Arbitron Appoints New CEO

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Sean R. Creamer

The Board of Directors of Arbitron Inc. announced today (12/13) plans to appoint Sean R. Creamer President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2013. Creamer will succeed William T. Kerr who has announced his intention to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer. Kerr will continue to serve on the Arbitron Board of Directors.

“The Board of Directors and I are very pleased to welcome Sean as President and CEO of Arbitron,” said Philip Guarascio, Chairman of Arbitron’s Board of Directors. “Sean is a seasoned media and marketing executive with years of leadership experience at Arbitron. We would like to thank Bill Kerr on behalf of everyone at Arbitron for his many contributions to the company as President and CEO.”

Creamer has been Arbitron’s Executive VP Chief Operating Officer since August 2011, where he was responsible for Arbitron’s core business (ratings, qualitative and software) and for executing the company’s global strategies. Creamer joined Arbitron in 2005 as Executive VP, Finance and Planning. That same year, he was named Chief Financial Officer at Arbitron.

Prior to joining Arbitron, Creamer was Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer of Laureate Education, Inc.

 

Industry Ink (12/13/2012)

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Sirius XM Chief Executive Mel Karmazin is leaving the post in February and potential replacements are beginning to emerge. According to Reuters, Sirius XM’s Pres. of Operations and Sales Jim Meyer is a leading internal contender because he oversees the company’s lucrative auto industry relationships. Other possibilities include Sirius XM’s CFO David Frear, or bringing in an outside candidate.

In more Sirius XM news, the satcaster has extended its agreement with Hyundai Motor America for three years, including a provision for further extension through August of 2017. All Hyundai customers will receive a 3-month SiriusXM subscription with the purchase of any new Hyundai vehicle with a factory-equipped satellite radio.

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Deep South Entertainment’s Dave Rose has released the book Everything I Know About The Music Business I Learned From My Cousin Rick; The Musician’s Practical Guide to Success, available at Amazon.com. Published by Shuman & Goldstein Publishing Co. LTD, the book aims to help musicians navigate the complicated path to success in the industry.

Deep South Entertainment’s services include artist management, event production, artist booking, consulting and more. Deep South Entertainment’s artist roster currently includes Parmalee, Marcy Playground, Stryper and others.

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Photo (L-R): Bobbie Boyce and Ken Macleod

CMA Director of International Relations Bobbi Boyce recently presented Ken Macleod of Radio Tay in Scotland with the CMA International Broadcaster Award. Macleod has been the presenter of “It’s Country” since the show debuted on Radio Tay in October 1980. The longest-running program on Radio Tay, “It’s Country” airs each Wednesday and Sunday.

Guests over the years have included Boxcar Willie, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Tom T. Hall, George Hamilton IV, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Reba, Gene Watson, Tammy Wynette, and others.

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SESAC artist/songwriter Andrew Combs has signed with Razor & Tie Publishing for representation. Combs recently released his debut full-length album, Worried Man, in October 2012 and has built up a fan base while touring with the likes of Robert Ellis, Jason Isbell and Caitlin Rose.

Photo (L-R): Razor & Tie’s Craig Balsam and Lisa Johnson, Combs, SESAC’s Tim Fink and Razor & Tie’s Ross Asher. Photo: Ed Rode

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MusicRowPics: Lisa Matassa Artist Visit

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On Friday (Dec. 7), Lisa Matassa stopped by MusicRow headquarters for a visit.

Matassa shared a set of three songs off her new project, including her current single “Somebody’s Baby.” She also sang “Learning As You Grow” and her take on “The Christmas Song.” She recently recorded the carol with The Broadway Youth Ensemble in New York for a music video, which is airing on CMT.com.

For more information on Matassa, visit www.lisamatassa.com.

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Tim McGraw Duets with Taylor Swift, Keith Urban on New Album

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Tim McGraw‘s upcoming debut release on Big Machine Label Group, titled Two Lanes of Freedom, will feature two high-profile friends. The project, which releases Feb. 5, 2013, will include the song “Highway Don’t Care,” a duet featuring Keith Urban and Taylor Swift. Appropriately, the song is featured as number 13, rather than its sequential 11th position on the album, in a nod to Swift.

According to a release, BMLG will release both a standard and a deluxe version of the album to most retail accounts. The deluxe version will boast four extra tracks, including “Annie I Owe You A Dance,” “Tinted Windows,” “Let Me Love It Out of You” and a live version of McGraw’s hit “Truck Yeah.”

TWO LANES OF FREEDOM TRACK LIST
1.  Two Lanes of Freedom  (Jaren Johnston/Jenn Schott)
2.  One Of Those Nights (Luke Laird/Rodney Clawson/Chris Tompkins)
3.  Friend Of A Friend (Mark Irwin/Josh Kear/Andrew Dorff)
4.  Southern Girl (Jaren Johnston/Lee Miller/Rodney Clawson)
5.  Truck Yeah (Chris Janson/Danny Myrick/Preston Brust/Chris Lucas)
6.  Nashville Without You (Kyle Jacobs/Joe Leathers/Ruston Kelly)
7.  Book of John (Jon Nite/Greg Becker)
8.  Mexicoma (James Slater/Brad Warren/Brett Warren)
9.  Number 37405 (Tom Douglas/Troy Jones)
10.  It’s Your World (Scott Stepakoff/Josh Osborne/Shane McAnally)
13.  Highway Don’t Care (featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban)(Mark Irwin/Josh Kear/Brad Warren/Brett Warren)

Americana Honors and Awards To Air Dec. 16

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The Americana Honors & Awards program, a two-hour special dedicated to roots music, will air on Sunday (Dec. 16) at 8:00 p.m. ET on AXS TV. The ceremony was taped at annual awards ceremony, held Sept. 13 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

The program will honor Bonnie Raitt, Booker T. Jones, Richard Thompson and others. Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller will serve as hosts for the evening.

In addition to the aforementioned honorees, performers include Guy Clark, John Hiatt, the Mavericks, Alabama Shakes, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Justin Townes Earle, Sarah Jarosz, Robert Ellis and the Deep Dark Woods. The evening’s finale will be an all-star tribute to the late Levon Helm.

The show will be rebroadcast on Dec. 17 at 12:20 a.m. ET.

Golden Globe Nominations With Nashville Ties

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The nominees for the Golden Globe Awards were announced on Thursday (Dec. 13) and Nashville’s music industry has significant ties.

ABC’s Nashville earned two nominations for its leading ladies. Connie Britton was nominated for best actress in a TV drama, while Hayden Panettiere was nominated for supporting actress in a series, miniseries or movie.

Keith Urban and songwriter Monty Powell earned a Best Original Song nod for Urban’s hit “For You,” which he performed for the film Act of Valor. “The most rewarding gift for me as a songwriter is knowing that the song has somehow made a connection,” said Urban. “I’ve been fortunate and moved to hear first hand how it has impacted others’ lives. For that, and for this nomination, I’m so very grateful and honored. To wake up to this news, as well as to Nic’s two nominations, is absolutely beautiful.” His wife Nicole Kidman was nominated for roles in The Paperboy and Hemingway & Gellhorn.

Urban has some country competition in the category, though, as songwriters Taylor Swift, John Paul White, Joy Williams, and T. Bone Burnett are also nominated for Best Original Song for “Safe and Sound.” Swift and The Civil Wars performed the track for blockbuster film The Hunger Games.

The Golden Globes will be held Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will serve as co-hosts for the event.

See the complete list of nominations.

All Access Music Group Adds Jaclyn Carter

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Jaclyn Carter

Jaclyn Carter has been added as the new editorial assistant for All Access Music Group’s Nashville office. Carter will replace Hilary Hoover, who was recently hired as NW Director of Promotion at Red Bow Records.

Carter most recently worked in marketing and public relations with Adlay Communications in Franklin, Tenn. A University of Tennessee Knoxville graduate, Carter previously interned with Monarch Publicity, which represents Chris Young, Craig Campbell and others.

 

Artist Updates (12/13/2012)

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Jo Dee Messina

 Jo Dee Messina has signed with Clearview Artist Management and APA for booking, and plans to release a new album in 2013. The moves follow her recent departure from Curb Records.

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Keith Urban

Keith Urban‘s song “For You” has been nominated for Best Song at the Critics’ Choice Awards from The Broadcast Film Critics Association. “For You” was co-written by Urban and Monty Powell. The winners will be announced live during a ceremony on Thursday, January 10, 2013 from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. The show will broadcast live on The CW Network at 8:00 p.m. ET.

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Lennon and Maisy Stella

Nashville actor-musicians Jonathan Jackson (‘Avery Barkley’) and Lennon and Maisy Stella (sisters who portray Rayna Jaimes’ daughters in the series) will make their Grand Ole Opry debuts at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Saturday (Dec. 15).

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Holly Williams

Holly Williams has confirmed the first leg of her U.S. tour, which will include a stop in Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre on Feb. 12.

 

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Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell has sold his Malibu, Calif. Mediterranean-style villa for $4.45 million. Campbell purchased the home home in 2004 and it was redone in 2009. It features a theater with a billiard room.

 

 

Aldean’s ‘Night Train’ Goes Platinum

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Jason Aldean’s fifth album, Night Train, has been certified platinum four weeks after its Oct. 16 release. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and doubled the first week sales of his previous album, My Kinda Party.

Aldean will join a lineup that includes Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Pitbull and Psy to ring in the New Year with a three-song performance on Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013. The special airs Monday, Dec. 31 beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

The recently announced 2013 Night Train Tour will begin Feb. 21 in Bossier City, La. and will include at least four sold-out stadium shows, including Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. Special guests Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett will open.

Country Music Hall of Fame Moves Forward With Construction

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will be closed from the public from Tuesday, Jan. 22 through Wednesday, Feb. 6 in order to make needed improvements to the facility and to accommodate expansion-related construction.

“We’ve had more than four million visitors since we moved downtown in May 2001,” said Museum Director Kyle Young via a release. “We are usually closed on Tuesdays in January and February for routine maintenance, upgrades, etc. This winter, because of expansion-related construction, our efforts will be more substantial and will require a few more days. The end result will be an enhanced experience for our visitors.”

Plans for the expansion were announced in 2011. The 200,000-square-foot museum expansion will connect with the Omni Nashville convention center. Due for completion in spring 2014, it will triple the current exhibit space, include an 800 seat theater, and offer an educational center with children’s gallery, classrooms and recording studio. It will be connected to the Omni on three levels. Tuck Hinton Architects, who built the magnificent current building, are returning for the expansion

The museum will reopen on Thursday, Feb. 7.