NBC To Search For "The Voice" In Music City

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NBC is holding Nashville auditions for its new singing competition The Voice (working title). Based on the Dutch show, Voice of Holland, the American version is from reality TV gurus/ executive producers John de Mol and Mark Burnett.
Internet rumors abound that Carson Daly is in negotiations to host the show.
Interested contestants can try their luck on January 22, 2011 at Nashville’s S.I.R. Studios (1101 Cherry Ave., Nashville, TN 37203). Details here.
One difference between this new outing and other reality singing competitions is the initial “blind audition.” According to the show’s official web site:

The singers will perform with a live band and in front of an audience. During these Auditions the coaches can not see the singers; they can only be heard. The coaches will therefore only be able to select talent based on voice quality and technique, without being distracted or influenced by their appearance. If selected by one of the coaches during The Blind Auditions, singers will be mentored by these coaches who are music industry professionals, compete weekly in front of that panel of coaches and America will decide which singer will be worthy of the grand prize.

>>In other reality singing show news, no date has been announced for the airing of the Nashville auditions of American Idol. More than 16,000 hopefuls turned out for the July 2010 auditions at the Bridgestone Arena.
Judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were in town for a second round of try-outs at the Ryman Auditorium in October.
America’s most-watched show in 2010 premieres on its new nights, Wednesday and Thursday, this week.

Pop Shined in 2010, But All Formats Face Changes

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In its year-end wrap, Billboard (12/18/10) proclaims 2010 The Great Pop Boom noting that pop’s percentage of the Top 10 songs on the Hot 100 chart had soared to 74% compared with just 28% in 2005. Popsters such as Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Justin Bieber and Black Eyed Peas were headline grabbers. Nashville’s Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum also enjoyed high enough levels of sales, press, airplay and chart positions on the Hot 100 to qualify them as pop sensations, too. One thing the pop acts have in common is their highly evolved communication skills designed to keep them front and center in the public’s mind.
Besides the pop success, it was also a year in which some basic industry assumptions were trampled. The touring industry, thought to be bulletproof, was derailed by the weak economy and digital track sales growth, long touted as the savior of falling album sales, slowed to a crawl.
For example, Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged to become Live Nation Entertainment, but sagging ticket sales and tour cancellations caused its stock to drop 50% from April through mid-August. U.S. digital track sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan set an all time record at 1.172 billion sold, but only increased 1% over 2009. The tracks increase was particularly disappointing when contrasted with total album sales which dipped 12.7%.
Train frontman Pat Monahan told Billboard that radio’s role in exposing pop music is also changing. “My manager has a great baseball analogy,” Monahan says. “He said that radio used to be the starting pitcher, and now it’s the closer. You’d better have all your other stuff dialed in—your online fan base, your touring—if you think radio is going to come together.”
Billboard writer Monica Herrera cleverly offers several explanations for the pop-ularity of music-driven TV show, Glee. “A common explanation for the appeal of Glee is its constant championing of earnestness over cynicism,” she says, “coupled with the fact that the cast consists of diverse, relatively unknown faces. It’s no coincidence that some of the year’s most embraced talents, from Bieber to Susan Boyle to Greyson Chance, have equally wholesome back stories, as viral sensations who constantly stay on message about their remarkable rise to fame. Even the always-costumed Gaga talks often of her pre-fame days, and a quick Google search lets fans see her in full struggling artist glory. Horatio Algers for the YouTube age, these new pop stars are the realization of a dream that perhaps resonates more than ever for a logged-on, recession-addled public.”
Analysis: If pop exploded in 2010, what format will shine in 2011? One thing is sure, the challenges are already stacking up. All formats will face unresolved retail sales, radio and touring issues.
In 2010 radio groups got serious about extending their reach beyond the terrestrial towers and using online strategies such as mobile phone apps and streaming. But pure-play Internet radio alternatives such as Pandora were also stretching. Pandora now claims over 65 million users and during 2011 will interface with Toyota, BMW and Ford automobiles. Free and paid subscription services like Spotify, set to finally launch in the U.S. this year, are also likely to cut into time spent listening to traditional signals. Eventually all Internet channels will find a way to reach into the coveted auto dashboard, where so much of radio listening takes place and terrestrial radio will have to evolve to meet these challenges.
The outlook for retail sales is equally complex. Almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy, as physical sales continue to droop (48 million fewer albums in 2010), retailers respond by shrinking music shelf space. As Nashville marketers grapple with CD format extending ideas such as six or eight track albums, opportunities to enjoy streaming music are growing exponentially. Looming larger each year is the question—Do consumers really need to purchase music anymore? Combine a myriad of channels such as Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, Last.FM, Yahoo and Rhapsody with improved 4G mobile wireless and one gets an on-demand, 24/7, instant-access media world where one is always on the grid.
Pop music may continue to rule in 2011, but all formats are finding that music revenue streams and the pathways along which those dollars flow, are rapidly changing.

Fan Jam Remote Will Coincide With ACM Awards Telecast

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As awards shows strive for more and more fan involvement, the Academy of Country Music has announced plans to add a Fan Jam concert, to be held in Las Vegas during and after the April 3 ACM Awards. This will let even more fans take part in the Awards show excitement.
Sugarland will headline the first-ever ACM Fan Jam at the Mandalay Bay Resort. The ACM Awards telecast on CBS will feature three live remotes, one per hour, from the simultaneous Fan Jam concert. Other ACM Fan Jam performers are yet to be announced.
“We sell out our Awards show tickets within minutes of going on sale, every year,” explains Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “With Sugarland’s help, the Academy is answering the demand of more and better access to the Awards show with the Fan Jam, with a family-friendly ticket price ($35, $55) and a promise that this experience will be like no other in ACM Awards history.”
Tickets for the ACM Fan Jam, and all other ACM Awards-related events, will go on sale Wednesday (1/19) at Ticketmaster.com. This includes the ACM Awards, and the Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country taping on April 4, 2011.

BMI Trailblazers; Keep The Music Playing Concert; USO Tour

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Commissioned and Shirley Caesar Honored at BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards • Sara Evans Visits Pearl-Cohn Choir Students In Preparation For Keep The Music Playing All-Stars Concert • Kix Brooks Visits The Troops

Commissioned and Shirley Caesar Honored at BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards

BMI honored gospel greats Commissioned and Pastor Shirley Caesar at the organization’s 12th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon. The event was held January 14 at Rocketown in Nashville and was hosted by Catherine Brewton, BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations, and Del Bryant, BMI Pres./CEO. The ceremony will be telecast on the Gospel Music Channel Saturday, February 19 at 7 pm. BeBe and CeCe Winans’ “Close to You” was named BMI’s Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year. Written by BeBe Winans and published by Music of Everhits, the song also earned the 2010 Dove Award for Urban Recorded Song of the Year.

(L-R): BMI Pres./CEO Del Bryant; Commissioned’s Karl Reid, Maxx Frank and Fred Hammond; Pastor Shirley Caesar; Commissioned’s Michael Williams, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Montrel Darrett, Michael Brooks and Marvin Sapp; BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton; and BMI Sr. Dir. Writer Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy. Photo: Arnold Turner

Sara Evans Visits Pearl-Cohn Choir Students In Preparation For Keep The Music Playing All-Stars Concert

RCA Nashville recording artist Sara Evans visited Pearl-Cohn High School on Friday (1/14) to give choir students career advice and performance tips in anticipation of their appearance at the Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert presented by SunTrust Bank at the Schermerhorn on February 1. The students performed and were accompanied by Pearl-Cohn High School Music Director, Llewellyn Peter, on a Baldwin Grand Piano which was donated to the school in 2008 through the Country Music Association’s “Keep the Music Playing” Program.

(L-R): Metro Nashville School District CFO Chris M. Henson; Exec. Dir. Nashville Alliance Pam Garrett Tidwell; Sara Evans; Pearl-Cohn Exec. Principal Marva Blanchard-Woods; and CMA VP Corporate Communications Wendy Pearl. Photo: John Russell

Kix Brooks Visits The Troops

As part of the USO’s annual holiday tour, American Country Countdown host Kix Brooks performed for members of the U.S. Military serving overseas. Brooks was joined by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, in travelling to Afghanistan and Iraq. Also joining to spread holiday cheer to the troops were seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong; comedians Robin Williams, Lewis Black and Kathleen Madigan; and Country songwriter/performer Bob DiPiero.

(L-R): Lance Armstrong, Kix Brooks, Bob DiPiero, Robin Williams, Kathleen Madigan and Lewis Black.

DVD Kiosk Rental On The Rise

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In 2010, more DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BDs) were rented from standalone kiosks like Redbox and Blockbuster, than in retail stores. This according to the latest research by The NPD Group.
“Consumers are obviously responding positively to the perceived value and convenience of kiosks,” said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD.
According to NPD, Netflix and other subscription services comprised 41% of video rentals in the third quarter of 2010, followed by kiosk rentals at 31%, and in-store rentals at 27%.
Compared to the third quarter of 2009, kiosk rental increased 10 percentage points, subscription rental share rose 2%, and in-store rental share declined by 13%.
Crupnick adds, “Traditional video retailers will no doubt experience even more competition in the coming year, as kiosks appear more frequently in grocery store chains, mass merchandisers, and quick-serve restaurants, and as competition intensifies from an assortment of on-demand rental offerings.”

Country Cares for St. Jude

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Randy Owen visits with a St. Jude patient at Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar.


Many members of the country music community spent the weekend in Memphis to help kick off the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon season. The event, spearheaded 22 years ago by Randy Owen, drew more than 800 artists, label representatives, radio station personnel and executives.
Country Cares is one of the nation’s largest radio fundraising programs, having generated more than $385 million for St. Jude since it began in 1989.
More than 30 artists visited St. Jude patients, including Owen, Ronnie Dunn, Joanna Smith, Justin Moore, The Band Perry, Jake Owen, Casey James, Katie Armiger, Frankie Ballard, Craig Campbell, Ashley Gearing, the JaneDear Girls, The Grascals, Walker Hayes, Joey & Rory, Josh Kelley, Jennette McCurdy, Randy Montana, Troy Olsen, and Eli Young Band.

Frankie Ballard enjoys an activity with St. Jude patient Anna Pike.


Ronnie Dunn and St. Jude patient Ella hang out during Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar.


Josh Kelley meets St. Jude patient Carissa at Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar.



Steve Jobs Taking Medical Leave

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Apple boss Steve Jobs is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence.
During his absence, day-to-day control of the company will be in the hands of Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook. Jobs will retain the title of CEO and said in a letter to employees that he will be involved in “major strategic decisions” for the company.
This is the second time Jobs has taken time off for health concerns, but this is the first time without a timetable for his return.
In January 2009 he took leave and returned the following June after undergoing a liver transplant. Jobs was treated for pancreatic cancer in 2004.
Many speculators believe he chose today to share the news because the U.S. stock market is closed for the MLK holiday, and the announcement would likely have a negative impact on Apple stock.
More here.

Memorial Set For CDB Guitarist Tommy Crain

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Friends and family will gather Friday evening at Soundcheck Nashville to honor he music and the memory of longtime Charlie Daniels guitarist Tommy Crain.
Crain died last Thursday, Jan. 13. He was 59 years old.
During his 15-year tenure in the Charlie Daniels Band, the guitarist recorded more than 20 albums with the group. He co-wrote more than 60 songs, including such hits as “In America” (1980), “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” (1980), “Carolina” (1981), “Boogie Woogie Country Fiddle Blues” (1988), “Cowboy Hat in Dallas” (1989) and the Grammy and CMA Award winning “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (1979).
He joined the Charlie Daniels Band in 1975, following the first Volunteer Jam, and remained with the group until 1989. Previously, Tommy Crain had performed in the Flat Creek Band with his brother Billy, as well as in Buckeye. Following his CDB years, he fronted The Crosstown All Stars. He was regarded as among the most influential musicians in Southern rock music.
“Tommy Crain will always be a part of the CDB family, and his music will always be a part of the CDB sound,” said Daniels in a statement. “We have lost a good friend, and the world has lost a unique, creative and precious human being. We send our deepest condolences to the family of our brother Tommy Crain. You were special, buddy. We’re gonna miss you.”
In addition to brother Billy, Tommy Crain is survived by wife Melissa, parents John and Helen Crain, daughter Ann, sister Sherry Crain Aldridge, grandson Hunter McDuffee and numerous nieces and nephews.
The memorial celebration on Friday will begin with visitation at 4 p.m. Testimonials and the musical tribute will be at 5 p.m. Soundcheck Nashville is at 750 Cowan Street.
Donations can be made to the the Nashville chapter of Musicians on Call, 1313 21st Ave., Oxford House, Suite 1002, Nashville, TN 37232.

Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert

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Luke Bryan will host and perform during the second Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert.


The Nashville Alliance for Public Education, along with the Country Music Association and the Nashville Symphony will host a student concert Tuesday, Feb. 1 (6:30 PM/CT) to celebrate the return of the city’s world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the development of our next generation of musicians and performers during the second Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert presented by SunTrust Bank.
Capitol Records Nashville artist and CMA Board member Luke Bryan will host the event and perform with Nashville School of the Arts guitar student Sam Hunter.
The All Stars Concert will feature a variety of musical styles from arts programs in Metro Nashville’s 139 elementary, middle, and high schools.
The Nashville Alliance has partnered with CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program since 2006 and has provided more than 4,000 musical instruments and music labs for nearly 70 Metro public schools. To date, the program has raised more than $4.7 million from the proceeds of the annual CMA Music Festival to purchase much-needed musical instruments and equipment. In 2010, CMA donated more than $1.4 million to the effort, which includes a $1 million endowment ($200,000 annual contribution) of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words & Music” program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting.
The Keep the Music Playing All Stars concert is free to students’ families and schools through the support of SunTrust Bank.
“Putting instruments in the hands of children is one of the most important initiatives undertaken by CMA on behalf of our artists,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Supporting music education is an investment in the future. Metro students who participate in arts programs have a 95 percent graduation rate and access to scholarships. These music students care about how music is made and where it comes from. They are our most ardent ambassadors.”

BNA Talent Signs Lopez And Tallant

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"I traded in my Hollywood stilettos for some cowboy boots and headed over to Nashville. I'm loving this city," comments Patricia Lopez, a six-foot bilingual host nicknamed 'Longlegs.' "My alignment with BNA Talent Group is the perfect start to 2011."


BNA Talent Group, located on Music Row, continues to increase its footprint in country music programming with the announcement of its signing of TV and radio hosts Patricia Lopez and Shane Tallant. BNA Talent Group represents hosts, actors and recording artists for television, feature film and commercial representation.
Lopez recently made her country television debut hosting Great American Country’s “Late Shift” and “Holiday Moments Video Block,” and previously was the co-host on Rick Dees radio show from Los Angeles.
Tallant, an EMMY Award recipient, most notably is the host of HGTV’s ” Designed to Sell ” and recently was the co-host of Nashville Fox affiliate’s “Tennessee Mornings.” Tallant is also engaged to Autumn House of Capital Records.

"I plan on being in Nashville for a long time and working within a field that I have a passion for, country music. I think Josh and BNA Talent understand this goal and we make a great team," says Tallant, who currently appears in the feature film, Country Strong.


“By increasing our footprint in the country music industry, the spotlight will remain on our collection of hosts, actors and artists with Nashville connections in film, network and cable programing,” says BNA Talent Group owner and veteran agent, Josh Robbins. “The additions of Patricia Lopez and Shane Tallant continues that goal.”
BNA Talent Group opened in 2009 and is located at 1301 16th Ave South, Ste 203, Nashville, TN, 37212. Robbins can be contacted at josh@BNAtalent.com or by calling (615) 457-1164. The company’s roster also includes CMT’s Katie Cook and Author/Music Industry Executive Anastasia Brown.