Industry Ink (1/31/14)

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Ed Salamon

Ed Salamon


Former WHN assistant program director (and now operations manager of Cumulus Nashville and program director of WSM-FM and WKDF) Charlie Cook, WHN music director (now with Cumulus Media Networks) Pam Green and Ed Salamon will present a panel about WHN radio with Alabama’s Jeff Cook on Monday, Feb. 17 at 6 pm at Two Old Hippies in The Gulch 401 12th Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37203 (across from The Station Inn).
The discussion will be followed by a signing for Salamon’s book WHN: When New York City Went Country.
For more information, visit twooldhippies.com.

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i don't see heaven111Songwriter and author Jennifer Adan has released her debut children’s book, I Don’t See Heaven. After winning a songwriting competition sponsored by Jeffrey Steele, Adan relocated to Nashville and joined NSAI and WCA. She penned Blake Shelton‘s chart-topping single, “She Wouldn’t Be Gone.”

I Don’t See Heaven is available for order on amazon.com and can be found in select Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide.

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 ascap 100 years11ASCAP will present a writer’s round at the Bluebird Cafe on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. The round will feature Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins, Deric Ruttan and Leah Turner. Reservations are now available.

Weekly Chart Report (1/31/14)

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Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 3.25.12 PMTo access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report, click here or above.

HitShop Records Adds Cutbirth, Wayne To National Promotions Team

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wayne cutbirth111

Pictured (L-R): Caroline Cutbirth and Jennifer Wayne. Photo: Russ Harrington


HitShop Records President Skip Bishop has appointed Caroline Cutbirth and Jennifer Wayne to the label’s promotion department with the unique title, National Promotion, Special Operations. Together as a team, they will concentrate on radio promotions and marketing with a laser focus on impacting major markets.
Cutbirth and Wayne spent four years together as two-thirds of the band Stealing Angels. During that time they forged great relationships with Country radio and honed their people skills opening for artists such as Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, and more. Cutbirth and Wayne have also appeared on two seasons of The Amazing Race. Viewers will once again get to watch the duo race around the world on CBS, with season two starting in February.
“Jen and Caroline are a remarkable force! With their combined experience and relationships, they will be unstoppable at furthering the careers of HitShop’s ever-growing roster of artists,” exclaims Bishop. “Separately and together, they are brilliant and highly competitive. We are so happy to have them join us in the innovative configuration of modern promotion!”
“We’re so excited to get the chance to rekindle our radio relationships,” says Cutbirth, who will continue her duties at Young Guns Music Publishing, HitShop’s sister company in Nashville.
“To be able to go to radio with great music from artists like Natalie Stovall and The Drive, Kira Isabella, and Weston Burt makes it a dream job,” adds Wayne, whose iconic roots exude success as the granddaughter of John Wayne. “This is our most exciting challenge yet!”
Cutbirth may be reached at caroline@hitshoprecords.com, while Wayne may be reached at jen@hitshoprecords.com.

Industry Ink (1/27/14)

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CRS2014-LogoCountry Radio Seminar officials have announced that a limited number of tickets are still available for the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.
As previously announced, Vince Gill will be honored at the ceremony with the 2014 Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Career Achievement Award. Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell will perform a tribute to Gill as well as presenting him with the prestigious award during the event. In addition, Ed Hardy, CMA Board Chairman, will be honored with the 2014 President’s Award at the ceremony.
Honorary radio inductees are Larry Wilson, Alpha and L&L Broadcasting, and Mike Brophy, WKLB in Boston, Mass. The inductees in the On-Air category are Paul Schadt, WKKT in Charlotte, N.C. and Jim Denny, WFMS in Indianapolis, Ind.
Tickets are available for $110 each and can be purchased by contacting Chasity Crouch at chasity@crb.org or 615-329-2191. Similar to previous years, the event is expected to sell-out.

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nashville edge11Journal Broadcast Group and Radionomy have launched Nashville Edge Radio. Nashville Edge Radio will focus on the latest hits in Country music, including the top songs from the past six months, as well as new music and exclusive conversations with Nashville’s most popular Country artists.

A companion website aims to keep fans updated on the latest artist news, videos, songs and touring information. Writers for the site include veteran journalists Phyllis Stark and Stephen L. Betts.

To hear Nashville Edge Radio, visit their official website or search for Nashville Edge Radio on the TuneIn Radio app via a mobile device.

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centricity music logoCentricity Music and Centricity Music Publishing have signed an exclusive worldwide administration deal with Brentwood-based, Music Services, Inc. Under this new partnership, Music Services will be responsible for the royalty accounting for both the record and publishing assets of Centricity and the licensing of their recorded masters and songs.
Centricity’s Record roster includes Aaron Shust, Andrew Peterson, Carrollton, Jason Gray Jonny Diaz and Canadian country group, High Valley.
Music Services currently serves the needs of 25 record labels and 200 music publishers representing the rights to some 3,400 owned or administered catalogs.

Weekly Chart Report (1/24/14)

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Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 8.44.19 AMTo access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report, click here or above.

No. 1 Song: "Sunny and 75"

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Pictured (Back row, L-R): Broken Bow Records’ Jon Loba and producer Derek George; (Middle row, L-R): producer Mickey Jack Cones, Warner-Tamerlane Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown, Triple 8 Management’s George Couri, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Abbey Adams; (Front row, L-R): ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, co-writers Michael Dulaney and Paul Jenkins, Joe Nichols, co-writer Jason Sellers, and BMI’s Penny Everhard. Photo credit: Steve Lowry

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Broken Bow Records’ Jon Loba and producer Derek George; (Middle row, L-R): producer Mickey Jack Cones, Warner-Tamerlane Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown, Triple 8 Management’s George Couri, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Abbey Adams; (Front row, L-R): ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, co-writers Michael Dulaney and Paul Jenkins, Joe Nichols, co-writer Jason Sellers, and BMI’s Penny Everhard. Photo credit: Steve Lowry


Nashville industry executives gathered at the Country Music Association‘s offices on a chilly January afternoon on Wednesday (Jan. 22) to celebrate those behind the success of Joe Nichols‘ latest No. 1 song, “Sunny and 75.” The upbeat tune marked songwriters Michael DuLaney‘s seventh, Paul Jenkins‘ fourth and Jason Sellers‘ fourth No. 1 hits. With the tune, Nichols notched his fifth chart-topping song and his first No. 1 song since “Gimmie That Girl” (2010). “Sunny and 75” is the first chart-topping song for Broken Bow Records (BBR) Music Group’s Red Bow label. Derek George and Mickey Jack Cones, co-producers on “Sunny and 75,” were also honored during the celebration.
“When we find out your vocal will be on one of our songs, we get thrilled. We appreciate all the songs you have cut and look forward to many more,” said Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson said to Nichols.
Nichols stated he was initially hesitant to record the “Sunny and 75,” which he didn’t consider to be melodically in his wheelhouse. “When I first heard the song and Jason [Sellers] was singing it, it was hard to envision myself singing it,” said Nichols. “[Broken Bow Records’] Benny [Brown] suggested I try it and it worked, so I appreciate the confidence they have in me.” He offered a round of thanks for everyone who supported his music, including publicist Jenny Bohler, booking agency CAA, and his band and crew, “because they don’t get enough credit,” said Nichols.
Ron Cox was on hand to present Avenue Bank’s donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on behalf of the songwriters.
Among those on hand to celebrate the song’s success were Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown and Jon Loba, Sony/ATV’s Terry Wakefield, Warner-Tamerlane Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, ASCAP‘s LeAnn Phelan, Sony/ATV’s Abbey Adams, BMI‘s Penny Everhard, and Triple 8 Management’s George Couri, Nichols’ manager.

CMA, CRS Team For Research Session on Country Radio

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Mark Ramsey

Mark Ramsey of Mark Ramsey Media


The Country Music Association is partnering with Country Radio Seminar to present a session on radio’s path to the future. The session, entitled “Building a Strong Brand No Matter What Technology Does,” will be presented by veteran media strategist Mark Ramsey of Mark Ramsey Media and Karen Stump, CMA’s Sr. Director of Market Research. The session will take place Thursday, Feb. 20 (11:00–11:50 AM/CT) during Country Radio Seminar, which is slated for Feb. 19-21 at the Nashville Convention Center.
The session will focus on the declining attention span of consumers, understanding consumer needs in relation to radio, and discussing what type of content is radio’s best bet for the future. This is not a session about digital, but will reinforce the idea that more is not necessarily better.
“Technology does not equal branding and Mark’s insights help peel away the clutter of today’s ever-changing technology options and bring consumer relevance into focus,” said Stump. “CMA is thrilled to be able to share Mark’s wisdom and research with CRS attendees and provide them with tools for identifying their opportunities for success.”
“Radio is suffering a crisis of attention,” said Ramsey. “The solution to this problem is not more social media, better apps, a slicker stream, or some new techno-integration in the auto dashboard. The solution is to understand what ‘jobs’ consumers are ‘hiring’ radio brands for and how easy or hard it is for those ‘jobs’ to be disrupted by other media and other technology.”

‘MusicRow’ Announces 2014 CRS CountryBreakout Award Performers

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CRS12MusicRow Magazine is pleased to announce rising artists Native Run (Show Dog-Universal) and Natalie Stovall and the Drive (HitShop Records) as the performers for the 2014 CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards.
CRS14The invitation-only event will be held in front of an audience of MusicRow subscribed members and radio executives at Margaritaville in downtown Nashville, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2:00 PM. The ceremony serves as the unofficial kick-off to Country Radio Seminar, which will attract radio broadcasters from across the country for events Feb. 19-21.
In addition to performances, the afternoon will include the presentation of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards. Given annually, these honors recognize artists who earned the most airplay on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart during the preceding year. For 12 years, the CountryBreakout Chart has led the market for Country radio’s secondary stations.
“Our MusicRow Chart has become more valuable than ever,” said MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “Not only does the CountryBreakout Chart give insight to radio’s future trends, but it provides a fluid platform for established artists to expand success and new artists to begin their careers and create initial momentum.”
“Our CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards will not only showcase the talents of two wonderful bands, but will celebrate the artists who have performed on our airwaves throughout the year,” said MusicRow Chart Director Michael Smith.
An in-depth profile of the yet-to-be-announced awards winners will be included in the February/March 2014 edition of MusicRow Magazine, set to debut at the awards ceremony. Copies of the print issue will be available for CRS attendees throughout the Nashville Convention Center, including kiosks in the coffee lounge and conference areas. MusicRow paid subscribers will receive copies by mail. Magazines are also available for purchase anytime at musicrow.com or the magazine’s 17th Avenue headquarters in Nashville.
Invited guests can click here to RSVP.
About the artists performing at MusicRow’s 2014 CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards
Natalie Stovall and the Drive (HitShop Records) – Whether it’s Natalie Stovall’s breathtaking vocals and larger-than-life stage presence, her band’s turbo-charged, take-no prisoners live show, or the collective unit’s barnstorming worldwide tours, Natalie Stovall and The Drive prove they are ready for the spotlight. The band is currently working with famed producer, Paul Worley (Dixie Chicks, Lady Antebellum, Big and Rich, The Band Perry) while the lead single “Baby Come On With It” is rising on the charts. With a trademark lion’s mane of big blonde hair, Natalie and her powerful vocals have gained worldwide popularity since she was 10, performing everywhere from the White House to the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Grand Ole Opry. The multi-talented instrumentalist’s vocals have captivated audiences during more than 200 touring dates each year. Led by the Columbia, Tenn. native, her four-person band includes drummer James Bavendam from Seattle, Chile’s Miguel Cancino on guitar, Zach Morse from Cheyenne, Wy. on bass and vocals, and Redding, Calif. guitarist and vocalist Joel Dormer. Natalie Stovall and The Drive are realizing their dream each day as they perform for fans around the world and finish up their debut record, set to release in 2014.
Native Run (Show Dog-Universal) – Native Run is comprised of Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley, both born and raised with deep roots in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Beauregard and Dawley bring a chemistry and energy to the stage that is unparalleled. They recently moved to Nashville, Tenn., and have been taking the music scene by storm. Having signed with Creative Nation, Combustion Music, Show Dog-Universal and Fusion Music, they are now solely focused on writing their debut album. They’re pop-country meets rock n’ roll, with a deep groove and great hair. The duo has been hailed by Paste Magazine as “The Best of What’s Next,” and they are veterans of The Rock Boat and Austin City Limits Music Festival.

CRS Black River Entertainment Luncheon Lineup Revealed

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black river entertainment logo1Country Radio Seminar officials have announced the lineup for the Black River Entertainment luncheon, set for Friday, Feb. 21 during CRS 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. Kellie Pickler, Craig Morgan, John King, as well as special guests will perform at the luncheon event, which will take place inside the Performance Hall at the Nashville Convention Center.
“Black River Entertainment is so proud to present the Friday luncheon again this year at CRS,” said Black River Entertainment’s VP/Promotion, Bill Macky. “Our biggest challenge is topping last year’s show, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Craig Morgan and Kellie Pickler will be performing brand new music plus we’ll be introducing John King to Country Radio. Don’t miss this debut…John King is going to be a superstar! Black River is a complete entertainment company and that will be front and center once again this year.”
Talent has not yet been announced for the CRS 2014 luncheons scheduled for Feb. 19 (Team UMG at the Ryman) and Feb. 20 (UMG Nashville Lunch). An announcement will be forthcoming prior to the event. CRS 2014 will be held Feb. 19-21 at the Nashville Convention Center. For more information, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Beats Music Debuts

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beats musicAnother streaming service is vying for consumer dollars. Beats Music launched in the U.S. at midnight (Jan. 21) and hopes to differentiate itself by offering expertly curated playlists and features to help users find their perfect mix of songs. The subscription service, a spin off of headphone makers Beats Electronics, is developed and led by a team of executives including Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre, Luke Wood, Trent Reznor and Ian Rogers. The Santa Monica company is partially financed by billionaire Len Blavatnik. Country music writer Ken Tucker is part of the service’s curation team. The subscription fee is $9.99/month.
Lots of advertising and marketing is supporting the launch. A commercial will air during the Super Bowl on Feb. 2. There are exclusive agreements with Target and AT&T, as well as a free trial offer. Beats Music will be available to AT&T wireless customers on a multiline account for $14.99 a month. Up to five family members across 10 devices can access the service and get their own music on their own devices.
Beats Music offers a catalog of more than 20 million songs from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and independent labels. The service is available on iOS, Android and Windows Phone as well as via the web. Fans can stream their music or download to listen offline.
Led by radio programming vet Julie Pilat, the Beats Music curation team includes Tucker, former Pitchfork Media editor-in-chief Scott Plagenhoef, former digital content director at XXL Carl Chery, veteran Detroit radio music director Suzy Cole, Recording Academy music blogger Arjan Writes, former Rhino Records A&R Director Mason Williams, Los Angeles hip-hop radio personality Fuzzy Fantabulous, and former Programmer of L.A.’s hugely successful Latino 96.3, Jerry Pullés. The Academy of Country Music, Country Weekly and the Grand Ole Opry are country music curator partners.
Beats Music attempts to provide users with ways to find the right song at the right time with features including:
Just For You: A personalized selection of albums and playlists delivered at least 4 times a day based on musical preferences, time of day, activity, and additional cultural and contextual clues.
Right Now: A continuous playlist compiled from users’ answers to four specific questions about their location, their activity, their surroundings, and their musical preference at that moment.
Highlights: Beats Music editorial staff-recommend playlists or albums.
Find It: An enhanced browsing function that lets users seek out playlists and songs by genre, activity or curator.