Disc of the Day goes to Lady A; and the DisCovery Award goes to Grady Skelton
It might be optimistic and springtime outside, but it’s sad-ballad day here at Music Row.
Blake Shelton, Heidi Newfield, Chris Webb and Lady A are all singing downbeat fare on their latest singles. But only one of them is essential listening. That would be Lady Antebellum, nailing the Disc of the Day award with ease.
Of our more upbeat entries, Mark Collie, Grady Skelton, the Agave Posse Band and Rodney Atkins are all worth some spins. Texan Grady Skelton wins the DisCovery Award with his “Girl I Love.”
MELISSA BROOKE/Sticky Situation
Writers: Minnie Marianne Murphy/Pat Murphy/Ted Hewitt; Publishers: Montage/Machinafree/Pakimo/Ted Hewitt, ASCAP; Producer: Bill Green; Label: BGM (www.melissabrooke.com)
—This Texas teen takes the tune at a plodding, march-like tempo. It’s about a blind date that goes wrong, thanks to a girlfriend’s mix-up. Brooke’s pert singing needs some seasoning to sound more womanly.
RODNEY ATKINS/Just Wanna Rock n’ Roll
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Chris Tompkins; Publishers: Big Red Toe/Amarillo Sky/Big Loud Songs/Angel River/Big Loud Bucks, BMI/ASCAP; Producers: Ted Hewitt & Rodney Atkins; Label: Curb
—Despite the title, it’s a lilting, attractive invitation to party, country style. Well produced and highly listenable.
TJ BROSCOFF/Bigger, Better Than You
Writers: TJ Broscoff, Bill Green, BMI; Producer: Bill Green; Label: BGM (www.tjbroscoff.com)
—His singing and the band’s playing seem to be in different time signatures. A mess.
MARK COLLIE & HIS RECKLESS COMPANIONS/One More Second Chance
Writers: Mark Collie/T Graham Brown/Steve Schuffert; Publishers: Daniel Island/EMI Blackwood/Leipers Fork/River of Time, BMI; Producers: Tony Brown, Mark Collie & David Z; Label: Wilbanks (www.markcollie.com)
—In 2001, Collie went to the notorious Brushy Mountain State Prison with a batch of tunes about crime and punishment. His show, which also featured Kelly Willis, was recorded, but not released until this month. The Tennessee prison closed in 2009, but its energetic, in-concert album has found new life. It kicks off with this snappy, rockabilly romp that has the inmates whistling and shouting in appreciation. Alive at Brushy Mountain also includes versions of “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Why Me, Lord” and “Gospel Train,” but the bulk of the repertoire was freshly penned by Collie and his collaborators. Highly recommended.
GRADY SKELTON/Girl I Love
Writer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Clayton Corn; Label: Gamagrass (www.gradyskelton.com)
—The current single from Skelton’s Live Simply CD is a hearty, drawling, endearing and irresistibly jaunty ditty that rumbles along with such good will that you can’t help smiling. Feel-good Texas music, tailor made for summertime. Producer Corn is Pat Green’s keyboard player and Skelton has also worked with folks associated with Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eli Young Band and other mainstays of the Lone Star State.
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Wanted You More
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Jason Gambill/Matt Billingslea/Jonathan Long/Dennis Edwards; Publishers: Warner Tamerlane/DWHaywood/Radiobulletspublishing/EMI Foray/Hillary Dawn/Songs to Make Out To/Christina Marie/Ebug/Donelson/Sussman & Associates, BMI/SESAC/ASCAP; Producers: Paul Worley & Lady Antebellum
—Swirling and magical, this has a deeply sensual vibe. The multi-layered percussion, midnight-hour vocal echo, super strings and full-throttle production make this one fabulous listening experience. Co-writers Gambill, Billinslea, Long and Edwards are in the Lady A band, so that’s extra cool.
CHRIS WEBB/D.J. Please
Writer: Chris Webb; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Producer: Gary Sadker: Label: Red Ridge (www.chriswebbcountry.com)
—It’s a plea to a D.J. to play a tune about romance. His smooth, baritone vocal on this ballad is solid, but the tempo is taken so slowly he’s practically having to drag his knuckles along the ground
BLAKE SHELTON/Over
Writers: Paul Jenkins/David Elliott Johnson; Publishers: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Touch My Music, ASCAP/BMI; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Label: Warner Bros.
—The amped-up choruses on this power ballad are thunderously over the top. He’s a country singer, so give him a country song.
AGAVE POSSE BAND/We’ll Get It On
Writer: Chad Beedy; Publisher: Agave, BMI; Producer: none listed; Label: Agave Posse (www.agaveposse.com)
—Garage country, sounding like it was recorded live in a shed made of corrugated metal. That said, the rhythm-happy band sounds like a raucous good time, and the vocalist has a slap-on-the-back friendliness that’s hard to deny. Worth a spin around the dance floor.
HEIDI NEWFIELD/Why’d You Have to Be So Good
Writers: Jeffrey Steele/Jeremy Popoff; Publisher: Jeffrey Steele/BPJ/EMI April/Jagermaestro, BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Blake Chancey: Label: Sidewalk/Curb
—Her vocal performance burns the house down. The song puts a wet blanket on the blaze.
Darryl Worley Helps In Home State and Overseas
/by Caitlin RantalaWorley with the Garrett brothers
Darryl Worley and his namesake foundation recently helped two brothers in their battles against autism and seizures. Seven-year-old Wyatt Garrett and five-year-old Wayden Garrett recently met the star to thank him in person for the gift that helped them receive treatments at the Tennessee Hyperbaric Center in Jackson.
After meeting the family, Worley said, “I was blown away by the fact that these parents wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. They just kept pushing until they found something that would help their boys. Their faith and determination are great examples for all of us.”
While the Darryl Worley Foundation receives general donations and memorials throughout the year, most of its funding comes from Worley’s Tennessee River Run, held each September in Hardin County. This year it is planned for Sept. 13-15. Individuals can stay updated through www.darrylworley.com.
Worley (R) is recognized by MSG Sean Arnts (L)
Worley also recently made a trip overseas to entertain the U.S. troops throughout Afghanistan and Kuwait. Since 2002, Worley has visited many of the forward operating bases (FOBs), but for his 10th tour, he wanted to visit the tiny and elite Special Ops sites where our military serving on the front lines rarely receive celebrity visits. The tour was sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment, Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Stars for Stripes (SFS).
Accompanying Worley on the tour was longtime friend and guitarist, Jeff “Soir” Jared, and Stars for Stripes President, Judy Seale. Seale, who founded SFS in 2003, helped make it possible for Worley to make the up-close and personal visits and says it’s a tour she won’t soon forget.
Worley’s closing performance of the tour took place in Kuwait at Ali Al Salem Air Base, referred to as “The Rock.” Following his 90-minute performance to a packed theater of more than 500 servicemen and women, Worley signed autographs and took photos before departing home to the states.
Now that Worley is back on U.S. soil, he will pick back up on his regular touring schedule, which includes performances next month during the 2012 CMA Music Festival in Nashville and BamaJam 2012.
Paisley to Resume Virtual Reality Tour
/by Caitlin RantalaPaisley continues the Plaza tradition for the third year with “The Escape” – a fun-filled outdoor plaza area with games, contests, photo ops, food vendors and a performance stage. Continuing with the tour theme there will be a “Virtual Opry” stage that incorporates a futuristic Grand Ole Opry backdrop and signature mic stands. Performing on the stage starting at 5:00 p.m. will be Kristen Kelly, Jana Kramer and Love and Theft. All three artists will be signing autographs immediately following the performances.
Other elements of “The Escape” include the Lawn Lucky Seats Game where fans can win sponsor prizes and ticket upgrades, the Air Force Reserves mock jet plane photo station, Mossy Oak Camo-Jam Snapshot Station and Camo Cabanas, slip n slides and inflatables. Sea Ray Boats will host an outdoor boat display. Details at www.facebook.com/BradPaisleyTour or on Twitter @BradPaisleyTour.
Select venues will be collecting food for food banks and fans who bring a donation will be entered to win a meet and greet with Paisley.
22nd Annual City of Hope Softball Game to be Held During CMA Fest
/by Eric T. ParkerTaking to the field for the game between rival teams Grand Ole Opry and After MidNite with Blair Garner, will be Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert, Lauren Alaina, David Nail, James Otto, Robin Meade, Scott Hamilton, Chuck Wicks, Whitney Duncan, Bucky Covington, Sarah Darling, Billy Gilman, Kristen Kelly and Two Foot Fred.
“This game is a unique event during the CMA Music Festival, where we bring artists and fans together in order to give hope to people living with cancer,” said Garner.
The Celebrity Softball Challenge has raised more than $2 million for City of Hope, enabling research, treatment and education for people with life-threatening diseases including cancer and diabetes.
To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Weekly Register: Underwood Sales Cover The Charts
/by bossrossThe Idol alum’s last outing, Play On, hit sales bins the week of 11/08/2009 and shifted a total of 317.7k units, 20% of which were digital. The 16% drop in debut sales from 2009 to 2012 is a stark reminder of the overall trend in music sales across the board.
And while we’re discussing Carrie’s chart topping debut, isn’t it an interesting coincidence that this was finale week for The Voice? The four Voice finalists stood on the stage whimpering about how much winning this contest means, but truthfully, over the last decade or so we have seen just how difficult it is to pick real stars. Precious few multi-album careers have come from reality TV winners, which makes Underwood’s success and her vocal talent all the more exceptional.
Albums
This week we include the current and previous week’s grid report for easy comparison. The YTD 7.1% gain in country album sales continues to grow as does the format’s digital album sales now up 42.3%.
The week’s Country Top 20 holds a few surprises worth noting. Lionel Richie continues his hot streak adding about 64k units to the claim No. 2 position and a total 680k actual sales plus an RIAA Platinum designation for shipments totaling over one million. Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night continues to remain inside the Top 10 (No. 9) adding 11k units for a 34-week total of almost 1.6 million units. In positions 4 and 5 we find newcomers Lee Brice and Kip Moore, enjoying robust second week sales. Interestingly, they both dropped off less than expected, 48% and 43% respectively. Other new faces inside the Top 20 include Brantley Gilbert (No. 11), Scotty McCreery (No. 14), Josh Abbott Band (No. 16) and Hunter Hayes (No. 20).
4-29-2012
Tracks
Country track sales remain ahead of last year, currently up 20.8%. This leads to a fat Albums + TEA increase of 10.84% (track equivalent albums; 10 tracks = 1 album). All genre track sales are only up 7.1% and all genre TEA + Albums only 1.23%.
Eric Church’s “Springsteen” completes its climb into the top spot on the Country Tracks chart with 78k downloads. Carrie Underwood’s title track “Blown Away” entered the list at No. 4 with almost 68k downloads.
Visit this link to see the upcoming albums so you can get an idea of how the next few weeks might play out for country’s album sales. Can the Music City sound remain in positive territory YTD? Will it stay ahead of the all-genre numbers… Keep your eyes here on the Weekly Register to find out!
ACM Awards, Related Events Had Major Impact on Fans
/by Sarah SkatesTelecasts
The ACM Awards telecast on April 1 and ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends – In Concert on April 13 together reached approximately 21 million viewers and won each of the nights they aired for the CBS Television Network. Approximately 12.5 million viewers tuned in to the live Awards telecast, and the Lionel Richie special averaged about 8 million viewers.
Fan Digital Engagement
A combined one million votes for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year were cast by fans, up 25% from 2011.
Digital fan engagement was up 330% from 2011, according to social TV analytics company BlueFin. Many of the fans watching the ACM Awards enjoyed the second screen experience of the first-ever ACM Social Splash page, an interactive social page that took over the ACMcountry.com homepage, to interact with the show, the artists and other fans using social media during the live telecast.
The Academy and new social media manager Jenny Driessen, teamed with dick clark productions and CBS to develop a multi-pronged digital strategy. The plan included CBS’ 2 Broke Girls’ Beth Behrs acting as the Awards special social correspondent; live tweets from artists and fans displayed on-screen during special parts of the telecast for the first time; a free mobile ACM app; GetGlue check-ins; ACM Awards Moments on Facebook/Twitter contests; and a “mashup” app powered by Audish that invited fans to insert themselves into videos by ACM Awards hosts Reba and Blake Shelton.
ACM Events
The ACM Lifting Lives Celebrity Golf Classic, the NRA Country/ACM Celebrity Shoot, ACM Concerts on Fremont Street Experience and the debut of The ACM Experience, helped the Academy reach over 150,000 country music fans and members of the industry in Las Vegas during Awards week.
The ACM Experience, the free, open-to-the public country music lifestyle event at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino was attended by more than 20,000 people. The fan-focused three-day event included the ACM BBQ Throwdown, ACM Expo, the Ram Ride and Drive and more.
Approximately 90,000 fans crowded the ACM Concerts on Fremont Street Experience sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on March 30 and 31.
More than 4,800 country music fans attended the sold-out ACM All-Star Jam following the Awards at the MGM Grand.
[Updated w/ Ratings] WMN Celebrates Team Blake’s Win
/by MichelleWarner Music Nashville celebrated Blake Shelton after his team member Jermaine Paul won Season 2 of NBC’s The Voice last night (5/8). Paul, a former backup singer for Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige, won first place over other finalists Chris Mann, Juliet Simms and Tony Lucca.
The Voice drew about 10.9 million viewers in the 9 p.m. ET time slot, and about 12.25 million the following hour, according to Zap2It.com. This is a 16 percent bump over last year’s finale ratings reports the New York Times. The Voice won the 10 pm slot, when the champion was revealed. During the program’s first hour, NBC came in third behind CBS’s NCIS: Los Angeles (14.5 million) and ABC’s Dancing With the Stars results show (13.3 million).
(L-R): Tree Paine, John Esposito, Blake Shelton, Bob Reeves, Scott Hendricks and Brandon Blackstock
Chris Young Debuts Video, Launches Charity Auction
/by Eric T. ParkerPhoto: Reid Long
Chris Young will premiere the video for current single, “Neon,” today (5/9) during a live chat with fans. The video will go live at 5 pm CT on LiveStream.com, and will be available on Young’s Facebook and official website.
Other broadcast outlets will receive the video in the days following the premiere.
Directed by Ryan Hamblin and shot earlier this year at Melrose Billiards in Nashville, the video uses black lights to paint Young’s world in bright neon.
Recently, Young partnered with his grandmother, “Nanny” May to auction off her handmade quilts every month to benefit St. Jude. The current quilt highlights many of Young’s songs and is available for bidding among registered website users at Chris’ Chatter forum.
Young has been on the road with Miranda Lambert’s On Fire tour, which visits Nashville on May 19. He recently celebrated his fifth consecutive No. 1 single, and “Neon” currently sits at No. 28 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.
“Tuskegee” Certified Platinum
/by Eric T. ParkerThe best-selling album of 2012 held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 for two consecutive weeks, and currently sits at No. 1 on the Country Albums chart for the fourth week since its March 26 debut.
RIAA platinum certification is based on shipments of one million units. Richie’s actual sales total 680k.
With Tuskegee, Richie joins Ray Charles as the only artists in history to have No. 1 albums on both the Billboard Country Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.
“Just when I think it couldn’t get any bigger, Tuskegee reaches a new level of success,” said Richie. “It is truly living up to the vision we had when we created it.”
The album features duets of 13 of his hits with Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (5/9/12)
/by Robert K OermannDisc of the Day goes to Lady A; and the DisCovery Award goes to Grady Skelton
It might be optimistic and springtime outside, but it’s sad-ballad day here at Music Row.
Blake Shelton, Heidi Newfield, Chris Webb and Lady A are all singing downbeat fare on their latest singles. But only one of them is essential listening. That would be Lady Antebellum, nailing the Disc of the Day award with ease.
Of our more upbeat entries, Mark Collie, Grady Skelton, the Agave Posse Band and Rodney Atkins are all worth some spins. Texan Grady Skelton wins the DisCovery Award with his “Girl I Love.”
MELISSA BROOKE/Sticky Situation
Writers: Minnie Marianne Murphy/Pat Murphy/Ted Hewitt; Publishers: Montage/Machinafree/Pakimo/Ted Hewitt, ASCAP; Producer: Bill Green; Label: BGM (www.melissabrooke.com)
—This Texas teen takes the tune at a plodding, march-like tempo. It’s about a blind date that goes wrong, thanks to a girlfriend’s mix-up. Brooke’s pert singing needs some seasoning to sound more womanly.
RODNEY ATKINS/Just Wanna Rock n’ Roll
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Chris Tompkins; Publishers: Big Red Toe/Amarillo Sky/Big Loud Songs/Angel River/Big Loud Bucks, BMI/ASCAP; Producers: Ted Hewitt & Rodney Atkins; Label: Curb
—Despite the title, it’s a lilting, attractive invitation to party, country style. Well produced and highly listenable.
TJ BROSCOFF/Bigger, Better Than You
Writers: TJ Broscoff, Bill Green, BMI; Producer: Bill Green; Label: BGM (www.tjbroscoff.com)
—His singing and the band’s playing seem to be in different time signatures. A mess.
MARK COLLIE & HIS RECKLESS COMPANIONS/One More Second Chance
Writers: Mark Collie/T Graham Brown/Steve Schuffert; Publishers: Daniel Island/EMI Blackwood/Leipers Fork/River of Time, BMI; Producers: Tony Brown, Mark Collie & David Z; Label: Wilbanks (www.markcollie.com)
—In 2001, Collie went to the notorious Brushy Mountain State Prison with a batch of tunes about crime and punishment. His show, which also featured Kelly Willis, was recorded, but not released until this month. The Tennessee prison closed in 2009, but its energetic, in-concert album has found new life. It kicks off with this snappy, rockabilly romp that has the inmates whistling and shouting in appreciation. Alive at Brushy Mountain also includes versions of “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Why Me, Lord” and “Gospel Train,” but the bulk of the repertoire was freshly penned by Collie and his collaborators. Highly recommended.
GRADY SKELTON/Girl I Love
Writer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Clayton Corn; Label: Gamagrass (www.gradyskelton.com)
—The current single from Skelton’s Live Simply CD is a hearty, drawling, endearing and irresistibly jaunty ditty that rumbles along with such good will that you can’t help smiling. Feel-good Texas music, tailor made for summertime. Producer Corn is Pat Green’s keyboard player and Skelton has also worked with folks associated with Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eli Young Band and other mainstays of the Lone Star State.
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Wanted You More
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Jason Gambill/Matt Billingslea/Jonathan Long/Dennis Edwards; Publishers: Warner Tamerlane/DWHaywood/Radiobulletspublishing/EMI Foray/Hillary Dawn/Songs to Make Out To/Christina Marie/Ebug/Donelson/Sussman & Associates, BMI/SESAC/ASCAP; Producers: Paul Worley & Lady Antebellum
—Swirling and magical, this has a deeply sensual vibe. The multi-layered percussion, midnight-hour vocal echo, super strings and full-throttle production make this one fabulous listening experience. Co-writers Gambill, Billinslea, Long and Edwards are in the Lady A band, so that’s extra cool.
CHRIS WEBB/D.J. Please
Writer: Chris Webb; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Producer: Gary Sadker: Label: Red Ridge (www.chriswebbcountry.com)
—It’s a plea to a D.J. to play a tune about romance. His smooth, baritone vocal on this ballad is solid, but the tempo is taken so slowly he’s practically having to drag his knuckles along the ground
BLAKE SHELTON/Over
Writers: Paul Jenkins/David Elliott Johnson; Publishers: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Touch My Music, ASCAP/BMI; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Label: Warner Bros.
—The amped-up choruses on this power ballad are thunderously over the top. He’s a country singer, so give him a country song.
AGAVE POSSE BAND/We’ll Get It On
Writer: Chad Beedy; Publisher: Agave, BMI; Producer: none listed; Label: Agave Posse (www.agaveposse.com)
—Garage country, sounding like it was recorded live in a shed made of corrugated metal. That said, the rhythm-happy band sounds like a raucous good time, and the vocalist has a slap-on-the-back friendliness that’s hard to deny. Worth a spin around the dance floor.
HEIDI NEWFIELD/Why’d You Have to Be So Good
Writers: Jeffrey Steele/Jeremy Popoff; Publisher: Jeffrey Steele/BPJ/EMI April/Jagermaestro, BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Blake Chancey: Label: Sidewalk/Curb
—Her vocal performance burns the house down. The song puts a wet blanket on the blaze.
Marlee Scott To Release Debut Album
/by Eric T. ParkerMarlee Scott at the Unbridled Eve Gala. (L-R): Big Ride Entertainment’s Gerry Leiske, Scott, Randy Owen, John Howard. Photo: Doug Fraser/Art Of The Game
Marlee Scott is set to release her first full-length album, Beautiful Maybe, with Big Ride Records on Tues., June 19.
Nearly a year in the making, Beautiful Maybe is comprised of 12 tracks produced by David Kalmusky. Her 2011 single, “Beautiful Maybe” is included on the album along with her current single, “Train Wreck,” which features guest vocals from Vince Gill. Allen Morgan remixed a dance version of “Train Wreck” available at iTunes.
Contributing songwriters include Desmond Child, Sarah Buxton, Blair Daly, Marcus Hummon, Hillary Lindsey, and Troy Verges, among others. Scott co-wrote two titles, “Kiss of Coming Home” and “I Love Hating You.”
“Beautiful Maybe is something I am so proud of,” says Scott. “I really feel like I have come into my own on this project musically.”
Scott recently performed the national anthem and an acoustic set at the Chicago White Sox/Boston Red Sox baseball game in Chicago and is scheduled to perform the song again on ESPN at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. She also appeared at an Unbridled Eve Gala in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.
Beautiful Maybe track list:
“Beautiful Maybe”
“Jane Doe”
“I Love Hating You”
“I Won’t Love You Anymore”
“I’m Not Your Baby Anymore”
“Let It Rain”
“Planet Of Your Own”
“Rhinestone In The Rough”
“Crazy For You”
“Kiss Of Coming Home”
“Train Wreck”
“Life Is Not A Movie”