YouTube Music App Launches

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youtubeGoogle has officially launched YouTube Music, a separate app from the original YouTube app, which works with the Google Music subscription fee and is provided for a single monthly cost. Portions of the app are accessible without a fee.

YouTube Music has the ability to switch between video or audio-only features. It also allows users to hear audio from a video on a computer or mobile device, even if the display is turned off or the user is using a different app at the same time.

YouTube Music includes a 14-day “amplified experience” for free. This is a 14-day free subscription to the whole collection of services all at once.

YouTube Music is part of the new Red subscription service, which for $9.99 monthly brings you an ad-free YouTube experience, access to original content, and more.

Weekly Chart Report (11/13/15)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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Hearts Bluff Music Acquires Muy Bueno Music Catalog

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Hearts Bluff Music's Scott Parker.

Hearts Bluff Music President Scott Parker.

Hearts Bluff Music has acquired the rights to the Muy Bueno Music catalog, founded by George Strait and his manager Erv Woolsey.

Hearts Bluff president Scott Parker made the announcement during Hearts Bluff Music’s 10th anniversary party, held in Nashville. Hearts Bluff Music’s catalog already boasts classics including “When A Man Loves A Woman,” “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Everlasting Love,” and more. The celebration featured performances from songwriters Aaron Barker, Hugh Prestwood, Mac Gayden, Kevin Welch, and more.

The Muy Bueno Music catalog began with flagship writer Aaron Barker, and over the years the roster grew to include Dana Hunt-Black, Gerald Smith, Donny Kees, and Tony Ramey, among others. Among its songs are the Strait-recorded hits “Baby Blue,” “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” “Easy Come, Easy Go,” “Write This Down,” and “One Night At A Time.” It also includes Lorrie Morgan’s “What Part of No,” Gary Allan’s “It Would Be You,” and Lonestar’s “What About Now,” among others.

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Embry, Creative Manager, Hearts Bluff Music; Tyler Sutphen, Communication Manager, Hearts Bluff Music; Scott Parker, President, Hearts Bluff Music; Karen Lawrence, Royalty Analyst, Hearts Bluff Music; Richard Rose, Copyright Cafe.

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Embry, Creative Manager, Hearts Bluff Music;
Tyler Sutphen, Communication Manager, Hearts Bluff Music; Scott Parker, President, Hearts Bluff Music; Karen Lawrence, Royalty Analyst, Hearts Bluff Music; Richard Rose, Copyright Cafe.

Parker spoke about the importance of the Muy Bueno Music catalog acquisition with MusicRow.

MusicRow: How did this opportunity come about?
Scott Parker: We’ve had a great 10-year co-publishing relationship with Muy Bueno, ever since we purchased the Aaron Barker catalog. This purchase just made sense for all parties, as it was a natural outflow of our relationship. George, Erv and Connie [Woolsey] have built a treasure of songs and I’m so incredibly honored they’ve entrusted us with this legacy.

Muy Bueno’s attorney, Jess Rosen, also played a big part in putting this deal together. He knew I was passionate about this catalog, and helped us put together a fair deal. Hearts Bluff specializes in acquiring high-end, historical catalogs, so we knew the value and were able reach terms very quickly.

MR: In evaluating this catalog, what factors made it an important addition to Hearts Bluff Music?
SP: To my knowledge, this may be the largest independent catalog of George Strait music that’s ever been available…not to mention all the hits by other artists. And like I said before, this made sense with our previous catalog investments. I also had great deal of internal support from my investors. Most of them are based in Texas, and they understand the incredible legacy of this catalog.

MR: What songs in this catalog have not been recorded that you are excited about working on?
SP: There are definitely some “hidden gems” in this catalog. We’re pretty familiar with Aaron Barker’s and Dana Hunt-Black’s catalogs, and we’ll be getting up-to-speed on the deeper catalog. I’m excited about several of the classics again. For example, I’d love to hear a new artist rework a timeless classic like “Baby Blue” for sync placement. Also, I used to write songs with Muy Bueno writers like Dana Hunt-Black, and Christi Dannemiller, and have always admired their craft.

MR: Hearts Bluff is about not only a songwriter’s catalog, but about their legacy as a writer, and the Muy Bueno catalog certainly adds to that. What opportunities are you most looking forward to in working this catalog’s music?
SP: You’re right. For example, the legacy of a writer like Aaron Barker is very important to us. Aaron is a dear friend, and certainly worthy of induction in the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. After all, this guy wrote many of George Strait’s biggest No. 1 songs like “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” “Baby Blue,” “Love Without End, Amen” and “Easy Come, Easy Go.” These weren’t just hits, but defined an era in country music. Aaron recently performed at our 10-year Anniversary celebration, and he was absolutely amazing. He’s an American treasure. I look forward to similar experiences with other writers.

Pictured (L-R): Hugh Prestwood, Aaron Barker

Pictured (L-R): Hugh Prestwood, Aaron Barker

 

UMG Revenues Show Streaming and Subscriptons Overtaking Sales

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umgStreaming and subscriptions now account for more revenue (51 percent) for Universal Music Group (UMG) than all other digital revenue worldwide.

This shift was reported Tuesday (Nov. 10) in UMG parent company Vivendi‘s third quarter financial reports in analyzing nine-month totals.

“It is still too early to tell whether or not we have reached an inflection point,” said Herve Phillippe, Member of the Management Board, CFO.

Those year-to-date figures show UMG’s recorded music at $2.97 billion, up 1.9 percent at constant perimeter and constant currency, with digital up 5.9 percent. Physical sales have been down 7.9 percent YTD, at $937 million.

Still to come, awards boosts (Eric Church, Chris Stapleton), holiday sales (Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Maroon 5) and among new releases, that of Justin Bieber.

According to analysis from Music Business Worldwide, UMG’s specific third quarter revenue fell from the previous quarter, perhaps due to the establishment of Apple Music.

Marbaloo: Marketing Nashville’s Top Artists Through Creativity, Customization

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Marbaloo founder and leader Faithe Parker

Marbaloo founder and managing partner Faithe Parker

 

Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Jeremy Ryan

Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Jeremy Ryan

 

For Faithe Parker, being part of the successes of Kelsea Ballerini and other Marbaloo clients is the culmination of years of big dreams and hard work. Parker formed Marbaloo (short for “Marketing Hullabaloo”) in 2010. Five years later, the company boasts work with artists including Ballerini, Toby Keith, Maddie & Tae, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, and more.

“I come from an entrepreneurial bloodlines,” Parker says. “I always wanted to start my own business, but I wanted to wait until I had the right experience.”

That experience includes international marketing for Interscope Records and a role as International Marketing and Promotions Director for Universal Music Group, working with artists including Lady Gaga, All American Rejects, and 50 Cent. She also worked as VP of Creative Operations for producer and musician Dave Stewart’s production studio Weapons of Mass Entertainment. She says her experience as a label rep working with third-party marketing companies informed her decision to create Marbaloo. “I really felt like we could be a company that would be pro-record company, who could come alongside record labels and management to help market artists,” said Parker.

Luke BryanThe strategy has paid off. Earlier this year, Marbaloo collaborated with Universal Music Group Nashville and Kerri Edwards’ KP Entertainment to debut reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan’s lyric video for “Kill The Lights” via risky marketing move — by debuting the clip on popular dating app Tinder. “We really try to find new ways of bringing artists to a new audience in ways that make sense,” Parker says. “It got his music in front of people who may not have heard it before. His label and management are so great about being progressive and wanting to reach more people.”

Parker and her company aim to bring that same level of creativity to each client, regardless of the artist’s star status. “The first thing we do is get to know precisely what a new client needs and what is their perspective of themselves as an artist,” Parker says. “We learn everything from how they see themselves as an artist, to how they envision their career goals. What kinds of social media platforms, if any, they are comfortable using to communicate with fans? What parts of their stories haven’t been communicated with fans? What are their other passions and hobbies? Then we use all these pieces to customize and create new marketing ideas.”

Marbaloo’s staff has expanded to 23 employees adept at marketing, project management, event promotion, tour marketing, digital strategy, integrated publicity, asset production and more. Still, the company’s growth strategy has allowed them to continue to offer each new client personalized attention. “We do have a large roster of artists that we work with, but we have grown our staff as we have grown our client roster, which gives us a larger staff-to-artist ratio than many other marketing companies in town,” Parker says.

As the company’s clientele has expanded, so has its office space. They recently moved into a suite on the 13th floor of Nashville’s L&C Building, with nearly 6,000 square feet of office space. The suite is outfitted with sleek lines and warm colors. Glass walls throughout much of the space promote a collaborative environment. Multiple cooperative areas throughout the office accommodate meetings of all sizes, from phone booth-size enclosed areas for private calls, to couches for intimate meetings, to full-size conference rooms. “We are very collaborative here. Our staffers are very creative, and often work 12- and 16-hour days, so we want it to be a space where people are comfortable and where they can focus.”

“We couldn’t do this without the teamwork of the labels, management, publicists and artists we work with,” Parker says. “We are an extension of the artists we represent, and we aim to market them as creatively as possible. We couldn’t do that without the collaborative spirit in this city.”

Bachman-Gretsch Guitar Collection Coming to CMHoF

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The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will debut its largest exhibition of stringed instruments next year, when it explores the history of the guitar with the exhibition American Sound and Beauty: Guitars from the Bachman-Gretsch Collection.  The collection opens Jan. 15, 2016, and runs through July 2016.

The 75 guitars that will be presented as part of the exhibit will provide a look at the instrument’s evolution from the late 1920s to the early 1980s. The exhibit is also the most comprehensive look at the Bachman-Gretsch Collection ever made available to the public.

The collection was amassed by Canadian guitarist and songwriter Randy Bachman, a key member of rock bands The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Bachman acquired more than 300 historic and rare Gretsch guitars in the 1970s and 1980s. His collection was purchased in 2008 by the Gretsch Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gretsch family.

Guitars from the Bachman-Gretsch Collection. Photo: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Guitars from the Bachman-Gretsch Collection. Photo: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

“The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are incredible stewards of over two million artifacts in their own collection,” said Gretsch president Fred Gretsch. “When thinking about where to debut this collection, they were the obvious choice to both tell the Gretsch story and showcase these beautiful works of art to the world.”

“This collection of instruments tells a story of American life,” said museum CEO Kyle Young. “From the Great Depression to the social unrest of the 1960s and 1970s, music has always evolved to reflect the important issues of the day, providing a soundtrack to history. Through sound and beauty these guitars reflect that evolution and tell our story.”

Edison Research To Present Study Results At CRS 2016

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CRS 2016

Edison Research will present findings of a research study during Country Radio Seminar 2016 on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tenn. Edison’s Larry Rosin and Megan Lazovick will present the study, “What Content Makes Country Radio Matter?”

Edison surveyed more than 1,500 listeners about their content preferences and conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews in three different markets. The study will answer questions such as, How can Country radio distinguish itself by being relevant? What do radio listeners want to hear when your talent cracks the mic? Is it live? Is it local? Is it community service? Is it continuous music? When listeners choose between all of the delivery systems available today, including broadcast radio, streaming services, subscription models, and all the other technologies available: what motivates the decision? Is Country radio their companion by choice, by curation, by convenience, or by default?

“At a time when there are more delivery systems available for content, this study truly breaks ground in determining the consumers’ primary content desires and especially why they choose radio for that specific content delivery daily across America” said Edison President Larry Rosin.

For more information, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Artist Updates: Jimmy Wayne, Clare Bowen, Austin Webb, Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots

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Jimmy Wayne Supports Musicians On Call

Jimmy Wayne celebrated Veterans Day with work for Musicians On Call, a non-profit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. At the Nashville VA medical center, he serenaded veterans with songs including “Sara Smile” and his own “Do You Believe Me Now.”

The visit was the first in partnership with the Grand Ole Opry, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, and its Circle Throwdown, which brings performances with Opry artists and a replica of the famed six-foot Opry Circle of wood symbolizing the oak center stage at the Opry House to new locations across the country.

Jimmy Wayne. Photo: Glenn Sweitzer / Fresh Films

Jimmy Wayne. Photo: Glenn Sweitzer / Fresh Films

Nashville‘s Clare Bowen Explains Her New Look

Clare Bowen. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Clare Bowen. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Nashville actress Clare Bowen recently took to social media to explain why her character has a new look. Bowen, 31, cut off her signature long blonde hair in an effort to encourage others to look beyond physical appearance. She also did it to encourage children and adults undergoing cancer treatment.

Bowen shared her own childhood experience of being diagnosed with end stage nephroblastoma, a kidney cancer that is responsible for 95 percent of kidney and renal cancers in children under the age of 14.

“I was really inspired when I heard a story about a little girl who said she couldn’t be a princess because she didn’t have long hair, and I wanted her, and others like her, to know that’s not what makes a princess, or a warrior, or a superhero. It’s not what makes you beautiful either. It’s your insides that count…even if you happen to be missing half of them,” she wrote on Facebook. “Every scar tells a story, every baldhead, every dark circle, every prosthetic limb, and every reflection in a mirror that you might not recognize anymore. Look deeper than skin, hair, nails, and lips. You are who you are in your bones. That is where you have the potential to shine the brightest from. It is where your true beautiful self lives.”

 

Austin Webb Gets Engaged

10001348_661356913920700_1335566348_nSinger-songwriter Austin Webb has revealed that he proposed to his longtime girlfriend Melanie McFarlane Payne.

“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life,” he shared via Instagram. “The most supportive, beautiful, smart, funny, great cooking, good lookin, kind hearted woman said yes #1111#shesaidyes”

The couple has not announced a wedding date.

Webb’s singles include 2013’s “Slip On By” and 2015’s “All Country on You.”

 

Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots To Release Children’s EP

Comedy duo and Black River Entertainment recording artists Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots will released the children’s EP The Raging Idiots Presents-The Raging Kidiots on Nov. 20. Beginning Nov. 13, fans can pre-order the EP on iTunes.

Photo: Robert Chavers Courtesy of Black River Entertainment

Photo: Robert Chavers
Courtesy of Black River Entertainment

MusicRow Podcast Episode 3: The Band Perry

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The Band Perry landed a big hit with “Done,” yet that word is barely in their vocabulary. MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson catches up with one of the industry’s hardest-working bands for the third episode of the MusicRow podcast.

Naturally, the conversation covers a lot of ground — from how they learned to develop a thick skin, their endless desire to grow and develop their art, and where their strong work ethic comes from.

As a family band made up of two brothers and a sister, Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry also explain how they go about making decisions when it comes to important moments in their career. And for this trio, the visual representation of their music is key, so they describe how they incorporate spectacle into their live show.

Signed to Big Machine Label Group’s Republic Nashville, The Band Perry was named MusicRow’s Breakthrough Artist in 2011 and they have gone on to win many awards, including trophies from the CMA, ACM and CMT, as well as a Grammy earlier this year for their rendition of Glen Campbell’s “Gentle on My Mind.” With a new single called “Live Forever,” it’s clear that The Band Perry are in it for the long haul.

Sponsored by SunTrust Bank’s Sports & Entertainment Group, this episode of the MusicRow podcast is the third in a series. All of the MusicRow podcasts are available on iTunes.

Click here to listen to episodes online.

Click here to listen on iTunes.

About the MusicRow podcast:
From Nashville’s leading music industry trade publication, The MusicRow Podcast features in-depth conversations with artists and the key industry members behind their music. Hosted by MusicRow Magazine Publisher Sherod Robertson, the series offers unique perspectives from iconic legends and rising talent to key decision makers and gatekeepers in the Nashville music industry.

Bobby Bones Joins ASCAP

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Pictured (L-R): Producer Eddie; Robert Filhart, Creative Director, ASCAP; Bobby Bones; Michael Martin, VP Of Membership, ASCAP.

Pictured (L-R): Producer Eddie; Robert Filhart, Creative Director, ASCAP; Bobby Bones; Michael Martin, VP Of Membership, ASCAP.

iHeartMedia/Premiere Networks on-air personality Bobby Bones of the nationally syndicated weekday country radio morning show The Bobby Bones Show has joined ASCAP as a songwriter member. Bones is half of Black River Entertainment recording artists and comedy duo The Raging Idiots, who recently announced the track listing and Nov. 20 release date for their debut EP, The Raging Idiots Presents – The Raging Kidiots.

Comprised of Bones and “Producer Eddie” of The Bobby Bones Show, The Raging Idiots have performed record-setting sold out shows across the country and have raised more than one million dollars for various charities, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For tour dates and information on Bobby Bones and The Raging Idiots, visit ragingidiots.com.