Disc of the Day winners Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
The blue grass grows all around.
And so does the musical style that bears its name. In this week’s stack of platters, we find such stars of the idiom as Rhonda Vincent, Del McCoury and The Steeldrivers.
The
Disc of the Day goes to
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. This band has long been known for its clever, bluegrass rearrangements of hits from outside the genre. Now it has a whole CD full of them. Goody.
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers already have a 2012 IBMA Award as Emerging Artists of the Year. Now they also have a
DisCovery Award from DisClaimer.
RUSSELL MOORE & IIIRD TYME OUT/Only You
Writer: Buck Ram/Andre Rand; Producer: Barry Bales; Publisher: Hollis/Screen Gems-EMI, no performance rights listed; Cracker Barrel (track)
—Having trouble finding a record store these days? Drop into your nearest Cracker Barrel restaurant, because this chain always carries plenty of CDs in its gift shops. Bluegrass stars Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out are the latest act with a Cracker Barrel CD.
Timeless Hits from the Past Bluegrassed consists mostly of new versions of pop and country favorites. When you get to their doo-wop, a cappella performance of this 1955 golden goodie by The Platters, the only proper response is, “Wow.” Sonya Isaacs drops by to harmonize on “Golden Ring.” Pam Tillis guests on the lone Moore co-write “John & Mary.”
DisCovery Award: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
—Winners of the bluegrass association’s 2012 Emerging Artist of the Year award, Mullins and his band hail from southwestern Ohio, where they also recorded their latest CD,
They’re Playing My Song. Its first single is this rolling, mid-tempo coal miner’s plea. It’s extremely well written, with plenty of hooks both lyrically and melodically. And it doesn’t hurt that Mullins has a wonderfully restrained, effortlessly mournful vocal style, and that both he and his band mates pick brilliantly. Enthusiastically endorsed.
THE STEELDRIVERS/I’ll Be There
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
—The new Steeldrivers CD comes out the first week in February, but if you go to the Nashville band’s website now, you can get a free download of this track. It’s a splendidly languid, mournful lament of a lover left behind. The mandolin work is simply poetic, and the group harmonies have never sounded better. The album is titled
Hammer Down. Look for it.
DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE/Lonely Ends Where Love Begins
Writer: Billy Austin/Don Pfrimmer/Lisa Shaffer; Producer: Darin & Brooke Aldridge; Publisher: Songs of Platinum Plow/Don Pfrimmer/KLMS, ASCAP; Mountain Home (track)
—This North Carolina couple and their band have been a steadily rising force on the bluegrass scene for the past few seasons. Their newest CD is a live record that kicks off with this upbeat Music Row toe tapper. The Aldridge’s hearty harmonies remain the central focus, but the band gets its licks in during the romping performance. The concert also contains versions of the country classic “Making Plans,” Neil Young’s “Powderfinger,” and Phil Spector’s “To Know Him Is to Love Him.”
ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS/Storms Never Last
Writer: Jessi Colter/Bo Jan Erik Andersson; Producer: Jim Rooney; Publisher: Universal Songs of Polygram, BMI; Red House (track)
—I am a big, big fan of these Prairie Home Companion regulars. Now celebrating their 40th anniversary of entertaining, lustrous vocalists Robin & Linda have a dandy Nashville-recorded CD titled
These Old Dark Hills. It includes a heaping helping of their original tunes, plus this standout rendition of the much-loved Waylon & Jessi 1981 duet. The pedal steel of Al Perkins underscores every sentiment in the lyrics. As far as I’m concerned, all musical couples should have this beautiful song in their repertoires. A standing ovation from this corner.
AUDIE BLAYLOCK & REDLINE/A Natural Thing
Writer: Harley Allen; Producer: Audie Blaylock; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Song Island, no performance rights listed; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.audieblaylock.com)
—Their current CD is titled Hard Country and includes this cool single. It’s a bracing, bouncy tempo tune led by lightly bowed fiddling. What Blaylcock’s voice lacks in passion is more than made up for by the band’s breathtaking instrumental abilities.
RHONDA VINCENT/Joshua
Writer: G.A.A. Thacker; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Bridge Building, BMI; UM (track)
—The Queen of Bluegrass went back home to her Missouri church to record her live
Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ CD. It includes this heart pounding, exciting, thrilling, frothing slab of call-and-response fervor. With more than 80 honors, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage are the most honored act in bluegrass. Performances like this are why.
BILL EMERSON & SWEET DIXIE/My Baby Thinks He’s a Train
Writer: Leroy Preeston; Producer: Bill Emerson; Publisher: Bug, BMI; Rural Rhythm (track)
—The co-founder of the legendary Country Gentlemen, banjo player Emerson now leads his own band, Sweet Dixie. The instrumental contributions on this Rosanne Cash/Asleep at the Wheel oldie are all simply outstanding. You’d think with its leader’s experience and connections, he’d be able to find a more soulful lead singer than this.
DAVID GRISMAN & THE DEL McCOURY BAND/ 20/20 Vision
Writer: none listed; Producer: David Grisman; Publisher: none listes; Acoustic Disc (track)
—Grisman’s mandolin playing can be all over the map, everywhere from jazz to new age. But teamed with Nashville’s McCoury bunch, he clings closely to bluegrass tradition on chestnuts including “John Henry,” “A Good Woman’s Love,” “Hit Parade of Love,” “Tennessee Waltz,” “I’m Sitting on Top of the World” and this 1955 Jimmy Martin oldie. It may be billed as a “Dawg” disc, but this is Del’s show all the way.
JIMMY GAUDREAU & MOONDI KLEIN/New Morning
Writer: Casey B. McPherson; Producer: Jimmy Gaudreau, Moondi Klein & Stuart Martin; Publisher: AlphaRev/Seven Peaks, ASCAP; Rebel (track)
—The team’s new disc is titled
Home from the Mills. Despite the presence of more familiar fare such as “Close the Door Lightly When You Go,” “If I Needed You,” and “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie,” it’s this lilting, melodic song from the repertoire of a band called Alpha Rev that gets the emphasis. Whatever. I could listen to these guys sing the phone book.
Music City Roots Opens New Season Tonight
/by Sarah SkatesEach season’s inaugural show benefits The Nature Conservancy. Tonight’s concert features performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell, bluegrassers Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, East Nashville songwriter Josh Farrow, Chattanooga’s own WTM Blues Band and Memphis indie folk trio Star & Micey.
The Jan. 24 installment will be broadcast from Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia during the 41st Tamworth Country Music Festival with musical hosts Jim Lauderdale, Elizabeth Cook, David Jacobs-Strain, Kirsty Akers and Felicity Urquhart. MCR also produced 13 episodes for Australia’s Country Music Channel (CMC).
Elsewhere, the winter season will showcase The Danberrys, The McCrary Sisters, The Vespers, John Cowan, The Steeldrivers and more. On Jan. 30 Belmont University will present Josh Mirenda, Elenowen, Two Story Road, Vickie Vaughn Band and Roots of a Rebellion.
“This is an exemplary MCR lineup to start the year – legends, award-winners, newcomers and multiple genres of music all sharing a platform built on integrity,” said MCR Executive Producer John Walker. “The fact that we’re doing our first live show on another continent is a milestone on the path to our global vision.”
Weekly Register: The Start Of A New Horse Race
/by bossrossHowever, after that exciting rave-up intro I have to admit 2013’s first week didn’t generate anything even as exciting [yawn] as news about the $11 million mansion purchased by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West so they’ll have room for a nursery. But I promise we’ll find some relevant facts, so read on…
As our grid shows the first week of 2013 is ahead of the first week of 2012 largely carried by a strong crop of post-holiday Top 5 albums: Les Miserables soundtrack (92k); Mumford & Sons (91k); Taylor Swift (69k); Phillip Phillips (63k) and One Direction (61k).
Track sales were off 38% compared with last week’s year-end, gift-card-cashing charts, but up 5% compared with the same week in 2012 (see grid). Frisky FGL topped the Digital Genre Country tracks list as “Cruise” downloaded another 103k units on its double platinum trajectory moving it to 1.738 million. No. 2 on the country tracks list was Swift’s “We Are Never Ever…” which added 96k this week for a total of 3.15 million. Ms. Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” sits at No. 1 on the all-genre Digital Tracks Current list downloading a massive 326k units for 2.367 million RTD. (This track is not also listed on the Digital Genre Country list for an unexplained reason known only to the folks that compile the Nielsen SoundScan data.)
Albums On Deck
MusicRow’s calendar for Upcoming Album releases can be found here. The next two months show dual Tim McGraw releases (Curb and BMLG) and some great projects from Katie Armiger, Randy Houser, Gary Allan, The Mavericks and power vocal trio Blue Sky Riders.
During the first two months of 2012 new offerings from Dierks Bentley, McGraw, Kellie Pickler, Martina McBride plus a soundtrack for Act Of Valor boosted unit totals. This year we have fewer top line titles, but we are blessed with a consistent tonnage title, like Red, so expect year-over-year comparisons for the next two months to remain close, even as digital percentages grow.
The Road Ahead
The new sales frontier—access—or digital streaming lacks a comprehensive measurement yardstick, but indications continue that it is gaining favor with consumers. Muve Music service, bundled by Cricket Communications announced this week that it has over one million subscribers. Muve Music customers get unlimited full track downloads, ringtones and ringback tones all included in their monthly rate plan. Muve has jumped from 600k subscribers to 1.1 million in less than a year. Spotify, an international on-demand music service now boasts five million paid subscribers with one million in the U.S. Rhapsody, another large player in the streaming on-demand market has also grown its paid base to over one million. According to research from digitalmusicnews.com, Muve, Rhapsody and Spotify have enjoyed a 340% paid subscriber growth in the last 13 months.
Pandora, also a key player in the space, is a webcaster service (users can’t pick exactly what they want to hear) with about 1.5 million subscribers.
'NYT': Nashville Is The New 'It' City
/by Sarah SkatesThe report highlights the $623 million Music City Center, low unemployment rates, job growth, technology start-ups, and, of course, the music industry.
Nashville’s drawbacks, the article notes, include public education. Keep reading.
New Regional Promotion Manager for Arista Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonAli O’Connell
Arista Nashville has added Ali O’Connell as a regional promotion manager. Based in Atlanta, O’Connell will report to VP, National Promotion for Arista Nashville, Lesly Tyson. She will begin in her new role on Feb. 4.
“Ali is one of the absolute best promotion executives I have ever met. Her enthusiasm, passion and drive are infectious. She is the perfect addition to the Arista family!” says Tyson.
“I am so excited to join the Arista Nashville family,” says O’Connell. “I have known and respected Lesly Tyson for years and I know that I will be able to learn so much from her.”
O’Connell began her radio career as Marketing Director for the then eight station Citadel cluster before transitioning to the music side, becoming the APD/MD/On-air at WSSX in Charleston (Top 40) and WSUY in Charleston (AC).
Prior to her work with Arista Nashville, she was a regional promotion manager with Atlantic Records.
Industry Veteran Skip Bishop Announces New Label
/by Sherod RobertsonHitShop Pres. Skip Bishop
Music industry veteran Skip Bishop announced the launch of record label HitShop Records this morning (1/9) and will serve as President of the new company. Country star Ronnie Dunn and longtime friend of Bishop attended the press conference to introduced the new label head at Nashville’s Sirius XM Studios. HitShop Records, a subsidiary of Ramblin’ Music Group, will be distributed by Warner Music Nashville.
“This is one of the most innovative and creative gatherings of musical talent and staff I’ve ever seen,” said Bishop. “The young, brilliant minds and compelling musicians involved are building a new model of discovery from the street up. This is the new label configuration of the future! Everyone at HitShop is deeply committed and involved in studying the new paths music fans walk. We look forward to a productive relationship with Warner Music Nashville.”
“Skip is one of the most savvy and creative executives in Nashville,” added John Esposito, President, Warner Music Nashville. “His track record for breaking hit records is what excited us to be in business with him and his team. We’re pleased to be providing this impressive new label with distribution services and to be working closely with this team.”
HitShop is launching with a diverse lineup of music makers including pop funk duo Gimm+Icky, whose music has been heard in national promo spots for ABC and E!; and Fort Payne, Alabama native Weston Burt, who cut his teeth playing over 150 dates a year while in college at Auburn University. Weston starts his country radio promotion tour today after performing with Gimm+Icky at this morning’s press conference.
Bishop’s 40-year career in radio and records includes serving as President/CEO, Bishop Bait & Tackle Marketing; Sr. VP Promotion at RCA Records in New York; MCA Records in Los Angeles; and Sony Music in Nashville.
Diane Monk-Harrison, whose promotion experience includes Arista Nashville, Columbia and MCA Records, will take the helm as VP Promotion for HitShop Records. The radio promotion staff will include East Cost Director Rick Baumgartner; West Coast Director Kelly Symone; and Director, Secondary Promotion and National Promotions Coordinator Will Hamrick.
A&R will be let by Emmy Award winning composer Cliff Downs, alongside VP, A&R Micah Wilshire. Rounding out the team is National Director, Digital Marketing Tim Gerst and Sr. Executive Assistant Amara Hall. HitShop staff can be contacted at:
Diane Monk-Harrison, diane@hitshoprecords.com, 214-824-4124
Rick Baumgartner, rick@hitshoprecords.com, 615-730-6344 ext. 109
Kelly Symone, kelly@hitshoprecords.com, 916-868-3331
Will Hamrick, will@hitshoprecords.com, 615-730-6344 ext. 102
Cliff Downs, cliff@ramblinmusic.com, 615-730-6344 ext. 101
Micah Wilshire, micah@ramblinmusic.com, 615-730-6344
Tim Gerst, tim@hitshoprecords.com, 615-730-6344
Amara Hall, amara@hitshoprecords.com, 615-730-6344
For more information visit www.hitshoprecords.com.
Wireless Carrier will offer FM Radio via Smartphones
/by Jessica Nicholson“We look forward to bringing Sprint customers another entertainment choice through NextRadio,” Sprint Sr. VP/Product Development and Operations Fared Adib said via a release. “This new, easy-to-use service adds another dimension to the versatility of our wide array of smartphones and will deliver a new avenue for thousands of local radio stations across the country to reach customers.”
“This opportunity combines the strengths of the Sprint network with the impact of America’s radio stations,” NAB president Gordon Smith added via a release. “It is the type of business-to-business partnership that recognizes the unique strengths of the wireless networks and the radio industry and provides services that are so important to the American people.”
Industry Ink (1/9/13)
/by Michelle• • •
• • •
Artist Updates (1/9/13)
/by Eric T. Parker• • •
Ke$ha for Musicians On Call.
Musicians On Call announced that Ke$ha will be the headline performing act at the organization’s Presidential Inaugural Charity Benefit at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. The Jan. 21st, invitation-only event will help raise money to expand the organization’s Bedside Performance Program to other cities. The red carpet evening is produced and sponsored by the RIAA. Currently, the organization is based in New York with branches in Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Nashville and Washington, D.C. Click here for more information.
• • •
Black Crowes. Photo: Rod Synder
The Black Crowes will bring their Lay Down With Number 13 world tour to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for a two-night engagement on April 20-21. The second evening (April 21) will mark the tour’s only acoustic show featuring yet-to-be-announced special guests. A limited number of VIP packages are available with ticket information here.
DISClaimer: The blue grass grows all around
/by Robert K OermannDisc of the Day winners Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
The blue grass grows all around.
And so does the musical style that bears its name. In this week’s stack of platters, we find such stars of the idiom as Rhonda Vincent, Del McCoury and The Steeldrivers.
The Disc of the Day goes to Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. This band has long been known for its clever, bluegrass rearrangements of hits from outside the genre. Now it has a whole CD full of them. Goody.
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers already have a 2012 IBMA Award as Emerging Artists of the Year. Now they also have a DisCovery Award from DisClaimer.
RUSSELL MOORE & IIIRD TYME OUT/Only You
Writer: Buck Ram/Andre Rand; Producer: Barry Bales; Publisher: Hollis/Screen Gems-EMI, no performance rights listed; Cracker Barrel (track)
—Having trouble finding a record store these days? Drop into your nearest Cracker Barrel restaurant, because this chain always carries plenty of CDs in its gift shops. Bluegrass stars Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out are the latest act with a Cracker Barrel CD. Timeless Hits from the Past Bluegrassed consists mostly of new versions of pop and country favorites. When you get to their doo-wop, a cappella performance of this 1955 golden goodie by The Platters, the only proper response is, “Wow.” Sonya Isaacs drops by to harmonize on “Golden Ring.” Pam Tillis guests on the lone Moore co-write “John & Mary.”
DisCovery Award: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
JOE MULLINS & THE RADIO RAMBLERS/Bottom of a Mountain
Writer: Don McKinnon; Producer: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Publisher: Sony/ATV-Tree, BMI; Rebel (track)
—Winners of the bluegrass association’s 2012 Emerging Artist of the Year award, Mullins and his band hail from southwestern Ohio, where they also recorded their latest CD, They’re Playing My Song. Its first single is this rolling, mid-tempo coal miner’s plea. It’s extremely well written, with plenty of hooks both lyrically and melodically. And it doesn’t hurt that Mullins has a wonderfully restrained, effortlessly mournful vocal style, and that both he and his band mates pick brilliantly. Enthusiastically endorsed.
THE STEELDRIVERS/I’ll Be There
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
—The new Steeldrivers CD comes out the first week in February, but if you go to the Nashville band’s website now, you can get a free download of this track. It’s a splendidly languid, mournful lament of a lover left behind. The mandolin work is simply poetic, and the group harmonies have never sounded better. The album is titled Hammer Down. Look for it.
DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE/Lonely Ends Where Love Begins
Writer: Billy Austin/Don Pfrimmer/Lisa Shaffer; Producer: Darin & Brooke Aldridge; Publisher: Songs of Platinum Plow/Don Pfrimmer/KLMS, ASCAP; Mountain Home (track)
—This North Carolina couple and their band have been a steadily rising force on the bluegrass scene for the past few seasons. Their newest CD is a live record that kicks off with this upbeat Music Row toe tapper. The Aldridge’s hearty harmonies remain the central focus, but the band gets its licks in during the romping performance. The concert also contains versions of the country classic “Making Plans,” Neil Young’s “Powderfinger,” and Phil Spector’s “To Know Him Is to Love Him.”
ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS/Storms Never Last
Writer: Jessi Colter/Bo Jan Erik Andersson; Producer: Jim Rooney; Publisher: Universal Songs of Polygram, BMI; Red House (track)
—I am a big, big fan of these Prairie Home Companion regulars. Now celebrating their 40th anniversary of entertaining, lustrous vocalists Robin & Linda have a dandy Nashville-recorded CD titled These Old Dark Hills. It includes a heaping helping of their original tunes, plus this standout rendition of the much-loved Waylon & Jessi 1981 duet. The pedal steel of Al Perkins underscores every sentiment in the lyrics. As far as I’m concerned, all musical couples should have this beautiful song in their repertoires. A standing ovation from this corner.
AUDIE BLAYLOCK & REDLINE/A Natural Thing
Writer: Harley Allen; Producer: Audie Blaylock; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Song Island, no performance rights listed; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.audieblaylock.com)
—Their current CD is titled Hard Country and includes this cool single. It’s a bracing, bouncy tempo tune led by lightly bowed fiddling. What Blaylcock’s voice lacks in passion is more than made up for by the band’s breathtaking instrumental abilities.
RHONDA VINCENT/Joshua
Writer: G.A.A. Thacker; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Bridge Building, BMI; UM (track)
—The Queen of Bluegrass went back home to her Missouri church to record her live Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ CD. It includes this heart pounding, exciting, thrilling, frothing slab of call-and-response fervor. With more than 80 honors, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage are the most honored act in bluegrass. Performances like this are why.
BILL EMERSON & SWEET DIXIE/My Baby Thinks He’s a Train
Writer: Leroy Preeston; Producer: Bill Emerson; Publisher: Bug, BMI; Rural Rhythm (track)
—The co-founder of the legendary Country Gentlemen, banjo player Emerson now leads his own band, Sweet Dixie. The instrumental contributions on this Rosanne Cash/Asleep at the Wheel oldie are all simply outstanding. You’d think with its leader’s experience and connections, he’d be able to find a more soulful lead singer than this.
DAVID GRISMAN & THE DEL McCOURY BAND/ 20/20 Vision
Writer: none listed; Producer: David Grisman; Publisher: none listes; Acoustic Disc (track)
—Grisman’s mandolin playing can be all over the map, everywhere from jazz to new age. But teamed with Nashville’s McCoury bunch, he clings closely to bluegrass tradition on chestnuts including “John Henry,” “A Good Woman’s Love,” “Hit Parade of Love,” “Tennessee Waltz,” “I’m Sitting on Top of the World” and this 1955 Jimmy Martin oldie. It may be billed as a “Dawg” disc, but this is Del’s show all the way.
JIMMY GAUDREAU & MOONDI KLEIN/New Morning
Writer: Casey B. McPherson; Producer: Jimmy Gaudreau, Moondi Klein & Stuart Martin; Publisher: AlphaRev/Seven Peaks, ASCAP; Rebel (track)
—The team’s new disc is titled Home from the Mills. Despite the presence of more familiar fare such as “Close the Door Lightly When You Go,” “If I Needed You,” and “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie,” it’s this lilting, melodic song from the repertoire of a band called Alpha Rev that gets the emphasis. Whatever. I could listen to these guys sing the phone book.
Top Country Dance Hits of 2012
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Top 10 listing for 2012 is as follows:
Little Big Town – “Pontoon”
Eric Church – “Springsteen”
Kip Moore – “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck”
Luke Bryan – “Drunk On You”
Easton Corbin – “Lovin’ You Is Fun”
Dustin Lynch – “Cowboys And Angels”
Parmalee – “Musta Had A Good Time”
Toby Keith – “Beers Ago”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away”
Bobbe Morhiser, Manager of Venue Marketing, says, “This year’s top ten contains a number of young, fresh talent. I’m proud to see new music impacting the club and dance community so quickly. We also saw a few ballads in the top ten, which is a switch from the surge of remixes seen in previous years, proving that a great song will thrive in a high energy dance setting just as well as a dance remix.”