V-Albums Offer Swift Giveaway

/by

ScatterTunes™ new V-album technology gains added traction in country markets with the June 8 release of product from Big Machine and Valory Music artists Taylor Swift, Reba, Jewel and Justin Moore. Other albums listed on the ScatterTunes website as available in the new V-Album format include artists Lee Ann Womack, Trace Adkins, Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley. As part of a special introductory offer, ScatterTunes plans to give away 100,000 copies of the Taylor Swift Fearless V-Wrap which contains the added features but not the music.

The new format relies upon proprietary software which must first be downloaded and installed before one can purchase and/or enjoy the V-Album features. In addition to MP3 tracks, consumers can find lyrics, photos, videos and links to artist merchandise plus concert tickets. In order to move purchased MP3 files via this new format onto an iPod, iPhone or other MP3 player it is necessary to import the tracks into iTunes. It is possible to set a preference so that newly purchased songs always get imported, but either way it seems to create a double entry organization strategy that seems to make the process more complicated, not less.

ScatterTunes describes itself as a “unique digital kiosk…a rich media tool to purchase and manage your MP3 music. The main attractions are the immersible and interactive V-Albums that can only be purchased from ScatterTunes.” The company says its iBoard software, “will quickly become your favorite tool for purchasing and managing MP3 music.”

Well, maybe this will become a favorite tool for some, but considering how difficult country fans find it just to download a track from iTunes or Amazon, this multi-program digital software installation may pose a challenge many aren’t quite ready to overcome. In many ways ScatterTunes seems to be like an iPhone App, except that it lacks portability—you have to be at your computer to use it. That is a serious drawback to adoption. And isn’t the single biggest challenge to make purchasing easier so consumers can enjoy the music however, wherever and whenever they want?

Pricing for the V-Album features for the Lee Ann Womack, Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley albums was $12.99—$3 more than the same albums at iTunes.

Click on the V-Albums promo video below and make up your own mind. Better yet go download the proprietary software…

Photos: LBT Wedding, Lonestar On Price Is Right

/by

Little Big Town hosted two weddings last weekend in their “Little White Church” tent on the Country Throwdown tour. Inspired by the group’s current single, the tent offers couples the chance to get married or renew their vows through their local country radio stations. The band not only attended the ceremonies but also signed the marriage licenses as official witnesses.

The first wedding was held Friday in Cincinnati, OH for Anne Zimmerman & Josh York. (L-R): Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Anne & Josh York, WUBE's Statt, and Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild & Jimi Westbrook.

•••••••••••••••••••••

CBS’s The Price Is Right and host Drew Carey welcomed Lonestar recently for a show set to air Thursday, June 16. Lonestar will play throughout the show as the house band and contestants will compete for Lonestar experiences and merchandise.

•••••••••••••••••

Artists/songwriters Elvis Costello and Hank Cochran caught up during the filming of the Cochran biography, Livin’ For A Song. Costello recorded Cochran’s “He’s Got You” for his Almost Blue album in 1981. Livin’ For A Song was helmed by Wesley Pryor, and previews are available here.

(L-R): Costello and Cochran, Photo: Kaye Pryor

••••••••••••••••••••••

19/RCA Nashville’s Danny Gokey recently stepped into the kitchen with the always wonderful Hazel Smith for a visit and some good country cookin’ on her CMT series, Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith.

Pictured (L-R): Smith, Gokey


Rubin First Nancy Saturn Award Recipient

/by

Ronna Rubin

Ronna Rubin, owner of Rubin Media will become the first recipient of the Nancy Saturn Award of Inspiration. The honor is set to be presented June 24 during the American Artisan Dinner Party & Art Auction at Nashville’s Noah Liff Opera Center.

Nancy Saturn’s involvement with Gilda’s Club Nashville and other cancer-related organizations helped her to make a difference in many people’s lives. The Award bearing her name was created to perpetuate her memory by honoring an individual who, like her, has used their time, energy and talents to further the organization’s mission.

Gilda’s was formed in 1998 to offer free lectures, workshops, classes, support groups and social activities in a non-residential, homelike setting. It provides a gathering place where people living with cancer and their families and friends can join with others to actively involve themselves in building social and emotional support as a supplement to regular medical care.

Ronna Rubin served on the Gilda’s Club Nashville Board of Directors for eight years and gave of her time and talent on countless projects. She also worked side by side with Nancy Saturn on many of those efforts.

HonkyTonk TV Spots, Webchat With Urban, See Flatts On Today

/by

Honky Tonk TV is scheduling artist interview slots for June 7-13. Through a partnership with Microsoft, artists are also invited to come by the Microsoft booth at Fan Fair Hall to mingle with fans, play XBOX, explore gadgets like Zune, and tour Windows 7, Internet Explorer 8, Office 2010, Silverlight, Bing, Windows Phone and the Surface. Artist reps should contact Honky Tonk TV at 615-206-3463 or watchus@HonkyTonkTV.com for details.

••••••••••

Rascal Flatts will head to New York City to perform on NBC’s Today show “Summer Concert Series” on Friday, June 11. This appearance is the day prior to their visit to the CMA Music Festival where the band will sign autographs for fans at the Greased Lightning® Fan Fair® Hall in the CMT booth and will also perform at LP Field later that evening on Saturday, June 12. Rascal Flatts will launch a new tour in two weeks, the “Nothing Like This Tour,” on June 25 in Raleigh, North Caroline with opening acts Chris Young and Kellie Pickler.

•••••••••••

Keith Urban will web chat tonight (Monday, June 7th at 5:00pm CST/6:00pm EST) with fans about his current tour Summer Lovin’ 2010, appearing at CMA Fest, his performance with John Mayer at the CMT Awards, and his new single “I’m In.” Fans can submit questions in advance at www.keithurban.net/live or via Facebook or Twitter. The chat will be streamed live at www.keithurban.net/live.

Latest iPhone Debuts June 24

/by

“Stop me if you’ve seen this,” joked Apple CEO Steve Jobs, referencing the highly publicized version of the new phone that was found in the wild and leaked on blogs all over the Internet several weeks ago. “It’s the most beautiful thing we’ve ever created.” The new iPhone is glass on both sides with a metal band that binds it together and acts as an antenna. In addition to the phone and its numerous new features, the iPhone operating system’s newest version—4—will now be named iOS4 and drop the word iPhone from its title. Jobs noted that the iOS also powers the iPad which made the name change necessary.

While the Apple faithful will no doubt study the exact tech specs, suffice to say the new phone is faster, smaller, thinner, has an improved 5 megapixel camera with flash, improved battery life, sports a front facing camera which makes video chat possible and a higher resolution screen. It also has a gyroscope which will ad untold new possibilities for gaming programmers. The new phone will be available on June 24.

For complete iPhone 4 tech specs click here...

Stay tuned for more

Benefit For Songwriter Larry Wayne Clark

/by

Larry Wayne Clark, a longtime Nashville songwriter and MusicRow contributor, has been undergoing cancer treatment in his native Canada. Among Clark’s catalog is Chris Young’s first single, “Drinking Me Lonely,” and cuts by the Statler Brothers, Lee Greenwood, Anne Murray, and many others.

Music City friends and colleagues are staging the benefit concert “Nashville Sings for Larry Wayne Clark” to help pay for his medical expenses. The show is set for Monday, June 14, from 6-9 PM at the Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall on Demonbreun. Buddy Jewell, who wrote “Addicted to the Rain” with Clark and included it on his sophomore album, will headline. Also on the line-up are Robin English, Andrea Pearson, Lauren Lucas, Chelsee Oaks, Adam Gregory, Jared Blake, Ryan Laird, Erinn Bates, Cassidy Lynn and renowned guitarist Ladd Smith. Many will perform songs they wrote with Clark.

There will be live and silent auctions. Admission is free, but donations will taken at the door. Everyone who makes a donation of $20 or more will receive a copy of LWC Favorites: Songs of Larry Wayne Clark. The CD is available for purchase at www.larrywayneclark.com/cd.html with all proceeds going to his medical expenses.

Friends who cannot attend the benefit will be able to view streaming video at UARadio. Online donations may be made via PayPal. The “send to” address to use in the US is the1mag@comcast.net and in Canada it’s canuckmag@comcast.net

For more information, call Robyn Taylor-Drake at 615-726-5810 or robynt11@comcast.net.

Sony Promotes Scott McDaniel To VP Creative

/by

Scott McDaniel

Scott McDaniel has been promoted to Vice President, Creative Services, for Sony Music Nashville. He joined the company in March 2008 as Sr. Director, Creative Services with 15 years of design and production experience to his credit.

In his new post, McDaniel will continue to head the Sony Music Nashville creative team, overseeing artist imaging and all operations related to print and video creation, including video production, album packaging, photography, and design for the label group and its four recording imprints: Arista Nashville, BNA Records, Columbia Nashville, and RCA Nashville.

VP, Marketing Tom Baldrica announced the promotion. “Scott has made an impact on all aspects of our creative process from the day he came to Sony Music Nashville,” said Baldrica. “He has raised the bar on videos, album packaging, and photo shoots, all while dealing with the changing economics of our business. He inspires his team, our artists, and our company on a daily basis.”

McDaniel remarked, “It is a privilege to serve with such an innovative creative department, the Sony Music Nashville team, world renowned photographers, landmark directors, artist managers, and our collective family of recording artists. To be entrusted in executing the visual art that will best communicate our artists’ music is a treasure. Without question, this career benchmark is humbling.”

McDaniel’s prior tenures include LifeWay, EMI Christian Music Label, CCM Communications, and ForeFront Records.

ASCAP Hires Two In Creative Dept.

/by

L-R: Michael Martin, Robert Filhart

ASCAP’s Nashville office today announced the hiring of Michael Martin as Sr. Creative Director and Robert Filhart as Creative Manager. Over the last several months the performing rights organization has reworked its Nashville operations to serve as a regional headquarters.

Martin comes to ASCAP from Extreme Writers Group (EWG) where he was Partner and Co-Founder with Jason Houser and shared responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the publishing and content development companies. EWG has enjoyed numerous No. 1’s, including the recent success of Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye” and George Strait’s “I Saw God Today,” as well as the current Top 5 single “Crazy Town” by Jason Aldean. Since launching in 2000, EWG also had the 14-week Christian chart-topper “The Motions” by Matthew West, and hits with Big & Rich’s “Lost In This Moment” and Jason Aldean’s “Johnny Cash” and “Why.” As a graduate of University of Texas Arlington, Martin began his career in music publishing as VP of Creative Services at Moraine Music.

Filhart joins ASCAP from his most recent post as an Associate Manager at Dottore-DuBois Artist Management. In this position, he handled day-to-day activities for Matt Jenkins and Connie Smith. He was previously employed with Still Working Music, where he worked primarily as a songplugger while also handling day-to-day logistics for Danielle Peck. He began his career interning for Universal South Records and, later, at Major Bob Music/Bob Doyle & Associates. Filhart graduated with a B.S. in Business/Music Industry Management from Ferris State University in Michigan.

“We’re delighted to bring the diverse talents of Michael and Robert to our organization,” said Tim DuBois, VP and Managing Executive of operations at ASCAP Nashville. “Their experience, passion for the craft, and dedication to writers and artists wonderfully complement the overall vision of ASCAP, as well as the new elevated role in expanding and enhancing our relationships with our writers and publishers across all musical genres.”

“I have loved being a music publisher, and working closely with writers and artists and the songs they create is an amazing process,” added Martin. “To continue to be a part of this process while working with the ASCAP community and its members is an opportunity I am thrilled to be taking.”

“I am very excited to be a part of this amazing creative team that is ASCAP Nashville,” said Filhart. “The foundation for a successful music industry has always been great songs created by great writers, and I am looking forward to creating opportunities to help our members do what they do best.”

CMT Awards Adds New Artist Stage, Charity Donation

/by

The most recent issue of "USA Weekend" had a cover story about Carrie Underwood and the CMT Music Awards. One of the awards on the Wednesday night show is the "USA Weekend" Breakthrough Video of the Year, where nominees include Easton Corbin, Laura Bell Bundy, Luke Bryan and Steel Magnolia.

Updated 6/8: Just announced presenters: Laura Bell Bundy, Gloriana, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Erin Andrews and Maks Chmerkovskiy, Sheryl Crow, Jada Pinkett-Smith and David Spade, and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino from MTV’s The Jersey Shore.

The CMT Music Awards are coming on Wednesday night, June 9, and here is some of the latest news about the show airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Rising country stars, including Laura Bell Bundy, Easton Corbin, Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, Trailer Choir and Chris Young, will perform on the Nationwide Insurance stage. Also as part of their sponsorship, the Nationwide Insurance On Your Side® Award will be presented to a new artist based on fan voting at CMT.com. Award nominees include Ryan Bingham, Randy Houser, Justin Moore and Chris Young. Nationwide will also host a CMT Music Awards public viewing party on June 9 at 6:30 pm at Rippy’s Ribs & Barbecue.

CMT will be making a $40,000 donation to Feeding America in lieu of celebrity gift bags this year. The donation will provide 160,000 meals for over 400 school-aged children during the entire 2010-2011 school year through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee’s BackPack Program, which will in turn help children whose families’ have been affected by the recent flood. Trisha Yearwood and star chef Paula Deen will make the donation at an event on Thursday, June 10.

And as part of the CMA Music Festival, CMT will honor Rascal Flatts for 10 years of “Unstoppable” music on Saturday, June 12 at 2:00-4:00 p.m. CDT. There will be a short acoustic set in the convention center hall, and Rascal Flatts will sign autographs in the CMT booth located in the Greased Lightning® Fan Fair® Hall.

Hosted by Kid Rock, the 2010 CMT Music Awards features performances from Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band. Previously announced presenters include Paula Deen, Kara Dioguardi, Terrell Owens, Hayden Panettiere, Richard Petty and Kenan Thompson, Trisha Yearwood and Zac Brown Band. Red carpet arrivals will be hosted by The Singing Bee’s Melissa Peterman and CMT’s Evan Farmer beginning at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT.

Dan Bowen Exits CMA

/by

It remains unofficial, but MusicRow has learned that CMA VP of Strategic Marketing & Communications, Dan Bowen, has exited the Country Music Association, as a result of his position being eliminated.

According to his CMA public phone message, Bowen can now be reached at DanBowenDB@gmail.com or 615-440-6346.