Cricket Communications has announced that its Muve Music service has surpassed 500,000 customers since its January 2011 launch. That figure puts it behind market leader Rhapsody, but reportedly ahead of Spotify (who hasn’t released U.S. subscriber info) for the No. 2 digital subscription service in the U.S.
Cricket’s Muve Music is the first wireless plan to include unlimited song downloads, ringtones, and ringback tones from thousands of record labels distributed through UMG, WMG, Sony, EMI as well as independents IODA, INgrooves and Merlin. Services are bundled into the cost of monthly wireless plans, beginning at $55.
The service, which arrived in Tennessee in March, is the first music experience designed specifically for the mobile phone without docking or syncing. Cricket reports that its customers are listening to roughly 40 hours and downloading 300 songs a month individually through the service. Total downloads since the company launched number 500 million and listens are above 1.5 billion.
“We’ve brought a fresh approach to digital music and the wireless space,” said Jeff Toig, SVP Muve Music. “We targeted a customer segment that others are not focused on and designed a world class digital music experience, specifically architected for the mobile phone and wireless network delivery. This is a unique formula in the market today and our success through the first year of operation demonstrates that it’s working.”
Cricket Communications is a wireless services company owned by Leap Wireless and serves approximately 5.9 million customers.
Signings: TJ and John Osborne, Lucas Hoge
/by FreemanWarner/Chappell Music has entered a worldwide co-publishing agreement with songwriting duo TJ and John Osborne. The pair are brothers who have written, recorded and played music together since childhood.
(L-R) Front: Alicia Pruitt (Sr. Director Warner/Chappell Music), John Osborne, Kelly King (King Pen Music), TJ Osborne; Back: Chip Petree (Petree Law), Matt Michiels (Productions Manager, Warner/Chappell Music), Steve Markland (VP, Warner/Chappell Music), Phil May (GM/VP Warner/Chappell Music), BJ Hill (Sr. Director Warner/Chappell Music). Photo: William Patton
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Lucas Hoge
Lucas Hoge has inked an exclusive booking agreement with Nashville-based Brand N Music Partnerships. The country singer and cast member of Animal Planet’s Last Chance Highway is gaining some traction with his current single “Give A Damn,” which also serves as the theme music for GAC’s Tom’s Wild Life.
“In our daily pursuit to uncover outstanding live show opportunities, we are extremely excited to add Lucas Hoge to the BRAND N line-up,” said Greg Burns, BRAND N President. “We truly believe that his explosive live show, great stage persona and overall abilities as a performer are exactly what we look for in talent.”
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Performers Announced
/by FreemanThe Band Perry will play RodeoHouston on March 14.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Officials have announced a country-heavy entertainer lineup for the 2012 event, happening at Reliant Park between Feb. 28 and March 18. Twenty-two performers will take the stage over the course of the festivities, starting with Alabama and including Lady Antebellum, John Legend, Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top and many others. Full schedule is below.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10 AM through www.rodeohouston.com and all Ticketmaster locations. Wednesday Shows (March 7 and 14) offer $10 upper level tickets and other values in Reliant Park.
Full RodeoHouston Lineup:
Feb. 28 — Alabama
Feb. 29 — Kid Rock
March 1 — Lady Antebellum
March 2 — John Legend
March 3 — Luke Bryan
March 4 — Big Time Rush, Chine Anne McClain (from A.N.T. Farm), with the McClain Sisters
March 5 — Eli Young Band
March 6 — Enrique Iglesias
March 7 — Blake Shelton
March 8 — ZZ Top
March 9 — Reba
March 10 — Chris Young
March 11 — Duelo, La Original Banda El Limon
March 12 — Zac Brown Band
March 13 — Miranda Lambert
March 14 — The Band Perry
March 15 — Jason Aldean
March 16 — Train
March 17 — Brad Paisley
March 18 — Alan Jackson
Muve Music Passes 500K Customers
/by Eric T. ParkerCricket’s Muve Music is the first wireless plan to include unlimited song downloads, ringtones, and ringback tones from thousands of record labels distributed through UMG, WMG, Sony, EMI as well as independents IODA, INgrooves and Merlin. Services are bundled into the cost of monthly wireless plans, beginning at $55.
The service, which arrived in Tennessee in March, is the first music experience designed specifically for the mobile phone without docking or syncing. Cricket reports that its customers are listening to roughly 40 hours and downloading 300 songs a month individually through the service. Total downloads since the company launched number 500 million and listens are above 1.5 billion.
“We’ve brought a fresh approach to digital music and the wireless space,” said Jeff Toig, SVP Muve Music. “We targeted a customer segment that others are not focused on and designed a world class digital music experience, specifically architected for the mobile phone and wireless network delivery. This is a unique formula in the market today and our success through the first year of operation demonstrates that it’s working.”
Cricket Communications is a wireless services company owned by Leap Wireless and serves approximately 5.9 million customers.
Hall of Fame To Interview Borchetta
/by Caitlin RantalaPerhaps best known for signing Swift and nurturing her superstar career, Borchetta is a music industry veteran who has made significant contributions to country music history over the last two decades. For that reason, he is among ninety-two new entries in the Encyclopedia of Country Music. The Encyclopedia entry follows Borchetta’s journey from MCA in the ’80s and ’90s to heading up the radio promotion departments of DreamWorks Nashville and later UMG Nashville, before the launch of Big Machine and its recent successes with Swift, Band Perry and more.
The upcoming program is presented in conjunction with the Feb. 1 release of the second edition of the Encyclopedia of Country Music, which will be published by Oxford University Press in partnership with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
TV Appearances: EYB, Randy Houser, Will Hoge
/by FreemanRepublic Nashville’s Eli Young Band is scheduled to perform recent No. 1 “Crazy Girl” on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno tonight (Jan. 9). The show begins at 10:35 PM/CT. “Crazy Girl” has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for 1 million-plus downloads and was named Billboard’s No. 1 played country song of the year.
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Over the weekend:
The Bellamy Brothers checked in with the Fox New Channel’s Huckabee on Saturday, Jan. 7 and played their classic hit “Redneck Girl” for the former governor. The song is part of a new Reader’s Digest box set called Let Your Love Flow: The Ultimate Bellamy Brothers Collection that will be released in February.
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Jo Dee Messina made an appearance in the Bravo network’s popular The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Sunday, January 8. The country singer was filmed during a writing session with cast member Kandi Burruss, who wrote TLC’s massive hit “No Scrubs” and Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills.”
Hillary Scott Marries Chris Tyrell
/by Sarah SkatesThe bride wore a custom Vera Wang strapless mermaid dress with abstract all-over lace underlay, layered tulle skirt with horsehair banding and hand-cut corded lace appliqué with hand-applied crystal and pearl beading. She complemented the gown with a mantilla veil with hand-cut chantilly lace appliqué. The groom donned a gray Ermenegildo Zegna suit. The couple posted a video sharing the news here.
They first announced their engagement in July.
In more Lady A wedding news, Dave Haywood recently popped the question to longtime girlfriend and Warner Music Nashville VP Brand Management Kelli Cashiola.
Underwood to Perform at Nordstrom Symphony Fashion Show
/by Eric T. ParkerThe fashion show will act as a benefit for the Symphony center and will be preceded by a cocktail reception with dinner to follow. Guests will have an opportunity for a closer look at the featured fashions at an exclusive boutique inside Schermerhorn.
This is Carrie’s first performance at the Symphony Fashion Show and Nordstrom’s first year producing the show since opening a store at The Mall at Green Hills in September 2011.
Photo Monday (1/9/12)
/by Caitlin Rantala(L-R) Producer Scott Hendricks, Dave Barnes, Razor & Tie's Beka Tischker, ASCAP's Marc Driskill and Ryan Beuschel. Photo Credit: Ed Rode
ASCAP celebrated Christian singer/songwriter Dave Barnes and the success of his song “God Gave Me You,” recorded by Warner Music Nashville artist Blake Shelton, with a No. 1 Party at last week (1/6). The song topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for three weeks, and also earned Barnes his first Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. Barnes is signed to the label Razor & Tie and his No Gang Music is administered worldwide by Razor & Tie Music Publishing.
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(L-R) Republic Nashville National Director of Promotion Matthew Hargis, Republic Nashville Resource Manager Megan Knutson, Big Machine Records VP of Promotion Jack Purcell, BMLG President and CEO Scott Borchetta, Valory Music Co. VP of Promotion George Briner, Thomas Rhett, WSIX's Jon Anthony, Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen, Valory Music Co. National Promotion Director JoJamie Hahr, Valory Music Co. Label Coordinator Brooke Yancey and Republic Nashville Southeast Promotion Director Stacy Blythe.
Last Thursday (1/5), WSIX Nashville Program Director Jon Anthony stopped by the Big Machine Label Group office to meet Thomas Rhett, Valory Music Co.’s newest artist.
Gary Nicholson Teams With Nashville Ballet For Unique Show
/by Sarah SkatesGary Nicholson
Gary Nicholson is teaming with the Nashville Ballet for its winter performances. The noted songwriter will be onstage singing some of his most recognizable tunes including “One More Last Chance,” “More Love” and “Choose Love” during the shows at TPAC. The genre-crossing writer has had cuts by Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill and the Dixie Chicks.
Salsa Dreams is the name of the entire ballet, with Nicholson’s segment titled “Cryin’ Out.” It will be presented at TPAC’s Polk Theater on Feb. 10, 11 and 12.
Nashville Ballet Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling chose three segments (“Salsa Dreams,” “Billy the Kid,” “Cryin’ Out”) for their popularity and contribution to American culture. Nashville Ballet is the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee.
“A performance like this that profiles a very different kind of ballet allows us to teach people that there is a style of music and dance for everyone,” explains Vasterling. “Even people who don’t think they can dance or don’t think they have any rhythm find themselves literally moving to this music. It also allows us to profile the versatility of our company members who can master many different styles of dance—even in one performance.”
Details at www.nashvilleballet.com. Click here for a 20% discount on tickets.
Waters Changing Course At Sony Music Nashville
/by FreemanChris Waters
The regional promotion manager shuffle continues with the announcement that Chris Waters has moved to another regional post under the Columbia/BNA banner. Waters was previously working the SW Region for Arista Nashville, which he assumed in August 31 following the company’s restructuring.
Waters’ move follows the elevation of RJ Meacham to Columbia/BNA National Promo Director after Buffy Cooper departure for Morris Management. Rounding out the Arista promotion staff is Renee Leymon, who recently joined the imprint for a regional gig. Waters originally joined Sony Music Nashville in 2008 as a regional promotion manager under the standalone BNA imprint. Reach out to him here.