Toby Keith took his Hammer Down tour to Pittsburgh promoting his latest single “Drinks After Work,” which takes home the greatest spin increase this week. Pictured with WDSY APD/MD Stoney Richards.
’s “See You Again” lives up to its name, earning the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week with 3,346 spins.
Keith Urban’s “Little Bit Of Everything” comes in at No. 2. Both
Justin Moore and
Kip Moore continue to hold the No. 3 and 4 spots with “Point At You” and “Hey Pretty Girl,” respectively.
Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy” continues to enjoy a steady climb up the chart, landing at No. 5. Rounding out the Top Ten this week is
Lady Antebellum’s “Goodbye Town” at No. 6,
Randy Houser’s “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” at No. 7,
Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” at No. 8,
Little Big Town’s “Your Side Of The Bed” At No. 9 and
Gary Allan’s “Pieces” at No. 10.
Toby Keith’s “Drinks After Work” is once again the week’s greatest gainer, landing at No. 25 with an additional 435 spins.
Miranda Lambert’s “All Kinds of Kinds” is all kinds of popular, climbing to the No. 36 spot with an added 276 spins.
Jason Aldean’s “Night Train” reaches the No. 32 spot with another 265 spins. Big Machine labelmates
Taylor Swift and
Tim McGraw come in at No. 56 and 80 with their songs “Red” and “Southern Girl.” “Red” garnered 235 extra spins, while “Southern Girl” gained 228 additional spins.
There are six promising debuts this week, with
Eli Young Band’s “Drunk Last Night” debuting at No. 65,
The Lockets’ “Stepping Stone” stepping up to No. 73,
Tracy Lawrence’s “Footprints On The Moon” coming in at No. 74
, Herrick’s “Do You Love Me” at No. 78 and
Sherry Lynn f.
Crystal Gayle’s “Beautiful Life” at No. 79. Finally, McGraw’s “Southern Girl” rounds out this week’s chart, debuting at No. 80.
Frozen Playlists: KCNY, KZTL, KVVP, KXKZ, KYYK, WAAG, WKWS, WXXK
Upcoming Singles
June 28
Ashton Shepherd/This Is America/Pickin Shed Records
July 1
Chris Stapleton/What Are You Listening To/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic Nashville
Hannah Michelle Weeks/More Than One Kind Of Love/HunnyBee
July 2
Colby Dee/He Don’t Know/Donard Music Group
Joe Allen/Looks Like It’s Raining/Stubborn Horse Records
July 8
Downday/Back In The Day/Render
Denae Gardner/Sound Of A Woman Sayin Goodbye/4D
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA/Columbia Nashville
Craig Morgan/Wake Up Lovin’ You/Black River
July 15
Old Crow Medicine Show/Carry Me Back To Virginia/ATO Records
Blackberry Smoke/Ain’t Much Left Of Me/Southern Ground
Kayla Taylor/See You In Summer/Go Time
Uncle Kracker/Blue Skies/Sugar Hill
July 22
North 4o/Hey Girl Hey/RHYMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT
Jay Jolley/God Save Us All From Religion/Double J Records
July 29
Jared Blake/Countryfied/Skiddco Records
Blue Sky Riders/Brave/3 Dream Records
August 6
Brett Eldredge/Bring You Back/Atlantic
• • •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 65
The Lockets/Stepping Stone/Nu Toy – 73
Tracy Lawrence/Footprints On The Moon/Lawrence Music Group – 74
Herrick/Do You Love Me/BreakAway Entertainment – 78
Sherry Lynn f. Crystal Gayle/Beautiful Life/Steal Heart – 79
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Toby Keith/Drinks After Work/Show Dog-Universal – 435
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 276
Jason Aldean/Night Train/Broken Bow – 265
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 235
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 228
Most Added
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 23
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 20
Toby Keith/Drinks After Work/Show Dog-Universal – 19
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 12
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 12
Jason Aldean/Night Train/Broken Bow – 12
Cassadee Pope/Wasting All These Tears/Republic Nashville – 11
Aaron Lewis/Granddaddy’s Gun/Blaster – 10
Dierks Bentley/Bourbon In Kentucky/Capitol Nashville – 6
Kenny Chesney/When I See This Bar/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 6
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Frank Ortega/Two Places At Once/Villa One – 197
Randy Rogers Band/Fuzzy/UMG Nashville – 197
Aaron and Amanda Crabb/I’m Learning/Difference Media – 189
Bobby Dean/Kiss My Doublewide/Lamon Records – 179
David Shelby/Kick A Little Dirt/Highway South Records – 174
Flying Island’s Gwen Sebastian celebrates her album release and latest single “Suitcase” with the staff of KMNB, Minneapolis. Pictured (L-R): Mick Anselmo (Sr. VP), Rob Morris (PD), Gwen, Tommy Jay (APD), and Tricia Jenkins (MD).
Kari & Billy spent yesterday morning visiting about their new single, “Play Me A Fiddle Song,” with WDKN’s Dale Turner in Dickson, Tenn.
Mark Your Calendar– July 2013
/by Eric T. ParkerJuly 9
Travis Tritt/The Calm After…/Post Oak Recordings
Michelle Wright/Strong/Savannah Music
Michael Martin Murphey/Red River Drifter/Red River Entertainment
July 16
JJ Lawhorn/Original Good Ol’ Boy/Average Joes
Jason Cassidy/Keep It Country/A-Blake Records
Court Yard Hounds/Amelita/Columbia Records
Joey + Rory/Inspired: Songs of Faith and Family/Gaither
July 23
Guy Clark/My Favorite Picture Of You/Dualtone Records
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan/Dos Divas/Red River Entertainment
July 30
Glen Campbell/See You There/Surfdog Records
Vince Gill & Paul Franklin/Bakersfield/MCA Nashville
July 4
July 6
Toby Keith’s Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla.
July 18
Nashville Dancin’
July 19
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Hot Nights with Sarah Darling
July 22
First round CMA ballot closes at 5:00 p.m. CT
July 1
Chris Stapleton/What Are You Listening To/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic Nashville
Hannah Michelle Weeks/More Than One Kind Of Love/HunnyBee
July 2
Colby Dee/He Don’t Know/Donard Music Group
Joe Allen/Looks Like It’s Raining/Stubborn Horse Records
July 8
Downday/Back In The Day/Render
Denae Gardner/Sound Of A Woman Sayin Goodbye/4D
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA-Columbia Nashville
Craig Morgan/Wake Up Lovin’ You/Black River
July 15
Old Crow Medicine Show/Carry Me Back To Virginia/ATO Records
Blackberry Smoke/Ain’t Much Left Of Me/Southern Ground
Kayla Taylor/See You In Summer/Go Time
Uncle Kracker/Blue Skies/Sugar Hill
July 22
North 4o/Hey Girl Hey/Rhymetown Entertainment
Jay Jolley/God Save Us All From Religion/Double J Records
July 29
Blue Sky Riders/Brave/3 Dream Records
Jared Blake/Countryfied/Skiddco Records
Sony/ATV Celebrates Signings
/by Jessica NicholsonSony/ATV recently signed Jody Stevens to an exclusive publishing agreement. Stevens worked on Luke Bryan’s album Tailgates and Tanlines and forthcoming Crash My Party release, with his dad producer, Jeff Stevens. Bryan and his manager Kerri Edwards were on hand to celebrate the signing. Jody Stevens was formerly a member of duo Fast Ryde.
Pictured (L-R): Sony/ATV’s Terry Wakefield, Luke Bryan, Stevens, KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran
• • •
Sony/ATV recently re-signed Michael Carter to an exclusive publishing agreement. Carter co-wrote Craig Campbell‘s single “Outta My Head” as well as multiple Luke Bryan recordings. Additionally, Carter has recent cuts by Chris Young and Thomas Rhett. Bryan and Kerri Edwards joined his longtime band leader, Carter, to celebrate.
Pictured (L-R): Capitol artist Luke Bryan, Sony/ATV’s Terry Wakefield, Carter, KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, Sony/ATV’s Abbey Adams.
David Ross Joins HitShop Records
/by Sherod Robertson“The addition of David Ross to our executive staff is a giant leap forward for HitShop’s futuristic music model,” shares HitShop President, Skip Bishop. “David’s forward-thinking brilliance and his clear analytical understanding of the contemporary marketplace embody the vision and strategy that we are pursuing at HitShop. In order to fuel the continuing additions to our artistic and cutting-edge roster, we’ll require the music industry’s brightest minds. We certainly have achieved that by bringing David to our team.”
Ross says, “I’ve watched and respected Skip Bishop’s tremendous accomplishments for many years. When he suggested this HitShop role and I realized it would utilize many of the skills I’ve refined and used throughout my career, it was an easy choice. Plus I’ve always had a secret passion to work at a record label. Even in the short time I’ve been with this talented group of committed professionals, it’s already feeling like a home run.”
The 411 with David Ross:
Will you elaborate on HitShop’s new content channel, Nekst.biz?
The new channel is essentially a branded content concept similar to what is already being done by corporations like Expedia, Facebook, Coca-Cola, Toshiba, Red Bull and many more. It’s an innovative way to engage the community and to my knowledge no one has tried it in country music. Our hope is to fill a niche and not duplicate or get in the way of any of the excellent trade publications, like MusicRow, Billboard, Aircheck and All Access that are serving the community with breaking news and daily updates.
What are you most excited about at HitShop?
HitShop is a great entrepreneurial challenge. Building a new label using cutting edge tactics and innovative new media music discovery strategies—the Hitshop vision—is a perfect fit for me. For example, we just released an EP from Weston Burt and it debuted at No. 18 on the iTunes chart. That’s pretty incredible considering Weston has yet to gain traction at country radio. A lot of digital dials got turned in that process. Tim Gerst who heads the digital department is deranged, but simply brilliant. And of course we still acknowledge the power and importance of radio airplay.
Describe some of the other areas of marketing that you will be involved in.
I’m also really excited about the chance to help build the roster with Skip Bishop from the ground up. We just signed Natalie Stovall and The Drive and I promise you they are incredible. Paul Worley is producing them, which says a lot. And we have a bunch of cool announcements lining up over the next few weeks that we can’t wait to tell everyone about. I share Skip’s vision that the best way to insure a label does well in the commerce department is to present cutting edge, artistic music and that’s our mission.
Ross can be reached at david@hitshoprecords.com
Manager Fred Kewley Passes
/by Robert K OermannFred Kewley
Fred Kewley, noted for managing several top country, pop and folk artists, has died at age 70.
Kewley died at his home in Franklin, Tenn., on Sunday, June 23, and his memorial service is scheduled for July 15.
In Nashville, he is particularly noted for having managed Country Music Hall of Fame member Chet Atkins during the latter years of the legend’s life.
He was the executive producer of the 1987 Cinemax cable TV special A Session with Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player. This show was also marketed as Chet Atkins and Friends and later became a 2010 PBS fund-raising special. It co-starred Atkins with Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, The Everly Brothers, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, Waylon Jennings and others. Kewley was also involved in several Atkins albums.
In addition, he managed Nashville pop/country singer Michael Johnson. Earlier in his career, he guided folk-pop artist Harry Chapin to stardom. Other management clients included singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie and jazz guitarist Earl Klugh.
Frederick Norman Kewley was a graduate of Cornell University, where he was the director/arranger of the school’s a cappella vocal group The Sherwoods. He was also a U.S. Army veteran.
He is survived by wife Cathy Maciejewski Kewley, sons Josh and Joe, daughter Rebecca, their mother Sandy Kewley, brother Joe and sister Jan.
Fred Kewley’s memorial service will be conducted on Monday, July 15, at 5:55 p.m. at Ben’s Studio — formerly known at RCA Studio B — at 30 Music Sq. W. He will be buried on July 16 at Middle Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (223 Rosa Parks Ave., Suite 301, Nashville, TN 37203) or to The Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research (1111 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714).
Pickin' on the Patio Welcomes John Oates and Jon Wolfe
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Scott Hendricks (SVP A&R, WMN), Jon Wolfe, John Oates, Cris Lacy (VP A&R, WMN), Peter Strickland (EVP & GM, WMN), Chris Stacey (SVP Promotion, WMN)
John Oates and Jon Wolfe were featured as performers yesterday (June 27) during Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ on the Patio event.
Thanks to sponsors Budweiser, Riffs and Spring Hill Bourbon, the packed crowd of attendees enjoyed Oates and Wolfe’s performances as the second event for 2013.
Pickin’ on the Patio is held on the WMN patio the fourth Thursday of every month from May through September. The next event to be held on July 25.
For more information, visit: warnermusicnashville.com.
New Myspace Garners Interest
/by Michael_SmithMyspace is primarily attracting a millennial demographic after launching a $20 million advertising campaign across multiple platforms, aimed at younger people.
The site’s new mobile app, which is currently ranked at only No. 147 on the iPhone’s list of free apps, faces competition from other music apps including Shazam (No. 72), Slacker Radio (No. 76) and SoundCloud (No. 103).
The company also faces additional challenges. Merlin CEO Charles Caldas recently criticized Myspace in an email to VentureBeat, accusing the company of playing music from several independent labels without their permission. Myspace responded, saying, “We have offered a relationship with Merlin that provides equal opportunities to Merlin’s labels and Merlin’s artists that we have provided to ALL labels and artists whether they are Indie Artists, Major Artists or Unsigned artists.”
ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Comes to Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonACM Lifting Lives Music Camp is in session this week in Nashville, Tenn. with campers from around the country visiting Music City for a week of songwriting, recording and performing with several of Country music’s brightest stars.
Jake Owen visited the campers during a recording session with producer Ross Copperman at Ocean Way Nashville Recording Studios. Lauren Alaina stopped by the Wildhorse Saloon to spend time with the campers, while they shared stories from their week and then participated in a line dancing lesson.
The campers wrote a song with Jerrod Niemann and Lance Miller, then performed karaoke with Love and Theft at Winner’s bar (see video below).
The residential camp has the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome, while providing music enrichment through performance and education. The camp is a partnership between ACM Lifting Lives and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
Pictured (L-R): Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; Lauren Alaina; Tiffany Moon, ACM EVP/Managing Director; Rondal Richardson, Entertainment Industry Relations Manager at Vanderbilt University.
Pictured (L-R): Ross Copperman, Producer; Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; Jake Owen; Rondal Richardson, Entertainment Industry Relations Manager, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and Bruce Bowman, Chairman, ACM Lifting Lives.
Warner Music Nashville Promotes Williams To Sr. VP, Finance
/by Jessica Nicholson“Ken is a brilliant and essential part of our family,” said Esposito. “Having spent the better part of two decades with Warner Music Nashville, he has a deep understanding of our company and the industry. Ken’s promotion is well-deserved and I’m very happy to report this great news.”
“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with so many talented staff members over the years,” said Williams. “The culture and energy at WMN and Word are incomparable, and are a direct result of the tremendous efforts of both John Esposito and Rod Riley. It’s truly an honor to work alongside these two talented leaders.”
Williams is a 15-year veteran of the Christian music industry. His career began in 1998 when Williams worked in the credit services division of Word Entertainment. He held various positions before being appointed Vice President, Finance, for WMN in 2010. Williams is an active member of the Franklin, Tenn., community, and has mentored students of Pearl Cohn Entertainment Magnet School as part of the school’s partnership with WMN. Williams earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Tennessee Technological University and his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Belmont University.
Weekly Chart Report (6/28/13)
/by Michael_SmithToby Keith took his Hammer Down tour to Pittsburgh promoting his latest single “Drinks After Work,” which takes home the greatest spin increase this week. Pictured with WDSY APD/MD Stoney Richards.
SPIN ZONE
Carrie Underwood’s “See You Again” lives up to its name, earning the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week with 3,346 spins. Keith Urban’s “Little Bit Of Everything” comes in at No. 2. Both Justin Moore and Kip Moore continue to hold the No. 3 and 4 spots with “Point At You” and “Hey Pretty Girl,” respectively. Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy” continues to enjoy a steady climb up the chart, landing at No. 5. Rounding out the Top Ten this week is Lady Antebellum’s “Goodbye Town” at No. 6, Randy Houser’s “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” at No. 7, Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” at No. 8, Little Big Town’s “Your Side Of The Bed” At No. 9 and Gary Allan’s “Pieces” at No. 10.
Toby Keith’s “Drinks After Work” is once again the week’s greatest gainer, landing at No. 25 with an additional 435 spins. Miranda Lambert’s “All Kinds of Kinds” is all kinds of popular, climbing to the No. 36 spot with an added 276 spins. Jason Aldean’s “Night Train” reaches the No. 32 spot with another 265 spins. Big Machine labelmates Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw come in at No. 56 and 80 with their songs “Red” and “Southern Girl.” “Red” garnered 235 extra spins, while “Southern Girl” gained 228 additional spins.
There are six promising debuts this week, with Eli Young Band’s “Drunk Last Night” debuting at No. 65, The Lockets’ “Stepping Stone” stepping up to No. 73, Tracy Lawrence’s “Footprints On The Moon” coming in at No. 74, Herrick’s “Do You Love Me” at No. 78 and Sherry Lynn f. Crystal Gayle’s “Beautiful Life” at No. 79. Finally, McGraw’s “Southern Girl” rounds out this week’s chart, debuting at No. 80.
Frozen Playlists: KCNY, KZTL, KVVP, KXKZ, KYYK, WAAG, WKWS, WXXK
Upcoming Singles
June 28
Ashton Shepherd/This Is America/Pickin Shed Records
July 1
Chris Stapleton/What Are You Listening To/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic Nashville
Hannah Michelle Weeks/More Than One Kind Of Love/HunnyBee
July 2
Colby Dee/He Don’t Know/Donard Music Group
Joe Allen/Looks Like It’s Raining/Stubborn Horse Records
July 8
Downday/Back In The Day/Render
Denae Gardner/Sound Of A Woman Sayin Goodbye/4D
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA/Columbia Nashville
Craig Morgan/Wake Up Lovin’ You/Black River
July 15
Old Crow Medicine Show/Carry Me Back To Virginia/ATO Records
Blackberry Smoke/Ain’t Much Left Of Me/Southern Ground
Kayla Taylor/See You In Summer/Go Time
Uncle Kracker/Blue Skies/Sugar Hill
July 22
North 4o/Hey Girl Hey/RHYMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT
Jay Jolley/God Save Us All From Religion/Double J Records
July 29
Jared Blake/Countryfied/Skiddco Records
Blue Sky Riders/Brave/3 Dream Records
August 6
Brett Eldredge/Bring You Back/Atlantic
• • •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 65
The Lockets/Stepping Stone/Nu Toy – 73
Tracy Lawrence/Footprints On The Moon/Lawrence Music Group – 74
Herrick/Do You Love Me/BreakAway Entertainment – 78
Sherry Lynn f. Crystal Gayle/Beautiful Life/Steal Heart – 79
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Toby Keith/Drinks After Work/Show Dog-Universal – 435
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 276
Jason Aldean/Night Train/Broken Bow – 265
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 235
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 228
Most Added
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 23
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 20
Toby Keith/Drinks After Work/Show Dog-Universal – 19
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 12
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 12
Jason Aldean/Night Train/Broken Bow – 12
Cassadee Pope/Wasting All These Tears/Republic Nashville – 11
Aaron Lewis/Granddaddy’s Gun/Blaster – 10
Dierks Bentley/Bourbon In Kentucky/Capitol Nashville – 6
Kenny Chesney/When I See This Bar/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 6
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Frank Ortega/Two Places At Once/Villa One – 197
Randy Rogers Band/Fuzzy/UMG Nashville – 197
Aaron and Amanda Crabb/I’m Learning/Difference Media – 189
Bobby Dean/Kiss My Doublewide/Lamon Records – 179
David Shelby/Kick A Little Dirt/Highway South Records – 174
Flying Island’s Gwen Sebastian celebrates her album release and latest single “Suitcase” with the staff of KMNB, Minneapolis. Pictured (L-R): Mick Anselmo (Sr. VP), Rob Morris (PD), Gwen, Tommy Jay (APD), and Tricia Jenkins (MD).
Kari & Billy spent yesterday morning visiting about their new single, “Play Me A Fiddle Song,” with WDKN’s Dale Turner in Dickson, Tenn.
Aristo Int'l Report: CMA Music Festival, Global Accolades
/by Jessica NicholsonClick above to view the report.
The AristoMedia Group has released the June 2013 issue of its Aristo International Report. Highlights include:
• Global Events Help Kick Off Record-Breaking CMA Music Festival
• Canadian Country Music Week will be held Sept. 5-8 in Edmonton, Canada
• The 2013 Americana Music Festival and Conference is set for Sept. 18-22
• Nashville Mayor Karl Dean was joined by Mayor Col Murray of Tamworth, Australia during CMA Music Fest week to sign a treaty that officially joined Nashville and Tamworth as sister cities
• Aristo Q&A with Canadian Executive Ted Ellis
• 2013 British Country Music Awards are set for Nov. 24
• The Maverick Festival is set for July 5-7 with a lineup that includes 50 artists
• Award-winning Australian Duo McAlister Kemp To Headline Nashville Showcase
AristoMedia has been issuing this quarterly review of global activities since 2008. Please click to view the newsletter online at www.AristoMedia.com.