Charlie Cook
I am on record as being one the biggest Eric Church fans out there. I have seen his show live a number of times and each time I am impressed with his passion and showmanship. I have said I find him to be one of the “dangerous” performers. When he is on stage your eyes are glued to him. He might do anything and you certainly don’t want to miss it.
Eric has always pushed the envelope with his music. Early that was a challenge for the promotions staffs as he was still finding his place in the format. The CD
Sinners Like Me included the single “Two Pink Lines” that made some programmers uncomfortable. His second CD
Carolina established him as a real “must play” on country radio even though “Smoke A Little Smoke” was again, dealing with a topic country radio would rather ignore. You can drink all you want but….
But “Love Your Love the Most” and “Hell on the Heart” were right in the groove and became his first Top 10 hits. Eric had arrived.
Then in 2011 he came with arguably the best CD of the year.
Chief is a masterpiece. “Homeboy” was aggressive but by then country radio had said, “Bring it on Eric, you are a star.’ “Drink in My Hand,” more in line with the format’s themes, was his first No. 1 and “Springsteen” is one of my top five favorite songs ever. It was a fast No. 1, so apparently many people agree with me.
Eric was recently quoted as saying music is music. “I think that genres are dead,” he told CMT. “There’s good music. There’s bad music.”
I want to add there is music that works on the radio and appeals to masses and there is music that doesn’t. I think Eric Church can and should do whatever the heck he wants to do on his CDs. He has earned the right to write and record anything. He has been playing music for over 20 years and, as I said, he is one of the best performers in the format.
Eric states, “I’m a country music artist in Nashville, but Nashville is way, way, way bigger than country music.”
He is 100% correct. There are many other genres of music in Nashville…oops I used genre because there are elements that differentiate music tastes.
Eric Church and Charlie Cook. Photo: Charlie Cook
Eric is going to sell a heck of a lot of copies of his CD
The Outsiders. He is going to sell a lot to people who identify themselves as fans of country music and a lot to fans who identify themselves as alternative, rock, pop, etc. What he isn’t going to do is have a lot of success on country radio with a song like “The Outsiders.” As I programmer I was excited to hear a new Eric Church song. I added “The Outsiders” to the stations I work with and there was some good and bad the first couple of days.
I edited the song, taking off the last 1:30 seconds of guitar riffs that stood out on the station. I thought shortening the song to 2:51 would make both sides happy. The unhappy side got louder and I watched the song quickly lose steam on the charts. My conclusion was other programmers were hearing the same complaints from their listeners.
I suspect that when the CD
The Outsiders is released, I will purchase and download it. I will listen to it in the car with the volume at 11. That is because my tastes are a little bit different than the loyal listeners to country radio. You know, that genre that supports us all. I’m gonna listen to Frank Sinatra, Bob Seger and Blake Shelton. But I’m not gonna play them all on a country station.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow
.)
Charlie Cook On Air: Eric Church Is Country's Rock Rebel
/by contributorCharlie Cook
I am on record as being one the biggest Eric Church fans out there. I have seen his show live a number of times and each time I am impressed with his passion and showmanship. I have said I find him to be one of the “dangerous” performers. When he is on stage your eyes are glued to him. He might do anything and you certainly don’t want to miss it.
Eric has always pushed the envelope with his music. Early that was a challenge for the promotions staffs as he was still finding his place in the format. The CD Sinners Like Me included the single “Two Pink Lines” that made some programmers uncomfortable. His second CD Carolina established him as a real “must play” on country radio even though “Smoke A Little Smoke” was again, dealing with a topic country radio would rather ignore. You can drink all you want but….
But “Love Your Love the Most” and “Hell on the Heart” were right in the groove and became his first Top 10 hits. Eric had arrived.
Then in 2011 he came with arguably the best CD of the year. Chief is a masterpiece. “Homeboy” was aggressive but by then country radio had said, “Bring it on Eric, you are a star.’ “Drink in My Hand,” more in line with the format’s themes, was his first No. 1 and “Springsteen” is one of my top five favorite songs ever. It was a fast No. 1, so apparently many people agree with me.
Eric was recently quoted as saying music is music. “I think that genres are dead,” he told CMT. “There’s good music. There’s bad music.”
I want to add there is music that works on the radio and appeals to masses and there is music that doesn’t. I think Eric Church can and should do whatever the heck he wants to do on his CDs. He has earned the right to write and record anything. He has been playing music for over 20 years and, as I said, he is one of the best performers in the format.
Eric states, “I’m a country music artist in Nashville, but Nashville is way, way, way bigger than country music.”
He is 100% correct. There are many other genres of music in Nashville…oops I used genre because there are elements that differentiate music tastes.
Eric Church and Charlie Cook. Photo: Charlie Cook
Eric is going to sell a heck of a lot of copies of his CD The Outsiders. He is going to sell a lot to people who identify themselves as fans of country music and a lot to fans who identify themselves as alternative, rock, pop, etc. What he isn’t going to do is have a lot of success on country radio with a song like “The Outsiders.” As I programmer I was excited to hear a new Eric Church song. I added “The Outsiders” to the stations I work with and there was some good and bad the first couple of days.
I edited the song, taking off the last 1:30 seconds of guitar riffs that stood out on the station. I thought shortening the song to 2:51 would make both sides happy. The unhappy side got louder and I watched the song quickly lose steam on the charts. My conclusion was other programmers were hearing the same complaints from their listeners.
I suspect that when the CD The Outsiders is released, I will purchase and download it. I will listen to it in the car with the volume at 11. That is because my tastes are a little bit different than the loyal listeners to country radio. You know, that genre that supports us all. I’m gonna listen to Frank Sinatra, Bob Seger and Blake Shelton. But I’m not gonna play them all on a country station.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)
Publisher Signings (11/21/13)
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured, seated (L to R): Cole Taylor and Noah McPike (attorney Almon Law, PLLC). Standing (L to R): Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), Ron Stuve (VP UMPG), Kent Earls (Executive VP/General Manager, UMPG Nashville), and Greg Hill (manager, Hill Entertainment Group.)
Cole Taylor has signed to Universal Music Publishing Group’s writer roster. The Cuthbert, Ga. native won the title of Male Artist of the Year and Georgia Artist of the Year last year at the Georgia Country awards.
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Pictured (L-R): CTM’s Rebekah Long, Shawn Bowling, Shona Robertson Burr, Eddie Robba, Debi Cochran and Brandon Perdue.
Catch This Music, LLC, (CTM) has signed songwriter Debi Cochran as a staff writer and Creative Coordinator of the newly-formed publishing company, Writers Ink. Cochran will serve as the company’s anchor writer and will oversee future signings, as well as assist with PR and other aspects of development, according to owner Eddie Robba.
Cochran’s hits include “My Kind of Girl,” a No. 1 song for Collin Raye, and “This Is Me Missing You,” a No. 5 hit for James House. Her song “Barefoot Ballet,” which aired on ABC’s General Hospital, won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2002. The Fort Payne, Ala. native has also written songs recorded by Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Bramlett, Diamond Rio, Clay Walker and others.
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Pictured (L-R): Amy Kadish, John Barker, Michael Gungor, Chelsea Jones, Courtney Kruckeberg
ClearBox Rights has signed an exclusive administration agreement with artist Gungor, led by Michael and Lisa Gungor. ClearBox Rights represents all songs in Hither & Yon Music/ASCAP including songs from the group’s most recent release I Am Mountain, out Sept. 24.
'Nashville' Season 2 Soundtrack To Release in December
/by Jessica NicholsonBuddy Miller produced the new project, which features the voices of actors Connie Britton (Rayna Jaymes), Hayden Panettiere (Juliette Barnes), Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), Jonathan Jackson (Avery Barkley), Clare Bowen (Scarlett O’Connor), Sam Palladio (Gunnar Scott), Chris Carmack (Will Lexington), sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella (Maddie & Daphne Conrad), Aubrey Peeples (Layla Grant), Chaley Rose (Zoey Dalton), Will Chase (Luke Wheeler) and more.
TRACKLIST:
1. What If I Was Willing
Performed by Chris Carmack / Written by Billy Montana, Randy Montana, Brian Davis
2. Can’t Get It Right
Performed by Sam Palladio / Written by Matthew Perryman Jones, Lily Costner
3. A Life That’s Good
Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Sarah Siskind, Ashley Monroe
4. Ball And Chain
Performed by Connie Britton, Will Chase / Written by Tammi Lynn Kidd, Paul Kennerley
5. This Town
Performed by Clare Bowen, Charles Esten / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo
6. Trouble Is
Performed by Hayden Panettiere / Written by Kate York, Marv Green
7. Playin’ Tricks
Performed by Charles Esten / Written by Justin Davis, Sarah Zimmerman, Adam Wright
8. Why Can’t I Say Goodnight
Performed by Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio / Written by Angelo Petraglia, Kim Richey
9. Tell Me
Performed by Aubrey Peeples / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo, Jody Stevens
10. Wayfaring Stranger (A Cappella Version)
Performed by Chaley Rose / Public Domain
11. Share With You
Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Garrison Starr
12. How You Learn To Live Alone
Performed by Jonathan Jackson / Written by Mary Gauthier, Gretchen Peters
13. Can’t Say No To You
Performed by Hayden Panettiere, Chris Carmack / Written by Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, Gordie Sampson
Through The Lens (11/21/13)
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Austin Webb, Producer and Streamsound CEO Byron Gallimore, labelmate Jaida Dreyer and Streamsound Co-Chair Jim Wilkes.
Streamsound recording artist Austin Webb recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Webb performed his current single, “Slip on By,” as well as “It’s All Good” on the Ryman stage during the Opry at the Ryman show.
• • •
Sara Evans and producer Mark Bright are all smiles during a recording session at Starstruck Studios for Sara’s upcoming seventh studio album, due in 2014.
• • •
Producer Nick Raskulinecz mentored the engineering students at Blackbird Academy this past week. Nick is a widely-known engineer and producer, whose credits include working at Sound City Studios and producing for Foo Fighters, Evanescence, Marilyn Manson, Velvet Revolver, Rush, among others.
“Teaching the students at The Blackbird Academy everything I’ve learned about recording drums over the last 20 years was an amazing experience! I can’t wait to come back and do it again!” said Raskulinecz.
CMT Announces First Round of Performers for Artist of the Year Special
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 90-minute special will be hosted by Ron White and will air at 8 p.m. EST. Past CMT Artists of the Year include Aldean, Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.
NSAI Hosts No. 1 Party
/by Jessica NicholsonFront Row (seated L-R): Troy Verges, Maggie Cavender Award recipient Erika Wollam Nichols, Stephen Foster Award recipient Mark Ford, Kelley Lovelace, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller. Second Row (standing L-R): Rhett Akins, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Dan Couch, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Brett Warren, Brad Warren
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted a No. 1 Party, sponsored by Bill Lynch of Lynch Wealth Management, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The organization presented No. 1 plaques to the writers of songs reaching the top spot between July and September 2013 and honored notable individuals for their contributions to the music industry.
The Maggie Cavender Award (in recognition of extraordinary service to the songwriting community) was presented to Erika Wollam Nichols, President and General Manager of The Bluebird Cafe and Co-Director of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. The Stephen Foster Award (in recognition of dedication to songwriters, the music industry and NSAI) was presented to Mark Ford, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF).
Songs recognized during the event include:
“Beat This Summer,” Chris DuBois, Luke Laird, Brad Paisley, recorded by Brad Paisley
“Crash My Party,” Rodney Clawson, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Luke Bryan
“DONE.” Jacob Bryant, John Davidson, Neil Perry, Reid Perry, recorded by The Band Perry
“Don’t Ya,” Chris DeStefano, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Brett Eldredge
“Hey Pretty Girl,” Dan Couch, Kip Moore, recorded by Kip Moore
“I Want Crazy,” Hunter Hayes, Lori McKenna, Troy Verges, recorded by Hunter Hayes
“Little Bit Of Everything,” Kevin Rudolf, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, recorded by Keith Urban
“Point At You,” Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ben Hayslip, recorded by Justin Moore
“Round Here,” Rodney Clawson, Thomas Rhett, Chris Tompkins, recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Kelley Lovelace, recorded by Randy Houser
“See You Again,” David Hodges, Hillary Lindsey, Carrie Underwood, recorded by Carrie Underwood
“That’s My Kind of Night,” Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Luke Bryan
A make-up presentation (for writers who were unable to attend previously when their songs were first honored) was given to Ben Hayslip for “Anywhere With You,” recorded by Jake Owen.
Industry Ink (11/21/13)
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Enation manager Billy Holland, ASCAP’s Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan, Jackson, ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski and The Holland Group’s Jason MacDowall . Photo by ASCAP’s Anna White
Nashville star Jonathan Jackson, aka aspiring artist Avery Barkley, stopped by the ASCAP offices on Tuesday, Nov. 19th to meet the creative team and talk about acting and music. The Emmy-winning actor/musician has fronted his own rock band, Enation, for over a decade and been a member of ASCAP since 1996.
• • •
“Blame Facebook,” Joyce laughs. “Those sweet children’s faces kept popping up in my news feed, and I had to help. And the economics of it are crazy. What we spend on a latte will feed a child for a month! I’m looking forward to sharing some Music City joy with the children in the mountains of Haiti.”
To donate instruments or provide other ways to help, contact joyce@heartofworship-
• • •
Pictured, L-R: (back row) Dennis Cahill, Buck White, Del McCoury, Bruce Hornsby, Museum Director Kyle Young, Alison Krauss and Martin Hayes; (front row) Sharon White, Ricky Skaggs and Cheryl White
Ricky Skaggs presented his second Artist-in-Residency show at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater, “Bluegrass Rules” earlier this week. Special guests Alison Krauss, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Del McCoury and The Whites, joined Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, to illustrate the history of bluegrass from its Irish-influenced beginnings to its mainstream popularity.
BMI To Salute Coley, Smallwood at Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonThe event will be held Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 at Rocketown in Nashville. Gospel music’s top songwriters, artists and industry execs will attend the invitation-only event. BMI will also announce the Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year at the luncheon.
Coley’s multi-decade career began as singer with Edwin Hawkins, which led to being a songwriter and musical director for Lady Tramaine Hawkins. Lead vocal appearances on recordings for James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America resulted in Coley’s solo debut, Just Daryl. Coley has recorded more than 100 studio performances and worked with Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson and Philip Bailey. Most recently, Coley received a Doctorate of Sacred Music from the Ray of Hope Theological Seminary and Bible College International School of Divinity.
Smallwood has spent more than three decades as one of the most popular inspirational artists, with songs such as “Total Praise,” “Center of My Joy,” and “I Love the Lord.” His seminal recordings with the Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision include Psalms, Adoration: Live in Atlanta and Journey: Live in New York. His songs have been recorded by Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Destiny’s Child and many others. In 2006, Smallwood was inducted into the Gospel Music Associations’ Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He is currently exploring his gift as an author, as he works on completing his autobiography Total Praise, scheduled to be released in 2014.
BMI’s roster of gospel songwriters includes Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Jessica Reedy, Marvin Sapp, Twinkie Clark, BeBe Winans, Israel Houghton, Kim Burrell and many others.
Primetime 'Nashville': "Hanky Panky Woman"
/by Jessica NicholsonRayna Jaymes and Luke Wheeler perform onstage. ABC.com
“Steel is forged in a fire,” quipped Connie Britton‘s character Rayna Jaymes during last night’s episode. There were plenty of fires to make most of the characters a bit stronger. Scarlett makes a spectacular stumble in her first showing as superstar Luke Wheeler’s opening act during a concert in Tampa, Fla. After her in-ear monitors aren’t set properly, Scarlett fumbles the performance, to the disappointment of the rowdy crowd. Even uncle Deacon is convinced she’s not cut out for life on the road.
After a pep talk from Rayna, Scarlett dazzles the crowd at the next show in Dallas with a rendition of “Crazy Tonight” (penned by Chip Boyd, Jay Clementi and Kacey Musgraves).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi_lydUgRx8
Rayna does some wheeling and dealing of her own after police show up at her home demanding the masters from her upcoming project. They say she is in illegal possession of Edgehill Records property.
Later, in Dallas, Juliette faces down Charlie and wife Olivia Wentworth, after she declined Olivia’s sexual advances. Juliette delivers the best lines of the episode, saying, “You know what? I’d rather spend the rest of my life in a double-wide than spend another minute around a billionaire bitch like you,” Juliette declares. “But I guess my trailer park education did let me down a little bit because I wasn’t smart enough to realize just how empty you really are.”
Juliette’s co-writing session with Avery Barkley features the song “Dreams” (penned by Cory Mayo and Jaida Dreyer).
Meanwhile, Peggy Cantor’s eyebrow-raising ways continue; in this episode, her secret non-pregnancy is almost revealed when new husband Teddy says he’d like to visit the doctor with her. She manages to find a container of pork blood and fake a miscarriage.
Watching Luke’s and Rayna’s onstage chemistry, it seems Deacon misses his role in the spotlight more than ever. “I blew every shot at being a solo artist i ever got. I ain’t dead and I ain’t done,” he says, presumably meaning he’s not done with music or his relationship with Rayna.
To see a preview of next week’s episode, watch below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJEBj9FgeSI
UMG Chairman Lucian Grainge To Be Honored At Clive Davis Grammy Bash
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“As we enter our sixth year of collaborating with Clive Davis, this legendary gala continues to be one of GRAMMY Week’s most prestigious events complete with unique one-of-a-kind performances,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “We are delighted and proud to pay tribute to Lucian Grainge, whose ability to spot talent and his impeccable business sense has made him one of today’s most successful leaders and a visionary Industry Icon.”
Grainge has been recognized over the course of his career with many accolades, including topping Billboard magazine’s Power 100 list as the most powerful executive in the industry. In both 2010 and 2011 he was recognized in Britain’s New Year Honors and awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He has been awarded the prestigious Music Industry Trusts’ Award as one of the most influential executives in global entertainment. Grainge was appointed by Prime Minister David Cameron as a UK Business Ambassador with special remit on global media and entertainment. Recently, he was named a trustee of the American Friends of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of Dreamworks Animation and the board of trustees of Northeastern University in Boston.