Gladstone Joins Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

/by

Steven G. Gladstone

Steven G. Gladstone


Steven G. Gladstone, attorney at law, has joined the Nashville office of Hall Booth Smith, P.C., adding to the firm’s capabilities in entertainment and business law, especially in the formation of Series Limited Liability Companies.
Throughout his career, Gladstone has worked with celebrities such as Trace Adkins, Larry Gatlin, the Dixie Chicks and composer Paul Williams, among others.
“I am passionate about creative people, the content they create and the businesses they develop,” said Gladstone. “That’s what my entertainment practice was focused on and that’s what my corporate business practice is about– helping them put structures in place to succeed.”
At Hall Booth Smith, Gladstone focuses on company formation (especially Series Limited Liability Companies), intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, transactions/contracts, employment agreements, and general business legal matters.
“The Series LLC option is less expensive and very effective for certain companies,” said Gladstone. “Since Tennessee is one of only nine states that allow it, it’s a good option that is not well known, but is a great business tool.”

Weekly Register: Kellie Pickler's 'The Woman I Am'

/by

rs_600x600-131111113012-600.kellie-pickler.cm.111113Without the boost from the CMA Awards, sales have slumped this week with overall album sales down 5 percent from last week and Country album sales down 8 percent this week.
Kellie Pickler’s The Woman I Am (Black River Entertainment) is the top Country debut this week, coming in at No. 4 (No. 19 overall) with 16k units sold. The American Idol album co-wrote the album’s title track with husband Kyle Jacobs. Click here to check out the album’s track listing.
With the holiday season upon us, several Christmas albums appear on this week’s chart, including Alabama’s Classic Christmas Album (Sony Legacy) at No. 59, selling 1.7k units RTD. Noteworthy catalog Country Christmas albums include Blake Shelton’s Cheers, It’s Christmas (Warner Bros.), selling 445k units RTD and Lady Antebellum’s On This Winter’s Night (Capitol), selling 457k units RTD.
For the third consecutive week, The Robertsons’ Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas (Universal Music Group Nashville) is the top Country album (No. 4 overall), selling another 66k units (200k RTD). Lady Antebellum’s Golden earns a special mention this week, jumping from No. 26 to No. 6 with the Deluxe Edition release of their album (458k RTD).
Lady Gaga’s Artpop is the top overall album, with the singer’s little monsters buying 258k units in its debut week. The pop star’s album sales are a far cry from the 1.1 million units her last album, Born This Way, sold in its debut week. YTD, album sales are down 7.1 percent while Country album sales are down 8.7 percent.
albums (1)tracksFlorida Georgia Line’s “Stay” is the top Country track this week (No. 20 overall), selling 51k units (371k RTD). Meanwhile, the top Country debut is Jake Owen’s “Beachin,’” coming in at No. 37 with 9.7k units sold.
Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster” retakes the No. 1 spot as the overall track this week, selling another 211k units (687k RTD). YTD, overall track sales are down 4.1 percent, while Country track sales are up 1.2 percent. 
Next week’s Country debuts include Chris Weaver Band’s American Dreamer, Sarah Darling’s Have A Merry Little Christmas Darling and Danielle Bradbery’s self titled album.

DISClaimer: Unchaperoned Women Need Not Apply

/by

Charlie Worsham

Charlie Worsham


Unchaperoned women need not apply. That’s evidently the message in today’s column and, indeed, in all of contemporary country music. The state of solo female artists is a sorry one. If you’re not blonde, pretty and named Carrie, Miranda or Taylor, you can pretty much forget it.
The CMA and the ACM are hard-pressed to even field five female-vocalist nominees these days. The voices of Kimberly Perry, Hillary Scott, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Shawna Thompson and Jennifer Nettles have been allowed airtime on country radio, but evidently only because they’ve been accompanied by male escorts.
And so we find ourselves today with an all-male column. It was bound to happen. Charlie Worsham easily wins Disc of the Day. Indie artist Robby Johnson has the DisCovery Award.
LUKE BRYAN/Drink A Beer
Writers: Jim Beavers/Chris Stapleton; Producer: Jeff Stevens; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/House of Sea Gayle/Small Fish, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (CDX)
-Fortunately for Bryan, most listeners won’t have heard songwriter Stapleton sing this with far more soul. Also fortunately for him, the song is a tender gem that has “hit” written all over it.
KENT BLAZY/My Best Days
Writers: Marv Green/Kent Blazy; Producer: Kent Blazy; Publisher: Warner Bros./Marv Green/I Want to Hold Your Songs, BMI; KB (track)
-Songwriter Blazy includes his own versions of some hits he’s written for others on his new CD, as well as a clutch of fine first-time songs. As he has demonstrated before, he is just about the stars’ equal as a vocal performer. The collection kicks off in splendid style with his urgent, passionate delivery of this pulse-quickening rocker. It was previously a single for Danny Gokey, and is now the Blazy album’s title track. Buy this record.
BILLY CURRINGTON/We Are Tonight
Writers: Marc Beeson/Josh Osborne/Sam Hunt; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: WB/Erin’s Dream/Crazy Blue Egg/Smack Blue/Want a Fresh One/Twang Tractor/Wrensong, ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
-Anthemic party music. Uptempo and celebratory.
ERIC CHURCH/The Outsiders
Writers: Eric Church/Casey Beathard; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Sony ATV Tree/Longer and Louder/Sony ATV Acuff Rose/Six Ring Circus, BMI; EMI (CDX)
-It starts with recitation, shifts gears into arena rock, includes a shouted chorus and cranks it up and down with a stuttering, double-time instrumental passage. Not exactly my cup of tea.
TOBY KEITH/Shut Up And Hold On
Writers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Toby Keith; Publishers: Tokeco Tunes/Bobby’s Lyrics Land & Livestock/Do Write, BMI; Show Dog
-It has both rock stomp and hillbilly banjo. Cool vocal effects and relentless rhythm carry the day. Melodically reminiscent of 2011’s “Made in America.”
HANK WILLIAMS, JR./Angels Are Hard To Find
Writers: Hank Williams, Jr.; Producer: Barry Beckett; Publisher: Bocephus, BMI; Curb (CDX)
-This steel-drenched honky tonker previously charted for Bocephus in 1974 (#19) and 1991. It remains a country masterpiece. And I do mean Country.
robby johnson south of me111SETH HOPKINS/Till The Town Burns Down
Writers: Ronnie Rogers/Seth Hopkins; Producer: Ronnie Rogers; Publisher: none listed; Harvest
-He has a burly delivery that perfectly suits the lyric about struggling to make it. Simply put, he’s not giving up in Guitar Town until he gets a break.
THE GRASCALS & DIERKS BENTLEY/American Pickers
Writers: Jamie Johnson/Susanne M. Johnson/Jeffrey East; Producer: The Grascals; Publishers: Asheville Forest/Zaviston, SESAC/BMI; Mountain Home
-This scampering ditty is the new theme song of the hit History Channel TV show. Bentley’s voice fits in surprisingly well with the bluegrass picking. Highly listenable. Drawn from the group’s album When I Get My Pay.
ROBBY JOHNSON/South of Me
Writers: Robby Johnson/Frank Myers/Anthony Smith; Producer: Frank Myers & Jimmy Nichols; Publisher: none listed; SMG
-Sultry and simmering. It conjures memories of a feverish summer romance with a simply dreamy production.
CHARLIE WORSHAM/Want Me Too
Writers: Charlie Worsham/Ryan Tyndell/Quinn Loggins; Producers: Charlie Worsham & Ryan Tyndell; Publishers: ole Purple Cape/Dad’s Retirement/Wanted Woman, BMI; Warner Bros.
-As addictive as a homemade chocolate-chip cookie. This sprightly bopper just might be the most delicious country single of 2013.

Nashville Artists Make 'Forbes' Highest-Paid Musicians List

/by

toby keith1

Toby Keith


Toby Keith lands at No. 4 on Forbes‘ list of the world’s highest-paid musicians, making him the top income-producing Country artist for 2013. According to Forbes, Keith pulled in $65 million.
Taylor Swift lands at No. 7 on the list ($55 million), followed by Kenny Chesney at No. 9 ($53 million), and Tim McGraw at No. 24 ($33 million).
The highest-paid musician, according to Forbes? Madonna, who brought in $125 million. She is followed by Lady Gaga ($80 million) in second place, and Bon Jovi at No. 3 ($79 million).
Forbes looked at income ranging from June 1, 2012 through June 1, 2013, using sources including Pollstar, RIAA, Nielsen SoundScan, along with managers, lawyers and at times artists themselves. Concert ticket sales, royalties for recorded music and publishing, merchandise sales, endorsement deals and other business entities were all considered in evaluating the list. Estimates reflect pretax income before deducting fees for agents, managers and lawyers; only living artists are eligible.
If deceased artists were eligible for inclusion, the list would have a new top earner: Michael Jackson, who pulled in $160 million.

Brad Paisley To Receive ACA's Video Visionary Award

/by

brad paisley

Brad Paisley


Brad Paisley will receive the Video Visionary Award at the upcoming American Country Awards, which will air live from Las Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 10 on FOX.
The honor recognizes Paisley’s creative pairing of his songs with videos that range from witty to poignant. The Video Visionary Award has been awarded one other time, to Toby Keith, in 2010.
The two-hour show will feature appearances from Olivia Newton John, Big Smo, Cowboy Troy, Dan King, Thompson Square, Trevor Brazile, Shada Brazile, Clay Walker and Parmalee. Previously announced participants include Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, Carrie Keagan, Joe Nichols and Lauren Alaina, while Sheryl Crow, Darius Rucker and Florida Georgia Line have signed on to perform.

Elvis' Intellectual Property Rights Purchased

/by

elvisElvis Presley’s home Graceland will be run by new management, as New York-based Authentic Brands Group has bought the right to operate the tourist attraction and the legend’s intellectual property in a recent sale from CORE Media Group, according to WSMV.com. A purchase price was not disclosed, but the sale gives Authentic Brands rights to Presley’s likeness, image, name, and to the huge collection of movies, photos, TV appearances, and music specials featuring Elvis.
National Entertainment Collectibles Association Founder Joel Weinshanker also acquired management rights of Graceland in the deal, although Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only daughter, continues to own the attraction and the original artifacts. Authentic Brands also manages the brands of Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali, among others.
On the Row, Sony Music Nashville’s Director, Legal & Business Affairs, Matt Adams and his wife, Melodie Madden Adams share their own “Elvis” news. Their first child and son, Elvis Duke Adams, was born Saturday (11/16) evening at 21 inches long and weighing in at 10 pounds 8 ounces. Congrats to all!

LifeNotes: Songwriter, Publisher Nelson Larkin Dies

/by

Nelson Larkin

Nelson Larkin


Producer, songwriter and music publisher Nelson Larkin, 70, died Monday (Nov. 18) in Brentwood, Tenn.
Larkin produced many of Earl Thomas Conley‘s 1980s albums, among them 1981’s Fire & Smoke, 1982’s Somewhere Between Right and Wrong, and 1984’s Treadin’ Water. Larkin also produced projects for Toby Keith, Billy Joe Royal, George Jones, Lynn Anderson, and Tracy Lawrence.
He also co-wrote Royal’s Top 5 hit, “I’ll Pin a Note on Your Pillow,” as well as “Searchin’ For Some Kind of Clue” and “Love Has No Right.” He also co-wrote Lawrence’s Top 10 song “Somebody Paints The Wall,” and Keith’s “Life’s A Play (The World A Stage)” from Keith’s Boomtown project.
Larkin’s career also included founding Sunbird Records, serving as president of GRT Records, and helping build Atlantic Records’ Nashville operations. He later directed Famous Music Publishing’s Nashville division.
A celebration of life will take place Thursday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.

SESAC Signs Songwriter Durrette

/by

SESAC has signed songwriter Wyatt Durrette for representation. A highly successful writer, Durrette has hit the top of the charts multiple times as Zac Brown’s co-writer on hits including “Chicken Fried,” “Colder Weather,” “Toes,” “Jump Right In” and “Knee Deep.”  Durrette stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters recently to visit and celebrate the new partnership.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Durrette and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Durrette and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser

Updated: 'MusicRow' Teams With Leadership Music For Food Drive

/by

musicrowleadershipmusic
MusicRow — [Updated, November 19)
Leadership Music has extended the deadline until December 3 for the Second Harvest food drive, with partnership from MusicRow.
Drop off locations for food include the offices of both Leadership Music (34 Music Square East) and MusicRow (1207 17th Ave. S.), AristoMedia, ASCAP, all four locations of Avenue Bank, BMG Chrysalis, BMI, CAA, CMA, City National Bank, Harris Huskins Business Management, Martin Allbee, the Recording Academy, Denise Stiff/Keith Case & Associates building, Sayles Egan, SunTrust Bank Music Row, TKO Management, UMG, Vector Management, and WME.
Especially needed are peanut butter, pasta, canned meats, fruits and vegetables, rice and beans, mac and cheese and cereal.
[Previous story, October 16]
As the globe recognizes World Food Day, MusicRow partners with Leadership Music in its first ever joint food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
Collection bins will be placed with participating businesses on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and collected via a “can-a-van” event.
“We are very excited to be joining Leadership Music in these efforts for such an important cause,” says Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “As members of the Country music industry, we get to enjoy many events and functions where food is in abundance. This is such an easy way for all of us to help those in our community who are less fortunate.”
If you are interested in having a collection bin placed in your office for your employees and guests, please email your request to [email protected].
In the state of Tennessee, more than one million people struggle to have enough food each day. The winter months are especially difficult on these families due to the additional cost of heating heat their homes. According to the USDA, one in four children in the state of Tennessee are food insecure, and in Middle Tennessee alone, 31 percent of the people Second Harvest serves are children.
The 46 counties in Middle Tennessee are serviced by Second Harvest Food Bank, headed by Leadership Music alumna and board member, Jaynee Day.
MusicRow readers are invited to participate in this much needed effort.

Deadline Nearing For CRS Rusty Walker Scholarship Applications

/by

CRS2014-LogoThe application deadline for the Rusty Walker Scholarship program, created in honor of Country Radio Hall of Fame member Rusty Walker, is this Friday, Nov. 22.
Each scholarship includes a full CRS 2014 registration, airfare and accommodations for four nights (Feb. 18, 2014 – Feb. 21, 2014). Scholars will be recognized at the CRS 2014 opening ceremonies and will have the opportunity to choose from a select group of mentors, along with meeting CRS board members during the three-day seminar.
Each applicant must fill out an online application and submit a paragraph explaining why he/she should be considered as a Rusty Walker Scholar. Eligible applicants must be a full-time radio station employee and a first time CRS attendee. Three individual scholarships will be awarded, and winning recipients will be announced on Dec. 16, 2013.
CRS 2014 will be held Feb. 19-21, 2014 at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville. For more information and to apply, visit countryradioseminar.com.