Keith Urban
Jason Aldean became engaged to girlfriend Brittany Kerr this week. Aldean and his first wife, Jessica Ussery, split in April 2013. Aldean and Kerr made their first public appearance as a couple at the 2014 CMT Music Awards.
• • •
Keith Urban released the video for his latest single, “Somewhere In My Car,” this morning on people.com. The video, directed by John Urbano, was shot in Cincinnati during Urban’s Raise ‘Em Up Tour, and features the acting debuts of models Jehane Paris of Miami, and Rodrigo Calazans, originally from Brazil.
Urbano also directed Urban’s previous video for the single “Cop Car.”
• • •
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has returned as part of Diet Coke’s “Get A Taste” campaign.
One ad in a series of three will feature Swift, who first partnered with the soft drink brand last year.
Swift recently announced the release of her first full pop album, 1989, during a livestream from atop New York’s Empire State Building. 1989 will release Oct. 27.
• • •
Matt Stillwell
has announced a 10-week, 45-date
We Shall Conquer Tour this fall. Stillwell’s manager
Tim Gray said, “We have strategically partnered with several national brands for this tour (Lyft, Bad Boy Buggies, Lifestyle Promotions, Southern Charm Traditional Wear, Which Wich Sandwiches, and Morton Buildings) along with a few specific Greek organizations. These partnerships will enable us to expand the marketing reach for Matt significantly on both an organic and social platform while firming up a foundation for the upcoming radio single.”
The tour kicked off last weekend at Chicago Motor Speedway, where Stillwell performed for the first race of the NASCAR 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
The
We Shall Conquer tour will visit University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, University of Oklahoma, LSU, University of Tennessee, University of Florida, University of Nebraska and University of Kansas.
• • •
Country band Chasin’ Crazy visited Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville yesterday (Sept. 24) to entertain and visit patients battling childhood cancer. The band performed for staff, families and patients, and the performance was simulcast via CCTV to patient rooms and other areas of the hospital. In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, the band is adding gold ribbons (the official symbol of childhood cancer awareness) to its online properties, and asking fans to support the movement.
Pictured (L-R): Creigh Reipe, Jimmy-James Hunter, Travis Fincher, Landon Parker, Forest Miller. Photo: James Stewart
Weekly Chart Report (09/26/14)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report
Faith Hill Inks New Management
/by Jessica NicholsonHill joins Sandbox Entertainment’s roster, which also represents Shania Twain, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, and Dan+Shay.
Hill’s last full-length studio album of original material, Fireflies, released in 2005, followed by Christmas project Joy To The World in 2008.
SiriusXM Loses Copyright Battle
/by Jessica NicholsonThe lawsuit involved music created prior to the period when sound recordings began to fall under federal copyright protection. Flo & Eddie claimed SiriusXM did not seek authorization (and did not pay royalties) to play songs including “Happy Together,” “It Ain’t Me Babe,” and other Turtles hits.
U.S. District Judge Phillip Gutlerrez gave a summary judgment on the issue, after examining a California law from 1982 was meant to address pre-1972 recordings, but did not address whether exclusive ownership of pre-1972 recordings included the exclusive right to publicly perform the recording.
Judge Gutierrez wrote that he “infers that the legislature did not intend to further limit ownership rights, otherwise it would have indicated that intent explicitly. Although the breadth and specificity of cases acknowledging that exclusive ownership of a sound recording includes the right to publicly perform the recording are slight, Defendant has not directed the Court to a single case cutting against the right to public performance, even implicitly or in dicta.”
Plaintiffs lack sufficient evidence that SiriusXM violated reproduction rights by copying recordings on servers. Though the ruling will likely be appealed, it could spur SiriusXM and other music tech companies to lobby Congress for updated copyright laws concerning pre-1972 recordings.
The ruling will potentially open the door to additional lawsuits involving pre-1972 recordings.
No. 1 Party: Dierks Bentley's "Drunk On A Plane"
/by Jessica Nicholson(L-R): Katie Dean (UMG), Shane Allen (UMG), Royce Risser (UMG), Bentley, Chris Thompkins, Steve Hodges (UMG) and Mike Sistad (ASCAP)
Dierks Bentley and co-writers Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear (who was out of the country and unable to attend) were celebrated last night (Sept. 24) for Dierks’ multi-week No. 1 and Platinum certified “Drunk On A Plane” at newly opened Nashville venue, The Sutler.
In keeping with the spirit of the song’s video, guests donned pilot caps and glasses similar to the ones worn by Bentley in the clip. ASCAP’s Mike Sistad greeted attendees, toasting the success of the song which is nominated for Single Of The Year and Music Video Of The Year at the upcoming 48th Annual CMA Awards.
(L-R): Mike Sistad (ASCAP), Bentley and Chris Thompkins
The song is Bentley’s 12th chart-topper as both an artist and songwriter. It is Tompkins’ 13th No. 1 song and Kear’s ninth No. 1 song.
“It was late in making the album and I was out of ideas,” said Bentley. “I wanted to do a song about a hurricane,” he recalled, “and in songwriting, the code word for ‘bad idea’ is ‘interesting,’ as in, ‘that’s interesting,'”quipped Bentley. “Then, Josh said he’s always wanted to write a song called ‘Drunk On A Plane.’ I’m a pilot and I love drinking, so I didn’t even know at that point what the song would be about, but I knew I liked it.” Bentley went on to thank his management team of Mary Hilliard Harrington and Coran Capshaw, UMG’s Mike Dungan and others for their part in the song’s success.
(L-R): Jay Williams (WME), Bentley and Charlie Monk
Second DRX Monthly Showcase Highlights Indie Artists
/by Kelsey_GradyPictured (L-R): Chad Pfeifer, J. Michael Harter, John Pyne (Digital Rodeo), Maddie Deneault (center), Bryan White, Stephanie Quayle and Craig Morrison
Online social network and country lifestyle portal Digital Rodeo held their second successful installment of the DRX Monthly Showcase Series on Sept. 23 at 3rd and Lindsley. The DRX monthly showcases highlight some of the platform’s most promising Country artists and help to promote some of the website’s featured unsigned acts. The showcase featured Chad Pfeifer, J. Michael Harter, Maddie Deneault, Stephanie Quayle, Craig Morrison, and was hosted by Bryan White.
Each act performed two songs, fronted by Digital Rodeo’s house band, which includes members Tim Horsley (drums), Robbie Emerson (bass, vocals), Erik Halbig (guitar), Mike Webb (keys), and Scotty Huff (guitar, vocals, music director). Each DRX monthly showcase is held at 3rd and Lindsley and is free and open to the public.
RIAA Mid-Year Report Shows Streaming Growth
/by Sarah SkatesClick to download full report.
The RIAA today (Sept. 25) released its mid-year 2014 shipment and revenue numbers.
For the first half of 2014, overall revenues were down 2.5%, to $2.2 billion at wholesale value on a year-over-year basis. At retail, the decrease in value was 4.9% to $3.2 billion.
Strong growth in revenues from streaming services offset declines in digital downloads. Streaming music services grew 28% in the first half of 2014 to $859 million, versus $673 million for 1H 2013. This category includes revenues from subscription services (such as Rhapsody and paid versions of Spotify, among others), streaming radio service revenues that are distributed by SoundExchange (like Pandora, SiriusXM, and other Internet radio), and other non-subscription on-demand streaming services (such as YouTube, Vevo, and ad-supported Spotify).
These streaming services contributed 27% of total industry revenues in 1H 2014, compared with 20% for 1H 2013.
Paid subscriptions grew to $371 million, up 23% y-o-y on a value basis, but grew at an even more rapid pace of 43% by number of subscriptions. This difference is partially due to an update in RIAA’s retail price markup estimate.
On-demand ad-supported streaming services grew 57% y-o-y to $165 million for the first half of 2014.
The total value of digitally distributed formats was $2.2 billion, virtually flat compared to the 1H of 2013.
Revenues from permanent digital downloads (including albums, single tracks, videos, and kiosk sales) declined 12% to $1.3 billion for the first half of 2014.
Total sales in physical formats were $898 million, down 14% versus 1H 2013.
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Annual Birthday Bash Set For Nov. 12
/by Troy_StephensonThe Wednesday event will include performances by Terri Clark, Chuck Wicks, Trick Pony and Darryl Worley, with more artist announcements coming soon.
“The Tootsie’s Birthday Bash has become an annual event that everyone looks forward to,” says Tootsie’s proprietor Steve Smith. “We kicked it off at the Ryman with Kris Kristofferson, Terri Clark, Mel Tillis, and Jamey Johnson a few years back. Then Kid Rock and The Kentucky Headhunters took the party to the street on Broadway. We then had Dierks Bentley, Randy Houser and Troy Gentry kick it up a bit, and then there is this year. The lineup is starting to come together!”
Tootsie’s was used as a “green room” by some of the greatest Opry stars including Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb, who stopped in when performing at the nearby Ryman Auditorium. “Tootsie’s is where the stars would come to wet their whistles and pick their guitars,” adds Smith.
'Nashville' Season 3 Premiere Ratings Down From Last Year
/by Jessica NicholsonThe season 3 premiere featured live performances from Chip Esten (“Deacon”) and Chris Carmack (“Will”), and a special live performance from Florida Georgia Line.
NBC’s Chicago PD took the top 10 p.m. slot, with ratings of 1.9, 18-49, and approximately 8.4 million viewers.
Industry Ink: Pensado's Gear Expo, BMI, Maddie & Tae, Brad Paisley
/by Jessica NicholsonThe event will feature live performances, a fashion show, and hands-on demonstrations with the manufacturers attending. Manufacturers attending include Barefoot Sound, Neumann, Shadow Hills Industries, Q2 Audio, Radial Engineering, and more. For more information, visit gearexponashville.com.
• • •
BMI and Young Entertainment Professionals will present an evening of music at Nashville’s Exit/In on Wednesday, Oct. 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The evening will feature music from Loving Mary, Radio Romance, Breelan Angel, and Brinley Addington.
• • •
Dot Records duo Maddie & Tae recently celebrated their debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry.
Pictured (L-R): Dot Records National Director Promo/Marketing Kris Lamb, Dot Records GM Chris Stacey, Maddie, Tae, Grand Ole Opry Vice President/General Manager Pete Fisher and 377/Red Light Management manager Haley McLemore. Photo: Chris Hollo, Courtesy Grand Ole Opry© 2014
• • •
Brad Paisley performed at the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday night as part of the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, and celebrated backstage with iHeartMedia’s Clay Hunnicutt and family.
Pictured (L-R): iHeartmedia’s Clay Hunnicutt, Hunnicutt family friend Daniel Ehrlich, Brad Paisley, Austin Hunnicutt, Alyssa Hunnicutt, & Wendy Hunnicutt.
[Updated] Artist Updates: Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Chasin' Crazy, Matt Stillwell
/by Jessica NicholsonKeith Urban
• • •
Keith Urban released the video for his latest single, “Somewhere In My Car,” this morning on people.com. The video, directed by John Urbano, was shot in Cincinnati during Urban’s Raise ‘Em Up Tour, and features the acting debuts of models Jehane Paris of Miami, and Rodrigo Calazans, originally from Brazil.
Urbano also directed Urban’s previous video for the single “Cop Car.”
• • •
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has returned as part of Diet Coke’s “Get A Taste” campaign.
One ad in a series of three will feature Swift, who first partnered with the soft drink brand last year.
Swift recently announced the release of her first full pop album, 1989, during a livestream from atop New York’s Empire State Building. 1989 will release Oct. 27.
• • •
Matt Stillwell
Matt Stillwell has announced a 10-week, 45-date We Shall Conquer Tour this fall. Stillwell’s manager Tim Gray said, “We have strategically partnered with several national brands for this tour (Lyft, Bad Boy Buggies, Lifestyle Promotions, Southern Charm Traditional Wear, Which Wich Sandwiches, and Morton Buildings) along with a few specific Greek organizations. These partnerships will enable us to expand the marketing reach for Matt significantly on both an organic and social platform while firming up a foundation for the upcoming radio single.”
The tour kicked off last weekend at Chicago Motor Speedway, where Stillwell performed for the first race of the NASCAR 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
The We Shall Conquer tour will visit University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, University of Oklahoma, LSU, University of Tennessee, University of Florida, University of Nebraska and University of Kansas.
• • •
Country band Chasin’ Crazy visited Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville yesterday (Sept. 24) to entertain and visit patients battling childhood cancer. The band performed for staff, families and patients, and the performance was simulcast via CCTV to patient rooms and other areas of the hospital. In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, the band is adding gold ribbons (the official symbol of childhood cancer awareness) to its online properties, and asking fans to support the movement.
Pictured (L-R): Creigh Reipe, Jimmy-James Hunter, Travis Fincher, Landon Parker, Forest Miller. Photo: James Stewart