The TV Force Impacts Sales

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“The force is strong with that one,” confided Yoda in one of the Star Wars epics. Judging by this week’s Nielsen SoundScan numbers he might have been talking about the power of TV to sell music. For example, the Tony Awards prominently featured the Cast of Book of Mormon and sales of the recording jumped 999% to over 60k units, (almost 52k were digital albums). Luke Bryan’s CMT Awards performance sparked mouse clicks for “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” sending digital downloads up 41% week over week to almost 74k units. And Jason Aldean most definitely didn’t get lost on a “Dirt Road…” After CMT featured a duet “Dirt” performance with Ludacris, the track remained pinned at the top of the Country Digital tracks list jumping 99% from 85k units last week to 169k units. Sales of The Band Perry “You Lie,” also performed on the CMT stage, advanced 37% reaching just shy of 38k for the week.
TV also played a role in the launch this past week of Ronnie Dunn’s solo career. His new self-titled album sits at No. 1 on the country album list shifting over 45k units (17% digital).
So for those who are wondering if Award shows can still boost sales in this era of fragmented media, the answer is a profound YES.
In other highlights this week, Randy Travis’ Anniversary Celebration collection landed at No. 4 on the country chart moving about 19k units (11.5% digital).













Adkins has hooked one...







Future Hit
If you like to stay ahead of what’s happening, pay attention to the new Trace Adkins track “Just Fishin’.” Over the last three weeks this song climbed from No. 62 to 49 to 43.

Sales this week increased 36% from about 7.7k to 10.5k. The track is Top 10 on the Country Breakout Chart (No. 9) but mainstream radio still hasn’t given it much play (BB No. 18). This column isn’t normally for reviews, but the numbers show the story and if you hear the record your ears will do the rest. This track has the potential to be a career, Song of The Year-type smash for the Show Dog dude.
Overview
The numbers are slowly improving as we head for the six month intermission. Not to cast any shadows, but the second half year is where the action is, and the majority of sales.
So far (through week ending 6/12/11) total all genre album sales are up .6%. Included in that number are digital album sales, which looked at alone are up 19.2%. Zeroing in on Nashville, Country album sales YTD are down 4.1%. As with all genre digital album sales, the category for country is up 26.2%. Country music’s share of digital track sales this year is 10.8%. The genre’s overall market share this year is 11.8%.

Swift and Underwood Among Best Paid Celebs Under 30

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Ahh, to be young and wealthy beyond your wildest dreams.
Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are part of an elite group of young celebrities who know what that feels like, according to Forbes (“The Best Paid Celebrities Under 30”).
Swift’s earnings in the previous year totaled approximately $45 million, according to the feature. Her third album Speak Now was triple platinum mere weeks after its release and her live shows bring in $750k per engagement. Underwood collected $15 million, courtesy of a successful tour and her starring role in the big budget film Soul Surfer.
Topping the list is Lady Gaga, whose international touring success and massive record sales from May 2010 to May 2011 (prior to release of new album Born This Way) earned her an estimated $90 million. Seventeen-year-old Justin Bieber lands at No. 2 with a reported $53 million, thanks to his concert movie Never Say Never, platinum album My Life 2.0, and wildly popular touring base. NBA star LeBron James is at No. 3 with $48 million, followed by tennis champ Roger Federer at No. 4 ($47 million) and Swift at No. 5.
Other celebs on the list include Katy Perry ($44 million), soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo ($38 million), Beyonce Knowles ($35 million), and Rihanna ($29 million).

Adkins Announces New Album

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Trace Adkins has announced the release of his new album Proud To Be Here, due August 2 on Show Dog-Universal Music. Adkins revealed details about the album during his CMA Music Festival performance at LP Field Saturday night (6/11).
“Proud To Be Here was chosen as the album title some weeks ago because it’s how I’ve felt ever since my first album release and during every milestone since,” says Adkins. “The title song could have been based on my life and it’s about narrow escapes and the grace that guides you through. Obviously, now after the fire, Proud To Be Here takes on an even greater significance. Once again, I’ve been blessed and everyone is safe. I don’t even want to think what could’ve been had it started at 3am instead of 3pm…”
The 10-track album was recorded earlier in spring and produced by Kenny Beard and Mark Wright. A deluxe bonus version, featuring four additional tracks, will also be available. The collection’s lead single, “Just Fishin’” (Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell, Ed Hill) was produced by Michael Knox and is a father’s tribute to his daughter. The album’s title track, written by Chris Wallin, Aaron Barker, and Ira Dean, aims to resonate with anyone who’s ever reflected upon narrow escapes.
Adkins recently lost his home to a fire, but fortunately he and his family were unharmed. The singer has redirected offers of support to those affected by flooding and tornadoes in the South, urging his fans to pledge support to the American Red Cross instead. Visit http://american.redcross.org/traceadkins for details.

Country, Bluegrass and Americana News (6/10/11)

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Randy Travis is celebrating his 25 year career in country music with the release of Anniversary Collection, which hit stores Tuesday (6/7). The 17 song collection from Warner Bros. Records features new songs and remakes of Randy’s classic hits. Special guests on the album include Zac Brown Band, Kristin Chenoweth, Kenny Chesney, Don Henley, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.
• • • •
Veteran Ricky Skaggs also has a new album on the way. Titled Country Hits Bluegrass Style, the album is due out July 19th on Skaggs Family Records and features many of Skaggs’ country hits re-imagined. “We did such good music in the 1980s and early ’90s that a lot of fans still shout out ‘Honey (Open That Door),’ and I felt like we needed to do those songs for them, too,” explains Skaggs. “For years now I’ve had fans come up and ask me to do a CD that would have my old country hits on it. So here it is, done a little different than the original recordings. These were done in more of a bluegrass style. Folks have loved it when we play them on the road. Sure hope you love them too.”
• • • •
In memory of the passing of bluegrass icons Hazel Dickens and Carlton Haney, the Foundation for Bluegrass Music will be funding grants and/or scholarships with a deadline of August 15, 2011 to apply. Dickens was a trailblazing singer/songwriter who mentored many aspiring musicians and writers. Haney was a business who produced the first weekend-long bluegrass music festival in 1965. Both passed away earlier in 2011.
A one-time fund of $10,000 has been earmarked with the guidelines that up to $5,000 in memory of Dickens fund public projects and/or scholarships that foster bluegrass artistic development for deserving young people. Another $5,000 is reserved in honor of Haney to fund public projects and/or scholarships that foster bluegrass music business development.
Grants will be announced no later than October 31, 2011 and funds released after January 1, 2012. More information is available here.
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Songwriter/Artist Larry Cordle’s new album Pud Marcum’s Hangin’ (MightyCord Records) has found an audience that spans country, Americana and bluegrass music. The album recently spent the entire month of March at No. 1 on Airplay Direct’s Americana chart, and Cordle has inked distribution agreements with Ashland Specialty Company and Clark Distribution Company to get the album stocked in convenience stores in KY, WV and OH.

New Beginnings

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LeAnn Bennett



 
>>>LeAnn Bennett has announced the formation of Bennett Entertainment Group, a full-service project development company specializing in entertainment media from conception to delivery. BEG will oversee creation and coordination of both physical and digital media including CDs, DVDs, books, film/TV, merchandising and more which can include the negotiation of rates and usage, licensing, clearances, compilation of label copy, creative services, manufacturing and delivery. Bennett recently served as Director of Special Projects at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where she was responsible for the complete management of and licensing for CMF Records, CMF Video, CMF Press, JCM, and Hatch Show Print. Contact BEG at www.bennettentgroup.com or leann@bennettentgroup.com
>>>The Board of Directors of Vanderbilt Student Communications and the Board of Directors of Nashville Public Radio have transferred the license of WRVU 91.1FM to Nashville Public Radio. The new station’s call letters will be WFCL, and its mission will be to showcase classical music and the arts and promote local performances and events. The change in format is effective June 8. WRVU’s eclectic programming format continues without interruption as an online service and will resume over-the-air broadcast service on WPLN’s HD3 channel beginning in the fall of 2011. The agreement calls for a payment of $3,350,000 from Nashville Public Radio to Vanderbilt Student Communications, gives WRVU the use of WPLN HD3 and guarantees internship opportunities for Vanderbilt students in Nashville Public Radio’s award-winning news department.

Stephanie Taylor


>>>Entertainment and Music Industry attorney Stephanie Taylor has joined the law firm of Bone McAllester Norton PLLCand will oversee the firm’s Entertainment Law Group. Prior to joining Bone McAllester Norton, she owned Stephanie Taylor Law. Ms. Taylor also has been a professor of music business at Middle Tennessee State University and directed MTSU’s Recording Industry Exchange program with Russia.
>>>The Country Network has named former KWNR/Las Vegas PD Cary Rolfe, Exec. VP. In his new role, Rolfe will be based in Nashville and responsible for the company’s artist relations, programming and promotions initiatives. Rolfe has over 30 years experience in the industry, including time with Citadel/Spokane and Giant Records. “To be able to step in and contribute to a revolutionary venture like The Country Network is very exciting,” says Rolfe. “My career has always been about the music and this opportunity offers the perfect venue to fully engage all avenues of this passion.”

CMT Awards Ratings Up 19%

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According to CMT, its Wed. June 8, two and a half hour Awards presentation earned a 1.35 rating among P18-49, averaging 2.9 million viewers. Combined two-play performance ratings (the show was repeated immediately after the first run) produced the best in the history of the franchise, up 19% from last year with a total of 4.1 million viewers. CMT was also the most watched network among women 18-49, and the No. 1 rated cable program of the day for W18-49.
Compared with past years, the 2011 show was the third highest-rated over the award’s 10 year history and the fourth most-watched telecast in channel history. Ratings were the highest in franchise history in the demos of teens, females 12-17 and P12-24.
In the digital arena, CMT.com received 265,000 unique visitors for the day, up 40% from last year. Social media drove 38% of that traffic. The Twitter hashtag #cmtAwards received more than 325 mentions per minute and about 30,000 total.
Performers Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and Luke Bryan gained four of the top 5 selling country downloads with songs included on the show in the hour after the telecast.
 

Urban Partners With AT&T, Samsung

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Keith Urban has secured an endorsement agreement with AT&T and Samsung Mobile, who will be the presenting sponsors of his Get Closer 2011 World Tour. The superstar will also endorse the new Samsung Infuse 4G smartphone, available exclusively through AT&T.
Launching June 16 in Biloxi, Miss., the tour’s North American leg includes more than 50 concert dates. The outing completed an Australian run in April.
From the road, Urban will record vignettes of his life on his Samsung Infuse 4G and post them to www.keithurban.net. At concerts fans will have the opportunity to appear in a video and photo with Urban via green screen technology and share their experience with friends instantly via email, Facebook or Twitter. Additionally, brand ambassadors will be at concerts capturing fan photos on the Infuse smartphone, and sending them instantly to the fans so that they can share the pics with friends and post to their social media sites.

Apple Unveils iCloud Service

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If good things come to those who wait, then Apple is finally ready to reward us by unveiling the long-awaited, long-speculated iCloud today (6/6). Steve Jobs led the presentation at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
The iCloud service will store users’ digital files online and automatically push them to iOS-based devices such as iPhones, iPads, PCs or Macs. Apple Mail, Calendar and Contacts will now update automatically on all devices. Users automatically get 5GB of free storage, but purchased music, apps, books and photos will not count against the total.
Much of the speculation about iCloud has centered around Apple’s iTunes, which will now allow users who have purchased songs from iTunes to re-download from the cloud to other iOS-based devices at no charge. For an additional charge of $25 annually, users can try iTunes Match which scans a music library for files not purchased in the store and upgrades them to 256kbps AAC format. For tracks not matched in the store, a manual upload is available.
Additionally, the App Store will use iCloud to put all downloaded apps on every available device. Purchased books will be synced. Users will be able to create documents, spreadsheets or presentations which can then be stored and accessed via the cloud. A new application called Photo Stream will allow photos to by synced across all devices, but cloud storage is limited to the last 1000 photos.
The iCloud service will be free for use on devices running iOS5, which is expected out in fall.

Now That's What I Call Country Release

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NOW That’s What I Call Country Vol. 4, the fourth installment of the popular series, will be released June 14 and features music by Sugarland, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band and Miranda Lambert among others. Eleven of the album’s 18 tracks were No. 1 hits.
To promote the album’s launch, Universal Music Group is sponsoring a sweepstakes that will reward one grand prize winner with the opportunity to see and meet one of the Now Country Vol. 4 artists of his or her choosing live in concert. (Transportation not included and some restrictions apply.) For more information, visit www.NowCountrySweeps.com. The project is a joint venture from Universal Music Group, EMI Music North America and Sony Music Entertainment. The NOW That’s What I Call Music! series is the world’s best-selling multi-artist album series with sales topping 200 million worldwide and 80 million in the United States.

Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 4 tracklist:
1.    “Hello World” by Lady Antebellum
2.    “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry
3.    “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” by Blake Shelton
4.    “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square
5.    “Stuck Like Glue” by Sugarland
6.    “Undo It” by Carrie Underwood
7.    “Put You In a Song” by Keith Urban
8.    “Roll With It” by Easton Corbin
9.    “Only Prettier” by Miranda Lambert
10. “Smoke a Little Smoke” by Eric Church
11. “Voices” by Chris Young
12. “Someone Else Calling You Baby” by Luke Bryan
13. “Come Back Song” by Darius Rucker
14. “What Do You Want” by Jerrod Niemann
15. “Let Me Down Easy” by Billy Currington
16. “Back to December” by Taylor Swift
17. “Colder Weather” by Zac Brown Band
18. “The Breath You Take” by George Strait

Band Perry's Double Platinum Cert, "Save The Music" For VH1

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The Band Perry’s star keeps rising. The Republic Nashville sibling trio’s current single “You Lie” has already reached No. 1 on the CountryBreakout Chart and sits inside the Top 10 on the monitored airplay charts. And now the group’s previous smash single “If I Die Young” has been certified double platinum by the RIAA for sales exceeding 2 million.
“It’s been an amazing year! So many have embraced the message of ‘If I Die Young’ and we are humbled that it has impacted so many people. This is truly an honor,” said The Band Perry.
Tomorrow (6/2), The Band Perry will perform as part of VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Songwriters Music Series, Presented by Starburst. The series launched in New York with Glee star Matthew Morrison, continues with TBP in Nashville, and will hop to Los Angeles with a performer yet to be announced.
The excitement for The Band Perry doesn’t end there. They’re spending a hefty portion of summer on the road, headlining some of their own dates as well as opening Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic Tour (tour schedule here). They are also set to attend the CMT Music Awards June 8, where they are nominated for Video of the Year, Group of the Year, and USAWeekend Breakthrough Video of the Year.