Twitter Music App In The Works

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Twitter copyTwitter is preparing a standalone music app, reports cnet. The social media company quietly purchased music discovery service We Are Hunted last year and is using its technology to build the Twitter Music app.
According to cnet, the app could debut by the end of March. Features include song streaming via SoundCloud, brief artist bios, links to song previews on iTunes and music recommendations based on artists followed by Twitter users.
We Are Hunted is based in San Francisco but was created by a group of Australian software developers.
Earlier this year, Twitter launched video sharing app Vine.

Weekly Register: Warming Temps Heat Sales

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heatwaveMusic City marketers got a few rays of sales sunshine this week as warming temps starting making their way into Tennessee. For example, country’s Y/Y comparison  improved by .5 percent while track sales remained ahead by 6 percent. And even all-genre data felt some spring-like fancy as it improved Y/Y from -7.8 percent to -7.2 percent.
Luke Bryan’s party album earned a second week atop the Current Country 75, but units dropped 59 percent from last week to 61k. In two weeks the Georgia lad has amassed a RTD of over 210k units setting him firmly on the road to Gold… and beyond.
Every title in the Top 30 positions sold over two thousand units this week. Let’s check in on some of the 2013 debuts. Tim McGraw’s Two Lanes of Freedom is perched at No. 5 with a RTD of over 226k after six weeks; Gary Allan lands at No. 11 after eight weeks with RTD of about 237k; Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell’s three-week old pairing is at lucky No. 13 with 31k RTD; and Ashley Monroe’s second week lands her at No. 18 with RTD of 15k.
weeklygrid3-17-13Rounding out the 2013 debuts in the Top 30 are Shooter Jennings, new this week at No. 19 with 4k units; Mavericks (No. 20; wk 3; RTD23k), Randy Houser (No. 22; wk 8; RTD 67k); and Katie Armiger (No. 28; wk 9; RTD28k).
So while country took the week off in terms of mainstream debuts, Bon Jovi (No. 1; 96k/35 percent digital) and David Bowie (No. 2; 85k/48 percent digital) entered the Top 200 album chart with new product pushing Mr. Bryan’s Spring Break to No. 3.
One of the more interesting new charts which helps us measure the marketplace is YTD Albums with TEA. As Weekly Register readers know, TEA means Track Equivalent Albums where 10 digital downloaded tracks is equated to one album.
weeklygrid3-10-13Country artists enjoying premium Top 30 positions on this all-genre YTD list include Taylor Swift Red (No. 3; 728k), Florida Georgia Line Here’s To The Good Times (No. 17; 347k), Tim McGraw Two Lanes of Freedom (No. 21; 307k), Gary Allan Set You Free (No. 22; 294k) and Hunter Hayes Hunter Hayes (No. 24; 282k). Among these five artists we note that the top three are part of the Big Machine label Group, two are baby acts that are quickly growing up, there’s one superstar and one heritage act. Also high on the chart are Dualtone Records’ roots band The Lumineers Lumineers (No. 5; 600k).
The Music Row release season, like the spring weather forecast, is set to heat up. Click HERE for a full list, but expect new sets from talked about newcomer Kacey Musgraves and Maggie Rose, plus music from Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, The Band Perry, Brad Paisley and Eric Church. All aboard..

'Dancing With The Stars' Wins Ratings Race

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kellie_picklerDwts

Kellie Pickler and partner Derek Hough, brother of Julianne Hough, on the season premiere.

The season premiere of Dancing With The Stars, which features Wynonna Judd and Kellie Pickler, won the ratings race Monday night (March 18). It attracted over 17 million viewers and was No. 1 with adults 18-49 and with total viewers. However, the ABC show slipped in the 18-49 demographic from last year’s season premiere. It fell 11 percent from a 3.5 rating to a 3.1.

The series airs on Monday and Tuesday nights. This week’s Tuesday night edition (March 19) drew 9.58 million viewers to earn a 2.1 adults 18-49 rating, up 5 percent from a 2.0 for last year’s second-night show.
These ratings are according to Zap2It.com.

DWTS-Wynonna

Wynonna Judd and partner Tony Dovolani.

Sony Nashville Names Marketing Director

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rachel-fontenot

Rachel Fontenot

Paul Barnabee, Sr. VP Marketing at Sony Music Nashville, today announced that Rachel Fontenot has been promoted to Director of Marketing for Sony Music Nashville, effective immediately.

In her newly expanded position, Fontenot will have oversight of the development and execution of strategic and tactical marketing campaigns for her assigned artists, including Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Jake Owen, Love and Theft, Bush Hawg and Angie Johnson. She will also facilitate international marketing efforts for the entire Sony Music Nashville roster.

“I first hired Rachel years ago after her time with us as an intern,” said Barnabee. “Her unparalleled work ethic was evident even then, and over the years I’ve watched her play a vital role on our marketing team, time and time again. She brings a great deal of experience, knowledge, and passion to this role, and she is a true asset to our artists. I am thrilled to announce her promotion.”
A 12-year veteran of the company, Fontenot began her career with Sony Music Nashville as a receptionist for RCA Label Group-Nashville and has held several positions of increasing responsibility within sales, artist development and marketing, culminating in her most recent role as Associate Director, Marketing prior to her promotion.
A New Orleans, La., native, Fontenot holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Music Business from Middle Tennessee State University, where she also minored in Marketing and Mass Communications.

George Strait, Garth Brooks To Perform at ACM Awards

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acm awards1George Strait and Garth Brooks, the two most recent ACM Artist of the Decade Award recipients, will perform together for the first time in history to pay tribute to Dick Clark at the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The performance will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 7 (8 p.m.-11:00 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The ACM Artist of the Decade Award will be renamed the ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award, in honor of the iconic figure and longtime producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards.
“Dick helped make country music accessible to a larger fan base and his efforts will not be forgotten,” said Strait. “Garth and I were so grateful when we each received the ACM Artist of the Decade Award, so it’s only fitting that we’ll be honoring him with this tribute performance at the ACMs.”
“I commend the Academy on naming the ACM Artist of the Decade Award after Dick Clark,” said Brooks. “Although there is no award the entertainment industry has that can match the magnitude of the star Dick Clark was, and still is, it is an honor to get to be a part of the Academy’s tribute to him. There may be others who have contributed as much to the music industry, but there is definitely no one that has contributed more than Dick Clark. He was music’s best friend, and a dear friend to me.”
“He was a friend to all of us and helped shape our organization. There’s no doubt the Academy of Country Music wouldn’t be one of the highest-rated and watched awards shows without Dick’s vision and commitment,” commented Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.
Clark, who passed away last year, began producing the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1979 and helped introduce audiences all over America to the most talented artists in country music. Clark had long been an ambassador for a wide-range of musical genres and with his guidance, ushered the Academy of Country Music Awards through the decades to become one of the industry’s biggest events.
Recipients of the ACM Artist of the Decade Award include Strait in 2009, Brooks in 1998, Alabama in 1988, Loretta Lynn in 1979 and Marty Robbins in 1969.
 

Artist Updates (3-20-13)

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cruise remix11A remix of Florida Georgia Line‘s “Cruise” featuring Nelly will be released April 2. Hear a snippet of the song here.

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Jeremiah and Becky Scott

Jeremiah and Becky Scott


Becky Scott from the group Carter’s Chord and her guitarist/producer husband Jeremiah Scott today announced that they are expecting identical twin girls, due this August. Said Becky, “The Carter’s Chord family is excited to welcome two more girls to the group!”
The band (sisters Emily Fortney, Joanna Ott and Becky Scott) is currently writing new material for an upcoming project.

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nitty gritty dirt band11

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band


Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is set to headline Merlefest 2013 on Saturday, April 27. A celebration of “traditional plus” music, the festival draws over 80,000 attendees annually from all over the world, hosting over 90 artists during the four-day event. They’ll share the stage with Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas, as they perform “Mr. Bojangles” and Top Ten hits such as “Fishin’ In The Dark.”
Last week, the band issued a deluxe 40th anniversary re-mastered triple vinyl and HDTracks edition of Will The Circle Be Unbroken. The Library of Congress-honored album features expanded artwork and new liner notes by John McEuen.

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theroys

The Roys

The Roys will cover new territory May 1-5 as they make their European debut with select dates at two picturesque Danish Culture Houses, Germany’s ever-popular 11th Annual Buehler Bluegrass Festival and the quintessential English theatre, Leicester Square.

The duo will perform on May 1 at Karens Rninde Kulturhus in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 2 at Trekanten Culturehouse in Aalborg, Denmark, May 4 at the International Buehler Bluegrass Festival in Buehl, Germany and May 5 at Leicester Square Theatre in London.

CRS Agenda Committee Accepting Applications

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CRS14The CRS Agenda Committee is currently taking applications. The committee is comprised of volunteer professionals from all areas of the Country radio and record industries.
The committee is responsible for planning events for the upcoming year’s Country Radio Seminar. Heading up this year’s agenda committee are, re-elected members, Annie Sandor of Curb Records serving as chairman, alongside Jeff Green of Stone Door Media Lab and John Trapane of Capitol Nashville as vice chairs.
Prospective applicants must be available to attend agenda meetings in Nashville on June 19 and 20, 2013 and are expected to attend panels and meetings at CRS 2014, held Feb. 19 – 21, 2014.
Agenda committee applications for CRS 2014 are now available here and will be accepted through Friday, April 5, 2013.
Please direct agenda committee inquiries to Sheree Latham at (615) 329-4492 or [email protected].

Wildhorse Announces Fifth Annual Battle for the Saddle Competition

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indexNashville’s Wildhorse Saloon will host its fifth annual Battle for the Saddle band competition with the new formatting and enhanced prizes, held between April and May.
Ten contestants will advance past the April 30 auditions to gradually be eliminated during four rounds of competition (May 15, 16, 20 and 21), with the final two advancing to the finals on May 29.
Premiere Networks’ syndicated morning show duo Big D & Bubba will be brought in for the competition. Battle for the Saddle will offer prizes including a day in the studio with Michael Knox (Jason Aldean), an industry showcase, a photo shoot and an annual contract with the Wildhorse Saloon including a headlining at the venue during CMA Music Festival in June.
“This series is already unique in the way it focuses on bands as a whole and not just the singer or individual band member, but we’re mixing it up this season by introducing band challenges that will give the challenge winner a leading edge in the next round,” said Ron Kerere, general manager of the Wildhorse Saloon.
Applications will be considered through April 19 at www.WildhorseSaloon.com.

DISClaimer: A Good Stack of Platters

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Missouri MIle

Missouri Mile


For me, it’s a good day when most of the new music I hear is as good as this stack of platters is. I was particularly smitten with the Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison duets package, the Ron Davies tribute album and Erica Nicole, Gretchen Wilson and Justin Moore. Lend all of them your ears. The Disc of the Day honor belongs to the always superb Pistol Annies for “Hush Hush.” The DisCovery Award goes to the surprisingly accomplished newcomers of Missouri Mile.
PHILIP CLAYPOOL/I’m Gonna Lie
Writers: Gary Hannan/Ira Dean/Aaron Baker; Producer: Michael Lloyd; Publishers: Gary James Hannan/Little Biscuit/Chobe/Sony-ATV Tree/Hillbilly Rich/Skymonkey, BMI
-The grinding, distorted, screaming rock guitars are hugely irritating, but his vocal performance is solid, and the song’s a winner.
GRETCHEN WILSON/Still Rollin’
Writers: Gretchen Wilson/Vicky McGehee; Producer: Gretchen Wilson; Publishers: On Cloud 27/Calhoun Enterprises/peermusic/February 4, ASCAP/BMI
-The rumbling, gently rocking track has a vaguely Bob Seger vibe, which makes me automatically predisposed to love it. Gretchen remains a vocalist of immense personality, and she gives the “survivor” lyric warmth and likeability. Stay tuned for the cool instrumental coda at the song’s end.
ERICA NICOLE/Better Beer
Writers: Kevin Fisher/Darby Orr; Producer: Michael Lloyd; Publishers: Stone Poet/Surface and Dream, BMI/ASCAP
-It’s a happy handclapper about a working girl raising her glass and toasting to a brighter future. Totally catchy and addictive, as well as irresistibly good-natured. This is this artist’s second consecutive delightful disc.
Hush-Hush11PISTOL ANNIES/Hush Hush
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley; Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell and Glenn Worf; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Reynsong/Ayden/Angaleena Presley/Ten Ten/EMI April, BMI/ASCAP
-Miranda, Ashley and Angaleena try on some country-rock slippers, and they fit just fine. The ultra witty lyric about a dysfunctional family with secrets is delivered with winks and sly smiles all around. A total hoot from start to finish.
SARA BETH/Kickin’ and Screamin’
Producer: Dean Sams
-Lonestar’s Dean Sams has formed his own record label, and this gal is his first project for it. She sings with winning assurance. His crisp production is utterly contemporary. The song is about holding onto your good times, no matter what.
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON/Cheater’s Game
Writers: Bruce Robison/Liz Foster/Savannah Welch; Producer: Brad Jones; Publishers: Bruce Robison/W.B.M./Dueling Poets/Shimmy Shake, BMI/SESAC
-Their new duets album has been out for awhile, but I can’t get it out of my head. This is the title tune to a collection that ranks as one of the best of the year so far. Kelly’s lead vocal on the ballad about a woman hitting the bottom aches with emotion, and Bruce’s harmony work is pitch perfect. The rest of the CD is packed with equally dandy tunes by the likes of Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll and Dave Alvin (plus chestnuts from Don Williams and Razzy Bailey), as well as originals by the oh-so-talented Bruce. Buy this record.
MAKKY KAYLOR/A Little Sentimental
Writers: Joseph Babcok; Producers: Mark T. Jordan and Makky Kaylor; Publishers: Noma/Unichappel/Elvis Presley, BMI
-Makky is a top Music Row session singer, jingle vocalist and songwriter. The idea behind his album is to recapture the class and style of the classic Nashville Sound of the 1960s. To that end, he reinterprets classics by Don Gibson, Eddy Arnold, Dottie West and Jim Reeves, as well as offering some of his own compositions in the style. The album’s title tune is a 1961 Marty Robbins song. Makky gives the shuffle ballad a warm reading with just a teardrop touch of vibrato. Co-producer Mark T. Jordan’s deft acoustic piano filigrees anchor the lustrous arrangement. Recommended.
MANDY BARNETT/Long Hard Climb
Writer: Ron Davies; Producer: Gail Davies
-The late Ron Davies wrote more than 600 songs, including the Three Dog Night favorite “It Ain’t Easy,” also covered by David Bowie, Mitch Ryder, The Raconteurs and others. Twenty-two of Ron’s tunes are revived on Unsung Hero, an excellent all-star collection featuring John Prine, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, John Anderson, Rodney Crowell, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Bramlett and more. Helen Reddy had success in the 1970s with Ron’s ballad “Long Hard Climb,” which is also associated with Maria Muldaur. Mandy sings it in a languid, dreamy, jazzy fashion. Soft strings cushion the arrangement. Produced by Ron’s younger sister Gail Davies, Unsung Hero is consistently terrific. Sales benefit Nashville’s W.O. Smith Community Music School.
MISSOURI MILE/Exit 214
Writers: Sheena Persons/Sheila Rochelle/Byron Hill; Producer: Byron Hill; Publishers: Song Source/Triage/Byron Hill, ASCAP/BMI
-Songwriters Sheena and Sheila are sisters who comprise the duo Missouri Mile. They harmonize as only siblings can. The lilting title tune to their seven-song EP reveals them to be simply audio awesome. The song is completely captivating as both a melody and a lyric, and Byron Hill’s production frames their vocals with a lovely, luscious mix of mandolin, bass and acoustic guitar. In a word, enchanting. Producers and A&R folks take note: All of these songs are worth cutting, pronto.
JUSTIN MOORE/Point at You
Writers: Ross Copperman/Rhett Akins/Ben Hayslip; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Ross Copperman/4 Tunes/WB/Tar-Cam-Knox/Get a Load of This, BMI/ASCAP
-He drawls his tale with gusto. He has a wild side, but if you want to see his soft, sweet, best side, look at his gal. Sonically, it’s a jumbo joyride that romps along with all the goofy best of intentions. This will sound splendid on the radio.

Artist Growth Debuts Version 2.0

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ArtistGrowthArtist Growth, the Nashville based artist career management software company, recently released version 2.0 which includes new partnerships with Sound Healthcare and BMI.

The mobile software platform offers the tools to manage and track daily tasks and larger projects in a single interface. Over 10,000 active users have signed up to use it since its launch a year ago. The cloud-based platform integrates finances, gig calendars, inventory, industry contacts, social media, performing rights organizations, and other leading third party music technology services.
AG’s in-house developers completely redesigned the platform which is being released as AG 2.0. Through Sound Healthcare, headed by CEO RJ Stillwell, AG users in participating states can gain access to affordable health care and insurance. Additionally, BMI members can easily register their setlists for live performance royalties.
Said Artist Growth Co-Founder and CEO Matt Urmy, “AG 2.0 has been built so both independent artists and major management companies can use the system. This, along with our integrated APIs, opens doors to some very exciting possibilities for future business models in the industry, and I am thrilled to be working with industry leaders to bring some of these new models to fruition.”
Major acts using Artist Growth include Kings of Leon, Emmylou Harris and Ke$ha.