Waters Changing Course At Sony Music Nashville

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Chris 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.

Decosimo/Vaden Names Jennifer Lane Principal

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Jennifer Lane, CPA, has been named Principal for Decosimo/Vaden’s Nashville regional public accounting and advisory firm.

Lane has more than 20 years experience in public accounting specializing in multi-state taxation, Canadian entertainment taxation, tax planning and royalty accounting for artists, songwriters, athletes and other professionals in the music and sports industries.

Lane is a graduate of Portland State University and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, Lane is a member of the ACM, NSAI, Source, Inc. and the treasurer of the Board of Governors for the Nashville/Midsouth NATAS Chapter.

“Serving many of country music’s biggest names, Jennifer is an essential part of our entertainment practice led by Mike Vaden,” said Nick Decosimo, Managing Principal of Decosimo. “We’re grateful to her for her hard work in continuing to maintain long-lasting relationships with our clients and grow that part of our firm’s practice in Nashville.”

Decosimo is an independent firm associated with Moore Stephens and has 41 active principals across the firm’s nine locations.

Moontoast Secures $6 Mil For Funding

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Moontoast has secured $6 million in a round for future funding, the Nashville Business Journal reported yesterday (1/5). The Martin Companies, a Nashville venture capital firm, led the round, in which other investors are participating as well.

“We believe there is a fundamental shift occurring in digital commerce,” said Les Wilkinson, managing director of The Martin Companies and a member of Moontoast’s board. “Consumers expect opportunities for engagement and commerce to be delivered to them and brands are struggling to determine how best to respond. We continue to be impressed with Moontoast’s approach to this shift.”

Moontoast, which launched in 2010, is a tech company that has offices in Nashville and Boston. A social commerce platform, Moontoast helps facilitate the relationship between brands and their target audiences by encouraging interaction through social and advertising networks.

Rascal Flatts To Play Caribbean Cruise

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Rascal Flatts has been selected to perform an intimate acoustic concert for guests on-board a Norwegian Spirit cruise that begins Feb. 26. The seven-day Caribbean journey departs from New Orleans, with the Flatts show taking place in Cozumel, Mexico in the ship’s Stardust Theater. In addition to Cozumel, stops include Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Bay Islands, Honduras.

Two levels of ticketing are available and not included in the cruise fare. VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend a private cocktail meet and greet with Jay, Joe Don and Gary, where photos will be taken. Standard tickets are available for $50 on a first come, first served basis. More info here.

In other Flatts news, the new Grand Ole Opry members recently hosted the 2011 America’s Opry Weekend Year-End Special and got a Gold certification for hit single “Easy” with Natasha Bedingfield. Prior to joining the cruise in late February, the trio has several winter tour dates scheduled with guest Sara Evans.

Friday Photos (1/6/12)

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ZZ Top's Billy F Gibbons and Willie Nelson, Photo: Gretchen Barber

ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons joined Willie Nelson& Friends’ big New Year’s Eve bash at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater. Gibbons did the countdown to midnight with Nelson, followed by “Auld Lang Syne” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” after which Nelson took the lead on a new tune called “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I’m Gone.”

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The staff of Capitol Records Nashville gathers to celebrate and honor Betsy Morley (in colorful hat and sash) at their 6th Annual Cinco de Betso.

Capitol Records Nashville staffers gathered yesterday (1/5) for the 6th Annual Cinco de Betso celebration, the label’s own home grown holiday, to honor their longest tenured employee, Betsy Morley. The Sr. Dir A&R Admin celebrated 22 years with the label. The Capitol staff collectively issued this statement – “We dress her up real silly, and present her with a unique and memorable trophy, and tell her how much we love her. Then we drink.”

More Details On Waylon Tribute

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As we mentioned yesterday Average Joe’s Entertainment, in conjunction with Scatter Records, will be releasing The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings, Volume II. Digital versions will be available January 24, with physical copies hitting shelves February 7.

The 11 track album is the second part of a Waylon tribute trilogy that started over three-and-a-half years ago under the guidance of Jennings’ widow Jessi Colter, his son Shooter, guitarist Reggie Young and producer Witt Stewart. Volume I, featuring Jamey Johnson, Alabama, and more, was released in early 2011 via Big Machine Records. A third installment is also planned, but no date has been set. A full track list for Volume II is included below.

“I feel like this project could very likely break another sound barrier,” says Colter. “Waylon was so original. For his songs to be sang by other people and to take me somewhere else is not an easy task.”

Colter and Jamey Johnson will appear on CMT’s Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith Saturday, Jan. 7 at 7 PM/CT to talk about the project.

The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume II Track Listing:
1. Lonesome, On’ry and Mean – Dierks Bentley
2. Waymore’s Blues – Hank Williams Jr.
3. Good Ol’ Boys – Montgomery Gentry
4. I Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This – Justin Moore
5. Bob Wills Is Still The King – Jack Ingram
6. Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line – Colt Ford
7. Rainy Day Woman – Pat Green
8. Love of the Common People – Josh Thompson
9. Mama – Jessi Colter
10. Dreaming My Dreams With You – Jewel
11. A Long Time Ago – Wyatt McCubbin (Bonus Track)

Tin Pan South Submissions Due

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NSAI members interested in participating or submitting a team for consideration for the 2012 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, scheduled for March 27-31 in Nashville, will be able to do so through the organization’s website until Friday, January 13.

The festival selection committee will determine who receives performance slots. Not all teams that apply will be given a slot, as opportunities are limited.

The Tin Pan South website has not been updated for the 2012 schedule yet, but passes to gain priority access to all shows go on sale Wednesday, March 7 on NSAI’s website while supplies last.

Tin Pan South is presented by Regions Bank and is a fund raiser for NSAI’s legislative efforts on behalf of all songwriters.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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It’s a new year, and change is in the air. New projects, new possibilities, a new No. 1 song… wait a second, I’m being told that last part isn’t true.

Okay, not everything changes when the year rolls forward, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Especially if you’re Luke Bryan, whose “I Don’t Want This Night To End” has spent two weeks at the top of MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart with the first edition of 2012. Understandably, Bryan also might not want 2011 to end, considering it was one of the biggest of his career. His “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” became a huge radio hit, he participated in one of the most successful CMT On Tour events ever, and held a special six city “Farm Tour” to raise scholarship funds for local students. But 2012 is already looking up, because he’ll join Jason Aldean and guest Lauren Alaina on Aldean’s massive My Kinda Party Tour starting January 20, in Greenville, SC.

Check out the “I Don’t Want This Night To End” video here, and get more information on Bryan’s tour dates here.

2012 Benefit Awareness

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Revealed: ACM My Cause

January has been announced as “Poverty in America Awareness Month” for the ACM Lifting Lives “My Cause” web-feature. The program, which offers increased awareness and financial bolstering, endorses  Billy’s Place, a charity affiliated with Craig Morgan. Donations will accepted through the link on their promotional the video below.

Over the past two years, ACM Lifting Lives has bolstered support by donating more than $44,000 to artists’ favorite charities.

Click on the video to watch Craig introduce his cause.

YouTube video

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I’ll Fly Away 2012 Fundraisers

The recently formed I’ll Fly Away Foundation is planning two fundraisers for 2012.  March 24, in Neosho, MO featuring The Chuck Wagon Gang and October 13, in Rogers, AK featuring the Oak Ridge Boys, Daily & Vincent and The Blackwood Brothers Quartet.

The I’ll Fly Away Foundation is dedicated to educating upcoming generations about the musical heritage and traditions that shaped American music by granting scholarships and music education programs.

The Chairman of the I’ll Fly Away Foundation is Betsy Brumley, granddaughter of songwriter to “I’ll Fly Away,” Albert E. Brumley.

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Gilda’s Club Training for The Country Music 1/2 Marathon

For the seventh year, Nashville’s Gilda’s Club will offer a 15-week training program for the Country Music 1/2 Marathon led by certified trainers from Vanderbilt’s Dayani Center. The program is geared to all fitness levels to prepare participants to run or walk in support of those affected by cancer.

The 2012 season kicks-off on Saturday (Jan. 14) at Gilda’s Club with a health fair featuring a Q&A session with the trainers about nutrition and appropriate apparel and provide mini-clinics on stretching and injury prevention.

The training program includes weekly Saturday morning group walk/runs led by fitness specialists, guest membership to Vanderbilt Dayani Center, personalized training plans for all levels, and access to Firstgiving™ – an online fund raising tool with personalized web pages.

To join The Gang, all participants are asked to raise a minimum of $750 by race day – with all monies going directly to support all the the free emotional and social cancer-related services provided at Gilda’s Club Nashville.

Weekly Chart Report (1/06/12)

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Cimsound Records Recording Artist Ricky Fugitt recently stopped by KVWF/100.5 the Wolf in Wichita to promote his upcoming shows and debut new single "One More Day"(L-R): Cimsound’s Jeff Parker, Fugitt, KVWF MD/Mornings Colby Ericson

SPIN ZONE
That seemed like a quick holiday break, right? Regardless, it’s out with the old and in with the new on the first CountryBreakout Chart of 2012.

Spins for new singles like Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It” (debuting at No. 33), Lady Antebellum’s “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” (No. 22), and Miranda Lambert’s “Over You” (No. 32) are way up—over 600 spins gained versus the previous chart for all three, in fact. Equally impressive are Taylor Swift’s “Ours” (No. 14), Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (debuting at No. 44), Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly” (No. 7), and Tim McGraw’s “Better Than I Used To Be” (No. 28) which all experienced spin increases of 400 or more.

So it’s an explosive chart situation this week, save for the top two positions. Luke Bryan’s “I Don’t Want This Night To End” closed out 2011 in the No. 1 spot, and opens 2012 on top. Just over 100 spins behind in dogged pursuit is The Band Perry’s “All Your Life,” now at 21 weeks young but still showing plenty of health after a 99 spin gain. Dierks Bentley’s “Home” is still moving at No. 3, followed by Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” at No. 4 and Kenny Chesney’s “Reality” at No. 5.

In addition to the Shelton and EYB debuts, there are a plethora of new songs appearing this week. Kellie Pickler’s “100 Proof” makes a fine showing at No. 56, and so do Josh Turner’s “Time Is Love” at No. 64 and Josh Thompson’s “Comin’ Around” at No. 69.

Frozen Playlists: KBCN, KBCR, KFTX, KKAJ, KREK, KSED, KTWI, KVVP, KYKX, WAXX, WCMS, WKBQ, WYVY

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Joining the CountryBreakout reporting panel for new reports this week are WXXK in Lebanon, New Hampshire, under the programming guidance of Justin Tyler. Reach him here. Also coming aboard is our first ever Internet radio outlet Renegade Radio Nashville, with the steady hand of Captain Jack (formerly of WKMK/Monmouth) steering the ship.

”Car radios, table top stereos, and much more will give Internet radio an edge in the market, and aside from that, Renegade Radio Nashville pledges to be a true outlet for up and coming Country artists,” says the Captain. Reach him here.

Departing the panel after its recent flip to classic country is Clear Channel’s KTWI/Omaha, as well as Harrison, Ark. station KBCN which flipped to ESPN sports talk at year’s end.

Upcoming Singles
January 9
Canaan Smith/We Got Us/Mercury
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/Warner Bros./WMN
Josh Turner/Time Is Love/MCA
Miranda Lambert/Over You/RCA
Kaleb McIntire/Redneck In All Of Us/Rockin’ Country Doc
Candy Coburn/Don’t Walk Away/Loma Jean

January 17
Ronnie Dunn/Let The Cowboy Rock/Arista
Bryan Cole/Love Doesn’t Live Here/Perfect Vision
Clay Walker/Like We Never Said Goodbye/Curb
Jana Kramer/Why Ya Wanna/Elektra/W.A.R.
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine
Dustin Lynch/Cowboys and Angels/Broken Bow
Kelly Parkes/Don’t Make Me/Edge

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New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/Warner Bros./WMN — 33
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville — 44
Kellie Pickler/100 Proof/19/BNA — 56
Josh Turner/Time Is Love/MCA — 64
Josh Thompson/Comin’ Around/RCA — 69
The Farm/Home Sweet Home/All In/Elektra/New Revolution — 71
Sawyer Brown/Travelin’ Band — 73
Jackie Arredondo/Rockin’ the Trailer/Gold Voice — 74
Jesse Keith Whitley/Saving Amy/Octabrook — 75
Tim Culpepper/Ghost/HonkyTone Records — 76
Craig Campbell/When I Get It/Bigger Picture — 77
Stealing Angels/Little Blue Sky/Skyville — 79
Guy Penrod/More Power To You/Servant Records — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/Warner Bros./WMN — 723
Lady Antebellum/Dancin’ Away With My Heart/Capitol — 655
Miranda Lambert/Over You/RCA — 645
Taylor Swift/Ours/Big Machine — 493
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville — 457

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/Warner Bros./WMN — 51
Miranda Lambert/Over You/RCA — 44
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville — 41
Lady Antebellum/Dancin’ Away With My Heart/Capitol — 32
Ronnie Dunn/Let The Cowboy Rock/Arista — 25
Kellie Pickler/100 Proof/19/BNA — 24
Josh Turner/Time Is Love/MCA — 23
Tim McGraw/Better Than I Used To Be/Curb — 21
Brantley Gilbert/You Don’t Know Her Like I Do/Valory — 19
Taylor Swift/Ours/Big Machine — 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Uncle Kracker/My Hometown/Top Dog/Atlantic — 137
Coy Taylor/Fall For You — 135
Mark Cooke/Any Way The Wind Blows/CVR — 133
Steve Holy/Until The Rain Stops/Curb — 128
JB & the Moonshine Band/Love Don’t Let You Decide/Average Joe’s — 125

Before the holiday break, Gloriana played the Dallas Bull in Tampa. The group’s current single “(Kissed You) Good Night” just hit No. 48 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): Tom Gossin, Jenny Dean of WFUS/Tampa, Rachel Reinert, Ryan Nelson of WFUS/Tampa, Mike Gossin