Country DISClaimer (2/20/09)

/by

All I have to say is, “wow.” I can’t remember the last time so many records deserved a Disc of the Day award. How to choose between Alan Jackson’s sweet/sad acoustic ballad, The Zac Brown Band’s groove-a-thon, Wynonna’s celestial performance, Love and Theft’s dizzy pop confection, Dierks Bentley’s party platter and Jefferson Ross’s brilliant songwriting?

In the end, I went with the one that moved me most emotionally, “Prayer of a Common Man” by the heart-tugging Phil Vassar. But let me hasten to add that all seven of these records deserve your attention and support.

Carolwood Records is the new Lyric Street imprint. It is also the home of our DisCovery Award winning group, Love and Theft. Who are these guys?

Our runners up for this honor, by the way, were Mr. Ross and the duo of Nathan Chance. You can’t miss Chance when he’s on Music Row. He stands over 6’6” tall.

DANIELLE REED/Kissing In The Rain
Writer: Marc Kuchner; Producer: John Carter Cash; Publisher: none listed; Barcode (track) (www.daniellereed.com)
—This charmer sings with down-to-earth country simplicity. The song is a mid-tempo, plain-spoken rural romance. For an unknown, she sure has lined up a stellar support team. Produced by John Carter Cash, her debut disc features sidemen like Jamie Hartford, Bob Britt, Dave Roe and Hoot Hester.

DIERKS BENTLEY/Sideways
Writer: Jim Beavers/Dierks Bentley; Producer: Brett Beavers & Dierks Bentley; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Beavertime Tunes/Big White Tracks, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (track)
—You worked all week, it’s time to play. And here’s your soundtrack, a party-hearty anthem that’s meant to get you out on that dance floor. Everything works here, from the mash-up of banjo and steel to the shouted “Heys,” the crowd noise and the rollicking rhythm. Somewhere in there hollering is label boss Mike Dungan, making his disc debut.

NATHAN CHANCE/I Think She Loves Me
Writer: Dukas/Anderson; Producer: Kevin Lawson; Publisher: none listed; Nathan Chance (www.chancemckinney.com)
—Nathan Arneson and Chance McKinney were solo acts with solid followings in the Pacific Northwest. In 2006, they decided to combine forces and form a duo. This shouted rocker has loads of energy and power. The stunning “Some Bridges Don’t Burn” proves they can handle a ballad as well. These dudes have audio charisma, and their stage show must be pretty good, too. They’ve opened for Chesney, Strait, Rascal Flatts, Martina and loads of other top headliners. This format needs more duos, especially ones that sound as good as this one. Send a full CD ASAP.

LOVE AND THEFT/Runaway
Writer: Stephen Barker Liles/Canaan Smith/Rob Blackledge; Producer: Jeff Coplan & Robert Ellis Orrall; Publisher: Hate and Purchase/Rockapop/House of StyleSonic/Kid in the Korner, ASCAP; Carolwood
—Utterly delicious. It’s a foaming, frothy pop-country outing that’s drenched in melody, harmonies and happy-feet rhythm. This sparkles with sunshine and begs for a drive on an empty two-lane blacktop. Summer is officially here.

MELISSA CLEVELAND/It’s All About Me
Writer: Victoria Colbert/Brandon L. Shane/Nicole Nichols; Producer: Brandon Lynn Shane; Publisher: Shanethang, BMI; Mirror Image (track) (www.melissacleveland.com)
—It’s a feisty-female “attitude” tune. She’s sick of being a housewife drudge and is aiming to go out on the town to kick up her heels while he stays home for a change. The fiddler and guitarists sizzle around her scratching-kitten-claws vocal.

ALAN JACKSON/Sissy’s Song
Writer: Alan Jackson; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: EMI April/Tri Angels, ASCAP; Arista
—The prettiest, saddest ballad on Alan’s Good Time CD has now become the collection’s fourth single. The lyric about a departed loved one is beautifully backed by poetically plucked acoustic guitar lines. Gorgeous in its perfectly ornamented restraint.

JEFFERSON ROSS/The Prophet Elijah
Writer: Jefferson Ross/Alison Mellon; Producer: Jefferson Ross; Publisher: none listed; Deep Fried Discs (track) (www.jeffersonross.com)
—Jefferson is a Curb writer who has been on the road backing Terri Clark for 10 years. She tipped me off to his talent, and his debut CD arrived in the mail a few days later. What a find. He sings with immense heart and believability. This terrific track is about the injustice and violence faced by a peace-loving old black man. You’ll hang on every word of this tender story song. And the rest of his Azalea collection is just as strong.

ZAC BROWN BAND/Whatever It Is
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Picture (ERG)
—The Zac Brown Band’s second single is just as winning as “Chicken Fried” was. And it is even more irresistibly tuneful. There’s just so much honesty and integrity in the group’s singing and playing. I’m digging this groovy combo more and more.

PHIL VASSAR/Prayer Of A Common Man
Writer: Phil Vassar/Tom Douglas; Producer: Mark Wright & Phil Vassar; Publisher: Phylvester/Words & Music/Sony-ATV/Tomdouglasmusic, ASCAP/BMI; Universal South (track)
—A passionately sung and written little masterpiece for working stiffs everywhere. Phil sings his face off, and every line pierces your soul. It gave me a big ol’ lump in my throat, and that’s a very good thing.

WYNONNA/Sing
Writer: Rodney Crowell; Producer: Brent Maher & Don Potter; Publisher: Sony-ATV Milene/J Only, ASCAP; Curb (track)
—Wy’s Sing Chapter 1 album is a collection of mostly covers of classics such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Til I Get it Right,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “When I Fall in Love.” Not everything is a standard, however. The title tune and first single is a thrilling, inspirational melody from a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member. She soars into the stratosphere on this fabulous performance. For a sassier side of her prowess, check out the swinging revival of The Boswell Sisters’ 1932 gem “That’s How Rhythm Was Born.” This is Wy’s strongest album in years. Buy it.

Gershon To Head Warner/Chappell Nashville

/by

Tracy Gershon has joined Warner/Chappell Music in the newly created position of Senior Vice President and Head of A&R, Nashville. After more than twenty years in the music business, she most recently spent three years as Vice President, A&R at Warner Bros. Records Nashville, working with artists including Big & Rich, Faith Hill, and Blake Shelton.

In the new role, the California native will report to Scott Francis, President, Warner/Chappell Music and Chairman and CEO, Warner/Chappell Music U.S. She will play a major role in the company’s signing of songwriters and artists, catalog acquisition, and other new business ventures.

“I am truly excited about Tracy coming on board to lead and oversee our A&R efforts in Nashville,” says Francis. “She is a truly special, creative executive who is able to identify and successfully develop emerging songwriters and artist-songwriters early in their career and help them reach their full potential.”

Gershon has also worked for Sony Music Entertainment in Nashville as Senior Director, A&R, and handling Artist Development for Columbia Records/Epic. During that time she served as an on-air judge and supervising producer for the 2002-2004 seasons of Nashville Star. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of Leadership Music, NARAS, and The Actors Bridge Theater Group.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Warner/Chappell at such an exciting time with Scott running the company,” she says. “He and I share the same vision and love for songwriters and artists. Now more than ever emerging songwriters need strong partners in music publishers to help them not only identify opportunities to partner with recording artists but also help them to take advantage of the opportunities for their songs.”

New Procedures For Election to the Country Music Hall of Fame

/by

Updated 2/27: From the CMA “We received several questions about the criteria for the Modern Era and Veterans Era categories from the original release that went out on 2/25/09. After consulting with the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the CMA Awards & Recognition Committee, we have corrected and updated these two paragraphs to what is written below.”

The Country Music Association is instituting new category and voting procedures for coveted entry into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Three new members will continue to be inducted every year, with one each coming from the new categories, which will be renamed and defined as follows beginning with the 2010 ballots:

Modern Era: An artist becomes eligible for induction in this category 20 years after they first achieve national prominence. They will remain eligible for that category for the next 25 years. This replaces the former “Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present” category.

Veterans Era: An artist becomes eligible for induction in this category 45 years after they first achieve national prominence. This combines the former “Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975” (which was voted on annually) and “Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War II” (which was voted on every third year in rotation) categories into one.

Rotating Categories: The third slot will continue to be a rotating category, with each group in the spotlight every third year. The Recording and/or Touring Musician and Non Performer slots will remain, joined by a new Songwriter category.

“In the past, songwriters and industry executives shared the same category that rotated every three years,” explains Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “With these new changes, the songwriters and non-performers now have their own rotating categories. This allows these talented and influential men and women a more frequent opportunity to join this intimate fraternity.”

For the first time, the Veterans Era and Modern Era categories will have separate Nominating Committees, each made up of 12 industry leaders who serve three-year terms. The Modern Era Nominating Committee will also oversee the Rotating Categories. Two anonymous Panels of Electors will be established, with one panel voting for the Modern Era and Rotating Categories, while the second votes for the Veterans Era category. Among all voters, there will be two rounds of ballots. In the first round, each voter will choose five candidates from the nominated list of 10-20 candidates. In the second round, voters will select one nominee from the top five.

These changes were approved by the CMA Board of Directors during the February Board meeting in Orlando, Fla. last week. The Hall’s 2009 class—made up of Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell, and Charlie McCoy—will be officially inducted in May.

CDs: Where Is The Love?

/by
Post Valentines Day, where is the Love?

Post Valentines Day, where is the Love?

This week’s Nielsen SoundScan wrap covers results through the week ending Feb. 22. After last week’s love-filled Valentines Day/post-Grammy bump, overall sales slid, dropping 13% week to week. For country, the story was more pronounced as the format’s scans fell a full 26%.

The Top 75 Current Country list accounted for a total of 358k units, about half of country’s total sales for the week. YTD, country album sales are off 14.8% which compares closely with all-genre scans which are off YTD by 12%.

Looking at 2009 country sales, the top selling albums are Swift (560k), Plant/Krauss (132k), Swift (128k), Sugarland (121k), Dierks Bentley (115k), Zac Brown Band (108k), Darius Rucker (105k), Rascal Flatts (84k), Jamey Johnson (82k), and Lady Antebellum (69k). By label, a quick glance shows Big Machine (Swift & Swift), Universal (Sugarland, Johnson) each with two entries in the YTD Top Ten best sellers and Capitol (Bentley, Rucker, Lady A) rocks with three.

Digital albums continue to grow as a percentage of total country album sales, now hitting 11.9% of total country sales. In 2008 they were only 6.8% of total country sales.
Click Here to see the CD Release Calendar.  Next up are CDs from Jake Owen, Jack Ingram and Martina McBride.

Derek Joseph

/by

“No Cool Way”

Little House Records

Derek Joseph was raised in the small rural farming community of Phelps, in upstate New York. The singer’s Grandfather was a banjo player and had a big influence on Derek’s love of music.

Derek began his musical education at age 8 with piano lessons, and by his teen years he was playing drums and singing with local groups. He was later hired as the lead singer for Outland, one of upstate New York’s premiere country groups.

Recently, Derek signed a recording contract with Little House Records Nashville. His first single, “No Cool Way” has been released to country radio and is currently climbing MusicRow’s CountryBreakout™ chart.

Derek will attend his first Country Radio Seminar in Nashville March 4-6. He says, “I look forward to making many new friends while I’m in town.”

www.derekjoseph.net
www.myspace.com/derekjosephmusic

Jamey Johnson Set For Downtown Shutdown

/by

UMG Nashville is planning a Downtown Shutdown during Country Radio Seminar, a unique event which is open to the public as well as CRS attendees. On Wed., March 4 at 11:30 AM, Mercury’s Jamey Johnson will take to an outdoor stage at the corner of 5th Avenue and Commerce to perform a free concert, weather permitting. While many parties and performances surrounding the annual conference are only for those with CRS badges or invitations, UMG is taking this opportunity to reach out to the community at large for exposure, even luring them in with free food and drinks.

Tomorrow night (2/25) Johnson will perform on an encore airing of NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

North of the Border Natives Hang In Nashville

/by

Hit songwriter/producer Victoria Shaw was cutting tracks for reigning Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year Jessie Farrell last night (2/23) at Sony Tree studios. The session included three songs co-written by Shaw, Farrell and Gary Burr especially for the project.

After leaving the studio, Shaw and Farrell headed to the Sommet Center to check out Nickelback‘s 1 AM rehearsal for tomorrow night’s (2/25) show. The rock band’s lead singer, Chad Kroeger, is co-owner of 604 Records, Farrell’s label home. The production company is under the Roadrunner Records umbrella with distribution through Universal Music Canada and worldwide through Roadrunner. Farrell, who has been working frequently in Nashville, is also nominated for the upcoming Juno Award for New Artist of The Year.

(L-R) Victoria Shaw, MusicRow Publisher David Ross and Jessie Farrell.

(L-R) Victoria Shaw, MusicRow Publisher David Ross and Jessie Farrell.

(L-R) Kroeger's fiance Marianne Gurick, Kroeger, Farrell and Shaw.

(L-R) Kroeger fiance Marianne Gurick, Kroeger, Farrell and Shaw.

ACM Radio Award Winners Revealed

/by

Radio award winners for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were notified of the good news this morning by Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town, who is also an ACM Board member. Winners were revealed ahead of time because the awards will not be given out during the live awards broadcast on April 5.

Local honorees include WSIX FM, which was named Large Market Station of the Year, and On-Air National Personality of the Year Lon Helton. Winners will be invited to participate in the telecast as the voices for bumpers leading into commercials during the ACM Awards.

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR WINNERS
National: Lon Helton, Country Countdown USA
Major Market: Dorsey Gang, KSCS-FM, Dallas, TX
Large Market: JD Cannon, WFMS-FM, Indianapolis, IN
Medium Market: Andy Ritchie, Alison West and Jimmy Holt, WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN
Small Market: Brent Lane and Dana Cervantes, WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR WINNERS
Major Market: WSOC-FM, Charlotte, NC
Large Market: WSIX-FM, Nashville, TN
Medium Market: WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN
Small Market: WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

Oscar Ratings Up, But Still Low

/by

Last night’s (2/22) Academy Awards saw a 9 percent increase in ratings following an all-time low in 2008. An estimated 36.3 million people tuned in to see sleeper hit Slumdog Millionaire win eight statutes, including Best Picture. This is an increase of more than 4 million from last year, but still among the bottom three least-watched Oscars ever.

Zap2It.com reports the show on ABC won the night, averaging a 16.9 rating/26 share, dominating in every hour of primetime. Last year’s awards came in at 15.5/24. (The household rating considers all television sets in the US, while the share measures televisions sets that are turned on.) Also showing growth was viewership in the coveted adults 18-49 category, improved to last night to 9.5, from 8.4 in 2008.

By comparison, the recent Grammy Awards drew a 11.3 rating/18 share and about 20 million viewers. Last year’s season finale of American Idol was watched by an estimated 31.7 million viewers.

Tony Brown To Be Honored

/by
Tony Brown

Tony Brown

Tony Brown will be honored for his contributions to the music industry with the 2009 Cecil Scaife Visionary Award on Mon., March 2 at The Musicians Hall Of Fame. Among those set to pay tribute to the acclaimed producer are musical guests, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn. A silent auction will include autographed items from Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member James Burton, who will be in attendance; as well as George Strait, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and others. Email NashvilleCelebrates@gmail.com to request an invitation to the event which benefits The Cecil Scaife Music Business Scholarship Endowment. A $200 donation secures admission.

With credits on over 100 million albums sold and 100 No. 1 singles, Brown most recently produced hit albums including Reba McEntire‘s Reba Duets, Heidi Newfeld’s solo debut, and George Strait’s Troubador, for which Brown won CMA and Grammy Awards. Brown started his career as a piano player with Elvis Presley, and eventually spent two decades helming MCA Nashville, where signed and/or produced superstars such as Brooks & Dunn, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna Judd and Gill.

LaRawn Scaife Rhea founded the The Cecil Scaife Visionary Award to honor her father who was one of the first people to envision a music business program at Belmont University. His career included time at Sun Records alongside legendary producer Sam Phillips and a young Presley, as well as later work with Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and others.