Industry Beat: Stroudavarious, Common Grounds

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Nathan Cruise

Nathan Cruise

Bill Catino, President of Stroudavarious Records, announces the addition of Nathan Cruise as Director of Midwest Promotion. He will report to Bill Macky, and will be based in the Nashville offices. Cruise was most recently with Show Dog Records, and prior stints include Arista, Equity, and MCG/Curb Records. He can be contacted at nathan@stroudavarious.com or 615-496-6356.

Catino is still seeking someone to cover the NE region, and will also be staffing up the BamaJam Records promotion department over the next few months. Resumes should be sent to: macky@stroudavarious.com

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Jamie

Jamie Nehasil

Jamie Nehasil has started consulting firm Common Grounds Entertainment, focusing on marketing, artist development, A&R, endorsements, and film/TV. He previously spent eight years at Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group as Director of Music and Marketing, and will keep Tri Star as a consulting client. Tri Star is a business and personal management firm with clients in all aspects of entertainment such as supermodel Niki Taylor, Mat Kearney, Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher.
Nehasil can be reached by email at Jamie@commongroundsentertainment.com or at 615.594.3911.

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Local company Whizbang, Inc. has secured placement of the theme song for new Style Network series Giuliana and Bill. “I Love Loving You” was written by Whizbang clients Adam McCants and Julie Downs. Whizbang also secured client Superchick’s song “So Beautiful” as the theme song for another trendy Style Network series, Running In Heels.
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Live Nation stockholders voted to approve the issuance of Live Nation common stock in connection with its previously announced merger with Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. Over 99% of the shares voted were cast in favor of the merger. The company’s stockholders also approved all other proposals submitted to a vote, including a proposal to change the company’s name to “Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.” following the completion of the merger. The transaction remains subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.

Performance Royalty Debate Over Ringbacks

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BMI has filed suit against T Mobile, claiming that the mobile phone company hasn’t secured proper licensing for selling ringback tones. According to Digital Music News, the suit filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles, says BMI has licensing agreements with other carriers.

Since BMI and other performing rights organizations deal in collecting performance royalties, the key point at issue is whether or not ringbacks constitute public performances. Ringbacks are typically heard by only one caller.

In October a federal court ruled that ringtones, which can be heard by anyone within earshot of the ringing phone, were not public performances. The judgement came in ASCAP’s suit against Verizon over ringtones. The federal court ruled that neither ringtones played in public nor a mobile carrier’s distribution of a ringtone are public performances.

Songwriter Dale Dodson Enjoys Roles At Carnival, Sony/ATV

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daleSongwriter and country music historian Dale Dodson has a unique new arrangement that allows him to remain as a staff writer for longtime publisher Sony/ATV and also take on a creative services role at Carnival Music.

Dodson is the writer or co-writer of songs including “Look Who’s Back In Town” by George Strait, “Good News, Bad News” and “Everything But Quits” by Strait and Lee Ann Womack, “20 Years and 2 Husbands Ago” by Womack, “Senses” by Reba McEntire and “I Bought The Shoes That Just Walked Out On Me” by Dierks Bentley.

“Not only can Dale write songs that sound like they fell off a 1959 Wurlitzer jukebox,” says Carnival Music’s Frank Liddell, “but he has the ability to go into a catalogue and understand what kind of songs suit specific artists…We were able to work with Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson on creating a place for Dale here where he’s able to work with my writers, set-up co-writes, pitch out songs…and possibly help us become more dynamic, all the time continuing in his relationship with his primary publisher.”

“Dale is an invaluable resource to us,” agrees Tomlinson. “He knows our heritage catalogue better than I’d say anyone in Nashville, and he understands where those songs should find homes, as well as writing classic old school standards, which have found some amazing homes…We are very excited to have this opportunity to see one of our very best grow in new and exciting ways.”

“When you look at the writers who’ve been part of Sony/ATV, that is a lineage I’ve always taken very seriously,” Dodson says. “I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Hank Williams, Bobby Braddock, Willie Nelson, Dean Dillon. And to be able to be a part of watching Carnival Music—a place that’s always signed writers’ writers like Bruce Robeson, Natalie Hemby, Troy Jones and Scooter Carusoe—develop into hopefully the same piece of the same kind country music history is a challenge and a thrill I’m looking forward to.”

Dodson, a native of Berkeley Springs, WV, came to Nashville in 1987 to work in the shows at Opryland, did a short stint with Evelyn Shriver Public Relations and started at Sony/Tree 1992 as a writer who also consulted on catalogue from Hank Cochran, Buck Owens, Harlan Howard and the myriad back catalogues under the Sony/ATV umbrella.

Lady A Headline The Ryman; Jimmy Wayne Webcast

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Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum will perform their first headlining concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Thurs., March 11. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 15 at 10:00 a.m. CT.

“Playing the Ryman has been at the top of our list of goals since we first got together to write songs…and I mean, it’s a BIG one,” says Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott.

Lady A just released the second single from their new album, Need You Now coming Jan. 26. “American Honey” was the highest debut of the week on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, entering at No. 40.

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Keith @chickendoctor22 from Union City stopD by to give me some goggles;hand warmers & a root beer! People are so nic

@JimmyWayne tweeted this pic from the road: Keith @chickendoctor22 from Union City stopD by to give me some goggles;hand warmers & a root beer! People are so nic

Jimmy Wayne will conduct his first live webcast from the road during his 1660-mile walk for the homeless on Mon., Jan. 11 at 9:00 am CT.

The website for Wayne’s “Meet Me Halfway” walk from Nashville to Phoenix went live today. On the site, fans can track Wayne’s progress, view video and photo updates from the road, as well as donate to “Meet Me Halfway” to help homeless youth. The webcast on his new site will mark his first live broadcast since beginning his trek halfway across America on New Year’s Day. MusicRow also has a Jimmy Wayne MMH Twitter list whcih can be viewed at http://www.twitter.com/musicrow/jimmywayne-mmh

So far, the coldest temperatures the Southeast has seen in some 50 years have slowed Wayne’s progress, but the artist is still making good time, and at this moment (Friday afternoon) is outside Jackson, Tenn.

Swift Is Top Digital Seller In History

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taylor fearlessTaylor Swift has amassed over 24.3 million digital track sales to date, making her the top-selling digital artist ever, according Nielsen SoundScan.

As previously reported by MusicRow, Swift’s Fearless was the best selling album of both 2008 and 2009. It is quintuple Platinum and had sales last year in excess of 3.2 million copies. Taylor claimed the No. 1 and No. 2 positions on Nielsen’s BDS Top 10 Most Played Songs chart (all genres) of ’09, with “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story,” respectively.

Earlier this week she made a surprise appearance at CES in Las Vegas, where Sony Chairman & CEO Sir Howard Stringer introduced her as the newest Brand Ambassador for Sony Electronics. She will use Sony products in 2010 to share her “beautiful experiences” online and from her upcoming tour which picks back up next month in Australia. At the announcement Swift surprised onlookers with a performance of “Love Story” (see video below).

Swift’s next television performance will be on the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, broadcast live Jan. 31 on CBS. She is nominated for eight Grammys, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

She makes her feature film acting debut in Garry Marshall’s Valentine’s Day, set for US release on Feb. 12. She will also be in an upcoming comic-book style biography from Bluewater Productions called Fame, and her line of American Greetings cards will hit stores in February.

Faith Hill Signs With Red Light

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faith_homeFaith Hill has joined Coran Capshaw’s Red Light Management roster, with the company’s New York office handling the superstar’s career. Red Light President Will Botwin will join Capshaw in managing Hill.

Hill and longtime manager Gary Borman parted ways last year. Similarly, Hill’s superstar husband, Tim McGraw also inked with Red Light early in 2009 after dissolving his long-term association with Scott Siman’s rpm Management.

Hill says, “[Red Light] is an extremely talented and dedicated group of people who bring the same passion to their work that I bring to my music.” The company’s resources include in-house marketing, promotion, licensing, touring, and new media.

Hill ended the decade with the distinction of being the only artist, in any musical genre, to have two of the Top 10 most played songs of the decade (according to Nielsen BDS): “Breathe” and “The Way You Love Me.” The five-time Grammy Award winner is working on her seventh studio album.

“I’m honored that Faith has given us the opportunity to open new doors in her very unique and diverse career,” said Capshaw, adding, “She is a one-of-a-kind artist, superbly talented, genuine, forward-thinking and with a strong sense of integrity.”

Capshaw founded Red Light Management in 1991 at the beginning of his role as the personal manager of Dave Matthews Band. The company has grown into one of the premier artist management companies in the industry. Sister company Starr Hill Presents promotes live music on a regional and national level, and together with its partners, produces large-scale music festivals nationwide including Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Capshaw also started the fully independent ATO Records Group.

Red Light-affilliated mangers in Nashville include Greg Hill (Phil Vassar, Rodney Atkins, The Lost Trailers, Heidi Newfield, Jason Michael Carroll, Third Day) and Kerri Edwards, manager for Luke Bryan.

Wilson Set For Greatest Hits, Playoff Performance

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gretchen wilsonGretchen Wilson’s first Greatest Hits album will be out Jan. 19. It is being released by her former label Columbia Nashville and includes all her hits such as “Redneck Woman,” “Here For The Party” and “Homewrecker,” as well as the first commercial release of her live version of “Barracuda.”

Wilson’s new music, including latest single, “Work Hard, Play Harder,” is being released by her own Redneck Records.

Next Saturday (1/16) she will be in Indianapolis to perform a halftime set during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium, when the Indianapolis Colts take on a yet-to-be determined opponent.

Industry News: Nashville At Sundance, Gospel Honors

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leann rimesASCAP is sending Nashville songwriters including LeAnn Rimes, Brendan Benson, Joey+Rory, k.s. Rhoads, and Sam & Ruby to the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, going on Jan. 21-31 in Park City, Utah. Events include the  Sundance ASCAP Music Café and the annual, invitation-only ASCAP Filmmaker & Composer Breakfast.

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BMI will honor gospel greats Donnie McClurkin and Andraé Crouch at its 11th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, Jan. 15 at Rocketown. Held the day before the 25th Annual Stellar Awards, BMI’s invitation-only ceremony will welcome gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends.

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More details about the Show Dog-Universal Music label will be unveiled Wed., Jan. 13 when Principle Toby Keith and President Mark Wright hold a press conference in Nashville.
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Moraine Music Group Canadian singer/songwriter Johnny Reid closed out 2009 as the Top Selling Canadian Artist on the Billboard Country Album chart, selling 300,000 units. Reid also swept the CCMA’s, winning six awards.

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Digital Music News reports producer Matt Serletic—known in Nashville most recently for his work with Gloriana—has been at CES in Las Vegas promoting his software company Music Mastermind. The game-like program is designed to make music-making easy regardless of musical background. DMN calls it “ProTools for the masses.”

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Longtime Napster CEO Chris Gorog and president Brad Duea are leaving the company; owner Best Buy says both positions are being eliminated. Christopher Allen, previously Napster’s COO, will move to  General Manager.

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SXSWeek 2010 will be March 12-21 in Austin. The first headliner announced is Cheap Trick. Other early conference topics include case studies on music from the film Twilight: New Moon, and examining how music makes it way into mass culture via the video game Rock Band.

Shelton Six-Pak Coming Soon

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blake shelton 2Blake Shelton is prepping for the March 2 release of Hillbilly Bone, a value-priced album of six new songs. He hasn’t put out a studio album since 2008’s Startin’ Fires and says this as a way to “give fans new music more often and at a lower price.” The first single is the title track, a comedic, sing-along duet with longtime friend Trace Adkins. The single and video for “Hillbilly Bone” is currently available from all digital service providers.

Also available exclusively on iTunes until Jan. 12 is Blake Shelton: The Essentials, a digital compilation of Shelton’s best-known tracks such as “Austin,” “Some Beach,” “Home,” “The Baby,” and “She Wouldn’t Be Gone.” After the 12th it will be available at other outlets too.

Shelton and his Warner Music Nashville labelmates Whitney Duncan, Gloriana, Jessica Harp, Jason Jones, and James Otto, are working with BAM Racing to offer NASCAR lovers a VIP Fan Experience, where they meet the recording artists and BAM’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Team. As part of the partnership, artists will have their own paint schemes on the cars, perform pre-race concerts and watch the race with fans from the pit box.

Nashville Scene: Paisley, Lambert, Swift, Johnson Top Critics’ Poll

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miranda

Miranda Lambert's "Revolution" was voted best album of 2009 by the Scene's critics' poll.

“The Mount Rushmore of country music’s future—Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Jamey Johnson—tops the 2009 Country Music Critics’ Poll”

See the Critics’ top albums, commentary, chart vs. critic comparison and more. Read the story here.