DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/20/12)

Why isn’t country music making more female stars?

I mean, the handwriting is clearly on the wall. Fans of this genre are buying records with voices like Taylor Swift, Jennifer Nettles, Miranda Lambert, Hillary Scott and Carrie Underwood by the millions. Wouldn’t it make sense to produce and promote more women? Instead, I direct you to the current country album chart, dominated by 28 non-million-selling CDs by male artists.

That’s all by way of introducing the fact that Carrie Underwood completely rules this week’s column with an undeniable Disc of the Day performance.

Debbie Cochran, Reggie Shaw

I have two DisCovery Awards to present. The first goes to Reggie Shaw, who has wisely enlisted some stellar Music Row songwriting names to pen his well-performed single. Judging by her lyric, I’m thinking that his fellow winner, Debbie Cochran, isn’t a kid of 20. I’m no age-ist. I still think she’s cool.

DEBBIE COCHRAN/It’s Never Too Late
Writer: Debbie Cochran; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: DMC Anniston, BMI; GTR (CDX) (870-307-7685)
—The steel-dominated band kicks up some dust, and the song is a hillbilly-feminist manifesto. Her deep alto singing voice has plain-spoken charm and Southern-accented, forthright honesty. I wish her well.

REGGIE SHAW/Someone I Can’t Live Without
Writer: Eric Durrance/Marc Beeson/Don Pfrimmer; Producer: Bobby Hyatt & Reggie Shaw; Publisher: Drive It Home/Words & Music/Songs of Southside Independent/Wounded Sky/Three Village/EGBG/Wixen. BMI/ASCAP; Wynnsong (CDX) (www.reggieshaw.com)
—This pulsing country rocker boasts a tight arrangement, a clear production and straightforward drive. His vocal about facing a complicated romance rings with conviction. A winner.

TIM McGRAW/Right Back Atcha Babe
Writer: Joe West/David Pohanish; Producer: Byron Gallimore & Tim McGraw; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Songs of My Good Girl/Totally Wrighteous/Big Loud Bucks, BMI; Curb (track)
—Tim’s earnest, romantic vocal lines alternate with cool, “answering” lead-guitar licks by Jerry McPherson for a very involving listening experience. Distinctive and deserving.

SUSAN CATTANEO/Little Big Sky
Writer: Susan Cattaneo/Scarlet Keys; Producer: Jan Stolpe; Publisher: Rockin’ Fairy/Little Jaybird, ASCAP; Jersey Girl (www.susanmusic.com)
—She teaches songwriting at the Berklee College of Music. Doubtless heeding her own advice, she fills this lyric with plenty of true-to-life details. But the production is rather “busy,” and her singing voice isn’t particularly memorable.

KATIE GRACE/Best Bad Girl
Writer: Grace; Producer: Jim Diamond; Publisher: none listed; Inside Outlaws (track)
—The song wanders around aimlessly in search of a hook. Her vocal sounds half asleep. The production is less than demo level.

ANDY GIBSON/Summer Back
Writer: Brian Davis/Andy Gibson/Vicky McGehee; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: Mike Curb/Godfather Rich/Rich Entertainment/Kobalt/Peermusic II, BMI/ASCAP; Curb
—This former DisCovery Award winner returns with a single that rightly graduates him from indie status to the big leagues. As before, his confident, direct tenor delivery rides atop a super-melodic, uptempo bopper. He has everything it takes to be a star. I remain a fan.

DAVID ST. ROMAIN/Some Things
Writer: none listed; Producer: Shawn Pennington & Steve Pefer; Publisher: Root 49/Cackalacki Twang/Soulride/BPJ/Kristi Mannasongs/Songs of MPR, BMI/ASCAP; DSR (www.davidstromain.com)
—It’s a routine blues vamp. Which is to say, “boring.”

MEGAN REDMOND/Dreamland
Writer: M. Redmond/R. Perry; Producer: Mike Binder; Publisher: Aspen Top, no performance rights listed; MAK Media (track) (www.meganredmond.com)
—The title tune of this Colorado gal’s six-song EP displays definite promise. She knows how to turn a poetic phrase, her folk-inflected voice is sturdy and sincere, and the band is tastefully supportive. Well done.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Blown Away
Writer: Josh Kear/Chris Tompkins; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Global Dog/Lunalight/Words & Music/Big Loud Songs/Angel River/Big Loud Bucks, ASCAP; Arista/19 (track) ()
—This rocker roars through a tale of a tornado that destroys a cruel father and a world of bad memories of “home.” Carrie wails it like an Oklahoma banshee on the loose. The gal can sing, the song is tremendous and the production sizzles. Get on board.

LEWIS COPELAND/She’s Got It Going On
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Nine North/Turnpike Music (www.lewiscopelandmusic.com)
—I’d have mixed his vocal up hotter in the mix, because he sings with passion and commitment. Drums pound and guitars scream, almost burying him. Let the man be heard.

Chesney Shares Fishbowl With Fans

Welcome to Kenny Chesney’s fishbowl. The superstar is letting fans peak behind the curtain on his latest album, which is his most mature and revealing project to date. He’s marking yesterday’s release of Welcome To The Fishbowl with a huge live-streaming beach concert tonight (6/20), and Saturday (6/23) he’s bringing the party to Nashville’s LP Field with pal Tim McGraw.

Tonight’s event pairs Chesney with renowned filmmaker Jonathan Demme who will direct the 75-minute online concert as part of the American Express Unstaged series. Demme, the man behind the lens of Academy Award winning movies Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia, will shoot the largest concert ever held on the shores of Wildwood, NJ, a vacation destination with a classic boardwalk, roller coasters and ferris wheel. Watching in person will be 20,000-plus fans, mostly American Express Cardmembers, who received free tickets.

The show will be livestreamed at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT at www.YouTube.com/KennyChesneyVEVO, on VEVO’s mobile apps, VEVO Xbox Live app, and the YouTube mobile website. The performance will be rebroadcast for 12 hours.

To encourage social media chatter, fans at the concert in Wildwood and those enjoying the livestream will be able to unlock special enhancements to the show with the increasing number of tweets posted during the performance using designated hashtags.

Others who have participated in Unstaged include Sugarland, who collaborated with Kenny Ortega, and a recent pairing of Jack White and Gary Oldman.

Also this week, Chesney will perform on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (6/21), and Today’s Toyota Summer Concert Series (6/22). He and Katy Perry will take the stage on Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC.

On Saturday Chesney and Tim McGraw’s Brothers of the Sun tour takes over LP Field for a rockin’ event featuring guests Jake Owen and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Chesney’s new album also includes a duet with McGraw, “Feel Like a Rock Star,” but the singer says the party-hearty track stands in contrast to the rest of the collection. Among the vulnerable ballads are “Sing ‘Em Good My Friend,” “Always Gonna Be You,” and “El Cerrito Place.” The latter, penned by Keith Gattis, features background vocals by Potter, who helped make “You and Tequila” a hit. The album, being released via Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville, is bookended by intimate tracks “Come Over” and “Always Gonna Be You.”

Chesney, whose sales tally exceeds 30 million units, explains, “There are songs on here I might not have had courage enough to put on a record in the past, but now I feel like it’s essential that I do these kinds of things at this point in my career. I want to be honest with my fans and myself as a songwriter and a creative person. I feel like now, more than ever, I’m comfortable with being authentic, wherever that leads me. I want to take my music and my audience and dig a little deeper, and see if they’ll come along with me.”

Journalist Chris Neal Passes

MusicRow sends its condolences to friends and family of music journalist Chris Neal, who passed away at his Nashville home on Sun., June 17. He was 40 years old.

A veteran journalist, Neal was serving as a Senior Editor for M Music & Musicians magazine and was part of the team that launched the publication in January 2010. He previously spent 10 years with Country Weekly, and freelanced for a variety of publications such as Village Voice, Salon.com, Nashville Scene, Performing Songwriter, American Photographer and many others. Over his 12 years in Nashville he interviewed hundreds of artists that hailed from every musical genre.

He is survived by his wife, Katie Dodd Neal.

Visitation will be held Thurs., June 21, 4 – 8 pm at Hibbett & Hailey Funeral Home (429 Donelson Pike). Funeral services will be held Fri., June 22 at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Humane Society.

BMI Presents Christian Music Awards

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mike O’Neill; Universal Music Publishing Group’s Dale Matthews (accepting Song of the Year Award for Kirk Franklin); Publisher of the Year, EMI CMG Publishing’s Eddie DeGarmo; Christian Songwriters of the Year Kyla Rowland, tobyMac, and Chris Stevens; and BMI’s Jody Williams and Phil Graham.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) celebrated the songwriters and music publishers behind the past year’s most-performed songs in Christian music last night (6/19) during the organization’s annual Christian Music Awards, held at BMI’s Nashville offices on Music Row.

Consistent chart-topper tobyMac earned his third consecutive Christian Songwriter of the Year crystal and shares the 2012 honor with Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall, singer/songwriter Matt Maher, Southern gospel staple Kyla Rowland and hit songwriter/producer Chris Stevens. The unusual five-way tie occurred because the hit-makers each wrote or co-wrote two of the songs on the year’s most-performed list.

The Isaacs perform “Why Can’t We."

Cross-format superstar Kirk Franklin earned Christian Song of the Year honors for his smash “I Smile,” published by Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing LLC and Bridge Building Music.

With the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, powerhouse EMI CMG Publishing clinched the Christian Publisher of the Year win.

During the ceremony, prolific family group the Isaacs, 2012 Dove Awards Artist of the Year Jason Crabb and dynamic contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin each delivered inspirational performances.

Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, and Associate Director Leslie Roberts served as the evening’s hosts alongside Phil Graham, BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations.

All photos by John Russell

EMI CMG Publishing celebrates its BMI Christian Publisher of the Year title. Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Phil Graham; EMI CMG Publishing’s Eddie DeGarmo; BMI’s Jody Williams; EMI CMG Publishing’s Matt Ewald, Jeremy Ash, Jimi Williams, Casey McGinty; BMI’s Leslie Roberts; and EMI CMG Publishing’s John Thompson.

BMI Christian Awards 2012

Songwriters of the Year
Mark Hall
“Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”
“If We’ve Ever Needed You”

Matt Maher
“Hold Us Together”
“I Lift My Hands”

tobyMac
“Hold Me”
“Hold On”

Kyla Rowland
“Did I Mention”
“This Old Sinner Testifies”

Chris Stevens
“Hold Me”
“Stronger”

Song of the Year
“I Smile”
Kirk Franklin
Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing LLC
Bridge Building Music
Kirk Franklin

Publisher of the Year
EMI CMG Publishing
“Better Than A Hallelujah”
“He Wants It All”
“Hold Us Together”
“I Lift My Hands”

Universal Music Publishing accepts Kirk Franklin’s Song of the Year award for “I Smile Do” at the 2012 BMI Christian Music Awards. Pictured (L-R):BMI’s Phil Graham, Universal Music Publishing’s John Andrade, BMI’s Jody Williams, Universal Music Publishing’s Dale Mathews, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, and Universal Music Publishing’s Stacey Wilbur and Eric Hurt.

2012 BMI Christian Awards
Award-Winning Songs

“Better Than A Hallelujah”
Sarah Hart, Chapin Hartford
Chapin Hartford Music/Michael Puryear Music/River Oaks Music Company/Spiritandsong.com Publishing
Amy Grant

“Born Again”
Wesley Campbell, Michael Tait
Don’t Chase Music/Tait Music/Te Puke Publishing
Newsboys

“Did I Mention”
Kyla Rowland
Christian Taylor Music
The Perrys

“Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”
Mark Hall
My Refuge Music/Sony/ATV Tree
Casting Crowns

“He Wants It All”
Dominique Jones
Four Jones Publishing/Meaux Mercy Publishing
Forever Jones

“Hold Me”
Toby McKeehan, Chris Stevens
Achtober Songs/Regisfunk Music
Jamie-Grace featuring tobyMac

“Hold On”
Jesse Frasure, Toby McKeehan
Achtober Songs/Rio Bravo Music, Inc.
tobyMac

“Hold Us Together”
Matt Maher, Steve Wilson
Meaux Mercy Publishing/Skyline Apartments Music/Spiritandsong.com Publishing/Worship Together Music
Matt Maher

“I Believe”
Ay’Ron Lewis
Black Smoke Publishing/Straightchurch Publishing
James Fortune And Fiya feat. Zacardi
Cortez & Shawn McLemore

“I Choose To Worship”
Jonathan Brown, Wess Morgan
Wess Morgan Music
Wess Morgan

“I Lift My Hands”
Matt Maher, Chris Tomlin
Valley Of Songs Music/Worship Together Music
Chris Tomlin

“I Smile”
Kirk Franklin
Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing LLC/Bridge Building Music
Kirk Franklin

“If We’ve Ever Needed You”
Mark Hall, Bernie Herms
My Refuge Music/ Sony/ATV Tree
Casting Crowns

“I’ve Never Known A Day”
Van Mitchell, Jr.
True Testament Music
The Inspirations

“Lift Me Up”
Jordan Mohilowski
Miracle In My Hand Music Publishing
The Afters

“Listen To The Sound”
Jason Roy
Havery Publishing/Sony/ATV Tree
Building 429

“My Help Comes From The Lord”
Jon Abel, Barry Weeks
45 Degrees Music/Bridge Building Music
The Museum

“Rain On Us”
Daniel Moore, II; Daniel Moore, Sr.
Dem Two Music/S4Dt Publishing
Earnest Pugh

“Somebody Died For Me”
Kyle Matthews, Christy Sutherland
Catalytic Songs/Mattmoosic
Triumphant Quartet

“Starry Night”
Ed Cash
Alletrop Music
Chris August

“Stronger”
Chris Stevens
Regisfunk Music
Mandisa

“This Old Sinner Testifies”
Kyla Rowland
Christian Taylor Music/Lonesome Bend Publishing
The Perrys

“You Love Me Anyway”
Dave Frey, Ben McDonald
Dayspring Music
Sidewalk Prophets

“You Were Faithful Yesterday”
Rodney Griffin
Songs Of Greater Vision
Greater Vision

“Your Great Name”
Michael Neale
Integrity’s Praise! Music
Natalie Grant

(L-R): Chris Tomlin, BMI’s Jody Williams, Jason Crabb, Jason Roy of Building 429, Susan Stewart of NARAS, Brandon Heath, and Provident Label Group’s Blaine Barcus.

Chely Wright Releases Documentary

Chely Wright’s Wish Me Away documentary, which recently received Nashville Film Festival’s Audience Award, is available in select theaters and for rent and pre-sale on iTunes before its July 31 official release.

Filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf use a mixture of the singer’s public and private moments surrounding her 2010 Pantheon book release, Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer, which discussed her homosexuality.

Nashville industry executives Tony Brown, Clarence Spalding, Rodney Crowell, Bill Cody and Don Cusic offer interview commentary while Fletcher Foster serves as Co-Executive Producer of the film.

Cusic offers, “Country fans are loyal to an artist until they feel betrayed.” The documentary tells the story of a Country artist revealing a secret to a traditionally conservative market, anticipating abandonment from those fans.

“We have paid a lot of attention to how we present Nashville, not as a monolith of homophobia, but as a very successful business that markets to a predominantly conservative audience, much like the rest of the country,” says Birleffi.

Wright reveals the ways she protected her secret and used her celebrity to keep the world at an arm’s length. As a child, she prayed away feelings of homosexuality and negotiated with God to replace her desire for love with a successful career.

When she secured a record deal from Polygram and her first No. 1, “Single White Female,” Wright thought God had answered her prayers. She recalls developing evasive skills to distract speculation from her love life and focused energy on public service, for which she started her charity Reading, Writing and Rhythm.

It was after her success had snowballed around her secret when Wright felt cornered and contemplated suicide.

“Young people in every corner of America are being told by their churches—and their parents are echoing what the churches are telling them—that they’re damaged goods, and they’re not,” Wright remarks in the documentary.

The title, Wish Me Away, comes from one of the song on Wright’s 2010 album release Lifted Off The Ground.

Last Friday, the documentary opened in Los Angeles and Sebastopol, CA; Columbus, OH; and Denver, CO; joining Berklee, CA; and NYC’s Quad Cinema.

Guitarist Dave Stewart to Debut Documentary at Belcourt Theatre

Songwriter and guitarist Dave Stewart (Eurythmics, Superheavy) stars in the upcoming documentary The Blackbird Diaries and the Ringmaster General, which was shot in Nashville during recording sessions at Blackbird Studios.

The film follows Stewart through the recording process of two albums, his 2011 release The Blackbird Diaries, and the forthcoming The Ringmaster General (Weapons of Mass Entertainment/Surfdog). Guests and muses who join in the fun include Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Colbie Caillat, The Secret Sisters, Joss Stone, Stevie Nicks, Jessie Baylin, Diane Birch, and Orianthi. Some of Nashville’s finest session musicians back Stewart on both recordings including Tom Bukovac, Chad Cromwell, Michael Rhodes, Dan Dugmore, and Mike Rojas.

The Belcourt Theatre will host a VIP premiere on Wednesday, August 22, and tickets are available here. See the trailer here.

Stewart is also set to open a handful of shows for Sugarland in August:

8/23 – Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
8/24 – Memphis, TN – Fedex Forum
8/25 – Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheatre

UMG, NMPA Deal Covers Videos on YouTube, Vevo

The NMPA has reached an agreement with Universal Music Group, where UMG will pay songwriters and music publishers when music videos of their songs are played on YouTube and Vevo. UMG is the first major label to reach a licensing agreement of this kind, traditionally songwriters and publishers weren’t paid for video plays, which were considered promotional uses.

NMPA publishers who opt into the North American agreement will grant synchronization rights for music videos, and, in return, receive royalties from the videos based on a percentage of UMG’s receipts. Both Vevo, which is owned in part by UMG, and YouTube are ad supported sites.

Under the agreement, UMG will also provide songwriter and publisher compensation for ringtones, dual disc, multi-session audio and locked content products.

The agreement, which will be administered by the HFA, is retroactive for past use of musical works in UMG’s music videos.

Additional details will become available in the coming weeks, however Billboard reports the deal, which extends to concert footage, backstage videos and artist interviews, will pay 10% of advertising revenue from 2008-09 and 15% from 2010-present.

NMPA President and CEO, David Israelite, commented:

We’re all navigating through a rapidly changing business environment. The agreement announced today is an important first step in resolving industry-wide music video issues. UMG deserves credit for being the first record label to partner with the entire songwriting and music publishing community through this model licensing deal. We have raised the issue with [the other majors] and will now turn our attention to pursuing similar agreements. We intend to enforce our rights.

Pistol Annies Welcome Fans to The Henhouse

Pistol Annies at the Wrigley Field show in Chicago on June 9. Photo: Blu Sanders

The Pistol Annies have created a new online community for fans called The Henhouse. Fans are invited to join and share their inspirations and explore the discoveries of other Annies fans.

“Tune in to ‘Live from the Henhouse’ with Hippie Annie (Ashley Monroe), Holler Annie (Angaleena Presley) and me, Lone Star Annie, for advice that your momma won’t give you,” said Miranda Lambert.

“Be as creative as you want; show us your inner Annie or Andy!” added Ashley.

The site also features Henhouse Radio, which plays an eclectic mix from Old Crow Medicine Show to Blake Shelton to Tom Petty. The Henhouse can be found at www.pistolannies.com/henhouse.

The Pistol Annies have also been added to more dates on Miranda’s “On Fire” tour. In September, the trio will head out for a series of headlining dates.

Pistol Annies on Miranda Lambert “On Fire” tour dates:
July 6 – Varysburg, NY – Jam in the Valley at Buffalo Hill Village
July 7 – Scranton, PA – Toyota Pavilion
July 12 – Orange Beach, AL – The Amphitheater at the Wharf
July 13 – Atlanta, GA – Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
July 14 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 26 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center
July 27 – Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion
July 28 – Harrington, DE – Delaware State Fair
August 10 – Bismarck, ND – Bismarck Civic Center
August 11 – Hinckley, MN – Grand Casino Hinckley Event Center
August 12 – Des Moines, IA – Iowa State Fair
August 17 – Fayetteville, AR – Taste of Country Festival at Arkansas Music Pavilion
August 18 – Springfield, IL – Illinois State Fair
September 4 – Dawson Creek, BC – EnCana Events Centre
September 6 – Lethbridge, AB – Enmax Centre
September 7 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre

Pistol Annies-only shows:
September 15 – Frederick, MD – Great Frederick Fair
September 23 – Pomona, CA – Los Angeles County Fair
September 28 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort and Spa
September 29 – Ft. Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s Texas
September 30 – Norman, OK – Riverwind Casino

UMG/EMI Merger Path Lined With Hurdles

Universal Music Group still has a few hurdles to clear before it can purchase EMI’s recorded music division. UMG said today (6/20) that the European Commission has responded to the proposed merger with a statement of objections.

When very large corporations merge it is not uncommon for regulators to ask them to sell off pieces or make other concessions to receive antitrust clearance.

Meanwhile, the $1.9 billion transaction is also under scrutiny in the US. According to Reuters, Universal Chairman Lucian Grainge and EMI CEO Roger Faxon, the top players in the deal, will appear Thurs., June 21 before an antitrust subcommittee to speak on behalf of the merger. Live Nation’s Irving Azoff is also scheduled to appear in support. Opposing the transaction in front of the subcommittee will be Warner’s Edgar Bronfman Jr., Martin Mills of the Beggars Group (4AD, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, XL Recordings) and Gigi Sohn of the public advocacy group Public Knowledge. The subcommittee is holding these hearings despite the fact that is has no formal influence over federal antitrust regulators.

UMG, owned by Vivendi, is buying EMI’s recorded music unit from Citigroup, which broke apart the publishing and label divisions in order to sell them off. The European Commission has already approved Sony/ATV’s $2.2 billion purchase of EMI Music Publishing.

Willie Nelson to Host Celebrity Golf Tournament

Willie Nelson will host his First Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament at Pedernales Cut N Putt Golf Club on June 30 in Travis County, Texas. The event will celebrate the re-opening of Nelson’s 9-hole golf course and proceeds will benefit the Pedernales Fire Department, Helping Hands Ministries of Spicewood, The Children’s Music Foundation of Austin, and RunTex Carrozza Foundation.

Golf begins at 10 am, and there will be a silent auction starting at 11 am. The day will conclude with a Night Life Golf competition. Attendees will also be treated to music from Paula Nelson, Sonny Throckmorton, Folk Uke, Zach Edwards, Jeena & Her Band of Brothers, Billy Joe Shaver, and Jamey Johnson with more expected to be added.

To register, visit www.willienelsongolftournament.com.