Technically Speaking

>>Eminem has become Facebook’s the most “Liked” living artist, passing Lady Gaga to amass a total of 28.88 million compared to the Ga’s 28.87 million. The Detroit rapper is currently averaging more than 500,000 likes a day which means he will soon pass Michael Jackson who has about 29.1 million. Could this renewed popularity have anything to do with Eminem’s recent auto ad where he championed his home city? Regardless, Lady Gaga still leads the rapper in terms of Twitter followers and YouTube plays.
>> MySpace.com has a For Sale sign outside its offices. News Corp. bought the social media site five years ago for $580 million. A profitable 3-year deal with Google, signed in 2006, is believed to have earned the site $800 million. News Corp. is reportedly looking to sell or possibly take on a new partner.
>>According to the Wall Street Journal, ABC and the Academy Awards have successfully renegotiated a deal to keep the movie awards on the network through 2020. The previous contract was set to run from 2005-2014. WSJ notes that “award shows and other big live events have seen their ratings grow following years of on-and-off decline.” Ad sales for the Oscar’s show set to air this Sunday (2/27) are expected to reach close to $80 million according to WSJ sources. The Country Music Association Awards, its new Christmas Special and the annual MusicFest special are also on ABC.
>> Apple Insider.com and Financial Times report that Apple is positioning its possible cloud strategy as a form of insurance. Apple sees the cloud business as possibly undermining its single song paid downloads on iTunes. Spotify, a cloud service that offers free streaming music with ads is trying to secure the necessary licenses to launch in the U.S., but is making slow progress. Also in the wings, hoping to make an entrance, is Google. However, U.S. labels are concerned about streaming business models and have been acting as a bottleneck by withholding licensing permissions.

Weekly Chart Report (2/25/11)


17 Music Entertainment's Matt Gary has been making the radio rounds in the Southeast and Midwest to introduce his new single, "I'm Just Sayin'," penned by Frank Myers, Gary B. Baker and Billy Montana, the title track from his CD 6-Pack. (L-R): Gary, WCTQ/Sarasota, FL MD Heidi Decker and WCTQ PD Tim Jones.


Whoa, where does the time go? Country Radio Seminar starts next week, so make plans to attend MusicRow’s annual Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards, featuring special performances from Joanna Smith and Colt Ford. The event takes place Tuesday, March 1, 2:30-5 pm CT at Cadillac Ranch on Broadway. Email mstephens@musicrow.com for more information. Don’t miss this one!
SPIN ZONE
Lady Antebellum’s “Hello World” makes it two in a row, adding enough spins to maintain the No. 1 spot over Taylor Swift’s “Back To December.” And it looks like the moment has arrived for Stoney Creek’s Thompson Square, whose “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” gains 135 spins and jumps to No. 3 ahead of Brad Paisley’s “This Is Country Music” and Jason Aldean’s “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”
Kenny Chesney’s “Live A Little” is on the fast track to chart dominance. After capturing the biggest debut last week, it picks up the greatest spin increase this week and leaps to No. 31. Toby Keith’s “Somewhere Else”–also just two weeks old–has moved all the way to No. 37. Soon both singles will be battling against Ronnie Dunn’s “Bleed Red” (No. 16) and Keith Urban’s “Without You” (No. 21) for position.
Seems everyone has a new single out with CRS on the horizon. Eric Church’s “Homeboy” is moving quickly at No. 58, followed by Chris Young’s “Tomorrow” at No. 62. Gwyneth Paltrow is also back on the chart at No. 75 with “Me And Tennessee,” a duet with Country Strong co-star Tim McGraw serviced by Curb Records. Also debuting are Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl,” Bucky Covington’s “Hometown,” and David Nail’s “Let It Rain.”
Frozen Playlists: KWWR, WBYZ






Upcoming Singles
February 28
Jessica Ridley/Flaming Red/EMG/Universal/Nine North
Frankie Ballard/A Buncha Girls/Warner Bros./WMN
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA
Jason Thomas/I’m Your Radio/MD Records
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Nashville
Steve Azar/Hard Road/Ride
Emerson Drive/Let Your Love Speak/Quarterback
Toby Keith/Somewhere Else/Show Dog-Universal
March 7
Eli Young Band/Crazy Girl/Republic Nashville
The New Relics/Dixie Queen/Spinville/Blues Alley
Tonja Rose/Where Would Your Heart Be/Identical Entertainment/Turnpike
Little Big Town/The Reason Why/Capitol
Neal McCoy/New Mountain To Climb/Tate
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Tim McGraw & Gwyneth Paltrow/Me And Tennessee/Curb — 75
Eli Young Band/Crazy Girl/Republic Nashville — 77
Bucky Covington/Hometown — 78
David Nail/Let It Rain/MCA — 80
•  •  •  •  •
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/Live A Little/BNA — 536
Toby Keith/Somewhere Else/Show Dog-Universal — 398
Keith Urban / Without You / Capitol — 335
Justin Moore/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away/Valory — 266
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Nashville — 231
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Colt Ford/Country Thang/Average Joe’s Entertainment — 223
Curtis & Luckey/Eye Candy/KMG Music Group — 217
Kate Russell/Damned If I Do/Urunga/Spinville Records — 217
Emma King & The Heartsets/I’m Not Forgotten/PLC — 190
Johnny Rivers/New Home/Soul City — 176
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Kenny Chesney/Live A Little/BNA — 27
Toby Keith/Somewhere Else/Show Dog—Universal — 26
Justin Moore/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away/Valory — 21
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI/Nashville — 19

Lucy Angel recently visited KGRT/Las Cruces, NM. (L-R): Lucy Angel's Kate, Las Cruces March of Dimes Dir. Becky Horner, Lucy Angel's Emily, KGRT MD Sheila Kirsch, and Lucy Angel's Lindsay.


Big Machine’s Eden’s Edge was in the Dallas office of Citadel Media on Tuesday (2/22) to share their music with employees. The group talked about growing up in Arkansas and meeting each other in college. (L-R): Carl Anderson, Sr. VP Programming and Distribution for Citadel Media; Eden’s Edge’s Cherrill Green and Hannah Blaylock; Gary Reynolds, PD Today’s Best Country; Kris Wilson, MD Today’s Best Country; Eden’s Edge’s Dean Berner; and Jeremy Robinson, The Jeremy Show.


Corey Smith stopped by WUSY in Chattanooga on Wednesday (2/23) to visit with US 101’s personalities and loyal listeners. Corey chatted with Brian Stewart and played a few songs on-air including new single,“Twenty-One,” soon to be released on Average Joe’s Entertainment. (L-R): Gator Harrison (OM/PD), Ken Hicks (morning guy), Brian Stewart (night guy), Smith, Mo & Dex (afternoon show).

Guest Editorial: Hazel Smith Salutes Renee Bell

Contributed by Hazel Smith


I am humbly proud that I introduced Joe Galante to Renee Bell. They became the most successful A&R team in Nashville. Renee was the first and only female Executive Vice President of A&R—thanks to Galante, who always gave women their due. She was employed at the label, originally RCA, now Sony, in excess of 15 years.
But no longer.
It was years ago, but I’ll never forget the day Renee called me to come to her office which was located then just beyond CMA. As usual, I just walked in. She smiled, slid a tape into the machine and played “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” Songwriter Paul Overstreet was singing the demo but I knew it was a Kenny Chesney smash. My very words, “That song will be the curve in the road for Kenny. Superstar time!” Chesney has scored 21 No. 1 hits that she found or approved. She also worked directly with Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Jake Owen and Josh Thompson as well as overseeing all projects for the entire roster in her position as head of the A&R department.

Veteran A&R executive Renee Bell


Besides “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” other songs that Renee helped place includes “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats” for Underwood, “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” for Brooks & Dunn, and as of late “Man I Want To Be” for Chris Young along with many, many others.
This past week Music Row publishers have contacted Renee to thank her for changing the lives of their artists and songwriters by placing hundreds of songs on Sony Records. Females up and down Music Row talk about what a role model she has been for women in the business.
Beginning her A&R career at MCA with Tony Brown, Renee along with Tony was responsible for signing The Mavericks and David Lee Murphy. Always in the trenches finding hits and placing them with George Jones, Conway Twitty, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, as well as many others, she held this position for eight years. Jimmy Bowen made her a Vice President at Capitol and it was Renee who first recognized the talent of songwriting great Casey Beathard.
I’m guessing it was about a year ago when Renee told me she was thinking about exploring other creative opportunities at the end of her contract.
A couple weeks ago we ran into Harry Chapman and Buddy Cannon when we met for lunch. She was so excited about working with Ronnie Dunn this past year on his debut solo album. When she told me about Jake Owen’s new record they’d just finished she was just as excited and equally excited about getting started on Josh Thompson’s sophomore album. She felt Jake and Josh were poised to finally have their moment. With the same Renee excitement, she told me about Bradley Gaskin that John Rich brought to her and Kristen Kelly, a new act that Paul Overstreet had discovered in Texas, and Casey James. When I spoke with her a couple days ago she stressed how much she hated not being a part of their careers, but is so very proud and excited for all of them.
Nobody on planet earth or Music Row loves or respects songwriters and artists more than Renee Bell.  Lord knows she dearly loves to find those killer songs.

Renee Bell with Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Chris Young at the People Country Issue celebration party at Nashville's Hutton Hotel in August 2009. Pictured (l-r): Young; Lambert; Lisa Ramsey-Perkins, Sony Sr. Dir. A&R; McBride; and Bell.

Social Media Success Sends CJaye LeRose To Nashville


CJaye LeRose


“Social networking” has become one of those overused marketing phrases—discussed continuously, but rarely implemented. That makes it all the more contagious when an indie artist without the benefit of any marketing machine to do the heavy lifting, attracts attention in the form of fans, followers and views and ends up with more links than a chain fence.
In 2009 CJaye LeRose somewhat innocently created a YouTube channel to raise awareness about animal adoption. But she soon realized that reaction to her message spiked when she posted videos of her songs. Soon she wrote a song encouraging people to adopt pets and events escalated. Today, her YouTube channel has over 2 million views and 32,000 subscribers.
“My channel grew like it did not only because of my love for music, but also because of my love for people,” says LeRose. “I would spend all day just writing people back and answering as many comments as possible. I’ve gotten to be friends with so many of my subscribers.”
LeRose is also active on Twitter where she has 18,000 followers and Facebook with 12,000 fans. Feeling encouraged from all her online success, the 25-year-old finally decided it was time to move to Nashville from hometown Houston.
The social media butterfly is starting to get noticed. Last week LeRose hosted an online Teen Hoot that originated from Nashville’s Westwood Studios, owned by producer David Malloy. Twelve artists performed including Nickelodeon star Devon Werkheiser, Lilly Winwood, the youngest daughter of Steve Winwood and Julienne Irwin, a finalist on America’s Got Talent. Over 1400 viewed the event stream online.
According to Malloy, “I have had over 150 artists perform since we started  the Hoot. The goal is to help the many talented artists trying to break through the system. The Hoots are successful because each act only performs two songs. We think this is the way music should be discovered. We stay in constant contact with our online audience through Live Chat, gauging their reactions and giving them more of what they want.”
CJaye LeRose’s self released CD is due later this year and her official website www.cjayelerose.com launched this week. You can get a free download of her song “The Porch” here. View her YouTube channel here and to check out the Teen Hoot click here.

"Idol" Adds Online Voting Via Facebook

When the polls open for the current season of Fox’s American Idol on March 1, fans will be able to vote online for the first time.
Voting will start at americanidol.com, which will direct fans to log in to their Facebook accounts to access the voting page. During the online voting window, fans may cast up to 50 total online votes for that evening’s performances.
This new arrangement not only allows more ways to vote, but also proves the ubiquity of Facebook. And it is further evidence of networks embracing second screen viewing.
“We have been wanting to do online voting for several years, and now Facebook has offered us a secure solution and we are ready to go,” said Simon Fuller, Idol’s Creator and Executive Producer. “The show has always involved a high level of engagement with its viewers through texting and phone voting, and it’s great to expand on this tradition.”
In addition to online voting, fans will continue to be able to vote via phone and text message (AT&T wireless customers only).
The 12 male semifinalists take the stage for the first time Tuesday, March 1, followed by the 12 female semifinalists on Wednesday, March 2. This season’s finalists will be announced Thursday, March 3. More info.

[Updated] UMGN Media Dept. Transitions—Williams, Stuve Exit


[Updated 2/24, 4:15PM]
Amber Williams has exited her post as UMG Nashville Sr. Director, Artist & Media Relations. She can be reached at AmberWilliamsPR@gmail.com or 615-513-3222.
••••
UMG Nashville’s media team continues to transition following last year’s change in department leadership. Today’s news is the exit of Regina Stuve. The industry vet was promoted to her most recent post, Sr. Director, Artist & Media Relations, in July 2009.
Also exiting earlier this year was UMG Manager, Digital Media Kelly Russell who joined former department head Jason Owen at his new company.
The changes started in September when Owen left his post as UMGN Sr. VP of Artist Development and Marketing to launch his own Sandbox Entertainment, managing the career of Shania Twain. Award winning journalist and media maven Beverly Keel was hired to fill Owen’s vacancy as Sr. VP of Media & Artist Relations.
In recent months Sandbox has also been sharing in the publicity responsibilities for hitmaking UMG duo Sugarland.
Stuve can be reached at Reginastuve@comcast.net.

Arista Promo Team Aligns Under Tyson, Sigler; Hires Dokke

(L-R): Lesly Tyson, John Sigler, Ryan Dokke


Arista Nashville is announcing a reworked promotion team in time for next week’s Country Radio Seminar.
The label has promoted Lesly Tyson to Vice President, Promotion, and John Sigler to National Director, Promotion.
Joining the department effective Mon., Feb. 28 is Ryan Dokke, who will serve as Manager, Regional Promotion. Based in the label’s Nashville headquarters, Dokke arrives at Arista Nashville with more than a decade of experience in country radio, most recently as Asst. Program Director, Music Director, and on-air personality for WKKT-FM in Charlotte, NC.
The promotions of Tyson and Sigler were revealed as part of a larger company-wide restructuring earlier this month. Sony Music Nashville Sr. VP, Promotion Skip Bishop announced the promotion of Tyson, who in turn named Sigler to her previous role.
Tyson first came to the Sony family in 2004. Sigler joined Arista Nashville in 2007.

Artist Roundup

Briggs Appears As Nashville Cat • Josh Kelley Co-Writes Sitcom Theme Song • Jamey Johnson Gets Gold Record

David Briggs


>>Noted keyboard session player David Briggs will appear as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians series on March 26. The program which starts at 1:30 p.m. is free to museum members and/or included with museum admission. It will also be streamed live on www.countrymusichalloffame.org. In 1969, Briggs and Norbert Putnam opened Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville. which recorded sessions for artists including Jimmy Buffet, Linda Rondstadt and Neil Young before it was sold in 1976. A few years later, Briggs opened a new recording studio, House of David. In 1985, he joined with Will Jennings to form publishing company Willin’ David Music. The partnership published the Academy Award-winning song “Up Where We Belong.”  Briggs also found success recording commercials for a variety of clients including Budweiser, Chevrolet, Coke and Sears. He served as musical director for TV specials including several CMA awards telecasts, The 65th Anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, the CBS Hall of Fame Special and a Minnie Pearl tribute.

Josh Kelley


>>MCA singer/songwriter Josh Kelley has co-written the theme song for CBS sitcom Mike & Molly with Keb’ Mo’. “The Mike & Molly theme song came around sort of randomly,” Josh says. “In 2004, I called up Keb’ Mo’ and said, ‘I’d really love to write a song with you.’ I drove up to his house and we wrote ‘I See Love.’ He put it on his album. Probably six months ago, he called me and said, ‘There’s a TV show called Mike and Molly that wants to use the song because they came to my live show and heard it.’ It’s funny because now I’m a really big fan of the show and every time I watch it, I get to hear this cool song.” Kelley’s debut country album Georgia Clay is set for release March 22.
>>Universal Music Group Nashville presented Jamey Johnson with a plaque commemorating the gold certification of his ambitious 25-song double album during a gathering in Nashville (2/18). The Guitar Song is up for Album of the Year at the ACM Awards and recently received two Grammy nominations. UMGN Chairman Luke Lewis told the crowd, “I can’t be any prouder than to hand my friend Jamey Johnson a gold record.”

(L-R) Ken Levitan, Vector Management; Jamey Johnson; Luke Lewis, Chairman, UMG Nashville. Photo: Brian Kaplan

Awards Dates: BMI Christian, Leadership Music

>>The BMI Christian Music Awards will be presented Monday, April 4 at the performing rights organization’s Music Row offices. The annual invitation-only event will salute the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most performed Christian and gospel songs on U.S. Christian radio. Hosted by Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, along with Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations Beth Mason and Sr. Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations Thomas Cain, the ceremony will also recognize the BMI Christian Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year.

>>Leadership Music’s Dale Franklin Award will be presented to the Country Music Association on May 17, 2011 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. This event is invitation-only.

Rodney Atkins Teams With Tractor Co.


Atkins in a new YouTube video promoting his Massey Ferguson tractor sponsorship.


Rodney Atkins, hot on the tails of his recent hit “Farmer’s Daughter,” has secured a partnership with Massey Ferguson tractors.
In 2011, Massey Ferguson will be the “official tractor” of Rodney Atkins. Throughout the year, the singer will be involved in activities ranging from national advertising to dealer tie-ins, social media campaigns, contests and national Farm Shows. One of his first projects under the partnership is this YouTube video.
Atkins recently released an exclusive album with Cracker Barrel that features four No. 1 hits including “Farmer’s Daughter” and a previously unavailable track. Throughout his career, Atkins has also had marketing partnerships with Chevy Silverado, and Kraft Velveeta Shells and Cheese.