Charlie Cook On Air: Apple vs. Pandora

/by

CCook-onair-sm111Things move so quickly today that staying on top of things has you about two steps behind.  My favorite saying is being on time makes you 15 minutes late. The same can be said for being in the music and radio business today.
There are those leading the way. Scott Borchetta and Bob Pittman sat down together somewhere about a year ago and changed the relationship between records and radio. Both have continued to forge relationships to benefit their respective companies today and into the future. Scott found a new revenue source that came without anyone feeling that they were being pressured to hand over money under duress. Mr. Pittman, with the biggest gun in the fight, guaranteed he would have ammunition at a controlled cost going forward.
Now CBS is rolling out its guns and CEO Dan Mason has deftly tied his Top 40 radio stations into his imitative to the record industries. Naming the project Amplify ties nicely into the Amp CBS Top 40 stations. CBS has also brought to the table some new things in long form programming for both the businesses’ superstars with a promise to help emerging acts.
A lot of this is being done to put a lid on future streaming costs for the terrestrial companies. Understandable when you look at the costs being paid by Pandora, Spotify and iHeart for streaming. If you know the expenditure for streaming, you have ask yourself if the costs make it possible to believe the concept can ever financially work. But Apple is getting in the game.
The labels cut a questionable deal with Apple for iTunes and now they want to get it all back with iRadio. iTunes redesigned the music purchasing world. It replaced a business that was probably at a tipping point of failure anyhow but it certainly killed the CD concept and Apple keeps much of the money. Apple is mulling iRadio which is not really radio as we know it more like iHeart and Pandora. Apple would like to duplicate the financial advantage they have with iTunes. They proposed paying half of Pandora’s cost and less than a third of what iHeart and Spotify pays today.
Apple comes into the game as the biggest player in the world. Yeah all of the other services play on their equipment but they control the landscape and can tie everything they do into iRadio. Apple has also already proven they can move the needle. I mean whose stock would you rather own? Apple? Pandora?
Is it worth a 50-70 percent discount? Only the record companies are going to be able to determine that. They have a profitable partner in Apple, unlike the other streaming services. And this is before Apple has trained their sights on Pandora and iHeart. If you were going to bet on one, maybe two, in the next 10 years where does your money go? Pandora generated less than $400M in ad revenue last year. They say they have eight percent of US listening. Terrestrial radio did $15B. Radio sales works on a power ratio formula. If you have an 8 share in the market you should be taking eight percent of the revenue of the market for a power ratio of 1.
What should eight percent of the listening in the US mean to Pandora? Eight percent is $1.92B. Where is that going to come from? Terrestrial radio continues to grow, albeit slowly, every year.
Are there enough sales people to generate this kind of money? I estimate there are 30,000 radio sales people for Terrestrial radio. Sales people, particularly ones selling air and brands, are not under every rock. Even Apple doesn’t have enough blue shirts to go around. They do have revenue from millions of iPhones every quarter, fees from all of the cell phone companies, every non-free apple app and the majority of music downloads.
I wouldn’t want to be Pandora or Spotify staring down that barrel.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)
 

Weekly Register: The Soundtrack For Spring Break

/by

It was an up week
On the sales beat.
luke200Luke Bryan’s Spring Break…Here To Party popped the debut keg, rising to the top of the Current Country and Top 200 Album charts floating on a sea of springtime suds, bikini clad sun worshippers and almost 150k units sold…
Bryan’s highly successful Spring Break series began five years ago as a musical extra conceived by his label’s marketing department to help engage fans and give them additional music in between full scale releases. This year for the first time, his Spring Break offering is a full length, 14-track project containing songs from previously released Spring Breaks plus new music. The titles from the annual series—With All My Friends; Hangover Edition; It’s a Shore Thing; and Suntan City—tell you a great deal about the audience and the marketing behind this novel idea.
weeklygrid3-10-13Here To Party has a video, but no radio single. However, considering the Georgia heartthrob’s Dirt Road Diaries Tour, an upcoming CMT Spring Break special and his co-hosting the ACM Awards on April 7, it’s highly likely this music will not be a closely guarded secret.
Bryan’s Tailgates & Tanlines, now sporting 83 weeks on the Current Country chart was No. 9 this week scanning almost 11k units (50 percent digital) and giving the ACM Entertainer nominee two Top Ten titles.
The Rest Of The Story
The Weekly Grid graphs are a quick-look way to absorb the week’s sales story. As you can see, country (-4 percent) is outperforming all genre sales (-7.8 percent) for 2013 YTD but both are in negative territory. County’s stats improved this week while all-genre worsened.
weeklygrid3-3-13Digital country albums as a percentage of total country albums was about 25.4 percent a year ago at this time but more country fans are now choosing digital as shown by the seven percent increase. All-genre digital album sales as a percentage of total album sales, now about 44.8 percent has also grown about seven percent compared to the same period last year.
Ashley Monroe also helped jolt the country tonnage needle this week with her highly-praised debut, Like A Rose. The Pistol Annies suffragette landed at No. 10 with almost 11k units. Interestingly, 75 percent of Monroe’s sales were digital which, while proving her audience demo is techno-savvy, also gives insight about the realities of landing physical product from new artists on America’s rapidly shrinking retail music shelf space.
ashley200And then there is this week’s No. 2 country album, now in its 14th week on the chart with RTD sales of 385,308 units and sporting one of the format’s most incredible success stories—Florida Georgia Line. FGL enjoyed a 21 percent boost in album sales this week, plus lodged two Top 10 tracks in the Digital Genre country tracks chart.
Over in track city, husband Blake Shelton tops wife Miranda Lambert for a second week as the couple’s songs notch No. 1 and 2 respectively. Shelton’s “Sure Be Cool If You Did” added 73k downloads this week for an RTD total of about 647k. “Mama’s Broken Heart” from Miranda added 58k giving her an RTD of 408k.
Two new country tracks entered the Top 10 winners circle. Luke Bryan’s “Buzzkill” (from the Here To Party debut) took No. 5 with over 50k downloads and Kenny Chesney’s “Pirate Flag” was No. 10 with almost 36k new downloads.
Check out the list of upcoming new releases, places your Weekly Register sales bets, and tune in next week…

More Guests Announced for George Jones Final Nashville Show

/by

georgejonesRadio and television personalities Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase, Ralph Emery, Bill Cody, Larry Black, Rick Marino & Lisa Manning, Bill Mack, and Keith Bilbrey are all set to take part in George Jones’ final Nashville concert. The event will be held on Friday, Nov. 22.
“Throughout my career I have made lots of friends,” says Jones. “I would not have had a career that lasted 50 years without all of these great radio personalities. They always were so good to me and always made me feel like I was somebody whether I had a song on the radio or not. I am forever grateful to them.”
In addition, country legend Barbara Mandrell will make a rare appearance to celebrate Jones’ career.
“I love Barbara! She asked me to sing on her song ‘I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool’ in 1981 and that song soon became a #1 record for us. I was honored to be part of her Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony a few years ago, as she is just one of the greatest singers of all time,” adds Jones. “She is not just a good singer, but she is my good friend. I am so happy that Barbara is coming to the Nashville show.”
Although still eight months away, more artists will continue to be announced.

Industry Ink (3-14-13)

/by

Carrie Underwood was recently presented with a plaque commemorating 2 million sales transactions of her smash single and album title track, “Blown Away.”

Pictured (L-R): Caryl Healey, VP, Sales, Sony Music Nashville; Carrie Underwood; Gary Overton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Alaina Vehec, Director, Digital Sales, Sony Music Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Caryl Healey, VP, Sales, Sony Music Nashville; Carrie Underwood; Gary Overton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Alaina Vehec, Director, Digital Sales, Sony Music Nashville.

• • •

camp southern ground logo1Camp Southern Ground has named Rob Parker as the Camp’s first President & CEO, beginning May 1, 2013. Board Chairman and Founder Zac Brown said of Parker’s hiring, “Rob Parker is a great asset to our organization. He is a true leader and has a tremendous appreciation for children and our mission at Camp Southern Ground. We are honored to have him be part of our family.”
Parker, 52, is currently serving as the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, which includes a year-round camp for children and families suffering from cancer. He is also the former CEO of Kiwanis International, and served for twenty years as a senior executive with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

• • •

the sing off1NBC’s “The Sing-Off” returns for Season four and will hold auditions in Nashville on May 4. “The Sing-Off” competition is exclusively for acapella singing groups and has featured a number of Nashville talents, including Jeremy Lister and Jack White bandmate Ruby Amanfu. Nashville auditions will be held at S.I.R. Studios (1101 Cherry Ave.). Doors will open at 9 a.m. and participants are required to register at singoffcasting.com.
There’s currently no word on when the fourth season will air – the show’s official site says “Coming Soon.”

• • •

Country music’s biggest stars and fans are helping to make history by joining the “Sixty For Sixty” movement (#60for60) which celebrates George Strait as he approaches the 60th No. 1 single of his career with “Give It All We Got Tonight,” before his 61st birthday on May 18th. “Sixty For Sixty” first started on Valentine’s Day when fans rallied together on Strait’s Twitter and Facebook pages encouraging local country radio to meet the challenge and spin the record.
Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Josh Turner, Darius Rucker, among others, have joined the “Sixty For Sixty” movement. By visiting www.sixtyforsixty.com, fans can learn how they can help the movement using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
http://youtu.be/J0NBfNnuI-g
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Marcie Allen Named Among T.J. Martell's 'Women of Influence'

/by

woilogoThe T.J. Martell Foundation has announced its Women of Influence Awards to be held Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Riverpark, a Tom Colicchio restaurant in New York City.
MAC Presents president and Beach 119 Director Marcie Allen has been named among the honorees at this year’s awards ceremony. A reception and silent auction will take place from 11:45am – 12:30 p.m. The awards and lunch will be from 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. The awards celebration and luncheon will honor five outstanding women who have achieved tremendous goals in business while balancing work, home and health.
The foundation will honor Allen, along with Joann Camuti, Director, Sales Promotions and Community Relations, American Airlines; Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D. Author of A World Without Cancer: The Making of a New Cure and the Real Promise of Prevention; Liz Smith, famed Journalist, Columnist and Co-Founder of wowOwow.com and Lori Stokes, ABC Eyewitness News Anchor.
Allen is President of New York City-based sponsorship and fulfillment agency MAC Presents and Director/Beach 119. Allen leverages her seventeen years of music industry experience to negotiate high profile sponsorships between the world’s leading brands and artists. Emerging as a leader in the world of music sponsorship, Allen is a seven time nominee and two time winner of Billboard Magazine’s Concert Marketing and Promotion Award. Allen has executed numerous partnerships on behalf of brands including: Jeep’s sponsorship of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s Soul2Soul Tour, McGraw’s tour sponsored by KC Masterpiece/Kingsford, John Mayer’s tour sponsored by BlackBerry and AT&T (2007/2008), Brita’s endorsement with Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban’s tour sponsored by KC Masterpiece/Kingsford, and more. Allen was named to Billboard Magazine’s Women in Music in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
“I am extremely excited about this new event that brings together women to bond, learn about healthy living and cancer prevention and to celebrate Mothers in May,” said Laura Heatherly, CEO of the T.J. Martell Foundation. “This event will raise vital funds for the Foundation’s breast cancer research programs at both Mount Sinai and Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospitals in New York.”
Women of Influence Awards & Luncheon tickets, table sponsors and journal ads can be reviewed by going to the website’s Events Page. Tickets can be purchased here.

BMLG Artists Team For Outnumber Hunger Live! Concert

/by

thebandperryThe Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Florida Georgia Line, Greg Bates and Cassadee Pope are ready to rock for a good cause. AXS TV and Big Machine Label Group will broadcast ‘Outnumber Hunger Live!,’ a two-hour concert special airing from Las Vegas on April 6, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Big Machine Label Group, General Mills and Feeding America have teamed-up for a second consecutive year for Outnumber Hunger, a campaign that helps fight hunger in local communities.
Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry told AXSLive, “One in six Americans struggles with hunger. These people live everywhere. They could be our neighbors. They can be fans at our shows. They are kids in our schools. Hunger is a serious issue and we are proud to raise awareness with our Big Machine labelmates through the Outnumber Hunger Live! concert and  TV special.”
Music fans will have an opportunity to support the initiative, which raises awareness and helps Feeding America—the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization—secure meals for local food banks. More information on how to make a difference in your local community with Outnumber Hunger is available at www.OutnumberHunger.com.
AXS TV can be found on DIRECTV Channel 340, DISH Network Channel 362, AT&T U-Verse Channel 1106 and Verizon FiOS Channel 569.

Watch The Band Perry talk about Outnumber Hunger Live:

Youtube video

 

 

Hall of Fame Highlights Dottie West

/by

Dottie West

Dottie West


The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present three special programs this spring in support of the spotlight exhibition Dottie West: Country Sunshine, which runs through May 2, 2013.
On Saturday, March 30 the panel discussion, Country Sunshine: Remembering Dottie West will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. The event will feature former West protégé Steve Wariner, Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely, songwriter Red Lane and West’s daughter Shelly West—an artist in her own right—sharing memories of the talented artist. Prior to the panel, Lane, who wrote West’s hits “Country Girl” and “Come See Me and Come Lonely,” will also present a Songwriter Session at 11:30 a.m. in the Ford Theater.
On Sunday, March 31, at 2:00 p.m., the museum will offer a free screening of Dottie West: Special Delivery (1980), a Showtime concert special filmed at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio, with guest appearances by Dave & Sugar and Kenny Rogers.
On Saturday, April 27, Studio and Screen: Behind the Scenes with the Nashville Edition, will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. The panel discussion will feature members of one of Nashville’s busiest and best-known vocal groups, the Nashville Edition. Joe Babcock, Dolores Dinning Edgin, Wendy Suits Johnson, Ricki Page and Hurshel Wiginton will share stories from some of the estimated 12,000 recording sessions they worked between the mid-1960s and the late 1990s, including providing background vocals on Dottie West’s “Country Sunshine.” The program will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org.
Admission to the film screening is free. The panel discussions are included with museum admission and free to museum members. Visit countrymusichalloffame.org for complete admission details.

Artists Added To 'ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night' Lineup

/by

dierksbentley1Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum, along with international music sensation Pitbull, have been added to the all-star lineup of artists scheduled to perform at the ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night taping on April 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. These artists join previously announced performers Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift and Ne-Yo. The special will be broadcast at a later date on the CBS Television Network.

Photo by Jeff Lipsky

Photo by Jeff Lipsky


Fifteen-time Academy of Country Music award winner McGraw is spotlighting the hottest music of the summer and calling on his friends to help kick off the 2013 touring season. ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night will feature performances and musical collaborations in a two-hour, star-studded concert event to benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.
Tickets for ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster, priced at $105, $155 and $205. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy and an organization that McGraw was closely affiliated with during his last tour.
lady-antebellum-goldensliderFor more information, log onto ACMLiftingLives.org or ACMcountry.com or follow on Twitter at @ACMawards for more immediate updates.
 
 
 

Darius Rucker To Release 'True Believers' On May 21

/by

darius_ruckerDarius Rucker will release his third country studio album, True Believers, on May 21. Rucker co-wrote 10 of the 12 tracks on True Believers, produced by Frank Rogers.
 “I’m very proud of this record,” Rucker says.  “The songs, the co-writes, the vibe – it’s all really different from what we’ve recorded and released on the past two albums, and I hope that difference resonates with the fans.”
Rogers, who also produced Learn To Live and Charleston, SC 1966, shares, “When we were recording True Believers, we had Darius record a lot of the vocals for this album in his hometown of Charleston. I think as a result of that relaxed setting he was more experimental vocally, and honestly, he sang better than ever before.”
In 2009 Rucker was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. Most recently, he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on October 16, 2012. Rucker will kick off his True Believers Tour on May 9 in Estero, Fla., visiting more than 20 cities across the U.S. before wrapping up in Clarkston, Mich. on June 30.
True Believers Track Listing:

  1. True Believers (Darius Rucker, Josh Kear)
  2. Miss You (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers)
  3. Wagon Wheel (Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor)
  4. Love Without You (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally)
  5. Radio (Darius Rucker, Luke Laird, Ashley Gorley)
  6. Lost In You (Darius Rucker, Mark Nesler, Phillip White)
  7. I Will Love You Still (Darius Rucker, Josh Kear)
  8. Take Me Home (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell)
  9. Shine (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers)
  10. Heartbreak Road (Darius Rucker, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins)
  11. Leavin’ The Light On (Darius Rucker, David Lee Murphy, Phil O’Donnell)
  12. Lie To Me (Darius Rucker, Rodney Clawson, Bob DiPiero)

 
 

Man Suspected of Murdering Jo Dee Messina's Stage Manager Arrested

/by

jo_dee_messina_14746A 41-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of murder following his arrest in Imperial Beach near San Diego, Calif., reports  Imperial Beach Patch. Troy Lynn King supposedly fled to Imperial Beach after fatally shooting Thomas Colucci, 41, in Coffee County, Tenn. in October 2012, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Colucci worked as a stage manager for country singer Jo Dee Messina.
A motive for the shooting has yet to be determined, however a Tennessee grand jury indicted King on both murder and theft charges, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Messina recently released the song “Unbreakable” via TuneCore so that fans could purchase it on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc. Messina will perform live on her first Stageit.com concert on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT. She will be broadcasting live from her Nashville home and will feature new music along with her hits. She has a summer tour in the works.