Richard Thompson Gets “Electric” in Nashville

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English folk-rocker Richard Thompson is returning with a guitar-driven album titled Electric, due out Feb. 5 via New West Records. The album’s first single, “Good Things Happen to Bad People,” is currently available for streaming at rollingstone.com.

Recorded in Nashville at producer Buddy Miller’s home studio, Electric features 11 new Thompson-penned songs. Thompson also brought his legendary guitar skills to the studio, backed by his rhythm section of Michael Jerome on drums and Taras Prodaniuk on bass. Other guests include Alison Krauss (on “The Snow Goose”), English singer Siobhan Maher-Kennedy, and fiddler Stuart Duncan. A full track listing is below.

“It was a very organic process, a very unselfconscious process, and I think that’s a kind of halfway house between the last record and a real recording studio,” Thompson told Rolling Stone about recording Electric in Nashville.

In addition to his guitar talents, Thompson is widely regarded as a gifted songwriter. In September, he was honored by the Americana Music Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting, and is also a recipient of BBC’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Electric Track Listing:
1  Stony Ground
2  Salford Sunday
3  Sally B
4  Stuck On The Treadmill
5  My Enemy
6  Good Things Happen To Bad People
7  Where’s Home?
8  Another Small Thing In Her Favour
9  Straight And Narrow
10 The Snow Goose
11 Saving The Good Stuff For You

Kay Clary To Exit BMI Post

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Kay Clary

Kay Clary is stepping down from her post as BMI, Executive Director, Media Relations. Her last day with the performing rights organization will be Friday, Nov. 16.

Clary says, “I’m leaving BMI after seven wonderful years serving songwriters and publishers from the vantage point of the corporate communications department. I’ll do the hippie-beatnik thing for a few months to recharge before launching into a creative new career path. I wouldn’t dream of leaving Nashville at such an exciting time as this so please stay in touch and tuned-in via my Facebook page, email [email protected], or my cell (615) 585-5321.”

BMI, VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Jody Williams adds, “Kay Clary is a treasure. She has deep musical knowledge, impeccable taste in current artists, and is one of Nashville’s taste makers if there ever was one. She utilized her PR skills at BMI with class and precision and is a huge reason we have remained strong here in Nashville and beyond. Kay is also one of the most elegant and enjoyable co-workers I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. We will surely miss her, but wish her nothing but joy and success in the future.”

Clary’s career also includes heading her own media company, Commotion PR, where the roster included Rodney Crowell, Ricky Skaggs, Billy Joe Shaver, Bruce Robison, the Del McCoury Band and Legacy Recordings. Previously, Clary directed media campaigns for artists including Ron Sexsmith, Radney Foster, Jack Ingram and Hoodoo Gurus. Throughout the ‘80s, Clary was a partner in Praxis International, where along with Jack Emerson and Andy McLenon, she managed the careers of Jason and the Scorchers, the Georgia Satellites, Webb Wilder, Steve Forbert, Billy Joe Shaver and others. Clary graduated from Belmont University. She is active with the Belcourt Theatre, the Americana Music Association and is an alumna of Leadership Music.

BMI is accepting applications for the media relations department here.

Fairness In Ticketing Act Goes Before Joint Committee Tomorrow

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Opposing forces are battling it out over the Fairness in Ticketing Act. A joint committee comprised of Tennessee state House and Senate members will hear arguments about the bill (HB 3437/SB 3441) tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Legislative Plaza in Nashville. The Fairness in Ticketing Act will be filed in the 2013 session of the Tennessee General Assembly. 

Basically, it’s a fight between competitors AEG and Live Nation and their affiliated ticketing services.

On the Live Nation side: Live Nation owns primary ticketing agency Ticketmaster, and secondary ticketing service TicketsNow. Supporting the legislation in Tennessee and other states is the Fans First Coalition. In Tennessee this has taken the form of the Tennessee Sports & Entertainment Industry Coalition (TSEIC), a powerhouse group comprised of Nashville’s major venues (Bridgestone Arena, Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry, LP Field), big industry players (CAA, CMA) and dozens of major artists including Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney. Many of these parties have exclusive agreements with Ticketmaster and/or its parent company Live Nation. 

On the AEG side: eBay owns secondary ticketing outfit StubHub, which beginning next year will be exclusively used by AEG venues and its primary ticketing service AXS (as announced today). Opposing the Fairness in Ticketing Act, and similar legislation nationwide is the Fan Freedom Project, a group initially funded by StubHub. This organization wants “comprehensive reform [that] would create as much transparency in the primary market as it does in the secondary market.” The Fan Freedom Project claims the bill is designed to force fans to resell through Ticketmaster’s TicketsNow site.

For the most part, both groups have similar complaints about current ticketing practices, listed below. However, they disagree about whether the Fairness in Ticketing Act is the best way to resolve these issues. 

Holdbacks: Large numbers of tickets are held back by artists, venues, etc. This number is hidden from members of the public, who do not know how many tickets are actually available to them.

Scalpers/resellers: Currently, scalpers can purchase hundreds of tickets and resell them at an inflated price. Even if the scalper never actually receives the tickets, he/she has prevented average consumers from buying those seats during the initial on-sale. Also, scalpers sell fake tickets for an event even before real tickets go on sale. Many ticket resellers do not disclose whether they have the tickets in hand, the face-value price, seat locations, or that they are a ticket reseller. Additionally, scalpers use websites that masquerade as being affiliated with venues, sports teams, or recording artists to mislead fans into purchasing tickets on the resale market (ex. bridgestone.nashvillearena.org).

Paperless Ticketing: The bill proposes paperless ticketing as a way to fend off scalpers and overpriced resellers, but the Fan Freedom Project says that takes control out of fans’ hands because it will “eliminate or severely restrict our choices of how we can buy, share or resell event tickets.”

Voting Opens for CRS 2013 New Faces Show

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Voting is now open to all Country radio station employees for the CRS 2013 New Faces of Country Music Show. The show will be held Friday, March 1, 2013, at the Nashville Convention Center.

This year’s nominees are Greg Bates, Easton Corbin, Edens Edge, The Farm, Florida Georgia Line, Andy Gibson, Brantley Gilbert, Casey James, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi and James Wesley.

“The New Faces show has always been a great barometer of talent in our format,” says New Faces Committee Chair John Crenshaw. “Some of the biggest superstars in Country music played this show at CRS early on in their careers, and it’s always exciting to see that kind of talent on display in such an intimate setting.”

The New Faces of Country Music Show, co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and Muscular Dystrophy Association, is one of the most anticipated events at Country Radio Seminar. Five emerging artists who have achieved significant success at Country radio are selected each year to perform at the showcase event. Below are the New Faces of Country Music qualification criteria:

1. The qualification period is Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 during the year immediately preceding the New Faces of Country Music Show.

2. Nominees may not have appeared on a previous New Faces of Country Music Show.

3. Nominees must have charted at least one Top 25 single on the the Mediabase or Billboard Country Charts.

4. Nominees may not have more than two albums on the Billboard Country Top Country Albums chart, nor more than two albums that peaked above No. 50 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart by the end of the qualification period.

Any employee of a commercial, full-time Country radio station may vote for the 2013 New Faces of Country Music Show performers. Voting determines the five finalists and remains open through Monday, Nov. 19, at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.

Industry Ink (11/12/12)

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Morris Artists Management Senior Director Tiffany Benken has exited her position with the company. Reach her at [email protected] or at 615-476-9455.

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The Future of Music Summit takes place in Washington, DC tomorrow (11/13) with appearances and discussions by Pandora’s Tim Westergren, Senator Ron Wyden, and Artist Growth CEO Matt Urmy. The proceedings are happening all day, and those who can’t attend can watch online here.

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Spirit Music founder and president Mark Fried has been appointed to the National Music Publishers’ Association Board of Directors, effective immediately. Fried founded Spirit in 1995 and the company’s catalog includes works by The Who, Charles Mingus, The Velvet Underground, and more. He previously spent a decade with BMI and also was part of the team that helped launch Spin Magazine.

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Word Music Publishing has announced the signing of writer and producer Justin Ebach, who recently celebrated his new agreement with Word and SESAC executives.

(L-R): Word Music Publishing’s Chad Green, SESAC’s John Mullins, Word writer/producer Justin Ebach, SESAC’s Tim Fink and Word Music Publishing’s Chad Segura. Photo: Ed Rode

Better Angels Music Restructures

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Better Angels Music CEO and Creative Director, Rob Rappaport, has exited the 5-year-old company. Stepping in to replace him is Better Angels owner, John McDonald. Shellien Butts continues in her role as Administration Manager and songplugger.

The publishing company’s writing roster has also been updated with the addition of Michael Howard (“Church Pew or Barstool” by Jason Aldean) and Blue Foley (“There She Goes” by The Dirt Drifters) following the departure of three of its writers.

“Change is a good thing!” said Gary Ray, who remains in his position as Vice President and will assume the role of Creative Director. “I am super excited about the new direction of the company and its future in Nashville.”

Clay Henderson Joins Southern Ground

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Promotion veteran Clay Henderson has joined the Southern Ground Artists radio team as Director of Syndication and Special Projects and will be based out of SGA’s Nashville offices. Previously, Henderson served in the same capacity with Broken Bow Music Group. His first day on the job will be Nov. 26.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Southern Ground family. I can’t wait to share their vision and be a part of the way they redefine the music business,” says Henderson.

Henderson joins the newly appointed in-house SGA radio promotion team, which includes Mara Sidweber (West Coast, Southwest), Chuck Swaney (Midwest, Southwest), Neda Tobin (Southeast) and Paul Williams (Northeast).

Katie Armiger to Release Fourth Album

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Katie Armiger will release her fourth studio album Fall Into Me Jan. 15 on Cold River Records. Armiger had a hand in writing all 14 tracks on the album and worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Chad Carlson on the project. Fall Into Me will include Armiger’s current single “Better In A Black Dress,” which is her first Top 40 charting song.

“We took our time making this record because I had a personal story to tell and as a songwriter I wanted to really showcase the past two years in the music,” said Armiger. “I worked with so many amazing people for the album and I am so proud of it because I think everyone will relate to each song. I cannot wait to get it out there.”

Armiger worked with several songwriters for the album including Blair Daly (Faith Hill, Keith Urban), Joe West (Julianne Hough, Toby Keith), Bruce Wallace (Dierks Bentley, Trace Adkins), and Skid Mills (Saving Abel, Sister Hazel). She is currently out on the Get Smart Tour sponsored by Great American Country (GAC) through the end of November.

Benefit News

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Black River Entertainment is offering a free download of the song “What Would You Take” to encourage donations to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. The song was penned by hitmakers Doug Johnson and Steve Diamond. In the spirit of expediting the process, Black River Entertainment has made the song available to radio and media outlets for their use. Please visit www.whatwouldyoutake.com to make a donation and download the song for free.

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A benefit for the children of late songplugger Shannon Martin Hunter will be held tonight (11/12) at Margaritaville. Set to perform are Ashley Gorley, Chuck Jones, JoAnna Janét, Melissa Peirce, Mark Alan Springer, Arlos Smith and Phil Barton.

Hunter passed away suddenly in March at age 39. She spent several years working on Music Row in the late ’90’s with stops at Hamstein, Masville Music, and Malaco Music Group. She left Malaco to relocate to Maine and focus on raising a family. All proceeds from this event will go to Shannon’s four young children who have since relocated back to the Nashville area. Show is 7:00 – 9:00 PM, with a $10 donation at the door.

 

New Signings (11/12/12)

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Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet

Nashville-based roots label Compass Records has signed Grammy Award-winning Cajun group BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. The band has begun working on its Compass debut album From Bamako to Carencro, due out in early 2013.

The title refers to to the cultural connections between Bamako, Mali and Carencro, outside Lafayette, Louisiana, but musically it will explore even further. “BeauSoleil has brought Cajun/Creole-rooted music to the world since 1975, and Nashville and the land of the bayous have been sharing musicians and songs since the early 1920s. I’m looking forward to expanding and retelling some of these musical occurrences on our new Compass release,” says Doucet.

Band leader Doucet previously collaborated with Compass on the Fiddlers 4 album with Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky, and Rushad Eggleston in 2002.

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Fellow Louisianan and soul singer Marc Broussard has signed a recording agreement with Vanguard Records. Broussard’s new album A Life Worth Living, which pays tribute to the singer’s late grandmother, will be released in early 2013. He also has one upcoming tour stop scheduled for Wednesday (11/14) at Yoshi’s in San Francisco.

Broussard is the son of former Boogie Kings guitarist Ted Broussard. He has toured with Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, and more.