When you have so many cool newcomers that it is hard to pick your award winner, that is a good day. This week marks the DisClaimer column debuts of Erica Hoyt, Leather & Lace and Chad Sullins & The Last Call Coalition. Any or all of them could be the DisCovery Award winner. With a toss of the coin, I’m giving the award to the family band, Leather & Lace.
Many of the rest of the discs reviewed here are flawed in one way or another. Miranda Lambert’s song doesn’t scan terribly well. Florida Georgia Line’s single with Luke Bryan is hardly a song at all. Maggie Rose has a terrific lyric, but can’t seem to deliver it with apt emotion. The only true piece of perfection is the Clinton Gregory/Collin Raye effort “Some Real Good People.” I’d give it some kind of song award if anybody had bothered to tell me who wrote it.
That leaves us with the disc which is offering something that’s always reliable, a grand vocalist performing classic songs. The Disc of the Day prize goes to the always classy Suzy Bogguss.
JJ LAWHORN/Good Ol’ Boys Like Us
Writer: Jonathan Lawhorn; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publishers: EMI April/Songs of Hanover Holler/You Gotta Want It, ASCAP; Average Joe’s
-I still like his drawling accent, and this is his best written song to date. Once you get past the premise that God has a special place in Heaven for guys splattering mud in pickup trucks.
CLINTON GREGORY & COLLIN RAYE/Some Real Good People
Writer: none listed; Producers: Tammy Hyler/Larry Beaird; Publishers: none listed; Melody Roundup
-You wouldn’t think these two voices would go together, but they do. And what both men share is an appreciation for a well-written message song. Which this driving, uplifting number most certainly is. Richly deserving of massive airplay.
SUZY BOGGUSS/I Always Get Lucky With You
Writers: Merle Haggard/Gary Church/Freddy Powers/Bobby Whitson; Producers: Suzy Bogguss/Doug Crider; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Shade Tree, BMI; Loyal Duchess
-There is something about this woman’s voice that I have always found completely captivating. Her trademark lustrous warmth is all over Lucky, her just-released collection of Merle Haggard songs. She gives this 1983 George Jones hit co-written by the Hag a sweetly bluesy lilt that makes it sound brand new. This whole album is an audio gift with its emphasis on simple arrangements and pristine instrumental solos as well as its songs and their singer.
MAGGIE ROSE/Looking Back Now
Writer: Lisa Carver; Producers: Blake Chancey/James Stroud/Stephony Smith; Publishers: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Big Alpha Writers Group, ASCAP; RPM (track)
-This tale of betrayal, murder and prison execution is pretty dang cool. Her delivery of it, however, is bafflingly “sunny.” The purse doesn’t match the shoes.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE & LUKE BRYAN/This Is How We Roll
Writers: Brian Kelley/Tyler Hubbard/Cole Swindell/Luke Bryan; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: Big Loud Mountain/Big Loud Bucks/Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill, BMI; Republic Nashville
-Catchy bro country with beats to spare and a repetitive, repetitive, repetitive chorus that infects your mind.
Erica Hoyt
-He sings in a macho, world-weary baritone, and the band backs him with an appropriately muscular tone. Steel, electric guitar, organ and percussion are as important here as the wandering-man lyric. The album is titled
Wicked Spell, and it casts one. Very promising.
MIRANDA LAMBERT/Automatic
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Nicolle Galyon/Natalie Hemby; Producers: Frank Liddell/Chuck Ainlay/Glenn Worf; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Warner-Tamerlane/EMI Blackwood/Wruckestrike, BMI; RCA
-The thrilling track churns and froths and foams all around her. Amid the excitement, Lambert yearns for a simpler time when everything wasn’t automatic. The song is somewhat word-y and hardly ever rhymes, but I guarantee you’ll hang on every line.
ERICA HOYT/Love Me For Me
Writers: Armstrong/Hoyt/Rossebo/Waters; Producers: Jon Armstrong/Ryan Rossebo; Publisher: none listed; EH (track)
-Sweet and girl-y. Well produced, well written and well sung. But you might want to double check your insulin level before listening.
KELLIE PICKLER/Closer To Nowhere
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wade Kirby/Phil O’Donnell; Producers: Luke Wooten/Frank Liddell; Publishers: none listed; Black River (track)
-La Pickler’s latest is a rhythmic sultry suggestion about going out, making out, acting out or just being alone together. I remain a huge fan, and this sensuous song is splendid.
Leather & Lace
-This is a sibling band of three brothers and a sister, so the CD is titled
Family Tree. On its kick-off single, the sound is faintly menacing, minor-key, “outlaw” country rock, and the lyric has a roulette-wheel gambling romantic theme. Hot stuff.
Parmalee's "Carolina" Triumphs After Long Journey To Top of Charts
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (back L-R): Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Broken Bow/Stoney Creek Records’ Carson James, producer Kurt Allison, Broken Bow/Stoney Creek Records’ Jon Loba and Benny Brown, producer Tully Kennedy, Gallo & Landers Music’s Jim Landers, producer David Fanning, BMI’s Bradley Collins, Buddy Lee Attractions’ Kevin Neal, Revelry Music Group’s AJ Burton, Gallo & Landers Music’s Greg Gallo; (front l-r) co-writer Richard Beato and Parmalee’s Scott Thomas, Matt Thomas, Josh McSwain and Barry Knox. Photo credit: Steve Lowry
BMI celebrated the team behind North Carolina band Parmalee’s two-week No. 1 hit “Carolina” Tuesday (Feb. 11) at the company’s offices in Nashville. Written by Richard Beato and Parmalee’s Scott Thomas, Matt Thomas, Josh McSwain and Barry Knox, the song earned all five writers their first No. 1 song. It has been a long journey for the band, but a fulfilling one. In February 2011, the band performed a final showcase for Stoney Creek Records, after enduring a near-fatal robbery attempt that severely injured Scott Thomas. “The label waited for Scott to heal, and we came down to do another full showcase [before signing Parmalee to a deal]. We are definitely a family band, and so we found the perfect family for us,” said his brother and bandmate Matt.
Among those celebrating were BMI’s Jody Williams, Bradley Collins, Sony-ATV’s Tom Luteran, BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records’ Benny Brown, Jon Loba, Chris Loss and Carson James and the entire promotions staff. “All No. 1 records are fights,” said Loba. “This one had a long journey, but represents how much this team cared about the artist and the song.” The song spent 44 weeks on its slow journey to the top of the charts, including several weeks at No. 40. “I don’t think anyone has seen a song chart quite like this,” said James. “We bought real estate at the No. 40 spot. The song fell off the chart twice and had to be put back on, but our staff was tenacious, and it paid off.”
The song marked the third No. 1 tune for production company New Voice Entertainment’s Rich Redmond, Kurt Allison, David Fanning, and Tully Kennedy. Publishers on the songs include Lonely Runer Music, B Knox Music, Slip Joint Music, Pooskie Music, Boogall Music and Revelry Music.
Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox announced that Avenue Bank would be making a donation to North Carolina Children’s Hospital.
Sidewalk Records' Dylan Scott Releases Self-Titled EP
/by Jessica NicholsonDylan Scott
Sidewalk Records recording artist Dylan Scott released his five-song EP Tuesday (Feb. 11) on iTunes.
Scott’s current single “Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy” has garnered nearly 50,000 downloads to date, and is getting consistent airplay on SiriusXM The Highway.
Tracks on the EP include:
1. Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy
2. Catch Me If You Can
3. Hurtin’ In The Morning
4. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm
5. Twanging On My Heartstrings
For more information, visit dylanscottmusic.com.
Snapshots (2/12/14)
/by Sarah SkatesNatalie Stovall and the Drive In New Orleans
WNOE welcomed HitShop’s Natalie Stovall and the Drive to the Big Easy where they performed at The Howlin’ Wolf. The band has been motoring in high gear after getting 42 first week radio adds. HitShop President Skip Bishop insisted that showcasing the band live would pave the group’s highway to success, and it appears the strategy is working.
(L-R): WNOE’s Don Gosselin and Mary Steele; the band’s Joel Dormer; WNOE’s Nina Hazard; the band’s James Bavendam; WNOE’s Jeanne LaCombe; the band’s Zach Morse, Natalie Stovall and Miguel Cancino; WNOE’s Brad Howell and Lindsey Luquette; HitShop President Skip Bishop; WNOE’s Megan Parenti; and HitShop’s Kim Stephens.
Suzy Bogguss Debuts Music
Members of the press and Music Row came together to hear new music from country artist Suzy Bogguss this week at BMI’s Nashville office. Bogguss played an intimate set of tunes from her new album, Lucky, a collection of reinterpreted Merle Haggard songs.
(L-R): Joy Emery, legendary country disc jockey Ralph Emery, Bogguss, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry
Irene Kelley Offers Bluegrass Collection
Established singer-songwriter Irene Kelley celebrated the Feb. 11 release of her new collection, Pennsylvania Coal, with a show at The Bluebird Cafe. Joining her were special guests on the project Jerry Salley, Claire Lynch, and Carl Jackson. The bluegrass album on Patio Records is a tribute to her coal-mining grandfather. It was produced by Grammy Award-winner Mark Fain, and also features Rhonda Vincent, Dale Ann Bradley, Darren Vincent, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton and Trisha Yearwood.
(L-R): Irene Kelley with Jerry Salley, Claire Lynch, and Carl Jackson
Mason Named GM Of Edgehill Music Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonKevin Mason
Larry Pareigis, President, Nine North/Turnpike Music has promoted Kevin Mason to the role of General Manager for Edgehill Music Nashville.” Edgehill Music Nashville, as the newest member of the Nine North/Turnpike Music family, will fill the need for an entry level company for independent Country artists desiring to pursue MusicRow radio and other secondary radio outlets,” says Mason.
The new company will offer radio promotion, social media, publicity, marketing, management, web design, consulting and other services on an a la carte basis, much like its related divisions, Nine North and Turnpike Music.
Mason can be reached at kevin@edgehillmusic.com.
The company’s initial artist signings are Knoxville-based entertainer Homer Hart, Chicago-native singer/songwriter Elisa Grace and former EMI artist Dana McVicker.
SESAC Promotes Pitt-Sholar To Sr. Director of Operations, Business Affairs
/by Jessica NicholsonTeresa Pitt-Sholar
SESAC has promoted Teresa Pitt-Sholar to Senior Director of Operations, Business Affairs. In the new position, Pitt-Sholar will oversee the domestic and international management of affiliate content for SESAC writers and publishers. Additionally, she will serve as business operations liaison to the systems development team and will work closely with other SESAC departments in the processing and execution of affiliate agreements and other legal documents.
“During her tenure at SESAC, Teresa has proven herself to be a leader and an invaluable member of our SESAC team,” said Dennis Lord, SESAC’s Executive Vice President. “As Senior Director of Operations for Business Affairs, I know Teresa will continue the tradition of excellence we maintain in that department and throughout all of SESAC. I expect continued accomplishments and growth under her leadership.”
Pitt-Sholar joined SESAC in 2002, after working in the Accounting department at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and after working as an independent tour manager for several artists. Before transferring to the Business Affairs department in 2007, Pitt-Sholar worked in SESAC’s Accounting department. In April 2010, she was promoted to Director of Business Affairs.
Established in 1930, SESAC is a service organization created to serve both the creators of music and music users through music licensing and timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. Headquartered in Nashville, the company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London.
Weekly Register: Eric Paslay's Noteworthy Debut
/by Michael_SmithAlbums
Two albums are enjoying a noteworthy surge in sales this week. Sales for Vince Gill and Paul Franklin’s Bakersfield soared 88 percent this week (3.2k last week, 6.1k this week), jumping to No. 7 on the chart (No. 47 overall) with 56k units sold RTD. Additionally, sales for Bruno Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox continue to rise following the singer’s Super Bowl XLVII halftime performance, increasing 92 percent this week (42k last week, 81k this week), moving to No. 3 with more than 2 million units sold RTD.
Florida Georgia Line’s Here’s To The Good Times is the top Country album (No. 19 overall), selling 14k units this week and 1.6 million RTD. Now 49 by Various Artists is the top overall album, debuting with 98k units sold. In comparison, Now 48 sold 114k units when it debuted in November 2013. YTD, overall album sales are down 14.8 percent, while Country album sales are down 20 percent. Around the same time last year, Josh Groban’s All That Echoes debuted, selling 145k units, while Tim McGraw’s Two Lanes of Freedom debuted, selling 107k units.
Tracks
Katy Perry and Juicy’s “Dark Horse” reigns over the competition, remaining at No. 1 with another 291k units sold this week (2.9 million RTD). YTD, overall track sales are down 11.4 percent, while Country track sales are down 17.1 percent. Around the same time last year, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” sold 300k units (2.6 million RTD), while McGraw and Taylor Swift’s “Highway Don’t Care” debuted with 86k units sold.
Next week’s numbers will include Eric Church’s The Outsiders, Frankie Ballard’s Sunshine & Whiskey and The Civil Wars’ Between the Bars.
Eventbrite Establishes Nashville Operation
/by Sarah Skates“Eventbrite’s decision to expand into Nashville is indicative of how we are becoming a top city for driving innovation and tech talent,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said.
Founded in 2006, Eventbrite has offices in the U.K. and Latin America. Nashville was one of several cities in the running for the latest Eventbrite hiring efforts.
“We are so excited about launching a new team in Nashville,” said Rachael Neumann, Eventbrite’s director of customer experience strategy. “Nashville is a hotbed for tech savvy talent, culture, and the ‘make it happen spirit’ we look for when hiring.”
Bridging the gap between the Southeast and Silicon Valley has been a goal of many Nashville organizations. Launch Tennessee, a public-private partnership for the state and organizers of the Southland technology conference, recently visited Silicon Valley in order to form more partnerships for the state of Tennessee. “This announcement is exactly what we’ve been working toward,” said Launch Tennessee CEO Charlie Brock. “Eventbrite’s local presence is a prime opportunity for us to tap into those Silicon Valley assets and a way to implement them into our tech and startup culture. We hope to see additional partnerships between Nashville and San Francisco this year.”
To find out more about the available positions with Eventbrite, visit www.eventbrite.com/jobs.
Curb Music Publishing Extends Agreement with Songwriter Leathers
/by Jessica NicholsonJoe Leathers
Curb Music Publishing has extended its exclusive worldwide music publishing agreement with Joe Leathers. Leathers, a staff writer for Curb since 2003, has had songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Lee Brice, Tim McGraw, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Houser, Thompson Square, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Dunn, Clay Walker, including three Top 10 singles- “Still” (McGraw), “Tough” (Craig Morgan) and “Where I’m From” (Jason Michael Carroll).
“We are incredibly honored to have Joe Leathers as a staff writer at Curb Music Publishing, and we look forward to building off of his already proven success,” says Curb VP of Publishing, Drew Alexander.
Leathers, a native of Memphis, Tenn., has spent time as a Golden Gloves boxer, NCAA Division I football player, airplane pilot, motocross racer, guitarist of the Memphis club circuit, husband, father of four and currently holds the position of Sr. VP and Branch Manager at Stifel Financial in Memphis, Tenn.
DISClaimer (2/12/14)
/by Robert K OermannMany of the rest of the discs reviewed here are flawed in one way or another. Miranda Lambert’s song doesn’t scan terribly well. Florida Georgia Line’s single with Luke Bryan is hardly a song at all. Maggie Rose has a terrific lyric, but can’t seem to deliver it with apt emotion. The only true piece of perfection is the Clinton Gregory/Collin Raye effort “Some Real Good People.” I’d give it some kind of song award if anybody had bothered to tell me who wrote it.
That leaves us with the disc which is offering something that’s always reliable, a grand vocalist performing classic songs. The Disc of the Day prize goes to the always classy Suzy Bogguss.
JJ LAWHORN/Good Ol’ Boys Like Us
Writer: Jonathan Lawhorn; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publishers: EMI April/Songs of Hanover Holler/You Gotta Want It, ASCAP; Average Joe’s
-I still like his drawling accent, and this is his best written song to date. Once you get past the premise that God has a special place in Heaven for guys splattering mud in pickup trucks.
CLINTON GREGORY & COLLIN RAYE/Some Real Good People
Writer: none listed; Producers: Tammy Hyler/Larry Beaird; Publishers: none listed; Melody Roundup
-You wouldn’t think these two voices would go together, but they do. And what both men share is an appreciation for a well-written message song. Which this driving, uplifting number most certainly is. Richly deserving of massive airplay.
SUZY BOGGUSS/I Always Get Lucky With You
Writers: Merle Haggard/Gary Church/Freddy Powers/Bobby Whitson; Producers: Suzy Bogguss/Doug Crider; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Shade Tree, BMI; Loyal Duchess
-There is something about this woman’s voice that I have always found completely captivating. Her trademark lustrous warmth is all over Lucky, her just-released collection of Merle Haggard songs. She gives this 1983 George Jones hit co-written by the Hag a sweetly bluesy lilt that makes it sound brand new. This whole album is an audio gift with its emphasis on simple arrangements and pristine instrumental solos as well as its songs and their singer.
MAGGIE ROSE/Looking Back Now
Writer: Lisa Carver; Producers: Blake Chancey/James Stroud/Stephony Smith; Publishers: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Big Alpha Writers Group, ASCAP; RPM (track)
-This tale of betrayal, murder and prison execution is pretty dang cool. Her delivery of it, however, is bafflingly “sunny.” The purse doesn’t match the shoes.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE & LUKE BRYAN/This Is How We Roll
Writers: Brian Kelley/Tyler Hubbard/Cole Swindell/Luke Bryan; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: Big Loud Mountain/Big Loud Bucks/Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill, BMI; Republic Nashville
-Catchy bro country with beats to spare and a repetitive, repetitive, repetitive chorus that infects your mind.
Erica Hoyt
CHAD SULLINS & THE LAST CALL COALITION/Couple 1,000 Miles
Writer: Chad Sullins; Producer: Mike McClure; Publisher: Madcor; no performance rights listed; Madcor (track)
-He sings in a macho, world-weary baritone, and the band backs him with an appropriately muscular tone. Steel, electric guitar, organ and percussion are as important here as the wandering-man lyric. The album is titled Wicked Spell, and it casts one. Very promising.
MIRANDA LAMBERT/Automatic
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Nicolle Galyon/Natalie Hemby; Producers: Frank Liddell/Chuck Ainlay/Glenn Worf; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Warner-Tamerlane/EMI Blackwood/Wruckestrike, BMI; RCA
-The thrilling track churns and froths and foams all around her. Amid the excitement, Lambert yearns for a simpler time when everything wasn’t automatic. The song is somewhat word-y and hardly ever rhymes, but I guarantee you’ll hang on every line.
ERICA HOYT/Love Me For Me
Writers: Armstrong/Hoyt/Rossebo/Waters; Producers: Jon Armstrong/Ryan Rossebo; Publisher: none listed; EH (track)
-Sweet and girl-y. Well produced, well written and well sung. But you might want to double check your insulin level before listening.
KELLIE PICKLER/Closer To Nowhere
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wade Kirby/Phil O’Donnell; Producers: Luke Wooten/Frank Liddell; Publishers: none listed; Black River (track)
-La Pickler’s latest is a rhythmic sultry suggestion about going out, making out, acting out or just being alone together. I remain a huge fan, and this sensuous song is splendid.
Leather & Lace
LEATHER & LACE/Red
Writers: Sam Tinnesz/Jennifer Zuffinetti/Blake Bollinger/Lisa Carver; Producer: Kim Copeland; Publishers: none listed; Leather & Lace
-This is a sibling band of three brothers and a sister, so the CD is titled Family Tree. On its kick-off single, the sound is faintly menacing, minor-key, “outlaw” country rock, and the lyric has a roulette-wheel gambling romantic theme. Hot stuff.
MusicRowRecess: 'Achy Breaky 2'
/by Sarah Skates