Rascal Flatts Announces New Tour

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Rascal Flatts recently announced the launch of The American Band Tour, beginning in summer 2012. The tour will feature an all band set-up with Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge opening. The shows will begin in Hartford, CT, on June 15 at the Comcast Theatre.

“We are always looking for new ways to re-energize our live shows,” says Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. “We thought bringing out these bands, whom are among some of our favorite vocal groups, would make a great night of entertainment!”

Please check www.rascalflatts.com for up to date tour information.

Weekly Chart Report (2/3/2012)

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Ira Dean stopped by KLLL/Lubbock to visit with Jeff Scott and promote his new single, "Somethin ‘Bout A Sunday," which had the highest debut on our chart this week. (L-R): Ira Dean (Average Joe's Entertainment) and Jeff Scott (KLLL PD)

SPIN ZONE
Changes abound in the latest version of the CountryBreakout Chart as Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly” soars to No. 1. His Capitol labelmate Dierks Bentley is in hot pursuit with “Home” at No. 2, only 63 spins off Urban’s total. Crossing into the Top 10 for the first time are Taylor Swift’s “Ours” at No. 9 and Jake Owen’s “Alone With You” at No. 10. Positioned just outside the Top 10 and ready to strike are Lady Antebellum’s “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” which gained 223 spins, and Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It,” which added 378.

Make way for the superstars, folks. Gobbling up a majority of the new spins for the week are the latest offerings from Rascal Flatts (“Banjo” at No. 20), Zac Brown Band (“No Hurry” at No. 27), Alan Jackson (“So You Don’t Have To Love Me” at No. 30), and Jason Aldean (“Fly Over States” at No. 39). Phil Vassar also has a highly reactive new single with “Don’t Miss Your Life,” and it has already jumped to No. 45 in its second week charting.

Leading the pack of new entries to the chart is Ira Dean’s “Something About A Sunday,” which lands the Average Joe’s artist at No. 71. Right behind at No. 72 is Thompson Square’s “Glass,” and Rachel Holder’s “In Your Arms” at No. 75. Also making first appearances are Kaleb McIntire’s “Redneck In All Of Us” at No. 77 and Jana Kramer’s “Why Ya Wanna” at No. 79.

Frozen Playlists: KBCR, KVVP, WBKR, WHMA, WUCZ

Upcoming Singles
February 13
JT Hodges/Goodbyes Made You Mine/Show Dog-Universal
Phil Vassar/Don’t Miss Your Life/Rodeowave
The Dirt Drifters/There She Goes/Warner Bros./WMN

February 21
Thomas Rhett/Something To Do With My Hands/Valory
Julie Ingram/Thank God (For Mom & Dad)/LongShot/Nine North/Turnpike
James Wesley/Walking Contradiction/Broken Bow

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Ira Dean/Something About A Sunday/Average Joe’s – 71
Thompson Square/Glass/Stoney Creek – 72
Rachel Holder/In Your Arms/Curb – 75
Kaleb McIntire/Redneck In All Of Us/Rockin’ Country Doc Music – 77
Jana Kramer/Why Ya Wanna/Elektra/W.A.R. — 79

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Zac Brown Band/No Hurry/Southern Ground/Atlantic – 496
Jason Aldean/Flyover States/Broken Bow – 393
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/WMN/Warner Bros. – 378
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine – 360
Alan Jackson/So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore/ACR/EMI — 262

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Jason Aldean/Flyover States/Broken Bow — 30
Zac Brown Band/No Hurry/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 21
Rachel Holder/In Your Arms/Curb — 14
Phil Vassar/Don’t Miss Your Life/Rodeowave — 14
Ira Dean/Something About A Sunday/Average Joe’s — 10
Alan Jackson/So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore/ACR/EMI — 10
Josh Turner/Time Is Love/MCA — 9
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine — 9

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Kinsey Sadler/Sometimes I Forget — 224
Lewis Copeland/She’s Got It Goin’ On/Phull Entertainment – 211
Claudia Lee/Hollywood Sunset/CLM96enterprises – 210
Wade Bowen/Saturday Night/Sea Gayle/BNA — 209
John Maison/Fast Enough/Big High Five — 181

A couple of key members of the Warner Music Nashville staff surprised Blake Shelton at his Duluth, GA show last Friday (1/27). (L-R): Lou Ramirez (WMN Southeast Regional), John Esposito (WMN President & CEO), Blake and Lance Houston (WBUL/Atlanta MD)
Eric Church spent some time with WGKX/Memphis APD/MD Kay Manley before his show in Southaven, MS. Eric broke the Desoto Civic Center’s attendance record previously held by Jason Aldean by selling 8,918 tickets.  (L-R): Trudie Daniell (EMI Nashville Dir. SE Promotion), Kay Manley, Church, and Angela Lange (EMI Nashville VP Promotion)

DISClaimer Single Reviews (2/01/12)

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Every now and then I am reminded of why I do this job.

This week, that reminder came after listening to the thrilling new collection by Gretchen Peters. Her Hello Cruel World album is so great it is practically terrifying. She tore me apart with every song. There is going to be a star in Frank Liddell’s crown for bringing this songwriter into the Carnival family. Needless to say, Gretchen has the Disc of the Day.

I’ll spread the love around. This week, Alan Jackson reminded me of why I cherish Real Country Music as much as I do. His new EMI single gets the male Disc Award.

The Dirt Drifters reminded me how much joy it brings me to see a young act on its way up the ladder of success. Give those country-rocking chaps the group Disc Prize.

KELLY PARKES/Don’t Make Me
Writer: Keith Follese/Adrienne Follese/Nicole Johnson/Vencent Hickerson; Producer: Darren Smith & Mark Lambert; Publisher: The Family Business/Overall Attraction/3 in Key/Denham Jeans, BMI/SESAC; Edge (CDX)
—It’s a big-production pop ballad. Her soprano delivery is sure footed and true, but there’s not much memorable “character” in her style.

TRACY LAWRENCE/Pills
Writer: none listed; Producer: Flip Anderson & Tracy Lawrence; Publisher: none listed; LMG (track) (www.tracylawrence.com)
—Tracy’s album The Singer is an audio delight of crisp simplicity. The song selections are superb, and nowhere more so than with this bopping, witty, swinging, sideways look at our pharmaceutical dependence and over indulgence. Essential listening.

GRETCHEN PETERS/The Matador
Writer: Gretchen Peters; Producer: Doug Lancio, Gretchen Peters & Barry Walsh; Publisher: Circus Girl/Carnival, ASCAP; Scarlet Letter (track) (www.gretchenpeters.com)
—You think you’re a songwriter? One listen to Gretchen’s new Hello Cruel World CD will have you thinking again. She has the uncanny ability to not only create commercial hooks, but also to pen lyrics with something to say (witness her prior “The Secret of Life,” “Independence Day,” “If Heaven,” “Let That Pony Run,” “My Baby Loves Me,” “The Chill of an Early Fall,” or “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am”). This stunning first single/video is a hushed ballad of love, violence and artistic striving. If you care about real song craftsmanship, it will bring you to your knees. Buy This Record Now.

JASON ALDEAN/Fly Over States
Writer: Neil Thrasher/Michael Dulaney; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Sweet Summer/BMG Gold/Major Bob/Circle C/Mojave Rain/Full Circle, ASCAP; Broken Bow (track)
—The lyric is simply sensational, a first-class ode to the American heartland. My only quibble is that the title phrase isn’t married to a super melodic hook. As usual, Jason’s performance and Michael’s production are dynamite.

ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND/Here We Are Again
Writer: Ernie Haase/Wayne Haun/Joel Lindsey; Producer: Wayne Haun; Publisher: ErnieSigSound/Blackberry Town/Bridge Building/Hefton Hill, BMI; Stowtown (www.erniehaase.com)
—The tradition of country-gospel harmony singing exemplified by The Oak Ridge Boys and The Statler Brothers is being admirably upheld by this outfit. Its new CD mixes traditional material (”Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” “I Believe,” “Stand By Me”) with newly composed tunes, often by the group’s members. This title tune showcases all four voices in turn, from the sub-cellar bass to the attic-rafter tenor.

THE DIRT DRIFTERS/There She Goes
Writer: none listed; Producer: Justin Niebank; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros. (track)
—I like these guys, and this is their best yet. This time around, the ultra-cool lead vocal is answered by a ghostly “Greek chorus” commenting on his heartbreak while the country-rock track canters along with chiming guitars and dusty percussion. Delicious sounding.

CHANCE CODY & SPUR 503/You Can’t Argue with That
Writer: Chuck Allen Floyd/Jenn Schott; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Spur 503 (www.spur503.com)
—They have talent, but the mix is mighty muddy. Go for a cleaner sound next time.

DOLLY PARTON & QUEEN LATIFAH/Not Enough
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: Mervyn Warren; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; WaterTower (track)
—I haven’t seen the movie Joyful Noise, but I can tell you that the soundtrack is a delight. In addition to gospel-ized versions of “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Man in the Mirror,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “That’s the Way God Planned It,” and the like, you get three new Dolly tunes. This hand clapper kicks things off with a full soul choir backing the film’s two stars. Latifah holds her own opposite the always-exuberant Dolly.

ALAN JACKSON/So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore
Writer: Adam Wright/Jay Knowles; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: Alrighty Den/Dean-Parnell/Acme Nashville, BMI; EMI (CDX)
—Alan begins a new recording chapter with a plain-spoken heartache ballad that packs a massive emotional wallop, thanks to its terrific songwriting and his devastating vocal. This man is a country-music master, through and through.

THE McCLYMONTS/I Could Be a Cowboy
Writer: Brooke McClymont/Samantha McClymont/Mollie McClymont/Nathan Chapman; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Publisher: EMI Australia/Copy Control/Sony-ATV, no performance rights listed; BSM (track) (www.themcclymonts.net)
—Their creamy harmonies remain audio perfection. Brooke’s throat-catching lead vocal grabs your attention immediately, while Nathan’s production finesse continues to amaze. I particularly liked the mandolin bubbling in and out of the mix.

Charlie Cook On Air: The Spring Book

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We are getting close to an important time of the year for the smaller market country radio stations in America. Twice a year hundreds of markets are measured by Arbitron to gauge their audience. The bigger markets are measured continuously and a number of markets are also measured in the Winter and Summer months but the smaller markets participate only twice a year.

The Spring Rating period starts March 29. This is just a couple of days before the Academy of Country Music Awards Show April 1 from the MGM Arena in Las Vegas. The timing is good for both the stations and the show.

That’s why I am talking about this two months before the event. Stations tend to try and raise their profile during the rating period and the ACM is going to get a ton of exposure as the rating book starts, on CBS-TV, in magazines, and on the Internet. This is all good for raising the awareness of Country Music and Country Radio.

If this is good for Country Radio it is also good for the Country record business. Shouldn’t there be something that we can all do together?

We know that the big stars are going to be doing new music on the show. I heard of a duet coming from what is going to be the biggest show of the year. We know that radio is going to be playing the big acts.

What if a label did a “national” contest taking the tune in from the TV show and moving the audience into radio station morning shows on Monday morning?  Watch the show, listen for the new song from, let’s pick Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, and when the station plays that song Monday morning between 7-8 AM, listeners can call for a chance to get registered for a trip to see The Brothers Under the Sun concert.

There can be a lot of unaffiliated stations involved in a promotion like this. Make it a Clear Channel-like contest with any number of stations willing to participate. This would get exposure across a number of stations for the TV show and for the performers. This would be good for the radio station and for the listeners.

Wait a minute: a win-win-win-win.

I keep saying that the format is again at a jumping off point. We have so many acts that have broken out of Country only. We have some of the best music on the radio today. Young acts like Jason (who will be on the Grammy Awards next weekend), Eric Church and ZBB bring vibrancy to Country Radio but do not get lulled into thinking there is no competition on the radio for your listeners.

Lady A, The Band Perry and Jason Aldean are all over AC/CHR but Adele, Colbie Caillat and Bruno Mars are very attractive alternatives to our audience.

Country Music and Country Radio should be thinking about ways to work more closely to wrestle these AC listeners away from their stations. I am not questioning the relationship between the two but let’s think more about building the entire format and not just individual songs or labels.

The Awards show, the beginning of the rating period for the smaller stations and beginning of the concert season all seem like a great time to swing for the fences. (I know, the baseball season starts that weekend too).

LBK Entertainment Partners With Music City Sports and Entertainment

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Tammy Genovese

LBK Entertainment, the content affiliate of London Broadcasting Company, has announced a strategic relationship with Music City Sports and Entertainment Group for sponsorship, marketing and event-related services.

As part of the relationship, Music City Sports and Entertainment Group will provide services for LBK Entertainment’s production company 41 Entertainment, as well as its artist development company, BE Music and Entertainment. 41 Entertainment produces the Troubadour, TX television series, and BE Music and Entertainment manages and develops artists.

Former COO/CEO of the Country Music Association and president of The Country Network, Tammy Genovese launched Music City Sports and Entertainment Group in 2011 to foster partnerships between sports franchises, artists, athletes, events and corporate brands. Marketing, sales and brand expert Dave Pritchett operates as VP/Business Development.

Carl Kornmeyer

“I am happy to announce our strategic relationship with Music City Sports and Entertainment Group,” says Carl Kornmeyer, COO of London Broadcasting’s Content Group. “As our 41 Entertainment production company continues to expand Troubadour, TX and BE Music provides an environment where artists of all types can achieve their full potential, Tammy and Dave are uniquely gifted and ready to help us meet the challenges of the fast-changing sponsorship landscape with their experience and creativity.”

Adds Genovese, “We are extremely excited about our new association with LBK Entertainment and the opportunity that lies ahead to work with such a respected and talented team. We feel there is great potential to uniquely connect the sports world and the entertainment business, and LBK Entertainment shares our vision to make it happen.”

New Underwood Album Due In Spring

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Carrie Underwood will release her as-yet-untitled fourth studio album for 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville on May 1. Longtime collaborator Mark Bright returned as producer on the collection, and debut single “Good Girl” (co-written by Underwood) will be released to radio Feb. 23.

Underwood will be highly visible starting in February, including an appearance on “CMT Crossroads” with Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler that airs this Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 PM ET. She’s due to visit the Grammy Awards Feb. 12, and make the rounds during CRS Feb. 22-24, as well as performing at Nashville’s Nordstrom Symphony Fashion Show Feb. 28.

Mercyland Comp Features Civil Wars, Harris, and More

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Some of the bright lights of Americana and beyond are contributing songs to Mercyland: Hymns For The Rest of Us, a collection of songs of personal faith. Due out April 10, Mercyland is the vision of songwriter/musician/producer Phil Madeira, and features performances by The Civil Wars, Shawn Mullins, Buddy Miller, Mat Kearney, Emmylou Harris and more. Full track list is included below.

“When I was a young, my mother played me Mahalia Jackson, which introduced me to the reality of a bone chilling, soul-stirring music that made everything else pale in comparison,” says Madeira. “These were joyous odes to a Gospel that sang of the love and the dignity of all humanity. Watching the news during the last presidential election, I wondered why that message had been thrown out of what we hear in the national dialogue on religion, and replaced with exclusivity and mean-spiritedness.”

Mercyland: Hymns For the Rest of Us tracklist:
1. From This Valley – The Civil Wars
2. Give God The Blues – Shawn Mullins
3. I Believe In You – Buddy Miller
4. Lights In The Valley – The Carolina Chocolate Drops
5. Mercyland – Phil Madeira
6. Walking Over Water – Mat Kearney
7. Leaning On You – Cindy Morgan
8. Fell Like A Feather – Amy Stroup
9. If I Was Jesus – The North Mississippi Allstars
10. Light Of Your Love – Dan Tyminski
11. I Didn’t Know It Was You – Emmylou Harris
12. Peace In The Valley – John Scofield

Ram Truck Brand Goes Country For “Ram Jam” Concert

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The Ram Truck brand is presenting “Road to the Ram Jam,” an all-star series with five country artists leading up to an invitation-only concert event December 29 in Nashville where all five artists will perform.

Kellie Pickler is the first of the five artists to be announced, and is offering fans a chance to win a download of her single “Tough” by entering to win a trip to the Ram Jam. Remaining artists will be announced throughout 2012, and all will receive a one year lease on a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn which will later be auctioned off to benefit military-focused charities.

“Road to the Ram Jam extends the brand’s already established alignment with many of today’s top country music artists and their far-reaching fan bases by creating an innovative platform for promoting the artists’ music and connecting with their fans,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO of Ram Truck Brand. “We are excited to have Kellie and all the artists drive a Laramie Longhorn and experience firsthand the quality and refinement that make it the most luxurious Ram Truck ever produced by the company.”

Competing fans will have access to exclusive video content plus the chance to win collectible posters, vinyl records, downloads, and trips to the Ram Jam concert. For more information or to enter the sweepstakes, visit http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/road_to_ram_jam/.

Myers Departs Still Working/Orbison Music [Updated Email]

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More changes are happening in the Nashville publishing world, as Clay Myers has departed his post as VP and GM of Barbara Orbison’s Still Working Music and Orbison Music LLC publishing companies. He had served with the company for 10 years.

Prior to Barbara Orbison’s death in December 2011, she and Myers enjoyed a decade of success that included the 2010 BMI Song of the Year for Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.”

Myers can be reached at [email protected].

Shelby Kennedy, Lynn Gann Join Wide Open Music

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Shelby Kennedy

Derek George, President of publishing and artist development company Wide Open Music Group, is pleased to announce the addition of Shelby Kennedy as Sr. VP and Lynn Gann as VP, Publishing.

George, a songwriter and musician, co-founded Wide Open Music Group with Steve Williams. In its first year alone, the company secured cuts by Danny Gokey, Love and Theft, Bryan White, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and more.

“I’m so happy to have Shelby and Lynn on board,” said George. “They are the perfect guys to have on our team as we expand our publishing and artist management/development opportunities. I’m really excited about our new direction and Wide Open’s future in the industry.”

Kennedy brings a distinguished 25-year background in songwriting, publishing and production to the Wide Open team. He was most recently Sr. Vice President/COO at Cherry Heart Music, and has also held posts at ASCAP, BMI, and Lyric Street Records. His father is legendary guitarist and record executive Jerry Kennedy, and his brothers are songwriters Gordon and Bryan Kennedy. “I am looking forward to creating opportunities in this new frontier of our industry, where doing business as usual is expanded to the unusual,” said Kennedy. “I am proud to be on a team that can live up to its name…Wide Open.”

Lynn Gann

Gann also brings almost 25 years of experience to his new post as Vice President of the company’s publishing division. Beginning his career at Tom Collins Music, he later worked at MCA Music Publishing and Zomba Enterprises before joining Full Circle Music Publishing as Vice President/Partner in 2003. During his eight-year stint at Full Circle, he was responsible for hits such as Kenny Chesney’s “Boys of Fall,” Brad Paisley’s “When I Get Where I’m Going” and the recent hit “Old Alabama.” He said, “I am excited to be working with such a talented and forward-thinking group of writers, artists and executives.”

Wide Open Music Group is located at 54 Music Sq. E., Ste. 390, Nashville, TN. Visit them online at www.wideopenmusicgroup.com.