Weekly Chart Report (11/19/10)

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Eric Lee Beddingfield recently visited WATZ/Alpena, MI to promote his single "The Gospel According to Jones" from his new album "This Life Ain’t For Everybody." (L-R): WATZ PD Susie Martin and Beddingfield.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday next week, MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart will be compiled and published on Wednesday, November 24. All reports are due in by 12 Noon CT.

RADIO NEWS
Tom Jeffries has taken over the PD position at Max Broadcast Group Holdings’s WCMS/Elizabeth City-Nags Head, NC effective immediately. In addition to programming duties, Jeffries will also be handling the morning drive airshift. He was most recently with WKQL/Charlotte, and has extensive experience in radio including stints in Boston and Cleveland. Reach him at 252-480-4655 or tom@wcms.com.

SPIN ZONE
Rascal Flatts’ “Why Wait” earns the CountryBreakout No. 1 song for a second consecutive week, despite losing a handful of spins. Reba’s “Turn On The Radio” moves up to No. 2 ahead of former No. 1 The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young.” Brad Paisley’s “Anything Like Me” holds at No. 4, and Keith Urban’s “Put You In A Song” races for the top, moving 8-5.

Paisley’s Top 5 positioning brings up an interesting scenario. “Anything Like Me” is still showing positive spin gains at this point, so it’s conceivable that it could earn a No. 1 honor soon. But earlier in the week, Arista rush-released a version Paisley’s “This Is Country Music”—which he played on the CMA Awards—to country radio due to overwhelming demand. It didn’t have quite enough time to impact this chart, but expect it to be added and in rotation next week.

Jason Aldean has a similar predicament. “My Kinda Party” is now Top 10, and showing continued growth. But programmers have quickly latched on to “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” the duet Aldean performed with Kelly Clarkson at the CMA Awards. That song debuted at No. 77 this week, so look to see it lifting off over the next few charts.

Other tunes debuting are Sugarland’s “Little Miss” at No. 63, Katie Armiger’s “Best Song Ever” at No. 65, and Chris Filer’s “John Deere, John 3:16” at No. 80.

Frozen Playlists: KMKS

Upcoming Singles
November 22
Josh Thompson/Won’t Be Lonely Long/Columbia
Darius Rucker/This/Capitol

December 6
Chuck Wicks/Old School/RCA
LeAnn Rimes/Crazy Women/Curb
The Harters/If I Run/Bigger Picture
Alan Jackson/Ring of Fire/Arista
Crossin Dixon/Goodbye To Henry/Stoney Creek

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New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Sugarland/Little Miss/Mercury — 63
Katie Armiger/Best Song Ever/Cold River — 65
Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson/Don’t You Wanna Stay/Broken Bow — 77
Chris Filer/John Deere, John 3:16/Lofton Creek – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Taylor Swift/Back To December/Big Machine — 482
Darius Rucker/This/Capitol — 440
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA — 378
Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson/Don’t You Wanna Stay/Broken Bow — 286
Sugarland/Little Miss/Mercury — 273

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Braden Gray/A Little Less Lonely/ATP Records — 284
Uncle Kracker/Good To Be Me/Top Dog/Atlantic — 233
Brantley Gilbert/My Kind of Crazy/Average Joe’s Entertainment — 199
Josh Thompson/Won’t Be Lonely Long/Columbia — 197
Jason Sturgeon/Rollin’ On/Toolpusher/Spinville/Nine North — 173

Two Week Most Added*
Artist/song/label — New adds
Darius Rucker/This/Capitol — 29
Taylor Swift/Back To December/Big Machine — 29
Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson/Don’t You Wanna Stay/Broken Bow — 25
Sugarland/Little Miss/Mercury — 22
Easton Corbin/I Can’t Love You Back/Mercury — 13
Alan Jackson/Ring of Fire/Arista — 11
Katie Armiger/Best Song Ever/Cold River — 10

FUNL Music’s Ty Herndon, Curb Records’ Ashley Gearing and Republic Nashville’s Sunny Sweeney performed in front of an audience of approximately 200 radio contest winners on Nov. 10, during CMA Awards week. The winners were flown in from all over the U.S. as part of a radio contest package, produced by Nashville-based celebrity event travel management company, What A Trip! (L-R): What A Trip’s Darlene Williams, Sweeney, Herndon and Gearing.

During CMA week, Justin Moore stopped by the WMAD/Madison broadcast to join in the Madness with Star Country. (L-R) Back: Valory Music’s George Briner; WMAD’s Mike Ferris and John Flint; and Valory Music’s Jon Loba. Front: Moore and WMAD’s Tammy Lee and Steph Peters.

Badhorse recently stopped by KLMJ/Hampton, IA. The group is pictured here with KLMJ MD Mike Betten.

EMI Signs Davidson; Better Angels Signs White

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EMI SIGNS SARAH DAVIDSON
Songwriter Sarah Davidson has signed a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing.

(L-R): EMI’s Laura Wright, Ben Vaughn and Tom Luteran; Sarah Davidson; Craig Hayes, attorney Zumwalt, Almon & Hayes; and EMI’s Josh VanValkenburg and Missy Wilson.

BETTER ANGELS SIGNS JASON WHITE
Singer/songwriter Jason White has inked a recording contract with Better Angels Music Group. In January, he will release The Longing, produced by Better Angels CEO Rob Rappaport. White has been a Better Angels staff writer for three years and is best known for writing “Red Ragtop” (Tim McGraw).

(L-R): Gary Ray, Dir. Artist Relations; Jason White; and Rob Rappaport.

Country Thunder Festivals For Arizona, Wisconsin

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Country Thunder Music Festivals have been announced for Florence, Arizona (April 7-10/2011) and Twin Lakes, Wisconsin (July 21-24/2011). The Arizona event features Toby Keith as its headliner, plus artists such as Martina McBride and Jason Aldean.

The Wisconsin Country Thunder event in July features Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Martina McBride plus headliners Rascal Flatts.

General admission tickets for the four-day events start at $99. Tent and campsites are available which range from primitive rugged to rustic and modern amenities. Complete info can be found online. More artists are expected to be announced for both events in coming weeks.

http://arizona.countrythunder.com/
http://wisconsin.countrythunder.com/

Montgomery Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

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Eddie Montgomery, of duo Montgomery Gentry, has recently been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. He will have surgery to remove the cancerous tumor in December. Montgomery says, “I plan to be back in January ready to rock for all the fans!”

MusicRow wishes Eddie a speedy recovery.

Television Roundup: Year End Specials, Glee Does Lady A

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Jennifer Nettles hosts ABC's "CMA Country Christmas" special.

ABC’s  “CMA Country Christmas” special will air Monday, November 29 at 8:30 pm CT. The 90 minute program will be hosted by Jennifer Nettles and feature performances of holiday favorites by Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Reba, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, and Sugarland.

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Five of the year’s biggest artists will come together on Dec. 3 for CMT’s Artists of the Year special, which will air December 3 at 7pm CT. Actor/musician Kevin Costner will host the 90 minute event, honoring the 2010 achievements of Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band and Carrie Underwood with celebrity tributes and performances.

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In other Lady Antebellum news, Entertainment Weekly is reporting that the Capitol trio will be getting the Glee treatment for the hit Fox show’s post-Super Bowl episode. The episode, which will also feature Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and songs by Black Eyed Peas and Katy Perry, will reportedly be the most expensive in Glee history. Lady A will be only the second country artist to be covered on Glee after Broadway star Kristen Chenowith took on Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name” in Season 1.

Swift’s Momentum Turns To TV

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For her Allure cover shoot, Taylor Swift was photographed by Michael Thompson at Studio Berry Hill in Nashville. This photo is from her April 2009 cover.

Taylor Swift’s million plus magical sales week momentum is soon set to travel to TV. Swift will join NBC’s traditional Thanksgiving lineup on Thurs. Nov. 25, 8-9 p.m. ET with a musical presentation, Taylor Swift: Speak Now.

Taylor’s special event takes fans on a tour of concert stops from New York to Los Angeles including unique locations such as Central Park and a atop a bus on Hollywood Boulevard.

The singer/songwriter will offer nine performances plus behind-the-scenes footage to take viewers along on the making of her Speak Now CD. The show was produced by Todd Cassetty Welding Service, LLC with Swift and Cassetty as Executive Producers.

Swift on the set of her Thanksgiving NBC special, "Taylor Swift: Speak Now."

Swift will also appear on the Tonight show With Jay Leno, Nov. 22 and then on Chelsea Lately on Nov. 24.

On the print front, Ms. Swift graces the Dec. covers of Allure magazine and Seventeen. She is also featured in the Dec. issue of InStyle.

Liz Rose Music Signs Shackelton

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L-R: (Top) Beth Laird from BMI, Scott Ponce with Liz Rose Music and Whitney Daane from Kobalt Music Group; (Bottom) Liz Rose and Emily Shackelton

Recently opened publishing company Liz Rose Music has signed singer/songwriter Emily Shackelton.

“I am thrilled to announce Emily’s signing,” says Scott Ponce, Liz Rose Music general manager/creative director. “We have been fans of her writing for a while and are excited to be working with her in our new venture.”

Shackelton moved to Nashville in 2007 and within a year she had a publishing deal. In the spring of 2008, American Idol winner David Cook performed her song “Dream Big” on the show, which sold over 250,000 copies on iTunes and made it inside the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She has had numerous cuts by major label artists worldwide.

Shackelton states, “I am proud to be a part of this new dynamic creative team and look forward to a life full of words and music.”

Trace Adkins To Host ACA Awards

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Multi-platinum recording artist Trace Adkins will host and perform on the American CountryAwards, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday, Dec. 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Additionally, Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia and Uncle Kracker are also set to perform during the two-hour primetime special.

According to American CountryAwards it is the only country music awards show that gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists in traditional categories and previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring. Performers previously announced include Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton and Josh Turner, as well as participants Laura Bell Bundy, Rodney Carrington, Jewel,Lady Antebellum, Bret Michaels, Ty Murray, Jeff Dunham, Michael Waltrip and Elliott Sadler.

Fans can still vote once each day for their favorite nominees in the Artist of the Year category, at www.theacas.com until Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. American CountryAwards is executive-produced by Bob Bain (TEEN CHOICE 2010, “Kids’ Choice Awards”). Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; Fletcher Foster is co-producer; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the special.

[updated] Will Tennyson Passes

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[Update] Beloved Music Row executive and friend to many Will Tennyson will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 20th in his hometown of Athens, Tennessee. Will died on Tuesday morning from natural causes.  He most recently was a talent executive at Conway Entertainment Group.  Will is survived by his mother and step-father, several brothers and sisters and their families and a daughter. At a young age, he knew he wanted to spend his career on Music Row.  Upon graduating from Tennessee Wesleyan College and attending Nagasaki Wesleyan University in Japan, he moved to Nashville beginning his career at the Gaylord Entertainment Company. After working several other jobs, including a stint at the Ralph Emery Show, he worked for  CMA CEO Tammy Genovese in the marketing and administration affairs and community relations departments.  Most recently, he served as a talent executive for the newly formed Conway Entertainment Group.

Below is information on the services:
A funeral service will be conducted, 1:00 P.M., Saturday, November 20, 2010 at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sam Roberts officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday prior to the service. The family suggests memorials be made to the Friendly Fellow Club c/o Daily Post Athenian, P.O. Box 340, Athens, TN 37371-0340

http://www.jerrysmithfuneralhome.com

A Nashville memorial is being planned with details forthcoming.

• • •

Will Tennyson, 41, passed away this morning. He was found unresponsive in his apartment by a medical team, apparently the victim of natural causes. Exact cause of death is unknown.

Tennyson was an employee of Conway Entertainment Group where he had worked since March. Previously, he worked at the Country Music Association.

MusicRow extends sympathy to Tennyson’s family and friends. We will continue to update this story as more details emerge.

Music Mastermind Intros Unique Online Recording Tool

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Independent music entertainment and technology company Music Mastermind has announced its SoundBetter cloud-based technology that, “let’s anyone create studio-quality music.”

SoundBetter provides a creative solution that lets users enhance their voices, transform their voices into instruments, create pro-sounding beats, add studio-quality backing tracks, and even generate and add adaptable licks to collaborate with friends and famous artists. The technology’s entertaining, game-like elements utilize simple visual cues to make the creative process fun and accessible to all. SoundBetter produces truly individualized music that can be shared and discovered across a broad array of social networks.

“We’re at the forefront of the next evolution of music entertainment, and it’s time to break down the barriers that prevent people from expressing themselves musically,” said Matt Serletic, CEO of Music Mastermind. “This company is all about fun and easy music creation for everyone. All people love music, and now absolutely anyone can produce great sounding songs to enjoy and share with the world.”

Serletic, a multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and former Virgin Records Chairman and CEO, founded Music Mastermind in 2007 with his partner, Bo Bazylevsky, a veteran Wall Street bond trader, senior hedge fund portfolio manager, and former Global Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Trading at J.P. Morgan. The company successfully raised its first round of funding in February 2010 with nearly $5 million from angel investors, and is currently in the process of closing its second investment round. Serlectic also owns Emblem Music Group whose roster includes Gloriana, Rob Thomas and Matchbox Twenty.