BMLG Hires Halpern As Sr. Director, Special Projects/Radio Promotion

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Marni Halpern

Marni Halpern


The Big Machine Label Group has added Marni Halpern for the newly-created role of Sr. Director of Special Projects/Radio Promotion. Halpern will work across the entire Big Machine Label Group network.
“Marni is an incredible promotion executive who brings years of experience, a wealth of knowledge, an incredible passion for airplay domination and is a lightning bolt of fresh energy that adds mightily to our cache of weapons for 2014,” said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta.
In the early 90s, Halpern began honing her skills at Roadrunner Records, working with college radio promotion. She followed with stints at Motown Records and Epic Records as the Northeast Regional before spending five years as the VP of Pop Promotion for Atlantic/Lava Records. Most recently, Halpern returned to Epic Records for a seven-year tenure as VP of Pop Promotion. She can now be reached at [email protected].

500 Extra Tickets Released For George Jones Tribute Show Tonight

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George Jones


MusicRow has confirmed that 500 extra tickets have been released for tonight’s (Nov. 22) Nashville tribute concert for George Jones. The tickets can be purchased at the box office, through Ticketmaster or at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Playin’ Possum! The Final No Show will also be broadcast live on a jumbotron outside the Bridgestone Arena plaza.
More than 100 artists will perform tonight to honor the late superstar. Jones died in April of this year.
The show at Bridgestone Arena starts at 7:30 p.m.
Among the artists to perform at tonight’s event are Alabama, Alan Jackson, Baillie & the Boys, Big & Rich, Bill Anderson, Blake Shelton, Bobby Bare, Brad Paisley, Brenda Lee, Chad Warrix (Halfway to Hazzard), Charlie Daniels, Collin Raye, Craig Morgan, Dailey & Vincent and many others.

Deana Carter's 'Southern Way Of Life' Releasing Next Month

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da294b1f271e0b8eb8097d19_280x280Deana Carter will release her first new CD in seven years, Southern Way Of Life, on her Little Nugget Records on Dec. 2, with preorders beginning Thanksgiving weekend. Fans helped select the first single from the project, “Do Or Die,” which will hit radio this month.
Produced by Carter and recorded at Hollywood Sound Studio, the new CD includes songs co-written with Kacey Musgraves (“I Don’t Want To”), Kimberly Perry (“You Can’t Stay”), Tyler Hilton (“Waiting For You To Come Home”), and more.
“Most of these songs mimic my own life,” says Carter. “Instinctively autobiographical, the project weaves through many levels of emotions and situations culminating with the title track that will make any Southerner smile.”
USA Today debuted a new video for “Do Or Die” online on Nov. 20, and Carter is also planning a re-release of her holiday album Father Christmas in December.

Southern Way Of Life Track Listing:
1.     You Can’t Stay
2.     Before You Left
3.     I Know Better
4.     I’ll Save My Love
5.     I Don’t Want To
6.     That’s Just Me
7.     Waiting For You
8.     I Barely Knew
9.     Do or Die
10.   Southern Way of Life

Photos: New CMA CEO Trahern Welcomed At CMA Board Meeting

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Newly-elected CMA CEO Sarah Trahern with CMA Board Chairman Troy Tomlinson (L) and CMA Board President Ed Hardy (R) at the CMA Board meeting held this week in Nashville.


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Pictured (L-R): Attorney R. Horton Frank, Chairman/CEO Universal Music Group Nashville Mike Dungan, Sarah Trahern, Fitzgerald Hartley’s Bill Simmons.


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Big Machine Label Group President and CEO Scott Borchetta congratulates Sarah Trahern on her new position.


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Schlitz Law’s Stacey Schlitz (L) and Kerri Edwards (R), President of KP Entertainment, greet Sarah Trahern during the CMA Board Meeting.


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Pictured (L-R): Becky Brenner, Partner at Albright, O’Malley and Brenner Consulting; Sarah Trahern; Lon Helton, Publisher and CEO of Country Aircheck; and Natalie Conner, VP/GM of WXTU Radio in Philadelphia chat following the CMA Board Meeting.


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Pictured (L-R): Kix Brooks, artist, host of “American Country Countdown,” and reigning CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year; Sarah Trahern; and Brett James, songwriter/ Owner/CEO of Cornman Music.

FLO{thinkery}, Thirty Tigers Among Nashville NEXT Awards Honorees

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nashville next awards1111The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center honored the winners of the 2013 NEXT Awards during an event Thursday evening (Nov. 21) at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville.
The NEXT Awards were created to honor Music City’s groundbreaking entrepreneurs, as well as area businesses experiencing the most significant revenue and employment growth. Among those honored were FLO{thinkery}, which received the start-up honor in the Digital Media & Entertainment category, along with Thirty Tigers, which earned the Growth honor in the Digital Media & Entertainment category.
FLO{thinkery} builds successful businesses, working with entertainers and entrepreneurs to build new ventures in technology and entertainment, and focusing on consumer products, technology, and content.
Thirty Tigers offers a wide array of services, including artist management, publicity, marketing and distribution and radio promotion. The company also has its own label imprint.
The 2013 NEXT Award Winners:
Technology
Startup: Virsys12, LLC
Growth: LeanKit, Inc.
Market Mover: Qualifacts Systems, Inc.
Digital Media & Entertainment
Start-up: FLO (thinkery)
Growth: Thirty Tigers
Health Care
Startup: MDSave Incorporated
Growth: Shareable Ink
Market Mover: Parallon
Social Enterprise
Goodwill Industries of Middle TN, Inc.
Products & Services
Start-up: Southern Kitchen Nashville, LLC
Growth: Brand Imaging Group
Market Mover: LetterLogic, Inc.
Entrepreneurial Partner of the Year
LBMC
Youth Entrepreneur of the Year
Matthew Madlock, Unshatter
Entrepreneur of the Year
Beth Chase, c3/consulting

Weekly Chart Report (11/22/13)

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SPIN ZONE

Boston native and Red Sox fan, Joel Crouse (L) strikes a pose with WIL/St. Louis MD Danny Montana after a performance at Wild CountryBoston native and Red Sox fan, Joel Crouse (L) strikes a pose with WIL/St. Louis MD Danny Montana after a performance at Wild Country.

With the upcoming release of his fourth studio album, Days of Gold, on Dec. 3, Jake Owen is certainly enjoying “Days of Gold,” which tops MusicRow’s chart this week with 3199 spins. Meanwhile, Florida Georgia Line’s “Stay” comes closer to the top of the chart, landing at No. 2. Cassadee Pope’s “Wasting All These Tears” jumps to No. 3, while Zac Brown Band’s “Sweet Annie” leaps to No. 4. David Nail’s “Whatever She’s Got” moves to No. 5. Rounding out the Top 10 this week are The Band Perry’s “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” at No. 6, Cole Swindell’s “Chillin’ It” at No. 7, Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On” at No. 8, Lady Antebellum’s “Compass” at No. 9 and Scotty McCreery’s “See You Tonight” at No. 10.
Luke Bryan’s “Drink A Beer” is the greatest gainer for the third consecutive week, spilling onto No. 18 with another 448 spins. Jason Aldean’s “When She Says Baby” rises to No. 37 with an added 420 spins, while Toby Keith’s “Shut Up and Hold On” rushes to No. 36 with an extra 249 spins. Forbes recently named Keith 2013’s highest paid Country artist, with $65 million in annual earnings. Lady Antebellum’s “Compass” leads the band to No. 9 with 244 more spins. Finally, Florida Georgia Line’s “Stay” ascends to No. 2 with another 219 spins.
MusicRow’s chart welcomes debuts from four fantastic singers this week, with Thomas Rhett’s “Get Me Some Of That” debuting at No. 73, Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight” at No. 75, Tim Sweeney’s “Baby I Try For You” at No. 77 and Ry Bradley’s “New Kind Of Lonely” at No. 80.
Frozen Playlists: KTJJ, KIAI, KKAJ, KZPK, WAAG, WXXK, KBOE

Kellie Pickler took time for a photo while signing her new album for fans after her performance at St. John's Town Center in Jacksonville, FL on Saturday, Nov. 16. Pictured (L-R): Black River's Mike Wilson, WQIK's Cindy Spicer, Kellie Pickler, Black River's Megan Boardman & Greg McCarn

Kellie Pickler took time for a photo while signing her new album for fans after her performance at St. John’s Town Center in Jacksonville, Fla. on Saturday, Nov. 16. Pictured (L-R): Black River’s Mike Wilson, WQIK’s Cindy Spicer, Kellie Pickler, Black River’s Megan Boardman & Greg McCarn.


Upcoming Singles
November 25
Bush Hawg/More Than Corn/RCA Nashville
The Cadillac Three feat. Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley & Mike Eli/The South/Big Machine
Thomas Rhett/Get Me Some of That/Valory
Kip Moore/Young Love/MCA Nashville
December 2
Craig Campbell/Keep Them Kisses Comin’/Acoustic Peach-Bigger Picture
December 9
Brad Paisley/The Mona Lisa/Arista Nashville
Charlie Worsham/Want Me Too/Warner Bros.-WAR
December 16
Lindsay Ell/Trippin’ On Us/Stoney Creek
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Thomas Rhett/Get Me Some Of That/Valory Music – 73
Billy Currington/We Are Tonight/Mercury – 75
Tim Sweeney/Baby I Try For You/Oil House Records – 77
Ry Bradley/New Kind Of Lonely/Crimson Q Records – 80
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Jason Aldean/When She Says Baby/Broken Bow – 24
Tyler Farr/Whiskey In My Water /Columbia Nashville – 13
Toby Keith/Shut Up and Hold On/Show Dog–Universal – 12
Thomas Rhett/Get Me Some Of That/Valory Music – 11
Dallas Smith/Tippin Point/Big Loud Mountain-Republic Nashville – 10
Robby Johnson/South of Me/Contrast Music Records – 9
Luke Bryan/Drink A Beer/Capitol Nashville – 9
Billy Currington/We Are Tonight/Mercury – 9
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Luke Bryan/Drink A Beer/Capitol Nashville – 448
Jason Aldean/When She Says Baby/Broken Bow – 420
Toby Keith/Shut Up and Hold On/Show Dog – Universal – 249
Lady Antebellum/Compass/Capitol – 244
Florida Georgia Line/Stay/Republic Nashville – 219
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
John Karl/Old River Road/Pour Boy – 200
Bush Hawg/More Than Corn/RCA Nashville – 194
Jared Blake/Countryfied/Skiddco Records – 182
Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves/Folsom Prison Blues/Verado – 182
Robby Johnson/South of Me/Contrast Music Records – 181
Dan + Shay recently visited WWQM on a Midwest-Northeast promo tour in promotion of the No. 55 Warner Bros. single, “19 You+Me.” Pictured (L-R): Dan Smyers, Fletcher Keyes (PD), Shay Mooney

Dan + Shay recently visited WWQM on a Midwest-Northeast promo tour in promotion of the No. 55 Warner Bros. single, “19 You+Me.” Pictured (L-R): Dan Smyers, Fletcher Keyes (PD), Shay Mooney.


 

Charlie Cook On Air: Eric Church Is Country's Rock Rebel

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Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook


I am on record as being one the biggest Eric Church fans out there. I have seen his show live a number of times and each time I am impressed with his passion and showmanship. I have said I find him to be one of the “dangerous” performers. When he is on stage your eyes are glued to him. He might do anything and you certainly don’t want to miss it.
Eric has always pushed the envelope with his music. Early that was a challenge for the promotions staffs as he was still finding his place in the format. The CD Sinners Like Me included the single “Two Pink Lines” that made some programmers uncomfortable. His second CD Carolina established him as a real “must play” on country radio even though “Smoke A Little Smoke” was again, dealing with a topic country radio would rather ignore. You can drink all you want but….
But “Love Your Love the Most” and “Hell on the Heart” were right in the groove and became his first Top 10 hits. Eric had arrived.
Then in 2011 he came with arguably the best CD of the year. Chief is a masterpiece. “Homeboy” was aggressive but by then country radio had said, “Bring it on Eric, you are a star.’ “Drink in My Hand,” more in line with the format’s themes, was his first No. 1 and “Springsteen” is one of my top five favorite songs ever. It was a fast No. 1, so apparently many people agree with me.
Eric was recently quoted as saying music is music. “I think that genres are dead,” he told CMT. “There’s good music. There’s bad music.”
I want to add there is music that works on the radio and appeals to masses and there is music that doesn’t. I think Eric Church can and should do whatever the heck he wants to do on his CDs. He has earned the right to write and record anything. He has been playing music for over 20 years and, as I said, he is one of the best performers in the format.
Eric states, “I’m a country music artist in Nashville, but Nashville is way, way, way bigger than country music.”
He is 100% correct. There are many other genres of music in Nashville…oops I used genre because there are elements that differentiate music tastes.
Eric Church and Charlie Cook. Photo: Charlie Cook

Eric Church and Charlie Cook. Photo: Charlie Cook


Eric is going to sell a heck of a lot of copies of his CD The Outsiders. He is going to sell a lot to people who identify themselves as fans of country music and a lot to fans who identify themselves as alternative, rock, pop, etc. What he isn’t going to do is have a lot of success on country radio with a song like “The Outsiders.” As I programmer I was excited to hear a new Eric Church song. I added “The Outsiders” to the stations I work with and there was some good and bad the first couple of days.
I edited the song, taking off the last 1:30 seconds of guitar riffs that stood out on the station. I thought shortening the song to 2:51 would make both sides happy. The unhappy side got louder and I watched the song quickly lose steam on the charts. My conclusion was other programmers were hearing the same complaints from their listeners.
I suspect that when the CD The Outsiders is released, I will purchase and download it. I will listen to it in the car with the volume at 11. That is because my tastes are a little bit different than the loyal listeners to country radio. You know, that genre that supports us all. I’m gonna listen to Frank Sinatra, Bob Seger and Blake Shelton. But I’m not gonna play them all on a country station.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)

Publisher Signings (11/21/13)

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Pictured, seated (L to R): Cole Taylor and Noah McPike (attorney Almon Law, PLLC).Standing (L to R): Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), Ron Stuve (VP UMPG), me, Greg Hill (manager, Hill Entertainment Group.)

Pictured, seated (L to R): Cole Taylor and Noah McPike (attorney Almon Law, PLLC). Standing (L to R): Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), Ron Stuve (VP UMPG), Kent Earls (Executive VP/General Manager, UMPG Nashville), and Greg Hill (manager, Hill Entertainment Group.)


Cole Taylor has signed to Universal Music Publishing Group’s writer roster. The Cuthbert, Ga. native won the title of Male Artist of the Year and Georgia Artist of the Year last year at the Georgia Country awards.

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Pictured (L-R): CTM’s Rebekah Long, Shawn Bowling, Shona Robertson Burr, Eddie Robba, Debi Cochran and Brandon Perdue.

Pictured (L-R): CTM’s Rebekah Long, Shawn Bowling, Shona Robertson Burr, Eddie Robba, Debi Cochran and Brandon Perdue.


Catch This Music, LLC, (CTM) has signed songwriter Debi Cochran as a staff writer and Creative Coordinator of the newly-formed publishing company, Writers Ink. Cochran will serve as the company’s anchor writer and will oversee future signings, as well as assist with PR and other aspects of development, according to owner Eddie Robba.
Cochran’s hits include “My Kind of Girl,” a No. 1 song for Collin Raye, and “This Is Me Missing You,” a No. 5 hit for James House. Her song “Barefoot Ballet,” which aired on ABC’s General Hospital, won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2002. The Fort Payne, Ala. native has also written songs recorded by Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Bramlett, Diamond Rio, Clay Walker and others.

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CBR Signs Gungor - Picture111

Pictured (L-R): Amy Kadish, John Barker, Michael Gungor, Chelsea Jones, Courtney Kruckeberg

ClearBox Rights has signed an exclusive administration agreement with artist Gungor, led by Michael and Lisa Gungor. ClearBox Rights represents all songs in Hither & Yon Music/ASCAP including songs from the group’s most recent release I Am Mountain, out Sept. 24.

'Nashville' Season 2 Soundtrack To Release in December

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nashville season 2 soundtrackThe Music of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 2, Vol. 1 will release Dec. 10. The second installment will highlight original songs from the ABC drama Nashville, and will be released courtesy of Big Machine Records, ABC Studios and Lionsgate.
Buddy Miller produced the new project, which features the voices of actors Connie Britton (Rayna Jaymes), Hayden Panettiere (Juliette Barnes), Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), Jonathan Jackson (Avery Barkley), Clare Bowen (Scarlett O’Connor), Sam Palladio (Gunnar Scott), Chris Carmack (Will Lexington), sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella (Maddie & Daphne Conrad), Aubrey Peeples (Layla Grant), Chaley Rose (Zoey Dalton), Will Chase (Luke Wheeler) and more.
TRACKLIST:
1. What If I Was Willing
Performed by Chris Carmack / Written by Billy Montana, Randy Montana, Brian Davis
2. Can’t Get It Right
Performed by Sam Palladio / Written by Matthew Perryman Jones, Lily Costner
3. A Life That’s Good
Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Sarah Siskind, Ashley Monroe
4. Ball And Chain
Performed by Connie Britton, Will Chase / Written by Tammi Lynn Kidd, Paul Kennerley
5. This Town
Performed by Clare Bowen, Charles Esten / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo
6. Trouble Is
Performed by Hayden Panettiere / Written by Kate York, Marv Green
7. Playin’ Tricks
Performed by Charles Esten / Written by Justin Davis, Sarah Zimmerman, Adam Wright
8. Why Can’t I Say Goodnight
Performed by Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio / Written by Angelo Petraglia, Kim Richey
9. Tell Me
Performed by Aubrey Peeples / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo, Jody Stevens
10. Wayfaring Stranger (A Cappella Version)
Performed by Chaley Rose / Public Domain
11. Share With You
Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Garrison Starr
12. How You Learn To Live Alone
Performed by Jonathan Jackson / Written by Mary Gauthier, Gretchen Peters
13. Can’t Say No To You
Performed by Hayden Panettiere, Chris Carmack / Written by Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, Gordie Sampson

Through The Lens (11/21/13)

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Pictured (L-R): Austin Webb, Producer and Streamsound CEO Byron Gallimore, labelmate Jaida Dreyer and Streamsound Co-Chair Jim Wilkes.

Streamsound recording artist  Austin Webb recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Webb performed his current single, “Slip on By,” as well as “It’s All Good” on the Ryman stage during the Opry at the Ryman show.

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Sara Evans and producer Mark Bright are all smiles during a recording session at Starstruck Studios for Sara’s upcoming seventh studio album, due in 2014.

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Nick and Students 1

Producer Nick Raskulinecz mentored the engineering students at Blackbird Academy this past week. Nick is a widely-known engineer and producer, whose credits include working at Sound City Studios and producing for Foo Fighters, Evanescence, Marilyn Manson, Velvet Revolver, Rush, among others.

“Teaching the students at The Blackbird Academy everything I’ve learned about recording drums over the last 20 years was an amazing experience! I can’t wait to come back and do it again!” said Raskulinecz.