Culotta Appointed President of Streamsound Records

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Mike Culotta


Streamsound Records has appointed radio executive Mike Culotta as President. Culotta will oversee operations for the Nashville-based label, which is distributed by Sony Music Nashville. He will start the position on April 15 and can be reached at culotta@streamsound.com or 615-292-5335.
“We at Streamsound Records are excited to have Mike Culotta joining our team,” said Streamsound CEO Byron Gallimore. “Mike is a leader in our industry. I know that his knowledge and passion for radio, and his love of country music, will be an invaluable asset to Streamsound. I am excited because I know that Mike’s experience and relationships will translate into instant success for the label.”
Culotta added, “This is such a dream come true for me. I have such a passion for music, which is why I have enjoyed all of my years in radio. Instead of programming music, I will now have an opportunity to be a part of a team that is originating music. I’m looking forward to working with Jim Wilkes and Byron Gallimore and the professional team they have put together.”
Before joining Streamsound, Culotta was Operations Manager for all six CBS stations in Tampa, Florida (WQYK AM/FM, WRBQ-FM, WSJT-FM, WYUU-FM, and WLLD-FM). In addition, he was Program Director for WQYK-FM, and had been with the station for over 18 years. He graduated in 2003 from Leadership Music, and currently serves on the Academy of Country Music Board, St. Jude Advisory Board and also serves as President of the Country Radio Seminar Board of Directors.
Streamsound Records was launched in 2012 by Grammy award-winning producer Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Faith Hill) and Jim Wilkes. Artists on the roster include Dakota Bradley, Jaida Dreyer and Austin Webb.
Streamsound principals are Tim McHugh and Jim Wilkes (label co-chairs), Byron Gallimore (CEO), and Steve Richardson (COO). The label’s regional representatives are Theresa Ford (Southeast), Jamice Jennings (Southwest), Steve Pleshe (Northwest) and Jay Thomas (Northeast/Midwest).

Brad Paisley featured on LL Cool J Single

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Brad-Paisley-featured-imageBrad Paisley will be featured on a new single with his recent controversial collaborator, LL Cool J, titled “Live For You.”
The R&B love song, off the rapper’s forthcoming April 30 studio album, titled Authentic, was written and produced by LL Cool J and Jaylien.
The album, out on 429 Records/The Savoy Label Group, features additional guest appearances from Bootsy Collins, Chuck D, Charlie Wilson, Eddie Van Halen, Earth, Wind & Fire, Monica, Snoop Dogg, Seal, Travis Barker and more.
Authentic is currently available for pre-order and will be supported by a national summer tour. To preview the single, click here.

Nashville Guitarist Performs at the White House

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Current Nashville resident and guitarist Steve Cropper recently performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Cropper was part of a tribute to Memphis soul music at the White House’s East Room on Tuesday (April 9).
Cropper played with Justin Timberlake, backing the entertainer on “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” which Cropper co-wrote with Otis Redding.

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Justin Timberlake and Steve Cropper

Industry Snapshots (4-10-13)

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AIMP Nashville hosted a standing room only music supervision event last week at Cabana Restaurant called, What works, what doesn’t and the latest trends in placing music in TV & Film.  The top supervisors were:  Alicen Schneider of NBCUniversal TV, Kasey Truman with Chop Shop, Jason Markey of Relativity Music Group and Maria Alonte McCoy from District Music.
Pictured (L-R): Kevin Lamb (President/AIMP), Kasey Truman, Maria Alonte McCoy, Randy Wachtler (moderator/board member AIMP); Alicen Schneider, Dianna Maher (VP/AIMP), and Jason Markey. photo credit: Heather Cook

Pictured (L-R): Kevin Lamb (President/AIMP), Kasey Truman, Maria Alonte McCoy, Randy Wachtler (moderator/board member AIMP); Alicen Schneider, Dianna Maher (VP/AIMP), and Jason Markey. Photo credit: Heather Cook

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Grand Ole Opry GM and Nashville Executive Producer Steve Buchanan spoke at SOLID‘s 2nd GA meeting last night (April 9) at ASCAP.

Pictured (L-R): Brittany Adkins Schaffer, SOLID Education Co-chair, Brian O'Neil, SOLID Vice President, Steve Buchanan, Sarah McGrady, SOLID President and Kent Wolfenbarger, SOLID Education Chair

Pictured (L-R): Brittany Adkins Schaffer, SOLID Education Co-chair, Brian O’Neil, SOLID Vice President, Steve Buchanan, Sarah McGrady, SOLID President and Kent Wolfenbarger, SOLID Education Chair

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MGM Grand’s Rouge nightclub in Las Vegas was the setting for SESAC’s party to celebrate “The 48th Annual ACM Awards” in Las Vegas. The party capped off a festive night for country music with SESAC’s Thompson Square taking home the coveted Vocal Duo of the Year honors.

Pictured (left to right): Artist/songwriter Jon Stone, artist/songwriter Katie Armiger, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Tim Fink and artist/songwriter Kristy Osmunson. Photo: Randi Radcliff

Pictured (left to right): Artist/songwriter Jon Stone, artist/songwriter Katie Armiger, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Tim Fink and artist/songwriter Kristy Osmunson. Photo: Randi Radcliff

 

SIRIUSXM To Broadcast Yoakam's Ryman Auditorium Concert

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DwightYoakam_Lg1SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel will broadcast Dwight Yoakam‘s sold-out show at Nashville’s historic Ryman auditorium on Friday, April 12 beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
The concert is the first of two Ryman shows that sold-out in under an hour. SIRIUSXM’s Outlaw Country (channel 60)–who have also broadcast live shows from Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle and Shooter Jennings–will re-broadcast the show on July 4.
Yoakam is touring in support of his critically acclaimed 3 Pears album. Dwight’s Ryman dates marks his return to the Mother Church of Country Music’s sacred stage for the first time since 2005. “The Ryman is one of a handful of places in the world, that from the moment you step inside, you can feel that you have entered a hallowed chamber occupied by the essence of the great,” said Yoakam.

Red Bow Records Adds Promotion Coordinator

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Caitlyn Gordon


Red Bow Records has added Caitlyn Gordon as promotion coordinator for the label.
Gordon joins Red Bow Records from Los Angeles, where she earned a degree in Merchandise Marketing from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and graduated magna cum laude in her class. With a true passion for Country music, Gordon moved to Nashville in order to pursue her dream of working in the Country music business.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the staff at Red Bow Records and so grateful for this opportunity. I sincerely look forward to learning from the best!” said Gordon.
“We’re glad to have Caitlyn join the RED BOW team. Her passion for this business and love of Country Music sold me!” said Reneé Leymon, VP, Promotion for Red Bow Records.
Gordon begins her new position effective Thursday, April 11. She may be reached at Caitlyn@redbowrecords.com.

Weekly Register: ACM Awards Boost Country Sales

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TBPSunday evening’s (April 7) highly-watched ACM Awards surely stimulated some viewers to become purchasers. However, since the week’s Nielsen SoundScan tally closes on Sunday eve, any post-ACM retail bump must wait to be discovered in next week’s data. The digital download business however, is a mouse-clicking world that never closes, so we can use the iTunes charts to capture a glimpse of consumer behavior, especially impulse buys.
According to the ACMs, iTunes sales for many of its featured artists were positively impacted immediately following the program. In fact, the day before the show only three of the Top 20 country artists on iTunes were ACM nominees. But following the broadcast the number jumped to 10. Next week, with the full sales data, we’ll be able to assess individual artist numbers and overall industry impact.
With respect to ratings, the show was a huge success. The ACM Awards were the most-watched show of the evening, attracting over 15.38 million viewers and making it the event’s largest audience in 15 years and the most-watched country music event of the previous 12 months. The ACM Awards is produced by dick clark productions (dcp) which recently gained new management in the form of CEO Allen Shapiro and President Michael Mahan.
Grid Talking-ALBUMS
weeklygrid4-7-13The Band Perry rose up to the No. 1 Top Current Country spot this week as the group’s Pioneer debuted with over 129k units (26% digital). Blake Shelton’s new offering now in week No. 2 slid 59% to sit in the No. 2 position with 82k scans. Kacey Musgraves, now in its 3rd week, climbed one place to No. 6 with 18k scans and an increase of 3%. Also notable was a debut from Gretchen Wilson which landed at No. 24 with over 5k units (34% digital).
Justin Timberlake clung to the No. 1 position on the Top 200 Album list for a third consecutive week with sales of 139,285 units, edging out TBP by only 10k.
A quick glance at the weekly grids shows sales numbers oscillating based upon comparisons with the slate of releases at the same time last year. For example, during the week ended 4-8-12, we saw a debut from Rascal Flatts which shifted 130k units; Lionel Richie was in its second week with 95k units; and Nicki Minaj bested the Top 200 list with her 253k unit debut.
So as we begin the second quarter (week ended 4-7-13) the all-genre albums Y/Y deficit rides at -5.4%. Country trails last year’s pace by a scant -1.5%. Consumers continue to shift their purchasing behavior to digital albums and that format is up for buyers of both country (22.1%) and all-genre (10.1%).
weeklygrid3-31-13In stores this week are two new Nashville albums likely to set the SoundScan counters spinning. Watch for new music from Brad Paisley, Wheelhouse and Eric Church, Caught In The Act. 
Grid Talking-TRACKS
Unfortunately, the tracks chart doesn’t offer daily or hourly breakdowns that would help us determine exactly how some of the ACM Award artists fared on Sunday evening. But there are some suspiciously high W/W gains that seemingly indicate a strong show correlation. For example, look at the following artists that performed and the gains they enjoyed: co-host Blake Shelton “Sure Be Cool If You Did” (37%) and “Boys Round Here” (with Pistol Annies +27%); Tim McGraw/Taylor Swift, “Highway Don’t Care” (42%); The Band Perry, “Done” (178%); and Brad Paisley, “Beat This Summer” (115%). There are lots more.
But probably the most astounding result comes from Florida Georgia Line who topped the Digital Genre Country Chart with a combined 248k downloads of their party anthem, “Cruise.” FGL debuted a remix featuring Nelly, which scanned 186k units in addition to the original version’s 62k weekly numbers.
Country track sales are ahead of last year by a comfortable 5.3% while all-genre track sales are behind 1%. Watch for these numbers to slide around like oil on a hot griddle as the spring season gets cooking…
And while we’re at it, you might enjoy checking out socialguide.com where you see how TV shows and movies rank with respect to social media activity. Click HERE to see a graph of Sunday evening’s ACM Awards which led the evening in social media response.

Country Music Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2013

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2013 Country Music Hall of Fame Honorees. Pictured (L-R) Bobby Bare, Kenny Rogers, "Cowboy" Jack Clement.

2013 Country Music Hall of Fame Honorees. Pictured (L-R) Bobby Bare, Kenny Rogers, “Cowboy” Jack Clement. Photo: Alan Mayor


Today (April 10), the Country Music Hall of Fame announced the newest set of Country Music Hall of Fame inductees as “Cowboy” Jack Clement, Bobby Bare and Kenny Rogers during a press conference in the Hall’s Rotunda. Induction ceremonies, which will increase membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame from 118 to 121 members, will take place in the Hall’s new CMA Theater later this year.
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Cowboy Jack Clement


“Cowboy” Jack Clement has been named in the non-performer category, which is awarded every third year in a rotation with the “Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980,” and “Songwriter” categories. Clement’s daughter, Alison Clement, offered gratitude during today’s announcement while the “Cowboy” preceded from his seat in the front row.
In 1953, Clement made his first record. He studied at Memphis State University, where he earned his lifelong nickname “Cowboy.” He built his first recording studio in 1956, and has worked with Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and numerous others. Clement wrote “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” and produced Johnny Cash‘s iconic “Ring of Fire.” Clement also opened Jack Clement Recording Studios, the first 16-track studio in Nashville and has written songs for Bobby Bare, George Jones, Elvis Presley, Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Clement has also produced for Townes Van Zant, Hank Williams, Jr. and U2.
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Bobby Bare


Bobby Bare was named in the Veterans Era category. “This is a validation of a dream that a 17-year-old boy had back in the hills of Ohio,” said Bare before recognizing various individuals responsible for his career successes. “This is as big as it gets. This is truly an honor. Now I’ll be famous forever.”
Chet Atkins signed him to RCA in 1962. He had hits with “Shame on Me,” “Detroit City” “Five Hundred Miles Away From Home” and “Streets of Baltimore.” In 1964, Bare embarked on one of the first successful European country music tours. While at RCA, Bare recorded two duet projects with Skeeter Davis and had a Top 5 hit with “The Game of Triangles,” featuring Liz Anderson and Norma Jean.
kenny rogersKenny Rogers was named as the Modern Era artist inductee.
A tearful Rogers thanked his wife and his twin sons. “I’m so glad this happened if it is going to happen so I can share it with my boys,” said Rogers. “I think it’s important for them to know I worked hard.” Rogers also talked about the importance of a positive attitude, passing on wisdom learned from his parents. “My dad said, ‘Son, you have to aim high to gain low.’ My mom said, ‘Always be happy where you are. Don’t be content to be there but be happy where you are.’ Some of my greatest memories were at the lowest points. I thank you all for making this high point available to me.” He also congratulated companion inductees, Bare and Clement.
Rogers released three No. 1 multi-million selling albums between 1978 and 1980, Love or Something Like It, The Gambler, and Kenny. He enjoyed five consecutive chart-topping songs, “Love or Something Like It,” “The Gambler,” “She Believes In Me,” “You Decorated My Life” and “Coward of the County.” In the late ’70s, Rogers and Dottie West recorded a series of duets, including “Every Time Two Fools Collide,” “Anyone Who Isn’t Me Tonight,” “What Are We Doin’ in Love,” “All I Ever Need Is You” and “Til I Can Make It On My Own.” Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Rogers also earned success as an actor, appearing in the movie Six Pack, as well as the made-for-TV movie The Gambler (and four The Gambler follow-up TV movies), Coward of the County and Christmas in America.
In 1998, Rogers formed his own label and released “The Greatest,” followed by “Buy Me a Rose” (featuring Alison Krauss), which topped the charts in 2000, making Rogers (then age 61), the oldest solo artist to have a No. 1 record on the Country charts. Last year Rogers topped the New York Times list with his autobiography, Luck of Something like It–A Memoir.

DISClaimer: The Americana Scene

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Gurf Morlix


We’re going for gender equality this week. Here are five guys and five gals who help to make the current Americana scene so listenable. What do Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Bobby Bare, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, The Lumineers, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale and Mumford & Sons have in common? Besides the fact that they sing some of my favorite current records, they’re all Americana acts.
Deserving to join them on my current playlist are Jeff Black, Martha Redbone, Caroline Herring, Kate Campbell, David Olney, our Disc of the Day performer Gurf Morlix and our DisCovery Award winner, Levi Lowrey.
R.J. JONES & THE NECTARTHUGS/Blink of an Eye
Writers: Robert John Jones; Producer: R.J. Jones & Jeff King; Publisher: Nectarthugs, BMI; Subverse
-Jones is a veteran country songsmith whose works have been recorded by Tammy Wynette, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, The Whites, The Kendalls (”Thank God for the Radio”), Jim & Jesse, George Jones, T.G. Sheppard, Loretta Lynn, Mel Tillis, Susan Raye (”It Didn’t Have to Be a Diamond”), Johnny Paycheck, Alan Jackson, David Frizzell, Buck Owens (”California Okie”), Freddy Hart, Jean Shepard, Vern Gosdin and more. Dreams That Rhyme is his debut album, and he sings his heart out on it. His light, folk-pop tenor voice is backed by stellar acoustic picking throughout. This touching ode about a life in music and the passing of time is just one of its many pleasures.
HARPETH RISING/Amends
Writers: Jordana Greenberg/Rebecca Reed-Lunn; Producer: Bil VornDick; Publisher: none listed; Grimm Rising
-If you fancy the sound of cello, violin and banjo twiddling away while three folk damsels warble, step right up.
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Levi Lowrey


JEFF BLACK/Avalon
Writers: Jeff Black; Producer: Jeff Black; Publisher: Lotus Nile, BMI; Lotus Nile
-This Nashvillian’s song craftsmanship has been described as “perfect,” and his works are, indeed, polished gems where not a word is wasted. His B-Sides and Confessions Volume Two CD presents 12 such creations. His accompanists include Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas. On this stirring, slowly-building track, Matraca Berg and Gretchen Peters provide vocal harmonies. Sample this or “Impala,” or “An Evil Lesson Is Soon Learned” or “Molly Rose” and I think you’ll agree that this man is a special, special talent.
MARTHA REDBONE/The Garden of Love
Writers: William Blake/Martha Redbone/John McEuen/Aaron Whitby; Producer: John McEuen and David Hoffner; Publisher: Rez Kitty/Whitful/Next Decade Entertainment/Video Wizards/Hoffman House, SESAC/BMI; Blackfeet
-Redbone is a soulful vocalist of Native American and African American heritage who grew up in Appalachia. Hence, her thoroughly unique musical style. Her Roots Project CD is an ambitious collection that sets the poetry of William Blake to acoustic mountain melodies sung in a gospel-inflected wail punctuated by war-whoop yelps. Prepare to be startled and captivated.
DAVID OLNEY/Go Down Dupree
Writers: David Olney; Producer: Jack Irwin; David Olney/Bug/Three Minute Movie, BMI; Deadbeet
-Robbery & Murder is the third Olney mini-album in a trilogy that also includes 2011’s Film Noir and 2012’s The Stone (All three are also packaged together as Body of Evidence). It kicks off with this righteous r&b stomper which features our hero shouting and growling over a red-hot track featuring blues harmonica, piano triplets and relentless rhythm. Guaranteed to wake you up quicker than a shot of espresso. If you’ve been a fan of this man as long as I have been, you don’t need me to tell you how gripping the rest of the tracks are (”My Family Owns This Town,” for one). Catch Olney’s weekly video postings on his website every Tuesday, each of which features one of his vivid songs, the story behind it and his various musings.
KRISTEN COTHRON/Tart
Writers: Elvis Costello; Producer: Ben Strano; Publisher: none listed; KC
-This Nashville singer/songwriter is now marketing her third collection. Show Me Where the Edge Is dominated by her jazz-pop originals, but also includes three covers of Elvis Costello tunes. This one, for instance, demonstrates how effectively her behind-the-beat phrasing can be in making a song completely her own. Admirable.
GURF MORLIX/Present Tense
Writers: Gurf Morlix; Producer: Gurf Morlix; Publisher: Crankbait/Bug, SESAC; Rootball
-This Austin-based songwriter and stellar producer is noted for his darkly humorous attitude. And he does not disappoint on his latest collection, Gurf Morlix Finds the Present Tense. Bleak, stark and practically creepy in sections, it’s exactly why we love him so. Highly recommended.
KATE CAMPBELL/1,000 Pound Machine
Writers: Kate Campbell/Will Kimbrough; Producer: Will Kimbrough; Publisher: Large River/Will Kimbrough/Blue Water, BMI; Large River
-The “machine” in question is a grand piano. Although Campbell customarily accompanies herself on guitar, the piano was her first instrument, and she returns to it on her current album. This CD title tune is a lilting voice-keyboard outing, but with ace guitarist Kimbrough producing, you can rest assured that other tracks on the collection resound with his notes as well as hers, not to mention such esteemed instrumentalists as David Hood, Spooner Oldham (the subject of the song “Spoonerville”), Dave Jacques, John Deaderick and Paul Griffith. As always, her exquisite songs reverberate with gospel and Southern folk tones. Particularly ear-perking are “Montgomery to Mobile,” which imagines Rosa Parks and George Wallace on a bus ride together, the prison song “Alabama Department of Corrections” with Emmylou Harris harmonies and the civil-rights infused “Wait for Another Day” and “Walk With Me.”
LEVI LOWREY/Hold On Tight
Writers: Levi Lowrey; Producer:Zac Brown, Matt Magano, Clay Cook & John Driskell Hopkins; Publisher: Southern Ground, BMI; Southern Ground
-Lowrey opens concerts for the Zac Brown Band and records for its Southern Ground imprint. The singer/songwriter’s CD I Confess I Was a Fool features this tender-hearted story of youngsters getting pregnant and vowing to share a life together. He sings in a soft, earnest, almost hushed tenor while acoustic instruments swirl around him like mountain mist. Enchanting.
CAROLINE HERRING/Camilla
Writers: Caroline Herring; Producer: Erick Jaskowiak; Publisher: Zelleria, ASCAP; Signature Sounds
-Folk fixture Herring came to Nashville to enlist Steven Sheehan, Fats Kaplan, Bryan Owings, Bryn Davies and Claire Holley for her musical backers on her current collection. The title tune is a Southern-flavored, bluesy, dark meditation on motherhood, crime and punishment. Her haunting delivery is matched, lick for lick, by the interwoven notes plucked by her sterling accompanists.

Music Filmmaker Les Blank Passes

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Les Blank. Photo: Harrod Blank

Les Blank. Photo: Harrod Blank


Documentary filmmaker Les Blank, notable for his interest in American roots music, died Sunday, April 7, at age 77 in Berkeley, CA.
Blank created short films that spotlighted the music of Appalachian fiddler Tommy Jarrell, zydeco music great Clifton Chenier, jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Huey Lewis, Ry Cooder and blues immortals Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin’ Hopkins, as well as polka artists, Cajun fiddlers, Texas norteno bands, cowboy music and Mardi Gras culture. He was also notable for a full-length movie about acclaimed film director Werner Herzog.
He was the recipient of lifetime achievement awards from the American Film Institute and the International Documentary Association.
Several of his early films were financed by Houston, TX businessman John Lomax II, the father of Nashville music figure John Lomax III.
Les Blank is survived by children Harrod Blank, Ferris Robinson and Beau Blank as well as three grandchildren.