Republic Nashville Signing

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(L-R) Front Row: BMLG Vice President, A&R Allison Jones; Greg Bates; BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta; Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen and BMLG General Manger Andrew Kautz; Back Row: BMLG A&R Coordinator Shea Fowler; Effusion Entertainment’s Martha Earls and Mike Molinar. Photo: Mike Moore

Republic Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Greg Bates. The Nashville native developed his musical talent at Belmont University and after graduation inked a co-publishing/artist development deal with Effusion Entertainment and Super 98 Music, the publishing arm of the Big Machine Label Group.

Bates, 24, is in the studio with producer Jimmy Ritchey. He is also busy co-writing and has opened for Darius Rucker, Rodney Atkins, Willie Nelson, Kellie Pickler and Randy Travis.

“We could not be more proud to add Greg Bates to our roster of top country acts. The music Greg has been creating in the studio is spectacular and everyone at Republic Nashville is excited to share it with the industry next spring,” said Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen. The label is also home to Martina McBride, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band and Sunny Sweeney.

“I am so excited to now be a part of the Republic Nashville family and thankful for Scott, Jimmy, Allison and everybody at the Big Machine Label Group. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on!” said Bates.

Shelton Sets Sail In October, Announces New Acts

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Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton is setting sail with some of his Country music friends on the Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise from Oct. 14-21, 2012. Joining previously announced acts Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin and Neal McCoy, are Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Justin Moore and Jerrod Niemann.

The Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise is a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean on board the Norwegian Cruise Lines “Pearl.” See  www.BlakeSheltonCruise.com.

Shelton is nominated for three Grammy Awards at the February ceremony, and will return to his coaching gig on The Voice in 2012.

Lee Brice

Curb artist Brice recently wrapped up Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour and toured alongside Josh Thompson and Luke Bryan for CMT’s Tailgates and Tanlines 2011. “A Woman Like You,” the first single from his sophomore album, is at radio now.

Randy Houser

With over 150 performances this year, Houser appeared on the renowned Country Throwdown Tour with Willie Nelson and others. He recently signed with Stoney Creek Records.

Justin Moore

Moore’s sophomore album Outlaws Like Me debuted at No. 1 and includes the fastest-rising single of his career, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” He just wrapped up a summer tour with BMLG labelmates Rascal Flatts, and a few dates this fall with Darius Rucker and Miranda Lambert, and will open for Shelton in 2012.

Jerrod Niemann

Niemann, a Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville recording artist, is enjoying the success of his third single, “One More Drinkin’ Song,” off his album Judge Jerrod And The Hung Jury. The third hit follows his two RIAA-certified Gold Digital Singles, “What Do You Want” and “Lover, Lover.” Jerrod will hit the road on Lambert’s 2012 On Fire tour beginning in January.

Jason Aldean, The Band Perry Added To CMA Music Festival

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Jason Aldean. Photo: Donn Jones

CMA Award winners Jason Aldean and The Band Perry have joined the performance lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during 2012 CMA Music Festival. The event is scheduled to take over downtown Nashville for four days next summer from Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10, 2012.

Aldean received his first two CMA Awards in November when he won Album of the Year for My Kinda Party and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson.

The Band Perry also won their first two CMA Awards last month, winning New Artist of the Year and Single of the Year (for “If I Die Young”). Lead singer Kimberly Perry won an additional CMA Award for Song of the Year for writing “If I Die Young.”

Five-time CMA Award winner Carrie Underwood has also been previously announced as a performer for next year. More artists will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Tickets for next year’s CMA Music Festival can be purchased through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also be purchased by calling 1-(800)-CMA-FEST (262-3378).

The Band Perry. Photo: John Russell

 

Barbara Orbison Passes

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Barbara Orbison, widow of rock legend Roy Orbison, passed away in Los Angeles yesterday (12/6) following a battle with pancreatic cancer. In May of 2011 she underwent treatment at USC Medical Center and was ultimately re-admitted in mid-November. She was 60.

Roy Orbison passed away on the same day 23 years ago in 1988. The two met at a nightclub in Leeds, England in 1968 when Barbara was 17 and Roy was 32. They were married in Nashville in 1969.

Barbara Orbison (born Barbara Anne Marie Wilhonnen Jacobs in Germany) managed her husband’s career and estate since the 1980s, including co-producing the 2008 box set titled Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock and Roll (Sony Legacy), the first all-inclusive anthology of Roy’s lengthy career. In 1998, she accepted the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Roy, and in 2010 accepted his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Boulevard.

A respected entrepreneur, Barbara ran operations for Nashville-based publishing company Still Working Music, which was awarded with BMI’s Song of the Year honor in 2010 for Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.” She also developed and launched a perfume line called Pretty Woman in 2009.

“Barbara loved the Nashville music community and was adored by many here and all over the world,” said Clay Myers, GM/VP for Orbison Music/Still Working Music. “She was a true champion for songwriters and loved the music publishing business! I have truly been blessed to have been able to work for her for the past 10 years. She was a great lady who will be deeply missed.”

She is survived by sons Roy Kelton Orbison, Jr., and Alexander Orbison.

Barbara will be buried next to her husband at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angelas, and a private graveside service will be held. The family will announce plans for a Celebration of Life reception at BMI’s offices in Nashville. Donations in her memory may be made to the Roy Orbison Foundation, c/o Leeann Hard, Forte Management, 725 Arizona Ave., Ste. 206, Los Angeles, CA 90401. The family requests that messages be sent to: [email protected].

DISClaimer Single Reviews (12/7/11)

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Nashville’s country scene seems eerily quiet these days, but the city’s pop/rock community is making plenty of noise.

I have made no secret of my affection for the music of Mat Kearney. Once again, he did not disappoint. He would have totally owned the Disc of the Day award had it not been for the Grammy nominated Keb Mo. Both men’s music belong in your life, so they’re sharing the prize this week.

Gabe Dixon has been making music in The Gabe Dixon Band for a solid decade and three albums worth. Now he’s a solo artist and a Nashvillian, so I don’t care how long he’s been around: He deserves a DisCovery Award for reinventing himself.

STEPHEN SIMMONS/Spark
Writer: Stephen Simmons; Producer: Stephen Simmons; Publisher: Shiny Geode, SESAC; Locke Creek (track) (www.stephensimmonsmusic.com)
—This CD, The Big Show, is the Woodbury, TN native’s sixth album. Its emphasis track is a rootsy country-rocker with a gentle rumble and a plaintive, love-struck vocal. Americana programmers take note.

KYLE ANDREWS/Lazer Tag With Imaginary Friends
Writer: Kyle Andrews/Greg Burgess; Producer: Kyle Andrews, Chris Grainger & Greg Burgess; Publisher: none listed; Elephant Lady (track) (www.kyleandews.com)
—Kyle Andrews makes electro pop with weird audio squiggles, jumpy beats, goofy noises and frequent tempo shifts. This quirky track comes from his new Robot Learn Love collection. It’s kind of arty and over my head, but there’s no mistaking his talent.

MAT KEARNEY/Hey Mama
Writer: Mat Kearney/Jason Lehning; Producer: Richard Marvin & Jason Lehning; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Facade Aside/Tastes Like Chicken, BMI; Aware/Universal Republic (track) (www.matkearney.com)
—If there’s any justice at all, Mat Kearney will be the next pop-rocker to break big out of Music City. This hand-clapping single from his Young Love album is so ridiculously catchy and irresistible it ought to have a warning label about possible addiction. It makes you want to skip around the room wearing a silly grin.

STEPHAN DUDASH/Paradise
Writer: Stephan Dudash; Producer: Stephan Dudash & Chris Rhyne ; Publisher: Gypsyquest Muzik, BMI; Gypsyquest (track) (www.stephandudash.com)
—Dudash’s current Gypsy Quest CD contains this utterly lovely violin instrumental that wafts like blossoms in a spring breeze. The rest of the collection draws on Latin, swing, folk, pop and jazz idioms. He has played or toured with a wide variety of talents—Shania Twain, Olivia Newton-John, BadaBing BadaBoom, Janie Fricke and Lee Greenwood among them. This virtuoso can also be heard playing thrilling gypsy jazz with guitarist John Jorgenson’s Quintet. For more audio samples, check out his website.

KEB MO/The Whole Enchilada
Writer: Kevin Moore/John Lewis Parker; Producer: Keb Mo; Publisher: Kebnote/Wixen/Parker’s Pen, BMI; Yolabelle/Ryko (track)
—This Nashvillian is nominated for a Blues Grammy Award for his current CD The Reflection. But although this single from it sounds appropriately laid back and funky, Keb Mo is more than just a “blues” artist. Elsewhere on the collection, you’ll find echoes of pop and folk as well. Whatever the genre, he’s an essential listening experience.

GLOSSARY/A Shoulder To Cry On
Writer: Joey Kneiser; Producer: Glossary & Mikey Allred; Publisher: Lytle Street Kitchen, BMI; Last Chance (track) (www.glossary.us)
—Long Live All of Us is the seventh album by this Murfreesboro rock quintet. With its bright horn bursts and neo-soul vibe, this track typifies its rump-shaking new sonic approach. Mighty fine, mighty fine.

GABE DIXON/My Favorite
Writer: Gabe Dixon/Dan Wilson; Producer: Marshall Altman; Publisher: Five R/G and L/Sugar Lake/Chrysalis, BMI/ASCAP; Fantasy/Concord (track) (www.gabedixon.com)
—This guy has it all—a cooly soulful tenor singing voice, outstanding piano chops, a talent for pop tune crafting and propulsive energy. This track from his new One Spark CD is a slab of audio joy from start to finish. This is  definitely the month to become a Gabe fave. He’s WRLT Lightning 100’s “Artist in Residence” throughout December and will be appearing and/or performing at various venues to boost donations to Second Harvest Food Bank and Toys for Tots. He’ll be singing at Whole Foods on Friday (12/9) and at Zumi Sushi next Wednesday (12/14), among several other gigs. If you see/hear him just once, I promise you’ll walk away a fan.

JAY PATTEN/Crystal Nights
Writer: Jay Patten; Producer: Cristos/Ric Lonow & Jay Patten; Publisher: Standard Blue, BMI; Flamingo (track) (www.jaypatten.com)
—Smooth saxophone stylist Jay Patten has been Crystal Gayle’s bandleader for many years, so he dedicates his latest CD to her. Its title tune is a toe-tapping, jazz-inflected instrumental bopper that perfectly captures the horn man’s style. The 13-track collection includes six vocals, one of which is a duet with Crystal on “Memories Are Made of This.”

BARRY WALSH/Marathon Motorworks
Writer: Barry Walsh; Producer: Barry Walsh; Publisher: Barry Walsh, ASCAP; Scarlet Letter (track) (www.barrywalshmusic.com)
—Walsh is the keyboard accompanist and husband to singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters. His mostly instrumental Paradiso CD is performed on concert grand piano. Here, he’s joined by Dobro master Rob Ickes and cellist David Henry. The piano collection never feels predictable, partly because of the variety of his compositions and partly because electric guitar, accordion and synthesizer sounds pop up at various times.

BILL MILLER/Birds Of Prey
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bill Miller & Michael Von Muchow; Publisher: none listed; Cool Springs (track) (www.billmillerarts.com)
—One of our most distinctive musical residents is Native American singer, songwriter and flautist Bill Miller. His Spirit Wind North CD won last year’s Grammy in the Native American category, which was his third such trophy. The category has been discontinued this year. Nevertheless, he’s still an outstanding artist, as illustrated by  the haunting tones of his flute on this gorgeous instrumental embellished with bird calls. The sound of purity.

MusicRow Magazine Celebrates 30 Years With Special Issue

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MusicRow covers through the years.

MusicRow magazine is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011 with a special retrospective issue. The December 2011/January 2012 installment provides a unique look at how the industry and this revered news outlet evolved together over the past 30 years. Also included is a Rewind of 2011’s biggest stories, an awards season recap, a look at preventing disaster at outdoor concerts, and exclusive interviews with songwriter Bob DiPiero, and Nine North’s Larry Pareigis and Kevin Mason.

For three decades, MusicRow has been an advocate for Nashville’s music industry, reporting on the key players and their milestone achievements. Covering the rise of superstars from Alabama to Taylor Swift, the outlet has provided insider coverage of country music’s monumental success stories including Shania Twain’s record-breaking sales, and Garth Brooks’ landmark Central Park concert.

(L-R) Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson and Founder David Ross

Founder David M. Ross recalls, “In April 1981 this publication was born as a little one page directory. I’ll never forget how exciting it was delivering each monthly issue door-to-door up and down the Row. But most of all, when I reflect on this 30-year period, I see the smiling faces of so many genuine people who allowed me and MusicRow into their lives. They offered advice and, most importantly, trusted me to be professional. That is my most treasured memory of all. Now, on to the next thirty years.”

Publisher and owner Sherod Robertson, who purchased the company in 2010, elaborates, “MusicRow has always known its reader and defined its success by how well it serves the music industry. The next 30 years we will continue that mission while expanding MusicRow’s footprint.”

Robertson faces those next 30 years with genuine optimism. “The challenge this industry currently faces is unparalleled to anything in its history,” he says. “But I think there’s also a swelling of ambition and innovation that will determine the successful future of this industry. The talent has never been stronger and country music’s reach has never been broader. I can’t think of a place I’d rather be.”

Since its inception MusicRow Enterprises has debuted other strong industry-related products, including the extremely popular InCharge issue, song pitch sheet RowFax, and the CountryBreakout radio chart.

Copies of the 30th anniversary issue will be available at www.musicrow.com on Dec. 8. As always, paid subscribers will receive their issues by mail. Click here to learn more about the cover.

Warner Music Nashville To Release Fallon Comedy Album

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Jimmy Fallon of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has joined the Warner Music Nashville roster and is scheduled to release a comedy record through Warner Bros. in summer 2012.

The record will include music, parodies and other impresario compositions that have been performed by Jimmy and his guests. Due to high demand and requests, the record is offering fans this previously unreleased content as seen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

“Warner Music has a long and proud tradition of comedy excellence,” said Peter Strickland, Warner Music Nashville SVP of Brand Management / A&R Comedy. “Its illustrious roster has been home to Bob Hope and Steve Martin and more recently, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry The Cable Guy, Katt Williams and Lisa Lampanelli, among many others. It is with great pride that we welcome Jimmy Fallon to our comedy family!”

For more information on Jimmy Fallon’s release on Warner Music Nashville, visit www.WarnerMusicNashville.com.

Charlie Cook On Air

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Evolution.

I was having a conversation this morning about the technological changes taking place in radio. Being able to re-broadcast an AM station on an FM translator is a huge jump forward for increased access to the listener. Without question any form of programming that requires high fidelity is challenged on the AM band. So allowing the programming to be heard on FM is a real advantage for the station.

When I was young, AM radio dominated the ratings. I grew up in Detroit and CKLW, WXYZ and WKNR were the popular stations among my peers. We had no problem listening to these stations (WKNR was a little tougher as its signal was on the Downriver side of town). Generally their signals covered the metro area. The fidelity was good enough for my transistor and car radio.

Today the extraneous sound from things like street lights, neon signs, computers and monitors, florescent lights, microwave ovens, cell phones and many more everyday sources cause problems with AM radio reception.

Who knew that George Martin was such a genius listening to the Beatles on AM radio?   Who knew that Motown was as fabulous instrumentally as it is lyrically listening to AM radio?

Today CKLW, as important a station in the Midwest as WCFL, WLS and WOWO, is referred to as the Information Station. WXYZ, now known as WXYT is Talk and Sports and WKNR is now Keener13.com and not a terrestrial signal.

That is your tour down memory lane with Charlie. Normally, I would charge you a nickel for that but there is nothing you can do with a nickel these days.

This is not a discussion of music moving to FM. This is more a discussion of evolving and using your strengths to keep viable.

Would we all agree that Rush Limbaugh has kept AM radio viable? Certainly sports have helped, as most Major League Baseball teams and NFL teams remain on AM. The AM station operators were smart enough to see that they were not going to compete on a level playing field with FM stations when it comes to Taylor, Toby and The Band Perry.

If AM radio has figured out where they can play on a more level playing field, has FM radio? Yes and no.

Some stations and companies have chosen to engage the Internet on a very large level. Clear Channel has bet big with iHeartRadio. CBS has Radio.com. This may be a great business model if you have hundreds of stations across the entire country.

But other smart FM broadcasters have decided that not only is the model iffy but the expense is huge and going up.

The self-proclaimed king of the Internet music scene does not look like it will turn a profit until the 3rd quarter of 2013, at the earliest. Apparently Pandora can live a few years underwater.

Many and more radio stations are deciding that they already have the best distribution system and it does not cost $15 a month or $50 a month and is delivered over devices already in place.

These FM stations are already playing fees to publishers for the terrestrial rights. I know that there may someday be a fee tacked on to stations that stream music, on top of the fees already paid for this service. Then many are going to decide that there is no business model and we’ll see music stations stop streaming.

Believe me, that will not be the end of radio. It is not like the physical radio is going away. Why not own a distribution system instead of paying additional fees to fight dedicated music services, personal music libraries and national platforms that provide out of market radio?

Broadcasters are asking where are the benefits for a radio station in Ashtabula, Ohio having someone in Ashwood, OR streaming the station all day. Those fees add up.

Had AM radio sat still and tried to force mono music programming on a stereo world, there would be a lot of foreign language radio stations up and down the dial.

Will the failure to move assets to the Internet spell doom for FM broadcasters? Or will the financial burden of doing something that puts you in an arena stacked against you stifle your primary business?

Definition of evolution: The gradual development of something, esp. from a simple form to a more complex form.

Definition of a bad business model: the inability to get customers to follow you from one brand to the next. If your brand is abstract and scattered and your secondary brand fails to your meet competitor’s strengths, that is a bad business model.

Jake Owen Celebrates First No. 1

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(L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Cal IV Publishing’s Daniel Hill, co-writers Dylan Altman and Terry Sawchuk, Jake Owen, co-writer Eric Paslay, producers Joey Moi and Rodney Clawson, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, and Sony’s Gary Overton. Photo: Steve Lowry

Jake Owen celebrated his first No. 1 hit “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” with a packed house at CMA on Tuesday night (11/29). The Sony Music Nashville star was joined by songwriters Eric Paslay, Terry Sawchuk and Dylan Altman at the event co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI. “Barefoot…” is also the first No. 1 for Paslay and Sawchuck, and the second for Altman.

“I’ve been to a lot of these things, standing in the back over there, drinking a free beer,” Owen laughed, “so to be up here right now is amazing.” He quickly shared the spotlight though, thanking his band, label and songwriters. He pointed out that the song would not have been successful without a genuine team effort. “There’s no single way that one person makes the big difference, unless you’re the Indianapolis Colts,” he joked, referring to the Colts’ 0-11 record while QB Peyton Manning is sidelined with an injury this season.

Paslay, a new artist signed to Capitol Nashville, got a little choked up addressing the audience. “This is the first talk like this I’ve given to a crowd about thanking them,” he explained, taking a moment to collect himself. Like Owen, Paslay expressed his gratitude to those around him, thanking his parents for his first guitar and Cal IV for jump-starting his career with an internship.

The song, which has racked up 115,000 radio spins, was produced by Joey Moi, Rodney Clawson and Tony Brown. It is one of only six songs released in 2011 to reach Platinum download status.

Owen is following up the success of “Barefoot…” with new single “Alone with You.” The video, featuring a cameo by his bulldog Merle, is premiering on Facebook. The single is already No. 24 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart.

“This song changed my life,” added Owen of his first No. 1. “I’m so grateful to the songwriters, who have become really good friends of mine. Feeling the support of this amazingly talented community is hard to describe. It’s just awesome to be part of it. This has been the best year of my life.”

Paisley Talks Career In ‘Diary’

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Building an artistic career takes time. Building an artistic career that lasts more than 15 minutes takes even more time: hours of practicing, planning, rehearsing, and preparing for what to do when your moment arrives.

It’s a lesson Brad Paisley understands well and shares in his first book, Diary of a Player (written with David Wild). The book is part thank you to Paisley’s mentors, like his grandfather Warren Jarvis who gave the artist his first guitar and his guitar teacher Clarence “Hank” Goddard, as well as fellow artists like Steve Wariner, Buck Owens, Vince Gill and more. It’s also a document of Paisley’s journey from nascent eight-year-old musician to world class axeman and superstar entertainer, and shows him to be an incredibly decent person with an abiding love for country music and his guitar.

As a model for artistic success, Paisley’s got a remarkably sturdy foundation. Not that there’s a one-size fits all approach to becoming a superstar, but you’d be doing well to fold at least a few of the following Paisley approaches into your recipe for success:

Work hard to be excellent. That probably goes without saying. Paisley’s dazzling guitar chops were forged over years of practice, lessons, and jam sessions. He’s a monster player, but says he was never a prodigy.

“Some of you out there may have been blessed with the good fortune of being born great at something, but most of us mere mortals still have to get good first, and that process usually takes a little time. I think it was years before I was doing anything you’d call ‘great.’”

Wait your turn, and learn everything you can in the meantime. Don’t expect a publishing/recording/management deal as soon as you arrive in town, and don’t sign your life away on one at the first opportunity.

“First of all, I didn’t rush into any kind of bad deals right away as people tend to do when they’re starting out. Second, thanks to all of those connections I made during my time at Belmont, I suddenly began to feel some real interest from the Nashville music community. Since I had personally interned for a significant portion of that music community, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that some of those people liked me okay. I’m a great believer in watching and waiting your turn, and it’s worked out well for me.”

Make friends. Two of Paisley’s most important collaborators to date, producer Frank Rogers and songwriter Chris DuBois, were people he befriended through school and his internships.

“Chris DuBois was roughly my age, had just graduated, and got hired as a new membership rep at ASCAP about three months after I started my internship. Our similar sense of humor was obvious right away, and we really hit it off. When he found out I wrote songs, he wanted to hear them.”

 

“We chose Arista, and I believe we made the right choice. Arista proved that when I let them know that I wanted my Belmont collaborator Frank Rogers to produce my first album. They didn’t even flinch. Even though neither one of us had a lot of what you might call professional recording experience (as in absolutely none). But by now I had waited for my moment, and I knew the kind of album I wanted to make, and I believed in Frank and the guys I’d gathered around me.”

Know who you are as an artist. But understand that who you are may not be something a major record label knows how to market. Consider alternatives, such as The Civil Wars method. Make music because you want to make music, not because you want to be famous.

“To all the younger artists out there, here’s what I’ve learned: define yourself instead of allowing others to do that important job for you. Don’t let anybody paint you into a corner or tell you who you are. You tell them.”

And most importantly, stay humble and remember those who helped you along the way.

“…no matter who you are, or how big you get, you can’t forget where you came from. If Porter Wagoner can be nice to a fool like me backstage at the Opry, then who am I to be anything other than nice as well? This is a country tradition that other genres of music could learn from a little. Roy Acuff wasn’t a jerk, and Little Jimmy Dickens is may be the nicest guy in the world.”