Today is an especially robust data day for Nielsen SoundScan watchers since the week ending 1/2/2011 closes the door on 2010…but simply stated the industry overall continued its decline,
Show Dog-Universal Music has added Brad Howell as VP of National Field Promotion. His extensive experience ranges from radio programming, to promo exec positions at Warner Bros. and Equity, as well as GM of Broken Bow Records. Howell will report to Show Dog-Universal VP of Promotion Rick Moxley. “Brad has been both an innovative promoter […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Robert K Oermannhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2011-01-05 10:12:202011-01-05 10:12:20DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/5/11)
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Sarah Skateshttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSarah Skates2011-01-05 09:39:072011-01-05 09:39:07WSIX's New Morning Team
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation has elected John Van Mol Chairman of the Foundation, and elected songwriters Pat Alger and Steve Bogard to its 2011-12 Board of Directors.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Sarah Skateshttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSarah Skates2011-01-05 09:15:002011-01-05 09:15:00Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame New Board
Nashville’s music community is gathering in support of “I Am Strong,” a song raising awareness about childhood cancer. The song was written by The Grascals band member Jamie Johnson and his wife Susanne Mumpower-Johnson along with Jenee Fleenor after the group visited the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. One version of the song […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00contributorhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngcontributor2011-01-05 08:54:072011-01-05 08:54:07The Grascals Raise Awareness For Childhood Cancer
“Indescribable” Tall Tree/Lofton Creek Sister duo Jenny & Ashley is releasing its debut single, the effervescent “Indescribable.” The song, co-written by Ashley, was originally part of a demo collection that caught the eye of Lofton Creek Records chief Mike Borchetta. The new version was recorded by Tim McGraw co-producer Darran Smith. The teenage sisters spent […]
The biggest grossing tours in 2010 belonged to George Strait/Reba/Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. The Strait tour was the highest grossing North American country tour in 2010, according to Pollstar’s year-end chart. Grossing $41.6 million in box office receipts, the outing placed 14th on the all-genre Top 50 […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/10195225/tim-mcgraw.jpg260390Sarah Skateshttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSarah Skates2011-01-04 15:34:232011-01-04 15:34:23Top Country Tours of 2010
Producer T Bone Burnett will receive a salute from the Producers & Engineers Wing of The Recording Academy during Grammy Week. Titled “Shaken Rattled & Rolled,” the special event is part of the 10th Anniversary celebration of the P&E Wing. Grammy winners Elton John and Leon Russell (whose duet album The Union was produced by […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Freemanhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngFreeman2011-01-04 15:12:222011-01-04 15:12:22Recording Academy To Honor T Bone Burnett
The Pandora “pandemic” may soon be rolling into a car near you! Ford previously announced it would offer Pandora in connection with its SYNC platform. Today, at CES in Las Vegas, Toyota revealed it will also roll with Pandora using its Entune multimedia system. The Toyota system will also reportedly engage users with other apps […]
The ACM Showcase, an evening dedicated to the newcomer nominees for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, is set for Tues., Jan. 18 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The event is open to fans and will take place as a special Grand Ole Opry performance, which is set to air on GAC. Reigning ACM […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Sarah Skateshttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSarah Skates2011-01-04 14:35:152011-01-04 14:35:15ACM Showcase Teams With Opry, GAC
Kellie Pickler and songwriter Kyle Jacobs were married in an intimate ceremony on Saturday, January 1, 2011 on a private island in the Caribbean. Nicole Kidman will appear at The Belcourt Theatre for a screening of her new film Rabbit Hole, and participate in a post-screening discussion moderated by WSMV anchor and filmmaker Demetria Kalodimos […]
Randy Montana’s 3-song EP is hitting online outlets, just as his new single “1000 Faces” hits radio. Produced by Jay Joyce, the 1000 Faces EP contains the title track (Montana, Tom Douglas); “Assembly Line” (Montana, Natalie Hemby); and “Last Horse” featuring Emmylou Harris on harmonies (Montana, father Billy Montana, Rodney Clawson). The Mercury artist’s debut […]
Warner Music Group Corp. announced today the appointment of veteran music industry entrepreneur, Cameron Strang, as CEO of Warner/Chappell Music. The appointment was announced jointly by Warner Music Group’s Chairman & CEO, Edgar Bronfman, Jr., and Warner/Chappell’s Chairman & CEO, David H. Johnson. Strang, the founder of New West Records and Southside Independent Music Publishing, […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/10195227/wc.jpg260390Sarah Skateshttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSarah Skates2011-01-04 10:48:032011-01-04 10:48:03Cameron Strang Named CEO Warner/Chappell
Founder and longtime President of New West Records Cameron Strang has joined Warner/Chappell Music as CEO. New West GM Michael Ruthig will assume the label’s daily operations responsibilities. In this role he will continue to oversee domestic and international sales, with a more active role in Production and A&R. Prior to joining New West, Ruthig […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Freemanhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngFreeman2011-01-04 10:45:052011-01-04 10:45:05New West Names Ruthig GM Following Strang’s Exit
Solid reviews are coming in for Country Strong, which is already showing at the Carmike 20 in Franklin, Tenn. and is slated for a wide release on Friday, Jan. 7. Many critics are saying the movie is carried by strong performances by Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. The LA Times finds “down-home comfort” in the […]
According to market research company Nielsen (1/3/11), the Apple iPhone operating system remains the top mobile OS in the US enjoying a 28.6% market share. Closely following the Cupertino giant is Google’s Android system with 25.8%. Blackberry, once the top dog in the mobile platform race, slides from 33% in June 2010 to 26.1% in […]
On December 18, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 90th birthday of Little Jimmy Dickens, a 62-year Opry veteran. Opry member and Dickens’ good friend Brad Paisley led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” as Opry members Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson and Jim Ed Brown rolled out his birthday cake. Earlier in the evening, Paisley […]
Toby Keith made a surprise visit to his I Love This Bar & Grill at Mesa Riverview in Arizona for New Years Eve where he performed a handful of songs to ring in the New Year including “Whiskey Girl,” “I Love This Bar,” “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)” as well […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00contributorhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngcontributor2011-01-04 08:15:352011-01-04 08:15:35Toby Keith New Year's Eve; Bobby Bare at Fontanel
Facebook has raised $500 million from Goldman Sachs and Russian investor Digital Sky Technologies in a deal which values the social networking company at $50 billion. According to this latest figure, Facebook is worth more than eBay, Yahoo and Time Warner. With rumors circulating about a 2012 public offering for Facebook, Goldman Sachs is expected […]
Attendance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena hit an all-time high in December. Twenty-two separate events, including nine sold-out Garth Brooks shows, drew 334,917 guests to the venue, making December the most attended month since the venue opened in 1996. In addition to Brooks’ shows, which were record setting in themselves, the venue hosted seven Nashville Predators […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Sarah Skateshttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSarah Skates2011-01-03 14:25:282011-01-03 14:25:28Garth Brooks, ZBB Help Set Arena Attendance Record
The Academy of Country Music continues to refine its hybrid voting which polls both fans and industry professionals. For the organization’s 46th Annual Country Music Awards—slated for April 3, 2011—Newcomer categories will again be opened up to fan voting through VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM. This is the third year that ACM and Great American Country have […]
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles will perform a solo show at the Murchison Performing Arts Center in Denton, Texas on Jan. 15, to benefit Attic Community Playground, a non-profit organization supporting the performing arts. Jack Ingram will open the show. Proceeds will go to the Ponder High School Band and Choir Program in Ponder, Texas, and the […]
Veteran radio exec Charlie Cook is starting the new year as Director of Programming and Brand Management for West Virginia Radio Corporation. The outfit operates 26 properties in West Virginia and Maryland. He will be based out of the company’s corporate headquarters in Morgantown, WV. Cook’s 27-year career most recently includes time as programmer and […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Sarah Skateshttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSarah Skates2011-01-03 13:44:482011-01-03 13:44:48Charlie Cook Joins West Virginia Radio Corp.
As we look back at 2010, we see that we have lost some enormous musical talents. Country Music Hall of Fame members Carl Smith and Jimmy Dean passed on, as did Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Hank Cochran. Our r&b community lost Bobby Hebb; our pop scene lost Owsley; and our jazz community lost Dennis Taylor. Studio instrumental greats Ben Keith and Fred Carter Jr. are gone, as are hit songwriters Ronny Scaife, George Richey and Linda Hargrove. Slim Bryant, the last living link to Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music, died at age 101. Here is a remembrance of some of those who passed away during 2010.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Robert K Oermannhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2011-01-03 10:40:512011-01-03 10:40:51Nashville-Related Music Obituaries, 2010
Rockhouse Live has been announced as a new division and proprietary technology platform for technology-based entertainment agency, Rockhouse Partners. the Nashville-based firm’s new offering is intended to help live entertainment properties sell more tickets. According to Rockhouse, “The new division will act as an entertainment marketing agency and leverage a technology product that includes a […]
Tim McGraw will take his band the Dancehall Doctors back on the road for the Emotional Traffic Tour this spring. Special guests Luke Bryan and The Band Perry will join McGraw for the tour, which is sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. No dates have been announced yet, but the full itinerary is expected to be revealed […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Freemanhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngFreeman2011-01-03 10:03:392011-01-03 10:03:39McGraw Gets "Emotional" In Spring
Everyone knows the music business is going through a downturn, but an article in the Tennessean shows just how hard it is hitting songwriters. NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison tells the newspaper that the number of Nashville songwriters making a living from their craft has dropped a drastic 75% in the last five years. Essentially, […]
Nashville music industry veteran Terrell Tye, 58, passed away peacefully on Christmas morning at 7 a.m. She is survived by her loving sons Josh and Zack Allen and brother Dowell Tye. Tye was also the former wife of Grand Ole Opry member Hal Ketchum. Terrell Tye was a partner in Forerunner music, an innovative publishing […]
Have you found yourself thinking lately, “Hey, I wish there were more subscription-based music services available to me as a consumer?” Right. We thought not. But apparently no one notified Sony, who unveiled its Music Unlimited service in the U.K. and Ireland this week boasting a catalog of approximately 6 million titles from Universal Music, […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Freemanhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngFreeman2010-12-23 11:31:102010-12-23 11:31:10Sony Goes To The Cloud With Music Unlimited
Rodney Crowell will be releasing his memoir Chinaberry Sidewalks on January 18. A limited number of signed hard cover copies of Chinaberry Sidewalks are now available for purchase exclusively at RodneyCrowell.com and will ship directly to fans on or before January 18. Also available exclusively on Crowell’s website is a digital download of Rodney Crowell: […]
Billboard’s Antony Bruno does an excellent job peering under the hood at Soulja Boy’s recent Nov. 30 album release which managed to shift 13,000 units, a surprisingly modest debut considering the artist has 2.5 million Twitter followers. Does this mean that Twitter’s ability to influence and drive sales is becoming less important? What about for […]
An article in the New York Times points out the growing divide between communication modes of people young and old. Not surprisingly, those in the younger bracket prefer real-time online chats and text messaging to traditional email. Actual phone calls have been on the decline for some time. Younger people tend to prefer a more […]
Nielsen SoundScan handicappers are now melancholy with the realization that country will not achieve flat sales compared with 2009. With two 2010 sales weeks remaining—one leading into the holiday and one after,
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00adminhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngadmin2010-12-22 13:47:322010-12-22 13:47:32Country ’10 Sales Fall Short
SoundExchange reports its distributions to rights holders increased 55% in 2009 to $156 million. Total revenues rose 20% to 204.2 million. SoundExchange is a non-profit performance rights organization that collects statutory royalties from satellite radio (such as SIRIUS XM), Internet radio (like Pandora), cable TV music channels and similar platforms for streaming sound recordings on […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00adminhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngadmin2010-12-22 10:37:432010-12-22 10:37:43SoundExchange Reports Record Distributions, New Rates
Perhaps country labels should consider the possibility of making album releases into first person shooter video games. According to an article in the New York Post, Acitivision Blizzard’s Call of Duty: Black Ops game has crossed the $1 billion sales threshold in only 42 days. Though not quite in Avatar territory ($1B in 20 days), […]
Shania Twain is on the cover of the latest issue of US Weekly, as her reps confirmed to the magazine that Twain is engaged to Frederic Thiebaud. Thiebaud is the ex-husband of Twain’s former friend Marie-Anne Thiebaud — the woman Robert “Mutt” Lange, Twain’s husband of 14 years, reportedly left Twain for in May 2008. […]
Who can beat Celebrity Taste-makers when it comes to discerning between the jealous and the zealous? Their snarky wit is discerning and head turning. So when LA Times blog Ministry of Gossip asked the musical question, is Julianne Hough’s new video “Is That So Wrong” deserving of being “kinda banned” by CMT, as the young […]
Lewis Copeland recently debuted his original theme song “Smashville” at the Nashville Predators game vs. the San Jose Sharks (12/15). Later during a special performance at the Stage on Broadway, Copeland again performed the song. Among those present at the “Smashville” after party were several Nashville Predators Ice Girls who passed out Preds merchandise to […]
Josh Turner and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their third son, Crawford Marion Turner, on Monday, December 13. He was born at 8:52 p.m. at a Nashville hospital. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. Both baby and mother are doing well. “Jennifer and I are overjoyed at Marion’s arrival,” Turner says. […]
Jimmy’s holiday ballad “Drunk on Christmas” has officially become a tradition on his show. Fallon reintroduced the song (12/16) on his show with country star John Rich, who came decked out in a Santa costume with golden cowboy boots. Seasons drinkings everybody! In the wake of response to the musical pairing, the “inappropriate holiday duet” […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00adminhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngadmin2010-12-21 12:40:052010-12-21 12:40:05Fallon And Rich Holiday Duet On iTunes
Country Thunder Festival stops in Arizona and Wisconsin have added additional performers to their lineups. Joining the performance schedule for the Florence, Arizona Country Thunder Festival April 7-10 are Clay Walker, Rodney Atkins, Eric Church, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Neal McCoy. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, and Martina McBride. Full weekend […]
I dread this column every year. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas. Far from it. It’s just that so much bad music gets recorded in its name. And, as usual, there is far more of it than I can hope to cover in a column.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/10195240/disc122110.jpg260390Robert K Oermannhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2010-12-21 09:26:072010-12-21 09:26:07DISClaimer Single Reviews (12/21/10)
Chrysalis hosted a luncheon to congratulate Jeff Stevens on his inclusion in Billboard’s Year In Music 2010 Hot Country Songs Producers list. “2010 was a great year for Jeff,” says Chrysalis Nashville Executive VP Dale Bobo. “With another hit single (“Someone Else Calling You Baby”), a gold record for his production on Luke Bryan’s “Doin’ […]
A recent Wall Street Journal article by Damian Kulash Jr., lead singer and guitarist of rock band OK Go delves into some of the corners around which the new models are being built. “We once relied on investment and support from a major label,” says Kulash. “Now we make a comparable living raising money directly from fans and through licensing and sponsorship. Music isn’t going away. We’re just moving out of the brief period—a flash in history’s pan—when an artist could expect to make a living selling records alone.”
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00adminhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngadmin2010-12-20 15:30:382010-12-20 15:30:38Music Evolves From Commodity To Experience
The 140,000 concertgoers turning out this week for Garth Brooks’ Nashville shows haven’t been disappointed. His infectious energy radiated through the sold-out Bridgestone Arena last night (12/19) as the headset-wearing hit machine ran through two hours of material. Dubbed Nashville 10: The Rescue Party, the series of shows benefiting flood relief has raised $5 million to date.
Nominations from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Awards were recently announced, with the Grascals and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage both earning multiple nominations. Reigning SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year The Grascals are up for 10 SPBGMA Awards, including Album of the Year (The Famous Lefty Flynn’s), Entertaining […]
Schatzi Hageman, President and founder of Hot Schatz PR, has announced that her long-term professional relationship with Trace Adkins will be ending at the end of the year. Hageman and Adkins have worked together since 1998. “Changes like these are difficult, but they can be very invigorating and energizing, as well,” Hageman continues. “I’m really looking forward to […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00Michellehttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngMichelle2010-12-20 14:01:232010-12-20 14:01:23Hot Schatz and Adkins End Business Relationship
Emrose/Stroudavarious/Nine North’s Margaret Durante played the WPOC Charm City Country Showcase at Hightopps Backstage Grill in Baltimore last night while promoting her single “Mississippi’s Crying.” Durante, now 22 years old is a native of Potomac, Maryland. Some of her influences include Mary Chapin Carpenter and Bonnie Raitt whose voices gave her a love of “soulful, […]
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png00adminhttps://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10150319/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngadmin2010-12-20 11:42:572010-12-20 11:42:57Durante Plays WPOC Show
2010 Sales Wrap: Country Slide Continues
/by adminToday is an especially robust data day for Nielsen SoundScan watchers since the week ending 1/2/2011 closes the door on 2010…but simply stated the industry overall continued its decline,
Brad Howell Joins Show Dog-Universal
/by Sarah SkatesShow Dog-Universal Music has added Brad Howell as VP of National Field Promotion. His extensive experience ranges from radio programming, to promo exec positions at Warner Bros. and Equity, as well as GM of Broken Bow Records. Howell will report to Show Dog-Universal VP of Promotion Rick Moxley. “Brad has been both an innovative promoter […]
DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/5/11)
/by Robert K OermannHappy New Year. What a great way to start 2011: There’s not a stinker in this stack of platters.
WSIX's New Morning Team
/by Sarah SkatesBilly Greenwood and Karla Lawson have taken over the morning shift at WSIX following the end of Gerry House’s long-running “House Foundation” show.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame New Board
/by Sarah SkatesThe Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation has elected John Van Mol Chairman of the Foundation, and elected songwriters Pat Alger and Steve Bogard to its 2011-12 Board of Directors.
The Grascals Raise Awareness For Childhood Cancer
/by contributorNashville’s music community is gathering in support of “I Am Strong,” a song raising awareness about childhood cancer. The song was written by The Grascals band member Jamie Johnson and his wife Susanne Mumpower-Johnson along with Jenee Fleenor after the group visited the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. One version of the song […]
Jenny & Ashley
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“Indescribable” Tall Tree/Lofton Creek Sister duo Jenny & Ashley is releasing its debut single, the effervescent “Indescribable.” The song, co-written by Ashley, was originally part of a demo collection that caught the eye of Lofton Creek Records chief Mike Borchetta. The new version was recorded by Tim McGraw co-producer Darran Smith. The teenage sisters spent […]
Top Country Tours of 2010
/by Sarah SkatesThe biggest grossing tours in 2010 belonged to George Strait/Reba/Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. The Strait tour was the highest grossing North American country tour in 2010, according to Pollstar’s year-end chart. Grossing $41.6 million in box office receipts, the outing placed 14th on the all-genre Top 50 […]
Recording Academy To Honor T Bone Burnett
/by FreemanProducer T Bone Burnett will receive a salute from the Producers & Engineers Wing of The Recording Academy during Grammy Week. Titled “Shaken Rattled & Rolled,” the special event is part of the 10th Anniversary celebration of the P&E Wing. Grammy winners Elton John and Leon Russell (whose duet album The Union was produced by […]
Toyota Adds Pandora
/by adminThe Pandora “pandemic” may soon be rolling into a car near you! Ford previously announced it would offer Pandora in connection with its SYNC platform. Today, at CES in Las Vegas, Toyota revealed it will also roll with Pandora using its Entune multimedia system. The Toyota system will also reportedly engage users with other apps […]
ACM Showcase Teams With Opry, GAC
/by Sarah SkatesThe ACM Showcase, an evening dedicated to the newcomer nominees for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, is set for Tues., Jan. 18 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The event is open to fans and will take place as a special Grand Ole Opry performance, which is set to air on GAC. Reigning ACM […]
Pickler Weds…More Artist News
/by Sarah SkatesKellie Pickler and songwriter Kyle Jacobs were married in an intimate ceremony on Saturday, January 1, 2011 on a private island in the Caribbean. Nicole Kidman will appear at The Belcourt Theatre for a screening of her new film Rabbit Hole, and participate in a post-screening discussion moderated by WSMV anchor and filmmaker Demetria Kalodimos […]
Randy Montana Debuts 3-Song EP
/by Sarah SkatesRandy Montana’s 3-song EP is hitting online outlets, just as his new single “1000 Faces” hits radio. Produced by Jay Joyce, the 1000 Faces EP contains the title track (Montana, Tom Douglas); “Assembly Line” (Montana, Natalie Hemby); and “Last Horse” featuring Emmylou Harris on harmonies (Montana, father Billy Montana, Rodney Clawson). The Mercury artist’s debut […]
Cameron Strang Named CEO Warner/Chappell
/by Sarah SkatesWarner Music Group Corp. announced today the appointment of veteran music industry entrepreneur, Cameron Strang, as CEO of Warner/Chappell Music. The appointment was announced jointly by Warner Music Group’s Chairman & CEO, Edgar Bronfman, Jr., and Warner/Chappell’s Chairman & CEO, David H. Johnson. Strang, the founder of New West Records and Southside Independent Music Publishing, […]
New West Names Ruthig GM Following Strang’s Exit
/by FreemanFounder and longtime President of New West Records Cameron Strang has joined Warner/Chappell Music as CEO. New West GM Michael Ruthig will assume the label’s daily operations responsibilities. In this role he will continue to oversee domestic and international sales, with a more active role in Production and A&R. Prior to joining New West, Ruthig […]
Solid Reviews For "Country Strong"
/by Sarah SkatesSolid reviews are coming in for Country Strong, which is already showing at the Carmike 20 in Franklin, Tenn. and is slated for a wide release on Friday, Jan. 7. Many critics are saying the movie is carried by strong performances by Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. The LA Times finds “down-home comfort” in the […]
Smartphones Becoming Dominant
/by adminAccording to market research company Nielsen (1/3/11), the Apple iPhone operating system remains the top mobile OS in the US enjoying a 28.6% market share. Closely following the Cupertino giant is Google’s Android system with 25.8%. Blackberry, once the top dog in the mobile platform race, slides from 33% in June 2010 to 26.1% in […]
Little Jimmy Celebrates 90
/by contributorOn December 18, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 90th birthday of Little Jimmy Dickens, a 62-year Opry veteran. Opry member and Dickens’ good friend Brad Paisley led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” as Opry members Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson and Jim Ed Brown rolled out his birthday cake. Earlier in the evening, Paisley […]
Toby Keith New Year's Eve; Bobby Bare at Fontanel
/by contributorToby Keith made a surprise visit to his I Love This Bar & Grill at Mesa Riverview in Arizona for New Years Eve where he performed a handful of songs to ring in the New Year including “Whiskey Girl,” “I Love This Bar,” “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)” as well […]
Facebook Worth $50 Billion
/by Sarah SkatesFacebook has raised $500 million from Goldman Sachs and Russian investor Digital Sky Technologies in a deal which values the social networking company at $50 billion. According to this latest figure, Facebook is worth more than eBay, Yahoo and Time Warner. With rumors circulating about a 2012 public offering for Facebook, Goldman Sachs is expected […]
Garth Brooks, ZBB Help Set Arena Attendance Record
/by Sarah SkatesAttendance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena hit an all-time high in December. Twenty-two separate events, including nine sold-out Garth Brooks shows, drew 334,917 guests to the venue, making December the most attended month since the venue opened in 1996. In addition to Brooks’ shows, which were record setting in themselves, the venue hosted seven Nashville Predators […]
ACM Reveals Newcomer Nominees
/by adminThe Academy of Country Music continues to refine its hybrid voting which polls both fans and industry professionals. For the organization’s 46th Annual Country Music Awards—slated for April 3, 2011—Newcomer categories will again be opened up to fan voting through VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM. This is the third year that ACM and Great American Country have […]
Nettles and Ingram Benefit Concert
/by MichelleSugarland’s Jennifer Nettles will perform a solo show at the Murchison Performing Arts Center in Denton, Texas on Jan. 15, to benefit Attic Community Playground, a non-profit organization supporting the performing arts. Jack Ingram will open the show. Proceeds will go to the Ponder High School Band and Choir Program in Ponder, Texas, and the […]
Charlie Cook Joins West Virginia Radio Corp.
/by Sarah SkatesVeteran radio exec Charlie Cook is starting the new year as Director of Programming and Brand Management for West Virginia Radio Corporation. The outfit operates 26 properties in West Virginia and Maryland. He will be based out of the company’s corporate headquarters in Morgantown, WV. Cook’s 27-year career most recently includes time as programmer and […]
Nashville-Related Music Obituaries, 2010
/by Robert K OermannAs we look back at 2010, we see that we have lost some enormous musical talents. Country Music Hall of Fame members Carl Smith and Jimmy Dean passed on, as did Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Hank Cochran. Our r&b community lost Bobby Hebb; our pop scene lost Owsley; and our jazz community lost Dennis Taylor. Studio instrumental greats Ben Keith and Fred Carter Jr. are gone, as are hit songwriters Ronny Scaife, George Richey and Linda Hargrove. Slim Bryant, the last living link to Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music, died at age 101. Here is a remembrance of some of those who passed away during 2010.
[updated photos] Shania Weds; Dierks Welcomes Baby
/by Sarah SkatesOver the holidays Shania Twain got married and Dierks Bentley welcomed a new baby. Click for more.
Rockhouse Aligns Live Marketing Channels
/by adminRockhouse Live has been announced as a new division and proprietary technology platform for technology-based entertainment agency, Rockhouse Partners. the Nashville-based firm’s new offering is intended to help live entertainment properties sell more tickets. According to Rockhouse, “The new division will act as an entertainment marketing agency and leverage a technology product that includes a […]
McGraw Gets "Emotional" In Spring
/by FreemanTim McGraw will take his band the Dancehall Doctors back on the road for the Emotional Traffic Tour this spring. Special guests Luke Bryan and The Band Perry will join McGraw for the tour, which is sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. No dates have been announced yet, but the full itinerary is expected to be revealed […]
Artist Co-Writes Feed Songwriter Slump
/by Sarah SkatesEveryone knows the music business is going through a downturn, but an article in the Tennessean shows just how hard it is hitting songwriters. NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison tells the newspaper that the number of Nashville songwriters making a living from their craft has dropped a drastic 75% in the last five years. Essentially, […]
Publisher Terrell Tye Passes
/by adminNashville music industry veteran Terrell Tye, 58, passed away peacefully on Christmas morning at 7 a.m. She is survived by her loving sons Josh and Zack Allen and brother Dowell Tye. Tye was also the former wife of Grand Ole Opry member Hal Ketchum. Terrell Tye was a partner in Forerunner music, an innovative publishing […]
Sony Goes To The Cloud With Music Unlimited
/by FreemanHave you found yourself thinking lately, “Hey, I wish there were more subscription-based music services available to me as a consumer?” Right. We thought not. But apparently no one notified Sony, who unveiled its Music Unlimited service in the U.K. and Ireland this week boasting a catalog of approximately 6 million titles from Universal Music, […]
Rodney Crowell Authors Memoir
/by MichelleRodney Crowell will be releasing his memoir Chinaberry Sidewalks on January 18. A limited number of signed hard cover copies of Chinaberry Sidewalks are now available for purchase exclusively at RodneyCrowell.com and will ship directly to fans on or before January 18. Also available exclusively on Crowell’s website is a digital download of Rodney Crowell: […]
Do Twitter Followers Equal Sales?
/by adminBillboard’s Antony Bruno does an excellent job peering under the hood at Soulja Boy’s recent Nov. 30 album release which managed to shift 13,000 units, a surprisingly modest debut considering the artist has 2.5 million Twitter followers. Does this mean that Twitter’s ability to influence and drive sales is becoming less important? What about for […]
OMG, Email, WRU?
/by FreemanAn article in the New York Times points out the growing divide between communication modes of people young and old. Not surprisingly, those in the younger bracket prefer real-time online chats and text messaging to traditional email. Actual phone calls have been on the decline for some time. Younger people tend to prefer a more […]
Country ’10 Sales Fall Short
/by adminNielsen SoundScan handicappers are now melancholy with the realization that country will not achieve flat sales compared with 2009. With two 2010 sales weeks remaining—one leading into the holiday and one after,
SoundExchange Reports Record Distributions, New Rates
/by adminSoundExchange reports its distributions to rights holders increased 55% in 2009 to $156 million. Total revenues rose 20% to 204.2 million. SoundExchange is a non-profit performance rights organization that collects statutory royalties from satellite radio (such as SIRIUS XM), Internet radio (like Pandora), cable TV music channels and similar platforms for streaming sound recordings on […]
“Black Ops” Boasts Explosive Sales
/by FreemanPerhaps country labels should consider the possibility of making album releases into first person shooter video games. According to an article in the New York Post, Acitivision Blizzard’s Call of Duty: Black Ops game has crossed the $1 billion sales threshold in only 42 days. Though not quite in Avatar territory ($1B in 20 days), […]
Garth Tickets on StubHub; Twain Gets Engaged
/by MichelleShania Twain is on the cover of the latest issue of US Weekly, as her reps confirmed to the magazine that Twain is engaged to Frederic Thiebaud. Thiebaud is the ex-husband of Twain’s former friend Marie-Anne Thiebaud — the woman Robert “Mutt” Lange, Twain’s husband of 14 years, reportedly left Twain for in May 2008. […]
Hough’s Video Banned… Really?
/by adminWho can beat Celebrity Taste-makers when it comes to discerning between the jealous and the zealous? Their snarky wit is discerning and head turning. So when LA Times blog Ministry of Gossip asked the musical question, is Julianne Hough’s new video “Is That So Wrong” deserving of being “kinda banned” by CMT, as the young […]
Copeland Debuts “Smashville” Theme
/by adminLewis Copeland recently debuted his original theme song “Smashville” at the Nashville Predators game vs. the San Jose Sharks (12/15). Later during a special performance at the Stage on Broadway, Copeland again performed the song. Among those present at the “Smashville” after party were several Nashville Predators Ice Girls who passed out Preds merchandise to […]
Josh Turner Welcomes Son; Jake Owen Benefit Concert
/by MichelleJosh Turner and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their third son, Crawford Marion Turner, on Monday, December 13. He was born at 8:52 p.m. at a Nashville hospital. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. Both baby and mother are doing well. “Jennifer and I are overjoyed at Marion’s arrival,” Turner says. […]
Fallon And Rich Holiday Duet On iTunes
/by adminJimmy’s holiday ballad “Drunk on Christmas” has officially become a tradition on his show. Fallon reintroduced the song (12/16) on his show with country star John Rich, who came decked out in a Santa costume with golden cowboy boots. Seasons drinkings everybody! In the wake of response to the musical pairing, the “inappropriate holiday duet” […]
Country Thunder Lineup Expands
/by FreemanCountry Thunder Festival stops in Arizona and Wisconsin have added additional performers to their lineups. Joining the performance schedule for the Florence, Arizona Country Thunder Festival April 7-10 are Clay Walker, Rodney Atkins, Eric Church, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Neal McCoy. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, and Martina McBride. Full weekend […]
DISClaimer Single Reviews (12/21/10)
/by Robert K OermannI dread this column every year. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas. Far from it. It’s just that so much bad music gets recorded in its name. And, as usual, there is far more of it than I can hope to cover in a column.
Chrysalis Fetes Jeff Stevens Producer Honor
/by adminChrysalis hosted a luncheon to congratulate Jeff Stevens on his inclusion in Billboard’s Year In Music 2010 Hot Country Songs Producers list. “2010 was a great year for Jeff,” says Chrysalis Nashville Executive VP Dale Bobo. “With another hit single (“Someone Else Calling You Baby”), a gold record for his production on Luke Bryan’s “Doin’ […]
Music Evolves From Commodity To Experience
/by adminA recent Wall Street Journal article by Damian Kulash Jr., lead singer and guitarist of rock band OK Go delves into some of the corners around which the new models are being built. “We once relied on investment and support from a major label,” says Kulash. “Now we make a comparable living raising money directly from fans and through licensing and sponsorship. Music isn’t going away. We’re just moving out of the brief period—a flash in history’s pan—when an artist could expect to make a living selling records alone.”
Garth: Good Ride Cowboy
/by Sarah SkatesThe 140,000 concertgoers turning out this week for Garth Brooks’ Nashville shows haven’t been disappointed. His infectious energy radiated through the sold-out Bridgestone Arena last night (12/19) as the headset-wearing hit machine ran through two hours of material. Dubbed Nashville 10: The Rescue Party, the series of shows benefiting flood relief has raised $5 million to date.
Grascals, Vincent Earn Multiple SPBGMA Nominations
/by FreemanNominations from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Awards were recently announced, with the Grascals and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage both earning multiple nominations. Reigning SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year The Grascals are up for 10 SPBGMA Awards, including Album of the Year (The Famous Lefty Flynn’s), Entertaining […]
Hot Schatz and Adkins End Business Relationship
/by MichelleSchatzi Hageman, President and founder of Hot Schatz PR, has announced that her long-term professional relationship with Trace Adkins will be ending at the end of the year. Hageman and Adkins have worked together since 1998. “Changes like these are difficult, but they can be very invigorating and energizing, as well,” Hageman continues. “I’m really looking forward to […]
Durante Plays WPOC Show
/by adminEmrose/Stroudavarious/Nine North’s Margaret Durante played the WPOC Charm City Country Showcase at Hightopps Backstage Grill in Baltimore last night while promoting her single “Mississippi’s Crying.” Durante, now 22 years old is a native of Potomac, Maryland. Some of her influences include Mary Chapin Carpenter and Bonnie Raitt whose voices gave her a love of “soulful, […]