Weekly Register: Top 10 Debuts For Jake Owen, Miranda Lambert, The Lacs

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Jake Owen treats fans to lunch at Waffle House to celebrate new single “Real Life”

Jake Owen treats fans to lunch at Waffle House to celebrate new single “Real Life.”

Jake Owen and Miranda Lambert debuted tracks in the country top 10 this week. Owen is keeping it real at No. 6 with “Real Life” selling 29K. Lambert’s “Roots And Wings,” written for the Ram Trucks brand, comes in at No. 7 with 27K downloads. Hunter Hayes’ latest “21” debuts at No. 24 selling 14K.

Top 5 Country Tracks
Little Big Town “Girl Crush” 81K (1.051 million RTD)
Luke Bryan “Kick The Dust Up” 67K
Blake Shelton “Sangria” 46K
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” 43K
Eric Church “Like A Wrecking Ball” 29K

the lacs outlaw in meOn the country albums chart, Zac Brown Band’s Jekyll + Hyde is No. 1, selling 17K this week. The Lacs’ Outlaw in Me debuted at No. 3 with sales of 14K.

Top 5 Country Albums 
Zac Brown Band 17K
Brantley Gilbert 15K
The Lacs 14K
Sam Hunt 14K
Little Big Town 8.9K

On the overall charts, Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” is No. 1 selling 190K downloads. The Weekend had the top track debut with “The Hills” moving 100K. A$AP Rocky’s album At Long Last, debuted at No. 1, with consumption of 146K (117K album only).

Info according to Soundscan.

 

Miranda Lambert and Ram Truck fans have been waiting for it: Here’s the exclusive full-length video for “Roots and Wings.” #RootsWingsRam

Posted by Ram Trucks on Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Little Big Town, Brett Eldredge Join Darius Rucker’s St. Jude Benefit

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unnamed-1Darius Rucker will be joined by a host of hitmakers this year for his sixth annual “Darius And Friends” benefit June 8 at the Wildhorse Saloon. Little Big Town, Brett Eldredge, A Thousand Horses, Brothers Osborne, and Steve Wariner will perform at the concert event which sells out year after year and raises funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

GAC’s Nan Kelly will host this year’s benefit, and a special surprise guest is in the works for the show and will be announced soon. In the concert’s six-year history it has raised over $400,000 for cancer research and treatment.

The day after the show, Rucker will host his annual Darius And Friends Celebrity Tee-Off golf tournament which also benefits St. Jude.

Last year Rucker raised $120,000 for the hospital between the concert, golf tourney, and auction.

Industry Ink: Writer’s Den, Big Star, IEBA, The Workshop, Voice Clinic

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Writer’s Den Retreat

Writer’s Den Music Group hosted a songwriters retreat at Bell Bottom Farms in Cedar Hill, Tenn. where their songwriters collaborated with writers from Warner/Chappell, Neon Cross, Starstruck, UMPG and Black River.

. (pictured from left to right, Bottom row; Alex Kline, Josh Kerr, Blake Chaffin, Ben Cooper. Top row; Brandon Lancaster, Jordan Reynolds, Robert Earl Keen, Melissa Fuller and Lizzy McAvoy.

Pictured (L-R, Bottom row): Alex Kline, Josh Kerr, Blake Chaffin, Ben Cooper. (Top row): Brandon Lancaster, Jordan Reynolds, Robert Earl Keen, Melissa Fuller and Lizzy McAvoy.

Big Star Adds Leslie Mitchell

Leslie Mitchell

Leslie Mitchell

Leslie Mitchell has been retained by Big Star Recordings to provide A&R services for the company. Mitchell will actively work with writers and publishers to find songs and arrange co-writes for Big Star’s roster which includes George Canyon, Emerson Drive, Aaron Pritchett, Cory Marquardt, Jordan McIntosh, King & Cash, and Beamer Wigley.

Big Star Recordings is an artist services division of the Invictus Entertainment Group. Jim Cressman is President of Invictus Entertainment and Louis O’Reilly is VP of Invictus Management and Big Star. Mitchell can be reached at [email protected] or 615-636-2351.

IEBA Scholarships

The IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) has awarded $15,000 in scholarships to ten students interning in the entertainment business this summer as part of its Summer Internship Scholarship program. Each student received an individual scholarship of $1,500, and scholarships were given to students from nine universities interning in five states across the country. They are interning at offices including AC Entertainment, Live Nation, Common Ground Music Festival, Artist Group International, IMP Productions, and The Bowery Presents.

Creative Workspace

Austin Evans has opened The Workshop, a 24-hour workspace for songwriters at 1303 16th Ave. in Nashville. Members pay a monthly fee and can access the rooms whenever they need to, day or night. Details at 615-933-1337 or facebook.com.

Voice Clinic For Kids

Christy Sutherland, associate vocal coach for Renee Grant-Williams Voice Studio, will lead a “Summer Kids’ Voice Clinic.” The workshop for young singers and songwriters will be July 25 at her studio in Ashland City, Tenn. The clinic is geared specifically for children ages 8-12 and is tailored to the individual needs of each of the six young attendees. Details here or by calling 615-244-3280.

SunTrust’s 17th Annual Hot Dog Day Set For June 11

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suntrustThe 17th Annual SunTrust Hot Dog Day, co-hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, will take place Thursday, June 11, 2015 at the SunTrust Music Row location.

The free event, which will be held from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., will feature entertainment provided by Warner/Chappell.

SunTrust Music Row is located at 1026 17th Ave. S.

suntrustinvite

Leadership Music Reveals Class Of 2016

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LeadershipMusicLogoLeadership Music’s 27th class has been announced and is composed of 48 industry leaders from across the country.

“The Leadership Music Class of 2016 is an impressive group of industry professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise from a diverse field of music businesses,” said Sally Williams, General Manager at the Ryman Auditorium, who, as immediate past president of the board of directors, co-chaired the selection committee.

“We had a record number of applications this year, and choosing 48 applicants from among the hundreds who applied was a very daunting task. The selection committee, composed of 24 alumni from every facet of the industry, deliberates over a four week period, and makes every effort to choose the most balanced and diverse class possible. We all consider it a privilege to be charged with playing a role in the future of this organization.”

Founded in 1989 by eleven music industry alumni of Leadership Nashville, Leadership Music has graduated more than 1000 leaders. The annual program is designed to create a forum for established music community leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry, as well as providing once-in-a-lifetime experiences and meeting people one would not ordinarily meet with whom one builds lasting relationships.

Members of the 2016 class are:
Craig Balsam, Co-CEO/Co-Founder, Razor & Tie (NYC)
Blaine Barcus, VP, A&R, Provident Label Group/Sony Music Entertainment
Deb Barnes, editor/writer
Heather Buresh, Executive Director, Big Loud Bucks/Round Hill Music
Justin Cole, Director of Country Programming, Premiere Networks/iHeart Media
Jason Colton, Artist Manager, Red Light Management (Seattle)
Jen Danielson, Director, Music Strategy, CMT
Barry Dean, songwriter
Todd Dupler, Director of Government Relations, The Recording Academy (Washington, DC)
Steve Emley, Artist Manager, Fitzgerald Hartley
Nick Ferrara, Attorney, Nicholas C. Ferrara & Associates
Josh Friedlander, Senior VP, Strategic Data Analysis, RIAA (Washington, DC)
Aaron Gant, VP, Production, Warner Chappell Production Music
Bob Guerra, Senior VP, Programming, Cherry Creek Radio
Margaret Hart, Manager, Artist & Label Relations, YouTube
Bruce Houghton, President, Skyline Music (Roanoke, VA)
Brent Hyams, Chief Operating Officer, TPAC/War Memorial Auditorium
Gavin Ivester, CEO, Flo
Cris Lacy, VP, A&R, Warner Music Nashville
Tim Lauer, musician/producer/writer
Jonathan Levine, Agent, Paradigm Talent Agency
Renee´ Leymon, VP, Promotion, Red Bow Records
Chris Lisle, Owner, Chris Lisle Lighting Design
Erick Long, Senior VP, Operations & Events, Academy of Country Music (Los Angeles)
Angie Magill, VP, Legal & Business Affairs, Sony Music Nashville
Blake McDaniel, Agent, CAA
Maurice Miner, President, Maurice Miner Media & Marketing
Sean Neff, Producer/Engineer, Spin Productions
A.J. Niland, President, Huka Entertainment (New Orleans)
Brad Peterson, VP/Music Division Team Leader; Fifth Third Bank
Bob Raines, Executive Director, Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission
Joe Rapolla, Director, Music Industry Program, Monmouth University (New Jersey)
Adam Ritholz, Attorney, Ritholz Levy Sanders Chidekel & Fields (NYC)
Pete Robinson, Senior VP/GM, Big Deal Music
Carmen Romano, Business Manager, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy (NYC)
Jon Romero, Head of Digital Marketing, Vector Management
Vince Santoro, Secretary/Treasurer, Nashville Musicians’ Union, AFM Local 257
Neville Shende, Fleet Operations & Safety Manager, Pioneer Coach
Brandi Simms, Senior Director, Membership & Balloting, CMA
Anjula Singh, Chief Financial Officer, SoundExchange (Washington, DC)
Dr. Gregory Stewart, Executive Principal, Nashville School of the Arts
Phil Thornton, VP/GM, Urban Inspirational, Entertainment One
Brad Turcotte, VP, Marketing, UMG Nashville
Jennifer Turnbow, Sr. Director of Operations, NSAI
Allison Warren, VP, Market Manager, Cumulus Nashville
Jill Wheeler, Concert Promoter, Red Mountain Entertainment (Birmingham)
Jenn Witherell, VP, Marketing & Publicity, Big Enterprises
Russ Zavitson, President, Zavitson Music Group

Martina McBride Discusses Female Airplay On ‘CBS This Morning’

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Martina McBride appears CBS This Morning in NYC on Tuesday, June 2 where she discusses her thoughts on the state of Country radio’s lack of female voices.

Martina McBride appears on “CBS This Morning” in NYC on Tuesday, June 2 where she discusses country radio’s lack of female voices.

Country music star Martina McBride appeared on CBS This Morning today (6/2) to speak out on behalf of women in country music who are getting little radio airplay.

Via remote from Nashville, McBride spoke about the backlash stemming from radio consultant Keith Hill‘s recommendation that stations limit airplay by female artists due to the “demand of female listeners.”

McBride, who has sold over 18 million albums and garnered six No. 1 hit songs, called it “dismissive” when asked about the claim that females don’t want to hear other females on the radio adding, “Comments like that become sort of a self fulfilling prophecy.”

After the broadcast, McBride shared additional thoughts regarding the controversy on her Facebook page:

I want to thank CBS This Morning for having me on today. But there are a few things I forgot to say. Being on live TV is nerve-racking to say the least. Sometimes you feel rushed and don’t get the chance to express all your thoughts.  It’s really not the tomato comparison that got my attention in the article we have been talking about. I actually thought that was kinda funny. It’s the “If you want to make ratings in Country radio, take females out,” comment that was disturbing to me. And the assertion that female listeners like male artists more than female artists. Those are the comments that really got my attention.

I feel like whether or not a song gets airplay should be based on how good the SONG is…not whether or not it’s sung by a male or female. It’s kind of like comparing tall artists to short artists, blondes to brunettes, bald guys to guys with hair….what does it matter?

The idea about not playing two females back to back….I get it. If you have less than 19% of your music by females, you want to spread it out. The real point is….why is your playlist less than 19% females???

In regard to the comments being sexist. Hmm…that can be tricky. It seems to me that if a song is not played because of the sex of the artist…it might just fall into the sexist category.

As far as what I said about this being a self-fulfilling prophecy…..it’s a fact that if female artists start out with this kind of discrimination (I can’t really think of a more appropriate word) then it’s harder to get record companies to take chances on signing and marketing a female artist. And songwriters need to make a living at the end of the day just like everyone else. They want and need hits. And if the percentage of female hits each year is as small as it is…well, then the chances of songwriters spending time writing great songs for women go way down. I know that the song finding process has been much different for me this time around (I start my new album this week) than it was last time around. There just aren’t a ton of great songs to choose from.

So….at the end of the day, I’m glad these comments were made and some things were brought to light. If you feel strongly about hearing more women on your radio station I would suggest you let your radio station know how you feel.

I’ve had a long and great relationship with radio for the most part and I have a lot of friends there. (Something else I wanted to say this morning in the interview..). But I think it’s time for this “formula” to change. Speak out. Let the programmers know what you want to hear so they can’t keep making these assumptions about you and your tastes.

Thanks for listening!

Brett Eldredge Announces Sophomore Album

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TV Host Seth Meyers and country artist Brett Eldredge.


TV Host Seth Meyers and country artist Brett Eldredge.

After performing his new single, “Lose My Mind,” last night (June 1) on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Atlantic Records artist Brett Eldredge announced that his forthcoming sophomore album, titled Illinois, will be released Friday, September 11.

Illinois will feature new songs including the lead single, the title track, and more.

“Lose My Mind,” written by Eldredge, Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan, is top 30 on radio and climbing.

The Illinois-native is enjoying three consecutive No. 1 singles with “Mean To Me,” “Beat Of The Music,” and “Don’t Ya,” from his debut album Bring You Back.

Ashley Monroe Previews Tracks on ‘The Blade’

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Ashley-Monroe-The-BladeWarner Bros. Records artist Ashley Monroe has revealed the title track and cover art from her July 24 album, The Blade. The track–written by Marc Beeson, Allen Shamblin and Jamie Floyd–is avaible for purchase at iTunes after exclusively premiering People.com.

The album’s current single, “On To Something Good,” is also available ahead of three more tracks to be delivered before the release date, “I Buried Your Love Alive,” “The Weight of the Load” and “Bombshell.”

“‘The Blade’ is such a special song to me,” Monroe told People. “I have been on the receiving end of that pain. It actually makes me physically hurt when I sing it. And when I recorded it for sure, but in a good way. I’m so thankful to the writers of that song. They talked about my heartbreak in a way that I’ve never heard. That’s hard to do.”

Monroe’s sophomore Warner Bros. effort was again produced by close friends Vince Gill and Justin Niebank.

Monroe will share a new song with fans during a performance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on July 27 to celebrate The Blade’s release.

Monroe has collaborated with countless artists, being a member of the Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert, and recently earning her first No. 1 song at country radio for “Lonely Tonight,” a duet with label-mate Blake Shelton, which earned the pair a CMT Music Award nomination.

CRB Announces 2015 Artist Career Achievement Award and President’s Award

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Jeff-Dwight

Dwight Yoakam and Jeff Walker

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. have announced Dwight Yoakam as the recipient of the 2015 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award, and Jeff Walker as the recipient of the 2015 President’s Award. Both awards will be presented during the Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards ceremony, which will be held on Wednesday, June 24, at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. A cocktail reception will take place at 6 p.m. with the induction ceremony to follow at 7 p.m.

“Dwight Yoakam’s career achievements are too numerous to list here, but perhaps most impressive is that he accomplished every one of them by never wavering; never flinching from his musical vision and belief system,” said CRS Hall of Fame Chairman, RJ Curtis. “He re-popularized ‘Hillbilly’ or ‘Honky Tonk’ music in a time when the format was arguably in a pop cycle and in the doldrums. His ongoing commitment to deliver a daring, bold sound to Country radio makes Dwight Yoakam an easy selection as 2015 Artist Career Achievement Recipient.”

“It would be hard to imagine the CRS without Jeff Walker. That’s because for the past 35 years, Jeff has played a vital leadership role, serving on both the executive committee of the Board and as Treasurer of the organization. His unwavering dedication and stead counsel have helped lead the CRS to the great success we enjoy today and it is my privilege to recognize that service with the 2015 President’s Award,” commented CRS Board President, Charlie Morgan.

Previously announced Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees include Joel Raab, Sammy George, Mike Kennedy, Randy Carroll and Karen Dalessandro.

Parallel Music Re-Signs Michael White

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parallel michael white

Pictured (L-R, back row): Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb, LLP; (seated): Hannah Showmaker, Parallel Music Publishing; Michael White; Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing.

Parallel Music Publishing has re-signed hit songwriter Michael White to an exclusive global publishing agreement. White is co-writer of current singles “Kiss You In The Morning” by Warner Music Nashville’s Michael Ray and “On Your Lips” by Black River’s John King. White’s songs have been recorded by Shania Twain, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Billy Currington, Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins, Hank Williams Jr., Craig Campbell, Easton Corbin and more. In addition, White co-wrote Blake Shelton’s No. 1 “The Baby” and the top 10 “Loving Every Minute” by Mark Wills.

“After knowing and respecting Tim [Hunze] through writing with the great writers he has published for many years…I’m beyond excited to continue to work together at Parallel,” says White. “I look forward to making some great music with Tim and Hannah and all the awesome people at Parallel.”

“We are first and foremost fans of Michael White. Most simply put, Michael is a pro writer. He has a passion for the craft of writing and it shows in his body of work. We at Parallel could not be more excited to continue our relationship,” says Tim Hunze, managing partner, Parallel Music Publishing.

Parallel’s catalog includes recent No. 1 hits “Mama’s Broken Heart” by Miranda Lambert, “Better Dig Two” by The Band Perry and “’Til My Last Day” by Justin Moore. It also includes current singles “Kiss You In The Morning” by Michael Ray, “Love Me Like You Mean It” by Kelsea Ballerini and “Better Than You Left Me” by Mickey Guyton.

In addition to White, Parallel’s writer roster is home to Dean Alexander, Blake Bollinger, Lance Carpenter, Blake Chaffin, Jon Mabe, Brian Maher and Jenn Schott.