Toby Keith Covers 'Forbes' Celebrity 100 Issue

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TobyKeithForbes-782x1024Toby Keith is the subject of the new Forbes magazine cover story. The article delves into his numerous business interests, from restaurants to record labels, and also recaps his career history. According to the story, he is “the most vertically integrated performer in the music business–and a one-man cash machine. Forbes estimates that Keith pulled in $65 million over the last 12 months….Over the past five years, Forbes estimates, Keith has never earned less than $48 million in a year. His cumulative take over that period: $270 million. Over his entire career–Keith has written a No. 1 country hit every year for the past two decades–his total earnings surpass $500 million.”
The latest issue of the money magazine focuses on the Celebrity 100 list, a ranking of star power that takes into consideration money, tv and radio, press, marketability and social influence.
Among the country set, Taylor Swift ranks No. 6 on the list, with earnings between June 2012 and June 2013 of $55 million. Keith comes in at No. 43 with $65 million. Carrie Underwood ranks No. 46 ($31 million), followed closely by Kenny Chesney at No. 47 ($53 million).
The top five is made up of Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Beyonce Knowles and Madonna.

No. 1 Party: Hunter Hayes "Somebody's Heartbreak"

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BMI toasted the team behind Hunter Hayes’ No.1 smash “Somebody’s Heartbreak” on Tuesday, June 25 at BMI Nashville. Hayes co-wrote the song with Andrew Dorff and Luke Laird. This is Hunter’s second No. 1 off his Atlantic Records debut album. He released its follow-up last week, Hunter Hayes (Encore) and announced his CMT On Tour: Let’s Be Crazy Tour which kicks off Oct. 10. Dorff and Laird celebrated their first and thirteenth No. 1 songs, respectively.

Pictured (Top row, L-R): Lou Ramirez, Peter Strickland, Chris Stacey, Kevin Herring Bottom row, (L-R): Scott Hendricks, HH, John Esposito

Pictured (Top row, L-R): Lou Ramirez, Peter Strickland, Chris Stacey, Kevin Herring (Bottom row, L-R): Scott Hendricks, HH, John Esposito


Hunter Hayes Somebody's Heartbreak No. 1 party111

Pictured are (Front row, L-R): co-writer Luke Laird, Hunter Hayes, co-writer Andrew Dorff, and producer Dann Huff; (Back row, L-R): Martingale Entertainment’s Betsy McHugh and Ansel Davis, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and Cyndi Forman, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, and BMI’s Jody Williams and Clay Bradley. Photo by Rick Diamond


 
 

On The Cover: Shane McAnally (June/July 13)

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JuneJuly13Shane McAnally came to Nashville from his hometown of Mineral Wells, Texas to pursue a career as an artist, and his debut album for Curb Records produced three charting singles, including the Top 40 track “Are Your Eyes Still Blue.” But his reputation as one of the city’s most talented writers really kicked off when Lee Ann Womack recorded his song “Last Call” in 2008, which earned her a Grammy nomination.
McAnally went on to co-write a string of  No. 1 hits, including Kenny Chesney’s “Somewhere with You” and “Come Over,” Jake Owen’s “Alone with You,” Luke Bryan’s “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” The Band Perry’s “Better Dig Two,” Lady Antebellum’s “Downtown” and Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart.” He co-produced Kacey Musgraves’ major label debut, Same Trailer Different Park, and co-wrote nine of the album’s twelve tracks, including the first two singles: “Merry Go ‘Round” and “Blowin’ Smoke.”
An ASCAP member for over 15 years, McAnally marks his 100th major label song cut with “Come Back to Me,” recorded by Keith Urban for his upcoming album, Fuse, due out this fall. He recently completed production work on new country music for Kelly Clarkson, including her single, “Tie It Up,” which he also wrote. In addition, McAnally is working with emerging acts Sam Hunt and Old Dominion.
McAnally’s many recent successes landed him on the Top 10 Billboard Songwriters Airplay Chart for the first quarter of 2013, alongside a diverse list of fellow ASCAP members including Max Martin and Bruno Mars. He was nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in April and was featured in Billboard and The New York Times in May.
Asked if he has any advice for young songwriters, McAnally said, “Please be sure you have exhausted all other avenues…I tried everything and I just couldn’t make anything work except for music. When I hear people say, ‘I’ve been thinking about writing songs,’ I say, ‘Well then, think about something else.’ If you just decided you’re going to be a songwriter, you’re not a songwriter. It chooses you.”
Read more about McAnally, co-writer of MusicRow Song of the Year “Merry Go ‘Round,” here.

Industry Celebrates George Strait's 60th No. 1 Song

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Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville's Mike Dungan, ASCAP's Michael Martin, HoriPro Entertainment's Butch Baker, co-writers Mark Bright and Tim James, Tony Brown, BMI's Perry Howard, co-writer Phil O'Donnell, Delbert's Boy Music's Kirsten Wines, and Warner/Chappell's Alicia Pruitt and Ben Vaughn. Photo by Ed Rode.

Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, HoriPro Entertainment’s Butch Baker, co-writers Mark Bright and Tim James, Tony Brown, BMI’s Perry Howard, co-writer Phil O’Donnell, Delbert’s Boy Music’s Kirsten Wines, and Warner/Chappell’s Alicia Pruitt and Ben Vaughn. Photo by Ed Rode.


ASCAP and BMI celebrated George Strait‘s 60th No. 1 single, “Give It All We Got Tonight” on Monday (June 24) at the Country Music Association offices. The ballad became Strait’s 115th career single and was the first release from his 40th studio album, Love Is Everything. The song was penned by ASCAP member Mark Bright and BMI’s Tim James and Phil O’Donnell. It marked the first No. 1 song as a songwriter for Bright, who is well-known for his success as Carrie Underwood‘s producer. Bright received ASCAP’s customary gift to songwriters who earn their first No. 1, an ASCAP guitar.
Strait’s longtime producer and former MCA Nashville CEO Tony Brown was on hand for the celebration. This marks Brown’s 19th album with Strait. Current UMG Nashville CEO Mike Dungan was also on hand to honor the artist, label staff and the songwriters. “It’s an honor to work with George Strait, and to experience the 60th No. 1 is spectacular,” said Dungan. “I want to recognize the marketing team for the promotion 60for60. We have the best staff in the world,” he said before giving awards (affectionately known as “The Impaler Award”) to the songwriters and to Brown. MCA Nashville’s “60for60” promotional campaign, designed to give Strait 60 No. 1 songs while he was still 60 years old, pushed “Give It All We Got Tonight” to No. 1 on the Mediabase chart the week of May 12- 18, 2013 — just days before Strait’s 61st birthday.
Publishers Delbert’s Boy Music, Butch Baker of HoriPro Entertainment and Ben Vaughn from Warner/Chappell were also on hand to congratulate the group.

MusicRowPics: 2013 MusicRow Awards

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MusicRow Magazine presented its 25th annual subscriber-voted MusicRow Awards on June 25 during a ceremony hosted by ASCAP at the organization’s Nashville offices. The event recognized the 2013 Breakthrough Artist, Breakthrough Songwriter, Song of the Year, Producer of the Year and Top Ten Album All-Star Musicians. Enjoy the MusicRowPics below and see the complete winners list or Bobby Karl’s exclusive party coverage.
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Bobby Karl Works The MusicRow Awards

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Publishers and songwriters accept Song of the Year honors for "Merry Go 'Round."

Publishers and songwriters accept Song of the Year honors for “Merry Go ‘Round.” (L-R): Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Black River’s Celia Froehlig, songwriter Josh Osborne, songwriter Kacey Musgraves, songwriter Shane McAnally, Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer, Black River’s Gordon Kerr, UMPG’s Kent Earls. Photo: Isabel Ross


Publishers and Songwriters of Song of the Year "I Drive Your Truck." Photo: Isabel Ross

Publishers and songwriters of Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck.” (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, songwriter Connie Harrington, Sony/ATV EMI’s Tom Luteran, songwriter Jimmy Yeary, songwriter Jessi Alexander, Disney Music’s Patrick Clifford. Photo: Isabel Ross


BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM—Chapter 431
Producer of the Year Dann Huff. Photo: Isabel Ross

Producer of the Year Dann Huff. Photo: Isabel Ross


OMG! If the MusicRow Awards are 25 years old, how old does that make Bobby Karl?!
Okay, seriously: It was newsworthy enough that this week was the magazine’s Silver Anniversary honors event. But even more news was made by exploding country ingénue Kacey Musgraves, who became the first person ever to take home both the Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Songwriter awards. Not only that, she co-wrote her hit “Merry Go ‘Round,” which tied for Song of the Year.
“This has been a crazy year,” said Kacey. “I’m really proud of what’s happening in this town….It’s a great time for everyone, creatively.”
“My mom is here, who inspired the song,” said Kacey’s “Merry Go ‘Round” co-writer Shane McAnally (MusicRow’s current cover boy). It seems that his mother remarked to him that there was so much traffic on her street that someone was either selling Mary Kay or Mary Jane, both of which figure in the song’s lyric.
“I just feel real fortunate to be a part of a song I love so much,” said co-writer Josh Osborne.
“This song really strikes something in me,” added Kacey. “When we wrote it, I almost cried.
“This is such a special day I’ll never forget.”
The Lee Brice hit “I Drive Your Truck” was the other song that tied for Song of the Year. It was inspired by an NPR interview that songwriter Connie Harrington heard. The man being interviewed (Paul Monti) said that he tried to remain close to his son killed in Afghanistan by driving his truck. She took the idea to Jessi Alexander. Then they roped in co-writer Jimmy Yeary.
Song of the Year ("I Drive Your Truck") co-writer Connie Harrington.

Song of the Year (“I Drive Your Truck”) co-writer Connie Harrington. Photo: Isabel Ross


“I love Jessi Alexander,” said Jimmy at the MR event. “I love Connie Harringthon. They’ve got big hearts. Connie cried the whole time we wrote this.”
“I’m not gonna cry,” said Connie when she took the mic. Then she did. Which was so cool. “Thank you for your stories that move us songwriters.”
“This song was so blessed,” added Jessi. “I was the lucky one that [songwriting] day.”
Both songs were performed by their writers at the awards reception. “Merry Go ‘Round” was captivating, with Kacey Musgrave’s sweet/sad delivery about “dust settling in this town” being backed by Josh and Shane’s guitars and harmony voices.
“I Drive Your Truck” was spellbinding. I already knew that Jessi was a sensational singer. Jimmy traded verses with her, and his gently raspy delivery was every bit as hypnotic as his co-writer’s.
The event began at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday (6/25) as a cocktail-hour soiree. After welcoming remarks from ASCAP’s hosts-with-the-most LeAnn Phelan and Michael Martin, MusicRow publisher/owner Sherod Robertson took the stage. “Twenty-five years is such a milestone,” he said in greeting. “And one that I am thrilled to share with all of you today, who have made it possible. These awards started back in 1989, before I had even ventured into the business, and it is an honor to continue this legacy today.”
Okay, now you’re really making me feel old.
The 25th annual awards also saluted the 2013 Producer of the Year. That is Dann Huff, who has worked with The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and more. “As we all know, this town is graced with an amazing array of talent, unparalleled in all the world,” said Dann. “I am so absolutely dependent on all that talent. You are only as good as the people behind you.”
(L-R): Josh Osborne, Kacey Musgraves and Shane McAnally perform "Merry Go 'Round." Photo: Isabel Ross

(L-R): Josh Osborne, Kacey Musgraves and Shane McAnally perform “Merry Go ‘Round.” Photo: Isabel Ross


“It takes a village,” echoed multiple winner Kacey.
MusicRow’s Sarah Skates and Eric Parker presented the Top Ten All-Star Musician Awards. These are the only Nashville honors given each year to the recording-session community. This year’s winners included Jimmie Lee Sloas, Greg Morrow, Shannon Forrest, Dan Dugmore, Paul Franklin, Wes Hightower, Ilya Toshinsky, Charles Judge, engineer Justin Niebank and – in another unprecedented occurrence – fiddler triple winners Jonathan Yudkin, Larry Franklin and Stuart Duncan.
“It’s an amazing community to be a part of,” said Greg. “There’s so much going on with different genres. It’s a great time to be here.”
“The producers and artists encourage us to be as great as it can possibly be,” added Jonathan.
A multitude of fabulons attended the reception at ASCAP. Working the room were David Preston, David Ross, Dale Bobo, John Briggs, John Mabe, Jon Randall Stewart, Michael Smith, Rich Fagan, Rick Kelly, Barry Coburn, Barry Dean, Bill Wence, Ben Vaughn, Jessica Nicholson, Jeff Walker, Janie West, Andrew Kintz, Anthony Smith, Celia Froehlig, Tom Luteran, Charlie Monk, Caitlin Rantala, Frank Myers, Woody Bomar, Suzanne Lee, Dennis Banka, Patrick Clifford, Susan Collier, Ralph Murphy, Sherrill Blackman, Doak Turner, Luke Laird, Don Cusic, Manuel and oh so many more.
“I just don’t feel like it gets better than this,” said Sherod Robertson following the evening’s wonderful and amazing songwriter performances. “Thank you for attending.”
See the winners list.
MusicianWinners

Top Ten Album All-Star Musician Winners. Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and Sarah Skates, Jonathan Yudkin (Fiddle), Wes Hightower (Vocals), Charles Judge (Keyboards), Dan Dugmore (Steel), Greg Morrow (Drums), Eric Parker (MusicRow). Photo: Isabel Ross

Weekly Register: SoundScan Discounts Jay Z Promotion; 'The Voice' Reigns

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Screen shot 2013-06-26 at 1.15.48 PMBillboard Editor Bill Werde took an easily defendable position this past week regarding a daring marketing promotion that involved artist Jay Z, and Samsung. The concept involved the artist’s new album Magna Carta Holy Grail, set for release the week of July 8, 2013. Essentially, Samsung customers would download a free artist-branded app and after engaging with some content, receive the new album at no cost. Samsung agreed to pay the artist $5 for each of the million albums it plans to give away. So in effect, the artist nets $5 million and immediately “sells” one million units.
But questions quickly arose over whether this promotion would/should count for SoundScan chart totals. “Our role as the chart of record is to set the rules, and hopefully even raise the level of play,” said Werde. “It is in this spirit that I say it wasn’t as simple as you might think to turn down Jay-Z when he requested that we count the million albums that Samsung ‘bought’ as part of a much larger brand partnership, to give away to Samsung customers.”
weeklygrid6-23-13The main sticking point according to Werde was that fans weren’t actually buying anything. For example, if the album were sale priced at $3.49 (minimum new release pricing threshold) or higher, then it would definitely count. But Werde notes, “In the context of the promotion, nothing is actually for sale.”
SoundScan has always been based purely on sales, but in today’s changing environment, new paid subscription services are also creating revenue streams that in some ways resemble retail sales. Will they someday find their way onto the sales charts? “Just because the Billboard 200 has been based purely on sales of an album for the entirety of the life of the chart doesn’t mean it must always remain so,” Werde says wisely, promising to consult with industry leaders over these questions. “Rest assured,” he concludes. “Billboard will find the right balance.”
And now let’s count the Weekly Register...
hunterAlbum Shopping
Hunter Hayes fans received a special treat this week in the form of a special Encore (edition) of his first album with added material. The new Encore set includes 12 tracks from Hayes’ original self-titled release plus additional music and video material. On Amazon (June 26), Encore was priced at $11.88 CD or $12.49 MP3 album. iTunes had Encore for download at $14.99. Fans applauded the release by boosting it to the No. 1 position on the Current Country Top 75 with sales of almost 40k units. Feeling the Hayes heat, Florida Georgia Line stepped back to No. 2 this week, adding about 33k units to the duo’s impressive RTD total of 760k.
Danielle Bradbery debuted a Complete Season 4 Collection of songs she performed on The Voice. It landed at No. 6 with sales of almost 18k (100 percent digital). I have been writing about this talented 16-year-old quite a bit lately, and admittedly I am quite a fan, but her recent victory on the singing show, plus weekly single sales have been nothing short of amazing. The Swon Brothers, also Voice alums, debut with a similar season collection at No. 18 with over 6k units (100 percent digital).
And finally, LoCash Cowboys enter our list with a self-titled collection that debuts at No. 25 with almost 4.5k units.
A quick look at our weekly grids shows country’s lead fading like a pair of old denims as it frays from up 2 percent to up .9 percent. This still compares nicely against the industry overall which is down 5.3 percent. One reason for country’s slide is last year’s Kenny Chesney debut which arrived at this time (Welcome To The Fishbowl) and shifted a whopping 193k.
weeklygrid6-16-13Tracking The Hits
The Digital Genre Tracks chart this week also pays solid tribute to The Voice [again]. Ms. Bradbery debuts at No. 5 with “Born To Fly” (68k units) and gets to No. 10 (50k) with “Maybe It Was Memphis” now in its 7th week on the chart. The Swon Brothers grab No. 7 with “Danny’s Song” (63k) and No. 12 with “I Can’t Tell You Why” (44k). In all the duo has four tracks that charted in the Top 100 and Bradbery owns nine positions. These are incredible stats for such new acts.
Hunter Hayes supports his new album release with the No. 3 track (110k) this week, “I Want Crazy,” and six additional tracks. Remaining at No. 1 are Florida Georgia Line, adding a stellar 244k new downloads to an RTD now over 4.5 million. Also notable is Blake in the No. 2 spot with “Boys Round Here,” selling almost 115k downloads.
Comparing this week to last week, country track sales rose 6 percent, giving the country genre a 13.5 percent market share of overall all-genre track sales YTD.
Next week is the end of the second quarter, stay tuned…

Americana Conference Will Offer Entertainment Law Symposium

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Americana_Music_Association_logo1The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville and the Americana Music Association will welcome the American Bar Association Forum On Entertainment and Sports Industries to present its annual Nashville Entertainment Law Symposium during the Americana Music Festival and Conference, to be held September 18-20, 2013 at the Downtown Nashville Sheraton Hotel.
The CLE program provides attorneys with the ability to obtain 12+ hours of CLE credit during the three-day conference. The Nashville Entertainment Law Symposium will present panels on touring and personal appearances, current topics in entertainment litigation, licensing, film and television and legal ethics. The panels will feature national and local speakers including Christine Lepera of New York (current Chair of the Forum), Richard J. Idell (Incoming Chair of the Forum), Nashville Forum Committee Members Henry Root (Los Angeles), Kirk Schroder (Richmond, Va.), Todd Brabec (Los Angeles), Mike Milom (Nashville) and Jim Zumwalt (Nashville).
logoRound5“The Arts & Business Council is truly delighted to bring the ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries and its Nashville Entertainment Law Symposium into this successful partnership with the Americana Music Association which will allow us to offer new sophisticated content from some of the leading entertainment law practitioners across the country,” said Casey Summar, Arts & Business Council Executive Director. “This partnership provides our family of attorneys an excellent opportunity to earn all of their CLE credit for the year, network with professionals in the Americana community, plus enjoy the Music Festival in the evenings.”
A portion of the proceeds from the CLE program will go to benefit the Arts & Business Council’s Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts program, which provides free legal advice to low-income artists of all disciplines, as well as emerging arts nonprofits. With a roster of over 250 generous volunteer lawyers and professionals, this program has provided $1.2 million worth of pro bono services to the creative community since opening six years ago.

Dr. Ralph Stanley To Launch Farewell Tour in October

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Dr. Ralph Stanley

Dr. Ralph Stanley


Dr. Ralph Stanley will launch his farewell tour, billed as Man of Constant Sorrow Tour: The Dr.’s Farewell, on Oct. 16. The tour will include more than 80 shows at festivals, folk clubs and performing arts centers, and will run through December 2014. Accompanying Stanley will be his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.
Stanley holds an honorary doctorate in music from Lincoln Memorial University and has worn that title since it was awarded in 1976. Stanley’s career began in 1946 with older brother Carter; the pair recorded and toured as The Stanley Brothers. Ralph began a solo career after Carter’s death in 1966.

“What an honor it is to be a part of a musical legend and to work with my all-time hero’s final musical journey,” says Josh Trivett, Stanley’s co-manager. “Dr. Ralph is an American and an international musical icon who has influenced so many modern stars with his trademark mountain sound. Man of Constant Sorrow Tour: The Dr.’s Farewell will be a fantastic celebration of the life of Dr. Ralph, the mountain music he’s made famous and his legacy that will endure through the course of time.” 

Over his lengthy career, the entertainer has earned three Grammy awards. He was the distinctive sound behind the seven-million-selling O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack album. Dr. Stanley is a member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2000. As a bandleader, Stanley shepherded the careers of Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks and Charlie Sizemore.
Dates for the opening weekend of the Man of Constant Sorrow Tour:

Oct. 18  The Dunn Center – Rocky Mount, N.C.
Oct. 19  Morehead Center – Morehead, N.C.
Oct. 20  The Birchmere – Alexandria, Va.
Oct. 21  The Arts Center – Carrborro, N.C.

Arturo Buenahora, Jr. Launches Little Louder Music

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Arthur Buenahora

Arturo Buenahora


Veteran music publisher and Nashville native Arturo Buenahora, Jr. has announced his new publishing company, Little Louder Music, will be opening July 2013. First songwriter signings are Jeff Hyde and, through his overall publishing deal with Sony/ATV, Eric Church.
“I feel like my whole career has been building up to this company and I am excited to represent some of the most talented people in the world,” said Buenahora. “To me, this business is about two things, great music and talented people and I am excited to be working with both.”
After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Buenahora began his career at Sony/ATV where he stayed for 10 years and ultimately held the position of Sr. Director of Creative Services and Production. While there, he signed and developed Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Eric Church, paving the way for A&R stints at Capitol Nashville and Universal South Records. Buenahora most recently was the GM of Ole Music Publishing where he signed Ryan Tyndell and Charlie Worsham, who just released his debut single on Warner Bros. Records. In addition to Worsham’s debut album, Buenahora has recently worked on Dierks Bentley’s forthcoming album Riser on Capitol Records Nashville and he will continue his Executive Production role on Church’s next studio album. Church’s last album, Chief, is the reigning ACM and CMA album of the year.
Buenahora is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Music and was recently named to Billboard’s “40 under 40” list. He can be reached at [email protected].