Your favorite social network may tell a lot about you. For example, Twitterers are more interested in sex than users on other social sites. LinkedIn users are more likely to watch soap operas and MySpacers are generally not into exercise. According to an Anderson Analytics study, a user’s social network preference can identify “likely interests, buying habits, media consumption and much more.” Tom Anderson, Anderson Analytics founder tells Ad Age, “There are definite data-driven segments in the social-networking-site market, both for non-users and users.”
Conservative estimates say that about 60% of the U.S. online population uses social networks or about 110 million people. On average users visit social sites about five days a week, four times a day for a total of about one hour each day. The study was completed in June with a sample of 5,000 demographically representative respondents. Ad Age then worked with the Anderson team to create the following mini-profiles. Here’s some of what they uncovered. For more details visit AdAge here.
Users Overall
• 45% link only to family and friends
• Most users not wasting company time. Only 15% said they visit networks at work
• Four categories: business users, fun seekers, social-media mavens (key group) and late followers
Non-Users
• Not tech haters, still spend time surfing web
• Three groups: no time, concerned about security and think it’s stupid
Facebookers
• 77 million users skew a bit older, extremely loyal
Twitterers
• Entrepreneurial, super-user group
• Skew very high interest in news, pop culture, music, movies with buying habits to match
MySpacers
• Young, fun and fleeing
• Overall useage down, but 67 million still having fun
Asleep at the Wheel Honored
/by MichelleAsleep At The Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance at the 8th Annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony, presented by the Gibson Foundation, scheduled for Sept. 17 at the Ryman Auditorium. Since 1969, the Austin-based band has released over twenty-five albums, charted over twenty Billboard singles and won nine Grammy Awards.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance is one of several career honors that will be handed out during the awards ceremony, which will be hosted by Jim Lauderdale.
From Sept. 16-19, 2009, the 10th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference will offer seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center by day, and bring a stellar lineup of musical showcases each evening. Conference registrations are currently available at the early bird discount rate of $350 for members and $450 for non-members at the Americana Music Online Store.
Fast Ryde Visits MusicRow
/by bossrossRepublic Nashville’s newest act, Fast Ryde visited the Music Row conference room to share some of their new music. Here’s what happened when we turned on our iPhone video camera to capture some of the action.
A Cecil B. deRoss Production
Halfway To Hazard
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“I Know Where Heaven Is”
Stylesonic/Picnic Hill/Bigger Picture
In fact, the words “Halfway to Hazard” were the first ever penned by the duo. The phrase not only inspired their name, but also serves as a symbol of the musical journey their lives have taken; the journey from tiny rural towns hidden in the mountains to huge arenas filled with thousands of screaming fans. “That’s what I love about music, it bridges the gaps between people in so many ways and can even make distances seem closer,” says Warrix.
Halfway to Hazard released its self-titled debut album, produced by Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore, in 2007 on Mercury Records. They joined McGraw and Faith Hill’s Soul II Soul Tour as the opening act the same year, which was the year’s highest grossing tour.
2008 was also a success for H2H as they again opened for their self-proclaimed biggest “fan” Tim McGraw along with Jason Aldean. Other highlights of 2008 included: a nomination in the Academy of Country Music’s coveted Best Duo of the Year category, several NFL national anthem pre-game appearances, and the singing the national anthem at Rupp Arena for their beloved UK Wildcats.
The first Annual Halfway to Hazard Charity Trail Ride and Concert in Sept. 2008 was another high point for H2H, allowing them to give back to the region that means so much to them. The event raised over $100,000 for the Buckhorn Children’s Center and Family Services and helped secure the East KY Leadership award for the pair. The duo are gearing up for this year’s event in late summer.
http://www.halfwaytohazard.com/
http://www.myspace.com/halfwaytohazard
http://twitter.com/HalfwayToHazard
The Farm Aid Concert Location Mystery
/by MichelleConcert hint #1: Your state feeling left out? This year’s concert will be in a city & state where Farm Aid has never been held! via @FarmAid
Concert hint #2: This year’s concert will be in a state that is in the top 12 for number of farms! (via @FarmAid)
Willie is joined by Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews on the Farm Aidboard. Each year, artists come together to perform and help raise money and awareness for America’s family farms. Farm Aid has raised $33 million for farmers since its inception in 1985.
Click here to follow Farm Aid on Twitter.
Artists On TV
/by bossrossThe 80th Major League baseball game will be held at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium on Tues. July 14. Sara Evans has been invited to perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch of this year’s diamond shaped contest. Evans plans to make the event a family outing. “I’m a huge baseball fan, as are all of our children,” Sara says. “This will definitely be one of the highlights of our 2009!” The game will be televised by FOX Sports, including Evan’s performance and the tossing of the first pitch which will be handled by President Barack Obama.
Sarah Darling
Kenny Chesney has agreed to join Good Morning America’s Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts and Chris Cuomo in New york City’s Central Park on Aug. 14. Logistics for the visit was more complicated than usual because Chesney will also be headed toward his fifth sellout appearance at New England Patriot’s Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Chesney’s Sun City Carnival is slated to play 12 stadiums this summer plus many arenas and amphitheaters. “Out Last Night” just ended a two-week run at No. 1.
Black River recording artist Sarah Darling will be in Chicago (7/10) to sing the National Anthem at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Chicagoland Speedway. The event will be televised on ESPN. Darling will also perform tracks from her new album Every Monday Morning, including her current single “Jack Of Hearts.”
Your Social Network Tells About You
/by bossrossConservative estimates say that about 60% of the U.S. online population uses social networks or about 110 million people. On average users visit social sites about five days a week, four times a day for a total of about one hour each day. The study was completed in June with a sample of 5,000 demographically representative respondents. Ad Age then worked with the Anderson team to create the following mini-profiles. Here’s some of what they uncovered. For more details visit AdAge here.
Users Overall
• 45% link only to family and friends
• Most users not wasting company time. Only 15% said they visit networks at work
• Four categories: business users, fun seekers, social-media mavens (key group) and late followers
Non-Users
• Not tech haters, still spend time surfing web
• Three groups: no time, concerned about security and think it’s stupid
Facebookers
• 77 million users skew a bit older, extremely loyal
Twitterers
• Entrepreneurial, super-user group
• Skew very high interest in news, pop culture, music, movies with buying habits to match
MySpacers
• Young, fun and fleeing
• Overall useage down, but 67 million still having fun
Luminaries Set For Leadership Music Awards
/by Sarah SkatesJim Foglesong, Allen Reynolds and Garth Brooks
Leadership Music will present the organization’s prestigious Dale Franklin Awards to legendary label executive Jim Foglesong, superstar artist Garth Brooks, and Brooks’ longtime producer Allen Reynolds during a gala fundraising dinner on Sunday, August 23 at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel.
Roy Clark, Cowboy Jack Clement, Crystal Gayle, Bruce Lundvall, Steve Wariner and Trisha Yearwood are Honorary Chairs of the event, which will feature an all-star musical tribute with appearances by Martina McBride, Kathy Mattea and Hal Ketchum, among other performers and speakers. Additional tribute artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Invitations to the awards dinner were mailed this week to Leadership Music alumni and special guests; reservation deadline is Monday, August 3. Proceeds from the evening benefit Leadership Music, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Twitter Bridges Fan/Artist Connection
/by Sarah SkatesTwitter is becoming an increasingly common way for artists to communicate with fans. Stoney Creek Records’ Megan Mullins has been using it and other popular social networking sites for her “Total Request Video” extravaganza. Keeping within the weekly theme (ex. classic country), fans log onto Mullins’ Facebook, MySpace or Twitter account and request a song. Each week, Mullins will pick a winner and post a video of her playing the tune on her MM-TV YouTube channel.
Due West recently took requests via Twitter during a live radio stop in Spokane, Washington. Tim Gates, Brad Hull and Matt Lopez were Twittering with fans while on the air and trying to decide which song to play. So the band asked fans via Twitter what song they would prefer to hear, and followers quickly responded. Due West’s premiere single, “I Get That All The Time” is steadily growing at country radio (No. 34 on the Country Breakout chart). It will be on their debut album, set to be released later this summer on Bigger Than Me Records.
Nashville Music Awards Noms End 7/15
/by Sarah SkatesSubmissions for nominees are being accepted from the public at www.nashvillemusicawards.com in 19 categories (listed below) until July 15. Final nominees will be chosen by committees of music industry experts and will be announced in August. Popular online voting will determine the winners. For a look at past winners, visit the Web site.
1. Artist of the Year
2. Best New Artist
3. Song of the Year
4. Next Big Nashville Award (for Emerging Independent Artists)
5. Songwriter of the Year
6. Poster / Album Artwork / Packaging of the Year
7. Instrumentalist of the Year
8. Music Video / Film of the Year
9. Made in Music City Award: for a recording made in Nashville by a non-Nashville artist
10. Bluegrass / Old-Time Music Album of the Year
11. Country Album of the Year
12. Folk / Americana Album of the Year
13. Urban Recording of the Year
14. Gospel / Contemporary Christian Album of the Year
15. Jazz / Blues Album of the Year
16. Pop / Rock Album of the Year
The last three categories are not voted on by the public:
17. Heritage Award
18. Brian Williams Ambassador Award (formerly titled the “Bridge Award”)
19. Innovator of the Year: for a Nashville music-related tech innovator
Media Moguls At “Summer Camp”
/by Sarah SkatesAllen & Co., a New York-based investment bank, is hosting its annual conference of the top national entertainment and technology leaders in Sun Valley, Idaho this week. The brainstorming and socializing event, often described as “summer camp” for the media world, is closed to the press though some are attending as guests and others remain camped out at the resort.
Among the more than 250 attendees are IAC’s Barry Diller and wife Diane Von Furstenburg, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and investment guru Warren Buffett, News Corp Chief Rupert Murdoch, Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin, Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer, Bill Gates, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Google’s Larry Page. Basketball superstar LeBron James is even in the mix.
Since the opening economic panel, word is that the conference has a lingering sense of pessimism, which is more pronounced in some executives than others.
Twitter is among the hot topics. The Los Angeles Times reports that while “old-time media moguls think their content is worth something, they’re not so sure about Twitter…Everyone seems to love it, but no one is sure about how to make money off of it.” Twitter co-founder and Chief Executive Evan Williams was in the audience for a panel that reiterated this point, but remained quite.
Murdoch spoke briefly to reporters, saying he wasn’t interested in buying Twitter or the Los Angeles Times, and answered “Hell no,” when asked about putting MySpace on the block.