Art Guitars by JD Vokes. Photo: Daniel Ethan Podolsky
Imagine being surrounded in every direction by every type of instrument and accessory imaginable. Where any shape, size, color, make, model or even flavor of musical product is waiting for you to come test it out, all within one room. For musicians with bigger eyes than wallets, the Summer NAMM Convention—a gathering of the musical products industry held annually at the Nashville Convention Center—can be a dream come true.
From July 21-23, over 11,000 industry professionals representing 30+ countries were on hand to get up close and personal with the newest offerings from over 450 manufacturers—as well as to order a few for their own stores, and to network with others in the industry. The convention was expected to bring $13 million into the Nashville economy.
Summer NAMM has a mission to benefit the local, independent music retailers that survived the growth of behemoths such as Guitar Center or Sam Ash. In that spirit workshops and lectures, dubbed “NAMM U,” run all weekend with titles such as “Successful Promotions on a Dime,” and “How to Use Facebook to Market Your Business.” These breakfast sessions are held each of the three days.
Celebrity appearances created a big draw for “Wanna Play Day.” Former New York Yankee turned Jazz guitarist
Bernie Williams was promoting his new book
Rhythms of the Game, and taking time to speak and play for the public. His 2009 full-length album
Moving Forward is his second and features collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and Dave Koz. “I’m really working with NAMM advocating for music and arts education in schools,” says Williams. This visit to Nashville was his “first time here, but hopefully won’t be the last.” Williams has been a celebrity face for the convention since January’s NAMM Show in Anaheim. His book features a foreword by musician Paul Simon and discusses the link between musical and athletic performance. “I think there’s a lot of similarities between music and baseball, and it’s worth reading. The book is out now, and I think it’s going to be very successful.”
Gibson's Firebird X. Photo: Daniel Ethan Podolsky
This year’s show contained a bit of a break from traditional NAMM procedures. On the final day of the convention, doors were opened to the public for “Wanna Play Music Day.” For a $20 ticket price, casual fans and music buffs alike can see the exhibits and attend valuable lessons such as “Setting Up a Home Studio,” and “Garage Band Hands-On Test Drive.”
“I’m glad they’re doing a public day,” remarked
Frank Johns, head of R&D for Gibson Guitars, a Nashville-based company. “It’s one thing to have dealers come and check everything out… but it’s also great to have the public come and check everything out.” Gibson is at NAMM promoting it’s newest Firebird X computerized “robot” guitar. The guitar features technological innovations such as robotic tuners, Bluetooth to communicate with effects pedals, onboard effects, and more. “It’s our first foray into this technology, but we really feel at Gibson that it’s the way of the future,” explains Johns. “It’s the technology to keep up with the latest iPads and that sort of thing.”
With a very unique exhibit, Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music is pioneering another approach to music education, demonstrating a “new music program designed to bring added excitement to the way music is taught to children.”
Graham Hepburn, known in the video series as Quaver, is very enthusiastic about getting children to learn about music. When “I was a [music] teacher, I could never find any good DVD resources that weren’t too long or too boring,” explains Hepburn. Quaver’s offers a DVD series containing 30 different episodes. “Each episode is 15 minutes long, so they don’t take over music classes or private lessons. They talk about beat, rhythm, duration, pitch, music theory, there’s music styles, ensembles, musical periods,” he says. “Each episode is really funky, fast moving, there’s animation, there’s live action.” Over 500 kids from the Nashville area get involved in the project, which is based on Music Row. The project also contains an online virtual world for kids to create and compose music. “We hope it’s going to become a worldwide success,” says Hepburn, “if it isn’t, I’ll have to become a window cleaner again.”
Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music. Photo: Daniel Ethan Podolsky
SESAC Partners With INgrooves For Digital Distribution
/by adminAccording to SESAC, the deal signifies an evolution in its digital strategy. While licensing and royalty accounting remain core competencies, new value-add services such as digital delivery and distribution will augment opportunities for licensing SESAC-represented content in the marketplace.
“A PRO is often the first industry relationship an aspiring artist, songwriter, or composer has in their career,” said Hunter Williams, Sr. VP, Strategic Development, Distribution and Research Operations, SESAC, Inc. “In the age of DIY (do-it-yourself), it’s more important than ever that we use this position to provide complementary services to our affiliated artists and writers to help them meet their professional goals. The more opportunities SESAC can create for its artists and writers to distribute their content into the marketplace, the more opportunities it will present for SESAC to monetize that content in the licensing arena.”
Summer NAMM Offers Best In Show
/by contributorArt Guitars by JD Vokes. Photo: Daniel Ethan Podolsky
By Daniel Ethan Podolsky
Imagine being surrounded in every direction by every type of instrument and accessory imaginable. Where any shape, size, color, make, model or even flavor of musical product is waiting for you to come test it out, all within one room. For musicians with bigger eyes than wallets, the Summer NAMM Convention—a gathering of the musical products industry held annually at the Nashville Convention Center—can be a dream come true.
From July 21-23, over 11,000 industry professionals representing 30+ countries were on hand to get up close and personal with the newest offerings from over 450 manufacturers—as well as to order a few for their own stores, and to network with others in the industry. The convention was expected to bring $13 million into the Nashville economy.
Summer NAMM has a mission to benefit the local, independent music retailers that survived the growth of behemoths such as Guitar Center or Sam Ash. In that spirit workshops and lectures, dubbed “NAMM U,” run all weekend with titles such as “Successful Promotions on a Dime,” and “How to Use Facebook to Market Your Business.” These breakfast sessions are held each of the three days.
Celebrity appearances created a big draw for “Wanna Play Day.” Former New York Yankee turned Jazz guitarist Bernie Williams was promoting his new book Rhythms of the Game, and taking time to speak and play for the public. His 2009 full-length album Moving Forward is his second and features collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and Dave Koz. “I’m really working with NAMM advocating for music and arts education in schools,” says Williams. This visit to Nashville was his “first time here, but hopefully won’t be the last.” Williams has been a celebrity face for the convention since January’s NAMM Show in Anaheim. His book features a foreword by musician Paul Simon and discusses the link between musical and athletic performance. “I think there’s a lot of similarities between music and baseball, and it’s worth reading. The book is out now, and I think it’s going to be very successful.”
Gibson's Firebird X. Photo: Daniel Ethan Podolsky
This year’s show contained a bit of a break from traditional NAMM procedures. On the final day of the convention, doors were opened to the public for “Wanna Play Music Day.” For a $20 ticket price, casual fans and music buffs alike can see the exhibits and attend valuable lessons such as “Setting Up a Home Studio,” and “Garage Band Hands-On Test Drive.”
“I’m glad they’re doing a public day,” remarked Frank Johns, head of R&D for Gibson Guitars, a Nashville-based company. “It’s one thing to have dealers come and check everything out… but it’s also great to have the public come and check everything out.” Gibson is at NAMM promoting it’s newest Firebird X computerized “robot” guitar. The guitar features technological innovations such as robotic tuners, Bluetooth to communicate with effects pedals, onboard effects, and more. “It’s our first foray into this technology, but we really feel at Gibson that it’s the way of the future,” explains Johns. “It’s the technology to keep up with the latest iPads and that sort of thing.”
With a very unique exhibit, Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music is pioneering another approach to music education, demonstrating a “new music program designed to bring added excitement to the way music is taught to children.” Graham Hepburn, known in the video series as Quaver, is very enthusiastic about getting children to learn about music. When “I was a [music] teacher, I could never find any good DVD resources that weren’t too long or too boring,” explains Hepburn. Quaver’s offers a DVD series containing 30 different episodes. “Each episode is 15 minutes long, so they don’t take over music classes or private lessons. They talk about beat, rhythm, duration, pitch, music theory, there’s music styles, ensembles, musical periods,” he says. “Each episode is really funky, fast moving, there’s animation, there’s live action.” Over 500 kids from the Nashville area get involved in the project, which is based on Music Row. The project also contains an online virtual world for kids to create and compose music. “We hope it’s going to become a worldwide success,” says Hepburn, “if it isn’t, I’ll have to become a window cleaner again.”
Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music. Photo: Daniel Ethan Podolsky
Working On A Wednesday
/by adminPayton Rae on the set of "Not Your Cinderella."
Payton Rae’s latest video, “Not Your Cinderella” debuted earlier this month. The clip is the second created from her five song EP, Dare To Live. Houston-based OOA Productions produced the effort which was filmed mostly in the historic district of Galveston, TX at the Trube Castle.
“I get very excited when it comes to music videos; my mom and I are always throwing out ideas.” said Rae. “I was on the computer one day looking for places we could use, and I came across the Trube Castle right in Galveston, and I knew that had to be it! I’m so blessed to have gotten to shoot at such an amazing place.”
Fifteen year old Payton Rae’s album was produced by Nashville veteran Brian White and features songs created by a marquis of acomplished songwriters including Steve Bogard, Brett Beavers, Stephony Smith, Shelly Fairchild and Rae.
Rae has over 62,000 Twitter followers and 2.8 million YouTube views at her dedicated channel.
• • •
Stealing Angels and KSON/San Diego enjoy an afternoon at the Lakeside Rodeo.(L-R) Dave Collins, Jennifer Wayne, Brooks O’Brian (KSON/ San Diego), Tayla Lynn, Kevin Callahan (KSON/San Diego) and Caroline Cutbirth
• • •
Nan Kelley and Margaret Durante
Margaret Durante recently visited with GAC’s Nan Kelley on the set of her Top 20 Country Countdown video show. Durante’s video, “Maybe Tonight” placed No. 1 on the countdown for two consecutive weeks, but she only discovered the news while reading the teleprompter to introduce her video.
Directed by Kristin Barlowe, the clip for “Maybe Tonight” (co-written by Durante, Blair Daly and Rachel Proctor) highlights two lovers flirting their way through the early stages of a new relationship. Fans also get to see a spontaneous side of Durante, as she leads a troupe in a dance on the streets of downtown Nashville.
Kidman To Film In Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesNicole Kidman and Keith Urban on the red carpet of the 2011 Golden Globe awards.
Nicole Kidman’s new movie Stoker will be filmed in Nashville, specifically in Belle Meade, reports The Tennessean.
The project is described as a vampire thriller; the name a nod to Dracula author Brahm Stoker.
The story centers on a teenage girl named “India Stoker,” played by Mia Wasikowska of Alice In Wonderland fame, who is coping with the unexpected arrival of her strange uncle after the death of her father.
London’s Daily Mail reported earlier this year that Kidman will star as the mother and fellow Oscar winner Colin Firth will play the uncle.
The script was penned by Prison Break star Wentworth Miller.
Industry Ink Wednesday (7/28/11)
/by Sarah SkatesSpecial Writer Round Tomorrow
Tom Douglas, Gordon Kennedy, Christy McDonald and Andrew Charbonnet are set for a special benefit performance tomorrow night (7/28) at The Rutledge, kicking off at 8 p.m. McDonald will close the show with a full-band performance. Proceeds from “Change The World Songwriters Night” will benefit cancer research at Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital.
Musical Chairs at Republic
(L-R): Megan Knutson and Kelsey Chandler
Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen has promoted Megan (Whalen) Knutson to Label Resource Manager and hired Kelsey Chandler as Executive Assistant. Chandler will fill Knuston’s previous position following her promotion. Most recently, she was a Client Associate at Merrill Lynch after earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations with a concentration in Marketing at Auburn University. Both will report directly to Pres. Jimmy Harnen. Knutson can be reached at (615) 324-7901 or megan.knutson@republicnashville.com, and Chandler is available at (615) 324-7930 or kelsey.chandler@republicnashville.com, beginning Aug. 8.
Swift’s New York Hot Streak
Taylor Swift recently wrapped a run of four sold-out shows at Newark’s Prudential Center near New York City. She played to over 52,000 fans and earned rave reviews, impressing some of the nation’s toughest critics.
Chris Young on Kimmel
Chris Young is set for an appearance on ABC-TV’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! tonight (7/27) where he will perform songs from the recently released NEON.
Josh Thompson on TV
Columbia Nashville’s Josh Thompson was on hand in Fayetteville, NC on Sunday, July 17 for a taping of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Thompson performed a concert at Fayetteville Festival Park to help raise funds for a female homeless veterans shelter.
Josh Thompson on Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
BMI Buzz
BMI and local hotspot the Basement partnered to present acoustic sets from Joey Hyde, Morgan Myles and Deep River at the July 13 installment of BMI Buzz.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Beth Laird; Joey Hyde; Deep River members Luke Brindley, Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley; BMI’s Jody Williams; Morgan Myles and BMI’s Mark Mason.
Johnny Reid Leads Canadian Country Noms
/by Sarah SkatesDriven by his album A Place Called Love, and hit single “Today I’m Gonna Try And Change The World,” Reid is up for Fans’ Choice, Single, Songwriter, CMT Video, Album and Male Artist. A Place Called Love also garnered nominations for his team in Album Design, Website, and Video Director.
Dean Brody is nominated in five categories: Fans’ Choice, Single for “Trail In Life,” Album, Songwriter and Male Artist. Additional nominations for the Brody team include Album Design and Website.
George Canyon, Gord Bamford and Deric Ruttan received four nods each. To view a complete list of nominees, go to www.ccma.org.
The Third Ballot for the 2011 Canadian Country Music Awards® is open. CCMA voting members received a email with instructions. The ballot closes at 5:00 PM EST on Wed., Aug. 17.
Brody and Paul Brandt have been added to the list of performers for the 2011 awards broadcast. They join previously announced acts George Canyon, Terri Clark, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, Johnny Reid and Ronnie Dunn.
Country Music Week takes place September 9-12, 2011, in Hamilton, Ontario, culminating with the broadcast of The Canadian Country Music Awards.
Week Two Is Like The "Morning After"
/by adminThis graph is intended to provide a snapshot of sales during the last half of 2010. Compare the list of upcoming releases in the text with what happened in 2010 to help determine if the country format will end up in positive sales territory for 2011.
Week Two is traditionally like the “morning after.” The sales party fireworks, stimulated from high visibility press exposure and the flexing of high-dollar marketing muscles, become dim as labels wake to a new reality. Traditionally, the hangover from the week two sales drop falls in the 60% range. This week new albums from Blake Shelton and Chris Young suffered the “week two” blues dropping 60% and 65% respectively. Also in “week two” is Ashton Shepherd who debuted with under 11k units, but fell 56% nevertheless.
Although the “week two” folks always take the biggest W/W (week over week) hit, Blake, Chris and Ashton weren’t alone this week. W/W country album sales fell 16% on average and the Top 75 current list tumbled 27.5%.
The good news remains that the country format overall is up YTD 1.4%. Upcoming announced powerhouse releases are scarce, but crafty labels have a habit of clutching release information tightly to hinder competitor planning. Here’s a few of the names that should send SoundScan dials spinning: Eric Church 7/26, Trace Adkins 8/2, Luke Bryan 8/9, Lady Antebellum 9/13, LeAnn Rimes 9/27, Martina McBride 10/18 and Miranda Lambert 11/1.
RIP Amy Winehouse
A few notes on the U.S. sales ramifications of Amy Winehouse’s recent sad passing as calculated by Nielsen SoundScan.
>>More Amy Winehouse albums were purchased in the past week (ending 7/2411) than during the first six months of the year (50,000 this week vs. 44,000 YTD 2011 as of 7/17/11), according to Nielsen SoundScan.
–Back To Black – 37,000 total sales (36,000 are digital albums)
–Frank -7,600 total sales (7,000 are digital)
>>More than 95% of all Amy Winehouse album sales this week were digitally downloaded (46,000+ sales), according to Nielsen SoundScan.
>>Total U.S. spins for Amy Winehouse songs on Saturday, July 23, increased 170% over the previous week’s total spins, according to Nielsen BDS.
Thought For Today
This industry will soon need new revenue yardsticks. Something easy to understand, reliable and painstakingly accurate. SoundScan is quite satisfactory for point of sale at retail, however as the industry continues to evolve, it no longer provides the total picture. For example, what about endorsements, touring, paid TV appearances, clothing lines, etc. As artist brands continue to evolve, tracking album and single sales, both physical and digital is slowly becoming less representative of the total energy artist machines generate.
Parton at The "Dollywood Bowl"
/by Sarah SkatesCelebrating backstage with (L-R): Neil Warnock, The Agency Group; Parton; manager Danny Nozell, CTK Management; and Steve Martin, The Agency Group. Photo: Laura Eady/CTK Management
Dolly Parton set a personal best record when she sold more than 29,000 tickets over two shows at the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend (Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23). This marks the most tickets she has sold in a single city on one visit in the history of her 55-year career. She appropriately referred to the venue as the “Dollywood Bowl.”
The LA Times reports, “Parton operated with a queenly mettle that spoke to her five-decade journey from Appalachian hardship to Nashville aristocracy. She hardly required a throne to establish her position of power.”
The iconic singer is touring in support of her new Better Day album (Dolly Records, distributed through Warner Music Nashville). This leg of the Better Day World Tour runs through Aug. 3 before heading to Europe and Australia, then returns to the U.S. beginning Oct. 7.
Willie Nelson Gears Up For Farm Aid
/by Sarah SkatesNelson will be inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame during a Aug. 12 ceremony, the morning before Farm Aid 2011 at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.
Set to perform at Farm Aid 2011 are Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Jamey Johnson, Jakob Dylan, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and more.
As Farm Aid’s founder and president, Nelson has worked to increase awareness about the loss of family farms, and has raised more than $39 million for the cause through the concerts.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/27/11)
/by Robert K OermannThere’s nothing like Nashville in July-August to wear you out. And there are no ballads in this week’s column to cool you off.
The new sounds from Bomshel, Randy Travis, Montgomery Gentry and Marlee Scott are particularly hot stuff. Justin Moore follows up his tender “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” with a scorching little attitude tune titled “Bait A Hook.” The boy is on a roll. Hand him a Disc of the Day award.
Perhaps the hottest sounding performance of the day came from some unknown Texans billed as Brad Dunn & Ellis County. They’re an Austin bar band. Their CD shines with promise. Hands down, my DisCovery Award of the week.
MARLEE SCOTT/Beautiful Maybe
Writer: Tania Hancheroff/Marcus Hummon/Tia Sellers; Producer: David Kalmusky; Publisher: Universal/MGB/Careers/Ourtrinity/Coburn/Sillers with an I Think Tank, ASCAP/BMI; CO5 (www.marleescott.com)
—Brightly optimistic and positive. Produced with clarity and class. Irresistibly rhythmic, to boot.
RANDY TRAVIS/Everything And All
Writer: Troy Jones; Producer: Kyle Lehning; Publisher: Tiltawhirl/Carnival, BMI; Warner Bros.
—His burnished baritone voice remains one of the truly great things about the country-music format. This uptempo twangfest is a delightful showcase for it. Spin it.
RYAN TURNER BAND/Sweet Time
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; RTB (www.ryanturnermusic.com)
—The track has a cool nervous energy about it. His vocal doesn’t have a huge amount of personality, but he gets the job done on this tempo celebration.
BOMSHEL/Halleluy’all
Writer: Josh Kear/Mark Irwin; Producer: Chad Carlson; Publisher: Global Dog/Big Yellow Dog/LunaLight/Green Vinyl, ASCAP; Curb
—I dig these gals. If this sizzling, frothy, beat frenzy doesn’t get folks out onto the dance floor, I can’t imagine what will. Crank it up.
KATIE QUICK/Best In Me
Writer: Katie Quick/Ben Goldsmith; Producer: Katie Quick & Chip Hardy; Publisher: Katiequickmusic, BMI; KQ (track) (www.katiequick.com)
—She wrote all 14 tunes on her Valley Between Love CD, including this hand-clapping, banjo-propelled, sunny, toe-tapper of a single. Sweet as candy.
THE BAND PERRY/All Your Life
Writer: Brian Henningsen/Clara Henningsen; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/How Bout That Skyline/Cactus Moser, BMI; Republic Nashville (track)
—This plea for lifelong devotion goes down smoothly, thanks to the lilting mandolin work, gentle percussion and oh-so-creamy vocal harmonies. The bluesy bridge is especially cool with its melodic shift and chiming bells.
BRAD DUNN & ELLIS COUNTY/Red White And Blue
Writer: Brad Dunn & Ellis County; Producer: Kevin Szymanski, Brad Dunn & Ellis County; Publisher: none listed; BD (track) (www.reverbnation.com/bradleyddunn)
—The grinding groove makes it sound kind of like a countrified ZZ Top. The title refers to the Texas state flag, and everything about this screams Lone Star State roadhouse rawk. The song and performance are both loaded with sweaty macho attitude. I’ll bet these guys are great live. Even the ballads on the band’s Ranch Cat album seethe with personality and individuality.
JUSTIN MOORE/Bait A Hook
Writer: Rhett Akins/Justin Moore/Jeremy Stover; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Rhettneck/Big Music Machine/Double Barrel Ace/Super 98/EMI April/Songs of Countrywood, BMI/ASCAP; Valory Music
—Her new boyfriend can’t hold his liquor, drives a Prius and eats sushi. But he can’t catch fish, skin a deer, drive a truck or belt Jack Daniels, so the redneck singer isn’t worried a bit that she’ll come running back. Highly humorous, enormously rhythmic and deeply drawled.
JOEL WARREN & JASON ALLEN/Straight Up Country
Writer: Steve Guidos/Bill Warrington/Ward Tolbert; Producer: Eric Paul; Publisher: Wynnestar/Bill Warrington/Song Brook, BMI/ASCAP; Wynnesong (track) (www.joelwarrencountry.com)
—The swingin’ honky-tonk band kicks up plenty of dust. Jason has the pipes to front the sound. Joel doesn’t.
MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Where I Come From
Writer: Rodney Clawson/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Big Red Toe/Amarillo Sky/EMI Blackwood/String Stretcher, BMI; Average Joe (CDX) (615-733-9983)
—Pretty much what you might expect from the title—a defense of the small-town, countrified lifestyle. It is better written than most songs like this, and the boys deliver it with their trademarked propulsive punch.