Tech Update: Ringtones and Spotify

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iphone-07-01-09-1According to an article on digitalmusicnews.com, researcher IBISWorld says that ringtone revenues in the United States are at $750 million, down from the 2007 peak of $880 million.

The shift can possibly be attributed to a mobile consumer base that prefers full-track downloads as substitutes, as well as the uploading of unpaid full-length tracks that can be easily converted to ringtones.

Though the ringtone business is still alive and well, IBIS predicts that it will be completely gone in 15 years.

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logoAdvertising Age contends that Spotify might not be the music industry’s great savior, at least not without overcoming some difficult odds. The much-hyped Swedish company is gearing up for its U.S. launch and provides a technology capable of streaming music as quickly as most players can load an mp3. The Spotify business model includes both free (ad-supported) and an ad-free subscription service (price not yet determined) with access to all recorded music. If successful, it could offer a new way going forward to monetize digital music, as well as provide Apple’s iTunes with some viable competition.

However, the piece points out that subscription-based services in the U.S.—such as Rhapsody and Napster—haven’t fared incredibly well. Rhapsody leads the pack with under 800,000 subscribers, and Napster slightly above 700,000. Ad-supported digital music has also been slow to catch on, but shows some promise: Pandora has raised $56 million and CBS paid $280 million for last.fm in 2007.

But this could also pose a barrier for Spotify, because these ad-supported companies have millions of users for leverage with Fortune 100 agencies, and Spotify will be starting at zero.

Hall of Fame to Expand?

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cmhof-smallThe Tennessean reports that the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum would like to double its size. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean reported the Hall’s ambitions yesterday (9/21) during a speech to the Rotary Club of Nashville. Museum Dir. Kyle Young acknowledged in an interview after the event that expanding the museum’s size is a possibility.

“We really need to expand,” Young told the Tennessean. “We know what happens when you don’t do that. … It’s good business to want to build on success.” Young and Dean reportedly met recently to discuss the idea of expansion, but Young did not request government funding for the project.

The Hall has also had a flurry of high-profile booster meetings lately. Keith Urban recently announced his We’re All For The Hall benefit October 13 at the Sommet Center featuring Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, and Little Big Town, which sold out almost immediately. A Los Angeles version of the benefit, featuring Gill, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, and Melissa Etheridge is set for Oct. 1 at Club Nokia.

ACM Lifting Lives Raises $750k

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The Academy of Country Music has announced a $750,000 endowment to its philanthropic arm ACM Lifting Lives, thanks to ticket sales from the “George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert.” The gift is the second disbursement of a three-year funding commitment and fundraising campaign begun by the ACM last fall. ACM Lifting Lives works to improve lives through music.

Taped before a sold out Las Vegas crowd in April, “George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert” featured Strait along with ACM Artist of the Decade for the ‘90s Garth Brooks and other performers including Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, John Rich, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Lee Ann Womack. More than 10 million viewers tuned in for the CBS television special in May.

“The artists who gave of their time in April are the reason we can make this announcement today,” said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. “They put their time and energy into the Artist of the Decade taping, and they asked for nothing in return. They showed up, they blew the doors off the house and the ratings through the roof, reaching millions of fans with the message of ACM Lifting Lives.”

“The artists work every day to improve the lives of others with their craft,” said Erin Spahn, Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “With this endowment, their good work continues through the programs Lifting Lives supports. We are so thankful to them.”

Clary Promoted at BMI

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claryBMI has announced the promotion of Kay Clary to Senior Director, Media Relations. Clary will continue to be based in Nashville, but will report directly to BMI Assistant VP, Corporate & Media Relations Hanna Pantle, who is based in Los Angeles.

“Since joining BMI, Kay has brought her own style and verve to the task of increasing awareness of BMI’s affiliates and activities,” said Pantle. “She is a leader in the Nashville music community and an expert at creating media opportunities and campaigns that serve the essence of the creative process and the performing right. She is an effective and valued executive at BMI, and this promotion is a result of the outstanding work she’s done on behalf of the company and its affiliates.”

Clary joined BMI in 2005, after running her own Commotion PR since 2002 where her clients included Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury Band, Rodney Crowell and more. She also spent time at PR firms AristoMedia and Front Page Publicity, working on media campaigns for artists like Radney Foster and Jack Ingram. Throughout the ‘80s she was a partner in Praxis International, where she was involved with the careers of Jason & the Scorchers, the Georgia Satellites and others. She is a graduate of Belmont University and serves on the boards of the Americana Music Association and Nashville Film Festival.

Love and Theft Joins Aldean’s Tour

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Carolwood Records trio Love and Theft willl join Jason Aldean’s Wide Open tour this fall, to support the trio’s recently released album World Wide Open. They will play a total of fourteen shows on the tour, beginning in Lexington, KY Sept. 25 and ending Nov. 14 in Southhaven, MS.

Love and Theft

Love and Theft

Love And Theft recently performed its single, “Runaway,” live on The Today Show and has also been featured on Access Hollywood and in the pages of Country Weekly and People. Their debut album, released August 25, was produced by Robert Ellis Orrall and Jeff Coplan, and features a collection of 11 songs all co-written by Love And Theft’s Brian Bandas, Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles.

Root 49 Records Launches With Bridgette Tatum

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Bridgette Tatum

The close ties between NASCAR and Music Row insiders get a little closer with the formation of MPR Entertainment Group, a collaboration between NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie with Nashville publisher Carolyn Miller. As a part of the arrangement the company will launch a record label division, Root 49 Records, which plans to release an album by artist Bridgette Tatum in early 2010. As a songwriter, Tatum has already experienced No. 1 success with Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country,” which she co-wrote with Danny Myrick. The song was the first cut for Miller’s Root 49 Music publishing company, which now also falls under MPR Entertainment Group. The Newmans will take an active role in the company as CEOs working along with Miller.

“We have watched Bridgette grow over the past few years and she has a natural talent, a strong voice and driven nature,” says Krissie Newman. “Our business experiences, as well as Carolyn’s amazing accomplishments with her company, can only fuel the momentum surrounding Bridgette. We look forward to a long career in country music.”

Ryan Newman adds, “Krissie and I are involved in all aspects of my racing career—from marketing and promotion to creative and PR; we can help bring new opportunities to Bridgette’s already skyrocketing career.”

Tatum is already visiting country radio promoting her first single, “I Like My Cowboys Dirty.” Additional team members helping Root 49 Records efforts will be Grassroots Promotion, Nine North Records, Wortman Works Media & Marketing and Artisanal Management.

Nashville Music Award Voting Begins

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nma300Revived in a partnership with Next Big Nashville (NBN) and Leadership Music, Inc. (LM), the Nashville Music Awards (NMA), were first produced by LM from 1995 through 2000. The NMAs recognize outstanding contributions in all genres of music. The 2009 Nashville Music Award winners will be announced at a reception on the first evening of NBN, Wednesday, October 7 at the Cannery Ballroom (Time TBA) followed by a special NBN Opening Night Showcase. Online balloting will continue until Sept. 30. For a complete list of nominees visit nashvillemusicawards.com.


 CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!

2009 FINAL NOMINEES

For voting by the public – one vote per category, one ballot per person

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon
Alison Krauss
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Jack White

BEST NEW ARTIST
Mat Kearney
Lady Antebellum
Erin McCarley
SafetySuit
The SteelDrivers

SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Climb” Miley Cyrus
Writers: Jessi Alexander / Jon Mabe
“Decode” Paramore
Writers: Josh Farro / Hayley Williams / Taylor York
“Give Me Your Eyes” Brandon Heath
Writer: Brandon Heath / Jason Ingram
“I Run to You” Lady Antebellum
Writers: Dave Haywood / Charles Kelley / Hillary Scott / Tom Douglas
“In Color” Jamey Johnson
Writers: Jamey Johnson / Lee Thomas Miller / James Otto
“The Motions” Matthew West
Writer: Jason Houser / San Mizell / Matthew West
“Old Enough” The Raconteurs
Writers: Brendan Benson / Jack White III
“Sex on Fire” Kings of Leon
Writers: The Followills (Caleb, Nathan, Jared, Matthew)
“The Time of My Life” David Cook
Writer: Regie Hamm
“White Horse” Taylor Swift
Writers: Taylor Swift / Liz Rose

NEXT BIG NASHVILLE AWARD (Emerging Artists)
AutoVaughn
Madi Diaz
Mikky Ekko
Those Darlins
Brooke Waggoner

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brett James
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Bobby Pinson
Liz Rose

SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon (Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill)
Jamey Johnson
Dolly Parton
Taylor Swift
Matthew West

POSTER / ALBUM ARTWORK / PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Dave Barnes  Me + You + The World
Leeland  Opposite Way
Roy Orbison  The Soul Of Rock And Roll Boxed Set
Joel Rugé  On The Blue
Third Day  Revelation

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Bela Fleck
Edgar Meyer
Jeff Taylor
Steve Wariner
Jack White

MUSIC VIDEO / FILM OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean “She’s Country” – Directed by Wes Edwards
Justin Townes Earle “Midnight At The Movies” – Directed by Ryan Newman
Jars Of Clay “Two Hands” – Directed by Eric Welch
Rascal Flatts “Here Comes Goodbye” – Directed by Shaun Silva
John Rich “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” – Directed by Deaton-Flanigan

MADE IN MUSIC CITY AWARD (for a recording made in Nashville by a non-Nashville artist)
Joan Baez, The Day After Tomorrow
Steve Earle – producer, Sound Emporium studio/Room and Board studio
Cage the Elephant, Cage the Elephant
Jay Joyce – producer, Tragedy & Da House studios
Elvis Costello, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
T Bone Burnett – producer, Sound Emporium studio
John Oates, 1,000 Miles of Life
John Oates & Jed Leiber – producers; Ronnie’s Place studio
Trivium, Shogun
Nick Raskulinecz – producer, Sound Kitchen studio

BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dale Ann Bradley, Don’t Turn Your Back, Compass Records
Dailey & Vincent, Brothers from Different Mothers, Rounder Records
The Grascals, Keep on Walkin’, Rounder Records
The Infamous Stringdusters, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sugar Hill Records
The Steeldrivers, The Steeldrivers, Rounder Records

COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Eric Church, Carolina, Capitol Nashville Records
Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song, Mercury Records
Brad Paisley, American Saturday Night, Arista Records
Taylor Swift, Fearless, Big Machine Records
Lee Ann Womack, Call Me Crazy, MCA Nashville Records

AMERICANA ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Justin Townes Earle, Midnight at the Movies, Bloodshot Records
Chuck Mead, Journeyman’s Wager, Grassy Knoll Records
Buddy & Julie Miller, Written in Chalk, New West Records
Sarah Siskind, Say It Louder, Request/Thirty Tigers Records
Todd Snider, The Excitement Plan, Yep Roc Records

URBAN RECORDING OF THE YEAR
All-Star, Starlito’s Way, Grind Hard Records
William Davenport, William Davenport (EP), Self Released
FUTURE, Sci Fly Project (EP), Clean Cut Recordings
Kloud9, Enjoy the Ride, Shanachie Entertainment
April Rucker, Here I Stand, One Staj Music Group

GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Francesca Battistelli, My Paper Heart, Fervent Records
Ashley Cleveland, God Don’t Never Change, Koch Records/E1 Entertainment
Brandon Heath, What If We, Reunion Records
Jars of Clay, The Long Fall Back To Earth, Gray Matters/Essential Records
RED, Innocence & Instinct, Essential Records

JAZZ / BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Pat Coil Sextet, Bird House, Liberty Hill Records
Jonell Mosser, Trust Yourself, Better Angels Records
Jason Ricci & New Blood, Done with the Devil, Eclecto Groove Records
Take 6, The Standard, Heads Up Records (Telarc)
Victor Wooten, Palmystery, Heads Up Records (Telarc)

POP / ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Gabe Dixon Band, The Gabe Dixon Band, Fantasy
The Features, Some Kind of Salvation, 429 Records/Bug
Kings of Leon, Only By The Night, RCA
Erin McCarley, Love, Save the Empty, Universal Republic
The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely, Third Man/Warner Bros.

Live Nation Offers Ticket Specials

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366Concert fans have just been gifted with a flat fee “passport ticket” for admittance to shows at Live Nation clubs for the remainder of 2009. The $49.99 cost includes complete admittance, subject to availability. Tickets to individual shows can be reserved online, every Monday. Complete details are available at livenation.com.

Approximately 26 clubs are participating in the offer. Some of them are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Miami.

The mega-concert producer is also offering 24-hour discounts on other shows beginning Sept 23. Specials include $10, $20 and $30 tickets to see artists such as Rob Thomas, Creed, Colbie Callait, blink-182 and others.

Los Angeles-based Live Nation produces over 22,000 concerts annually for 1,600 artists in 33 countries. During 2008 the company claims it sold over 50 million tickets. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbol LYV.

Artists Lend A Hand To Good Causes

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CCguatemala

Pictured on a trip to Guatemala on behalf of Compassion International (l-r): Carter's Chord's Joanna and Emily Robertson, recording artist Rob Blackledge, Carter's Chord's Becky Robertson and country music artist Megan Mullins.

Carter’s Chord joined fellow artists Megan Mullins and Rob Blackledge, and media professionals on a September trip to Guatemala on behalf of Compassion International, a child development ministry working to release the world’s poorest kids from poverty.

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Bucky Covington is returning to his roots for his first hometown concert in Rockingham, NC. He will give a free concert on Sept. 26 as well as host other events to help the local BackPack Pals outreach program, which provides nutritional weekend meals and snacks to children whose primary source of food is the school cafeteria. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a canned good or other non-perishable food item to help support the community’s BackPack Pals program and Our Daily Bread Christian Food Ministry.

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The Target House for families of St. Jude’s patients now features a special “Paisley Lodge.” The area designed with Brad in mind includes a Fender guitar chandelier, vintage Ms. Pacman arcade game and other Paisley family memorabilia. Wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley was scheduled to help Target House celebrate its 10th anniversary today (9/18) along with other celebrities including Amy Grant.
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Rodney Atkins is planning the These Are My People, This Is My Town charity event to take place in Cookeville, Tenn., on Oct. 8. He will perform with Phil Vassar. Proceeds will benefit his alma mater Tennessee Tech University (TTU) Athletics and the Mustard Seed Ranch for neglected children.

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Porter’s Call, the Franklin, Tenn. organization that offers free counsel, support and encouragement to recording artists and their families, has partnered with the premier celebrity auction website, www.clothesoffourback.org, to host an online celebrity auction running through Sept. 30. Up for bids are autographed guitars from Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, and Gene Simmons; autographed wardrobe items from Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, and Keith Urban; concert/meet & greet packages; and more.

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Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will participate in “Country United: Advancing Medicine from the Frontlines to the Homefront.” It is a two-day event dedicated to supporting advances in medical care and quality of life for our nation’s battle-wounded, ill and injured service members. Hill will be the luncheon keynote speaker at the Nov. 6 luncheon, and perform with McGraw, the Warren Brothers and others at the Country United Gala on Sat., Nov. 7.

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Naomi Judd is lending her voice to the national education program Partners Against Pain to raise awareness about the urgent need to help those with chronic pain in America.
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Rockie Lynne’s sixth annual Tribute To The Troops motorcycle ride and benefit concert was held Sept. 11-13 in his home state Minnesota. As part of the event Lynne performed a concert and rode all three days. More than 200 motorcyclists visited six families who had lost loved ones in the military.
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The Vince Gill & Amy Grant Golf Classic was held in Aspen this summer with more than 300 golfers participating. The courageous servicewomen in attendance were honored at a concert hosted by Vince and Amy. Challenge Aspen provides adaptive recreational and cultural opportunities to thousands of individuals with disabilities.

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Richie Fields

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“Losing You”

Joint Journey Records

rfields-pp92109“The crisp riffs and melodic harmonies throughout ‘Losing You’ flow magnificently, and Richie’s emotion is pouring through his vocals. The guy has a great voice. This is a top-notch track, one that SHOULD be playing at radio everywhere.”—STEELTOWN ROCK (http://steeltownrock.com/)

Richie Fields’ latest single, “Losing You,” was written by hit makers Gerald Smith (Collin Raye, Lorrie Morgan) and Wynn Varble (Brad Paisley, Darryl Worley), and showcases Richie’s distinctive baritone. The power ballad is from Fields’ upcoming CD, due in stores in 2010. The track was produced by J. Gary Smith (Andy Griggs, Lonestar) and associate producer, Clif Doyal.

Richie has been touring non-stop this summer, going as far west as Denver’s famed Grizzly Rose and as far east as Ocean City, Maryland’s Cowboyz Smokehouse & Saloon. Upcoming shows include stops in Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming; Macon, Georgia; Hanover and Hagerstown, Maryland.

Recent media coverage includes a “Spotlight Featured Artist” slot in the debut issue of AirPlay Direct’s new digital magazine, the Direct Buzz, and also in Country Weekly (”Who’s New”-June 8, and “Listen Up!”-July 13). Television appearances include the Pentagon Channel, Inside Music Row, Hit Country TV and True Country GoTV networks.

www.richiefields.com
www.myspace.com/richiefields