Yahoo Becomes Digital Partner of American Music Awards

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American-Music-Awards-logo-350x200The American Music Awards has named Yahoo the official digital distributor for its upcoming 41st annual awards ceremony and is kicking off the new partnership by live streaming the nominations press conference Oct. 10 from B.B. Kings Blues Club & Grill in New York. Kelly Clarkson and will.i.am will be on hand at the event to announce the names of all nominees.
Yahoo will also live stream a three-hour digital red carpet pre-show special as part of the new partnership, and will carry a variety of AMA digital programming and content, including rehearsal exclusives, artist interviews, backstage coverage and more. The American Music Awards will broadcast live from L.A.’s Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 24th at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Produced by dick clark productions, the show is seen each year in more than 160 countries around the world.

Performers Added to Buds-n-Suds Nashville Festival

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buds n suds 2013111Chris Janson, Jonathan Singleton, American Young, DJ Du, Downday and the Mann Sisters will join previously announced headliner Joe Diffie as part of the 16th annual Buds-n-Suds Music Festival. The festival, presented by Losers’s Most Wanted Bar and The Big 98 WSIX, will take place Thursday, Oct. 17 at Loser’s.
The event will support the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Tennessee Chapter. General admission tickets are free and VIP tickets are available for a $50 donation. VIP tickets include a special seating area, drink tickets and light appetizers. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.; Loser’s is located at 1911 Division Street in Nashville.
Buds-n-Suds is produced by Harbor Entertainment.

No. 1 Celebration: Hunter Hayes' "I Want Crazy"

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Pictured (Back row, L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and BMI’s Clay Bradley; (Front row, L-R): co-writer Troy Verges, Hunter Hayes and co-writer Lori McKenna.

Pictured (Back row, L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and BMI’s Clay Bradley; (Front row, L-R): co-writer Troy Verges, Hunter Hayes and co-writer Lori McKenna.


This is shaping up to be a great week for Hunter Hayes; not only is he gearing up to headline the CMT On Tour: Hunter Hayes’ Let Be Crazy Tour on Oct. 10, but he recently celebrated his chart-topping single “I Want Crazy.”
“I Want Crazy” was penned by Hayes, Lori McKenna and Troy Verges, and published by Songs of Universal, Happy Little Man Publishing, Songs from the Engine Room, and Hoodie Songs.
The writers were honored at a No. 1 party yesterday (Oct. 8) at BMI’s Nashville office. Among those honored included Kent Earls for Universal Music Publishing Group, album co-producer Dann Huff,  Universal Music Publishing Group’s Cyndi Forman, and Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito.
This marks the first chart-topping song for McKenna, who has had songs recorded by Faith Hill and other artists. “The day we wrote this song in Nashville I knew I was the luckiest woman in Nashville for being in the room with these writers,” said McKenna. “Barry Dean has a song called ‘Judge A Man,’ which talks about how you can judge a man by the woman that he’s with. If I am judged by the songwriters I’m around, I am a lucky woman.”
“This is one of those dream songs,” said Huff. “For those of us who are in love, it says what we want to say. Lightning struck twice with this and ‘Wanted.’ Then you have someone like Hunter who performs it so well,” said Huff.
Avenue Bank’s Cooper Samuels was on hand to announce a donation that Avenue Bank would be making to MusiCares on behalf of the songwriters. BMI’s Jody Williams and Clay Bradley, Brandi Simms from the Country Music Association and Michelle Kammerer from the Country Radio Broadcasters also honored the songwriters.
“I am a fan of these professors of songwriting,” said Hayes. “I learn so much from everyone that I write with.” The celebration ended with McKenna, Verges and Hayes performing “I Want Crazy” for the enthusiastic crowd of well-wishers.

Industry Ink (10-9-13)

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Jay Thomas

Jay Thomas


Jay Thomas has returned to the independent promotions business by reopening his Jay Thomas Promotions, which previously operated for more than two years from 2010 to 2012. Thomas has extensive radio contacts throughout the country at Mediabase & BDS-monitored stations, as well as in the secondary markets on the Billboard Indicator and MusicRow levels.
He spent 20 years in Country radio as a program director, music director, and on-air host. In addition to his own promotion business, Jay has been a regional promoter for Streamsound and Treehouse Records and has covered the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast regions. Thomas can be contacted at [email protected] or at 703-888-1826.

• • •

AIMP111Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Chapter will host the seminar, Google/YouTube & The Harry Fox – Optimizing Royalties: Initiative Impacting Music Publishers, on Oct. 15. The member-only event will take place from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the W.O. Smith School in Nashville. Speakers will include Anjali Malhotra, who joined Google in May 2010 and currently handles some of YouTube’s top music partners as part of business development. John Raso oversees Harry Fox Agency’s Client Services team of agents who provide support to HFA-affiliated publishers. Member reservations for the seminar can be sent to Heather Cook. For more information, visit aimp.org.

• • •safe haven family shelter

Items autographed by Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Lewis and other artists will be up for auction on Thursday (Oct. 10) as part of the Safe Haven Hike for the Homeless Patron’s Party, which will take place at Nashville’s Pinnacle Building (28th floor). Attendees can enjoy food, drinks, and live music from musician Rick Monroe. The party is in support of the ninth annual Hike for the Homeless, which will take place at Edwin Warner Park on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The event cost is a $50.00 per person donation and tickets can be found at safehaven.org.

• • •

karaokeSOLID/WMBA will co-host their Howl-O-Scream Charity Karaoke Challenge at Dan McGuiness on Oct. 24 from 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. Music Industry professionals are invited to challenge their friends to sing karaoke. There is a $5 minimum donation to enter someone’s name with the song of their choosing; the more money donated, the sooner the friend takes the stage to perform. If they choose not to sing, they must match your donation but if they want you to sing instead, they must up the ante, by a minimum of $5.
All proceeds of the event will be donated to Songs for Sound, a Nashville-based charity benefiting profoundly deaf children through cochlear implants. Anyone wishing to opt out of the karaoke portion can donate $10. There will also be contests including the Jack-O-Lantern contest (the professionals with the best pumpkin will win a price), the Bobbing for Apples Challenge and a Costume Contest with prices for Most Inappropriate, Scariest, Most Original, Best Couple/Group Costume.
Limited drinks and appetizers will be provided courtesy of SOLID and WMBA.

Weekly Register: Tyler Farr Makes Country Go Redneck Crazy

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tyler farr11Overall album sales are down 7 percent from last week, but Country album sales are up 4 percent this week, with several noteworthy debuts. Tyler Farr’s Redneck Crazy debuts at No. 2 (No. 5 overall), selling 28k units in its first week. The 29-year-old newcomer is currently touring in promotion of his debut album. 

Meanwhile, Hank 3’s Brothers of the 4×4 debuts at No. 10 (No. 61 overall) selling 6k units, while Randy Travis’ Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am debuts at No. 19 (No. 120 overall) selling 3k units. Other noteworthy Country debuts include the Wood Brothers’ Muse at No. 22 (3k) and Charlie Robison’s High Life at No. 48 (1.1k). Pre sales for Joe Nichols’ Crickets landed the singer at No. 41 with 1.3k units sold.

AlbumsTracksLuke Bryan’s Crash My Party remains the top Country album (No. 4 overall), selling another 32k this week (over 1 million RTD). Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience Complete is the top overall album this week, selling 349k units. YTD album sales are down 6.2 percent, while Country album sales are down .9 percent.

Bryan’s “That’s My Kind Of Night” is the top Country track again (No. 14 overall), selling another 74k units (869 RTD). Lady Antebellum’s “Compass” is the top Country debut, coming in at No. 35 (No. 142 overall) with 9.7k units sold this week.

Lorde’s “Royals” continues to reign as the top overall track, selling another 308k units this week (2 million RTD). Overall tracks are down 3.7 percent from last year, while Country tracks are up 3.5 percent, yet slowly declining.

The charts will be hit with several Country debuts next week, including Cassadee Pope’s Frame By Frame, Kenny Rogers’ You Can’t Make Old Friends, Patty Griffin’s Silver Bell, Gretchen Wilson’s Christmas In My Heart and more.

Taylor Swift Breaks NSAI Record, To Open CMHoF Education Center

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Taylor Swift accepts her Songwriter/Artist of the Year trophy from NSAI in 2011.

Taylor Swift accepts her Songwriter/Artist of the Year trophy from NSAI in 2011.


Taylor Swift will take home her record sixth NSAI award as Songwriter/Artist of the Year this Sunday (Oct. 13), and that award and many of her others will soon have a new home when the Taylor Swift Education Center opens inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday (Oct. 12). The new center was born out of a $4 million donation Swift pledged to the Hall in 2012 – the largest single donation by an artist in the museum’s 46 years.
The center gives the museum seven times more space for new programs and includes three classrooms and a learning lab, as well as an interactive children’s gallery slated to open next year. Kids will be able to test out a variety of instruments in the museum’s “petting zoo” and get messy doing Hatch Show letterpress art; future offerings planned include songwriting workshops, dance classes, and a Hatch Show-led letterpress program.
A big part of Swift’s musical story is intertwined with the Hall of Fame. She inked her record contract there as a teen, gave one of her first public performances on the building’s plaza, and has performed at several of the museum’s “All For The Hall” fundraisers. Her stand-alone, multi-media exhibit there has drawn crowds for years, and the exhibition on her Speak Now tour was the first-ever of its kind.
When she receives her sixth NSAI award on Sunday, Swift will have broken another record, surpassing five-time winners Alan Jackson and Vince Gill, and she’s also the youngest artist ever to have won the award at 17. The award is determined by chart performance and songwriting credits. Taylor’s six NSAI Awards will be on special display in the foyer of the new Education Center.

DISClaimer: Day of Duets

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keith urban fuse album cover1Superstars ruled the day in this edition of “DisClaimer.” The duets by Kenny & Dolly and Keith & Miranda are as good as it gets. Sheryl Crow is back, stronger than ever. Hit maker Justin Moore returns. The stellar pop/rock group Little River Band is knocking on country’s door.
All of these folks have platters that deserve your attention. The best of them belongs to the hottest of them. Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert’s “We Were Us” is undeniable as the Disc of the Day. Three of the four newcomers in today’s listening session were women. And one of them, the excellently named Breelan Angel, is our DisCovery Award winner.
TIM ASH/Broke
Writers: none listed; Producer: Tim Ash; Publisher: none listed; SMG (track)
-It’s that typical “modern country” sound, a rock track with a banjo on it. He sort of half-sings on the verses, but it’s not exactly hick-hop. He does open up with a convincing tenor vocal on the broken-hearted choruses. Another plus is the fact that the track is imaginatively produced.
SHERYL CROW/Callin’ Me When I’m Lonely
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Brent Anderson; Producers: Sheryl Crow and Justin Niebank; Publishers: Big Red Toe; Big Loud Bucks; Amarillo Sky; House of Sea Gayle; BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-Crow’s second country single is just about as lilting and catchy as her debut was. It is also further proof that she is as good as any established country artist, and maybe better. I think the thing I like best about this track (and indeed her whole album) is the fact that you can hear what a superb singer she is, now that she’s not buried in pop/rock volume.
KENDALL BEARD/Drinkin’
Writers: Kendall Beard/A.J. Vallejo/Alex Vallejo; Producer: A.J. Vallejo; Publisher: none listed; VMG (track)
-The production lacks polish, and her vocal is recorded too dry. The wordy song takes forever to get to the hook.
JUSTIN MOORE/Lettin’ The Night Roll
Writers: Justin Moore/Jeremy Stover/Rodney Clawson; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publisher: none listed; Valory (track)
-Another solid, straight-ahead county performance by this dependable fellow. He’s driving his gal around aimlessly, waiting to see what romantic adventures await.

Breelan Angel

Breelan Angel


BREELAN ANGEL/Halfway To Wasted
Writers: Breelan Angel/Clay Mills; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Breelan Angel/Hit Me Again, BMI/ASCAP; MisBHavin’
-She has an instantly gripping, penetrating, slightly sharp delivery that perks up your ears. The lyric is about drinking away a heartache while listening to honky-tonk tunes, and who can’t relate to that? Well written, well produced and well sung.
KEITH URBAN & MIRANDA LAMBERT/We Were Us
Writers: Jimmy Robbins/Nicole Galyon/Jon Nite; Producers: Nathan Chapman and Keith Urban; Publishers: Universal/Extraordinary Alien/Warner-Tamerlane/EMI April/Jon Mark Nite, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol
-This exciting, crunchy country rocker gives both performers plenty of space to strut their stuff vocally. They both phrase brilliantly, and the stunning production cooks with gas.
KENNY ROGERS & DOLLY PARTON/You Can’t Make Old Friends
Writers: Ryan Hanna King/Caitlyn Smith/Don Schlitz; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Hanna/Music of Stage Three/Songs of Cornman/House of Sea Gayle/Yorick, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-Immensely tender and heart tugging. The ballad ponders the irreplaceable loss of someone close, and both of these master storytellers draw out every ache. Beautifully done.
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW/Dixieland Delight
Writers: R. Rogers; Producer: Ted Hutt; Publishers: Keats and Shelly/Sony-ATV Tree; BMI; ATO (CDX)
-The Grand Ole Opry’s newest members are in the cast of High Cotton, one of two current CDs saluting Alabama. The string band’s take on Alabama’s 1983 smash is jaunty, acoustic and stripped down. Things really take off when OCMS rips into the fiddle hoedown finale, complete with whoops of joy.
LITTLE RIVER BAND/You Dream, I’ll Drive
Writers: Jack Williams, Thomas Conners, Troy Johnson; Producers: Rich Herring & Wayne Nelson; Publishers: Hopportunity/Bluebonnet Tattoo/Yacht Haven, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; Frontier (CDX)
-This Aussie group scored lots of big pop hits in the ‘70s and ‘80s with “Lonesome Loser,” “Cool Change,” “Man on Your Mind” and the like. Its catchy, ultra-melodic, harmony-laced sound hasn’t changed all that much, they’re just pitching it to a different audience. Highly listenable.
KASEY LANSDALE/Sorry Ain’t Enough
Writers: Kasey Lansdale/Derek George/Tim Owens; Producer: Kasey Lansdale; Publishers: Big Spaces/Panda Red/Pedal Down/Lux Et Veritas/Trejuilla/Amplified Administration, BMI/ASCAP; Blue Siren
-It’s a cool, bluesy, female “attitude” number. He’s begging to come back, but she’s not buying what he’s selling. Very promising.

Keith Urban Joins Grammy Nominations Special

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image002The Recording Academy has announced the first round of performers for the upcoming “Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! – Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night,” which will take place Dec. 6. Keith Urban will join Drake, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Robin Thicke on the one-hour special, which is hosted again this year by LL Cool J from L.A.’s Nokia Theater. Guests will be treated to an exclusive concert by Thicke as well following the broadcast. The special will air on CBS beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
The program will include performances by past Grammy winners or nominees, and several nominations will be revealed live during the duration of the show as well. This concert marks the sixth time nominations for the annual Grammys will be announced live on primetime television. Tickets for the special go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Oct. 17, and will be available online at axs.com or by phone at  888-929-7849. 

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will be held live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, and broadcast  on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

Musicians On Call Anniversary Event To Feature Clarkson

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Kelly Clarkson. Photo: Jill Greenberg

Kelly Clarkson. Photo: Jill Greenberg


Musicians On Call (MOC) Nashville is celebrating six years in Music City with an anniversary benefit concert featuring GRAMMY Award-winning superstar Kelly Clarkson. The Nov. 14 event presented by Citi Private Pass will feature Clarkson at Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe, located at 100 Broadway. Tickets will be available for purchase exclusively by Citi Private Pass members for a limited time beginning at 10 a.m. CT Wednesday, Oct. 9 with general on sale opening at noon Friday, Oct. 11. Tickets start at $160 and include a VIP Cocktail Reception provided by Hard Rock Cafe and valet parking provided by Eagle Parking.
The evening will also feature a silent auction; all proceeds go to MOC Nashville. Since MOC’s expansion into Nashville in April 2007, more than 70,000 patients, families and staff in the Middle Tennessee area have benefited from 12 weekly programs in seven area healthcare facilities.
Last year, Clarkson surprised patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with an impromptu holiday performance. The singer will release her first Christmas project, Wrapped in Red, on Oct. 29.
For more information on the MOC Nashville Sixth Anniversary Concert, visit musiciansoncall.org/kellyclarkson.

Paisley, McBride and Others Added To Jones Nashville Tribute

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the final no show1111Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Big & Rich, Loretta Lynn, Lee Ann Womack, Craig Morgan, Thompson Square, Ronnie Milsap, Bill Anderson and rockers Megadeth have all been added to the bill for what would have been George Jones‘ final concert in Nashville, Tenn. on Nov. 22. The concert is now a tribute to the legendary singer. “Playin’ Possum! The Final NO Show” has been slated as the official name of the event.
“The evening of George Jones songs is going to be the best musical tribute Nashville has ever seen,” says Nancy Jones. “We have many surprises planned, and I just wish George could be here to see what we are doing for him.”
Previously announced performers include Kid Rock, George Strait, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Josh Turner, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Sam Moore, and others.
Jones was on his farewell tour titled The Grand Tour, when he passed away on April 26. The icon’s hits include “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair,” “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” “White Lightning” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”