Big Machine Label Group Gets PRWeek Nomination

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The in-house public relations department at Big Machine Label Group has been named among the PRWeek Awards finalists for 2013.

Big Machine Label Group’s PR team includes Director of Publicity Jake Basden, PR Account Manager Erin Burr and PR Coordinator Nikki Burns.

As a finalist, BMLG’s public relations department will compete against major companies for the title of In-House PR Team of the Year. Finalists in the category include:

In-house PR Team of the Year nominees:

  • Aflac
  • Big Machine Label Group
  • Cisco Systems
  • The Clorox Company
  • Procter & Gamble

The PRWeek Awards 2013 will be presented by the trade publication March 7 at New York City’s Grand Hyatt. A group of more than 75 judges from across the industry narrowed 800-plus entries to finalists in 35 categories.

 

Bluewater Music Adds Creative Department Hire

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Christian Staehely

Bluewater Music Services Corp.’s Chief Operating Officer Peter A. Roselli has hired Christian Staehely as head of the company’s Creative Department. In his new role, Staehely will be responsible for pitching the catalog, signing new artist-writers, and managing Bluewater’s artist roster.

He formerly interned at Sony/ATV in Los Angeles. Staehely is a 2008 graduate of Princeton University and a former professional baseball player for the Seattle Mariners.

 

Weekly Register: #FLAGALINE Rewrites The Rulebook

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The year-end sales goalposts are ahead with only three weeks remaining. Industry sales execs are pretty much on autopilot now, or in holiday lingo we say, “their stockings are hung [buy] the chimney with care hoping the fans soon will be there…” But carefully pre-planned wheels were spinning last week as we saw a new duo debut at No. 3 on the Current Country Albums with an impressive 63k in sales.

Florida Georgia Line’s unusual launch has broken all the rules. They leapt from indie to major label to radio success in what seemed like a single bound and now add album sales success to their achievements! And who’s counting—(we are)—but #FLAGALINE’s “Cruise” also tops the country digital tracks list with over 72k downloads this week for a RTD (release to date) total of almost 1.3 million. Congrats guys and welcome to the Music City hit parade.

It is a foregone conclusion country album sales will surpass 2011 because we are currently 3.4% ahead and only need to sell an average of 1.142 million units per week to break even. That is child’s play for the the last few holiday weeks even in these times of fiscal cliff concerns, unemployment and other events best forgotten during holiday festivities. Music remains a great gift. This past week, for example, we scanned 1.372 million units. So although I’m usually a bit reserved, I’m going to yell out a giant,

………..Y-E-E-H-A-W! Way To Go Nashville!

Ms. Swift, wearing Red for the holidays, continues to top the country albums chart spinning another 167k units of music into platinum. She performed at New York Z100s Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden last weekend and the New York Post said,

“She’s a head-turner and she knows it, but that new sense of confidence suits her. The about-to-turn-23-year-old wasn’t phoning anything in. Watching her commit to the powerchord chorus of “I Knew You Were Trouble” was a minor revelation and a poke in the eye for those who still think of her as syrupy teen-fluff. As if to emphasize that point, the finale of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” saw her issuing a defiant “screw you” to an ex-boyfriend with all the fire of a woman who truly has been wronged, rather than a naive adolescent trying to imagine real heartbreak.” Read the full review here.

And this just in, confirmation from research group NPD Group that “…despite the rising use of Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody and other options for streaming music, CDs and digital music downloads continue to be a relevant gift choice for many consumers.” NPD reports that 12% of consumers say music will be on their holiday gift lists and they will increase music spending by 18% this year. “Consumers know they can’t go wrong with music as a gift,” says Russ Crupnick, Sr. VP of industry analysis at NPD, “which is why we continue to see music on holiday gift lists, despite the expanding number of free music-streaming options.” Good news for album marketers today, but be prepared for next year when streaming services will no doubt tout subscription gift cards as the “new” best way to give the gift of music.

What would you rather find under the tree on the big day? One album, or an introductory Spotify subscription gift card? Tell Santa and leave your comment below…

CMA Songwriters Series Returns to UK and Ireland

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The CMA Songwriters Series will return to the U.K. and Ireland with Kristian Bush, Brett James, Chris Young, and host Bob DiPiero from February 21-25, 2013.

Presented by BMI & Gibson Guitars, the series has expanded since 2005 to play in major cities across the U.S. In 2013, The CMA Songwriter Series will include performances on Feb. 21 in Dublin, Ireland, on Feb. 22-23 in Belfast, Ireland (featuring select Irish songwriting guests John Farry and Gary Quinn) and on Feb. 25 at London, England’s Bush Hall.

“With the successful debut of the CMA Songwriters Series in the U.K. and Ireland earlier this year, fans across the pond proved that they are passionate about Country Music,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer, via a release. “We look forward to taking this Series overseas once again and introducing more of our fantastic songwriters to fans abroad.”

Tickets are currently on sale. For more information, visit CMAsongwritersseries.com.

Warner Music Nashville Takes in New VP of Promotion

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Kevin Herring

Warner Music Nashville announced yesterday (12/11) the appointment of Kevin Herring as Vice President of Promotion. Herring succeeds Bob Reeves and will report directly to Chris Stacey, Senior Vice President of Promotion, WMN.

“Kevin is widely respected in Nashville and throughout the industry for his promotion talents,” said Stacey via a release. “We’re confident that he’ll greatly contribute to the future success of our artists, and we couldn’t be happier to have a veteran of his stature join the Warner Music Nashville team.”

Herring joins WMN from EMI Records Nashville, where he served as Vice President of Promotion.  Prior to EMI, he spent 13 years with Lyric Street Records, and has experience promoting numerous top-shelf artists including Shania Twain, Toby Keith, and Garth Brooks. 

Created in 2009, Warner Music Nashville is home to Warner Bros. Nashville, Word Label Group, Atlantic Nashville, Elektra Nashville and the LoudMouth comedy label.

Marty Stuart Celebrates 20 Years at the Opry

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Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher, Marty Stuart. Photo: Chris Hollo

Marty Stuart celebrated his 20th Anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member this past Saturday (Dec. 8). Taking the stage were Stuart, members of his band The Fabulous Superlatives, wife Connie Smith, Charley Pride, Old Crow Medicine Show and up-and-comer Brandy Clark.

The Opry’s Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher honored Stuart with a framed print commemorating the anniversary.

The evening also featured appearances by the Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Phyliss J. Anderson, who was accompanied by four Choctaw dancers who honored Stuart’s heritage.

Marty Stuart and Little Jimmy Dickens celebrate Stuart's Grand Ole Opry induction on Nov. 28, 1992. Photo: Alan Mayor

 

 

More ACA Highlights From Las Vegas

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Pictured (L-R) Luke Bryan, UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan, Lauren Alaina

Country music’s newest trophyfest, the American Country Awards, held its third annual event Monday night (12/10) at Las Vegas’s Mandalay Bay Events Center. The show was packed with performances, starting with Luke Bryan’s opening number “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye.” As usual, he was having as much fun onstage as onlookers were in the audience. He went on to earn nine guitar awards, including top honor Artist of the Year. Full winners list here and photos here.

Hosts Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins kept the hokey jokes flying, including Adkins carrying his half-pint counterpart in a baby-sling during a reference to Hillary Scott’s recent pregnancy news. Unfortunately, all the gags weren’t as timely, such as Chenoweth’s impersonation of Honey Boo Boo, and the “motorboating” jokes that just won’t go away.

The event had several highlights, including a teary-eyed Lauren Alaina winning New Artist who confessed to the audience, “I can’t breathe!” The show also handed out Breakthrough Artist honors to Jake Owen, but didn’t elaborate on the difference in the categories.

Dierks Bentley turned in a solid performance of “Country and Cold Cans.” Kip Moore showed growing stage confidence as he worked the front row, slapping hands during his medley of hits “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck” and “Beer Money.”

Jason Aldean offered a solo take of “The Only Way I Know,” his current single which features Luke Bryan and Eric Church on the recorded version.

Following an introduction by Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Keith Urban took the stage with seven young musicians who participated in the GRAMMY Camp music program for an inspiring performance of “Crossroads.”

Owen sang his hit “The One That Got Away,” but the set borrowed a little too heavily from LBT’s much-talked-about CMT Awards performance of “Pontoon.”

The show scored a 1.4 rating for the key demographic, adults 18-49, down 30% from last year’s 2.0, according to preliminary ratings from Zap2It.com. About 5.12 million tuned in.

The ACAs will re-air on GAC Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 9:00 pm ET.

Pictured (L-R): Charles Kelley, Mike Dungan, Karen Fairchild, UMG Nashville SVP/COO Tom Becci

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Names Inductees for 2013

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Donna Summer

Heart, Albert King, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Rush and the late Donna Summer (who resided in Nashville) will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Lou Adler and Quincy Jones will be awarded the Ahmet Ertegun (non-performer) Award.

The 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2013. For the first time, the ceremony will be held on the West Coast at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre L.A. The ceremony will be open to the public.

Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said via a release, “We are thrilled to announce this year’s class of inductees, which again represents the broad, compelling and significant definition of rock and roll.”

The induction ceremony will broadcast on HBO on Saturday, May 18 at 9pm ET/PT. Said Michael Lombardo, President of HBO Programming, “We are excited to team up once again with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for what is sure to be an incredible evening of one-of-a-kind performances.”

BMG Chrysalis Renews Agreement with Producer busbee

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BMG Chrysalis US has renewed its exclusive, worldwide co-publishing agreement with songwriter and producer busbee.

Busbee, who is based in Los Angeles, has had success in multiple formats. He co-wrote “Our Kind of Love” with the members of Lady Antebellum and co-wrote “Summer Nights,” a hit for Rascal Flatts, with Brett James. Busbee co-wrote Hunter Hayes‘ “Storm Warning” with Hayes and Gordie Sampson. He has also worked with P!nk, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Backstreet Boys, Timbaland and many others.

BMG Chrysalis US also has a joint venture in place with busbee under which writers JP Clark, Luke Dick, Ben West and Deion Blaster are signed.

Darrell Franklin, Executive VP, Nashville said via a release: “busbee was one of the first writers that BMG signed in Nashville seven years ago. He always had his sights set on being a worldwide hit songwriter with cuts spanning all genres. His work ethic, determination and raw talent have helped busbee achieve his goal with hits in the pop world, film and TV, as well as hits in the country market both here and globally.”

“BMG is really approaching the business of music in a new way,” added busbee. “They work aggressively for their clients worldwide…and they truly feel and function like a boutique-major. I am incredibly excited to continue my partnership with them.”

CMT To Launch ‘CMT Hot 20 Countdown’ in January

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CMT will ring in 2013 with a new series to count down the Top 20 country music videos and cover the top stories in country music.

CMT Hot 20 Countdown will launch on Jan. 5 at 10:30 a.m. CT on CMT. CMT’s Cody Alan, Alecia Davis and Katie Cook will host the weekly, two-and-a-half hour series. The series will also feature in-studio live performances and interviews with both established and up-and-coming artists.

CMT Hot 20 Countdown will be taped in front of a live audience at its new location at the Music City Tower, just outside the Bridgestone Arena at the corner of 5th and Broadway.

Fan participation will be an essential component of the new show, as they will be able to interact with the hosts via social media integration on Twitter (using the hashtag #CMTHot20), Facebook and Instagram. Those interested in becoming part of the live, studio audience can email audience@cmt.com for details.

For booking artists on ‘CMT Hot 20 Countdown,’ contact Jaclyn Krimmel at  jaclyn.krimmel@cmt.com. To pitch entertainment stories for the series, contact Ray Sells at ray.sells@cmt.com or Jennifer Meyer at jennifer.meyer@cmt.com.