The Band Perry accepts the CountryBreakout Award for Group/Duo of the Year with MusicRow staff (L-R) Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson, Sr. News Editor Sarah Skates, and Chart Dir. Michael Smith. Photo by Bev Moser.
That droning buzz you hear from downtown Nashville emanates from the constant schmoozing of the 2,400-plus attendees of this year’s Country Radio Seminar. These are radio people. They talk for a living. And they LOVE to talk. So go with the flow.
MusicRow’s “Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards” event was held Tuesday afternoon (2/18) and marked the 12th annual such gathering. A record-setting 666 people RSVP’d this year for the event at Margaritaville’s upstairs party spaces, so working the packed venue was pretty challenging.
The crowd was already at full schmoozola volume when MR’s
Sherod Robertson took the stage to welcome one and all. “Looks like you’re having a fun time already,” he said to the thundering herd.
Natalie Stovall and The Drive performs. Photo by Bev Moser.
Steve Hodges accepts Capitol Nashville’s ninth consecutive award for Label of the Year.
Sherod introduced the convention’s first showcasing act,
Natalie Stovall & The Drive. “Thank you guys so much,” said Natalie. They may be attending their first radio convention, but these folks play 200+ dates a year, and the experience shows.
The group’s zesty, driving country-rock sound was punched home via take-no-prisoners showmanship and personality.
The Drive is a kick-ass band, and cascading-coiffed Natalie switched delightfully from guitar to mandolin to fiddle during its three-song set. The act concluded with its rollicking, barn-burning, radio-rising single “Baby Come On With It.”
Sherod told us that Natalie Stovall & The Drive has been named “Artist To Watch” by
Country Weekly, Billboard and several other media outlets. It has been a “Highway Find” on Sirius/XM’s The Highway channel. “Baby Come On With It” was a top-five most-added single the week it was released. For my money, the group delivered one of the best
MusicRow showcase performances. Natalie Stovall & The Drive record for
Skip Bishop’s new HitShop Records imprint.
The other showcasing artist at the event was the duo
Native Run. The members are Virginia natives
Rachel Beauregard and
Bryan Dawley. Signed to Show Dog Universal, they’re being produced by
Luke Laird and published as songwriters by Creative Nation and Combustion Music. They are also signed to Fusion Music.
Paste magazine has hailed Native Run as “The Best of What’s Next.”
“We’re so happy to be here,” said Rachel. The duo unleashed a sound that is youthful, ebullient, earnest and sincere. The band was ultra tight, and the team’s vocal harmonies are spot-on. Rachel’s stage presence is undeniably vivacious, and Bryan can really play that guitar he wields. Also: The songs are extremely well written. If first impressions are lasting impressions, Native Run has it made.
Gary Overton accepts Female Artist of the Year on behalf of Miranda Lambert.
Native Run thrills attendees. Photo: Bev Moser
of Huntingdon, TN said, “If it looks like I’m as lost as a new goose on the farm, it’s because I am.” Kelly was announced as
MusicRow’s radio-chart Reporter of the Year by Chart Director
Michael Smith. His station is—get ready—WEIO The Farm. Kelly spoke for the entire MR reporting panel by saying, “We play the new music first. If you don’t believe me, just ask Florida Georgia Line.” This is, indeed, the value of MR’s secondary stations. They break new artists, and the major markets follow.
Independent Artist of the Year Tracy Lawrence.
of
The Band Perry cheered, “We appreciate all of you.” Her trio was MR’s Group/Duo of the Year. “You’ve supported the heck out of our
Pioneer Tour.” The Band Perry next goes out on the road with Male Breakout winner
Blake Shelton. His award was accepted by his producer,
Scott Hendricks. The Female winner was Mrs. Blake,
Miranda Lambert, accepted by Sony head honcho
Gary Overton, sporting a sporty new buzz-cut.
Damon Moberly accepts Kacey Musgraves’ award for Breakout Artist.
Introduced this year was the Breakout Songwriter award.
Rodney Clawson had seven No. 1 songs on the MR chart last year. Guess who won? “Thank you all from country radio for playing the songs,” he said, “and my publisher and all my BMI friends.”
“It’s great to be an independent artist,” said
Tracy Lawrence. “We have a lot of freedom.” His spins on the MR chart earned him the Breakout Independent Artist award for the year.
This award is so remarkable and so deserved: Capitol Records Nashville was named the MR Label of the Year for the ninth consecutive, tenth overall, time. Superstar promoter
Steve Hodges accepted, lauding
Diane Richey for working the label’s singles for most of those years.
Kacey Musgraves won Breakout Artist. Mercury Records promo VP
Damon Moberly accepted, saying, “Thank you for being brave enough to play a female, because we don’t have enough of them these days.”
The crowded room was worked by
Mandy Barnett, Kelly Lang, Stephanie Grace and dozens of other baby indie acts, plus veteran singer-songwriter
Bernie Nelson. Kelly has a duet CD with hubby
T.G. Sheppard on the way. Bernie is working on a long-overdue CD as an artist. Why? “I was getting splinters on my ass from sitting on my porch.” Love him.
Adding to the schmoozing din were
David Wykoff, David Ross, Lee Smoot, Lee Richey, Becky Harris, Judy Harris, Mark Wright, Fletcher Foster, Steve O’Brien, Regina Stuve, Vanessa Parker, Pat Higdon, Cliff Doyall, Chuck Dauphin, Wes Vause, Dennis Banka, Bill Wence, Ed Salamon, Tom Baldrica, Preshias Harris, Susan Collier and
Paula Szeigis.
The beehive is buzz, buzz, buzzing.
Scott Hendricks accepts Blake Shelton’s award for Male Artist of the Year
Rodney Clawson receives inaugural Songwriter of the Year honors.
MusicRow CountryBreakout Reporter of the Year Kelly Green.
Google Fiber Could Be Coming to Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonThe service would mean that Nashville residents would have service including data transfer speed of 1 gigabit per second, as well as access to Google Fiber’s television service. With the high-speed connection, there is the possibility that more software developers and entrepreneurs could look to Nashville as a place to run a company.
The new offering is one that think-tank Flo {Thinkery} has been working on with Google for the past few years.
“We are pleased that Nashville is on a short list of cities that Google will be evaluating for its ultra-high speed Google Fiber broadband network,” says Nashville mayor Karl Dean. “Nashville is a fast-growing, vibrant city, and this announcement speaks to our momentum as a city of the future. Google is still in the early stages of looking at our city’s infrastructure, and we look forward to working with the company as they explore the possibility of bringing Google Fiber to Nashville.”
BMLG and CMT Radio Host Star-Studded CRS After-Hours Show
/by Eric T. ParkerThe Cadillac Three is joined by Thomas Rhett, Eli Young Band’s Mike Eli, and Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley.
Ready or not, CRS is off to another bold start this year. Last night (Feb. 18) Big Machine Label Group and CMT Radio proved after parties are no exception. The two powerhouse brands joined forces for night one, of two, at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. A full open bar and spread of finger food and dessert was adorned by steel link chain decorations, while plexiglass illuminated artist-themed tables dotted the schmoozing floor.
Pictured (L-R): Republic Nashville President/BMLG EVP Jimmy Harnen, Brian Kelley, BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta.
Founder/Pres./CEO of BMLG, Scott Borchetta welcomed the crowd with CMT After Midnite With Cody Alan’s, Cody Alan. During the event, Alan took the stage with CMT SVP of Music Strategy, Leslie Fram, to whet the radio crowd’s appetite for a weekend show planned by the radio giant.
The BMLG lineup included Rascal Flatts, Eli Young Band, Cadillac Three, and Tim McGraw. The absence of Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, due to a motocross injury, kept the duo from performing its previously scheduled slot. FGL’s Brian Kelley joined his labelmates onstage though.
The VIP crowd was treated to new music from nearly every act. Rascal Flatts tempted attendees with music, due May 13, including “Payback,” “Memphis,” “Night of our Lives” and current single “Rewind.” The Cadillac Three welcomed Kelley, Mike Eli and Thomas Rhett to the stage for the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 61-and-rising title, “The South.” Eli Young Band took to the room’s other stage, offering staples from its catalog as well as latest single “Dust” from album 10,000 Towns, due on March 4.
Pictured (L-R): CMT After Midnite’s Cody Alan, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Tim McGraw, and CMT’s John Hamlin and Anne Oakley.
BMLG’s Jimmy Harnen, Borchetta and Kelley led the audience in a Fireball whiskey round, delivering Hubbard’s “doctor’s note” and priming the audience for tonight’s festivities which will feature Justin Moore, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Danielle Bradbery and Vince Neil of Motley Crue. Borchetta plugged the heavy metal band’s final tour reiterating the finality of the forthcoming run, “Motley Crue legally signed a document stating they can never play again together.”
McGraw wrapped the evening, taking the stage with a music stand to hold new song lyrics. Around May 2014, a new album is expected to contain songs he previewed: “Overrated,” “Singin’ to the Radio (Shotgun Rider),” and “Keep on Truckin’.” Standout titles also included “City Lights,” about gazing at the diamond dusted lights of town in summertime with a slowly burning cigarette; and “Words of Medicine,” with lyrics speaking of the healing power of compassion and empathy.
Upon exit, attendees were gifted a memory foam and hydraluxe cooling bed pillow from Comfort Revolution with a note reading, “Rest Up & Stay Tuned for details…”
Photos: Rick Diamond
Urban To Join First US iTunes Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonKeith Urban
Apple has announced the first iTunes® Festival to be held in the US, which will run March 11-15. Taking place at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, home of Austin City Limits, the iTunes Festival at SXSW will feature Keith Urban, along with Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Pitbull, ZEDD and more to come. All five nights of the iTunes Festival will be available to enjoy for free as a live and on-demand stream via the iTunes Store® on iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, Mac® or PC. Performances can also be seen in the iTunes Festival app on iOS devices or with Apple TV.
“The iTunes Festival in London has become an incredible way for Apple to share its love of music with our customers,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We’re excited about the incredible lineup of artists performing and SXSW is the perfect place to debut the first iTunes Festival in the US.”
At the iTunes Festival in London over 400 artists have performed in front of more than 430,000 fans and tens of millions more online. Performances are available for purchase and download on the iTunes Store. For additional details on the lineup for the iTunes Festival check out itunes.com/festival.
Luke Bryan To Release Sixth 'Spring Break' Project in March
/by Jessica NicholsonBryan will play two free concerts at Spinnaker’s Beach Club in Panama City, Fla. on March 11 and 12 for the sixth consecutive year. Last year’s shows saw a two-day crowd total of 120,000 fans.
SPRING BREAK 6…LIKE WE AIN’T EVER
1. She Get Me High
2. Like We Ain’t Ever
3. Night One
4. Are You Leaving With Him
5. Good Lookin Girl
6. The Sand I Brought To The Beach
Bryan’s previous five Spring Break releases have sold over 750k copies. Last year’s album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country sales chart and earned him his first No. 1 album on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, selling 149,515 units its first week.
Warner/Chappell Music Nashville Signs Starzynski
/by Jessica NicholsonNatalia Starzynski
Warner/Chappell Music Nashville today announced that it has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Australian singer/songwriter Natalia Starzynski.
Starzynski was a member of ASCAP’s GPS Class of 2013, a program intended to develop Nashville’s most promising unsigned writers alongside members of the publishing community.
Bobby Karl Works 37th DJ Hall of Fame Induction
/by Bobby KarlBOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 448
Pictured (L-R): Ed Hardy, Jim Denny, Paul Schadt, Mike Brophy, Larry Wilson, Vince Gill, Bill Mayne
The current radio industry paused to honor its past as the Country Radio Seminar convention cranked up Tuesday evening (Feb. 18).
Staged at the old Nashville Convention Center, this was the 37th induction of Country DJ’s into their Hall of Fame. Note that I didn’t say “annual.” The event has a checkered past. Actually, it took many years for Country Radio Seminar to embrace it. There were no DJ inductions in 1986, 1987 and 1997. Organizers began adding radio executives to the Hall of Fame in 2001, but no one was inducted in 2004. This latter category will doubtless assume greater prominence in years to come since disc jockeys no longer have the personalities or the influence that they used to.
“This year marks a milestone,” said R.J. Curtis. It’s the Hall’s 40th anniversary.” Correct. The first inductions were in 1974.
One of the Hall’s founding fathers, Chuck Chellman, was there to see what his baby had grown up to become. That is, more than 500 people at a sit-down Convention Center banquet with a show that is professionally staged and managed.
Here’s a revelation: Chuck’s sister is Carol Mascolo, who is married to country-industry legend Ed Mascolo. I have known these people for years, yet never knew this.
At any rate, Ed is now with the management company Turner & Nichols & Associates, so he introduced me to the company’s new Republic signee Jackie Lee. Jackie is tall, friendly and handsome and is being produced by Carson Chamberlain, so those are good signs. I believe there is also a female “Jackie Lee” who competes on The Voice, which is not a good sign. Stay tuned.
Other artists working the room at this prestigious gig included J.T. Hodges, Mike Eli & James Young, Kellie Pickler, Jamie O’Neal and Jack Ingram.
Among the industry mavens schmoozing were Karen Clark, Karen Tallier, Charlie Chase, Charlie Cook, Dan Rogers, Dan Halyburton, Dan Hollander, Bobby Young, Bobby Craig, Robby Lynn, Bob Kingsley (who had a big doo-dah at the Opry House on Monday for his 40th anniversary of counting down the hits), Debbie Linn, Deborah Evans Price, Mike Wilson, Mike Hammond, Mike Kraski, Jimmy Murphy, Bill Mayne, Andrew Kintz, Chuck & Kelly Shultz (of Maverick magazine), Pete Fisher, Lon Helton, Kim Leslie, Phyllis Stark, Todd Cassetty, Lorianne Crook, Lisa Harless (whose Regions Bank sponsored the Green Room and is giving away an eco-friendly green bike during CRS, too), Cathy Martindale, Ed Morris, Tim McFadden, George Briner, Phil Sweetland, Rick Murray, Paul Allen and Sarah Trahern. Did you know that MR’s own Jessica Nicholson was once the intern of attendee Schatzi Hageman? Now you do.
CRS DJ Hall of Fame
The award ceremony was presented with surprising alacrity, and was mercifully free of long-winded speeches.
This year’s radio-exec inductees were Mike Brophey and Larry Wilson. Brophey is a veteran of 30 years in Boston and Philadelphia and is also a consultant. “Our format has become almost mind boggling in its strength,” he said. “This organization…really is a fraternity. It’s a real camaraderie that you don’t find anywhere else. The induction is beyond belief.”
Wilson has been a mogul at Citadel Communications and Alpha Broadcasting. “This [CRS] is what makes country music so great,” he observed. “I don’t think there’s ever been a better time than right now. I’m truly blessed to have done what I’ve done in my career.”
The on-air personalities inducted this year were Paul Schadt and Jim Denny. Schadt is the longest consecutive on-air personality in Charlotte, NC radio history. “Tonight is definitely the highlight of my professional career,” he said. He’s very much at his peak: He not only was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he is also the ACM major-market air personality of the year.
Denny had the most colorful induction. He’s the 25-year host of the morning show at WFMS in Indianapolis. He was introduced by his wife, Mimi Pearce, who is the traffic reporter on the show. How cool is that? Even cooler was the person doing the actual inducting. Denny is a bluegrass picker, and a 12-year-old fiddler named Alison Krauss was once a member of his band. She did the honors. “What a night, what a night,” he exclaimed. “I have been so lucky. I have worked with some of the best people in the world.” Also cool is the fact that he is an Indianapolis native, still working in his hometown.
The President’s Award went to Ed Hardy. You know him in Nashville as the former head of GAC and as the acting chairman of the CMA board. But Ed also has a solid radio background as an exec at stations in Cleveland, Portland, Louisville and Denver. He is the current chairman of the board of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and the past president of the board of the W.O. Smith Community Music School. Here’s something I didn’t know: good-guy Ed is a 20-year vet of the Army Reserves who has attained the rank of Major. Salute!
This year’s Career Achievement Award honoree was Vince Gill. “We’re here to honor this young man who has come of age before our very eyes,” said Rodney Crowell. “Hasn’t he done well?” added Emmylou Harris. “We’re proud to know you, Vince.” They sang “Go Rest High on That Mountain” in Vince’s honor.
“Life is good when your biggest heroes become your best friends,” said Vince. “What I want to share with all of you is sheer gratefulness for what you did for a kid. I made my first record 40 years ago. Radio stations where I grew up were kind enough to play that record. It gave me such hope that I could do this. I never forgot that feeling of when I first heard myself on the radio. I can still drive you to that spot. And I still feel that way….And I promise you I’m going to keep coming, beating on your door” with more music.
We dined on tender, medium-rare filet mignon, with broccoli and roasted squash and tomato slices, plus cheesy rice with cheesecake desserts. The wine was from The Dreaming Tree, the vineyard of pop star Dave Matthews. I had the white, and it was quite crisp and good.
The after party starred Rachele Lynae and Outshyne, plus Jamie O’Neal.
LifeNotes: Billy Adair
/by Robert K OermannBilly Adair
One of the Nashville jazz scene’s most beloved musicians died Tuesday (Feb. 18). Adair died at age 66 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, following a long battle with melanoma.
As an instrumentalist, Billy Adair was noted as a founding member of the big bands The Establishment and The Nashville Jazz Machine. As a composer, he created hundreds of national advertising jingles, winning more than 150 awards. As a teacher, he brought jazz studies to Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, which had previously emphasized mainly classical music.
As a sideman, Adair played on recording sessions by The Oak Ridge Boys, Brenda Lee, Waylon Jennings, Ronnie Milsap, George Strait, Alabama and more. He also toured with several Nashville stars. Adair was a multi-instrumentalist who was admired as much for his generosity of spirit, kindness, compassion and warmth as he was for his virtuoso playing.
A native of Franklin, Adair was the son of a piano-playing mother. He was fascinated with big-band music from an early age and bought his first guitar when he was a junior in high school. He was self-taught as a musician.
He became the vice president of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra’s executive board and the director of The Establishment. He began to teach at Blair in 2002 and became the school’s department chairman of jazz and folk music. The widely beloved teacher was a mentor to hundreds of musicians.
He was the husband of acclaimed jazz pianist Beegie Adair, a frequent collaborator.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts to the Billy Adair Fund for Jazz at the Blair School of Music, c/o Gift Processing, PMB 407727, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7727.
Bobby Karl Works 'MusicRow's' Country Radio Party
/by Bobby KarlThe Band Perry accepts the CountryBreakout Award for Group/Duo of the Year with MusicRow staff (L-R) Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson, Sr. News Editor Sarah Skates, and Chart Dir. Michael Smith. Photo by Bev Moser.
Chapter 447
That droning buzz you hear from downtown Nashville emanates from the constant schmoozing of the 2,400-plus attendees of this year’s Country Radio Seminar. These are radio people. They talk for a living. And they LOVE to talk. So go with the flow.
MusicRow’s “Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards” event was held Tuesday afternoon (2/18) and marked the 12th annual such gathering. A record-setting 666 people RSVP’d this year for the event at Margaritaville’s upstairs party spaces, so working the packed venue was pretty challenging.
The crowd was already at full schmoozola volume when MR’s Sherod Robertson took the stage to welcome one and all. “Looks like you’re having a fun time already,” he said to the thundering herd.
Natalie Stovall and The Drive performs. Photo by Bev Moser.
Steve Hodges accepts Capitol Nashville’s ninth consecutive award for Label of the Year.
Sherod introduced the convention’s first showcasing act, Natalie Stovall & The Drive. “Thank you guys so much,” said Natalie. They may be attending their first radio convention, but these folks play 200+ dates a year, and the experience shows.
The group’s zesty, driving country-rock sound was punched home via take-no-prisoners showmanship and personality. The Drive is a kick-ass band, and cascading-coiffed Natalie switched delightfully from guitar to mandolin to fiddle during its three-song set. The act concluded with its rollicking, barn-burning, radio-rising single “Baby Come On With It.”
Sherod told us that Natalie Stovall & The Drive has been named “Artist To Watch” by Country Weekly, Billboard and several other media outlets. It has been a “Highway Find” on Sirius/XM’s The Highway channel. “Baby Come On With It” was a top-five most-added single the week it was released. For my money, the group delivered one of the best MusicRow showcase performances. Natalie Stovall & The Drive record for Skip Bishop’s new HitShop Records imprint.
The other showcasing artist at the event was the duo Native Run. The members are Virginia natives Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley. Signed to Show Dog Universal, they’re being produced by Luke Laird and published as songwriters by Creative Nation and Combustion Music. They are also signed to Fusion Music. Paste magazine has hailed Native Run as “The Best of What’s Next.”
“We’re so happy to be here,” said Rachel. The duo unleashed a sound that is youthful, ebullient, earnest and sincere. The band was ultra tight, and the team’s vocal harmonies are spot-on. Rachel’s stage presence is undeniably vivacious, and Bryan can really play that guitar he wields. Also: The songs are extremely well written. If first impressions are lasting impressions, Native Run has it made.
Gary Overton accepts Female Artist of the Year on behalf of Miranda Lambert.
Native Run thrills attendees. Photo: Bev Moser
Kelly Green of Huntingdon, TN said, “If it looks like I’m as lost as a new goose on the farm, it’s because I am.” Kelly was announced as MusicRow’s radio-chart Reporter of the Year by Chart Director Michael Smith. His station is—get ready—WEIO The Farm. Kelly spoke for the entire MR reporting panel by saying, “We play the new music first. If you don’t believe me, just ask Florida Georgia Line.” This is, indeed, the value of MR’s secondary stations. They break new artists, and the major markets follow.
Independent Artist of the Year Tracy Lawrence.
Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry cheered, “We appreciate all of you.” Her trio was MR’s Group/Duo of the Year. “You’ve supported the heck out of our Pioneer Tour.” The Band Perry next goes out on the road with Male Breakout winner Blake Shelton. His award was accepted by his producer, Scott Hendricks. The Female winner was Mrs. Blake, Miranda Lambert, accepted by Sony head honcho Gary Overton, sporting a sporty new buzz-cut.
Damon Moberly accepts Kacey Musgraves’ award for Breakout Artist.
Introduced this year was the Breakout Songwriter award. Rodney Clawson had seven No. 1 songs on the MR chart last year. Guess who won? “Thank you all from country radio for playing the songs,” he said, “and my publisher and all my BMI friends.”
“It’s great to be an independent artist,” said Tracy Lawrence. “We have a lot of freedom.” His spins on the MR chart earned him the Breakout Independent Artist award for the year.
This award is so remarkable and so deserved: Capitol Records Nashville was named the MR Label of the Year for the ninth consecutive, tenth overall, time. Superstar promoter Steve Hodges accepted, lauding Diane Richey for working the label’s singles for most of those years.
Kacey Musgraves won Breakout Artist. Mercury Records promo VP Damon Moberly accepted, saying, “Thank you for being brave enough to play a female, because we don’t have enough of them these days.”
The crowded room was worked by Mandy Barnett, Kelly Lang, Stephanie Grace and dozens of other baby indie acts, plus veteran singer-songwriter Bernie Nelson. Kelly has a duet CD with hubby T.G. Sheppard on the way. Bernie is working on a long-overdue CD as an artist. Why? “I was getting splinters on my ass from sitting on my porch.” Love him.
Adding to the schmoozing din were David Wykoff, David Ross, Lee Smoot, Lee Richey, Becky Harris, Judy Harris, Mark Wright, Fletcher Foster, Steve O’Brien, Regina Stuve, Vanessa Parker, Pat Higdon, Cliff Doyall, Chuck Dauphin, Wes Vause, Dennis Banka, Bill Wence, Ed Salamon, Tom Baldrica, Preshias Harris, Susan Collier and Paula Szeigis.
The beehive is buzz, buzz, buzzing.
Scott Hendricks accepts Blake Shelton’s award for Male Artist of the Year
Rodney Clawson receives inaugural Songwriter of the Year honors.
MusicRow CountryBreakout Reporter of the Year Kelly Green.
WMG Partners With Shazam To Sign New Artists
/by Jessica NicholsonThe global partnership will create a connection between music fans, emerging artists, and WMG’s A&R teams. The Shazam label imprint will identify unsigned artists for support and development by combining WMG’s global A&R expertise with Shazam’s proprietary fan activity data. At the same time, the app’s unique promotional channels will empower artists to directly engage with fans who Shazamed them, enabling fans to continue to champion the artist they helped discover.
“By partnering with Shazam, a brand which is synonymous with music discovery for fans all around the world, we have forged a potent proposition: the first crowd-sourced, big data record label,” said Rob Wiesenthal, COO/Corporate, Warner Music Group. “While data and crowd sourced analyses will never be a substitute for the expertise and instincts of our A&R professionals, we do believe the information we obtain for this new label will provide very useful signals that will bolster our ability to find the stars of tomorrow.”
In addition, WMG’s family of labels will offer new ways for their rosters of established and up-and-coming acts to connect with Shazam’s enormous community of 420 million users in 200 countries. WMG labels will receive enhanced deep data on fan behavior for WMG acts and be able to launch specially tailored promotional campaigns. In turn, WMG will provide Shazam with exclusive content and other benefits to augment the user experience, providing even more reasons for fans to make the app their destination for news about their favorite acts.
Initial projects activated under the alliance have already included Shazam’s first video premiere with Chromeo’s ‘Come Alive’ and Shazam’s first single premiere via its News Feed with Wiz Khalifa’s ‘We Dem Boyz’.
“We are excited to enter into a next-generation partnership with Warner Music Group. Every minute of the day, people around the world Shazam over 10,000 songs, giving us incredible insight into what songs are trending and allowing us to discover future hits. Combining Shazam’s proprietary data with WMG’s A&R expertise will yield fantastic results,” said Rich Riley, CEO, Shazam. “We are also eager to use our deep data and advanced promotional solutions combined with exclusive content from WMG to help artists engage with their fans and sell more music.”
Weekly Register: It's Time For Church
/by Michael_SmithAlbums
YTD, both overall and Country album sales are down 15.9 percent. Around the same time last year, Mumford and Sons’ Babel was the top overall album, selling 185k units, while Taylor Swift’s RED reigned as the No. 1 Country album, selling 72k units.
Tracks
Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” is the top overall track, selling 329k units this week (1.3 million RTD). YTD, overall track sales are down 11.8 percent, while Country track sales are down 17.7 percent. Around the same time last year, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” was the top overall track, selling 316k units, while Hunter Hayes’ “Wanted” stood as the No. 1 Country track with 85k units sold.
Next week’s numbers will include MusicRow inaugural Challenge Coin winner Cole Swindell’s self-titled debut album.