Weekly Register: Gilbert's 'Just As I Am' Heading For Gold

/by

graph11There are no new Country releases this week; Brantley Gilbert‘s Just As I Am tops the Soundscan Country chart this week (and No. 12 on the overall chart), with 19K sold. The project is a few units shy of reaching the 500,000 mark.
Also of note is Big Smo, at No. 6, selling 6.5K for a RTD of 61K after nine weeks of release; He has been in the Top 10 in the Country albums rankings all nine weeks.
Top 5 Country Albums
Brantley Gilbert, Just As I Am,  19K TW
Miranda Lambert, Platinum,  12K TW
Luke Bryan, Crash My Party,  12K TW
FGL, Here’s To The Good Times,  9.7K TW
Various Artists, Now Country 7,  7.1K TW
Top 5 Country Tracks
Jason Aldean  “Burnin’ It Down”  115K
FGL  “Dirt”  83K
Kenny Chesney “American Kids”  73K  (506K RTD)
Dierks Bentley “Drunk On a Plane”  56K
Lady A “Bartender”  54K
 

DISClaimer: What's In A Name?

/by

Chris Young

Chris Young


I think I’ll make a record and bill myself as Garth Brooks.
That’s kind of what our DisCovery Award winner is up to. Here’s the story. Nashville’s Brian Collins is an established country singer who has recorded for Mega, ABC/Dot, RCA, Primero and other labels. He made the charts 15 times between 1971 and 1984. He had a top-10 hit in 1974 with his version of “Statue of a Fool,” and his top-25 hit version of “That’s the Way Love Should Be” became an even bigger hit song for Dave & Sugar in 1977.
He also wrote and originated “Hello Texas,” which Jimmy Buffett sang on the multi-million selling soundtrack of Urban Cowboy. This Brian Collins is a previous ACM nominee for New Male Vocalist of the Year, is known as a Texas “Ambassador of Good Will” and recorded a CD as recently as 2013.
I imagine he’ll be quite surprised to learn that there is a man from Georgia who is launching his country career as, that’s right, Brian Collins. THAT Brian Collins can keep his DisCovery Award, as long as he agrees to alter his billing. You see, his name is already spoken for in the world of Country music.
There is no controversy about my choice for the Disc of the Day prize. Chris Young RULES.
J. MICHAEL HARTER/Holy Cowgirl
Writers: J. Michael Harter/Scott Harter/Earl Bud Lee/Scott Laurent/Bruce Wallace; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Anozira/Caroline Lane/We’re Working/2121/Ole, ASCAP/BMI; GMV/Anozira
-This rocks. The track has a serious bass undertow and a snarling guitar line. This super propulsive single also has a dance remix, which I totally understand. I only wish his white-boy vocal had more grit or passion.
THE SECRET SISTERS/Rattle My Bones
Writers: Brandi Carlile/Tim Hanserorth/Phil Hanserorth; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Publishers: Southern Oracle/WB, ASCAP; Cracker
-The album’s title is Put Your Needle Down, and it grabs you from the first notes of this opening track. It’s a rockabilly romp with “Everly Sisters” harmonies and a chugging, joyous bed of rhythm. Normally consigned to the backwaters of Americana, this duo takes a major step forward by getting Cracker Barrel distribution. So kudos to the Sisters, as well as to the retailer for gaining instant hip cred. As cool a sound as you’ll hear this year.
EILEEN CAREY/Bottle Your Crazy Up
Writers: Eleen Carey; Producer: none listed; Publisher: RolleyCstr, BMI; RoleyCstr
-It’s feisty-female ditty with a bopping arrangement. She isn’t an earth-shattering vocalist by any means, but gets points for energy, effort and good intentions.
CHRIS YOUNG/Lonely Eyes
Writers: Johnny Bulford/Jason Matthews/Laura Veltz; Producer: James Stroud; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/3JB/Fresh Baked Cookies, BMI; RCA (track)
-What a dreamboat. He watches her walk into the bar, sit down next to him, give him a look and he’s off and flirting. Chris turns the charm meter up to 10 on this throbbing roadhouse romance. He also sings his fanny off.
JAKE WARD & MELISSA BROOKE/Hit The Road
Writers: Jake Ward; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; JW
-He sings well, in a pleading Texas tenor. She shadows him in flawless harmony, then takes a soulful verse on her own. The breezy arrangement and gentle pace contrast nicely with the heartache-to-hope lyric. You waft along with it, but alas it ends too abruptly.
MARTINA McBRIDE/All My Friends
Writers: Charles Scott Boyer, Jr.; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Chappell, ASCAP; Rounder (track)
-Rounder’s resident rock legend Gregg Allman is the subject of a multi-artist tribute CD and DVD. The lone country female in the cast is Martina. Maybe that’s why they gave her the title tune, this soulful, bluesy ballad. Recorded live in Atlanta earlier this year, the discs also feature country’s Trace Adkins, Vince Gill, Zac Brown, Brantley Gilbert and Eric Church, plus Nashvillians John Hiatt, Jimmy Hall, Keb Mo and Warren Haynes. The whole package sounds like warmth and love.
KELSEA BALLERINI/Love Me Like You Mean It
Writers: Kelsea Ballerini/Josh Kerr/Lance Carpenter/Forest Glen Whitehead; Producer: Forest Glen Whitehead; Producer: none listed; Black River (track)
-She has a sweet, pert vocal delivery that’s endearing. Her song bops in all the right places, and the lyric rattles rapidly. Catchy and promising.
JOHN COWAN/Things I Haven’t Done
Writers: none listed; Producer: John McFee; Publishers: none listed; Compass (track)
-His seering, soulful tenor voice defined an era with Newgrass Revival. Then he embarked on a series of always-gripping solo efforts. Cowan sings lead for The Doobie Brothers now, and the band’s John McFee is behind the board for the singer’s Sixty CD. It leads off with this rhythmic slab of nostalgia and contemplation that rolls along smartly. The album includes guest spots by Leon Russell, Rodney Crowell, Chris Hillman, Bernie Leadon, Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Huey Lewis, Bonnie Bramlett, Ray Benson, Jim Messina and more. Plus, Cowan interprets such fantastic classics as “Devil Woman,” “Run for Your Life” and “Miss the Mississippi.” Get in line pronto for its Aug. 26 street date.
healing highway11BRIAN COLLINS/Never Really Left
Writers: B. Collins/T. Buppert; Producers: Mills Logan/Brian Collins; Publishers: Blue Light, SESAC; Blue Light (track)
-Not to be confused with the Texan Brian Collins who charted 15 times in the 1970s and 1980s, this Georgia boy has a confident, ultra-youthful, splendidly airy, superbly listenable country-rock approach that is just about irresistible. Dynamic and driving. Welcome to the party. Change your name.
OLD DOMINION/Shut Me Up
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; OD
-Members of this band are noted for writing tunes for Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry (”Chainsaw,” “Better Dig Two”), Keith Urban, Scotty McCreery, Craig Morgan (”Wake Up Lovin’ You”), Jake Owen, Steve Holy, Chris Young (”Neon”) and others. But they have the goods to become stars, themselves. This fizzy, guitar-driven, relentless sizzler deserves to become a massive radio favorite. Sign this band. Now.

[Updated] Lifenotes: Former Sony Music Nashville VP Tom Banks Dies

/by

Tom Banks

Tom Banks


[Update]:
Visitation for Tom Banks will be held Thursday, Aug. 7 at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, located at 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tenn. 37204. The visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, Aug. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home.
The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to Grace Place Church, 4316 Central Pike, Hermitage, TN 37076.
• • •
[Original post, Aug. 4, 2014]:
Former Sony Music Nashville Finance VP Tom Banks died Monday (Aug. 4), following a long battle with cancer. The Kentucky native first joined Sony Music Nashville as a Finance Administrator in 1997 and rose through the ranks. He became VP in 2007. Banks stepped down from his VP role in 2010.
Arrangements are currently pending.

Industry Ink: ASCAP Promotes Vote, Liddell at CMHoF, Ketchum Joins Ivy Eleven

/by

ASCAPFeaturing performances by its members for CMA Awards voting consideration, ASCAP will host an “invitation only” event at The Rosewall on Tuesday, August 12th. Slated to perform at the P.R.O.Mote The Vote bash are Lady Antebellum, Eric Paslay, Brandy Clark, Kip Moore, Love and Theft, The Cadillac Three, Dan + Shay and The Swon Brothers. The party will be hosted by America’s Morning Show’s Terri Clark, Blair Garner and Chuck Wicks.
The second and final voting ballot schedule for the CMA awards is below.
Second ballot
Fri., Aug. 8—Renewal payments must be received to vote on second and final ballots
Tues., Aug. 12—Second ballot emailed at 10 AM/CT
Fri., Aug. 22—Ballot site closes at 5 PM/CT
Final ballot
Thurs., Oct. 9—Final ballot emailed at 10 AM/CT
Mon., Oct. 27—Ballot site closes at 5 PM/CT

• • •

The Country Music Hall of Fame featured producer Frank Liddell in a Q&A with the museum’s writer-editor Michael McCall on Saturday, Aug. 2. The Q&A was in support of the exhibition Miranda Lambert: Backstage Access. Liddell has produced all five of Lambert’s albums.
As founder of Carnival Music, he has published the first No. 1 hits by songwriters Natalie Hemby, Troy Jones, David Nail, Scooter Carusoe, Bruce Robinson, and others. He has produced albums for Kellie Pickler, Pistol Annies, David Nail, and Liddell’s wife Lee Ann Womack.

Pictured (L-R): The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Abi Tapia and Kyle Young, Lee Ann Womack, Frank Liddell, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael McCall. Photo: Rick Diamond.

Pictured (L-R): The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Abi Tapia and Kyle Young, Lee Ann Womack, Frank Liddell, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael McCall. Photo: Rick Diamond.

• • •

Gina Ketchum

Gina Ketchum


Fashion stylist Gina Ketchum has joined Los Angeles-based talent agency Ivy Eleven. Ketchum has worked as a fashion stylist, makeup artist, hairstylist, and designer.
Her client list has included Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Eli Young Band, LL Cool J, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, Joe Nichols, and Kevin Costner.
 

Jon Pardi Reveals 20-City 'Up All Night Tour'

/by

jon pardi1Capitol recording artist Jon Pardi will bring his energetic brand of Country music to cities on his 20-city Up All Night Tour this fall. The tour follows the release of Pardi’s debut album, Write You A Song.
Joining Pardi on the tour is rising singer-songwriter and Capitol Records labelmate Joey Hyde. Hyde’s single, “Get It On,” is currently at Country radio.
UP ALL NIGHT TOUR Dates:
Oct. 10             Lincoln, Neb.
Oct. 11             Omaha, Neb.
Oct. 24             Boston, Mass.
Oct. 25             Portland, Maine
Oct. 26             Uncasville, Conn.
Oct. 30             San Jose, Calif.
Oct. 31             Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov. 12            Overland Park, Kan.
Nov. 13            Columbia, Mo.
Nov. 14            Chicago, Ill.
Dec. 12             Denver, Colo.
Dec. 20             Columbus, Ohio
* Additional dates to be announced in the upcoming weeks

BMI To Submit Public Comments In Response to U.S. DOJ Request

/by

bmi-logo1111featuredBroadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) will file a submission tomorrow (Aug. 6) in response to the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice’s request for public comments as part of its review of BMI’s consent decree. According to BMI, the consent decree that BMI operates under restricts the company to a model that no longer reflects the current needs of songwriters, publishers and music users.
“The time has come to modernize the BMI consent decree. We appreciate the U.S. Department of Justice’s solicitation of public comments as part of the modernization process,” said Michael O’Neill, BMI President & CEO. “Our goal is to better serve our affiliates and music users, and the DOJ’s request facilitates an industry-wide open dialogue needed for critical reforms.”
BMI’s submission to the DOJ outlines three important updates to the consent decree:

  • Digital Rights Withdrawal: Allow publishers to give BMI the right to license works for certain uses, while permitting publishers to retain the exclusive right to license works for other defined, digital uses. This move would allow BMI to offer access to its repertoire for many traditional music uses, while enabling publishers and music users to negotiate their own free-market digital deals.
  • Bundling Rights: Clarify the decree to allow BMI to license not just the public performing right, but any rights relating to the musical work that a music user needs to bring its product or service to the public. This will create a “one-stop” licensing source to meet the needs and match the pace of the digital marketplace.
  • Arbitration:  Move the rate-setting forum from federal court to a binding arbitration model. Music users will be assured of a rate-setting mechanism to resolve disputes, but one that’s quicker and less expensive for all parties.

“Our proposed modifications to the decree will benefit not only our affiliates but the rights marketplace in general,” said Stuart Rosen, BMI Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “While we feel that there are additional important modifications necessary to modernize the decree, the proposals in today’s filing are the most urgent and, we believe, need to be addressed on a faster timetable.”

Sunny Sweeney Gets 'Provoked' On New Release

/by

Sunny Sweeney has released her third studio album, Provoked, via Thirty Tigers. The 13-track release is filled with personal and heartbreakingly true songs, and all but two are penned by Sweeney. Brandy Clark, Jessie Jo Dillion, and Shannon Wright penned the single “Bad Girl Phase.” Other acclaimed writers on the album include Brett Beavers, Connie Harrington, Lance Miller, Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Mark D. Sanders, and The Warren Brothers.
Sweeney’s dedicated fans helped fund the album via PledgeMusic, an interactive program that allows artists and fans to connect while raising funds for upcoming music projects.
“My fans are everything to me,” says Sweeney. “If your fans’ opinions don’t matter to you, I would assume that you wouldn’t be in this business. That’s why I put a lot of songs on [the album] that I have been doing for a couple of years. If nothing else, I feel completely confident because I know my fans and I know what they want from me.”
A portion of the album’s sales will go to one of Sweeney’s favorite charities – CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
Provoked track listing
1. “You Don’t Know your Husband” (Sunny Sweeney/Angaleena Presley/Mark D. Sanders)
2. “Bad Girl Phase” (Brandy Clark/Jessie Jo Dillion/Shannon Wright)
3. “Second Guessing” (Sunny Sweeney/Natalie Hemby)
4. “Carolina on the Line” (Sunny Sweeney/Brett Warren/Brad Warren/Lance Miller)
5. “Find Me” (Sunny Sweeney/Buddy Owens/Jay Clementi)
6. “Can’t Let Go” (Randy Weeks)
7. “Front Row Seats” (Sunny Sweeney/Lance Miller/Brett Warren/Brad Warren)
8. “My Bed” (Sunny Sweeney/Angaleena Presley/Ashley Monroe)
9. “Uninvited” (Sunny Sweeney/Natalie Hemby)
10. “Sunday Dress” (Sunny Sweeney/Monty Holmes/Buddy Owens)
11. “Used Cars” (Sunny Sweeney/Natalie Hemby)
12. “Backhanded Compliment” (Sunny Sweeney/Natalie Hemby)
13. “Everybody Else Can Kiss My Ass” (Sunny Sweeney/Brett Beavers/Connie Harrington)

LifeNotes: Music Business Vet Jimmy Key Passes

/by

1969 BMI Country Awards. Pictured (L-R): Jimmy C. Newman, Ed Cramer, Tom T. Hall, Jimmy Key, and Bob Jennings (Photo by Bill Preston: Property of the BMI Archives)

1969 BMI Country Awards. Pictured (L-R): Jimmy C. Newman, Ed Cramer, Tom T. Hall, Jimmy Key, and Bob Jennings (Photo by Bill Preston: Property of the BMI Archives)


Veteran country song publisher and talent agency executive Jimmy Key died on Friday, Aug. 1.
His Newkeys Music — a partnership with the late singers Jimmy C. Newman and Dave Dudley — discovered Country Music Hall of Fame member Tom T. Hall. The company published songs recorded by Bobby Bare, Johnny Wright, Faron Young, Flatt & Scruggs, George Jones and Burl Ives, as well as Newman, Dudley and Hall.
Among Newkeys’ most famous copyrights was Hall’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” a pop and country smash for Jeannie C. Riley in 1968.  “I can’t help thinking – if there had been a lot more guys like Key around, more writers and performers might have made it through the rough, crazy years,” an appreciative Tom T. Hall wrote in his autobiography. Key, who published Hall’s songs in 1963-70, also got the songwriter the Mercury Records contract that made him a singing star. Key also arranged for Hall to become a Grand Ole Opry member.
In addition to Hall, the company’s staff songwriters included Kim Morrison, Roy Beham, Ronnie Rogers, Jeff Young, Hillman Hall, Chuck Wells, Jeff Elliott and Mike Morgan.
Key was the president of the publishing company. He also owned Jimmy Key Talent, which booked concerts by Newman, Dudley, Hall, Bare, Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, Merle Kilgore, Claude King and Shirlee Hunter, among others. Key Talent was the first agency in Nashville to open an office in Las Vegas.
In 1967, he formed Rice Records. Among those who were signed to the label were Billy Grammer, Helen Carter, Al Terry, Linda Manning and Chase Webster.
Born Emmit Martin Key in Cullman Country, Alabama in 1927, Jimmy Key started his career as a member of Big Jim Folsom’s Strawberry Pickers band in his home state. After several years as an entertainer and radio personality, he moved to Nashville.
He learned the live-performance business while working for the J. Hal Smith Artist Bureau. Then he formed his own Jimmy Key Talent agency in 1963.
Jimmy Key worked in the Country music business for more than 50 years. He died at age 87.
He is survived by sons Rick and Jack, daughter Gail Levine, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Nashville Funeral and Cremation handled the arrangements.

Pandora Aims Beyond Music For Automobile Appeal

/by

pandora_logoPandora is eyeing expansions beyond music programming to sports, news and talk in an effort to cater to users in cars, reports Sonali Basak with Bloomberg.
Reports note that the biggest Internet radio company can be accessed in 33 percent of new cars, compared to 71 percent that Sirius maintains with its content, including Howard Stern and the National Football League.
As competition edges from Spotify, Google and its Android Auto, and Apple and its Car Play, Pandora has seen active users stall to a 7.5 percent growth in the second quarter, compared to a 30 percent rise earlier in the year.
Pandora’s projected automobile growth is estimated at 15 million by 2017. Of course Pandora can technically already be accessed from any smartphone that plugs into cars.
Pandora’s new, 40,000 square foot Park Avenue office space were recently released in photos by Digital Music News.

The Civil Wars' John Paul White and Joy Williams Officially Part Ways

/by

you are my sunshine1Joy Williams and John Paul White, members of The Civil Wars, have decided to permanently part ways. The duo has been on indefinite hiatus since late 2012. As a farewell and thank you gift to fans, they are offering a download of their rendition of “You Are My Sunshine.” Recorded in 2010, the track was originally released in 2011 as a b-side to the band’s limited edition Barton Hollow 7″ vinyl. This marks the first time the song is available digitally in the U.S.
Joy Williams comments, “I am saddened and disappointed by the ending of this duo, to say the very least. JP is a tremendous musician, and I will always be grateful for the music we were able to create together.I sincerely hope that ‘You Are My Sunshine’ will be accepted as a token of my gratitude for every single person that has supported our duo throughout the years. I’m so thankful and my heart is full. Looking ahead, I’m excited to share the music that I am writing and recording in the midst of this difficult transition. I’ve loved being back in the studio, and have missed performing live. I look forward to seeing you soon.”
John Paul adds, “I would like to express sincere thanks to all who were a part of the arc of The Civil Wars—from the beginning, to the end, and all points in between. My deep appreciation goes out to all who supported, disseminated, and enjoyed the music. Whatever shape or form the next chapter takes, thanks for being a large part of this one.”
The download of “You Are My Sunshine” can be found at thecivilwars.com.