Sponsors. We love them. I got out my wallet to pay for a glass of white wine at the Tin Pan South Festival’s kick-off party on Monday evening (April 1).
“It’s an open bar,” said the server.
“Isn’t that nice?” I replied. “I love this party,” I thought silently.
The good folks at Jack Daniel’s provided the bar. Thank-you, sponsor. Next, I headed to the buffet table. That’s where they had helpings of meatballs in marinara sauce, chicken pesto sliders, veggies, cheeses, pork sliders and skewers holding Genoa salami, sweet gherkin morsels and grape tomatoes. These were courtesy of Maggiano’s Little Italy. Thank-you, another sponsor.
The event was staged in the Region’s Bank lobby at the Roundabout Plaza. Parking fees in the adjacent garage were waived. There’s another sponsor to thank. Hostess-with-the-mostest Lisa Harless swanned through a crowd that included such swells as Wood Newton, Liz Hengber, Bernie Nelson, Sam Tate, Jerry Foster, Steve Bogard, Jeff Silbar, Jon Weisberger, Richard Fagan and James Dean Hicks, not to mention Mike Sebastian, Mike Sisted, Charles Dorris, Charles Alexander, Charlie Monk, Mark Ford, Hank Adam Locklin, Chris Keaton, Alan Mayor, Susan Myers, Sherrill Blackmon, Jerry Vandiver, Ralph Murphy, Kayla Becker and Bart Herbison.
Tin Pan South showcases begin this evening (April 2). It’s a banquet of songwriting stars during the next five nights. Participating venues include 3rd & Lindsley, Belcourt Taps & Tapas, Douglas Corner, The Station Inn, The Bluebird Café, The Commodore Grille, The Listening Room Café, The Rutledge and Winners Bar & Grill.
Expect to enjoy Jake Owen, Radney Foster, Bruce Robison, Rhett Walker, Rob Crosby, Tracy Lawrence, Joanna Smith, Joey + Rory, Danielle Peck, Tim Nichols, Derric Ruttan, Tiffany, Dave Barnes, Jim Brickman, Richie McDonald, Victoria Shaw, Brett Eldridge, Mando Saenz, Jim Femino, Earl Bud Lee, Shawn Camp, Lauren Lucas, Jeffrey Steele, Jon Randall, Sherrie Austin, A.J. Masters, Linda Davis, Jim McBride, Jay Knowles, Roxie Dean, Jimmy Stewart, Ashley Monroe, Trent Willmon, Mindy Smith, Daniel Tashian & Kate York, Michael Martin Murphy, Jim Lauderdale, Brice Long, Lance Miller, Dave Berg, Sarah Buxton, Joel Crouse, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Trey Bruce, Jessi Alexander, Kerry Kurt Phillips, Brian White, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Michael Peterson, Mark Selby, Kacey Musgraves (miss her at your peril), Sonny LeMaire, Mark Nesler, James Otto, Lee Roy Parnell, Gary Nicholson, Larry Gatlin, Leslie Satcher, Trent Summar, Marcus Hummon, Kim Parent, Jeff Black, Sam Bush, Kim Richey, Skip Ewing, Even Stevens, Lari White, Lionel Cartwright, Becky Hobbs, Judy Rodman, Casey Beathard, Phil O’Donnell, Cary Barlowe, Dave Gibson, Irene Kelley, John Wiggins, Tommy Sims, Billy Montana, Frank Myers, Eddy Raven, Tom Kimmel, Jerry Salley, Carl Jackson, Gordon Kennedy, Karen Staley, Casey Kelly, Jonathan Singleton, J.D. Souther, Big Al Anderson, Steven Dale Jones, Walt Aldridge, Gabe Dixon, Amy Grant, Tom Douglas, Tony Lane, Lee Thomas Miller, Wynn Varble, Matthew Perryman Jones, Buddy Jewell, Billy Yates, Jimmy Fortune, Shelly Fairchild and many, many more.
Scattered throughout the five-day schedule are such Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members as Allen Shamblin, Paul Overstreet, Dennis Morgan, Pat Alger, Mike Reid, Mark D. Sanders, Dean Dillon, Gary Burr, Bob DiPiero, Richard Leigh, Matraca Berg, Hugh Prestwood and the aforementioned Jerry Foster.
Artist Updates (4-3-13)
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
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Presenters Announced for 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonThey join previously announced presenters Tori Kelly and LL Cool J.
In addition, Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Jewel, Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and The Band Perry have been announced as performers for the event.
Robold To Lead Southern Ground Artists
/by Sarah SkatesKen Robold
Music industry veteran Ken Robold has been named president of Zac Brown’s label Southern Ground Artists. Robold will oversee Southern Ground’s recorded music, publishing and studio divisions. He will focus on building the publishing catalog, which will include Zac Brown Band’s future works, and growing the label roster, currently home to Blackberry Smoke, Clay Cook, Nic Cowan, Sonia Leigh, Levi Lowrey, The Wheeler Boys and The Wood Brothers.
Robold most recently served as Executive VP and General Manager of Universal Music Group Nashville, where he oversaw day-to-day operations and worked with artists including Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Lionel Richie, George Strait, Shania Twain, Ryan Adams, Jamey Johnson, Lucinda Williams and Lee Ann Womack. The role was the culmination of a nearly 22-year career at PolyGram Records / Universal Music Group.
“My vision for Southern Ground Artists has always been to create a home for diverse and talented songwriters. Based on Ken’s work at UMG Nashville, and particularly at Lost Highway, he is the perfect fit to head up the label,” said SGA founder Zac Brown. “We’re looking forward to what Ken brings to our team.”
“To get to work with an artist such as Zac Brown at an artist-owned, entrepreneurial company is simply a dream come true,” said Robold. “While getting to know Zac in the last few months, I have found that his talent and creativity are surpassed only by what a quality human being he is. Im looking forward to building this company together.”
Arista Nashville Taps Cooper as National Director of Promotion Strategy
/by Jessica NicholsonJeri Cooper
Arista Nashville has added Jeri Cooper as National Director, Promotion Strategy, reporting to Lesly Tyson, VP, Promotion. Cooper rejoins the Arista Nashville team with more than two decades of experience in country record promotion. In her new position, she will play a key strategic role on the promotion team alongside Arista Nashville National Director of Promotion John Sigler.
“Jeri is not only an outstanding promotion executive, she is a member of the Sony family. She spent 12 years of her career breaking artists and helping create superstars with Arista Nashville, and I am absolutely thrilled to welcome her home in this incredible new role,” said Tyson.
Cooper had spent the past year and a half at Sony Music Nashville subbing in for various promotion roles across the RCA Nashville and Columbia Nashville Promotion teams after rejoining the company from Red Light Management, where she served as a day-to-day manager for Arista artists Jason Michael Carroll and Adam Brand from 2010-2011. A Sony veteran, Cooper served as Director of Regional Promotion for Arista Nashville from 1998-2010, where she oversaw the major market airplay of the Arista Nashville roster including Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn and others. Prior to that, she served as Regional Promotion Manager for Columbia records from 1993-1998. Cooper began her tenure with the company in 1991 as a Manager of secondary promotion at BNA Records. Cooper currently lives in Franklin with her husband and their son.
Weekly Register: Shelton Surge And Q1 Countdown
/by bossrossTake me for example. Only a few weeks ago I was complaining over the lack of fresh new product and having to endure dire sales. But today, at the close of Q1, country music sales are starting to show strength if not honest-to-goodness resilience. Might be exactly the moment to offer a tip of the hat to label marketing departments. Good job guys (and gals)…
On the country chart this week we are enjoying Top 10 debuts from Blake Shelton (No. 1; 199k, 39 percent digital), Alan Jackson (No. 2; 55k, 13 percent digital) and Thompson Square (No. 4; 36k, 31 percent digital). There’s also a various artist ACM Awards Zinepak Wal-Mart Exclusive that hit No. 11 with over 15k physical-only units. And last, but not least Ms. Maggie Rose entered the chart at No. 36 with almost 2k units (69 percent digital).
Since fans are less genre conscious than ever these days, the full house of debuts on the Top 200 chart was also a solid source of sales momentum. Justin Timberlake topped the chart with week 2 of his 20/20 Experience that scanned over 968k last week plus almost 318k this week. Blake, Alan and Thompson Square were joined on the Top 200 by debuts from Lil Wayne (No. 2; 217k), Onerepublic (No. 4; 60k), Depeche Mode (No. 6; 52k) and Strokes (No. 10; 41k).
Grid Lock
So let’s take a look at where we are, compared to last year, as we turn the first quarter corner of 2013.
And there’s even good news for the eternal optimists that cling to the concept that digital sales (both albums and tracks) will make up for losses in physical sales. Well, at least according to country units (not profits), this week you are correct. Note the special column on the far right of the Q1 Weekly Grid which shows “Albums with TEA” and you’ll note that country album sales including TEA are up .8 percent.
Weekly Grid stats for All Genre sales are less positive, but improving. Even albums with TEA is still in negative territory (-3.8 percent).
Over the next few weeks look for new releases from The Band Perry (April 2), Brad Paisley (April 9), Eric Church (April 9) and Kenny Chesney (April 30). See a complete list here.
Craig Wiseman's Music Row Rally To Be Held April 16
/by Jessica NicholsonThe proceeds go toward a great cause; 10 percent of all profits made by the food trucks will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. A $1 donation from all attendees at the door is requested as an additional way to give to this incredible charity.
Presented by O’Charley’s, this not-to-be missed evening helps to raise awareness of hunger issues in Tennessee. Tickets are on-sale now for $35 at ticketmaster.com. For preferred VIP seating please contact the Second Harvest Food Bank at 615-329-3491. All proceeds from the concert benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in their efforts to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community. For more information contact Brittany Hansen at 615.329.3491 or visit their website at secondharvestmidtn.org.
'Muscle Shoals Live' Nashville Benefit and NaFF Screening
/by Eric T. ParkerThe evening, titled “Muscle Shoals Live: The River That Sings” will be held at Lipscomb’s Collins Auditorium at 8:30 p.m., shortly after the documentary’s Tennessee debut at the Nashville Film Festival beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Hosted by the International Black Film Festival of Nashville and Mid-Town Music Academy in close collaboration with the NaFF, the Lipscomb event will feature music from The Swampers, Jesse Boyce and FAME Gang, Gino Speight and The SOS Band, Harvey Thompson of The Muscle Shoals Horns, Angela Primm of Still Waters; jazz musician & vocalist Thomas Cain.
“This is a great story that reveals how local musicians and internationally known artists came together to create soulful music that connected people beyond race, gender and national origin around the world during the era of segregation,” said Hazel Joyner Smith, IBFFN Executive Director and founder IBFFN. “We are offering a double treat with both the film and musical production that will feature many of the original players and their music that still rocks today.”
The documentary, which chronicles the spiritual influence of the music of Muscle Shoals, premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival from writer and director Greg “Freddy” Camalier.
To purchase tickets, visit the IBFFN website. Tickets will also be available onsite during the NaFF and at the Allen Arena Box Office the day of the concert.
DISClaimer: Let The March To Stardom Begin
/by Robert K OermannKacey Musgraves
Let the march to stardom begin. It has been so, so gratifying to watch the world fall in love with Kacey Musgraves. [MusicRow Publisher] Sherod [Robertson] and I rejoiced together when she introduced “Merry Go Round” at the 2012 CRS convention. It took a full year, but that song finally entered the top-10 in time for CRS 2013. All of that is a preamble to stating that Kacey’s follow-up, “Blowin’ Smoke,” is the Disc of the Day. It’s a good idea to populate a new band with seasoned vets. That’s the way the Texas Jamm Band won a DisCovery Award. Special kudos go to the group for keeping real country music alive.
Texas Jamm Band
Billy Currington/Hey Girl
Writers: Rhett Akins/Chris DeStefano/Ashley Gorley; Producer: Dan Huff; Publishers:EMI Blackwood/EMI April/Sugar Glider/External Combustion/Out of the Taperoom/Songs of Southside Independent, BMI/ASCAP, Mercury
-A bit of a disappointment. In the past, he has shown such unerring good taste in material, so I was startled by how lackluster this pick-up ditty is. Back to the drawing board.
Danielle Car/Turn You On
Writers: Danielle Car; Producer: Chuck AlKasian, Danielle Car and Brian Lord; Publisher: none listed, BMI; DC
-I have liked this Detroit diva in the past. This time around, she’s rocking a boozy, saucy, sexy roller with more than enough backbeat to kick you in the rear end. Rock on, sister.
Kacey Musgraves/Blowin’ Smoke
Writers: Kacey Musgraves/Luke Laird/Shane McAnally; Producers: Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/351/Universal Careers/Crazy Water/Smack Songs/Little Blue Egg/Kobalt,BMI/ASCAP; Mercury
-I am totally smitten with her conversational vocal drawl. The fact that she’s such a brilliant songwriter is another reason I hang on every line. Buy this woman’s record right now.
Tyler Barham/It’s Valentine’s Day
Writers: Bobby Hamrick/John Griffin; Producers: Dave Flint and John Griffin; Publisher: none listed, YN (track)
-He has a sincere, warm singing style that is extremely engaging. The meandering, lovelorn ballad, however, does nothing for me. Find him a hit song.
Little Big Town/Your Side of the Bed
Writers: Lori McKenna/Karen Fairchild/Kimberly Schlapman/Phillip Sweet/Jimi Westbrook; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Hoodie/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI; Capitol
-Love has died in this gorgeous, harmony-soaked ballad. Jimi Westbrook, who is one of our finest male vocalists, swaps lines with wife Karen Fairchild during the group’s spectacular performance. In a word, superb.
Joni Rae Jack/Wild Side
Writers: none listed; Producer: Shayne Morrison and Greg Hunt; Publisher: none listed; Rockin Moon
-She’s in church, daydreaming about the not-so-holy things she was up to the night before. He catches her eye from a pew and gives her a grin. A naughty-but-nice rocker.
Johnny Rivers/My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It
Writers: traditional; Producer: Johnny Rivers; Publisher: public domain; Soul City
-Pop legend Rivers refashions this Hank Williams/Ricky Nelson oldie into an acoustic romp. There’s still plenty of thump in the rhythm, but it also has a definite bluegrass vibe. By the way, why isn’t this guy in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame?
Jeremy Steding/Lyin’
Writers: Jeremy Steding; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Smith
-The track works up a lather with its double-time, rumbling tempo while the baritone vocalist drawls languidly atop the audio excitement. Quite listenable.
Carrie Underwood/See You Again
Writers:Carrie Underwood/Steve Hodges/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher:Carrie-Okie/EMI Blackwood/1206/Raylene/BMG Chrysalis, BMI/ASCAP; Arista/19
-It would be hard to top the drama in either “Blown Away” or “Two Black Cadillacs.” Instead, Carrie opts for a big, beefy, pop power ballad. Loaded with melodic hooks and heart-tugging, love-eternal lyrics, it’s pretty hard not to get completely caught up in it.
Texas Jamm Band/Drinkin’ Doubles
Writers: none listed; Producer: Texas Jamm Band and Tommy Detamore; Publishers: none listed; Glad/MDM
-This eight-man group contains members of George Strait’s Ace in the Hole band. So it’s no surprise that its debut single is country, country, country all the way. The members settle into a slow two-step groove, and super-tasteful steel guitar lines dominate the arrangement. Excellent work, fellas.
Tin Pan South Snapshots: April 2
/by Jessica NicholsonThe first night of this year’s Tin Pan South (Tuesday, April 2) featured performances from Jake Owen, Tracy Lawrence, Allen Shamblin, Danielle Peck, Jimmy Yeary, Brandy Clark and numerous additional top-notch songwriters at numerous music clubs across the city, including The Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner, The Listening Room and other venues. Take a look at photos from various Tin Pan South performances below.
Douglas Corner, Pictured (L-R): Allen Shamblin, Brett Jones, Angela Kaset and Rob Crosby
Listening Room, Pictured (L-R): Eric Paslay, Jake Owen, Brandy Clark and Josh Osborne
Station Inn, Pictured (L-R): Joanna Smith, Tracy Lawrence, Rick Huckaby and Flip Anderson
The Bluebird Cafe (L-R): Danielle Peck, Lauren Lucas, Jesse Lee and Megan Conner
The Bluebird Cafe, Pictured (L-R): Marv Green, Jimmy Yeary, Deric Ruttan and Tim Nichols
Bobby Karl Works The Tin Pan South Kick-off Party
/by Bobby Karl“It’s an open bar,” said the server.
“Isn’t that nice?” I replied. “I love this party,” I thought silently.
The good folks at Jack Daniel’s provided the bar. Thank-you, sponsor. Next, I headed to the buffet table. That’s where they had helpings of meatballs in marinara sauce, chicken pesto sliders, veggies, cheeses, pork sliders and skewers holding Genoa salami, sweet gherkin morsels and grape tomatoes. These were courtesy of Maggiano’s Little Italy. Thank-you, another sponsor.
The event was staged in the Region’s Bank lobby at the Roundabout Plaza. Parking fees in the adjacent garage were waived. There’s another sponsor to thank. Hostess-with-the-mostest Lisa Harless swanned through a crowd that included such swells as Wood Newton, Liz Hengber, Bernie Nelson, Sam Tate, Jerry Foster, Steve Bogard, Jeff Silbar, Jon Weisberger, Richard Fagan and James Dean Hicks, not to mention Mike Sebastian, Mike Sisted, Charles Dorris, Charles Alexander, Charlie Monk, Mark Ford, Hank Adam Locklin, Chris Keaton, Alan Mayor, Susan Myers, Sherrill Blackmon, Jerry Vandiver, Ralph Murphy, Kayla Becker and Bart Herbison.
Tin Pan South showcases begin this evening (April 2). It’s a banquet of songwriting stars during the next five nights. Participating venues include 3rd & Lindsley, Belcourt Taps & Tapas, Douglas Corner, The Station Inn, The Bluebird Café, The Commodore Grille, The Listening Room Café, The Rutledge and Winners Bar & Grill.
Expect to enjoy Jake Owen, Radney Foster, Bruce Robison, Rhett Walker, Rob Crosby, Tracy Lawrence, Joanna Smith, Joey + Rory, Danielle Peck, Tim Nichols, Derric Ruttan, Tiffany, Dave Barnes, Jim Brickman, Richie McDonald, Victoria Shaw, Brett Eldridge, Mando Saenz, Jim Femino, Earl Bud Lee, Shawn Camp, Lauren Lucas, Jeffrey Steele, Jon Randall, Sherrie Austin, A.J. Masters, Linda Davis, Jim McBride, Jay Knowles, Roxie Dean, Jimmy Stewart, Ashley Monroe, Trent Willmon, Mindy Smith, Daniel Tashian & Kate York, Michael Martin Murphy, Jim Lauderdale, Brice Long, Lance Miller, Dave Berg, Sarah Buxton, Joel Crouse, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Trey Bruce, Jessi Alexander, Kerry Kurt Phillips, Brian White, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Michael Peterson, Mark Selby, Kacey Musgraves (miss her at your peril), Sonny LeMaire, Mark Nesler, James Otto, Lee Roy Parnell, Gary Nicholson, Larry Gatlin, Leslie Satcher, Trent Summar, Marcus Hummon, Kim Parent, Jeff Black, Sam Bush, Kim Richey, Skip Ewing, Even Stevens, Lari White, Lionel Cartwright, Becky Hobbs, Judy Rodman, Casey Beathard, Phil O’Donnell, Cary Barlowe, Dave Gibson, Irene Kelley, John Wiggins, Tommy Sims, Billy Montana, Frank Myers, Eddy Raven, Tom Kimmel, Jerry Salley, Carl Jackson, Gordon Kennedy, Karen Staley, Casey Kelly, Jonathan Singleton, J.D. Souther, Big Al Anderson, Steven Dale Jones, Walt Aldridge, Gabe Dixon, Amy Grant, Tom Douglas, Tony Lane, Lee Thomas Miller, Wynn Varble, Matthew Perryman Jones, Buddy Jewell, Billy Yates, Jimmy Fortune, Shelly Fairchild and many, many more.
Scattered throughout the five-day schedule are such Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members as Allen Shamblin, Paul Overstreet, Dennis Morgan, Pat Alger, Mike Reid, Mark D. Sanders, Dean Dillon, Gary Burr, Bob DiPiero, Richard Leigh, Matraca Berg, Hugh Prestwood and the aforementioned Jerry Foster.