Lizzie Sider at Waterstone Charter School in Homestead, FL
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.
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 In light of the tracking stock distribution, our offer for Sirius XM is no longer applicable.”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.
Sea Gayle Music Signs CJ Solar
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Front row, L-R): Marc Driskill, EVP/GM Sea Gayle; Solar; Chris DuBois, Partner Sea Gayle.
(Back row, L-R): Mike Owens, VP Creative Sea Gayle; Brandon Gregg, Office Manager Sea Gayle; Jake Gear, Creative Director Sea Gayle; and Freeman Wizer, VP Creative Sea Gayle.
Sea Gayle Music has signed Baton Rouge, La. songwriter-artist CJ Solar to a publishing agreement.
“A few months ago, Freeman Wizer, VP Creative at Sea Gayle, asked me if we had any internship spots open for this semester,” said Marc Driskill, EVP/GM of Sea Gayle. “We had a spot open and offered it to CJ. It wasn’t long after he started that Mike Owens, VP Creative at Sea Gayle heard some of CJ’s songs and wanted to sign him. As soon as everyone on the creative team heard his music, we offered him a deal on the spot. His lyrics are well beyond his years and his voice is distinctive and soulful. What a great story and an amazing talent. We are really excited about working with CJ and having him as part of the Sea Gayle roster.”
Sea Gayle Music was established in 1999. Sea Gayle’s songwriters have written 36 chart-topping songs and have earned the company ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year honors two out of the past four years.
Ballard, Crouse Become CMHoF "Friends and Family" Members
/by Jessica NicholsonWarner Bros. Records guitarist-singer Frankie Ballard was recently invited to become an honorary “Friends and Family” member of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. Last Thursday (March 6), Ballard met the staff and toured several revered exhibits.
The Michigan native is on the road promoting “Helluva Life,” featured on his new album, Sunshine & Whiskey.
Pictured (L-R): Pamela Johnson (Vice President of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Rachel Weingartner (Membership Manager, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Ali Tonn (Director of Education and Public Programming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) and Elice Cuff (Sweet Talk Publicity).
Credit: Courtesy of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
• • •
Crouse has opened for Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and the Goo Goo Dolls. His single, “Why God Made Love Songs” is currently at radio.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Pamela Johnson (VP of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Rachel Weingartner (Membership Manager, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Ali Tonn (Director of Education and Public Programming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) and Jenny Alexander (Director of Institutional Giving, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum). Front: Joel Crouse
Artist Pics (3/13/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonCarrie Underwood joined rock band Thousand Foot Krutch onstage during a recent Winter Jam concert at Tulsa, Okla.’s BOK Center. Underwood joined the band for the song “Let The Sparks Fly.”
Photo credit: Angela Huckeby
• • •
Sara Evans joined VH1 Big Morning Buzz hosts Nick Lachey and Jim Shearer after her performance during a day of media tapings.
Pictured (L-R): Nick Lachey, Sara Evans, Jim Shearer. Photo: Steve Stuts
• • •
Eric Paslay performed his hit single “Friday Night” from his self-titled debut album on Fox & Friends.
Pictured (L-R): Fox & Friends host Elisabeth Hasselbeck with Eric Paslay.
• • •
Pictured: BBR Management’s Shawn Pennington; WME’s Greg Oswald; Christian Easterling (Thompson Square’s tour manager); Shawna Thompson and Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square.
Jerrod Nieman‘s High Noon Adventure kicked off in Mexico on Friday, and ran from March 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Niemann and guests The Swon Brothers and Dee Jay Silver welcomed fans with several days of music and fun.
The event wrapped with a concert from Niemann, who will release the Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville project High Noon on March 25.
Back row (L-R): Kerry Wolfe (WMIL); RJ Curtis (All Access); Mike Kennedy (KBEQ); songwriter Lance Miller; Brian Michel (WUBL); Ken Boesen (WKIS) and partner Dan Johnson; Arista’s Andy Elliott; Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner); Arista’s John Sigler; Jaye Albright (A&O&B); Mike McNamee (“The Big Time with Whitney Allen”); Todd Nixon (WCKT/WCTQ); Hoss Michaels (KXKT); Tim Conlon (WKIS); and Dan Stone (WNCY). Front row (L-R): Arista’s Ryan Dokke; Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton; Arista’s Jenny Shearin; Dee Jay Silver; Zach Swon and Colton Swon; Robin Rhodes (Premiere); Jerrod Niemann; Arista’s Lauren Thomas, Ali O’Connell, and Lesly Tyson; and Whitney Allen, Jackie Stevens, and Melissa Moldovan (“The Big Time with Whitney Allen”), and Arista’s Jeri Cooper. Foreground: B-Dub (KUPL).
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville Sales VP Caryl Healey; Rdio’s Emily Cohen; The Swon Brothers: Colton and Zach Swon; Jerrod Niemann; Rhapsody’s Brandy Campbell; Sony Music Nashville Director, Digital Sales, Alaina Vehec; and Dee Jay Silver. Photo credit: Vincent van den Berg