Weekly Register: Predicting An Up Year For Country

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Happy 4th of July sales fans and welcome to this week’s half-year 2012 edition of the Weekly Register. Yes, we have passed the halfway mark for 2012 which makes the moment ripe for comparison and prognostication. Hopefully, we can predict a better scenario than the 100+ degree temperatures which our weather bureau keeps calling. Our weekly grid shows country enjoying a 5.8% YTD lead ahead of 2011 while all-genre lags behind last year about 3.3%

Looking 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%.

Repeating the last paragraph for all genre numbers showed the first six months equaling 44% and 47% for 2010 and 2011 respectively. (Using 45.5% predicts the year will end flat Y/Y with 2011.)

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

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Rodeowave Entertainment artist and Virginia native Phil Vassar recently received the 2012 Distinguished Virginian Award from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters at the organization’s 75th Annual Summer Conference. The award honors those who have contributed substantially to the well-being of the Commonwealth of Virginia, its citizens, or the broadcast industry.

“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

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The band Exile has released People Get Ready, its first new studio album in 15 years, to radio via Airplay Direct. The 5-track EP features four new songs written by the band and the title song originally written by Curtis Mayfield.

“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

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Clint 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)

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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.

Austen Adams Joins Crownover, Blevins

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Austen Adams

Derek Crownover and Allen Blevins, shareholders in Crownover, Blevins, P.C., recently welcomed entertainment and intellectual property attorney Austen Adams to the firm.

Adams, who is also an adjunct professor at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, has been working in the Nashville music industry since 2003. He was an attorney at Lyon and Phillips, and later opened his own practice where he worked as a contract lawyer with Crownover Blevins. Adams merged his practice with Crownover Blevins earlier this year. Prior to that, he worked in artist management, including stints with Monty Hitchcock, Bert Stein at Gold Mountain Entertainment, and Faith Quesenberry at Curiosita Entertainment.

“I have always tried to take a pro-active approach to representing clients by looking forward instead of reacting to the past,” said Adams. “It has been a blessing to find other lawyers like Derek and Allen who share that belief and put it into practice every day. I think we all make a great team.”

“I have respected Austen’s work for quite a while,” Crownover said. “His experience and knowledge not only as a dealmaker but as a previous litigator gives us more capacity and upper level service for our niche and growing client base.”

After obtaining his J.D. from the Louisiana State University School of Law in 1999, Adams worked as a federal law clerk and then as an associate with the Baton Rouge law firm Taylor, Porter, Brooks and Phillips.

News From Rodney Crowell, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town

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Rodney Crowell

• Rodney Crowell will participate in the Nashville Public Library Nashville Writers Circle on July 15 at 3 p.m. Songwriter Crowell is author of his memoir Chinaberry Sidewalks. The gathering of serious writers features lively conversation about the craft, and will also welcome Jack Hurst, author of Born to Battle. John Seigenthaler and William M. Akers will host. The event will be at the downtown library, beginning with a reception at 2:30 p.m. followed by discussion at 3 p.m. For more information, click here.

• Little Big Town, Natalie Hemby and Bob DiPiero will perform at the CMA Songwriters Series at New York City’s Joe’s Pub on Wed., Aug. 1, with shows at 6:30 and 9:00 p.m./ET.

• Due to his highly successful 2011 tour in Scandinavia, Brad Paisley has added four international dates to his Virtual Reality World Tour for 2012. The Band Perry will join him for the run, Nov. 8-11, which will visit two cities each in Sweden and Norway.

• For a recap of 4th of July events click here. Highlights include Music City’s riverfront festivities, Kenny Chesney and Katy Perry on Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC, and A Capitol Fourth on PBS featuring Josh Turner.

Gloriana Featured in CMT Exclusive Web Series

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Gloriana is celebrating the release of its new album A Thousand Miles Left Behind with an online video series that launched today (7/3), exclusively on CMT.com. The band will share new videos each Tuesday throughout the month, highlighting the stories and songs behind new album A Thousand Miles Left Behind, which will be released July 31.

In the first video filmed from the group’s tour bus, the country music trio shares why “Soldier Song” holds a special place in their hearts and offers an exclusive performance that can be seen only on CMT.com. The series concludes Tuesday, July 31 with the launch of Gloriana’s new album and a special LIVE @ CMT performance, the CMT.com series that lets fans take a front row seat as artists play their latest songs live in the CMT studio.

Hank Jr. Offering Free Downloads With New Widget

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Hank Williams, Jr. will give fans free downloads of his new single, “That Ain’t Good,” from his July 10 album release, Old School, New Rules through the “Free Music for a Free America” program.

Bocephus Records and Blaster Entertainment will offer the single to fans through specially designed widgets for local stations, Radio network Dial Global and satellite radio Sirius XM until Fri., July 13. Fans will be able to click through the widget to learn more about Old School, New Rules and download “That Ain’t Good.” Radio stations wishing to participate in the program, should contact The Hot Seat.

The 12-song Old School, New Rules, available for pre-sale at www.hankjr.com, includes a duet with Brad Paisley,“I’m Gonna Get Drunk And Play Hank Williams,” as well as a new duet with Merle Haggard on his classic “I Think I’ll Just Sit Here and Drink.”

Track Listing:
1. Takin’ Back The Country
2. I’m Gonna Get Drunk And Play Hank Williams (with Brad Paisley)
3. Three Day Trip
4. Old School
5. We Don’t Apologize for America
6. You Win Again
7. Cow Turd Blues
8. Who’s Takin’ Care of Number One
9. That Ain’t Good
10. Keep The Change
11. Stock Market Blues
12. I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink (with Merle Haggard)

Artist Baby Boom

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Lacey and Jake Owen

It’s a big news week for artists and their offspring.

• Jake Owen and his new wife, Lacey Buchanan Owen, are expecting a baby girl this fall. The couple was married in May in Owen’s hometown of Vero Beach, Fla.

• The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams and her husband/manager Nate Yetton welcomed their first child on Saturday (6/30) in Nashville. Mom and son Miles Alexander are doing well.

• Emily Robison is expecting her fourth child, which will be her first with boyfriend Martin Strayer. Robison’s other children are with former husband Charlie Robison.

• Grammy-nominated Christian singer Francesca Battistelli and husband Matthew Goodwin welcomed their second child today (7/3). Audrey Jane Goodwin joins big brother Matthew Elijah.

• Big Ride Records artist Craig Wayne Boyd and longtime girlfriend Natalie Hoover welcomed a healthy baby boy, Jaxon Wayne Boyd on Saturday (6/30) in Nashville.

• Adele is expecting her first child with boyfriend Simon Konecki, co-founder of U.K bottled water company Life Water.