Total album sales slipped -22 percent week over week, with all genres moving 4.134 million units this week. Country album sales fell -23 percent w/w with sales of 432 K.
This is after an already slow start to the year, where album sales took a deep dive between the last week of 2014 and the first week of 2015 (-47 percent overall, -55 percent country).
There were no noteworthy debuts this week, so let’s check in with the Top 10 country tracks and albums. Note Luke Bryan hanging tight at No. 6 on the albums chart 75 weeks since release. And 48 weeks after release, Eric Church is at No. 9.
Top 10 Country Albums
Chart Position/Label/Artist/Album/This Week Sales/Release To Date/Weeks On
1 RCA Nashville, Garth Brooks, Man Against Machine, 15,000 TW, 547,000 RTD, 9 weeks
2 Broken Bow, Jason Aldean, Old Boots, New Dirt, 13,000, 786,000, 14
3 MCA Nashville, Sam Hunt, Montevallo, 13,000, 241,000, 11
4 Arista Nashville, Carrie Underwood, Greatest Hits: Decade #1, 13,000, 233,000, 5
5 Republic Nashville, Florida Georgia Line, Anything Goes, 9,000, 525,000, 13
6 Capitol Nashville, Luke Bryan, Crash My Party, 6,000, 2,346,000, 75
7 WB, Blake Shelton, Bringing Back The Sunshine, 5,000, 295,000, 15
8 MCA Nashville, George Strait, The Cowboy Rides Away: Live, 5,000, 289,000, 17
9 EMI Nashville, Eric Church, Outsiders, 4,000 825,000, 48
10 Valory, Brantley Gilbert, Just As I Am, 4,000, 716,000, 34
Top 10 Country Tracks
1 Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time,” 34,000 TW, 212,00 RTD
2 Tim McGraw, “Shotgun Rider,” 33,000, 523,000
3 Carrie Underwood, “…Water,” 32,000, 746,000
4 Blake Shelton ft. A. Monroe, “Lonely Tonight,” 28,000, 255,000
5 Florida Georgia Line, “Sun Daze,” 28,000, 360,000
6 Eric Church, “Talladega,” 25,000, 372,000
7 Chris Young, “Lonely Eyes,” 24,000, 219,000
8 Luke Bryan, “I See You,” 24,000, 296,000
9 Lee Brice, “Drinking Class,” 23,000, 368,000
10 RaeLynn, “God Made Girls,” 22,000, 391,000
According to Nielsen Soundscan
Bowen Firm Merges with Shackelford, Zumwalt & Hayes
/by Jessica NicholsonJay Bowen
Nashville litigators Jay Bowen, Will Parsons and Lauren Kilgore have joined mid-sized Dallas-based Shackelford, Zumwalt & Hayes, which opened its Nashville office in 2010. The merger expands the Nashville office to seven attorneys. The Nashville office had previously specialized in entertainment business and commercial law. The Bowen group will head the firm’s litigation section.
The firm will now be known as Shackelford, Bowen, Zumwalt & Hayes.
“Jay Bowen is a legendary litigator whom I have always admired, first as a partner at Bass, Berry & Sims and next when he founded Bowen, Warnock & Jacobson. Joined by Will Parsons and Lauren Kilgore, the three are a very formidable litigation team and a perfect fit for our business transactional practice in the Nashville office,” stated partner Jim Zumwalt. “The Nashville office will now be a very similar practice group to our Dallas office. This is an ideal merger and I expect to see continuing expansion of the Nashville practice throughout 2015.”
Will Parsons
John Shackelford, founding partner, added “We are extremely proud to have added the expertise and talents of Jay, Will, and Lauren to our firm. Their nationally-known litigation practice expands the areas of expertise our firm offers.”
Bowen has practiced law in Nashville since 1974. He specializes in complex litigation, with a concentration in entertainment, intellectual property, First Amendment, and business issues. Bowen has been listed as a Mid-South Super Lawyer, in Best Lawyers in America, Nashville Post’s “100 Best Lawyers in Nashville,” and Chambers and Partners Best Lawyers for Business. He is a graduate of Davidson College and Vanderbilt University Law School. He is an alumnus of Leadership Music and is a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation. Bowen will lead the litigation division.
Parsons is a litigator with a concentration on entertainment, intellectual property, and business issues. He has represented major recording artists, major and independent record labels, Fortune 500 media companies, and other clients in trial and arbitration matters across the country. He has also represented numerous indigent clients in pro bono matters in the Nashville area. Parsons graduated from the University of Virginia and the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Lauren Kilgore
Kilgore’s practice and experience is focused on complex litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants, with a focus on entertainment, intellectual property and business litigation. Kilgore also handles a wide variety of transactional entertainment industry matters on behalf of both artists and institutional clients. Her practice is focused on complex business and entertainment-related litigation. Kilgore is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School. She previously served as an associate member of the Harry Phillips American Inns of Court, and currently serves as a board member of the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Nashville Bar. Kilgore was also selected as a participant in the Nashville Bar Foundation’s inaugural Leadership Forum for 2014-2015.
Shackelford, Bowen, Zumwalt & Hayes is part of Shackelford, Melton, McKinley & Norton, LLP, a Dallas-based business and entertainment law firm representing financial institutions, recording artists, real estate owners and developers, automobile dealerships, record labels, and other businesses in legal matters across the country.
MusicRowPics: Brian Collins
/by Jessica NicholsonBrian Collins visit
Georgia native Brian Collins’ refreshing voice and top shelf songwriting chops are on full display on his recently released album, Healing Highway. The independent singer-songwriter recently stopped by the MusicRow office to offer a three-song preview of the album, including the pensive, rock-influenced “Next 500 Miles,” harmonica-laced “Harder I Run,” and current single, “Never Really Left.”
Collins produced the album alongside Kenny Greenberg (Pam Tillis, The Mavericks) and Mills Logan (Luke Bryan, Eric Paslay).
The Douglasville, Ga., native moved to Nashville two years ago, after spending years performing throughout the Southeast. “I had a whole album ready to go and something didn’t feel right,” said Collins. “I knew I had a message to get across, and so we went back into Quad Recording Studio and crafted this album. I’m so proud of it.”
Collins, who performs more than 150 dates per year, has been crisscrossing the country on a radio tour since June. “It’s the old-fashioned way of shaking hands and getting to know people. Otherwise, we are just another name in a radio programmer’s stack of records,” says Collins.
He was recently named as part of CMT Pure’s Artist Discovery Program, with the video for “Never Really Left” added the network’s video rotation.
“Never Really Left” currently sits at No. 48 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart.
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AIMP Announces New National Board of Directors, Nashville Boards
/by Jessica NicholsonThe national officers are: Michael Eames/PEN Music Group (President); Teri Nelson Carpenter/Reel Muzik Werks, LLC (Vice President); Barbie Quinn/BMI (Executive Director); David Weitzman/ole (Secretary); and Cedar Boschan/Green Hasson Janks (Treasurer).
Chapter officers in Nashville are: Marc Driskill/Sea Gayle Music (Executive Director), Denise Nichols/The Primacy Firm, LLC (Secretary) and Ree Guyer Buchanan/Wrensong (Treasurer).
Directors in Nashville are: John Allen/New West Records, Craig Currier/peermusic, Tim Fink/SESAC, Michael Martin/ ASCAP, Kim McCollum/Words & Music, John Ozier/ole and Randy Wachtler/Warner-Chappell Production Music.
New directors include Timothy A. Cohan, Esq./peermusic, Carianne Marshall/SONGS Music Publishing and Jake Wisely/The Bicycle Music Company. They join returning directors Todd Brabec, Esq./Musicandmoney.com, Linda Gallico/Realsongs, Jeff Jernigan/ASCAP, Sam Kling/SESAC, Linda A. Newmark, Esq./Universal Music Publishing Group and Susan Slamer/Sony Pictures.
Chapter officers in New York are: Caroline Bienstock/Carlin America, Inc. (Executive Director), Arthur Levy, Esq./Spirit Music Group (Secretary) and Steven White, CPA/Janover, LLC (Treasurer).
New York directors include: Philip Cialdella/Wonderlous Music, Alisa Coleman/ABKCO Music, Inc., Joyce Dollinger, Esq./ Dollinger, Gonski and Grossman, Julie Lipsius/Lipservices, Mary Beth Roberts/High Standards Unlimited, Debbie Rose/Shapiro Bernstein, & Co., Michael Simon/Harry Fox Agency, Mark Spier/Memory Lane Music Group and Richard Stumpf/Atlas Music Publishing.
Live Nation App Now Offers Uber For Concertgoers
/by Troy_Stephenson“Offering the ability to request a safe and hassle-free Uber ride through our Live Nation app lets fans focus less on arrivals and departures, and more on their great live music experience,” said Mark Campana, Co-President North American Concerts, Live Nation Entertainment.
Live Nation is also creating special Uber pick-up/drop-off zones located close to main entrances of Live Nation Amphitheaters to provide fans faster entry into concerts.
New Uber users are eligible for a $30 discount on their first ride and the app is available for download at both the Apple and Android stores.
“We are thrilled to work with Live Nation to launch this first-of-its-kind partnership,” said Matt Wyndowe, head of product partnerships at Uber. “With this integration, music lovers from across North America will be able to connect with Uber and request a reliable ride at the touch of a button.”
Industry Ink: NMPA, ACM Honors, BMLG Adds Flammia
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Band Perry Honored by the NMPA
The NMPA recently presented The Band Perry with Gold & Platinum songwriting awards for their hits “Postcard from Paris,” “Done.,” and “If I Die Young.” The presentations were made after The Band Perry had spent the day on Capitol Hill, discussing the need to protect music creators with The Recording Academy.
Nicole Flammia Joins Big Machine Label Group
Nicole Flammia
Nicole Flammia has joined Big Machine Label Group as Creative Director Video & Photo Production. Flammia joins the Creative Team, including Sandi Spika Borchetta, BMLG’s Sr. VP Creative, in working with BMLG’s roster of artists to manage music video and photo shoot production, as well as visual content needs.
Sandi Spika Borchetta comments, “We are very excited to have Nicole join our Creative Team. I have worked with her for years as Executive Producer for other companies. I am very honored to have her join our side of the creative video and photo process.”
Since 2010, Flammia served as Executive Producer of the music video division and Client Liaison at TackleBox Films. Her career also includes stops at Sony Music Nashville, Aristo Media, and Picture Vision.
Flammia can be reached at nicole.flammia@bmlg.net.
Date Set for 9th Annual ACM Honors
Special Award recipients, Studio Recording Award winners, Industry Award winners, and the Songwriter of the Year Award winner will be announced at a later date.
Concert Calendar: Country Stars Coming To Bridgestone Arena
/by Sarah SkatesJason Aldean headlines the Bridgestone Arena next month.
Several big country events are on the schedule at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in coming months. Here’s a run-down:
Saturday, Feb. 21—Jason Aldean brings his Burn It Down Tour 2015 with special guest Cole Swindell.
Thursday, March 26—Kenny Chesney launches The Big Revival Tour on his birthday, with special guests Jake Owen and Chase Rice. Tickets on sale Jan. 23 at 10 a.m.
Saturday, April 11—Alan Jackson’s 25th Anniversary Keepin’ It Country Tour visits the arena with special guests Jeff Foxworthy and Jon Pardi. Tickets on sale Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 12—The Charlie Daniels Band’s Volunteer Jam 40th anniversary event features Billy Ray Cyrus, Kentucky Headhunters, Montgomery Gentry, the Outlaws, Lee Roy Parnell and Travis Tritt, with more TBA. Proceeds will go to the The Journey Home Project and The Predators Foundation. Tickets on sale Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m.
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26—Taylor Swift’s 1989 World tour stops in Nashville with special guest Vance Joy.
Tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Royalty Exchange Launches ARIA Online Tool For Royalty Owners & Publishers
/by Sherod RobertsonInitially developed for internal use for investors needing analytic research on royalty streams in Royalty Exchange auctions, it is now available for free to individual royalty owners and fee-based for publishers.
“Every royalty owner and publisher should add this tool to their arsenal as they battle for their fair share of royalty payments and collections,” said Sean Peace, President of Royalty Exchange. “The light is shining bright on the issue of royalty rates right now as we wait to see what happens at the Department of Justice with regard to the potential consent decree changes. Artists like Taylor Swift and Bono are also helping to keep this issue in the forefront as they battle over what they are getting paid by streaming services. ARIA helps them tackle these issues by providing them with key information that has been hard to pull together in the past.”
Designed to simplify the traditional royalty analysis process, Royalty Exchange asserts ARIA as a tool that breaks down royalty streams, displaying where royalties are coming from, who is paying what and how much they are worth.
Weekly Register: Checking In With The Top 10
/by Sarah SkatesThis is after an already slow start to the year, where album sales took a deep dive between the last week of 2014 and the first week of 2015 (-47 percent overall, -55 percent country).
There were no noteworthy debuts this week, so let’s check in with the Top 10 country tracks and albums. Note Luke Bryan hanging tight at No. 6 on the albums chart 75 weeks since release. And 48 weeks after release, Eric Church is at No. 9.
Top 10 Country Albums
Chart Position/Label/Artist/Album/This Week Sales/Release To Date/Weeks On
1 RCA Nashville, Garth Brooks, Man Against Machine, 15,000 TW, 547,000 RTD, 9 weeks
2 Broken Bow, Jason Aldean, Old Boots, New Dirt, 13,000, 786,000, 14
3 MCA Nashville, Sam Hunt, Montevallo, 13,000, 241,000, 11
4 Arista Nashville, Carrie Underwood, Greatest Hits: Decade #1, 13,000, 233,000, 5
5 Republic Nashville, Florida Georgia Line, Anything Goes, 9,000, 525,000, 13
6 Capitol Nashville, Luke Bryan, Crash My Party, 6,000, 2,346,000, 75
7 WB, Blake Shelton, Bringing Back The Sunshine, 5,000, 295,000, 15
8 MCA Nashville, George Strait, The Cowboy Rides Away: Live, 5,000, 289,000, 17
9 EMI Nashville, Eric Church, Outsiders, 4,000 825,000, 48
10 Valory, Brantley Gilbert, Just As I Am, 4,000, 716,000, 34
1 Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time,” 34,000 TW, 212,00 RTD
2 Tim McGraw, “Shotgun Rider,” 33,000, 523,000
3 Carrie Underwood, “…Water,” 32,000, 746,000
4 Blake Shelton ft. A. Monroe, “Lonely Tonight,” 28,000, 255,000
5 Florida Georgia Line, “Sun Daze,” 28,000, 360,000
6 Eric Church, “Talladega,” 25,000, 372,000
7 Chris Young, “Lonely Eyes,” 24,000, 219,000
8 Luke Bryan, “I See You,” 24,000, 296,000
9 Lee Brice, “Drinking Class,” 23,000, 368,000
10 RaeLynn, “God Made Girls,” 22,000, 391,000
According to Nielsen Soundscan
Americana Music Association, City Winery Announce Multi-City Concert Series
/by Jessica Nicholson“Newport Folk Presents® and the Americana Music Association are torchbearers in presenting not only some of the best music today but also in discovering amazing new talent,” said City Winery’s Shlomo Lipetz, adding, “we are thrilled to present this series with these prestigious music loving organizations.”
“Building partnerships is paramount for the continued success of Newport Festivals Foundation™,” commented Newport Producer Jay Sweet, adding “working with the Americana Music Association and City Winery, who share our taste in great music, makes perfect sense.”
“I love this partnership with Newport Folk and City Winery,” added Americana’s Jed Hilly. “From the historical significance of the Newport Folk Festival to City Winery’s strategically situated venues and appreciation for the artistry, I can’t think of better partners to spread our mission to support the authentic voice of American Roots Music. ”
State of the Union concert dates will launch in January. Show dates are as follows:
CHICAGO
Jan. 19 | Joe Henry
Feb. 18-19 |Shawn Colvin
March 3-4 |Buckwheat Zydeco
NAPA
Jan. 20 | Willie Watson
Feb. 28 |Steep Canyon Rangers
April 3 |North Mississippi Allstars
NASHVILLE
Jan. 19 | Jackie Greene
Feb. 24 |Booker T. Jones
March 8 | Aaron Neville
NYC
Jan. 22-24 | Alejandro Escovedo
Feb. 11 | Jay Farrar
March 29 | Mary Gauthier & David Wilcox
Dan Hodges Music, Wanted Woman Music Sign Quinn Loggins
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Dan Hodges, Quinn Loggins, and Michael Johnson, Counsel to Loggins.
Dan Hodges Music and Wanted Woman Music have signed Nashville native Quinn Loggins to a songwriting agreement. The son of Dave Loggins, Quinn studied commercial music at Belmont University. He has served as a tour manager and guitarist for Charlie Worsham, as well as guitarist for Little Big Town‘s Grand Ole Opry debut for their single “Pontoon,” and a bandleader for the 2012 Colgate Country Showdown tour.
Hodges was instrumental in signing Loggins to a prior co-publishing deal between Wanted Woman Music and Murrah Music Corporation.
“I have had many opportunities and am thankful for a life of creating new music, making new friends, and finding new things to say,” said Loggins. ” It feels like I’m coming back home to my family at Dan Hodges Music.”
Wanted Woman Music has entered into a worldwide creative administration agreement with DHM for current and past works. Dan Hodges Music offers creative services in the form of catalog representation, worldwide royalty administration and music production.