Digital Expert Sees Downturn for Downloads 


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Speaking at the opening panel of the Digital Music Forum East in Manhattan yesterday (2/24), Russ Crupnick, an analyst with the research firm, the NPD Group, predicted a grim future for free streaming music sites that enable users to listen to songs any time free of charge.

Presenting data on U.S. music purchases from 2007 to 2009, Crupnick said users at these sites make 13 percent fewer digital download purchases. He went on to explain that users of online radio services like Pandora, which does not allow users to choose songs, but presents music randomly, see a 41 percent increase in download sales. As a result, he explained, the “free music” business model is quickly losing traction at record companies.

“We’re eating our young,” Crupnick said. “For some people more listening just means more listening and tends to lead to less purchasing.”

Overall, the NPD Group’s research shows that 24 million fewer people bought music in 2009 compared to 2007 and that newer digital consumers were quickly losing interest, with the number of people who purchased downloads dropping to 34.6 million in 2009 from 35.2 million in 2008.

Last year, free on-demand sites SpiralFrog and Ruckus closed their doors. Only Pandora has shown a profit. Spotify, the on-demand service that has taken hold in Europe, is planning a U.S. launch this spring, but may have a difficult time getting the labels to go for an on-demand, ad-supported business model.

Edgar Bronfman, Warner Music Group chairman, recently voiced his skepticism about the ad-supported model, saying, “Free streaming services are clearly not net positive for the industry.”

Speaking at the Digital Music Forum, Thomas Hesse, President of Sony Music Entertainment’s Global Digital Business, was more optimistic about Spotify’s chances for success in the U.S., saying he was pleased with the company’s efforts to convert customers from the company’s free service to a subscription model. Hesse predicted a “bright future” for the digital marketplace and recommended a more niche-oriented approach.

“There are markets that are underserved in today’s digital environment,” he said.

Underwood, Steel Magnolia, a Chesney App and a Kershaw

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Underwood Guests On “How I Met Your Mother”
Carrie Underwood will make a one-off guest star appearance on CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The episode will air on Monday, March 1. Underwood will appear as a new character, Tiffany, an enigmatic pharmaceutical sales rep and love interest for Ted, played by Josh Radnor. How I Met Your Mother airs on CBS Television, Mondays, 7:00-7:30pm CT.

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Chesney Thinks His App is Sexy
Kenny Chesney is on the phone – the iPhone that is. Working with Nashville-based design and innovation firm Aloompa’s owners Drew Burchfield, Kurt Nelson and Tyler Seymour, the team responsible for the Bonnaroo app, the country superstar started from scratch and created “the app I’d’ve liked one of my favorite artists to have had when I was a kid living on music.”

With a No Shoes Radio component that provides an extensive playlist, iPhone and iPod touch users can have Chesney’s personal mix playing as they navigate the application’s other functions.

“It’s a good way to put your songs and tour directly in your fans’ hands,” Chesney says. “I decided rather than be first, I’d take some time and create something that gives the fans the most comprehensive application we could create. And I wanted it to be free for them, just to say thanks for being part of all of this!”

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Steel Magnolia Hits “CBS’ Early Show”
Big Machine duo Steel Magnolia released their debut EP only yesterday (2/23) and the release quickly jumped into the the Top15 on the iTunes album chart. Steel Magnolia EP features their Top 15 hit single, “Keep On Lovin’ You.” 
 Following a whirlwind week of performances and interviews at the Country Radio Seminar, the ACM Top New Vocal Duo nominees will travel to New York City to perform on the CBS’ Early Show’s “Second Cup Café” this Saturday (2/27). The show airs nationwide each Saturday at 8 AM CT.

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Kershaw Assembles New Team
Veteran country artist Sammy Kershaw has assembled a new team of industry players to assist in releasing and promoting his records as well as touring. 

Industry vet Billy Holland has assumed day-today management for Kershaw and can be reached at 38 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 476-0938 or [email protected]. Also, industry guru Neal Spielberg of Spielberg Consulting is handling Physical and Digital Distribution via Rocket Science Records/Sony/RED Distribution. Spielberg can be reached at (615) 293-4974 or [email protected].
In addition, Susan Niles Public Relations is handling publicity. Contact Susan Niles at (615) 352-8080 or [email protected]. Jake Kennedy with New Frontier Touring is on-board as booking agent, 1503 17th Avenue South, Nashville, TN. 37212 (615) 321–6152 or [email protected].

Aldean, Chesney Launch iPhone Apps

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Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean are the latest artists to offer iPhone/iTouch apps to droves of tech savvy followers.

Fans can use the applications to get news, updates and purchase concert tickets. Both musicians are giving them away for free.

“It’s a good way to put your songs and tour directly in your fans’ hands,” says Chesney, who bought iPhones for his touring crew when the device first came out.

Chesney’s app debuts as his current single, “Ain’t Back Yet,” is set to hit digital retailers on March 2. Designed by Aloompa, the app includes his No Shoes Radio, a merch and music store, photo galleries, videos and Twitter capability.

Aldean’s app by Moonshadow eCommerce comes as he releases his fourth single from his Platinum album Wide Open this week. He says “Crazy Town” “is all about the love-hate relationship that every new artist has with Nashville when they’re just starting out…I’ve been playing this one to kick off my live show, and the fans go nuts when they hear the first guitar lick.”

Aldean’s tour has been selling out arenas and setting attendance records. In the past nine months, he has scored three consecutive multi-week No. 1’s (“She’s Country,” “Big Green Tractor,” “The Truth”) spending a total of eight weeks at the top spot, more than any other country artist in the last year.

TuneCore Bringing Rintones To The Masses

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Starting today (2/19), TuneCore.com, which distributes music to iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody and many other major download and streaming sites, will help musicians get heard in even more places by distributing artists’ pre-cut ringtones to the iTunes iPhone ringtone store. Any existing or new TuneCore artist will now have the opportunity to hear their music ringing from iPhones all over the world. As always, TuneCore will take no revenue from the sale of the music.

TuneCore customers can edit their own music into .wav clips of 5-30 seconds for TuneCore distribution to the iTunes iPhone ringtone store, available from the home screen of any iPhone running iTunes 9 or later. An artist will only need to upload a ringtone once for TuneCore to distribute it to iPhone iTunes ringtone stores in the US, Canada, Japan, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the UK. TuneCore will also be adding additional ringtone stores, which can use the same ringtone upload.

To help create ringtones, TuneCore customers will be able to access a free download of PreSonus Studio One – a leading home recording software application – for 30-day trial, with easy step-by-step instructions for creating and exporting ringtones.

ACM Award Noms Set For CBS’ Early Show

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Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton will announce the nominees for the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards live from CBS’ The Early Show on March 2 at 7:30 AM CT.

The on-air announcement festivities will also include an interview with McEntire by show host Maggie Rodriguez and a live performance from Shelton.

Rucker Hits The Hard Rock

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CMA Best New Artist Darius Rucker will perform at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville on Wednesday, March 3 at 8 PM as part of Hard Rock’s two-day, multi-city March On Stage launch. The event marks the beginning of Hard Rock’s March On Stage, live music event series, featuring performances by “high-caliber, iconic and emerging artists” and benefiting Musicians on Call, an organization founded with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Click here for details. www.hardrock.com

In other Rucker-related news, Coke Zero has announced an NCAA promotion and sweepstakes called “An Exclusive Ticket” at LongHorn Steakhouse. Fans can register for a chance to win “An Exclusive Ticket” to the 2010 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis and experience the “Coke Zero Countdown” concert, starring Rucker, along with an exclusive VIP party, and tickets to the 2010 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

This is the second in a series of three promotions that give fans the chance to attend an exclusive sporting event and a live Darius Rucker concert. LongHorn recently added the singer to its “Live at LongHorn” country music program in partnership with Coke Zero and Capitol Records Nashville.

“When Capitol came to me with the opportunity to partner with these two great brands, I immediately jumped at the chance to be involved because this allows music fans an opportunity for an unique experience while spotlighting country music,” says Rucker.
Click here for more information.

iTunes Spotlights Corbin

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iTunes has selected Mercury artist Easton Corbin’s Top 10 hit “A Little More Country Than That” as this week’s “Single of the Week.” The song is available as a free download through February 22. iTunes is also touting Easton’s self-titled debut album by giving visitors the option to pre-order the record for the next two weeks, which marks the first time the online retailer has ever presented such an opportunity. The pre-order also comes with a bonus acoustic audio track of “The Way Love Looks,” a song from the album written by Corbin, Carson Chamberlain and Mark D. Sanders.

Corbin holds the title for the highest-charting male debut single for 2009 and continuing into 2010, and the single is the best-selling debut single from an upcoming 2010 release, with nearly 119,000 units sold. Easton Corbin hits stores March 2nd.

Click here for the iTunes offer.

“Nashville at Nite” Joins Honky Tonk TV

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As it enters its second season, entertainment and new outlet, Honky Tonk TV will be aligning with local television program Nashville At Nite, it was announced today by Executive Producer Chris James. In the newly established partnership, the two media outlets will continue their commitment to creating and delivering in-depth, up-to-the-minute shows while expanding their reach to a broader audience.

Debuting in March 2009, Honky Tonk TV has featured guest appearances from award-winning artists such as Lady Antebellum, Trisha Yearwood, Darius Rucker, Rodney Atkins, Aaron Tippin and Billy Ray Cyrus.

The first formal alliance between Honky Tonk TV and Nashville at Nite will be introduced during their participation at the upcoming Country Radio Seminar in Nashville next week.

“It’s a natural progression to work with Nashville At Nite,” James says. “Not only will we enhance our programming, we’ll deliver some of the best-of-the best in entertainment content that music lovers all over the country will enjoy. The combination of professional and experienced production teams will make us the one-stop TV destination for fans from all genres.”

Buxton Release Offers “Augmented Reality”

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Two-time ACM New Female Vocalist nominee Sarah Buxton is teaming up with CMT to become the first country artist to give fans an “augmented reality” experience. Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that allows the physical real-world environment to merge with or be augmented by virtual computer-generated imagery. As the first-ever augmented reality offering from a country act, Buxton and CMT are making history, allowing online viewers to engage with the artist as active participants in an all new 3D experience.

Fans can visit CMT.com to print a unique symbol that, when held up to a computer’s webcam, will bring Buxton’s “Outside My Window” music video to 3D virtual life. After printing the symbol online and following online instructions, they can then take part in the full augmented reality experience. For those who want to sample augmented reality but don’t have access to a webcam, a video will be posted at CMT.com for users to share in the experience.

All initially released physical and digital copies of Buxton’s self-titled debut album will also contain another augmented reality marker that will offer users an entirely different experience. Fans can visit www.sarahbuxton.com/ar and hold this symbol up to their webcam starting Tuesday, February 23, the day the project releases, for the chance to become the singer’s virtual guitar player.

Pickler Spends Fat Tuesday With “Ellen”

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BNA Artist Kellie Pickler celebrated Fat Tuesday with a laugh-filled appearance on Ellen, as the popular talk show host paid homage to her native New Orleans. After the show aired, the New York Post summed up Pickler’s appearance and infectious personality, saying, “Like a picnic basket full of puppies, I think everyone loves Kellie Pickler. There is no cuter, sweeter, blonder celebrity working today.”

Check out this video of Pickler’s appearance.