DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/19/11)

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Let’s do a little Grammy gazing, shall we?

For starters, let’s look beyond the stunning and well-deserved six nominations for Lady Antebellum. What Nashville act has the second most? Surprise! It’s the quintuple nominated outing by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Which, by the way, wins our Disc of the Day.
I’d also like to give a shout-out to Darrell Scott, who not only has a Country Instrumental nomination, but is also a crucial component of Band of Joy, the twice nominated CD by Robert Plant.
Casting our eyes further down the 109 (!) category list, we find our town’s denizens scattered everywhere. As I predicted, Kings of Leon and Paramore are well represented in the pop/rock fields. Leon Russell picks up a nod for his collaboration with Elton John.
Over in Pop Instrumental, you’ll find our own Larry Carlton. Legendary Johnny Mathis came to Music City to make his nominated CD. BeBe & CeCe Winans picked up a pair of nominations in the gospel categories. So hooray for that. You’ll find The John Hartford String Band as a contender in the Traditional Folk race. Bela Fleck is a nominee in exotic Category 75 (Best Contemporary World Music Album).
Our own Doug Seroff has a liner-notes nomination for a Fisk Jubilee set. And Colin Escott is back with another Best Historical nomination for a Hank Williams package, co-produced by Jett Williams and Mike Jason and engineered by Joe Palmaccio.
The country categories contain, as usual, a few head scratchers. No to Kenny
Chesney, but yes to David Nail? No to Reba, but yes to Gretchen Wilson? But it is nice to see Dailey & Vincent sneaking in for a Group nomination.
Here are a few other Nashville notables “in the hunt.”
GUY CLARK/Hemingway’s Whiskey
Writer: Guy Clark/Joe Leathers/Ray Stephenson; Producer: Guy Clark, Verlon Thompson & Chris Latham; Publisher: EMI April/Curb/Ghermkyle, BMI/ASCAP; Dualtone (track)
—Let’s face it: This guy is proudly and steadfastly “folk” in all the best senses of the term. So it’s no wonder that his Somedays the Song Writes You album is up for a Best Contemporary Folk Grammy. And just to prove (again) that a great song knows no genre, this insightful, gentle, metaphoric, evocative track emerged from it to become the title tune of Kenny Chesney’s new blockbuster.
SAM BUSH/Circles Around Me
Writer: Jeff Black/Sam Bush; Producer: Sam Bush; Publisher: Lotos Nile/Samanda Lynn/Bug, BMI; Sugar Hill (www.sambush.com)
—If you don’t absolutely love Sam Bush, pack your bags and get out of town. This mandolin master, songwriting wunderkind, singer and personality-plus fellow is up for Best Bluegrass Album, Category 65. Its trilling, trippy title tune is just one of 14 reasons to love this music-packed set. Co-writer Jeff Black, by the way, is also responsible for the album’s standout track, “Gold Heart Locket.”
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS/Magic #9
Writer: Jesse Cobb/Chris Pandolfi; Producer: The Infamous Stringdusters & Gary Paczosa; Publisher: Cobbstrumental/Deep Home, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track) (www.thestringdusters.com)
—Where would the Country Instrumental Category be without bluegrass bands? Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, Frankie Ballard, the Dixie Chicks, Diamond Rio and the rest of country’s hot pickers need to get on the job. As it is, “Magic #9” by The Infamous Stringdusters is a mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar and dobro plucked tune that is a worthy, lilting, breezy and merry sounding nominee.
STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN/Beauty Will Rise
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Sparrow
—This singer-songwriter is a Nashville treasure. You’ll find him in Grammy Category 53: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. Its title tune is a rocking, magnificently uplifting, aching-yet-hopeful ode. Rising from personal and spiritual pain, he sings of the endurance of our souls like no one else. I remain an awestruck fan.
TY HERNDON/The Rest Of My Life
Writer: Matthew S. Garringer/Ty Herndon; Producer: Ty Herndon & Wayne Haun; Publisher: Sunset Gallery/Journey On, no performance rights listed; Funl (track)
—Former country chart topper Herndon bounces back with a Grammy nomination in gospel Category 54 for his Journey On album. It kicks off with this densely scored pop pounder, complete with a quasi-choral backing. Rousing.
RICKY SKAGGS/Return To Sender
Writer: Gordon Kennedy; Producer: Ricky Skaggs & Gordon Kennedy; Publisher: Glennjoy, ASCAP; Skaggs Family (track)
—If you put on Ricky’s Mosaic collection expecting to hear a bluegrass record, you are in for a shock. Co-produced by Gordon Kennedy, it is a collage of pop sounds, united by spiritual lyrics. The whole CD has a nomination in Category 53: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. This gorgeously melodic, Celtic-flavored, string-embellished thumper is up for Best Gospel Song. It is a beautiful sounding mini-masterpiece. Ricky’s third nomination is in the Traditional Folk list (Category 68), for his Songs My Dad Loved album.
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA/Metropolis Symphony
Writer: Michael Daugherty; Producer: Blanton Alspaugh; Publisher: Peermusic Classical, BMI; Naxos
—This is a brilliant performance of a challenging composition. Daugherty’s work often demands that all instruments play at the top of their registers and incorporates such sounds as whistles, siren, brake drum, chimes and whip cracks. The fifth movement, “Red Cape Tango,” is the most melodic, dramatic and extended of the symphony. It’s not exactly dinner music, but this is the classical record to beat.
DARRELL SCOTT/Willow Creek
Writer: Darrell Scott; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Full Light
—Darrell has often been celebrated as the Nashville tunesmith of “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Born to Fly,” “Longtime Gone,” “Heartbreak Town,” “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” and more. He has also been lauded for a series of seven great solo CDs. It’s about time someone noticed that he is also a first-call Music Row instrumentalist. This charming, jaunty ditty appears on his A Crooked Road CD and has a nomination in Category 40: Best Country Instrumental. From an indie-label album, no less. Mazel tov.
CHERRYHOLMES/Tattoo Of A Smudge
Writer: B.J. Cherryholmes/Molly Cherryholmes; Producer: Ben Isaacs, Jere Cherryholmes & B.J. Cherryholmes; Publisher: Hey, Knucklehead, ASCAP; Skaggs Family (track) (www.cherryholmes.com)
—This fiddle-and-mandolin dominated rapid romp landed Cherryholmes in the Best Country Instrumental category. Which makes this a strange time for the family band to be announcing that it’s calling it quits this spring.
THE STEELDRIVERS/Where Rainbows Never Die
Writer: Chris Stapleton/Mike Henderson; Producer: Luke Wooten & The SteelDrivers; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
—The SteelDrivers are also in a time of transition. Lead singer Chris Stapleton left the band after recording the current Reckless CD. That’s him singing on this atmospheric meditation on aging. It’s such a terrific song and performance that it did my heart good to see it competing against the major-label biggies in Category 38: Best Country Group. Yes, Lady A will win. But this is still such a class nomination.
MARTY STUART & CONNIE SMITH/I Run To You
Writer: Marty Stuart/Connie Smith; Producer: Marty Stuart; Publisher: Marty Stuart/Connie Smith/Bug, BMI; Sugar Hill (track) (www.martystuart.net)
—Marty is up for two Grammy Awards. “Hummingbyrd” is in the running for Country Instrumental. And this steel-soaked duet with his gold-standard vocalist bride is competing in the Country Collaboration race. Is that cool or what? Both nominees can be found on his current Ghost Train album.
ROBERT PLANT/Silver Rider
Writer: Zachary Micheletti/Mimi Parker/George Sparhawk; Producer: Robert Plant & Buddy Miller; Publisher: 1238/Spinney/Domino, BMI/PRS; Rounder (track)
—Plant’s Nashville-recorded Band of Joy CD features an all-star cast of Nashvillians, including Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott, Bekka Bramlett and Byron House. It is justifiably a nominee in Category 64: Americana Album. And this track pops up competing in the Best Rock Vocal, Category 15. His spectral reading of the echoey throbber—shadowed by the hushed, haunted harmony of Patty Griffin—is simply mesmerizing.

Colt Ford's Free Download, New Web Series

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Colt Ford is giving fans a free download of the tune “Hip Hop In A Honky Tonk” featuring Texas star Kevin Fowler. Get it here with no strings attached, or check out the new video at CMT.com.
In more news from the Average Joes artist, Ford has debuted the Mr. Goodtime Show on his website www.coltford.com. The web series gives fans a behind-the-scenes view of life on the road. The debut episode features Ford talking about what he wears (or doesn’t wear) to go to sleep at night, and the more recent episode shows him explaining a few important rules of the dance floor.

Open Road Signs Miller; Bishop Media/Marketing Formed

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Karyn Bishop announces the formation of Bishop Media & Marketing, formerly known as KB Radio Works. According to Bishop, the new company is designed to better serve the diversified client base she now represents. Services include artist radio tours, artist marketing and syndicated radio show recruitment and affiliate relations activities. Current clients include “Rise-Up Country with Jon Ritter” and “The Direct Connection Christian radio show.” Also on the roster is former NFL star Dexter Carter. Contact karynbishop@comcast.net
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(L-R) Paul Compton, Open Road Music Publishing Creative Director, with staff writers: Gwen Sebastian, Dean Miller, and Brian Eckert


Nashville-based Open Road Music Publishing, a division of Open Road Records, has inked a deal with singer-songwriter Dean Miller to serve as staff writer. Current songs include Open Road Records artist Gwen Sebastian’s latest radio single, “VIP (Barefoot Girl),” which he co-write with Sebastian and Brian Eckert. Eckert and Sebastian are also Open Road Music Publishing staff writers. Miller also co-wrote a track on the current Jamey Johnson album called “That’s How I Don’t Love You” with Johnson. Miller was born in Los Angeles and is the son of Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Roger Miller.

Lifenotes

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Reminder—Nick Hunter memorial• Derek Crownover welcomes baby • Sony’s Joe Freel’s father passes • Chris Lucas of LoCash Cowboys loses father

>>Derek Crownover, a music business attorney and President of the Southern Division of the TJ Martell Foundation, welcomed his first child, Edward Sims Crownover, with wife Susan. The baby weighed 8lbs and 9 oz. All three are doing fine.
>>Joseph P. Freel, Sr., father of Sony Music Nashville’s Manager, A&R Administration Joe Freel passed away Sunday, Jan. 16. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 20, from 3-6 PM at Riggs Funeral Home, 130 North Route 9, Forked River, NJ 08731. The funeral will be Friday at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Forked River, NJ, with burial at Good Luck Cemetery in Lanoka Harbor, NJ. Flowers are welcome, or memorial donations can be made to the Lacey Township EMS (Emergency Medical Services), PO Box 289, Forked River, NJ 08731.
>>On Saturday, Jan. 15, Chris Lucas of the Stroudavarious Records duo LoCash Cowboys, lost his father, Jack Lucas. He passed away while visiting Chris and other family in Nashville. In lieu of flowers, the family has expressed their desire that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, or online at www.stjude.org/waystohelp.
>>Friends of late music executive Nick Hunter are organizing Nickfest, a celebration of his life and legacy, to be held Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 6 PM at 2602 Soundstage (2602 Westwood Dr. Nashville, TN 37204). Please RSVP by Jan. 18 to nickfest160@gmail.com. More details here.

Comcast, NBC Universal Merger Approved

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Comcast’s purchase of NBC Universal is expected to be complete before the end of the month, following today’s approval of the merger by the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department.
The government approved the $30 billion transaction, tagging it with numerous conditions designed to ensure fair competition between Comcast and other programmers, ISPs and cable companies.
Other stipulations are intended to spur broadband service in underserved communities, schools and libraries; and to increase news coverage, children’s television, and Spanish-language programming.
This marks the first time that a cable company will control a major broadcast network. Under terms of the agreement, Comcast is buying a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric.
The purchase will give Comcast a stake in online TV program viewing site Hulu, a key point considering changing consumer behavior has jeopardized Comcast’s traditional cable television business. This new deal will help ensure the company’s role in the future of online television viewing.

Finding A Way Out Of The Record Biz Maze

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Hollywood entertainment blog TheWrap.com, usually content to bluster over the world of film and TV has issued a pair of music industry articles offering dire 2011 predictions.
“Has the music stopped for the broken record business?” asks writer Johnnie L. Roberts, who arrives at TheWrap via stints for Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. Roberts quotes an unnamed major label senior exec who says, “No other industry will go through as much change as the music industry will in the next six months.”
Roberts notes that the recent arrival of CEO Lucian Grainge to Universal came with an imperative to cut expenses. Unofficial sources peg those cuts at anywhere from $50 million all the way to a seemingly impossible $400 million. Leadership changes are also in play at Sony with Rolf Schmidt-Holtz out in April. Will the Sony seat be filled by Doug Morris now leaving Universal or could it be Tom Whalley, recently of Warner Music Group who will fill the vacant chair?
“The business of selling music is over as we knew it,” a former label chief said to TheWrap. “And the future of it is yet to be determined by anyone.”
Roberts says that shrinking sales and narrowing margins are finally catching up with companies and points to EMI’s Guy Hands as another troubled example saying, “Unable to earn enough to avoid breaching billions of dollars of loans piled atop the music company, EMI is already essentially in play — to be traded all or in parts to the highest bidder.”

Total U.S. Album sales (in millions) have dropped 58.5% from 2000 to 2010. Source: Nielsen SoundScan.


Analysis: The grim discussion now facing the music industry is not totally unwarranted, although it may be a touch dramatized to help create more emotional headlines. According to Nielsen SoundScan, total U.S. album sales in 2000 were about 785 million. In 2010 those sales had dropped 58.8% to 326 million. During that time period the industry worked to reduce expenses and  take advantage of additional revenues from touring, publishing, merchandise, litigation and more. Those additional income streams have helped to offset the effects of falling album sales. However, little has been done to solve the specific problem of eroding music sales.
Will 2011 be the year that the industry tackles the music sales issue head on? With sales reaching ever lower levels time is running out to find a solution. Educating the consumer and locking files has had failed results. Maybe the next approach is ask consumers to pay on the way into the store.

Etix Acquires Rockhouse Partners

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Rockhouse founders L-R: Tawn Albright, Kevin Brown, and Joe Kustelski


Rockhouse Partners, the Nashville digital marketing company specializing in live events, has been acquired by ticketing service Etix.
Founded by former Echo executives Tawn Albright, Kevin Brown, and Joe Kustelski, Rockhouse had recently announced its expansion with Rockhouse Live, a division focused on helping live entertainment properties sell more tickets.
Kustelski and Brown will stay with the company and lead technology/product, and marketing integration, respectively. Albright will move on to a new opportunity helping Nashville-area start-ups.
Etix is an international, web-based ticketing service provider for the entertainment, travel, and sports industries. Etix operates in 40 countries and serves venues, arenas, festivals, fairs, performing arts centers, and multi-use facilities.
“Rockhouse allows us to expand in a direction that reflects the real needs of our clients,” explains Travis Janovich, CEO of Etix. “It’s becoming increasingly complicated for clients to manage and measure digital marketing in-house. And that’s what the team at Rockhouse does best.”

Rascal Flatts Concert Special on ABC

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The ABC Television Network will air a Rascal Flatts concert special on Sat., March 12 at 7 PM/CT. The band’s show this Friday, Jan. 21 at St. Paul, Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center will be taped for the special.
Rascal Flatts: Nothing Like This Presented by JCPenney will be directed by George Flanigen and executive produced by Robert Deaton.
With more than 6 million concert tickets sold during Rascal Flatts’ career, the band launched the second leg of its Nothing Like This Tour on Friday (1/14). The tour will wrap in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on March 12.
ABC is a frequent broadcaster of country music specials, including the CMA Awards, CMA Music Festival, and CMA Country Christmas.

Faith Hill, Pretenders Pair For Super Bowl CMT Crossroads

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A special episode of CMT Crossroads will pair Faith Hill with The Pretenders, live from the Super Bowl festivities.
The show will premiere on CMT Saturday, February 5 at 9 p.m. CT. It is part of the NFL Pepsi Super Bowl Jan Fam, a three-show concert series being held at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, TX.
Fronted by Chrissie Hynde, The Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. This will mark the CMT Crossroads debut for both artists.
Hill has strong ties to the NFL as the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
CMT Crossroads is produced by Tom Forrest and Kathryn Russ. John Hamlin, Margaret Comeaux and Bill Flanagan serve as executive producers for CMT.

Schwartzenberg Named HoF Sr. Dir. of Marketing

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has named Jeff Schwartzenberg to the position of Sr. Dir. of Marketing. Schwartzenberg will report to VP Sales and Marketing Sharon Burns and will oversee advertising, promotions, creative, digital marketing and related initiatives for the museum.
Schwartzenberg most recently served as Sr. Dir. of Marketing and Communications for the Nashville Predators Hockey Club. Prior to that, he was the Sr. Marketing Mgr. for the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management.
A native of White Plans, NY, Schwartzenberg started his career with the New York Rangers Hockey Club in 1996, where he worked for over a decade. He also spent 18 months with Travelocity before relocating to Nashville in 2007.