Tech News: Rdio, Vevo

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rdio logo111San Francisco-based Rdio has embraced the “freemium” model. The free “Stations-first” option offers music from numerous genres and artists. The new design offers users playlists based on their tastes, tempting consumers with free music and then selling them more features via subscription.

There are also streams curated by Rdio staffers and artist “tastemakers.” The new model will aid in Rdio’s competition with services including Beats Music and Google’s Play Music All Access.
Cumulus’ NASH should be fully integrated with Rdio by next year, with a streaming station, on-demand content and exclusive interviews for new releases. This comes in exchange for a 15 percent stake in the company, with options to increase to 20 percent. “We expect Rdio to become the digital platform for all of our local brands and national syndicated content distributed through WestwoodOne,” said Cumulus’ Lew Dickey.

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vevoVevo has named David Rice as the company’s Chief Product Officer. Rice previously worked at Microsoft, Yahoo!, and CBS Interactive, where he oversaw digital initiatives, including CBS’ video game news sites and managing Hotmail and Messenger products for Microsoft.
“Bringing our first Chief Product Officer on board is an important milestone for Vevo,” said company chief Rio Caraeff. “David is a seasoned product management leader with more than 15 years spent working at the intersection of media and the web at a range of start-ups as well as global, established technology driven companies. With David’s leadership, Vevo is well-positioned to grow our product operations as we approach our five year anniversary later this year.”

Industry Ink: AristoWorks, UMPG, SwerVRecords, Capitol CMG Publishing

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aristoworks111AristoWorks, the digital division of AristoMedia, has signed on to work with Resnik Music Group (RMG) on the creation and management of music discovery profiles, and development of a custom database that houses all of RMG’s catalogs.
Florida-based Resnik Music Group has built a music catalog of more than 4,000 titles collected from purchasing or absorbing nearly 100 publishing imprints. RMG’s catalog includes songs from various formats, including Country, Americana, Gospel and doo-wop.

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swervrecords111Good Times Entertainment founder Michael Weist has opened SwerVRecords. He joins James Lucente and Chris Keaton in the new venture, and plans to announce the first signing this month. Good Times Entertainment nurtures and presents online talent from Instagram, Vine and YouTube to audiences through festivals and events nationwide.

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umpglogoUniversal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has launched its online “Song List.” The launch features all works where a UMPG writer is directly affiliated with a US performing rights organization. The UMPG Song List is available to anyone who visits umpg.com.
The Song List contains information on songs controlled by UMPG, including song title, songwriters names, PRO affiliation, UMPG control percentage and, to the extent available, the International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC), a permanent and internationally recognized reference number for the identification of musical works.

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Capitol CMG Publishing celebrated five-time Dove Award-winning songwriter Sue Smith on her latest No. 1 single, “Calvary’s Cry,” recorded by Daywind Records’ Brian Free & Assurance. This marks Smith’s ninth No. 1 single for Capitol CMG Publishing.

Pictured (L-R): Capitol CMG Publishing’s John Andrade, Sue Smith, Matt Ewald, and John Thompson

Pictured (L-R): Capitol CMG Publishing’s John Andrade, Sue Smith, Matt Ewald, and John Thompson

Weekly Chart Report (09/05/14)

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

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Artist Updates: Lady Antebellum, ACM Honors, Dierks Bentley, Kayla Adams

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lady antebellum film trailerEMI Nashville and Relativity Music will release the soundtrack to the upcoming Nicholas Sparks-penned film, The Best of Me. Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, David Nail, Colbie Caillat, Kip Moore and Eli Young Band are among the artists included on the project. Lady Antebellum penned (with Monty Powell) and recorded a song inspired by the film’s story, titled “I Did With You.” They released a trailer of the film featuring Lady A’s musical contribution.
The Best of Me will star Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden, and will release Oct. 17.

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acm honorsBilly Burnette, Jake Owen, Tony Joe White, and The Swon Brothers have been added to the 8th annual ACM Honors. The show is slated for Sept. 9 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

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Cgeorge-straitfeaturedMT’s premiere of George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away on Friday, Aug. 29 made history on CMT as the highest-rated non-series standalone music special on the network since July 2010, when CMT premiered Jimmy Buffet and Friends: Live From The Gulf Coast. The two-hour special drew more than 4.1 million cumulative viewers. The 7 p.m. premiere averaged a .30 rating among P 18-49, L+3 with 868,000 viewers.

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FandC-final1[8]1Public television’s concert series Front and Center will begin airing two, hour-long concert specials leading up to the 2014 CMA Awards. The first of two shows, set to air on public television stations Oct. 14, will include a 10th Anniversary CMA Songwriters Series celebration with Dierks Bentley, Jim Beavers, Ross Copperman, Brett James and Jon Randall.
The second show, which airs Tuesday, Oct. 28 on public television stations, will feature Lady Antebellum, Rodney Clawson, Tom Douglas, Josh Kear, Luke Laird, and Abe Stoklasa.

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Kayla Adams launched the Mountain Madness Airshow with a performance at the event’s Pre-Flight Party for the USAF Thunderbirds on Aug. 29 in Kalispell, Mont. Her debut single, “Sober & Sorry” (SSM Entertainment), is at No. 42 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart.

(L-R): Capt. Lucas Buckley, Maj. Michael Carletti, Maj. Blaine Jones, Maj. Caroline Jensen, Wayne Newton, Kayla Adams, Maj. Joshua Boudreaux, Maj. Curtis Dougherty, Maj. Jason Curtis, Maj. Michael Fisher, Maj. Joshua Wild

(L-R): Capt. Lucas Buckley, Maj. Michael Carletti, Maj. Blaine Jones, Maj. Caroline Jensen, Wayne Newton, Kayla Adams, Maj. Joshua Boudreaux, Maj. Curtis Dougherty, Maj. Jason Curtis, Maj. Michael Fisher, Maj. Joshua Wild

Ronnie Milsap's 'The RCA Albums Collection' Arrives Nov. 4

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RMilsap_CAC_FRONTTo commemorate Ronnie Milsap being inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame this year, Legacy Recordings will release The RCA Albums Collection on Nov. 4.
The comprehensive, 21-CD package features all of Milsap’s original albums for RCA; many appearing on CD for the first time, others long unavailable. It will also have CD size reproductions of the covers, liners from Peter Cooper, expanded notes about each recording and remastered versions of every album Milsap made during his four-decade spanning tenure on the label.
“The idea that all the music I made for RCA will be available in one place thrills me,” Milsap offered. “It is my life’s work. These songs, and the records I made, are a big piece of who I am – and the people who loved them. I feel honored to know The RCA collection is coming.”
In addition to the release of The RCA Albums Collection, he will also receive the Academy of Country Music’s Career Achievement Award on Sept. 9 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and will also be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Oct. 26 in the Hall’s intimate Ford Theater.
THE RCA ALBUMS COLLECTION
Where My Heart Is (1973)
Pure Love (1974)
A Legend In My Time (1975)
Night Things (1975)
20/20 Vision (1976)
Ronnie Milsap Live (1976)
It Was Almost Like A Song (1977)
Only One Love In My Life (1978)
Images (1979)
Milsap Magic (1980)
Out Where The Bright Lights Are Glowing (1981)
There’s No Gettin’ Over Me (1981)
Inside (1982)
Keyed Up (1983)
One More Try For Love (1984)
Lost In The Fifties Tonight (1985)
Christmas With Ronnie Milsap (1986)
Heart & Soul (1987)
Stranger Things Have Happened (1989)
Back To The Grindstone (1991)
My Life (2006)

Outshyne Joins Buddy Lee Attractions

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Outshyne

Outshyne


Buddy Lee Attractions has signed Outshyne, the five-member band consisting of Waylon Owings (lead singer/guitar), Josh Coleman (lead guitar/vocals), Casey Joe Kelly (rhythm guitar/vocals), Jason Paxton (bass) and Matthew “Smiley” Norris (drums), to its roster.
This South Carolina-based band released its first singles to radio in 2013, including “Moonlight Crush” and “Dirt Road Romance” (written by Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line). Upcoming single release, entitled “Night With Your Name On It,” is slated for a Sept. 9, 2014 digital release.

Organizational Leadership Changes at Cumulus Media

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cumulus-logo-222featuredCumulus Media has undergone a change in organizational leadership structure, with the goal of enhancing the company’s strategic and operational focus, and to leverage its business platform.
Cumulus will eliminate its Co-Chief Operating Officer positions, previously held by Jon Pinch and John Dickey. Pinch will retire in November, after more than 45 years in the broadcasting industry and 14 years with Cumulus.
John Dickey’s new role is Exec. VP of Content and Programming. He will focus on developing and maximizing content and programming, including content for Nash, Rdio, the Westwood One network, and more.
Steve Shaw has been named President of Westwood One, overseeing all national and digital sales for Westwood One, Cumulus’ station group, and Rdio. He joined Cumulus in early 2013 and served as head of national spot sales for Cumulus’ station group.
Cumulus has also engaged executive search firm Spencer Stuart to assist in filling the newly-created role of Exec. VP of Radio. This role will provide day-to-day operational and strategic leadership of Cumulus’ radio station group, consisting of 460 stations in 90 U.S. markets.
“Our vision has been to build the radio company of the future and that is exactly what we are achieving,” said Lew Dickey, Chairman, President and CEO of Cumulus Media. “Towards that end, we have strategically broadened the Company’s scope and now have in place differentiated distribution channels and multiple content development platforms. To accelerate our plans, we are putting in place a new organizational structure to reflect the Company’s strategic evolution, bringing clarity, focus and accountability to key leadership roles in both our station and network groups.”

Garth Brooks Debuts GhostTunes Music Service

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garth brooks ghosttunes
Garth Brooks today unveiled the beta launch of GhostTunes at www.ghosttunes.com, a full-service music store offering his music in digital format for the first time, as well as millions of major label songs across multiple genres.
For a limited time fans can download his entire catalog and upcoming projects for $29.99. The mega bundle includes all eight digitally updated studio albums, and the new double live 25th Anniversary Edition, including 30 songs and 30 videos.
As for new music, the bundle also includes an instant download of latest single “People Loving People,” and bonus track “Send ‘Em On Down The Road.” Other songs from Brooks’ upcoming album will automatically arrive in a user’s GhostTunes locker as they become available prior to the arrival of the complete digital album on Black Friday. Also included is his just-announced 2015 album.
GhostTunes offers current releases from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and Big Machine Label Group. Artists and labels can choose to sell full albums, singles only or other configurations. Singles are available for 99 cents and $1.29.
Randy Bernard is CEO of GhostTunes. He joined the company after time as Chief Executive Office of Rural Media Group, Professional Bull Riders Association and INDYCAR.
GhostTunes enables fans to listen to their music from their personal “locker” immediately upon purchase, without having to download it to their device. Fans also can download their purchased content to play with the audio player of their choice.
“When I decided it was time to ‘go digital’ I didn’t find an existing way that really fit how I wanted to do it,” said Brooks. “I shared my dream with some amazing minds and together have created something really special – GhostTunes.”

Example of the current Country offerings on Ghost Tunes.

Example of the current Country offerings on GhostTunes.

Underwood To Executive Produce Fox Series 'Two Black Cadillacs'

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two black1Singer, songwriter, entertainer, actress, CMA awards show co-host, soon-to-be mother, and businesswoman Carrie Underwood is set to add the role of executive producer to her resume.
Underwood has teamed with Fox for Two Black Cadillacs, a six-hour limited event series based on Underwood’s song by the same title. Underwood will executive produce the project, which is now in development, with Jerry Bruckheimer, Ildy Modrovich, and Jonathan Littman, while KristieAnne Reed will co-executive produce.
The series, written by Modrovich, explores a murderous love triangle in the modern South.
Underwood, Modrovich and Bruckheimer TV are represented by CAA.
The hit single “Two Black Cadillacs” was written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey and Josh Kear, and was featured on Underwood’s 2012 album Blown Away.

Opry To Celebrate 25th Anniversary of Country Cares For St. Jude Kids

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Brad Paisley. Photo: Chris Hollo

Brad Paisley. Photo: Chris Hollo


Charlie Daniels, Brad Paisley, Eric Paslay, and duo Maddie and Tae will help the Grand Ole Opry celebrate the 25th anniversary of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Paisley will close the show with a 30-minute set including music from his latest album, Moonshine In The Trunk. Maddie and Tae will be making their Opry debut that evening.
Photos and videos of special moments from 25 years of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids will be shared throughout the Opry performances. A St. Jude patient also will appear as a guest announcer during the show.
A portion of the proceeds from tickets sold beginning today (Sept. 4), will benefit the hospital. Tickets and packages are available at opry.com or by calling 1-800-SEE-OPRY.