Second DRX Monthly Showcase Highlights Indie Artists

/by

Pictured (L to R): Chad Pfeifer, J. Michael Harter, John Pyne (Digital Rodeo), Maddie Deneault (center), Bryan White, Stephanie Quayle and Craig Morrison

Pictured (L-R): Chad Pfeifer, J. Michael Harter, John Pyne (Digital Rodeo), Maddie Deneault (center), Bryan White, Stephanie Quayle and Craig Morrison


Online social network and country lifestyle portal Digital Rodeo held their second successful installment of the DRX Monthly Showcase Series on Sept. 23 at 3rd and Lindsley. The DRX monthly showcases highlight some of the platform’s most promising Country artists and help to promote some of the website’s featured unsigned acts. The showcase featured Chad Pfeifer, J. Michael Harter, Maddie Deneault, Stephanie Quayle, Craig Morrison, and was hosted by Bryan White.
Each act performed two songs, fronted by Digital Rodeo’s house band, which includes members Tim Horsley (drums), Robbie Emerson (bass, vocals), Erik Halbig (guitar), Mike Webb (keys), and Scotty Huff (guitar, vocals, music director). Each DRX monthly showcase is held at 3rd and Lindsley and is free and open to the public.
 

RIAA Mid-Year Report Shows Streaming Growth

/by

music industry 2014 revenues mid year

Click to download full report.


The RIAA today (Sept. 25) released its mid-year 2014 shipment and revenue numbers.
For the first half of 2014, overall revenues were down 2.5%, to $2.2 billion at wholesale value on a year-over-year basis. At retail, the decrease in value was 4.9% to $3.2 billion.
Strong growth in revenues from streaming services offset declines in digital downloads. Streaming music services grew 28% in the first half of 2014 to $859 million, versus $673 million for 1H 2013. This category includes revenues from subscription services (such as Rhapsody and paid versions of Spotify, among others), streaming radio service revenues that are distributed by SoundExchange (like Pandora, SiriusXM, and other Internet radio), and other non-subscription on-demand streaming services (such as YouTube, Vevo, and ad-supported Spotify).
These streaming services contributed 27% of total industry revenues in 1H 2014, compared with 20% for 1H 2013.
Paid subscriptions grew to $371 million, up 23% y-o-y on a value basis, but grew at an even more rapid pace of 43% by number of subscriptions. This difference is partially due to an update in RIAA’s retail price markup estimate.
On-demand ad-supported streaming services grew 57% y-o-y to $165 million for the first half of 2014.
The total value of digitally distributed formats was $2.2 billion, virtually flat compared to the 1H of 2013.
Revenues from permanent digital downloads (including albums, single tracks, videos, and kiosk sales) declined 12% to $1.3 billion for the first half of 2014.
Total sales in physical formats were $898 million, down 14% versus 1H 2013.
 

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Annual Birthday Bash Set For Nov. 12

/by

TootsiesLogo_Orchid_wht_lg 2Music City’s legendary honky-tonk Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge will celebrate its 54th birthday in downtown Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 12, with a Broadway street party hosted by America’s Morning Show host Blair Garner from NASH-FM.
The Wednesday event will include performances by Terri Clark, Chuck Wicks, Trick Pony and Darryl Worley, with more artist announcements coming soon.
“The Tootsie’s Birthday Bash has become an annual event that everyone looks forward to,” says Tootsie’s proprietor Steve Smith. “We kicked it off at the Ryman with Kris Kristofferson, Terri Clark, Mel Tillis, and Jamey Johnson a few years back. Then Kid Rock and The Kentucky Headhunters took the party to the street on Broadway. We then had Dierks Bentley, Randy Houser and Troy Gentry kick it up a bit, and then there is this year. The lineup is starting to come together!”
Tootsie’s was used as a “green room” by some of the greatest Opry stars including Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb, who stopped in when performing at the nearby Ryman Auditorium. “Tootsie’s is where the stars would come to wet their whistles and pick their guitars,” adds Smith.

'Nashville' Season 3 Premiere Ratings Down From Last Year

/by

136449_5932The third season premiere of ABC’s Nashville earned an initial 1.5 adults 18-49 rating, down from a 2.0 adults 18-49 rating at last year’s second season premiere, according to zap2it.com. However, it has risen from the 1.3 adults 18-49 rating that season 2’s finale earned. Number of viewers live + SD are estimated at 5.6 million.
The season 3 premiere featured live performances from Chip Esten (“Deacon”) and Chris Carmack (“Will”), and a special live performance from Florida Georgia Line.
NBC’s Chicago PD took the top 10 p.m. slot, with ratings of 1.9, 18-49, and approximately 8.4 million viewers.

Industry Ink: Pensado's Gear Expo, BMI, Maddie & Tae, Brad Paisley

/by

Screen shot 2014-09-25 at 11.18.31 AM1Pensado’s Vintage King Gear Expo will take place in Nashville’s Berry Hill area on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m at Vintage King Nashville (located at 2826 Dogwood Place). The creators of Pensado’s Place will broadcast live from the event, interviewing educators and technologists throughout the day.
The event will feature live performances, a fashion show, and hands-on demonstrations with the manufacturers attending. Manufacturers attending include Barefoot Sound, Neumann, Shadow Hills Industries, Q2 Audio, Radial Engineering, and more. For more information, visit gearexponashville.com.

• • •yep bmi1

BMI and Young Entertainment Professionals will present an evening of music at Nashville’s Exit/In on Wednesday, Oct. 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The evening will feature music from Loving Mary, Radio Romance, Breelan Angel, and Brinley Addington.

                                                              • • •

Dot Records duo Maddie & Tae recently celebrated their debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry.

Pictured (L-R): Dot Records National Director Promo/Marketing Kris Lamb, Dot Records GM Chris Stacey, Maddie, Tae, Grand Ole Opry Vice President/General Manager Pete Fisher and 377/Red Light Management manager Haley McLemore. Photo: Chris Hollo, Courtesy Grand Ole Opry© 2014

Pictured (L-R): Dot Records National Director Promo/Marketing Kris Lamb, Dot Records GM Chris Stacey, Maddie, Tae, Grand Ole Opry Vice President/General Manager Pete Fisher and 377/Red Light Management manager Haley McLemore. Photo: Chris Hollo, Courtesy Grand Ole Opry© 2014

 • • •

Brad Paisley performed at the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday night as part of the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, and celebrated backstage with iHeartMedia’s Clay Hunnicutt and family.

Pictured (L-R): iHeartmedia’s Clay Hunnicutt, Hunnicutt family friend Daniel Ehrlich, Brad Paisley, Austin Hunnicutt, Alyssa Hunnicutt, & Wendy Hunnicutt.

Pictured (L-R): iHeartmedia’s Clay Hunnicutt, Hunnicutt family friend Daniel Ehrlich, Brad Paisley, Austin Hunnicutt, Alyssa Hunnicutt, & Wendy Hunnicutt.

[Updated] Artist Updates: Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Chasin' Crazy, Matt Stillwell

/by

Keith Urban

jason aldean slider 2014Jason Aldean became engaged to girlfriend Brittany Kerr this week. Aldean and his first wife, Jessica Ussery, split in April 2013. Aldean and Kerr made their first public appearance as a couple at the 2014 CMT Music Awards.

 • • •

Keith Urban released the video for his latest single, “Somewhere In My Car,” this morning on people.com. The video, directed by John Urbano, was shot in Cincinnati during Urban’s Raise ‘Em Up Tour, and features the acting debuts of models Jehane Paris of Miami, and Rodrigo Calazans, originally from Brazil.

Urbano also directed Urban’s previous video for the single “Cop Car.”

                                                                • • •

swift11

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has returned as part of Diet Coke’s “Get A Taste” campaign.

One ad in a series of three will feature Swift, who first partnered with the soft drink brand last year.

Swift recently announced the release of her first full pop album, 1989, during a livestream from atop New York’s Empire State Building. 1989 will release Oct. 27.

• • •

matt stillwell

Matt Stillwell


Matt Stillwell has announced a 10-week, 45-date We Shall Conquer Tour this fall. Stillwell’s manager Tim Gray said, “We have strategically partnered with several national brands for this tour (Lyft, Bad Boy Buggies, Lifestyle Promotions, Southern Charm Traditional Wear, Which Wich Sandwiches, and Morton Buildings) along with a few specific Greek organizations. These partnerships will enable us to expand the marketing reach for Matt significantly on both an organic and social platform while firming up a foundation for the upcoming radio single.”
The tour kicked off last weekend at Chicago Motor Speedway, where Stillwell performed for the first race of the NASCAR 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
The We Shall Conquer tour will visit University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, University of Oklahoma, LSU, University of Tennessee, University of Florida, University of Nebraska and University of Kansas.

 • • •

Country band Chasin’ Crazy visited Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville yesterday (Sept. 24) to entertain and visit patients battling childhood cancer. The band performed for staff, families and patients, and the performance was simulcast via CCTV to patient rooms and other areas of the hospital. In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, the band is adding gold ribbons (the official symbol of childhood cancer awareness) to its online properties, and asking fans to support the movement.

Pictured (L-R): Creigh Reipe, Jimmy-­‐James Hunter, Travis Fincher, Landon Parker, Forest Miller. Photo: James Stewart

Pictured (L-R): Creigh Reipe, Jimmy-James Hunter, Travis Fincher, Landon Parker, Forest Miller. Photo: James Stewart

Sony/ATV Introduces Pan-European Licensing Endeavor Solar

/by

sonyatv11Sony/ATV Music Publishing, UK collection society PRS for Music, and German society GEMA have partnered for the joint venture, SOLAR, which will administer licenses for Sony/ATV and EMI’s pan-European digital rights for Anglo-American catalogs. SOLAR will exploit the catalogs of Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing, and will provide administration services online and mobile licensing in Europe and other regions.
The move, in addition to previous licensing processes CELAS and PAECOL, aims to offer a one-stop shop for licensees to obtain access to both repertoires. The new arrangement replaces existing processes, where Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing’s Anglo-American catalogs have operated under separate arrangements for pan-European digital use. Sony/ATV’s Anglo-American catalog has been managed by PAECOL (a subsidiary of GEMA), while digital licensing for EMI Music Publishing’s Anglo-American catalog has been managed by CELAS, a joint venture between GEMA and PRS for Music.
Martin Bandier, Chairman and CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: “This agreement not only builds on our already successful relationships with PRS for Music and GEMA, but makes the licensing process in Europe more straight-forward as services will now have only one place to go for both Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing repertoire. It is also great news for our songwriters as we look to continue to facilitate licensing in this rapidly-evolving and expanding sector.”
Sony/ATV has pan-European deals with many services including Amazon, Deezer, Google, iTunes and Spotify.

Benefit Buzz: BMLG, Creative Nation, Musicians Corner, Kix Brooks, Suzanne Alexander

/by

2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan led the Big Machine Records racing team to victory in the Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro Am Karting Challenge at New Castle Motorsports Park on Saturday. This is Big Machine’s second consecutive year to win the race which benefits the Dan Wheldon Foundation, named for the late driver who was a good friend of BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta. The event raised $100,000 for the foundation, which will in turn contribute $50,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association.
BMLG is also supporting Alzheimer’s awareness through involvement with the documentary Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me, which was executive produced by Borchetta. The soundtrack will be released Sept. 30 on Big Machine Records and the film will follow on Oct. 24.BMLG at Dan Wheldon race
• • • •
Creative nation fundraiser PTM2014Creative Nation will present a benefit for local organization Preston Taylor Ministries with performances by Creative Nation songwriters Luke Laird, Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Maggie Chapman, as well as special guests. The event is Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6:00 p.m. at 3rd & Lindsley with all proceeds going directly to PTM. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
 
• • • •
Kix Brooks and GAC’s Suzanne Alexander will be celebrity bartenders to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Tin Roof 2 in Franklin, Tenn. Alexander says, “This is going to be a fun evening and you don’t have to drink alcohol to support this event. I can make a mean O.J., cranberry and seltzer drink.” She has been raising funds for the charity this year by running half-marathons in different cities leading up to the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2. Follow her here.
• • • •
Musicians Corner, the growing Nashville non-profit that hosts free concerts in Centennial Park every spring and fall, is hosting an online auction at Charitybuzz starting Oct. 7. Stars who have signed guitars for the auction include The Avett Brothers, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, and Lady Antebellum. There is also one guitar autographed by Justin Beiber, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow,The Civil Wars, Jason Aldean and blue collar comedian Ron White. Proceeds benefit Musicians Corner, running every Saturday afternoon between now and Oct. 25.

'Front And Center' Features Bentley, Urban, Lady Antebellum

/by

Keith Urban


Multi-Grammy, CMA, and AMA Award winners round out the line-up for the new season of public television’s acclaimed music series Front and Center. This season marks the most diverse lineup yet including performances by Dierks Bentley, Counting Crows, The Fray, John Hiatt, Lady Antebellum, Paul Rodgers, Richie Sambora, Joe Satriani, Richard Thompson, and Keith Urban.
“This season could be our best,” said Executive Producer Don Maggi. “We’re featuring some of the finest names in pop, rock and country music, who have collectively sold millions of albums, won numerous awards and are easily some of the best live entertainers in the business.”
Bentley said, “The core of Country Music is its songs, and the CMA established the CMA Songwriters Series 10 years ago to recognize a really important part of our genre, the songwriters. We don’t typically take the time to thank the songwriters, so collaborating with the CMA and Front and Center was the perfect place — a night with five guys on stools sharing stories, songs and whiskey.”
“My Front and Center special was special indeed,” said British rock singer Paul Rodgers. “They provided a dazzling setting for all the Royal Session musicians from Memphis, and myself, to dig into the tracks from the album. Visually and aurally the show came off beyond my expectation. Everyone worked together to capture the same magic that we captured and recorded on the album. Absolutely a night in my life to remember and I’m thrilled that we can share it with the fans.”
The 10 all-new shows will premier Sept. 30. See show schedule below.
Counting Crows              (Sept. 30)
John Hiatt                      (Oct. 7)
Dierks Bentley               (Oct. 14)
Joe Satriani                   (Oct. 21)
Lady Antebellum            (Oct. 28)
Keith Urban                    (Nov. 4)
Paul Rodgers                  (Nov. 11)
The Fray                        (Nov. 18)
Richard Thompson         (Nov. 25)
Richie Sambora              (Dec. 2)

Artist Pics: Ray Scott, Rascal Flatts

/by

Ray Scott and his team hosted an album release party at Mix Dream Studios Tuesday evening (Sept. 23) in Nashville, to celebrate his self-titled album, due Oct. 7 on deciBel Records. Among the attendees were producer Dave Brainard and co-writer Brandy Clark.

ray scott

Ray Scott addresses attendees during his album release party. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser


Ray Scott 9.23.14 2 L. Kent for Moments By Moser11

Attendees are given copies of Scott’s self-titled album, due for release Oct. 7. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

• • •

Rascal Flatts performed to a sold-out audience this past Sunday at DTE Energy Music Theater, marking the trio’s fourth consecutive sold-out performance at the venue. Rascal Flatts’ Rewind Tour continues with tour dates this week in Allentown, Pa. (Sept. 26) and Richmond, Va. (Sept. 27). The show also featured Sheryl Crow and Gloriana.

Rascal Flatts with Sheryl Crow and Gloriana. Photo: Zach Henderson

Rascal Flatts with Sheryl Crow and Gloriana. Photo: Zach Henderson