Blake Shelton is undoubtedly one of country music’s biggest stars–and one of it’s biggest partiers, judging from the list of celebrities joining him on the new mix of his hit “Boys ‘Round Here.”
The song features Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Ronnie Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Reba, Josh Turner, Keith Urban and Hank Williams, Jr., along with the Pistol Annies singing harmonies.
Hear the audio below:
Clear Channel has launched iHeartRadio’s Show Your Stripes, a company-wide community service project to address unemployment among U.S. military veterans and to encourage businesses to hire skilled veterans. The company is set to spend more than $75 million on radio, digital and other resources to highlight skills brought back by returning servicemen and women that are valuable to employers.
To launch the campaign, artists including Elton John, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Ryan Seacrest, Mario Lopez, Trace Adkins and LL Cool J have recorded a series of PSAs that showcase stories from veterans who have successfully found jobs. Clarkson tells the story of Jeff Marshall, a 10-year member of the U.S. Air Force special operations command who is now working in online operations at Facebook.
By the year 2016, more than a million servicemen and women will end their military careers and transition back to civilian life. According to a 2012 survey by Prudential and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, 60 percent of returning servicemen and women said they have faced a challenge translating the valuable skills they obtained in the military into civilian employment. 98 percent of all veterans cited at least one challenge in seeking employment.
Clear Channel Media & Entertainment has signed the first direct performing rights partnership deal between a radio company and an artist. Clear Channel Media & Entertainment inked a deal with Fleetwood Mac that will enable the group to receive revenue from airplay on Clear Channel’s digital and broadcast radio platforms. The group’s new EP features the first new Fleetwood Mac music since “Say You Will” was released more than a decade ago.
The agreement is the first to be negotiated directly with an artist or group, creating a milestone for Clear Channel and the industry. The independent labels who have similar agreements with Clear Channel include Big Machine Label Group, Glassnote Entertainment Group, eOne, DashGo, Robbins Entertainment, Naxos, rpm Entertainment, Wind-up Records, Fearless Records, Zojak Records and Dualtone Records.
“Fleetwood Mac has blown me away from the first time I heard them – they are the perfect group for radio,” said Bob Pittman, CEO of Clear Channel. “Reaching an agreement with them is the clearest sign yet that this kind of revenue-sharing model represents the industry’s future—it is a win-win-win, for artists, fans and the music business. We look forward to helping Fleetwood Mac get their hit songs to their fans on whatever platform or device they want to find them.”
The band, which formed in London in 1967 and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has released 17 studio albums over its career.
Pictured (L-R): co-writer Chris Tompkins, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, and co-writer Rodney Clawson; (back row, l-r): ASCAP’s Michael Martin, BMI’s Jody Williams, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Big Loud Mountain’s Kevin (Chief) Zaruk, producer Joey Moi, Big Loud Shirt’s Craig Wiseman and Seth England, Republic Nashville’s Jimmy Harnen, BMI’s Penny Everhard, and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad.
Photo by Rick Diamond
Rdio CEO Drew Larner has stepped down from his post. He will remain a chairman with the firm.
“Momentum from last year has been tremendous, the best person to take this to the next level, it’s probably someone with a different skill set,” Larner told Bloomberg. “I’m a business guy and a deal guy. The next stage of the company is about building an enormous user and subscription base, and there are people out there better at that than I am. Companies often outgrow their founding executive teams. Those who get the company off the ground aren’t always the best at growing the company in the second stage into a mass-market product,” Larner added.
Larner has been CEO of San Francisco-based Rdio since 2009.
During Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference today (June 10), the technology company revealed iTunes Radio, debuting this fall and built right into iOS apps, iTunes on Mac and PC, and AppleTV.
iTunes Radio will offer music stations preloaded with the entire iTunes catalog (over 26 million tracks). Additionally, the service maintains a personalized ‘wish list’ and pulls the user to the iTunes store for track purchases. The streaming service will be ad-free for iTunes Match subscribers ($24.99 per year), and otherwise free with ads in the U.S.
Apple has been in talks with publishers and recorded music licensors for the service, reportedly settling on financial agreements including rates per stream and portions of advertising revenue. With direct licenses, iTunes Radio bypasses compulsory license restrictions set by the DMCA.
Apple’s Eddy Cue, Sr. VP of Internet Software and Services, gave a demo of iTunes Radio, which can customize stations on request.
“Our goal at Apple is to make really great products that change peoples’ lives,” says Apple CEO Tim Cook.
During the 2013 event, Apple also revealed a new line of MacBook Airs, and a redesigned Mac Pro, along with iCloud updates and software changes including the new operating systems called OS X Mavericks and iOS 7.
Apple’s iTunes music store debuted in 2003 with approximately 200,000 songs and is now the leading U.S. music retailer. Apple’s stock has declined in value since September 2012, when it hit a high of $702.10.
–Jessica Nicholson & Eric Parker
Blair Garner
Luke Bryan performs during the 2013 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Rick Diamond
Sony/ATV Music, which includes EMI Music Publishing, has signed an agreement with Apple’s iRadio, according to Billboard. Earlier today, All Things D reported the label division of Sony had entered an agreement with Apple.
The final holdout for an Apple’s iRadio agreement is Universal Music Publishing Group.
After Warner Music Group’s deal announcement last week and Universal Music Group’s deal earlier this month, Apple has agreements in place with all three major labels. An official announcement of the streaming platform is expected on Monday (June 10) at the computer company’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference in San Francisco.
SPIN ZONE
Pictured: (L-R) Beth Brightwell, The Lockets, Mike McIntyre and Diane Richey
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WCKT/Ft. Myers recently held its 3rd annual New Cats of Country. Pictured (L-R): JoJamie Hahr (Valory), Thomas Rhett, Eric Gunderson of Love And Theft, Liz Sledge (RCA), L&T’s Stephen Barker Liles, Nixon, Kip Moore, Jeri Cooper (Arista), Brian and Clara Henningsen of The Henningsens, Louie Newman (MCA) and TH’s Aaron Henningsen.
Sarah Darling recently celebrated the world premiere of her new summertime single “Little Umbrellas” at the Sirius XM Headquarters in Nashville. Pictured (L-R): John Alexander (Sarah’s manager), John Marks (Sirius XM’s Sr. Director of Country Programming), Sarah Darling, Storme Warren (host of Sirius XM’s “The Highway”)
Craig Morgan recently visited with US 101, WUSY/Chattanooga’s Gator Harrison and StyckMan. Pictured (L-R): Gator Harrison, Craig Morgan, Megan Boardman (Black River) & StyckMan