(L-R): Nominee Francesca Battistelli; George Flanigen, Recording Academy® chair of the board of trustees; and nominee Colbie Caillat. Photo courtesy of The Recording Academy® 2009. Photo by Frederick Breedon/WireImage.com
Chapter 330
It’s all about the guest list.
“Go on in,” I said to late-arriving Tracy Gershon. “It’s everybody you’ve ever met in your life.”
“This is one of my favorite parties of the year,” said Tom Baldrica. “It’s January 21st, and I still get to wish everybody Happy New Year.”
It’s true. The Grammy is the great community unifier. So the Nashville chapter’s Grammy-nominees party (1/21) drew songwriters, publishers, record-label folks, bluegrass pickers, pop purveyors, gospel-industry honchos, rockers, country stars, managers, classical representatives and media from across the city’s spectrum.
This year’s nominees include attendees Dierks Bentley, Jim Brickman, Jars of Clay, Alison Brown, Ashley Cleveland, fire-breathing vocal phenomenon Jason Crabb, Tom Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Bela Fleck, pop princess Colbie Caillat, Matthew West, James Slater, Nathan Chapman and Michael Martin Murphey.
“To have a Grammy nomination is like, ‘Poof: You did good,” said Rhonda Vincent.
“It’s a pat on the back,” echoed Trace Adkins.
“I hope you win,” I said to Steve Wariner. He replied with the classic statement, “I’m just glad to be recognized and nominated.”
In the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Ballroom, Susan Stewart introduced our Recording Academy chapter president Pete Fisher (who also served as our fearless leader in 1996-97, by the way).
“As each year passes, more and more nominations come from Nashville,” Pete said. “And we are very pleased and honored to have so many nominees with us tonight.”
Susan also recognized Mayor Karl Dean and wife Anne Davis, Nancy Shapiro, Debbie Carroll and the local chapter staff. Loews’ ever-gracious manager and party host Tom Negri was presented with framed Grammy artwork for the 52nd annual awards. Our own George Flanigen is the new national chairman of the board of trustees.
George explained the work and activities of the Grammy Foundation, MuisCares and the Producers & Engineers Wing. “Our local nominees represent what is best about our community,” he added.
Pete congratulated an absent Loretta Lynn on her Lifetime Achievement Award win and introduced Harold Bradley, who is getting a Trustees Award.
“Actually, I was the first president of the Nashville chapter,” said Harold. “I was at a meeting [forming the chapter] and had to leave for a funeral. When I got back, they’d voted me the president!”
“Mr. Bojangles” a 1970 hit by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is going into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year. Jeff Hanna took the stage to accept framed Grammy artwork on behalf of the band.
“They didn’t say that you SANG it,” I complained to him. “They made it sound like I WROTE it,” Jeff replied. “That’s OK. I’ll take it any way I can.”
Have I mentioned the food? We’re talking brie toast points, cheese grits & shrimp, crab cakes with chipotle sauce, succulent roast beef slices, a pasta station and black-eyed peas in shot glasses, not to mention the full bars plus éclairs, chocolates, cream puffs and other assorted desserts.
And back to that guest list. The cast of this fabulon-packed soiree included Shelby Kennedy, Gordon Kennedy, Tim Fink, Tim Nichols, Erika Wollam Nichols, Dan Hill, Dan Hays, Dan Keen, Dennis Lord, Tom Lord, Joanna Carter, Jimmy Carter, Pat Higdon, Paul Barnabee, Mark Bright, Tony Brown, Joe Galante, Drew Alexander, Denise Stiff, Angelo, Garth Fundis, Mary Ann McCready, Clay Myers, power couples Steve & Ree Guyer Buchanan and Ron & Regina Stuve, Kay West, Jody Williams, Matraca Berg, Terry Hemmings, John Briggs, Victoria Shaw, Fletcher Foster, Lori Badgett, Lisa Harless, Allen Brown, Doug Howard, Jeff Walker, Jed Hilly. Jason Houser, Jennifer Bohler, Peter Cooper, Karen Byrd, Ronna Rubin, Schatzi Hageman, Chris Keaton, Brad Schmitt, Bill VornDick…..
Like I said, just about everybody you’ve ever met in your life.
Helping Haiti: Benefits With Superstars, Locals
/by Sarah SkatesThe musical performances will be available for purchase through iTunes beginning tomorrow (1/23), with proceeds benefiting Haiti relief funds. As the most widely distributed telethon in history, the event can be found on numerous television networks and will be live streamed on numerous Web sites and mobile phone carriers.
Before the big telethon, the Gospel Music Channel is world premiering the video for “Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti” at 6 PM/CT. Kirk Franklin spearheaded the charity recording in Nashville, and more than 150 participants joined the cause including BeBe & CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Natalie Grant, Mary Mary, and Jeremy Camp, who were in Music City for the 25th Annual Stellar Awards.
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Charity outreach organization Can-Do has joined forces with Livin The Music to create Project Haiti and is accepting supplies for drop-off at Sound Stage in Nashville (1420 Cowan Ct. 37207, 9am – 5pm). Toby Keith has donated 7 trailers/trucks to be filled with supplies and shipped to Haiti. You can follow the supplies that you donate, on-site operations in Haiti, or make an online donation here. Items needed: Medical supplies (first aid kits, bandages, rubbing alcohol, wipes, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, Tylenol…etc.), soap, purified water, hydration containers, non perishable food, baby formula, diapers, work gloves, tarps, face masks, headlamps, clothing, and blankets.
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Word Records & UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) will present a Benefit Concert for Haiti Relief with Point of Grace, Mark Schultz and special guests on Sat., Feb. 6, 7:00 p.m. at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Ticket info here.
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Radio stations are banding together for a one-day national radio event on Feb. 1 to help Haiti through Compassion International. “Help Haiti with Compassion” has a radio tool kit for stations. Content and resources are still being added such as liners and spots from country artists. Any radio group or station is invited to participate. For information contact Mike Severson, Compassion International, Artist & Radio Relations, at 615-496-6023 or mikeseverson@comcast.net.
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The Features, Blue Mother Tupelo, Zach Broocke, Damien Horne, Jason Johnson, Jeanne Jolly, Denitia Odigie, Joe E. Rich, The Roots Union and Scott Simontacchi are set for Nashville Reaches Out: A Benefit For Haiti. It will be at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 2, at Third & Lindsley. Cost is $10. All proceeds will go to Yele Haiti. The event is headed up by Broocke, Johnson and publicist Jill Garrett.
Bobby Karl Works The Room: Grammy Nominees Party
/by Bobby Karl(L-R): Nominee Francesca Battistelli; George Flanigen, Recording Academy® chair of the board of trustees; and nominee Colbie Caillat. Photo courtesy of The Recording Academy® 2009. Photo by Frederick Breedon/WireImage.com
Chapter 330
It’s all about the guest list.
“Go on in,” I said to late-arriving Tracy Gershon. “It’s everybody you’ve ever met in your life.”
“This is one of my favorite parties of the year,” said Tom Baldrica. “It’s January 21st, and I still get to wish everybody Happy New Year.”
It’s true. The Grammy is the great community unifier. So the Nashville chapter’s Grammy-nominees party (1/21) drew songwriters, publishers, record-label folks, bluegrass pickers, pop purveyors, gospel-industry honchos, rockers, country stars, managers, classical representatives and media from across the city’s spectrum.
This year’s nominees include attendees Dierks Bentley, Jim Brickman, Jars of Clay, Alison Brown, Ashley Cleveland, fire-breathing vocal phenomenon Jason Crabb, Tom Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Bela Fleck, pop princess Colbie Caillat, Matthew West, James Slater, Nathan Chapman and Michael Martin Murphey.
“To have a Grammy nomination is like, ‘Poof: You did good,” said Rhonda Vincent.
“It’s a pat on the back,” echoed Trace Adkins.
“I hope you win,” I said to Steve Wariner. He replied with the classic statement, “I’m just glad to be recognized and nominated.”
In the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Ballroom, Susan Stewart introduced our Recording Academy chapter president Pete Fisher (who also served as our fearless leader in 1996-97, by the way).
“As each year passes, more and more nominations come from Nashville,” Pete said. “And we are very pleased and honored to have so many nominees with us tonight.”
Susan also recognized Mayor Karl Dean and wife Anne Davis, Nancy Shapiro, Debbie Carroll and the local chapter staff. Loews’ ever-gracious manager and party host Tom Negri was presented with framed Grammy artwork for the 52nd annual awards. Our own George Flanigen is the new national chairman of the board of trustees.
George explained the work and activities of the Grammy Foundation, MuisCares and the Producers & Engineers Wing. “Our local nominees represent what is best about our community,” he added.
Pete congratulated an absent Loretta Lynn on her Lifetime Achievement Award win and introduced Harold Bradley, who is getting a Trustees Award.
“Actually, I was the first president of the Nashville chapter,” said Harold. “I was at a meeting [forming the chapter] and had to leave for a funeral. When I got back, they’d voted me the president!”
“Mr. Bojangles” a 1970 hit by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is going into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year. Jeff Hanna took the stage to accept framed Grammy artwork on behalf of the band.
“They didn’t say that you SANG it,” I complained to him. “They made it sound like I WROTE it,” Jeff replied. “That’s OK. I’ll take it any way I can.”
Have I mentioned the food? We’re talking brie toast points, cheese grits & shrimp, crab cakes with chipotle sauce, succulent roast beef slices, a pasta station and black-eyed peas in shot glasses, not to mention the full bars plus éclairs, chocolates, cream puffs and other assorted desserts.
And back to that guest list. The cast of this fabulon-packed soiree included Shelby Kennedy, Gordon Kennedy, Tim Fink, Tim Nichols, Erika Wollam Nichols, Dan Hill, Dan Hays, Dan Keen, Dennis Lord, Tom Lord, Joanna Carter, Jimmy Carter, Pat Higdon, Paul Barnabee, Mark Bright, Tony Brown, Joe Galante, Drew Alexander, Denise Stiff, Angelo, Garth Fundis, Mary Ann McCready, Clay Myers, power couples Steve & Ree Guyer Buchanan and Ron & Regina Stuve, Kay West, Jody Williams, Matraca Berg, Terry Hemmings, John Briggs, Victoria Shaw, Fletcher Foster, Lori Badgett, Lisa Harless, Allen Brown, Doug Howard, Jeff Walker, Jed Hilly. Jason Houser, Jennifer Bohler, Peter Cooper, Karen Byrd, Ronna Rubin, Schatzi Hageman, Chris Keaton, Brad Schmitt, Bill VornDick…..
Like I said, just about everybody you’ve ever met in your life.
Face The Music: The New Sales Math
/by adminThe above statement, often heard in anecdotal discussions, is easy to prove wrong. Let’s look at 2009’s results for the overall industry. According to Nielsen SoundScan, digital track sales grew by 8.3% from 1.07 billion to 1.159 billion, an increase of 89 million. Album sales (including digital albums) slid 12.7% from 428.4 million to 373.9 million, or down 54.4 million units.
Now some basic math: Our formula includes revenue (to record labels) of .70¢ per digital track and average revenue of $9.25 per album sale.
So clearly digital track sales are not fully replacing lost album sales revenue. In fact during 2009, digital track increases offset less than 15% of the revenue lost from shrinking album purchases.
There are four Nashville artists on this exalted Top Ten list: Garth Brooks (No. 1; 68.363 million units sold), George Strait (No. 6; 41.843 million), Tim McGraw (No. 7; 38.677) and Alan Jackson (No. 8; 37.447). This group is likely to become the faces on the Mount Rushmore of all-time country album sales.
For example, Taylor Swift’s Fearless was the top selling album in 2009 and scanned about 3.217 million units. Across all her titles she reached about 4.6 million. Carrie Underwood was the second highest selling Nashville artist with a total of 1.895 million units. Trying to reach 40 million career album units in the face of diminishing album sales is becoming increasingly difficult. It will be extremely rare to see any new artists enter those rankings.
Our final math exhibit is sure to please calendar scribes. This year’s SoundScan numbers are based upon a 52 and 53 week period. Last year’s rankings ended on 12/29/08 and this year the closing date was 1/3/10, a 53 week period. However, SoundScan has chosen to view some data based on the full 53 weeks and some on a 52 week span, starting 1/5/09. This “apples to oranges” approach is confusing everyone. Basically note that for year-to-year sales comparisons the data researchers have used the 52-week period, but for individual artist rankings they are covering the full 53 weeks. This means that officially country sales (based upon 52 weeks, see chart page 1) were down 3.2% and overall industry album sales were down 12.7%. Note that except for the Jazz format, country had the smallest sales drop this year.
Microsoft Salutes CMA’s Tech Initiatives
/by Sarah SkatesMicrosoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer honored CMA for its technological leadership in the industry last night. CMA Board members in attendance included (l-r) Ed Hardy, President of GAC; Patrick Collins, SESAC Sr. VP of Licensing; Steve Bogard, One Music Group Partner; Ballmer; Jeff Walker, President, The AristoMedia Group; Kitty Moon Emery, CEO, Kitty Moon Emery Enterprises; Tim Wipperman; Greg Hill, Red Light Management; and Chris Felder, CMA Digital Media Director. Photographer: Donn Jones / CMA
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer was in Nashville last night (1/20), where he saluted the Country Music Association as a leader in technology initiatives. During the event at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, he also reconfirmed his company’s commitment to working with the CMA to bridge technology and country music, and presented CMA Digital Media Director Chris Felder with a guitar signed by artists who participated in the 2009 CMA Music Festival.
Ballmer also said he plans to continue helping the CMA’s music education initiative “Keep the Music Playing.” The guitar will be used in a future fundraiser for “Keep the Music Playing,” CMA’s charity initiative in partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education that donates funds to Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Last year, the CMA worked with Microsoft and Firefly Logic to develop new Web-based applications for CMAfest.com. There were the “Be This Close” and “Hot Shots” applications, as well as the “Where Am I” mobile web app that allowed Festival-goers to pinpoint their location and their next destination at CMA Music Festival venues as well as to access shuttle bus schedules. The CMA has worked with Firefly Logic on additional Silverlight-based rich media experiences, including a well-received Twitter-based feed aggregator r for the 2009 CMA Awards.
Blue Steel Builds Promo Team
/by Sarah SkatesFreeman is a songwriter and producer who also spent 14 years in radio as on-air talent and Program Director. He held positions at KSSN/Little Rock, KMVK/Little Rock, WKXJ/Chattanooga, KFAY/Fayetteville and KTTI/Yuma. Contact: 615-478-4593; radio@bluesteelrecords.com
Hunter began his radio career at KSSN/Little Rock as an on-air personality and image director. Over the last ten years, he’s spent time as an on-air talent at KCJC-KVOM/Russellville, AR, and others, and secured KCJC-KVOM and KCNY as reporters for the MusicRow Country Breakout chart. Contact: 501-553-2982; blake@bluesteelrecords.com
Smith has spent the last 10 years fine-tuning his relationships with all forms of media, including working promotional campaigns for BMW/MINI, Bronco Camp For Kids, and Texas Motor Speedway. He has also had experience handling radio promotion on the West Coast. Contact: 505-990-9641; faron@bluesteelrecords.com
CRS Adds To Agenda; Digital Summit Moves To Sept.
/by Sarah SkatesNewly added panels include: “The Radiothon Effect: The Reality of Radiothons,” “The Big Idea: How to Come Up with Long-term Creative Ideas that Sell in a Tough Economy” and “Town Hall: The Industry Truth Revealed” (moderated by Tony Randall and Kris Rochester with panelists Mike Dungan, John Esposito, Scott Lindy, Larry Wilson and Gretchen Wilson). Previously announced speakers or panelists include bestselling author Bob Rosner, Skip Bishop, Steve Hodges, Craig Morgan, Blair Garner, Rick “Bubba” Taylor, Jimmy Harnen, Michael Deputato, Charlie Cook, Jennie Smythe, Katie Dean and many more.
The unofficial close of CRS will be marked by the Digital Rodeo Guilty Pleasures Show on Friday, Feb. 26 at Cadillac Ranch in downtown Nashville. The show is set to kick off at 10:30 p.m. or immediately following the CRS New Faces of Country Music® Show and Dinner at the Nashville Convention Center. Artists will get to perform cover versions of one of their favorite songs.
The $99 Unemployment Rate is available through Jan. 31. Contact Kristen McRary at 615-327-4487 or Kristen@CRB.org for more info. Regular Rate registration of $599 is also available through Jan. 31. Full price CRS On-site registration begins Feb. 1, 2010.
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The sixth annual Leadership Music Digital Summit is being rescheduled for September 2010. Specific dates and other details on the Nashville conference attracting music and technology leaders will be announced shortly. Sponsors of all levels are being sought and can contact Vincent Castellucci, LMDS Sponsorship Director, at Vincentc1@earthlink.net or 914-763-1202.
Paisley Creates Pop-up Book Video
/by Sarah SkatesLooks like a cameo from hit songwriter Ashley Gorley.
“American Saturday Night” is currently No. 9 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart.
Paisley was just announced as the headliner at the 7th Annual New England Country Music Festival at Gillette Stadium in Boston. Joining him on Aug. 21 will be Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans and Easton Corbin.
Fleming Elected to NaSHOF Board; 2010 Officers Announced
/by FreemanKye Fleming
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation has announced the 2010 officers for its Board of Directors, as well as the election of newly inducted Hall of Fame songwriter Kye Fleming to its 2010/2011 Board.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Kye to our board,” said Bug Music Nashville’s Roger Murrah, Chairman of the NaSHOF Board. “Kye exemplifies the exceptional talent and long-standing resilience it takes to have a successful and impressive career as a songwriter.
Roger Murrah
2010 officers for the NaSHOF Board include Murrah (serving his fifth term as Chair); Songwriters Hall of Fame member Wayland Holyfield (Vice Chair); Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence CEO John Van Mol (Vice Chair); Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher (Treasurer); and songwriter Layng Martine, Jr. (Secretary).
Currently serving on the NaSHOF Board of Directors are:
Mike Dye – Managing Partner, GroupXcel
Lisa Harless – Sr. VP, Private Client Services of Regions Bank
Becky Judd – Executive Assistant to Mike Curb, Curb Records
Troy Tomlinson – President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville
Mike Vaden – Director, Decosimo/Vaden
Ex-officio members serving on the board are:
David L. Maddox – Counsel
Robert K. Oermann – Historian
Jeff Skillen – Director of Development
Mark Ford – Manager of Affairs