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DisClaimer: Trio Riding High

July 3, 2013/by Robert K Oermann

Blue Sky Riders is made up of (L-R) Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr

The guys and the gals are canceling each other out this week. Jason Cassidy and Toby Keith have the two finest new male singles, and they are equally potent. Likewise, womanly Debbie Cochran and girlish Sarah Darling both have super strong singles, although in completely different ways. That leaves room for the group Blue Sky Riders to ride to the rescue with the Disc of the Day. I know you’re probably sick of reading me rave about this trio (Kenny Loggins, Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman), but I’m not going to stop until every one of you goes out and buys the album and hears what I’m talking about. So there. Nobody wins a DisCovery Award in this edition of DisClaimer.
TRACY LAWRENCE/Footprints on the Moon
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Dallas Davidson/Rhett Akins; Producers: Flip Anderson & Tracy Lawrence; Publishers: WB/Get a Load of This/EMI Blackwood, ASCAP/BMI; LMC (CDX)
-Tempo for your summer playlist, plus an ultra-romantic lyric. Soaring sonics.
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW/Carry Me Back To Virginia
Writers: Secor/Haynes/Watson; Producer: Ted Hutt; Publishers: Blood Donor/Broken Banjo/Spirit One, BMI; ATO (CDX)
-This acoustic band is currently riding high as the co-writer of Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.” This just-released, fiddle-tune pep-fest is for the frisky clogger in all of us. Folk flavored and earthy, it’s a tongue-tripping performance with a built-in smile.
TOBY KEITH/Drinks After Work
Writers: Natalie Hemby/Luke Laird/Barry Dean; Producer: Toby Keith; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Wruckestrike/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Country Paper/Pulse Nation/Twangin and Slangin, BMI; Show Dog
-He is propositioning in the nicest way in this scampering ditty. Hey, where’s the harm in a little conversation during Happy Hour? As usual, Toby sings with enormous charm and personality.
JASON CASSIDY/Blame It On Waylon
Writers: Rhett Akins/Josh Thompson; Producers: Greg Hunt and Jason Cassidy; Publisher: none listed; JC (track)
-The production rocks righteously, and his country baritone has just the right touch of “outlaw” swagger. Already a hit in Texas, I see no reason why this stomper couldn’t have much, much wider appeal.
SARAH DARLING/Little Umbrellas
Writers: Sarah Darling/Doug Johnson/Rob Crosby; Producer: Ilya Toshinsky; Publishers: Golden Vault/Wadmalaw/Black River/Sweet Conspiracy/Offer You Can’t Refuse/Little Darling/Want a Fresh One, BMI/ASCAP; 764
-Perky, pop-y, choppy, bopping. Her lilting delivery is sweetly girlish, but the lyric is about empowerment and getting over a guy. Extremely catchy.
DEBBIE COCHRAN/When You’re Loving Me
Writer: Debbie Cochran; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: DMC Anniston; BMI; Go Time (track)
-Her languid, lustrous, throaty, confident, slightly bluesy delivery is enchanting. The band locks into a steady groove behind her on this seductive, mid-tempo outing. Dreamy listening.
BLUE SKY RIDERS/Feelin’ Brave
Writers: Blue Sky Riders; Producers: Peter Asher and Blue Sky Riders; Publishers: Gnossos/Connboy/Middle Girl, ASCAP/SESAC; 3 Dream (track)
-All 15 tracks on this group’s debut CD Finally Home are so uniformly superb that choosing what to issue as a single must be insanely difficult. This throbbing, tempo-shifting, harmony-drenched choice provides moments for all three vocalists to shine. Beyond fabulous.
T.J. BROSCOFF/This Is The Moment
Writer: T.J. Broscoff; Producers: Bill Green and T.J. Broscoff; Publisher: Bill Green, BMI; BGM
-His delivery of this heartbreak toe-tapper has hillbilly soul. Punchy and potent, despite the somewhat slim production values.
ASHTON SHEPHERD/This Is America
Writer: Ashton Shepherd; Producers: Ronnie Rogers and Larry Beard; Publisher: none listed; Pickin’ Shed
-Just in time for the Fourth of July comes this patriotic number about surviving hard times. It is somewhat wordy, but she sings the fire out of it nonetheless.
AARON WOODS BAND/Hangin’ By The River
Writers: Aaron Woods/Colt Larimore; Producer: Tony Pierce; Publisher: none listed, BMI; EJP
-You can’t sing, and your song about a country party is so hackneyed it gives me a headache.

Shaun Silva: Striving To Elevate Nashville

July 1, 2013/by Sarah Skates

Shaun Silva is one of Nashville’s biggest proponents, and is striving for growth in the local film and TV industry. “This isn’t about being the best in Nashville, this is about making Nashville the best it can be,” he assures. “I enjoy living in Nashville, so it’s in my best interest to try to elevate the industry here, so I can remain a part of this community. There are more opportunities for me elsewhere, but we can also find ways to create opportunities here.”
He encourages Nashville record labels and ad agencies to stop looking elsewhere for their visual needs and to look in their backyard. “There are plenty of creative people and creative companies in this town that can achieve, and have for years achieved, other companies’ goals and needs. Anytime these companies are looking for an advertising agency to take them to the next level and they look beyond Nashville, it hurts the local industry. We want those companies to help their own community thrive. Everybody needs to figure out why it’s important to take care of your own first.”
Silva believes creating stronger film and television incentives would help attract business to Tennessee. “It’s going to take a community of people coming together and figuring out what will convince outsiders that it is worth bringing a production to Nashville, instead of staying in L.A. or New York or Chicago or Florida. Everybody is watching the budgets and that’s important, so if we can help them save money or give them an incentive in a tax break, it would help get them here. That’s what’s happening in Atlanta, so people are picking Atlanta over Nashville. We have a really strong group at the film commission right now that are pushing for new incentives. If you are going to make a real impact, you have to look at the cities that have had success and figure out why. We’ve got a TV show named Nashville, so it makes sense to shoot it here, but if the name of that show wasn’t Nashville, it wouldn’t be here. Period. So it’s important that we all come together as a community who wants their industry to thrive and find ways to bring more work into this town. You can’t get comfortable. We have to build upon it.”
For the complete interview with Silva, pick up a copy of MusicRow’s June/July 2013 issue. It was mailed to subscriber members and is available at the MusicRow offices or here.

Steve Moore Resigns As CEO of Country Music Association

July 1, 2013/by Jessica Nicholson

Steve Moore

The County Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors announced today that Steve Moore has submitted his resignation as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 30, 2013.
Moore said, “After nearly four years in this position, and given the phenomenal success that the CMA team has achieved, this seemed like an appropriate time to step aside and pursue other corporate and philanthropic opportunities.”
Troy Tomlinson, the Country Music Association Board of Directors Chairman said, “Steve Moore’s dedication and hard work as a CMA Board member, CMA Board leader, and as CEO have taken our organization to new levels of success. He’s been a tremendous asset to CMA due to his high regard in the industry as a resourceful and tenacious advocate for Country Music.”
After serving as Interim CEO, then becoming CEO two and a half years ago, Moore was instrumental in securing the new long-term extension of the television partnership for the annual CMA Awards, the CMA Music Festival special, and the “CMA Country Christmas” special all on the ABC Television Network.
Under Moore, the 2013 CMA Music Festival hit a record attendance with an increase of 13 percent, more artist participation than ever before, and 11 music stages. He created and led the newly-formed The CMA Foundation. He also created the new CMA position of Community Outreach Manager to create a liaison with the music community, education community, and The CMA Foundation Board of Directors. Under his watch, CMA also created CMA EDU, a dynamic college community outreach that brings the power of Country Music to colleges. It was launched at three Middle Tennessee college campuses and several ambassador campuses nationwide.
Moore was also instrumental in re-invigorating the international Country Music agenda by instituting such things as the U.K. Songwriters Series, the first ever International Marketing Summit in Paris, France, and the inaugural Country 2 Country (C2C) Country Music Festival at the legendary O2 center in London in 2013.
A longtime member of the CMA Board of Directors (since 1989), Moore was elected President in 2008 and Chairman in 2009 before being asked to fill in as interim director of CMA after former CEO Tammy Genovese resigned in December 2009.
As a CMA Board member, Moore contributed his experience and knowledge to the Association through some of the most pivotal years in the organization’s history: from the move of Fan Fair from the state fairgrounds to downtown Nashville in 2001 and the creation of a companion, primetime network television special in 2004; the strategic move of the CMA Awards to New York City in 2005 and the subsequent return to Nashville to the downtown arena; the implementation of a massive research initiative in 2008 that has far-reaching benefits for the industry; and the creation of CMA’s music education program “Keep the Music Playing,” which has contributed more than $7.6 million since 2006 to purchase more than 4,000 instruments providing students in Metro Nashville Public Schools a strong reason to stay in school.
Moore has been prominent in the Nashville music community for 21 years, going back to his appointment as the first Executive Director of the popular concert venue Starwood Amphitheater and extending through his work as Senior Vice President of one of the world’s largest concert promotion, special event, and touring companies AEG Live!. His innovations and successes have earned him three SRO Awards as Promoter of the Year.
In 1985, Moore moved to Nashville from his home state of Texas to open Starwood Amphitheater on the outskirts of town. In 1992, he launched Moore Entertainment and continued to work with Country acts and blues festivals. After nine years, Moore sold his business to TBA Entertainment. He left in 2004 to reinvent his independent operation as Moore Entertainment Group, LLC, where he created the “CMT On Tour” franchise.
In April 2005, he entered a multi-year deal with AEG Live! and was named Senior Vice President. His activities included organizing tours; booking Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and Tim McGraw into a run of sold-out New Year’s Eve concerts at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena; and a three-year effort that led to Sir Paul McCartney’s first-ever Music City performance at Bridgestone in July 2010.
An honored humanitarian, Moore is the founder and president of the Shalom Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing educational, nutritional, and medical assistance to underprivileged children and their families in Guatemala. He and his wife, Charmione, have three sons, Remick, Sterling, and Hunter.

Weekly Chart Report (6/28/13)

June 28, 2013/by Michael_Smith

Toby Keith took his Hammer Down tour to Pittsburgh promoting his latest single “Drinks After Work,” which takes home the greatest spin increase this week. Pictured with WDSY APD/MD Stoney Richards.

SPIN ZONE
Carrie Underwood’s “See You Again” lives up to its name, earning the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week with 3,346 spins. Keith Urban’s “Little Bit Of Everything” comes in at No. 2. Both Justin Moore and Kip Moore continue to hold the No. 3 and 4 spots with “Point At You” and “Hey Pretty Girl,” respectively. Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy” continues to enjoy a steady climb up the chart, landing at No. 5. Rounding out the Top Ten this week is Lady Antebellum’s “Goodbye Town” at No. 6, Randy Houser’s “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” at No. 7, Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” at No. 8, Little Big Town’s “Your Side Of The Bed” At No. 9 and Gary Allan’s “Pieces” at No. 10.
Toby Keith’s “Drinks After Work” is once again the week’s greatest gainer, landing at No. 25 with an additional 435 spins. Miranda Lambert’s “All Kinds of Kinds” is all kinds of popular, climbing to the No. 36 spot with an added 276 spins. Jason Aldean’s “Night Train” reaches the No. 32 spot with another 265 spins. Big Machine labelmates Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw come in at No. 56 and 80 with their songs “Red” and “Southern Girl.” “Red” garnered 235 extra spins, while “Southern Girl” gained 228 additional spins.
There are six promising debuts this week, with Eli Young Band’s “Drunk Last Night” debuting at No. 65, The Lockets’ “Stepping Stone” stepping up to No. 73, Tracy Lawrence’s “Footprints On The Moon” coming in at No. 74, Herrick’s “Do You Love Me” at No. 78 and Sherry Lynn f. Crystal Gayle’s “Beautiful Life” at No. 79. Finally, McGraw’s “Southern Girl” rounds out this week’s chart, debuting at No. 80.
Frozen Playlists: KCNY, KZTL, KVVP, KXKZ, KYYK, WAAG, WKWS, WXXK
Upcoming Singles
June 28
Ashton Shepherd/This Is America/Pickin Shed Records
July 1
Chris Stapleton/What Are You Listening To/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic Nashville
Hannah Michelle Weeks/More Than One Kind Of Love/HunnyBee
July 2
Colby Dee/He Don’t Know/Donard Music Group
Joe Allen/Looks Like It’s Raining/Stubborn Horse Records
July 8
Downday/Back In The Day/Render
Denae Gardner/Sound Of A Woman Sayin Goodbye/4D
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA/Columbia Nashville
Craig Morgan/Wake Up Lovin’ You/Black River
July 15
Old Crow Medicine Show/Carry Me Back To Virginia/ATO Records
Blackberry Smoke/Ain’t Much Left Of Me/Southern Ground
Kayla Taylor/See You In Summer/Go Time
Uncle Kracker/Blue Skies/Sugar Hill
July 22
North 4o/Hey Girl Hey/RHYMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT
Jay Jolley/God Save Us All From Religion/Double J Records
July 29
Jared Blake/Countryfied/Skiddco Records
Blue Sky Riders/Brave/3 Dream Records
August 6
Brett Eldredge/Bring You Back/Atlantic
• • •
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 65
The Lockets/Stepping Stone/Nu Toy – 73
Tracy Lawrence/Footprints On The Moon/Lawrence Music Group – 74
Herrick/Do You Love Me/BreakAway Entertainment – 78
Sherry Lynn f. Crystal Gayle/Beautiful Life/Steal Heart – 79
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Toby Keith/Drinks After Work/Show Dog-Universal – 435
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 276
Jason Aldean/Night Train/Broken Bow – 265
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 235
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 228
Most Added
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 23
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 20
Toby Keith/Drinks After Work/Show Dog-Universal – 19
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 12
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 12
Jason Aldean/Night Train/Broken Bow – 12
Cassadee Pope/Wasting All These Tears/Republic Nashville – 11
Aaron Lewis/Granddaddy’s Gun/Blaster – 10
Dierks Bentley/Bourbon In Kentucky/Capitol Nashville – 6
Kenny Chesney/When I See This Bar/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 6
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Frank Ortega/Two Places At Once/Villa One – 197
Randy Rogers Band/Fuzzy/UMG Nashville – 197
Aaron and Amanda Crabb/I’m Learning/Difference Media – 189
Bobby Dean/Kiss My Doublewide/Lamon Records – 179
David Shelby/Kick A Little Dirt/Highway South Records – 174

Flying Island’s Gwen Sebastian celebrates her album release and latest single “Suitcase” with the staff of KMNB, Minneapolis. Pictured (L-R): Mick Anselmo (Sr. VP), Rob Morris (PD), Gwen, Tommy Jay (APD), and Tricia Jenkins (MD).

Kari & Billy spent yesterday morning visiting about their new single, "Play Me A Fiddle Song," with WDKN’s Dale Turner in Dickson, TN.

Kari & Billy spent yesterday morning visiting about their new single, “Play Me A Fiddle Song,” with WDKN’s Dale Turner in Dickson, Tenn.

Aristo Int'l Report: CMA Music Festival, Global Accolades

June 28, 2013/by Jessica Nicholson

Click above to view the report.

The AristoMedia Group has released the June 2013 issue of its Aristo International Report. Highlights include:
• Global Events Help Kick Off Record-Breaking CMA Music Festival
• Canadian Country Music Week will be held Sept. 5-8 in Edmonton, Canada
• The 2013 Americana Music Festival and Conference is set for Sept. 18-22
• Nashville Mayor Karl Dean was joined by Mayor Col Murray of Tamworth, Australia during CMA Music Fest week to sign a treaty that officially joined Nashville and Tamworth as sister cities
• Aristo Q&A with Canadian Executive Ted Ellis
• 2013 British Country Music Awards are set for Nov. 24
• The Maverick Festival is set for July 5-7 with a lineup that includes 50 artists
• Award-winning Australian Duo McAlister Kemp To Headline Nashville Showcase
AristoMedia has been issuing this quarterly review of global activities since 2008. Please click to view the newsletter online at www.AristoMedia.com.

Bobby Karl Works The MusicRow Awards

June 26, 2013/by Bobby Karl

Publishers and songwriters accept Song of the Year honors for “Merry Go ‘Round.” (L-R): Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Black River’s Celia Froehlig, songwriter Josh Osborne, songwriter Kacey Musgraves, songwriter Shane McAnally, Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer, Black River’s Gordon Kerr, UMPG’s Kent Earls. Photo: Isabel Ross

Publishers and Songwriters of Song of the Year "I Drive Your Truck." Photo: Isabel Ross

Publishers and songwriters of Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck.” (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, songwriter Connie Harrington, Sony/ATV EMI’s Tom Luteran, songwriter Jimmy Yeary, songwriter Jessi Alexander, Disney Music’s Patrick Clifford. Photo: Isabel Ross

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM—Chapter 431

Producer of the Year Dann Huff. Photo: Isabel Ross

OMG! If the MusicRow Awards are 25 years old, how old does that make Bobby Karl?!
Okay, seriously: It was newsworthy enough that this week was the magazine’s Silver Anniversary honors event. But even more news was made by exploding country ingénue Kacey Musgraves, who became the first person ever to take home both the Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Songwriter awards. Not only that, she co-wrote her hit “Merry Go ‘Round,” which tied for Song of the Year.
“This has been a crazy year,” said Kacey. “I’m really proud of what’s happening in this town….It’s a great time for everyone, creatively.”
“My mom is here, who inspired the song,” said Kacey’s “Merry Go ‘Round” co-writer Shane McAnally (MusicRow’s current cover boy). It seems that his mother remarked to him that there was so much traffic on her street that someone was either selling Mary Kay or Mary Jane, both of which figure in the song’s lyric.
“I just feel real fortunate to be a part of a song I love so much,” said co-writer Josh Osborne.
“This song really strikes something in me,” added Kacey. “When we wrote it, I almost cried.
“This is such a special day I’ll never forget.”
The Lee Brice hit “I Drive Your Truck” was the other song that tied for Song of the Year. It was inspired by an NPR interview that songwriter Connie Harrington heard. The man being interviewed (Paul Monti) said that he tried to remain close to his son killed in Afghanistan by driving his truck. She took the idea to Jessi Alexander. Then they roped in co-writer Jimmy Yeary.

Song of the Year (“I Drive Your Truck”) co-writer Connie Harrington. Photo: Isabel Ross

“I love Jessi Alexander,” said Jimmy at the MR event. “I love Connie Harringthon. They’ve got big hearts. Connie cried the whole time we wrote this.”
“I’m not gonna cry,” said Connie when she took the mic. Then she did. Which was so cool. “Thank you for your stories that move us songwriters.”
“This song was so blessed,” added Jessi. “I was the lucky one that [songwriting] day.”
Both songs were performed by their writers at the awards reception. “Merry Go ‘Round” was captivating, with Kacey Musgrave’s sweet/sad delivery about “dust settling in this town” being backed by Josh and Shane’s guitars and harmony voices.
“I Drive Your Truck” was spellbinding. I already knew that Jessi was a sensational singer. Jimmy traded verses with her, and his gently raspy delivery was every bit as hypnotic as his co-writer’s.
The event began at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday (6/25) as a cocktail-hour soiree. After welcoming remarks from ASCAP’s hosts-with-the-most LeAnn Phelan and Michael Martin, MusicRow publisher/owner Sherod Robertson took the stage. “Twenty-five years is such a milestone,” he said in greeting. “And one that I am thrilled to share with all of you today, who have made it possible. These awards started back in 1989, before I had even ventured into the business, and it is an honor to continue this legacy today.”
Okay, now you’re really making me feel old.
The 25th annual awards also saluted the 2013 Producer of the Year. That is Dann Huff, who has worked with The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and more. “As we all know, this town is graced with an amazing array of talent, unparalleled in all the world,” said Dann. “I am so absolutely dependent on all that talent. You are only as good as the people behind you.”

(L-R): Josh Osborne, Kacey Musgraves and Shane McAnally perform “Merry Go ‘Round.” Photo: Isabel Ross

“It takes a village,” echoed multiple winner Kacey.
MusicRow’s Sarah Skates and Eric Parker presented the Top Ten All-Star Musician Awards. These are the only Nashville honors given each year to the recording-session community. This year’s winners included Jimmie Lee Sloas, Greg Morrow, Shannon Forrest, Dan Dugmore, Paul Franklin, Wes Hightower, Ilya Toshinsky, Charles Judge, engineer Justin Niebank and – in another unprecedented occurrence – fiddler triple winners Jonathan Yudkin, Larry Franklin and Stuart Duncan.
“It’s an amazing community to be a part of,” said Greg. “There’s so much going on with different genres. It’s a great time to be here.”
“The producers and artists encourage us to be as great as it can possibly be,” added Jonathan.
A multitude of fabulons attended the reception at ASCAP. Working the room were David Preston, David Ross, Dale Bobo, John Briggs, John Mabe, Jon Randall Stewart, Michael Smith, Rich Fagan, Rick Kelly, Barry Coburn, Barry Dean, Bill Wence, Ben Vaughn, Jessica Nicholson, Jeff Walker, Janie West, Andrew Kintz, Anthony Smith, Celia Froehlig, Tom Luteran, Charlie Monk, Caitlin Rantala, Frank Myers, Woody Bomar, Suzanne Lee, Dennis Banka, Patrick Clifford, Susan Collier, Ralph Murphy, Sherrill Blackman, Doak Turner, Luke Laird, Don Cusic, Manuel and oh so many more.
“I just don’t feel like it gets better than this,” said Sherod Robertson following the evening’s wonderful and amazing songwriter performances. “Thank you for attending.”
See the winners list.

Top Ten Album All-Star Musician Winners. Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and Sarah Skates, Jonathan Yudkin (Fiddle), Wes Hightower (Vocals), Charles Judge (Keyboards), Dan Dugmore (Steel), Greg Morrow (Drums), Eric Parker (MusicRow). Photo: Isabel Ross

Weekly Register: SoundScan Discounts Jay Z Promotion; 'The Voice' Reigns

June 26, 2013/by bossross

Billboard Editor Bill Werde took an easily defendable position this past week regarding a daring marketing promotion that involved artist Jay Z, and Samsung. The concept involved the artist’s new album Magna Carta Holy Grail, set for release the week of July 8, 2013. Essentially, Samsung customers would download a free artist-branded app and after engaging with some content, receive the new album at no cost. Samsung agreed to pay the artist $5 for each of the million albums it plans to give away. So in effect, the artist nets $5 million and immediately “sells” one million units.
But questions quickly arose over whether this promotion would/should count for SoundScan chart totals. “Our role as the chart of record is to set the rules, and hopefully even raise the level of play,” said Werde. “It is in this spirit that I say it wasn’t as simple as you might think to turn down Jay-Z when he requested that we count the million albums that Samsung ‘bought’ as part of a much larger brand partnership, to give away to Samsung customers.”
The main sticking point according to Werde was that fans weren’t actually buying anything. For example, if the album were sale priced at $3.49 (minimum new release pricing threshold) or higher, then it would definitely count. But Werde notes, “In the context of the promotion, nothing is actually for sale.”
SoundScan has always been based purely on sales, but in today’s changing environment, new paid subscription services are also creating revenue streams that in some ways resemble retail sales. Will they someday find their way onto the sales charts? “Just because the Billboard 200 has been based purely on sales of an album for the entirety of the life of the chart doesn’t mean it must always remain so,” Werde says wisely, promising to consult with industry leaders over these questions. “Rest assured,” he concludes. “Billboard will find the right balance.”
And now let’s count the Weekly Register...
Album Shopping
Hunter Hayes fans received a special treat this week in the form of a special Encore (edition) of his first album with added material. The new Encore set includes 12 tracks from Hayes’ original self-titled release plus additional music and video material. On Amazon (June 26), Encore was priced at $11.88 CD or $12.49 MP3 album. iTunes had Encore for download at $14.99. Fans applauded the release by boosting it to the No. 1 position on the Current Country Top 75 with sales of almost 40k units. Feeling the Hayes heat, Florida Georgia Line stepped back to No. 2 this week, adding about 33k units to the duo’s impressive RTD total of 760k.
Danielle Bradbery debuted a Complete Season 4 Collection of songs she performed on The Voice. It landed at No. 6 with sales of almost 18k (100 percent digital). I have been writing about this talented 16-year-old quite a bit lately, and admittedly I am quite a fan, but her recent victory on the singing show, plus weekly single sales have been nothing short of amazing. The Swon Brothers, also Voice alums, debut with a similar season collection at No. 18 with over 6k units (100 percent digital).
And finally, LoCash Cowboys enter our list with a self-titled collection that debuts at No. 25 with almost 4.5k units.
A quick look at our weekly grids shows country’s lead fading like a pair of old denims as it frays from up 2 percent to up .9 percent. This still compares nicely against the industry overall which is down 5.3 percent. One reason for country’s slide is last year’s Kenny Chesney debut which arrived at this time (Welcome To The Fishbowl) and shifted a whopping 193k.
Tracking The Hits
The Digital Genre Tracks chart this week also pays solid tribute to The Voice [again]. Ms. Bradbery debuts at No. 5 with “Born To Fly” (68k units) and gets to No. 10 (50k) with “Maybe It Was Memphis” now in its 7th week on the chart. The Swon Brothers grab No. 7 with “Danny’s Song” (63k) and No. 12 with “I Can’t Tell You Why” (44k). In all the duo has four tracks that charted in the Top 100 and Bradbery owns nine positions. These are incredible stats for such new acts.
Hunter Hayes supports his new album release with the No. 3 track (110k) this week, “I Want Crazy,” and six additional tracks. Remaining at No. 1 are Florida Georgia Line, adding a stellar 244k new downloads to an RTD now over 4.5 million. Also notable is Blake in the No. 2 spot with “Boys Round Here,” selling almost 115k downloads.
Comparing this week to last week, country track sales rose 6 percent, giving the country genre a 13.5 percent market share of overall all-genre track sales YTD.
Next week is the end of the second quarter, stay tuned…

DISClaimer: Sizzling Music For A Hot Summer

June 26, 2013/by Robert K Oermann

The Henningsens

Hot enough for you? Summer weather has arrived in Middle Tennessee a little later this year, but no less muggy and oppressive than usual. Appropriately, our disc makers are turning up the heat as well. In this column, you’ll find outstanding work, tailored to the season, from Craig Morgan, Tim McGraw, Philip Claypool and Mark McKinney. The duet of Sherry Lynn and Crystal Gayle is also cooking with gas. Our Disc of the Day award goes to a non-summer themed outing, “I Miss You” by The Henningsens. These three folks sound starward bound with this dynamic single. Sidewalk Records is a Curb imprint that is introducing our DisCovery Award winner, a promising singer-songwriter named Dylan Scott. So bon voyage to him.
GRETCHEN WILSON/Crazy
Writers: Vicky McGehee/Rachel Farley/Brian Davis; Producer: Gretchen Wilson; Peermusic III/February 4/Rockin Rose/Mike Curb, BMI; Redneck (track)
-She sings so well. Why bury her performance with grinding, wailing electric guitars?
SHERRY KENNEDY/Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
Writers: Lance/Singleton/Wallace; Producer: Mark Moseley; Publisher: Sony, no performance rights listed; Sheaken (CDX)
-Ruth Brown, who sang the original 1955 r&b version of this, was known as “Miss Rhythm.” This must be “Miss Anti-Rhythm.”
CRAIG MORGAN/Wake Up Lovin’ You
Writers: Josh Osborne/Matt Ramsey/Trevor Rosen; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Want a Fresh One/Black River/Music of RPM/Sonic Geo/Unfair Entertainment/Songs of Bims/Calhoun Enterprises, ASCAP; Black River
-This steady stomper begins with the sound of an alarm clock, and the production work is stellar throughout. Yet nothing detracts from his completely gripping, electrifying vocal performance. This guy gets to me every time. Play him.
TIM SWEENEY/Baby I Try For You
Writer: Tim Sweeney; Producer: Kim Copeland; Publisher: Tim Sweeney, BMI; Old House (track)
-He sings in an earnest, airy tenor. The ballad is bland.
TIM MCGRAW/Southern Girl
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Lee Thomas Miller/Rodney Clawson; Producers: Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw; Publishers: Sony-ATV Harmony/Texa Rae/Writers of Sea Gayle/Itchy Baby/Big Red Toe/Amarillo Sky, ASCAP/BMI; Big Machine (track)
-The bouncy song name-checks New Orleans, Tupelo, Memphis, Savannah, Daytona and other Dixie spots while praising the virtues of Southern ladies. But Tim’s personable vocal and the catchy, effects-dotted production are the real stars here.

Dylan Scott

DYLAN SCOTT/Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy
Writers: Dylan Scott/Forest Glen Whitehead; Producer: Jim Ed Norman; Publishers: Curb/Want a Fresh One/Black River, ASCAP; Sidewalk
-He’s a country baritone effortlessly negotiating tongue-tripping verses and then rounding the corners into the choruses with terrific elan and confidence. Absolutely worth your spins.
PHILIP CLAYPOOL/Strong One
Writers: Philip Claypool/Jeff Silbar; Producer: Michael Lloyd; Publishers: Heyday/Silbar, BMI/ASCAP; Heyday
-This former Curb artist of the 1990s is back with a chin-up, positive-think rocker. I love his drawling phrasing on this driving, relentless production. The icing on the cake is that it is extremely well-written.
SHERRY LYNN AND CRYSTAL GAYLE/Beautiful Life
Writers: Danny Wells/Jose Luis Pagan/Sarah Lenore; Producers: Ted Hewitt & Christos Gatzimos; Publishers: Cauley Music Group/BMG Chrysalis/Songs of Universal/Money Mack/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI; Steal Heart
-Sherry and Crystal trade lines with equal fire and finesse on this dandy country-rocker. It’s a really commercial and radio-ready toe-tapper. Co-producer Gatzimos is Crystal’s grown-up son.
THE HENNINGSENS/I Miss You
Writers: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; Arista (track)
-This family trio latches onto this driving, thumping slab of wistful longing with enormous energy. The vocals are simply stunning, and the backing track has superb intensity and pent-up power. The finale, three-part harmony chord will break your heart.
MARK McKINNEY/Stolen Cash
Writer: none listed; Producer: Eric McKinney and Mark McKinney; Publisher: none listed; MM
-It’s a gently rolling, easy-going, good-time thang. The catchy ditty is about falling giddy in love while summering at the beach. It goes down mighty smoothly.

2013 MusicRow Award Winners

June 25, 2013/by Sarah Skates

Jimmy Yeary (L) and Jessi Alexander perform Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck,” which they wrote with Connie Harrington.

Kacey Musgraves accepts Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Photos by Isabel Ross
MusicRow Magazine presented its 25th annual subscriber-voted MusicRow Awards on June 25 during a ceremony hosted by ASCAP at the organization’s Nashville offices. The awards event, led by MusicRow Publisher and Owner Sherod Robertson, recognized the 2013 Breakthrough Artist, Breakthrough Songwriter, Song of the Year and Producer of the Year. Additionally, Top Ten Album All-Star Musician Awards were presented to session players who performed on the most top ten albums during the eligibility period.
25th Annual MusicRow Award Winners
Breakthrough Songwriter—Kacey Musgraves (co-writer of “Merry Go ‘Round,” “Mama’s Broken Heart”)
Producer of the Year—Dann Huff (Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson)
Breakthrough Artist—Kacey Musgraves
Song of the Year (tie)—“I Drive Your Truck,” by Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary (published by Vistaville Music/Happy Tears Music/EMI Blackwood/Watch This Girl Publishing/Great Day At This Time Music/Beattyville Music)
—“Merry Go ‘Round,” by Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne, and Shane McAnally (published by 351 Music/Warner Tamerlane Publishing/Crazy Water Music/Little Blue Egg/Universal Music Corporation/Want A Fresh One)

Top 10 Album All-Star Musician Awards

Vocals—Wes Hightower
Keys—Charles Judge
Guitar—Ilya Toshinsky
Steel—(tie) Dan Dugmore and Paul Franklin
Bass—Jimmie Lee Sloas
Fiddle—(tie) Jonathan Yudkin, Larry Franklin, and Stuart Duncan
Drums—(tie) Greg Morrow and Shannon Forrest
Engineer—Justin NiebankAn in-depth look at the award recipients can be found in MusicRow’s June/July 2013 print edition, available now.

In addition, the magazine features an exclusive interview with music video director Shaun Silva, owner of Tacklebox Films and Forward, revealing his desire to push the envelope as he and his team expand into new territories. The issue also offers a one-on-one conversation with fashion icon Manuel, who discusses his career and how at age 75, he is launching a new line to help his students showcase their own designs.
Single copies of the awards issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $10, and are included with yearly subscriptions at no additional cost. The MusicRow Awards are one of three annual events hosted by MusicRow. Others include Rising Women on the Row and the CountryBreakout Awards.

Dann Huff is honored as Producer of the Year by (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Sarah Skates and Eric Parker

[Updated]: Nashville Symphony, Creditors Reach Debt Restructure Agreement

June 24, 2013/by Jessica Nicholson

The Nashville Symphony and its creditors reached a deal Friday (June 21) to restructure the nonprofit organization’s debt, to avoid a June 28 foreclosure and to keep the Schermerhorn Symphony Center from being auctioned. Banks, led by Bank of America, will forgive and write off a large portion of the debt used to build the Schermerhorn, while the symphony will restructure its operations in exchange for new lending terms, according to The City Paper.

In March, the symphony association opted to not renew a letter of credit, when banks refused to negotiate better terms for the debt. Bank of America, holding more than $80 million in debt related to the building of the Schermerhorn, served notice of foreclosure earlier this month. The banks’ recent foreclosure notice has now been withdrawn.

“After months of discussion with our lenders, we are pleased to have reached a comprehensive resolution that represents the best path forward for all parties involved,” said Ed Goodrich, Chairman of the Nashville Symphony Association, in a statement. “With a healthier balance sheet, the Symphony will be in a better position to pursue its cultural mission of engaging the community, enriching audiences and shaping cultural life through musical excellence and educational vision. We deeply appreciate the professional and constructive approach of our bank lenders in the complex negotiations, and we are grateful to our generous patrons, the city of Nashville and the Mayor’s office. All of these interested parties have contributed significantly to the resolution of this matter, and without their support, this settlement would not have been possible.

“Over the past few months, the Symphony has taken steps to reduce expenditures, increase revenue and drive contributions in an effort to strengthen its bottom line. Reaching this agreement with our lenders is a major milestone in our restructuring process. However, the Symphony still has a lot of work to do to further reduce costs and will continue to need significant financial support from our donors in the years ahead to remain sustainable over the long term. We are committed to taking all possible measures to ensure our financial stability, and we are confident that the Middle Tennessee community will rise to the occasion to help this wonderful arts organization survive and thrive.”

“We are pleased that we have been able to reach this agreement with the Nashville Symphony so that it can continue to play its vital and unique role in this community for generations to come,” said John Stein, Nashville market president for Bank of America. “It is because we all recognize the orchestra’s importance to this community that we were all able to come together and work so hard to make this happen.”

“Throughout the course of these negotiations, we have been fully committed to serving everyone in Middle Tennessee with a dynamic array of programs, both at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and in the community,” said Alan Valentine, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nashville Symphony. “On behalf of everyone at the Symphony, I want to thank our patrons and donors for their unwavering support throughout the negotiation process. Their continued loyalty and generosity will be more important than ever as the Symphony moves forward. We would also like to express our thanks to the members of the Symphony staff who have had to make do with less along the path to this resolution. Their continued leadership and commitment to this great institution will help us to remain an integral part of Nashville’s music scene.”