Artists On The Road and at Radio

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Stealing Angels In San Jose
Skyville Records/Nine North artists Stealing Angels were in San Jose visiting with  KRTY. The trio was asked to sign a jar of cherries and proved equal to the challenge.

(l-r): Nine North’s Dave Collins, Stealing Angels’ Caroline Cutbirth and Jennifer Wayne, KRTY's Tina Ferguson, KRTY GM Nate Deaton, and Stealing Angels’ Tayla Lynn.

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Amber Hayes Visits AM WSM
FUNL Music recording artist Amber Hayes celebrated the Aug. 31 release of her debut EP, C’mon, with a pair of interviews and performances for Nashville’s legendary radio station 650AM WSM. Hayes delivered a live performance for morning personality Bill Cody.

(l-r): WSM producer, Charlie Mattos, Amber Hayes, WSM’s Bill Cody and Hayes’ guitarist and co-writer, Bill DiLuigi.

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Todd O’Neill Brings “Mississippi” to Missouri
Aria Records artist Todd O’Neill has been visiting radio stations to introduce his latest single, “Cry No Mississippi.”  At a recent stop through Springfield, MO, the singer received a warm welcome at KTTS and met with station program director Mark Grantin.

KTTS program director Mark Grantin (left) greets Todd O’Neill.

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The Judds Kick Off Oprah’s Farewell Season

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After more than 4,400 episodes and 28,000 guests, The Oprah Winfrey Show is getting ready to launch its farewell season, and country super-duo The Judds are set to appear as special guests on Tuesday, September 14.

The Grammy Award-winning mother/daughter team will discuss plans for their upcoming farewell tour, The Last Encore, give a private tour of the 1,000-acre Tennessee farm they call home, and perform a special duet for Oprah. Plus, Wynonna speaks out about how she’s lost more than 60 pounds, and opens up about how she survived the ordeal of her former husband’s arrest and conviction.

Sales Depts; Start Your Engines

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The bars show YTD weekly progress compared with 2009 sales.

Are you tired of watching country sales totals dripple and drip like a leaky faucet? This week for the first time this year, they have finally fallen further into the red zone than the overall industry. In fact, according to Nielsen SoundScan for the week ending 9-5-2010, overall album sales are down -12.5% YTD while country album sales have dipped -13.2%. [see graph] Fortunately, help is on the way!

Currently country has scanned 23.859 million country units in 35 weeks, an average of .68 million per week. If the pace held steady over the year’s remaining 17 weeks country would end up with a meager 35 million units for the year, a disaster compared with the 46.13 million sold in 2009. But that is highly unlikely considering the holidays are always the strongest sales period and this year’s release schedule is especially powerful.

So what is the good news? The good word arrives in the form of upcoming CD releases from Jamey Johnson (9/14), Zac Brown Band (9/21), Kenny Chesney (9/28), Toby Keith (10/5), Sugarland (10/19), Taylor Swift (10/25), Jason Aldean (11/2), Reba (11/9) and Rascal Flatts (11/16). Finally after sloshing through months of underachiever releases, country is getting ready to start its sales engine. In fact, this writer is so optimistic about the lineup that if the steep downward tilt of the graph’s country trend line doesn’t improve, I promise to stop covering country sales. [There, I said it!]

Country Label Mates Tie The Knot

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Trailer Choir’s Mark Fortney, better known as “Butter,” and Carter’s Chord’s Emily Robertson turned a birthday party into a wedding Monday night (9/6)), while surprised family and friends cheered them on. (Photo: www.rqfoto.com)

The couple, who are both Show Dog-Universal artists and who have been dating for almost two years, gathered everyone together at Nashville’s 12th and Porter under the guise of a birthday party for Butter. But after the cake had been served, Butter told their guests he was about to change the evening’s course, and proposed to Robertson. Just when guests thought it couldn’t get any better, a mysterious curtain dropped to reveal flowers, a preacher and an altar made out of PVC pipe.

“Emily and I wanted our wedding to reflect what was important to us, and how much we love each other,” Fortney said. “Expensive invitations and fancy ceremonies don’t matter to us—I mean the altar cost us $30 bucks worth of PVC pipes. Plus we both have this wacky sense of humor, and being able to pull off a surprise like that was great.”

Both Butter and Robertson had all of their band mates in attendance, as well as family and friends.

SESAC To Host Blood/Food Drive

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SESAC, working in conjunction with Nashville Area Red Cross, Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, will host a “Give + Love” event on Monday, September 20 
from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM to raise supplies for Nashville Area Red Cross and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee residents were hit hard by the massive flooding on May 1.  The Nashville Area Red Cross and Second Harvest were quick and effective in meeting the immediate needs of Tennesseans thousands. Because of the prompt response of the Nashville Area Red Cross and Second Harvest Middle Tennessee, both charitable organizations are experiencing critical shortages of food and monetary donations.

In an effort to assist the Nashville Area Red Cross & Second Harvest,SESAC is encouraging Middle Tennesseans to make blood donations and contribute spare change and canned goods. The event will take place at SESAC’s Music Row headquarters at 55 Music Square East.

For more information contact Shawn Williams at swilliams@sesac.com or call 615-320-0055.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/8/10)

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The competition is at a really high level this week.

I can’t remember when there were so many really fine songs going head to head during one listening session. “I Make a Difference,” “Bad Angel,” “Raymond” and “Who Are You When I’m Not Around” all tugged at my emotions in different ways.

It’s also a really good sign when there are so many worthy newcomers making noise. Rob Baird, T.J. Broscoff, Brad Wolf and Brett Eldredge all tickled my ears. But only the last-named had the one-two punch of both a performance and a song that knocked me off my socks. Give Brett Eldredge that DisCovery Award.

Brett was so strong, in fact, that he also competed for Disc of the Day. So did Blake Shelton, Sage Keffer and Randy Houser. But in the end, I went with the undeniable star power of Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson.

ROB BAIRD/Could Have Been My Baby
Writer: Rob Baird; Producer: Scott Davis; Publisher: none listed; Carnival (track) (www.robbairdmusic.com)
—This is evidently kicking up some dust on the Texas charts. I can hear why. He has a soulful, urgent delivery, a blue-collar attitude and a plain-spoken songwriting style. The production is rootsy/cool with underlying high, keening steel and organ sounds. Count me in.

SARA EVANS/A Little Bit Stronger
Writer: Luke Laird/Hillary Lindsey/Hillary Scott; Producer: Tony Brown; Publisher: Universal-Careers/High Powered Machine/Raylene/BPJ/EMI Foray/Hillary Dawn, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC; RCA
—Her delivery is emotionally resonant, but the overly long and meandering song isn’t very hook-y.

BRYAN COLE/I’m Comin’ Home
Writer: Bryan Cole/Michael Stover; Producer: Bryan Cole & Michael Stover; Publisher: none listed; Perfect Vision (www.bryancole.net)
—This fellow is a regional favorite in the Pittsburgh area. His plaintive tenor hits all the right notes here. But it’s usually not a good idea to launch a national career with a ballad. Go find yourself a hit song.

BLAKE SHELTON/Who Are You When I’m Not Looking
Writer: Earl Bud Lee/John Wiggins; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publisher: We’re Working/Kobalt Songs/Notewrite/Fiddlestock, ASCAPP/BMI; Reprise
—He is one of the most underrated vocalists in this format. This stunning, perfect performance throws the spotlight on his ballad abilities. As if his subtly shaded phrasing isn’t stellar enough, the song is wonderfully well written.

T.J. BROSCOFF/Jamie’s Heart
Writer: T.J. Broscoff; Producer: Bill Green; Publisher: Bill Green, BMI; BGM (www.tjbroscoff.com)
—I dig the rasp in his throat, the melodic song and the twinkling, breezy production. Very promising. Send more.

DIERKS BENTLEY, MIRANDA LAMBERT & JAMEY JOHNSON/Bad Angel
Writer: Verlon Thompson/Suzi Ragsdale; Producer: Jon Randall Stewart; Publisher: Verlonsongs/EMI April/Ray Stevens, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol Nashville (track)
—The video of the trio’s performance of this during the CMA Music Festival is now airing on CMT. I went insane over this the first time I heard it on Dierks’s superb Up on the Ridge CD. I’m still crazy about it. Bluesy, soulful, searing and sensational. To my ears, the greatest country Vocal Collaboration of the Year.

BRAD WOLF/I Make A Difference
Writer: Don Goodman/Brad Wolf; Producer: Morris, Goodman & Resnik; Publisher: Big Hitmakers/Little Tornadoes, BMI; Evergreen (615-327-3213)
—His delivery is kinda bawling and in-your-face. But there’s no denying the righteousness of his message. When the teacher is asked how much she makes, she replies, “I make a whole lot more than I get paid/Because I make a difference.” Amen to that.

BRETT ELDREDGE/Raymond
Writer: Brett Eldredge/Brad Crisler; Producer: Byron Gallimore; Publisher: Brett Eldredge/English Ivy/Chrysalis One/Have a Bad Day/FSMGI, BMI/ASCAP; Atlantic
—What a terrific story song. He’s the janitor in an old-folks home. A lady there calls him “Raymond” and thinks he’s her son. He lets her. You see, the real Raymond was buried in Arlington Cemetery in 1971. You’d have to be made of stone not to be moved by this.

SAGE KEFFER/Bet Yo Mama
Writer: Chuck Cannnon; Producer: Matt Rovey & Sage Keffer; Publisher: Chuck Cannon, BMI; SK  (www.sagekeffer.com)
—Swampy and funky every whichaway. This former Nashville Star competitor has a CMT reality TV show with Ted Nugent in the can, is playing the criminal in Jake Owen’s hit “Tell Me” video and has twice headlined shows in Europe. Will somebody do the right thing and give this guy the major-label contract he deserves?

RANDY HOUSER/A Man Like Me
Writer: Randy Houser/Danny Green/Jameson Clark; Producer: Mark Wright & Cliff Audretch III; Publisher: Bug/Songs of Windswept Pacific/Black in the Saddle/Ole/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Mighty Underdog, BMI/ASCAP; Show Dog Universal (CDX)
—Solid. This is my kinda country music, with a heartbeat bass, a note-bending honky-tonk vocal, a deep-South drawl and a chorus with hooks a-plenty. Listeners are going to love this.

Troy Olsen Stars In GAC Webisodes

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EMI Records Nashville artist Troy Olsen is getting his own webisode series on GACTV.com. Livin’ The Dream With Troy Olsen will launch on GAC’s website today, September 7. Viewers can watch the day-to-day stories unfold for Olsen as he talks about everything that has gone in to his pursuit of being a successful singer/songwriter. Each Tuesday a new episode will be revealed. Click here to watch the debut episode.

After a visit to the GAC offices in Nashville to meet and perform songs for the staff, it was apparent that the Arizona native had a colorful history and some great stories to tell about his path to living his dreams, for example, how he grew up a true working cowboy on his family’s ranches in Arizona; how he discovered his musical idols while sitting in the back of a pickup truck at the top of an Arizona canyon trying to pick up the former TNN show, Video PM, and how his recording career began by accidentally discovering that he could make a microphone out of his Walkman when he inadvertently plugged his headphones in to the input instead of the output.

Olsen is currently on his headlining Get Right Tonight Tour in advance of the October 5 release of his self-titled debut EP. The club tour hits over 40 cities before wrapping up on November 20 in Denver, CO.

Industry Vets Establish Media Maverick

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Vernell Hackett

Media Maverick LLC, a media training company, has established offices in Nashville. The company trains entertainers, CEO’s, business executives, government officials and other people who must interact with the media.

The three partners in Media Maverick have more than 50 combined years of experience in print, social media, radio and television, and video production. Broadcast executive Clark Taylor partners with music journalist Vernell Hackett and photographer/videographer John Lee Montgomery III to offer a broad range of expertise for those who wish to expand their interview skills.

Taylor has been involved in broadcast journalism since his early days as a deejay. He was the developer of radio and television news for the Department of the Army and the Pentagon, Soldiers Radio and Television (SRTV), in Washington, D.C. As part of his duties, he trained men and women to testify in front of Congress, talk to the national media and speak before various government committees.

“We have a combined experience that is needed to develop the skills to provide our clients with the confidence they need to talk to the media,” says Taylor. “I am excited about making Nashville the home base for this company.”

John Lee Montgomery III

Hackett covers Nashville’s music industry as an editor and freelance journalist. Montgomery photographs numerous major entertainment and political figures as well as works on various film crews for commercials, music videos and interview shows.

“I can recall many interviews where the person I was speaking with answered in very short, non-descriptive sentences which left me with very little to work with as I was writing my story,” Hackett says. “I look forward to working with people who want to broaden their skills during an interview situation in order to convey their message to the journalist they are interviewing with in order to give them everything they need so they can write their story or edit their radio or television show.”

Montgomery brings extensive work as a videographer and still photographer to Media Maverick LLC. He worked in Nashville’s music industry throughout the 1990’s, then went on travel and work with video production teams that captured numerous political events as well as various advertising campaigns. He has also worked on artist videos and television shows.

“Media Maverick training offers a personalized, adaptive and interactive session with highly diverse and experienced radio, print and TV professionals teaching individuals to more effectively handle themselves when conducting press conferences or business meetings,” Montgomery says. “I personally look forward to helping people understand what goes on behind the camera so as to be better prepared them to be in front of the camera.”

Media Maverick provides personalized media training, with every one-on-one training session customized to meet the needs of the individual. The team of professionals can work in the client’s office or they can provide a training area in which to meet. Instructors teach individuals to more effectively handle themselves in front of journalists, TV and radio personalities and when conducting press conferences or business meetings.

Members of the Media Maverick team will continue in their individual roles of journalist and photographer outside of their duties with the newly formed company.

Media Mavericks LLC has branches in Washington, D.C. and New York City, and plans to open one in Los Angeles in the near future.

Underwood Becomes Olay “Ambassador”

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Arista/19 Records artist Carrie Underwood is the new ambassador for Olay. The 27-year old, Grammy-winning artist will become the face of the brand’s “Challenge What’s Possible” campaign and represent a line of skin care products for Olay. The campaign is scheduled to debut later this year.

“We are thrilled that someone as inspirational as Carrie has joined Olay,” said Joe Arcuri, Vice President for North America, Procter & Gamble Beauty. “Carrie epitomizes Olay’s mission to challenge possibilities and encouraging a new generation of women to learn about skin care and make a noticeable impact on their skin’s appearance.”

“With her genuine beauty and girl-next-door likeability, Carrie is a natural fit and wonderful addition to the Olay family,” said Chris Heiert, Marketing Director, Olay.” Through all her success, Carrie remains grounded and connects with women everywhere using her powerful voice. She personifies the iconic image of the brand while representing the faces of the future.”

“I am so excited to be associated with a beauty brand that has been trusted by women for more than 50 years,” Underwood said. “As a little girl, I remember my mom always using the original Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid and encouraging my sisters and I to take care of our skin. My music career has been a dream come true and proven to me that the seemingly impossible can be achieved. Olay’s inspiring campaign echoes my beliefs.”

Olay is also a sponsor of Carrie’s Play On Tour this fall. For up-to-date tour information, log on to www.carrieunderwood.fm.

WMN To Release “Lost” Shawn Camp Album

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These days he’s a successful and respected Nashville singer/songwriter, but back in the early ‘90s, Shawn Camp was a promising, up-and-comer on the mainstream country scene. He had some early success with his self-titled 1993 debut, which garnered attention with singles “Fallin’ Never Felt So Good,” and “Confessin’ My Love,” so it was expected that his second album might be the breakthrough.

One problem: “The label said it didn’t sound like the latest hit,” Camp says. “They wanted me to change everything. Told me to take all the fiddles and dobros off and put electric guitars on. I got crossways and never did it.”

That would be the end of the story if current WMN President John Esposito hadn’t happened into an impromptu guitar pull with Camp at last year’s Leadership Music opening retreat. Reportedly, the label head was “mesmerized by Shawn’s singing and finger-picking.”

Esposito opened the label’s vaults, and took a listen to Camp’s unreleased sophomore effort.

“This stuff is magic,” Esposito says of first hearing the album. “There’s this sly, underlying sexiness to Shawn’s songwriting that I dig. I was trained to sign people who are magnificent and then to allow them show their magnificence. It shouldn’t be about trying to change what they do.”

On Sept. 28, Reprise Records will release Camp’s long lost album, now titled 1994. That same day, the label will also re-release his long out-of-print eponymous debut album.

“This is an unchanged snapshot of that moment 16 years ago,” Camp says. “At least it’s getting out there for the folks to hear. It’s kind of a shock, but I’m awfully thrilled.”

Camp’s impact on country music has been significant. While 1994 (produced by Emory Gordy, Jr.) remained shelved and Camp left Reprise Records, his songs were recorded by other artists including Garth Brooks (“Two Pina Coladas”), George Strait (“River of Love”), Josh Turner (“Would You Go With Me”) and Brooks & Dunn (“How Long Gone”). Today, Camp co-writes with Americana songwriting legends including Guy Clark (“Sis Draper,” “Magnolia Wind”) and Jim Lauderdale (“Forever Ain’t No Trouble Now”).

“Shawn sings, plays and writes up there in the fine, rarified air where very few can breathe,” says Clark. “It’s a joy to behold.” Echoes legendary producer and songwriter Cowboy Jack Clement: “I have always thought Shawn should be a star. He’s got the talent, the voice and the looks to do it.”

Independently, Camp released four critically-acclaimed CDs: 2001’s Lucky Silver Dollar, Live At The Station Inn in 2004, Fireball in 2006 and The Bluegrass Elvises with Billy Burnette in 2007. He is also a member of The World Famous Headliners, a band he formed with fellow songwriters Al Anderson and Pat McLaughlin.

Camp will be appearing with Clark tonight at 11:00 PM at the Station Inn. The show is part of this week’s Americana Music Festival. On Saturday (9/11) he’ll make a full-band appearance at the Mercy Lounge.