Music industry pundits at desks across the major music centers will be pounding out the story of Taylor Swift’s great debut week sales numbers—1.047 million! But maybe the real story is how Swift’s success flies in the face of conventional industry wisdom. “Album sales are falling, consumers only want to buy single tracks, piracy has destroyed sales, you can’t compete with free…” These are the current excuses for an industry in dire straits. So how does one explain Swift’s incredible result? What prompted over one million consumers to engage and relate to this young lady from Hendersonville, TN?
Unlike many of the top charting female artists of today, Ms. Swift eschews tabloid behavior and asks fans to focus on her music. With Speak Now she offers an emotion-packed journey bursting with insight into real life events. In some universal way her life contests connect with similar moments that have brushed the fabric of others as well.
There’s also something spunky about this lady; she’s a fighter. Critics complained she can’t sing, that her co-writers contributed everything on the other albums. On Speak Now, she walks out onto the stage having written all the songs by herself, including, “Mean” where she shares how hurt she was by some of these criticisms. “You have pointed out my flaws again, as if I don’t already see them,” she sings. But if Swift briefly falls to pieces, she also picks herself back up, asking, “Why you gotta be so mean?”
• • •
Speak Now ends its first sales week in the No. 1 position on both the all genre Top Current Albums and Top Current Country Album lists with sales of almost 1.047 million units, according to Nielsen Soundscan. About 26.5% of those sales were in digital format. Swift’s record breaking debut week eclipses Shania Twain’s previous title for highest ever female country artist sales of 874k in 2002. It also is Swift’s personal best, beating Fearless which debuted with 592k in 2008. Speak Now boasts the best first week showing of any album in 2010. (Eminem’s Recovery did 742k in June 2010.)
As noted by Spielberg Consulting’s Neal Spielberg, “Swift’s four albums (three CDs and a holiday collection) make up 60% of total country album sales this week and represent 18% of total album sales for the week.”
In organizing this multi-media debut, Big Machine’s team should not be underestimated. Only a few weeks ago, insiders deemed “impossible” a million plus result. The multi-layered marketing plan, forged with nerves of steel, should be documented, published and offered to others as a textbook example of engaging fans on all fronts.
The massive launch also moved the YTD country sales needle. Last week country album sales were off 12.3% compared with the same period last year. Voila!, this week’s scans improved numbers to only down 9.1%!
Sugarland’s Incredible Machine motored through second week sales with a “normal” drop of 56% to almost 89k units but sales on the Top 75 Current Country Chart minus Speak Now barely edged above 400k, even with all the new CDs in bins. How the year will play out is still shrouded in mystery. A parade of recent debuts from Darius Rucker, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Toby Keith, Jamey Johnson, Billy Currington and more have slid rapidly from debut week glory. Upcoming launches are scheduled for Reba, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, and Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley both released this week.
The CMA Awards should be the switch that ignites holiday sales and starts the numbers climbing toward a seasonal frenzy. Will consumers be able to focus on so many different new titles this year or will they RSVP at their favorite music retailer for Taylor plus one? These are questions that are yet to be answered.
NYC Songwriters Series, Aldean’s Kind of Party, and Currington in Georgia
/by contributorEric Church, Bob DiPiero, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Luke Laird recently performed a sold-out show for CMA’s Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub in New York City.
Pictured (L-R): Bob DiPiero, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Eric Church and Luke Laird.
Broken Bow Records’ Jason Aldean celebrated with publishers, producers and writers for the release of his latest album, My Kinda Party, at Red Rooster’s in Nashville.
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Producer Michael Knox, songwriters Jason Sellers and Neil Thrasher.
Mercury artist Billy Currington stopped by the WKHX studios in Duluth, GA, before his appearance at the Gwinnett Arena.
Pictured (L-R): Mike Macho, MD, WKHX, Billy Currington, Christy Ullman, Promotions Director, WKHX.
Sara Evans Presents; Kid Rock Performs
/by adminSara Evans
Kid Rock is back, and set to perform on the 44th Annual CMA Awards set to air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 10. The show will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.
Kid Rock is nominated for Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You See,” his duet with the Zac Brown Band. He has a career total of two CMA Award nominations, having also been nominated in 2003 for Vocal Event of the Year for “Picture,” a duet with Sheryl Crow. His new album, Born Free, will be in-stores on Nov. 16.
Sara Evans has been added to the list of previously announced presenters which includes The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Jerrod Niemann, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Chris Young, NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon and ABC television stars JoAnna Garcia (“Better With You”) and Ty Pennington (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”). Rodney Atkins will present Awards in Pre-Telecast Ceremonies.
Kid Rock
Previously announced performers include Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Underwood, and Keith Urban. In addition, special performances will feature Gwyneth Paltrow in her live Country Music singing debut performing with Vince Gill; top nominee Lambert with Sheryl Crow in a tribute to Loretta Lynn’s 50th Anniversary as a recording artist; Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson; and Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson.
Brown Opens Nashville Format Office
/by adminBrown will head up a Nashville Format branch, act as a music supervisor, plus tap into musical talent residing in Nashville and the surrounding areas. Having already developed offices in Los Angeles and New York, Format looks forward to the Nashville expansion.
“I’ve spent the last several years focusing on bridging Nashville with the film and entertainment communities in New York and LA,” says Brown. “I am passionate about music and excited to join forces with Format to take Nashville and its singers, songwriters and musicians to the next level. Whether it be supervision, consultation, artist representation or raising film financing for music driven films, I’m committed. I believe Nashville will become the true third coast within the next few years.”
Dave Jordan, Format’s President and Founder, adds, “Having been friends with Anastasia as well as admiring her talent, I’m thrilled she is joining the Format family.”
Brown has worked with artists such as Sting, Peter Frampton, Leon Russell, Waylon Jennings, Junior Brown, John Berry and Keith Urban, whom she helped launch in 1994 as co-manager. She has experience in artist management, A&R, and publishing and was asked to join NBC’s Nashville Star as a celebrity judge.
Anastasia can be reached at anastasia.brown@formatent.com
Pinecastle Records Reopens Under New Ownership
/by Robert K OermannOne of the leading bluegrass imprints, the company was closed last February because of the health issues of its previous owner, Col. Tom Riggs. Lassiter purchased the company from the Riggs family in August, and the label began rebuilding a roster this fall.
The first new signee is the North Carolina band Nu-Blu. Pinecastle is headquartered in Columbus, NC. Award-winning, Knoxville-based Dobro player Phil Leadbetter has re-signed with the company.
In addition to Lassiter, the new Pinecastle staff includes Matt Hood as VP of Public Relations, bookkeeper Kim Jolley, Ethan Burkhardt as VP of operations and executive assistant Macy Gibbs.
Pinecastle was originally founded in 1989. Its 250 releases to date include albums by such Nashville mainstays as The Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse and Kristin Scott Benson. This year’s Emerging Artist winner at the IBMA awards is Middle Tennessean Josh Williams. When the label closed, he moved from Pinecastle to Rounder Records.
Duets for Juice, Viewer Poll at GACTV.com
/by contributorGrammy and CMA award-winning artist Juice Newton will release a duets record, Duets: Friends & Memories, on November 16th, featuring a soulful twist on classic pop songs. Newton’s first single, “Funny How Time Slips Away,” with Willie Nelson, is out now.
Newton also joins forces with Glen Campbell, Frankie Valli, Melissa Manchester, Gary Morris, Randy Meisner and the late Dan Seals. “For me, it was like making three records,” Newton says. “These singers are so wonderful and unique – I really wanted to be on my game. I lived with my headphones on, studying the songs and preparing my interpretations.”
Newton’s noteworthy career includes multiple platinum and gold albums and 15 Top 10 hits, including “Angel of the Morning,” “Queen of Hearts” and “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known).” Newton will hit the road in support of Duets; dates to be announced.
GAC is giving viewers the chance to select their Top 50 Videos of the Year. Up until November 30th, fans can log in once day to vote for 10 of their favorites at www.gactv.com/top50. Over 130 videos from 96 artists released between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010 are eligible and listed in alphabetical order on the GAC website. Zac Brown Band and Jewel lead the pack with four nominated videos each, while Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith have three nominated videos each.
Voters can also enter for a chance to win $5,000 in cash and a trip for two to the Mississippi gulf cost.
The results from this viewer poll will be revealed in a year-end countdown special that will premiere on Monday, December 27th at 8:00 pm ET.
Rascal Flatts as “Real Heroes,” NAMM stays in Nashville
/by contributorNashville Lifestyles magazine recently honored Rascal Flatts as the cover subject for their November issue, highlighting the supergroup as “real heroes” for their considerable charitable contributions in Nashville area.
Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus serve as spokespersons for Hendersonville-based the Jason Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs. They are also celebrity ambassadors for the American Red Cross and have been recognized for their on-going work with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where the hospital recently named the pediatric surgery center for the band.
NAMM has announced that the industry’s summer gathering will take place in Nashville throughout 2013. NAMM, a not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion international musical instruments and products industry, promotes music making to people of all ages through activities and programs, including this summer session.
“These past few years, even in the depths of the recession, our Members came to Nashville to network, attend NAMM U sessions and do their fall buying,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “NAMM Member companies, especially independent dealers and innovative exhibitors have told us that they want and need this show, and we’re resolved to support them.”
The summer NAMM session will take place in Nashville July 21-23, 2011. In order to provide increased value to attendees and exhibitors, NAMM will be adding new features including a full day (Saturday, July 23, 2011) that will be open to the public, introducing more people to the benefits and fun of playing music.
More information on this and other NAMM events is available here.
No. 1 Parties in Nashville, More Photos
/by contributorBMI and ASCAP joined forces to throw a party at Rooster’s in Nashville, celebrating Josh Turner’s #1 hit, “All Over Me.” The song was co-written by the “Peach Pickers”—the songwriting power trio of Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip. The Pickers have also collaborated on Joe Nichols’ “Gimmie That Girl,” and Blake Shelton’s “All About Tonight.”
Pictured (L-R): Warner/Chappell’s Steve Markland; This Music’s Rusty Gaston; ASCAP’s Tim DuBois; co-writers Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, and Dallas Davidson; Josh Turner; BMI’s Jody Williams; UMG Nashville’s Royce Risser; and EMI Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran.
ASCAP hosted a celebration for Brad Paisley’s latest hit, “Water,” with a party at Watermark in Nashville. “Water,” written by Paisley, Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace, marks Paisley’s 17th chart-topper and 13th consecutive No. 1 hit. “Water” is also the fourth No. 1 from his lauded American Saturday Night album.
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton, Sea Gayle Music's Liz O'Sullivan, Kelley Lovelace, Chris DuBois, Brad Paisley, ASCAP's Marc Driskill and producer Frank Rogers.
Artist Karli Whetstone recently visited the MusicRow office to play her new single, “I Didn’t” and to gift the staff with promotional mugs featuring a line from the song, “He thought that I should have a D-cup … and I didn’t.”
Pictured (L-R): Chart Director Jon Freeman, RowFax Manager Michelle Stephens, Karli Whetstone, Publisher/Editor David Ross and GrassRoots Promotion’s Nancy Tunick.
Gloriana To Perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
/by contributor“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is such an iconic holiday event and we are so honored and excited to be a part of it this year,” said Gloriana’s Rachel Reinert. “This is definitely going down as one of the coolest performance opportunities we have had!”
The parade will air live on NBC on November 25th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The TODAY Show’s Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Meredith Vieira will co-host the parade, which also includes performances by Kanye West, Jessica Simpson, India.Arie and Gladys Knight. This year’s event will feature 15 giant character balloons, 27 floats, 12 marching bands, and 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers and performance group members.
Facebook to Offer Places Deals
/by adminAlso part of today’s announcement, it was revealed that Deals will become part of Facebook Places. Deals–just as it sounds–is part of the new iPhone app and allows users to find special deals at nearby businesses. At first the new Deals will only be offered to iPhone users, but should soon spread to Android systems too. there are four types of Deals; Individual Deals (for discounts, free stuff or other rewards), Friend Deals (where you and a pal claim something together), Loyalty Deals (for the regulars) and Charity Deals (which allow you to donate to a cause). Early merchant deals include GAP, Chipotle and more…
Location-based marketing is expected to become a fixture in the music industry where opportunities abound to influence fans to buy and receive special offers. For example, for checking into a record store during debut week, fans might get a discount coupon to buy the CD.
Moving Swift-ly To No. 1
/by adminUnlike many of the top charting female artists of today, Ms. Swift eschews tabloid behavior and asks fans to focus on her music. With Speak Now she offers an emotion-packed journey bursting with insight into real life events. In some universal way her life contests connect with similar moments that have brushed the fabric of others as well.
There’s also something spunky about this lady; she’s a fighter. Critics complained she can’t sing, that her co-writers contributed everything on the other albums. On Speak Now, she walks out onto the stage having written all the songs by herself, including, “Mean” where she shares how hurt she was by some of these criticisms. “You have pointed out my flaws again, as if I don’t already see them,” she sings. But if Swift briefly falls to pieces, she also picks herself back up, asking, “Why you gotta be so mean?”
• • •
Speak Now ends its first sales week in the No. 1 position on both the all genre Top Current Albums and Top Current Country Album lists with sales of almost 1.047 million units, according to Nielsen Soundscan. About 26.5% of those sales were in digital format. Swift’s record breaking debut week eclipses Shania Twain’s previous title for highest ever female country artist sales of 874k in 2002. It also is Swift’s personal best, beating Fearless which debuted with 592k in 2008. Speak Now boasts the best first week showing of any album in 2010. (Eminem’s Recovery did 742k in June 2010.)
As noted by Spielberg Consulting’s Neal Spielberg, “Swift’s four albums (three CDs and a holiday collection) make up 60% of total country album sales this week and represent 18% of total album sales for the week.”
In organizing this multi-media debut, Big Machine’s team should not be underestimated. Only a few weeks ago, insiders deemed “impossible” a million plus result. The multi-layered marketing plan, forged with nerves of steel, should be documented, published and offered to others as a textbook example of engaging fans on all fronts.
The massive launch also moved the YTD country sales needle. Last week country album sales were off 12.3% compared with the same period last year. Voila!, this week’s scans improved numbers to only down 9.1%!
Sugarland’s Incredible Machine motored through second week sales with a “normal” drop of 56% to almost 89k units but sales on the Top 75 Current Country Chart minus Speak Now barely edged above 400k, even with all the new CDs in bins. How the year will play out is still shrouded in mystery. A parade of recent debuts from Darius Rucker, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Toby Keith, Jamey Johnson, Billy Currington and more have slid rapidly from debut week glory. Upcoming launches are scheduled for Reba, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, and Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley both released this week.
The CMA Awards should be the switch that ignites holiday sales and starts the numbers climbing toward a seasonal frenzy. Will consumers be able to focus on so many different new titles this year or will they RSVP at their favorite music retailer for Taylor plus one? These are questions that are yet to be answered.