Paisley Joins 2012 Port Paradise Music Festival Lineup

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Brad Paisley is among the performers scheduled for the 2-day Bud Light Port Paradise Music Festival Nov. 17-18 at Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, and on the private island of Coco Cay.

The event is part of a 4 day, 3 night cruise, which includes two full-size liners accommodating 5,000 promotional Bud Light contest winners.

Paisley will headline Sunday’s (11/18) concert with performers Young the Giant and The All-American Rejects at Coco Cay. The day prior (11/17), Pitbull will headline the concert with Far East Movement and Flo Rida at Atlantis in Nassau.

“This year’s eclectic lineup takes Port Paradise to the next level with a two-day music festival at the heart of the cruise,” said Mike Sundet, VP, Bud Light.

Adults, 21 and older, are still eligible to enter the contest by visiting www.Facebook.com/BudLight through the end of the month (8/31).

Snapshots (8/17/12)

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Tonight’s (8/17) GAC Top 20 Country Countdown episode was shot at The Imus Ranch in Ribera, NM, a 4,000 acre working cattle ranch owned by radio star Don Imus and his wife Deirdre that provides the experience of the great American cowboy to children facing cancer or serious blood disorders. The episode includes host Nan Kelley interviewing eight-time world champion cowboy Joe Beaver as well as 14-year-old Wyatt Imus, one of the Kid Wranglers on the ranch (and the Imus’ son). It airs tonight, 8/17 at 7 pm CT on GAC.

Pictured (L-R): GAC’s Nan Kelley, Deirdre Imus, Don Imus

• • • •

The August edition of the ASCAP “We Create Music” Series featured songwriters Jessi Alexander, Chris DeStefano, Clare Dunn and Bobby Hamrick, and included bands VITEK and The Wans, who performed at The Basement on 8/15.

Pictured (l-r): ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, Chris DeStefano, Jessi Alexander, Bobby Hamrick, Clare Dunn, and ASCAP's Michael Martin and Evyn Mustoe

TuneCore Founders Exit, Questions Remain

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Questions remain following the news that TuneCore co-founders Jeff Price and Peter Wells abruptly exited the company this week, a change that could affect the independent music community.

Price, Wells and Gary Burke launched the digital distribution company in 2006, providing independent (and major) artists with a means to get their music to digital retailers. Artists pay a one time fee of $50 plus a percentage of royalties recovered to secure distribution to iTunes, Spotify and more. The service claims over 700,000 artists, most of which are producing music independently. It has also garnered high profile support from clients like Jay-Z, Drake, and The Civil Wars.

“Under our tenure, TuneCore took significant market share away from the traditional major labels,” said Price in a blog post announcing his exit. “As of July, 2012, TuneCore artists represent over 4% of all US gross digital music sales revenue and have sold over 610,000,000 units of music generating over $310,000,000 in gross music sales. More than four songs a second are sold on iTunes somewhere in the world by a TuneCore artist. Through the execution of the vision and the trust of the artist, TuneCore achieved about 40% of the market share of EMI and 25% of the market share of Universal in regards to digital music sales in the United States.”

No reason has been given for the exits, from Price or otherwise. Billboard points to unnamed sources who say the TuneCore board voted Price out on July 20 because it was “unhappy with the company’s financials.”

On Thursday (8/16), digital music service Rdio announced a licensing agreement with TuneCore and its rival CD Baby, bringing the service’s catalog to 18 million songs. It remains unclear if this announcement has any connection to the exits of Price and Wells.

Price has also been named for the 2013 class of Leadership Music.

Glen Templeton’s Tour Bus in Accident

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Glen Templeton’s tour bus was involved in an accident yesterday morning (8/16) while traveling on U.S. Highway 34/163 to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, IA for last night’s scheduled performance.

The accident occurred when the right front tire blew, sending the bus and its passengers about 250 yards into the ditch. There were no serious injuries from the accident and last night’s performance at the Iowa State Fair began as scheduled.

Templeton is currently in the studio with James Stroud finishing his debut album. For additional information and tour dates click here.

Inaugural Woofstock Benefit Tomorrow

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Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Shawn Camp, Ella Mae Bowen, The Whites, Mike Farris and 12 South will participate in the inaugural Woofstock benefit tomorrow (8/18) at Fontanel Mansion. The Festival benefits Bonaparte’s Retreat, a dog-rescue organization created by Harris.

Open to the public for a $20 donation, the afternoon runs from 11 AM-4 PM. Booths for Bonaparte’s Retreat, Woofstock, the Nashville Humane Association, rescue operations, pet services, veterinarians, and artists for several animal-centered activities will be available. Children twelve and under are free.

An invitation-only vegetarian dinner takes place tonight, (8/17) at The Studio, featuring a silent auction and a performance and autograph segment with Harris.

Click here more information.

Music Schedule:

The Whites: 11:00-11:30
Ella Mae Bowen: 11:40- 12:10
Shawn Camp: 12:20-12:50
18 South: 1:00-1:30
Mike Farris: 1:40-2:10
Buddy Miller: 2:30-2:55
Emmylou Harris: 2:55-4:00

Atkins to Play RNC Welcome Party

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Photo: John-Paul Photography

Rodney Atkins has been named as the headliner for the 2012 Republican National Convention’s welcome party, set for August 26 at Tampa’s Tropicana Field.

The invitation-only event officially kicks off the political convention, which will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. A total of 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates representing all 50 states, DC, and territories will be in attendance, as well as roughly 15,000 media personnel.

Organizers are planning supplement the musical entertainment with some memorable visuals as well.

“It’s going to be something that’s so unique, people are going to be talking about it until the next convention,” Tampa Bay Host Committee president Ken Jones told the Tampa Bay Times.

Other performers scheduled for the welcome party include The Voice’s Karla Davis and American Idol’s Shannon Magrane, a Tampa native.

In other Atkins news, his single “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)” (from 2006 album If You’re Going Through Hell) is featured in The Bourne Legacy, which hit No. 1 at the box office after its release on Aug. 10.

Jason & the Scorchers Headlining Perry Baggs Benefit

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Legendary country punk band Jason and the Scorchers will headline a benefit at 7 pm tomorrow night (8/18) at Exit/In to raise money for burial expenses of the group’s longtime drummer, songwriter and background vocalist Perry Baggs, who passed away July 12.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Other performers include Dan Baird, The Stoney Creek Boys and more.

A memorial fund for Baggs’ burial expenses has also been established at First Tennessee Bank. To contribute, visit any Middle Tennessee branch and inquire about the Memorial of Perry Baggs III.

Luke Bryan Announces 2012 Farm Tour

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Luke Bryan will set out on his fourth annual Farm Tour 2012 beginning in October 2012. The trek will give back to farming communities and award a scholarship to a student from a farming family who is attending the local college.

Farm Tour 2012 will play eight dates through several southern states, including five in his home state of Georgia. Full dates are included below.

The tour is sponsored by Country Financial, Harveys Supermarkets, Case IH, BMI, GAC and Carl Black Chevrolet. For specific ticket and venue information, including where to get tickets locally, click here.

Bryan’s recent No. 1 single, “Drunk On You,” places him in an elite group of only three other Country artists, including Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift, to have three consecutive Platinum-selling tracks on their current album.

Farm Tour 2012 dates:
October 3 – *Claxton (Statesboro), GA
October 4 –  *Clemson, SC
October 5 – *Auburn, AL
October 6 – Valdosta, GA
October 10 – Villa Rica, GA
October 11 – *Colbert (Athens), GA
October 12 – Tallahassee, FL
October 13 – *Macon, GA
*Tickets will be available for purchase online at 9 am CT/10 am EST today (8/17).

Weekly Chart Report (8/17/2012)

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Since the first week in June, Flying Island’s Gwen Sebastian has been busy on her summer solo tour. With an appearance on NBC’s “The Voice” under her belt, her single, “Met Him In a Motel Room,” has risen up to No. 40 on this weeks’ CountryBreakout Chart. Gwen is pictured here with tourmate Kix Brooks.

SPIN ZONE
Nothing can sink Little Big Town’s buoyant “Pontoon” right now. (And yes, I’ve got a hundred more bad puns for this one). The summer smash is cruising through a third week as the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 song, even tacking on another 85 spins for good measure. Elsewhere in the top 10, Easton Corbin’s “Lovin’ You Is Fun” moves up to No. 5 and Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah” hops to No. 6. Miranda Lambert’s “Fastest Girl In Town” moves 11-8 and Hunter Hayes’ “Wanted” gets a big spin boost to go 14-10.

Other big movers include Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” which jumps from 17-13, followed by Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride” at No. 14. Luke Bryan’s “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” gets a 31-27 bump, and his Capitol labelmate Dierks Bentley leaps 69-26 with “Tip It On Back.”

And hey, wasn’t there some kind of something that happened earlier this week? An announcement or something? Okay, now I’m just being silly. As expected, Taylor Swift’s shiny new single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” makes a big dent, debuting at No. 49 only four days after its release. Also earning strong debuts are Alan Jackson with “You Go Your Way” at No. 70 and Eli Young Band with “Say Goodnight” at No. 72.

Frozen Reports: KMOK, KYEZ, KYKX, WAAG, WBYZ, WDGG, WIFE, WKWS, WTHO, WXMM, WXXK

Upcoming Singles
August 20
Flynnville Train/The One You Love/Whiskey Bent-Flying Island
Dierks Bentley/Tip It On Back/Capitol
Taylor Swift/We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/Big Machine
Tommy Dalton/Talk Me Down

August 27
Claudia Lee/Take My Hand/CLM Enterprises
Lucky Ned Pepper/I Remember The Music/Nine North/Turnpike
Eli Young Band/Say Goodnight/Republic Nashville
Craig Morgan/More Trucks Than Cars/Black River
Tyler Farr/Hello Goodbye/Columbia
Alan Jackson/You Go Your Way/ACR/EMI Nashville

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Taylor Swift/We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/Big Machine – 49
Alan Jackson/You Go Your Way/ACR-EMI Nashville – 70
Eli Young Band/Say Goodnight/Republic Nashville – 72
Lauren Alaina/Eighteen Inches/Mercury-19 Records – 73
Chris Weaver Band/Standing In Line/American Roots Records – 74
Maggie Rose/I Ain’t Your Mama/RPM Entertainment – 75

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Taylor Swift/We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/Big Machine – 591
Luke Bryan/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/Capitol – 348
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow – 345
Dierks Bentley/Tip It On Back/Capitol – 341
Eric Church/Creepin’/EMI Nashville – 257

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Taylor Swift/We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/Big Machine – 42
Dierks Bentley/Tip It On Back/Capitol – 20
Alan Jackson/You Go Your Way/EMI Records Nashville – 20
Eli Young Band/Say Goodnight/Republic Nashville – 18
Luke Bryan/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/Capitol – 13
Clay Walker/Jesse James/Sidewalk Records – 11

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Craig Morrison/Fences/Lucky 53’s-GMV Nashville – 190
Zach Paxson/Good Luck With That/FutureGrass – 190
Aaron Watson/Raise Your Bottle/HTK Records – 182
Katie Armiger/Better In A Black Dress/Cold River – 180
Dave Russell/Where The Money Goes/Cupit – 176

John Rich was in Chicago before the taping of CW’s new show “The Next,” where he joins Joe Jonas, Nelly & Gloria Estefan as a celebrity coach. Big & Rich’s current single “That’s Why I Pray” takes CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 11 spot this week. (L-R): Larry Gatlin, WUSN’s Jeff Kapugi, Lisa Dent, WAR’s Lindsay Walleman & Rich.

Easton Corbin is on the road visiting radio to support his single “Lovin’ You Is Fun” and upcoming album All Over The Road, due Sept. 18. (L-R): WLHK HANK/Indianapolis GM Charlie Morgan; PD Bob Richards; MD Fritz Moser; Corbin; Promotions/Marketing Queen Lisa Wall; Radio Hall of Famer JD Cannon; UMG’s Chris Fabiani

 

Newcomer Stephanie Grace recently visited Dylan and Dana at WZMR/Albany NY to promote her latest single, “Hey There,” which is currently No. 78 on the CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): Guitar Player Jason Howard, WZMR's Dylan, Stephanie Grace, and WZMR's Dana.

Charlie Cook On Air: Love and Theft and Gloriana

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Last week two records were going for the top spot on the chart. Big deal? This happens every week. Yeah, you’re right, but this time it was a big deal because both groups were/would be first time No. 1 acts: Love and Theft, and Gloriana.

Coincidentally both of these acts played an event for us at Disneyland about three years ago when I was at KKGO Radio in Los Angeles. They would both have been considered baby acts at that point but they both blew up the club that night and it was obvious that they were in for the long haul.

There have been a number of changes with both groups. Cheyenne left Gloriana and Lyric Street left Love and Theft. In both cases that could have spelled the end of the groups. In both cases it did not.

I must admit to a long time bias for Gloriana. Rachel is an Orange County, California girl so we got behind them at Go Country as about 70% of the station’s audience is in Orange County.

Additionally I was impressed with how tight their vocals were when they played the Go Country conference room. So much so I called Clarence Spalding and recommended them as an opening act for Brooks and Dunn in LA. I think that this was their biggest show at that point.  That was about three years ago.

I cannot imagine the hard work, the long trips and the sleepless nights that young acts have to endure to keep on track until they become overnight successes.

Three years is a long time. I am sure that it is closer to 5 years for both groups. That is a lot of grinning and gripping with program directors and fans. Always aware that the final turn could be just ahead. (Speaking earlier of Disneyland…ever been in line there where the turn just leads to another 300 yards of more line?)

The Country Music format has seen some acts “just appear” this past year. Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer, Hunter Hayes, Kip Moore and others. I doubt that any of these kids would consider themselves to have taken an easy way to the top of the charts and radio airplay.

I have talked to a number of new acts in my role at McVay/Cook and Associates. We have worked with some newcomer acts trying to help them navigate the waters. My first comment is that this is going to be tougher than a trip to the dentist and not as much fun.

There are many “promising acts” on the lower perches of the chart today. I have seen performances by Edens Edge, Maggie Rose, Jaida Dreyer and Glen Templeton. I know that these guys have not had clear paths to the top and I know that they are out there kicking butt at every radio station and small venue.

None of the above acts are going to give up. All of them are just too darn talented.

Just as I tell the acts that we have worked with that this is tough ride and I cannot truly imagine how difficult it is I also cannot imagine turning on a Country Radio station and hearing my song come across my car speakers. Or see my name and song next to a number on the chart.

Congrats to Love and Theft and Gloriana. I suspect that you have not met all of your goals but you are a lot closer than you were at Disneyland three plus years ago.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)