Charlie Cook On Air: Do Award Shows Translate to Spins?

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After each TV awards show we get information about sales increases because of the TV exposure. I’ve been wondering if programmers were as tuned in with the TV performances and then translated that to their rotations.

Obviously Clear Channel had a huge impact on the chart position of the new Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw song, as they played it every hour on their Country stations.

I am NOT taking any credit for this but weeks ago I suggested, in this space, that stations use this particular song as a way to promote the TV show and take credit for owning the song. First off, Clay Hunnicut is much smarter than me so he isn’t using my ideas and Clear Channel did something similar with the Madonna single around the Super Bowl months ago.

Certainly this song will perform better than the Madonna single that died a fiery death shortly after this stunt.

I do believe though that there is no media that responds like radio can, if programmers make the effort. How many stations were playing the winner’s songs on their evening shows? The program ended at 11 PM (or 10 PM CST) local time and stations could have done an ACM recap for the rest of the evening. That is, if they had live programming in the evening.

How many stations played the new music from the program the next morning? The Kenny and Tim song was available at midnight on Play MPE but unless the morning show is hosted by the programmer or music director, it is unlikely the song was available for airplay until later in the day.

So I looked at CD sales after the show and quite frankly I am not seeing the normal bounce. The big winner was the Zac Brown Band who saw a jump of 5000 CDs from week to week and a jump of 13 spots on the sales chart. Jason Aldean saw an increase of about 3000 from week to week with My Kinda Party.  It jumped nine slots on the CD sales chart but the sales increase was not all that spectacular. It deserved more.

Other significant jumps were seen for Taylor and Lady A. Overall this was a poor CD sales week. The number one seller was, wait for it, Adele. 21 sold 88,000 CDs last week. Come on. Are there even 88,000 people who still don’t own this CD?

So let’s look and see if the performances had any impact on programmers and what they scheduled.

Only four songs had 400 plus spins: the aforementioned Kenny-Tim duet (which doesn’t count, because it wasn’t played at all the week before), Jason, Miranda and the Band Perry. All three had big performances on the show and two of them carted off trophies.

Looking at just Monday (4/2), the biggest spin increases were from Jason, ZBB, Miranda, Luke Bryan and Eric Church.

Some of the other memorable performances on the show went without sales or spin increases. The Rascal Flatts performance was fabulous. Spins were up but more in line with the growth of the record.

I have written that I think Luke Bryan is the next big guy and his performance was less hip shaking than the CMA appearance (read: that’s good) but it was not reflected in sales. Spins were up about 300, but the two previous weeks spins were up 500 each.

Sara Evans, who I thought hit a home run on the ACM show (versus losing attention to a near naked lady flying over the CMA Awards audience), had a steady sales week but does not have a current single on the chart to measure. Maybe that speaks more strongly for the show’s performance.

The Band Perry really was a double winner: up over 400 spins (with “Postcard From Paris”) and up 18 spots on the sales chart, albeit with only a 1500 increase in sales from week to week.

Toby had a big increase with “Beers Ago” even though “Red Solo Cup” was his show performance. Certainly there are enough Toby Fans that associate Beer and Red Solo Cups. I do not see an increase in digital or single sales on the song though. Apparently we already all have it on our phones and iPods.

We know that radio is the number one source for introducing and ultimately selling more Country music than anything else but TV must have something to say. Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee” sold 138,544 digital downloads last week. He was on TV more than any other performer with the ACM hosting duties and The Voice.

With the incredible success of the ACM awards show, and the fact that this was one of the best-produced shows in memory, I would have liked Country radio to be more aggressive in taking advantage of this huge tune in.

Radio News (4/13/12)

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Premiere Networks has announced the launch of “Big D and Bubba’s Weekend Wake-Up.” Starting Saturday (4/14), the four-hour morning show will feature interviews with country stars, plus the hosts’ trademark skits and banter.

“’The Big D and Bubba Show’ is one of the best syndicated Country morning shows available and we’re excited to offer a Saturday morning extension of the program to affiliates,” stated Premiere Networks SVP Programming, Jennifer Leimgruber. “’Big D and Bubba’s Weekend Wake-Up’ is the perfect weekend companion to the duo’s hilarious, down-home Country, weekday radio program.”

The announcement follows the duo’s third CMA Award nomination for National Broadcast Personality of the Year in 2011. ‘The Big D and Bubba Show’ also debuted on the American Forces Radio Network in November 2011 and can now be heard overseas in 177 countries and all U.S. ships at sea.

• • • • •

KAJA/San Antonio part-timer Bree has been hired on to handle the midday airshift and adds Music Director duties. Bree has been with the station 10 years, working in a number of capacities including promotion, programming and on air.

“This is a long time coming for Bree and I am beyond pumped she gets to add this important position to her responsibilities,” said Travis Moon, Program Director for KAJA. “All of us at KJ are extremely proud to work with her. She wears the format and KJ on her sleeve. She brings an energy and enthusiasm to our business that we just need more of. A warning to all record labels, artists and management. You will LOVE getting a chance to work with her. She will be a rock star for KJ!”

Bree officially begins her new job Monday (4/16). Congratulate her here.

Digital Agency Opens Music Row Regional Office

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Sparkart South VP, Elyse McKenna

Oakland-based web developer and leading digital agency Sparkart has unveiled its new regional office on Nashville’s Music Row, where it will serve upscale businesses, artists, and leisure clientele.

Sparkart CEO Naveen Jain has appointed Elyse McKenna to Vice President of Sparkart South, overseeing customized website designs, campaign development, online maintenance and social media consulting services. The Nashville office is the first step to better serving existing clients including Jason Aldean, Big Machine Label Group, Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban.

McKenna brings booking, marketing, and public relations experience, from her experience at Third Coast Artist Agency, LAB Media, Greg Oliver Agency, and Brite Entertainment. Most recently she founded a branding and artist management company that consulted and managing a variety of clients including Young Buck, Compassion International, and TD1.

“I believe in Sparkart’s business philosophy and have always enjoyed helping artists, brands, and companies compete and grow,” said McKenna. “The company offers solutions that are more important than ever as brands compete to market themselves, their products, and their services.”

The company’s new Nashville offices are located at 1109 16th Ave. S. Reach McKenna at 615-712-9297 or here.

Jain founded Sparkart in 1999 and has worked with clients including Bon Jovi, Evanescence, Janet Jackson, Slipknot, The Killers and UFC. In 2006 Sparkart launched Clique Tools, a direct-to-consumers platform enabling faster web development, easier content management, and e-commerce.

Momentum Staffs Up For Debut Single

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Jamie O’Neal’s Momentum Label Group has added three new regional promo reps. They join managing partner Jimmy Murphy, and previously announced promotion staffers John Ettinger and John Christian. O’Neal is overseeing every aspect of Momentum, including producing select acts on the label’s expanding roster.

The company is gearing up for the April 16 release of flagship artist Rachele Lynae’s debut single “Party ‘Til the Cows Come Home.”

Kathie Romero is handling Southwestern Regional Promotions. She got her start in the music business as part of Interscope Records’ founding team, and has worked at EMI and Warner Music Group/Reprise. Reach her at 817-251-6369 or [email protected].

Jay Thomas will head up Northeast Regional Promotions. His 20-plus years of experience includes time as a radio programmer, followed by work as a successful independent promoter. He can be reached at 703-888-1826 or [email protected].

Jack Pride will oversee the label’s Eastern Regional Promotions. He is a 30-year industry veteran who has multiple No. 1 hits to his credit. He can be reached at 615-302-0072 or [email protected].

“I’m so happy about the new additions to our Momentum family,” says O’Neal. “Each team member will bring a unique combination of music business sensibility mixed with an incredible passion for our artists and their music. I have long-standing relationships with may of them, so it’s going to be exciting as we launch the new single for our flagship artist, Rachele Lynae.”

Sidewalk Records Launches With Newfield

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Sidewalk Records has re-launched in Nashville with ACM Award-winner Heidi Newfield as the label’s flagship artist. Newfield’s first single for Sidewalk, “Why’d You Have To Be So Good,” written by Jeffrey Steele and Jeremy Popoff (of Lit), will be shipped to radio in Spring 2012.

Wayne Fricks has been named Sidewalk’s General Manager, and the in-house promotion staff includes Larry Hughes, Wix Wichmann, and Nanette Ballinger. The company’s offices are housed at 47 Music Sq. E., Nashville, TN 37203.

Originally launched in 1963 by Curb Records Chairman Mike Curb, Sidewalk Records produced soundtrack recordings including Thunder Alley, The Wild Races, and Peter Fonda’s The Wild Angels. The label also released recordings by Davie Allan and the Arrows, Gypsy Boots, Buddy Miles, and the Stone Poneys (featuring Linda Ronstadt).

Contact info:
Larry Hughes – 615-400-7673, [email protected]
Wix Wichmann – 615-972-2326, [email protected]
Nanette Ballinger – 615-321-5080 x 227, [email protected]
Wayne Fricks – 615-321-5080 x 225, [email protected]

Industry Ink Thursday

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Country Radio Seminar Executive Director Bill Mayne spoke to SOLID members at the organization’s recent General Assembly Meeting, offering this advice to the young leaders, “You have the opportunity to challenge the rules and make your own success.” (L-R): SOLID Pres. Jon Romero, Bill Mayne, SOLID Communications co-chair Michelle Tigard Kammerer

• Lindsay Bertelli’s REACH, LLC, an entertainment experiential marketing agency based in Nashville, has added client Boots and Hearts Music Festival in Toronto, ON. REACH’s Amy Bryan, Director of the Talent Buying Division, secured 2012 festival headliners Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, Carrie Underwood and Alabama. Other REACH clients include Calgary Stampede, CMT On Tour, Toyota and Country Music Association. Contact REACH at (615) 340-5390 or www.reachnash.com.

• Members of the U.S. Copyright Office will hold a day-long discussion April 26 at Nashville’s First Amendment Center. Topics will include a review of the year in copyright law and rule-making, including the legislative activity of the 112th Congress and the major copyright decisions of 2011, as well as an update on the procedures for copyright registration. Among the panelists/moderators are Ken Paulson, President and CEO, First Amendment Center; and Jay Frank, CEO, DigSin. Details at www.firstamendmentcenter.org.

• Ditto Music, a digital marketing and distribution company, has opened offices at 33 Music Sq. W. Lee Parsons is CEO of the outfit which recently debuted a Facebook application that enables musicians to submit songs to Spotify for free. If the artist submits the track to Ditto then shares the app with three Facebook friends, Ditto will register the track with Spotify for free. Among the established artists who have used the service are Paul McCartney and Prince. Contact Parsons at [email protected] or www.dittomusic.com.

• Pam Lewis’ PLA Media has added rock troubadour Jefferson Grizzard as a client.

• SESAC and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) have combined forces to offer a discounted SESAC blanket license fee to all SCAA members. Details at www.scaa.org.

 

BMI invited current and former members of its Catalog Cast to a reunion on April 3 at its office on Music Row. Each year, BMI partners with the Belmont University Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business to give hand-picked students real-world experience by helping them compile a CD containing catalog songs that they then distribute to Music Row producers, A&R staffs, and artist managers. Pictured are Andrew Cohen of Young Entertainment Professionals, singer/songwriter Cheryl LuQuire, Creative Nation’s Beth Laird, and BMI’s Leslie Roberts and Julie Stuckey. Photo by Drew Maynard

CMA Music Fest Riverfront Stage Lineup Announced

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Country fans gather at Riverfront Stage during the 2011 CMA Music Festival. Photo courtesy CMA.

Held for free and open to the public June 7-10 in downtown Nashville, CMA Music Festival’s newly revealed Riverfront Stage concert lineup includes a diverse assortment of country hitmakers from the past, present, and future.

The performances will kick off at 10 am on June 7 with Average Joes’ Montgomery Gentry. The duo last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2009. Promising newcomers Dustin Lynch and Thomas Rhett will be making debut performances this year.

The current daily lineup (alphabetical order):

Thurs., June 7: Lee Brice, Colt Ford, Tracy Lawrence, Dustin Lynch, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Jerrod Niemann, Randy Rogers Band, Josh Thompson, and Uncle Kracker.

Fri., June 8: Craig Campbell, The Farm, Gloriana, Jo Dee Messina, David Nail, Oak Ridge Boys, Thomas Rhett, Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, and James Wesley.

Sat., June 9: Laura Bell Bundy, Edens Edge, Casey James, Lonestar, Love and Theft, Kip Moore, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Corey Smith, and Mel Tillis.

Sun., June 10: Wade Bowen, Brett Eldredge, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, JT Hodges, Steve Holy, Jana Kramer, LoCash Cowboys, Lorrie Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, and Darryl Worley.

Four-day ticket holders will have an exclusive 45-minute early-entrance window before the gates open to the general public for all Riverfront shows. Tickets are available here.

All artists participate for free, and on their behalf, CMA donates half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Keep the Music Playing program.

To date, more than $6.1 million has been donated to the program. The total also includes a $1 million endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program.

Turner Reveals “Punching Bag” Release Date, Artwork

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UMG Nashville’s Josh Turner is scheduled to release his fifth studio album, Punching Bag, to stores on Tuesday, June 12. The album’s first single “Time Is Love” is currently climbing charts everywhere.

Josh co-wrote eight of the album’s 11 tracks, including the title cut which he co-wrote with friend Pat McLaughlin. Many of Turner’s contributions came out of songwriting sessions at Turner’s new writing cabin located behind his home.

“I spent two years building my writer’s cottage,” says Turner. “Once it was finished I was immediately in there writing songs. In total, I’ve written 27 songs in there and eight of those ended up on the record.”

In support of the album, Turner is currently headlining tour dates sponsored by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Full dates and tickets available here.

Leadership Music Digital Summit to Focus On Social Media

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The 2012 Leadership Music Digital Summit will dedicate its full agenda to social media and its impact on the music space when it takes place in downtown Nashville on April 25 at TPAC’s Polk Theater.

The one-day seminar will host panels designed to deliver practical knowledge, actionable skills and insights that attendees can employ immediately.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will provide opening remarks, and Livenation.com general manager and former BigChampagne CEO Eric Garland will keynote the event. Additionally, Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, who will be present to discuss the importance of social media in his band’s success.

Sessions include “Subscription & Social” (with Spotify’s Steve Savoca, moderated by MusicRow founder David Ross), “Analytic Tools For Social Media” (with NPD’s Russ Crupnick) “How To Reach Fans on Social Media,” “Monetizing Social Media,” and more. Full schedule is available here.

For a limited time, advance registration is $199 here with the code LMDS2012. All proceeds support Leadership Music.

Angela Borchetta White to Lead Canadian Promotion For BMLG

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Big Machine Label Group has announced the appointment of Angela Borchetta White to the newly-created position of Canadian National Director of Promotion. White will relocate to Toronto, where she will be based out of the the Universal Music Canada office and oversee all Country radio promotion for BMLG’s roster in Canada.

“Yes, Angela is my sister!” said BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “If anything, that made the path into our company even tougher because she had to completely win the team over on her own utilizing her own incredible promotion abilities and doing it without prejudice from me. She’s gotten so strong in the field that if we didn’t step up quickly we were going to lose her to the competition!”

White began her promotion career in Pop world, where she worked as a regional for Curb and then later Atlantic, promoting a wide array of artists including Tori Amos, Stone Temple Pilots, and Genesis among others. She also spent time with RCA, playing a pivotal role in the radio successes of Dave Matthews Band, ‘N Sync, Christina Aguilera and more. Most recently, White launched her independent promotion company White House Promotion, working with Jewel for her Valory Music Co. album Perfectly Clear, plus BMLG artists Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and others.

Congratulate her here.