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Bobby Karl Works 2014 CMA Music Fest–Day One

June 4, 2014/by Bobby Karl

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 457
As a result of my meander through downtown on Tuesday evening (June 3), let me be the first to inform you that this year’s CMA Music Festival attendees are already here in full force and ready to party.
The ones I saw were mostly young couples. They are here to celebrate Country music. They are here to celebrate one another. These are my People!

Sarah Darling performs for CMT One Country & Dentastix party.

As the sun began to set, the fans were flocking to Lower Broadway for the “Music City Gives Back” outdoor show by Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Josh Thompson and Rodney Atkins. This benefited the W.O. Smith Community Music School. Jimmy Carter was there grabbing fan testimonials for Channel 4’s evening newscast. Rodney and Jana got airtime, too.
The Country Music Hall of Fame was doing its part to boost the festivities. Its Tuesday show featured former Belmont students Striking Matches, plus Michael Ray and blonde newcomer Cam. They were subbing for the originally scheduled The Henningsens, who are reportedly on doctor’s orders for vocal rest. In addition to presenting music, this was also an early autographing event.
MusicRow’s Sarah Skates and Kelsey Grady shamelessly declared themselves to be part of the fan brigade. They headed for Mercy Lounge for another Tuesday benefit. This one was for “Musicians on Call,” which brings music to patients in healthcare facilities. This “Country Weekly Kick-Off Party’ starred such heartthrobs as Kip Moore, Frankie Ballard and Chuck Wicks.
Yet another benefit was taking place at 3rd & Lindsley. This one was for Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s multiple sclerosis research. Clay Walker and Montgomery Gentry were booked to headline.
Meanwhile at The Ryman, there was “Stars for Second Harvest,” yet another benefit show. Craig Wiseman “and his friends” were the stars.

Carrie Underwood at her fan club party at the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo.

I didn’t explore much beyond downtown, but out at the Opry House, there was an outstanding Tuesday lineup. The GOO was featuring Carrie Underwood (who had already had staged her fan-club party there on Monday), Jennifer Nettles, Trace Adkins, Josh Turner, Terri Clark and The Oak Ridge Boys.
Instead, I headed for the warehouse Peter Nappi Studios in North Nashville for the Tuesday-eve launch party of RollingStoneCountry.com. This fiesta was pretty much wall-to-wall artists and publicists. Heading the former list were Brett Eldredge, Chris Young, Maggie Rose, Al Gore (!), Nikki Lane, John & Martina McBride, Eric Paslay, Dustin Lynch, Kellie Pickler, Dann Huff, Leah Turner and party performer Keith Urban. Not to mention Nashville TV soap cast members Jonathan Jackson (“Avery”), Clare Bowen (“Scarlett”), Sam Palladio (“Gunnar”) and Chaley Rose (“Zoe”).
Wait staff circulated with trays of exotic hors d’oeuvres. I didn’t recognize any of the food by sight, and I still couldn’t identify the two tastes I tried. The place was sweltering, but the good news was that they offered Patron Popsicles (essentially, frozen margarita on a stick).
As I mentioned, if you were looking for a friendly flack, this was the spot to be. Working the room were Scott Stem, Craig Campbell, Claire Cook, Alison Auerbach, Ronna Rubin, Erin Morris, Jenny Bohler, Regina Stuve, Jim Havey, Jacqueline Marushka, Cindy Hunt and Lyndie Wenner.
Other scene makers included John Esposito, John Grady, Heather Byrd, Lisa Konicki, Barry Mazor, Jewly Hight and the ubiquitous Tracy Gershon. Presiding were the publication’s exec Jann Wenner, his son Gus Wenner (who is all of 23 years old), plus Beville Dunkerley and Joseph Hudak.
The stars and schmoozers who weren’t at Peter Nappi’s were probably at the annual CAA barbecue downtown, which was happening simultaneously.

Weekly Register: Waiting On 'Platinum'

June 4, 2014/by Sarah Skates

It’s release week for Country darling Miranda Lambert, so chart watchers will have to wait until next week to find out the tally for Platinum.
With no huge debuts, this week’s sales chart is fairly static, with Coldplay and Brantley Gilbert retaining their first and second places, respectively, on the all-genre album chart. Both in their second week of release, the Brit rockers moved 83K (down 78% from last week) and Gilbert sold 65K (down 69%).
Mariah Carey’s latest was the week’s top debut selling 58k and landing at No. 3. The top Country debut is courtesy of Jamie Lynn Spears with 2.1k.
The top five Country albums belong to Gilbert (65k), Rascal Flatts (17k), Luke Bryan (14.5k), Florida Georgia Line (14k), and Eric Church (7.5k).
Tracking Tracks
Bryan’s “Play It Again” is playing along in the No. 1 position on the Country tracks chart, selling 76.5k TW (1.228 million RTD). That is followed by Jake Owen’s sunny “Beachin'” (59k), FGL and Bryan’s “This Is How We Roll” (57k), Lee Brice’s “I Don’t Dance” (46k) and Dierks Bentley’s “Drunk on a Plane” (45k).
Jana Kramer’s “Love” is the best selling Country debut single, with 15.5k.
Check back after CMA Music Festival to see how this week’s new releases fared: Lambert, Lucy Hale, Big Smo, Native Run and Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 7.

DISClaimer: The "Unstoppable" Hunter Hayes

June 4, 2014/by Robert K Oermann

Hunter Hayes

The trend in today’s column is female singer-songwriters on self-made, indie discs. Cyndi Harvell, Nora Collins, Michael-Ann and Maddie Deneault are all promising in various ways. But it’s Michael-Ann who waltzes off with this week’s DisCovery Award.
The Disc of the Day prize unquestionably belongs to Hunter Hayes. The boy is unstoppable.
CYNDI HARVELL/Flood
Writers: Cyndi Harvell; Producer: Jim Greer; Publishers: Yellow Door, ASCAP; CH (track)
-Artfully done, with darkly chiming piano chords, Everly-sisters harmonies, a drama-infused string section, nervous percussion and poetic lyrics. Americana programmers, take special note.
JIM LAUDERDALE/I’m A Song
Writers: Jim Lauderdale; Producer: Jim Lauderdale; Publishers: Wudang Mountain/Bug, SESAC; Say Crunch (track)
-Next up for this oh-so-country hit songsmith is a 20-track showcase of his talents that includes his own version of his Strait smash “The King of Broken Hearts.” Guest harmonizers include Patty Loveless, Lee Ann Womack and Buddy Miller, and his songwriting collaborators include Bobby Bare, Elvis Costello and John Oates. The set’s title tune is a gently swaying, super-melodic sing-along that will have you nodding in time with a smile on your face. To know him is to love him.
HUNTER HAYES/Tattoo
Writers: Hunter Hayes/Barry Dean/Troy Verges; Producers: Hunter Hayes/Dann Huff; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Ogden Avenue/Magnolia Beach/Creative Nation/Country Paper/Pulse Nation, BMI; Atlantic (track)
-Jaunty and endearing, this bubbly romance tune is as bright as summer sunshine. “Your name would be a good tattoo,” he croons to his honey.
BYRON HILL/Red Leather Couch
Writers: Byron Hill; Producer: Byron Hill; Publishers: Byron Hill, ASCAP; BHP (track)
-The title tune of hit songwriter Hill’s new, 15-track showcase has an easy-going, loping tempo with a “beach-y” vibe. It’s a charming ode to loafing, creating, thinking, sleeping, relaxing and having fun on a well-worn item of living-room furniture. Listening to this record might make you fall in love with Music Row song craftsmanship all over again.
TRENT TOMLINSON/Come Back to Bed
Writers: Trent Tomlinson/Ashe Underwood/Terri Jo Box; Producers: none listed; Publishers: Big Spaces/Big Mosquito/Geormac/Songs of Merf, no performance rights listed; Gluseppe
-Tomlinson’s comeback single is a moody, feverish outing that finds him beckoning for S-E-X. The throbbing beat, swirling melody and suggestive lyrics all work together spectacularly. Play it.
NORA COLLINS/Only The Beginning
Writers: Nora Collins/Willy Porter; Producers: Kenn Fox; Publishers: Don’t Slow Down/Terra Perfuma; SESAC/ASCAP; NC (track)
-Collins is a Wisconsin teen who has won numerous “rising star” awards in her home state. Her debut CD is an acoustic effort (guitar and fiddle only) that showcases six of her original compositions, plus four covers. On its title tune, her lyrics are solid, if a mite wordy. Her soprano vocal delivery is very, very young sounding. You’re on the right path: Keep at it.
TIM MENZIES/His Way of Loving Me
Writers: Tim Menzies; Producer: Ben Isaacs; Publishers: House of Sea Gayle/Wind in My Sails, ASCAP; By Grace (track)
-Tim Mensy has reverted to the original spelling of his name for his billing on his first country-gospel collection. Its title ballad is a terrific message song about the different ways that love reveals itself. As always, he is a spectacular country baritone with immense reservoirs of feeling. Apart from the standards “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” “I’m Working on a Building” and “I Surrender All,” he wrote or co-wrote all of these moving tunes. I remain an enormous fan.
MICHAEL-ANN/Heavy Load
Writers: Michael-Ann; Producer: Randy Ray Mitchell; Publisher: November Phoenix, ASCAP; MA (track)
-This L.A. singer-songwriter emotes beautifully on the title tune of her CD. Her moaning alto breaks in all the right places while dobro, fiddle and her own acoustic guitar drawl along in a bluesy river of sound. The rest of the album proves this track isn’t a fluke: These are all first-rate songs. Extremely promising.
RASCAL FLATTS/Payback
Writers: Aaron Eshuis/Neil Mason/Ryan Hurd; Producer: Howard Benson; Publishers: WB/Nevada House/Revelry/Nettwerk One/Universal, ASCAP/BMI; Big Machine (track)
-The beefy rock guitars are perfect for this thumper about a lady who’s out on the town trying to get over a broken heart. He’s offering to be her payback to get even with the old boyfriend. Rousing and inescapably catchy.
MADDIE DENEAULT/She Don’t Play Guitar
Writers: Mason Douglas/Courtney Cole; Producer: Kim Copeland; Publishers: Wild Cataclysm/Chobe/Little Biscuit/Words & Music/Songs of Black River, BMI/ASCAP; MD (track)
-This teenage Texan displays plenty of moxie on her sassy single. She dishes a rival by admitting her good looks, but telling the boyfriend, “She can’t carry a tune in a bucket.” Yes, she has a “pretty good chest,” knows how dance, wears tight jeans and is blonde. But that gal, “don’t play guitar.” Sprightly and lotsa fun.

Bobby Karl Works The Americana Cross County Lines Festival

June 2, 2014/by Bobby Karl

Patty Griffin performing at our Cross-County Lines Festival. Photo: Sarah Comardelle

Patty Griffin performing at the Cross County Lines Festival. Photo: Sarah Comardelle

Chapter 456
The inaugural music event at Franklin’s Harlinsdale Farm was a success on every level.
The gig, Saturday’s “Cross County Lines Festival,” was staged by the Americana Music Association with Nissan as the presenting sponsor. Parking, security, ticketing and all the other logistics were flawlessly executed. Sound and lights were top notch. The grassy lawn was comfy, and the balmy weather couldn’t have been better. The concessions featured an array of food trucks (one offering a cheeseburger pie), and the merch tent offered vinyl LPs of several of the headliners.
Ah, yes, the headliners. Musically, the fest was a triumph. North Mississippi Allstars leader (and former Black Crowes guitarist) Luther Dickinson opened and earned himself some new fans. So did Joe Pug. The best of the openers was Nashvillian Parker Millsap, for whom I predict Americana stardom.
Winsome Ashley Monroe trilled delightfully. Show-stealing Brandy Clark was a revelation. She was practically a living tutorial on songwriting and backed up her troubadour talent with lively stage patter. Clark pointed out with some surprise how attentive and un-rowdy the crowd was. It’s true. The audience was as mellow and appreciative as could be.
Patty Griffin was super soulful, dipping frequently into gospel-tinged melodies and grooving steadily with her band. Rocking John Hiatt closed the show and matched Patty for soul-drenched delivery. During the daylight hours, there was a small, acoustic, secondary stage featuring assorted singer-songwriters.
I estimate that the six-hour fest drew about 2,000 folks. But take that with a grain of salt, since I have never been known as an expert crowd counter. Kids were admitted free, so the fest had a family-friendly vibe.
Several friendly faces dotted the landscape. Working the “room” were Garth Fundis, David Macias, Michael Gray (with his son, who is heading for UT this fall), Jaclyn Carter, Nina Miller, Pete Loesch, Jason Moon Wilkins (who is now with Thirty Tigers), Tracy Gershon, Jed Hilly, Shelley Mays and Jacqueline Marushka.
The outdoor fest capped a 10-day, 10-venue “Americana Experience” in Franklin. I didn’t know there were even 10 venues in Franklin, but evidently there are, including at least three that start with the word “Puckett.”
It is my understanding that Harlinsdale Farm is to become a city park. Which is excellent news. It’s across the street from The Factory, where we dined at Saffire, to the accompaniment of a gypsy-jazz fiddle-guitar-bass trio.

Weekly Chart Report (5/30/14)

May 30, 2014/by Troy_Stephenson

Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

Weekly Register: Brantley Gilbert Rides To No. 1

May 28, 2014/by Sarah Skates

Brantley Gilbert rocketed to the top of the Country Albums charts with his new album Just As I Am selling 211k units (44% digital) during release week, according to Soundscan. The promotional push for the Georgia native’s latest product included a multi-state motorcycle trek and was fueled by hit single “Bottoms Up.” Also, his new music was unavailable on streaming services including Spotify.
Gilbert’s tally marks the year’s second biggest Country debut, following Eric Church’s The Outsiders, which moved 288k its first week out.
Outside the Country realm, Coldplay scored the year’s top debut overall, spooking fans into picking up 383k copies of Ghost Stories.
Last week’s major debuts by The Black Keys and Rascal Flatts mark two weeks in a row of much needed sales momentum. Week-to-week sales are up 5% for all genres and up 23% Country. The Keys’ Turn Blue turned in 164k units, and Flatts fast forwarded with 61k of Rewind.
BMLG has the Top 3 Country albums this week: Gilbert (211k), Flatts (22k), and Florida Georgia Line (17k). Rounding out the Top 5 are two of People Country’s newly anointed “Sexiest Men” Luke Bryan (16k) and Hunter Hayers (9k)

“Good Girl” Gone Bad: Carrie Underwood.

Tracking Tracks
Miranda Lambert’s duet with Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad,” is turning out pretty good. It sold 107k tracks, skidding into the No. 1 slot on the Country tracks chart. Lambert thanked her Sony labelmate this week by sending her a motorcycle. Lambert’s much-anticipated Platinum album drops June 3.
It’s happy hour for Lady A, who debuted with 50k units of “Bartender,” the lead single from their fifth album.
The Voice contestant Jake Worthington also made a splash on the Country tracks chart with three new singles from the show.

DISClaimer: Enduring Stars and Charming Newcomers

May 28, 2014/by Robert K Oermann

With the CMA Music Fest right around the corner, it’s no surprise that this week’s stack of country releases is packed with star power.
Despite the presence of so many marquee names, there are really only two selections here that make headlines. One of them belongs to the enduringly fine Tim McGraw, with a vocal assist from his better half, Faith Hill. The other is more of a surprise, a maybe-smash charmer from left field by up-and-comer Jana Kramer. These two share the Disc of the Day award.
There’s only one newcomer here, so by default, Sarah Davidson takes home a DisCovery Award.
SARAH DAVIDSON/Drink You Up
Writers: Caitlyn Smith/Gordie Sampson/Steve McEwan; Producer: Brian Kolb/Dino Paredes; Publisher: none listed; Suretone
-Since she was on the Private Lives of Nashville Wives reality TV show, I was prepared to loathe this. But the mid-tempo outing is actually pretty well done. Catchy and romantic.
THOMPSON SQUARE/Testing The Water
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
-Funk rhythm, wah-wah guitar and spoken-word passages are not things we generally associate with these two. So this definitely perks up the ears. A nice and nifty change of pace.

Sarah Davidson

TIM McGRAW & FAITH HILL/Meanwhile Back at Mama’s
Writers: Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele; Producer: Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine (ERG)
-Rippling acoustic guitars set the stage, then Tim comes in with a beautifully nuanced delivery of this lovely paean to passing pastoral pleasures. Faith’s harmony vocals on the choruses shadow him note for note. A gorgeous little single.
ZAC BROWN BAND/All Alright
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Southern Ground
-Stately and majestic. It’s a heartache song, but the heavenly chorale harmonies make it sound almost celebratory. Blue-eyed soul is the overall vibe here. Still in this fan club.
BREELAN ANGEL/Double Standards
Writers: Breelan Angel/Lacy Green; Producer: Ray Barnette; Publishers: Breelan Angel/Lacy Green, BMI; MisBhavin’
-Her pert, girlish voice hardly sounds old enough to drink, fight and cuss, never mind complain about double standards for women that tell them not to. Still, it sounds sprightly and is well written.
BRANTLEY GILBERT/Small Town Throwdown
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Ben Hayslip/Rhett Akins/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Indiana Angel/WB/Get a Load of This/EMI Blackwood, BMI/ASCAP; Valory Music
-Featuring vocal contributions from Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett, this rocker is otherwise a routine bro-country thang. You know the drill: keg of beer, babes in cutoffs, tailgates, party in the country, blah blah blah.

Jana Kramer

JANA KRAMER/Love
Writers: Catt Gravitt/Jimmy Robbins; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Ink Pen Mama/Tunes of R and T Direct/Extraordinary Alien, SESAC/ASCAP; Elektra
-This superbly written single has “hit” engraved on it. In fact, this could be her career record. Beautifully constructed, perfectly produced and sung with intense, sunny believability.
KEITH URBAN/Somewhere In My Car
Writers: J.T. Harding/Keith Urban; Producers: Dann Huff/Keith Urban; Publishers: SONGS/Mighty Seven/Songs of SMP/Heavy Metal Disco/Songs of Universal/Mary Rose, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol (CDX)
-It’s a pulse-quickening, toe-tapping, upbeat sound. But all of his singles sorta sound the same, don’t they?
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Bartender
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Rodney Clawson; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Lady Antebellum; Publishers: Beards and Bullets/3OA Getaway/Hobbs Hill/Kobalt/Big Red Toe/Big Loud Bucks, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol (CDX)
-She wants to get lost in the booze and the noise and the lights so she can get over him. But don’t get any ideas, boys, ‘cause this is a night to dance with the gal pals. Rousing, if not quite up to the standards of their greatest works.
J.T. Hodges/Already High
Writers: J.T. Hodges/Kevin Griffin; Producer: Kevin Griffin; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Adeline 29/Sing Station/Boomer Sooie, BMI; Show Dog-Universal
-Cool and thumping, with plenty of beats and boom. He name-drops brands of drinks and smokes to get to the point: He doesn’t need any outside stimulation, because he’s already stoned on love. Very, very listenable. I remain a big fan.

Slate Creek Records Signs Angaleena Presley

May 28, 2014/by Jessica Nicholson

Angaleena Presley

Singer, songwriter Angaleena Presley is set to release her first full-length solo album on Slate Creek Records later this year. The Beauty, Ky. native is also known for her role in the trio Pistol Annies, alongside Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe.
In addition to co-writing songs on Pistol Annies’ two projects, Annie Up and Hell on Heels, Presley also co-wrote Lambert’s 2011 single, “Fastest Girl in Town” and Ashton Shepherd‘s “Look It Up,” among other songs.
“Part of what I loved about Garth Fundis and Jim Burnett at Slate Creek is that they understood where I wanted to go creatively,” Presley says. “Producing this album was important to me because of its content – I’ve lived every word of it and knew exactly how I wanted it to sound.”
“We could not be happier about Angaleena joining our Slate Creek team and giving us the opportunity to release her remarkable solo debut,” Slate Creek’s President & Creative Director Garth Fundis comments. “From the first listen, we knew we wanted to be a part of this and can hardly wait for others to hear what she has created. Angaleena is both poet and artist in the truest sense of those words.”
Slate Creek Records is also home to singer, songwriter and entertainer Brandy Clark. An album title, release date and track listing for Presley’s debut project on the label are forthcoming.

Weekly Chart Report (5/23/14)

May 23, 2014/by Troy_Stephenson

Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

Weekly Register: Big Debuts By Rascal Flatts, Black Keys

May 21, 2014/by Sarah Skates

Nashville is well represented on today’s (May 21) sales charts. Turn Blue, the new album from Music City-based rock stars The Black Keys claimed the No. 1 slot overall by moving 164k units, and Country mainstays Rascal Flatts sold 61k of Rewind to debut at No. 1 Country and No. 5 overall.
Icon Dolly Parton moved a very respectable 37k units of her latest Blue Smoke to slide in to No. 2 Country and No. 6 overall.
Further representative of the numerous genres thriving in Nashville is CCM stalwart Michael W. Smith’s Sovereign debuting with 16k.

Also noteworthy is new product from late superstar Michael Jackson. Xscape sold 157k.
To show how sales have entered free-fall in the last 12 months, consider that this week last year the No. 1 Country debut was George Strait’s Love Is Everything selling 120k.
Here’s a look at the digital percentage of total album sales of each of these new releases: The Black Keys (58% digital), Michael Jackson (34%), Rascal Flatts (30%), and Dolly Parton (15%).
Keeping Track of Tracks
Luke Bryan broke the 1 million download mark with his hit “Play It Again,” selling 85k this week.
The Voice contestant Jake Worthington scored the top Country debut track with 48.5k of “Heaven.”
Brantley Gilbert’s “Small Town Throwdown” featuring BMLG labelmates Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett entered with 29k.

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