CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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In the 45 rpm singles era, the B-side would occasionally eclipse the A-side single in popularity and go on to experience huge success. Examples include Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” In the CD/Digital era, sometimes Bonus Tracks like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” (from Petty’s Greatest Hits) end up standing as tall as the artist’s previous hits.

Taylor Swift’s “Ours” seems to fall in that last category, though it might be its own animal in that it’s a Bonus Track from the Target exclusive version of Swift’s album Speak Now. Regardless of origin, “Ours” is still a smash and it’s now the new CountryBreakout Chart No. 1 song. The lyrics are classic Swift: us-against-the-world romance that shines optimistically in spite the naysayers. Country fans got to see an intimate rendering of the tune at the 2011 CMA Awards, when Swift performed it live.

Swift recently played the 100th show of her globe-trotting Speak Now World Tour at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Australia. She is also currently nominated for ACM Awards for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year. Additionally, Swift lent her voice-over talents to Disney’s The Lorax, which opened at No. 1 last weekend and scored the biggest box office debut so far in 2012.

Nashville Artists Joining Summer TV Competitions

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Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles

Nettles, Clarkson and Richie Headed to ABC

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Kelly Clarkson, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke have been announced the headliners for a new music competition show called Duets. The series, which debuts on ABC this summer, distinguishes itself by allowing contestants to sing with the stars.

Clarkson, Nettles, Richie and Thicke will individually journey across America looking for undiscovered talent. Ultimately, each star will choose two singers to be his/her duet partners. Each week the pro’s will take the stage with their protégés to perform together in front of a live studio audience. The winning contestant will receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

“The concept of Duets is so fresh because it’s mentoring is active and participatory,” said Nettles. “Most of my greatest learning was from singing and playing with other performers throughout my life and career. To have had the opportunity to perform with an established artist would have been so incredible when I was up and coming.”

“The simple fact that I get to go out and find two people that I believe in, sing with them every week and help them accomplish their dream is an amazing thing that I can’t wait to be a part of!” said Clarkson.

Amateur singers interested in auditioning can apply online at: www.ABC.com/Casting. For a sneak peek of the show, click here.

Duets is a production of Keep Calm and Carry On Productions. Robert Deaton is executive producer. Charles Wachter is the co-executive producer.

• • • •

John Rich on the CW

The CW Network has ordered a new reality series for summer 2012 called The Star Next Door. So far, John Rich and Gloria Estefan have been secured as celebrity mentors.

The Star Next Door will search nationwide to find undiscovered local talent and prepare them to represent their home city on the national stage.

The Star Next Door is produced by CBS’ Raquel Productions, 25/7 Productions and Flavor Unit Entertainment, with Dave Broome (The Biggest Loser) and Queen Latifah as an executive producer.

Additional mentors, host and premiere dates will be announced at a later time.

Chatterbox Music Closes Offices

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Mark Bright’s publishing company, Chatterbox Music, LLC, is closing its administrative offices.

“I would like to thank Stephanie Greene for her outstanding leadership. She is one of the most brilliant publishers I have had the honor of working with,” said Bright. “I would also like to thank Ashley Hertzog for her wonderful assistance to our writers. I appreciate all their hard work and talent.”

Chatterbox was previously known as My Good Girl Music, a publishing co-venture with Sony/ATV. The company was officially renamed Chatterbox by Greene and Bright in August 2011. Songwriters on the staff included Mallary Hope, Jamie Teachenor, Jason Saenz, Allison Veltz, and April Geesbreght.

Bright’s resume also includes producing 13 No. 1 singles for Carrie Underwood, as well as serving as President/CEO of Word Entertainment from 2008-2010. Additionally, Bright produced Underwood’s forthcoming album Blown Away, including lead single “Good Girl.”

Hertzog joined the company in May 2011 as Creative Manager after six years with Combustion Entertainment. Reach her at [email protected]. Stephanie Greene can be reached at [email protected].

Weekly Chart Report (3/9/2012)

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Lee Richey

RADIO NEWS
Former WCJW/Warsaw, NY PD/MD Lee Richey has landed at WKPQ Kickin’ Country in Hornell, NY. Reach him at [email protected].

SPIN ZONE
Taylor Swift launched her third album Speak Now with “Mine,” and now six singles in, she’s made it to “Ours” which is the new CountryBreakout Chart No. 1 song. Lady Antebellum’s “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” is less than 100 spins behind at No. 2, trailed closely by Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It.” Everything seems to be on the move this week, with Miranda Lambert’s “Over You” (No. 6), Zac Brown Band’s “No Hurry” (No. 11), Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States,” and Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You” (No. 21) just a few of the singles picking up triple digit spin gains.

Arista Nashville’s Kristen Kelly recently visited WUSN Chicago to promote her first single, “Ex Old Man.” (L-R): WUSN Jeff Kapugi (WUSN PD), Kristen Kelly, and Marci Braun (WUSN MD)

Carrie Underwood’s new single “Good Girl” made a huge splash last week when it debuted at No. 29, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing much in week 2. It received an additional 711 spins–the biggest increase of the week–and leapt up to No. 20. Where newcomers are concerned, a slew of artists are performing well. Kip Moore has a bonafide hit on his hands with “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck,” which lands at No. 15. Tim Culpepper’s “Ghost” ratchets up a 104 spin gain, propelling him to No. 38. Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys and Angels,” Jana Kramer’s “Why Ya Wanna,” and Thomas Rhett’s “Something To Do With My Hands” are all clustered together at Nos. 44-46, and earned 100+ spins each.

Two trios lead the chart debuts. The Band Perry’s “Postcard From Paris” looks to be another successful single for the Perry siblings as it hits No. 63 in its first week. Aussie sister trio The McClymonts are a few steps behind at No. 68 with “I Could Be A Cowboy.” Also debuting are Aaron Lewis’ “Endless Summer” at No. 73. Matt Kennon’s “You Had To Pick On Me” at No. 76, David Nail’s “The Sound of a Million Dreams” at No. 77 and Scott Steele’s “Paycheck to a Prayer” at No. 78.

Frozen Playlists: KBCR, KITX, KRRV, KTHK, KYEZ, WJMQ, WKSR, WKWS, WTCM, WUPY, WYVY

Upcoming Singles
March 12
Sonia Leigh/Bar/Southern Ground/Quarterback
Glen Templeton/Sing That Song Again/Black River
Josh Abbot Band/Touch/PDT
Joanna Smith/We Can’t Be Friends/Columbia

March 19
Darryl Worley/You Still Got It/Tenacity
Kix Brooks feat. Joe Walsh/New To This Town/Arista
Eric Paslay/If The Fish Don’t Bite/EMI Nashville
Justin Moore/‘Til My Last Day/Valory
Rachel Holder/In Your Arms/Curb

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
The Band Perry/Postcard From Paris/Republic Nashville – 63
The McClymonts/I Could Be A Cowboy/BSM Music – 68
Aaron Lewis/Endless Summer/R & J Records – 73
Matt Kennon/You Had To Pick On Me/Roaddawg – 76
David Nail/The Sound Of A Million Dreams/MCA – 77
Scott Steele/Paycheck To a Prayer/In The Spot Light – 78

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Carrie Underwood/Good Girl/19 Recordings/Arista – 711
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol – 396
Jason Aldean/Fly Over States/Broken Bow – 368
The Band Perry/Postcard From Paris/Republic Nashville – 334
Eric Church/Springsteen/EMI Nashville – 286

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
The Band Perry/Postcard From Paris/Republic Nashville – 26
Carrie Underwood/Good Girl/19 Recordings/Arista – 23
Easton Corbin/Lovin’ You Is Fun/Mercury – 14
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol – 12
Eric Paslay/If The Fish Don’t Bite/EMI Nashville – 11
Justin Moore/’Til My Last Day/Valory – 11
Aaron Lewis/Endless Summer/R & J Records – 10
Dustin Lynch/Cowboys And Angels/Broken Bow Records – 10
David Nail/The Sound Of A Million Dreams/MCA – 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Levi Riggs/My Best Friend’s A Girl/Windridge Records – 202
Clay Walker/Like We Never Said Goodbye/Curb – 196
Acklen Park/Great American Song/Otter Rapids Music – 192
One Night Rodeo/We Could Go To Jail / – 191
Matt Stillwell/Ignition/Average Joe’s – 190

Jaida Dreyer is the debut artist for newly formed Streamsound Records, which was created by Grammy-winning producer Byron Gallimore and music industry veteran Jim Wilkes. Dreyer’s single “Guys Girl” will appear in late March, and she has been busy visiting country radio to introduce herself. Recently she stopped in San Antonio to chat with the staff at KAJA. (L-R): Streamsound’s Jamice Jennings, KAJA PD Travis Moon, Dreyer, Streamsound’s Mike Wilson

The Band Perry welcomed a few familiar faces backstage after their concert stop in Baltimore with Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour 2012 at the 1st Mariner Arena. TBP's latest single "Postcard From Paris" just debuted at No. 63 on the CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): Republic Nashville’s Cliff Blake, TBP’s Neil Perry, WMZQ’s Meg Stevens, TBP’s Kimberly Perry, WPOC’s Justin Cole and TBP’s Reid Perry. Photo: Courtesy of Republic Nashville

Calusa/GMV Nashville recording artist Adam Gregory visits with Jerry Duncan Promotions. Gregory's new single "High On You" shipped to radio this week. (L-R): Jen Trail, Gregory, Lisa Smoot, Jerry Duncan

Charlie Cook On Air: Playing Currents

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There is just not enough Adele on the radio.

I actually stole that line from David Letterman who used it 20 years ago to say, “There just is not enough Phil Collins on the radio.”

I put 800 miles on my car this weekend, traveling a lot during early morning hours when there was only “fix-it” and colon cancer programming on the AM band. I like to listen to AM when I am driving. It makes me think, but I didn’t want to think about colon cancer. So I popped in a Phil Collins CD and thought about Letterman’s line and how it is true today with Adele and on Country radio.

There have been many phases of an artist completely taking over the radio. Elvis, The Beatles, The Supremes, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson and Madonna come to mind in Pop radio.

The same is true in Country Radio. Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith all play a lot every day. I chose to look at WUSN on Friday, March 3.

They played Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift 19 times each. Rascal Flatts played 16 times. Lady A played 15 times. Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban each played 14 times. But in Kenny’s case that was 10 different titles.

I am not complaining about any of the acts or WUSN. What they are doing is correct and I agree with playing all those acts (and a few more) double digit times every day.

The pop chart and country chart are different in many ways. But in Adele’s case, she has three songs in the Top 10. (Using a custom report that does not arbitrarily consider a title recurrent instead of current.)

The marketing plan for Country records and the relationship between Country radio and records does not allow this to happen but it could and probably should.

Adele has had the No. 1 selling CD since 1954. Or so it seems.

Programmers know there are three Zac Brown Band songs we could be playing in current rotation right now. The last three songs are all safe, certainly safer than some of the songs Country Radio is playing in a current category.

“Reality” has been a No. 1 song for Kenny Chesney but Country Radio could be/should be still playing “You and Tequila” as a Power current. This is in addition to having “Reality” in a current category.

Taylor has three songs that fit this situation.

I looked at WTMX in Chicago and found that Adele played 15 times on Friday. Remember, she has only three titles.

If you look at MScore you see that there are a number of titles that stations continue to play that are not as strong as past titles, like the ones that I mentioned above. I am not talking about newer songs that are still gaining an audience. I am talking about songs that have never caught on and have been on the chart for 20 plus weeks.

And before you say, ‘The current/recurrent vs. gold balance is dramatically different on a Country station (WUSN) than on a Hot AC Station (WTMX),’ check it out:

WUSN: Current/Recurrent – 69.5%, Gold – 30.5%
WTMX: Current/Recurrent – 71.6%, Gold – 28.4%

And playing a song in a Power Recurrent category that plays twice a day versus as many as nine times per day (as the most played now get from WUSN), is not the same.

I am not saying we throw out the charts. Heck, the publication that prints this article has a chart and most of you know that I have a friend in the business, but maybe driving sales on the Country chart is not being served with the system now in place.

Unless we’re all happy with how things are going today.

Sarah Darling’s “Blackbird” Taking Flight

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Sarah Darling fans are reacting to her rendition of the Paul McCartney classic “Blackbird.” The song recently debuted on iTunes and is in heavy rotation on SiriusXM’s “The Highway,” with a music video to soon follow. Dann Huff produced and played guitar on the track. Huff and Darling are also working on her next album for Black River Entertainment.

“Blackbird” was recorded for the multi-artist charity album Let Us In Nashville – A Tribute To Linda McCartney (Reviver Music). Proceeds benefit The Women and Cancer Fund, established in Linda’s memory.

A concert DVD of the 2011 “Let Us In” benefit concert at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium is due later this year. The event was hosted by actor/musician Jeff Daniels and featured performances by Darling, SHeDAISY, Steel Magnolia, Phil Vassar, Blue Sky Riders as well as other artists featured on the Let Us In Nashville album.

Film-Com To Bring Movie Biz To Music City

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The Film-Com Financing & Distribution Market will attract members of the film industry to Nashville April 17 – 20. Music will figure prominently in the event geared toward executives, financiers, distributors, production companies, screenwriters, agents, and filmmakers.

Music highlights include:

• Score-Com—A Film/TV Composer’s Symposium: To be held at Ocean Way Studios, and produced in partnership with the Nashville Composers Association. Featured guests include Richard Glasser, President of Music for the Weinstein Company, and Aaron Zigman, composer for motion pictures including The Notebook, John Q and Bridge to Terabithia. Details at www.nashvillecomposers.org

• The Film/TV Songwriters Forum: The event at Douglas Corner will feature performances by Greg Barnhill, Jeremy Lister, Aaron Espe, Regie Hamm, Rick Elias, Ronnie McDowell, and others who have had music placed in film or TV. Actress Jennifer O’Neill will emcee.

Other music related initiatives include the Music In Film Onstage clinic at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center; the New Project Expo Ensemble featuring swinging versions of famous movie and television themes; and an MP3 player with songs from local artists selected by composer Leonard Wolf to be distributed to registrants.

“The core focus of Film-Com is commerce,” said Chairman Andy van Roon. “The key is to encourage creators of new film and television concepts to intelligently control the packaging, financing and distribution of their own projects. Score and songs are completely integral to the packaging of any film and television property. A mistake still prevalent with many filmmakers is to think about music last, often with whatever minimized budget allocation is left over after everything else has been done. So a large part of Film-Com’s expanding focus is to not only provide connectivity for songwriters and composers to new film and television projects in the critical packaging phase, but to make clear the importance of factoring music into creative and business planning from the point of conception.”

Film-Com events will take place throughout Nashville, such as the New Project Expo at Titans Stadium; Faith in Film Conference at Nashville City Club; film and television business seminars at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater; new project presentations at the AT&T Tower; Script-Com, partner event with the Tennessee Screenwriting Association at Watkins Film School;  screenwriter Tom Schulman (The Dead Poets Society) at Montgomery Bell Academy; and a book signing by Michael Uslan, Executive Producer of The Dark Knight Rises and the Batman movie franchise.

Among those scheduled to attend are Rosemary Tarquinio, CBS; Mat Baxt, TruTV; Larry Namer, founder E! Entertainment Network; Fred Grinstein, A&E; Nikki Levy, Wedgeworks / Fox Features; Diego Martinez, Nu Image / Millennium; Collin Reno, William Morris Endeavor; Mitchell Galin, producer of over 30 film/television projects; Anthony Zerbe, actor in Cool Hand Luke, Star Trek and over 100 projects; Dan Stutz, EMG Entertainment; Joseph Carello, CEO AmeriComm Capital; Ben Howard, Provident Films; Dan Johnson, Idea Agency; Rich Peluso, Sony Affirm Films, and Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

For more information go to www.film-com.com.

Key West Songwriters Festival Expands Lineup

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The Better Angels Music Key West Songwriters Festival has announced the addition of several entertainers for its 2012 edition, scheduled for May 2-6. The festival offers a multitude of free entertainment, including over 30 in-the-round sets from top songwriters. Tickets for a handful of theater shows are on sale now. More info here.

Joining the lineup are Robert Earl Keen, Patrice Pike, Billy Burnette, Matraca Berg, Blue Mother Tupelo, Hillary Lindsay, Paul Overstreet, Joey + Rory, LoCash Cowboys, Jeff Hanna (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band); 2012 ACM Songwriter of the Year nominees Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Luke Laird; as well as singer/songwriters Kyle Park, Jon Randall, Josh Thompson, Lori McKenna, Even Stevens, Liz Rose, Cary Barlowe, Bob DiPiero, Bobby Pinson, Marti Fredericksen, Steve Bogard, James Slater, Dennis Morgan, Chuck Cannon, Chris Gantry, Billy Yates, Doug Johnson, Suzi Ragsdale, Kylie Sackley, Danny Myrick, Bridgette Tatum, Will Rambeaux, Jon Mabe and many others.

Previously announced performers include The World Famous Headliners (Al Anderson, Pat McLaughlin, and Shawn Camp) and the Jeffrey Steele Band.

Presented by BMI, the event benefits Operation Homefront and boasts five nights of music around Key West. Additional sponsors include SunTrust Bandk, Comcast, Beam Global Wine and Spirits, The Recording Academy / Nashville Chapter, and Hearts Bluff Music.

Warner Music Nashville, Mayor, Metro Schools Align For Student-Run Label

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Pearl-Cohn students eagerly look on, waiting for the announcement.

Nashville’s Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School received some exciting news this morning (3/8) during a student body gathering. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Warner Music Nashville President/CEO John Esposito, and Metro Schools Director Jesse Register were present to unveil a a student-run record label that is a key component of the Mayor’s “Music Makes Us” program.

The students of Pearl-Cohn will run the multi-genre record label—the first of its kind—recruiting the talent of their student peers across the Metro Schools district. The label, which will named in the following months, will mimic the operations of a real music label by signing, recording and promoting student artists. Students will be in charge of A&R, brand management, publicity, royalty collection and distribution, marketing, promotion, HR and sales. Warner Music Nashville will digitally distribute the music on iTunes, and have the first opportunity to sign artists upon their graduation. Money made from the tracks will be funneled back into the record label, in hopes of making it a self-sustainable program. Metro Schools student artists will be required to audition to join the label.

Warner Music Nashville president and CEO, John Esposito discusses Warner's role in the program

“These students are going to get a first hand look at why music shouldn’t be free on the internet,” laughed The Recording Academy’s Nancy Shapiro.

As part of the program, Pearl-Cohn will also introduce songwriting classes, a multi-media pathway for students to learn about promoting artists, an audio recording pathway for students to learn about recording music, a styling and imaging pathway, and an expanded audio engineering lab.

“With this record label, along with classes about songwriting, audio engineering and other facets of the music industry, we will for the first time take full advantage of the many talented individuals on both the creative and business side of the industry who live and work in Music City,” said Mayor Dean.

Warner Music Nashville will play a major role in the new program, not only by distributing the students’ music, but inviting students and teachers into their label. Both faculty and students will have opportunities to learn about the record business from executives and Warner Music Nashville through shadowing mentors.

“Music had a profound effect on me,” said Esposito. “As a skinny little kid who didn’t fit into any niches, I found playing instruments or singing in a production gave me confidence.”

Mayor Karl Dean and Warner Music Nashville's John Esposito answer questions following the press conference

Students across the district will soon be invited to find their confidence. The record label is scheduled to launch in August, for the 2012-2013 school year. Before the launch, NARAS producers and engineers will aid Pearl-Cohn in building a new live room and Metro Schools students will have the opportunity to submit for one of twenty free summer demo sessions.

Following the announcement, Pearl-Cohn senior Leona Turner performed “The Greatest Love of All.” She was accompanied on the keyboard by Llewellyn Peter, the Visual and Performing Arts Content Chair at Pearl-Cohn.

Leona Turner and Llewellyn Peter perform "The Greatest Love of All"

First Performers Announced For ACM Awards

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The initial round of performers on the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, and Tim McGraw. The ceremony, co-hosted by Reba and Blake Shelton, airs live Sunday, April 1, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 8 pm ET on CBS.

Among these performers, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean lead ACM Award nominees this year with 9 and 6 nominations, respectively, and are both competing for Entertainer of the Year. Toby Keith picked up three nominations, including a Single of the Year nod as artist and producer of “Red Solo Cup.” Miranda Lambert is up for two awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for Four The Record. Eric Church is also vying for two awards, including Video of the Year (for “Homeboy”) and Album of the Year for Chief.

The ACM Awards is produced for television by dick clark productions and is the centerpiece of the ACM Experience in Las Vegas that also includes the ACM BBQ throwdown, ACM Expo, and ACM Fan Jam with Zac Brown Band.