NPD Finds Interest In Cloud-Based Subscription

/by

Recently much music industry talk and speculation has been devoted to the concept of digital retail music sales evolving into some type of cloud-based subscription model. Market researchers NPD Group conducted a study of iTunes, iPod, iPhone and iPod Touch users to gauge their interest and reactions to such a plan. The study found that more than a quarter of the respondents expressed “strong interest in a free cloud-based music option to access their own music libraries from multiple devices and platforms and many were willing to pay a subscription fee.”

The study ranked consumer interest in a music service that allowed free streaming of content from the consumer’s own iTunes library, plus a few paid options combining streaming, downloads and more. The research found that 7-8 million U.S. iTunes users would have “strong interest” in one of the paid options and showed a willingness to pay a minimum monthly fee of $10 or more. NPD  estimates there are about 50 million total U.S. iTunes users and that 13-15 million would be interested in free access to their own music libraries.

“After the service’s launch, user numbers could conceivably rise substantially, as they upgrade to newer connected devices and actually experience the benefits of cloud-based music,” said Russ Crupnick, VP/Sr. Entertainment Analyst for The NPD Group. “If the consumers who indicated strong interest in a paid subscription actually adopted one of those services at $10 per month, the market opportunity is close to $1 billion in the first year, which is roughly two-thirds the revenue garnered by the current pay-per-download model.”

Note: The NPD Group’s iTunes Usage Report, is based on an online survey fielded to members of NPD’s online panel in May 2010. The report is based on 3,862 completed surveys from qualified respondents (age 13 and older). Each respondent reported using iTunes at least once in the past three months.

Country Crossovers: Train, Staind, Nickelback

/by

Train

Rock stars trying on cowboy boots is nothing new. But it’s worth noting the latest slew of artists—Train, Staind, and Nickelback—vying for love from country fans.

Train is making a go of it with a country mix of its big hit “Hey, Soul Sister” and has the BNA team working the song at country radio. The single goes for adds this week but has already debuted on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart at No. 60 and moved up to No. 54 for the most recent edition (7/17). “Hey, Soul Sister” spent 38 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3 in April. It was also recently added to CMT Pure.

Aaron Lewis

Aaron Lewis, frontman for hard rock band Staind, has wrapped recording on a country-tinged solo album, he tells Billboard. Lewis came to Nashville to work on the project, and even recruited Hank Williams Jr., George Jones and Charlie Daniels for the first single, “Country Boy.” Lewis tells Billboard the album will come out via Atlantic Records, but there is no release date yet.

Nickelback’s “This Afternoon” (see below) is getting airplay on CMT, but no word on whether it will venture over to radio. The video from the Roadrunner Records act is in medium rotation and is at No. 13 on the Top Twenty Countdown. Nickelback comes to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Tues. Sept., 14, tickets on sale July 17.

Hotel Tax Revenue To Help Repair Opry House

/by

Mayor Karl Dean talks with Gaylord CEO Colin Reed inside the Grand Ole Opry House.

From the City Paper:

An ordinance drafted by Mayor Karl Dean and his administration would redirect a portion of revenue collected from the city’s hotel taxes to repair the $20 million worth of flood-related damages to the Grand Ole Opry House.

“The operation of this Opry House has a very real and tangible impact on the bottom-line of many businesses in Nashville’s hospitality and tourism industry,” Dean said. “This legislation will help get the doors of the Opry House back open.”

The bill was expected to be filed last Friday (7/9), enabling it to go before the Metro Council on first reading July 20. The ordinance would redirect a portion of the city’s hotel tax that was intended to help Gaylord from the beginning.

Read more.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/14/10)

/by

It’s Duo Day!

All three of our top contenders this week are teams of two. If your taste runs to authentic, nostalgic country music I urge you to seek out Keeping Up Appearances by Texas-based label-mates Amber Digby and Justin Trevino. It does my heart good to hear that somebody is still making music this pure and fine.

Our DisCovery Award goes to a pair that also has ties to tradition. Their discoverer and co-producer is none other than Mel Tillis. Ronny McKinley and Jody Beggs wrote all of the songs on their By the Fire CD—individually, together or with other collaborators—and the results are impressive. Give McKinley and Beggs a prize.

The Disc of the Day goes to the husband-wife duo Thompson Square. And while you’re presenting it, congratulate Keifer and Shawna on finding such a cool little song.

JASON MEADOWS/You Ain’t Never Been To Texas
Writer: Roger Springer/Tony Ramey; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Red Cape/ole/Cherry Lane, ASCAP; JM (www.jasonmeadows.com)
—Believe it or not, it is a ballad that is against the Theory of Evolution. “If you don’t believe in God/You ain’t never been to Texas” is the refrain. I know this is going to come as a shock to him, but Charles Darwin was a Believer, as are many who espouse his thesis. I have a suggestion, the next time you get sick with the flu, have them give you a medicine that treats the version of the virus that infected people 100 years ago, rather than the evolved virus that is active today. Good luck with that.

REBA/Turn On The Radio
Writer: J.P. Twang/Mark Oakley/Claire Oakley; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: Ten Ten/REM/The Loving Company/Charie Amour, ASCAP; Valory Music/Starstruck
—He’s a no-good mistreater, and this grinding-guitar rocker tells him just where to get off. Don’t bother “Twittering until your fingers bleed,” because she’s not responding. Instead, he can listen to the radio in his Chevy truck and hear the songs that speak her mind.

SANDY KASTEL/Indiana Rain
Writer: Sandy Kastel; Producer: Ron Aniello; Publisher: Silk and Satin, BMI; Silk and Satin (www.sandykastel.com)
—He’s died, it’s raining, and she’s crying at night. It is well written and produced, but there’s nothing particularly “country” about her vocal.

JOSH GRACIN/Cover Girl
Writer: Josh Gracin/Brad Tursi; Producer: Kevin Murphy & Josh Gracin; Publisher: Beautiful Monkey/Francis Lock, BMI/ASCAP; Average Joe (CDX) (www.joshgracin.com)
—He is such a fine and true vocalist, so it’s a shame to hear him drowning in this busy, cluttered, overly amped and junky rock track. Pass.

THOMPSON SQUARE/Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not
Writer: Jim Collins/David Lee Murphy; Producer: New Voice Entertainment; Publisher: Sexy Tractor/Big Loud Bucks/Hope-N-Cal/Cal IV/Old Desperados/N2D/Carol Vincent, BMI/ASCAP; Stoney Creek (CDX) (www.thompsonsquare.com)
—He is pondering making a move, when she startles him by taking the initiative. Their courtship progresses until the wedding day. After their vows are taken, it’s his turn to ask the same question. Very cute. Very bopping. Very catchy. So nice I played it twice.

GRETCHEN WILSON/Work Hard, Play Harder
Writer: Gretchen Wilson/Vicky McGehee/John Rich/Chris & Rich Robinson; Producer: John Rich, Gretchen Wilson & Blake Chancey; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; Redneck (track) (www.gretchenwilson.com)
—I know I’m a little late getting to this, but nobody sent me a review copy so I had to track it down and buy the CD. By the way, I found a copy at the Fontanel gift shop and highly recommend this newly opened and tour-worthy mansion, its amphitheater, its trails in the woods and its excellent restaurant. In any case, Gretchen remains a tremendous singer, as at ease with a heartbreaker as she is with a blue-collar rocker like this. Come to think of it, I’m proud and glad to spend money on a first-class indie project like I Got Your Country Right Here.

GREG HANNA/What Kind Of Love Are You On
Writer: Greg Hanna/David Lee Murphy/Kim Tribble; Producer: Buddy Cannon & David Kalmusky; Publisher: Hannamania/Old Desperados/N2D/Little Kings/Calhoun Enterprises, SOCAN/ASCAP/SESAC; Pheromone (track) (www.greghanna.com)
—Celebratory. The track bubbles with excitement, the melody soars and his singing is sensational. Well worth your spins.

U.S. SENATOR ROBERT BYRD/There’s More Pretty Girls Than One
Writer: none listed; Producer: Barry Poss; Publisher: none listed; County (track)
—West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd recorded his Mountain Fiddler album for County Records in 1977. In the wake of the death of the longest serving U.S. congressman in history at age 92 on June 28, the label has reissued it. It is exactly what its title says it is, an Appalachian collection. This was his favorite track on it, showcasing both his rustic old-time fiddling and his soulful mountaineer voice. No wonder he got guest spots on both the Opry and Hee Haw. If you loved O Brother, buy this at once.

McKINLEY & BEGGS/Too Many Horses
Writer: Ronny McKinley/Monty Savitz; Producer: Mel Tillis & Sonny Tillis; Publisher: none listed; Radio (track) (www.mckinleyandbegg.com)
—Hall of Famer Mel Tillis discovered this team of singer-songwriters in Florida. The first single from the duo’s By the Fire CD is a rolling rodeo tune with plenty of steel, a potent bass line, keyboard tickling, plenty of western atmosphere and a lead vocal that is loaded with heart.

AMBER DIGBY & JUSTIN TREVINO/Keeping Up Appearances
Writer: Liz Anderson; Producer: Justin Trevino & Amber Digby; Publisher: Sony-ATV, BMI; Heart of Texas (track) (www.heartoftexascountry.com)
—With a roster that includes Darrell McCall, Curtis Potter, Georgette Jones, Tony Booth and more solid stylists, Heart of Country Records has become a bulwark and shining light for True Country Music. Two of its leading vocalists have teamed up for a duet CD with this classic as its title tune. Originated in 1967 by Lynn Anderson and Jerry Lane, it’s a harmonized shuffle that will have you grinning from ear to ear. Both Amber and Justin sing their faces off throughout the collection, which boasts remakes of great songs by the likes of Hank Cochran, Porter Wagoner, Buck Owens, George Jones, Boudleaux Bryant, Harlan Howard and other titans. The next time somebody says, “They don’t make country like they used to,” refer them straight to this.

Mulraine To Lead MTSU Recording Industry Dept.

/by

Dr. Loren Mulraine

MTSU has named longtime professor Dr. Loren Mulraine chairman of its acclaimed Recording Industry department. He moves into the role following the retirement of Chris Haseleu.

Mulraine is an entertainment law attorney who has taught at MTSU since 1998, including serving two stints as interim associate dean of the College of Mass Communication.

As chairman of the recording industry department, he says he will “expand and diversify our programs so we’re not just focusing on ‘recording industry’ but entertainment, which also means music for film, TV and gaming.”

He wants to expand the department’s presence on Music Row, create more industry partnerships to help maintain the program’s quality in the wake of budget cuts, and develop a greater online presence with more distance-learning courses.

In recent years the program has added a Master of Fine Arts in Recording Arts and Technology, as well as a commercial songwriting concentration. MTSU’s recording-industry department, which is the largest of its kind in the United States, boasts more than 1,200 majors and 28 full-time faculty members.

Lambert Headed Out On CMT Tour

/by

Miranda Lambert will headline this year’s CMT on Tour outing, kicking off Sept. 29 in New York City, according to CMT.com. She will be joined by special guest Eric Church and rising artist Josh Kelley for the 28-city run. CMT on Tour: Miranda Lambert Revolution will be produced by AEG Live.

Lambert has been on hot streak of late, scoring her first No. 1 single, “White Liar.” She followed that with “The House That Built Me,” which also went to the top of the charts and earned writers Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas a MusicRow Award for Song of the Year.

CMT has a track record of bringing fans top talent, past runs have featured superstars Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Keith Urban.

Steel Magnolia Sets Debut Date

/by

Big Machine Records has set a Sept. 21 release date for Steel Magnolia’s self-titled debut album. The duo, made up of Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones, has already had a major hit with the first single “Keep On Lovin’ You,” and are following that with “Just By Being You (Halos and Wings).”

Linsey and Jones wrote seven of the 12 tracks for the project, including break-up ballad “Edge of Goodbye,” and “Glass Houses,” penned solely by Jones. They also sought work from outside hitmakers, such as Keith Urban and Vernon Rust‘s “Homespun Love,” Lori McKenna and Chris Tompkins‘s “Bulletproof,” and “Not Tonight” by Shane Stevens, Hillary Lindsey and Matthew West.

Steel Magnolia official track listing:
1. Ooh La La (Joshua Scott Jones, Meghan Linsey)
2. Keep On Lovin’ You, (Chris Stapleton, Trent Willmon)
3. Just By Being You (Halos and Wings), (Britton Cameron, Patricia Conroy)
4. Edge Of Goodbye, (Joshua Scott Jones, Meghan Linsey Julie Moriva)
5. Bulletproof (Lori McKenna, Chris Tompkins)
6. Not Tonight (Shane Stevens, Hillary Lindsey, Matthew West)
7. Last Night Again (Joshua Scott Jones, Meghan Linsey, Hillary Lindsey)
8. Without You (Joshua Scott Jones, Meghan Linsey, Van Asa Preston)
9. Rainbow  (Joshua Scott Jones, Meghan Linsey, Tommy Henriksen, Chioma Eze)
10. Eggs Over Easy (Joshua Scott Jones, Meghan Linsey, Steffon Hamulak)
11. Homespun Love (Keith Urban, Vernon Rust)
12. Glass Houses  (Joshua Scott Jones)

••• In more news from the Big Machine team, Jaron and The Long Road to Love and The Band Perry will perform a free listener appreciation concert tonight (7/13) for fans of Cumulus’s 95.5 The Wolf. The party is at Cadillac Ranch; doors at 6:00 p.m., show at 7:00 p.m. Go to www.955thewolf.com and click on the concert link to reserve tickets.

••• Jimmy Wayne is nearing Phoenix, the end of his Meet Me Halfway walk.

••• And Valory VP/Promotion Jon Loba recently proved how far he will go to get airplay by tackling a rock climbing challenge from a radio friend during trip to the Smoky Mountains.

Opry.com Challenges Fans To Donate

/by

The Grand Ole Opry has started an online Country Music Video Challenge to benefit flood relief at oprychallenge.com. The game features video clips of country stars followed by quiz questions. Throughout the Challenge, the artists invite players to donate to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s flood relief efforts.

“Friends from around the world have communicated with us via Facebook, Twitter, and email, asking what they can do to help after this spring’s floods,” explained Opry Interactive Manager Angie Reynolds, of the initiative.

Additionally, Opry Presenting Sponsor Humana® has pledged to donate $1 for each of the first 25,000 fans who play the game. Players will be able to challenge their friends in the game via Facebook and Twitter.

Prizes such as a Gibson guitar autographed by Brad Paisley are also up for grabs.

The Opry is scheduled to be staged from the Ryman Auditorium throughout the summer. The show will return to the Opry House for its 85th birthday celebration in October.

Songwriters Set For Benefit, NY Series

/by

This Saturday’s (7/17) Songwriters Sing For Nashville flood relief benefit at The Woods at Fontanel has added more performers to the line-up, including (in order of appearance) Lari White, Chuck Cannon, James House, Danny Flowers, Rafe Van Hoy, Billy Burnette, Marc Beeson, James Slater and Danny Myrick. The newly-added group will play on the Gibson Tunesmith Stage at the Farm House Restaurant from noon until 4:00 p.m.

Songwriters already announced for The Woods stage from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. include Roger Murrah, Matraca Berg, Kye Fleming, Dallas Frazier, Dickey Lee, Dennis Morgan, Hugh Prestwood, Mark D. Sanders, Don Wayne, Jim Weatherly and Mike Reid.

This will be the first concert at the new venue. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.

••••••

The CMA Songwriters Series will return to New York City’s Joe’s Pub for two shows on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Representing Nashville will be hitmakers Jamey Johnson, Buddy Cannon, Bobby Pinson and Bob DiPiero, who will also host the evening. With tons of charttoppers between them, this group is sure to impress music lovers in NYC. Tickets are $25, details at www.joespub.com.

New ZBB Album Coming In Sept.

/by

Zac Brown Band has set a Sept. 21 release date for its much anticipated new album, You Get What You Give. The group won the all-genre Grammy for Best New Artist this year and has moved over 2 million units of its debut, The Foundation. After 85 weeks on the SoundScan sales chart, that project is 2010’s second bestselling country albums (616k), so it is likely that the follow-up from Atlantic/Southern Ground will give fourth quarter sales a boost.

Band members Zac Brown, Jimmy De Martini, John Hopkins, Coy Bowles, Clay Cook and Chris Fryar have been testing the songs from You Get What You Give on the road. Early fan favorites appear to be the somber piano-driven ballad “Colder Weather,” the reggae-infused jam “Who Knows,” and the harmony-laced track “As She’s Walking Away.”

Brown notes that the new album “is representative of where we are right now. It combines elements of our southern rock and country roots, but also stays true to our jam-band style musicianship from the live show.”

ZBB is touring throughout the summer and joining Dave Matthews Band on dates this month in New York, and Washington, DC.

Other big Q4 releases on the schedule: Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, and a rumored Taylor Swift project.