Cyndi Lauper To Launch 27-City Tour At Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium

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Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper will bring her musical Detour to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on May 9, when she launches her 27-city trek across the United States and Europe. Lauper’s country album Detour, which releases May 6, includes her renditions of several classic tunes from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Detour features guest appearances from Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Willie Nelson. Lauper recorded the album in Nashville with many of the city’s top session players.

“There’s something so very magical about the Ryman and all the rich history there. Just to think it’s the same stage where Wanda Jackson and Patsy Cline performed so long ago and here I am singing songs they made famous on this record – it’s such an honor,” Lauper said.

Lauper recently visited MusicRow to offer a preview of her album.

CYNDI LAUPER DETOUR TOUR:
*denotes shows with Boy George

May 9-Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
May 11-Palace Theatre – Louisville, Ky.
May 13-Carnegie Music Hall Homestead – Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 14-Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 16-Chicago Theatre – Chicago, Ill.
May 17-Hard Rock Live – Cleveland, Ohio
May 20-Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, Conn.*
May 21-Wang Center – Boston, Mass.*
May 25-Beacon Theatre – New York, N.Y.*
May 28-Sands Bethlehem Events Center – Bethlehem, Pa.*
May 29-Borgata – Atlantic City, N.J.*
Jun 01-Wolf Trap Filene Center – Vienna, Va.*
Jun 02-Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, S.C.
Jun 04-Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts – Raleigh, N.C.
Jun 05-Atlanta Symphony Hall – Atlanta, Ga.
Jun 08-Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, Fla.
Jun 09-Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts – Orlando, Fla.
Jun 11-Mizner Park Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, Fla.
Jun 12-St. Augustine Amphitheater – St. Augustine, Fla.
Jun 22-Symphony Hall – Birmingham, United Kingdom
Jun 23-Royal Concert Hall – Glasgow, United Kingdom
Jun 25-Newcastle City Hall – Newcastle, United Kingdom
Jun 30-Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith – London, United Kingdom
Jul 03-Jazz Fest Wien – Vienna, Austria
Jul 06-Parco Della Musica Auditorium Cavea – Rome, Italy
Jul 07-GRU Village – Torino, Italy
Jul 11-Grand Rex – Paris, France

In Pictures: SESAC @ SXSW

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SESAC’s John Sweeney (second from left) and Jamie Dominguez (second from right) hang out with members of affiliated band, The Slow Show.

SESAC’s John Sweeney (second from left) and Jamie Dominguez (second from right) hang out with members of affiliated band, The Slow Show.

SESAC showcased several performers during its SXSW 2016 Showcase held at Lamberts Downtown BBQ in Austin. The eclectic event boasted a lineup that included Axel Flóvent, John Grvy, Barns Courtney, The Slow Show, Hunny and Tesla Boy to a packed house.

SESAC also hosted the annual “Green Eggs & Band” Brunch during the SXSW festivities at Austin’s Driskill Hotel. The event drew a gathering of SESAC-affiliated artists, songwriters and publishers along with a plethora of journalists and music supervisors.

SESAC executives were also on hand to participate in six panels throughout the week including the “MRO: What Are They?” panel which offered details on how music rights organizations work and the benefits they offer songwriters, composers and publishers in today’s multi-format landscape.

SESAC’s Trevor Gale, James Leach, Ellen Truley and Liz Cost visit with funk music legend George Clinton before he hit the stage for a three hour show.

SESAC’s Trevor Gale, James Leach, Ellen Truley and Liz Cost visit with funk music legend George Clinton before he hit the stage for a three hour show.

Pictured (L-R): John Beiter, Shackelford Bowen MicKinley & Norton LLP; John Josephson, SESAC; Michael Simon, HFA; Nigel Elderton, Peer Music

Pictured (L-R): John Beiter, Shackelford Bowen MicKinley & Norton LLP; John Josephson, SESAC; Michael Simon, HFA; Nigel Elderton, Peer Music

Artist/songwriter Anthony Skinner visits with SESAC’s Tim Fink.

Artist/songwriter Anthony Skinner visits with SESAC’s Tim Fink.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Erin Collins, John Sweeney and Trevor Gale, artist/songwriter Barns Courtney and SESAC’s Jamie Dominguez.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Erin Collins, John Sweeney and Trevor Gale, artist/songwriter Barns Courtney and SESAC’s Jamie Dominguez.

Jon Pardi’s Sophomore Album, ‘California Sunrise’, Releases June 17

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jon pardi album

Capitol Records Nashville’s Jon Pardi will release his sophomore album, California Sunrise, on June 17. The album’s lead single, “Head Over Boots,” is currently climbing country radio’s Top 20 and gaining Top 15 in country track sales. The song reached No. 3 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart last week.

“I always want to have the traditional country soul while meeting the new standards of country music,” says Pardi. “As a songwriter, we’re looking for a good story and we’re always looking to push the limits. I love having those lyrics that at first make you think it’s about one thing, but it’s really about something so much more.”

Each song on the album was recorded with a full band. “I’m a big fan of a live band recording and it was really important for me to get that sound on my record,” says Pardi. “The heart of this record comes across with a live band. We used seven guys – one band, and there’s something special about that.”

California Sunrise Track Listing
1. Out Of Style
2. Cowboy Hat
3. Head Over Boots
4. Night Shift
5. Can’t Turn You Down
6. Dirt On My Boots
7. She Ain’t In It
8. All Time High
9. Heartache On The Dance Floor
10. Paycheck
11. LuckyTonight
12. California Sunrise

CMA Music Festival Saturday Night Stadium Lineup Announced

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2016-CMAMusicFestival-Logo-Badge-4CThe Country Music Association has announced the lineup for the Saturday evening show at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium during the upcoming CMA Music Festival, slated for June 9-12.

Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell, and Chris Young will take the stage Saturday, June 11.

The music festival features several free stages spread throughout Lower Broadway, as well as nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium. Tickets to the nightly shows sold out before any of the performers were announced.

CMA is revealing the lineup for each night of the Nissan Stadium shows on a weekly basis. Previously announced stadium performers during CMA Music Festival include Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Sam Hunt, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Hank Williams, Jr. who will perform during the festival’s first two nights.

RIAA Releases 2015 Year-End Report, Streaming Grows

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2015 Recorded Music Revenues for US. Source: RIAA

RIAA’s 2015 year-end Music Sales & Shipments Report shows total retail income from recorded music in the U.S. increasing 0.9 percent to $7.02 billion ($4.95 billion wholesale).

Streaming—led by paid subscription models, which grew 40 percent in paid subscribers—clocked in at $2.4 billion, slightly outperforming physical and download sales to become the largest revenue-generator for the U.S. recording industry.

Streaming, permanent downloads and physical sales are “the most balanced revenue mix in recent history, with just about 1/3 of revenues coming from each of the major platform,” cites Joshua Friedlander, RIAA’s Sr. VP of Strategic Data Analysis.

Thus, permanently downloaded albums declined 7 percent from the previous year (5 percent decline in dollar value), while single-track downloads declined 15 percent (13 percent decline in dollar value).

The report continues, noting SoundExchange distributions grew 4 percent to $803 million, and on-demand ad-supported streaming grew 31 percent year-over-year to $385 million. Sync royalties grew 7 percent to $203 million.

Total value of shipments in physical formats was $2.0 billion, down 10 percent versus the prior year. Vinyl LPs were up 32 percent by value, and at $416 million were at their
highest level since 1988. Synchronization royalties were $203 million, up 7 percent versus the prior year.

US Streaming Music Revenues (2013-15). Source: RIAA

RIAA Chairman & CEO Cary Sherman offered his take:

The music industry is now a digital business, deriving more than 70% of its revenues from a wide array of digital platforms and formats. The share of revenues from those digital formats surpasses that of any other creative industry.

Another headline? In 2015, digital music subscription services reached new all-time highs, generating more than $1 billion in revenues for the first time, and averaging nearly 11 million paid subscriptions for the year. Heading into 2016, the number of subscriptions swelled even higher — more than 13 million by the end of December — holding great promise for this year.

While today’s data is encouraging, the challenges facing us are significant. The consumption of music is skyrocketing, but revenues for creators have not kept pace. In 2015, fans listened to hundreds of billions of audio and video music streams through on-demand ad-supported digital services like YouTube, but revenues from such services have been meager — far less than other kinds of music services.

Need further proof that some fundamental market distortions are at play? Last year, 17 million vinyl albums, a legacy format enjoying a bit of a resurgence, generated more revenues than billions and billions of on-demand free streams: $416 million compared to $385 million for on-demand free streams.

I’m confident that music’s future is bright. The popularity of music is greater than ever. Like never before, it drives our culture and commerce. It is the throbbing heartbeat of social media and it is a must-have ingredient of any major technology platform. But reforms are necessary to level the playing field and ensure that the entire music community derives the full and fair value of our work.

ACM Award Winners Revealed In New Artist Categories

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2015_acm_award_logo_tunein_cmyk_type_041415Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton and Old Dominion have been named Academy of Country Music (ACM) New Female Artist of the Year, New Male Artist of the Year and New Duo/Group of the Year, respectively.

The newcomer categories for the 51st annual awards were previously fan voted and have now been incorporated into the professional membership voting process.

These awards mark the first-ever ACM Award wins for Ballerini, Stapleton and Old Dominion. Additionally, Ballerini is also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, Stapleton leads the ACM nominations with six additional nods, including Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, and Old Dominion received a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year.

Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, the ACM Awards will broadcast live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Artist Updates: Kelsea Ballerini, LOCASH, Dolly Parton

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Kelsea Ballerini Added To CMA Music Festival

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 5.29.35 PMKelsea Ballerini has been added to the opening night lineup at Nissan Stadium for the 2016 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, which will run June 9-12.

She joins previously announced artists for the Thursday night lineup that already includes performances from Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts.

 

LOCASH’s Chris Lucas Welcomes Second Child

Photo: Chris Lucas

Photo: Chris Lucas

LOCASH’s Chris Lucas and his wife, Kaitlyn, welcomed a baby girl at the Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee, on Monday, March 21, according to US Weekly.

Remi McKenna Lucas arrived at 9:21 p.m., weighing in at 6 lbs, 10 oz, and 19 inches long. Remi joins older brother Caden, 5.

 

Dolly Parton Reveals Songs For Upcoming Katy Perry ACM Awards Duet

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton recently revealed to Rolling Stone that the upcoming Parton/Katy Perry duet at the 51st ACM Awards will include the Parton classics “Coat Of Many Colors” and “Jolene.”

“We were going to do ‘Coat of Many Colors’ together as a duet and then she got the big idea, why don’t we sing ‘Jolene’ together because she loves that song and since it’s going to be one of the movies,” explains Parton. “I go, yeah, why not? So I’m going to try to combine the ‘Coat of Many Colors’ and ‘Jolene’ to make it like a really even more special moment to perform with her.”

Parton is gearing up for a busy 2016, with the release of the CD Pure & Simple, and an upcoming United States tour.

The ACM Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 3 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Three Promoted At Round Hill Music Nashville

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Three members of Round Hill Music’s A&R team in Nashville have been promoted, including Mark Brown, Josh Saxe, and Bob Squance.

Mark Brown

Mark Brown

Brown, formerly Vice President, has been promoted to Sr. Vice President, with an expanding role in asset acquisition, management and exploitation of newly acquired catalogs, and general management of Round Hill Nashville operations.

Josh Saxe

Josh Saxe

Saxe, formerly Associate Director, has been promoted to Director, where he will continue to represent Round Hill Music’s active writer roster and catalog acquisitions.

Bob Squance

Bob Squance

Squance, formerly Senior Coordinator, has been promoted to Manager of A&R Administration, adding reporting, catalog management, and publicity responsibilities to his current position.

“I want to congratulate Bob and Josh on their promotions,” says Mark Brown. “Bob has become an integral part of our team and will continue to see his role expand within our company. Josh has demonstrated a high level of skill in pitching songs and managing our writers, which has strengthened our creative output. I’m proud of their progress.”

MusicRowLife: Jacoby Knott and David Plyler Wed

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KP Entertainment’s Digital Marketing Manager Jacoby Knott and ROAR’s David Plyler tied the knot in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica on March 4, 2016.

Knott oversees all digital responsibilities including social media, account programs and new online endeavors for the KPE roster that includes Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Kelleigh Bannen, CB30, Jon Langston, and Chancie Neal.

For Plyter, ROAR manages the careers of artists Zac Brown Band, Dwight Yoakam, Clare Bowen, Ben Rector, and Gaelic Storm.

Jacoby and David wedding photo

Pictured (L-R): David Plyler, Jacoby Knott.

Industry Ink: Chicks With Hits, All Eyes Media, Deluge Music

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Chicks With Hits Welcomes Jo Walker-Meador

Jo Walker-Meador (seated) and the Chicks with Hits

Jo Walker-Meador (seated) and the Chicks with Hits

The Chicks with Hits organization invited retired CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador to their “Legends Lunch” which is a monthly get-together with industry legends. Walker-Meador spoke about how she got started in the industry and shared some great stories about being the first woman to head the CMA.

The Chicks with Hits gather monthly and invite a legend to lunch. Past Legend Lunches included Harold Shedd, Brenda Lee, Bobby Braddock and Fred Foster.

Founded in 1998, the Chicks with Hits is a consortium of women that own or run independent publishing companies. Next month’s special guest will be Jeannie Seely.

 

Michelle Lorge Joins All Eyes Media

Michelle Lorge

Michelle Lorge

Michelle Lorge, formerly Manager of Publicity at Sweet Talk PR, has joined Jim Flammia‘s All Eyes Media. Lorge joined Sweet Talk Publicity in 2014. Her career also includes time at Kaleidoscope Media, Hot Schatz PR, and Forever Publicity.

 

Deluge Music Signs Kevin Savigar

Kevin Savigar signs with Deluge Music.

Kevin Savigar signs with Deluge Music.

Deluge Music has added writer/producer Kevin Savigar to its roster. Savigar’s musical success includes “Nothin’ To Lose,” a No. 1 song for Josh Gracin, as well as more than 45 songs recorded by Rod Stewart.

Deluge President Mark Friedman commented, “I’ve worked with Kevin for over 12 years and I’m so happy to have him on our team, he’s a true gentlemen and a great talent!”

Friedman, along with David Robkin and Larry Mazer, formed boutique publishing company Deluge Music in 2015. Deluge has offices in Nashville and Los Angeles.