NYT Profiles Country Youth Movement

Whitney Duncan

Whitney Duncan

New York Times writer Jon Caramanica puts the crosshairs to Nashville’s country music youth movement in an article titled, Country’s New Face: It’s Young and Blond.

Ms. Swift, 19, who has sold more than seven million records in the last four years, has proved to be seismic in Nashville. And thanks to the pop crossover success of Ms. Swift and Carrie Underwood, 26, who has sold 10 million albums, notions of where a country star might fit in are being rewritten almost daily.

Ms. Swift was among the first country artists to aggressively use online media to promote herself. “That helped apply a lot of pressure to radio, or helped them notice her, depending how you look at it,” Mr. Ross said. But country music still lags behind other genres in its use of the Internet. Music Row recently began publishing a chart tracking Twitter followers of country acts. Apart from Ms. Swift, Ms. Cyrus and her father, Billy Ray, no country artist has more than 100,000 followers, a threshold crossed by several major and minor stars in other genres: Justin Timberlake, Moby, Matisyahu, Jim Jones, even Jon Secada.

Read the full story [New York Times; Country’s New Face: It’s Young and Blonde]

“Billboard Country Update” Returns

Wade Jessen

Wade Jessen

What starts with three, drops to two after one disappears and then returns to three on August 10? Answer: Country Music’s weekly pdf chart digests from MusicRow, Aircheck and the about-to-arrive Billboard Country Update. Industry observers were saddened and perhaps shocked when R&R’s HotFax shuttered its doors a few months ago. Unlike MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart, which carved its own niche focusing on secondary radio and industry coverage, some executives opined that Aircheck and HotFax both covered mostly the same radio news, had mainstream radio charts and therefore perhaps two similar reports was unnecessary. Others felt it was important to get different perspectives especially since MediaBase, which provides data to Aircheck, is a Clear Channel property.

According to Billboard’s Nashville Sr. Chart Manager Wade Jessen, the new Country Update addresses the above comments by forging a more unique balance between radio and industry. Update will publish on Monday evenings starting Aug. 10 and offer a raft of new information. In addition to BDS-based radio charts the new publication will include an A-Z song index of country titles and become the venue for Billboard’s Touring Country Box scores. Also featured will be the debut of a country digital download chart via SoundScan. Jessen promises some other exciting new features including a mashup chart which combines digital sales and radio listening audience. Ken Tucker will helm Editorial coverage of the new undertaking in addition to continuing his other freelance duties.

Industry Items: McDonough Leaves Capitol, IBMA Nominees

Judy McDonough has left her post as Dir., Media at Capitol Records Nashville. She worked for the label that is home to artists Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Lady Antebellum and more. She can be contacted at mcdonoughmedia1@yahoo.com.

The changes keep coming at the national and international levels as well for Capitol’s parent company EMI. Last week new EMI EVP of Digital Marketing Cory Ondrejka hired a new team of digital marketing executives. Full list here.

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Nominees for the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards will be announced Thurs. Aug. 13, 10:00 a.m. at press conference in the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s Ford Theater.

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A New York Times article focuses on the latest options for indie artists trying to make it without a major label. Included is Polyphonic, a startup company founded by Radiohead manager Brian Message, Adam Driscoll, and Nettwerk’s Terry McBride. Other ventures: WME’s Marc Geiger is working on a division called Self Serve, and EMI is offering services to musicians not signed to the label. More on Polyphonic here.

Reba Plots Album Promotion

reba

Reba working radio: WKSJ/Mobile PD Bill Black and his wife Andrea prior to her performance last weekend in Alabama.

As Reba prepares for the Aug. 18 release of Keep On Loving You, her first solo studio album in six years, she is lining up the promotional opportunities.

On her TV schedule are Reba: Invitation Only (premiering 8/1 on DISH Network and 8/21 on CMT) and Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series on 8/21. She will perform the album’s lead single “Strange” on ABC’s CMA Music Fest: Country’s Night To Rock special airing 8/31.

This Friday, July 31 at 7PM ET Reba will be on QVC to preview new music from the album, and give viewers the chance to pre-order it and receive a free copy of her autobiography, Reba: My Story.

Radio groups including CBS, Citadel and Clear Channel will be featuring exclusive interview content on their websites during release week.

She will be the August Artist of the Month on GAC and CMT, with enhanced exposure on TV, online and more. She will be spotlighted on numerous programs on the channels, as well as host CMT Music City Madness.

Other publicity coming in September includes Sirius-XM Artist Confidential (cross-promoted on United Airlines) and an AOL Sessions performance (cross-promoted on social network Bebo).

Artist Items: Azar, Martina, More

Pictured left to right: Chris Borchetta (Ride Records), Steve Azar and Mike Hammond (WIVK-FM).

Pictured left to right: Chris Borchetta (Ride Records), Steve Azar and Mike Hammond (WIVK-FM).

During a recent concert performance at Cotton Eyed Joe’s in Knoxville, more than 100 fans participated in a “Moo La Moo” dance contest, based on the hilarious dance featured in Steve Azar’s new music video. He presented the lucky winner with an autographed “Delta Soul Logo” guitar. “Moo La Moo” is the lead single from his forthcoming CD, Slide On Over Here (8/4). Fans can learn the “Moo La Moo” dance by signing up for email updates at www.steveazarlive.com, and downloading the instructional video. The dance was created by the video’s star, comedian/actor Gary Valentine (King of Queens).

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Earlier this year, Martina McBride sang her current single, “I Just Call You Mine,” as part of a dream-date evening on ABC’s The Bachelorette. Now, the love song will once again be featured in the show, as “I Just Call You Mine” sets the musical mood for a look back at special moments from throughout the season when the season finale airs this Monday, July 27, at 8 PM ET.

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Orleans, the American music masters with hits Still the One, Dance with Me and Love Takes Time, shared their music and entertainment expertise with the captivated crowd at Legacy Days during NAMM.  "Larry Hoppen. at the Radisson Hotel in Nashville on Saturday, July 18th.  The two remaining original members Larry and Lance Hoppen were joined alongside their drummer and former Elton John band member Charlie Morgan.  Orleans performed their classic hits and offered a first hand perspective on developing and surviving a career in the entertainment industry

Orleans ("Still the One," "Dance with Me") performed at NAMM, held recently in Nashville. Original members, Larry and Lance Hoppen, were joined by drummer and former Elton John band member Charlie Morgan, to perform their hits and offer a first hand perspective on developing and surviving a career in the entertainment industry.

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Downloads of Trailer Choir’s “Beer Gut” have been on the increase for 12 consecutive weeks, with digital sales jumping 139% in the past two weeks alone. Over the past month, Trailer Choir’s digital sales have seen an impressive increase of 232%. Their ringback sales went up 61% and ringtone sales rose 54% becoming the #1 downloaded ringtone for the label, Show Dog Nashville.

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With their first set of new studio material since 2003, Lynyrd Skynyrd returns with God & Guns, due out Sept. 29 on Loud & Proud / Roadrunner Records. It was recorded in Nashville in 2008-2009 with noted rock producer Bob Marlette.

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Tracy Lawrence will be acknowledged as an Honorary Citizen of San Antonio by the City of San Antonio, TX. The ceremony is in recognition and appreciation of his numerous visits there and his philanthropic endeavors. The presentation will take place on Friday, Aug. 14, prior to his performance at Cowboys Far West.
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Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ will put out their first record in 12 years. Great American Bubble Factory will be released Sept. 29 on Vintage Earth Music with marketing and distribution provided by Nashville’s Thirty Tigers/RED.

Taillight Expands With Commercial Division

taillightTaillight, one of the Southeast’s most successful production companies in entertainment and music television, is expanding its operations with the creation of a new commercial division. Executive Producer Brooke Boling will head the new division, which will represent directors David Jellison, Timothy Kendall (TJK) and Kristin Barlowe.

“Our goal is to produce exceptional work, and we are extremely proud to have joined forces with three of the top directors in the business,” said Tom Forrest, Taillight president. “With the strength of their creative talents, Brooke’s knowledge and ad agency experience, and our strong team of production professionals, we believe Taillight is well-positioned for success in the commercial marketplace.”

With an editorial style and vintage flare, Boling started her career as a photographer, and after graduating from the Portfolio Center in Atlanta, she worked as senior art director for advertising agencies in Atlanta, San Francisco and Nashville. Boling is the former creative director at Warner Bros. Records and in 2005 opened her own boutique agency, Firecracker Studios, which is still going strong today.

Since its founding in 2000, Taillight has produced hundreds of hours of TV programming and live events, countless music videos, and viral Web content for a variety of broadcast networks, record labels and clients. The company’s most recent project was the 2009 CMT Music Awards.

About the Directors
Known primarily for comedy, memorable dialogue and action sports, David Jellison has directed more than 300 commercials since 1999 for such clients as the NFL, PGA, Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, Jaguar, Dell, Subway, Time Warner Cable, EA Sports, Domino’s Pizza and Panasonic.

Timothy Kendall (TJK) has directed hundreds of commercials and independent film projects. He has won several Tellys, an AICP and a Clio for high-profile brands like Ikea, Twix, M&M’s, Kit Kat, Clarks, McDonald’s, Walmart and Sunoco, featuring top NASCAR drivers.

Kristin Barlowe started in commercial work as a model but later moved to agent and scouting work for campaigns from Armani Exchange to Gianfranco Ferre’. She then transitioned into music and fashion photography, and within her first year was shooting album covers. Barlowe directed her first music video in 2004 and then began shooting commercial TV ads in the health care and financial services industries, and for the Tennessee Lottery.

Is Country Crushing Nashville’s Creativity?

An article in the Sunday Tennessean (by Naomi Synder) asks “Could Nashville’s country and Christian music industry be crushing innovation? It sounds like a ridiculous question, were it not for the musicians who think it might be true.”

The feature length article confuses quality, diversity and professionalism in a swirling discussion which fails to distinguish and/or benchmark any kind of serious criteria with which to explain or build its premise. Read it here.

String Theory Media’s Craig Havighurst has fashioned an interesting response to the allegations in which he looks candidly at the reality of today’s music marketplace and how it effects the artists, writers and musicians that live and work in Music City. Read it here.

Palming Off a Bug Fix, CMA Voting, Songwriters Team With Studdard

iphoneApple has just released an iTunes update (8.2.1) and among the “issues and improvements” it addresses is the music program’s ability to sync music with the Palm Pre phone. One of the new Palm smartphone’s selling points was that ability to seamlessly move music between iTunes and the phone, but obviously, Apple preferred that only official Apple products be endowed with that ability. Palm responded saying, “Palm’s media sync works with iTunes 8.2. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we can consider.”

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Polls for the Nominating Round of balloting for the 2009 CMA Awards will close at 5:00 PM CDT today (7/16). To vote you must be a current CMA member, and have your Member Number and PIN number ready. Click here.

The remaining CMA Awards ballot schedule is:
Aug. 11– Second Ballot sent

Aug. 24–Deadline for Second Ballot

Oct. 16–Final Ballot sent

Nov. 3–Deadline for Final Ballot

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Several Nashville songwriters have cuts on the new Ruben Studdard album, Love Is. The R&B/American Idol star came to Music City to write for the project. With Bob DiPiero and Tom Shapiro, he wrote “Love Is My Rock,” and he teamed with Bill Luther and Barry Dean for “That’s Enough.”

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The Refuge Center for Counseling, a local nonprofit that offers a variety of counseling services to those in need regardless of income level, along with corporate sponsor Wells Fargo/Wachovia Wealth Management will host a Songwriters Night at Boxwood Bistro tonight Thurs., July 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. Headlining the event will be Doug Johnson (“Three Wooden Crosses”), along with Rob Crosby, Chip Davis and Mark Steven Jones. Tickets are limited and can be purchased in advance for $75 at www.therefugecenter.org. Tickets are also available by contacting Virginia Fontanella at (615) 969-0064 or by e-mail at songwritersnight@aol.com. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door.

Aldean Wrangles Hits, Jean Deal, Conan

aldean1Jason Aldean‘s “Big Green Tractor,” is plowing its way toward the Top 10 of MusicRow‘s Country Breakout chart; currently No. 16 and the fastest rising single of the Georgia-native’s career. The song has fueled over 40,000 digital downloads a week, helping his already Gold certified third album Wide Open move an average of 22,000 units per week. Aldean is in the Top Five of SoundScan’s Country Albums Chart.

Aldean has also been tapped by iconic American denim maker Wrangler Western Wear to back its contemporary new jean line, The Wrangler Retro Line, which will hit stores in August. As the exclusive spokesperson for the new Wrangler Retro collection and the face of the robust marketing campaign—including national television, print, radio and online advertising along with integrated in-store marketing support—Aldean joins the King of Country Music George Strait in the Wrangler family.

Fans can catch Aldean headlining his Wide Open arena tour and opening dates for Keith Urban in the coming weeks. He will also perform on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien on Thurs., July 23 and tape an episode of E!’s highly rated late night talk show Chelsea Lately on Tues., July 28.

Crook & Chase, Chesney, Clark, and Harry Potter

The Crook & Chase show on RFD-TV is hitting all the hot spots in Music City this summer.  On Thursday, July 16, Lorianne and Charlie will be giving viewers a tour of the popular Willie Nelson and Friends General Store and Museum located in Music Valley near the Grand Ole Opry.   This year marks a special milestone for the Willie Nelson and Friends General Store and Museum. The attraction is celebrating its 30th Anniversary.

The "Crook & Chase" show on RFD-TV is hitting all the hot spots in Music City this summer. Tomorrow (7/16) Lorianne and Charlie will give viewers a tour of the Willie Nelson and Friends General Store and Museum, which is celebrating its 30th Anniversary.

When Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival hits Seattle’s Qwest Field on July 31, he will give a special sand bar performance for a select number of fans the night before. The lucky ticket holders—available through his Web site, local radio stations and other outlets will enjoy an hour-long set.

“We wanna get in there and really blow it up…because the Seattle fans are incredible,” he says. “So, we figured rather than just coming in and me and the guys doing a soundcheck, we could warm-up with something a little bit more—and start what is normally an all-day experience the night before.” The tour is currently in the Top 10 of Pollstar‘s Midyear Tour Rankings.
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Proof that all the consumer entertainment dollars haven’t run dry… Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opened at midnight, bringing in $22.2 million at the box office. This is an all-time record for a midnight showing, beating the previous winner—The Dark Knight which scored $18 million. (Both are Warner Bros. pictures.) The previous HP, Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix debuted in 2007 with $12 million in midnight receipts and went on to gross $139.7 mil. over its first 5 days. Some predictions estimate that this HP6 could haul in as much as $200 mil. in the first 5 days.
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Terri Clark has released a live recording called Road Rage, culled from a series of performances over the past few years. It includes the hits, new songs, her take on the blues chestnut “Love Me Like A Man” and the Black Crowes‘ “Hard To Handle.”