Consumers Finding Extra TV Content Online

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NPD Group’s Entertainment Trends in America research report finds that “many consumers are supplementing their pay television offerings from cable TV, satellite TV and IPTV operators.” In short, the study finds that subscribers are searching for additional programing and steaming movies from both paid (Netflix) and free sites (Hulu, YouTube).

Results also show that 27% of all U.S. television subscribers (cable, satellite or IPTV)  subscribe to Netflix and almost half (46%) also pay for a premium movie or sports channel.

“Even though many consumers are paying for more content from their TV-service providers in the form of premium channels and video-on-demand, there’s still quite a lot of alternative video downloading and streaming activity going on,” said Russ Crupnick, senior VP and entertainment analyst for The NPD Group. “There may also be too much emphasis on so-called ‘cord cutters’ who represent a small group, as opposed to potential ‘cord throttlers,’ who are a massive segment of the subscribing population.”

Three out of four (73 percent) consumers who used Netflix, streamed video for free, or who paid for Internet-video downloads and rentals also have a cable, satellite, or IPTV subscription. “With all the various methods consumers now have to download video, TV-service providers would be in a better competitive position if they could expand their content offerings and improve on-screen search functionality,” Crupnick suggested.

The Entertainment Trends in America report is based on 10,058 completed surveys from qualified respondents (age 13 and older) conducted in July and August 2011. Final survey data was weighted to represent U.S. population.

ABC, CMA Renew Broadcast Agreement

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The ABC Television Network and the Country Music Association have extended their broadcast agreement through 2021. This morning’s announcement on the day of the CMA Awards (11/9), was made by ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee and CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. The new agreement assures broadcasts of the CMA franchises including the CMA Awards, the CMA Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, and the CMA Country Christmas for another decade.

This follows a bidding war between the major networks.

The 45th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will air live tonight on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

CMA Country Christmas, hosted by Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland is scheduled to air Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. The two-hour television special will tape in front of a live audience tomorrow (11/10) at 7:30 PM/CT at the Bridgestone.

Aldean & Durante Launch AMC’s “Hell On Wheels”

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Durante (L) and Aldean (R) next to the "Hell on Wheels" train. Photo: Alan Mayor

Jason Aldean and Margaret Durante performed yesterday (11/8) at Nashville’s Riverfront Station in a free concert event celebrating AMC’s return to the Western genre with the epic new television series Hell on Wheels. A special “Hell on Wheels” train brought Aldean and 120 contest winners to the location, and country music newcomer Durante opened the show. The contest winners will also attend the 45th Annual CMA Awards.

Hell On Wheels tells the story of a Confederate soldier (played by Anson Mount) who sets out to exact revenge on Union soldiers who murdered his wife. The journey takes him west to a lawless town called “Hell on Wheels” that lies along the Union Pacific line of the Transcontinental Railroad. Also starring in the series are Common, Dominique McElligott and Colm Meaney. The AMC series premiered Nov. 6.

Stoney Creek’s Surprise Signing Announcement

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Last night (11/8) at the Broken Bow/ Stoney Creek Records CMA Pre-Party at Nashville’s Hard Rock Café, Stoney Creek announced the signing of Randy Houser to the label’s roster.

Broken Bow/ Stoney Creek President Benny Brown and Senior VP of Operations Rick Shedd made the surprise announcement to the packed house. Afterward, Houser performed a short set for the standing room-only crowd.

Check back for MusicRow’s exclusive subscriber-only coverage of the event.

 

Nashville For Sale: Albums, Labels and Publishers

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Usually when reporting the weekly Nielsen SoundScan results we deal in facts, data, calculations and tabulations. However, this week the verifiable facts are only a small fraction of the equation. “What ifs” are flooding the horizon like a tsunami of change headed for the music industry overall and therefore Nashville…. But first let’s look at what we know: the Wednesday morning facts.

According to the numbers, and as shown on the above chart, YTD country music album sales continue to lose ground dropping from last week’s 5.6% ahead to 4.2% this week. Country is starting to come into parity with the industry overall which is ahead 3.4%. Readers of this column likely know why and expected to see this downward drop because last year at this time Taylor Swift released Speak Now which sold over one million units and there is nothing on this year’s list to challenge that, so far. Miranda Lambert’s creative tour de force Four The Record debuted this week with slightly over 133k units, more than double her last outing, but a far cry from offsetting our growing units deficit. Overall country album sales for the week were about 855k.

As we prepare for tonight’s CMA Awards and on the heels of celebrating the songs and songwriters responsible for driving the sales of our industry at SESAC, ASCAP and BMI over the past three evenings, news continues to surface that could/would reshape the country music landscape and conceivably have far reaching effects…

According to Bloomberg.com’s Andy Fixmer (11/8), Sony is actively negotiating to purchase Big Machine Records, founded by Scott Borchetta in 2005 and home to Taylor Swift. Valuations discussed in the article place the label group at around $200 million.

According to the article, “Negotiations are at an early stage and an agreement may not be completed. Universal Music Group also may enter the bidding, one of the people said. Borchetta, with a roster of the biggest country acts, would run Sony’s Nashville, Tennessee- based operation as part of the sale, the people said.”

The New York Times reported (11/7) on new Sony leader and 72-year-old industry vet, Doug Morris. In its article it notes that Morris in aggressively trying to dominate the industry. “My plan here is very simple,” Morris says. “To help create the pre-eminent record company in the world.” Last week Morris signed producer Dr. Luke to Sony and created a new record label Luke will run, Kemosabe Records. (Luke will no longer be able to work with EMI’s Katy Perry under the new deal.) The article also states, “Late last year, Mr. Morris stunned the industry when it emerged that he would take over Universal’s biggest competitor, going head-to-head against his former protégé, Lucian Grainge, Universal’s new chairman. The two are expected to bid aggressively for artists and for Cash Money and Big Machine, two independent labels whose distribution deals with Universal are expiring soon.”

Meanwhile EMI Records and EMI Music Publishing remain in play. Unconfirmed reports place the publishing company moving to Sony ATV as the result of a late night, last night deal. Sony ATV’s Marty Bandier reportedly was scheduled to be at the BMI awards where his company was named Publisher of the Year, but cancelled his trip at the last minute to firm the deal.

Analysis: Speculation does not create a good basis for informed analysis. However, the EMI publishing offering has been quite public, and seems destined to happen soon, even if the buyer remains unconfirmed. The consolidation of two top dog publishers is certain to realign the creative community in Music City. On the label side, the impending absorption of EMI Records and possibly Big Machine is also sure to involve a game of musical chairs.

Despite a cheery upbeat article in the Tennessean last Sunday stating that country music sales are ahead and quite healthy, insiders know that is is not the case. “Flat” is the very best one could say at this time, and if you get label heads together, off the record, they will get quite a bit less enthusiastic. While the SoundScan numbers appear flat, one must remember that album prices have fallen, margins have shrunk and costs of doing business continue to rise. Squeeze

However, despite the possible impending changes, if the previous three nights in Nashville have shown us anything, it’s that our town’s creative voices are strong and vibrant. Writers, artists and producers continue to make meaningful emotion-packed music. As long as that force remains intact, Nashville’s future will be just fine.

BMI Award Winners [Updated w/ Most Performed Songs List]

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Pictured at the 2011 BMI Country Awards are (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Publisher of the Year Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, Songwriter of the Year Rhett Akins, 2011 BMI Icon Bobby Braddock, Songwriter of the Year Dallas Davidson, and BMI’s Jody Williams.

Songwriters of the Year: Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson

Frances W. Preston Award (Country Song of the Year): “All Over Me,” Davidson and Akins; publishers EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Rhettneck Music, String Stretcher Music; recorded by Josh Turner

Publisher of the Year: Sony/ATV

BMI Icon: Bobby Braddock

• • • •

From top: Braddock, Akins, and Davidson

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) celebrated the songwriters and publishers behind country music’s most-performed songs of the past year during last night’s (11/8) 59th annual BMI Country Awards, staged at the organization’s Nashville offices.

Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson shared the Songwriter of the Year crown. The frequent collaborators co-wrote four of the year’s most-performed songs: “All About Tonight” (Blake Shelton), “All Over Me” (Josh Turner), “Gimmie That Girl” (Joe Nichols) and “The Shape I’m In” (Joe Nichols). Individually, Akins’ “Farmer’s Daughter” (Rodney Atkins) and Davidson’s “Rain Is a Good Thing” (Luke Bryan) also made the list.

“All Over Me” also earned Song of the Year honors for Davidson and Akins, as well as publishers EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Rhettneck Music, and String Stretcher Music.

In a surprise announcement, the BMI Country Song of the Year award was rechristened the Frances W. Preston Award in honor of the legendary former BMI President & CEO.

With 15 songs among the year’s most performed, powerhouse Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville scored its tenth consecutive Publisher of the Year win.

Bobby Braddock was saluted as a BMI songwriting Icon. Braddock is the master craftsman behind staples including “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “People Are Crazy,” “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “I Wanna Talk About Me,” “Old Flames Have New Names,” “Golden Ring,” “Time Marches On” and more. He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Braddock is the only living songwriter to have penned chart-toppers in five consecutive decades. Taking the stage to perform some of Braddock’s classics were Pistol Annies, Blake Shelton, John Anderson, LeAnn Rimes and Vince Gill.

BMI President & CEO Del Bryant hosted the show with Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville; and Clay Bradley, Assistant Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville.

 

 

DISClaimer Single Reviews (11/9/11)

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Considering that this is Country Music Week, you’d think some big-time stars would be shooting across the sky with new music.

Instead, it’s the indie community that is bringing its A-game. Canadians Aaron Lines, Deric Ruttan and Charlie Major are all here with dandy, up-tempo tunes.

Nashville’s own Kelly Lang & T.G. Sheppard are even better. Drawn from Kelly’s new 11:11 CD, their powerful duet is the Disc of the Day.

There are two promising newcomers to report to you. Barry Michael and Jared Ashley both bow in the column this week. Jared Ashley wins the DisCovery Award. Someone in Becky Harris’s office sent his CD to me, and I always like what Chris Young’s mom likes.

BARRY MICHAEL/Uncountrify Me
Writer: Barry Michael/Corey Barker; Producer: Kimo Forrest; Publisher: BS Works/Corey Lee/Myohana, ASCAP/BMI; Stockbridge (www.stockbridgerecords.com)
—He sings with clarity and sincerity. Kimo’s production, as usual, is exemplary. The song is listenable and decent enough, but is hardly undeniable. Find a hit.

KATIE ARMIGER/Scream
Writer: Katie Armiger/Sarah Buxton/Blair Daly; Producer: Blair Daly; Publisher: Purple Monkeys/We’re Going to Maui/Internal Combustion/Southside Independent/Kickin Grids, SESAC/BMI; Cold River
—She keeps it together in public, but when she’s alone, she lets it all out. Katie is in peak form vocally on this range-y power ballad. Solid work.

JARED ASHLEY/Stained
Writer: Jared Ashley/Nick Sturms; Producer: Bobby Terry & Jared Ashley; Publisher: none listed; 615 Entertainment (track) (www.jaredashley.com)
—Jared is a Georgia boy who has evidently garnered a good following in his home state. His disc debut features this moody mid-tempo outing. She feels like damaged goods, but he assures her that she is stained beautifully, like a church window. His performance is nicely shaded, varying from almost whispered passages to near shouts of passion.

GLEN CAMPBELL/Ghost On The Canvas
Writer: Paul Westerberg; Producer: Julian Raymond & Howard Willing; Publisher: Dry Wood/Bug, ASCAP; Surfdog (track) (www.glencampbellmusic.com)
—Glen’s new video is for the title tune of his superb finale as a recording artist. Like his classic hits, the song has a soaring, catchy melody and an instantly memorable chorus embellished with sky-high strings and prominent guitar. Awesome stuff. Did I mention that I am a lifelong fan?

JULIE ROBERTS/NASCAR Party
Writer: Julie Roberts/Thom Hardwell/Nick Trevisick; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Aint Skeerd/Sweet Ruby Reid/Lilolam, SESAC/ASCAP; JR (track) (www.julieroberts.com)
—Julie’s new Alive CD concludes with this rousing stomper. Do I hear a national sports anthem, here? Heck, she even name-checks all the tracks.

JULIE INGRAM/Thank God
Writer: Julie Ingram/Frances Wainwright; Producer: Jay Vern & Julie Ingram; Publisher: Summit Partners/INXS, BMI/ASCAP; LongShot (track) (www.julieingram.com)
—The rest of the title is, or should be, “for Mom and Dad.” It’s a slo-o-o-w piano ballad about all the good advice she got from her parents. I nodded off.

KELLY LANG & T.G. SHEPPARD/Dead Girl Walking
Writer: Kelly Lang; Producer: Kelly Lang; Publisher: Kelly Lang, BMI; Leopard Entertainment (track) (www.kellylang.net)
—Considering the cancer battle Kelly and husband T.G. have been through, the title is a little unnerving. But the lyric is about romantic abandonment, not her physical condition. Kelly’s melody for it is absolutely sumptuous, and both of them sing the fire out of this swirling, fevered festival of emotion. Hang on for the bridge, when the production really starts to build. Heart gripping.

CHARLIE MAJOR/Keep On Livin’
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; MDM (ERG)
—Charlie is a big star in Canada. I don’t see any reason why this friendly, upbeat, good-advice rocker couldn’t translate to audiences south of the border.

AARON LINES/Sunday Afternoon
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; On Ramp (ERG)
—Aaron returns with this smile-a-minute, romantic bopper performed with hearty positivity. I like his slips up into falsetto notes on the choruses and urgent breathiness in the verses. Loaded with hooks.

DERIC RUTTAN /She’s Like A Song
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Black T (ERG)
—Ruttan is a successful Music Row songwriter who dips his toes into the artists’ pond once again with this well-produced romper. I like the thumping percussion and the guitar riffs. His voice isn’t all that memorable, but he sells this just fine.

Skates and Freeman Pick CMA Winners

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The heated race for CMA Entertainer of the Year could end in a surprise victory.

MusicRow editorial staffers Sarah Skates and Jon Freeman pick the winners in select categories for tomorrow night’s (11/9) 45th Annual CMA Awards, airing at 7 pm CT on ABC.

Entertainer of the Year
Skates: Brad Paisley’s reign isn’t over. His H2O II tour was a tidal wave of success and merriment. Combine that with a hit album, numerous charttoppers, and his team at Sony, and that turtle is sitting tight on his fence post for another year.
Freeman: Kenny Chesney. Oh, wait, he’s not nominated in this category? In that case, I’ll put my money on the globe-hopping, arena-and-stadium filling mega celebrity who wrote all 14 tracks on her album Speak Now that’s sold approximately a gazillion copies to date. Taylor Swift is not even old enough to rent a car, y’all, and she’s making the rest of us look like lazy slobs. Now that’s entertainment.

Male Vocalist of the Year

Skates: The industry is in an uproar about Kenny Chesney’s omission from the Entertainer list. They will put their votes behind the superstar here instead.
Freeman: It’s hard to oust an incumbent, especially one like Blake Shelton who has only become more famous since he won this award last year. But don’t rule out Jason Aldean, either. The industry is currently having a major love-fest with him, and his double platinum My Kinda Party is at least part of the reason some of us still have jobs.

Female Vocalist of the Year

Skates: Taylor Swift‘s astronomical sales alone make her a shoe-in. She’s an A+ songwriter and entertainer. It’s hard to find a female star that outranks Swift.
Freeman: It would be criminal for an artist as talented as Miranda Lambert to go home from the CMA Awards empty handed, and besides, she’s had a great year. “Heart Like Mine” hit No. 1, plus she released two acclaimed albums, Hell on Heels (with her group The Pistol Annies), and the sparkling new Four The Record.

New Artist of the Year

Skates: There’s tough competition in this category, but this award should go to a true newbie. That said, The Band Perry’s breakout success is undeniable.
Freeman: It’s a tough category. All the nominees have had legitimately successful years. But with four straight No. 1 singles, Chris Young has laid quite a foundation for himself.

Vocal Group of the Year

Skates: Zac Brown Band is a hitmaking, touring force to be reckoned with. Plus, Brown’s an entrepreneur with a hand in everything from sauces to music festivals.
Freeman: Remember that group that cleaned up at the Grammys earlier this year? The one on Capitol Records with the funny name? They’re nominated in this category.

Album of the Year (Award to Artist and Producer(s))

Skates: Speak Now, Taylor Swift, Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, Big Machine Records. —Genre-melding work of the highest caliber, pushing pop and country to new heights. Plus, Swift wrote the entire project by herself.
Freeman: Yeah, what she said.

Vocal Duo of the Year

Skates: Sugarland shines as the biggest star in this category. The dynamic Georgia duo is taking home the trophy.
Freeman: They’re first-time nominees this year, but Thompson Square is one of 2011’s big success stories. First they had a bonafide smash hit with “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and now they’ve got a repeat in the works with “I Got You.” Plus, the Charlie Sheen campaign video was totes hilarious.

Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

Skates: “If I Die Young” The Band Perry, Produced by Paul Worley, Republic Nashville. This single keeps going and going, even rising to the pinnacle of the AC chart last week, a year after it hit No. 1 on the country chart. To date, the paid downloads exceed three million.
Freeman: 2011 might be remembered in history as “The Year Perry” thanks to “If I Die Young.” And just a hunch, but I’m betting we’ll be hearing it inappropriate places like airplanes and elevators for all eternity.

Song of the Year

Skates: “You and Tequila,” Matraca Berg and Deana Carter— Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter offered an elegant reading of a top-quality song, spurring a stand-out radio hit. Plus, UMPG’s campaign alone is enough to ensure a win for this tune.
Freeman: Most of us have at some point had a bad “habit” we couldn’t kick, even if it threatened to destroy us completely. “You and Tequila” so perfectly captures the despair of being in a toxic entanglement that it’s almost painful. That’s what the truth feels like, kids.

Word Entertainment Turns 60

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(L-R) Rod Riley (Word Entertainment President & CEO), Kurt Kaiser (Word’s first A&R director and artist), Oscar Reese (One of the first Word employees), John Esposito (Warner Music Nashville President & CEO), Judith McCracken (wife of Word founder, Jarrell McCracken), Mike Curb (Chairman of Word Entertainment) and Lisa McCracken Lacy (daughter of Word founder, Jarrell McCracken).

The Christian music division of Warner Music Group recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special celebration in Waco, Texas, where the label was founded by Baylor University graduate, Jarrell McCraken, in 1951.

In honor of the label’s anniversary, Word Entertainment recently released a 3-CD compilation featuring a 51-song collection with a bonus excerpt from the company’s original recording, entitled, Word: Six Decades Of Hits. The anthology spans 60 years of music featuring artists such as Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Point of Grace, Jaci Velasquez, Francesca Battistelli, Chris August and Sidewalk Prophets.

On hand for the celebration were members of the McCracken family as well as Waco Mayor, Jim Bush; Chairman of Word Entertainment, Mike Curb; Warner Music Nashville’s President & CEO, John Esposito; Word’s first A&R Director and artist, Kurt Kaiser; Word Entertainment’s President & CEO, Rod Riley; and Baylor University President, Ken Starr. A commemorative plaque was presented to the McCracken Family and Baylor University on behalf of Word Entertainment. Waco Mayor Jim Bush proclaimed, November 2 as “Word Day” in Waco, Texas.

CMA Awards Festivities In Full Swing

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Brad Paisley and CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore at this morning's performance on "Good Morning America."

Festivities surrounding tomorrow night’s (11/9) CMA Awards are in full-swing. Show co-host Brad Paisley kicked things off this morning (11/8) with a performance on ABC’s Good Morning America. The segment hosted by ABC News’ Sam Champion also included an appearance by Kenny Chesney. During the show, Paisley signed the hood of a Chevrolet Camaro to be auctioned off to benefit CMA’s music education campaign Keep the Music Playing.

Two CMA honors were handed out at yesterday’s (11/7) CMA International Reception. Ralph Murphy, songwriter, producer and VP of ASCAP Nashville, was given the 2011 Jo Walker-Meador International Award. The honor recognizes outstanding achievement in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.

Born in England and raised in Canada, Murphy scored his first No. 1 song with “Call My Name,” released in 1966 by James Royal. He moved to New York City in 1969 and in 1971 had his first Country hit in Nashville with Jeannie C. Riley’s “Good Enough to Be Your Wife.” By 1976, Murphy and Roger Cook opened Picalic Music in Nashville, which published more of his hits, including Crystal Gayle’s “Half the Way” and Ronnie Milsap’s “He Got You.” His book Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting has been used in curricula by colleges, universities and songwriter organizations, where he is a frequent speaker. An advocate for songwriters’ rights, Murphy is a former President of NSAI, and President of the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy.

Ralph Murphy and CMA CEO Steve Moore. Photo: Christian Bottoroff/CMA

The McClymonts received the 2011 CMA Global Country Artist Award for outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist originally signed outside of the United States. The Australian sisters, Brooke, Samantha, and Mollie McClymont, were born in the small town of Grafton in New South Wales. They have enjoyed great success in Australia. They won Best Group honors at the Country Music Awards of Australia in four of the past five years, and they earned Best Country Album honors from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in 2008 and 2010. Their second album, Wrapped Up Good, made the 2010 Top Five in national sales. The McClymonts expanded their territory to the United States by opening for Jason Aldean on his Fall 2010 tour, and in 2011 they released Wrapped Up Good in the U.S. On Nov. 23, they will perform at Tootsie’s 51st Birthday Bash at the legendary Nashville venue.

(L-R): Mollie and Sam McClymont, Moore, and Brooke McClymont. Photo: Christian Bottoroff/CMA