Photo: Dennis Viera, people.com
Musician
Chris Thile of the Punch Brothers wed actress
Claire Coffee (NBC’s
Grimm) during an intimate ceremony on Dec. 23, according to
People.com.
The couple wed at Blackberry Farms, a resort in Walland, Tennessee. The ceremony included immediate family and grandparents of the couple, as well as
Rob Moose of Bon Iver, who played violin before the couple said their vows.
The resort is a popular spot for musicians, as both
Kelly Clarkson and
Ashley Monroe recently held their respective weddings at the same location.
• • •
Florida Georgia Line
After performing an energy audit of
Florida Georgia Line‘s first major headlining tour, JustGreen purchased carbon offsets to offset the carbon emissions. Florida Georgia Line’s sold-out
Here’s To the Good Times 2013 Tour included 32 cities nationwide. This is part of the year-long commitment JustGreen made to offset the carbon footprint of 4,000 Live Nation concerts across the country. Additionally, Live Nation took part in a nationwide sweepstakes. FGL fan and sweepstakes winner
Cassandra Estojak and a guest flew to West Palm Beach, Fla., to plant trees with FGL’s
Brian Kelley and
Tyler Hubbard before they took the stage at the Cruzan Amphitheatre.
“We had a great time meeting our lucky winner, Cassandra in West Palm Beach, planting a tree and learning more about JustGreen and how we can help spread awareness of the cause to help our planet,” said FGL’s Hubbard.
“We have offset 4,000 Live Nation concerts in 2013 including two complete tours-the Florida Georgia Line tour and Portugal. The Man,” says
GP Manalac, EVP JustGreen. “Being able to work with amazing talent like Florida Georgia Line to help encourage the music industry and concertgoers to make greener lifestyle choices is a great opportunity for us all to make a positive impact on the environment.”
• • •
Pictured (L-R): Brett Eldredge with Paris, Ill. Mayor Craig Smith. Photo credit Cathy Drake Photography.
Atlantic Records artist and Paris, Ill., native,
Brett Eldredge, was recently honored in a hometown ceremony at “Brett Eldredge Day.” Over 2,000 people, in a town with less than 10,000 residents, attended the event. The singer was recognized for his achievements in Country music. Eldredge received a proclamation from Illinois Governor
Pat Quinn and was honored with new town signs reading “Home of Nashville Recording Artist Brett Eldredge.” His management also sponsored a fund drive for Compassionate Food International.
• • •
Lauren Alaina visits a patient at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. Photo Credit: Angelynn Tinsley, Edwards Photography
Mercury Nashville / 19 / Interscope recording artist
Lauren Alaina recently made a surprise visit to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt through one of
Musicians On Call’s (MOC) weekly Bedside Performance Programs. Alaina spent time with each of the families, learning about their own holiday traditions. She also performed “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Clause is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Silent Night.”
Country Music Hall of Fame Has Full Slate of January Events
/by Lorie HollabaughA full schedule of events is listed below. All events are included with museum admission, and are free to museum members unless otherwise noted.
Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014
11:30 a.m.
Songwriter Session w/Kim Richey
Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014
1 p.m.
Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration w/Carco Clavé
Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014
11:30 a.m.
Songwriter Session w/Kristy Osmunson and Jon Stone of American Young
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014
1 p.m.
Banjo Demonstration w/Blake Williams
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014
11:30 a.m.
Songwriter Session w/Marcus Hummon
11:00 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Family Program: Musical Petting Zoo
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014
11:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. (FREE)
Make Letterpress Art with Hatch Show Print
1 p.m.
Banjo Demonstration: Ned Luberecki
Weekly Register: Garth’s ‘Roots’ Remain No. 1
/by Michael_SmithThe name of the game last week was consistency, with no major debuts and the top four Country albums the same as the prior week. Garth Brooks’ Blame It All On My Roots (Pearl Records Inc.) was the top Country album again (No. 2 overall), selling 199k units last week (681k RTD). The singer will play two full band shows in Las Vegas New Year’s weekend.
Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up” was the top Country track and the top Country debut last week (No. 18 overall), selling 63k units. Pitbull and Ke$ha’s “Timber” regained its spot as the top overall track, selling another 212k units last week (1.5 million RTD). YTD, overall track sales were down 5 percent, while Country track sales were down .6 percent.
No noteworthy debuts will be released this week – the second to final week of 2013 – as the industry slips into a winter freeze.
LifeNotes: Bradley 'Slim' Williamson
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Ronnie McDowell and Slim Williamson
Bradley “Slim” Williamson, of Jefferson, Ga., died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. He was 86.
Williamson is the father of Starstruck executive Cliff Williamson. Williamson developed one of Country’s first major independent labels, Chart Records, which was founded in 1964. Williamson was credited with discovering Lynn Anderson, Junior Samples, and Ronnie McDowell, among others, and produced numerous Top 10 records on the charts during the ’60s and ’70s.
He also developed publishing companies including Yonah Music, which was later sold to Acuff-Rose Publishing and published songs including Merle Haggard‘s “Strangers” during the course of his career.
Kenny Rogers Children's Center Undergoes Expansion
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Rogers
The Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in Sikeston, Mo., which provides occupational, physical, and speech therapies to children, recently underwent a 7,000-square-foot expansion. Included in the expansion is a Motional Analysis Lab, which is currently the only one in the state of Missouri.
The Center has also been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. With the help of this grant, the center is able to serve more than 350 children with special needs, up to the age of 21, at no charge to the families.
“I am thrilled by the support that the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center continues to receive, and I think this grant speaks to the level of quality the staff has achieved. I am so proud to be associated with this center and the community,” said Rogers. “The center continues to provide such a wonderful service for families, at no cost to them. In an effort to keep it all going, I will be coming back to Sikeston in 2014 for a fundraising event. I hope to see you all there.”
Since its inception in 1973, the 17,000-square-foot facility continues to grow and has become one of the county’s premiere facilities for children’s care.
Artist Updates (12/30/13)
/by Jessica NicholsonPhoto: Dennis Viera, people.com
Musician Chris Thile of the Punch Brothers wed actress Claire Coffee (NBC’s Grimm) during an intimate ceremony on Dec. 23, according to People.com.
The couple wed at Blackberry Farms, a resort in Walland, Tennessee. The ceremony included immediate family and grandparents of the couple, as well as Rob Moose of Bon Iver, who played violin before the couple said their vows.
The resort is a popular spot for musicians, as both Kelly Clarkson and Ashley Monroe recently held their respective weddings at the same location.
• • •
Florida Georgia Line
After performing an energy audit of Florida Georgia Line‘s first major headlining tour, JustGreen purchased carbon offsets to offset the carbon emissions. Florida Georgia Line’s sold-out Here’s To the Good Times 2013 Tour included 32 cities nationwide. This is part of the year-long commitment JustGreen made to offset the carbon footprint of 4,000 Live Nation concerts across the country. Additionally, Live Nation took part in a nationwide sweepstakes. FGL fan and sweepstakes winner Cassandra Estojak and a guest flew to West Palm Beach, Fla., to plant trees with FGL’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard before they took the stage at the Cruzan Amphitheatre.
“We had a great time meeting our lucky winner, Cassandra in West Palm Beach, planting a tree and learning more about JustGreen and how we can help spread awareness of the cause to help our planet,” said FGL’s Hubbard.
“We have offset 4,000 Live Nation concerts in 2013 including two complete tours-the Florida Georgia Line tour and Portugal. The Man,” says GP Manalac, EVP JustGreen. “Being able to work with amazing talent like Florida Georgia Line to help encourage the music industry and concertgoers to make greener lifestyle choices is a great opportunity for us all to make a positive impact on the environment.”
• • •
Pictured (L-R): Brett Eldredge with Paris, Ill. Mayor Craig Smith. Photo credit Cathy Drake Photography.
Atlantic Records artist and Paris, Ill., native, Brett Eldredge, was recently honored in a hometown ceremony at “Brett Eldredge Day.” Over 2,000 people, in a town with less than 10,000 residents, attended the event. The singer was recognized for his achievements in Country music. Eldredge received a proclamation from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and was honored with new town signs reading “Home of Nashville Recording Artist Brett Eldredge.” His management also sponsored a fund drive for Compassionate Food International.
• • •
Lauren Alaina visits a patient at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. Photo Credit: Angelynn Tinsley, Edwards Photography
Mercury Nashville / 19 / Interscope recording artist Lauren Alaina recently made a surprise visit to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt through one of Musicians On Call’s (MOC) weekly Bedside Performance Programs. Alaina spent time with each of the families, learning about their own holiday traditions. She also performed “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Clause is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Silent Night.”
Country station WIVK Gets Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame Honor
/by Jessica NicholsonFormer WIVK Owner/GM Jim Dick is included in the 2014 Legacy category for this year’s inductees into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. The induction banquet and ceremony for the 2014 Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame will be held May 3, 2014 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Individual tickets are $65, or tables of 10 can be purchased for $595.00. For more information, go to Tennesseehalloffame.wildapricot.org.
Where Will You Be Rockin' New Year's Eve?
/by Eric T. ParkerMusic City is prepared to host its fifth annual New Year’s Eve Bash on Broadway, downtown, between 1st and 5th Ave. The shindig will feature free live music, fireworks and Music City’s own midnight Music Note Drop beginning at 6:30 p.m. Live music will continue throughout the night, even after the countdown to the New Year with the Music Note Drop and fireworks happening in the midnight hour.
Nashville’s celebrity performances will include headlining act Hank Williams Jr., featuring pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, along with performances from Brett Eldredge, Blackberry Smoke, Kopecky Family Band and Striking Matches.
For indoor celebrations, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will be hosted from both U.S. coasts, with Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy in New York City, while Fergie rings in the new year from the west. Florida Georgia Line will be in attendance for Fergie’s feed alongside Capital Cities, Daughtry, Jason Derulo, Fall Out Boy, Florida Georgia Line, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, Robin Thicke and The Fray. Miley Cyrus Blondie, Icona Pop and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will all be broadcast from the Eastern time zone in the Big Apple.
Stay safe, and have a happy New Year from MusicRow!
Rewind: 2013 MusicRow Chart No.1s
/by Michael_SmithThe Band Perry
For over a decade, MusicRow’s Chart has crowned No. 1 songs in the Country radio marketplace, celebrating 44 chart-topping songs in 2013. MusicRow congratulates each artist, songwriter and label for its accomplishments this year.
The Band Perry cast a wide shadow over MusicRow’s Chart this year and proved that good things really do come in threes. The family trio saw three singles hold the No. 1 spot, with their hit “Better Dig Two” sitting at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks, longer than any other song this year. The Band Perry’s Big Machine labelmates Tim McGraw and Florida Georgia Line also enjoyed three No. 1 singles this year.
The 12th Annual MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart Awards, based on radio airplay reported by stations on MusicRow’s radio panel, will be held during CRS in February.
MusicRow Chart No.1 Songs of 2013
1/10, Little Big Town “Tornado” Capitol Nashville
1/17-31, The Band Perry “Better Dig Two” Republic Nashville
2/7, Tim McGraw “One Of Those Nights” Big Machine
2/14, Carrie Underwood “Two Black Cadillacs” Arista Nashville
2/21, Taylor Swift “Begin Again” Big Machine
2/28, Kacey Musgraves “Merry Go Round” Mercury Nashville
3/7, Blake Shelton “Sure Be Cool If You Did” Warner Bros.
3/14, Lee Brice “I Drive Your Truck” Curb Records
3/21, Chris Young “I Can Take It From There” RCA Nashville
3/38, Lady Antebellum “Downtown” Capitol Nashville
4/4, Miranda Lambert “Mama’s Broken Heart” RCA Nashville
4/11, Florida Georgia Line “Get Your Shine On” Republic Nashville
4/18, Kenny Chesney “Pirate Flag” Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville
4/25, Darius Rucker “Wagon Wheel” Capitol Nashville
5/2, Eric Church “Like Jesus Does” EMI Nashville
5/9, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift’s “Highway Don’t Care” Big Machine
5/16, Brad Paisley “Beat This Summer” Arista Nashville
5/23, Jake Owen “Anywhere With You” RCA Nashville
5/30, The Band Perry “Done” Republic Nashville
6/6-13, Luke Bryan “Crash My Party” Capitol-UMG Nashville
6/20-27, Carrie Underwood “See You Again” Arista Nashville
7/3, Keith Urban “Little Bit Of Everything” Capitol-UMG Nashville
7/18, Justin Moore “Point At You” Valory Music Co.
7/18, Lady Antebellum “Goodbye Town” Capitol-UMG Nashville
7/25, Tyler Farr “Redneck Crazy” Columbia Nashville
8/1-8, Florida Georgia Line “Round Here” Republic Nashville
8/15, Kenny Chesney “When I See This Bar” Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville
8/22, Chris Young “Aw Naw” RCA Nashville
8/29, Thomas Rhett “It Goes Like This” Valory Music Group
9/5, Jason Aldean “Night Train” Broken Bow
9/12, Tim McGraw “Southern Girl” Big Machine
9/19, Toby Keith “Drinks After Work” Show Dog-Universal
9/26, Luke Bryan “That’s My Kind of Night” Capitol
10/3, Blake Shelton “Mine Would Be You” Warner Bros.
10/10, Miranda Lambert “All Kinds of Kinds” RCA Nashville
10/17, Taylor Swift “Red” Big Machine
10/24, Darius Rucker “Radio” Capitol Nashville
10/31, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert “We Were Us” Capitol Nashville-Hit Red Records
11/7, Eli Young Band “Drunk Last Night” Republic Nashville
11/14, The Band Perry “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” Republic Nashville
11/21, Jake Owen “Days of Gold” RCA Nashville
11/27-12/5, Florida Georgia Line “Stay” Republic Nashville
12/12, Cassadee Pope “Wasting All These Tears” Republic Nashville
12/19, David Nail “Whatever She’s Got” MCA Nashville
Oermann: 2013's Coolest Country Singles
/by Robert K Oermann1. TIM McGRAW, TAYLOR SWIFT & KEITH URBAN
“Highway Don’t Care”
(Brad Warren/Brett Warren/Mark Irwin/Josh Kear)
2. KACEY MUSGRAVES
“Follow Your Arrow”
(Kacey Musgraves/Brandy Clark/Shane McAnally)
3. MIRANDA LAMBERT
“All Kinds of Kinds”
(Phillip Coleman/Don Henry)
4. LITTLE BIG TOWN
“Sober”
(Lori McKenna/Hillary Lindsey/Liz Rose)
5. TAYLOR SWIFT
“Begin Again”
(Taylor Swift)
6. GEORGE STRAIT
“I Got a Car”
(Keith Gattis/Tom Douglas)
7. ZAC BROWN BAND
“Sweet Annie”
(Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette/Coy Bowles/Sonia Leigh/John Pierce)
Charlie Worsham
8. CHARLIE WORSHAM
“Could It Be”
(Marty Dodson/Ryan Tynsdell/Charlie Worsham)
9. LADY ANTEBELLUM
“Goodbye Town”
(Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Josh Kear)
10.TRACE ADKINS & COLBIE CAILLAT
“Watch the World End”
(Brett Eldredge/Jeremy Spillman)
Charlie Cook On Air: A Look Back at 2013
/by contributorCharlie Cook
A few more days left in 2013. I hope that you have more than a used calendar to show for it. It was an interesting year for Music Row and the industry as a whole. There were a few surprises. There was some good news and then some not so good news.
Top ten things from 2013.
1. Blake Shelton took over as the format’s number one act. Two Male Vocalist of the Year nods. Best Album of the year, twice. A sold out tour. The Voice remained one of the top shows of the year. The finale was down from last year but I believe that was because Blake did not have a singer in the finals. Just another example of his influence on the program.
2. George Strait’s announcement that he will be unhooking his guitar strap in 2014. The final show, in the 100,000 seat AT&T Stadium, sold out before George could fly from Dallas to San Antonio on his jet.
3. Carrie Underwood as Maria in The Sound of Music. More than 18 million viewers tuned in to see one of music’s best voices sing her way through the Alps and away from the Nazis.
4. Toby Keith finishing at No. 4 on the “Man You Are Rich” list in Forbes Magazine. Toby has built quite the empire and he has done a great job of finding revenue streams in more than touring. Touring ends at some point. The money needn’t.
5. Garth Brooks coming back to a stage nearer to you. I cannot believe that it has been four years in Vegas at the Wynn. I have said that his live show there is the best I have seen. Like all of us who have been around Garth, I have always been a fan, but after leaving the theater that night I was a super fan. I watched the CBS TV special and it did not capture the vibe of being there. This just tells you how incredible it is to be in the room (or arena) and feel the show. I am looking forward to Fall of 2014 when he hits the road again.
6. Luke Bryan winning the Entertainer of the Year award at the ACM show in April. I think that we were all surprised. Obviously Luke was, by his response. Not that we should have been–the ACM EOY has a fan participation element. I have told the story of being in Nashville for the Music Fest and seeing young females climbing, precariously, up to a Luke poster to have their pictures made with it. If they are willing to put their safely at risk, he was going to get their vote.
7. Both the ACM and CMA show did record-breaking ratings for CBS and ABC, respectively. In 2012 the CMA show dealt with a hellacious weather situation on the east coast and a couple of the bigger cities had compromised TV service. In the Spring, the ACM show hit a new high mark and took over as the most watched Country Award show. This Fall the CMA bounced back and both shows showed why Country is so important to their network partners.
8. 2013 will go down as the Year of the Country Music Tour. According to Billboard Magazine, Taylor Swift grossed $115M against 66 sold out shows and 1.4 million fans. There is nothing gross about that. Kenny Chesney did $91M. Jason Aldean did $48M. Luke Bryan notched $46M.
9. Miranda Lambert locking up the Female Vocalist of the Year award. At what point do they change the name of the award to “The Miranda Lambert Award”?
10. Nielson Buying Arbitron. My prediction: Within five years the top 100 markets will be PPM and they will stop doing diary surveys in all other markets.
Happy New Year.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)