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Weekly Chart Report (7/27/12)

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Syndicated personality Moby in the Morning hosted The Roys, who are promoting a forthcoming CD, New Day Dawning, due out August 28. The brother/sister duo performed the new single “Still Standing.” Pictured (L-R): Lee Roy, Moby and Elaine Roy

SPIN ZONE
Is July really almost over? Man, when did that happen? Even though the days of summer are numbered, there’s no shortage of big summer singles on the CountryBreakout Chart. Keith Urban’s “For You” is out ahead of the bunch, moving up to the No. 1 position after 16 weeks on the chart. Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” is sailing with strong winds, as it gains 300 spins to move up to No. 3. RCA Nashville’s Love and Theft is also looking at the top of the chart with “Angel Eyes,” which lands at No. 5.

Jason Aldean recently released “Take A Little Ride,” the first single from his upcoming album, and it’s cruising in the express lane. After only two weeks on the chart, “…Ride” is sitting at No. 32, following an impressive gain of 708 spins. Eric Church’s “Creepin’” is pretty much jumpin’, as it gains 316 spins to move to No. 34. Close behind is Kip Moore, whose “Beer Money” is steadily climbing at No. 42.

Toby Keith leads the list of new chart debuts, with “I Like Girls That Drink Beer” hitting No. 59 in its first week of reporting. Luke Bryan’s “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” manages a similar feat, locking down the No. 67 position in its first week. Also debuting are Parmalee’s “Musta Had a Good Time” at No. 79 and Kelly Parkes’ “All Cried Out” at No. 80.

Frozen Playlists: KITX, KXKZ, KYTN, KZTL, WDXX, WEZJ, WKKW, WKTT

Upcoming Singles
July 30
Jason Cassidy/Ride of Your Life/A-Blake
Jordan Anderson/Key to My Heart/Go Time
Joey+Rory/When I’m Gone/Sugar Hill
Randy Rogers Band/One More Sad Song/MCA
Brantley Gilbert/Kick It In The Sticks/Valory
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow
D. Vincent Williams/Down By The River/BPG

August 6
Lucas Hoge/Do What Makes You Feel Good/Animal House
Florida Georgia Line/Cruise/Republic Nashville
Chelsea Bain/What If I/Rock Ridge-InstiGator
Her & Kings County/Family Tree/Elektra Nashville-WMN
Heidi Newfield/Why’d You Have To Be So Good/Sidewalk
Rich O’Toole/Red Wine On Your Lipstick

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Toby Keith/I Like Girls That Drink Beer/Show Dog-Universal – 60
Luke Bryan/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/Capitol – 67
Parmalee/Musta Had A Good Time/Stoney Creek – 79
Kelly Parkes/All Cried Out – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow – 708
Toby Keith/I Like Girls That Drink Beer/Show Dog-Universal – 395
Luke Bryan/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/Capitol – 322
Eric Church/Creepin’/EMI Nashville – 316
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol – 300

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow – 37
Toby Keith/I Like Girls That Drink Beer/Show Dog – Universal – 32
Luke Bryan/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye/Capitol – 26
Eric Church/Creepin’/EMI Nashville – 17
Kip Moore/Beer Money/MCA – 9
Sara Evans/Anywhere/RCA Nashville – 9

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Kelleigh Bannen/Sorry On The Rocks/EMI Nashville – 183
Brantley Gilbert/Kick It In The Sticks/Big Machine-Valory – 179
Stephanie Grace/Hey There – 179
Dave Russell/Where The Money Goes/Cupit – 169
Waylon Jennings/Goin’ Down Rockin’/Saguaro Road – 149

Lonestar visited on the bus after performing at Tiki Waterfront, West Palm Beach with WIRK. Pictured (L-R): Lonestar's Michael Britt, Richie McDonald, Sammy Cruise (WIRK MD), John O'Connell (WIRK PD), Lonestar's Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams and Triple Crown Promotions Doc Gonzales (front)

99.5 The Wolf and Duke’s Bar & Grill brought Dustin Lynch to Dallas for a “low-dough” show benefiting the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, July 24. L-R: Savannah Jones, Mike Moore, Dustin Lynch, Layna Bunt

MCA’s Josh Turner gathers with the WUSN crew prior to his Live Country performance at Joe’s Bar in Chicago last night (7/25). Pictured (L-R): WUSN PD Jeff Kapugi, his wife Laurie, Turner, MCA’s Donna Jo Passuntino, and WUSN’s Marci Braun and Liz Geerling

Republic Nashville’s Florida Georgia Line visited KTTS in Springfield, MO on Friday (7/20) promoting “Cruise,” its debut single that has sold 130,000 copies. Pictured (L-R): FGL’s Brian Kelley, KTTS PD Mark Grantin, KTTS Morning Host Bobby Baldwin and FGL’s Tyler Hubbard

Industry Ink Thursday (7/26/12)

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Bigger Picture artist Craig Campbell has been busy in the studio with producer Keith Stegall working on his sophomore album. A new single is slated for release later this summer with the album due in early 2013.

• Sara Evans has signed with The Collective for management representation. The company’s local office opened in early 2012 and is headed by President Genevieve Jewell. Evans joins a Nashville roster that includes Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown, Megan & Liz and Elizabeth Huett. The Collective also works with Linkin Park, Alanis Morisette, Counting Crows, Jimmy Cliff, Godsmack, Slash, Avenged Sevenfold, Big Boi and Enrique Iglesias. 

Old Crow Medicine Show

• Old Crow Medicine Show‘s fourth full-length studio album, Carry Me Back, debuted with 17k units sold, the band’s best ever sales week and its highest ever charting position. The album entered at No. 1 on both the Bluegrass and Folk charts, No. 4 on the Country chart and No. 22 overall. Carry Me Back was produced by Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly). Catch OCMS Sat., July 28 at The Woods at Fontanel in Nashville with BR5-49.

• Congrats to Latocki Team Creative, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary under the LTC moniker and over 26 years in the Nashville music business. In May 2002, founder Virginia Team retired as owner of Team Design and sold the business to Luellyn Latocki Hensley. From there, Team Design became Latocki Team Creative, shifting its focus to identity creation, image alignment and brand management. In more good news, Hensley and her husband James are expecting their first child, a son, very soon.

• MusicRow offers sincere condolences to the family of Ricki Dawn Uselton, including her aunt, radio promoter Jan Woods, and cousin Christina Bear. According to News Channel 5, Uselton, 22, died on July 24 after being struck by a car on Old Hickory Boulevard Monday night (7/23). She was a graduate of MTSU. Services will be today, July 26, from 5-8 p.m. at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. The family requests memorial donations to Rocketown.

• MusicRow offers sincere condolences to Debbie Zavitson of Zavitson Music Group on the passing of her father, Don Cox. Cox was a respected bandleader and the former owner of the Cowtown club in San Jose, Calif. He died July 23 after a battle with lymphoma. Visitation will be at the West Harpeth Funeral Home on Charlotte Ave. in Nashville tomorrow, July 27, at 1 p.m. with a memorial service following at 2 p.m. Reach Debbie at [email protected].

• Cirque du Soleil is seeking professional instrumentalists with stage experience and versatility. Auditions will be in Nashville in October. Details here.

UMG Acquisition of EMI Divides Indie Community

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When Universal’s acquisition of EMI was first announced, members of the independent label community were among the most vocal opponents, citing concerns that the newly combined major would control too much of the market.

Since then, European regulators have expressed similar concerns, and requested Universal and EMI divest a significant amount of assets—about $300 million worth according to the New York Times— in order to win government approval of the transaction. The European Commission wants to reduce the combined market share to less than 40% in any given territory.

As a result, indie labels now stand to benefit from the proposed transaction because they could purchase the assets EMI is selling.

EMI imprints and/or back catalogs up for bids include Virgin, Mute, and Chrysalis—labels that were born as indies and later sold to EMI. UMG boss Lucian Grainge, who would prefer to keep these catalogs out of the hands of the other majors, is trying to entice the entrepreneurs who founded the indies to purchase them back. He is even offering financing to indies. Virgin founder Richard Branson is reportedly working with Patrick Zelnik, the head of the French label Naïve, on a bid for Virgin. Mute founder Daniel Miller is also eyeing his former catalog.

According to the NYT, these opportunities have internally strained Impala, the international indie label trade organization which staunchly opposes the UMG/EMI transaction. Some of Impala’s most prominent members now stand to gain from the deal the group is fighting, including Zelnik who is an Impala board member.

Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reports that the European Commission may not be satisfied with UMG’s proposed back catalog divestments and may urge Universal to sell off the rights to newer music, which could expose the label group to breach of contract lawsuits.

Moreover, UMG may have to pay nearly the entire $1.9 billion purchase price before antitrust regulators in Europe have approved the deal, according to the WSJ.

Universal has until Aug. 1 to file proposed measures to appease the European Commission, which would then have until Sept. 27 to rule on the acquisition.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/25/12)

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Clay Wilson, Gordon Mote

Newcomer male artists are jostling for position this week.

Duking it out for the DisCovery Award are Nick Verzosa, The Clay Wilson Band, Troy Cook Jr. and Chad Sullins & Last Call Coalition. Cook is a Nashvillian. Sullins hails from Oklahoma. Verzosa and Wilson are Texans. Our winner is The Clay Wilson Band, for having the complete package of solid singing, a fresh instrumental approach and super songwriting.

As a Music Row session musician, Gordon Mote usually works in the shadows of big country stars. Today, he steps into the spotlight with a Disc of the Day award. He may be blind, but he has the sharpest country-music vision of the week.

NICK VERZOSA/7th Year Senior
Writer: Nick Verzosa; Producer: Walt Wilkins; Publisher: none listed; NV (www.nickverzosa.com)
—It’s a burbling, bubbling, tangy, twangy, quasi-rockabilly fun fest. “They say that college is the best years of your life, so why would you want to graduate?” So he’s drinking all night, sleeping until noon and being a goof-off. Dude, sounds like a plan.

CHARLIE McCOY, RICKY SKAGGS & ROY CLARK/Mind Your Own Business
Writer: Hank Williams; Producer: Charlie McCoy & Eric Paul; Publisher: none listed; Diamond Disc (track) (www.charliemccoy.com)
—Country Hall of Fame member McCoy has a Hank Williams tribute CD called Lonesome Whistle. His mournful harmonica tones are perfect for Hank’s bluesy melodies. Among his guests on the set are Skaggs and Clark, who join him for a swinging version of this classic. Ricky not only sings, but provides a mandolin solo; and Roy does the same on electric guitar. The whole collection is highly listenable.

CHELSEA BAIN/What If I
Writer: Tommy Collier/Jim Cooper/Terri Jo Box; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Starplane/Jimvision/Songs of Merf, SESAC/ASCAP; Rock Ridge/Jobe
—Lilting, pleading and yearning, to the accompaniment of soft strings and twinkling acoustic instruments. Extremely well produced, whoever you are.

LUKE BRYAN/Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Writer: Luke Bryan/Jeff Stevens/Shane McAnally; Producer: Jeff Stevens; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/Chrysalis/Big Motor/Crazy Water/Little Blue Egg, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (track)
—It may be over, but that’s no reason not to go to bed together one more time. Uptempo, which is what he does best.

CHAD SULLINS & THE LAST CALL COALITION/That God for Jack Daniels
Writer: Erspamer/Sanchez/Sauder; Producer: Wes Sharon; Publisher: Radio 229/Scout World, no performance rights listed; Smith Entertainment (track)
—I like these guys. Sullins has a dry, dusty, slightly raspy delivery. The song is a wry, winking little gem. The rocking band kicks serious butt. And when everybody shouts along in unison at the finale, the party is in full swing.

THE ROYS/Still Standing
Writer: Lee Roy/Elaine Roy; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Rural Rhythm (www.theroysonline.com)
—This bluegrass duo serves up a sprightly ditty of survival with plenty of fleet-fingered instrumental support. Their strongest outing yet.

THE CLAY WILSON BAND/Not OK
Writer: Clay Wilson; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CWB (www.theclaywilsonband.com)
—She’s gone, and he’s definitely down in the dumps about it. The intimacy of the vocal, the solid songwriting and the moody instrumental support are all first rate. It builds to a surprisingly frothy, thrashing conclusion. Yet another welcome gift from the Lone Star State.

GORDON MOTE/Call Me Gone
Writer: Kenneth D. Hinson; Producer: Gordon Mote & Phil Johnson; Publisher: Songs of Calvary, BMI; New Haven (track) (www.gordonmote.com)
—Gordon is a first-call session keyboardist for the likes of Brad Paisley, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts and Alan Jackson. He also has a side career as a gospel record maker. His latest offering is titled Songs I Grew Up Singing. This lead single from it is as country as grits, saturated with moaning melody, spiced with a recitation, full of rolling piano work and led by a heartfelt vocal. Say Amen.

SHAWNA RUSSELL/Sounds Like a Party
Writer: Shawna Russell/Keith Russell/Tim Russell; Producer: Julian King, Clif Doyal & Tim Russell; Publisher: Blue Buckaroo, BMI; Way Out West (615-319-1863)
—Bopping and energetic, if a little generic sounding.

TROY COOK JR./Lazy American Dream
Writer: Don Bradley; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Peachmint, BMI; TCJ (www.troycookjrmusic.com)
—He thinks people on food stamps have 52-inch, HD television sets and free, all-inclusive health insurance. Also, they go out on the town while the kids are away at school and have “a real nice place to live.” I prescribe a tour of an urban housing project.

Kobalt Signs McCartney’s MPL to Admin Deal

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Kobalt Music Group Ltd. has signed an exclusive long-term deal with Paul McCartney and MPL, one of the world’s largest, privately owned music publishing companies, which was founded by the famed Beatle in 1971.

With the exception of the US, Canada, UK and Eire territories, Kobalt will administer the songs of three MPL catalogs: MPL Communications, MPL Music Publishing, and Cherio Corporation throughout the world and provide synch licensing services.

The catalogs contain McCartney copyrights “Ebony and Ivory,” “Say Say Say,” “Jet,” “My Love,” “Band On The Run,” “Vanilla Sky,” and “Freedom,” ranging from post-Beatles solo material, to work with Wings, and songs by late wife Linda McCartney.

Elsewhere the catalogs are home to evergreen copyrights “Unchained Melody,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Till There Was You,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Sentimental Journey,” and songs from landmark Broadway musicals Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and The Music Man. The catalogs contain works by Frank Loesser, Carl Perkins, Joe Young, Harry Warren, Big Joe Turner, Jelly Roll Morton, Maurice Williams, Louis Jordan, Bessie Smith, Loudon Wainwright III, Hugh Masekela, Jule Styne, Roy Orbison, Hoagy Carmichael and over 1,200 other major songwriters.

In the wake of EMI Music Publishing’s acquisition by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the New York Times sees McCartney’s signing with Kobalt as particularly significant. Most of the Beatles catalog is with Sony/ATV and McCartney’s catalog was previously with EMI. More here.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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Kenny Chesney‘s “Come Over,” the second single from his fifteenth studio album Welcome To The Fishbowl, has catapulted to the No. 1 spot on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart in only ten weeks.

The hit written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne, has been described by Chesney as a song “about two people that are as broken as their relationship.” The song describes a couple that keep going back to each other because it’s familiar, and although the relationship has run its course, sometimes it’s easier to reconnect than move on. The sultry lyrics include:

I turn the tv off, to turn it on again
Staring at the blades of the fan as it spins around
Counting every crack, the clock is wide awake
Talking to myself, anything to make a sound

(Chorus)
I told you I wouldn’t call, I told you I wouldn’t care
But baby climbing the walls gets me nowhere
I don’t think that I can take this bed getting any colder
Come over, come over, come over, come over, come over

You can say we’re done the way you always do
It’s easier to lie to me than to yourself
Forget about your friends
You know they’re gonna say
We’re bad for each other
But we ain’t good for anyone else

Pollstar‘s mid year tour rankings list Chesney, who is on the Brothers of the Sun tour with Tim McGraw, as country music’s top grossing touring act. In other Chesney news, he will be saluted with the Crystal Milestone Award at the ACM Honors Sept. 24 at the Ryman Auditorium.

Weekly Chart Report (07/20/2012)

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Curb Records’ Rachel Holder stopped by WKSF/99.9 Kiss Country to bring Music Director Brian Hatfield some Little Debbie snacks from her hometown Chattanooga, TN and share her Top 15 single “In Your Arms.”

SPIN ZONE
Kenny Chesney‘s “Come Over” sprints to the top of the charts in Olympic fashion this week, just ten weeks after release. Keith Urban‘s “For You” edges up one spot to No. 2, followed by Blake Shelton‘s “Over” at No. 3. Gloriana‘s “Kissed You Good Night” comes in at No. 4 while Little Big Town‘s “Pontoon” continues paddling upstream entering the Top 5 with 236 additional spins.

Rounding out the Top 10 are singles from veterans and newcomers including Love and Theft‘s “Angel Eyes” with a 173 gain spin increase, Lady Antebellum‘s “Wanted You More,” Thomas Rhett‘s “Something To Do With My Hands,” Jana Kramer‘s “Why Ya Wanna” and Zac Brown Band‘s “The Wind” gaining 301 additional spins in its seventh week on the chart. ZBB has had a big week which included its latest album offering Uncaged topping country and all genre sales charts with debut scans of 234k units.

Tim McGraw‘s “Truck Yeah” jumps from No. 32 to No. 24 and has received the chart’s largest increase in spins in all three weeks since release, adding 546 spins this week. Eric Church‘s “Creepin'” climbs from No. 57 to No. 38 gaining 354 spins. Jason Aldean‘s “Take A Little Ride” lands the highest chart debut at No. 57 with 413 spins. Other debuts include Craig Morgan‘s “Corn Star” at No. 71, Miss Willie Brown‘s “You’re All That Matters To Me” at No. 73, Brandon Holland‘s “Man In The Moon” at No. 76, Aaron Watson‘s “Raise Your Bottle” at No. 78, Tommy Steele‘s “My Side Of The Street” at No. 79 and Chris Cagle‘s “Let There Be Cowgirls” at No. 80.

Frozen Reports: KDOL, WCJW, WTRS, WUCZ, WAKG, WXMM, WPPL, WCMS, WJMQ, WQNZ, WTCM

Upcoming Singles
July 23
Tyler Barham feat. Casey Walker/Meet Me In Montana/YN Records
Cloverdayle/Like We Were Kids Again/New Voice
Sarah Jarosz/Annabelle Lee/Sugar Hill
Brian Milson/Too Damn Young/Permian-Quarterback
Jaida Dreyer/Confessions/Streamsound
Sara Evans/Anywhere/RCA
Rich O’Toole/Red Wine On Your Lipstick/Triple Crown
Doug Briney/It’s All Country/DB Songs

July 30
Jason Cassidy/Ride of Your Life/A-Blake
Jordan Anderson/Key to My Heart/Go Time
Joey+Rory/When I’m Gone/Sugar Hill
Randy Rogers Band/One More Sad Song/MCA
Brantley Gilbert/Kick It In The Sticks/Valory
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow
D. Vincent Williams/Down By The River/BPG

• • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow – 57
Craig Morgan/Corn Star/Black River – 71
Miss Willie Brown/You’re All That Matters To Me/Octone-A&M-Rodeowave – 73
Brandon Holland/Man In The Moon – 76
Aaron Watson/Raise Your Bottle/HTK Records – 78
Tommy Steele/My Side Of The Street – 79
Chris Cagle/Let There Be Cowgirls/Bigger Picture Group – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Tim McGraw/Truck Yeah/Big Machine – 546
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow – 413
Eric Church/Creepin’/EMI Nashville – 354
Zac Brown Band/The Wind/Southern Ground-Atlantic – 301
Carrie Underwood/Blown Away/19-Arista Nashville – 294

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Jason Aldean/Take A Little Ride/Broken Bow – 30
Eric Church/Creepin’/EMI Nashville – 29
Tim McGraw/Truck Yeah/Big Machine – 21
Kip Moore/Beer Money/MCA – 19
Carrie Underwood/Blown Away/19-Arista Nashville – 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Britt & Blaire/Young Summer/Mt. Juliet Records – 168
Kelly Parkes/All Cried Out – 166
Dave Russell/Where The Money Goes/Cupit – 164
Bobby Dean/Me and George Strait/Lamon – 163
Stephanie Grace/Hey There – 162

Heidi Newfield stopped in Meridian, MS to visit with WOKK’s Scott Stevens.

Toby Keith continues to sell out venues on his Live in Overdrive tour, including a recent show in Washington, DC. Pictured with (L-R): SDU’s Macy Morgenthaler, WMZQ's morning show personality Boxer, and WMZQ’s Promotions & Marketing Director Kim Sauer.

Hudson Moore with KSTV's Brad Heitman (R) and Vision Entertainment's Seth Necessary to promote his single "Fireworks," which debuted at No. 48 on the Texas Music Chart last week.

Aldean Cheers Fifth Consecutive No. 1 “Fly Over States”

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Michael Martin, Michael Knox, Neil Thrasher, Jason Aldean, Michael Dulaney and ASCAP's Marc Driskill

Michael Martin welcomed a full house to the lobby of ASCAP Tuesday (7/17) to celebrate Jason Aldean’s eighth career No. 1 single “Fly Over States.”

Veteran songwriters Neil Thrasher and Michael Dulaney, who have received seven and five No. 1 honors respectively, accepted awards alongside representatives from BMG Chrysalis, Full Circle Music, Major Bob Music, Mojave Rain Music, Warner/Chappell Music, and We Jam Writers Group. Producer Michael Knox, Aldean and the staff from Broken Bow Records, including Owner/CEO Benny Brown, were on hand to accept plaques.

“This song shows what a true copyright is,” said President of Full Circle Music, Michael Hollandsworth. “There could not have been a better recording than this from Michael Knox and Aldean. They have the ability to find great songs the way George Strait did.”

Brandi Simms honored the songwriters with the first of CMA’s new No. 1 medallions. She briefly commented on the decision by the CMA Board to change from the former No. 1 plaques to medallions.

Michelle Kammerer, a Kansas native, gratefully delivered CRB trophies saying, “Thank you for letting people know my state is more than just Highway 70 to Colorado.”

“I didn’t have a choice not to cut this song,” said Aldean. “It was meant to be. I almost recorded it in 2009 for Wide Open and kicked myself for not putting it on there. I told Michael and made sure it was on this one.”

Broken Bow Music Group SVP Jon Loba paid thanks to radio, road crew and the BBR staff while delivering a special five for five plaque, commemorating the five No. 1 singles from Dirt Road Anthem.

“It takes a lot to set No. 1 records, but when you do it five times over, it’s incredible,” said Aldean, thanking his promotions team.

Loba reminisced of Brown’s forecast years ago when the label owner said, “You watch, Aldean will be the rocket ship we all take a ride on.”

Accordingly, “Take A Little Ride,” the lead single from Aldean’s upcoming fifth studio album was released this week and has already made the No. 1 spot on iTunes’ all-genre singles chart.

Weekly Register: ZBB Rides High As Universal Deal Suffers

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As the sweltering summer heat swirls, rising like laser beams on a major country stadium tour stage, the temperature isn’t the only thing that’s hot. Zac Brown Band’s latest offering Uncaged tops both country and all genre charts this week with debut scans of 234k units.

But joy on one side of the industry see-saw can mean pain somewhere else. In this instance, while Atlantic celebrates the hearty start by one of its signature acts, Universal Music Group is having to stave off criticism that its upcoming bid to purchase EMI will unbalance the global music marketplace. To win regulatory approval Universal is virtually being forced to hack off its own body parts to slim its hefty footprint. Assets being rumored for the scalpel include Virgin UK and/or US plus EMI Classics. This increasingly costly deal could easily extend into October before being resolved.

And then there is the disturbing news that, according to Nielsen SoundScan, catalog albums are outselling current ones. During the first six months of 2012, 76.6 million catalog albums bested 73.9 million currents. Nielsen analyst David Bakula cites lower prices on catalog material ($5.99—$7.99) for the unsettling occurrence.

The Cash Drawer
It ought to be Zac Brown’s birthday today, because country fans sure left a plethora of presents on his musical doorstep. According to the ever vigilant Neal Spielberg, of Spielberg Entertainment, “ZBB debuts at No. 1 on the Top 200 albums chart, Top digital albums and Top country albums. Adding to the dominance is his No. 1 on the country catalog chart with Foundation and No. 6 Pass the Jar, selling 14K and 5.2K respectively. Add in You Get What You Give, rising to No. 6 country (17k) and it adds up to a whole lot of ZBB. 270K to be exact, giving ZBB 26% of country albums sales this week.”

Thanks Mr. Spielberg. As they say on the six o’clock news, “That sums it up nicely.” Kudos to Zac, Atlantic and the entire ZBB team. And special thanks as well to Amazon and iTunes whose debut week price wars and overall country music sales were responsible for much of the week’s good news.

Also a nicely placed debut in the Warner Music camp is the latest from Hank Williams Jr. Old School New Rules enters the chart at No. 4 with sales over 25k.

All that debut energy boosts the weekly country album tally into the million+ range. Even the Top 75 Country Current list broke 600k this week and as our Weekly Register grid shows, country album sales (week ended 7/15/12) are now up a healthy 6%!

TrackingTheTracks!
As predicted last week, Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” easily glided into Gold territory while remaining at the top of the Digital Genre Country tracks chart for a second week with downloads over 84k. And, we now know to expect the vocal quartet’s next studio album, Tornado, on Sept. 11. But the week belongs to ZBB. So we must also note that the artist with the most unique hat in country music placed FIVE tracks in the Top 30!

Do you know how many country tracks get downloaded each week on average? This week country downloaded 3.391 million tracks and we have a YTD total (28 weeks) of 90.386 million or an average of 3.23 million downloads per week.

See you next week!

DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/18/12)

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Eric Church and Kelleigh Bannen

I hope you’re ready to rock, because tempo tunes dominate this week’s musical menu.

One of them, “Creepin’” by Eric Church, captures the Disc of the Day award. Don’t go accusing me of hopping onto a star’s coattails: This boy was winning Disc of the Day prizes from me long before radio got on board and Mr. Platinum came calling. Even if he’d never become a Somebody, I’d be in the Church Choir.

Newcomer Kelleigh Bannen is rocking, too. And for her efforts, she wins this week’s DisCovery Award. Coincidentally, both of these artists record for EMI.

Speaking of DisCovery winners, the two non rockers in this stack of platters both come from previous winners. Katie Armiger continues her nearly perfect string of A-plus performances with “Better in a Black Dress,” and Tim Culpepper remains our most potent young heir to the honky-tonk throne with “Pouring Whiskey on Pain.” Perhaps not coincidentally, both singles are the most “country” sounding things on tap today.

KELLEIGH BANNEN/Sorry on the Rocks
Writer: Kelliegh Bannen/Troy Johnson; Producer: Paul Worley & Jerry Smith; Publisher: No Such Thing/Yacht Haven, BMI/SESAC; EMI (CDX)
—Feisty and forceful. She’s a punchy belter with something to say to a wayward beau who’s being shown the door. I dig both her singing and her song.

BUCKY COVINGTON & SHOOTER JENNINGS/Drinking Side of Country
Writer: William J. Covington/Robert Covington/Donald Medlock; Producer: Bucky Covington; Publisher: Travelin’ Zoo/EMI CMG, ASCAP; eone (CDX) (www.eonemusic.com) —The thumping backbeat is cool, and the lyrics are loads of fun. All in all, a raucous good time. Songwriters “William J.” and “Robert” are Bucky and his twin brother Rocky.

LONESTAR/The Countdown
Writer: Jaren Johnson/Manny Medina/Ryder Lee; Producer: Lonestar; Publisher: Sony-ATV Harmony/Texa Rae/Manny Medina/OCTPOB, ASCAP/SESAC; 4 Star (CDX) (www.lonestarnow.com)
—Not previously noted for rockers, these guys prove they have the uptempo goods with this pile-driving road song. The “countdown” is the time and miles it takes to get back to the one he loves.

THE WHEELER SISTERS/This Is Gonna Get Ugly
Writer: Kelly Archer/Jim McCormick/Justin Weaver; Producer: Jim McCormick; Publisher: Universal-Careers/Little Blue Lizard/Crape Myrtle, BMI; Ocala (www.wheelersisters.com)
—The track is kinda junky sounding in its attempt to sound “exciting.” But the song is sturdy, as is the vocal delivery.

ERIC CHURCH/Creepin’
Writer: Eric Church/Marv Green; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Sinnerlina/Warner-Tamerlane/The Good The Bad The Ugly, BMI; EMI (track)
—Veteran readers already know how crazy I am about this artist. I believe he has won more Disc of the Day awards than any other act in the long history of this column. This time around, he’s rocking so righteously that you might not catch what an extraordinary lyric this is. “Since the day you left… I can feel the lonely, I can hear the crazy, just a creepin.'” “What the dreams forget, the whiskey remembers.” “Your cocaine kiss and caffeine love got under my skin and into my blood.” If the crunchy production doesn’t knock you up the side of your head, his biting vocal will.

CHASE RICE/How She Rolls
Writer: Chase Rice/Brian Kelley; Producer: Chad Carlson; Publisher: Dack Janiels/Big Red Toe, BMI; Artist Revolution (track) (www.chaserice.com)
—Promising. The frothing production threatens to overwhelm his performance, but the solid song and his boy-next-door vocal carry the day.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/Kick it in the Sticks
Writer: Brantley Gilbert/Rhett Akins; Producer: Brantley Gilbert & The Atom Brothers; Publisher: none listed; Valory Music (track)
—I am becoming weary of artists writing rural-themed lyrics paired with screaming electrified rock tracks and calling the result “country music.”

BREAKING SOUTHWEST/Reckless & Wild
Writer: Kent Bell/Kyle Gaston; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; BS (830-253-8813)
—Galloping across the plains and kicking up a cloud of dust, this is classic country-rock music with a decidedly contemporary spin. Send more.

TIM CULPEPPER/Pourin’ Whiskey on the Pain
Writer: none listed; Producer: Elbert West; Publisher: none listed; HonkyTone (track) (615-452-9844)
—This guy earned a DisCovery Award with his “Ghost” debut single back in January. This title tune of his CD confirms his status as a masterful new traditionalist. On it, he has a boxed set of Hank, a bottle of Jack and a honky-tonk heartache as big as a house. Somewhere, Keith Whitley is smiling.

KATIE ARMIGER/Better in a Black DressWriter: Katie Armiger/Blair Daly; Producer: Chad Carlson; Publisher: Purple Monkeys/Southside Independent/Internal Combustion/Kickin’ Grids, SESAC/BMI; Cold River
 —Put away that wedding gown, because she’s hitting the road to live her life before she settles down. The imaginative, minor-key arrangement, the haunting “woh-oh” interjections and her semi-whispered punctuations all conspire to seduce your ears. I continue to be impressed with this young artist’s efforts. Play her. Producer Carlson, by the way, is notable as the engineer/mixer on the records of a little nobody named Taylor Swift.