George Strait's "Give It All We Got Tonight" Earns Platinum Status

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MCA Nashville’s George Strait celebrated the newly-minted Platinum status of his recent single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” at his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour rehearsal in Nashville on Friday (March 21). Prior to Strait’s sold-out Bridgestone Arena show, UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan presented him with a plaque to celebrate one million digital singles sold of “Give It All We Got Tonight,” off his album, Love Is Everything.
For more information on Strait’s Nashville concert, read MusicRow‘s review of Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour visit.

Pictured (L-R): MCA Nashville recording artist George Strait, UMG Nashville's Mike DunganPhoto Credit: Terry Calonge

Pictured (L-R): MCA Nashville recording artist George Strait, UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan.
Photo Credit: Terry Calonge

Artists Raise $36K For ACM Lifting Lives Through Club Shows

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ACM-Lifting-LivesIn the past three months ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, has been the recipient of $36,000 raised through club shows across the country. Josh Abbott, Wade Bowen, Kristian Bush, Tyler Farr, Kyle Park, Chase Rice, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Josh Thompson, Randy Rogers Band and The Swon Brothers donated a portion of ticket sales from these club shows to ACM Lifting Lives, which will go to help fund organizations that are improving lives through the power of music.
Venues hosting the shows included Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas; Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, Calif.; Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta; Coyote Joe’s in Charlotte, N.C.; Denim & Diamonds in Mesa, Ariz.; Denim & Diamonds in Wichita Falls, Texas; Dusty Armadillo in Rootstown, Ohio; Joe’s Bar in Chicago; and Rockin Rodeo in Midland, Texas.
As part of the initiative, fans who attended were encouraged to take a photo of their ticket and tweet it tagging @ACMAwards, using #ACMLiftingLivesBenefit. One lucky fan won a trip to the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas via the Twitter contest.

Downtown Music Publishing Inks Deal With Parallel Music

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downtown music publishing logoDowntown Music Publishing has signed Parallel Music to a worldwide publishing administration agreement, which was announced today (March 26) by DMP COO/General Counsel Andrew Bergman and Parallel Managing Partner Tim Hunze.
Nashville-based Parallel Music was established in August 2011 as a partnership between Hunze, JP Williams and CT Wyatt. Parallel’s catalog includes “Mama’s Broken Heart” (Miranda Lambert), “Til My Last Day” (Justin Moore), and “Better Dig Two” (The Band Perry), as well as cuts by Tim McGraw, David Nail, Keith Urban, Eli Young Band, Eric Paslay, Randy Houser and Jon Pardi.
“We are thrilled to be working with Tim and the entire Parallel Music Publishing team,” said Bergman. “In just under three years, they have already developed an incredible catalog and signed a roster of very talented writers.”
“I am excited to join the Downtown Music Publishing family,” added Hunze. “I admire their vision and growth and look forward to helping add value to their already amazing company.”

Two Tennessee School Districts Named Best For Music Education

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namm foundation111The NAMM Foundation has named 2014’s Best Communities for Music Education, and two Tennessee school districts are included. The Clarksville Montgomery County School System and the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools were selected among the 376 honorees for the Best Communities for Music Education.
East Ridge High School in East Ridge, Tenn., and Lausanne Collegiate School in Bartlett, Tenn., were two of 96 individual schools named as SupportMusic Merit Award winners.
More than 2000 schools and school districts participated in this year’s survey, resulting in a 21 percent increase in designations.
“These schools and districts make a strong commitment to music education in the core curriculum supporting its essential value to a well-rounded education for every child,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director. “Strong, engaging programs that offer students access to music cannot thrive in a vacuum. The Best Communities designation and the SupportMusic Merit Award bring hard-won visibility to music classes, programs and departments that are keeping music education alive in our schools.”
For a full list of of districts named as 2014’s Best Communities for Music Education, visit nammfoundation.org. A full list of SupportMusic Merit Award-winning schools is also available.
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 9000 members around the world.

David Huff Helms New Doobie Brothers Album

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Pictured (L-R): Pat Simmons, John McFee, David Huff, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald

Pictured (L-R): Pat Simmons, John McFee, David Huff, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald


David Huff helmed production of the recently announced album which pairs the Doobie Brothers with country superstars. Among the artists teaming with the Doobies for the Sony Music Nashville release are Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Sara Evans, Chris Young, Jerrod Niemann and Love and Theft.
Huff, a longtime fan of the Doobie Brothers, is eager to introduce the band to a new generation of fans. “The Doobie Brothers are such an important band in the history of music,” he said. “The hits transcend time, so with this new collection we are just adding modern production and collaborations with the country stars.”
Huff, younger brother of renowned producer Dann Huff, splits time between Nashville and L.A. producing pop and country artists. “I think it will be the first time that Nashville will hear how very talented he is,” said Dann, who co-produced four tracks on the album. “We’ve been making music together almost our whole lives. This really was his baby and I see it as David’s entry into the country market. I am just honored that I got to witness him work on a few songs.”
In addition to the Doobie’s founding members, Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, who continue to front the band, the album will feature legendary singer Michael McDonald, who exited in 1982 but is returning for this project, and John McFee, whose history with the Doobies dates back to 1978.

Industry Signings: Sony Music Nashville Signs Dorr

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Singer/songwriter and Wyoming native Josh Dorr became Sony Music Nashville’s newest recording artist this week.

Pictured (L-R): Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Dorr, and A&R VP Jim Catino.

Pictured (L-R): Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Josh Dorr, and A&R VP Jim Catino.

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Patrick Joseph Music, a joint venture with Songs Music Publishing, has signed ASCAP member Ben Caver to its roster of songwriters.
PJM President Pat Higdon commented, “Ben is a wonderful writer and we are extremely excited to add him to our roster. He has a distinct vocal style and a fresh approach to crafting songs. He blends Country, Pop and R&B influences in what he describes as Southern Pop. No matter what you call it, it sounds like a formula for HITS to me!”
A native of Hoover, Alabama, Caver came to Nashville in 2003 to attend Belmont College. He has had songs recorded by Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina and more.
Pictured (L-R): Safford Motley PLC's Scott Safford, PJM President Pat Higdon, Ben Caver, PJM Creative Manager Stevie Erickson and ASCAP Associate Director of Membership Ryan Beuschel.

Pictured (L-R): Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford, PJM President Pat Higdon, Ben Caver, PJM Creative Manager Stevie Erickson and ASCAP Associate Director of Membership Ryan Beuschel.

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Producer/publisher Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars) has signed singer-songwriter Peyton Parker to an artist development agreement with Twenty Ten Music. The Georgia native moved to Nashville in 2013 and was a recent winner of the Southern Ground Social Club’s Open Mic Showdown.
Twenty Ten Music is a publishing and production company owned by Peacock and David Kiersznowski. The TTM catalog includes The Civil Wars, Ruby Amanfu, k.s. Rhoads, and The Daylights. Peacock’s current production credits include The Civil Wars, Kris Allen, The Lone Bellow, Holly Williams, Ben Rector, Brett Dennen, and “Misery Chain” for Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell featuring Joy Williams, from the soundtrack to the movie 12 Years A Slave.

Pictured (L-R): Sam Ashworth (Creative Director, Twenty Ten Music), Peyton Parker, Charlie Peacock (Producer/Publisher, Twenty Ten Music)

Pictured (L-R): Sam Ashworth (Creative Director, Twenty Ten Music), Peyton Parker, Charlie Peacock (Producer/Publisher, Twenty Ten Music)

CRS Names Agenda Committee Leadership

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crs 20151Jeff Green (Partner, Stone Door Media Lab) has been named Chairman for the 2014-2015 CRS Agenda Committee, while Tom Hanrahan (Regional Program Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment) and John Trapane (SW Regional, EMI Nashville) have been named Co-Vice Chairman. All three will serve the 2014-2015 term and will manage the agenda for the upcoming Country Radio Seminar (CRS 2015).
Green co-formed Stone Door Media Lab in 2012. He previously servced five years as VP, Operations at Country Aircheck. His background includes 22 years in executive posts at the Americana Music Association, Radio & Records, Country Music Association and Music & Media.
Hanrahan is in his 29th year in Country radio, having programmed Country music for 18 years. He has been with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment for 17 years. He currently serves as Regional Programming Manager for CCME, overseeing Birmingham, Montgomery and Gadsden, Ala.
Trapane’s radio station stops include KIKK/KILT in Houston, 93Q Country Houston and 106.7 The Fox in Detroit, as well as stints at Giant/Reprise, Dreamcatcher and Capitol Records. He is currently the SW Regional for EMI Nashville.
CRS continues to accept applications for the CRS 2015 Agenda Committee at countryradioseminar.com. Professional members of the radio and recording industries may submit applications through Friday, April 4. Applications can be sent to Sheree Latham at [email protected].

In Photos: Tin Pan South 2014's Tuesday Shows

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Clark, McAnally, Osborne at Listening Room

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne at The Listening Room. Photo: Bev Moser.


Songwriters have descended on Nashville this week for the annual Tin Pan South shows, which will take place in 10 venues across Nashville.
Tuesday (March 25) kicked off the event with performances from songwriters including Matthew Perryman Jones, Kingston, Jeffrey Steele, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Marshall Altman, Dylan Altman, Brice Long, Rose Falcon, John Oates, LoCash Cowboys and many others.
All photos by Bev Moser.
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Weekly Register: ACM Awards Around The Corner

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0003711704772_500X500Country album sales are down 13 percent week over week, as last week saw strong debuts from Luke Bryan and Sara Evans, while overall album sales are up 3 percent from last week, with several Top 10 debuts from YG, Foster The People, Skrillex, The Pretty Reckless, Enrique Iglesias and Taking Back Sunday.
Walmart’s exclusive 2014 ACM Awards Zinepak by Various Artists is this week’s top debut at No. 5 (No. 28 overall), selling 12k units. The album features several artists set to perform at the upcoming ACM Awards on Sunday, April 6, including Entertainer of the Year nominees Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait and Taylor Swift. Fan voting for the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award will close on April 6. Another noteworthy debut this week is MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row performer Jo Dee Messina’s Me (Dreambound Records), selling 2.5 k units.
Eric Church’s The Outsiders (EMI Nashville) returns as the top Country album (No. 14 overall), selling 18k units this week (476k RTD). Church’s “Give Me Back My Hometown” has reigned at No. 1 on MusicRow’s Chart for two consecutive weeks. The top overall album remains Frozen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Various Artists, selling 202k this week, and 1.6 million RTD. Meanwhile, the top overall debut is YG’s My Krazy Life, appearing at No. 2, with 61k units sold.
YTD, overall album sales are down 15.5 percent, while Country album sales are down 12.5 percent. The same week last year, Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience debuted at No. 1 overall, selling 968k units, while Kacey Musgraves’ Same Trailer, Different Park held the top Country debut, with 43k units sold.

Tracks

WeeklyRegister032614Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan’s “This Is How We Roll” endures as the top Country track (No. 10 overall), selling 78k units this week (614k units RTD). Dan + Shay’s “Show You Off” is the top Country debut at No. 30, selling 13k units. Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” continues to enjoy the No. 1 spot overall, selling 370k units this week (3.3 million RTD). The top overall debut is Calvin Harris’ “Summer” at No. 26, with 45k units sold.
YTD, overall track sales are down 11.5 percent, while Country track sales are down 16.2 percent. The same week last year, Pink’s “Just Give Me A Reason” was the top overall track, selling 241k units, while Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” held the top Country position, selling 75k units.
Next week’s numbers will include Michael W. Smith’s Hymns, Johnny Cash’s Out Among the Stars, Jerrod Niemann’s High Noon and Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road [Deluxe].

DISClaimer: Tin Pan South Week

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Gary Burr

Gary Burr


Since this is Tin Pan South week, it’s appropriate that this stack of platters is dominated by singer-songwriters.
Happily, tunesmiths Adrian Duffy, Cotton Wine, Ronnie Dunn, Jeremy Phifer, Scott Stepakoff and Gary Burr are all as terrific as performers as they are as writers. So good, in fact, that two of them took home our Disc prizes, instead of any major-label stars.
The Disc of the Day belongs to Gary Burr. I always look forward to his records. His songwriting is an inspiration, and his singing voice is a balm. His Juggler’s Logic set of tunes will set you free. The DisCovery Award goes to Scott Stepakoff, who is sort of a Nashville version of James Taylor. Check out his Unlived Lives collection.
JEREMY PHIFER/Take The L Out of Lover
Writers: Jeremy Phifer; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Jeremy Phifer, BMI; HMG
– He has a slight vocal rasp. That, plus the highly rhythmic track, give the single an audio “edge.” The country-rock outing has a dandy electric guitar solo, as well.
LOVE AND THEFT/Night That You’ll Never Forget
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Ashley Gorley; Producer: Josh Leo; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Two Chord Georgia/External Combustion/Out of the Taperoom/Songs of Southside Independent, BMI/ASCAP; RCA
– Breezy, fluffy, easy-going, pleasant, tuneful.
JOHN McVEY/Meet Me In Houston
Writers: John McVey; Producer: John McVey/Andrew Reed; Publishers: Artists International Broadcasting Corporation, BMI; Artists
– The guitar instrumental intro of this blues tune moves slower than frozen molasses. When the vocal finally comes in, it is practically somnambulant.
LUKE BRYAN/Play It Again
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Jeff Stevens; Publishers: Songs of Southside Independent/Out of the Taperoom/External Combustion/EMI; Capitol Nashville
– Single #4 from the Crash My Party CD is a well written romance ditty comparing a favorite song to a favorite kiss. You want them both to be repeated. Groovy and innocent sounding.
GARY BURR/Love Is Out There
Writers: Gary Burr; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Connboy, SESAC; GB (track)
-In addition to garnering rave reviews for his work in Blue Sky Riders, Gary Burr continues to make solo discs. His current one, Juggler’s Logic, consists entirely of solo-penned gems. Its lead-off song is a dizzy melodic delight with his charming tenor riding atop deft guitar and banjo plucking. This Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member is a true Music City treasure. Buy this.
Scott Stepakoff

Scott Stepakoff


SCOTT STEPAKOFF and BRANDY CLARK/Unlived Lives
Writers: Scott Stepakoff/Brandy Clark; Producer: Scott Stepakoff/Dave Pacula; Publisher: none listed; Ten Ten (track)
– Stepakoff is a Ten Ten Music Group writer who is issuing a solo album. Its title tune is a mid-tempo meditation performed as a duet with co-writer Clark. The orchestration ramps up the excitement, but their entwined voices give even more audio thrills. Lend this man your ears.
RONNIE DUNN/Peace Love and Country Music
Writers: none listed; Producers: Ronnie Dunn/Jeff Balding; Publisher: none listed; Little Will-E (track)
-The title tune of Dunn’s new album is a simple, anthemic ballad that prays for a better world. As usual, he sings his face off. The collection’s first single is the previously reviewed “Kiss You There.”
SOUL CIRCUS COWBOYS/That’s The Way We Roll
Writers: Frank J. Myers/Anthony Smith; Producers: Frank J. Myers/Jimmy Nichols; Publisher: none listed; Kismet (track)
– Bro country has become so repetitive that it’s practically making photocopies of itself. I offer as proof the fact that there is also a current bro-country single titled “This Is How We Roll” (by Florida Georgia Line & Luke Bryan). This one does contain more working-man lyrics than the other one.
COTTON WINE/Murder Song
Writers: Cotton Wine/Jason Land; Producer: Femke; Publishers: Ten Ten/Marvelous Hands, ASCAP; Ten Ten (track)
-Cotton Wine is a male-female duo with pop and folk overtones. The act’s six-song, Americana-leaning EP kicks off with this haunting, languid tune embellished with electronic washes and stark percussive effects. Extremely promising.
ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/Someone Like You
Writers: Adrian Duffy; Producer: Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; SR (U.K.) (track)
-These three Irish Duffy brothers (Adrian, Chris and Melvin) have scored a No. 1 country hit in their homeland with this title tune of their five-song EP. It’s a jaunty outing that bounces right along as guitars twang and a steel chimes in. This defines “feel good” music.