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Underwood “Blows Away” Arena

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Underwood closes the show with "Blown Away," the current single and title track from her latest album.

Carrie Underwood brought The Blown Away Tour to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last night (Sun., Sept. 24) touching down on a packed and enthusiastic crowd. In the first few minutes it became very clear this show was going to live up to its name.

Using a massive video wall, special effects and a rising floor, we were transported to the scene of a tornado when Underwood entered the stage performing her mega hit, “Good Girl.” She followed the powerful opening number with hits “Undo It” and “Wasted.”

After spending countless hours watching husband Mike Fisher play for the Nashville Predators, she told the audience, “You have no idea how much time I spend at Bridgestone.” She said Fisher joked before the show, “You’re on my turf now.” She replied, “I was here first!”

After performing “I Told You So” and “Two Black Cadillacs,” she made a quick costume change and followed with “Last Name” and “All-American Girl.” She thanked everyone for coming and told the fans $1 of every ticket purchased from the entire tour is going to the American Red Cross. Based on last night’s performance, we can expect that’s going to be a really big check.

Next, her stellar and compelling performance of “Temporary Home” sent onlookers down a powerful emotional ride. Followed by “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” many in the crowd didn’t make it through with dry eyes. She then pulled everyone back into party mode with “Cowboy Casanova.”

Underwood next appeared wearing Fisher’s Predators jersey and cut off blue jean shorts to a cheering crowd. She joined a few members of her band on a section center stage, which levitated above the crowd and moved toward the back of the arena. She performed several songs from her current Blown Away album including, “Nobody Ever Told You,” “Thank God For Hometowns,” and “Do You Think About Me.” She tossed Hawaiian leis from the floating stage while oversized beach balls bounced around the stadium, and performed “One Way Ticket,” telling us we all deserved a vacation.

She brought opening act, Hunter Hayes back on stage to duet on “Leave Love Alone.” Hayes had captured the audience’s attention earlier that evening performing “Storm Warning” and “Wanted” among several other songs. Peter Strickland, Sr. VP of Warner Music Nashville and other members of the staff presented Hayes a plaque during his set for his No. 1 single, “Wanted.” Hayes then returned the favor, surprising the Warner staff with a plaque of their own honoring them for all of their hard work.

Underwood then gave her rocking rendition of “Sweet Emotion” that would have easily put a smile on Steven Tyler’s face. But perhaps the biggest highlight of the evening, and there were many to choose from, was Underwood’s performance of “Remind Me.” While the Brad Paisley duet is usually performed via video on tour, she was completely taken back and surprised when Paisley walked on stage singing his part. An emotional Underwood took a few moments while singing to wipe away the tears as the audience gave them a thunderous and deafening applause. The energy was there to stay as she followed up with “Cupid’s Got a Shotgun” and “Before He Cheats.”

Brad Paisley surprises Carrie during the performance of their #1 hit "Remind Me."

Underwood’s vocals were perfection and it was obvious we were watching a superstar. Although the stage was sophisticated and impressive, the set design kept Underwood’s talent center stage. She had five costume changes and looked beautiful, as always, in each one.

The encore took us back to the scene of the tornado, which had apparently gained strength during the concert. Underwood performed her last song of the night, “Blown Away,” before literally disappearing into the tornado’s vortex. And just like Underwood, we were also blown away.

Before taking the stage last night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for “The Blown Away Tour,” Carrie Underwood was presented a Platinum plaque for sales of over one million copies of her latest album, "Blown Away." (L-R): Paul Barnabee, SVP Marketing, Sony Music Nashville; Caryl Healey, VP Sales, Sony Music Nashville; Underwood, Gary Overton (Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Nashville), Alaina Vehec (Dir., Digital Sales, Sony Music Nashville). Photo: Alan Poizner

FTC Approves UMG Acquisition of EMI

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Within hours of the European Commission’s approval of Universal Music Group’s acquisition of EMI, the Federal Trade Commission has closed its investigation in the United States.

“Today, the Commission voted to close its investigation of the proposed acquisition by Vivendi, S.A., parent company of Universal Music Group (“Universal”), of EMI Recorded Music (“EMI”),” said Bureau of Competition Director Richard A. Feinstein in a statement. “After a thorough investigation into the likely competitive effects of the merger, Commission staff did not find sufficient evidence that the acquisition would substantially lessen competition.”

As reported earlier, UMG will be selling off one-third of EMI’s assets to satisfy the European regulatory board. The FTC will not require any additional divestitures for the deal, valued at $1.9 billion, to pass in the United States.

“Although the Commission did not conclude that a remedy was needed to protect competition in the United States, we note that the remedy obtained by the European Commission to address the different market conditions in Europe will reduce concentration in the market in the United States as well,” noted Feinstein in the statement.

It remains unclear exactly what this will mean for Nashville, but expect some changes as the labels begin to combine resources. Former Capitol Nashville/EMI Records Nashville President Mike Dungan previously made the switch to head up Universal Music Group Nashville in May 2012, so it is likely his some of associates and artists from Capitol/EMI will once again be back under his leadership.

Weekly Chart Report (9/21/12)

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Premiere Radio Networks Senior Director of Music Initiatives, Robin Rhodes, visited with the Pistol Annies at their show at Terminal 5 in New York last week. Pictured (L-R): Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert, Rhodes and Angaleena Presley.

SPIN ZONE
Sony Music keeps up the No. 1 streak this week, with Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” succeeding Miranda Lambert’s “Fastest Girl in Town” at the top of the MusicRow Chart. There’s some significant movement throughout the top 10, with Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride” pulling up to No. 2, Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah” climbing to No. 3, Rascal Flatts’ “Come Wake Me Up” hopping to No. 4, and Lee Brice’s “Hard to Love” jumping to No. 5. It’s going to get even more crowded really soon, as Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Greg Bates, and Jake Owen all climb higher.

Big movers include Darius Rucker’s “True Believers,” hopping six spots to hit No. 20, and Alan Jackson’s “You Go Your Way,” which gains 246 spins to move to No. 24. Even bigger is Kenny Chesney’s brand new “El Cerrito Place,” which leaps from 52-31 in its 2nd week on the chart. Newcomer Thomas Rhett’s second single “Beer With Jesus” is also a hot item, picking up 321 new spins to land at No. 35 in its 4th week on the chart.

Like Rhett, there are a handful of newcomers starting to gain some traction. Kelleigh Bannen’s debut single “Sorry On The Rocks” is up to No. 34 after eight weeks, and Miss Willie Brown’s “You’re All That Matters to Me” is still gaining at No. 37. MusicRow recently had the pleasure of meeting Scarletta, whose debut single “Right Here Right Now” is now inside the top 40 at No. 39. New debuts include Gary Allan’s “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)” (No. 65), Gloriana’s “Can’t Shake You” (No. 68), and Zac Brown Band’s “Goodbye In Her Eyes” (No. 69).

Frozen Playlists: KYYK, WXXK

Upcoming Singles
September 20
Brad Paisley/TBD/Arista

October 1
Faith Hill/American Heart/WMG
Little Big Town/Tornado/Capitol
Heartland/The Sound a Dream Makes/R&J Records

October 8
Brett Eldredge/Don’t Ya/WMG
Danielle Peck/Impossible Dreams/Namaste-9 North
Uncle Kracker/Nobody’s Sad On A Saturday Night/Sugar Hill-Vanguard-EMI Nashville

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Gary Allan/Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)/MCA – 65
Gloriana/Can’t Shake You/Emblem-WMN – 68
Zac Brown Band/Goodbye In Her Eyes/Southern Ground-Atlantic – 69
Little Big Town/Tornado/Capitol – 73
Kacey Musgraves/Merry Go Round/Mercury – 76
Jaida Dreyer/Confessions/Streamsound – 79
High Valley/Love You For A Long Time/Eaglemont-Rodeowave – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/El Cerrito Place/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 641
Luke Bryan/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/Capitol – 351
Zac Brown Band/Goodbye In Her Eyes/Southern Ground-Atlantic – 340
Carrie Underwood/Blown Away/19-Arista Nashville – 338
Thomas Rhett/Beer With Jesus/Valory – 321

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Kenny Chesney/El Cerrito Place/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 35
Zac Brown Band/Goodbye In Her Eyes/Atlantic Records – 28
Little Big Town/Tornado/Capitol Records – 25
Thomas Rhett/Beer With Jesus/Valory – 20
Gary Allan/Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)/MCA – 16
Kacey Musgraves/Merry Go Round/Mercury – 15

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Chelsea Bain/What If I – 216
Kevin Fowler/Here’s To Me And You/Average Joe’s – 205
Alex Flanigan/Diesel, Guns and Rust – 193
Clinton Gregory/She Did/Melody Roundup – 161
Branch & Dean/Your Ol Lady’s Gone/SSM Nashville – 156

Republic Nashville’s Greg Bates performed at the York Fair in York, PA this past week (9/13) after spending time with WGTY and REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin. Bates performed his debut single, “Did It For The Girl,” which has climbed to No. 8 on the MusicRow Chart. Bates joined Cronin on stage to sing “Roll With the Changes.” Pictured (L-R): WGTY's Kim Alexander and Scott Donato, Cronin and Bates. Photo: Courtesy of Republic Nashville

Gloriana visited with KRTY at a show in San Jose promoting the new song, "Can't Shake You," which debuts at No. 68 on the MusicRow Chart this week. Pictured (L-R): Mike Gossin, Tina Ferguson, Raffaella Braun, Rachel Reinert, Nate Deaton, Tom Gossin. Photo: Rudy Sabin

BMLG To Share in Entercom’s Broadcast Royalties

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Big Machine Label Group and Entercom Communications today announced an agreement to align their business interests and accelerate growth and innovation in digital radio. Through this mutually beneficial arrangement, Big Machine will become the first record company to directly participate, along with its artists, in Entercom’s terrestrial broadcast radio revenues. Entercom has a nationwide portfolio of 111 stations in 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento and Kansas City.

BMLG reached a similar agreement with Clear Channel in June. Terms of the deals have not been disclosed.

Artists signed to Big Machine’s wholly owned labels who will benefit from this agreement include Big Machine Records artists Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Edens Edge and Ella Mae Bowen; and Valory Music Co. artists Reba McEntire, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, The Mavericks and Thomas Rhett. The deal doesn’t include Universal Republic artists.

“This agreement represents a bold step forward to align our interests with those of Big Machine and their artists. While the deal comes with some significant costs and risks, we believe that by working with the labels and the artist community to establish a new business model, we will ultimately enhance the opportunities for all parties concerned,” said Entercom President and CEO David Field. “I also want to acknowledge Scott Borchetta, [and Clear Channel’s] Bob Pittman and John Hogan for their vision and leadership in blazing the trail that made this deal possible.”

“As great and leading visionaries in the broadcast world continue to look into the future, they are seeing where listeners are going in regards to how radio is being used now and where and how it will be used in the very near future. Among the many choices in the audio entertainment landscape, radio is now portable again thanks to smartphones and soon-to-be ubiquitous Internet streaming in the car,” said Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group. “David Field and his cutting edge team at Entercom Communications completely understand this vision. I’m honored that they have joined us as partners in growing digital radio as well as compensating the artists that provide great musical content for their terrestrial stations. They have chosen to lead and everyone in the artist and creative community applauds their bold leadership role.”

Agreements of this kind are important in two respects: 1) the Clear Channel deal marked the first time artists will be paid a performance royalty for radio airplay in the United States. Traditionally, only songwriters/copyright holders have received radio performance royalties. 2) It is designed to drive digital radio growth.

The new business model set forth in the agreement is designed to level the royalty payment playing field for all types of radio. The model has BMLG and its artists being paid terrestrial performance royalties in exchange for a lower rate on digital performance royalties, which will distribute the royalty cost more evenly between both kinds of radio.

Under current circumstances, which the new model aims to change, the growth of digital radio is stunted because a high percentage of each company’s income goes to pay artist and songwriter royalties. These royalty rates are often based on individual song plays, and though they are fractions of a cent, can add up very quickly to large sums. By comparison, a low percentage of terrestrial radio station revenue goes to royalties, which are exclusively paid to songwriters via the performing rights organizations. Additionally, terrestrial radio recently entered a different agreement to decrease the rates it pays to the P.R.O.s.

The Wall Street Journal said the Clear Channel agreement “represents a historic shift,” calling it “a major bet that radio’s future is online rather than over the air… With the growing ubiquity of smartphones and more cars that include Internet-radio options, consumers are spending more time listening to music online, escalating the royalty costs along the way.”

Weekly Register: ‘Tornado’ Triumphs While YTD Sales Dip

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Little Big Town’s Tornado easily blows onto the top spot of the country album charts this week with scans of almost 113k according to Nielsen Soundscan. Artistically, Tornado may be the vocal quartet’s best work since its remarkable 2008 Equity Records outing, The Road To Here. For comparison purposes, the group’s previous disc The Reason Why debuted 8-29-2010 with scans of 42k. By all measures, this week’s showing is a tour de force. And based upon the music, which these ears have been enjoying for a few weeks now, this new LBT set should benefit from WOM (word of mouth) throughout the holiday season.

But alas, LBT’s triumph was not enough to brace country YTD album sales from heading into negative territory, -1.4%! Exactly one year ago Lady A unleashed Own The Night with scans of (348k), more scans than this week’s entire Top Current 75 chart (327k), even including the LBT debut.

Kix Brooks landed inside the Top 10 with his debut this week, New To This Town (No. 10; 6.5k). Other debuts included Chris Knight (No. 25; 2.7k) and Idol alum Bucky Covington (No. 30; 2k).

Expect country’s YTD album numbers to head deeper into negative territory for the next few weeks. (Last year we also had a 197k debut from Scotty McCreery on 10/9/2011). However, the 2012 release schedule starts to shift gears soon with upcoming projects from power hitters Jason Aldean (10/16) and Taylor Swift (10/22), plus stocking stuffer holiday sets from Blake Shelton, Scotty McCreery and Lady Antebellum. For a full listing click here.

For those year-end prediction junkies, you can either read the tea leaves or wait and see how the Aldean and Swift CDs fare. As for this prognosticator, I’m seeing a positive finish shaping up…

Tracking The Sales
Tackling tracks is once again mostly about Ms. Swift who owns the No. 1 and No. 2 titles on this week’s Digital Genre Country tracks list. “We Are Never Ever…” was downloaded over 226k times for a RTD total of almost 1.7 million in five weeks! “Ronan” earned 116k credit card clicks for two-week RTD total of 327k. Very impressive. Those two Swift tracks equal 22% of the entire 100 track list. And lest we get called out by the affable Big Machine sales department, please note, that 22% doesn’t even include Swift’s six additional tracks included on the list.

Tracks are a bright spot this year, up 6% for all-genre and up 12.3% for country and the trend is expected to continue through the holiday season.

So as the year draws to a close, we’ll cross our fingers for the album numbers and good showings from the new offerings, while cheering as we break new records for  country track sales. However, when the bean counters hunker down to assess the year-end financial results, they will be less concerned with units sold and pay more attention to total revenue and profits. SoundScan numbers and percentages up and down tend to camouflage those dollar metrics because they don’t take into account pricing and margin.

Stay tuned...

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/19/12)

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Brent Cobb, Kenny Chesney

King Kenny fends off all challengers to win a Disc of the Day award this week.

Kenny Chesney has been topping the charts for more than 15 years now, and “El Cerrito Place” demonstrates why he continues to be so relevant. Despite the best efforts of Lonestar, Little Big Town, Wade Hayes, Gary Allan and Kix Brooks, he leads the field.

But the big news is our DisCovery Award winner, Brent Cobb. I can’t remember the last time a new singer-songwriter so delighted me with a debut disc.

BILLY RAY CYRUS/Change My Mind
Writer: Billy Ray Cyrus/Michael J. Sagraves; Producer: Brandon Friesen; Publisher: Sunnageronimo/Two Beats Down, BMI; Blue Cadillac (www.billyraycyrus.com)
—Pretty darn “big” sounding, with Cyrus’s processed voice practically buried in a cacophony of electric guitars, banjo and production what-not. Simultaneously muffled sounding and irritating.

LONESTAR/The Countdown
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; 4 Star (www.lonestarnow.com)
—Very catchy and bright. The upbeat ode of a returning lover, who can’t rush home fast enough, is appropriately rocking. The interjecting “ticking” effects are a nice touch, too. Highly programmable.

KENNY CHESNEY/El Cerrito Place
Writer: Keith Gattis; Producer: Buddy Cannon & Kenny Chesney; Publisher: Gattis, BMI; Columbia/Blue Chair
—Dreamy. He searches for his love along the beaches, on the desert and in the neighborhoods of the pretty people while echoey guitars and harmony vocalists cushion him in loneliness. One more reason why Kenny is king.

THE CIVIL WARS/I’ve Got This Friend
Writer: none listed; Producer: Charlie Peacock; Publisher: none listed; Sensibility (track)
—The Gold-selling, double Grammy winning Barton Hollow CD offers up a third single/video, and it is a change-of-pace to a more lilting, melodic and relaxed sound. As captivating as their intense, soul-wailing tracks are.

LITTLE BIG TOWN/Tornado
Writer: Natalie Hemby/Delta Maid; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Wruckestrike/San Remo Live/Songs of Kobalt, BMI; Capitol Nashville (track)
—LBT continues its quest for world domination with this marching, crunchy, relentless vow to destroy any man who gets in Karen’s way. As before, the Joyce injection has completely revived this group’s sound.

WADE HAYES/Is It Already Time
Writer: none listed; Producer: Don Cook; Publisher: none listed; RPM Entertainment
—As the country radio world knows by now, the team that made Hayes a Columbia Records star of the 1990s, has reunited to promote the autobiographical song about his harrowing ordeal with colon cancer. Beautifully written and powerfully moving.

KIX BROOKS/Bring it on Home
Writer: Kix Brooks/Rhett Akins/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Kix Brooks; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Buffalo Prairie/EMI Blackwood/Rhettneck, BMI; Arista (track)
—A reformed honky-tonker puts on the brakes and decides to head for the homefront. Ultra commercial.

GARY ALLAN/Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)
Writer: Gary Allan/Matt Warren/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Gary Allan & Greg Droman; Publisher: Crystal Beach/Third Tier/Always Alone/Kobalt/Raylene/BMG, BMI/ASCAP; MCA Nashville (CDX)
—Very cool and fevered sounding. Gary’s edgy growl offers odd comfort as he advises that tough times never last. Guitars chime around him and the rhythm track crashes in the background in this super compelling performance.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD/Last of a Dyin’ Breed
Writer: Gary Rossington/Johnny Van Zant/Ricky Medlock/Mark Matejka/Dan Sarafini/Bob Marlette; Producer: Bov Marlette; Publisher: Sleeping Indian/L&K/Bug/BobNal/Black Lava/Kobalt/Matejkamusic/Jaris, ASCAP/BMI; Roadrunner (track) (www.lynyrdskynyrd.com)
—Whether you’ve noticed it or not, rock music has completely disappeared from the mainstream pop chart. Everything is dance music or hip-hop there. That’s why a rock band like Jason Aldean is a “country” artist. Following this logic, lend these Southern-rock vets your ears on the rocking title tune of their latest CD. These old pros show the kiddies how its really done.

BRENT COBB/Love On Me
Writer: Brent Cobb/Jason Saenz; Producer: Matthew Miller & Oran Thornton; Publisher: Tiltawhirl/Carnival/Sony ATV Tree/Songs for My Good Girl, BMI; Carnival (CDX) (www.carnivalrecording.com)
—Now here’s a refreshing change: A country vocalist who isn’t afraid to put real personality on disc. This is easily the most charming performance of today, full of drawling, country-boy humor in a jaunty, sly come-on ditty. Absolutely essential listening.

‘American Idol’ Judging Panel Includes Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj

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The long speculated new American Idol judging panel has now been confirmed, with Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj joining superstar Mariah Carey and returning judge Randy Jackson for the show’s 12th season set to debut in January 2013.

“With the exciting addition of Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj, alongside Randy Jackson, American Idol’s star power has never been so great,” said Idol Executive Producer Simon Fuller in a statement. “For this we have to thank the ongoing commitment and belief of Fox and the dedication and focus of the Idol production team. We have all been together since the very beginning and we are focused on making Idol season 12 the best ever.”
Urban was long rumored to be in the running for a spot at the Idol table, and will likely help increase Nashville’s overall visibility (in addition to his own) with the high-profile TV gig. Urban also recently stepped down from his judging spot on The Voice Australia.
“It’s really an honor to have been invited to be a part of the American Idol family,” said Urban of the announcement. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone and to seeing the same passion that I have for music in all of the participants.”
Idol hopefuls will begin meeting the four judges and host Ryan Seacrest today (9/16) at auditions in New York City. Other audition stops include Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, and Oklahoma City.

Ryan Seacrest tweeted pic stating, "After some musical chairs, here's how the new American Idol judges will be seated."

Weekly Chart Report (9/14/2012)

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Casey James (R) gets a leg-up on WGTY/York, PA's Scott Donato while in town for a show at the York Fair. James is currently promoting his new single "Crying On A Suitcase,” which lands at No. 27.

SPIN ZONE
The inherent risk of running with the “Fastest Girl In Town” is that you might not be able to keep up with her. And that is apparently the case this week, as Miranda Lambert’s latest ascends to the MusicRow chart’s No. 1 spot with a big 218 spin gain. Chasing her is across-the-hall label mate Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away,” and Jason Aldean’s very hot “Take a Little Ride.” Newly arriving in the last slot of the top 10 is Greg Bates’“Did it For the Girl.”

Warner Music Nashville's Brett Eldredge (R) and WLHK/Indianapolis’ Bob Richards get in a workout during a recent radio visit promoting the new single, “Don’t Ya.”

Other female artists hanging out in the top 40 include Joanna Smith, whose “We Can’t Be Friends” is at No. 19 before it officially goes for adds at monitored radio. Right behind at No. 20 is Taylor Swift’s massive “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Trio Edens Edge is 2/3 female and has “Too Good To Be True” at No. 24. Trio Taylor Made also has a female member and “Some Things You Never Grow Out Of” is at No. 34, a little behind Heidi Newfield’s “Why’d You Have To Be So Good” at No. 28. Closing out the top 40 are a strong group of four including Gwen Sebastian’s “Met Him In A Motel Room,” Miss Willie Brown’s “You’re All That Matters To Me,” Kelleigh Bannen’s “Sorry On The Rocks,” and Kristen Kelly’s “Ex-Old Man.”

Kenny Chesney’s “El Cerrito” leads the debuts this week, making a big splash at No. 52. Show Dog-Universal’s JT Hodges is a few paces back at No. 57 with “Sleepy Little Town.” Trace Adkins’ topical “Tough People Do” shows up at No. 67, and the Coleman Brothers’ “Ghost Town” floats in at No. 78.

Frozen Playlists: KWEY

Upcoming Singles
September 17
Borrowed Blue/Porch People/Red Buck
Clay Walker/Jesse James/Sidewalk
The Farm/Be Grateful/All In-Elektra Nashville-New Revolution
LiveWire/Lies/Way Out West
Craig Campbell/Outta My Head/BPG
Gary Allan/Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)/MCA
Joanna Smith/We Can’t Be Friends/RCA
Lisa Matassa/Somebody’s Baby/It Is What It Is-Nine North

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Kenny Chesney/El Cerrito Place/Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville – 52
JT Hodges/Sleepy Little Town/Show Dog-Universal – 57
Trace Adkins/Tough People Do/Show Dog-Universal – 67
Coleman Brothers/Ghost Town – 78

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/El Cerrito Place/Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville – 452
Darius Rucker/True Believers/Capitol – 438
Luke Bryan/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/Capitol – 302
Trace Adkins/Tough People Do/Show Dog-Universal – 262
Alan Jackson/You Go Your Way/ACR-EMI Nashville – 254

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Kenny Chesney/El Cerrito Place/Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville – 37
Trace Adkins/Tough People Do/Show Dog-Universal – 22
Darius Rucker/True Believers/Capitol – 21
JT Hodges/Sleepy Little Town/Show Dog-Universal – 18
Coleman Brothers/Ghost Town – 14

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Jaida Dreyer/Confessions/Streamsound – 213
Gloriana/Can’t Shake You/Emblem/WMN – 208
Pat Green/All Just To Get To You/Sugar Hill – 205
Chelsea Bain/What If I – 185
Kevin Fowler/Here’s To Me And You/Average Joe’s – 172

Randy Rogers Band hangs with the KUAD/Fort Collins, CO crew promoting the new single "One More Sad Song." (L-R): Jon "Chops" Richardson, K99's Shawn Patrick, Randy Rogers, K99's George King, Les Lawless, MCA's Marlene Augustine, Brady Black and Geoff Hill

GAC’s Hardy To Retire, Trahern To Succeed

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Ed Hardy

Longtime network executive Ed Hardy has announced plans to retire as president of Great American Country network at the end of 2012. He has served in the position since Scripps Networks Interactive acquired GAC in 2004.

Veteran television programmer Sarah Trahern will succeed Hardy and lead GAC as senior vice president and general manager.

Kenneth W. Lowe, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Scripps Networks Interactive, credited Hardy with successfully directing the integration of GAC into the Scripps portfolio, guiding the network’s growth and steering GAC’s evolution into a country music lifestyle brand. “Ed Hardy assembled an incredibly gifted team and established GAC as the leader in country music entertainment,” said Lowe. “Under Ed’s leadership, GAC has expanded its distribution and grown its revenue. He’s led the way to GAC’s emergence as a credible force in a competitive media environment.”

Sarah Trahern

Hardy also championed GAC’s community outreach initiatives. This includes a partnership with the W.O. Smith School for underprivileged youth, and fundraising efforts following Hurricane Katrina and the Nashville floods. The network also supported the establishment of the Music City Walk of Fame.

“I am so proud of the GAC team and all we have accomplished in the last eight years,” said Hardy. “With few exceptions, I have spent most of the last 44 years involved in the media industry. Now, it’s time to take a break and do some things I have always wanted to do with my wife and partner, Kim. I won’t call it a ‘bucket list,’ but there is a list.”

Hardy will continue his involvement in the Nashville community as incoming chair of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and president-elect of the Country Music Association.

Hardy rejoined Scripps after a distinguished career as general manager of radio stations in Louisville, Denver, and the Scripps-owned radio properties in Portland, Ore.

Hardy spent much of the mid-1990s as a chief executive, building Deschutes River Broadcasting from a single AM/FM radio combination in Tri-Cities, Wash., to a collection of 19 stations in markets throughout the Pacific Northwest. With the subsequent merger of Deschutes with Citadel Broadcasting, as president of Citadel’s West Division, Hardy played a key role in the company’s growth to more than 200 stations in more than 40 markets.

Hardy served as president and CEO of MeasureCast, a leading Internet-streaming broadcast audience measurement company. He also served as a consultant to MediaBlue/Nox Solutions, the top provider of website design, hosting and fulfilling products for nationally syndicated and network radio talk show hosts including Bill O’Reilly, Laura Ingraham, Mike Gallagher and others.

 

Bobby Karl Works The Americana Awards

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(L-R): Jen Gunderman, Tamara Saviano, Guy Clark, Shawn Camp, Verlon Thompson. Photo: Stacie Huckeba

AMA Executive Dir. Jed Hilly and Song of the Year winner Jason Isbell. Photo: Stacie Huckeba

Chapter 407

It is often said that people don’t remember who won or lost at awards shows, that only the great performances linger.

For me, that is abundantly true at the annual Americana Music Awards. The honors seem beside the point when the music being made in between them is so fantastic.

At the top of the list of great performances on Wednesday (9/12) at the Ryman Auditorium was Richard Thompson, who offered a master seminar in songwriting, singing and guitar playing during a solo outing of “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” that dwarfed all others that night. Another of the most compelling performances of the show was the jangling, country rocker by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. Isbell is a new Nashvillian, by the way.

Booker T. Jones performs. Photo: Erika Goldring

Legendary Bonnie Raitt was there to smolder on the magical acoustic ballad “Not Cause I Wanted To” with sideman/songwriter Al Anderson. She brought out John Hiatt and her electric guitar for his “Thing Called Love.” Booker T. Jones sat in with Buddy Miller’s house band for a cookin’ rendition of his classic “Green Onions.”

Lee Ann Womack offered “I Love” backed by Peter Cooper and featuring a walk-on by its Hall of Fame composer, Tom T. Hall. Guy Clark, backed by Shawn Camp and Verlon Thompson, sang a poignant “My Favorite Picture of You,” which he wrote for his late wife Susanna. Aussies Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson were haunting and so cool on their mournful wail, “Rattlin’ Bones.”

(L-R): Peter Cooper, Lee Ann Womack and Tom T Hall. Photo: Stacie Huckeba

Hayes Carll & Cary Ann Hearst were very sassy, witty and cute on “Another Like You,” which Carll called, “a song about the growing political divide in America, physical attraction and alcohol.” Show host Jim Lauderdale gave a preview of his upcoming duets album with Buddy Miller, the sublimely country “I Lost the Job of Loving You.”

Of the newcomers, I was particularly taken with Houston’s Robert Ellis. His “Westbound Train” began in folk territory but soon kicked up some country-rock dust. The Deep Dark Woods, hailing from Saskatoon, Alberta, were echoey and atmospheric on their folk-pop gem “The Place I Left Behind.”

Robert Ellis. Photo: Erika Goldring

Okay, okay, who DID win? The show began with the aforementioned “Green Onions,” after which Patterson Hood of The Drive-By Truckers presented Booker T. Jones with the Lifetime Achievement Instrumentalist award. Hood is the son of legendary Muscle Shoals session musician David Hood, and he’s also worked in the studio with Jones. He recalled Jones’s Memphis playing on hits by Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas and Booker T. & The MGs.

“’Green Onions’ sounds as vital today as when it was released 50 years ago this week,” said Patterson, adding that Jones is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has won four Grammys.

“I’m honored to be here tonight and in such great company,” said Jones. “It’s the music of our people, the roots music.”

Sam Bush and Amy Helm (of Olabelle, and the daughter of the late Levon Helm) presented Instrumentalist of the Year to an absent Dave Rawlings. Rawlings and Gillian Welch are in L.A. taking care of a family situation. Paul Kennerley accepted.

Rodney Crowell and Brandi Carlile presented Album of the Year to producers Tamara Saviano and Shawn Camp for the creation of This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark. “It takes a village,” said Saviano, noting that there are 33 artists on the collection. “All of this happened because of our brilliant friend, Guy Clark.”

“We’re often asked to define Americana,” commented host Lauderdale. “We often say, ‘It’s the Good Stuff.’” Following The Punch Brothers instrumental performance of “Flippin,’” he added, “I’m flippin’ over all the great music tonight.”

Raitt presented the Lifetime Achievement Songwriters Award to Thompson, noting that Elvis Costello, Nanci Griffith, Johnny Cash, Delbert McClinton, Jo-El Sonnier and Alison Krauss have all recorded his tunes. “He’s simply magnificent, and he’s my good friend,” she concluded.

Host Jim Lauderdale. Photo: Erika Goldring

“And me, a foreigner,” quipped the British Thompson. “I know we’ve had our differences, a little falling out in 1776. But musically, we’ve always been very close. I’m deeply honored.” Dave Berryman of Gibson Guitars presented him with an SJ-200.

Performances by The Alabama Shakes and Sarah Jarosz led us to the Song of the Year presentation by Joy Williams & John Paul White (The Civil Wars). The winner was “Alabama Pines” by Jason Isbell. “I want to thank the terrible hotels of northern Florida for inspiring me to write the song,” quoth Jason.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops did “Country Girl,” followed by Carll & Hearst. Hiatt presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance to Raitt. “As much joy as there is in playing the blues, it is also sometimes a hard road,” he noted.

“Who cares what kind of music it is?” said Raitt. “It needs to be celebrated. This is my first time here. It means the world to me. It’s an exciting time to be alive. I‘m the daughter of a performer who went until he was 87 years old and made every night an opening night….And I’m going to be out there until I drop, hopefully many, many years from now.”

Justin Townes Earle performed. Then Sara Watkins and Jakob Dylan (of The Wallflowers) presented the New Emerging Artist trophy to The Alabama Shakes. Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis presented Artist of the Year to Gillian Welch with Kennerley again accepting on the absent star’s behalf. Jody Stephens and Mike Mills presented the Group/Duo award to The Civil Wars. “To be here and to accept this award in the Mother Church is such an honor,” said the duo’s Joy Williams.

Alison Moorer presented the Lifetime Achievement Executive award to a surprised Dennis Lord. He was the founding president of the Americana Music Association. “Without him, we wouldn’t be here,” she said.

“I have to accept this on behalf of all of us who started this,” said SESAC executive Lord. “We did it because of the Movement.”

Many of the artists were wearing yellow ribbons. Raul Malo of The Mavericks explained that this was in honor of AMA publicist Jayne Rogovin, who died of breast cancer earlier this year. “She was a fighter, a lover of music and an advocate,” said Malo. “Jayne, tonight we celebrate you.” The group turned in one of its typically incendiary performances.

The Mavericks and others wore yellow ribbons in memory of Jayne Rogovin. Photo: Stacie Huckeba

AMA executive director Jed Hilly noted that this 11th annual Americana show was airing live on AXS TV and pointed out that the convention was due to the work of the organization’s volunteers.

Following Raitt’s outstanding performances, the finale was an all-star salute to the late Levon Helm. Let me add at this point that just about everyone on stage received a standing ovation from the enthralled, sold-out Ryman crowd.

I remember that the first time I went to the Americana awards, I wore a suit. This was a fashion faux pas. This is strictly a blue jean crowd, with enough facial hair to fill a convention of anthropology professors. Scruffy they may be, but you won’t find a more enthusiastic audience than this Americana bunch.

The attendees were mainly fans, but I did spot a few Music Row fabulons schmoozing in their midst. Working the room were Katie Gillon, Dan Hays, Denise Stiff, Kay West, Mary Martin, Joanne Gardner, Sally Williams, Tracy Gershon, Dave Paulson, Geoff Himes, Ken Levitan, Holly George Warren, Steve Lowry, Bobby Cudd, Marion Kraft, Greg Brown, Chuck Mead, Darrell Scott and Doug Howard.

The AMA convention continues, at various venues, through Sunday.