Weekly Register: Navigating The Holiday Highway To 2013

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As we prepare to load up the sleigh and head over the river and through the dale to Grandmother’s house for the annual turkey fest there’s several thoughts running through our mind. We think about that favorite casserole we’re looking forward to, a glass (or two) of Granny’s homemade rum-filled eggnog and yes, we wonder, “What about country sales?”

For the week ended 11-18-12, country scanned 901k album units. To break even with last year we now need to sell 1.257 million per week for each of the six weeks remaining in the 2012 sales season. This should be quite achievable, especially with two more Big Machine debuts lined up Rascal Flatts (11/19) and Florida Georgia Line (12/4) to help boost totals. (Country albums sold 2.2 million in the last week of 2011.)

Chartwise, country holds few surprises this week, except for the No. 7 debut from Aaron Lewis (21k). The lineup includes Swift (No. 1; 144k and nearing the 2 million mark), Aldean (No. 2; 40k) and then three holiday offerings from Lady A (No. 3; 34k), Shelton (No. 4; 29k) and McCreery (No. 5; 23k). Little Big Town (No. 6; 21k), Underwood (No. 8; 16k), Bryan (No. 9;16k) and Church (No. 10; 14k) round out the Top 10.

Clicking over to the country tracks department we see Florida Georgia Line reigning again this week with “Cruise” notching 80k more units and hitting Platinum status. The duo’s upcoming album debut is rumored to hit impressive 60-90k first week numbers which could make this act one of the year’s brightest success stories.

TEA Updates
MusicRow’s TEA Index sums physical, digital and TEA albums (track equivalent albums; 10 tracks=1 album) then calculates the percentage of total album sales that come from TEA. The idea is to measure the TEA effect against total album sales. (The numbers are gathered by industry sources from Nielsen SoundScan.) As a baseline, the 2011 full year TEA Index was 25% country and 27.7% all-genre.

After staying pretty flat for most of the year the TEA Index dipped in November to 29.07%. (See graph below.) We expect it will shrink further in December, before rising sharply in January. More album buyers come into the marketplace during the holiday season and tend to choose physical product for gifts. Those that do purchase digital gift cards, give them out under the Christmas tree, and so January TEA jumps as they get redeemed song by song.

Looking at a few of the underlying Country TEA Index numbers through 11-18-12, albums scanned 35.38 million units and track downloads totaled 145 million. Comparing the current stats (29.07%) to last year’s base line number (25%) shows a continued mouse-driven shift in consumer buying habits.

As our Thanksgiving sleigh merrily slides across the frozen tundra, it’s probably best to let some of the big picture issues facing our industry wait until we return from the holiday. For example, margins and profits?

In the meantime, be safe, hug your loved ones and enjoy the moment.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tracy Lawrence Hosts Annual “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry

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With the help of friends on Tuesday (11/20), Tracy Lawrence celebrated another successful year frying more than 500 turkeys that will be served to thousands this Thanksgiving holiday.

Since 2006, Tracy Lawrence “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry has brought in an estimated 6,500 turkeys and provided more than 40,000 meals to the Nashville Rescue Mission to feed the homeless.

Teams of volunteers and sponsors such as Sam’s Club, NFL Titans, and members of the U.S. Coast Guard worked together to accomplish the mission. The NFL Titans cheerleaders cheered as people came to make donations while Lawrence’s music friends cooked turkeys for the cause.

“I am blessed to have so many friends who share the same passion that I do for those in need during the holidays,” said Lawrence. “From volunteers who labored all day to the person who came by to drop off a turkey, they all have contributed to the success of this event and I am very thankful for them.”

Pictured with Tennessee Titans (L-R): Ryan Mouton, Nate Washington, Tracy Lawrence, Rob Bironas, and Jordan Babineaux. Photo: Alex Torrez

Lawrence with U.S. Coast Guard members Chad Phillips, Commander Bob Helton, James Alter, Kevin Nicley, Brian Hunter, and Chris Snyder. Photo: Ryan Malone

Lawrence with the Sam's Club Team Photo: Alex Torrez

Jon Pardi Seeks Ultimate Party Animal in Contest

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Jon Pardi is gearing up to award a trip for two to his “End of the World Party” in Chicago on 12/21/12 through a contest on his Facebook page.

Known for his high energy stage performances, the Capitol Records Nashville artist seeks like-minded fans to send in photos that answer the question “Are You A Pardi Animal?” Personally chosen by Pardi, the grand prize winner and guest will receive airfare and hotel accommodations for the “predicted” end of the world in a party he will host at Joe’s on Weed Street.

The top 10 finalists who receive the most fan votes by Dec. 5 will receive an autographed copy of Pardi’s single, “Missin’ You Crazy.”

“We’ve named this the Year of the Pardi and if the world is really going to end that day, I can’t think of a better place to be than Joe’s on Weed,” said Pardi.

Pardi is currently touring on the Tie One On Tour with Frankie Ballard and Miss Willie Brown in support “Missin’ You Crazy.”

Snapshots (11/21/2012)

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(L-R): Tamara Saviano, Wendy Stamberger, Jeannie Naujeck, Kay Clary, busted photobomber Sherod Robertson, Taylor Holliday, Abby White. Photo: Steve Lowry

Kay Clary and Jody Williams

BMI hosted two-parties-in-one on Fri., Nov. 16. The event was a going away party for BMI’s Executive Director, Media Relations Kay Clary and an album release party for soul singer Charles Walker. He performed with a band featuring Charles Treadway, Pat Bergeson and Pete Abbott.

After the show, a reception was held for industry members to bid farewell to Clary who exited BMI after seven years of service. BMI, VP Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI VP, Writer-Publisher Relations Jody Williams says, “Kay Clary is a treasure.” And we all couldn’t agree more.

• • • •

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently (11/17) honored Billy Sanford in its quarterly series Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians. Sanford played on hits for the Oak Ridge Boys (“Elvira”), Roy Orbison (“Oh, Pretty Woman”), Kenny Rogers (“The Gambler”), Keith Whitley (“I’m No Stranger to the Rain”) and many others. Sanford is a longtime member of Don Williams’ band.

(L-R): Bob Moore, program host Bill Lloyd, Reggie Young, Jerry Kennedy, Jimmy Capps, Chip Young, Billy Sanford, Pig Robbins, Weldon Myrick, Wayne Moss, Norbert Putnam, Vice President of Museum Programs Jay Orr. Photo: Donn Jones

• • • •

Monthly concert series 45rpm saluted Connie Smith during a special installment on Nov. 7. The event was held at Douglas Corner. Created by steel guitar player Mike Johnson, songwriter Jimmy Melton, and UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, 45rpm highlights the great artists, songs, songwriters and producers from the ’60s and ’70s such as Mel Street, Don Williams, Gary Stewart, Gene Watson and Tammy Wynette. The band is led by Johnson and Melton, and includes some of Nashville’s top studio musicians.

(L-R): Mark Johnson, Cyndi Forman, Mike Johnson, Connie Smith and Jimmy Melton. Photo: Lisa Melton

DISClaimer: Carrie Underwood Rules (11/21/12)

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Carrie revs up.

Carrie Underwood rules. The Oklahoma-bred gal who cleverly calls her publishing company Carrie Okie has absolutely no challengers this week. She stands tall with the undisputed Disc of the Day.

Jay Jolley is a Detroit-area keyboardist and singer who has opened for many big names in the Midwest. His “It’s a Friday Thing” earns him the DisCovery Award for this edition.

THE CADILLAC BLACK/Get Your Buzz On
Writer: none listed; Producer: The Cadillac Black; Publisher: none listed; TCB (track)
—The guys in this Southern-rock trio used to be in the super Nashville pop/rock band American Bang. Their debut as a country act sounds like they haven’t drifted too far from their roots. This rocks in a party kinda way. Look for The Cadillac Black in upcoming episodes of TV’s Nashville. (Did you catch Lindi Ortega doing her new single on the show last week?)BIG & RICH/Party Like Cowboyz
Writer: John Rich/Big Kenny; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: J. Money/Kobalt/Big Love, ASCAP/BMI; Warner Bros.  
—And speaking of party, these two practically patented the country-boys-on-a-rampage thang. This is straight from their typical playbook, complete with sung/spoken passages, screaming guitars and stomping beats.

AMBER HAYES/Any Day Is a Good Day
Writer: Amber Hayes/Bill Diluigi/J.P. Williams; Producer: Paul Compton; Publisher: Okie Girl/888 Red/Rio Bravo/Blonde Leading Blind, ASCAP/BMI; AOK  
—Simply lovely. Her sweetly wistful singing voice is perfectly framed by an airy production and pristinely placed harmony vocals. Plus, it has a message to warm your soul. I could definitely get used to listening to this wafting through the radio speakers.

AARON WATSON/Real Good Time
Writer: none listed; Producer: Aaron Watson, Sam Seifert & Wes Hightower; Publisher: none listed; HTK 
—Aaron Watson has rounded up a bevy of impressive guest stars on his new CD. Pat Green, Elizabeth Cook, Willie Nelson, John Anderson and Kevin Fowler all drop by. But on the set’s title tune, Mr. Watson is on his own. It’s a rapid romp with a pace that’s almost tongue tripping. Guitar and fiddle notes splatter all over the place.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Two Black Cadillacs
Writer: Carrie Underwood/Josh Kear/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Carrie Okie/Global Dog/Big Yellow Dog/Lunalight/Words & Music/Raylene/BMG Crysalis, BMI/ASCAP; Arista
—Very atmospheric and mysterious. The brooding, swirling production surrounds her full-throated singing of a tale about a wife and a mistress evidently teaming up to do away with the man who deceived them.

NO JUSTICE/Shot in the Dark
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; NME/Smith Entertainment 
—Country-rock music with a slightly muddy sound. I’d have upped the tempo a tad and tweaked the tuning.

BUCK NECK-ED/Backroads
Writer: Cowboy/Bad News; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Raw
—Of the song’s co-writers, “Cowboy” is Chad Kaltenberg and “Bad News” apparently doesn’t have any other name. The band sounds competent enough, but the production is dreadful. “Garage” would be a compliment. Get a studio and a producer.

JAY JOLLEY/It’s a Friday Thing
Writer: Bill Edwards; Producer: Chuck Alkazian; Publisher: Edwardsongs, ASCAP; Double J (CDX) 
—With its menacing guitar work and minor-key melody, this has a cool “outlaw” vibe. Darkly compelling. Well done.

TYLER STEPHENS/Freedom Don’t Come Free
Writer: Scott Patrick/Courtney Patrick; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: Aria/Five Star Country, BMI; Big Appal (CDX) 
—He sings flat and slurs his words.

OUTBOUND ROAD/Home to Me
Writer: B. Shannon/B. Vames/A. Jannotti; Producer: Alan Stein; Publisher: Cannon Biggs, BMI; Lure (CDX) 
—It seems to take forever to get to the title line. The gist of the power ballad is that big-city life isn’t for him.

Nine North Adds Northeast Regional

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Jay McCarthy has joined the Nine North/Turnpike team as Director of Promotion, Northeast. McCarthy is on the job now, reporting to Nine North/Turnpike President Larry Pareigis.

“I could not be happier to bring a player of Jay’s caliber aboard,” Pareigis said. “We’ve all been friends a long time, so given his extensive background in Country radio, the music industry and artist management, this was a move that was absolutely hand-in-glove.”

McCarthy’s career includes radio experience in Binghamton, NY; Ocala, FL; and Phoenix, AZ. Following his time in radio, McCarthy joined the Red Light Management team in Nashville to work with Tim McGraw. He also founded sagethree, a strategic marketing and branding firm.

Congratulate him on the new gig here or at 602-321-4945.

Charlie Cook On Air: Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is this week and I am going to continue my “List of Thanks” today and this weekend. This has not been the easiest year for many folks in our associated businesses but there are still a lot of reasons to be thankful.

1. 1.2 million sales for the debut week of Red by Taylor Swift. This is not going to right the ship on Music Row but it does let us know there are things that can move the record buying consumer. Record executives are quick to blame “stealing the music” as the reason for the drop in sales. Maybe content has something to do with it and not enough recorded music is moving the masses. Maybe better marketing would play a bigger role.

2. The CMA and the real driver, VP of Membership Brandi Simms, for leading the way for the “Year of Country Radio.” Every Country radio station in America, each program director and station general manager received a complimentary CMA membership for 2012. Hopefully they learned that the CMA has a great deal to offer to members and it starts with the incredible research led by Karen Stump.

3. Both of the trade organizations, the CMA and ACM, have charitable arms reaching into the industry and way beyond. We should be thankful for what the CMA does for the Nashville music in schools initiative. But I want to give a special shout-out to the ACM Lifting Lives charity. The ACM has redefined itself around the good deeds that LL does throughout the year. You will see an even more aggressive approach in the coming years.

4. Scott Borchetta. See No. 1. Scott absolutely thinks outside of the box. I don’t know if Scott has people he answers to. I guess everyone does. I suspect though that he is not constrained by the same kind of corporate rules as chiefs at other majors and maybe that is why he is doing things differently. Whatever the reason, he is opening doors that the rest of us can have access to in the future. The Taylor Swift Red marketing plan for radio/TV/print/online, etc. was EVERYWHERE. Whether the ClearChannel deal is good for both parties, who knows, but hoorah for doing something.

5. We should give thanks to the regulators for allowing the EMI/UMG combination. This makes for a stronger entity that means even more for Nashville as there is a steady hand in place. Mike Dungan has been a leader in town for many years. I have yet to meet anyone who dislikes him.

6. The FCC, and particularly new commissioner Ajit Pai, who is single handedly trying to improve AM radio transmission. I get that the FCC is bigger than broadcast but chairman Genachowski has been deaf to our problems while he tries to insure that every democrat in America has wireless access. Now that his friend/boss is not running again, this may not remain job number one.

7. To every employer who continues to believe that having live voices on the radio and smart, hard working promotion people out on the stump is the best way to build enthusiasm about artists among the record buying and radio listening public.

8. Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Eric Church and the particularly good year of newcomers in the format. Jana Kramer, Florida Georgia Line, Kip Moore and all the other new acts that are scoring top 5 songs in 2012. And this doesn’t even include new acts that have yet to achieve chart success, like Austin Webb, Gwen Sebastian and High Valley. This bodes well for a great 2013 and beyond.

9. Let’s give thanks for having people like Rusty Walker in our lives and business. It was too short but God has plans for all of us and Rusty was called home to be with two of his children. Still if you, like I, think occasionally of him, it is good to remember his strengths.

10. I leave No. 10 to you. Just take a minute and think about what you’re thankful for this year. It is valuable to say “thank you” out loud… so go ahead.

Happy Thanksgiving.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)

The Insider’s View: The Peach Pickers

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(L-R): Warner/Chappell Nashville Exec. VP Ben Vaughn, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, This Music's GM/Partner Rusty Gaston

Presented by Avenue Bank, Belmont University’s Insider’s View seminar series was held earlier this month spotlighting the rise of hit songwriters the Peach Pickers (Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip) and the team that helped them achieve success. Moderated by Harry Chapman and Avenue Bank’s Sr. VP Ron Cox, Hayslip, Akins, This Music’s GM/Partner Rusty Gaston and Warner/Chappell Nashville Exec. VP Ben Vaughn spoke to the packed room about the importance of “Building a Team of Trusted Advisors.”

The Peach Pickers have penned a long list of hits including Frankie Ballard‘s “A Buncha Girls,” Blake Shelton‘s “All About Tonight,” Josh Turner‘s “All Over Me,” Joe Nichols‘ “Gimmie That Girl” and “The Shape I’m In,” Luke Bryan‘s “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” and many more.

The event took place at the Massey Performing Arts Center on the campus of Belmont and was filmed for Public Television to be aired in December and January.

McBride Helps Raise $35,000 for Musicians On Call

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Republic Nashville’s Martina McBride, performed to a sold out Hard Rock Cafe Nashville crowd on Fri., Nov. 16 with all proceeds directly benefitting Musicians On Call (MOC) Nashville. The non-profit brings music to the bedsides of patients in six area healthcare facilities. Breaking MOC Nashville fundraising records for a single event, the benefit amassed over $35,000 all of which will be used to support the MOC Nashville branch and help to continue and expand its Bedside Performance Programs. The funds were raised from ticket sales, a silent auction, and a unique online auction that afforded one lucky winner the opportunity to join McBride on stage for a song to which winning bidder, Lyndsi Riley, chose “This One’s for the Girls.”

“We could not imagine a better way to celebrate our fifth anniversary in Nashville. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see such an icon perform in an intimate setting,” shared Katy Epley, MOC Nashville’s Program Director. “Martina and her entire team could not have been more gracious or supportive of our efforts to bring the healing power of music to the bedsides of patients.”

McBride, who also sang her current hit “I’m Gonna Love Your Through It,” said, “I was so happy to be a part of the fifth anniversary of Musicians On Call in Nashville. We put together an eclectic set list of hits mixed with some of our favorite album cuts for a show that was one-of-a-kind. It’s a great organization doing important work and I was proud to be a part of that very special evening.”

Visit www.MusiciansOnCall.org for more information on upcoming events or on how to donate or volunteer.

The Roys Set Sail, Join Pink Arrow Project

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Brother and sister duo, The Roys, are sounding “last call” for Danny Stewart’s Bluegrass Cruise on Carnival Cruise Line’s spectacular ship, Sensation, January 20-24. Bluegrass lovers will enjoy a seafaring festival including jam sessions and workshops. Joining Lee and Elaine Roy will be Bluegrass artists Dave Nichols Band, The Spinney Brothers, Nu-Blu and Ernie Evans & The Florida Bluegrass Band.

The vessel departs from Port Canaveral, Florida, and ports of call include the islands of Freeport and Nassau. Fans can reserve their spot here.

The Roys have also joined the Pink Arrow Project organization to help raise awareness of their cancer fighting campaign. What began as an organization of Archers Helping Archers has now expanded into helping cancer survivors and their families outside the archery community and funding ground-breaking cancer research.

“We are so proud to have brother-sister duo, Lee and Elaine Roy, help represent the Pink Arrow Project,” said Mary J. Hale, Founder and CEO of the Pink Arrow Project. “They are such sweet and talented people, and we are so happy to have them on board. We recently announced The Roys’ label-mate and acclaimed vocalist Carrie Hassler as our first musical artist to help introduce our organization to the music world. We are extremely proud to have The Roys also bringing awareness to folks that might otherwise never have known about our project. “