Layoffs Hit Clear Channel Music + Entertainment

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clear channel logoOn April 16, Clear Channel Music + Entertainment began what they called an ‘alignment’ of radio station sales staff in local market and cluster levels, according to Billboard. Twenty-two people are reported to have been affected, in Clear Channel markets of all sizes. Thus far, layoffs have been confirmed in the Orlando and West Palm Beach, Fla. offices.
A Clear Channel spokesman noted the company is “aligning our sales organizations…to give more resources, authority and accountability to the most productive members of our team so we can operate as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
Clear Channel Music + Entertainment owns 850 radio stations in the United States.

Weekly Chart Report (4/4/14)

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Weekly Register: Cash, Niemann

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Albums

registerwklyWith the end of 2014’s first quarter, overall album sales are down one percent from last week, while Country album sales are up five percent week over week, thanks to debuts from Johnny Cash and Jerrod Niemann. Cash’s Out Among the Stars (Legacy Recordings) debuts at No. 1 (No. 3 overall), with 54k units sold, while Niemann’s High Noon (Sea Gayle Records-Arista Nashville) debuts at No. 3 (No. 18 overall), selling 14k units. Niemann recently performed for fans south of the border as part of his High Noon Adventure. Another noteworthy debut is Sarah Davidson’s self-titled album (Suretone Records), debuting at No. 30 with 1.8k units sold.
Frozen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Various Artists continues as the top overall album, selling 161k units this week (1.7 million RTD.). Shakira’s self-titled album is the top overall debut, appearing at No. 2 with 35k units sold.
YTD, Country album sales are down 15.1 percent, while overall album sales are down 16.6 percent. If we analyze the TEA index (Track Equivalent Albums), where 10 tracks equal one album, we see that overall album sales are down 15.2 percent (versus 16.6 percent). The same week last year, Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience persisted as the No. 1 overall album, selling 318k units, while Blake Shelton’s Based On A True Story debuted as the top Country album, with 199k units sold.

Tracks

Updated-WeeklyRegister040214Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan’s “This Is How We Roll” is the top Country track (No. 10 overall), selling 77k units this week (692k RTD). Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” endures as the top overall track, selling 320k units this week (3.7 million RTD). The top overall debut is Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me,” debuting at No. 34 with 37k units sold.
YTD, overall track sales are down 12.5 percent, while Country track sales are down 17.2 percent. The same week last year, Pink’s “Just Give Me A Reason” was the top overall track, selling 286k units, while Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” was the top Country track, selling 93k units.
Next week’s numbers will receive a boost from the upcoming ACM Awards, and include the following debuts: Dan+Shay’s Where It All Began, Josh Thompson’s Turn It Up,  The Infamous Stringdusters’ Let It Go and Charlie Daniels’ Off The Grid—Doin’ It Dylan.

Weekly Chart Report (3/28/14)

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CRS Names Agenda Committee Leadership

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crs 20151Jeff Green (Partner, Stone Door Media Lab) has been named Chairman for the 2014-2015 CRS Agenda Committee, while Tom Hanrahan (Regional Program Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment) and John Trapane (SW Regional, EMI Nashville) have been named Co-Vice Chairman. All three will serve the 2014-2015 term and will manage the agenda for the upcoming Country Radio Seminar (CRS 2015).
Green co-formed Stone Door Media Lab in 2012. He previously servced five years as VP, Operations at Country Aircheck. His background includes 22 years in executive posts at the Americana Music Association, Radio & Records, Country Music Association and Music & Media.
Hanrahan is in his 29th year in Country radio, having programmed Country music for 18 years. He has been with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment for 17 years. He currently serves as Regional Programming Manager for CCME, overseeing Birmingham, Montgomery and Gadsden, Ala.
Trapane’s radio station stops include KIKK/KILT in Houston, 93Q Country Houston and 106.7 The Fox in Detroit, as well as stints at Giant/Reprise, Dreamcatcher and Capitol Records. He is currently the SW Regional for EMI Nashville.
CRS continues to accept applications for the CRS 2015 Agenda Committee at countryradioseminar.com. Professional members of the radio and recording industries may submit applications through Friday, April 4. Applications can be sent to Sheree Latham at [email protected].

Clear Channel, BBR Music Group Reach Revenue-Sharing Deal

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BBR Music Group and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment have reached an agreement that will allow BBR Music Group imprints Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records and its artists to share in revenue across Clear Channel’s broadcast radio and iHeartRadio streaming stations.

“Radio plays a powerful – and unique – role in breaking country artists. Clear Channel’s commitment to being a leader in exposing fans to the best new music is undeniable. They have taken a very proactive role in growing the format, while strengthening the health of both the Radio and Records industries,” said BBR Music Group EVP Jon Loba. “Forming closer ties with a partner who wants to ‘grow the pie’ for all parties involved, while ensuring that country fans can access our music on multiple platforms was a logical move for us.”
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“Broken Bow Records deserves its reputation for discovering, cultivating and marketing some of the most exciting new artists in country music,” said Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman. “Clear Channel is delighted to have the BBR Music Group and its artists as partners as we continue to build a sustainable digital music industry that benefits everyone involved – artists, fans, record labels, and broadcasters.”
Clear Channel’s partnership with Broken Bow Records follows similar revenue-sharing agreements with Warner Music Group, Big Machine Label Group, Glassnote Entertainment Group, eOne, Dualtone, DashGo, Black River Entertainment, rpm Entertainment, Robbins Entertainment, Naxos, Wind-up Records, Fearless Records, Zojak World Wide and Suburban Noize Records, as well as recording artist Fleetwood Mac.
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment serves 150 markets through 840 owned radio stations, and the company’s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, iHeartRadio.com, the company’s radio station websites, iHeartRadio mobile app, in enhanced auto dashes, on iPads and smartphones, and used via navigation systems.

Weekly Chart Report (3/21/14)

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CRS Accepting Agenda Committee Applicants for 2015

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crs 20151Radio and music industry professionals interested in joining Country Radio Seminar‘s 2015 Agenda Committee may submit applications at countryradioseminar.com. Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 4.
Applicants must be available to attend agenda meetings in Nashville from June 18-20, 2014, and should attend panels and meetings at CRS 2015, which will be held Feb. 26-28, 2015.
The agenda committee plans events for the upcoming year’s Country Radio Seminar. Agenda committee inquiries can be directed to Sheree Latham at 615-327-4487 or [email protected].

Davis Joins Nine North/Turnpike Music/Edgehill Music

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jeff davis nine north

Jeff Davis


Jeff Davis has been named Director, National Promotion for Nine North/Turnpike Music/Edgehill Music. Davis will step into his new role on April 1.
He has previously worked at Cold River and at Tenacity Records. Davis will report to Nine North/Turnpike Music/Edgehill Music president Larry Pareigis and Tom Moran, Sr. VP, Promotion and Marketing.
“Jeff is an absolutely driven promotion and marketing monster who won’t take no for an answer,” Pareigis said. “I’m honored he’s chosen to join our team.”
Davis fills the post of Ryan Barnstead, who has been with the company since its inception. Barnstead is leaving to join The Talent Associates effective April 1.
Davis can be reached at [email protected], while Barnstead can be reached in his new venture at [email protected].

Lifenotes: Elroy Kahanek

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Elroy Kahanek

Elroy Kahanek


Record promoter, songwriter, artist manager, talent scout and music entrepreneur Elroy Kahanek died on Tuesday (March 11) at age 72. Kahanek is best known for his work in radio promotion. He was the vice president of Country promotion at RCA in the 1970s, then served in similar capacities at Sunbird Records in the 1980s and at Atlantic Records in the 1990s.
At RCA, he worked during the label’s “outlaw music” era, promoting the singles of Waylon Jennings. At Sunbird, he helped launch the career of Earl Thomas Conley. During his Atlantic tenure, Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery and others became stars.
In 1998, he was named vice president of artist development at Bang II Records. That label promoted singer-songwriter Monty Holmes, among others.
Elroy Kahanek also had a successful career as a songwriter. He co-wrote T.G. Sheppard’s 1975 hit “Trying to Beat the Morning Home,” as well as Eddy Raven’s 1982 success “She’s Playing Hard to Forget.” Josh Logan recorded Kahanek’s co-written “Somebody Paints the Wall” in 1989. George Jones re-recorded it in 1990, and Tracy Lawrence made it a big hit in 1993.
His other songwriting cuts include Logan’s “I Owe You One” of 2012, Sheppard’s “Like a Coupe DeVille” of 1997 and Keith Stegall’s “The Fool Who Fooled Around” of 1980.
In later years, he was associated with businesses such as Honkytone Records, Joyna Music, Angelfire Records and Cowboy Productions. He worked with such artists as Darren Warren, The Marcy Brothers and Kris Gordon. At the time of his death, he was president of Elroy Kahanek Promotions.
He is survived by his wife Cindy, daughter Kim Gray, three grandchildren and eight siblings.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Woodmont Funeral Home’s Hickory Chapel at 5852 Nolensville Road. The visitation is this afternoon at 4:00-8:00 p.m. and tomorrow at 12:00-2:30 p.m. Elroy Kahanek’s burial will be Monday, March 17, at Woodlawn Cemetery.