“Avatar” Shatters Records; Rhapsody Plays Offline

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When’s the last time an album debuted with sales over 6 million units?

The movie business is booming today with news of the best selling DVD in North American history. Since its release on April 22, James Cameron’s sci-fi opus “Avatar” has moved a total of 6.7 million copies—about 4 million DVDs and 2.7 million Blu-rays. This also makes it the top selling Blu-ray movie in history.

Sales of “Avatar” have grossed about $130 million. The sci-fi smash grossed $2.7 billion at the box office, making it the most successful film in history.

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Music streaming service Rhapsody has a new iPhone application which lets users listen to music even when a data connection is not available. The new offline option stores playlists and tracks on the phone’s memory for playback.

This new option is supposed to significantly extend battery life of the device, and is expected to be useful during travel, and when cell signals are weak.

This technology has been available for some time to users of similar service Spotify in Europe, but Rhapsody is the first to offer it in the United States.

The $10/month music subscription allows listeners to carry music on one portable device, or up to three devices for $15/month. Rhapsody currently has nine million songs in its catalog.

Johnny Mitchell Exits WMN; Chuck Cannon’s Father Passes

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Due to restructuring at Warner Music Nashville, Manager of Secondary Promotion Johnny Mitchell has left the company. Among his duties was working MusicRow‘s Country Breakout chart. Mitchell can be reached at 615-662-5425 or 1jmj@comcast.net. Reporting stations should now contact Warner’s April Johnson at 615-214-1452 for information.

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Condolences to songwriter Chuck Cannon and his family, including wife Lari White, on the passing of his father Marion C. Cannon. He was 73 and passed away peacefully at his home in Myrtle Beach, SC on Saturday, April 17, 2010.

Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church of Murrells Inlet, 3891 Hwy. 17 By Pass, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.

Film Vets Launch Thinking Bee Productions

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Jo Hunt

Producer Jo Hunt and director/editor Bill Filipiak have announced the launch of Thinking Bee Productions. The television and video production company will focus on the creation of unscripted series for both broadcast and webcast as well as music videos.

Hunt and Filipiak first met while developing Meet the Wilsons, a popular reality series based in Nashville and currently airing on CMT Canada. “It became obvious within a couple of months that we had a shared belief that there is a place for programming and video of a positive nature,” says Hunt.  “Our goal with Thinking Bee is to build an arsenal of programs that will inspire and encourage audiences.”
In addition to their series work, Filipiak and Hunt see major opportunities applying their storytelling skills to create entertaining and compelling video content for the web.

“Developing effective web video content is becoming its own art form,” Filipiak says. “Having a team that understands the need for that content to both be entertaining and tie in directly with all other marketing and branding efforts is essential to helping businesses get the biggest return for their marketing dollars.”

Bill Filipiak

Filipiak marries a strong background in directing/editing with a very successful history in advertising/marketing.  Hunt, meanwhile, as vice president/development for High Five Entertainment, produced both music and non-music television properties for multiple cable networks. Thinking Bee currently has three reality-based television series in development and is in production on several Web series.

“We’re thrilled to be in a position to offer labels and businesses a means of creating web video that is more than just behind the scenes footage,” says Filipiak. “We believe that the growth of social networking on the Web has created a need for video pieces that tell a story and help the audience connect with artists and businesses on an emotional level. In essence we believe everyone has a great story to share and we’re here to help them tell it.”

For more information about Thinking Bee Productions, click here.

Belmont’s “Best,” Tate’s USO Mission and a CDX Milestone

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Belmont Salutes Gill With “Best of the Best”
Tomorrow night (4/24) at 7:00 PM, Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will present its annual “Best of the Best” showcase. The event will honor Vince Gill, 2010 recipient of the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence, an annual award given to an individual who has achieved a level of excellence in the music business and entertainment industries with notable service to Belmont University and the Nashville community.

Co-hosted by TV personality Harry Chapman and Restless Heart’s Larry Stewart, the show will salute Gill with a tribute performance from acclaimed singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell. Also featured will be student performances from Miss B (Urban/Pop), Joshua Eric Wright (Christian), Cheryl LuQuire (Country), Delta Saints (Rock) and from ASCAP Writers’ Night series winners Clare Dunn, Hailey Faith, Hailey Steele, Josh Johnson, Greg Bates and Jordan Kyle Reynolds.

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Jamie Tate

Jamie Tate Becomes USO Ambassador
Bodell Records artist Jamie Tate has been named an honorary ambassador by the USO of North Carolina for her ongoing support and contributions to the United Service Organizations, Inc.

The USO designated Tate as an ambassador in response to the North Carolina native’s upcoming “I’ll Give My All” initiative. In March, Tate recorded “I’ll Give My All” with the 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus in Nashville. The track is part of an online campaign that aims to deliver the song via digital download to more than one million military servicemen and women around the world. As part of her ambassadorship, Tate will appear and perform at USO of NC events and other military activities throughout North Carolina and other parts of the country.

“I am incredibly honored that the USO of North Carolina has made me an honorary ambassador,” says Tate. “The USO does so much for our military, and I’m proud to say that I’m associated with such an esteemed organization.”

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CDX Loses Motley, Marks Milestone
On April 29, CDX, the longstanding physical delivery system for new singles to secondary stations, will release Volume 500, a definite milestone in the company’s 20-year history.

The date will also mark the retirement of Peggy Motley, who came to CDX in 1994 from WSM and Gaylord after having completed a career in the radio industry.

“Not only did Peggy bring professionalism and dedication to her job, for these past 16 years she has brought us joy, laughter and a spirit that makes everyone feel good,” said CDX Co-Owner Paul Lovelace. “She will be missed very, very much.”

Americana Music Assoc. Presents “Freedom Sings”

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The Americana Music Association announced today (4/23) a special on-line Auction to promote its efforts, and those of the First Amendment Center, in support of Free Speech in Music. Some of the items featured in the auction included handwritten lyrics from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Charlie Daniels, autographed posters from Dwight Yoakam and Steely Dan; an autographed banjo signed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a guitar on which Michael Martin Murphey wrote the lyrics of his classic “Wildfire.”

The two not-for-profit organizations have joined forces to produce “Freedom Sings,” an evening celebrating the power of free speech in music and honoring the career of Mary Chapin Carpenter. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 27 at the Newseum in downtown Washington DC. Carpenter will receive the “Spirit of Americana” Free Speech in Music Award from the Newseum’s First Amendment Center and the Americana Music Association. The award recognizes artists who have used their work to raise awareness and promote free speech through their music and other efforts. Past recipients include Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, Judy Collins, Charlie Daniels and Steve Earle.

Former Washington Post journalist and current recording artist Eric Brace along with legendary artists Rodney Crowell and Judy Collins will also perform at the event.

To view the artwork and bid online click here.

MusicArtists4U Offers “One-Stop” Music Experience

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MusicArtists4U.com, billed as a “one-stop interactive experience featuring live and taped performances, music videos and the ability for the consumer to purchase music, videos and artist merchandise,” was launched April 19 by interactive music marketer Bruce Uher. The new online music venture will feature performances by emerging and established artists and singer/ songwriters from a variety of music genres and will initially include Country, Rock and Singer/Songwriter channels.

Another area of the site will facilitate venues across the globe booking the artists featured on the site. The site will also include an internet radio station for each genre of music, which will front and back-announce song titles and artist names along with several different radio programs and artists interviews. Also featured on the site are an online magazine with video musical equipment reviews, instructional videos on playing various instruments and songwriting.

Uher owns Ohio-based MultiMedia-Interactive and works with artists including Charlie Daniels, Confederate Railroad and Tracy Lawrence.

“Now is the time because almost everyone has access to high speed internet” says Uher, who has teamed up with former Sony Music A&R executive Anthony Martin to launch the new venture. “The music business is changing, and MusicArtists4U.com will allow artists of all genres to be seen and heard.”

E1/Koch Entertainment has teamed up with MusicArtists4U.com to give fans the opportunity to purchase and download music from all E1/Koch artists. Koch artists Confederate Railroad and Cody McCarver are now on MusicArtists4U.com, and both acts will be releasing new music in June.

Longtime WSM radio DJ and Grand Ole Opry announcer Keith Bilbrey has signed on to host MusicArtists4U.com’s country television show, with the premiere episode featuring country rock hitmakers Little Texas. The country show is filmed at Sound Kitchen Studios in Franklin, Tennessee.

Uher also announced Coca-Cola as a major sponsor, with RoadHawg Cases signed on as a co-sponsor of the series. MusicArtists4U.com is also dedicated to charitable organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and a portion of all proceeds will be earmarked for those organizations.

Rascal Flatts To Open Kentucky Derby

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Superstar trio Rascal Flatts will perform the national anthem at the 136th Kentucky Derby on May 1, and Capitol Records Nashville artists Little Big Town will serve as openers for the Derby’s sister race, Kentucky Oaks. Rascal Flatts’ performance will be broadcast by NBC Sports as part of the network’s live coverage of Kentucky Derby 3:00-6:00 PM CT.

Churchill Downs will initiate a new element within the Kentucky Oaks Day program when Little Big Town perform the national anthem live prior to the running of the Kentucky Oaks, the Derby’s sister race for 3-year-old fillies.

“The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are world-class entertainment events, and we are thrilled to partner with Rascal Flatts, one of the most popular and successful country music acts in history, on what we know will be an exceptional performance of “The Star Spangled Banner,” said Julie Koenig Loignon, Vice President of Brand Development and Marketing for the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs Incorporated. “The Kentucky Oaks is growing in national prominence, and we are excited to introduce a new musical element to our Oaks Day program with up-and-comers Little Big Town. We welcome these tremendously talented performers to Churchill Downs and look forward to the special contribution they will make to Derby weekend.”

Artist News: Flatts to “Idol,” Worley To Iraq; Taylor To Comics

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Rascal Flatts Heading to American Idol
Rascal Flatts is getting ready to make its third appearance on American Idol. The multi-Platinum trio will appear on the show on Wednesday, April 28, performing their latest hit, “Unstoppable.” They will also join Idol guest Shakira on her song, “Gypsy.”

Rascal Flatts previously performed on Idol in May of 2005 as the musical guest of Carrie Underwood, who won the title that same evening. The band also appeared on Idol Gives Back in 2007.

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Darryl Worley Heads Overseas With “Stars For Stripes”
Stroudavarious Records artist Darryl Worley will kick-off his Stars for Stripes military tour next week. Worley’s We’ve Not Forgotten Tour takes place April 29-May 3 and will include several full-band concerts, as well as scaled-down acoustic shows at various Forward Operating Bases in Iraq. A long-time supporter of the Armed Forces, Worley has toured overseas every year since 2002.

Upon returning to the states, Worley will begin working on his new album. Beginning May 14, he will host five songwriter series throughout the summer with the first event, Hitmakers on the Harbor in Pickwick, TN, already sold out. All proceeds from the benefits will go toward the Darryl Worley Foundation.

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Taylor Swift Becomes Comic Book Hero
She’s already appeared on countless magazine covers, and now country superstar Taylor Swift will grace the cover of her own comic book. The multi-Platinum singer/songwriter will become the latest celebrity immortalized in sequential form when her biography comic, Fame: Taylor Swift hits comic shops this July.

The comic, by Bluewater Productions, will trace Swift’s rise from young singer/songwriter to mega-selling recording artist. The 32-page comic will retail for $3.99.

Bluewater Productions line of comics will also feature such high-profile subjects as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Colin Powell, Lady GaGa, 50 Cent, Robert Pattinson and soccer star David Beckham.

Dale Bobo Tapped To Head Chrysalis Music’s Nashville Operation

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Dale Bobo

Chrysalis Music Group has announced the appointment of Dale Bobo to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Chrysalis Music Nashville. Bobo, a 27-year music-publishing veteran, was most recently Senior Vice President/General Manager of Warner/Chappell Nashville. He will report directly to Chrysalis Music Group President Kenny MacPherson.

“Dale Bobo is uniquely qualified to run our Nashville operations,” said MacPherson in making the announcement. “We couldn’t be more excited to have Dale on board, and at the same time to get even more deeply involved in the hugely successful and influential Nashville community.”

About his new post, Bobo commented: “I am tremendously excited to join the Chrysalis family and I am very much looking forward to working with our songwriters, our Nashville staff, and the Chrysalis offices around the world to get amazing music into the market. I am also really looking forward to working again with Kenny MacPherson, who has always had tremendous respect and enthusiasm for the Nashville music community, as well as country music in general. I can’t wait to get started on what promises to be a challenging and gratifying undertaking.”

Manager Erv Woolsey Signs James Wesley

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Erv Woolsey of The Erv Woolsey Company has announced the signing of Broken Bow Records artist James Wesley to a management deal.

“James Wesley is the complete package for today’s country market, radio and fans,” says Woolsey. “With the combination of his extraordinary talent and a great record company behind him, we feel there is a bright future ahead and look forward to guiding his career for many years to come.”

“I am beyond excited to get to work with somebody who launched the career of George Strait,” Wesley says. “To even have a meeting with someone like Erv is awesome and now that he is my manager, I can’t wait to see what my future holds.”

Erv Woolsey’s current management roster includes Hall of Fame member Strait and former CMA Vocalist of the Year Lee Ann Womack.

(l-r) Manager Erv Woolsey with Broken Bow artist James Wesley