Craig Wiseman
has tapped
Dave Barnes and
Dallas Davidson for his 7th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on Tues., Oct. 18 at the Ryman Auditorium. Acclaimed songwriter Wiseman leads the fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank of of Middle Tennessee every year, and is expected to add more performers to the 2011 line up.
In the last six years, the initiative has raised $389,000 to supply 1,556,000 meals.
Event tickets go on sale today (8/19) for $35 at
ticketmaster.com. For preferred VIP seating please contact the Second Harvest Food Bank at (615) 329-3491.
• • • •
Also coming up at the Ryman is the Let Us In: Women and Cancer Fund Benefit that will be hosted by actor/musician
Jeff Daniels with performances by
Sarah Darling, Steel Magnolia, SHeDAISY, Jordyn Shellhart, Phil Vassar and
Chuck Wicks. The show will be Mon., Nov. 7.
The evening’s house band will include
Chad Cromwell, Russ Pahl, Kenny Greenberg, Eli Beaird, Mike Rojas and
Jeff Smith.
Because the fund was established in memory of
Linda McCartney, each artist will perform a
Paul McCartney song in addition to their own songs. The day after the concert, the recorded songs will be released to retail and digital outlets, and the entire show will be available on DVD.
An Evening With Martina McBride
/by Sherod RobertsonFollowing a cocktail reception, BLMG President & CEO Scott Borchetta, Republic Nashville Pres. Jimmy Harnen, and producer Byron Gallimore offered introductory remarks before McBride’s performance of each song.
McBride shared “behind the scenes” stories of how each song was chosen, offered creative insights behind the writing, and then performed with the song’s writers. One of the highlights included surprise guest artist, Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train, who performed the duet “Marry Me” with McBride.
During the intimate showcase, McBride took a moment to express her concern over the industry rumor that writers must write with the artist in order to get a cut. In an emotional dismissal of that thinking, she encouraged all writers to “go and write.”
The Warren Brothers joined McBride during the closing performances and fortunately for us, their mics were on. In true Warren Brothers’ style, nothing was off limits and McBride jokingly admitted she had completely lost control of her show.
McBride also performed her powerful new single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” written by Ben Hayslip, Sonya Isaacs, and Jimmy Yeary. The song’s writers shared the motivation behind the song and its emotional subject matter, cancer.
The song’s music video, directed by Roman White, features dozens of cancer survivors and supporters, including four well-known celebrities – Robin Roberts (anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America); Hoda Kotb (anchor for NBC’s Today Show); Grammy award-winning singer Sheryl Crow and ABC journalist Katie Couric – who each have very personal connections to the disease.
Spotify Limits Boost Paid Users
/by adminThe data is taken at the end of June, shortly before the platform opened in the U.S., and outlines performance from Jan. through June 2011. Music Ally notes that the data used in this report was not provided by Spotify, but is “according to a report prepared for a rightsholder and subsequently seen by Music Ally.”
The data shows the new curbs definitely drove paid subscriptions but at a price in overall usage. The service gained 520,000 paying subscribers between March and June 2011, but lost 1.6 million free users. The new rules, announced in mid-April and begun on May 1, shrunk the number of free listening hours per month from 40 to 10. They also added a five plays-per-song limit.
The article correctly notes that while the large increase in paying customers will please copyright owners who will share larger revenues, the question remains what happened to the one million users who left the system? Where are they going for music?
Hopefully not to unlicensed services.
Will Hoge Previews New Album
/by FreemanHoge’s set included Number Seven’s first single, “When I Get My Wings,” a Memphis soul-styled meditation on death. Attendees were also treated to “American Dream,” a mournful take on the plight of the homeless, and domestic lament “Trying To Be A Man.”
“I’m really proud of this album,” says Hoge. “Everything I’ve been through in the last couple of years has caused me to slow down and be more thoughtful about what sort of music I’m putting out. The process of creating music has changed too. For the first time, I feel like this album really encompasses everything about me as an artist. I’m just ready for everyone to hear it!”
Number Seven is Hoge’s followup to his acclaimed 2009 album The Wreckage, which he recorded after a near fatal traffic accident. That collection’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” has been cut by Eli Young Band for its new album Life At Best, which hit stores August 16.
(L-R): Hoge’s agent, Jay Williams of William Morris Agency; Hoge’s manager, Terry Elam of Fitzgerald Hartley; Susan Stewart of NARAS; Hoge.
Taylor Swift’s “Haunted” Featured In True Blood
/by Sherod RobertsonCalamar declined to disclose the specific scene of the Louisiana-based show featuring the song from Swift, but does describe it as “a racy, sexy scene.”
The article reveals that Swift’s camp initially refused to allow it but later agreed when the “singer came forward and said she wanted it to happen.”
Taylor Swift's "Haunted" Featured In True Blood
/by Sherod RobertsonCalamar declined to disclose the specific scene of the Louisiana-based show featuring the song from Swift, but does describe it as “a racy, sexy scene.”
The article reveals that Swift’s camp initially refused to allow it but later agreed when the “singer came forward and said she wanted it to happen.”
Quarterback Promotes Gholson to East Coast Region
/by Freeman“She’s just the kind of person we want out there representing our artists,” says Quarterback Partner John Ettinger. “She has an amazing ethic and an even better personality. Stations will be very happy to have her calling.”
Prior to joining Quarterback, Gholson worked in sales at Nashville’s WSIX. Before that she spent six years working with Cox Media Group’s WKHK/Richmond. She studied marketing at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.
Reach Gholson at 804-833-9692 or here.
Kentucky Headhunters Return; Deborah Allen Releases New Album
/by admin“Each song on Hear Me Now is a musical journey, and together they make one of my favorite collections of music I have ever released,” says Allen. “When you are listening to these songs, know that you are listening to a little piece of my heart!”
Accompanying Allen on Hear Me Now are some of Nashville’s finest songwriters and musicians, including Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Gary Burr (“Anything Other Than Love” co-writer), and legendary songwriter/producer Bobby Braddock, who produced three songs on the album.
The Aug. 16 release of Hear Me Now coincides with Elvis week, held in Memphis Aug. 10-16. Allen will appear at numerous events during the week, including a performance at George Klein’s Memphis Mafia Reunion on Aug. 14 and an appearance at the Elvis Candlelight Vigil on Aug. 16.
Musicians Team For Benefits At Ryman
/by Sarah SkatesCraig Wiseman
Craig Wiseman has tapped Dave Barnes and Dallas Davidson for his 7th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on Tues., Oct. 18 at the Ryman Auditorium. Acclaimed songwriter Wiseman leads the fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank of of Middle Tennessee every year, and is expected to add more performers to the 2011 line up.
In the last six years, the initiative has raised $389,000 to supply 1,556,000 meals.
Event tickets go on sale today (8/19) for $35 at ticketmaster.com. For preferred VIP seating please contact the Second Harvest Food Bank at (615) 329-3491.
• • • •
Also coming up at the Ryman is the Let Us In: Women and Cancer Fund Benefit that will be hosted by actor/musician Jeff Daniels with performances by Sarah Darling, Steel Magnolia, SHeDAISY, Jordyn Shellhart, Phil Vassar and Chuck Wicks. The show will be Mon., Nov. 7.
The evening’s house band will include Chad Cromwell, Russ Pahl, Kenny Greenberg, Eli Beaird, Mike Rojas and Jeff Smith.
Because the fund was established in memory of Linda McCartney, each artist will perform a Paul McCartney song in addition to their own songs. The day after the concert, the recorded songs will be released to retail and digital outlets, and the entire show will be available on DVD.
Charlie Cook On Air
/by contributorToo Few Songs Have to Stand Alone
I was listening to an AC station in the West Virginia radio chain that I work for and heard “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry. Of course, they also play “Need You Now,” selected Taylor Swift songs, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw and even a recent Kenny Chesney. I was thinking how lucky they are to be able to play only the cream of the format.
As an AC station they also play P!nk, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and a bunch of other stuff, some of which is pretty good. I like Katy Perry and an occasional Bruno Mars song, but let’s get back to the Country Music they play.
Just think how cool it would be to pick and choose what you wanted to play.
When a new record from (fill in the blank) comes out, you play it. It goes to No. 1 in 14 weeks and then the following Monday there is another record from the act on your desk. Tuesday you’re getting emails and phone calls telling that you should add this one out of the box because the last one was No. 1. You want to yell, “Please give the listener a minute to digest the last song.”
In Country Music there is a connection between one record and the next. It is not as strong as promotion people want you to believe, but it is there. It does not come in 14 week sections, but it is there.
Still, what if every record actually stood on its own?
I like the Band Perry. They are talented. They are good kids and I trust that they will be staples in our format for years to come. But they may never have another AC hit. And whether they do or not, “If I Die Young” is not diminished in the listener’s eye. This was their time on AC radio.
Here’s my point. I am saying that AC programmers get to listen to Country Music with a clean slate and chose the songs they think best fit their stations. Country programmers get hammered to play everything by a particular artist because either that artist has “earned a place” on their station (I have heard that more than once), or because it is on 40 stations (mostly played in the evening or overnight) and, “we are working this one all the way to the end.”
Good songs get lost in the shuffle because they are not on a major label or they don’t have tour support for the song’s airplay. I understand that if a newbie act is on a veteran’s tour and the label can provide tickets for the show, then the new act gets extra attention. Too few songs are forced to stand on their own in our format.
Some are obvious: “Remind Me,” “Honey Bee,” “Knee Deep.” Those are no-brainers. Some are not so obvious but there is often an entitlement argument from the bigger acts and the bigger labels. That hurts smaller label acts with good music.
ACM Announces $661,000 Endowment
/by Sherod RobertsonHonorees from “Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” (Getty Images/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music & dick clark productions)
The Academy of Country Music has announced a $661,000 endowment to ACM Lifting Lives, on behalf of the artists who participated in Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country. Ticket proceeds from the taping of the Las Vegas concert special in April benefited ACM Lifting Lives.
Honorees The Judds, Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Reba and Carrie Underwood along with special performers Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, John Fogerty, Vince Gill, the JaneDear girls, Little Big Town, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton all participated in the taping, with more than 8 million viewers tuning in to the special on CBS.
“ACM Lifting Lives thanks these artists for generously donating their time and talent for the taping,” says ACM Lifting Lives Chair Gayle Holcomb. “We are grateful to them and for the opportunity to continue serving our many wonderful beneficiaries.”
ACM Lifting Lives is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through music by providing and serving members of the country music community who face unexpected medical or financial hardship.
(L-R): ACM Vice President Butch Waugh, ACM President Sarah Trahern, ACM Chairman Bill Mayne, ACM Lifting Lives Chairman Gayle Holcomb, ACM Lifting Lives President Mark Hartley, ACM Lifting Lives Vice-President Gary Gilbert and ACM Parliamentarian Paul Moore.