Elroy Kahanek
Record promoter, songwriter, artist manager, talent scout and music entrepreneur
Elroy Kahanek died on Tuesday (March 11) at age 72. Kahanek is best known for his work in radio promotion. He was the vice president of Country promotion at RCA in the 1970s, then served in similar capacities at Sunbird Records in the 1980s and at Atlantic Records in the 1990s.
At RCA, he worked during the label’s “outlaw music” era, promoting the singles of
Waylon Jennings. At Sunbird, he helped launch the career of
Earl Thomas Conley. During his Atlantic tenure,
Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery and others became stars.
In 1998, he was named vice president of artist development at Bang II Records. That label promoted singer-songwriter
Monty Holmes, among others.
Elroy Kahanek also had a successful career as a songwriter. He co-wrote
T.G. Sheppard’s 1975 hit “Trying to Beat the Morning Home,” as well as
Eddy Raven’s 1982 success “She’s Playing Hard to Forget.”
Josh Logan recorded Kahanek’s co-written “Somebody Paints the Wall” in 1989.
George Jones re-recorded it in 1990, and
Tracy Lawrence made it a big hit in 1993.
His other songwriting cuts include Logan’s “I Owe You One” of 2012, Sheppard’s “Like a Coupe DeVille” of 1997 and
Keith Stegall’s “The Fool Who Fooled Around” of 1980.
In later years, he was associated with businesses such as Honkytone Records, Joyna Music, Angelfire Records and Cowboy Productions. He worked with such artists as
Darren Warren, The Marcy Brothers and
Kris Gordon. At the time of his death, he was president of Elroy Kahanek Promotions.
He is survived by his wife Cindy, daughter Kim Gray, three grandchildren and eight siblings.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Woodmont Funeral Home’s Hickory Chapel at 5852 Nolensville Road. The visitation is this afternoon at 4:00-8:00 p.m. and tomorrow at 12:00-2:30 p.m. Elroy Kahanek’s burial will be Monday, March 17, at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Lifenotes: Elroy Kahanek
/by Robert K OermannElroy Kahanek
Record promoter, songwriter, artist manager, talent scout and music entrepreneur Elroy Kahanek died on Tuesday (March 11) at age 72. Kahanek is best known for his work in radio promotion. He was the vice president of Country promotion at RCA in the 1970s, then served in similar capacities at Sunbird Records in the 1980s and at Atlantic Records in the 1990s.
At RCA, he worked during the label’s “outlaw music” era, promoting the singles of Waylon Jennings. At Sunbird, he helped launch the career of Earl Thomas Conley. During his Atlantic tenure, Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery and others became stars.
In 1998, he was named vice president of artist development at Bang II Records. That label promoted singer-songwriter Monty Holmes, among others.
Elroy Kahanek also had a successful career as a songwriter. He co-wrote T.G. Sheppard’s 1975 hit “Trying to Beat the Morning Home,” as well as Eddy Raven’s 1982 success “She’s Playing Hard to Forget.” Josh Logan recorded Kahanek’s co-written “Somebody Paints the Wall” in 1989. George Jones re-recorded it in 1990, and Tracy Lawrence made it a big hit in 1993.
His other songwriting cuts include Logan’s “I Owe You One” of 2012, Sheppard’s “Like a Coupe DeVille” of 1997 and Keith Stegall’s “The Fool Who Fooled Around” of 1980.
In later years, he was associated with businesses such as Honkytone Records, Joyna Music, Angelfire Records and Cowboy Productions. He worked with such artists as Darren Warren, The Marcy Brothers and Kris Gordon. At the time of his death, he was president of Elroy Kahanek Promotions.
He is survived by his wife Cindy, daughter Kim Gray, three grandchildren and eight siblings.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Woodmont Funeral Home’s Hickory Chapel at 5852 Nolensville Road. The visitation is this afternoon at 4:00-8:00 p.m. and tomorrow at 12:00-2:30 p.m. Elroy Kahanek’s burial will be Monday, March 17, at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Lifenotes: Condolences To Kirt Webster, Dennis Banka
/by Jessica NicholsonMusicRow extends its condolences to Kirt Webster and family/friends on Thursday morning’s passing of his father Charles ‘Tyke’ Webster, age 70, in Phoenix, Ariz. Tyke and Sandy Webster have attended multiple ACM, CMA and other industry awards shows, Country Thunder Arizona festivals, and the George Jones tribute concert last November. Tyke was loved and admired by many artists and industry friends.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 16 from 4-6 p.m. at Mariposa Funeral Home, 400 South Power Road, Mesa, Ariz. 85206. The memorial service is set for Monday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m. at All Saints Church, 1534 N Recker Road Mesa, Ariz. 85205. All flowers and gifts delivered to the Mariposa Funeral Home will be delivered after visitation to All Saints in time for the memorial, if delivered by Sunday.
Kirt Webster extremely grateful for the outpouring of prayers, messages and support already received from his extended “family” of industry friends and associates.
• • •
MusicRow sends its condolences to Dennis Banka of MusicRow reporting station WUCZ. Banka’s mother, Carol Ann Banka, died at age 77 after a long struggle with COPD.
AFM Files Suit Against Spike TV, Jim Owens Entertainment
/by Jessica NicholsonThe AFM alleges that while Jim Owens Entertainment has provided programs (including Music City Tonight) that were originally recorded under The Nashville Network’s AFM agreement in the 1980s and 1990s and the “new” TNN which launched Nov. 1, 2012, now known as Heartland TV (owned by Luken Communications), no payments for the airings since 2012 have been made to numerous musicians who worked on these programs.
“We have spent more than 16 months negotiating in good faith to try and reach an equitable agreement to compensate these musicians fairly for their work,” says AFM Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy. “We have exhausted all possibilities for a positive resolution in this case. Owens has left us no choice but to pursue resolution of this case through the legal system and all means necessary.”
Jim Owens Entertainment has declined to comment at this time.
Liberty Media Abandons Acquisition of SiriusXM Radio
/by Michael_SmithLiberty Broadband will house the company’s interests in Charter Communication, Time Warner Cable and digital security firm TruePosition. Liberty Media will house other the company’s other interests, including its share in SiriusXM.
“This is another step in Liberty’s process of offering investors greater choice, transparency and focus,” said Liberty president and CEO Greg Maffei. “We expect to complete the creation of the new tracking stocks by the third quarter. In light of the tracking stock distribution, our offer for Sirius XM is no longer applicable.”
Current shareholders will receive one share of Liberty Media tracking stock and four shares of Liberty Broadband, for each share of Liberty A and B stock they currently hold.
The company had planned on acquiring SiriusXM for $3.68 per share. This week, shares of SiriusXM fell one percent to $3.37.
Nielsen Shares Digital Music Consumption Stats At SXSW
/by Jessica Nicholson“Digital consumption has reached the masses, with a majority of consumers in the U.S. streaming music last year,” says David Bakula, SVP Client Development & Industry Insights, Nielsen Entertainment. “The change in consumption requires us to continually evolve how we measure and define success.”
The presentation included the following statistics regarding how consumers access content in various ways.
• In 2013, 68 percent of U.S. consumers streamed music (includes YouTube music videos)
• Consumers who streamed music via paid streaming services rose from 4.2 percent to 4.9 percent
• Consumers who streamed music via free streaming services rose from 26.8 percent to 38.6 percent
• 56 percent of respondents listened to music on the car radio in a typical week; 53 percent listened to music on their mobile devices during the same period
• 67 percent of respondents listened to music on the car radio within a 12-month period; 69 percent listened to music on mobile devices during the same period; 72 percent listened to music on their desktop or laptop computer during the same period
Nielsen looked at the life cycles of a sampling of 2013’s top songs in terms of sales, On-Demand streams and airplay. Nielsen analyzed trends in sales, radio audience, on-demand streams, and web/social activity for those artists, leading to the following conclusions:
• Radio can be a vital driver of On-Demand streaming and sales
• The first eight to 12 weeks of a new release can present the best opportunity for TV and other exposure
• Around week 12, consumption typically reaches its peak
• After 12 weeks, artists should look for crossover opportunities to engage new audiences as consumption starts to decline
• In the long term, streaming presents the opportunity to lengthen monetization opportunities
Weekly Chart Report (3/14/14)
/by Michael_SmithLizzie Sider's Anti-Bullying Campaign Continues In Florida
/by Jessica NicholsonLizzie Sider at Waterstone Charter School in Homestead, FL
Lizzie Sider’s bullying prevention campaign, titled Nobody Has The Power To Ruin Your Day, has impacted more than 30,000 students in the state of Florida in the past two months. In January and February, Sider visited 65 schools as a spokeperson for PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.
The 15-year-old’s performance at each school includes a rendition of her single “Butterfly,” which was co-penned with Jamie O’Neal. Last fall, Sider embarked on a 100-school tour in California, bringing her anti-bullying message to more than 70,000 students.
Remaining tour dates:
March 14 Tommie Barfield Elementary – Marco Island, Fla.
March 14 Gulf Coast Academy Charter South – Naples, Fla.
March 18 Hobe Sound Elementary (2 assemblies) – Hobe Sound, Fla.
March 18 Pine Crest – Boca Raton, Fla.
March 24 Wildwood Middle School – Wildwood, Fla.
March 24 Lake Panasoffkee Elementary – Lake Panasoffkee, Fla.
March 25 Webster Elementary School – Webster, Fla.
March 25 South Sumter Middle School – Webster, Fla.
March 26 Forest City Elementary School – Altamonte Springs, Fla.
March 27 Roundlake Elementary School – Mt. Dora, Fla.
March 27 Bushnell Elementary – Bushnell, Fla.
March 28 Pine Crest School – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
For more information, visit lizziesider.com.
Lifenotes: Condolences To Wade Jessen
/by Jessica NicholsonServices are currently pending; condolences can be sent here.
Industry Ink (3/13/14)
/by Jessica Nicholson“Townsquare stations have been supporting St. Jude for years. This year we were excited to unite 20 markets for our first national two-day event,” said Kurt Johnson, Sr. VP of Programming for Townsquare Media.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s treatments have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since opening more than 50 years ago.
• • •
Jessica Frey, a Wayne State University graduate, has joined the PLA Media team as Publicity & Social Media Coordinator. She can be reached at jessica.frey@plamedia.com.
PLA Media clients include Lynn Anderson, Ashton Shepherd, Bryan White, Hannah Bethel and others.
• • •
Mark Bracco, ABC-TV’s Vice President, Alternative Series and Specials, could be moving to Dick Clark Productions reports the LA Times.
Bracco is the ABC executive in charge of awards shows; the network is currently home to the CMA Awards.
Meanwhile, DCP is the company behind the ACM Awards as well as many other trophy fests.
Bracco is expected to become executive vice president of programming and development at DCP, reporting to chief executive Allen Shapiro and president Mike Mahan.
• • •
The Women’s Music Business Association hosted a writers round at the Bluebird Cafe on Wednesday (March 12). The round featured songwriters Kelly Archer, Jamie Floyd, Elise Davis, and Stephanie Lambring.
Pictured (L-R): Kelly Archer (writer), Raeanna Mowl (WMBA President), Meredith Herberg (WMBA Events & Education Co-Chair), Rachel Mowl (WMBA Events & Education Co-Chair), Elise Davis (writer), Jamie Floyd (writer), and Stephanie Lambring (writer). Photo: Allison Nokes
Pandora Leads Streaming Services
/by Sarah SkatesGraph by Statista.
Pandora is the most used music streaming service in the U.S., according to Edison who polled Americans age 12 and up for its 2014 audio report, The Infinite Dial. It found that 31 percent of responders had listened to Pandora in the past month.
Coming in second on the list was iHeartRadio, which was listened to by nine percent of those polled. iTunes Radio was a close third with eight percent, followed by Spotify, Google Play, Rhapsody, Slacker and TuneIn Radio.
Pandora’s share of total U.S. radio listening in February 2014 was 8.91 percent, an increase from 8.25 percent at the same time last year. The company had 75.3 million active listeners, increase of 11 percent from the same time period last year.
Beats Music, which launched in January, is too new to be included in the chart above.
As streaming grows in popularity, Apple is pressuring labels for iTunes store exclusives.
In more streaming service news…
On-demand service Spotify has obtained a $200 million credit facility in anticipation of a speculated IPO. The company also announced the acquisition of The Echo Nest. Spotify has over 6 million paying subscribers and over 24 million active users.
Beats Music has raised about $60 million in funding from current investors Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre and Access Industries, reports Billboard. The company is in the process of acquiring TopSpin Media.