We have no superstar product this week, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fine listening. Doing worthy work in this stack of platters are Thomas Rhett, Royal Wade Kimes, Dakota Bradley, Sleepy LaBeef and Chance Cody & Spur 503. In various ways, all of them perked up my ears. Our Disc of the Day award goes to incoming Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare. His entire Darker Than Light album is essential listening. We turn our gaze toward the Lone Star State to find the identically talented Rankin Twins. They more than earned a DisCovery Award. Their record is the first of what will surely be many albums to come.
HEM/Seven Angels
Writers: Dan Messe/Steve Curtis; Producer: Gary Maurer/Dan Messe; Publisher: Peep/Steve Curtis/ASCAP; Waveland
-Hem is an eight-person, mainly acoustic band featuring winsome, breathy lead vocals by Sally Ellson. The enchanting, folk-Americana sound with gentle keyboards and strummy guitars is augmented by atmospheric violin on this featured track and by pedal steel, glockenspiel, choirs and/or full orchestra on others. Hem’s entire Departure & Farewell album is lovely listening.
The Rankin Twins
-The sisters look retro-stylish and beautiful on cover of their
Moonshine & Maybes CD. Its single demonstrates that they sing as good as they look. And the sizzling vocal presence of former Sons of the Desert frontman Womack doesn’t hurt one bit. The mid-tempo tune is made even more punchy and addictive by the chopping mandolin and keening steel work. Lend this your ears.
BOBBY BARE/Lookout Mountain
Writers: Dennis Linde; Producer: Don Cusic/Bobby Bare; Publisher: EMI Blackwood, BMI; Plowboy
-Now that Bobby Bare is going into the Country Music Hall of Fame, don’t you think it’s time that you paid attention to his excellent current album
Darker Than Light? One highlight of the neo-folk collection is this rhythmic, driving depiction of the Battle of Lookout Mountain. He sings it with dramatic conviction, and the production underscores his every note with drumming and electric guitars simulating cannon blasts.
AMY ROSE/Party Like A Redneck
Writers: Fraser/Coulson/Beecroft; Producer: After Tuesday Productions (Marty Beecroft/Glenn Coulson); Publishers: none listed; SOCAN; Wild Rose
-I have praised her singing in the past. But this song sucks.
ROYAL WADE KIMES/Dixie Burns
Writers: R.W. Kimes; Producer: George Bradfute/Mike Noble/Royal Wade Kimes; Publisher: Blue Whistler, ASCAP, Wonderent
-This is the title tune to a Civil War era movie written and directed by singer-songwriter Kimes. It is an emotional ballad about the burning of Atlanta, told from the point of view a surviving Georgia man. His tremulous, throaty singing has never sounded more authentic or believable. Well done. The album containing it,
A Proud Land, is consistently compelling.
DAKOTA BRADLEY/Somethin’ Like Somethin’
Writers: Mark Irwin/Josh Kear/Shane McAnally; Producer: Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw; Publisher: none listed; Streamsound
-Streamsound is Byron Gallimore’s Sony-distributed imprint. Dakota Bradley’s jaunty tenor on this sunny, summertime bopper is a worthy addition to a catalog that includes the fine Streamsound tunes already issued by Jaida Dreyer. Catchy and lively.
SLEEPY LaBEEF/Honey Hush
Writers: Joe Turner; Producer: Dave Pomeroy; Publisher: Unichappell, BMI; Earwave
-Veteran road warrior LaBeef blew through town a couple of weeks ago to perform one of his typical barn-burner club sets, celebrate the movie about him at the Nashville Film Festival and sit in with The Time Jumpers. His new live CD kicks off with his roaring rockabilly treatment of this jump-blues standard. Recorded at Douglas Corner in January 2012, this record captures his abundant, multi-genre charm perfectly. Hop on board while he romps through a repertoire that spans Hank Williams, Willie Dixon, The Delmore Brothers, Hank Ballard, Merle Kilgore, Fats Domino and more. Producer Pomeroy is on bass and the esteemed Kenny Vaughan provides the hot electric-guitar licks.
JASON CHARLES MILLER/The Way You Still Want Me
Writers: J.C. Miller/Steve Freeman/Jon Nite; Producer: Dan Hodges/Jason Charles Miller; Publisher: Count Mecha/Bike/Songs of Colton Entertainment/Propps House/EMI April/Jon Mark Nite, BMI/ASCAP; Render
-The guitars scream, the drums pound, everyone makes noise and the song has loads of hooks. But his singing voice takes some getting used to.
THOMAS RHETT/It Goes Like This
Writers: Rhett Akins/Ben Hayslip/Jimmy Robins; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Rhettneck/WB/Tar-Cam-Knox/Get A Load Of This/Universal/Extraordinary Allen, BMI/ASCAP; Valory
-Thomas didn’t have to look far to find his new single, since his daddy Rhett Akins co-wrote it. It’s a rumbling thumper about finding new romance that features a super melodic chorus. Rollicking and righteous.
CHANCE CODY & SPUR 503/The Legend Grows
Writers: Chance Cody/Jared Mitchell; Producer: Greg White; Publisher: none listed; Spur 503
-The sound is “outlaw” all the way with echoey atmosphere, doom-laden guitars, slow and deliberate drumming, searing fiddle and the like. And that’s perfect, since the quasi-spoken lyric is about a renegade gunslinger. Cody’s baritone voice conveys the threatening messages as well as he speaks. Aged perfectly. Featured on the CD
The Legend Grows.
Weekly Register: Fighting For Dashboard Control
/by bossrossAccording to a WSJ article, the bullish growth has been driven by used-car buyers who, due to special dealer arrangements, are being offered free trials. Data shows that over 50 million cars in the U.S. are equipped with satellite radios, while only half that number are paying subscribers.
SiriusXM’s good news was tempered by increasing competition from Internet radio offerings such as Pandora and interactive music channels like Spotify. In response to those and other online competitors, Sirius has created its own Internet offerings (extra $3.50 per month) that give listeners the ability to custom design their own channels.
Content providers will soon be immersed in a major slugfest for control of the all-powerful automobile dashboard. This writer, and many observers, now believe that Internet will drive distribution for the new dashboard interface. That means that all parties—terrestrial radio, satellite radio and Internet radio must establish or maintain a strong online presence. (Satellite radio will eventually reap a giant bonus with this strategy if, instead of costly replacement rocket launches, they simply use the Internet for distribution when its lofty sputniks burn out.)
The Nitty Grid-y
Seems like only yesterday the Nashville record community was arguing about Warner Music’s unorthodox Blake Shelton sixpak strategy. Would it devalue the music? Did it make the artist seem less important without a full size album? But more importantly, did Shelton’s increased six-pak visibility lead to getting the Voice judgeship which has played a major role in his exploding profile? With Shelton at No. 1 again this week and over 420k albums sold in five weeks, maybe we should send WMGN strategists Peter Strickland and John Esposito a little note saying, “Job well done, guys.”
Expect a frenzy of register ringing over the next four weeks as we see offerings from Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Pistol Annies, George Strait, Trace Adkins and Darius Rucker.
Overall, the week’s tepid country performance caused the YTD gain to slip in half from .9% last week to only .4% gain for the year. All genre music is faring much worse however, down 5.3% YTD.
The sad passing of Mr. George Jones was reflected in an outpouring of love on this week’s country digital tracks chart. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” entered at No. 15 with over 34k downloads followed by “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” (11k), “White Lightning” (7.6k), “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair” (6k), “Finally Friday” (5k), “Choices” (5k) and ”The Grand Tour” (5k). RIP George Jones.
All genre track sales are down 2% YTD, but country track sales are up 7%.
Look for Kenny Chesney launch results next week…
Bud Light Music First Concert Coming To Nashville
/by Sarah Skates• • Brett James, Jason Sellers, Natalie Hemby, Wendell Mobley, Neil Thrasher and special guests will perform at Songs for Sound to raise money for children who need cochlear implants. The concert is May 23, 8 p.m., at the Grand Ole Opry House. Tickets are $29 here.
• • Bob Dylan’s Americanarama Festival of Music tour will visit Nashville on Sunday, June 30 at The Lawn at Riverfront Park. On the schedule are Dylan and his Band, WILCO, My Morning Jacket, and Bob Weir. Details here.
Country Artists Snag Daytime Emmy Nods
/by Caitlin RantalaTrisha Yearwood’s Food Network show Trisha’s Southern Kitchen earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Culinary Program today (May 1). Her third season begins airing Saturday, May 25.
Little Big Town was recently announced as a nominee for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song “Good Afternoon” for Good Afternoon America on ABC.
“Good Afternoon” was co-written by Little Big Town, Brett Warren and Brad Warren and was produced by Jay Joyce. It was recorded in Nashville, Tenn. this past summer.
“What an unexpected honor to be nominated for an Emmy,” said Jimi Westbrook. “This is something we never could have dreamed up as a band and we are beyond thrilled to say the least!”
The announcement comes fresh off of the heels of a sold-out show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
The 2013 Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place on June 16 in Beverly Hills, Calif., airing on the cable network HLN.
Country Music Hall of Fame's 'Hot Nights at the Hall' Returns
/by Jessica NicholsonThe series debuted in the summer of 2010 and features live music, complimentary food, a cash bar, autograph signings, a limited edition Hatch Show Print® poster and exclusive access to the museum and Museum Store.
Admission to Hot Nights at the Hall is free to all museum members. Museum membership begins at $40 and includes admission to all three concert events as well as a year of free admission to the museum, invitations to other member-only events and much more. A membership may be purchased at the door on each night of the series, by phone at (615) 291-8419 or at countrymusichalloffame.org/
“Our members are a vital part of our museum family, and their contributions directly support our mission,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “Hot Nights at the Hall allows us to say ‘thank you’ to the members we have, and to encourage others to join us by providing them with a really great value and yet another benefit to museum membership. We’re excited to bring the series back for a third year and again offer members old and new a chance to hear some great music, meet the performers and enjoy our exhibits after hours.”
The Civil Wars' Sophomore Album Coming This Summer
/by Jessica NicholsonEarlier this year, The Civil Wars canceled all of their upcoming concerts due to “irreconcilable differences of ambition.”
“Patience is a virtue,” White said via a letter posted on the duo’s website. “Yours has been appreciated. Here’s to the hope you consider it rewarded.”
Shortly after the duo’s announcement was made, their official website became temporarily unavailable. There is no word whether the duo will resume touring.
[Updated] George Jones Memorial To Feature Star-Studded Tributes
/by Jessica NicholsonThe funeral will include musical performances by Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Alan Jackson, Ronnie Milsap, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, Kid Rock, Tanya Tucker and Wynonna.
First Lady Laura Bush, Kenny Chesney, Grand Ole Opry’s Pete Fisher, Governor Bill Haslam, Governor Mike Huckabee, Barbara Mandrell and CBS’ Bob Schieffer will all make special remarks.
Garth Brooks and Dierks Bentley will also be in attendance, though not speaking or performing.
The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. and is open to the public. Doors will open at 9 a.m. The funeral will be broadcast live on several outlets, including all four of Nashville’s local television stations, as well as on CMT, GAC, RFD and FamilyNet and opry.com, WSM 650 AM and SiriusXM.
••• Update: Music industry members who wish to attend the event should park in the public parking lot shared by Opry Mills and the Grand Ole Opry House. At the front of the Opry Plaza you will be directed to the Music Industry entrance doors of the Opry House, and from there you will be seated in an area reserved for Music Industry professionals. This seating will be accommodated on a first come, first-served basis.
Toby Keith Thanks Troops With Visits To Guam, Philippines
/by Caitlin RantalaToby Keith is thanking troops and their families with a three-country, 10-day USO tour April 28-May 7. Keith is currently visiting the Philippines, Guam and Hawaii to lift the spirits of troops and their loved ones. During the tour, he is scheduled to perform seven USO shows exclusively for military families.
“It feels so good to be back out visiting and performing for our troops in uniform and their families,” Keith said. “I’ve toured a lot in my lifetime but nothing beats traveling with the USO, having the opportunity to uplift the spirits of our nation’s service heroes and showing them that America is always by their side no matter where they are in the world,” said Keith.
The troops applaud Keith and Scotty Emerick as they entertain on April 28.
At left, Keith performs his acoustic show with Scotty Emerick.
Mark Your Calendar – May 2013
/by Eric T. ParkerMay 6
Scotty McCreery/See You Tonight/Mercury-19-Interscope
Chuck Wicks/Salt Life/McGhee
Thomas Rhett/It Goes Like This/Valory
Amber Hayes/Any Day is a Good Day/A OK
May 13
Joe Nichols/Sunny and 75/Red Bow
Chris Young/Aw Naw/RCA
Trace Adkins (feat. Colbie Caillat)/Watch The World End/Show Dog–Universal-New Revolution
Frank Ortega/Two Places at Once/Villa One Records
Lee Brice/Parking Lot Party/Curb
Mark Chesnutt/When The Lights Go Out (Tracie’s Song)/Nada Dinero
Adam Fears/There’s A Girl Out There/LandStar-Flying Island
May 20
Adrianna Freeman/Just a Girl/AFM Entertainment
May 27
Ali Dee/It Ain’t/Diamond Dee
Alexandra Lee/Dancin’ Round the Fire/Wild Blue Records
May 7
Lady Antebellum/Golden/Capitol Nashville
Natalie Maines/Mother/Columbia Records
Pistol Annies/Annie Up/RCA
Craig Campbell/Never Regret/Bigger Picture
Various/The Music of Nashville (Season 1, Volume 2)/Big Machine Records
Various/NOW That’s What I Call A Country Party/Universal Music Group-Sony Music Entertainment
Patty Griffin/American Kid/New West Records
Courtney Jaye/Love and Forgiveness
Mickie James/Somebody’s Gonna Pay/eOne
May 14
George Strait/Love Is Everything/MCA Nashville
Trace Adkins/Love Will.../Show Dog-Universal
Amy Grant/How Mercy Looks From Here
Various/You Don’t Know Me: Rediscovering Eddy Arnold/Plowboy Records
Various/Everybody Has A Story/Thirty Tigers
May 21
Darius Rucker/True Believers/Capitol
Angie James/Sing For You [EP]/Sony
Restless Heart/Playlist: The Very Best of Restless Heart/RCA-Legacy
May 28
Gretchen Wilson/Under The Covers/Redneck Records
Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw/All In The Same Boat/Big Hit Records
John Fogerty/Wrote A Song For Everyone/Vanguard Records
Claire Lynch/Dear Sister/Compass Records
Rebecca Frazier/When We Fall/Compass Records
May 1-5
Key West Songwriters Festival
May 2
George Jones’ funeral at The Grand Ole Opry House at 10 a.m.
May 4
Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame inductions at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro
May 6
ASCAP Golden Note Award, during the invitation-only 35th Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards at The Franklin Theatre
May 14
The Nashville Chapter of The Recording Academy’s annual Grammy Block Party from 4:30-10 p.m. at Owen Bradley Park
May 18
May 19
2013 Billboard Music Awards, 7 p.m. CT on ABC from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
May 19-20
Grand opening for Nashville’s Music City Center
May 30-June 2
DISClaimer: A Stack Of Worthy Work
/by Robert K OermannHEM/Seven Angels
Writers: Dan Messe/Steve Curtis; Producer: Gary Maurer/Dan Messe; Publisher: Peep/Steve Curtis/ASCAP; Waveland
-Hem is an eight-person, mainly acoustic band featuring winsome, breathy lead vocals by Sally Ellson. The enchanting, folk-Americana sound with gentle keyboards and strummy guitars is augmented by atmospheric violin on this featured track and by pedal steel, glockenspiel, choirs and/or full orchestra on others. Hem’s entire Departure & Farewell album is lovely listening.
The Rankin Twins
THE RANKIN TWINS AND DREW WOMACK/Holdin’ Pattern
Writers: Django Walker/Amy Rankin/April Rankin/Drew Womack; Producer: Ken Tondre; Publisher: none listed; RT
-The sisters look retro-stylish and beautiful on cover of their Moonshine & Maybes CD. Its single demonstrates that they sing as good as they look. And the sizzling vocal presence of former Sons of the Desert frontman Womack doesn’t hurt one bit. The mid-tempo tune is made even more punchy and addictive by the chopping mandolin and keening steel work. Lend this your ears.
BOBBY BARE/Lookout Mountain
Writers: Dennis Linde; Producer: Don Cusic/Bobby Bare; Publisher: EMI Blackwood, BMI; Plowboy
-Now that Bobby Bare is going into the Country Music Hall of Fame, don’t you think it’s time that you paid attention to his excellent current album Darker Than Light? One highlight of the neo-folk collection is this rhythmic, driving depiction of the Battle of Lookout Mountain. He sings it with dramatic conviction, and the production underscores his every note with drumming and electric guitars simulating cannon blasts.
AMY ROSE/Party Like A Redneck
Writers: Fraser/Coulson/Beecroft; Producer: After Tuesday Productions (Marty Beecroft/Glenn Coulson); Publishers: none listed; SOCAN; Wild Rose
-I have praised her singing in the past. But this song sucks.
ROYAL WADE KIMES/Dixie Burns
Writers: R.W. Kimes; Producer: George Bradfute/Mike Noble/Royal Wade Kimes; Publisher: Blue Whistler, ASCAP, Wonderent
-This is the title tune to a Civil War era movie written and directed by singer-songwriter Kimes. It is an emotional ballad about the burning of Atlanta, told from the point of view a surviving Georgia man. His tremulous, throaty singing has never sounded more authentic or believable. Well done. The album containing it, A Proud Land, is consistently compelling.
DAKOTA BRADLEY/Somethin’ Like Somethin’
Writers: Mark Irwin/Josh Kear/Shane McAnally; Producer: Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw; Publisher: none listed; Streamsound
-Streamsound is Byron Gallimore’s Sony-distributed imprint. Dakota Bradley’s jaunty tenor on this sunny, summertime bopper is a worthy addition to a catalog that includes the fine Streamsound tunes already issued by Jaida Dreyer. Catchy and lively.
SLEEPY LaBEEF/Honey Hush
Writers: Joe Turner; Producer: Dave Pomeroy; Publisher: Unichappell, BMI; Earwave
-Veteran road warrior LaBeef blew through town a couple of weeks ago to perform one of his typical barn-burner club sets, celebrate the movie about him at the Nashville Film Festival and sit in with The Time Jumpers. His new live CD kicks off with his roaring rockabilly treatment of this jump-blues standard. Recorded at Douglas Corner in January 2012, this record captures his abundant, multi-genre charm perfectly. Hop on board while he romps through a repertoire that spans Hank Williams, Willie Dixon, The Delmore Brothers, Hank Ballard, Merle Kilgore, Fats Domino and more. Producer Pomeroy is on bass and the esteemed Kenny Vaughan provides the hot electric-guitar licks.
JASON CHARLES MILLER/The Way You Still Want Me
Writers: J.C. Miller/Steve Freeman/Jon Nite; Producer: Dan Hodges/Jason Charles Miller; Publisher: Count Mecha/Bike/Songs of Colton Entertainment/Propps House/EMI April/Jon Mark Nite, BMI/ASCAP; Render
-The guitars scream, the drums pound, everyone makes noise and the song has loads of hooks. But his singing voice takes some getting used to.
THOMAS RHETT/It Goes Like This
Writers: Rhett Akins/Ben Hayslip/Jimmy Robins; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Rhettneck/WB/Tar-Cam-Knox/Get A Load Of This/Universal/Extraordinary Allen, BMI/ASCAP; Valory
-Thomas didn’t have to look far to find his new single, since his daddy Rhett Akins co-wrote it. It’s a rumbling thumper about finding new romance that features a super melodic chorus. Rollicking and righteous.
CHANCE CODY & SPUR 503/The Legend Grows
Writers: Chance Cody/Jared Mitchell; Producer: Greg White; Publisher: none listed; Spur 503
-The sound is “outlaw” all the way with echoey atmosphere, doom-laden guitars, slow and deliberate drumming, searing fiddle and the like. And that’s perfect, since the quasi-spoken lyric is about a renegade gunslinger. Cody’s baritone voice conveys the threatening messages as well as he speaks. Aged perfectly. Featured on the CD The Legend Grows.
CRS Announces Agenda Committee
/by Sarah SkatesThe complete 2013-2014 CRS Agenda Committee (bold denotes new member):
Lee Adams / Broken Bow Records
Daniel Anstandig / Listener Driven Radio
Lindsey Cerajewski / WUSN
Andy Denemark / United Stations
Dale Desmond / WCKN
Shelly Easton / WXTU
Greg Frey / Cumulus Media, Inc.
Heather (Robin Ward) Froglear / KFRG/KXFG/KVFG/KRAK
Keith Gale / Sony Music Nashville
Jeffrey Green / Stone Door Media Lab (Agenda Co-Chair)
Tom Hanrahan / The Bull Birmingham
Kurt Johnson / Townsquare Media
Judi Lakin / Cox Media Group Houston
Stephen Linn / BBR Management
Nick Martin / WXFL
Ron Rodrigues / Arbitron
Annie Sandor / Curb Records (Agenda Chair)
John Trapane / Capitol Records (Agenda Co-Chair)
Rob Williams / Greater Media Boston
Sue Wilson / Rubber City Radio Group