Big Country Signs Morgan Tobias

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Entrepreneur Glen Blaschke and hit songwriter Tammy Hyler announced the formation of Big Country Records and the signing of singer/songwriter Morgan Tobias during an industry launch at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum this week.
(L-R) standing: Joe Brazil, attorney for Morgan Tobias and Norman Gillis, attorney for Big Country Records. Seated: Glen Baschke, Pres. Big Country Records; Morgan Tobias; and Tammy Hyler, VP Creative for Big Country Records.

Photo: Alan Mayor

MusicRow CRS Meet & Greet Performers Revealed

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Sitting down? You may want to brace yourself for this news.
This year’s MusicRow CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards is going to be a doozie, and those who miss out will likely spend the rest of their days in regret and shame.
We are extremely pleased to feature emerging talents Colt Ford (Average Joe’s Ent.) and Joanna Smith (Columbia Nashville). Both entertainers hail from the great state of Georgia, but are miles apart on the stylistic continuum. Together they represent the wildly diverse talent parameters included under the big tent of modern country music.
Colt Ford’s unique party-starting hybrid of country-rock and hip-hop, combined with a high-energy live show, has catapulted him into a celebrated indie star. Originally from Athens, GA, the former pro-golfer turned musician built a massive following through relentless touring, eventually selling over 150k units of his debut Rollin’ Through The Country. His 2010 sophomore album Chicken & Biscuits hit No. 8 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and features an all-star list of collaborators like Joe Nichols, Randy Houser, DMC (of Run DMC), James Otto and more. Ford feels the key to his success has been in bringing something real to his shows and recordings.
“I tried to write songs I would like and that I thought people like me would like,” he says. “I wrote about things they know about, and I can’t tell you how often someone will say, ‘Are you from my home town?’ I’ll say no and they’ll say, ‘You must be, because you write about exactly who we are and what we do.’ That’s the connection. I just tried to be honest and real, and this is what happened. They know I’m one of them.”
Joanna Smith, raised on a farm in tiny Crestview unincorporated, GA, is a captivating young traditionalist, proudly displaying her rural roots in songs like “Farm Girl” and “Gettin’ Married.” After arriving in Nashville, she honed her live performance chops in front of the rowdy nighttime crowds at legendary Broadway hang Tootsie’s. Her upcoming debut album for Columbia features  her new single “Georgia Mud,” as well as a special guest appearance from another beloved traditionalist, Patty Loveless. Like Colt Ford, Smith’s music is an authentic extension of her upbringing and the sounds that inspire her.
“I write like I talk,” Smith says. “It’s just the way that I express myself and the most honest I can be. Songs that have a true story inspiring them are the songs that reach people. I play them and I watch the crowd. I see what they react to and that helps me write better songs.”
This special invitation-only event takes place Tuesday, March 1 leading up to Country Radio Seminar 2011.

Skyville Adds Herring

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Skyville Records managing partners Paul Worley, Glen Morgan and Wally Wilson have named Kevin Herring President of Skyville Records.
“I can hardly wait to get started!” declares Herring. “Few people have made bigger or better records than Paul Worley, from Lady Antebellum and The Dixie Chicks to Martina McBride. He knows hit music and recognizes superstar talent.  Paul will provide hit music, of that I have no doubt!”

Kevin Herring


Herring’s first priority at Skyville Records will be hiring and guiding an A-LIST promotion staff to work Stealing Angels and all future Skyville artists to country radio.
With more than twenty years experience in radio promotion, including tenures at Mercury Records and most recently as VP of National Promotion for The Walt Disney Company’s Lyric Street Records, Herring has been an integral part of breaking some of country music’s most well-known acts, including Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain, and Toby Keith.
Kevin Herring can be reached at 615-320-7052 or kevin@skynash.com.
About Skyville Records: Industry veterans Paul Worley, Wally Wilson and Glen Morgan joined forces in 2004 to launch Skyline Publishing. Wayne Halper joined the organization in 2009 as head of business and legal affairs. After many years of successful chart action, the partners founded Skyville Records in 2010, with a focus and emphasis towards toward recognizing and nurturing the talents of new artists and artist/songwriters. Long time music industry executive Kevin Herring serves as the label’s president.

Weekly Chart Report (1/21/11)

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Lee Brice visited with NashvilleCountryClub.com's Editor Leslie Armstrong to discuss his current single "Beautiful Every Time."


SPIN ZONE
Three weeks into 2011, we are starting to see some movement on the CountryBreakout Chart. Luke Bryan’s long, patient climb with “Someone Else Calling You Baby” is rewarded by finally ascending to the No. 1 position. Bryan has over 150 spins on the No. 2 song, Blake Shelton’s “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” but look to see it challenging the top spot soon, competing with Lady Antebellum’s No. 4 “Hello World” and Taylor Swift’s No. 5 “Back To December.”
Elsewhere, newly released singles are starting to pop as programmers move older titles into lighter rotations. Miranda Lambert’s “Heart Like Mine” gets a big boost, moving 35-27. Similarly, Zac Brown Band’s “Colder Weather” leaps up to No. 29, and Rascal Flatts is close behind at No. 32 with “I Won’t Let Go.” Also quickly advancing is The Band Perry’s “You Lie,” which makes a 54-37 jump in its third week.
Reba’s “If I Were A Boy” earns a huge debut, landing at No. 52 for its first appearance. In the final slot at No. 80 is sister trio Carter’s Chord, whose just-released “A Little Less Comfortable” picked up 120 spins to sneak on the chart. Also debuting are Jayme Lynn Scott’s “No Explainin’ Love” at No. 75, Sandra Piller’s “Days Like These” at No. 78, and LeAnn Rimes’ “Crazy Woman” at No. 79.

(L-R): Brett Eldredge, WDSY PD Stoney Richards, John Oates and Warner Music Nashville Pres./CEO John Esposito at the Pittsburgh Steelers v. Baltimore Ravens playoff game.


RADIO NEWS
Adelle Borchetta has joined McVay New Media as VP/Social Media. Borchetta most recently worked with Lofton Creek Records before launching her own Adelle Borchetta Promotion in 2008. Reach her at adelle@mcvaynewmedia.com.
Hoss Michaels will join Clear Channel’s KXKT and KTWI/Omaha as Music Director, starting Wednesday, January 26. Michaels spent the previous six years as PD for KZKX/Lincoln, NE. Michaels will also be handling KXKT middays. KXKT/KTWI PD Erik Johnson says, “We couldn’t be happier to have Hoss join our team. His dedication to community and solid relationships in country music will help us build on our 4-book streak at #1 P25-54.”



Upcoming Singles
January 24
Jeff Bates/One Day Closer/Black River
Reba/If I Were A Boy/Valory
Star De Azlan/A Man Who Can Dance/Curb
January 31
Carter’s Chord/A Little Less Comfortable/Show Dog-Universal
Jacob Lyda/I’m Doin’ Alright/Davis Music Group/Nine North
Jamey Johnson/Heartache/Mercury
Jenny & Ashley/Indescribable/Tall Tree/Lofton Creek
•  •  •  •  •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Reba/If I Were A Boy/Starstruck/Valory — 52
Jayme Lynn Scott/No Explainin’ Love/Big 7 — 75
Sandra Piller/Days Like These — 78
LeAnn Rimes/Crazy Women/Curb — 79
Carter’s Chord/A Little Less Comfortable/Show Dog-Universal — 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Reba/If I Were A Boy/Starstruck/Valory — 419
The Band Perry/You Lie/Republic Nashville — 404
Zac Brown Band/Colder Weather/Bigger Picture — 403
Miranda Lambert/Heart Like Mine/Columbia — 362
Rascal Flatts/I Won’t Let Go/Big Machine — 315
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Daniel Smith/Until I Close My Eyes for Good/DLS Records — 190
Kate Russell/Damned If I Do — 179
Johnny Tillotson/Not Enough/MAYDU Inc. — 176
David Bradley feat. Rodney Crowell/Hard Time Movin’ On/Gecko — 171
Emma King & The Heartsets/I’m Not Forgotten/PLC — 168
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Reba/If I Were A Boy/Starstruck/Valory — 33
The Band Perry/You Lie/Republic Nashville — 29
Rascal Flatts/I Won’t Let Go/Big Machine — 18
Zac Brown Band/Colder Weather/Bigger Picture — 16
Miranda Lambert/Heart Like Mine/Columbia — 15
Carter’s Chord/A Little Less Comfortable/Show Dog-Universal — 10
Trace Adkins/Brown Chicken, Brown Cow/Show Dog-Universal — 10
David Bradley feat. Rodney Crowell/Hard Time Movin’ On/Gecko — 9

Little Engine artist Sean Patrick McGraw stopped by WCJW (Warsaw, NY) to visit with PD/MD Lee Richey and play some songs from his upcoming album. (L-R) McGraw, guitarist "Shaker" and Richey.


New duo Jenny and Ashley recently stopped by MusicRow. (L-R) back: Mike Borchetta, MR’s David Ross and MR’s Jon Freeman. Front: Jenny Cooke, Ashley Cooke and Martha Borchetta.

AMA Announces 2011 Board Executive Committee

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The Americana Music Association has announced its Executive Committee for the 2011 calendar year. These positions are held for one year terms. Returning to their posts for an additional term, David Macias from Thirty Tigers has been named Board President; artist manager Tim McFadden, Vice President; Sylvia Giannitrapani, Secretary; and the two at large Executive Committee members are Music Fog’s Jessie Scott and Al Moss of Al Moss Promotion. Bob Benckert of The Alternate Root is the new Treasurer.
The Board of Directors consists of 19 industry representatives elected by the Americana Music Association membership. Each Director holds his seat for a two year term. The 2011-2012 Board brings newly elected Bob Benckert, Tim Fink of SESAC, Ramseur Record’s Holly Lowman, Todd Ohlhauser of the Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom, and artist Mary Gauthier.
The incoming directors join newly re-elected Amanda Hale-Ornales of New West Records, Sylvia Giannitrapani, Tim McFadden, Al Moss, John Allen of Bug Music, Jessie Scott and returning Board Members Ashley Capps of AC/Entertainment, Joan Kornblith of Voice of America, Pam Matthews, David Macias and artists Chip Taylor, Rodney Crowell, Raul Malo and Buddy Miller.
Super Early BirdFestival and Conference registration rates are now available for the annual Americana Music Festival and Conference which will take place October 12-15, 2011. Visit www.americanamusic.org

WMG Tests Dual Buy-Sell Strategy

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The New York Times has reported that Warner Music Group is putting itself in play. The major music label, one of the four remaining (Universal, Sony, EMI) has hired Goldman Sachs “to seek out potential buyers for the company, a process that will play out while Warner continues to explore buying the beleaguered British music giant EMI.”
Apparently, WMG had received several offers in recent months. The article specifically names Kohlberg Kravis Roberts as one of those having expressed interest.
Insiders note that Warner Music Group’s two main assets, the record label and Warner Chappell Music Publishing might be split. Interestingly, while preparing to place a For Sale sign in its front yard, WMG is also actively exploring talks with Citigroup to acquire EMI. EMI and Citigroup are embroiled in a debt process that might possibly result in the bank gaining control of EMI later this Spring.
The Times article, written by Tim Arango and Andrew Ross Sorkin, explains the dual approach saying it, “underscores the desire of Warner’s private equity owners to either make a big strategic move and double down on the music business by buying EMI, or cash out.” An investment group led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. purchased Warner Music from Time Warner in March 2004 for $2.6 billion.
K.K.R. is in a joint venture with Bertelsmann. The company has a large cash warchest and has been actively purchasing publishing catalogs.
The article cites a letter sent to shareholders by Mr. Bronfman who wrote, “Our confidence in the company’s future prospects is based on our consistent track record and our proven ability to outperform the rest of the industry.” WMG’s stock has had wide valuation swings. It reached a high of almost $30 per share in 2006 and fell below $2 per share in 2009. As of this writing (1/21 9:03 am CT) it was up $1.12 to $5.84 likely in response to the news about the possible deals described in this story.

RIAA 2010 Country Certs

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This year’s 2010 RIAA shipments report shows Nashville country artists accounting for about 20 million units in Gold and Platinum treasure. Leading the Row was Capitol Nashville with 5 million certifications (24%) and its flagship artist Lady Antebellum which contributed 4 million of its total. Arista and Big Machine each received 4 million certs or 20% of the RIAA shipments awards based upon sales. Arista’s tonnage came from Carrie, Alan, Brad and Brooks & Dunn, while Big Machine’s was all Taylor Swift. Mercury took control of 12% based upon sales from Sugarland, Billy Currington and Jamey Johnson. (See the pie chart for more details.)
Looking at the Sales By Artist graph, Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum were tied with 4 million each followed by Carrie Underwood (2) ZBB (1.5) and Sugarland (1.5). Swift’s Fearless got a 6 million award which was the highest Nashville artist multi-platinum cert. Lady A’s Need You Now was awarded for 3 million.
Methodology: RIAA Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum certifications are based upon shipments, not actual sales and are therefore different from SoundScan numbers which are based upon actual sales. RIAA Gold is 500,000, Platinum 1 million and then additional awards are in one million increments. If an artist gets a Gold and Platinum in the same year for the same album, we count it as one million units (not 1.5 million.) The first platinum certification gets a 500,000 tally, since that is what it needed to go beyond its Gold award. All multi-Platinum certs get credited for one million per award. Another detail is that in the case of catalog and older albums that received an award in 2010, not all the sales/shipments leading up to that award necessarily occurred in the same year.

Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown Tour

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Organizers of the Country Throwdown Tour have teamed with legend Willie Nelson for its second annual summer outing. The outdoor amphitheater trek, Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour 2011, will also feature Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Craig Campbell, and Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real.
The festival-like concert tour is from 4 FINI, Inc., producers of the wildly successful Vans Warped Tour. Country Throwdown will have a full concourse of lifestyle attractions and vendors, as well as three stages, one of which will be a Bluebird Cafe stage. The latter line-up of singer-songwriters is yet to be announced.
The outing kicks off in Philadelphia, PA on May 27, and wraps with a July 4th extravaganza. On the itinerary is a June 3 stop at Nashville’s The Woods at Fontanel.
Last year’s Country Throwdown Tour was hit hard by a slumping summer concert season.
A portion of the ticket price will benefit Unite the United. Ticket pre-sale begins Friday, February 11 and sale to general public begins February 18 at 10 a.m. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.countrythrowdown.com.

Photo Edits

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Gretchen Wilson Nabs Grammy Noms • “ACM Showcase” • Jessi Colter and Stealing Angels Support Child Help • Josh Thompson Celebrates Co-Writes

Gretchen Wilson Nabs Grammy Noms

Gretchen Wilson and the staff of her Redneck Records label celebrated her two nominations at this week’s Grammy nominee party at Nashville’s Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel. Wilson received nods in the “Best Country Female Vocal Performance” category for “I’d Love to Be Your Last,” and the single is also nominated for “Best Country Song.”

(L-R): Craig Campbell, publicist for Redneck Records; Bob Mitchell, Redneck Records; Gretchen Wilson; Nancy Shapiro, NARAS; tour manager Ryan Nelson; and manager Marc Oswald. Photo: Rick Diamond/Wire Image

“ACM Showcase”

“ACM Showcase,” a one-hour GAC special featuring performances by Academy of Country Music Top New Solo Vocalist nominees Eric Church, Randy Houser and Easton Corbin and Top New Vocal Duo or Group nominees The Band Perry, The JaneDear girls and Steel Magnolia was taped January 18 at the Ryman Auditorium as part of a special Tuesday night Opry. Hosted by reigning ACM Top New Artist Luke Bryan, the special premiers January 27 on GAC and kicks off fan voting for these categories. One winner from each category will compete for the Top New Artist prize which will be handed out at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Sunday, April 3, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

(L-R) back: Bill Mayne, ACM chairman; Easton Corbin; Luke Bryan; Randy Houser; Eric Church; Pete Fisher, VP/GM Grand Ole Opry; and The Band Perry’s Neil Perry. Front: Sarah Trahern, GAC GM and ACM board president; Steel Magnolia’s Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey; The JaneDear girls’ Susie Brown and Danelle Leverett; The Band Perry’s Kimberly and Reid Perry; and Butch Waugh, ACM VP

Jessi Colter and Stealing Angels Support Child Help

Jessi Colter and Stealing Angels recently participated in a Child Help charity event at the Paradise Valley Country Club near Phoenix, AZ in support of the prevention and treatment of child abuse.

(L-R): Tayla Lynn, Jessi Colter, Caroline Cutbirth and Jennifer Wayne

Josh Thompson Celebrates Co-Writes

Columbia Nashville’s Josh Thompson recently took a break from his busy touring schedule to write with legendary country crooner John Anderson. Thompson, who wrote all 10 songs on his debut album Way Out Here, has also enjoyed cuts by artists such as Brad Paisley (“A Man Don’t Have To Die”),  Jason Aldean (“Church Pew Or Bar Stool”), Craig Morgan (“Accidents Don’t Just Happen”) and Jason Michael Carroll (“Growing Up Is Getting Old”).

(L-R): John Anderson and Josh Thompson

Alan Jackson/Sony Part Ways

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Sony Music Nashville today announced that it and superstar Alan Jackson have ended their relationship. He was the first artist signed to the Arista roster in 1989—today under the Sony umbrella—leading to a successful partnership for more than 20 years.
According to the label’s official statement, “Sony Music Nashville wishes to thank Alan Jackson for their long association and the many hit records achieved as a result of that association. In an amicable parting, Sony confirms that Alan has delivered his final recordings to the company and wishes him well.”
“I’ve had a great run with Arista going all the way back to the beginning of my career when I signed with Tim DuBois,” explained Jackson in a statement. “I’ve gotten to work with some real great people along the way and we accomplished a lot. It just seems to me like the time may be right to change things up a bit and see what comes next.”
Jackson’s manager Nancy Russell relaunched her firm last year under the name the co-op. She has been building a team that includes former Sony exec Maurice Miner. Jackson is also represented by William Morris Endeavor.
He is gearing up for the first leg of his 2011 tour with sold-out shows in Canada, followed by his first tour of Australia. He is currently writing and working on songs for a new album.
With 50 million album sales to his credit, Jackson is a 16-time award winner at both the CMA and ACM Awards, a tally that includes three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors. He is a GRAMMY winner and has topped the country singles charts 35 times.