Grammy Preview: Lady A Leads Heading Into Awards

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Lady Antebellum is the most-nominated country group heading into Sunday night’s (2/13) Grammy Awards. Zac Brown Band follows closely with four nods.
Lady A will compete in the all-genre categories for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, all for smash single and album “Need You Now.”
Also in the running for the all-genre Song honor are Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, writers of Miranda Lambert’s hit “The House That Built Me.”
See the complete list of Nashville nominees here.
Artists who scored performance slots on the show include Miranda Lambert, Lady A, and Martina McBride in an Aretha Franklin tribute. Presenting will be Keith Urban, ZBB, Dierks Bentley, Jewel and Blake Shelton.
The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the LA Staples Center and broadcast live on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
Additionally, the Pre-Telecast Ceremony (where many Country awards will be given out) will take place from 1–4 p.m. PT at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be streamed live on www.grammy.com/live and on www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

Miranda Dazzles; Taylor Travels; Penrod and Sweeny Perform

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>>At a silver-themed bash last Friday evening (2/4), Miranda Lambert celebrated back-to-back Platinum success of all her albums to date: Kerosene, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Revolution.

Pictured (l-r): Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton, Producer Frank Liddell, Lambert, ShopKeeper Management's Marion Kraft. Photo credit: Alan Poizner


>>Taylor Swift kicked off her Speak Now World Tour 2011 on 2/9 with a sold-out show at Singapore’s Indoor Stadium. She is currently slated to play 90 shows in 19 countries spanning four continents on the tour.

Pictured: (L) Swift signs autographs for fans outside the stadium; (R) Swift on stage at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.


>>Guy Penrod visited with the MusicRow Staff on Wednesday (2/9) and performed several songs including current single, “Pray About Everything,” from his debut country CD, Breathe Deep.

Pictured (L-R): David Ross, “Pray About Everything” co-writer Bob Regan, Penrod, Sherod Robertson, Michelle Stephens, Sarah Skates and Jon Freeman.


>>The Academy of Country Music recently welcomed Republic Nashville recording artist Sunny Sweeney to its L.A. offices. While at the Academy, she performed on the ACM’s new 3rd floor Stage.

Pictured: Sunny Sweeney and her band. Photo Credit: Michel Bourquard/ACM

WMG And Citigroup Race To Attract Buyers

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The Egyptian crisis is disrupting financial markets and political strategies around the world, but closer to home and having more immediate consequences for the music industry is the continued movements of EMI and Warner Music Group. Both companies are in play. WMG has already announced its buy/sell strategy concerning the record label and its Warner Chappell publishing assets. EMI, now owned by Citigroup who recently wrested the corporation from the hands of Terra Firma’s Guy Hands is also in a sell mode. And like WMG, EMI has two assets, EMI Music Publishing and a record label.
Unlike Egypt, there are not thousands of people protesting in Times Square, L.A. or in front of Nashville’s courthouse, but according to the New York Post a line of almost 20 “interested parties” are kicking the WMG tires. While it is unusual to find a major label for sale, it is utterly remarkable to have two of the giant content houses on the sales block at the same time.
Analysts note that having two companies on sale at the same time could be detrimental for both. Therefore a premium is being placed on being first to market. WMG is already asking bidders to submit first round bids by the end of Feb. Citigroup, understanding that time is of the essence is reportedly racing to prepare its offering too.
Meanwhile, adding to the confusion is the real possibility that WMG CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. is said to fancy EMI’s recorded music division and may be willing to sell Warner Chappell to get it. However, according to the Post, “In the bidding mix for Warner are several names, include Zomba founder Clive Calder and Russian investor, Leonard Blavatnik. Others include Universal Music; Sony Music; private-equity giants KKR, Apollo and Providence Equity, and Netherlands-based music publishing giant Imagem. Some of those names are also considered potential buyers of EMI.”
Warner’s recent fourth quarter report (2/8) showed music revenue off 14% and music publishing revenue off 15%. The numbers sparked a selloff in the stock which fell from a high this past week of about 6.34 to around $5.50 but appears to be rebounding this morning (2/11) hitting $5.75. Wall Street analyst Richard Greenfield of BTIG stated that he expects to see digital units sales fall for the first time ever during Q2 or Q3.
If Greenfiield’s outlook proves correct, then the dance of buyers and sellers shopping for major label assets may only be beginning.

Fundraiser In Memory Of Merlin Littlefield To Fight Pancreatic Cancer

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Merlin Littlefield


A private reception hosted by country music legend Larry Gatlin will pay tribute to the life and memory of music executive Merlin Littlefield, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2008. Lisa Niemi Swayze, who lost her husband Patrick to pancreatic cancer in 2009, will be a special guest speaker. The private fundraising event, which takes place at Feb. 24th at ASCAP, will raise funds for the Merlin Littlefield Pancreatic Cancer Memorial Fund benefitting the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
“I am honored to have Larry Gatlin bringing together members of the Nashville community and music industry to pay tribute to my late husband,” stated Eileen Littlefield. “Nashville is known for its philanthropic nature and I hope people will join me and help make a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer so we can know, fight and end this devastating disease.”
In addition to Merlin Littlefield, pancreatic cancer has claimed the lives of other members of the country music world including Charlie Louvin, who passed away just last month, Buddy Killen, Hank Cochran, Alan Webb, Edward Gaylord, Felice Bryant and Joe Carter. Event sponsors include ASCAP, Crossroads Pet Professionals, Mike Curb, DeCosimo Vaden and J.R. Roper–Lexus of Nashville.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and is the only one of the top ten causes of cancer death with a five-year survival rate in the single digits. In 2010, over 43,000 Americans were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and nearly 37,000 died. There are no early detection methods and few effective treatment options. Despite the statistics, a mere 2 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s annual cancer research funding is dedicated to pancreatic cancer.
Funds raised in memory of Merlin will support the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s mission to advance research, support patients and create hope. The organization is committed to doubling the pancreatic cancer survival rate by 2020 by doubling its efforts to raise awareness, support patients and intensify advocacy for a national research strategy dedicated to finding a cure. To learn more about the organization, visit www.pancan.org.

New Singles From Country Songstresses

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Joanna Smith


Some of country’s rising females have new music climbing the charts. See the latest from Joanna Smith, Jana Kramer, Ashton Shepherd, and Katie Armiger.
>>The latest single from Columbia Nashville newcomer Joanna Smith hit the airwaves Feb. 7. “Georgia Mud” is streaming at www.joannasmithofficial.com. The single has already received rave reviews from music critics such as MusicRow’s own Robert K. Oermann. Smith was also named one of the new artists to watch by Billboard, Roughstock.com and Variety. CRS attendees can catch Smith first-hand at the MusicRow Meet & Greet on March 1 at Cadillac Ranch, where she and Colt Ford will perform.
>>Jana Kramer has released a single via Warner Music Nashville’s Elektra Nashville. “I Won’t Give Up” reached No. 2 on the iTunes Top Country Songs. The actress is a regular on The CW’s One Tree Hill, which will feature the song an upcoming episode. Kramer has had several other television roles, including appearances on Friday Night Lights, 90210, and Entourage.

Ashton Shepherd


>>The new single from MCA’s Ashton Shepherd is seeing lots of adds at country radio and the video for “Look It Up” is equally popular. The Michael Salomon-directed video was shot in Los Angeles and shows Ashton as a wronged lover who is selling her cheating ex’s belongings in a yard sale. Fans can see behind-the-scenes footage here.
>>Katie Armiger’s latest single “Best Song Ever” grabbed the fan-voted No. 1 spot on the GAC Top 20 Countdown recently. It is also climbing the Music Row chart. Armiger penned the single with Bruce Wallace and Amanda Flynn to show what goes on after a breakup. The video was shot during three days in Nashville and directed by Stephen Shepherd (Gary Allan, Emily West, and Josh Gracin).

Facebook Prioritizes News Feeds

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Edison Research Strategy VP Tom Webster has written an interesting blog regarding Facebook’s practice of “attention rationing” with respect to its news feed.
Webster points out that the social network’s news feed changed its flow a while back from a “chronological, roughly real-time stream of your friends’ activities, to something a little more ‘selective.’ ” As Webster notes,

…with Facebook enjoying massive mainstream adoption, understanding how it ranks and prioritizes items in your news feed is of great importance. For brands and companies the game is still to produce compelling content that readers and “likes” will value and interact with. Webster explains, Facebook’s optimization algorithm, EdgeRank, essentially scores your interactions with your Facebook friends, and promotes items in your stream from people you favor with your attention, every time you read their profiles, click on their links, or comment on their updates. Close friends are assigned more weight than distant acquaintances, comments are weighted more heavily than the easily-given “likes,” and newer tends to trump older.

Has the new algorithm improved the user experience? Webster seems to think so, although he realizes that marketers now must try to engage and interact with all their fans to get the benefits of having a large number of “likes.” And for those who love lists, there’s three conclusions on how to make the most of the new EdgeRank optimization algorithm.

Mike Fisher Moves To Preds

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Carrie Underwood’s hockey-star hubby Mike Fisher has been acquired by the Nashville Predators and will make his local debut on Saturday (2/13) night when the team takes on Colorado at the Bridgestone Arena.
Canadian Fisher joins the Preds from the Ottawa Senators. He is a veteran center and is tied for his team’s lead in goals with 14.
More from the City Paper.

Around The Web

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Online buzz about Doug Morris, Twitter, Gaylord, and Warner.
>>UMG chairman Doug Morris’s attempted move to Sony Music Entertainment isn’t going as planned according to the New York Post.
>>Twitter is worth between $8 billion and $10 billion according to the latest estimates. Among the interested purchasers are Facebook and Google, who have had very preliminary meetings. Read more from the Wall Street Journal.
>>Gaylord Entertainment and Warner Music Group posted losses in their respective 2010 year-end reports, released this week.
Gaylord was hit hard by the Nashville flooding.
Warner chief executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. said that the company has 360 deals with 55 percent of its artists, which he hopes will improve the situation going forward. More here.

Nashville Winners At "Pollstar" Awards

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Concert industry trade publication Pollstar handed out its 22nd annual awards on Feb. 5. Several Nashvillians, and executives with strong country music connections, were among the winners at the party at Los Angeles’ Club Nokia. The awards are voted on by members of the live entertainment business, and based on touring from 2010.
Best New Touring Artist – Lady Antebellum
Theatre of the Year – Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)
Third Coast Booking Agent of the Year – John Huie (Creative Artists Agency)
Personal Manager of the Year – Coran Capshaw (Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)
Complete list here.

Fab Photos (2/10)

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WMN execs at SOLID event • GAC and High Five Entertainment win Emmy • Gloriana and Grammys take students to studio • New artist Chris Cavanaugh
SOLID’s first After Work(shop) of 2011 featured Warner Music Nashville execs discussing Blake Shelton’s “SIX PAK” model. On hand were Peter Strickland, Sr. VP Brand Management & Sales, and Chris Stacey, Sr. VP Promotion. The event was held earlier this week at Marathon Village.

L-R: Heath Baumhor, SOLID Education Chair; Peter Strickland, WMN Sr. VP Brand Management & Sales; Chris Stacey, WMN SVP Promotion; and Sarah McGrady, SOLID Education co-chair

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Great American Country and Nashville production company High Five Entertainment were honored with a Midsouth Emmy Award for GAC’s 2010 live telethon that raised $2 million to benefit flood victims. Awards were presented Jan. 25 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

L-R: Edie Lynn Hoback; Martin Fischer of High Five Entertainment; Sarah Trahern, SVP/GM, Great American Country. Photo: Tommy Lawson

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Gloriana teamed up with the GRAMMY Foundation recently to give two GRAMMY Camp Alumni the chance to go into the studio with the band in Nashville. Belmont students Joseph LeMay and Christine Jamra were handpicked to spend the afternoon with Gloriana and their producer/Emblem Music Group label owner Matt Serletic. Gloriana, who will release a new single to radio next month, are putting the finishing touches on their second album set for release later this year. For information on GRAMMY Camp for high school students visit www.grammyintheschools.com.

L-R: Rachel Reinert, Joseph LeMay, Matt Serletic, Cheyenne Kimball, and Christine Jamra


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Risinig artist Chris Cavanaugh recently spent the day writing with lead singer of Collective Soul, Ed Roland. Cavanaugh is signed to Double B Musik Publishing, and his debut project is being produced by Josh Thompson and Cliff Audretch. Cavanaugh and Thompson are managed by Julianne Drenon at CreekHouse Entertainment.

L-R: Ed Roland and Chris Cavanaugh