LifeNotes (2/15/13)

Our condolences to Brian King (of Average Joes Entertainment country duo The LACS), who lost his father recently. Charles M. King, 58, passed away Feb. 1. He was retired from International Paper and enjoyed fishing and talking politics.

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Theresa Kicklighter King; three sons, Wayne Strickland and his wife Dawn, Jason C. King, Brian King and his wife Nicole; five grandchildren, Austin Strickland, Ian Williams, Hailey Williams, Haydyn King and Coltyn King; two brothers, Joe King, Jeff Aldrich and his wife Leigh; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

• • •

martin earnest simmons1

Martin Simmons


Our condolences to Earle Simmons, Vice President and Client Advisor with SunTrust Bank, who lost his father. Martin Ernest Simmons of Nashville passed away Feb. 13 at age 73.
He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Judith “Judy” Fingerle Simmons; children, Jay Carter Simmons (Amy) of Atlanta, Alison Simmons Wingo (John) and Martin Earle Simmons (Mary Katherine) of Nashville. He is also survived by grandchildren, John McLemore Wingo, William Reed Wingo, Emma Corinne Wingo, Margaret Aline Simmons and Corinne Chapin Simmons all of Nashville.
See the full obituary here.
 
 

Weekly Chart Report (2/15/13)


SPIN ZONE

Sarah Darling continues to visit radio in support of her No. 31 single, "Home To Me." Recently, Darling spent time in Portland, OR with KUPL and KWJJ. Darling kicked off the "Scotty McCreery Weekend Road Trip Tour 2013" yesterday, (2/14) in Bethlehem, PA at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center Pictured (L-R):  Brian Fee (Black River), Sarah Darling; B-Dub (KUPL's APD/MD/afternoons); and Greg McCarn (Black River)

Sarah Darling continues to visit radio in support of her No. 31 single, “Home To Me.” Recently, Darling spent time in Portland, OR with KUPL and KWJJ. Darling kicked off the “Scotty McCreery Weekend Road Trip Tour 2013” yesterday, (Feb. 14) in Bethlehem, Pa. at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center. Pictured (L-R): Brian Fee (Black River), Sarah Darling; B-Dub (KUPL’s APD/MD/afternoons); and Greg McCarn (Black River)


Note to songwriters: perhaps putting the word “Two” in your song is a good thing. The Band Perry topped the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart with “Better Dig Two” a few weeks ago, and this week Carrie Underwood‘s “Two Black Cadillacs” sits atop the summit of the MusicRow chart.
Tim McGraw‘s “One of Those Nights” (from his album Two Lanes of Freedom…sensing a pattern here?) sits at No. 2, while Taylor Swift‘s “Begin Again” rises two spots to No. 3. Kacey Musgraves‘ “Merry Go Round” holds steady at No. 4 while Toby Keith‘s “Hope On The Rocks” rounds out the Top 5. Lee Brice‘s “I Drive Your Truck” keeps rolling toward the upper echelon of the chart, coming in at No. 6. Chris Young‘s “I Can Take It From There” gains momentum this week, jumping from No. 10 to No. 7. Hunter Hayes‘ “Somebody’s Heartbreak” is in the No. 9 spot. New to the Top 10 this week are Blake Shelton‘s “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” entering the Top 10 at No. 8 with 264 additional spins and Miranda Lambert‘s “Mama’s Broken Heart,” lands at No. 10.
Big movers this week include Kenny Chesney‘s “Pirate Flag,” adding 590 spins and and jumping from No. 34 to No. 22. Lady Antebellum‘s “Downtown” makes a cool climb from No. 23 to No. 15. Greg Bates‘ “Fill In The Blank” makes a steady climb to No. 46  with 216 added spins. Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” lands in the No. 6 spot with 215 added spins.
There are several debuts on the chart this week, including Parmalee‘s “Carolina” at No. 74, Kristen Kelly‘s “He Loves To Make Me Cry” at No. 75, Joe Bachman‘s “Small Town Rock Stars” at No. 79 and Jacob Martin Band‘s “Wraparound Porch” at No. 80.
Frozen Playlists: KGMN, KWEY

Upcoming Singles
February 18
Jaida Dreyer/Half Broke Horses/Streamsound Records
Kristen Kelly/He Loves to Make Me Cry/Arista
Rachel Farley/Ain’t Easy/Red Bow
Gretchen Wilson/Still Rollin’/Redneck Records
February 25
Maggie Rose/Better/RPME
Tyler Farr/Redneck Crazy/Columbia
Jenna Jentry/Lovin’ Lazy/Circle 4-Nine North-Turnpike
Jason Charles Miller/The Way You Still Want Me/Render
March 4
Randy Houser/Runnin’ Outta Moonlight/Stoney Creek
March 11
Tate Stevens/Power Of A Love Song/Syco Music-RCA

 High Valley

Jaida try 1

 
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Parmalee/Carolina/Stoney Creek Records – 74
Kristen Kelly/He Loves To Make Me Cry/Arista Nashville – 75
Joe Bachman/Small Town Rock Stars/Joe Bachman – 79
Jacob Martin Band/Wraparound Porch/Jacob Martin Band – 80
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Kenny Chesney/Pirate Flag/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 18
Greg Bates/Fill In The Blank/Republic Nashville – 15
Kip Moore/Hey Pretty Girl/MCA – 14
Tyler Farr/Redneck Crazy/Columbia Nashville – 10
Ash Bowers/Red/Wide Open Records 10
Randy Houser/Runnin’ Outta Moonlight/Stoney Creek Records – 9
Coleman Brothers/Lonely In The Lonestar State/Fishing Hole Records – 9
Jake Owen/Anywhere With You/RCA – 8
Joel Crouse/If You Want Some/Show Dog-Universal – 7
Outshyne/Dirt Road Romance/MillStar Entertainment Group – 7
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/Pirate Flag/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 590
Lady Antebellum/Downtown/Capitol Nashville – 497
Blake Shelton/Sure Be Cool If You Did/Warner Bros. – 264
Greg Bates/Fill In The Blank/Republic Nashville – 216
Lee Brice/I Drive Your Truck/Curb – 215
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Stephanie Grace/Would U Be Mine/SMG – 152
Kelly Parkes/As Good As Me/Edge Records – 151
Jordan Anderson/Toxic/GTR – 146
Mumford & Sons/I Will Wait/Glassnote – 141
Randy Houser/Runnin’ Outta Moonlight/Stoney Creek Records – 140
 

LMG artist Josh Pruno (blue hat) recently visited KTJJ’s Kirk Mooney (Front, Right) and the staff at J98. Pruno is artist with blue hat. His guitarist Micheal Blakemore is in the center. Pruno lands at No. 50 this week with “23rd Psalm.”

LMG artist Josh Pruno (blue hat) recently visited KTJJ’s Kirk Mooney (Front, Right) and the staff at J98. Pruno lands at No. 50 this week with “23rd Psalm.”


Marco Promotions recently celebrated with Jerry Duncan Promotions after presenting plaques for the Florida Georgia Line No. 1 party for "Cruise.” Pictured (L-R): Lisa Smoot, Jerry Duncan, Jeff Walker, Rick Kelly, James Freeman, and Sarah Matlock

Marco Promotions recently celebrated with Jerry Duncan Promotions after presenting plaques for the Florida Georgia Line No. 1 party for “Cruise.” Pictured (L-R): Lisa Smoot, Jerry Duncan, Jeff Walker, Rick Kelly, James Freeman, and Sarah Matlock


Before playing the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Toby Keith visited with KCYY/PD & Cox Media VP of Country Programming, Randy Chase. Keith’s “Hope on the Rocks” takes our No. 5 spot this week. Pictured (L-R): Greg Sax (SDU), Toby Keith, and Randy Chase.

Before playing the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Toby Keith visited with KCYY/PD & Cox Media VP of Country Programming, Randy Chase. Keith’s “Hope on the Rocks” takes our No. 5 spot this week. Pictured (L-R): Greg Sax (SDU), Toby Keith, and Randy Chase.


 
 
 

Artist Snapshots (2/15/13)

Several artists, including Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, took part in the Music Preservation Project at the Saban Theater on Feb. 7 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

grammy shot1

Pictured (L to R): Yolanda Adams; Rodney Crowell; Buddy Leach; Emmylou Harris; Jim Suhler; Bill Blough; Kristen Madsen; Neil Portnow; Multi-George Thorogood; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Lianne La Havas; Jeff Simon; Ann Marie Simpson; Scott Goldman; Chair Member Rusty Rueff; Guy Sebastian; Lupe Fiasco; Ed Sheeran; Mike Einziger; George J. Flanigen IV

• • •

Eric Church and Colt Ford have been touring Canada since mid-January on Church’s “The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour.”

Colt with Eric Church

Pictured (L-R): Colt Ford and Eric Church

• • •

High Valley’s Curtis Rempel took time out for a good cause prior to a show at WXBQ in Bristol, Va. Rempel gave a little love at a blood drive at the Paramont before the Valentine’s Day show.

highvalleyblood1

High Valley’s Curtis Rempel


 
 
 

'Country Comes To New York' Panel Added To CRS 2013

Lew Dickey

Lew Dickey


Country Radio Seminar has added the panel, “Country Comes To New York – A Conversation With Lew Dickey,” to its agenda of educational workshops for CRS 2013.
Journalist Phyllis Stark and RJ Curtis will lead the discussion with CEO and Chairman of Cumulus Media, Lew Dickey. The discussion is expected to cover the recent re-launch of a Country station in New York City as well as the implications for the genre after a decade of absence from the city. Other items to be covered include the new NASH brand and the company’s overall commitment to the country format.
Dickey co-founded Cumulus in 1997 and has built the company to become the second largest radio broadcasting company in America. Cumulus employs over 7,000 people with revenue of $1.2 billion. Dickey also founded Stratford Research in 1985, which provides market research and strategy consulting to the radio and television industries. He is also the author of The Franchise – Building Radio Brands.
The CRS panel is set for Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 from 11:00 – 11:50 a.m. in room 208 of the Nashville Convention Center.
CRS 2013 will be held Feb. 27 – March 1, 2013, in downtown Nashville, Tenn. Friday, Feb. 15 is the deadline to purchase registrations at the $499 regular rate in addition to the $99 unemployment rate expiring.
For more information, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Charlie Cook On Air: Silver Linings

CCook-onair-sm111The good news is that in August of this year we can all start sleeping in late on Saturdays. There will no longer be a concern about rising early to collect your mail. Congratulations to the City of San Francisco for losing the Super Bowl. Collecting the garbage after the parade is just a pain in the neck. Death is never a pleasant topic but think of the labor savings by “Digging Two” at the same time. It all depends on how you look at life. You can spin anything in your favor if you take a minute and think it through.
The businesses we make our living in today are not the businesses we got into years ago. In those days the record companies were flush with money (apparently by the way they spent money on getaways, salaries and contracts). Radio was never really flush with money. Even in the old days many stations barely got by and often did so with trade relationships with local sponsors. Salaries were never high in my end of the radio business. I was making less than $1000 a month when I worked in Denver years ago. The other side to that figure? According to the Department of Labor, my salary back then is equal to $53,000 a year today. Isn’t inflation fun? If only I knew I was doing so well back then. If there are any small market disc jockeys reading this, believe me they are asking where that $53K a year job is.
I am fortunate to have a job. I know that. I love my job(s) and I talk to folks every week that are looking for work. Most often it is not to move up in market size or to make more money. It is because they are out of work. Consolidation took and continues to take a toll on broadcasters. I am not against consolidation. I am not even against voice tracking if done correctly. I am in favor of efficiency. Consolidation and voice tracking are both efficient.
I look at labels and it seems there are less people working music today. It seems the hits came from the upper reaches of labels and folks just moved up without really being replaced below. Of course there are less labels today and thus fewer positions. There are certainly less sales today than 5-10 years ago but that appears to be coming back along with downloads, which is a new pipeline to the consumer.
The businesses we got into years ago are never going to reach the employment levels of the past years. Even if the music business sees resurgence and first week sales for the No. 1 CD jumps from 130,000 to 600,000, the business model is never going to allow for re-staffing. Radio is NEVER going to do away with voice-tracking. It is never going to break up clusters and sell to local broadcasters again.
My company, West Virginia Radio Corporation, owns 32 stations in eight markets with the corporate headquarters in Morgantown, but I can be at any of the clusters in less than three hours. We think of the company as being locally operated, even if there is a corporate structure in place.  I can tell you if the radio business could get back to smaller chunks or at least operated like smaller chunks, they could still deal with efficiencies but expand opportunities going forward.
I know very little about the inner workings of the record business, but it seems from the outside there is still a lot of money spent on things that are not core to the direct success of selling music. It also appears too much is thrown against the wall with a hope it sticks. That just leaves stains on the wall.
But it is good for the janitorial business and think of all of the paint that Sherwin Williams sells. See, with some thought, everything has a silver lining.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)
 
 
 
 
 

LMG, Inc. Gets Music City Center Contract

Music City Center1LMG, Inc., a national provider of video, audio and lighting support, was recently awarded the contract as the onsite, preferred audio visual supplier for the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. LMG, Inc. has offices in Las Vegas, Dallas, Orlando, Fla., Tampa, Fla. and Nashville.
The Music City Center will have its grand opening celebration May 19-20.
LMG signed a multi-year audio visual contract with the Music City Center to support the facility with dedicated onsite staff and equipment. LMG’s new 24,000 square foot Nashville office and warehouse, less than five miles from the Music City Center, opened in October 2012. LMG also operates a Design Studio within walking distance of the Music City Center and provides a hands-on environment for clients to brainstorm and discuss creative ideas.

LMG_Curt Wallen1

Curt Wallen


Curt Wallen has been hired by LMG as an accounts manager for the onsite operation. A resident of Nashville, Wallen has more than 20 years experience supporting event production in venues across the country and will direct the LMG onsite team at the MCC, overseeing client accounts, operations, marketing and business development.
“We are thrilled to announce our new relationship with the Music City Center, and believe this unique facility will elevate Nashville as the next great meeting destination. As a preferred provider at the MCC, we have the opportunity to focus on the Nashville convention market and offer those clients full service, high end video, audio and lighting support for every aspect of their meetings,” said Les Goldberg, CEO/President of LMG.

Kenny Rogers' 'The Gambler' To Be Reissued on Vinyl

the gambler1Kenny Rogers‘ classic album, The Gambler, will be reissued on an 180-gram vinyl on March 12. Mastered for vinyl by Ron McMaster at Capitol Mastering, the album will be packaged in true-to-original LP sleeves with restored artwork.
Released in 1978, The Gambler featured the hit ballad “She Believes In Me” and the iconic title track, which won two Grammy Awards for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male and Best Country Song. The album is certified five-times platinum by the RIAA.
Kenny Rogers: The Gambler
Side 1
1. The Gambler
2. I Wish I Could Hurt That Way Again
3. King of Oak Street
4. Making Music For Money
5. The Hoodooin’ Of Miss Fannie
Side 2
1. She Believes In Me
2. Tennessee Stud
3. Sleep Tight, Goodnight Man
4. A Little More Like Me (The Crucifixion)
5. San Francisco Mabel Joy
 
 

Music Row Toasts Charttopper "Beer Money"

Photo by John Russell" src="https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/trade-Beer-Money-No.-1_02.14.13.jpg" width="570" height="352" /> BMI toasted the team behind Kip Moore’s No. 1 hit “Beer Money."Pictured are (back row, l-r): Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, producer Brett James, Universal Music Nashville’s Royce Risser, manager Shawn McSpadden, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls, Internal Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, and Songs of the Corn’s Nate Lowery; (front row, l-r): co-writer Troy Verges, Kip Moore, co-writer Blair Daly, and BMI’s Perry Howard. Photo by John Russell

BMI toasted the team behind Kip Moore’s No. 1 hit “Beer Money.”
Pictured are (back row, l-r): Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, producer Brett James, Universal Music Nashville’s Royce Risser, manager Shawn McSpadden, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls, Internal Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, and Songs of the Corn’s Nate Lowery; (front row, l-r): co-writers Troy Verges, Kip Moore, and Blair Daly, and BMI’s Perry Howard. Photo by John Russell


Songwriters Blair Daly, Kip Moore and Troy Verges should soon have plenty of “Beer Money” burning holes in their pockets following the recent No. 1. Moore offered to pick up the tab when he sang, “Come on, come on, baby I’m buying.” But BMI and sponsor Avenue Bank let him off the hook today (Feb. 14) by hosting a lunchtime soiree at BMI to toast his second consecutive charttopper as an artist and writer. BMI’s Perry Howard led the proceedings.
Publishers taking the stage to offer and share in the congratulations were UMPG’s Kent Earls, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Combustion’s Chris Farren and Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery. Earls recalled how writers Verges and Daly met 20 years earlier as students at MTSU. After all their time collaborating, “Beer Money” is their first single as co-writers, penned with Moore the day before he went into the studio to record his debut album.
Verges and Daly thanked everyone involved with the song’s success. Daly joked that they waited so long to have a No. 1 because they both hate speaking in public, but assured, “let’s not make it another 20 years.”
UMG promo guru Royce Risser cheered his team members for their strong one-week push to get the track into the top spot. He also explained how Moore pens lengthy hand-written notes to radio programmers and proclaimed, “Kip, you out-work our staff.”
CMA’s Brandi Simms, CRB’s RJ Curtis, and Avenue Bank’s Cooper Samuels also presented honors.
Long known as a hit songwriter, Brett James is Moore’s biggest champion. They first met at the YMCA, where Moore was working and James was working out. James signed him to a publishing deal with Cornman Music, and produced his album. “This is family for me,” said James of the songwriters. “There’s nothing like celebrating a No. 1 with three of your best friends in the world.”
Moore recalled rough patches earlier in his career, when he lived in run-down apartment and songwriting filled his days off work. “My soul would’ve been dead if it wasn’t for music,” he explained honestly. He offered a long list of thank-yous, starting with James. “Brett James is what this town should still be about…He believed in me. It is that belief that I will never forget.” He also saluted Red Light Management’s Shawn McSpadden, and drew cheers from the audience with his toast to Marc Dennis and his team at CAA: “They wanted me when no one else did—now they look like geniuses.”

Industry Ink (2/14/13)

LMG Tenacity1

Pictured (L-R): Mike Kraski, President of Tenacity; Tracy Lawrence; Alex Torrez, Vice President of Lawrence Music Group

Lawrence Music Group (LMG) has partnered with Tenacity for support services including national radio promotion for the LMG label.

The Tenacity team, led by President Mike Kraski, includes Sr. VP Tim McFadden; David Shaw, Gary Greenberg, and Jeff Davis. The team will provide strategic national radio campaign services for artist Tracy Lawrence. “Stop, Drop And Roll,” written by songwriters Casey Beathard and Brandon Kinney, is the first single from Lawrence’s forthcoming studio album Headlights Taillights And Radios, set to release summer 2013.
“We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Tracy and the Lawrence Music Group team,” said Kraski, “To be associated with an artist of his stature is an honor and to be able to work some of the best music he’s ever recorded is an absolute thrill.”

• • •

ringside

Pictured (L-R): Jon Stone of duo American Young, Lee Brice (Curb Records), Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Chris Janson (Bigger Picture Group), Jay Hamby (Lucchese, director of retail), and Allen Mitchell (Bigger Picture promotion). Photo: Karen Will Rogers.


Former World Boxing Association lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini joined radio promoters Damon Moberly (Mercury Nashville), Keith Gale (RCA), Jimmy Rector (EMI Nashville) and EJ Bernas (Bigger Picture Group) at Lucchese in the Gulch recently for a sponsor party for the ninth annual Ringside: A Fight for Kids boxing gala event. Ringside: A Fight For Kids will take place March 8 at The Factory in Franklin. Lucchese is a Ringside co-sponsor.
Several artists and songwriters attended in support of the event, including Jon Stone, Lee Brice, and Chris Janson.

• • •

solid_latest4SOLID‘s Music Row Madness Bowling Tournament benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN is slated for March 20 at the Hillwood Strike & Spare, from 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m. Music industry professionals are invited to register a team of five to six co-workers or friends for a night of bowling, beer and fun. All teams are encouraged to raise as much as possible and are asked to have a team goal of $750. All proceeds go directly to BBBS. The event will also feature several awards given throughout the evening, including prizes for Best Dressed Team, Most Creative Team Name, Most Money Raised and Highest Bowling Score.

Register your team at www.tnbowling.org/musicrowmadness. If you have any questions about the event or how to sign-up, email Erik Blumenfeld.

The Band Perry Reveals Sophomore Album Title, Cover

The Band Perry revealed the title to its forthcoming second album–Pioneer— and released the image for the album’s cover. Pioneer releases April 2 on Republic Nashville. The trio made the announcement via a clever countdown video (watch the clip below).
The first single from the album, “Better Dig Two,” stayed at No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart for three weeks.
tbpcover111
http://youtu.be/XElxkz_nq7I