NATD Preps for 2012 Award Honors

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The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) will recognize six entertainment industry professionals during its sold-out 2nd Annual NATD Honors gala tonight (11/14).

Artists Béla Fleck, Michael W. Smith, and Tanya Tucker join Nashville Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz, and industry mainstays Bob Kinkead and Dale Morris to honor NATD’s selected honorees: Mike Fisher, Clint Higham, John Huie, George Jones, Alan Valentine, and Robert S. Williams.

Co-hosted by the voice of the Nashville Predators Pete Weber, and TV Reporter/personality Stephanie Langston, tonight’s event begins at 6 pm with a reception, dinner and honors held at Nashville’s downtown Hermitage Hotel.

For more information on the organization, visit www.n-a-t-d.com.

Snapshots: Little Big Town, Lauren Alaina, Krystal Keith

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Lauren Alaina’s Surprise Birthday Prom
Lauren Alaina celebrated her 18th birthday with a prom-themed party last weekend in her hometown. Friends and family in Rossville, GA surprised her with the party, and a dress to change in to, because she missed the prom while on tour. Teens with special needs were honored as prom kings and queens through one of her favorite organizations, Special Olympics Project Unify. Also in attendance was Jordan Trunfio, a high schooler with a brain tumor who was surprised when Lauren joined him at his homecoming dance. She just wrapped her 18-City-Inch-By-Inch Tour supporting current single “Eighteen Inches.” Next up, Lauren will vy for New Artist honors at the ACA Awards on Dec. 10 in Las Vegas.

Lauren Alaina. Photo by Greg Beasley.

Little Big Town Fights Hunger
Little Big Town volunteered at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee recently. They were working in support of the Backpack program which provides meals for children. The initiative was part of ConAgra Foods’ Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, which helps raise awareness of the nearly 17 million kids in the U.S. impacted by hunger.

Photo credit: Dean Dixon AP/ConAgra Foods

Krystal Keith Joins BMI
Krystal Keith stopped by BMI’s Nashville offices recently to celebrate becoming a BMI songwriter. It was her second time at the BMI offices in recent weeks. She joined dad Toby Keith at the BMI Country Awards, where he took home a plaque for his hit “Made in America.”

Pictured (L-R): TKO Artist Management’s TK Kimbrell and Taylor Shults, Krystal Keith, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo by Drew Maynard

 

‘Ghost Brothers of Darkland County’ Features Roots Music Favorites

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An all-star lineup of musicians and actors has teamed up for Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, a “Southern gothic supernatural musical” created by Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett. The collection is due out via Hear Music/Concord on March 19, 2013. According to Rolling Stone, the group has met with investors but has no definite plans to hit Broadway.

Ghost Brothers came about after Mellencamp told King about a cabin on his Indiana property where two brothers had gotten in a fight over a girl. One accidentally killed the other, only to die along with the girl in a car crash shortly after. King had the idea for a play, and the music developed from there. The Ghost Brothers story follows two sets of brothers—the ghosts of Jack and Andy, who died in a murder suicide; and their living nephews Frank and Drake, who seem headed for tragedy. Flitting between the spirit and physical worlds is “The Shape,” a devilish figure voiced by Elvis Costello. The album’s first official release is Costello’s “That’s Me,” which can be heard here.

In addition to Costello, Ghost Brothers features the talents of Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham and Kris Kristofferson, along with actors Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis and Meg Ryan. Standard and Deluxe editions of the release will be offered, and the Deluxe version will include a “Making of Ghost Brothers” mini-documentary DVD.

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County track listing:
That’s Me  – Elvis Costello
That’s Who I Am – Neko Case
So Goddamn Smart  – Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong About Me – Elvis Costello
Brotherly Love – Ryan Bingham and Will Dailey
How Many Days – Kris Kristofferson
You Are Blind – Ryan Bingham
Home Again – Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Taj Mahal
What’s Going On Here – Rosanne Cash
My Name Is Joe – Clyde Mulroney
Tear This Cabin Down – Taj Mahal
And Your Days Are Gone – Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin
Jukin’ – Sheryl Crow
What Kind Of Man Am I – Kris Kristofferson, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow Dave Alvin, Taj Mahal
So Goddamn Good – Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, Sheryl Crow
Away From This World – Sheryl Crow
Truth – John Mellencamp

Internet Radio Fairness Showdown Heats Up

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The musicFIRST Coalition and SoundExchange have released an open letter opposing the Internet Radio Fairness Act backed by Pandora and numerous other online radio outlets. Members of the Coalition include artists such as Zac Brown Band, Roger Waters, Rihanna, Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow and organizations like The Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA, AFM and more.

“We are big fans of Pandora. That’s why we helped give the company a discount on rates for the past decade,” says the letter. “Why is the company asking Congress once again to step in and gut the royalties that thousands of musicians rely upon? That’s not fair and that’s not how partners work together.”

The Internet Radio Fairness Act (IRFA) aims to equalize the royalty rate set by the Copyright Royalty Board and paid to artists being played by online radio, which would mean a significant reduction. Pandora claims to pay over 50% of its revenue in artist royalties to SoundExchange, considerably more than other radio formats. “The current law penalizes new media and is astonishingly unfair to internet radio,” says a statement on Pandora’s website. Pandora’s argument is that lowering rates will encourage webcasting and investment, and by extension, more discovery.

Of course, part of musicFIRST’s mission is to ensure artists are compensated by terrestrial radio stations, who at present pay only PRO licensing fees for songwriters and publishers and no artist royalties. It makes sense the group would want to prevent any reduction to artist payments, which it claims could be cut by up to 85% if IRFA passes.

“This issue is critical to the tens-of-thousands of recording artists we represent – all of whom rely on this digital performance revenue stream to make a living,” says SoundExchange President Michael Huppe. “It is important that we protect artists and the long-term value of their music, which is, after all, the foundation of Internet radio.”

Pandora also recently filed a lawsuit against ASCAP, seeking lower fees in the performances of its copyrighted works.

Country Thunder Wisconsin Announces Lineup

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Just one day after the lineup for its Arizona counterpart was announced, Country Thunder Wisconsin has revealed the initial list of performers for its July 18-21 music festival. Among those scheduled to perform are headliners, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town and many more. The 2013 lineup (full schedule below) also includes previously announced group, Lady Antebellum, for the four day festival in Twin, Lakes, Wisconsin. Attendees will also be able to check out the GAC sidestage, bluegrass tent, food vendors, and thrill rides.

Four day passes are currently available through the end of the year (12/21) at the discounted rate of $99. For more information, visit www.countrythunder.com.

Thursday:
5:30-6:30pm – Chris Janson
7:00-8:30pm – Justin Moore
9:00-10:30pm – Dierks Bentley

Friday:
1:00-2:00pm – TBA
2:30-3:30pm – Morgan Frazier
4:00-5:00pm – Parmalee
5:30-6:30pm – Dustin Lynch
7:00-8:30pm – Little Big Town
9:00-10:30pm – Keith Urban

Saturday:
1:00-2:00pm TBA
2:30-3:30pm – Sweetwater Rain
4:00-5:00pm – Phil Vassar
5:30-6:30pm – Lee Brice
7:00-8:30pm – Chris Young
9:00-10:30pm – Brad Paisley

Sunday:
1:00-2:00pm – TBA
2:30-3:30pm – Edens Edge
4:00-5:00pm – TBA
5:30-6:30pm – Joe Nichols
7:00-8:30pm – TBA
9:00-10:30pm – Lady Antebellum

Ticketmaster Forms Partnership With Walmart

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Walmart and Ticketmaster have announced a strategic partnership to provide consumers more ticket purchasing capabilities both in stores and at walmart.com.

A pre-determined pool of tickets will be available to Walmart customers for major league sporting events, FELD Entertainment family events, arts & theatre performances and more. The new “Walmart Ticket Values” program featuring “Tickets under $30” is available in approximately 1,200 Walmart stores or online for in-store pickup or delivery by mail.

“By partnering with Ticketmaster, we are able to offer our customers the best selection of live event tickets at an everyday low price,” said Seong Ohm, SVP of entertainment merchandising for Walmart U.S. “We hope our customers will take the time to enjoy a game, concert or show.”

“We collaborated with Walmart to introduce another convenient ticket buying option on Walmart.com and fans can choose to have their tickets mailed or available for in store pick up at their Walmart,” said Sandy Gaare, EVP of retail partnerships, Ticketmaster.

Weekly Register: Give The Gift of Music!

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Florida Georgia Line's breakout single "Cruise" goes No. 1 where it really counts—on the sales charts! Weekly Register is now predicting Platinum status for the track next week.

Seven more weeks and the 2012 sales year will be complete. YTD country sales are up 2.4% which isn’t fireworks and champagne, but looks better when compared with overall industry sales, currently down -4.1%.

So what should we expect before the last notes of “Auld Lang Syne” echo down the office hallways? Firstly, there’s a few more album stocking stuffers scheduled such as Rascal Flatts (11/19), Florida Georgia Line (12/4) and a Nashville soundtrack (12/11). We also have holiday albums from Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton and Scotty McCreery which are already feeling the holiday love as folks bring them home to get in the spirit.

Compared with last year, country sales need to average 1.206 million albums for each of the remaining seven weeks to break even with 2011. A quick glance at last year’s performance shows that five of the corresponding seven weeks easily passed the million mark. Not surprisingly, the 2011 week just before Christmas was the biggest cash register event with country album sales reaching 2.186 million units. Will 2012 country sales push ahead of the previous year? Sure seems likely, but it’s doubtful we’ll increase our Y/Y gain much above where it stands currently.

Tracks are showing a 13.5% gain Y/Y which slipped a bit this week from last week’s 14.8% tally. Still there’s a lot of factors that could affect the final shopping outcomes—everything from weather to concerns about the economy.

Chart Tipping
The top 7 this week are all newly released offerings. Swift (No. 1; 196k), Aldean (No. 2; 48k), Lady A holiday (No. 3; 27k), Little Big Town (No. 4; 25k), Shelton holiday (No. 5; 24k), McCreery holiday (No. 6; 20k) and T. Keith (No. 7; 20k). Filling out those that scanned over 10k units for the week are Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, Hunter Hayes and Zac Brown Band.

In one of the year’s nicest surprises, Florida Georgia Line catapults itself to the No. 1 country tracks position this week with over 81k downloads. Next week the song will go platinum passing the one million sales mark. FGL also performs a neat trick—outselling BMLG label mate Taylor Swift this week. The Red chantuese’s “We Are Never Ever….” now in its 12th tracks chart week scanned over 73k units for a RTD (release to date) total of 2.520 million.

As noted on our grid, country track sales are up a robust 13.5%. To see this gain with a more sedate album perspective divide by 10 (TEA=track equivalent albums; 10 tracks=1 album).

Peering accurately into the future will be a bit easier after the we get numbers for the Thanksgiving sales week ended 11/25/12. That milestone will leave us with only five additional weekly periods.

In the meantime, stay warm and tell friends to, “Give the gift of music…”

DISClaimer Single Reviews (11/14/12)

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King's Bullet, Lee Brice

As we get deeper into the fall, the sounds of country music grow warmer.

On the holiday drives to friends and relations that lie ahead, I’m going to welcome hearing Kix Brooks and Lee Brice coming over those car speakers. I’m taking along some left-field CDs, too, like the new one by Lindi Ortega and the duets of Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale.

You’ll find all four of them discussed in this week’s column. Lee Brice has my heart as the Disc of the Day.

There was a little surprise tucked into today’s listening session. Singer-songwriters Trey Bruce and Loni Rose have become King’s Bullet, and in so doing win this week’s DisCovery Award.

LINDI ORTEGA/The Day You Die
Writer: none listed; Producer: Colin Linden; Publisher: none listed; Last Gang (track) (www.lindiortega.com)
—I’m still crazy about this gal. This super hooky, neo-rockabilly, speedy romp has mordant wit as well as echoey twang and thump. It’s produced with verve by her fellow Canadian in Nashville, Colin Linden.

DAVID KROLL/Little Soldiers
Writer: David Kroll/Arlos Smith; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Tenacity (www.davidkrollmusic.com)
—This being the week of Veteran’s Day, this ballad is certainly timely. It concerns the families left behind when soldiers go off to war, and it is very well written. In addition, Kroll sings it with real feeling. Proceeds from downloads of the single this week go to the Code of Support Foundation.

LIZZIE SIDER/Butterfly
Writer: Lizzie Sider/Jamie O’Neal/Jimmy Murphy/Lisa Drew; Producer: Jamie O’Neal; Publisher: none listed; Blue Steel (www.lizziesider.com)
—Wildly upbeat and catchy as all get out. The pulsing production rings with repeated guitar riffs and notes of steel. She sings with confidence and volume, riding atop the sonic excitement like a pro.

CARRIE ZARUBA/Woman on a Mission
Writer: Carrie Zaruba/Kent Wells; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CZ
—Her vocal is almost swamped by the busy-sounding instrumental track. But there’s real talent here, in songwriting as well as singing.

BUDDY MILLER & JIM LAUDERDALE/I Lost My Job of Loving You
Writer: Lauderdale/B. Miller; Producer: Buddy Miller; Publisher: Ginger Dragon/Songs of Bug/West Bay/Julie’s Freaking Out, SESAC/ASCAP; New West (track) (www.buddymiller.com / www.jimlauderdale.com)
—Talk about a dream team. Individually, these two men are among the best country singers and songwriters in this whole city. Their Buddy & Jim collection together is a banquet of audio delights. This opening-track twang fest is drawling and haunting, with plenty of alt-country production touches. Most of the CD is original material by them. But they do take side trips to Johnnie & Jack (”South in New Orleans”), Joe Tex (”I Want to Do Everything for You”), Jimmy McCracklin (”The Wobble”) and to a pair of traditional tunes.

CLAY WALKER/Jesse James
Writer: Kyle Jacobs/Joe Leathers/Ben Glover; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: Curb/JacobsongFortune Favors the Bold/Mike Curb/Ghermkyle/WB/Screaming Norman, ASCAP/BMI; Curb (track)
—He dreams of being a free-and-easy, wild outlaw in the Wild West. It’s a battle between the dark and the light, the good and the wicked, sung high up in his range while chanting men, screaming electric guitars and a plunking banjo surround him. Too noisy for these ears.

KING’S BULLET/Watermelon Sun
Writer: none listed; Producer: Trey Bruce; Publisher: none listed; KB (track) (www.kingsbullet.com)
—Hit Nashville songwriter Trey Bruce spent part of his summer months collaborating on songs with Loni Rose. While working in the studio, they “accidentally” created an album, a new sound and an identity as King’s Bullet. Her sweet soprano takes the lead, while he provides a dusky harmony part. This opening track wafts across like a dry prairie breeze in late afternoon. Refreshingly different.

LEE BRICE/I Drive Your Truck
Writer: Jessi Alexander/Connie Harrington/Jimmy Yeary; Producer: Kyle Jacobs, Matt McClure & Lee Brice; Publisher: none listed; Curb (track)
—This man is turning into a star with every successive disc. He smacked homeruns right out of the ballpark with “A Woman Like You” and “Hard to Love.” The third single from Brice’s CD is immensely evocative, as a son recalls his deceased dad by driving his truck and listening to their favorite country station. If this doesn’t punch you in your heart, you haven’t got one. Another homer.

KIX BROOKS/Moonshine Road
Writer: Kix Brooks/Leslie Satcher; Producer: Kix Brooks; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Buffalo Prairie/Leslie Satcher, BMI; Arista (track)
—The drawling country boy promises the fancy lady a wild and wooly time in this moody, minor-key “outlaw” slab of sound. Very, very cool, with a “heartbeat” rhythm track that is irresistible and a production that gets right under your skin.

J.D. SHELBURNE/Grandma & Garth
Writer: J.D. Selburne/Bob Stewart; Producer: Greg Cole; Publisher: J.D. Shelburne/Giraffekey, BMI; Star BLase (CDX) (www.jdshelburne.com)
—He cleans out his late Granny’s house and finds a guitar. It leads him to a life as a country singer. Along the way, the lyric quotes the Garth song titles she loved. As a song, it’s certainly unique.

Keith Urban Announces 2013 Tour

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Keith Urban announced the first leg of his 2013 North American tour today (11/14) in an online video short with tour mates Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch. The video shows the artists on a road trip together.

The first leg opens July 18 in Cincinnati, OH and has about 25 dates scheduled through Oct. 5 in West Palm Beach, FL. No Nashville date has been announced but the current itinerary includes nearby stops in Atlanta on July 27 and Birmingham on Aug. 22.

Details at Keithurban.net/tour

Thompson Square Pens First Novel

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CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Thompson Square will publish their first novel titled Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not? with Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not? is based on Keifer and Shawna Thompson’s chart-topping love song of the same title and features characters David Winters and Zoe Spark and their journey to love. Travis Thrasher will co-author.

David and Zoe are friends from high school and musical partners who date sporadically throughout college. Though they go their separate ways, two of their songs eventually become hits. The pair reconvene at a low point in their lives and realize what they had been missing all along.

The book is slated for release June 4, 2013.

Thompson Square will also join award-winning Country star Luke Bryan on his first headlining tour, the 2013 Dirt Road Diaries Tour, beginning January 17 in Evansville, IN. Thompson Square’s latest release, “If I Didn’t Have You,” is the duo’s fastest rising single to-date and the first from the duo’s sophomore album due in early 2013.