Industry Ink Wednesday (1/25/12)

"Next GAC Star" winners One Night Rodeo performed an industry showcase Jan. 19 at The Rutledge, hosted by Fox Hill Records. The band’s current single is "We Could Go To Jail." (L-R): The Consortium's Al Schiltz, Jennifer Blair of Jennifer Blair Promotions, ONR's Cory Hildreth, ONR Manager Ed Ciofani, ONR's Duane Allison, The Consortium's Mike Martinovich and Splash! PR's Vanessa Davis. Photo: Misty Hurt/Splash! PR

(L-R): Steve Freeman and Rick Monroe

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Rick Monroe has inked an exclusive recording deal with Nashville based Render Records. The label’s creative and ownership team is comprised of hit songwriters and award winning producers Steve Freeman, Rich Redmond, Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison, David Fanning, and entrepreneur Randy Adams (Yahoo, FunnyOrDie.com). Richmond, Allison, Kennedy and artist/producer David Fanning make up New Voice Entertainment, the production team behind Thompson Square.

Monroe’s first single for the label “Crazy Not To” will be shipped to country radio in late February. His most recent single “Get Ur Country On” resulted in a Jagermeister club tour of the same name in 2011. He has opened for Dierks Bentley, Josh Thompson, Eric Church and Randy Houser and had success with the singles “Honky-Tonk Road Trip” and “Midnight Rider.”

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Tomorrow night (1/26) The Producer’s Chair presents an interview with Byron Hill. The session is at 6 p.m. at Douglas Corner. Read Hill’s recent exclusive interview with MusicRow here.

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Heading into its 15th year, SOLID is reaching out to its alumni. The organization needs photos from all 15 years and updated alumni contact information. Email both to Sarah McGrady at smcgrady@cmaworld.com.

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The 39th annual Music City Tennis Invitational will be April 21-22 at Vanderbilt University, with a kick-off party on April 20 at BMI. The tournament benefits the Center for Child Development at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Register at www.MusicCityTennis.com or call Luann Mayer at (615) 322-7733.

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Nashvillian Jessica Ridley won the Bud United Presents: The Big Time, a new series on ABC-TV, and will perform at the massive iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. She competed against fellow Nashvillian Justin Nault and Laura Jeanne of St. Albans, England. The three finalists were picked from thousands who auditioned via Budweiser’s online casting call.

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Lori Bumgarner of paNASH Style image consulting and media coaching has a new office phone number. Reach her at (615) 37-LORIB.

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Universal Music Publishing Group has entered into an agreement to administer songwriter Irving Berlin’s music publishing catalogue for the world outside of North America. Among his beloved standards are “White Christmas,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Puttin’ On The Ritz,” “Blue Skies,” and “God Bless America.”

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Nashville-based entertainment business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy has promoted Chris Hughes to associate business manager in the firm’s New York office. He was previously a member of the Island/Def Jam recording group Autopilot Off and according to FBMM, “drove his business managers crazy with questions because of his adeptness in reading a financial statement.” After his recording career ran its course, the firm offered Hughes a position.

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Johnny Cash’s 1970 Rolls Royce Silver Show Long Wheel Base Limousine, and Cornelius Vanderbilt’s 1913 Rolls Royce silver Ghost Town Car are among the cars hitting the auction block. The event will be Sat., March 3 in Rosansky, Texas at the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History. Details at www.dankruseclassics.com.

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Congrats to Fitzgerald-Hartley’s Terry Elam and wife Donna on the birth of grandson George Oliver Elam. He was born Jan. 15 in Nashville to parents of Matthew and Jordan Elam, weighing 7 lbs and 20″ long.

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As previously reported, Artist Growth held an official launch party at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Jan. 17. (L-R): Joe Glaser, Harry Jacobson, Jonathan Sexton (CAO, Artist Growth), Karl Dean, Matt Urmy (CEO, Artist Growth), Joe Galante and Mark Montgomery. Click for details.

David Nail, Josh Thompson Plot Solo Tours

Country music tour managers have a busy winter and spring ahead of them, with numerous artists plotting their musical journeys across the country. The latest announcements come from RCA’s Josh Thompson and MCA’s David Nail.

Nail’s series of solo dates begins today (Jan. 25) in Oxford, OH and runs through February 18 in Las Vegas, Nev. Also included is a West Coast run through Arizona then on to Bakersfield, Los Angeles and San Miguel. Nail will join up with Billy Currington’s 2012 tour at the end of March. Scheduled solo dates for Nail are below, and full dates with Currington are here.

Josh Thompson will embark on his Change Is Comin’ tour Feb. 3 from Coyote Joe’s in Charlotte, NC. He currently has 22 club dates scheduled to share new music from his upcoming sophomore album Change. Scheduled dates appear below Nail’s, or here.

David Nail tour dates:
1/25 Oxford, OH — Brick Street Bar
1/26 Chicago, IL — Joe’s Bar
1/27 Bloomington, IN — Bluebird Nightclub
1/28 Columbus, OH — The Bluestone
2/3 Tampa, FL — Dallas Bull
2/4 Everglades City, FL — Everglades City Seafood Fest
2/8 El Paso, TX — Whiskey Dick’s
2/9 Flagstaff, AZ — The Museum Club
2/10 Mesa, AZ — Toby Keith’s
2/11 Bakersfield, CA  — Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace
2/15 Los Angeles, CA — The Troubadour
2/16 San Miguel, CA — The Ranch
2/17 Davis, CA — The Graduate
2/18 Las Vegas, NV — Santa Fe Station Casino

Josh Thompson’s Change Is Comin’ tour dates:
2/3 Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s
2/4 Greenville, SC – Blind Horse Saloon
2/8 Foxborough, MA – Showcase Live
2/9 Uncasville, CT – Wolf Den
2/10 Bethleham, PA – Musikfest Café
2/11 Portland, ME – Asylum
2/16 Columbia, SC – Jillian’s
2/17 Milledgeville, GA – Cowboy Bills
2/18 Sebring, FL — Highlands
3/10 West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre
3/16 Jacksonville, FL — Landing
3/17 Lakeland, FL – Boots N Buckles Saloon
3/24 Quincy, IL – Morrison Theatre
3/29 Flagstaff, AZ – Museum Club
3/30 Mesa, AZ – Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill
3/31 San Miguel, CA – The Ranch

DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/25/12)

There is life after major labels.

That’s today’s message, coming to us loud and clear from Deborah Allen, Neal McCoy, Jonathan Edwards and Suzy Bogguss. All of them have excellent indie albums, with Suzy and Deborah owning their own labels. For shining a spotlight on our folk-music legacy, Suzy Bogguss wins our Disc of the Day.

From the Broken Bow label comes a young Tullahoma, Tennessee native named Dustin Lynch. Give his “Cowboys and Angels” single a spin. I think you’ll agree with me that he’s a worthy DisCovery Award recipient.

KENNY VAUGHAN/Country Music Got a Hold on Me
Writer: none listed; Producer: Brandon Bell, Carmella Ramsey & Kenny Vaughn; Publisher: Veltal, BMI; Sugar Hill (track) (www.kennyvaughan.net)
—With Marty Stuart and the rest of The Fabulous Superlatives along for the rollicking ride, Kenny’s current solo CD kicks off with this neo-rockabilly romp that comes with built-in smiles as well as his trademark, deliciously stinging guitar licks.

SUZY BOGGUSS/Red River Valley
Writer: anonymous; Producer: Suzy Bogguss; Publisher: public domain; Loyal Duchess (track) (www.suzybogguss.com)
—Suzy’s American Folk Songbook CD is precisely what its title says it is, a collection of simply arranged gems of our nation’s musical heritage. Not only does she still sing with immense warmth and luster, she is surrounded by some of Music City’s top instrumentalists plus vocal harmonies courtesy of Matraca Berg, Harry Stinson and Gretchen Peters. I am told this is doing quite well overseas. It is a thorough delight.

TRENT JEFFCOAT/When I Find Me That Mountain
Writer: Trent Jeffcoat/Brandy Clark; Producer: Paul Sikes; Publisher: none listed; Deer in the Headlights (track) (www.trentjeffcoat.com)
—This singer-songwriter has a seven-song CD as a calling card. Its title tune is a meditative ballad with a deeply stirring lyric made even more potent because of his resonant, emotional baritone vocal. Trent Jeffcoat has the goods, people.

DEBORAH ALLEN/It Better Be Big
Writer: Deborah Allen/Callie Champion; Producer: Deborah Allen; Publisher: none listed; Delta Rock (track) (www.deborahallen.com)
—The second single from Deborah’s new Hear Me Now CD is a hoot. After a bluesy intro, she sizzles into a rapid-fire, rocking delivery. “If you’re gonna give it to me, baby, it better be big,” she sings. Get your mind out of the gutter: She means a wedding ring. Stay tuned for her personality-packed asides during the finale.

ALAN RHODY/Somebody to Care
Writer: Alan Rhody/Bill Caswell; Producer: Alan Rhody; Publisher: Sony-ATV, BMI; Ashwood (track) (www.alanrhody.com)
—If you’ve never seen this Nashville singer-songwriter perform, you’re missing out on one of our most entertaining and amusing acoustic troubadours. Alan’s new Led By Love collection begins with this ear catching story song about a would-be liquor store robber who finds romance and redemption en route. The supporting cast of this sterling set includes Sam Bush, Gordie Trapp, Mike Henderson, Jay Patten, Mike Bub, Vickie Carrico, Billy Thomas and Jonell Mosser. Are the tracks cool? You bet.

NEAL McCOY/Sentimental Journey
Writer: Les Brown/Bud Green/Benjamin Homer; Producer: Les Brown Jr. & Keith Olsen; Publisher: Morley/Holliday/Songwriters Guild of America/MPL, no performance rights listed; Encore/DPTV (track) (www.dptvmedia.org)
—Country star McCoy teams up with Les Brown’s Band of Renown on a new, in-concert CD that’s a definite change of pace. Singing the swing band’s signature song, he seems relaxed and at ease with the massed brass section wailing behind him. Charley Pride and Janie Fricke also make guest appearances on the set, which was originally recorded for a PBS special.

RANDY THOMPSON/One Guitar
Writer: Randy Thompson; Producer: Randy Thompson; Publisher: Twang This, ASCAP; Jackpot (track) (www.randythompson.net)
—Thompson’s Collected CD compiles tunes he has recorded over the past decade for various albums and singles. This is one of its two newly recorded selections. It is a country rocker with a “spaghetti western” vibe. The band rushes the tempo, and there’s too much echo on his vocal.

JONNY CORNDAWG/Shaved Like a Razor
Writer: none listed; Producer: Loney John Hutchins & Jonny Corndawg; Publisher: none listed; Nasty Memories (track) (www.corndawg.com)
—I think it is meant to be funny, but he still can’t sing.

JONATHAN EDWARDS/Surrounded
Writer: Jonathan Edwards; Producer: Jonathan Edwards & Jim Begley; Publisher: Joinatune Earthwords, no performance rights listed; Appleseed (track) (www.jonathanedwards.net)
—Appleseed Records specializes in reviving the careers of “heritage” artists who have long been absent from the recording scene, including Tom Rush (35 years between studio recordings), David Bromberg (17 years), Buffy Sainte-Marie (13 years), Jesse Winchester (10 years), Roger McGuinn (10 years) and Donovan (8 years). Edwards has been m.i.a. for about a dozen years. His comeback My Love Will Keep CD begins with this lilting, pastoral ode with super-soulful harmonies by bluegrass star Claire Lynch. In addition to his own songs, he covers works by Mark D. Sanders & Adrienne Young, Tommy Rocco, John Brannen and Henry Gross, not to mention Lennon & McCartney.

DUSTIN LYNCH/Cowboys and Angels
Writer: Dustin Lynch/Josh Leo/Tim Nichols; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Big Machine/Golden Gears/Super 98/Sony-ATV Tree/Warner-Tamerlane/Contentment/Made For This, BMI; Broken Bow  (www.dustinlynch.com)
—He sings in a clear, confident, smooth baritone with smoky, whiskey aftertones. The moody power ballad has a dusky, romantic vibe that is quite magnetic. This could definitely go places.

Sunny Sweeney Helps Raise $1.3 Million

Charlie Chase and Sunny Sweeney.

Sunny Sweeney helped raise over $1.3 million on Saturday night (1/21) during the 42nd Annual West Texas Rehabilitation Center telethon.

The five hour event, held at the Abilene Civic Center, was the most successful to date and benefited the Rehabilitation Center’s efforts to see and treat over 500 patients with physical, communication, and hearing disabilities per day.

Longview, Texas native, Sweeney, served as the headliner, performed songs from her debut album, Concrete. Charlie Chase of “Crook and Chase” served as co-host for the 12th year.

Red Steagall, The Boys in the Bunkhouse, Brad Maule (General Hospital) and Susan Hayes (Days of Our Lives) also made appearances at the event.

In 2011, Sweeney reached audiences nationwide by performing on Brad Paisley’s H2O II: Wetter & Wilder World Tour and playing support dates for Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker. Next month, she will perform at the CRS New Faces show.

Underwood to Release New Single

Carrie Underwood will release her new single, “Good Girl,” to country radio on Feb. 23.  The five-time Grammy winner’s new CD will arrive later in spring.

Underwood wrote “Good Girl” with Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley. Gorley also co-wrote two of Underwood’s No. 1 hits “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and “All-American Girl.”

Once again Underwood is teamed up with Mark Bright, who produced her two previous albums as well as seven tracks from her debut album Some Hearts.

Underwood is a current Grammy nominee for Best Country Solo Performance for “Mama’s Song.” The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air Feb. 12 on CBS.

CBS, ACM Announce 10-Year Deal

CBS, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced today a new 10-year deal that will keep the annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast on the CBS Television Network through 2021. The new agreement further extends a successful broadcast partnership between the ACM and CBS that has been in place since 1998.

In addition to the annual awards telecast, the new agreement includes the continued broadcast of annual ACM specials.

This news comes before tomorrow morning’s announcement of the ACM Awards nominees for the upcoming show on April 1.

Last year’s ACM Awards broadcast won its time period in households (7.6/12), viewers (13.05 million), and several key demographics.

“The Academy of Country Music represents a highly valued partnership for our company and the awards show is one of the marquee broadcasts on our network,” said Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation. “It is an entertainment event that continues to grow in scope and popularity, and we look forward to working with the ACM and dick clark productions to build on this great momentum over the next decade.”

“The Academy has been home at CBS for 14 years, and we’re thrilled to continue that winning partnership over the next decade,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “With our friends at CBS and our partners at dick clark productions, we’ve grown the Academy’s brand and television properties, consistently delivering hits that country music fans can count on. We look forward to 10 more years of incredible entertainment programming that brings fans the best that country music has to offer.”

“The Academy of Country Music Awards is one of the crown jewels in our collection of storied franchises,” said Mark Shapiro, CEO of dick clark productions. “This new deal recognizes the continuing success of the awards show and creates a platform for expanding our reach with ACM-branded programming. We are delighted to extend our relationship with America’s most-watched television network.”

 

IBMA Announces Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2012

The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced participants for the 2012 class of Leadership Bluegrass. Joining the leadership group, now in its 13th year, for a three-day intensive program are the following:

Bob Altschuler—Musician/Music Instructor/Writer, Dyer Switch Band, Thirteen Feet of Bluegrass, New York State Retirement System; Albany, N.Y.
Jimmy Bowen—Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe; Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Casey Campbell—Belmont University student/Musician; Kingston Springs, Tenn.
H.R. Cook—Weaver of Words Music Group; Tazewell, Va.
Sonya Robles Cotton—The Louisville Bluegrass Music Association, Bluegrass Anonymous; Louisville, Ky.
Martha Stracener Dantzic—Quicksilver Productions; Washington, D.C.
Laurie Dashper—Music City Roots, Bluegrass Underground; Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Denise Hitchcock—BlueHighways TV; Hendersonville, Tenn.
Lisa Jacobi—Steel String Session, Lisa Affordable Websites; Copperhill, Tenn.
Denise Jarvinen—Boston Bluegrass Union, Traditional Music Foundation; Brookline, Mass.
Russell Johnson—Grass Cats, Red Sock Publishing, The Comfort Zone Recording Studio, New Time Records; Four Oaks, N.C.
Gerald Jones—AcousticMusicCamp.com; Garland, Texas
Jamie Katz—PineCone, The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, Inc.; Raleigh, N.C.
Rick Lang—Haley Anna Music, BMI; Kingston, N.H.
Claire Lynch—The Claire Lynch Band; Hermitage, Tenn.
Michael McLain—Belmont University; Cane Ridge, Tenn.
Ronnie Norton—Lonesome Highway; Dublin, Ireland
Chris Oliver—Infinity Luthiers; Springfield, Ill.
Ross Pomerenk—Acoustic Sound/ Wintergrass; Lopez Island, Wash.
Daniel Routh—Nu-Blu, Top 66 International Bluegrass Airplay Chart; Red Squared Audio; Siler City, N.C.
Gene Skinner—Great Stuff Radio Network; Springfield, Mo.
Jennifer Strickland—Rural Rhythm Records, Jenny Lynn Publishing; Antioch, Tenn.
Chris Teskey—WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Washington, D.C.
Tony Watt—TheBluegrassUniversity.com, Boston Bluegrass Union; Cambridge, Mass.
Sharon White—The Whites; Hendersonville, Tenn.
Kimberly Williams—East Public Relations, The Expedition Show; Sparta, Tenn.

The 2012 Leadership Bluegrass will be hosted at BMI and Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC in Nashville, March 8-10 and facilitated by Trisha Tubbs. More info here.

Jimmy Rector Joins Show Dog-Universal

Promotion vet Jimmy Rector has joined forces with Show Dog-Universal as VP/Strategic Planning & Promotion, and is on the job now. The move puts him back under the same roof as Rick Moxley and Mark Wright with whom he worked at Sony Music Nashville in his previous role as Columbia Records VP Promotion. Rector exited the label group in August 2011.

“When I got the chance to reunite with both Rick Moxley and Mark Wright, it was hard to say no,” says Rector. “Then I heard the music and knew it’s where I belong.”

Congratulate him here.

Ty Stone Releases Video, Joins Spring Tour

Ty Stone

Southern rock newcomer Ty Stone has released the single “Anywhere’s Better” off his forthcoming debut album American Style (Atlantic/Top Dog Records). To promote the release, Stone will set out on a 26-date tour with Uncle Kracker. 

The video for “Anywhere’s Better,” directed by Potsy Ponciroli, debuted recently and reached the No. 1 most viewed position on the CMT homepage. The clip features CMT’s Sweet Home Alabama star Ashley Ann Vickers, Uncle Kracker and the executive producer for the album, Kid Rock.

Originally from Lincoln Park, MI, Stone was discovered by Kid Rock, with whom he recently wrapped up a charity club tour.

Video and Tour Dates below.

2012 Tour Dates

MARCH
1 – Macomb, IL – Forum Live
2 – Minneapolis, MN – Toby Keith’s
3 – Lincoln, NE – Uncle Ron’s
8 – Columbus, OH – Bluestone
9 – Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds
10 – Rootstown, OH – Dusty Armadillo
14 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
15 – Foxboro, MA – Toby Keith’s
16 – Niagara Falls, NY – Rapids Theatre
17 – Mt. Laurel, NJ – Prospectors
22 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop
23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
24 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s
25 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
29 – San Miguel, CA – The Ranch
30 – Reno, NV – Knitting Factory

APRIL
4 – Davis, CA – The Davis Graduate
5 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
6 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theatre
7 – Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Westerner
13 – Cheyenne, WY – Outlook Saloon
14 – Denver, CO – Toby Keith’s
17 – Flagstaff, AZ – Museum Club
19 – Mesa, AZ – Toby Keith’s
20 – Bakersfield, CA – Crystal Palace

Labels Earned $5.2 Billion in Global Digital Revenue Last Year

The Digital Music Report 2012 is an in-depth look at worldwide trends. Released Monday by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the report covers revenue, subscription and download models, piracy and more. Highlights and summary are below. Click here to download the full report, or here for an outline of key facts.

Digital Revenue Rising
Digital channels account for about 32 percent of record company revenues globally, up from 29 percent in 2010. Some markets now see more than half of their revenues derive from digital channels, including the US (52%), South Korea (53%) and China (71%).

Global digital revenues to record companies grew by an estimated 8 percent to $5.2 billion in 2011. This compares to growth of 5 percent in 2010 and represents the first time the year-on-year growth rate has increased since IFPI started measuring digital revenues in 2004.

Access and Ownership Models
Ten years after the first online stores emerged in the US and Europe, digital music is now broadly segmented into two main consumption models: “ownership” and “access.” Ownership usually refers to download services such as iTunes and Google Music. The access model is typically a subscription service such as Spotify.

According to the report, both models have enormous growth potential. At the start of 2011, the largest international digital music services were present in 23 countries. One year later they are present in 58 countries. Rob Wells, president, global digital business, Universal Music Group, explains, “The fact that these two models of consumption can co-exist speaks volumes about the future. In fact, we have really only scratched the surface of digital music in the last decade—now we are starting the real mining, and on a global scale.”

Spurring digital music growth is the rising prevelance of smartphones, tablets and broadband. “The technology infrastructure is being put in place in a way that we have never seen before and that is one major reason why we feel positive about digital music going into 2012,” adds Edgar Berger, President and CEO, International, Sony Music Entertainment.

Another bright spot is the growing popularity of online radio and music videos. The most watched artist on YouTube is Justin Bieber, whose videos have been viewed more than two billion times.

Sources: PWC Global Entertainment & Media Outlook and IFPI. Notes: games includes players’ purchases of accessories and additional game content as well as subscriptions. Music share is based on trade revenues. Newspapers include digital advertising and subscriptions. Books excludes audio books. Film excludes online sales and rentals of physical discs.

Download Services
IFPI estimates that 3.6 billion downloads were purchased globally in 2011, an increase of 17 percent (combining singles and album downloads). Single track downloads are up 11 percent by volume, and digital albums are up 24 percent by volume.

Download stores account for a large proportion of digital revenues and account for most of the 500 legitimate services worldwide, offering libraries of up to 20 million tracks. The most popular download store, iTunes, continued growing in 2011. iTunes opened for business in 28 additional markets, reaching more than 50 countries. Download service 7digital is now available in 37 countries.

Though singles are growing in popularity, up 10 percent in the US (Nielsen SoundScan), the album isn’t dead. Digital album volume sales have grown steadily in recent years, with US digital album sales in 2011 up 19 percent (Soundscan). In the US digital albums already account for 31 percent of all album sales by volume. Driving demand for digital albums are strong marketing campaigns, premium offerings that provide additional content, consumer habits and growing computer storage space.

The top selling single of 2011 was Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are,” which sold more than 12.5 million copies.

Subscription Services
The number of consumers subscribing to music services globally is estimated to have increased by nearly 65 percent in 2011, reaching more than 13 million, compared to an estimated 8.2 million the previous year. This supplements the tens of millions of consumers who already use download services.

Subscription services Spotify, WiMP and Deezer are expanding fast across national borders. Spotify launched in the US and four European markets and now reaches 12 countries. The US also saw the launch of Muve Music in 2011.

Piracy Remains
It’s no secret digital piracy remains a critical barrier to growth and investment by record companies. Twenty-eight percent of internet users globally access unauthorized services on a monthly basis, according to IFPI/Nielsen.

There has been positive momentum in the fight against piracy in 2011. In the US, an ISP cooperation deal was signed in 2011 and a graduated response program will be implemented in 2012, with most major ISPs signing up to a “copyright alert system.” The move follows the closure of the illegal service LimeWire in 2010, which has helped cause a dramatic drop in levels of P2P piracy in the US market.

A similar law in France, the Hadopi graduated response law, has seen peer-to-peer (P2P) piracy levels decline by 26 percent since warning notices were first sent out in October 2010, according to IFPI/Nielsen. A newly-published academic study finds that single track sales were 23 percent higher than they would have been in the absence of Hadopi.

Mark Piibe, executive vice president, global business development, EMI Music, sums, “We know that some people will migrate from piracy and that others will not, but we want alternatives to be there.”