Artist News: Darius Rucker, Jerrod Niemann, Band Perry

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Darius Rucker will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight (1/19). He returns to the H2O Frozen Over Tour with Brad Paisley in Green Bay, Wisconsin at the Resch Center on Thurs., January 20.
In more Rucker news, “Together, Anything’s Possible,” the song he wrote specifically to support the PGA TOUR’s charitable initiative by the same name, is being released to radio. Through a unique partnership between the PGA TOUR, Capitol Records Nashville, McGhee Entertainment and iTunes, all net proceeds of the song downloads for one year are being donated to PGA TOUR Charities, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
For more details, visit PGATOUR.COM/Together.
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Pictured (l-r): Niemann and Liberal, KS, Mayor Tim Long


Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville chart-topper Jerrod Niemann returned to his Liberal, KS, hometown on Saturday (1/15)— officially proclaimed Jerrod Niemann Day—to play a sold-out benefit concert for the Liberal High School Booster Club in front of more than 1200 fans. Niemann was presented with an array of hometown accolades, including an official Key to the City and a reading of the Jerrod Niemann Day proclamation from Mayor Tim Long.
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Sibling trio The Band Perry will perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday, Jan. 28 and The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday, Jan. 31. In celebration of their Grammy and ACM nominations, The Band Perry will perform their Platinum single, “If I Die Young.” The band first announced the news via UStream live chat.

Bobby Karl Works The Grammy Nominee Party

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Pictured (l-r:) George Flanigen, chair of the board of trustees, The Recording Academy; Susan Stewart, south regional director, The Recording Academy; nominee Chris Young and Gary Overton, Sony Music Nashville chairman.


All photos courtesy of The Recording Academy® /Wireimage.com © 2011. Photographed by: Frederick Breedon
Chapter 356
Talk about your star gazing—this year’s Grammy nominee party was the place to be.
And what a triumph for Nashville’s music community: “I’m proud to say that this year there were more Grammy entries than ever before,” said Recording Academy chapter board president Dan Hill. “We are extremely diverse,” added South Regional Director Susan Stewart. “We have more nominees in more categories than I can name. We have six Nashville songwriters up for Song of the Year, alone.”
“Our national Chairman of the Board didn’t have to fly in, because he lives right here,” Dan continued. “Welcome George Flanigen.” George pointed out that the number of Nashville nominees spans 35 different categories. In addition to country, bluegrass and gospel, they include folk, pop, world music, rock, historical, liner notes, Americana, movie music and classical.
“The Nashville Symphony, with one record, is nominated for five awards,” boasted George. “From now on, all of you will have attached to your name, ‘Grammy nominated,’ like ‘Grammy nominated Rivers Rutherford’ or ‘Grammy nominated Chris Young.’”

Nashville Symphony Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero. The Symphony garnered five Grammy nominations.


Chris and Rivers were most definitely in the house. The gala, staged yesterday evening at the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza (1/18), also featured appearances by triple nominee Dierks Bentley, jazz great Larry Carlton and rockers Paramore, plus Sam Bush, Cherryholmes, Tom Douglas, Ty Herndon, Ricky Skaggs, Gordon Kennedy, Karen Peck, Dailey & Vincent, David Nail, The Band Perry, The SteelDrivers, Gretchen Wilson, Little Big Town, Allen Shamblin, Jeff & Sheri Easter, FireFight, Austin’s Bridge and conductor Giancarlo Guerrero.
“What a great turnout,” editorialized Wes Vause.
“When they called me [to attend], I said, ‘You want me to park cars?’” quipped Sam Tate, who is nominated alongside Rivers and Annie Tate for writing “I’d Love to Be Your Last” for Gretchen. “The song wasn’t even a single!” he exclaimed. “But that’s what’s great about the country Grammys,” I replied. “They’re weird, and in this case, weird in a good way.”
“After all I’ve been through, I finally get to show, ‘This is what I can do,’” said Jett Williams. “I’m moving the legacy forward,” with a massive reissue set of daddy Hank’s works.
“I’ve been nominated 11 times, but never won,” said Connie Smith. “I don’t care. I’m just glad to be nominated….again.” Hubbie and vocal collaborator Marty Stuart defended fellow nominee Skaggs’ much maligned long locks. “I think it’s cool,” said Marty. “He looks like Benjamin Franklin.”
The most nominated Nashville act is Lady Antebellum. “It’s a pretty awesome feeling, especially to be honored in the all-genre categories,” said Lady A’s Charles Kelley. The group is in the studio, but still felt the responsibility to drop by the party. I love those kids.
Seeing conductor Guerrero, Del McCoury was reminded of a gig his band played at the Schermerhorn with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band last year. Afterward, the McCourys took the New Orleans legends with them to appear on the Opry. According to Pete Fisher, this is the first time a tuba has been on the show. The collaboration will result in a joint album, out in April. It looks like the Grammys might need yet another category – Bluegrass/Dixieland or Dixieland/Bluegrass.
The crowd of hundreds was packed with industry fabulons. Among those working the room were Gary Overton, Gary Paczosa, Ben Vaughn, Ben Fowler, Mary Ann McCready, Mary Hilliard Harrington, Mary Martin, Alan Valentine, Allen Brown, Tony Brown, Tom Lord, Tim DuBois, Tracy Gershon, Tree Paine, Tamara Saviano, Hunter Davis, Hunter Kelly, Scott & Sandi Borchetta, Scott Robinson, Sherod Robertson, Jeff Walker, Jeff Hanna & Matraca Berg, Jimmy Carter, Joe Palmaccio, Jon Freeman and Jon Randall Stewart & Jessi Alexander. Jon and Jessi spent the holidays, by the way, having a seven-day blast on Delbert’s Blues Cruise.
Meanwhile, back at the Grammy schmoozathon, we noshed on roast beef sandwiches, tiny rock shrimp on toast points, roasted and glazed veggies on flat breads, crab cake sandwiches, Mediterranean dips, filo dessert rolls and more. We said, “Happy New Year” to Gilles Godard, Fletcher Foster, Ronna Rubin, Luke Lewis, Chris Keaton, Ron & Regina Stuve, Rod Essig, Ree Guyer Buchanan, Jackie Marushka Luttrell, Janet Bozeman, Paul Barnabee, Pat Higdon, Peter Cooper, Karen Byrd, Ken Robold, Kira Florita, Kay West, Andrew Kintz, Shelby Kennedy, Beverly Keel, Denise Stiff, Dan Harrell, David Preston, Don Light, Bob Doyle and Frank Myers, not to mention Mayor Karl Dean and Nashville first lady Anne Davis.
“That’s Karl with a ‘K,’” said hizzhonor. “Of course,” sez I. “Bobby Karl is always with a ‘K,’ as all correct Karl spellers are.”
The awards show airs Sunday, February 13, 8:00 p.m./Eastern on CBS.

Nashville mayor Karl Dean, Nashville first lady, Anne Davis and GRAMMY nominees Marty Stuart and Connie Smith.

Country Sales Brace For Roller Coaster Ride

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Think of this week’s Nielsen SoundScan results as a giant coaster ride. The cold steel restraint has pushed you against the seat back and as the car slowly “click clicks” up the steep first curve you calm your stomach saying, “Hey, I’m going to be fine.”
Country music album sales are up a healthy 14.9% YTD for the week ended 1/16/2011. But in two weeks our coaster car will summit the climb and then…. all hell breaks loose.
Yes, it was the week of 1/31/2010 when Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now debuted with 481,000 units. And by 2/28/10 it had scanned about 1.16 million! But where is our half million unit debut for this year? Answer: it already debuted fourth quarter last year when we threw every artist that could get shelf space into the sales mix. And hence the roller coaster analogy, because starting the last week of January, that nice 14.9% increase is going to head downhill like a speeding Coney Island coaster about to fly off the track!
In the meantime, Country Strong is sweetening the opening weeks of 2011.The official cinematic soundtrack sold over 28k units this week landing in the No. 2 spot on the Top Current Country album chart (total sales after 12 weeks is 100,000). Also related to the film is Country Strong (More Music From the Motion Picture) which moved over 15k units for a No. 5 chart position.
Steel Magnolia’s digital-only album debut also performed nicely, lagging the Paltrow/McGraw epic by only a few hundred units and earning it a No. 3 place.

The media savvy Bellamy Brothers immediately tried to connect Spear's latest to their classic, "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me." However, even the most rabid Bellamy fans will have to admit that the production trio of Shellback, Dr. Luke and Max Martin have created a highly original swirling pop pastry.


As 2010 closed we saw powerhouse sales from Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Lady A, Rascal Flatts, ZBB and a few others, but now in the stark January chill, sales have slowed. A few weeks ago at the end of the holidays (12/26/2010) the Top Current Country 75 chart saw sales of 1.467 million units. But this week’s post holiday chart shifted only about 351k. Filling out the Top 5 positions this week are Taylor Swift at No. 1 with sales of over 35k and Jason Aldean sliding slightly to No. 4 with about 25k units.
Digital Track Sales & FACToids
Taylor Swift tops the country tracks list with “Back To December” downloading over 60k times. But over on the all genre Digital Tracks chart Britney Spears vaults to the top with a 411k debut of her new single, “Hold It Against Me.” The media savvy Bellamy Brothers immediately tried to connect the song’s hook to their classic, “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me.” However, even the most rabid Bellamy fans will have to admit that the production trio of Shellback, Dr. Luke and Max Martin have created a highly original swirling pop pastry.

Ten Years On The Lost Highway

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Lost Highway Records will mark its tenth anniversary with a series of vinyl reissues and a blowout SXSW showcase.
On March 18, Lost Highway will team with BMI for a SXSW concert at the new Austin City Limits studio, The Moody Theater. Set to perform are Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll, and Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. Label reps say fans can also expect surprise appearances from guests who have played an important role in Lost Highway’s history.
Throughout 2011 Lost Highway—which almost always makes new projects available on vinyl—will release 20 different titles from its celebrated catalog on limited edition clear vinyl. This series will begin on Jan. 25 with releases of Ryan Adams’ Gold and the soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou?. That will be followed on Feb. 15 by Hayes Carll’s KMAG YOYO and Drive-By Truckers’ Southern Rock Opera, and in March by Williams’ Blessed and Black Joe Lewis & The Honebears’ Scandalous.
As the brainchild of UMG Nashville chairman Luke Lewis, Lost Highway has become known for award-winning, critically acclaimed music. Since launching ten years ago, the label has released 80 albums, sold 18 million units, and had 53 Grammy® nominations with 15 wins. Among the highlights are the label’s debut release, the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack which won five Grammys, and more recently, Johnny Cash’s American IV: The Man Comes Around.
“I started dreaming of a label that might be a haven for artists that make enduring music not driven by hits on the radio,” Lewis recalls. “Only singer-songwriters need apply. Lots of people told me, ‘You can’t do that inside a major label,’ and hearing that made me crazy. I believed that if we were truly discerning and only signed great artists, we could create a brand that would in turn both serve Universal and the artist. And I was thinking at the time about how many incremental sales were created because consumers saw the logo of a label they trusted and knew stood for quality.”
Lewis won a Grammy as executive producer of The Complete Hank Williams, and received the 2010 Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Over the last ten years, Lost Highway has released albums from acclaimed and award-winning artists, including Ryan Adams, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Isaac Freeman (of the Fairfield Four), The Jayhawks, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Whiskeytown, Hank Williams, Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen, Morrissey, Van Morrison, and Tom Jones.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/19/11)

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Let’s do a little Grammy gazing, shall we?

For starters, let’s look beyond the stunning and well-deserved six nominations for Lady Antebellum. What Nashville act has the second most? Surprise! It’s the quintuple nominated outing by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Which, by the way, wins our Disc of the Day.
I’d also like to give a shout-out to Darrell Scott, who not only has a Country Instrumental nomination, but is also a crucial component of Band of Joy, the twice nominated CD by Robert Plant.
Casting our eyes further down the 109 (!) category list, we find our town’s denizens scattered everywhere. As I predicted, Kings of Leon and Paramore are well represented in the pop/rock fields. Leon Russell picks up a nod for his collaboration with Elton John.
Over in Pop Instrumental, you’ll find our own Larry Carlton. Legendary Johnny Mathis came to Music City to make his nominated CD. BeBe & CeCe Winans picked up a pair of nominations in the gospel categories. So hooray for that. You’ll find The John Hartford String Band as a contender in the Traditional Folk race. Bela Fleck is a nominee in exotic Category 75 (Best Contemporary World Music Album).
Our own Doug Seroff has a liner-notes nomination for a Fisk Jubilee set. And Colin Escott is back with another Best Historical nomination for a Hank Williams package, co-produced by Jett Williams and Mike Jason and engineered by Joe Palmaccio.
The country categories contain, as usual, a few head scratchers. No to Kenny
Chesney, but yes to David Nail? No to Reba, but yes to Gretchen Wilson? But it is nice to see Dailey & Vincent sneaking in for a Group nomination.
Here are a few other Nashville notables “in the hunt.”
GUY CLARK/Hemingway’s Whiskey
Writer: Guy Clark/Joe Leathers/Ray Stephenson; Producer: Guy Clark, Verlon Thompson & Chris Latham; Publisher: EMI April/Curb/Ghermkyle, BMI/ASCAP; Dualtone (track)
—Let’s face it: This guy is proudly and steadfastly “folk” in all the best senses of the term. So it’s no wonder that his Somedays the Song Writes You album is up for a Best Contemporary Folk Grammy. And just to prove (again) that a great song knows no genre, this insightful, gentle, metaphoric, evocative track emerged from it to become the title tune of Kenny Chesney’s new blockbuster.
SAM BUSH/Circles Around Me
Writer: Jeff Black/Sam Bush; Producer: Sam Bush; Publisher: Lotos Nile/Samanda Lynn/Bug, BMI; Sugar Hill (www.sambush.com)
—If you don’t absolutely love Sam Bush, pack your bags and get out of town. This mandolin master, songwriting wunderkind, singer and personality-plus fellow is up for Best Bluegrass Album, Category 65. Its trilling, trippy title tune is just one of 14 reasons to love this music-packed set. Co-writer Jeff Black, by the way, is also responsible for the album’s standout track, “Gold Heart Locket.”
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS/Magic #9
Writer: Jesse Cobb/Chris Pandolfi; Producer: The Infamous Stringdusters & Gary Paczosa; Publisher: Cobbstrumental/Deep Home, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track) (www.thestringdusters.com)
—Where would the Country Instrumental Category be without bluegrass bands? Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, Frankie Ballard, the Dixie Chicks, Diamond Rio and the rest of country’s hot pickers need to get on the job. As it is, “Magic #9” by The Infamous Stringdusters is a mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar and dobro plucked tune that is a worthy, lilting, breezy and merry sounding nominee.
STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN/Beauty Will Rise
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Sparrow
—This singer-songwriter is a Nashville treasure. You’ll find him in Grammy Category 53: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. Its title tune is a rocking, magnificently uplifting, aching-yet-hopeful ode. Rising from personal and spiritual pain, he sings of the endurance of our souls like no one else. I remain an awestruck fan.
TY HERNDON/The Rest Of My Life
Writer: Matthew S. Garringer/Ty Herndon; Producer: Ty Herndon & Wayne Haun; Publisher: Sunset Gallery/Journey On, no performance rights listed; Funl (track)
—Former country chart topper Herndon bounces back with a Grammy nomination in gospel Category 54 for his Journey On album. It kicks off with this densely scored pop pounder, complete with a quasi-choral backing. Rousing.
RICKY SKAGGS/Return To Sender
Writer: Gordon Kennedy; Producer: Ricky Skaggs & Gordon Kennedy; Publisher: Glennjoy, ASCAP; Skaggs Family (track)
—If you put on Ricky’s Mosaic collection expecting to hear a bluegrass record, you are in for a shock. Co-produced by Gordon Kennedy, it is a collage of pop sounds, united by spiritual lyrics. The whole CD has a nomination in Category 53: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. This gorgeously melodic, Celtic-flavored, string-embellished thumper is up for Best Gospel Song. It is a beautiful sounding mini-masterpiece. Ricky’s third nomination is in the Traditional Folk list (Category 68), for his Songs My Dad Loved album.
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA/Metropolis Symphony
Writer: Michael Daugherty; Producer: Blanton Alspaugh; Publisher: Peermusic Classical, BMI; Naxos
—This is a brilliant performance of a challenging composition. Daugherty’s work often demands that all instruments play at the top of their registers and incorporates such sounds as whistles, siren, brake drum, chimes and whip cracks. The fifth movement, “Red Cape Tango,” is the most melodic, dramatic and extended of the symphony. It’s not exactly dinner music, but this is the classical record to beat.
DARRELL SCOTT/Willow Creek
Writer: Darrell Scott; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Full Light
—Darrell has often been celebrated as the Nashville tunesmith of “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Born to Fly,” “Longtime Gone,” “Heartbreak Town,” “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” and more. He has also been lauded for a series of seven great solo CDs. It’s about time someone noticed that he is also a first-call Music Row instrumentalist. This charming, jaunty ditty appears on his A Crooked Road CD and has a nomination in Category 40: Best Country Instrumental. From an indie-label album, no less. Mazel tov.
CHERRYHOLMES/Tattoo Of A Smudge
Writer: B.J. Cherryholmes/Molly Cherryholmes; Producer: Ben Isaacs, Jere Cherryholmes & B.J. Cherryholmes; Publisher: Hey, Knucklehead, ASCAP; Skaggs Family (track) (www.cherryholmes.com)
—This fiddle-and-mandolin dominated rapid romp landed Cherryholmes in the Best Country Instrumental category. Which makes this a strange time for the family band to be announcing that it’s calling it quits this spring.
THE STEELDRIVERS/Where Rainbows Never Die
Writer: Chris Stapleton/Mike Henderson; Producer: Luke Wooten & The SteelDrivers; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
—The SteelDrivers are also in a time of transition. Lead singer Chris Stapleton left the band after recording the current Reckless CD. That’s him singing on this atmospheric meditation on aging. It’s such a terrific song and performance that it did my heart good to see it competing against the major-label biggies in Category 38: Best Country Group. Yes, Lady A will win. But this is still such a class nomination.
MARTY STUART & CONNIE SMITH/I Run To You
Writer: Marty Stuart/Connie Smith; Producer: Marty Stuart; Publisher: Marty Stuart/Connie Smith/Bug, BMI; Sugar Hill (track) (www.martystuart.net)
—Marty is up for two Grammy Awards. “Hummingbyrd” is in the running for Country Instrumental. And this steel-soaked duet with his gold-standard vocalist bride is competing in the Country Collaboration race. Is that cool or what? Both nominees can be found on his current Ghost Train album.
ROBERT PLANT/Silver Rider
Writer: Zachary Micheletti/Mimi Parker/George Sparhawk; Producer: Robert Plant & Buddy Miller; Publisher: 1238/Spinney/Domino, BMI/PRS; Rounder (track)
—Plant’s Nashville-recorded Band of Joy CD features an all-star cast of Nashvillians, including Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott, Bekka Bramlett and Byron House. It is justifiably a nominee in Category 64: Americana Album. And this track pops up competing in the Best Rock Vocal, Category 15. His spectral reading of the echoey throbber—shadowed by the hushed, haunted harmony of Patty Griffin—is simply mesmerizing.

Colt Ford's Free Download, New Web Series

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Colt Ford is giving fans a free download of the tune “Hip Hop In A Honky Tonk” featuring Texas star Kevin Fowler. Get it here with no strings attached, or check out the new video at CMT.com.
In more news from the Average Joes artist, Ford has debuted the Mr. Goodtime Show on his website www.coltford.com. The web series gives fans a behind-the-scenes view of life on the road. The debut episode features Ford talking about what he wears (or doesn’t wear) to go to sleep at night, and the more recent episode shows him explaining a few important rules of the dance floor.

Open Road Signs Miller; Bishop Media/Marketing Formed

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Karyn Bishop announces the formation of Bishop Media & Marketing, formerly known as KB Radio Works. According to Bishop, the new company is designed to better serve the diversified client base she now represents. Services include artist radio tours, artist marketing and syndicated radio show recruitment and affiliate relations activities. Current clients include “Rise-Up Country with Jon Ritter” and “The Direct Connection Christian radio show.” Also on the roster is former NFL star Dexter Carter. Contact karynbishop@comcast.net
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(L-R) Paul Compton, Open Road Music Publishing Creative Director, with staff writers: Gwen Sebastian, Dean Miller, and Brian Eckert


Nashville-based Open Road Music Publishing, a division of Open Road Records, has inked a deal with singer-songwriter Dean Miller to serve as staff writer. Current songs include Open Road Records artist Gwen Sebastian’s latest radio single, “VIP (Barefoot Girl),” which he co-write with Sebastian and Brian Eckert. Eckert and Sebastian are also Open Road Music Publishing staff writers. Miller also co-wrote a track on the current Jamey Johnson album called “That’s How I Don’t Love You” with Johnson. Miller was born in Los Angeles and is the son of Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Roger Miller.

Lifenotes

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Reminder—Nick Hunter memorial• Derek Crownover welcomes baby • Sony’s Joe Freel’s father passes • Chris Lucas of LoCash Cowboys loses father

>>Derek Crownover, a music business attorney and President of the Southern Division of the TJ Martell Foundation, welcomed his first child, Edward Sims Crownover, with wife Susan. The baby weighed 8lbs and 9 oz. All three are doing fine.
>>Joseph P. Freel, Sr., father of Sony Music Nashville’s Manager, A&R Administration Joe Freel passed away Sunday, Jan. 16. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 20, from 3-6 PM at Riggs Funeral Home, 130 North Route 9, Forked River, NJ 08731. The funeral will be Friday at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Forked River, NJ, with burial at Good Luck Cemetery in Lanoka Harbor, NJ. Flowers are welcome, or memorial donations can be made to the Lacey Township EMS (Emergency Medical Services), PO Box 289, Forked River, NJ 08731.
>>On Saturday, Jan. 15, Chris Lucas of the Stroudavarious Records duo LoCash Cowboys, lost his father, Jack Lucas. He passed away while visiting Chris and other family in Nashville. In lieu of flowers, the family has expressed their desire that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, or online at www.stjude.org/waystohelp.
>>Friends of late music executive Nick Hunter are organizing Nickfest, a celebration of his life and legacy, to be held Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 6 PM at 2602 Soundstage (2602 Westwood Dr. Nashville, TN 37204). Please RSVP by Jan. 18 to nickfest160@gmail.com. More details here.

Comcast, NBC Universal Merger Approved

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Comcast’s purchase of NBC Universal is expected to be complete before the end of the month, following today’s approval of the merger by the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department.
The government approved the $30 billion transaction, tagging it with numerous conditions designed to ensure fair competition between Comcast and other programmers, ISPs and cable companies.
Other stipulations are intended to spur broadband service in underserved communities, schools and libraries; and to increase news coverage, children’s television, and Spanish-language programming.
This marks the first time that a cable company will control a major broadcast network. Under terms of the agreement, Comcast is buying a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric.
The purchase will give Comcast a stake in online TV program viewing site Hulu, a key point considering changing consumer behavior has jeopardized Comcast’s traditional cable television business. This new deal will help ensure the company’s role in the future of online television viewing.

Finding A Way Out Of The Record Biz Maze

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Hollywood entertainment blog TheWrap.com, usually content to bluster over the world of film and TV has issued a pair of music industry articles offering dire 2011 predictions.
“Has the music stopped for the broken record business?” asks writer Johnnie L. Roberts, who arrives at TheWrap via stints for Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. Roberts quotes an unnamed major label senior exec who says, “No other industry will go through as much change as the music industry will in the next six months.”
Roberts notes that the recent arrival of CEO Lucian Grainge to Universal came with an imperative to cut expenses. Unofficial sources peg those cuts at anywhere from $50 million all the way to a seemingly impossible $400 million. Leadership changes are also in play at Sony with Rolf Schmidt-Holtz out in April. Will the Sony seat be filled by Doug Morris now leaving Universal or could it be Tom Whalley, recently of Warner Music Group who will fill the vacant chair?
“The business of selling music is over as we knew it,” a former label chief said to TheWrap. “And the future of it is yet to be determined by anyone.”
Roberts says that shrinking sales and narrowing margins are finally catching up with companies and points to EMI’s Guy Hands as another troubled example saying, “Unable to earn enough to avoid breaching billions of dollars of loans piled atop the music company, EMI is already essentially in play — to be traded all or in parts to the highest bidder.”

Total U.S. Album sales (in millions) have dropped 58.5% from 2000 to 2010. Source: Nielsen SoundScan.


Analysis: The grim discussion now facing the music industry is not totally unwarranted, although it may be a touch dramatized to help create more emotional headlines. According to Nielsen SoundScan, total U.S. album sales in 2000 were about 785 million. In 2010 those sales had dropped 58.8% to 326 million. During that time period the industry worked to reduce expenses and  take advantage of additional revenues from touring, publishing, merchandise, litigation and more. Those additional income streams have helped to offset the effects of falling album sales. However, little has been done to solve the specific problem of eroding music sales.
Will 2011 be the year that the industry tackles the music sales issue head on? With sales reaching ever lower levels time is running out to find a solution. Educating the consumer and locking files has had failed results. Maybe the next approach is ask consumers to pay on the way into the store.