Pew Research Center released a report today, stating that eight percent of American adults who use the Internet are also Twitter users. Twitter, which launched in 2006, serves as both a never-ending tournament in which users attempt to outwit each other in 140 characters or less and a thriving, active community ripe for sharing news and media.
Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project conducted surveys throughout 2008—2010, studying the use of the Twitter and other services to share or see updates about others on the Internet. As 74 percent of American adults are Internet users, six percent of the entire adult population in the U.S. is on Twitter.
Not surprisingly, young adults—Internet users aged 18-29—are “significantly” more likely to use Twitter than older adults, and urbanites are twice as likely to use Twitter than their rural counterparts. Minority Internet users are also more than twice as likely to tweet.
The level of commitment to one’s Twitter account and the content varies widely; as roughly one quarter of Twitter users check the site multiple times a day, yet one in five users “never” check for new material. Seventy-two percent post updates that relate to their personal life, activities and interests and 62 percent post updates relating to their work life, activities and interests. While a portion of users may indulge in navel-gazing, 55 percent also share links to news stories, and 53% retweet material posted by others.
The results from this report were culled from telephone interviews conducted by the Princeton Survey Research Associates International, among a sample of approximately 2,250 adults, aged 18 and older.
While the report tracked activity pertaining to sharing photos, videos, or user location, it did not track music sharing. Last month, Twitter formed a partnership with iTunes’ Ping service, allowing users to preview songs and link directly to purchase music. Earlier this week, Twitter announced several new content partnerships, including Rdio, a paid subscription music streaming service which allows full-length streaming songs. Launched in an effort to drive traffic to Twitter.com, these partnerships, which also include video and photo sites, followed a September redesign of the website.
While these partnerships are too new to discern the impact upon music discovery and purchasing through Twitter or Twitter.com, we expect to see more activity in this area. Stay tuned, and stay tweeting.
Twitter, Music and You
/by contributorPew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project conducted surveys throughout 2008—2010, studying the use of the Twitter and other services to share or see updates about others on the Internet. As 74 percent of American adults are Internet users, six percent of the entire adult population in the U.S. is on Twitter.
Not surprisingly, young adults—Internet users aged 18-29—are “significantly” more likely to use Twitter than older adults, and urbanites are twice as likely to use Twitter than their rural counterparts. Minority Internet users are also more than twice as likely to tweet.
The level of commitment to one’s Twitter account and the content varies widely; as roughly one quarter of Twitter users check the site multiple times a day, yet one in five users “never” check for new material. Seventy-two percent post updates that relate to their personal life, activities and interests and 62 percent post updates relating to their work life, activities and interests. While a portion of users may indulge in navel-gazing, 55 percent also share links to news stories, and 53% retweet material posted by others.
The results from this report were culled from telephone interviews conducted by the Princeton Survey Research Associates International, among a sample of approximately 2,250 adults, aged 18 and older.
While these partnerships are too new to discern the impact upon music discovery and purchasing through Twitter or Twitter.com, we expect to see more activity in this area. Stay tuned, and stay tweeting.
Sales Engine Whirring As Holiday Looms
/by adminThat familiar melodic snippet nicely sums the panoramic view from your Scribe’s lofty perch, high upon the holiday hilltops watching the SoundScan ticker tape turn. A dozen CDs passed the 20k benchmark on the Top Current Country chart this week, and country’s album sales YTD deficit continued to improve from -6.1% to -5.7%.
There’s been a lot of talk about the balance between digital and physical for country consumers. According to Nielsen SoundScan, 15.74% of 2010 country album sales have been digital. Up about 5% or so from last year, but clearly physical sales continue to own a large share of the sales pie. Loss of shelf space at retail outlets, is certainly an issue to watch going forward.
Tim McGraw’s Number One Hits, caps the hefty onslaught of mainstream country debuts this holiday season. McGraw lands at No. 6 on the Current Country list with sales of over 40k. Ms. Swift tops the chart, by a huge margin shifting over 182,000 units followed in the next two positions by Keith Urban (No. 2; 59k+) and Rascal Flatts (No. 3; 57k+) both enjoying third week sales of their new packages. Jason Aldean’s new project, in its fifth week, is No. 4; moving 47k+ with an RTD (release-to-date) total of 438k. Sugarland’s Incredible Machine now completing its 7th week (No. 5; 47k) has RTD of over 570k.
Also deserving mention is The Band Perry logging in at No. 12 this week and ringing the registers with over 22k album units. TBP is also No. 1 on the country tracks chart. The sibling trio’s “If I Die Young” enjoyed over 47k downloads this week and the song has an impressive RTD total of almost 1.05 million!! Other top track tossers in chart order include Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, ZBB, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Aldean (again).
Four weeks remain, three of which should post “up” numbers as we approach Dec. 25. Currently (through week ended 12-5-10) country has tallied about 37 million album units leaving about nine million more to go to reach last year’s year-end 46 million total.
Give the gift of music!
Artists and Songwriters Perform Good Works
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Santa Claus will be making a stop at John Rich’s home in honor of the student-run Vanderbilt University Dance Marathon organization, which raises funds for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. On Saturday (12/11), Joan and John Rich will host the annual Dance Marathon Party for “Miracle Families” whose lives have been touched by Children’s Hospital. The Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropic organization at Vanderbilt, and Rich and his wife have pledge to match the top student fundraiser’s total up to $10,000.
Sara Evans Album News; Cash Auction Raises Big Bucks
/by contributorSara Evans will release her sixth full-length album, Stronger, on March 8, 2011 on RCA.
The album includes her current single, “A Little Bit Stronger,” written by Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey and Hillary Scott.
Evans is also featured in the December 13th issue of Country Weekly, in which she talks about the making of her upcoming album.
Cash Brings in the Cash
An auction held earlier this week featuring Johnny Cash memorabilia brought in the big bucks.
An embroidered blue jumpsuit, worn by Cash at a rehearsal for the 1969 San Quentin concert, brought in $50,000 from an unnamed Belgian collector. The suit, featured in the famous photograph of Cash giving the one-finger salute to the camera, was expected to sell for $5,000.
The auction, open to an international group of fans, collectors and investors raked in more than $700,000. Other high-ticket items included a Martin guitar, which brought in $50,000; a Nudie shirt worn by Cash when he served as grand marshal of the American Bicentennial Grand Parade in 1976 sold for $31,250; and a 1968 passport earned $21,875.
LeAnn and “Crazy Women”
/by contributor“This album was born out of when I first fell in love with country music and I realized that almost all of my favorite songs were sung by men,” says Rimes. “I am honored to take a step back in time and sing these songs from a woman’s perspective and hopefully help reintroduce them to a new audience.”
This summer, Rimes released her remake of John Anderson’s “Swingin’,” one of her favorite songs as a child, giving fans a preview of what’s to come. Lady and Gentlemen will also feature a remake of Rimes’ signature song, “Blue,” 15 years after its original release. “I have been performing the song for years, it’s become a classic that people love just as much as I do, so it felt natural to remake the song for this album that covers country classics,” Rimes explains.
The album was executive produced by Vince Gill, Darrell Brown (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) and Rimes. Information on Rimes, including upcoming tour dates, is available here.
Cookin’ With Zac Brown
/by contributorThe infamous mobile kitchen is a 53-foot tractor trailer that provides meals for the ZBB crew and for the band’s “Eat and Greet” events, in which the crew feeds 200 fans before each concert. This is not your standard food trailer fare; fans are treated to a gourmet Southern spread while enjoying the chance to mingle with the band.
Southern Ground includes recipes from the road and some of Zac’s favorite dishes, including Jalapeno Squash Casserole, Southern Fried Chicken, Farmer’s Fried Green Tomatoes and Revival Peach Cobbler. The cookbook features removable index cards—handy for a quick run to the grocery store for supplies—and dozens of poems, songs, stories (reportedly “both fact and lore”), and photos and other images of art, nature, travel and life.
Slashfood.com is offering fans the chance to win in an autographed copy of the Southern Ground cookbook; entries are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. You may also purchase the book here.
Taylor Swift Named New Face of CoverGirl
/by contributor“Taylor’s naturally polished and beautiful look fits perfectly with the new luxury makeup line,” said Vince Hudson, General Manager, CoverGirl Cosmetics. “We specifically designed this line for women who, just like Taylor, want high quality products that flatter her lifestyle and environment. NatureLuxe provides luxury that isn’t extravagant, but rather simple, modern elegance that is inspired by nature.”
Swift enthuses, “I’m really excited for people to discover the new NatureLuxe line from CoverGirl! The Silk Foundation and Gloss Balm are really light and fresh, they feel amazing on my skin.”
In other Taylor news, she is among the featured artists in CBS Interactive Music Group’s concert webcast series, Live On Letterman. The series, presented by AT&T, has previously featured on-demand webcasts from artists such as Tim McGraw, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Katy Perry, Brad Paisley, My Morning Jacket, and Bon Jovi. Swift’s show was taped at the famed Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, home of the Late Show With David Letterman.
Swift’s concert launched online on December 8th and will be available on-demand through select CBS radio and television stations throughout the country, and through online outlets such as Last.fm, mp3.com, and VEVO.com. Live On Letterman is the first series to be streamed live on the VEVO app, available through mobile devices.
The concert is available for streaming here.
Nashville Prepares For Garth Brooks Concerts
/by Freeman“This is a unique opportunity” said Tom Turner, President & CEO, Nashville Downtown Partnership. “We have 150,000 ticket buyers and it’s not often we have that many exposures in such a very short time. The community rallied in support during the May floods and that effort is being matched once again in order to help this go smoothly. Where else can you find an artist doing 9 shows in one location for 150,000 fans and all to assist in the recovery efforts….not to mention they will have a great time.”
Free parking will be available at LP Field for December 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22 shows. Round-trip shuttle service to these lots will be available for $3 per person. Advance parking at the Pinnacle Garage is available for $10 plus Ticketmaster fees here. Up to date parking information is available at www.parkitdowntown.com.
In other Garth Brooks news, the artist will appear on Larry King Live at 8 pm CT tomorrow (December 10) as part of the long-time CNN host’s final week of shows. The hour segment covers topics from the Tennessee flood concerts to Brooks’ Vegas residency to iTunes to family. King’s other final week guests include Angelina Jolie and Jon Bon Jovi.
Concert Dates:
Thursday, December 16 — 7 PM
Thursday, December 16 — 10 PM
Friday, December 17 — 7 PM
Sunday, December 19 — 7:30 PM
Monday, December 20 — 7:30 PM
Tuesday, December 21 — 6 PM
Tuesday, December 21 — 9 PM
Wednesday, December 22 — 6 PM
Wednesday, December 22 — 9 PM
Upcoming Lennon Tribute Has Nashville Roots
/by contributorNashville engineer Steve Marcantonio, who recently worked on hit albums including Taylor Swift’s Speak Now and Blake Shelton’s Hillbilly Bone, was one of the audio engineers on that session. He recalls, “I had just left him when he was shot. His death and life had a profound effect on me and the trajectory of my career. Working with him will always be one of the pinnacles of my career.”
Marcantonio is currently wrapping a project—which he has been working on for much of 2010—to pay tribute to Lennon and raise funds for the Nashville Engineer Relief Fund (NERF). The All We Are Saying … project will feature a collection of songs from Lennon’s solo years, sung by Nashville artists handpicked by Marcantonio.
The artists were chosen for their appreciation and passion for Lennon’s illustrious contributions to modern music history through his work with the Beatles and his solo years. Some of the artists involved include Rosanne Cash (“Look At Me”), Rodney Crowell (“Oh My Love”), Foster and Lloyd (“Crippled Inside”), Jeff Hanna and Matraca Berg (“Whatever Gets You Through the Night”) and Gretchen Peters (“Love”). The artists, studios, musicians and engineers all donated their time for this project, for which Marcantonio served as executive producer.
All We Are Saying … will be distributed worldwide by Sweetwater Sound in early 2011. One hundred percent of the profits will benefit NERF, which supports the audio engineers in the Nashville community. “I’m an engineer who was helped out during some very rough times by this fund, and I wanted to help the organization that assisted me,” Marcantonio said.
“Recording this project reminded me of why I love living and working in Nashville. It is truly about the music, and hopefully our hard work will shine through in these recordings. John had a real affinity for the sound engineer,” Marcantonio recalled. “He was really good to all of us and very respectful of us as we made records with him. He would definitely approve of this project.”
Bandbox Preps 2011 Launch
/by Sarah SkatesThe company headed by co-founder and CEO Brian Peterson is preparing for a 2011 launch. It recently received a round of seed funding from an investor that allowed it to move out of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center incubator space into its own office. Bandbox has also hired a development team to build and test the product.