AFM Local 257 Approves New Rate For Demo Release

For decades, thousands of demos sat on the shelf unheard by the public because of restrictive and expensive “upgrade” rules for commercial release. Now, the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM (American Federation of Musicians) Local 257 will allow publishers and singer-songwriters to release existing demos recorded under Local 257 contracts at a new, much more affordable rate.

Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy has spent two years shepherding the policy change through the AFM. “Under previous guidelines, demo recordings could not be released commercially without first paying the musicians full AFM master scale, with no credit given for payments previously made. The new Demo to Limited Pressing Conversion agreement, approved Feb. 15, changes all that, and liberates countless Nashville demo recordings from their ‘golden cage,’” he explains.

The Limited Pressing agreement is a widely used Local 257 scale, slightly more expensive than demo scale, that allows independent labels and songwriters to release recordings at a lower cost than AFM Master scale. An additional payment is due to musicians only when 10,000 copies are manufactured and/or sold. In the past, conversion of demo recordings to Limited Pressing was not allowed.

Under the old scenario, upgrading an existing demo session with a six-piece band to Master scale would cost almost $3200 per session, including health and welfare and pension contributions. Under the new Demo to Limited Pressing conversion, converting the same session to Limited Pressing will cost almost two-thirds less, about $928. This agreement does not cover performances by session demo singers, but is intended for songwriters who sing their own demos and independent artist projects recorded under the AFM Demo agreement.

Pomeroy adds, “It is our hope that singer-songwriters and publishers will be able to make additional revenue from digital and physical sales of their recordings, previously considered too cost-prohibitive to release. We look forward to working with our songwriter and publisher friends to maximize this opportunity, and to develop future strategies that will help strengthen our long and productive relationship.”

For details, contact Juanita Copeland or Teri Barnett at Local 257.

Anderson Merchandisers Acquires Sony DADC

Anderson Merchandisers has acquired physical music distribution rights from Sony DADC. The purchase means the vast majority of physical music sold in America will soon reach customers through Anderson.

Sony DADC currently ships all Universal Music, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI CDs to U.S. wholesalers and retailers.

Anderson is already the country’s largest music wholesaler, supplying Walmart Stores, Sam’s Clubs, Best Buy, and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.

Anderson Merchandisers sees a future for CDs, as long as they are affordable. CEO Charlie Anderson notes, “It takes a combination of factors, including making the music available at a price people find attractive. Obviously a more efficient, cost-effective distribution system helps accomplish that.”

The purchase of Sony DADC will enable the industry to streamline cost through Anderson’s “one box” shipment system which allows retailers to receive a single shipment of music from multiple labels.

A privately held company, Anderson Merchandisers, L.P. is an affiliate of Anderson Media, headquartered in Knoxville, TN, and established in 1917. The company has more than 5,800 associates across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

CMA Board Names New Leadership

At the Country Music Association Board of Directors meeting this week in Phoenix, Ariz., Troy Tomlinson was named President of the Board and Ed Hardy was named President-Elect. Both appointments begin immediately.

CMA Board Chairman and Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton made the announcement at the organization’s quarterly Board gathering. Tomlinson rises from President-Elect to the open President’s spot, and Hardy fills the President-Elect role. Publicist Jessie Schmidt remains as Secretary/Treasurer for a second year.

“I am very excited about working with our new CMA Board President Troy Tomlinson and President-Elect Ed Hardy,” Overton said. “Both Troy and Ed are highly successful and honorable leaders in the Country Music industry. Further, they have already shown themselves as leaders with insight and wisdom while serving on the CMA Board and its various committees.”

“Given the ambitious vision of the CMA, I am honored to be serving alongside strong executives like Gary, Ed, and Jessie,” Tomlinson added. “The fact that we are all friends makes it even more exciting.”

(L-R): CMA Board President and President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Troy Tomlinson; CMA Board Secretary/Treasurer and President of Schmidt Relations, Jessie Schmidt; CMA Board President-Elect and President of GAC, Ed Hardy; and CMA Board Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Nashville, Gary Overton. Photo: Amanda Eckard / CMA

Music Voyager Comes To Tennessee

Alison Brown, Garry West, and Rob Ickes performing at the Franklin Theatre.

The rich musical heritage and traditions of Tennessee will take center stage in four upcoming episodes of PBS series Music Voyager, hosted by musicologist Jacob Edgar. The world premiere of Nashville’s episode was shown last night (Feb. 15) at a special event at Franklin Theatre, which was emceed by Edgar with musical entertainment by Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’ and more.

Music Voyager is a music and travel series that spans the globe for intimate access to popular music, and is shown in 170 million homes worldwide. Music Voyager: Tennessee will take viewers largely along the state’s “Music Highway” Interstate 40 from Bristol to Memphis. The series was put together in part by the support of the Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development, and is only the second state (after Louisiana) to be featured. Episodes for East Tennessee and Memphis will be premiered at a later date.

“Tennessee and Music Voyager is a match made in music heaven,” said Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “There’s no doubt that Music Voyager: Tennessee will help showcase the already enormous significance of the music of Tennessee on the world stage.”

The Middle Tennessee episode features appearances by artist/performers Gill, Elizabeth Cook, Gabe Dixon, Those Darlins, banjo player/Compass Records co-founder Alison Brown, Keb’ Mo’, and The Grascals’ Jamie Johnson. Familiar Nashville area landmarks also pop up, including the Grand Ole Opry, Robert’s Western World, Tootsie’s, Gruhn Guitars, the Franklin Theatre, and the Bluebird Café, whose COO Erika Wollam Nichols is interviewed. A special second Middle Tennessee episode, simply called “The Round,” was also previewed and features Cook, Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott, and Guy Clark (who was in attendance at the event).

Alison Brown and dobro maestro Rob Ickes also performed at the event, backed by Brown’s bass-playing husband Garry West. The trio romped through a medley of Stephen Foster songs as well as “Dear Old Dixie” popularized by Earl Scruggs.

After the episode premiere, Gill and Keb’ Mo’ took the stage. The always-affable Gill joked they were, “The best you could get for free on short notice.” Gill delivered his “The Old Lucky Diamond Hotel,” followed by Keb’ on “Hand It Over.” Gill also revealed that he’s producing Pistol Annie member Ashley Monroe’s new album. For the finale, they invited Guy Clark onstage and the trio performed “Old Friends.”

There’s no official air date yet for Music Voyager: Tennessee, but it will also be shown as in-flight television programming for 13 airlines and in-room at several resort hotels.

Guy Clark (L) performs with Vince Gill (center) and Keb' Mo' (R) at the Franklin Theatre. Photo: TN Dept. of Tourist Development

Nashville Stars Sell Big Across US

Keith Urban Sets Record at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

Keith Urban set a new attendance record this past weekend (Feb. 11) for the 62-year old San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

Urban packed 16,799 fans into San Antonio’s AT&T Center, which has attracted some of country music’s biggest artists including Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith and Taylor Swift.

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo also has upcoming entertainment scheduled from Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley and Lady Antebellum.

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Eric Church Sells Out Arena in 30 Minutes; Adds Show

Eric Chuch fans in Bloomington, IL grabbed 7,000 tickets for his April 28 show at US Cellular Coliseum just 30 minutes after the on-sale began. This marks the 11th time his Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour has sold out since it began on Jan. 19.

To meet the additional demand in Bloomington, Church has booked a second show at the same venue the following night, Sunday, April 29 with special guests Colt Ford and Blackberry Smoke. Tourmate Brantley Gilbert will not be performing at the second show.

Bloomington is one of over 50 dates on Church’s arena headlining tour with upcoming stops scheduled in Cleveland, Panama City, Orlando, and Tallahassee.

Jake Owen Celebrates Fallontines Day

Photo Copyright: Lloyd Bishop/NBC

Jake Owen celebrated Fallontines Day on Feb. 14 with a performance of his hit “Alone With You” on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The track is No. 10 and climbing on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart.

Owen returned to the road earlier this month following surgery to repair his collarbone, which he broke during a snowboarding accident at the BMI Songwriters Festival in Crested Butte, CO.

Following his extensive surgery, which included eight screws and a metal plate, Owen had numerous doctor’s appointments and physical therapy sessions. But he says, “Getting back out on stage was the best therapy I’ve had.” Owen relaunched his tour Feb. 3 with a packed house at Cowboy’s in Dallas, TX.

He’s sold-out ten shows so far this year, with many selling out in 20 minutes or less, including dates at Joe’s Bar in Chicago, and an upcoming stop in Ohio.

Owen is also set for a March 1 appearance on Chelsea Handler’s hit E! show Chelsea Lately.

In more news, the RCA artist wrote and recorded a song for the Act of Valor movie soundtrack, so he returned to Nashville last week to attend a special screening of the film. The motion picture featuring active-duty Navy SEALS opens Feb. 24.

Owen on the red carpet at the "Act of Valor" Nashville premiere.

Kennard Joins Full Circle Music

Brad Kennard has joined the staff at Full Circle Music Publishing as Vice President.

Some of Full Circle’s recent hits include Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States,” Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama” and “Anything Like Me,” Kenny Chesney’s “The Boys of Fall,” and Craig Morgan’s “This Ain’t Nothin.’”

Kennard’s noted career includes six years with hit producer Byron Gallimore at Violator Nashville Artist Management and Red Vinyl Music, as well as four years as General Manager for Song Garden Publishing. He also spent three years as the Creative Director at Frank Liddell’s Carnival Music Publishing, and nearly seven years at Curb Music Publishing.

Kennard has helped cultivate No. 1 hits including Rodney Atkins’ “If You’re Goin’ Through Hell,” and Reba McEntire’s “Somebody.” He’s also played a role in other hits/award nominated tracks including George Strait’s “Desperately,” Rascal Flatts’ “Unstoppable,” and Jamey Johnson’s “High Cost of Livin.”

Internet Magazine To Debut at CRS

A new Digital Content Syndication (DSC) publication called Living Country will debut next week at Country Radio Seminar.

Living Country, a product of DSC, was created by Dan Swensson and Stewart Day as a way to connect broadcasters and consumers with exclusive content. The monthly publication is available to broadcasters for free.

Swensson was a broadcaster in Cincinnati during the early 1980s and GSM of WYHY Nashville. Day founded Nashville Parent Magazine for Middle Tennessee and was the former president of Parenting Publications of America. Together, Day and Swensson created teen lifestyle publication Blast Magazine, and Warm 98 Family Magazine.

For a sample of Living Country in action, click here.

SESAC Up For Sale?

The owners of Nashville-based performing rights organization SESAC are looking for a buyer, according to a New York Post article.

Current owners of SESAC include investment bank Allen & Co. and hedge fund Och-Ziff, who are seeking close to $500 million in the sale. The company has reportedly hired Goldman Sachs to scout for potential purchasers.

Current SESAC songwriters include Bob Dylan, Jim Lauderdale, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, and Gary Burr among many others.

SESAC representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.

ACM Reveals Radio Winners

The Academy of Country Music has announced the full list of radio winners for the 47th Annual ACM Awards. The awards will be given at a private reception in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 31, the day before the Awards show on April 1.

Individual On-Air Personality of the Year winners (or an individual from a winning team) will again be invited to participate in the ACM Awards telecast. The 47th Annual ACM Awards airs live at 7 PM/CT April 1 on CBS from the MGM Garden Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

On-Air Personality of the Year Winners (Note tie in Medium Market):
National: Lon HeltonCMT Country Countdown USA
Major Market: Kelly Ford & Rider – KYGO-FM – Denver, CO
Large Market: Big Dave and Chelsie – WUBE-FM – Cincinnati, OH
Medium Market: Steve & Geoff in the Morning – KUZZ AM/FM – Bakersfield, CA (tie)
Medium Market: Roger, Tom & Melissa – WPCV-FM – Lakeland, FL (tie)
Small Market: Bill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry – KKNU-FM – Eugene, OR

Radio Station of the Year Winners
Major Market: WQYK-FM – Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
Large Market: WQDR-FM – Raleigh, NC
Medium Market: KATM-FM – Stockton, CA
Small Market: WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, TN