Beats Music To Launch Streaming Service In January

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beats-logo-relaxedBeats Music‘s new streaming service will launch January 2014, according to Techcrunch.com. The service also launched a name-claiming site that lets you claim a username early. The service was spun out of Beats Electronics and into its own company early this year, receiving a $60 million investment to bring the product to market. The core of the streaming service is formed by Beats $14 million acquisition of digital music company MOG last year. 

The project is backed by some heavyweights in the music industry, including Beats Electronics founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, along with Chief Creative Officer Trent Reznor.
The Santa Monica-based music service will face stiff competition from Rhapsody, Spotify, Slacker, Muve Music, Rdio, and other offerings.

Weekly Register: Where Do We Stand?

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WklyRegisterWrapupWith media outlets reporting record breaking sales between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, it’s no surprise that overall albums sales are up 62 percent from last week, while Country album sales are up a whopping 94 percent from last week with 1.3 million units sold. Major retailers helped spike Country album sales, offering temporary price cuts on select albums. Walmart provided discounts on Garth Brooks’ Blame It All On My Roots CD/DVD boxed set offered exclusively from the retailer. Meanwhile Target slashed prices on major Country albums, including Carrie Underwood’s Blown Away, Keith Urban’s Fuse, Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party and more.

Brooks’ Blame It All On My Roots (Pearl Records Inc.) is the top Country debut and the top Country album this week (No. 3 overall), selling 163k units. The legendary singer recently announced plans to perform full band shows in Vegas.
Meanwhile, Danielle Bradbery’s self-titled album (Big Machine) debuts at No. 5 (No. 19 overall), selling 41k units. Unstoppable boy band One Direction earns the top overall album this week, with Midnight Memories debuting at No. 1, selling 546k units, which is 6k more than their previous album sold.
Florida Georgia Line’s “This Is How We Roll” is the top Country debut and the top Country track this week (No. 21 overall), selling 52k units. Another noteworthy Country debut is Jamie Lynn Spears’ “How Could I Want More” at No. 8 (No. 42 overall), with 28k units sold. Considering her sister Britney’s pop success, time will tell if Spears garners success in Country. FGL and Luke Bryan hold all Top 5 tracks this week.
Pop stars Pitbull and Ke$hsa take the top overall track this week, with their hit “Timber” selling 237k units (943k RTD). YTD, overall tracks are down 4.4 percent, while Country tracks are up .7 percent.

                           Where Do We Stand?      

YTD, overall album sales are down 7.9 percent, while Country album sales are down 10.2 percent with only four weeks left in the year. Several factors have contributed to a decline in sales, one of the biggest being that last year included releases from highly successful artists, like Taylor Swift’s Red, which sold more than one million units in its debut week. We need to sell approximately 2.6 million Country albums each week, over the next four weeks, to break even with sales from last year. Looks like we need the magic of Santa to get that accomplished. Do you believe?

albumstrackIf we analyze the TEA index (Track Equivalent Albums), where ten tracks equal one album, we see overall and Country album sales improve. With the TEA index in mind, Country album sales are down 7.1 percent (versus 10.2 percent), resulting from adding 15.18 million albums (obtained from taking YTD individual track sales, divided by 10). This analysis for overall album sales results in a decrease of 6.8 percent (versus 7.9 percent).
With the holidays upon us, we’ll be watching sales rise as consumers purchase music to place in a stocking or under the Christmas tree. Sales should also expect a boost from several upcoming televised events featuring Country artists, including The Sound of Music Live! (Dec. 5), The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! – Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night (Dec. 6) and Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Christmas Music Tale (Dec. 11).
Next week’s release sales numbers will include Jake Owen’s Days of Gold, Deana Carter’s Southern Way Of Life and The Sound of Music — Music From the NBC Television Event featuring the vocals of Underwood, Stephen Moyer, Christian Borle and more. As the year wraps up, other noteworthy debuts will include Krystal Keith’s Whiskey & Lace, Parmalee’s Feels Like Carolina and Zac Brown Band’s The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1, produced by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.

CMT Crowns New Artists Of The Year At Exclusive Bash

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Pictured (L-R, Seated): Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Brian Kelley (Florida Georgia Line), Tyler Hubbard (Florida Georgia Line), Hunter Hayes, Luke Bryan; (Front): Ron White

Pictured (L-R, Seated): Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Brian Kelley (Florida Georgia Line), Tyler Hubbard (Florida Georgia Line), Hunter Hayes, Luke Bryan; (Front): Ron White


CMT paid tribute to some of the biggest acts of 2013 Tuesday night (Dec. 3) during its star-studded CMT Artists of the Year special. Each of the honorees was touted by industry members and peers through speeches and performances, and the wattage was high in the celeb-heavy Music City Center room for the 90-minute program.
First honoree Tim McGraw received his award from Dwight Yoakam. McGraw thanked wife Faith Hill and their three daughters, who were on hand for the special evening. He also acknowledged the younger generation of artists who he said inspire him in his own career. Lady Antebellum then took the stage to perform McGraw’s hit “Highway Don’t Care,” with surprise guest Peter Frampton joining on guitar.
Honoree Florida Georgia Line hit the stage with their performance of “Stay,” and then were presented their award by one of their idols, Alabama. The duo thanked radio, their peers for accepting them in Country music, and their fans for their loyalty and support.
Four-time CMT Artist Of The Year recipient Jason Aldean was saluted by Cassadee Pope and Travis Tritt, who came together to sing Aldean’s hit “Night Train.” Aldean received his award from Nashville star Hayden Panettiere and talked of the respect he holds for his fellow honorees and musicians in the room.
The youngest honoree of the evening, Hunter Hayes, took the stage next alongside special guest Pat Monahan from Train. The two performed a mashup of Hayes’ “I Want Crazy” and Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister.” Hayes was given his award by Frampton, telling the crowd how happy it makes him to be able to share his successes with those around him.
Two-time honoree Luke Bryan was the evening’s final recipient, receiving his award from close buddy Dierks Bentley. Bryan expressed gratitude to everyone who has helped him along the way, and swore he never intended to get so much attention for his rump-shaking. Bryan joined Lionel Richie to close out the evening on Richie’s hit songs “Oh No” and the crowd-favorite “All Night Long.”
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DISClaimer: Good Things Come In Threes

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Kip Moore


Today, good things come in threes. Amid a sea of mediocrity, three discs stand tall as potential winners. They belong to Steve Wariner, Chase Rice and the winner of our Disc of the Day, the esteemed Kip Moore. There are three newcomers who show promise, too. They are Ronnie Fauss, bluegrassers Feller & Hill and our DisCovery Award winner, Anthony Orio.
MIKE BECK/Work Together
Writer: Wilbert Harrison; Producer: Mike Beck; Publisher: EMI; BMI; MB (track)
-This 1959 Wilbert Harrison r&b classic has been revived by Canned Heat, John Mayall and Bryan Ferry, among others. Beck takes it out for a country spin, sticking closely to Canned Heat’s arrangement. I think he might be attracted to it because its ultra simple melody doesn’t demand much vocal ability, so his barely-there singing voice can handle it.
STEVE WARINER/It Ain’t All Bad
Writers: Steve Wariner/Allen Shamblin; Producer: Steve Wariner; Publishers: Built On Rock/Steve Wariner, ASCAP/BMI; Selectone (track)
-This guitar man is still toiling away in his Brentwood home studio. Like a mad scientist, he keeps coming up with cool new sounds on his six string. What’s more, the title tune to his new collection has nifty, timely lyrics about our hard times, as well as a kick-butt beat. Wonderful in the extreme.
RONNIE FAUSS/I Don’t See You
Writer: Ronnie Fauss; Producers: Sigurdur Birkis/ Ronnie Fauss; Publisher: MOL Jr.; BMI; Normaltown (track)
-Somewhere Gram Parsons is smiling. This is as close to classic California country rock as I’ve heard in years.
KIP MOORE/Young Love
Writers: Kip Moore/Dan Couch/Westin Davis; Producer: Brett James; Publishers: Music of Stage Three/Songs of Cornman/Roll Through Music/Songs From the Couch/Magic Mustang/Reefer Road/Big Loud Bucks, BMI; MCA Nashville
-It has a moody elegance that attracts like an audio magnet. He recalls a boyhood romance like it was a fevered dream. Get caught up in it.
TYLER HAMMOND BAND/Little Bit Crazy
Writers: Tyler Hammond/Thomas Archer; Producer: Chris Jones; Publisher: Molly’s Music, no performance rights listed; Jackleg (CDX)
-The singing and the song are okay. The production could use a little more clarity and precision.
JORDAN ANDERSON/Please Don’t
Writers: Jordan Anderson/Caleb Maitland; Producer: Kent Wells; Publishers: Mary’s Poppin/Maitland; BMI; GTR (CDX)
-She’s falling and fearing a heartbreak. A well written tempo tune.
FELLER & HILL/The Government Blues
Writers: Dixie Hall/Tom T. Hall; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BMI; Blue Circle
-This topical bluegrass ditty takes a wry look at the ongoing, quasi recession. “Lord have mercy, got the government blues/You can read the paper through the holes in my shoes.” “I heard a rumor we were starting a war/I guess that’s all the government’s for.”
HUB REYNOLDS, JR./Hell I’m Just Me
Writer: Hub Reynolds, Jr.; Producer: Hub Reynolds, Jr.; Publisher: Hub Reynolds, Jr.; BMI; HRJ
-He’s aiming for an “outlaw” vibe. His singing and songwriting are up to snuff, although his production lacks some finesse. For a “homemade” outing, it ain’t half bad.
anthony orioANTHONY ORIO/Freight Train
Writers: Anthony Orio/Christopher Griffifths; Producers: Christopher Griffiths/Kelly Schoenfeld/Anthony Orio; Publisher: none listed; AO (track)
-This guy and his Goodfellers band regularly rock Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway (yes, they’ll be there on New Year’s Eve). They’ve won The Tennessean’s poll as “Best Local Band” two years in a row. I don’t know about that, but they certainly kick up some dust on their CD Between Home & The Bright Lights. This rocker leads off the collection fiercely. Orio wrote or co-wrote all but one of the 13 tunes.
CHASE RICE/Ready Set Roll
Writers: Rhett Akins/Chase Rice/Chris DeStefano; Producer: Chris DeStefano; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Rhettneck/EMI April/Sugar Glider/Sony-ATV Countryside/Dack Janiels, BMI/ASCAP; CR (track)
-This is the title tune to Rice’s album. It’s a guitar-stuttering country rocker that beckons a gal to embark on a night to remember. It’s also addictive as all get out.

Industry Ink (12/4/13)

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Pictured-Top Row (L-R): Trevor Rosen, Laura Veltz, Matt Ramsey, Jonathan Singleton, and ASCAP's Alison Toczylowski.Bottom Row (L-R): WMBA's Chelsea Kempchinsky, Becky McIntosh, Trina Lloyd-Weidner, U.S. Marine Cpl. Johnson, and WMBA's Raeanna Mowl and Becky Lynn Street

Pictured-Top Row (L-R): Trevor Rosen, Laura Veltz, Matt Ramsey, Jonathan Singleton, and ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski. Bottom Row (L-R): WMBA’s Chelsea Kempchinsky, Becky McIntosh, Trina Lloyd-Weidner, U.S. Marine Cpl. Johnson, and WMBA’s Raeanna Mowl and Becky Lynn Street


The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA), in conjunction with ASCAP, hosted its annual Tunes for Tots toy drive and benefit show on Monday, Dec. 2 at Dan McGuinness in Nashville with hit songwriters Jonathan Singleton, Trevor Rosen, Matt Ramsey, and Laura Veltz. More than 50 toys and over $500 in donations were collected for the Toys for Tots Foundation.

• • •

ejgaines1Franklin, Tenn. law firm Waterford Law Group has added EJ Gaines as a transactional attorney, with a specialization in entertainment law. Gaines began his legal career on Wall Street as a corporate and intellectual property attorney at Carter Ledyard & Milburn, LLP. He has also worked in artist management with several artists, including duo Mary Mary, Natalie Grant, Isaac Carree, and a cappella group Committed.

Gaines holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Business from New York University and a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, New York. He is admitted to practice law in both New York and Tennessee.

 • • •

 
brad paisleyOn Tuesday (Dec. 3), a Nashville judge chose not to dismiss a songwriter’s claim in federal court that her song was stolen to create Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood‘s chart-topping ballad, “Remind Me,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Amy Bowen (known professionally as Lizza Connor) claims she composed a tune titled “Remind Me” in 2008, and then took part in a 14-week “Country Music Songwriting Workshop,” which included advisors John Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois. The suit claims that her song was critiqued and she was told the song would be suitable as a duet. Approximately three years ago, Paisley, Lovelace and DuBois wrote another song, also titled “Remind Me,” which was ultimately recorded by Paisley and Underwood.
According to Judge Aleta Trauger, “Bowen has plausibly shown that, taken in combination, the lyrics and associated melodies, intonations, and usage could be sufficiently original to constitute protectable material.”

Music Health Alliance Names Advisory Board

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a2cb23d6bb29bbd81f77a623_144x86Music Health Alliance, a non-profit and advocate for the 76 percent of music industry professionals that have no access to group benefits, has named an advisory board of industry leaders to help musicians, songwriters and professionals understand their healthcare options and direct them to insurance plans and other resources that meet their needs and fit their budget. Founded by Tatum Hauck Allsep,  MHA’s free services protect, direct and connect music professionals with simplified and personalized healthcare solutions, and create a seamless flow through a fragmented health system. The Alliance provides clients with an informative alternative to the crisis often caused by lack of insurance coverage and stacks of medical bills.
In the last year MHA has secured over $1.6 million in financial aid, $350,000 in medical bill reductions, over $50,000 in insurance premium savings, and currently sees an average of 25 clients per week. MHA is located in Nashville but serves clients nationally.
“MHA’s staff consists of music industry veterans who are now licensed, certified and trained in health insurance, patient navigation, senior care,” says Allsep. “We all stay informed each day with the most current and factual updates regarding the Affordable Care Act.  We truly understand the challenges facing our industry because we are part of this industry. Now our expertise provides a music friendly network of nationwide healthcare access and resources. We are in this to win this, because it is the right thing to do. It is said that ‘music heals’ and MHA is here to ‘heal the music.'”

The Advisory Board of Music Health Alliance:
Lori Badgett, City National Bank
Holly Bell, City National Bank
Ed Benson, Former CEO, Country Music Association
T Bone Burnett, Producer
Debbie Carroll, Music Cares
Dub Cornett, Television Producer
John Carter Cash, Producer, Artist, Songwriter
John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville
Holly Gleason, Music Critic/Journalist
Bill Hearn, CEO, Capitol CMG
Lauren Langley, Nurse Practitioner
Frank Liddell, Producer
Faith Quesenberry Malloy, Artist Management
Nina Miller, Music Rising
Mike Mills, REM, Recording Artist
Willie Nelson, Recording Artist
Dr. Bob Ossoff, Vanderbilt Voice Clinic
Jason Owen, Sandbox Entertainment
Dr. Wright Pinson, Vanderbilt Medical Center
Dr. Robert S. Quinn, Sterling Primary Care
Michael Schoenfield, Duke University
DJ Smith, CIV Digital
Van Tucker, Banking Consultant
Dr. Michael Voight, Belmont University
Buck Williams, Progressive Global Agency
Jay Williams, William Morris
Jules Wortman, Wortman Works

ACM Radio Submissions Deadline Nearing

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acm awardsThe Academy of Country Music will accept radio submissions for the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards through Friday, Dec. 6. Submissions will be accepted through 4 p.m. CT on Friday in categories for radio station and on-air personalities. These categories include small, medium, large and major markets, as well as a National On-Air Personality award.
The 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be held Sunday, April 6, 2014 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. ACM members can send submissions at acmradio.dmds.com.

Industry Ink (12/3/13)

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cmtCMT‘s Radio Prep service will end on Dec. 31. CMT Radio producer Curt Miller will stay on CMT’s staff as a producer for the recently announced CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan. On-air correspondent Samantha Stephens will stay with the company through the end of the year. Stephens is currently exploring her next opportunity, and can be contacted via email.

• • •

Mike Kraski of Tenacity Management and Consulting.

Mike Kraski of Tenacity Management and Consulting.


Paula Kay Artist Management and Street Gypsy Management have merged with Tenacity Management and Consulting, according to Mike Kraski, president of Tenacity.
“Tenacity has continued to look at ways to grow our company and improve our services to our clients,” Kraski said. “The best way to do that is with talented and committed people. These companies bring expertise and relationships into our company that makes us a much stronger organization.”
“The entertainment industry is a selfish one — it gets most of our time, love and energy. I want to be part of a team that still puts the artist’s best interests first, and that’s what I found with Tenacity,” said Paula Kay Hornick.
“For me to join an organization it has to function like a family, with integrity, dedication and commitment,” said Patti Bernard of Street Gypsy. “And that is what Tenacity is. Our commitment doesn’t end at 5:00 and doesn’t stop where business ends.”
Tenacity formed in 2007. Tenacity offers, management, consulting, and label services including radio promotion and distribution. Hornick can be reached at [email protected] and Bernard at [email protected].

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Pictured (L-R): Gilles Godard, VP, Corporate Affairs and Development; CEO Robert Ott; Billy Falcon and John Ozier, GM, Nashville Creative.

Pictured (L-R): Gilles Godard, VP, Corporate Affairs and Development; CEO Robert Ott; Billy Falcon and John Ozier, GM, Nashville Creative.


ole has signed a worldwide administration deal with singer, songwriter and producer Billy Falcon. The agreement includes multiple cuts on the 2013 Bon Jovi album, What About Now, including the lead-off single, “Because We Can.” Among the artists to have recorded songs by Falcon are Stevie Nicks, Cher, Manfred Mann, Sherrie Austin, Meatloaf, Trace Adkins and Faith Hill, whose recording of the song “Give In To Me,” co-written by Falcon’s daughter Rose and Elisha Hoffman, was heard on the soundtrack of the film, Country Strong.
Falcon, a native of Valley Stream, New York, moved to Nashville in the early ’90s. Since then he has spent time writing and producing, including production work for his own daughter Rose, and performing with the band The Sowing Circle.

• • •

sunset grillSunset Grill, located in Hillsboro Village, is set to end its lunch service later this month as Chris Cunningham takes over as new executive chef and managing partner of the restaurant, according to the Nashville Post. Sunset Grill will offer its last lunches on Dec. 20. The restaurant’s late-night menu from 10 p.m. until midnight will continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Cunningham’s changes to the menu include a larger daily specials menu and more focus on local and regional farm-to-table fare.

Artist Updates (12/3/13)

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Rachael_Lampa_byArielRenae_300px

Rachael Lampa


Rachael Lampa will headline the 5th Annual Harvest Hands Benefit Concert on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:00 PM at the Cannery Ballroom. Native Run, The Collective from NBC’s The Sing Off, American Idol finalist Matt Giraud, Jason Eskridge, and Brooks Ritter will also perform. Harvest Hands is a non-profit, faith-based organization in inner-city South Nashville.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, with all proceeds benefiting Harvest Hands.  Tickets are available online at mercylounge.com, Grimey’s and The Groove.

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Pictured (L-R): Mark Beckett, Larry Paxton, Kalisa Ewing, Tommy White, Mike Noble and Kerry Marx

Kalisa Ewing recently performed on the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman backed by a stellar group of musicians, including Mark Beckett, Larry Paxton, Tommy White, Mike Noble and Kerry Marx.

• • •

image001-1Switchfoot will release their debut feature film, Fading West, across all leading Video On Demand platforms on Dec. 10, including iTunes, Amazon, Cable Movies on Demand, Google Play, Xbox Video, and Sony Playstation. Fans can also request screenings in a number of markets around the country in partnership with Gathr.

To celebrate the release, the band will perform “Who We Are” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Dec. 10.  The new song is from Switchfoot’s forthcoming ninth studio album, also titled Fading West, due out Jan. 14.

 

'CMA Country Christmas' Rises In Ratings

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jennifer mary j111

Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Nettles


ABC’s CMA Country Christmas brought in 7.35 million viewers on Tuesday evening (Dec. 2), according to reports from Zap2It.com. The Christmas special’s viewership ratings gained a 1.5, up a tenth from last year’s 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. Last year, the special brought in 7.21 million viewers.
Host Jennifer Nettles opened the show with a sparkling version of “What Christmas Means To Me.” Luke Bryan and Duck Dynasty‘s Willie Robertson shared a duet of “Hairy Christmas,” a song featured on Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas. Bryan also performed “Run Run Rudolph.” Rascal Flatts offered a rendition of “A Strange Way To Save The World,” while Lady Antebellum devoted “I’ll Be Home To Christmas” to members of the military.
Darius Rucker‘s performance of “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” was aided by a children’s choir. Other highlights included performances from Trace Adkins (“Silent Night”), Sheryl Crow (“Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire”), Lucy Hale (“Home”), Jake Owen (“Mele Kalikimaka”), Hunter Hayes (“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”), Kellie Pickler (“The Man With The Bag”) and others.
Nettles’ versatile vocals were displayed on flawless collaborations with Mary J. Blige (“Do You Hear What I Hear?”) and Michael W. Smith (“Christmas Day”).
Watch Jennifer Nettles and Mary J. Blige perform “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2uTJl6JWXQ