Tag Archive for: featured-2

Music Row Toasts Charttopper "Beer Money"

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Photo by John Russell" src="https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/trade-Beer-Money-No.-1_02.14.13.jpg" width="570" height="352" /> BMI toasted the team behind Kip Moore’s No. 1 hit “Beer Money."Pictured are (back row, l-r): Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, producer Brett James, Universal Music Nashville’s Royce Risser, manager Shawn McSpadden, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls, Internal Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, and Songs of the Corn’s Nate Lowery; (front row, l-r): co-writer Troy Verges, Kip Moore, co-writer Blair Daly, and BMI’s Perry Howard. Photo by John Russell

BMI toasted the team behind Kip Moore’s No. 1 hit “Beer Money.”
Pictured are (back row, l-r): Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, producer Brett James, Universal Music Nashville’s Royce Risser, manager Shawn McSpadden, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls, Internal Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, and Songs of the Corn’s Nate Lowery; (front row, l-r): co-writers Troy Verges, Kip Moore, and Blair Daly, and BMI’s Perry Howard. Photo by John Russell


Songwriters Blair Daly, Kip Moore and Troy Verges should soon have plenty of “Beer Money” burning holes in their pockets following the recent No. 1. Moore offered to pick up the tab when he sang, “Come on, come on, baby I’m buying.” But BMI and sponsor Avenue Bank let him off the hook today (Feb. 14) by hosting a lunchtime soiree at BMI to toast his second consecutive charttopper as an artist and writer. BMI’s Perry Howard led the proceedings.
Publishers taking the stage to offer and share in the congratulations were UMPG’s Kent Earls, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Combustion’s Chris Farren and Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery. Earls recalled how writers Verges and Daly met 20 years earlier as students at MTSU. After all their time collaborating, “Beer Money” is their first single as co-writers, penned with Moore the day before he went into the studio to record his debut album.
Verges and Daly thanked everyone involved with the song’s success. Daly joked that they waited so long to have a No. 1 because they both hate speaking in public, but assured, “let’s not make it another 20 years.”
UMG promo guru Royce Risser cheered his team members for their strong one-week push to get the track into the top spot. He also explained how Moore pens lengthy hand-written notes to radio programmers and proclaimed, “Kip, you out-work our staff.”
CMA’s Brandi Simms, CRB’s RJ Curtis, and Avenue Bank’s Cooper Samuels also presented honors.
Long known as a hit songwriter, Brett James is Moore’s biggest champion. They first met at the YMCA, where Moore was working and James was working out. James signed him to a publishing deal with Cornman Music, and produced his album. “This is family for me,” said James of the songwriters. “There’s nothing like celebrating a No. 1 with three of your best friends in the world.”
Moore recalled rough patches earlier in his career, when he lived in run-down apartment and songwriting filled his days off work. “My soul would’ve been dead if it wasn’t for music,” he explained honestly. He offered a long list of thank-yous, starting with James. “Brett James is what this town should still be about…He believed in me. It is that belief that I will never forget.” He also saluted Red Light Management’s Shawn McSpadden, and drew cheers from the audience with his toast to Marc Dennis and his team at CAA: “They wanted me when no one else did—now they look like geniuses.”

Primetime 'Nashville': There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight

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It's gettin' hot between Rayna and Liam.

It’s gettin’ hot between Rayna and Liam.


There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Season 1 | Episode 113 
Ever the professional, Rayna pent up her emotions about her pending divorce to maintain a strong front on the road. But she wasn’t fooling Deacon, who knew something was up, though she wouldn’t say what. Finally she had a breakdown after a night of partying at a honky-tonk (The Stage) with producer Liam, which led to plenty of flirting and a kiss before she ended up in a puddle of tears in the bathroom of his hotel room.
Elsewhere in the Atlanta hotel (played by the Sheraton Downtown Nashville), Juliette was having a meltdown of a different kind. In the middle of the night, fueled by a few too many energy drinks, she banged on the doors of her band and entourage, bringing them out into the hall for a screaming fit about how she is their boss, not her manager Glen. She and Glen had been butting heads over her desire for a more organic, less pop-y sound. Glen quit on the spot. The next morning, Deacon gave Juliette a dose of reality: that her midnight “performance” was no way to win the affection of her team. She softened up by the time she returned to Nashville, and invited her mom to move in with her after she gets out of rehab.
Then Deacon got his own dose of reality when he saw Rayna and Liam making googly eyes at each other in the hotel lobby.
If you want to send some Nashville love to someone special this Valentine's Day, check out these cards

Click to send “Nashville” love this Valentine’s, with these e-cards.


The whole episode led up to Rayna returning home to Nashville to break the news of the divorce to her daughters. But oldest daughter, Maddie, had already overheard dad Teddy on the phone with his new lover Peggy (Kimberly Williams Paisley), and didn’t hesitate to spill the beans to her mom. (In another bombshell waiting to explode, Teddy is not Maddie’s biological father—Deacon is.)
Scarlett and Gunnar’s new song “Casino” played during a montage which included the teary-eyed scene where Rayna and Teddy tell their daughters. The song was written by Morgan Hayes and Natalie Hemby (see video below).
In more upbeat news, Scarlett and Gunnar received a call from Watty White that Rayna is interested in signing them to her new imprint. Elsewhere, Avery considered inking a deal of his own, after receiving a $100k publishing advance. And things got rocky on the homefront for new roommies Scarlett and Gunnar, when his brother arrived in town from Texas, where he is a wanted fugitive. It looks like there is going to be plenty more to this plotline in the next episode on Feb. 27.
Expect that show to be packed full of cameos including Dan Auerbach, Vince Gill and Kip Moore. During Deacon’s birthday party, Rayna will sing with Pam Tillis and Kate York, as well as her uncle Watty White (JD Souther) and Adria (Erin McCarley). But Juliette’s performance will be derailed by her mother. And Rayna and Teddy’s divorce will get unwelcome tabloid press. The Tennessean reports Mayor Karl Dean also guested in a recent shoot, but didn’t the final cut.

Weekly Register: Truck Yeah!

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Tim McGraw Two Lanes of Freedom Album CoverTim McGraw‘s debut release from Big Machine Records, Two Lanes of Freedom, tops this week’s sales on the Country chart, rolling in at No. 1 with 107k units (39% Digital) in its first week (No. 2 overall behind Josh Groban). Produced by Byron Gallimore and McGraw, the album includes radio singles, “Truck Yeah,” released July 2012 and “One of Those Nights,” released November 2012.
Looking at other top selling albums this week on the Country chart, Taylor Swift‘s Red holds at No. 2 with an additional 35k in sales (3.4M RTD) and Gary Allan‘s Set You Free adds 25k units in its third week at No. 3. Florida Georgia Line‘s Here’s To The Good Times is at No. 4 gaining another 22k in sales while Hunter Hayes’ self-titled release sells 18k and rounds out the top 5.
Holly Williams also debuts this week with The Highway at 3.5k units.
LATopping the Country tracks, “Highway Don’t Care” (feat. Swift & Keith Urban) from McGraw’s album debuts this week at No. 1 on Country’s Digital Chart (No. 14 overall) with sales of 86k.
Lady Antebellum‘s “Downtown” from their upcoming fourth studio album yields 72k in its first week out and lands at No. 2 on the Country Digital Chart, followed by Tim McGraw’s “One Of Those Nights” selling 72k.

DISClaimer: Blue Sky Riders Rise Above

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Blue Sky Riders

Blue Sky Riders – Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman, and Gary Burr.


I am in love. Blue Sky Riders have eased the pain of slogging through years of Nashville mediocrity with their sterling vocal harmonies and sensational songwriting ability. It comes as no surprise that this trio has the Disc of the Day.
This week’s DISCovery Award also goes to Blue Sky Riders. Yes, I know they are comprised of the already well known Kenny Loggins, Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman. But as a group, they are new. And wonderful.
CHICAGO FARMER/Everybody In This Town
Writers: Chicago Farmer; Producer: Chicago Farmer and Chris Harden; Publisher: Napkin Poet, BMI
–File this under “Americana.” Recorded live and analog, this band has a ragged, rustic charm as well as some serious songwriting chops. The CD is titled Backenforth, IL. The man behind the band is singer-songwriter Cody Diekhoff. Remember him.
RYAN BROSHEAR/I Don’t Mind
Writers: Ryan Broshear/Amie Broshear; Producer: Daniel Agee; Publisher: Painted Horse, ASCAP
–Well done. The production mixes nicely arranged strings with a poetic steel guitar. His resigned vocal on the ballad is just right for the lyric of a man who’s lost his love for good. And I do mean “for good,” because she has passed away, you see.
BLUE SKY RIDERS/I’m A Rider
Writers: Blue Sky Riders; Producer: Peter Asher and Blue Sky Riders; Publisher: Gnossos/Connboy/Middle Girl, ASCAP/SESAC
–I have no idea if this sizzling bopper is the single or even if there is a single. It doesn’t really matter, since I adore every track on this group’s 15-track, harmony soaked, pop-country, melody blessed Finally Home CD. Blue Sky Riders are singer-songwriter dynamo Georgia Middleman, pop star Kenny Loggins and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and Carole King/Ringo Starr sideman Gary Burr. The harmonies and songs they create together are spine tingling. If you buy one album this season, make it this one.
ACE DIAMOND/Rockabilly Man
Writers: R. Cowell, Producer: Harry King; Publisher: Richard E. Cowell, BMI
–As you might expect from the title, it has a ‘50s throwback sound. The band kicks butt, but his vocal has none of the passion or yelp of a classic backwoods rockabilly artist. A noble effort, but no sale.
SAMANTHA LANDRUM/Hometown
Writers: Jon Nite/Nicolle Galyon; Producer: Dennis D’Amico; Publishers: Zavitson/Warner Tamerlane, BMI/ASCAP
–“I want to know you like I know my hometown.” Okay, it’s a little different as a lyric. Which I could forgive if the melody was interesting or if she had charisma as a vocalist. Neither is the case, alas.
THE MAVERICKS/Back In Your Arms Again
Writers: Raul Malo, Gary Nicholson, Seth Walker; Producer: Raul Malo and Niko Bolas; Publisher: Big Music Machine/Raul Malo/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Gary Nicholson
–Delightful. Malo’s lead vocal is piped in from an echo chamber and the bopping band chugs along with plenty of twang and a wheezing organ. The song is beyond catchy.
JESSTA JAMES/Back In The Day
Writers: Dan Hannon, Jesse Covin; Producer: Dan Hannon; Publisher: Emilex/Jessta James, BMI/ASCAP
–This starts out as a joyous country rocker then strangely veers into a rap. By the finale, it’s a shouting-crowd thang with a soul singer wailing. Schizophrenic.
KRISTEN KELLY/He Loves To Make Me Cry
Writers: Kristen Kelly/Paul Overstreet/Even Stevens; Producer: Tony Brown and Paul Overstreet; Publisher: none listed, BMI
–It’s a stately, steady blues lament. Kelly wails it for all it’s worth and stakes her claim as a newcomer to watch. Essential listening.
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Downtown
Writers: Luke Laird/Shane McAnally/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Twangin & Slangin/Crazy Water/Smack/Cobalt/EMI
–I’m not sure what is “country” about this song and performance, but it is certainly well executed.
CHRIS LEIGH & THE BROKEN HEARTS/Broken Hearted Friends
Writers: Chris Leigh; Producer: Jim “Moose” Brown; Publisher: Chris Leigh, BMI
–He’s a total slob and sounds it. She kicks his buddies out in the middle of the football game and tosses his stuff onto the lawn. What’s a guy to do? Head down to the bar and commiserate with his boozy friends. Sloppy-drunk enjoyable.

Eric Church Leads ACM Nominations

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Eric Church is the leading nominee with seven nods, followed by Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Hunter Hayes with

Eric Church is the leading nominee with seven nods, followed by Hunter Hayes with six, and Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert with five each.


Eric Church leads the nominations for the 48th Academy Country Music Awards with nine nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year and his second consecutive nod for Album of the Year and Video of the Year. He is twice nominated for Song of the Year for “Springsteen,” as both artist and composer. Church also earned nominations for Single of the Year for “Springsteen” and for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.
Nominees were announced today (Feb. 13) via the second annual digital press conference on the Academy’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Featured in the video announcements were     Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery, Ryan Seacrest, 2 Broke Girls star Beth Behrs, The Talk hosts (Julie Chen, Sarah Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler, and Sheryl Underwood), plus Entertainment Tonight co-anchors Nancy O’Dell and Rob Marciano.

Hunter Hayes received six nominations, including New Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Wanted.” He is also twice nominated in the Song of the Year category as the artist and composer, as well as in the Single Record of the Year category as the artist and producer for “Wanted.”
Miranda Lambert earned five nominations, including her second nomination for Entertainer of the Year and seventh consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. In addition, Lambert was nominated for Single Record and twice nominated for Song, as artist and composer, for “Over You.” Lambert is the reigning ACM Female Vocalist.
Reigning Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift received five nominations, including her fourth consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year. If Swift wins Entertainer, this will be her third consecutive win in that category. Swift is nominated for Female Vocalist, Video for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” and Album for Red as the artist and producer.
Luke Bryan received four nominations, including his first ever for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He also received nominations for Album for tailgates & tanlines and Vocal Event for “The Only Way I Know” with Aldean and Church.
First-time ACM nominee Kacey Musgraves is nominated for four awards including Female Vocalist, New Female Vocalist and twice for Video of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round” as artist and producer.
Other first-time nominees include Florida Georgia Line (3 nominations), Jana Kramer (2 nominations), and Natasha Bedingfield, Will Hoge, Eric Paslay, and Sunny Sweeney with one each.
Little Big Town leads group nominations with four nods, including Vocal Group, Album, Single Record for “Pontoon” and Video for “Tornado.”
Earning three noms apiece are Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Eli Young Band, and Florida Georgia Line.
Shelton and Bryan will co-host the ACM Awards airing live from Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
Fan Voting for Entertainer and New Artist of the Year: The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership selects the nominees and winners of the ACM Awards, and selects the final top five nominees for Entertainer of the Year. New Artist of the Year final nominees were selected by a combined vote of the fans and professional members. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year begins on March 25, 2013 at 3:00 PM ET/12noon PT at VoteACM.com. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year will close at 5 p.m. PT on April 7, 2013 (before the live show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer will close during the third hour of the live broadcast. The winners of both awards will be announced live during the ACM Awards. Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line are the nominees for ACM New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl’s Department Stores. In the first round of fan voting at GACtv.com, Gilbert, Kramer and FGL were respectively voted New Male Vocalist, New Female Vocalist, and New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year. The winners of those categories go on to compete for overall ACM New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl’s.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Toby Keith
Blake Shelton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
Thompson Square
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Zac Brown Band
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (already determined via fan voting)
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (already determined via fan voting)
Jana Kramer
Kacey Musgraves
Sunny Sweeney
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (already determined via fan voting)
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Thompson Square
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORES [Winners of New Male, New Female & New Vocal Duo or Group Of The Year]
Florida Georgia Line
Brantley Gilbert
Jana Kramer
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville), Produced by: Mark Bright
Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
Red – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records), Produced by: Jeff Bhasker, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson
tailgates & tanlines – Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Mark Bright, Jeff Stevens
Tornado – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville), Produced by: Mike Wrucke
“Over You” – Miranda Lambert (RCA), Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
“Pontoon” – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
“Springsteen” – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville), Produced by: Jay Joyce
“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes (Atlantic/WMN), Produced by: Hunter Hayes, Dann Huff
SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“A Woman Like You” – Lee Brice
Composers: Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford, Jon Stone
Publishers: 3JB Music (BMI), Adios Pantalones (SESAC), Hears That Skyline Music (SESAC), Sixteen Stars Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eli Young Band
Composers: Will Hoge, Eric Paslay
Publishers: Cal IV Songs (ASCAP), Will Hoge Music (BMI)
“Over You” – Miranda Lambert
Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton
Publishers: Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)
“Springsteen” – Eric Church
Composers: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell
Publishers: Bug Music (BMI), Ole Purple Cape Music (BMI), Sinnerlina (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)
“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes
Composers: Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges
Publishers: Happy Little Man Publishing (BMI), Songs From The Engine Room (BMI), Songs Of Universal Inc. (BMI)
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR *(Off Camera Award)
Rodney Clawson
Dallas Davidson
Josh Kear
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award) [TIE]
“Creepin’” – Eric Church
Producer: Iris Baker; Director: Peter Zavadil
“Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Perry Bean, Kacey Musgraves; Director: Perry Bean
“Tornado” – Little Big Town
Producer: Iris Baker; Director: Shane Drake
“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes
Producers: Stephanie Reeves, Eric Williams; Directors: Traci Goudie, Patrick Hubik
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift
Producer: John Nguyen; Director: Declan Whitebloom
“The Wind” – Zac Brown Band
Producer: Ben Kalina; Director: Mike Judge
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)
“Don’t Rush” – Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill (19/RCA/Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Dann Huff
“Easy” – Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield (Big Machine Records)
Produced by: Dann Huff, Brian Kennedy, Rascal Flatts
“Feel Like A Rock Star” – Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw) (Blue Chair/BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
“Let It Rain” – David Nail Featuring Sarah Buxton (MCA Nashville)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell
“The Only Way I Know” – Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church (Broken Bow)
Produced by: Michael Knox
OFF CAMERA AWARDS – The following off-camera awards will be presented during the annual ACM Honors event held in Nashville this fall.
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR
Agua Caliente Casino – Rancho Mirage, CA
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Tulsa, OK
Northern Quest Casino – Airway Heights, WA
Red Rock Casino & Resort – Las Vegas, NV
WinStar World Casino – Thackerville, OK
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace – Bakersfield, CA
Joe’s Bar – Chicago, IL
The Dusty Armadillo – Rootstown, OH
Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill – Denver, CO
Wild Bills – Duluth, GA
VENUE OF THE YEAR
Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN
Meadowbrook – Gilford, NH
Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
Billy Brill – Billy Alan Productions
Jerry Hufford – Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
Gary Osier – Gary Osier Presents
Pat Powelson – Jayson Promotions, Inc.
Fran Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Brad Garrett – Police Productions
Darin Lashinsky – NS2
Debra Rathwell – AEG Live
Glenn Smith – Glenn Smith Presents
Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar
MUSICIAN/BANDLEADER/INSTRUMENTALIST (MBI) AWARDS:
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Brett Beavers
Buddy Cannon
Dann Huff
Jay Joyce
Michael Knox
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Chuck Ainlay
Derek Bason
Mills Logan
Steve Marcantonio
F. Reid Shippen
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dennis Crouch
Kevin “Swine” Grantt
Larry Paxton
Jimmie Lee Sloas
Glenn Worf
PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers
Matt Chamberlain
Chad Cromwell
Chris McHugh
Greg Morrow
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Aubrey Haynie
Hank Singer
Joe Spivey
GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
Tom Bukovac
J.T. Corenflos
Jay Joyce
Rob McNelley
Brent Mason
PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John Jarvis
Charlie Judge
Gordon Mote
Steve Nathan
Michael Rojas
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eric Darken
Glen Duncan
Jim Hoke
Bryan Sutton
Ilya Toshinsky
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Dugmore
Mike Johnson
Greg Leisz
Russ Pahl
Scotty Sanders
RADIO AWARDS – The following radio awards will be presented during the annual Radio Winners event held the day prior to the ACM Awards telecast, on April 6th in Las Vegas.
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL
Blair Garner, After MidNite with Blair Garner
Cody Alan, CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan
Kix Brooks, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Shawn Parr, The Country’s Hotlist with Shawn Parr
Whitney Allen, The Big Time with Whitney Allen
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
Cornbread, Judi Diamond & Cap’n Mac, WIL-FM, St. Louis, MO
Dr. Don Carpenter, Rachel, Grunwald & Jason the 300lb. Cowboy, WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI
Drew Walker, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL
Edwards & Lee, WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI
Trish Biondo, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Chris Carr, Maverick & Statt, WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, OH
Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman, WFMS-FM, Indianapolis, IN
Lisa McKay, WQDR-FM, Raleigh, NC
Q Morning Crew – Mike Wheless, Marty Young & Janie Carothers, WQDR-FM Raleigh, NC
Randy Carroll and Jamie Martin, KAJA-FM, San Antonio, TX
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
Cash and Carey, KWEN-FM, Tulsa, OK
Jack Ryan, WMYL-FM, Knoxville, TN
Party Marty Mitchell, WKMK-FM, Monmouth-Ocean, NJ
Rowdy Yates, Sunny Leigh & Carly Rush, KVOO-FM, Tulsa, OK
Tom and Becky, WBBS-FM, Syracuse, NY
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
Brent Lane, WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL
Dex and Mo, WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
Gator Harrison, Styckman & Cowboy Kyle, WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
Jamie Mac, KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO
Philip Gibbons, WGSQ-FM, Cookeville, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
KNIX-FM Phoenix, AZ
KUPL-FM Portland, OR
WDSY-FM Pittsburgh, PA
WQYK-FM St. Petersburg, FL
WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
WLHK-FM Indianapolis, IN
WSM-AM Nashville, TN
WUBE-FM Cincinnati, OH
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
WBBS-FM Syracuse, NY
WGNA-FM Schenectady, NY
WKMK-FM Monmouth-Ocean, NJ
WMYL-FM Knoxville, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
WXFL-FM Florence, AL
WYCT-FM Pensacola, FL

 

BMI On Rights Withdrawal: An Open Letter To The Music Industry

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Photo
BMI President/CEO Del Bryant has issued an open letter to the music industry addressing the withdrawal of certain publishing catalogs from BMI’s repertoire for digital licensing. The full text is below, and here are a few highlights:
• As of January 1, 2013 the Sony/ATV and EMI catalogs have been withdrawn from the BMI repertoire only for limited digital uses. The withdrawal only impacts the shares of compositions actually owned or controlled by Sony/ATV and EMI. The withdrawal does not cover all digital uses and BMI will continue to license the Sony/ATV and EMI repertoires across most digital platforms and services. As a result, in some cases the same licensee will have to secure both a blanket license for shares of songs represented by BMI and a separate license from Sony/ATV and EMI for their respective shares of publicly-performed musical works.
• In conjunction with our modified publishing agreements, we entered into a new business relationship under which BMI will provide royalty processing and distribution services to Sony/ATV and EMI. Under the administrative agreement, BMI will distribute royalties to songwriters and publishers resulting from Sony/ATV and EMI’s negotiations. These agreements are BMI’s first entry into offering these types of administrative services.
• Publishers who wish to follow similar withdrawal terms will be allowed to modify their existing agreements at the end of their contracts
• • • • •
February 11, 2013
By Del R. Bryant
It is a dynamic time in our industry; it is a time of experimentation and transformation of many of the models which have generated revenue for recorded music and for music publishing, impacting songwriters, composers, publishers, artists and labels alike. Throughout BMI’s nearly 75 years of representing writers and publishers, we have seen many challenges and opportunities to secure reliable and fair compensation for the creators of music. We have navigated through changing markets and the development of new outlets for the performance of music and created solutions which add value to the marketplace.
Recent articles in the trade and consumer press have covered the withdrawal of catalogs from performing rights organizations by music publishers for certain digital uses. These issues are complex, and I wanted to take a minute to clarify the positions and policies BMI has formulated to address this development.
Some BMI publishers have stated in the press that the main driver in their desire to withdraw their works for specific digital uses is to set their own pricing. Publishers have always had the right to directly license. In the case of withdrawal, they believe they may obtain higher royalty rates from this market if they negotiate their own agreements outside of BMI’s regulatory framework. By withdrawing works from BMI, publishers become the only entities that can license those works and therefore can deny permission to perform their works if they do not come to agreement on rates and terms. By contrast, BMI, under its Consent Decree, is required to automatically issue a license upon a request from a licensee, and if the parties are not able to negotiate a fee after a period of time, either party can initiate a rate-setting proceeding. The press has recently quoted sources stating that, by working outside of the major PROs’ regulatory framework, Sony/ATV was able to increase their fees from Pandora by 25% versus the current rates of U.S. Performing Rights Organizations.
In 2011 we agreed to modify our contract with EMI Music Publishing and last year we agreed to similar modifications with Sony/ATV. As a result, as of January 1, 2013 the Sony/ATV and EMI catalogs have been withdrawn from the BMI repertoire only for limited digital uses. You can find a definition of these uses at http://www.bmi.com/drw. The withdrawal only impacts the shares of compositions actually owned or controlled by Sony/ATV and EMI. The withdrawal does not cover all digital uses and BMI will continue to license the Sony/ATV and EMI repertoires across most digital platforms and services. As a result, in some cases the same licensee will have to secure both a blanket license for shares of songs represented by BMI and a separate license from Sony/ATV and EMI for their respective shares of publicly-performed musical works. BMI will continue to license on behalf of our other major and independent publishers for all shares of all works in our repertoire for all digital uses.
Publishers who wish to follow similar withdrawal terms will be allowed to modify their existing agreements at the end of their contract or, if they have multiple contracts, at the weighted average term date of all those agreements. In the event that additional publishers withdraw, we will post the names of these publishers in the New Media section of bmi.com at http://www.bmi.com/drw. Preexisting licenses (“licenses in effect”) will include all repertoire until BMI’s agreement with the licensee expires. BMI will maintain its right to continue to enter into going-forward licenses for all digital uses until the works are actually withdrawn for such uses from BMI’s repertoire.
In conjunction with our modified publishing agreements, we entered into a new business relationship under which BMI will provide royalty processing and distribution services to Sony/ATV and EMI. Under the administrative agreement, BMI will distribute royalties to songwriters and publishers resulting from Sony/ATV and EMI’s negotiations. These agreements are BMI’s first entry into offering these types of administrative services and we believe this is one of many opportunities for our organization to provide additional value to our affiliates in today’s dynamic market.
While certainly complex, we see these recent developments as a clear marketplace signal of the enhanced value music brings to the digital world and beyond. We are working diligently to make that value a reality not just for large multinational music companies, but for ALL songwriters, ALL composers and ALL music publishers. We have already cited these marketplace agreements in our negotiations with our licensees and we will encourage our Rate Court to consider them as a new indicator of market value. We are also working in Washington to seek a change to current law to allow us to bring the rates set by the Copyright Royalty Judges for public performances in sound recordings under Section 114 of the U.S copyright law into evidence in BMI rate proceedings for consideration as rate benchmarks.
While recent developments may have added complexity to an already complex rights landscape, we see opportunity. We see an opportunity to level the digital playing field and to allow the courts to consider all precedents across the digital spectrum. We see an opportunity to value performances of musical works fairly when compared to performances of sound recordings. We see opportunities for BMI to provide additional administrative services and add value to the markets we serve. All the while we remain dedicated to serving our constituents: songwriters, composers, music publishers and our licensees.

'MusicRow' Announces Second Annual Rising Women on the Row Breakfast

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Final_Logo_SponsorMusicRow announces the second annual Rising Women on the Row Breakfast, designed to salute up-and-coming women who have made substantial contributions to the Nashville music industry early in their careers.
This year’s honorees will again be feted at a sit-down breakfast and awards ceremony set for Friday, March 22 at 8:30 a.m. at Maggiano’s, featuring special guest speaker Mary Ann McCready of Flood, Bumstead, McCready, McCarthey. Read more about McCready here.
“We are very excited to present MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row breakfast again this year,” says Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “This event gives us a great opportunity to honor professional women in our industry who are making significant contributions as they advance their careers. Nashville’s music industry has never shone brighter in the national spotlight than it does right now, and we are proud to highlight some of the women that make it all happen.”
MusicRow invites the industry to celebrate with us at the event. Tickets are now on sale for $35 for individuals or $300 for a table of ten and can be purchased below.
Click here for MusicRow’s announcement of honorees.
Tickets for this event are completely SOLD OUT. Thank you for your orders!

Grammy Ratings and Weblinks

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Emmylou Harris and Mumford & Sons' Marcus Mumford at the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Bruce Springsteen on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage.com

Emmylou Harris and Mumford & Sons’ Marcus Mumford at the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Bruce Springsteen on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage.com


Grammy ratings fell from last year’s high of more than 39 million viewers to about 29 million for last night’s (Feb. 10) primetime show (8-11 p.m). The slip was expected due to 2012’s ceremony drawing a 30-year ratings high, spurred by the death of Whitney Houston the night before.
Last night’s show on CBS attracted 28.4 million viewers for the full show (8-11:30 p.m.), the second-highest since 1993. The show received a 10.1 rating among viewers in the advertiser coveted age group of 18 and 49, topping every Grammy telecast since 2004.
Ratings according to Zap2It.com.
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Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Zac Brown, Kenny Chesney, Natalie Maines and Elton John were among the performers who saluted Bruce Springsteen as MusiCares Person of the Year at a Grammy week ceremony. More from EW.
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Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell recruited a slew of star guest performers for their Saturday (Feb. 9) night show at the Los Angeles Troubadour. They were joined by Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt, the Zac Brown Band, J.D. Souther, Damien Rice, Joan Osborne, Shannon McNally, John Fullbright and Shawn Camp, reports the LA Times.

• • • •
Snoop Dogg decided the BMI panel “How I Wrote That Song” was a good place to light up a doobie on Saturday. He was a panelist at the Grammy week event at The Roxy alongside Luke Laird, Busta Rhymes, B.o.B. and Evan Bogart. Get the buzz from The Hollywood Reporter.

Kenny Chesney performs at the MusiCares tribute to Bruce Springsteen. Photo: Mark Davis/WireImage.com

Kenny Chesney performs at the MusiCares tribute to Bruce Springsteen. Photo: Mark Davis/WireImage.com

Bobby Karl Works the Nashville Grammy Viewing Party

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Photo: Grammy.com

Taylor Swift opens the show.


The Hard Rock rocked on Sunday night.
The Lower Broadway nightclub hosted the Nashville Grammy party in style (Feb. 10). The multi-tattooed bartending squad kept the beverages flowing and the kitchen staff really turned on the talent.
We dined on burger sliders with blue cheese and hot sauce, pulled-pork barbecue sandwiches and excellent French fries plus tortellini and/or bowtie pasta tossed with mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, spinach and parmesan. And that was just the downstairs menu. Folks upstairs munched on Chinese creations – vegetarian egg rolls and/or beef, fried rice and stir-fried veggies. The wait staff circulated with bruchetta on toast points, spicy shrimp, fried chicken, salmon on toast and other delish dishes.
Dozens of viewing screens were stationed throughout the venue, the better to watch the 55th annual Grammy Awards telecast. Nashville’s own Taylor Swift was the opening act, performing “We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together” with a colorful troupe of circus-themed dancers. She also picked up a Grammy for best song written for a motion picture (“Safe & Sound” from The Hunger Games).
Nashville’s Kelly Clarkson saluted Patti Page and Carole King and picked up a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Also in the performing spotlight were Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood in her video satin dress, Hunter Hayes and Miranda Lambert. Multiple Grammy winners The Black Keys rocked “Lonely Boy” with Dr. John and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Notable Nashvillian Jack White rocked. Album of the Year winners Mumford & Sons rocked, too. Grammy presenters included Clarkson, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and a gorgeous Faith Hill.
faith hill tim mcgraw1

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw present at the Grammy Awards.


The show was characterized by well-executed tribute segments. Best Country Album winners The Zac Brown Band joined Elton John, Mavis Staples, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, the Mumfords and more in saluting Levon Helm. Bruno Mars, Sting, Rihanna and Ziggy Marley were outstanding in saluting Bob Marley. Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Kenny Garrett performed “Take Five” in honor of Dave Brubeck. Show host LL Cool J joined Chuck D, Tom Morello, Travis Barker and more to salute Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys.
In pre-telecast ceremonies, Music City’s Little Big Town, TobyMac, Janis Ian, Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins, The Civil Wars and Old Crow Medicine Show won Grammys. At the Hard Rock, cheers went up whenever a Nashvillian such as Underwood was announced as winning. The evening’s biggest Grammy collector was our own Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, who picked up four trophies and thanked Music City each time.
Schmoozing and enjoying the telecast at the Hard Rock were Karen Clark, Kathy Anderson, Raeanne Rubenstein, Rebecca Luxford, Bryan Cumming, Bill VornDick, Barry Landis, Ashley Ernst, Alicia Warwick, Dale Bobo, Charles Dorris, Steve O’Brien, Marty Evans, Debbie Hupp, Jimmie “Jaz” Dorsey, Laura Crawford and many of the Nashville Chapter’s younger rock and CCM members.
Photos: Grammy.com
Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert had a front row seat.

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert had a front row seat.

Nashville Gets Grammy Love: Show Highlights and Winners

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Taylor Swift opens the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage

Taylor Swift opens the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage


Tons of Grammy trophies are on their way home to Nashville today (Feb. 11). For the fifth year running, Music City’s acclaimed all-genre talent pool was on display at the three-hour-plus performance-fest.
Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys emerged the big winner at last night’s show, taking home four Grammys, including Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, and three with bandmate and fellow Nashvillian Patrick Carney for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for “Lonely Boy,” and Best Rock Album for El Camino. Though Auerbach’s acceptance speech for Best Rock Performance wasn’t the evening’s most enthusiastic, he redeemed himself by giving a shout-out to his adopted hometown, and then proved why The Black Keys won the award by rocking the socks off the audience during a set with Dr. John.
Taylor Swift’s captivating opening number of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” set the tone for a night of outstanding performances when she fell down the rabbit hole into a magical Alice-In-Circus-Wonderland parade of outrageous characters. Proving that red is so 2012, she donned all-white for last night’s show, red carpet and the recent People’s Choice Awards. Swift, The Civil Wars and T Bone Burnett won the award for Best Song Written For Visual Media “Safe & Sound” (From The Hunger Games).
Carrie Underwood performs during the Grammys. Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage

Carrie Underwood performs during the Grammys. Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage


Carrie Underwood’s hit “Blown Away” received two honors. She won her sixth Grammy, for Best Country Solo Performance, while songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins took home Best County Song. It is the fourth Grammy for Kear and second for Tompkins; they also won in 2008 for Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” For last night’s performance of “Blown Away” and new single “Two Black Cadillacs,” Underwood donned a silvery ball gown that shone with a montage of video projections. The downside was that it prevented her from moving around the stage. Newcomer Frank Ocean (Best Urban Contemporary Album) also made good use of video during his set, too bad the song “Forrest Gump” couldn’t keep pace.
Rounding out the country winners were Little Big Town for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Pontoon”) and Zac Brown Band for Best Country Album (Uncaged). Zac Brown also teamed with Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Elton John, Mumford & Sons and Mavis Staples, for a stellar take on The Band’s classic “The Weight” during a salute to the late Levon Helm. 
Nominees Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley teamed up for their respective hits “Over You” and “Home.”
As always, Kelly Clarkson was in amazing voice during a tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award winners Patti Page and Carole King by performing their songs “The Tennessee Waltz” and “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman.” Clarkson’s excitement was infectious when accepting the award for Best Pop Vocal Album for “Stronger.”
Nashville-based rocker Jack White utilized both of his backing bands during a segment that was a rousing success when he played one song with the female musicians and another with the male musicians.
Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman and Blake Shelton made appearances. Hunter Hayes scored three nominations and a performance slot. Plus, his new partnership with Pepsi was highlighted prominently during a commercial break.
Justin Timberlake performs at the Grammy Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter

Justin Timberlake performs at the Grammy Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter


After a long hiatus from music, Justin Timberlake offered his smokin’ hot new single “Suit & Tie,” in one of the Grammy’s coolest moments. Part of his big-band-style performance featuring Jay-Z was broadcast in black-and-white to at-home viewers, before bursting into living color.
Superstar pairings have long been a Grammy hallmark, with last night’s highlights including newbie Ed Sheerhan with icon Elton John; Alicia Keys with Maroon 5; and Bruno Mars with Sting, Rihanna and Ziggy Marley.
Nashville’s Grammy winning streak started in 2009 when Raising Sand, the Alison Krauss/Robert Plant collaboration, was the top winner. The most-honored torch was carried by Swift in 2010 and Lady Antebellum in 2011. Last year, Nashville was well-represented with wins by Swift, Lady A, Alison Krauss and Union Station, and The Civil Wars.
—Sarah Skates
A full list of televised award recipients is below.
Click here for MusicRow’s list of the 2013 pre-telecast Grammy award winners.
Miranda Lambert performs alongside tour mate Dierks Bentley during the Grammy telecast. Photo: Kevin Winter (Lambert) and Kevin Mazur (Bentley)

Miranda Lambert performs alongside tourmate Dierks Bentley during the Grammy telecast. Photo: Kevin Winter (Lambert) and Kevin Mazur (Bentley)


BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
Blown Away
Carrie Underwood
Track from: Blown Away
Label: 19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Uncaged
Zac Brown Band
Label: Southern Ground/Atlantic
Kelly Clarkson and manager fiance Brandon Blackstock.

Kelly Clarkson and manager fiance Brandon Blackstock.


BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Stronger
Kelly Clarkson
Label: RCA Records/19 Recordings LLC
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
Lonely Boy
The Black Keys
Track from: El Camino
Label: Nonesuch
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Babel
Mumford & Sons
Markus Dravs, producer; Robin Baynton & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
Label: Glassnote
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Set Fire To The Rain [Live]
Adele
Track from: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
Label: XL/Columbia
SONG OF THE YEAR
We Are Young
Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe)
Track from: Some Nights
Label: Fueled By Ramen; Publishers: WB Music, FBR Music, Bearvon Music/Rough Art/Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music/Way Above Music/Sony ATV Songs
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
Label: Def Jam
BEST NEW ARTIST
Fun.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Somebody That I Used To Know
Gotye Featuring Kimbra
Wally De Backer, producer; Wally De Backer & Francois Tetaz, engineers/mixers; William Bowden, mastering engineer
Track from: Making Mirrors
Label: Universal Republic