Artist Visit Photos: The McClymonts and Lucy Angel

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MusicRow was recently blessed with visits from not one, but two, family trios: Australian sisters The McClymonts, and the Anderton family members of Lucy Angel. The McClymonts played selections from their American debut Wrapped Up Good, including the title track (No. 38 on the CountryBreakout Chart this week) and “I Could Be A Cowboy.” The sisters will also have a segment airing on NPR’s Weekend Edition tomorrow (10/8) as well as an appearance on Fox & Friends October 16. Lucy Angel showcased songs from their self-titled EP, including CountryBreakout Top 30 single “Serious” and possible single contender “I’ll Be Your Whiskey.”

Pictured with the McClymonts are (L-R): David Ross, MusicRow Founder; Mollie McClymont; Sara Skates, MR News Editor; Sherod Robertson, MR President; Sam McClymont; Jon Freeman, MR Chart Director; Brooke McClymont; and Christie King, MR Art Director/Production Mgr.

Pictured with Lucy Angel are (L-R): Christie King, MR Art Director/Production Mgr., LA’s Emily Anderton, LA’s Kate Anderton, MR Chart Director Jon Freeman, MR News Editor Sarah Skates, MR President Sherod Robertson, LA’s Lindsay Anderton

DeGraws Open Nashville Venue

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Singers and brothers Gavin DeGraw and Joey DeGraw are adding a new venue and restaurant to the mix on Lower Broadway. The National Underground Nashville will have a grand opening on Sat., Oct. 15 with performances by Joey DeGraw, Hilary Williams, The Cold Stares, and the Eric Jon Band.

Sister Neeka DeGraw handles booking for the club, which is available for showcases and private events, and is said to offer a top-of-the-line sound system. All three siblings live in Nashville now.

The National Underground Nashville is located at 105 Broadway near Big River Grille and across from the Hard Rock Café.

“We feature live music seven nights a week and are trying to stick to an indie, Tom Petty style rock and roll, while having a soft spot for traditional country,” reports Gavin, who plans to attract risings acts as well as established artists.

Says Joey, “The idea for The National Underground was birthed on the road. I always dreamed of a live music touring circuit that catered to more of the indie market where the draw would be less than 200 people. We’re excited to be here in Nashville opening our second location, not only because we live here now, but also because it’s the ideal environment for this kind of venue.”

Fans of all ages are welcome until 9 p.m. at the non-smoking venue.

Reach Neeka at nashvillebooking@thenationalunderground.

Tim DuBois To Exit ASCAP

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Tim DuBois has announced that he will be exiting his post at ASCAP as Vice President and Managing Executive, Nashville, at the end of this year.

Commenting on his decision, DuBois said, “My commitment to ASCAP was to guide the development of a newly configured Nashville Regional Office. Over the past two years we’ve built a strong structure and team to support and service the needs of our members in the Nashville region, and I am proud to pass the torch to such a capable group of young executives. It’s time for me to return to Vanderbilt and to devote more time and energy to my entrepreneurial activities.”

ASCAP Executive Vice President of Membership Randy Grimmett added, “We have been fortunate to have had Tim’s guidance these past two years during which he oversaw a major restructuring of ASCAP’s Nashville office. We thank Tim for his service to ASCAP. As a songwriter, he remains an important member of the ASCAP family, and we value his continued support for the team that will serve ASCAP for years to come.”

ASCAP’s Marc Driskill will expand his leadership role as VP & General Manager, Nashville, overseeing ASCAP’s Nashville operations with Senior Creative Directors LeAnn Phelan and Michael Martin continuing in their roles leading the creative staff of Mike Sistad, Jesse Willoughby, Ryan Beuschel, Robert Filhart, Jess Draper and Anna Maki, who have proven their excellence as a creative resource to the Nashville community and are committed to providing outstanding service to ASCAP’s members.

Jay Frank Announces New Venture

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Music industry veteran and author Jay Frank has announced the launch of Nashville-based DigSin, a digital music company where subscriber fans will get all releases for free. In a departure from the typical record label model, DigSin will focus on single song releases and maximizing listening audience.

“DigSin is the result of years of examining the new ways music fans find and listen to music,” says Frank, who will make the announcement at today’s Digital Music Forum West in Los Angeles, CA. “We are committing ourselves to expose new songs in a targeted, organic way that enables us to be a trusted filter to music fans.”

The name is a shortened version of Digital Single and aims to build a database of music fans who will receive every label release for free in their preferred genre and format. The label will focus on pop, rock and dance music.

“To succeed as a music company today, you must be open to multiple new revenue streams and new ways of thinking,” says Frank. “Through a combination of free music, social networking, analytics and traditional promotional outlets, we will be a new model for music companies for the future.”

Deals with DigSin purport to be flexible and artist-friendly, enabling the label to partner with advertisers and other outlets in numerous exposure opportunities. Frank founded the company on the principle that developing artists need smart marketing in the digital world, and hopes to provide a stepping stone to the next plateau.

Frank was most recently an executive with CMT and authored the 2009 book, Futurehit.DNA on what it takes to have a hit in the digital era. Prior to that, he was a digital music executive with Yahoo! Music.

For more info, visit http://www.digsin.com.

MusicRow WebLinks

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• Taylor Swift tied for fourth place on Forbes’ new list of Entertainment’s Highest Paid Women, grossing about $45 million during the measurement period.

• Former AirPlay Direct employees are suing the company for wages they say they are owed according to Nashville Business Journal. AirPlay Direct is run by CEO Robert Weingartz.

• The Tennessean reports the Curb/Tim McGraw lawsuit is set for an Nov. 29 court date.

• As part of an experiment, Universal Pictures will release new film Tower Heist to video-on-demand while it is still in theaters for $59.99. More from the LA Times.

Weekly Chart Report (10/07/11)

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While in NYC recently, Craig Morgan (R) stopped by SiriusXM for some "Hangtime" with Director of Music Programming, Al Skop. Morgan’s latest single “This Ole Boy” (Black River) is currently at No. 40 on the CountryBreakout Chart.

SPIN ZONE
Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You” emerges at the CountryBreakout No. 1 song for a second week, but there’s quite a battle shaping up just below him. Positions No. 2 and 3 remain occupied by Thompson Square’s “I Got You” and Taylor Swift’s “Sparks Fly,” respectively, both of which add over 120 new spins in this chart. If you think that’s impressive, check out positions 4-6. Brantley Gilbert’s “Country Must Be Country Wide,” on the way to living up to its title, moves to No. 4 with a gain of 187 spins. Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim” is right behind at No. 5, following a 253 spin gain. And Lady Antebellum’s “We Owned The Night” bests them all at No. 6, picking up a 301 spin gain.

Aussie sibling trio The McClymonts is now inside the top 40 at No. 38 with “Wrapped Up Good,” marking the sisters’ highest charting single to date. One spot behind them at No. 39 is red-hot new Dierks Bentley single, “Home,” which earn’s the week’s biggest spin increase in its second week charting. Also joining the Top 40 are Mark Wills’ “Crazy Being Home” at No. 37 and Craig Morgan’s “This Ole Boy” at No. 40.

Sea Gayle/BNA artist Wade Bowen is currently out on his first radio tour, and stopped for a visit with WUBE/Cincinnati. Bowen’s sixth studio album--his first for a major label--is currently in the works. (L-R): WUBE Cincinnati PD Grover Collins, Bowen

Sony Music titans Kenny Chesney (BNA) and Brad Paisley (Arista) both experience strong debuts of new singles. Chesney’s “Reality” makes its first appearance at No. 67, while Paisley’s “Camouflage” shows up at No. 70. This is the first week either song picked up any reports. A little farther ahead, Trent Tomlinson’s “A Man Without A Woman”(Skyville) is moving impressively well with a 75-59 jump in its third week charting. Could be that love is in the air right now, as Kevin Fowler’s “That Girl” (Average Joe’s) is on to No. 51 in its third week, and newcomer Andy Gibson’s “Wanna Make You Love Me” (R&J Records) is up to No. 46 after eight weeks.

Frozen Playlists: KMKS KSED, KSMA, KTTI, WAAG, WCJW, WKWS, WOWF, WQNZ, WTCM

Upcoming Singles
October 10
Burns & Poe/I Need A Job/Blue Steel Records
Billy Currington/Like My Dog/Mercury
David Bradley/If You Can’t Make Money/Gecko
Dierks Bentley/Home/Capitol Nashville
Jackie Arredondo/Rockin’ That Trailer/Gold Voice
Kenny Chesney/Reality/BNA
River City Gang/This Old Town/Rio Grande

October 17
Jake Owen/Alone With You/RCA
Neal McCoy/A-OK/Blaster/Rodeowave
Lee Brice/Woman Like You/Curb
Glorianna/(Kissed You) Good Night/Emblem/WAR
Johnny Solinger/Livin’ Out A Country Song/Red Dirt/Turnpike
The Farm/Home Sweet Home/All In/Elektra Nashville/New Revolution

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Kenny Chesney/Reality/BNA — 67
Brad Paisley/Camouflage/Arista — 70
Jeff Bates/He Wasn’t Like Us/Black River — 78

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Dierks Bentley/Home/Capitol — 401
Jason Aldean/Tattoos On This Town/Broken Bow — 339
Kenny Chesney/Reality/BNA — 330
Lady Antebellum/We Owned The Night/Capitol — 301
Brad Paisley/Camouflage/Arista — 290

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Brad Paisley/Camouflage/Arista — 31
Dierks Bentley/Home/Capitol — 29
Kenny Chesney/Reality/BNA — 26
Trent Tomlinson/A Man Without A Woman/Skyville Records — 16
Jake Owen/Alone With You/RCA — 13
Lee Brice/A Woman Like You/Curb — 9
Kevin Fowler/That Girl/Average Joe’s — 8
Billy Currington/Like My Dog/Mercury — 8

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Lee Brice/A Woman Like You/Curb — 173
J.D. Malone & The Experts/Silver From (And You Still Want More)  — 170
Attwater/Never Gonna Happen/Twenty Ten Music — 165
Clay Dustin/I’ll Take That Job/Pure Heart Records — 150
Landon Michael/Might As Well Be Me/Big Dog Records — 150

As part of her ongoing radio tour, BigRide recording artist Marlee Scott stopped by KWOF 92.5 The Wolf/Denver to visit with morning show co-hosts Jonathan and Mudflap. Scott’s “Beautiful Maybe” is currently at No. 63 on the CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): Mudflap (KWOF morning show co-host), Marlee Scott, Jonathan Wilde (KWOF PD/morning co-star), & InstiGator Entertainment’s Glenn Noblit

David St. Romain (L) hosts The WYNK/Baton Rouge-sponsored songwriter series at The Manship Theatre recently with Rodeowave recording artist Phil Vassar.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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Sometimes one trip on the roller coaster isn’t quite enough, and you race back around to ride it again, hopefully doubling the thrills. Artists and record promoters know the feeling pretty well, without even having to strap themselves in for a ride at Disney World.

This week it’s Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You” getting a second turn at No. 1 on the CountryBreakout Chart, a full 100 spins ahead of its closest competition. Always a popular artist with this chart’s reporters, Blake’s latest marks his seventh consecutive CountryBreakout No. 1, starting with his 2008 cover of Michael Buble’s “Home.”

Blake also recently announced his Well Lit & Amplified Tour 2012, which will hit 27 cities starting January 2012. The winter trek will kick off in Toledo, Oh and end in March at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, with supporting guests Justin Moore and The Voice finalist Dia Frampton. VIP tour packages will be available for purchase on his website.

Not that he’s sitting still until January or anything. Just recently the world got to see the video premiere of Blake’s version of “Footloose” from the new movie remake on Entertainment Tonight. Additionally, he’s scheduled to perform on the CMA Awards Nov. 9, where he’s nominated for his first ever Entertainer of the Year Award as well as Male Vocalist of the Year. And somehow in between all of this, he and wife Miranda Lambert have found the time to co-produce Neal McCoy’s new album.

Heck, at this rate Blake might even be up for a third trip on the coaster.

Mark Your Calendar (October)

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Here’s a look at the releases and events happening in the weeks ahead. Mark your calendars and make plans to be there!

Row Rally Circles The Wagons For Second Harvest

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“This is our kick off event in support of the Stars For Second Harvest concert being held at The Ryman Auditorium on October 18, 2011 featuring Kix Brooks, Dave Barnes and songwriter Dallas Davidson,” said event organizer and publisher/songwriter Craig Wiseman.

The 2nd Annual Music Row Rally will take place Oct. 12 in Wiseman’s Big Loud Shirt parking lot at 1111 16th Ave. South during lunch time from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be available from local food trucks including Riff’s Fine Street Food, Happy Eating, and Cupcake Collection. 10% of all profits made by the trucks will be donated to The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

Tickets for the Oct. 18 concert event are on sale for $35 at Ticketmaster.com. For special VIP seating opportunities contact the Second Harvest Food Bank at 615-329-3491. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in their efforts to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community.

Organized in 1978, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is a private, not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization.  Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee’s mission is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the largest and most comprehensive of over 200 food banks and food distribution centers nationwide and also a member of Feeding America – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. www.secondharvestmidtn.org.

 

International Wembley Festival Returns After 20-Year Hiatus

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The much-loved International Festival of Country Music will return to Wembley Arena on Sunday, February 26th, 2012. The stellar line-up features country, roots and bluegrass music.

In a rare UK appearance, international country superstar Reba McEntire will headline the all day festival. Having last performed in the UK 12 years ago, the Wembley appearance will give British fans a rare opportunity to enjoy a true legend, live on the London stage.

Reba will be joined by fourteen-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Skaggs, a country trailblazer who struck his first chords on a mandolin over 52 years ago.

Feted country music band Lonestar, who first made their debut on the Billboard country music charts in 1995, are also featured on the bill.

Joining the headliners will be critically acclaimed quartet Little Big Town, who are also making their international debut at this event. Little Big Town have sold over 1.5 million records and garnered four Grammy nominations over the past twelve years.

In addition to the four headliners, the festival will host an impressive array of supporting acts including; country and rockabilly legend, Narvel Felts, the “King of Cajun” Jo-El Sonnier and Texas-born George Ducas. More acts are to be announced shortly.

The International Festival of Country Music ran for 23 years from 1969 to 1991 at Wembley Arena.  The shows, promoted by the legendary Mervyn Conn, were the first to introduce country music to the British public and featured a host of (now) legendary artists including; Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Crystal Gayle and many more.

“I’m bringing the International Festival of Country Music back after over twenty years due to popular demand,” says International Festival of Country Music founder and CEO of MM Events Ltd., Mervyn Conn. “The regard for Country Music has grown significantly in the UK since the first year I promoted this event and I believe that now is the time to reintroduce this once hugely popular event to converted fans of country music and to a new and emerging group of country music lovers. I have also brought back Trisha Walker-(Cunningham) who worked with me for 10 years in the early days and is my company President in the USA.”

Reba McEntire comments; “My band, crew and I are really looking forward to going back to Europe to play our music.  The last time we performed there was in 1999!  We have been very busy for the last 10 years doing the REBA TV show and concerts in North America. Now, we are so excited to be able to travel abroad and do both our new and old songs for our European audience, who has always been so good to us.”

After the Wembley date, the festival will travel to Belfast, Zurich and Germany.

Wembley Tickets will go on sale from Monday October 10th, 2011

Tickets can be purchased via;
General Box Office: 0844 815 0815
Accessible seating: 020 8782 5629
Online: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Additional dates and venues
Belfast: Odyssey Arena – 29/02/12
Zurich: Hallenstadion – 02/03/12
Mannheim: SAP Arena – 04/03/12