Nashville Screenwriters Conference Returns In 2009

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The eleventh annual Nashville Screenwriters Conference (NSC) is set to take place May 29-31 at the historic Union Station hotel. The open-to-the-public conference will bring some of Hollywood’s top writers, producers, directors, managers, agents and studio executives to Nashville to network and share their experiences with local aspiring screenwriters and other interested individuals.

The popular “Music in Film & TV Luncheon” is returning to give songwriters, composers and artists an opportunity to learn how to place their music in films and TV.  Attendees can purchase to tickets to all or just some of the conference’s events. More details will be announced soon.

Clear Channel Cuts Official

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Clear Channel Communications has officially confirmed cuts that reduced its workforce by approximately 1850 employees or 9%.

CC CEO Mark Mays wrote in a company-wide email:
“As I’ve mentioned previously, we are facing an unprecedented time of distress in the general economy—and the ripple effects have hit some of our largest customers hard.
Today, we had the unpleasant task of bringing our Outdoor and Radio businesses’ staffing in line with these challenging economic conditions. In doing so, we enter 2009 as a solid company and in the most competitive position possible.
We have thought carefully and at some length about the steps we need to take as a company to succeed during this unprecedented downturn. As a result, we have eliminated approximately 1,850 positions across Corporate, Outdoor and Radio. While a significant portion of these positions represent a realignment in our sales departments, the positions span all departments and represent approximately 9% of the total Clear Channel Communications workforce.
One of the things that has kept Clear Channel strong throughout our history is a willingness to deal with difficult situations in an immediate way—to make the tough decisions today in order to secure a strong future. It is this trait that has gone furthest in enabling us to weather many difficult downturns in our 37-year history. It always requires clarity, collaboration and courage.
Please know that these have been difficult decisions—yet necessary ones. We will miss those who are departing—even as we renew our shared commitment to success among all of us who will stay.
Everyone in our investor group, on the Board, and in the executive leadership team remains bullish about the long-term growth prospects for Clear Channel. We continue to believe that the Outdoor and Radio businesses offer excellent opportunities.
We need to remain highly entrepreneurial and innovative. We also need to remain focused and compassionate. If we continue to manage our business carefully, and invest with discipline in the right strategic opportunities, we will navigate this downturn effectively and emerge even stronger and better positioned when things improve.
Starting now, it is our ability to bring creative thinking to the current business climate—to focus on the benefits we deliver for customers – to show extreme focus and commitment—that will create results.
Clear Channel Communications has more resources than any of our peers. The tools are here. The support is here. It’s time to use them to create lasting competitive advantage for our customers—and for our company.
Please know that we continue to be extraordinarily appreciative of all of the passion and hard work that each of you continues to commit to this phenomenal business. We will get through this together.
We’re in this together. We have the best team. And we all have important work to do. As we head into the New Year, I know we will meet the oncoming challenges with focus, determination and grace.“

Jo Dee Welcomes Baby Boy

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Jo Dee pictured during pregnancy with husband Chris. Photo: Krista Lee Photography

Jo Dee pictured during pregnancy with husband Chris. Photo: Krista Lee Photography

Jo Dee Messina and her husband Chris Deffenbaugh were thrilled to welcome their first child, a boy, on Mon., Jan. 19 in a Nashville-area hospital. Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born at 1:01 PM, and weighed in at 6 lbs., 15 oz. Noah, mom and dad are all doing very well. The couple was married in October 2007.

Messina is readying her sixth studio album, Unmistakable, for Curb Records and will begin a solo tour in April. Deffenbaugh owns and operates Deffenblaster Enterprises, which builds custom road cases.

BMI Honors Gospel In Nashville

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BMI recognized the substantial contributions of gospel pacesetters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe Winans at the 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Fri., Jan. 16 in Nashville. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only celebration attracted gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends.

Kirk Franklin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, and 2008 Trailblazers honoree Vanessa Bell Armstrong were among the artists who paid homage to the honorees. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant also presented an award for Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year to Marvin Sapp and his esteemed collaborator Matthew Brownie in recognition of their co-written hit “Never Would Have Made It,” which was recorded by Pastor Sapp.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

GAC Changes Name of Show, Adds New Producer

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Though GAC is changing the name of Country Music Across America to Headline Country, the show’s format will stay the same and Storme Warren will remain as host. Former CNN Entertainment coordinating producer Jeremy Weber has been named producer, and comes to GAC after nine years in Los Angeles.

The first episode of Headline Country airs Thurs., Jan. 15, at 8 PM/CT, showing all the action from this weekend’s Sound & Speed 2009; discussions with Billy Ray Cyrus and John Rich; and more. The show is produced by Surfing Moose Productions, with executive producers Larry Fitzgerald and Mark Hartley.

Rascal Flatts Reveal New Release Info

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In a unique promotion, Rascal Flatts used a text message to alert fans this afternoon about its new album. Those who sent a text message to a number provided by the band received a text reply, stating that the new album will be called Unstoppable, and will be released April 7 by Lyric Street. The band is also holding a contest to design the project’s cover art in conjunction with tonight’s (1/7) People’s Choice Awards at http://www.pcavote.com.

iTunes Gets Competitive As Digital Sales Growth Slows

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As reported yesterday in @MusicRow, the iTunes Store is now offering DRM-free music from all four major labels—Universal, Sony, Warner, and EMI—as well as thousands of independent labels. The move will please consumers because downloads without copy protection software are interoperable with a variety of programs and devices.

However, today’s (1/7/09) Wall Street Journal suggests that Apple may be adopting this user-friendly format in order to stay competitive in the changing digital music marketplace. While more than one billion songs were legally purchased in 2008, the rate of growth in paid downloads slowed significantly year over year. In 2007, paid downloads grew 45% from 2006, but between 2007 and 2008 that number slowed to a 27% increase (Nielsen SoundScan). Tough competition could also be a contributing factor to Apple’s new strategy, the newspaper points out. Amazon.com and others have been undercutting iTunes prices for months, and doing so without the burden of copy protection.
Beginning in April, iTunes is also offering three new price points. Songs will sell for 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99. It currently uses the 99 cents price almost exclusively for every track.

The iTunes Store began offering eight million of its 10 million songs in the higher-quality, DRM-free iTunes Plus format yesterday, with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March. Customers can also upgrade their library of previously purchased songs to iTunes Plus for 30 cents each or 30 percent of the album price.

Country 2008: A Year End Report

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Click to download report.

The country music record business was especially hard hit as the previous year’s drop of 16.3% rose to 24% in 2008. Actual country album sales (physical and digital) toppled from 62.7 to 47.6 million, a new all time low under the SoundScan era.

Country 2008: A Year End Report asks questions and presents much of the past year’s key data.

iTunes Drops DRM

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CNET.com reports Apple has finally cut deals with Universal, Warner Music and Sony that would allow iTunes to sell DRM-free music files. EMI has been offering DRM-free files on iTunes for over a year. In return, iTunes will compromise on single song pricing. The tech giant had steadfastly refused to accept the idea of variable pricing in the past. Under the new agreement, there would be increased prices on certain hit songs, some tracks would remain at the current 99¢ rate, and a new catalog category would sell for 79¢. There are also expectations that when the deal is announced officially, possibly at MacWorld next week, it will also include over-the-air iPhone downloads without the aid of Wi-Fi.

RIAA Changes Strategy In Fight Against Illegal Downloading

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The RIAA has stopped filing lawsuits for illegal downloading and is now fighting the problem through Internet service providers (ISP). The Wall Street Journal reports that the music industry—which has sued 35,000 alleged downloaders for copyright infringement since 2003—hasn’t filed a suit since this fall. The lawsuits had created numerous public/consumer relations for the industry as a whole.

Preliminary agreements with major ISPs show that the RIAA will notify the provider when it finds a provider’s customer uploading music for potential free download. Then the ISP will warn the customer, asking them to stop on more than one occasion. If the customer continues file-sharing, they could receive slower service or be cut off altogether.