Soundscan Scans Cracker Barrel; ACM “Lifting Lives”

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With traditional record retailers closing their doors, Cracker Barrel is helping to fill the void with their successful music program, which kicked off in 2005 with Home on the Highways from Alison Krauss and Union Station. Subsequent Cracker Barrel releases from Josh Turner, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, Amy Grant and Sara Evans confirmed the company’s suspicion that they were on to something. With their upcoming release, Backwoods Barbie — Collector’s Edition from Dolly Parton, due March 24, Cracker Barrel will officially begin measuring that success through Soundscan. According to Cracker Barrel’s VP of Marketing Peter Keiser, the company’s music program, which releases four projects annually, offers artists an alternative in a declining market for traditional album sales. If SoundScan had been in place for the release of the company’s Kenny Rogers and Bill Gaither projects, Keiser said, both projects would have debuted in the Top 10.

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The Academy of Country Music will unveil their re-branded charitable fund, “Lifting Lives” at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (Sunday, April 5th at 7:00 PM CT on CBS). To commemorate the occasion, Trace Adkins will perform his song “Til the Last Shot’s Fired” with the West Point Glee Club in support of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the charity selected this year by Lifting Lives. The Academy’s charitable Fund was established in 2004 as the Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund (ACMCF) to manage monies raised for music industry-related causes. “The Academy of Country Music has changed the name of its charity to encompass all existing charitable giving and not just the charitable fund, which is our grant-giving program” said SESAC’s Dennis Lord, who serves as Chairman of the Board for Lifting Lives. “We also wanted a name that explains our focus, namely lifting people up through the power of music.”

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Rural Media, parent company of Nashville cable network RFD-TV, has launched Rural TV on satellite-TV provider Sky in the United Kingdom. The station is described as “the world’s first 24-hour international television network dedicated to crossing borders with farming, equine, rural lifestyle, and traditional country music entertainment programs.” Rural TV’s satellite reach extends into 20 countries in Western Europe. “We are most excited about these opportunities as we firmly believe that ‘rural’ has no borders,” said Rural Media President Patrick Gottsch.

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MCA recording artist and ACM Top New Female Vocalist nominee Ashton Shepherd has signed with Cherry Heart Entertainment, LLC for artist management representation. “We feel it is natural to have Ashton working with Cherry Heart … we couldn’t be more passionate about Ashton’s future,” says Gratton Stephens, Cherry Heart President/CEO.

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Dane Patterson, a former contestant on NBC’s weight-loss reality series NBC’S The Biggest Loser: Couples, will compete in the 2009 Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon on Saturday, April 25 in Nashville. Patterson’s recent attempt to complete a full marathon after being eliminated from the show caused controversy (and publicity) when it aired during the show’s “Where Are They Now?” segment. Runners can go to www.cmmarathon.com and sign up to “Run With Dane.”

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The United States Tennis Association has named the Music City Tennis Invitational (MCTI) as the 2008 Charity Tennis Event of the Year. This is the second time the event has received the award, which is judged on the number of years the event has been held, the number of participants and volunteers, and the amount of money raised for charity and the level of local community involvement. The annual tennis tournament benefits the Center for Child Development at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The 36th annual Music City Tennis Invitational will be held on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, at the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center at Vanderbilt University.

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LeAnn Rimes is getting ready to serve customers from behind the counter at a Nashville diner, and Jessica Simpson will be working at a computer repair shop. It’s all part of I Get That A Lot, a Candid Camera-like reality show developed by CBS-TV featuring celebrities trying to pass as regular folks working ordinary jobs. Additional celebrities participating in the show, which CBS will air on April Fools Day, Wednesday, April 1 at 7 PM CT, include Heidi Klum, Ice-T, Mario Lopez and Jeff Probst.

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Tony Thomas, MD at KMPS-FM in Seattle, reported in to let us know that the station’s 2009 St. Jude Radiothon, held this past Friday and Saturday (3/13-3/14), raised $433,981 to help St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in their ongoing fight against childhood cancer. Congratulations to all!

Country Thunder Closes

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Independent label Country Thunder Records is closing their Nashville operations it has been announced by label President Herb Graham. Country Thunder’s roster of artists included Heartland, Shawn Hammonds and country duos Bluefield and Burns & Poe. Graham will carry on with his publishing and management activities through his Graham Artist Management, with a client list that includes the entire Country Thunder roster as well as Curb Records’ Rio Grande. “In today’s economic climate, we had to evaluate where the record business is and where it is going,” said Graham. “With that information, we decided to suspend label operations.”

Some of Country Thunder’s staff will assume new roles within Graham Artist Management. Those staffers include General Manager Craig Morris (c.morris@ctrmail.net); Sr. VP Promotion & Artist Development Bobby Young (b.young@ctrmail.net); Northeast Regional Manager Promotion & Marketing Rick “RJ” Jordan (rj@ctrmail.net); Artist Development Director Ralph Salazar (Ralph@grahamartistmgt.com); and Director of New Media Rachel Wills.

Staffers exiting the company include:
Kim Markovchick, V.P. Sales and Marketing (kmarkovchick@bellsouth.net 615 438-7537);
Jeff Davis, Southeast regional rep (hirejeffdavis@bellsouth.net  615-260-4975 [temp]);
Rosey Fitzpatrick, Midwest regional rep (rosefitch@aol.com  405 769 7570 or 405 255 1001);
Steve Pleshe, West Coast regional rep (stevepleshe@hotmail.com  559-307-8148); and
Seth Necessary, Promotion Manager (sethnecessary@gmail.com  615-642-1854).

McAnally Signs With Show Dog

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Fresh off his big success with “Down The Road,” his chart-topping duet with Kenny Chesney, respected singer/songwriter and reigning CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally has signed with Toby Keith’s Show Dog Records.

“There’s nobody more respected, at least when it comes to musicians and people who really know this business, than Mac McAnally,” said Keith. “So getting to be a part of whatever Mac wants to do is an honor for me, and for everyone at the label.”

McAnally, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a longtime member of Jimmy Buffet’s Coral Reefer Band, is also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for the Chesney duet at the upcoming ACM Awards (airing Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at 7:00 PM CT on CBS). While “Down The Road” marks McAnally’s first No. 1 as an artist, he’s hit the top six times as a songwriter. His record production clients over the years have included Buffet, Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat.

DISClaimer (3/13/09)

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It’s veterans’ day.

No, not the holiday, silly. It’s a day when we have new music from some of country music’s vets. Aaron Tippin, Ricochet and Ronnie Milsap are all dropping by with new sounds. And the magnificent Mr. Milsap wins a Disc of the Day award.

Neil Carswell is a veteran, too. He previously fronted the Southern rock band Copperhead. Now he’s a solo artist with his second consecutive winning single. Keep an ear out for him, as well as Michael Scott. He is also getting his second consecutive rave review in this column.

Our DisCovery Award winner leans more toward the Americana side of the spectrum. But Diana Jones is such a strong writer that some of country’s stars should start checking out her catalog. Actually, this is Diana’s second appearance, too. But her last CD was three long years ago, and this new one is, for now, being marketed from the U.K.

DIANA JONES/Better Times Will Come
Writer: Diana Jones; Producer: Diana Jones; Publisher: Yarjones, ASCAP; Proper (track) (www.dianajonesmusic.com)
—The title tune to this singer-songwriter’s current collection is rippling acoustic tune of hope sung in a throaty, resonant alto. Guests on the CD include the esteemed Nanci Griffith and Mary Gauthier. Another standout track is “Henry Russell’s Last Words,” based on the true story of a doomed miner writing on a paper sack with a piece of coal in 1927. You can also find it on Joan Baez’s excellent, Steve-Earle-produced album The Day After Tomorrow.

JO DEE MESSINA/Shine
Writer: Clay Cumbie/Megan James; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: Curb Congregation/Big Red Toe/Big Loud Bucks/Warner-Tamerlane/ Songwriters of Platinum Pen, SESAC/BMI; Curb
—The production frames her upbeat vocal nicely. But the faux-inspirational, chin-up, positive-think song does nothing for me.

CHRIS LOID/Back Road Home
Writer: none listed; Producer: Chris Loid; Publisher: none listed; Chris Loid Entertainment (track)
—The title track to this fellow’s CD shows off his vocal range. But even though it’s a song about murder, there is something curiously colorless about his singing.

RICOCHET/Feel Like Fallin’
Writer: Shane Teeters/Luke Bryan; Producer: Robert Wright; Publisher: Murrah Music/Shane Teeters/Universal/Z, BMI; M (www.ricochetonline.com)
—This band’s harmony singing has always been thrilling. They really turn it on in the joyous-sounding choruses here. The bridge is cool, too.

AARON TIPPIN/East Bound And Down
Writer: Jerry Reed/Dick Feller; Producer: Aaron Tippin & Tim Grogan; Publisher: Songs of Universal, BMI; Nippit (track) (www.aarontippin.com)
—Aaron’s new trucker-themed CD In Overdrive kicks off with this spirited remake of the Burt Reynolds 1977 Smokey and the Bandit movie tune. It bops right along, very much in the same vein as the Jerry Reed original, so some might find it a little “dated” sounding.

RICHARD JAYMES/Dollar And A Dream
Writer: Richard Jaymes; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Southern Pop, BMI; Shotgun/CO5 (CDX)
—This was one of the many newcomers making their debuts at last week’s Country Radio Seminar. His singing is rather bland, and is swamped by the amped-up instrumental track at times.

TIMOTHY CRAIG/Got Good Friends
Writer: Timothy Craig/Billy Falcon/Rose Falcon; Producer: Tom Harding & Timothy Craig; Publisher: Timothy Craig/Pretty Blue Songs/JuniorIsaGirl, ASCAP/BMI; Ball & Chain (CDX) (www.timothycraig.com)
—The song is sturdy, but his vocal is so shallow that he practically speaks the lyric.

NEIL CARSWELL/Bright Lights
Writer: Neil Carswell; Producer: Stu Campbell & Neil Carswell; Publisher: Lake James/GHP, ASCAP; Aspirion (CDX)
—The buzzing guitar sound is cool, and this man sings with plenty of grit and fire. This is the second time we’ve encountered this distinctive stylist, and I’m even more impressed than I was the first time around.

RONNIE MILSAP/Stand By Me
Writer: Ben E. King/Mike Stoller/Jerry Leiber; Producer: Rob Galbraith & Ronnie Milsap; Publisher: Mike & Jerry/Jerry Leiber/Silver Seahorse, BMI/ASCAP; Star Song (CDX) (615-371-6581)
—The funky, soulful track puts some slinky rhythm into what is usually performed as a gospel-soaked ballad. In any setting, it’s a fabulous evergreen song, and Ronnie pours passion all over it. The man remains a titanic talent.

MICHAEL SCOTT/Bring It On
Writer: Arnie Roman/Mark Mormon; Producer: Ricky Cobble & Michael Scott; Publisher: Roman Empire/Fintage/Rev’d Up/Songs of Windswept Pacific, ASCAP/BMI; Rocky Comfort (CDX) (www.michaelscott.com)
—This guy sings with hearty confidence and immense warmth. And judging by the superb dynamics in the track, he truly knows his way around a recording studio. To top it all off, the song is a doozy. This is Scott’s second rave in this column, so I thought I’d check out his website. It turns out that this is the title tune to his debut CD for Tracy Lawrence’s label. Definitely send more.

DISClaimer (3/6/09)

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As you might expect, the stars are twinkling for Country Radio Seminar.

Toby Keith, Sugarland, Telluride and Pat Green all have terrific new tunes for the radio decision makers to savor. Universal South is bringing forth a dandy by this week’s DisCovery Award winners, Jonathan Singleton & The Grove.

Less than a month ago (on February 13, to be exact), Caitlin & Will earned that same honor. Well, today they graduate to their first Disc of the Day prize. I hope it is the first of many to come.

TOBY KEITH/Lost You Anyway
Writer: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Toby Keith; Publisher: Franklin Road/Music of Stage Three/Bobby’s Song and Salvage, BMI; Show Dog Nashville
—Sumptuous and lustrous as a ballad can be. Guitars chime and percussion pounds all around his passionate, soaring vocal. A big, big sound.

GEORGE CANYON/What I Do
Writer: George Canyon; Producer: Richard Marx; Publisher: Reiny Dawg, SOCAN; Universal (Canada) (track) (www.georgecanyon.com)
—The title tune to the Canadian hunk’s new CD is a tender “daddy” song that tugs at every heart string you’ve got. Another winner in a career that’s had a bunch of ‘em.

JONATHAN SINGLETON & THE GROVE/Livin’ In Paradise
Writer: Jonathan Singleton/Ted Jones; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: Crosstown Uptown/Kobalt/Murrah, ASCAP/BMI; Universal South
—The song is ear-catchingly structured, with its chorus at the beginning. Even more impressive is his cool, grainy singing voice. Jonathan has already proved himself as a top Music Row songwriter (”Watching Airplanes,” “Red Light”). This proves he has enormous artist potential as well.

STELLA PARTON/Family Ties
Writer: Stella Parton/Rucker Jones; Producer: Stella Parton; Publisher: My Mama’s/WTRC, BMI; Raptor (track) (www.stellaparton.com)
—During the past few years, Stella has really come into her own as a songwriter and a record maker. Her new Testimony CD leads off with this lilting ditty about kinfolks. Hold on for the clever “gossip” segment at the finale.

CAITLIN & WILL/Address In The Stars
Writer: Caitlin Fisher/Aimee Mayo/Chris Lindsey/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Chris Lindsey; Publisher: Fleur de Lisa/Little Blue Typewriter/BPJ/Moonscar/Raylene, BMI/ASCAP; Columbia (track)
—At radio’s request, “Even Now” is being pulled as the duo’s single and being replaced by this piercing, penetrating ballad of loss. Both of these kids sing their faces off. Caitlin’s goose-bump raising vocal takes the lead while Will wails soulful harmony on the string-drenched choruses. The electric guitar effects are really neat, too. A super performance. Her aunt’s death from breast cancer inspired Caitlin to pen this stunner.

TELLURIDE/Pencil Marks
Writer: Adam Craig/Dillon Dixon/Michael Howard; Producer: none listed; Publisher: In Tune/Ash Street/Deane Howard, BMI; American Roots/Quarterback (www.tellurideband.com)
—The pencil marks are the ones Dad drew on the door frame as his boy grew up. The kid enters the military, comes home, has a boy of his own and starts making new pencil marks. It’s a neat little slice of life, very nicely sung and produced. I think this band has the goods.

MILEY CYRUS/The Climb
Writer: Jessi Alexander/Jon Mabe; Producer: John Shanks; Publisher: Vistaville/Hopeless Rose/Music of Stage Three/Mabe it Big, ASCAP/BMI; Walt Disney/Lyric Street/Hollywood
—Having succeeded in country music as her dad’s duet partner, pop star Miley sends out this Nashville-penned orchestral ballad as a potential cross-format performance. The gal can for-sure sing, and the chorus of this is pretty undeniable. It’s not exactly my cup of tea, but I can see why country radio might want to give it a try.

PAT GREEN/Country Star
Writer: Pat Green/Brett James; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; BNA (CDX)
—Pat comes to Music City with stars in his eyes. “I got a drinkin’ problem, so I fit right in.” That’s just one of the hoots in a lyric that name-checks, Tim, Faith, Kenny, Bocephus, Carrie, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban and more. Great tempo tune. Great fun.

SUGARLAND/It Happens
Writer: Jennifer Nettles/Kristian Bush/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush & Jennifer Nettles; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles/EMI Blackwood/Dirkpit/Music of Stage Three/Bobby’s Song & Salvage, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury (CDX)
—It’s a zippy, bopping, working-girl’s lament. Life doesn’t have any rhyme or reason. It just happens. Naturally, she tosses in a “Shhh” and pauses a moment before singing the title.

STEPHANIE CHAPMAN/This Song Is To You
Writer: Stephanie Chapman; Producer: Ray Kennedy & Nathan Chapman; Publisher: Sony ATV Tree, BMI; Pain in the Art (track) (www.stephaniechapman.com)
—The Chapmans are a young couple to watch in Tune Town. Nathan has shot to fame as Taylor Swift’s producer. Stephanie’s songs have been recorded by Trisha Yearwood, Bonnie Raitt and others. The title song to her debut CD is a sweet, soprano love ballad embellished with silvery steel passages and simple, effective guitar strumming. Highly listenable indeed. She’ll celebrate her album release on Wednesday, March 11, at The Rutledge at 7:30 p.m. Jypsi and Lauren Lucas will be there, too.

NYT Taking Chances Article Profiles Borchetta

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The New York Times Sunday Business section (3/14) prominently features a story titled, The Secrets of the Talent Scouts which attempts to get inside the heads of executives competing to find the next big thing in various fields including entertainment, technology and medical research. Executives profiled seem to agree that taking chances on passionate people early in their lives, focusing on what can go right and offering rewards that no one can match, are some of the principles they adhere to.

Among the executives profiled are Silicon Valley venture capitalist Michael Moritz, Recruiter Robin Reed and Nashville Big Machine leader Scott Borchetta.

Borchetta retells an example of how he saw early on that Taylor Swift would thrive in the spotlight during a radio visit in Bristol Tenn. “Often they just say hello for a few minutes and don’t let a brand-new artist on the air. But they liked one of Taylor’s songs and told her so. Without missing a beat, she replied: ‘Thank you. Can I play it right now for your listeners?’”

BBR’s Krista Marie—Ringtone For A Cause

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Broken Bow/Holeshot recording artist Krista Marie has come up with a unique way to combine career promotion and a good song with a good cause. The western New York-born singer/songwriter, who is also a champion ATV Motocross racer, is the cowriter of her single, “Drive It Like I Stole It,” which has been picked as the theme song for ESPN’s coverage of NHRA drag racing’s 2009 season. On the track and on tour, driving safety is always on Marie’s mind, which is why her association B.R.A.K.E.S is such a good fit. B.R.A.K.E.S., which stands for Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe, was founded by drag racer Doug Herbert after he lost his two sons in a tragic automobile accident. The  nonprofit organization promotes safe and responsible driving. To support the organization, Marie and her label have made a ringtone available for “Drive It Like I Stole It,” and will donate 100% of the proceeds to B.R.A.K.E.S. “With my motorsports background and the fact that I’m traveling more and more with my music career, I couldn’t think of a better organization to partner with than B.R.A.K.E.S.,” Marie said.

Taylor Down Under

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For the past ten days, she’s been all over Australia playing a series of sold out dates, but somehow superstar Taylor Swift has made time for some worthwhile extracurricular activities, including a CMA award presentation, a benefit concert and a even a day at the beach.

The singer/songwriter traveled to the “CMC Rocks the Snowys Festival” in Thredbo, NSW and caught up with a very surprised John Bond, presenting the Australian radio personality with the Country Music Association’s International Country Broadcaster Award. Bond oversees the most popular shift on Sydney’s 2KA Cool Country, playing a broad mix of Australian, Canadian and American country music.

“I am shocked beyond belief,” said Bond. “I love Country Music and enjoy sharing it with my listeners every day. Who would have imagined Taylor Swift giving me an Award? I thank CMA for this honor.”

In other Swift news, the singer has extended her time Down Under by several days in order to join top artists including Coldplay, Hoodoo Gurus, Barry Gibb and Wolfmother at Sound Relief, a weekend benefit concert to raise money for victims of the recent devastating Australian brush fires. As if that weren’t enough, Swift, in a Twitter post sent earlier today (3/13), let friends and fans know that she was enjoying a well-deserved day off, driving two hours outside of Sydney for some much needed r&r and that day at the beach.

Taylor Swift and CMA Board Member Rob Potts present the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award to Australian radio personality John Bond of 2KA Cool Country. (l-r) Potts, Swift, and Bond. Photo Credit: B.J. Went

Karmazin Blames Doom & Gloom

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Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius XM Satellite Radio blames a “doom and gloom” fourth quarter for the company’s lackluster results. Satcaster investors were saddled with analyst reports, during the quarter, that it might be unable to meet its debt obligations. Finally, Liberty Media Corp. lent Sirius XM over $500 million while taking a 40% stake in the company to cover upcoming payments. Karmazin’s concerns which included the economy and the Circuit City bankruptcy, can be seen in the disappointing subscriber numbers announced this past week. Subs grew by a scant 83,000 in the fourth quarter compared with a combination of 1.1 million in the same period a year ago for Sirius and XM.

On tap for the second quarter of 2009 is a new iPhone application which would offer an option to subscribe to the service without having to buy a new satellite-enabled radio. Analysts cite a plethora of issues that mostly negatively affect the growth and development of Sirius XM. For example, shrinking car sales which lowers the number of new sat-ready radios put into the marketplace. Also discussed is the growing sense that streamed Internet will make its way into the driver-livingroom and sites music discovery outlets like Pandora will provide competitive options that might limit future satellite subscriber growth.

Opryland Revs Up With New “Experiences”

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Gaylord Opryland Resort has announced seven new “Country Music Experiences,” which the hotel is touting as part of “the nation’s most authentic country music vacation.” The new experiences include:

Gibson’s Check-In, Rock Out™! — This new program allows guests to create music in their rooms by choosing from a variety of Gibson guitars to lease for a day. Guests receive a “Pocket Pod” amplifier with headphones so they won’t disturb other guests while rocking out in their rooms.

Opry Country Classics — Beginning March 26, Opry Country Classics at the Grand Ole Opry House will feature a revolving door of hosts including Larry Gatlin, Marty Stuart and John Conlee performing classic country songs along with storytelling and vintage country film clips.

World-Famous Wildhorse House Band Search Contest — Incoming Wild Horse Saloon manager Ron Kerere will oversee a number of new activities at the downtown Nashville venue, including this nationwide competition for a new house band that will be held late spring.

For more information go to www.gaylordopryland.com.