(back row, L-R): Kevin Herring (VP National Promotion, WMN), Terry Wakefield (Sr. VP Creative, Sony ATV Music Publishing), and Clay Bradley (Asst. VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI Nashville); (front row, L-R): John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Cole Swindell, co-writer Shane Minor, and producer Jody Stevens.
WMN Artist
Cole Swindell’s “Chillin’ It” is one of those rare debut songs that reaches No. 1 for a new artist. As this accomplishment doesn’t happen very often, many industry well-wishers showed up to Swindell’s No. 1 party on Tuesday (May 27) to show their support.
As a crowd gathered on the rooftop of the BMI Nashville building, several familiar faces were seen in attendance.
The Warren Brothers, Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and
Luke Bryan joined the party and Bryan even took the microphone to offer congratulations. Swindell’s first job in the industry was selling Bryan’s merchandise at his shows just to get his break in Nashville. That led to a publishing deal, and then to several of his songs being cut and some taken to No. 1, including Florida Georgia Line’s “This Is How We Roll.”
“Chillin’ It” was Swindell’s first chart-topper as an artist. Swindell told the crowd of industry members, “I always wondered what I’d say if I ever got up here. It’s all about showing up and doing the work. And always surrounding myself with talented people.”
Swindell’s co-writer
Shane Minor was honored during the party, and commended as being one who always takes pride in helping new songwriters. Minor is a 15 year BMI writer and has had his songs reach No. 1 seven times.
Producer
Jody Stevens was also recognized for his efforts in taking a rough cut of the song and making it sound like a hit song. This marks Stevens’ first No. 1 as a producer.
Warner Bros. Nashville President
John Esposito spoke of Swindell’s “depth as a songwriter” and said confidently that he will be around for many years. Esposito also credited his promo staff for their work.
Ron Cox of Avenue Bank announced a donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital on behalf of the songwriters. The party also saw Swindell’s manager
Kerri Edwards, BMI’s
Terry Wakefield, and Country Aircheck’s
Lon Helton share stories and present plaques to the “Chillin’ It” team
“Chillin’ It” first
went to No. 1 on
MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart on Jan. 9, 2014, marking
MusicRow’s first No. 1 of the year.
Apple's Beats Music Drops Price
/by Jessica NicholsonOne day after Apple announced that it had purchased Beats Music, the streaming service released an app update that dropped its yearly subscription price from $119.88 to $99.99. The price change applies to users of Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The trial service period for first-time Beats users has also been extended to 14 days.
Monthly Beats Music users will continue to be charged $9.99/month.
Beats Music began offering in-app purchases in April, just weeks before the Apple deal was announced. Spotify does not offer in-app purchases; instead customers are directed to to the website to purchase its $9.99 per month web-and-mobile package. Meanwhile, Rdio offers a $14.99/month plan for in-app purchases, and a $9.99 plan for those who sign up via a web browser.
The purchase of Beats by Apple could mean a multitude of opportunities to package Beats music service with the purchase of iPhones, iPads, iPods and other Apple products.
Apple Buys Beats For $3 Billion
/by Jessica NicholsonAs part of the deal, Apple will receive Beats’ audio accessories business; Beats Music will now also be part of Apple.
“Music is such an important part of all of our lives and holds a special place within our hearts at Apple,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “That’s why we have kept investing in music and are bringing together these extraordinary teams so we can continue to create the most innovative music products and services in the world.”
“I’ve always known in my heart that Beats belonged with Apple,” said Jimmy Iovine. “The idea when we started the company was inspired by Apple’s unmatched ability to marry culture and technology. Apple’s deep commitment to music fans, artists, songwriters and the music industry is something special.”
AIMP To Host Business Manager Talk in Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonThe event will feature Kella Stephenson Farris (Owner, The Kella Stephenson Company), Charles Sussman (President, Sussman & Assoc.) and Dwight Wiles (President, Smith Wiles and Co.) speaking on catalog evaluations, capital gains taxes, emerging income streams, the Songwriters Equity Act, and tracking income/collection. David Crow of Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC will moderate.
The reservation deadline is May 30. To register, visit aimp.org.
Trace Adkins To Resume Touring in June
/by Jessica Nicholson“I’m excited, recharged and ready to get back on the road,” Adkins says. “I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone for the outpouring of encouragement and support over the past few months. It’s hard to put into words how much comfort you take from hearing ‘We’ve got your back.’ So these shows are for you guys – thanks.”
Trace Adkins Upcoming Tour Dates:
6/05 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
6/06 Mt.Pocono, PA Sherman Theater Summer Stage at Mt. Airy Casino Resort
6/07 Atlantic City, NJ The Concert Venue at Harrah’s Atlantic City
6/13 Niagara Falls, NY Seneca Niagara Casino Theatre
6/14 Fredericton, NB Countryfest
6/20 Biloxi, MS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
6/21 Baton Rouge, LA Dixie Landin’ Summer Concert Series
7/12 Green Bay, WI Oneida Casino
7/13 Sault Ste Marie, MI Kewadin Casino
7/18 Sloan, IA Riverfest 2014 – WinnaVegas Casino & Resort
7/19 Prior Lake, MN Lakefront Music Fest
7/20 Peoria, IL Country Life Music Festival
7/23 Helena, MT Last Chance Stampede
7/24 Boise, ID CenturyLink Arena
7/25 Eugene, OR Lane Country Fair
7/26 Wendover, NV Peppermill Concert Hall
8/01 Huntington, NY Paramount
8/02 Cohasset, MA South Shore Music Circus
8/03 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Melody Tent
8/07 Clear Lake, IA Surf Ballroom
8/08 Ft Wayne, IN Headwaters Park
8/09 Washington, MO Washington Town & Country Fair
8/11 Beaver Creek, CO Vilar Performing Arts Center
8/12 Douglas, WY Wyoming State Fair
8/15 Mahnomen, MN Shooting Star Casino
8/16 Thunder Bay, ON Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
8/27 Woodstock, VA Shenandoah County Fair
8/28 Cincinnati, OH Horseshoe Casino
8/29 Elkhorn, WI Walworth County Fair
8/31 Nichols, NY Tioga Downs Grandstand
9/06 Hot Springs, AR Hot Springs Rally
9/26 Rohner Park, CA Weill Hall
Southland Conference In Nashville Next Month
/by Sarah SkatesThe Southland conference will be held June 9-11 at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. The technology and entrepreneurship conference will host speakers including former Vice President Al Gore, PayPal President David Marcus, Evernote CEO Phil Libin and Box CEO Aaron Levie.
Ten early-stage companies will pitch at the conference for a grand prize of $100,000. They will be judged by a panel of 10 investors and entrepreneurs who have agreed to put up an individual investment of $10,000 each. Terms of the investment will be negotiated on stage at the Ryman Auditorium.
The second annual event co-produced by Launch Tennessee and PandoDaily highlights southern culture, including local music, restaurants and distilleries.
Each night of the conference will feature live performances under the Southland Music by Bonnaroo umbrella, produced by A.C. Entertainment and Superfly. Among the artists on the conference schedule are Moon Taxi, J Roddy Walston and The Business, and St. Paul and The Broken Bones.
Industry Ink (5/28/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonSESAC has signed songwriter/musician Byron House for representation. As a bassist, House has played with Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Nickel Creek, Sam Bush and with Robert Plant on his Band Of Joy album and tour.
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Tim Fink, House and SESAC’s Amy Beth Hale. Photo: Peyton Hoge
• • •
Photo credit: Victoria Huff
Abigail Rose has signed a co-publishing agreement with Twenty Ten Music, as well as a limited production deal with company co-owner and producer Charlie Peacock. Rose is prepping an album for later this year. Peacock has produced The Civil Wars, Holly Williams, The Lone Bellow and others.
Peacock says, “Abigail is everything that I look for when choosing to work with an artist: authentic, hard-working, humbly confident, and most of all, ridiculously talented. She represents the absolute best of the young artistry that Nashville is giving birth to.”
• • •
Zach Allen
Catch This Music has added Zach Allen to its staff. “We are excited to add Zach to our team of creators. His high level of passion, knowledge and professionalism make him an ideal fit for our team,” CTM President/CEO Eddie Roba says.
Allen previously spent six years at The Tracking Room.
Swindell Celebrates "Chillin' It" Reaching No. 1
/by Troy_Stephenson(back row, L-R): Kevin Herring (VP National Promotion, WMN), Terry Wakefield (Sr. VP Creative, Sony ATV Music Publishing), and Clay Bradley (Asst. VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI Nashville); (front row, L-R): John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Cole Swindell, co-writer Shane Minor, and producer Jody Stevens.
WMN Artist Cole Swindell’s “Chillin’ It” is one of those rare debut songs that reaches No. 1 for a new artist. As this accomplishment doesn’t happen very often, many industry well-wishers showed up to Swindell’s No. 1 party on Tuesday (May 27) to show their support.
As a crowd gathered on the rooftop of the BMI Nashville building, several familiar faces were seen in attendance. The Warren Brothers, Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Luke Bryan joined the party and Bryan even took the microphone to offer congratulations. Swindell’s first job in the industry was selling Bryan’s merchandise at his shows just to get his break in Nashville. That led to a publishing deal, and then to several of his songs being cut and some taken to No. 1, including Florida Georgia Line’s “This Is How We Roll.”
“Chillin’ It” was Swindell’s first chart-topper as an artist. Swindell told the crowd of industry members, “I always wondered what I’d say if I ever got up here. It’s all about showing up and doing the work. And always surrounding myself with talented people.”
Swindell’s co-writer Shane Minor was honored during the party, and commended as being one who always takes pride in helping new songwriters. Minor is a 15 year BMI writer and has had his songs reach No. 1 seven times.
Producer Jody Stevens was also recognized for his efforts in taking a rough cut of the song and making it sound like a hit song. This marks Stevens’ first No. 1 as a producer.
Warner Bros. Nashville President John Esposito spoke of Swindell’s “depth as a songwriter” and said confidently that he will be around for many years. Esposito also credited his promo staff for their work.
Ron Cox of Avenue Bank announced a donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital on behalf of the songwriters. The party also saw Swindell’s manager Kerri Edwards, BMI’s Terry Wakefield, and Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton share stories and present plaques to the “Chillin’ It” team
“Chillin’ It” first went to No. 1 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart on Jan. 9, 2014, marking MusicRow’s first No. 1 of the year.
Weekly Register: Brantley Gilbert Rides To No. 1
/by Sarah SkatesGilbert’s tally marks the year’s second biggest Country debut, following Eric Church’s The Outsiders, which moved 288k its first week out.
Outside the Country realm, Coldplay scored the year’s top debut overall, spooking fans into picking up 383k copies of Ghost Stories.
Last week’s major debuts by The Black Keys and Rascal Flatts mark two weeks in a row of much needed sales momentum. Week-to-week sales are up 5% for all genres and up 23% Country. The Keys’ Turn Blue turned in 164k units, and Flatts fast forwarded with 61k of Rewind.
BMLG has the Top 3 Country albums this week: Gilbert (211k), Flatts (22k), and Florida Georgia Line (17k). Rounding out the Top 5 are two of People Country’s newly anointed “Sexiest Men” Luke Bryan (16k) and Hunter Hayers (9k)
“Good Girl” Gone Bad: Carrie Underwood.
Tracking Tracks
Miranda Lambert’s duet with Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad,” is turning out pretty good. It sold 107k tracks, skidding into the No. 1 slot on the Country tracks chart. Lambert thanked her Sony labelmate this week by sending her a motorcycle. Lambert’s much-anticipated Platinum album drops June 3.
It’s happy hour for Lady A, who debuted with 50k units of “Bartender,” the lead single from their fifth album.
The Voice contestant Jake Worthington also made a splash on the Country tracks chart with three new singles from the show.
Pettit To Launch WMN's "Team WEA"
/by Jessica NicholsonJordan Pettit
Warner Music Nashville (WMN) has announced the promotion of Jordan Pettit to Vice President, Radio Promotion. In this new role, Pettit will oversee WMN’s new and additional radio promotion division, “Team WEA”—one of WMN’s three radio promotion teams—leading efforts on behalf of artists across WMG’s country divisions, including Atlantic, Elektra, and Warner Bros. Pettit previously served as National Director Radio Promotion. Pettit will report to Kevin Herring, Sr. VP and Head of Promotion, who will oversee the entire three-team promotion structure.
In making the announcement, Esposito said, “Jordan is a force of nature. He is a bright and creative executive and I’m thrilled to have him leading our new promotion team to great heights. He has exceptional knowledge of the promotion space and the practical experience needed to successfully work and break artists. Jordan is ready to rock it!”
Herring added, “Jordan is beyond deserving of this opportunity. The choice was obvious considering what a passionate, competitive, and thorough promotion executive he is. I look forward to working with him in his newly expanded role.”
Pettit said, “I am humbled and excited for this opportunity to bring amazing new talent to this incredible format. Country Music has been my inspiration since I was just a boy, and I am very grateful to launch the newly created ‘Team WEA’ with my Warner family – working side by side with my great friends Chris Palmer & Kristen Williams – under the experienced leadership of Kevin Herring.”
Pettit and his team will work to amplify WMN’s presence in the promotion space, and further work singles further into airplay cycles.
WMN’s previously existing radio promotion teams—each specializing in their designated rosters of artists—will continue to be supervised by Vice Presidents of Promotion, Kristen Williams and Chris Palmer. Both also report to Herring.
Clark, McAnally & Osborne To Perform for Susan G. Komen
/by Troy_StephensonThe event will be held at an elegant private residence in the Green Hills area. The in-the-round concert will spotlight the top hits written by all three performers for themselves and/or many of today’s top country artists. Tickets can be purchased by visiting come-over-for-komen.chirrpy.com.
Complimentary valet parking will be offered as well as a cocktail reception, catering by Zoës Kitchen and a silent auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit Komen Greater Nashville. Additional sponsors include Affiliated Creditors, Inc., Atmosphere 360 Studio, Delta Airlines, First Tennesse Bank, The Gray Umbrella, Nothing Bundt Cakes, OnPoint Organizing, PMC Parking, Regions Bank, Sea Gayle Music and Stage Farm Agent, and Ed Underwood.