Kellie Pickler, Gretchen Wilson Have USA Weekend Covered

usa-weekend-09-coverCMT has once again partnered with USA Weekend to present the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year award at the upcoming CMT Music Awards, premiering live on Tues., June 16 at 7 PM/CT. In celebration, the publication is featuring Kellie Pickler and Gretchen Wilson on its Sun., June 14 cover, because both are former recipients of the award.

In the cover story, Pickler and Wilson reveal their favorite music videos, as do other artists including Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town),  Jack Ingram, Taylor Swift and Darius Rucker.

MR Launches Twitter Chart

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Country music trade publication MusicRow and New Media marketing group AristoWorks have formed a chart to track Country music artists’ popularity among Twitter users. Now in beta mode, the rankings are based on the number of users “following” each artist. Currently, there are 72 chart positions. Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift occupy the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, with Billy Ray Cyrus, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Kellie Pickler, Julianne Hough, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and Willie Nelson rounding out the Top 10. An artist must have a minimum of 100 followers to chart.

“Today’s media landscape is becoming a highly fragmented, on-demand media world,” says MusicRow Publisher David M. Ross. “As a result, artists are using an increasingly sophisticated new tool set to reach consumers and create new fans. This Twitter chart is the first of a series of projects we are developing with AristoWorks to help our readers quantify their online efforts.”

The first of its kind charting system, developed by AristoWorks, utilizes the Active Programming Interface (API) offered by Twitter and gathers data to update the chart daily.

“This system really stems from a simple idea, but gives labels, managers and new media marketers a unique benchmark for where their brands stack up against others,” says AristoWorks New Media Director Jon Walker. “Although the Twitter chart is currently operating in beta mode, the immediate response from artists, labels and managers has been impressive.”

Additional chart features, including user trending statistics, will be implemented in the official release.

Black River Announces New Staffers

Black River Music Group has added former echomusic staffers Shay Boone and John Gusty to its team. They will be spearheading comprehensive new media efforts for the Nashville-based music group with a heavy focus on fan engagement, community building, data-capture and overall monetization of all BRMG initiatives.

Additionally, Boone and Gusty will be launching Black River Community Management under the BRMG umbrella. Black River Community Management will offer service packages designed to engage, grow and monetize fan communities for entertainment brands. BRMG’s roster is home to Jeff Bates, Sarah Darling and Emma Jacob.

Previously Boone and Gusty were key department heads of echomusic’s Marketing Services division. Boone launched echo’s Street Marketing Department in 2006 where she successfully managed and lead grass-roots and viral promotions for some of the industry’s biggest names such as Jonas Brothers, Keith Urban and Bon Jovi. Gusty was a founding member of echo’s original Marketing Department and was in charge of all advertising coordination and data-capture, as well as moving echo into the mobile realm in 2008 via a strategic relationship with mobile pioneers Mozes Inc.

Twitterific: MusicRow Debuts Chart, Twitter Stops Fake Accounts

twitter-logoEver been duped into following a celeb imposter on Twitter? You’re not alone. So the brains behind the microblogging site have begun working on a new feature called “Verified Accounts.” The beta version will debut this summer, with a special seal to help users differentiate between the real and fake Oprah, Brad Paisley, etc. First up, the company plans to tackle accounts belonging to public officials, public agencies, famous artists, athletes, and other well-known individuals at risk of impersonation.

MusicRow has a new Twitter chart, ranking the Country music artists with the most followers. Click here to check it out.

TV Time Pays Off

ladyaTV time paid off for Lady Antebellum when the band’s weekly album sales doubled following their performance of “I Run To You” on April’s Academy of Country Music Awards. The increase also coincides with the single’s rising popularity on radio.

Dolly Parton is set to perform on Sunday night’s Tony Awards on CBS, where she is nominated for Best Original Score for 9 to 5: The Musical. Joining her on the show will be the cast of the musical.

Julianne Hough will host the 2009 CMT Music Awards Video of the Year Special, premiering Saturday, June 13 at 1 PM/CT. Voting is going on now at CMT.com and the final four nominees in the Video of the Year category will be announced at the beginning of the live awards show so fans can vote online and via text on Verizon phones throughout the broadcast.

Dateline: On Tour With Taylor Swift, originally broadcast May 31 on NBC, is being re-broadcast Sunday, June 7, in the network’s All Night time period. The program’s original air time was disrupted in several markets due to NBC’s live telecast of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup.

Sony Onboard With eMusic

Back catalog from Sony Music Entertainment will soon be available on popular download site eMusic. This is the first major label to partner with the retailer known largely for indie music. eMusic boasts about 400,000 subscribers who can download a set number of MP3s each month in exchange for a monthly fee.

Following the agreement with Sony, eMusic has raised its monthly prices and cut the number of downloads for some plans. eMusic says that many of the independent labels it works with had also been asking it to increase prices.

Sony considers songs more than two years old “back catalog.”

Artist Exposure Comes Through Many Platforms

martina1From traditional TV tie-ins to unique games for fans, artist handlers have come up with numerous ways to connect with audiences this summer.

Martina McBride’s latest single “I Just Call You Mine” is getting a lot of exposure through NBC’s Today show. The song, written by Ty Lacy, Jess Clayton Cates, and Dennis Matkosky, is being used in conjunction with one of the morning show’s most popular events, “Today Throws A Wedding.” The tune will be featured throughout the three-month promotion and McBride will perform it at the lucky couple’s wedding reception on July 15. “I Just Call You Mine” is the second single from Martina’s chart-topping new album, Shine.

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New Country group Due West is challenging fans to explore the streets of downtown Nashville with a GeoQuest game containing clues which lead players to historic sites. The free, half-hour walking game during CMA Music Festival is Thurs., June 11, from 1:00-3:00 PM. The course ends with prizes and a special event at one of Nashville’s historic music spots. To get the first clue, call 615-656-5636. Due West’s debut single, “I Get That All the Time,” is at Country radio now.

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Kate & Kacey are on Yahoo! Music as “The New Now,” becoming the first country artists selected this year for the feature. The performance was taped recently in Los Angeles and launches live on Yahoo! today. Fans can see how the girls did behind the Yahoo! cameras, beginning this week at http://new.music.yahoo.com/programs/the-new-now/940/a-sucker-for-katekaceycorona

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Steve Azar will join 13-time PGA Champion Kenny Perry on the Golf Channel’s new TV series, Playing Lessons From the Pros on July 6 at 10 pm/ET. The instructional show features top PGA & LPGA Tour professionals and celebrities in a casual round of golf. On Tues., August 4, Azar will release  Slide On Over Here, his new album co-produced with Justin Niebank for Azar’s indie label, Ride Records. The project’s lead single, “Moo La Moo,” was co-written by Azar and is airing on Country radio.

R&R to Cease Publication

rr_2According to Inside Radio, “Nearly three years after being purchased by Nielsen Business Media, the 36-year old Radio & Records becomes the latest victim of the media downturn.  The magazine will print its final edition Friday. Its website will also cease to exist, in a move that will lead to the layoff of roughly 40 employees. Insiders say some radio charts will be absorbed by sister Billboard.”

The staff had been gathered in a sort of Town Hall Meeting format to hear R&R Publisher Howard Appelbaum explain that the integration of R&R was not proceeding successfully. R&R’s previous Publisher Erica Farber departed the publication last January.

According to the publication’s web page, The current state of affairs has left The Nielsen Company with no other alternative but to immediately cease all services, products and events related to Radio & Records. The magazine’s final edition is the June 5 issue. Electronic products end today, the Web site will be taken offline soon.

R&R Editorial Director/Associate Publisher Cyndee Maxwell stated, “Everyone on this team has worked extremely hard to fulfill the vision of Radio & Records, and everyone can hold their heads high on this very sad day. We had a highly talented group of people that always worked hard and gave it their best — especially in the recent past. I deeply regret that this day has come. The good news for some other companies out there is that we have many fantastic people who are now available to put their excellent talents, abilities and skills to work for someone else.”

Radio & Records Timeline (from Radioandrecords.com)
1973 Radio & Records is founded by Bob Wilson. The first issue is Oct. 1.
1974 The first R&R Convention is held.
1979 Radio & Records is sold to Harte Hanks.
1987 Westwood One purchases Radio & Records.
1988 The R&R Hotfax Updates debut, comprising 12 weekly format-focused fax publications.
1994 Perry Capital acquires Radio & Records.
1995 Radio & Records launches R&R Online.
1996 The first annual R&R Talk Radio Seminar is held.
The R&R Daily online news service debuts, and Music Tracking is launched online.
1997 R&R introduces the daily R&R TODAY news fax.
1998 The R&R Convention returns after a six-year hiatus.
The first R&R Industry Achievement Awards, voted on by R&R subscribers, are presented at the convention.
1999 Data collection for R&R’s charts is converted to include Mediabase airplay.
2000 Daily e-mail updates and Today’s News online are introduced as extensions of the R&R TODAY fax publication. Radio & Records acquires Radio Y Musica.
2001 Adult Alternative and Christian sections debuts in the weekly R&R newspaper, each with its own full-time editor. The Going for Adds fax publication debuts.
2002 A CHR/Rhythmic section debuts in the weekly R&R newspaper, with its own full-time editor.
R&R produces its first annual Triple A Summit.
Electronic Promotion Kits are introduced for music customers, and the Street Talk Daily fax and e-mail publication debuts.
Radio Y Musica is incorporated into the R&R newspaper.
2004 Radio & Records announces its new web address, www.radioandrecords.com.
2006 VNU, a global information and media company, acquires Radio & Records. VNU owns ACNielsen, Billboard, the Hollywood Reporter and many other business-to- business publications. Radio & Records charts convert to Nielsen BDS airplay data.
2007 VNU changes its name to The Nielsen Company.
2009 The Nielsen Company announces it’s shuttering R&R. The final issue date is June 5.

Performing Songwriter Ceases Publication

pscover“It’s kind of a celebration of sorts,” says Performing Songwriter Publisher/founder Lydia Hutchinson. “I always wondered what the finish line would look like, but now it’s clear to me we have reached it.” The 16-year-old publication will cease publication after its June issue.

“As sad as change and letting go are, it feels like a celebration of accomplishment more than anything else,” said Hutchinson. “There was a moment of clarity after we signed off on this June issue, telling me that now is indeed the time to let go and end at its peak. This publication started with no funding 16 years ago out of my guest bedroom and has never taken one penny of investment money. It’s been completely supported by advertisers, subscribers and the community it represents. Performing Songwriter has always had a big heart, and our job was to take care of it so it could do its magic. By ceasing publication now we know the magazine will never risk losing its integrity and or its quality. All of us here are grateful for this journey, and feel like we’ve crossed the finish line with our heads held high.”

pspinkPerforming Songwriter’s most recent online information claims a circulation of 55,000, readership of 150,000 and 8X per year print schedule. A one year subscription was $25.95 in the U.S. Its web site address is http://www.performingsongwriter.com. Although Performing Songwriter will cease publication, Hutchinson says the PS offices will remain open while she writes the next chapter in her career. “I feel like somehow it will include songwriters,” she added.

In an open letter to readers, advertisers and staff Hutchinson wrote, “We know there’s a train coming in the form of an uncertain economy. We know there are changes that need to be made due to the nature of both the print and music industries that will affect the essential spirit of the magazine and take it in a direction that’s not really true to itself. And we know the only thing we have control over is this moment and our decision to lay the magazine down on our terms. It will be with dignity and pride, knowing the quality will never be sacrificed, its debts will be fully paid, our hearts will remain filled with gratitude, and we can stand tall knowing that we did it and it was a job well done. I can’t think of a more beautiful way to end this chapter of a most incredible journey.”

Martina Poster, Matchless Debuts, Mullins Video, Lyric Advances

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Photo: Fred Pierson

As CMA Music Festival draws near, workers install the final components of the GAC wrap on the Sommet Center’s glass tower. A 50 foot tall Martina McBride will welcome fans to next week’s event.

Shawn Pennington, formerly of Dale Morris & Associates, has launched his own artist management and consulting company called Matchless Management. Details, including the client roster, are pending. The Pittsburgh, PA native spent close to 10 years with Morris, working closely with such artists as John Rich, Big & Rich, Randy Owen, and Cowboy Troy. He can be reached at scpenn@me.com or (615) 491-8285.

mullinMegan Mullins’ new video “Long Past Gone” has been added to GAC, CMT and CMT Pure. The shoot took place on California’s Pacific Coast and was created by Feewill Films in association with Picture Vision Pictures. Directed by Curt Apanovich, produced by William Shockley, David Bennett and executive produced by John Small of Picture Visions, the clip was filmed with the RED camera. Mullins is on Stoney Creek Records, a Broken Bow Records imprint.

LYRIC Financial announces it has begun funding advances for writers and publishers who have agreements with major publishers UMG, Warner Chappell, EMI and Sony. The company is now working with mechanical royalty revenue streams in addition to performance royalties. Lyric founder Eli Ball stated, “While mechanical royalties are not as strong as they once were, they are still a significant source of income to many writers and publishers. We have worked diligently to create the same simple, safe and transparent process as we have for performance royalty advances.” www.lyricfinancial.com