Kip Moore is a star.
That is all you need to know this week. His entire Up All Night album is a joy from start to finish. Its track, “Beer Money,” wins Kip Moore an undeniable Disc of the Day award. It’s his second such nod in a row from this column, and we all know what happened last time.
If you must have a Female and a Group winner, they would be Lauren Alaina and The Lost Trailers. Both of them also have fine new releases this week.
The DisCovery Award goes to Runaway Home. This new trio reminds us how refreshing a dash of harmony-laced folk can be in a country-music diet.
TRACE ADKINS/Them Lips (On Mine)
Writer: Jim Beavers/Tom Shapiro; Producer: Kenny Beard, Mark Wright & Mickey Jack Cones; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Beavertime/EMI Blackwood/Little Dooey, BMI; Show Dog Universal (CDX)
—Lightly funky, with a cool, wah-wah guitar and a drawling, bluesy lead vocal. There’s a dandy instrumental break and a similar instrumental fade at the end. Very listenable.
MARTY STUART & BUCK TRENT/Tear This Woodpile Down
Writer: Marty Stuart; Producer: Marty Stuart; Publisher: Marty Stuart, BMI; Sugar Hill (CDX)
—Romping and rousing. Embellished with lickety-split electric guitar work and double-time drumming.
SHOOTER JENNINGS/The Real Me
Writer: Shooter Jennings; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Publisher: Wolf’s Tale, ASCAP; eOne (CDX) (615-861-4232)
—Loping through the barroom, a little unsteady of foot and weaving to and fro. Relaxed and charming, even when it picks up speed and volume at the finale.
SARA EVANS/Anywhere
Writer: Matt Evans/Jaren Johnston; Producer: Nathan Chapman & Sara Evans; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Uncle Matt/Sony ATV Harmony/Texa Rae, BMI/ASCAP; RCA
—“Heads Carolina, Tails California” explored this topic earlier, and better.
JASON CASSIDY/Ride of Your Life
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; A-Blake/Smith Music Group (www.jasoncassidymusic.com)
—All amped up and nowhere to go. It’s the one about a hot gal, a cold beer and a truck on a red-dirt country road. Again.
LAUREN ALAINA/Eighteen Inches
Writer: Kelley Lovelace/Ashley Gorley/Carrie Underwood; Producer: Byron Gallimore; Publisher: EMI April/Taperoom/Bug/Music of Windswept/Songs of Southside Independent/Carrie-Okie, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury/19/
Interscope (track)
—Sweetly soaring and irresistible. Two crazy kids elope and head for California without a dime and no prospects in sight. You see, when you’re young and in love “there ain’t no greater distance than the 18 inches between your head and your heart.” It’s a lovely piece of songwriting, and she sings the fire out of it. So nice I played it twice.
JASON STURGEON/Time Bomb
Writer: Jason Sturgeon; Producer: Greg Archilla & Jason Sturgeon; Publisher: Jason Sturgeon, BMI; Tool Pusher (www.jasonsturgeonmusic.com)
—The title refers to a high-performance car. He doesn’t actually “sing” this. It’s more like alternating between growling and screaming. Before it was even half over, I was yelling, myself: “Shut Up!”
KIP MOORE/Beer Money
Writer: Kip Moore/Blair Daly/Troy Verges; Producer: Brett James; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Against the Wind/Songs of the Corn/Southside Independent/Internal Combustion/Kickin Grids/Songs of Universal/Songs From the Engine Room, BMI; MCA Nashville (track)
—He sings with such conviction and passion. The track rumbles with muscular energy. And the lyric of escape from the stifling everyday routine will resonate with anyone who has ever been young. This rocks my world.
THE LOST TRAILERS/American Beauty
Writer: Mason Douglas/Josh Osborn/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Stokes Nielson; Publisher: none listed; HRT/New Revolution/Stokes Tunes (615-331-9631)
—Wonderfully catchy and melodic. This lilting, smiling performance sounds exactly like summertime and deserves massive radio airplay.
RUNAWAY HOME/Bye Bye Baby Jane
Writer: none listed; Producer: Runaway Home; Publisher: none listed; Cub Creek (track) (www.runawayhomemusic.com)
—Remember The McCarters? Lisa, one of the trio’s twin sisters, is now a vocalist in this delightful, folkie, acoustic-based, harmony-happy ensemble. The other two Runaway Home members — Mark Elliott and Gary Culley — provide the group with a clutch of hearty, well-penned songs, including this highly tuneful lead-off track of its debut CD. Extremely promising.
Fleming to be Featured as Next “Poet & Prophet”
/by FreemanThe 90 minute program will begin at 1:30 pm and will be hosted by Museum Editor Michael Gray with recordings, photos, and film clips from the museum’s archive. Following the program, Fleming will sign Hatch Show Print posters. The program is included with admission and free to museum members.
Fleming’s long list of hit songs includes “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” “Smoky Mountain Rain,” “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” “Roll On Mississippi” and more. Her songs have been recorded by Crystal Gayle, Amy Grant, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Tina Turner, and others. She has won over 40 BMI Awards, including three Songwriter of the Year Honors, and she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.
Brooks Sets Release Date For Solo Album
/by Caitlin Rantala“I made an album that really is close to my heart, and it’s a whole lot of fun,” shares Brooks. “For the most part, the music’s just…it’s kind of fun and games and hangin’ it out there and thinkin’ about gettin’ back in a lot of those clubs and festivals and gettin’ to play again. It’s like, you know, people come to enjoy themselves, and I think this album in a lot of ways is about that.”
The full track listing is below for New To This Town:
1. New To This Town (Featuring Joe Walsh)
2. Moonshine Road
3. Bring It On Home
4. There’s The Sun
5. Complete 360
6. My Baby
7. Tattoo
8. In The Right Place
9. Next To That Woman
10. Let’s Do This Thing
11. Closin’ Time At Home
12. She Knew I Was A Cowboy
Fans can pre-order New To This Town here.
On Tuesday, July, 10 Brooks will make his solo debut on the Grand Ole Opry.
Live On the Green Reveals 2012 Lineup
/by FreemanClockwise from top left: Alabama Shakes, Dr. John, North Mississippi Allstars
Live On the Green, Nashville’s free concert series held at Public Square Park in front of Metro Courthouse, has announced the lineup for its fourth season beginning September 6.
As previously announced, legendary New Orleans musician Dr. John will headline the season opener on September 6, supported by Jon Cleary and Moon Taxi. Other headlining highlights include beloved jam band North Mississippi Allstars on September 20 and red hot garage/soul band The Alabama Shakes on September 27. A full list of performers is included below.
“Live On the Green has grown into an incredibly popular concert series with thousands of people looking forward to it each year,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “Highly-talented singers, songwriters and musicians playing a variety of different genres is what Nashville is all about. I applaud Lightning 100 for bringing more of that to our city and for working hard for four straight years to make this such a successful event.”
The six week series, produced by Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc. in partnership with Mayor Dean’s office, takes place on Thursday nights through October 11. The shows begin at 5 pm.
2012 Live On the Green lineup:
September 6 — Jon Cleary; Moon Taxi; Dr. John
September 13 — Delta Spirit; Headliner TBA
September 20 — Roots of a Rebellion; Missing Cats Featuring John “JoJo” Hermann and Sherman Ewing; North Mississippi Allstars
September 27 — Fly Golden Eagle; The Apache Relay; Alabama Shakes
October 4 — HoneyHoney; Trampled By Turtles
October 11 — Yacht Rock Revue; Here Come the Mummies
Photos: Paisley, Young Professionals, Casey Donahew Band
/by Sarah SkatesBrad Paisley was honored to perform last night, July 4th, in the fourth annual Salute to the Military USO concert on the south lawn of the White House, hosted by President Obama and his family for troops and their families.
Brad Paisley onstage on the White House lawn. Photo: Ben Enos
• • • •
BMI welcomed the Young Music Business Professionals Networking Breakfast on June 27. The early risers were treated to waffles, breakfast casseroles, coffee, and a live performance from the up-and-coming trio Mockingbird Sun.
(L-R): BMI’s Julie Stuckey, Mockingbird Sun’s Truck Roley, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Mockingbird Sun’s Charlie Berry, BMI’s Penny Everhard, Mockingbird Sun’s Brett Taylor, and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Photo: Drew Maynard
• • • •
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Casey Donahew and A.C. Copeland of the Casey Donahew Band for a recent performance at the organization’s Los Angeles offices. The hit Texas act released its fourth album, Double Wide Dream, in the fall of 2011. During the visit they signed up for the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership for emerging artists.
(L-R): Casey Donahew, ACM Sr. VP Membership and Industry Relations Michelle Goble, A.C. Copeland. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of ACM
Music Video Debuts Take Humorous Approach
/by Eric T. ParkerZac Brown Band has released a humorous video for new single “The Wind,” which was directed and animated by Mike Judge (King of the Hill/Beavis and Butthead). “The Wind” appears on ZBB’s upcoming album Uncaged, which hits stores July 10 on Atlantic/Southern Ground.
••••
RPMentertainment artist Maggie Rose recently released a lyric video, which even includes an alpaca, for her new single “I Ain’t Your Mama.” The single was also the most added at monitored radio last week.
••••
A&M/Octone Records’ duo Miss Willie Brown, Kasey Buckley and Amanda Watkins, released the video for their debut single, “You’re All That Matters To Me.” The track, written by Robert John “Mutt” Lange and produced by Nathan Chapman, goes to radio July 9. The video was directed by T.K. McKamy and recorded at Nashville Autohaus.
“We had a specific vision for the video as far as fighting over a man and showcasing our humor and friendship. When the director, TK, came back with this hilarious treatment, we knew we wanted to work with him,” said Buckley. “It was such a rad shoot…a lot of laughing and playing tricks on each other, which is pretty much how every day on the road is for us.”
Weekly Register: Predicting An Up Year For Country
/by bossrossLooking at country in 2010 the first six months of album sales accounted for 43% of the year’s total. In 2011 that percentage was 44%. Country albums sales (physical and digital) YTD 2012 are 19.467 million. So averaging the half-year percentage for the last two years predicts 2012 year-end country sales will be 44.75 million or an uptick Y/Y of 4.26%.
So Weekly Register is officially guessing that country sales will end the year up about 4% and all genre sales will be flat.
Country Quarters: 21%-22%-22%-35%
Based on the above discussion, we can estimate that country sales for Q1, Q2, Q3 might total about 65% of the year’s sales (about 22% per quarter), leaving Q4 the herculan task of ringing up a whopping 35% of total annual sales. Now you can appreciate why sales departments work so hard to create special releases and marketing plans around the fourth quarter. That three month endcap on the year makes a lot of difference when they have to present sales numbers to the “higher ups” in Jan.
The Week’s Tonnage
Chris Cagle enters the country album list at No. 6 this week with almost 15k scans (37% digital). Higher up on the sales chain, Mr. Chesney saw week 2 sales of his Fishbowl release sink 68% to about 61k, while still keeping him afloat in the No. 1 position. Luke Bryan remains in the No. 2 spot again this week. His album has been on sale for 47 weeks, but still added almost 22k units to his RTD total of 1.225 million. Bryan’s label, “scrappy Capi” is obviously not throwing in the proverbial towel till the last merger document gets signed. That Murphy Rd. crew (with assists from Jackson and Church) proudly owns positions 2, 3 and 5 on this week’s Top 75.
The Top 200 list this week was a battle of the bands with Linkin Park edging out Maroon 5 for the No. 1 position with scans of 223k. Maroon 5 was close behind in no. 2 with 222k. Justin Beiber’s week two slide (about the same as Chesney) was 69% which landed the hearthrob in No. 3.
In country’s digital tracks arena Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You” (77k units) remains on top, with Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” climbing from 4 to 2 (72k units) and Chesney’s “Come Over” sliding slightly from 2 to 3 with about 66k downloads. Keep an eye on Gloriana’s “(Kissed You) Good Night” which passes the 500k RTD mark this week as it inches from No. 10 to No. 9 (37k).
Zac Brown Band’s July 10 release, Uncaged, will be country’s next big platter-to-matter on the summer sales train. All aboard….
Vassar Receives Distinguished Virginian Award
/by Caitlin Rantala“This is an incredible honor,” said Vassar. “I am extremely proud to be a Virginian. The music and creative environment for me growing up in Lynchburg played a huge part in who I am today.”
“Most everyone knows Phil Vassar for his talents in songwriting and performing; he is legendary in that arena,” said Randy Smith of WSET-TV in Lynchburg. “But there’s much more to Phil than just his phenomenal music career. The impact that Phil has on the world around him, especially back in his home town of Lynchburg, is nothing short of remarkable, yet it is something that you will never hear him boast of.”
Smith listed numerous benefit concerts Vassar has performed to support his hometown, such as the annual events to benefit The Miller Home for at risk teenage girls. Smith concluded by saying, “Phil Vassar is the true definition of the person we seek to be the Virginia Association of Broadcaster’s Distinguished Virginian.”
Vassar is back on the road this week performing shows in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Wisconsin through the weekend. “Don’t Miss Your Life” is his current single.
Exile Preps Album Release and Single
/by Eric T. Parker“We continue to be very serious about our music,” commented Exile’s J.P. Pennington. “We feel that Airplay Direct gives us the platform we need to prove this to fans old and new – worldwide.”
People Get Ready is on Exile’s own Big Horse Records label, which is distributed digitally by GMV Nashville. The title cut is currently available for download at most digital retailers.
Morris Artists Management Announces Promotions
/by FreemanClint Higham, Mike Betterton
Morris Artists Management, which directs the careers of Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Jake Owen and more, has announced the promotions of several staff members.
Nineteen year company vet Clint Higham has been named President. The longtime manager of Chesney, Higham oversees careers of all Morris artists. Dale Morris remains as Chairman.
“My entire adult life and career has been spent being tutored and mentored by my hero, best friend and our chairman Dale Morris,” said Higham. “He’s instilled in me to always put our artist first and focus on long term careers.”
Mike Betterton, who joined the company in 1993, has been promoted to General Manager. He serves as day to day manager for Jake Owen and is involved with booking show dates for Chesney and McBride. Brandon Gill has been elevated to Vice President and works day to day with Owen and McBride. Matt Petty has been promoted to VP Digital and is responsible for all artists’ social properties. Tiffany Benken has been promoted to Senior Director, assisting with Chesney and McBride, tour marketing for Owen, and daily activities with Higham.
Morris Artists Management also include Vice President Promotion Buffy Cooper and Senior Director Kyle Quigley, both of whom joined late in 2011.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/05/12)
/by Robert K OermannThat is all you need to know this week. His entire Up All Night album is a joy from start to finish. Its track, “Beer Money,” wins Kip Moore an undeniable Disc of the Day award. It’s his second such nod in a row from this column, and we all know what happened last time.
If you must have a Female and a Group winner, they would be Lauren Alaina and The Lost Trailers. Both of them also have fine new releases this week.
The DisCovery Award goes to Runaway Home. This new trio reminds us how refreshing a dash of harmony-laced folk can be in a country-music diet.
TRACE ADKINS/Them Lips (On Mine)
Writer: Jim Beavers/Tom Shapiro; Producer: Kenny Beard, Mark Wright & Mickey Jack Cones; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Beavertime/EMI Blackwood/Little Dooey, BMI; Show Dog Universal (CDX)
—Lightly funky, with a cool, wah-wah guitar and a drawling, bluesy lead vocal. There’s a dandy instrumental break and a similar instrumental fade at the end. Very listenable.
MARTY STUART & BUCK TRENT/Tear This Woodpile Down
Writer: Marty Stuart; Producer: Marty Stuart; Publisher: Marty Stuart, BMI; Sugar Hill (CDX)
—Romping and rousing. Embellished with lickety-split electric guitar work and double-time drumming.
SHOOTER JENNINGS/The Real Me
Writer: Shooter Jennings; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Publisher: Wolf’s Tale, ASCAP; eOne (CDX) (615-861-4232)
—Loping through the barroom, a little unsteady of foot and weaving to and fro. Relaxed and charming, even when it picks up speed and volume at the finale.
SARA EVANS/Anywhere
Writer: Matt Evans/Jaren Johnston; Producer: Nathan Chapman & Sara Evans; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Uncle Matt/Sony ATV Harmony/Texa Rae, BMI/ASCAP; RCA
—“Heads Carolina, Tails California” explored this topic earlier, and better.
JASON CASSIDY/Ride of Your Life
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; A-Blake/Smith Music Group (www.jasoncassidymusic.com)
—All amped up and nowhere to go. It’s the one about a hot gal, a cold beer and a truck on a red-dirt country road. Again.
LAUREN ALAINA/Eighteen Inches
Writer: Kelley Lovelace/Ashley Gorley/Carrie Underwood; Producer: Byron Gallimore; Publisher: EMI April/Taperoom/Bug/Music of Windswept/Songs of Southside Independent/Carrie-Okie, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury/19/
Interscope (track)
—Sweetly soaring and irresistible. Two crazy kids elope and head for California without a dime and no prospects in sight. You see, when you’re young and in love “there ain’t no greater distance than the 18 inches between your head and your heart.” It’s a lovely piece of songwriting, and she sings the fire out of it. So nice I played it twice.
JASON STURGEON/Time Bomb
Writer: Jason Sturgeon; Producer: Greg Archilla & Jason Sturgeon; Publisher: Jason Sturgeon, BMI; Tool Pusher (www.jasonsturgeonmusic.com)
—The title refers to a high-performance car. He doesn’t actually “sing” this. It’s more like alternating between growling and screaming. Before it was even half over, I was yelling, myself: “Shut Up!”
KIP MOORE/Beer Money
Writer: Kip Moore/Blair Daly/Troy Verges; Producer: Brett James; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Against the Wind/Songs of the Corn/Southside Independent/Internal Combustion/Kickin Grids/Songs of Universal/Songs From the Engine Room, BMI; MCA Nashville (track)
—He sings with such conviction and passion. The track rumbles with muscular energy. And the lyric of escape from the stifling everyday routine will resonate with anyone who has ever been young. This rocks my world.
THE LOST TRAILERS/American Beauty
Writer: Mason Douglas/Josh Osborn/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Stokes Nielson; Publisher: none listed; HRT/New Revolution/Stokes Tunes (615-331-9631)
—Wonderfully catchy and melodic. This lilting, smiling performance sounds exactly like summertime and deserves massive radio airplay.
RUNAWAY HOME/Bye Bye Baby Jane
Writer: none listed; Producer: Runaway Home; Publisher: none listed; Cub Creek (track) (www.runawayhomemusic.com)
—Remember The McCarters? Lisa, one of the trio’s twin sisters, is now a vocalist in this delightful, folkie, acoustic-based, harmony-happy ensemble. The other two Runaway Home members — Mark Elliott and Gary Culley — provide the group with a clutch of hearty, well-penned songs, including this highly tuneful lead-off track of its debut CD. Extremely promising.