SiriusXM To Pay For Pre-1972 Music; Labels Win $210 Million Settlement
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. has agreed to a legal settlement with independent and major record companies for its use of recordings created before 1972.
The satellite radio broadcaster will pay $210 million to plaintiffs ABKCO Music & Records, Capitol Records, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, and Warner Music Group. The case is titled Capitol Records LLC et al vs Sirius XM Radio Inc.
The settlement provides a nationwide resolution for SiriusXM’s use of the plaintiffs’ pre-1972 recordings.
“This is a great step forward for all music creators,” said Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Chairman & CEO Cary Sherman. “Music has tremendous value, whether it was made in 1970 or 2015. We hope others take note of this important agreement and follow SiriusXM’s example.”
SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe said, “While it unfortunately required a lawsuit to make Sirius XM do the right thing, we are pleased that these legacy artists are finally getting the respect—and compensation—they deserve for the use of their music. SoundExchange consistently champions the right for all artists to be paid fairly across all platforms, regardless of when their music was recorded.”
Bobby Karl Works The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction
Pictured (L-R): CRB’s Bill Mayne, Randy Carroll, Mike Kennedy, Karen Dalessandro, Joel Raab, Sammy George, and Jeff Walker. Photo: Kristen England
2015 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees: Joel Raab, Sammy George, Mike Kennedy, Randy Carroll, Karen Dalessandro
2015 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award: Dwight Yoakam
2015 CRB President’s Award: Jeff Walker
Chapter 498
The Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony took a leap of faith this year.
Instead of being part of Country Radio Seminar, it was a stand-alone event. Instead of being housed in its longtime home of the Renaissance Hotel, it booked the new Omni Hotel adjacent to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Music City Center on Wednesday night (June 24). Unlike recent years, there was no live music.
The gambles seem to have worked. The Omni ballroom held a good crowd of about 300 people. An A-list group of 15 sponsors signed on. The inductees were worthy. The food was superb.
One thing has not changed. It is still a marathon evening. This year’s event clocked in at just under four hours. Most of the seven honorees’ acceptance speeches lasted between 10 and 15 minutes.
The first honoree was the widely beloved Jeff Walker, who was given the President’s Award. He has served on the Country Radio Seminar board for 35 consecutive years and is presently its treasurer.
“Thirty-five years later, I’m still here and still loving it,” said Walker. “When I first came to CRS, it was at the airport Hilton. I think you’re going to have an amazing experience here [at the Omni] next February.
“I couldn’t have done this without the support of my family,” he added, mentioning Terri, his wife of 37 years, his father and stepmother, Bill & Jeanine Walker, plus daughter Christy Watkins and son Jon Walker, both of whom work with him at AristoMedia.
The Career Achievement Award went to Dwight Yoakam. “He helped shake country out of its doldrums,” said R.J. Curtis.
“I’ve had a good run,” said Yoakam, “and one thing I did was have great support from country radio. Radio was and is, for me, magic in my ears….Without country radio, I couldn’t have sold the 25 million albums that I sold.”
Pictured (L-R): George Briner, Dwight Yoakam, Rick Moxley and Bill Mayne. Photo: Kristen England
Radio-exec honoree Joel Rabb worked at stations in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and New York before becoming a consultant 30 years ago. As such, he has worked with more than 200 stations and several national broadcast companies.
“I’m proud to be inducted,” he said. “I’ve loved country music and country radio since I was a kid. To me, they are inseparable.”
The first on-air personality honoree was Karen Dalessandro, who rose to prominence in Detroit. She switched to Milwaukee’s morning show in 1998, where she achieved stardom and remains.
“I was always the girl who talked too much in school, and who played my music too loud,” she said. “I never imagined this. We’re just really lucky to be part of this industry. I love to connect with people. Thank you for sharing this experience with me.”
The second radio-exec honoree was Sammy George, who has led WUSY in Chattanooga to No.1 and numerous awards.
“I loved being in country radio from Day One,” said George. His motto is, “Whoever has the most fun wins,” so he said his secret is, “having fun at all costs. Run toward the laughter. Attitude is everything…..Thank you for your friendship and music.”
On-air winner Randy Carroll won my heart for delivering a comparatively brief, five-minute acceptance speech. He also displayed the most humility of the radio folks. His daughters earned bonus points for introducing him equally succinctly. Carroll is highly unusual in his profession for having been at the same station for 32 years, KAJA in San Antonio.
“I do not deserve the career I’ve had,” he commented. “I do not deserve this recognition, but I’m gonna take it. It’s exciting to be in your company.”
John Rich hopped on stage to induct Kansas City radio honoree Mike Kennedy. “If there was ever the epitome of a guy who works hard and plays hard, it’s Mike Kennedy,” said Rich. “It’s the American Way!
“When I’d hit a slick spot or hit a wall, he’d always take my phone calls and always listen to my music. That’s a rare guy. You are one helluva friend. You’re an asset to country music. You’re an asset to country radio.”
Kennedy accepted wearing rhinestone boots that his buddy Rich had given him. “This is what it’s all about for me—the compadres and the special friends you make along the way,” said the honoree. Although long, his was the most personable and humorous of the acceptance speeches.
This was billed as the “41st annual” Country Radio Hall of Fame fiesta. Actually, there were no inductions in 1986, 1987 and 1997, but let’s not quibble.
The Hall’s physical location is currently in limbo. Its plaques originally were displayed in the Opryland Hotel. Then they were installed in the passageway between the Renaissance and the old convention center. They are now in storage, awaiting a suitable new home.
As usual, the event was a titanic schmoozathon. John Grady, John Zarling, John Marks, Jonathan Fricke, Jimmy Harnen, Jim Ed Norman, Ed Morris, Charlie Cook, Charlie Monk, Charlie Morgan, Chuck Aly, Chuck Chellman, Bill Mayne, Bill Payne, Bill Poindexter, Donna Hughes, Don Carpenter, Dan Hollander, Dan Halyburton, Mike Lynch and Mike Dungan worked the room.
So did several artists. Among them were The Swon Brothers, Logan Mize, Love & Theft, Dakota Bradley and Austin Webb.
The Omni ballroom is rather ordinary looking, compared with the rest of the sleek hotel. But there was nothing ordinary about the food. Dinner was oh-so-tender tenderloin with grilled shrimp, broccolini, mashed potatoes and braised tomato wedges, followed by cheesecake with strawberries and white-chocolate accents.
Enjoying it all were Rick Murray, Phyllis Stark, Scott Borchetta, David & Susana Ross, Tom Baldrica, Jerry Duncan, Travis Moon, Royce Risser, Craig Bann, Lon Helton, Bob Paxman, Ed Mascola, Vernell Hackett, Paul Allen, Clay Hunnicutt, Joe Ladd, Beverlee Brannigan, Neal Spielberg, Sherod Robertson and GAC’s Suzanne Alexander.
Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates No. 1 Debut, Receives ‘MusicRow’ Challenge Coin
Kelsea Ballerini and her cowriters Forest Glen Whitehead, Josh Kerr and Lance Carpenter receive MusicRow Challenge Coins yesterday (June 22) at the Black River offices. Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Troy Stephenson, Carpenter, Kerr, Whitehead, Black River’s Celia Froehlig, MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson, Ballerini and Black River’s Gordon Kerr.
Black River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini is celebrating her first No. 1, with debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It.” This week the song tops both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay Charts. It hit top of MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart on June 4.
Written by Ballerini, Forest Glen Whitehead, Josh Kerr and Lance Carpenter, “Love Me Like You Mean It” is featured on Ballerini’s debut album The First Time, produced by Whitehead and Jason Massey.
“It’s a very exciting time for all of us at Black River,” said Vice President of Promotion Mike Wilson. “It’s an honor to lead this promotion team in taking Kelsea to country radio. Her music is great and radio has really embraced her. I’m so proud of our team and all of their efforts. This is a huge accomplishment!”
Crowned one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Ballerini will be hitting the road this summer playing shows nationwide including major festivals, select stops on Lady Antebellum’s Wheels Up Tour and headline club dates—her first New York City show at The Gramercy Theatre was announced yesterday (June 22).
“Going into this, my goal with this first single was to introduce myself,” said Ballerini. “I believed in this song from the minute we wrote it and I always thought it would be the right first single and a great introduction of me. But there’s a fear that comes with that, because it’s the first impression with radio, with fans and with media. It’s so cool to know that the peace that I had when I wrote this song and picked it as the single has led me all the way to it being a No. 1. To be in a group with artists like Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and Deana Carter that have had debut No. 1s and then had brilliant careers after that, makes me so excited for what’s to come. Today, I just want to celebrate with my team because it’s a big victory for all of us, we’ve all worked really hard. Thank you country radio for making this huge milestone happen and making one of my biggest dreams come true.”
According to Ballerini’s team, only 10 other solo females in country music have had their debut country singles go No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart.
2006 – Carrie Underwood “Jesus Take The Wheel” *
2004 – Gretchen Wilson “Redneck Woman”
2001 – Jamie O’Neal “There is No Arizona”
2001 – Cyndi Thomson “What I Really Meant To Say”
1996 – Deana Carter “Strawberry Wine”
1993 – Faith Hill “Wild One”
1992 – Wynonna “She Is His Only Need”
1990 – Trisha Yearwood “She’s In Love With The Boy”
1973 – Marie Osmond “Paper Roses”
1964 – Connie Smith “Once A Day”
* Underwood’s debut single and No. 1 pop hit “Inside Your Heaven,” was not released to country radio, but peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart
Kelsea Ballerini and team celebrate.
Cam And Kelsea Ballerini Perform ‘Burning House’ On ‘The Bobby Bones Show’
Kelsea Ballerini (L) and Cam (middle) on The Bobby Bones Show.
iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated The Bobby Bones Show invited Arista’s Cam to the show Monday (June 15) morning to collaborate with Black River Entertainment’s Kelsea Ballerini on Cam’s new single “Burning House.”
Last week, Cam and Ballerini participated in CMT Next Women of Country, a five-woman in-the-round showcase and discussion at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where Ballerini sang background harmonies as Cam performed “Burning House.” While the two were at the event, Bobby Bones sent a Tweet to the artists inviting them to perform the song on his show.
Cam also visited The Bobby Bones Show last week during CMA Fest to perform part of the song live on the radio. Since then, the digital sales have increased 8,500 percent.
The song’s lyric video is available on iHeartRadio.com.
“Burning House” is set to impact radio on July 6 and it is featured on Cam’s EP, Welcome To Cam Country, here.
Industry Ink: Dan Hodges Music, Show Dog, Renee Bell, Emporium Presents, Pitch Please Pluggers
Michelle Attardi
Dan Hodges Promotes Michelle Attardi
Michelle Attardi has been promoted to Creative Director at Dan Hodges Music. Attardi graduated from Berklee College of Music with honors and has worked at the company for two years, where she is responsible for writer management and song placement for the DHM staff writers and clients. In her new position she will also serve as a liaison between the creative and administrative arms of the company.
“Michelle appreciates the creative process and the people behind it,” said DHM owner Dan Hodges. “She strives to find areas for growth for herself and others and is a complement in all we do.” She can be reached at [email protected].
Emporium Presents
Dan Steinberg’s Square Peg Concerts and Jason Zink’s Sherpa Concerts have come together to form Emporium Presents. Steiny and Zink have been producing shows together in one form or another since the mid-nineties. The promoters have shared three offices (Denver, Nashville and Seattle), and a fairly sizable staff to produce hundreds of events together annually.
All phone numbers and addresses for the Colorado, Tennessee and Washington offices will remain the same. The Nashville office is located at 3819 Sentinel Dr., Nashville, TN 37209, 615-301-8728. However they now share the new website www.emporiumpresents.com and have new email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].
Renee Bell with Winston
Renee Bell Opens Winston Dog
Dog owner and former music industry executive Renee Bell recently opened Winston Dog, a boutique and fluff out bar for dogs of all sizes, in the Hill Center of Green Hills. A weekend of grand opening celebrations will take place on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21.
The boutique features a fluff out bar where dogs can get a paw scrub, a spritz, a nail trim and more, as well as a high-end collection of canine couture items.
Ten percent of all sales from the grand opening weekend will benefit Tiny But Mighty, an organization focused on celebrating the unbreakable bonds between dogs and people as well as raising awareness and funds for animal welfare and rescue groups including the Nashville Humane Association. Details at winstondog.net.
Pitch, Please Hosts Writers Round
Songplugger group Pitch, Please will host a songwriting round at Soulshine Pizza on June 24. The pitch group consists of representatives from Warner/Chappell, Big Machine Music, ThiS Music, HoriPro, Big Loud Shirt and Kobalt.
Events will begin at 5:00 p.m. Writers include Josh Mirenda, Matt Dragstrem, Jake Scott, Mike Walker, Hunter Phelps, Emily Weisband, Michael Hardy and Laura Veltz.
Katie Kettelhut
Show Dog Hires Katie Kettelhut
Katie Kettelhut has been named Promotion Coordinator for Show Dog Nashville. Kettelhut graduated from the Minnesota School of Business with honors and worked as an intern at TKO Artist Management prior to joining the label. Reach her at [email protected].
Jennifer Shaffer Rises At Streamsound
Jennifer Shaffer
Jennifer Shaffer has been upped to National Director of Promotion at Streamsound Records. Shaffer joined the label 11 months ago and previously did stints in promotion at Sidewalk, Rodeowave, Warner Music Nashville, Lyric Street, and Columbia Records.
“Jennifer is very passionate about our roster and is a natural fit for this position,” states Streamsound CEO/President Steve Richardson. “We are happy to promote such a great staff member on our team.”
“I am very thankful for the confidence Steve Richardson has instilled in me as I move into the national role,” says Shaffer. “We have an amazing promotion team and a talented roster, and I am looking forward to our future.”
Streamsound is home to artists Kristian Bush, Austin Webb, Dakota Bradley and Jaida Dreyer.
Teddi Bonadies recently exited Streamsound’s promo department, where she served as VP/Promotion & Strategic Marketing.
Teddi Bonadies Exits Streamsound
VP/Promotion & Strategic Marketing Teddi Bonadies has resigned from Streamsound Records. Bonadies reported to CEO Steve Richardson.
She was previously the General Manager of Rodeowave with other prior stops at Universal South, Show Dog-Universal and more than 14 years at Arista. She can be reached here.
Launched in 2012, Streamsound Records is an independent country record label based in Brentwood, Tenn., and distributed by ATO Records. The label is home to artists Jaida Dryer, Austin Webb, Dakota Bradley and Kristian Bush.
