Shelby Kennedy
has traversed many segments of the music industry during his career, including stints as a songwriter and publisher, time at performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP, as well as four years as director of the now-defunct Lyric Street Records. Now his priority is reaching out to the Nashville music industry as the local representative for music services company
TuneCore.
Brooklyn-based TuneCore began as a distribution company, and now also offers music publishing, mastering tracks, CD duplication, social media services, monetizing YouTube and Facebook for artists, and distributing music to more than 80 digital stores, including iTunes, Google Play and Spotify. TuneCore also aids artists in getting songs placed in television shows, films and commercials. “We are trying to figure out the services that help someone be as autonomous as they choose to be or have to be,” says Kennedy. “I’m trying to be a liaison to find out what things we need to include, in order to meet the needs of artists, managers and other clients.”
TuneCore’s service model seems to be working. It has more than 1 million registered users, and a team of approximately 50 employees.
What drew you to TuneCore?
There’s not many entities in the digital music space that make you feel warm and fuzzy. I thought, “What artists are not here who need instant presence, acceptance and outreach in their first 30 minutes?,” because that’s what TuneCore would provide. And with TuneCore, I felt this is a solution for what is going on in the industry right now.
As an artist, you can choose the stores you want to be in, the territories you want to be in. It gives artists a lot of choice and a lot of control. They aren’t losing any of their rights, and they aren’t losing any of their sales revenue. That’s a no-brainer for me.
How is the TuneCore model different?
Most distribution companies participate in the artist’s revenue by taking a percentage of it. TuneCore is a subscription model, so you can pay a small fee and have the music out to all the digital outlets around the world. You renew the subscription every year. We don’t take a penny of the sales revenue. None. So if someone’s selling thousands of units, it’s the same at TuneCore as if they sold tens of units. It’s not about riding the backs of the artists and labels. To me, that’s awesome. TuneCore’s mission statement is to provide equal access that’s an affordable price to the channels of music distribution.
If you do a single it’s $9.99 for a single song. Next year, when you renew it’s the same price. As soon as you don’t renew, the songs come out of the stores—Spotify, iTunes, all of them. If it were an album, it would be $29.99. Every year, it’s $50 to keep it there. But every penny of revenue goes to the artist.
Who else is using TuneCore?
Publishers are starting to use this and that’s what I’m having fun with. Publishers are starting to realize it’s a tool to develop and break new acts. Exhibit A would be Logan Mize and Big Yellow Dog. They sold around 80,000 of the single and Arista now snagged him. AristoMedia uses it, and management company Red Light is going to do a couple of things. It’s like everybody’s empowered now to not sit and wait for somebody to pick him or her to come play in the superdome, if you will. Everybody is in the stadium. They can play the game.
How does TuneCore help level the playing field for aspiring artists?
Some of the biggest acts that we have in the industry, every label passed on them with the exception of one. That’s how it’s gone, and as we’ve consolidated down to a few labels, those labels are not there to be the one. They rely more on very predictable artists. I’m thinking that’s where TuneCore can help. There’s so much talent that doesn’t get into the “predictables” category. That’s the stuff that really changes our industry, and we need to figure out what gets these artists launched. That’s purpose for our industry as a whole.
We know music is the creative part of the industry, but we’ve entered the time where the business part has to be just as creative as the music. If you’ve got a toolbox, the process of choosing the right mix of tools to use is extremely creative, but I want all the tools I can possibly get, just to have the choice to use the ones I want to use.
What is your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is that digital space is static. People don’t know what TuneCore does, versus a Grooveshark or Songza or other tech spaces. So right now for me, awareness is job number one.
Leadership Music Raises Over $25,000 For Second Harvest
/by Jessica NicholsonThe classes of Leadership Music held a friendly competition to see which class could raise the most money for the hunger drive.
The Class of 2012 has been named the winner of the competition, donating the most funds, in honoring classmate Jaynee Day who serves as President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and serves on the board of Leadership Music.
“We always knew that the alumni of Leadership Music are extraordinary, but you managed to prove once and for all that you truly are the BAE…best alumni ever! We are so proud to be part of an organization and an industry that lives by the creed ‘from those to whom much is given, much is expected.’ Although we framed this as a friendly competition among classes, it was really all about feeding the hungry,” says Diane Pearson, President of Leadership Music.
The top five class standings, in order of the most money raised, are:
Class of 2012
Class of 2003
Class of 2007
Class of 2008
Class of 2011
Artist Updates: BCM Awards, Randy Houser, Hunter Hayes
/by Jessica NicholsonWinners for the 8th Annual British Country Music Awards were announced during the BCM Awards, held Nov. 23 at The Concorde Suite at Heathrow in London. The awards show included the 16 British Awards and four International Awards.
International award winners included Chris Young (International Act of the Year), Eric Church‘s Outsiders (International Album), Brad Paisley‘s “Mona Lisa” (International Song), and Jeff Walker, CEO of The AristoMedia Group (International Services). Walker was presented with his award in advance during a special CMA International Event held during the recent CMA Awards week in Nashville. For a full list of award winners, visit bcmawards.co.uk.
Pictured (L-R): Steve Wariner, Cold River Records’ Katie Armiger and BCMA President, Lee Williams.
• • •
Randy Houser recently partnered with Eckrich to honor a military family with an evening of surprises on Nov. 22, during Houser’s appearance in Baltimore, Md. as part of Dierks Bentley’s Riser Tour. The event began with Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Solso and his wife Clare meeting Houser backstage. Other gifts included a year of free groceries on behalf of Ekrich, as well as an all-expenses paid getaway to Tucson, Ariz., to enjoy a VIP experience at a Randy Houser concert.
Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Solso and his wife, Clare, are presented free groceries for a year and a VIP trip to Tucson, Arizona on behalf of Eckrich.
• • •
Hunter Hayes. Photo: Kristin Barlowe
The CMA Foundation and VH1 Save the Music Foundation recently joined forces to support music education in Roanoke City Public Schools.
Hunter Hayes was the special guest at a ticketed concert showcasing 450 student musicians representing elementary, middle, and high school instrumental music programs in the district. Hayes spoke on the impact of music in his life and the importance of having music education in the schools.
“The CMA Foundation is very proud to be part of this important initiative,” said Sarah Trahern, CEO of the CMA. “We are excited to partner with VH1 to help bring music education programs to students in Roanoke, and hopefully create in these students a life-long appreciation of music.”
The CMA Foundation offered a $100,000 grant. With 17 grantee schools and $510,000 worth of musical instruments donated to date, they have completed restoration of Roanoke’s music programs.
Black River Releases Breakout EP By Kelsea Ballerini
/by Eric T. ParkerBallerini, recently named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, contributed writing credits on all five tracks included on the project, co-produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey.
The acoustic music video for the Knoxville, Tenn.-native’s debut single, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” is featured in CMT’s Artist Discovery campaign and is now playing on CMT Pure. The radio single is climbing the charts, landing at No. 44 on this week’s MusicRow Chart.
“I remember seeing the women that CMT chose last year for Next Women of Country and thinking, ‘I hope one day I can be part of a similar group because it’s such an exciting time for women in country music,’” said Ballerini.
Kelsea Ballerini EP Track Listing:
1. “Love Me Like You Mean It” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Kerr, Carpenter)
2. “Yeah Boy” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Timmer)
3. “The First Time” (Ballerini)
4. “Dibs” (Ballerini, Kerr, Griffin, Duke)
5. “Lookin’ At Stars” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Stepakoff)
Dallas Smith Releases 'Lifted' EP With Big Loud Mountain
/by Troy_StephensonMusicRow Magazine’s Robert K. Oermann recently penned a glowing review for the EP’s “Wastin’ Gas”: “The churning production is terrifically exciting. Luckily, he’s got the vocal chops to keep up with it, and the driving song has hooks aplenty.”
Smith teamed up again with producer Joey Moi (Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen) for the EP, who also produced his award-winning Canadian country debut, Jumped Right In.
Fresh off from performing on Florida Georgia Line’s “This Is How We Cruise” aboard the Norwegian Pearl, Smith, who previously fronted the successful international rock band Default, will embark next year on his headline TIPPIN’ POINT 2015 Tour across Canada featuring special guests Charlie Worsham and Sundy Best. Previously Smith was direct support for music legend Bob Seger.
LIFTED TRACK LISTING
1.) “Wastin’ Gas” (Adam Craig/Matt Dragstrem/Jon Nite)
2.) “Cheap Seats” (Sarah Buxton/Jesse Frasure/Tina Parol)
3.) “Lifted” (Jaren Johnston/Zac Maloy/Jeremy Stover)
4.) “Heat Rises” (Rodney Clawson/Ross Copperman/Jaren Johnston)
5.) “Thinkin’ Bout You” (Rhett Akins/Ashley Gorley/Jimmy Robbins)
6.) “Just Say When” (Rodney Clawson/Ross Copperman/Ben Hayslip)
7.) “Tippin’ Point” (Live) (Tyler Hubbard/Jaren Johnston/Brian Kelley)
Griggs, O'Neal, and Herndon Announce Tour
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (L-R): Andy Griggs, Jamie O’Neal, Ty Herndon
Country Music stars Andy Griggs, Jamie O’Neal, and Ty Herndon have announced an upcoming tour that will feature all three of their distinctive styles. Although the three artists have respect for each other, they certainly recognize their differences.
“We all blend together about like Tupac, Bill Monroe and Joan Rivers but somehow it works on stage,” Griggs says. “But when we’re not singing our hearts out together it’s the most awkward, misplaced, dysfunctional, hilarious carnival that has ever been displayed!”
Griggs, O’Neal, and Herndon have combined over 40 chart singles on the Billboard Country Singles chart and millions of records sold.
The trio will perform at Charlie Daniels & Friends Christmas for Kids Concert tonight (Nov. 24) at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Official tour dates and cities will be announced soon.
Shelby Kennedy On How TuneCore Can Level The Playing Field
/by Jessica NicholsonShelby Kennedy
Shelby Kennedy has traversed many segments of the music industry during his career, including stints as a songwriter and publisher, time at performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP, as well as four years as director of the now-defunct Lyric Street Records. Now his priority is reaching out to the Nashville music industry as the local representative for music services company TuneCore.
Brooklyn-based TuneCore began as a distribution company, and now also offers music publishing, mastering tracks, CD duplication, social media services, monetizing YouTube and Facebook for artists, and distributing music to more than 80 digital stores, including iTunes, Google Play and Spotify. TuneCore also aids artists in getting songs placed in television shows, films and commercials. “We are trying to figure out the services that help someone be as autonomous as they choose to be or have to be,” says Kennedy. “I’m trying to be a liaison to find out what things we need to include, in order to meet the needs of artists, managers and other clients.”
TuneCore’s service model seems to be working. It has more than 1 million registered users, and a team of approximately 50 employees.
What drew you to TuneCore?
There’s not many entities in the digital music space that make you feel warm and fuzzy. I thought, “What artists are not here who need instant presence, acceptance and outreach in their first 30 minutes?,” because that’s what TuneCore would provide. And with TuneCore, I felt this is a solution for what is going on in the industry right now.
As an artist, you can choose the stores you want to be in, the territories you want to be in. It gives artists a lot of choice and a lot of control. They aren’t losing any of their rights, and they aren’t losing any of their sales revenue. That’s a no-brainer for me.
How is the TuneCore model different?
Most distribution companies participate in the artist’s revenue by taking a percentage of it. TuneCore is a subscription model, so you can pay a small fee and have the music out to all the digital outlets around the world. You renew the subscription every year. We don’t take a penny of the sales revenue. None. So if someone’s selling thousands of units, it’s the same at TuneCore as if they sold tens of units. It’s not about riding the backs of the artists and labels. To me, that’s awesome. TuneCore’s mission statement is to provide equal access that’s an affordable price to the channels of music distribution.
If you do a single it’s $9.99 for a single song. Next year, when you renew it’s the same price. As soon as you don’t renew, the songs come out of the stores—Spotify, iTunes, all of them. If it were an album, it would be $29.99. Every year, it’s $50 to keep it there. But every penny of revenue goes to the artist.
Who else is using TuneCore?
Publishers are starting to use this and that’s what I’m having fun with. Publishers are starting to realize it’s a tool to develop and break new acts. Exhibit A would be Logan Mize and Big Yellow Dog. They sold around 80,000 of the single and Arista now snagged him. AristoMedia uses it, and management company Red Light is going to do a couple of things. It’s like everybody’s empowered now to not sit and wait for somebody to pick him or her to come play in the superdome, if you will. Everybody is in the stadium. They can play the game.
How does TuneCore help level the playing field for aspiring artists?
Some of the biggest acts that we have in the industry, every label passed on them with the exception of one. That’s how it’s gone, and as we’ve consolidated down to a few labels, those labels are not there to be the one. They rely more on very predictable artists. I’m thinking that’s where TuneCore can help. There’s so much talent that doesn’t get into the “predictables” category. That’s the stuff that really changes our industry, and we need to figure out what gets these artists launched. That’s purpose for our industry as a whole.
We know music is the creative part of the industry, but we’ve entered the time where the business part has to be just as creative as the music. If you’ve got a toolbox, the process of choosing the right mix of tools to use is extremely creative, but I want all the tools I can possibly get, just to have the choice to use the ones I want to use.
What is your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is that digital space is static. People don’t know what TuneCore does, versus a Grooveshark or Songza or other tech spaces. So right now for me, awareness is job number one.
Industry Ink: SunTrust, Little Extra Music, MTSU Songwriters Series
/by Sherod Robertson(L-R): SunTrust Music Bankers, Front row: Michael Ribas and Blake Zanoni; Back row: Peter Erickson, Dusty Miller, Woody Hartman, Earle Simmons, Harry Chapman (Belmont University), Andrew Kintz, Mark Ford, Bryan Bolton
SunTrust Music Bankers swore off shaving in November and presented a check for $10,000 to Harry Chapman of Belmont University on Friday, Nov. 21. These funds are significant because they will endow The Brian Williams Scholarship, allowing it to support a Belmont Music Business student for the first time since the Scholarship was created.
Brian Williams
The industry lost Brian Williams tragically in 2006. This month on Nov. 14, the SunTrust team opened a Crowdrise campaign for the Belmont Scholarship in his name. SunTrust Music Managing Director, Andrew Kintz, said, “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity on Music Row and beyond for this cause. Even teammates in North Carolina and Georgia who Brian hired stopped shaving! So many artists and people in our industry love Brian and want to honor his legacy. This is truly a gift from the entire music industry to Belmont, just as Brian is still such a gift to us – for the Division and culture he created, and the countless people he has helped.”
The campaign continues to accept donations here.
“The first time I heard Kelsey sing, I was totally mesmerized,” said company president Lisa Ramsey-Perkins. “For such a young and beautiful girl, there is so much soul, a little pain and a lot of living felt in everything she writes. Very rarely do you come across a unique talent like her. I’m thrilled that she’s a part of the Little Extra Music family, and I can’t wait to share her music with all of you!”
The Florida panhandle native has played nearly 150 shows a year along the Gulf Coast, and in 2011, she was named Northwest Florida’s Regional X-Factor winner. She won Best Original Song for her composition “Poison,” and took home Best Female Vocalist at the Beachcomber Music Awards. She later moved to Nashville to pursue as career as a singer/songwriter.
Pictured (Seated): Kelsey Anna; (Standing, L-R): Denise Stevens, Loeb & Loeb; Lisa Ramsey-Perkins, Little Extra Music; Denise Nichols, The Primacy Firm
• • •
Opening the show are MTSU Songwriting majors Kyle Crownover, Nick Carpenter, Collin Baxter, and others.
Country Winners at the 2014 American Music Awards
/by Sarah SkatesCaroline and Luke Bryan on the AMA red carpet. Photo: AMA
The American Music Awards were broadcast live last night (Nov. 23) on ABC from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. Live. Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line and Brantley Gilbert were among the winners.
Fans voted for the awards online and via Twitter.
The 2014 American Music Awards® are produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro and Mike Mahan are Executive Producers. Larry Klein, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are Producers.
Favorite Male Artist – Country
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton
Favorite Female Artist – Country
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Favorite Band, Duo Or Group – Country
Eli Young Band
Florida Georgia Line
Lady Antebellum
Favorite Album – Country
Garth Brooks, Blame It On My Roots
Eric Church, The Outsiders
Brantley Gilbert, Just As I Am
Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Casting Crowns
Hillsong United
Newsboys
Taylor Swift accepts at the AMA Awards.
Artist Of The Year
Iggy Azalea
Beyonce
Luke Bryan
Eminem
Imagine Dragons
John Legend
Lorde
One Direction
Katy Perry
Pharrell Williams
New Artist Of The Year Presented By Kohl’s
5 Seconds Of Summer
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Sam Smith
Meghan Trainor
Single Of The Year
Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli Xcx – “Fancy”
John Legend – “All Of Me”
Magic! – “Rude”
Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J – “Dark Horse”
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
Dick Clark Award Of Excellence
Taylor Swift
Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock
John Legend
Sam Smith
Pharrell Williams
Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock
Iggy Azalea
Lorde
Katy Perry
Favorite Band, Duo Or Group – Pop/Rock
Imagine Dragons
One Direction
Onerepublic
Favorite Album – Pop/Rock
Lorde, Pure Heroine
One Direction, Midnight Memories
Katy Perry, Prism
Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop
Iggy Azalea
Drake
Eminem
Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop
Iggy Azalea, The New Classic
Drake, Nothing Was The Same
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
See complete winners list.
CMA Songwriters Series To Tape Four TV Events
/by Eric T. ParkerSara Evans and Martina McBride will take the stage on Monday, Dec. 1 (6:30 PM/CT), followed by a performance by Hunter Hayes (9:30 PM/CT). Little Big Town will open the performances on Tuesday, Dec. 2 (6:30 PM/CT), followed by Bob DiPiero and Friends: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Charlie Worsham (9:30 PM/CT).
“CMA is extremely proud of our songwriters and their many contributions to the success of Country Music,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “And we are thrilled to partner with ‘Front and Center’ again to shine a national spotlight on this important segment of our industry. It’s great knowing that we have a partner who truly appreciates the talent of Nashville’s creative community.”
“The reaction that we received as a result of our partnership with the CMA, and subsequently from the shows that we aired with Lady Antebellum and Dierks Bentley, was overwhelming,” said “Front and Center” Executive Producer Don Maggi. “The acceptance that ’Front and Center’ has received from the Nashville music community, and its fans, left no question that we should do even more for the forthcoming Spring season.”
Citi cardmembers currently have access to purchase tickets to these shows through its Private Pass program.
“Front and Center” launched in the spring of 2012 as an original one hour, commercial-free, all-music series, airing nationwide on public television, distributed by American Public Television. Last season “Front and Center” announced its partnership with CMA and taped two shows: Lady Antebellum and a special 10th Anniversary Celebration of the CMA Songwriters Series with Dierks Bentley. The episodes premiered last month as part of The 48th Annual CMA Awards celebration and will continue to air through the end of the year.
All episodes are directed by Pierre and François Lamoureux of FogoLabs.
Rhett Akins Celebrates Award-Winning Year With Nashville Party
/by Jessica Nicholson2014 BMI Writer of the Year Rhett Akins, along with family, friends and industry members, gathered in Nashville Tuesday evening (Nov. 18) to celebrate the songwriter’s award-winning year. Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson told the crowd he was not only proud to work with such a talented songwriter, but better yet such an overwhelmingly well-liked person in the Nashville music community
Artists attending included Chase Rice, Tyler Farr, Cole Swindell, Chris Young, and more. Some of the top tier writers in attendance included Luke Laird, Craig Wiseman, Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Stover, Lee Miller, Jim Beavers and Chris Janson.
Pictured (L-R): Pam Akins (Mom), Akins, Thomas Rhett (son), with wife Lauren
Pictured (L-R): Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran, Chris DeStefano, Akins, Rhett, Chase Rice, SATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg
Akins looks at his plaque
The Sony/ATV team led by Troy Tomlinson celebrate with Akins
Pictured (L-R): SATV’s Terry Wakefield, Rhett Akins, Cole Swindell.