Asset Mgt. Firm Eyes EMI Music Publishing

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The New York Post is reporting today (5/27) that asset management firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) is in talks to buy a stake in EMI Music Publishing and combine those operations into a separate entity that would be 51 percent controlled by EMI, with the rest being controlled by KKR-owned BMG Rights Management.

Post sources report that EMI owner Terra Firma is also in talks with others about selling a stake in the music-publishing division
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“This move does not surprise me,” a source said. “EMI only got enough money to survive another six months before they need to raise money again.”

A source familiar with KKR said the buyout giant is not going to be aggressive and was in no rush to strike a deal with EMI. KKR and Terra Firma offered no comment.

The discussions with KKR mark another twist in Terra Firma boss Guy Hands’ quest to keep EMI afloat amid a cash crunch and a bruising fight with lender Citigroup.

KKR was in talks this past winter with Warner Music Group about launching a break-up bid for EMI as the  label teetered on the financial brink. However, EMI got a reprieve when investors earlier this month approved a request from Hands to inject more money into the label and keep it from defaulting for another year.

A deal to sell a piece of the music publishing business could give EMI several years of breathing room.
That, in turn, could enable EMI to renew talks to license its music rights in North America to Universal Music Group. Such a deal, which EMI was close to inking before the discussions broke down this spring, would enable EMI to cut costs while also raising cash.

Reportedly KKR has been looking to bolster its music assets. Last September the firm committed to investing $332 million for a 51 percent stake in BMG Rights Management. Since then, BMG has been in buying mode, acquiring Crosstown Records and Cherry Lane Music Publishing.

JoggleBug Gives Social Networking a Voice

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JoggleBug, a new technology giving social media a voice throughout the Internet and on mobile phones, has officially launched. JoggleBug allows celebrities and politicians to “speak” to their fans in real voice, real time. The patent-pending JoggleBug technology allows personalities to pick up their cell phone and leave voice messages within the JoggleBug network, which are then instantly distributed to the celebrity’s website and multiple social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Simple and free, JoggleBug gives fans and followers an all-access pass to the world of artists, celebrities, public figures and more.

The JoggleBug technology includes the JoggleBug player, which fans, bloggers, journalists, and even news services can embed on any website and control the content they wish to receive. Fans can even listen to JoggleBug messages on their mobile phones, which allows celebrities and politicians a one-step, one-stop communication tool distributing a message to multiple points of presence which builds their brand globally.

“Wherever celebrities and politicians have an Internet presence, JoggleBug can be heard in that space,” said company CEO and Co-Founder Ann Cameron, who created JoggleBug after she felt something was missing in social networking. “We give celebrities and politicians an easy new way to communicate with their fans and followers. Our goal is to be in every social media space that exists. Social networking is a great way to connect. However, without voice, how connected are we? JoggleBug is a perfect way to bridge that gap.”

For celebrities desiring a more genuine connection to their fans, for elected officials spreading the word about a policy or platform to their constituents or for a comedian sharing something funny, JoggleBug is their instant, unfiltered, anywhere, everywhere answer. JoggleBug fans can hear directly from the green room, backstage, the studio, the road, wherever celebrities and politicians are and whenever they have something to share. For the fans, hearing the actual voice of their favorite celebrities and politicians adds a personal touch to social networking.

“Why would I want to read a text when I can hear the person’s voice,” added Cameron “Voice has been around since the beginning of time. It was taken out of our lives through texting and emailing. We’re missing a component of our socialization, the emotions and feelings that are attributed to another dimension of communication – voice. JoggleBug gives us back our voice.”

For more information or to set up a JoggleBug account, visit www.JoggleBug.com.

DISClaimer Reviews (5/26/10)

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There is plenty of activity on the Row this week.

Legal Aid reached out to the music community with a get-to-know-us breakfast at Sunset Grill yesterday. It was a real who’s-who gathering.

Later that day and across the street at Cabana, we celebrated the launch of the big Country Throwdown tour featuring Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Jack Ingram, Little Big Town, The Eli Young Band, Eric Church, The Lost Trailers, Ryan Bingham, Emily West, Jonathan Singleton, Heidi Newfield and more than 10 other attractions.

Then there was Sunday’s music-heaven Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Billy Sherrill and Ferlin Husky. What an amazing gig that was.

Somehow in the midst of all of this, I carved out a listening session. All right, I got up at the crack of dawn today to get this column done.

Give a Disc of the Day to the always impressive Gloriana. I remain an enormous fan.

For a DisCovery Award, you can’t do much better than Winfield’s Locket. I don’t know whether their project is actually available or not. But if or when it is, get it.

JENA WALKER & RODNEY WHATLEY/Stay With Me
Writer: Jena Walker/Rodney Whatley; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Jena Walker, BMI; JW (www.jenawalker.com)
—They are well matched, vocally. Both have a slightly tentative quality, as though they are new to singing. The track is very sweet, with a lilting, acoustic basis and a steady, true pacing. The song wanders around a bit, and sometimes doesn’t care to find a rhyme. But all in all, this is softly enjoyable.

BILLY CURRINGTON/Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer
Writer: none listed; Producer: Blake Mevis & Lane Caudell**; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
—He’s not much good for any kind of work. His best skill is stated in the title. Simple and relaxed sounding.

JAMIE TATE/I’ll Give My All
Writer: Renee Griffith/Jamie Tate/Lane Caudell/Blake Mevis/Bob Crumley; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Bodell/Carolina Sweet T/Blake Mevis, BMI/ASCAP; Bodell (www.jamietatemusic.com)
—She is backed by the 16-voice “82nd Airborne All-American Chorus” at the finale. They are not mixed terribly well, but there’s enough flag-waving, sis-boom-bah here for Lee Greenwood to be looking over his shoulder.

RECKLESS KELLY/The Ballad Of Elano De Leone
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Yep Roc (www.yeproc.com)
—Brightly country rocking in a Byrds-y kinda way, despite the downbeat lyric. It seems that young Elano rode his bike to work in the fields, but never came home and is feared dead.

WINFIELD’S LOCKET/Worth The Drive
Writer: none listed; Producer: Ilya Toshinskiy, Winfield’s Locket & Jason Henke; Publisher: none listed; Winfield’s Locket (track) (615-497-6791)
—The track is echoey and enchanting. Their vocals are fierce and fine. The Middle-Tennessee local traffic directions are ultra cool: “I’m a little bit hard to find…but I’m worth the drive.”

BILL ANDERSON/Thanks To You
Writer: Brad Crisler/Bill Anderson; Producer: Rex Paul Schnelle & Bill Anderson; Publisher: FSMGI/Have a Brad Day/State One Songs America/Sony ATV Tree/Mr. Bubba, IMRO/ASCAP/BMI; TWI (Track) (www.billanderson.com)
—The man is a walking legend. Fifty-two years after penning his first hit, he’s still in there slugging. Songwriter, his new CD, contains 12 brand-new compositions. And they are all jaw-droppingly good. Collaborators include such young pups as Tim Nichols, Jon Randall, Rivers Rutherford, Jamie Johnson, Brad Paisley, John Wiggins and Billy Montana. This lovely, string-soaked ballad will be his new video/single. The gist of it is he won’t ever know how it feels to score a touchdown, hit a homerun, fly a jet or climb so many other mountains. But he does know how it feels to be loved. Amen, brother.

MJ2 & CELEBRITY FRIENDS/You Can’t Say Love Enough
Writer: Don Goodman/Bill Nash/Sam Mizell; Producer: Dennis Money; Publisher: Big Hitmakers/Circle South/My Partners/Universal/MGB, BMI/ASCAP; Sweetsong Nashville
—How many gimmicks can you fit on one single? The act consists of two sets of twins—a mom, her twin daughters and her twin sister. Each set has one twin named Mollie and one named Jackie. Wait, there’s more. Guests on the disc include Dolly Parton, Andy Griggs, Wayne Newton, Buddy Jewell, Burns & Poe, Bill Anderson, Cowboy Troy (who announces his own name, just in case you don’t recognize him), Heartland, Larry & Rudy Gatlin, Heidi Newfield, T.G. Sheppard, Mark Collie, Moe Bandy, Rio Grand, Steve Wariner and Lee Greenwood. Plus, the single benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It’s a “We Are the World” style anthem.

GLORIANA/The World Is Ours Tonight
Writer: Matt Serletic, Lindy Robbins, Jess Cates; Producer: Matt Serletic; Publisher: Melusic, administered by Primary Wave/Emblem (ASCAP), Hey Kiddo Music, administered by Kobalt Music Pubilshing (ASCAP) and Right Bank Music obo itself and Lily Makes Music (ASCAP); Emblem/Bigger Picture/Atlantic (ERG)
—I love this band. As before, they revel in vocal harmony, ultra-rich melody and a rhythm-happy track. A celestial sound for the young and the young at heart.

JAKE McVEY/Red Line And Wasted
Writer: Bryan Fogle; Producer: J. Gary Smith; Publisher: Bryan Fogle, ASCAP; Purple Cow (CDX) (www.jakemcvey.com)
—This has an “outlaw” vibe. He’s out there on the road, trapped in his own wanderlust. With a sound somewhere between Southern rock and gospel, this is pretty hard to resist.

CASEY JOHNSON/Simple Girl
Writer: Casey Johnson; Producer: Larry Beaird; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Plumb Music (CDX) (918-689-0380)
—He has a solid, rube delivery. Like its title suggests, the song is direct and plain spoken. The track is a little busy, but his insistent vocal wins in the end.

Joey + Rory Prep Annual “Bib & Buckle Fest”

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Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records artist Joey + Rory are readying the 2nd Annual Bib & Buckle Fest, which has been dubbed the Unofficial CMT Can You Duet Season I Reunion. On Saturday, June 5 in Pottsville (45 minutes south of Nashville), the duo will be joined by Can You Duet cast members Caitlin & Will and Kate & Kacey as well as other cast members and musical acts for their annual community event with family, friends and fans. The event is put on in partnership with their family-owned restaurant, Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse, and is sponsored by Lyons-Chevrolet, Buick and GMC in Lewisburg, TN and workwear retailer Carhartt.

“We had been doing this for a few years before it got it’s official name,” says Rory. “It was originally created as a homecoming concert and a day of family fun, food and music for all of our neighbors. When people actually started coming in from as far as Michigan, Florida and even Washington State, we decided it needed to be a special yearly event.”

“When you travel all over the country singing for people like we do, it’s so neat to be able to have them come to us and to share our own community with them.” Joey says. “The name Bib & Buckle fest? Well, it’s kind of obvious I guess. I’ve always worn a belt buckle with my jeans and Rory loves his Carhartt bib overalls.”

The music begins at 3:00 PM and the eating at 5:00 PM. Live music will continue into the evening with the hosts’ headlining performance beginning at 7:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or quilts for seating to fully enjoy a fun family evening outside in the grass and under the stars.

“This year, for fun, we decided to make it a Can You Duet Season 1 reunion and invite some of the other artists that were on the TV show with us in 2008”, says Rory. “They are all so talented and honestly, we never get to see each other any more. This is a chance for us to all reconnect, and even more…for our fans to connect with the other artists they loved on the show also.”

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under (ticket price includes meal, dessert, drinks and entertainment.) To purchase tickets, visit www.joeyandrory.com or call Marcy Jo’s at 931-380-0968. Rain date is scheduled for Sunday, June 6, 2010.

Joey+ Rory's Annual Bib & Buckle Fest

Big Kenny Joins “Rock Band”

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Country music’s Big Kenny is partnering with the gaming phenomenon Rock Band to bring relief and donations to Nashville’s flood victims.

Kenny is one of the many artists joining Rock Band Relief, an organization that helps artists convert their music into playable songs for the Rock Band video game series. These tracks can be purchased from the Rock Band Network online store and a portion of all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to help with the recent disaster. Any part of the sales commission the artist receives and wishes to donate to Red Cross will be matched by RockBandRelief.org.

“Big Kenny is a natural uplifter of people and has the ability to inspire hope in those around him,” says John Griffin, Executive Director of the Rock Band Relief project. “He is extremely well-respected in the music community, especially in Nashville where people are really in need of some hope right now. We’re so proud to be partnering with him and we hope this project will serve as a natural extension of his mission to make the world a better place through music.”

Big Kenny has contributed the songs “One More Time” and “Happy People” from his album The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy. These songs are currently undergoing the Rock Band conversion process and should be available to gamers in about 2 months. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from all downloads of the MP3 versions of Kenny’s songs via the Amazon links on the Rock Band Relief website will also be donated to the Red Cross.

CMT Awards Lines Up Celeb Presenters


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Celebrities from all facets of the entertainment industry have lined up to present at the 2010 CMT Music Awards, including celebrity cook Paula Deen, American Idol’s Kara Dioguardi, the NFL’s Terrell Owens, actress Hayden Panettiere, NASCAR legend Richard Petty and Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson.

In addition, country superstars Trisha Yearwood and Zac Brown Band are scheduled to present at the ninth-annual awards show, which will air live on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 PM/CT on CMT.

Hosted by Kid Rock, the 2010 CMT Music Awards will feature performances from country music’s biggest stars, including Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band, with more to be announced.

Fans can vote online at vote.CMT.com through June 8 to determine the winners. The final nominees for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com and via text message throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

Reading, Writing & Rhythm For Second Harvest

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The 10th Annual Reading, Writing and Rhythm benefit concert has just added country group SHeDAISY to the star-studded lineup. The concert, set for June 8 at TPAC’s James Polk Theater in Nashville at 8:00 PM, will also have drop boxes for fans to donate non-perishable food items for Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank which suffered greatly in the recent floods. The person who brings the largest delivery of non-perishable food goods to the Second Harvest bins will win two VIP passes backstage to meet the participating artists and two seats for the concert. They will also visit in the VIP area before the show, receive an autographed event poster, and an eco-friendly gift bag.

SHeDAISY joins a long list of top artists performing including Rodney Crowell, Jamey Johnson, Bucky Covington, Justin Moore, Buxton Hughes, Jann Arden, and Reading, Writing & Rhythm’s Founder, Chely Wright. In addition to collecting food donations for Second Harvest, all proceeds will benefit Tennessee schools devastated by the flood. Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase here.

“We have seen a wonderful response from the community, and we are blessed to have such great support through events like Reading, Writing and Rhythm,”  says Jaynee Day, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

The evening is guaranteed to be filled with surprise guest appearances; live on-stage auction items and a silent auction all benefitting Nashville area schools devastated by the recent flooding.   For more information on Reading, Writing and Rhythm click here.

http://www.rwandr.org/

Lady A Steps Up For Flood Relief 

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ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum and their fans are joining together to help out Nashville flood recovery efforts. The trio announced today that all proceeds from their sold out fan club event on June 10 will benefit Nashville flood relief. In addition, a live stream of the intimate concert will be available on their web site for a minimum $5 donation. The live stream of the show will be hosted on www.ladyantebellum.com and www.livestream.com. After participating in GAC’s Music City Keep on Playin’ benefit at the Ryman, the trio is eager to keep the Nashville flood in the spotlight.

“It was great to be a part of the benefit at the Ryman…to see how everyone is coming together for Nashville and the surrounding areas is really inspiring,” says Dave Haywood.  “We want to keep doing our part because it isn’t over yet…Music City has a long way to go. Streaming the event online is a cool way for us to include more of our fans in this event, and all the money goes to a great cause.”

To order tickets for the live stream concert please visit www.ladyantebellum.com/live.

Gibson Unveils Flood Relief Donation Banks

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Gibson Guitar and the Gibson Foundation have announced the list of Nashville venues and businesses where Music City Flood Relief Donation Banks have been placed to help aid the victims of the recent Nashville floods. Gibson Guitar donation banks created from actual Gibson guitar cases have been placed throughout the city for visiting patrons to make a donation. 100% of all proceeds will benefit the flood victims in Nashville and surrounding affected areas. Businesses and venues where donation banks can be found are:

Business Locations:
Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitor’s Center
Located in the Bridgestone Arena
501 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203

Diana’s Sweet Shoppe
318 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37201

Gibson Café
Located in the Nashville International Airport
Nashville, TN 37214

Embassy Suites Hotel at Vanderbilt
1811 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Hotel Indigo
301 Union Street
Nashville, TN 37201

Venues:
Hard Rock Café
100 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37201

Ryman Auditorium
116 5th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37219

Mercy Lounge
1 Cannery Row
Nashville, TN 37203

Cannery Ballroom
1 Cannery Row
Nashville, TN 37203

12th and Porter
114 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203

3rd and Lindsley
816 3rd Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37210

The 5 Spot
1006 Forrest Avenue
Nashville, TN 37206
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Dan McGuiness
1538 Demonbreun Street
Nashville, TN 37203

The Gibson guitar case banks will be placed in area establishments in Nashville through June 18, 2010, when the initiative will culminate in a final push to raise funds through a sponsored event titled Night Out for Nashville – An Evening for Music City Flood Relief. All participating businesses and venues with donation banks will rally this day and night to host simultaneous final encouragements for donations to be made to the guitar banks. Music events and special incentives will encompass the close of this evening with all donations made to the guitar case banks going directly to the Gibson Foundation Flood Relief Programs. Night Out for Nashville is supported by Gibson Foundation, Nashville CVB, Next BIG Nashville, American Songwriter, and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.

For more information on Night Out for Nashville and for updated lists as to where Gibson Guitar case donation banks have been placed go to www.gibson.com/nightoutfornashville.

Zac Brown and Dodge Request “Letters For Lyrics”

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More than 70,000 people have shown their appreciation to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world by submitting letters at their local Ram Truck dealership or Zac Brown Band’s recent concerts. However, for the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band that is simply not enough. The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band partnered for Letters for Lyrics, a national letter-writing campaign aimed at U.S. soldiers deployed around the world. Together, they want to send 1 million letters of appreciation to U.S. soldiers and they will not stop until they reach that goal.

In exchange for writing a letter to a U.S. soldier, participants receive a special compilation CD titled, Breaking Southern Ground. This exclusive CD features three new songs from Zac Brown Band, as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown’s label, Southern Ground Artists – Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.

“The Ram Truck Brand has been moved by the kindness and gratitude that has been expressed so far to our men and women in the military,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand. “As we head into Memorial Day – a holiday that remembers those who dedicated their lives for our freedom – I encourage everyone to take a few moments this week to visit their local Ram Truck dealership to write a letter of support to our military men and women who show commitment and valor to this great country.”

“We’re so proud of the immediate response we’ve received for ‘Letters for Lyrics’ over the past two weeks,” said Zac Brown. “The support our fans have shown and the stories they’ve shared with us about how the campaign has moved them to show their appreciation is truly inspirational. This Monday, as we observe Memorial Day, we’ll show our respect for the U.S. men and women who have given their lives in the military service and send our thoughts to those out there protecting our country and way of life. We ask that everyone help us show your appreciation for their heroic efforts.”

Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit organization, will deliver the letters on behalf of the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band. Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-led organization with over 225,000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, along with veterans and their families.

“We are proud of the way America stands wingtip-to-wingtip in support of our American service members and encourage everyone to head to their local Dodge Ram Trucks dealership or Zac Brown concert and participate in one of the greatest collaborative troop support outreach projects in the history of the global war on terror,” said Patti Patton-Bader, Soldiers’ Angels Founder.

As part of the “Letters for Lyrics” campaign, RamTrucks.com also debuts the video installment of For Those Who Serve, a documentary of Zac Brown Band’s visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. This exclusive behind-the-scenes video is directed by Darren Doane, the CMT-nominated director of Zac Brown Band’s live Pass the Jar DVD (Southern Ground/Atlantic) and their music video for the No. 1 hit “Toes.” Doane traveled with the band to the Persian Gulf to document the moving experience, capturing footage of the band performing for the troops and meeting with the men and women in uniform. Chapters from Doane’s documentary will debut on RamTrucks.com throughout the campaign.