Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Lytle Management’s John Lytle, producer Greg Droman, Gary Allan, co-writers Hillary Lindsey and Matt Warren, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, MCA Nashville’s Mike Dungan and BMG’s Kos Weaver. Photo by John Russell.
and
Hillary Lindsey celebrated their No. 1 single, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)” recently in Nashville. BMI’s
Clay Bradley and ASCAP’s
Mike Sistad co-hosted the event, held at Nashville’s Sambuca.
Allan received a guitar from BMI for his first No. 1 hit as a co-writer. BMI No. 1 cups were also given to Greg Droman and Mike Dungan. The crowd got a surprise when Dungan, Sr. VP, Promotion
Royce Risser and VP, National Promotion
Van Haze all took the stage in kilts.
Sistad honored ASCAP writers Warren and Lindsey for the chart-topping single. It also marked the first No. 1 song for Warren, who used to coordinate merchandise on the road for Allan.
Awards and plaques were given to the songwriters and artist from Dungan, the Country Music Association’s
Brandi Simms, Country Radio Broadcasters’
Bradford Hollingsworth and Avenue Bank’s
Ron Cox. Cox noted that Allan was slated to perform in the New York area when Hurricane Sandy hit earlier this year. On behalf of the songwriters, Avenue Bank made a donation to the Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.
Allan was quick to thank his two co-writers, especially Matt for introducing him to co-writer Lindsey. “I like writing with friends so if you don’t know Matt or Odie [Blackmon], it’s hard to get into my living room [to write],” quipped Allan.
The strong friendship among the three writers was obvious. “We support each other’s successes,” said Lindsey after thanking the crowd for sharing in the moment. “That shows what this town is about.” Lindsey, who has also been a vocalist on the road with Allan, also showed gratitude to his band members. “His band is amazing. Obviously he is a talent, but he’s a good man and has a good heart and good people around him. I’m so happy that you called and brought me in [to co-write].”
Artist Updates (3-21-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonDarius Rucker released a teaser of his upcoming video for his single “Wagon Wheel.” The single features backing vocals from Lady Antebellum and was originally performed by Old Crow Medicine Show.
• • •
Among the special guests joining Paisley on Wheelhouse – Special Edition are Charlie Daniels, LL COOL J, Eric Idle, Mat Kearney, Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes and the late Roger Miller. Paisley produced his new album and wrote or co-wrote all 17 of the tracks.
• • •
Wynonna
Wynonna will continue her recent media blitz with an interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday (March 22). The entertainer made her debut on Dancing With The Stars on Monday, the same evening her GAC documentary Wynonna and Cactus: The Road Back aired. Yesterday, she interviewed with Access Hollywood: Live.
• • •
Snapshots: Sixth Annual Jeffrey Steele and Friends Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonJeffrey Steele and a string of high-profile musical buddies took the stage for a sold-out show during the sixth annual Jeffrey Steele and Friends benefit concert. The event, held March 12 at Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn., featured Billy Ray Cyrus, Gloriana, Colt Ford, Chris Janson, The Shuggah Pies, LoCash Cowboys and others. GAC’s Storme Warren hosted the event.
Funds from the concert benefited the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Jeffrey Steele and Gloriana
Pictured (L-R): Billy Ray Cyrus, Chris Janson, LoCash Cowboys
The Shuggah Pies and Jeffrey Steele
Pictured: Chris Janson, The Shuggah Pies, Shay Mooney, Storme Warren, Colt Ford, LoCash Cowboys, Tom Hambridge, Tommy MacDonald, Steve Cirkvencic, Jeffrey Steele
Jeffrey Steele and Colt Ford
SiriusXM To Host Town Hall With Blake Shelton
/by Sarah SkatesListeners who want to attend can tune in to The Highway or visit www.siriusxm.com/townhall for details. SiriusXM listeners are also invited to submit a question for Shelton by Tweeting @SiriusXM and using the hashtag #SXMTownHall or posting a question on SiriusXM’s Facebook page.
The special will debut on The Highway, channel 59, on Tues., March 26 at 12:00 pm ET. That is release day for his latest album Based On A True Story. Rebroadcast times can be found at www.siriusxm.com/townhall.
Previous “SiriusXM Town Hall” specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Tom Petty, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jason Aldean, Usher, Tony Bennett, Aerosmith, Ringo Starr, Roger Waters and Kris Kristofferson.
Dove Awards To Be Held Oct. 15 at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena
/by Jessica NicholsonA move to presenting in the fall marks a large shift for the awards show, one that should help build awareness of new releases going into the all-important holiday season. Jackie Patillo, executive director of the Gospel Music Association, told AccessAtlanta that an important factor in the decision to move the awards show back to Nashville is that the bulk of the Christian music industry is still based in Music City. “It was time to come home,” Patillo said.
Dove Award nominees will be announced on Aug. 22. For the first time, the awards will include a feature film category to recognize the impact of inspirational movies within the entertainment community.
GMC TV will air the awards show.
[Updated] Lifenotes: Janet Rickman
/by Sarah SkatesJanet Rickman with Reba McEntire in 2012.
Longtime music industry publicist Janet Rickman passed away Tuesday, March 19 at Alive Hospice after a year long battle with cancer.
Her career began as a publicist for PolyGram -Mercury/Nashville in the mid 1970s working with The Statler Brothers, Johnny Rodriguez and a young Reba McEntire. This led to stints in the Los Angeles and New York publicity departments of Mercury Records where she worked closely with Tears for Fears, Rush and John Mellencamp among others. Rickman later returned to her Nashville home to head up the MCA Nashville publicity and video department, where she worked extensively with artists such as Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, George Strait, Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart, Trisha Yearwood and more. She retired from MCA Nashville in the late 90s and began a second career with the Nashville Library.
No memorial service is planned but donations may be made to a library of your choice.
Reba has fond memories of Rickman, sharing a favorite memory. “I just found out today that my friend of many years, Janet Rickman, has gone on to the big library in the sky. We had many good times together but one in particular I remember was the time Janet picked me up at the Nashville airport and drove me to my hotel. She even walked me to my room, to make sure everything was in order, when we found the mattress off the bed, sheets thrown everywhere, lamps turned over and the whole room in a mess. Janet was NOT happy about that! 🙂 She indignantly closed the door and ushered me back to her car. She drove me straight to the Spence Manor, a more private and more up scale hotel off Music Row. Now, I had always wanted to stay at the Spence Manor and Janet was the one to get me in!
“I loved working with Janet,” she continues. “She was one of a kind. I didn’t see her much but knowing she’s passed on, makes me realize, once again, how quickly things can change. Because I didn’t get to say goodbye to Janet, her passing reminded me to let people know how much they mean to me. So while it may take some time of me letting you know in person, let me say now to my friends in the music business, thank you for all your love and support during my years in this wonderful business. Here’s to many more great times together.”
Sugar Hill Records Adds Director, Artist & Media Relations
/by Jessica NicholsonJess Draper
Sugar Hill Records has added Jess Draper as Director, Artist & Media Relations. She replaces Donica Christensen, who left in January.
Most recently, Draper was the Director of Publicity at The Media Collective. Prior to her post at The Media Collective, her career has included time as Manager of Creative Services at ASCAP and Music Editor at Performing Songwriter.
Draper can be reached at (615) 915-3049 or at jdraper@sugarhillrecords.com.
No. 1 Party: Gary Allan's "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)"
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Lytle Management’s John Lytle, producer Greg Droman, Gary Allan, co-writers Hillary Lindsey and Matt Warren, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, MCA Nashville’s Mike Dungan and BMG’s Kos Weaver. Photo by John Russell.
Gary Allan, Matt Warren and Hillary Lindsey celebrated their No. 1 single, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)” recently in Nashville. BMI’s Clay Bradley and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad co-hosted the event, held at Nashville’s Sambuca.
Allan received a guitar from BMI for his first No. 1 hit as a co-writer. BMI No. 1 cups were also given to Greg Droman and Mike Dungan. The crowd got a surprise when Dungan, Sr. VP, Promotion Royce Risser and VP, National Promotion Van Haze all took the stage in kilts.
Sistad honored ASCAP writers Warren and Lindsey for the chart-topping single. It also marked the first No. 1 song for Warren, who used to coordinate merchandise on the road for Allan.
Awards and plaques were given to the songwriters and artist from Dungan, the Country Music Association’s Brandi Simms, Country Radio Broadcasters’ Bradford Hollingsworth and Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox. Cox noted that Allan was slated to perform in the New York area when Hurricane Sandy hit earlier this year. On behalf of the songwriters, Avenue Bank made a donation to the Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.
Allan was quick to thank his two co-writers, especially Matt for introducing him to co-writer Lindsey. “I like writing with friends so if you don’t know Matt or Odie [Blackmon], it’s hard to get into my living room [to write],” quipped Allan.
The strong friendship among the three writers was obvious. “We support each other’s successes,” said Lindsey after thanking the crowd for sharing in the moment. “That shows what this town is about.” Lindsey, who has also been a vocalist on the road with Allan, also showed gratitude to his band members. “His band is amazing. Obviously he is a talent, but he’s a good man and has a good heart and good people around him. I’m so happy that you called and brought me in [to co-write].”
Twitter Music App In The Works
/by Sarah SkatesAccording to cnet, the app could debut by the end of March. Features include song streaming via SoundCloud, brief artist bios, links to song previews on iTunes and music recommendations based on artists followed by Twitter users.
We Are Hunted is based in San Francisco but was created by a group of Australian software developers.
Earlier this year, Twitter launched video sharing app Vine.
Weekly Register: Warming Temps Heat Sales
/by bossrossLuke Bryan’s party album earned a second week atop the Current Country 75, but units dropped 59 percent from last week to 61k. In two weeks the Georgia lad has amassed a RTD of over 210k units setting him firmly on the road to Gold… and beyond.
Every title in the Top 30 positions sold over two thousand units this week. Let’s check in on some of the 2013 debuts. Tim McGraw’s Two Lanes of Freedom is perched at No. 5 with a RTD of over 226k after six weeks; Gary Allan lands at No. 11 after eight weeks with RTD of about 237k; Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell’s three-week old pairing is at lucky No. 13 with 31k RTD; and Ashley Monroe’s second week lands her at No. 18 with RTD of 15k.
So while country took the week off in terms of mainstream debuts, Bon Jovi (No. 1; 96k/35 percent digital) and David Bowie (No. 2; 85k/48 percent digital) entered the Top 200 album chart with new product pushing Mr. Bryan’s Spring Break to No. 3.
One of the more interesting new charts which helps us measure the marketplace is YTD Albums with TEA. As Weekly Register readers know, TEA means Track Equivalent Albums where 10 digital downloaded tracks is equated to one album.
The Music Row release season, like the spring weather forecast, is set to heat up. Click HERE for a full list, but expect new sets from talked about newcomer Kacey Musgraves and Maggie Rose, plus music from Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, The Band Perry, Brad Paisley and Eric Church. All aboard..
'Dancing With The Stars' Wins Ratings Race
/by Sarah SkatesKellie Pickler and partner Derek Hough, brother of Julianne Hough, on the season premiere.
The season premiere of Dancing With The Stars, which features Wynonna Judd and Kellie Pickler, won the ratings race Monday night (March 18). It attracted over 17 million viewers and was No. 1 with adults 18-49 and with total viewers. However, the ABC show slipped in the 18-49 demographic from last year’s season premiere. It fell 11 percent from a 3.5 rating to a 3.1.
The series airs on Monday and Tuesday nights. This week’s Tuesday night edition (March 19) drew 9.58 million viewers to earn a 2.1 adults 18-49 rating, up 5 percent from a 2.0 for last year’s second-night show.
These ratings are according to Zap2It.com.
Wynonna Judd and partner Tony Dovolani.