Snapshots (2/12/14)

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Natalie Stovall and the Drive In New Orleans
WNOE welcomed HitShop’s Natalie Stovall and the Drive to the Big Easy where they performed at The Howlin’ Wolf. The band has been motoring in high gear after getting 42 first week radio adds. HitShop President Skip Bishop insisted that showcasing the band live would pave the group’s highway to success, and it appears the strategy is working.

(L-R) WNOE's Don Gosselin and Mary Steele; the band's Joel Dormer; WNOE's Nina Hazard; the band's James Bavendam; WNOE's Jeanne LaCombe; the band's Zach Morse, Natalie Stovall and Miguel Cancino; WNOE's Brad Howell and Lindsey Luquette; HitShop President Skip Bishop; WNOE's Megan Parenti; and HitShop's Kim Stephens.

(L-R): WNOE’s Don Gosselin and Mary Steele; the band’s Joel Dormer; WNOE’s Nina Hazard; the band’s James Bavendam; WNOE’s Jeanne LaCombe; the band’s Zach Morse, Natalie Stovall and Miguel Cancino; WNOE’s Brad Howell and Lindsey Luquette; HitShop President Skip Bishop; WNOE’s Megan Parenti; and HitShop’s Kim Stephens.


Suzy Bogguss Debuts Music
Members of the press and Music Row came together to hear new music from country artist Suzy Bogguss this week at BMI’s Nashville office. Bogguss played an intimate set of tunes from her new album, Lucky, a collection of reinterpreted Merle Haggard songs.
Pictured L-R are: Joy Emery, legendary country disc jockey Ralph Emery, Bogguss, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo credit: Steve Lowry

(L-R): Joy Emery, legendary country disc jockey Ralph Emery, Bogguss, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry


Irene Kelley Offers Bluegrass Collection
Established singer-songwriter Irene Kelley celebrated the Feb. 11 release of her new collection, Pennsylvania Coal, with a show at The Bluebird Cafe. Joining her were special guests on the project Jerry Salley, Claire Lynch, and Carl Jackson. The bluegrass album on Patio Records is a tribute to her coal-mining grandfather. It was produced by Grammy Award-winner Mark Fain, and also features Rhonda Vincent, Dale Ann Bradley, Darren Vincent, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton and Trisha Yearwood.
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(L-R): Irene Kelley with Jerry Salley, Claire Lynch, and Carl Jackson

Mason Named GM Of Edgehill Music Nashville

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K-Mase111

Kevin Mason


Larry Pareigis, President, Nine North/Turnpike Music has promoted Kevin Mason to the role of General Manager for Edgehill Music Nashville.” Edgehill Music Nashville, as the newest member of the Nine North/Turnpike Music family, will fill the need for an entry level company for independent Country artists desiring to pursue MusicRow radio and other secondary radio outlets,” says Mason.
The new company will offer radio promotion, social media, publicity, marketing, management, web design, consulting and other services on an a la carte basis, much like its related divisions, Nine North and Turnpike Music.
Mason can be reached at [email protected].
The company’s initial artist signings are Knoxville-based entertainer Homer Hart, Chicago-native singer/songwriter Elisa Grace and former EMI artist Dana McVicker.

SESAC Promotes Pitt-Sholar To Sr. Director of Operations, Business Affairs

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Teresa Pitt-Sholar

Teresa Pitt-Sholar


SESAC has promoted Teresa Pitt-Sholar to Senior Director of Operations, Business Affairs. In the new position, Pitt-Sholar will oversee the domestic and international management of affiliate content for SESAC writers and publishers. Additionally, she will serve as business operations liaison to the systems development team and will work closely with other SESAC departments in the processing and execution of affiliate agreements and other legal documents.
“During her tenure at SESAC, Teresa has proven herself to be a leader and an invaluable member of our SESAC team,” said Dennis Lord, SESAC’s Executive Vice President. “As Senior Director of Operations for Business Affairs, I know Teresa will continue the tradition of excellence we maintain in that department and throughout all of SESAC. I expect continued accomplishments and growth under her leadership.”
Pitt-Sholar joined SESAC in 2002, after working in the Accounting department at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and after working as an independent tour manager for several artists. Before transferring to the Business Affairs department in 2007, Pitt-Sholar worked in SESAC’s Accounting department. In April 2010, she was promoted to Director of Business Affairs.
Established in 1930, SESAC is a service organization created to serve both the creators of music and music users through music licensing and timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. Headquartered in Nashville, the company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London.

Weekly Register: Eric Paslay's Noteworthy Debut

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Albums

eric paslay111Both overall and Country album sales are down 3 percent from last week. Eric Paslay’s self-titled debut album (EMI Nashville) debuts at No. 4 (No. 31 overall), selling 11k units. Paslay is one of many artists scheduled to perform at the 2014 Stagecoach Country Music Festival in April. Meanwhile, indie artist Whiskey Meyers’ Early Morning Shakes (Wiggy Thump Records) debuts at No. 10 (No. 54 overall), selling 5.8k units, while The Haden Triplets’ self-titled album (Third Man Records) debuts at No. 67, with 551 units sold.
Two albums are enjoying a noteworthy surge in sales this week. Sales for Vince Gill and Paul Franklin’s Bakersfield soared 88 percent this week (3.2k last week, 6.1k this week), jumping to No. 7 on the chart (No. 47 overall) with 56k units sold RTD. Additionally, sales for Bruno Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox continue to rise following the singer’s Super Bowl XLVII halftime performance, increasing 92 percent this week (42k last week, 81k this week), moving to No. 3 with more than 2 million units sold RTD.
Florida Georgia Line’s Here’s To The Good Times is the top Country album (No. 19 overall), selling 14k units this week and 1.6 million RTD. Now 49 by Various Artists is the top overall album, debuting with 98k units sold. In comparison, Now 48 sold 114k units when it debuted in November 2013. YTD, overall album sales are down 14.8 percent, while Country album sales are down 20 percent. Around the same time last year, Josh Groban’s All That Echoes debuted, selling 145k units, while Tim McGraw’s Two Lanes of Freedom debuted, selling 107k units.

Tracks

AlbumsTracksBrantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up” is the top Country track this week (No. 28 overall), selling 49k units (354k RTD). The top Country debut is MusicRow’s inaugural Challenge Coin winner Cole Swindell, whose single “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” debuts at No. 6 (No. 44 overall), with 34k units sold.
Katy Perry and Juicy’s “Dark Horse” reigns over the competition, remaining at No. 1 with another 291k units sold this week (2.9 million RTD). YTD, overall track sales are down 11.4 percent, while Country track sales are down 17.1 percent. Around the same time last year, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” sold 300k units (2.6 million RTD), while McGraw and Taylor Swift’s “Highway Don’t Care” debuted with 86k units sold.
Next week’s numbers will include Eric Church’s The Outsiders, Frankie Ballard’s Sunshine & Whiskey and  The Civil Wars’ Between the Bars.

Eventbrite Establishes Nashville Operation

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eb_press_bigTicketing company Eventbrite is launching a Nashville team this spring. The San Francisco-based operation plans to hire 45 customer support workers, some as early as this week, and have them on the job by the beginning of April. Employees will have the choice to work from home or in a co-working space.
“Eventbrite’s decision to expand into Nashville is indicative of how we are becoming a top city for driving innovation and tech talent,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said.
Founded in 2006, Eventbrite has offices in the U.K. and Latin America. Nashville was one of several cities in the running for the latest Eventbrite hiring efforts.
“We are so excited about launching a new team in Nashville,” said Rachael Neumann, Eventbrite’s director of customer experience strategy. “Nashville is a hotbed for tech savvy talent, culture, and the ‘make it happen spirit’ we look for when hiring.”
Bridging the gap between the Southeast and Silicon Valley has been a goal of many Nashville organizations. Launch Tennessee, a public-private partnership for the state and organizers of the Southland technology conference, recently visited Silicon Valley in order to form more partnerships for the state of Tennessee. “This announcement is exactly what we’ve been working toward,” said Launch Tennessee CEO Charlie Brock. “Eventbrite’s local presence is a prime opportunity for us to tap into those Silicon Valley assets and a way to implement them into our tech and startup culture. We hope to see additional partnerships between Nashville and San Francisco this year.”
To find out more about the available positions with Eventbrite, visit www.eventbrite.com/jobs.
 

Curb Music Publishing Extends Agreement with Songwriter Leathers

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Joe Leathers


Curb Music Publishing has extended its exclusive worldwide music publishing agreement with Joe Leathers. Leathers, a staff writer for Curb since 2003, has had songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Lee Brice, Tim McGraw, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Houser, Thompson Square, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Dunn, Clay Walker, including three Top 10 singles- “Still” (McGraw), “Tough” (Craig Morgan) and “Where I’m From” (Jason Michael Carroll).
“We are incredibly honored to have Joe Leathers as a staff writer at Curb Music Publishing, and we look forward to building off of his already proven success,” says Curb VP of Publishing, Drew Alexander.
Leathers, a native of Memphis, Tenn., has spent time as a Golden Gloves boxer, NCAA Division I football player, airplane pilot, motocross racer, guitarist of the Memphis club circuit, husband, father of four and currently holds the position of Sr. VP and Branch Manager at Stifel Financial in Memphis, Tenn.

DISClaimer (2/12/14)

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bogguss1111When you have so many cool newcomers that it is hard to pick your award winner, that is a good day. This week marks the DisClaimer column debuts of Erica Hoyt, Leather & Lace and Chad Sullins & The Last Call Coalition. Any or all of them could be the DisCovery Award winner. With a toss of the coin, I’m giving the award to the family band, Leather & Lace.
Many of the rest of the discs reviewed here are flawed in one way or another. Miranda Lambert’s song doesn’t scan terribly well. Florida Georgia Line’s single with Luke Bryan is hardly a song at all. Maggie Rose has a terrific lyric, but can’t seem to deliver it with apt emotion. The only true piece of perfection is the Clinton Gregory/Collin Raye effort “Some Real Good People.” I’d give it some kind of song award if anybody had bothered to tell me who wrote it.
That leaves us with the disc which is offering something that’s always reliable, a grand vocalist performing classic songs. The Disc of the Day prize goes to the always classy Suzy Bogguss.
JJ LAWHORN/Good Ol’ Boys Like Us
Writer: Jonathan Lawhorn; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publishers: EMI April/Songs of Hanover Holler/You Gotta Want It, ASCAP; Average Joe’s
-I still like his drawling accent, and this is his best written song to date. Once you get past the premise that God has a special place in Heaven for guys splattering mud in pickup trucks.
CLINTON GREGORY & COLLIN RAYE/Some Real Good People
Writer: none listed; Producers: Tammy Hyler/Larry Beaird; Publishers: none listed; Melody Roundup
-You wouldn’t think these two voices would go together, but they do. And what both men share is an appreciation for a well-written message song. Which this driving, uplifting number most certainly is. Richly deserving of massive airplay.
SUZY BOGGUSS/I Always Get Lucky With You
Writers: Merle Haggard/Gary Church/Freddy Powers/Bobby Whitson; Producers: Suzy Bogguss/Doug Crider; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Shade Tree, BMI; Loyal Duchess
-There is something about this woman’s voice that I have always found completely captivating. Her trademark lustrous warmth is all over Lucky, her just-released collection of Merle Haggard songs. She gives this 1983 George Jones hit co-written by the Hag a sweetly bluesy lilt that makes it sound brand new. This whole album is an audio gift with its emphasis on simple arrangements and pristine instrumental solos as well as its songs and their singer.
MAGGIE ROSE/Looking Back Now
Writer: Lisa Carver; Producers: Blake Chancey/James Stroud/Stephony Smith; Publishers: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Big Alpha Writers Group, ASCAP; RPM (track)
-This tale of betrayal, murder and prison execution is pretty dang cool. Her delivery of it, however, is bafflingly “sunny.” The purse doesn’t match the shoes.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE & LUKE BRYAN/This Is How We Roll
Writers: Brian Kelley/Tyler Hubbard/Cole Swindell/Luke Bryan; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: Big Loud Mountain/Big Loud Bucks/Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill, BMI; Republic Nashville
-Catchy bro country with beats to spare and a repetitive, repetitive, repetitive chorus that infects your mind.

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Erica Hoyt


CHAD SULLINS & THE LAST CALL COALITION/Couple 1,000 Miles
Writer: Chad Sullins; Producer: Mike McClure; Publisher: Madcor; no performance rights listed; Madcor (track)
-He sings in a macho, world-weary baritone, and the band backs him with an appropriately muscular tone. Steel, electric guitar, organ and percussion are as important here as the wandering-man lyric. The album is titled Wicked Spell, and it casts one. Very promising.
MIRANDA LAMBERT/Automatic
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Nicolle Galyon/Natalie Hemby; Producers: Frank Liddell/Chuck Ainlay/Glenn Worf; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Warner-Tamerlane/EMI Blackwood/Wruckestrike, BMI; RCA
-The thrilling track churns and froths and foams all around her. Amid the excitement, Lambert yearns for a simpler time when everything wasn’t automatic. The song is somewhat word-y and hardly ever rhymes, but I guarantee you’ll hang on every line.
ERICA HOYT/Love Me For Me
Writers: Armstrong/Hoyt/Rossebo/Waters; Producers: Jon Armstrong/Ryan Rossebo; Publisher: none listed; EH (track)
-Sweet and girl-y. Well produced, well written and well sung. But you might want to double check your insulin level before listening.
KELLIE PICKLER/Closer To Nowhere
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wade Kirby/Phil O’Donnell; Producers: Luke Wooten/Frank Liddell; Publishers: none listed; Black River (track)
-La Pickler’s latest is a rhythmic sultry suggestion about going out, making out, acting out or just being alone together. I remain a huge fan, and this sensuous song is splendid.
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Leather & Lace


LEATHER & LACE/Red
Writers: Sam Tinnesz/Jennifer Zuffinetti/Blake Bollinger/Lisa Carver; Producer: Kim Copeland; Publishers: none listed; Leather & Lace
-This is a sibling band of three brothers and a sister, so the CD is titled Family Tree. On its kick-off single, the sound is faintly menacing, minor-key, “outlaw” country rock, and the lyric has a roulette-wheel gambling romantic theme. Hot stuff.

MusicRowRecess: 'Achy Breaky 2'

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achy breaky2Billy Ray Cyrus is blowing up the blogosphere with news of “Achy Breaky 2,” his collaboration with rapper Buck 22, son of Dionne Warwick. Check out this video of the reworked hit—complete with trippy rocketship, scantily clad space girls and a name-check of daughter Miley. The intro from Larry King is icing on the alien cake.

Songwriters Hall of Fame Names New Class

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song hall inducteesRay Davies, Donovan, Graham Gouldman, Mark James and Jim Weatherly will become the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York at the organization’s 45th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. The star-studded induction event is slated for Thursday, June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Ray Davies founded the rock band The Kinks with his brother Dave in London in 1964. As the band’s lead singer and chief songwriter, Davies penned countless tracks including a string of 14 top ten international hits starting with “You Really Got Me,” and followed by “All Day and All of The Night,” “Tired of Waiting For You,” “Set Me Free,” ‘‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion,” “Sunny Afternoon,” “Waterloo Sunset,” “Lola,” “Apeman,” and “Come Dancing.”
Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan and producer Mickie Most collaborated on chart-topping songs including “Sunshine Superman,” “Mellow Yellow” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” In 1965 Donovan became the first artist Clive Davis signed to CBS/Epic Records. Donovan’s hits include “Atlantis,” “Catch The Wind” and “Season Of The Witch.”
Graham Gouldman wrote hits for Herman’s Hermits (“Listen People,” “No Milk Today”), The Yardbirds (“For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul” and “Evil Hearted You”), and The Hollies (“Look Through Any Window,” “Bus Stop”). In 1972, he formed the band 10cc and co-wrote many of their hits including “Rubber Bullets,” “I’m Not In Love” and “The Things We Do For Love.”
Mark James first came to prominence penning “Hooked On A Feeling” for B.J. Thomas in 1969. Later, the band Blue Swede transformed it into a 1974 chart topper. James’ career breakthrough came when Elvis Presley cut his song “Suspicious Minds.” In addition to hits penned for Presley which include “Moody Blue,” “It’s Only Love” and “Raised On Rock,” James co-wrote the classic “Always On My Mind,” which was recorded by Elvis and became a signature hit for Willie Nelson in 1982.
Jim Weatherly has been writing songs for almost 50 years. He garnered his first hit with “Neither One Of Us,” which was recorded by Gladys Knight & The Pips. Gladys and The Pips went on to record 12 of his songs including “Where Peaceful Waters Flow,” “Midnight Train To Georgia” and “You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.” The latter was also recorded by Ray Price. Ray Price recorded 38 of Weatherly’s songs. Bob Luman also had a top five hit with “Neither One Of Us.” As an artist, Weatherly has had his own success with “The Need To Be,” and country hit “I’ll Still Love You.” Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks are just some of the artists who have recorded Weatherly’s songs.
Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame event begin at $1000 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event will go toward the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

Father And Son Produce MusicRow No.1s

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coleandlukeFather and son Jeff and Jody Stevens may be the first family members to produce consecutive No. 1s on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. Jody’s smash production “Chillin’ It,” recorded by Cole Swindell hit the No. 1 position on Jan. 9, followed one week later by Jeff’s production of “Drink A Beer,” recorded by Luke Bryan. Jeff has previously produced and co-written Bryan’s singles “All My Friends” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby.” Jeff and Jody are one of many father-son pairs involved in the industry.
Additionally, Swindell and Bryan are the first two artists to take home MusicRow’s coveted Challenge Coin, awarded to the artists and songwriters who have achieved a No. 1 song on MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Chart.