even more so. This guy is a major, major talent.

Kirk Franklin and Pastor Hezekiah Walker Named BMI Trailblazers

/by

Kirk Franklin (L) and Pastor Hezekiah Walker (R)

BMI will salute gospel leaders Kirk Franklin and Pastor Hezekiah Walker at the 13th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon in Nashville on Friday, Jan. 13. The invite-only event will take place one day before the 27th Annual Stellar Awards, to be hosted at Rocketown.

Franklin was the first gospel artist to sell more than one million albums, and has exceeded sales of 15 million, making him the best-selling contemporary gospel artist in SoundScan history. In addition, Franklin is one of gospel’s most decorated creators with 20 No. 1 singles on gospel charts, seven Grammys, 37 Stellar Awards, 14 Dove Awards, and six NAACP Image Awards.

Franklin’s volunteer efforts contribute World Vision and the Children’s Defense Fund, for which he was an Ambassador.

Pastor Hezekiah Walker has led the Love Fellowship Choir, one of gospel music’s most influential groups that infuses traditional gospel and choir music with hip-hop and funk. Pastor Walker is a multiple Grammy winner and has taken home 11 Stellar Awards, and has had numerous nominations for Dove, NAACP Image, and Soul Train honors.

Walker founded Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church and Hezekiah Walker Ministries, which serve as brick and mortar churches in New York and Pennsylvania, and resource centers for congregations all over the country.