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Luke Bryan To Headline CMT On Tour

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Luke Bryan


Luke Bryan is set to headline the 10th annual CMT On Tour this fall with special guests Lee Brice and Josh Thompson. CMT On Tour: Luke Bryan Tailgates & Tanlines is set to kick off this September with approximately 25 shows to support Bryan’s third studio album for Capitol Records Nashville, Tailgates & Tanlines, due in stores August 9. His current single, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” has become his fastest rising single to date, already reaching the Top 15.
CMT On Tour launched in 2002 and has featured superstars Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Keith Urban. CMT On Tour is produced by Lindsay Bertelli of Reach. Cities and dates for the tour will be announced soon.
Following his 2010 award-winning year, Bryan was recently nominated for two 2011 CMT Music Awards: Best Web Video of the Year his video “It’s A Shore Thing” and Nationwide Insurance’s Best New Live Act. He is scheduled to perform his first main-stage performance at the 2011 CMT Music Awards and will also present on the show.

Tennessee Signs Law Prohibiting Netflix Password Sharing

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Tennessee state legislators have passed a bill that would make it illegal to use a friend’s login on music or video services like Netflix and Rhapsody, according to The Tennessean.
TN Governor Bill Haslam has signed the bill, which goes into effect July 1. The purpose of the measure is to target hackers who sell passwords online, hopefully slowing the losses incurred by illegal sharing.
The article states that people who share a subscription account with a spouse or family members in one household likely have no worries. Rather, it is the heavy duty offenders—such as college students giving their info to an entire dorm floor—that may face prosecution.
So far Tennessee is the only state in the U.S. with legislation addressing changes in consumer content delivery. Under the law, violators stealing $500 or less of entertainment would be charged with misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2500 fine. Larger infractions would be a felony with taller penalties. A federal law might be on the way, according to the RIAA.

HLN's Robin Meade Offers Debut Release

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Robin Meade, host of Morning Express with Robin Meade on HLN, will release her musical debut, Brand New Day, on Tuesday, June 21. Other stars appearing on the album include Celebrity Apprentice winner John Rich, American Idol’s Bo Bice, Kix Brooks, and Sarah Buxton. Victoria Shaw produced the album, which includes songs Meade co-wrote with Shaw, Rich, Gary Burr, Billy Dean, Matt Lopez of Due West and others.
Offered exclusively through Target and iTunes, Meade’s album offers a glimpse into her musical roots and aspirations. “Songwriting, like journalism, is about telling people’s stories, the things that make up their lives: their loves and losses, their passions and dreams, their challenges and victories. It was important to me that this album reflects my respect for country music.”
Meade will make her first CMA Music Fest appearance on the Lay’s Plaza Stage Sunday, June 12 at 11:45am.  She’s also playing in the annual City of Hope Softball Challenge June 11, performing a duet with Bo Bice June 12, and signing copies of her new album at her booth June 9-11.
In May, Meade co-hosted CMT’s “Disaster Relief Concert” that re-aired on HLN to raise money for recent storm and flood victims.

Gaga Says Digital Album Only Worth 99¢

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An interesting Ben Sisario blog in the N.Y. Times proclaims, “In Lady Gaga’s Album, Evidence Of A New Order.”

“A paradox of the new music industry: Albums sell less and less well every year, but as a marketing tool they are now more important than ever,” says Sisario.

The writer is referring to the fact that although Gaga’s Born this Way sold over one million debut week units, over 40% of them were digital units priced at 99¢ by Amazon.

“Once an artist’s biggest source of income, recorded music now plays second fiddle to touring, endorsements, merchandise sales and an array of other revenue streams once considered ancillary. That’s especially true for an artist like Lady Gaga, who has lined up more branding and promotional deals in the last six months than most artists will in a lifetime.”

However, not all parties to the achievement shared equal joy. Ish Cuebas, Trans World VP is quoted saying,

“I don’t think it sends a good message. I can understand what Amazon did, but I think it devalues music even further. In the customer’s mind it’s worth 99 cents.”

Although it is easy to see why competing retailers would be especially unhappy about Amazon’s low price special, most surprising was a statement from Lady Gaga to The Wall Street Journal when asked if she thought her new album was worth more than 99¢.

“No. I absolutely do not,” said Gaga. “Especially for MP3s and digital music. It’s invisible. It’s in space. If anything, I applaud a company like Amazon for equating the value of digital versus the physical copy, and giving the opportunity to everyone to buy music. It also wasn’t really 99 cents, because Amazon paid the difference on all of those purchases as part of their promotional campaign for one of their new services. I think it’s amazing and it was a really nice surprise and I felt honored that they chose my record to be part of it.”

 

DISClaimer Single Reviews (6/1/11)

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When the Americana Music Association announced its 2011 awards contenders recently, it jolted me into awareness of how long it has been since I penned an Americana review column.

How long has it been? Well, let’s just say that in the elapsed time, Todd Snider, David Olney and Those Darlins have issued two albums apiece. Ouch.
There is much to like in this week’s overview. So much, in fact, that I’m dividing the Disc of the Day prize into Female, Male and Group awards. The Female disc belongs to 2011 AMA nominee Elizabeth Cook. The Male award goes to the enduringly great David Olney. And the Group prize belongs to the ultra listenable Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.
ELIZABETH COOK/El Camino
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Agent Love, SESAC; 31 Tigers (track) (www.elizabeth-cook.com)
—He picks her up in a deadbeat’s vehicle. She has a few snarky words for that while the band clomps along rhythmically. This rollicking little thumper is nominated for this year’s Song of the Year by the AMA, and Elizabeth’s brilliant Welder CD from which it comes is a well-deserved Album of the Year nominee.
DAVID OLNEY/Sunset on Sunset Boulevard
Writer: David Olney; Producer: Jack Irwin; Publisher: David Olney/Bug, BMI; Deadbeet (track) (www.davidolney.com)
—Olney has two current projects—his Dutchman’s Curve CD of last year and a new five-song collection called Film Noir. Both are among the best produced discs of his career. This spooky tune closes the latter set with its dark tales of coldly ambitious Hollywood wanna-be’s, faded liquored-up stars and phonies. By the way, you can watch this gifted troubadour perform live every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at TinyUrl.com/DavidOlneyTV.
JOE ELY/Satisfied at Last
Writer: Joe Ely; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Tornado Temple, BMI; Rack ‘Em (track) (www.ely.com)
—The title tune to this timeless Texas treasure’s latest album finds him singing with vigor over an echoey, chiming guitar track. He’s singing of mortality, but he’s mighty robust and vital about it. Heartily recommended, as always.
TODD SNIDER/Money, Compliments, Publicity
Writer: Todd Snider; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Nobody’s Collecting on These Songs/Bug, BMI; Aimless/Yep Roc (track) (www,toddsnider.net)
—You really should own every CD this guy’s ever made. The two current ones are a live album and a studio set titled The Excitement Plan. The latter contains this wonderfully sardonic ode from the funniest East Nashville loser’s voice ever. Genius is not too strong a word.
HAYS CARLL & CARY ANN HEARST/Another Like You
Writer: Hayes Carll; Producer: Brad Jones; Publisher: Highway 87/Bug, SESAC; Lost Highway (track) (www.hayescarll.com)
—Speaking of funny, this man tickles folks everywhere he goes. He won last year’s AMA Song of the Year award with “She Left Me for Jesus.” He’s nominated this year for the title tune to his “KMAG YOYO” CD. But for a real treat, check out this mutually insulting—and profane—duet on the collection.
JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT/Go It Alone
Writer: Jason Isbell; Producer: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit; Publisher: Fame, BMI; Lightning Rod (track) (www.jasonisbell.com)
—Jason is Hayes Carll’s sometime touring partner this year. His current Here We Rest collection contains this ominous rocker. His tenor vocal fronts some smart, crunchy chops by the tight 400 Unit.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS/Blessed
Writer: Lucinda Williams; Producer: Don Was, Eric Liljestrand & Thomas Overby; Publisher: none listsed; Lost Highway (track) (www.lucindawilliams.com)
—Lucinda’s Blessed is a contender for AMA Album of the Year in 2011. Its emotional title tune finds truth and beauty in a blind man, a battered wife, a fallen soldier, a neglected child, a homeless man, a prisoner and more who teach us about grace and forgiveness. Heartfelt.
DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS/Live Forever
Writer: none listed; Producer: Andy Hunt; Publisher: none listed; Dualtone (track) (615-320-0620)
—When this aired on the soundtrack of an NBC Parenthood episode last season, a firestorm of downloading reportedly ensued. It’s easy to hear why. This is a majestic, ethereal audio landscape. By the time Drew gets to its inspiring chorus of hope and strength, your heart is in your throat. I have made no secret of my admiration for this artist, and now he’s reached me even more deeply. The album is titled Chasing Someday. Buy it at once.
THOSE DARLINS/Red Light Love
Writer: Those Darlins; Producer: Jeff Curtin & Those Darlins; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Oh Wow Dang (track) (www.thosedarlins.com)
—This bashing, neo-punk trio has a new CD called Screws Get Loose with a video, “Be Your Bro.” The latter is a direct descendent of this thrashy, Ramones-like track from the original Those Darlins album.
GREG TROOPER/They Call Me Hank
Writer: Greg Trooper; Producer: Stewart Lerman, Kevin McKendree & Greg Trooper; Publisher: 52 Shakes, BMI; 52 Shakes (track) (www.gregtrooper.com)
—This track from Greg’s Upside-Down Town collection is being hailed as a Song of the Year contender by many. His raspy, resigned vocal is perfect for this moving portrait of a wino who sells catfish he catches for the bucks to buy his booze. This is what real song writing is, people.
 

Artist Action: Chesney's Million Tickets, Kings of Leon's New Video

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Kenny Chesney has crossed the million tickets sold marker for his current Corona Presents Kenny Chesney’s Goin’ Coastal Tour, which is the eighth time in his career to reach this milestone. Since 2002, Chesney has sold nearly 10 million tickets and after taking much of 2010 off from touring, he’s back on the road in stadiums and arenas. His full summer itinerary is here. Chesney’s current single “You and Tequila” features rocker Grace Potter (pictured) and is climbing charts everywhere.
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Stoney Creek Records artist Ash Bowers has created a Homegrown Hero contest to recognize and reward a local hero who has made an impact on a community. The contest started Monday, and runs through July 1. Bowers’ current single “I Still Believe In That” inspired the contest, which will award a lucky winner with a $5,000 cash prize. Fans can nominate their local hero by submitting a short essay explaining what makes the person a homegrown hero on Bowers’ Facebook page.
Bowers’ Stoney Creek labelmates Thompson Square will turn up on Fox News’ Fox & Friends All American Concert Series Friday, June 3 during the 7 pm CT hour. They’re also due to appear at the 2011 CMT Awards, where they are nominated for Duo of the Year and USAWeekend Breakthrough Video of the Year.
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Kings of Leon premiered the video for its new single “Back Down South” yesterday (5/31) on Vevo. Shot in May outside Nashville, the video was directed by Casey McGrath (Talihina Sky, Pyro) and features the band performing live outdoors. Visitors who ‘Like’ Kodak’s Facebook page can check out behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot. MLB Network will be featuring the video beside baseball highlights through 6/6. See the video here.
• • •
Clint Black received a Twitter message from NASA over the holiday weekend, to inform him that his “Galaxy Song” was played to wake up the crews of Endeavour and Expedition 28. The message was “Astronauts and space station crew awoke to ‘Galaxy Song’ by Clint Black, played for the entire crew on their last day at station.” Black Tweeted in response, “As a child, I dreamed of being an astronaut.  And now one of my songs is an astronaut. I hope they gave it some Tang.”

Band Perry's Double Platinum Cert, "Save The Music" For VH1

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The Band Perry’s star keeps rising. The Republic Nashville sibling trio’s current single “You Lie” has already reached No. 1 on the CountryBreakout Chart and sits inside the Top 10 on the monitored airplay charts. And now the group’s previous smash single “If I Die Young” has been certified double platinum by the RIAA for sales exceeding 2 million.
“It’s been an amazing year! So many have embraced the message of ‘If I Die Young’ and we are humbled that it has impacted so many people. This is truly an honor,” said The Band Perry.
Tomorrow (6/2), The Band Perry will perform as part of VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Songwriters Music Series, Presented by Starburst. The series launched in New York with Glee star Matthew Morrison, continues with TBP in Nashville, and will hop to Los Angeles with a performer yet to be announced.
The excitement for The Band Perry doesn’t end there. They’re spending a hefty portion of summer on the road, headlining some of their own dates as well as opening Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic Tour (tour schedule here). They are also set to attend the CMT Music Awards June 8, where they are nominated for Video of the Year, Group of the Year, and USAWeekend Breakthrough Video of the Year.

Sales Wrap Gaga Style

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Lady Gaga leaves the industry wide eyed, open mouthed and smiling as she deftly scoops first week sales of Born this Way totaling 1.108 million. In the process her album becomes the 17th to break the one-million-in-one-week mark since the start of the SoundScan era in 1991. Nashvillians will recall that No. 16 on that list was Taylor Swift who splashed onto the scoreboard with 1.05 million units last year. Gaga also stormed the digital singles chart with four tracks selling over 30k each. Her song “Edge Of Glory” downloaded 164k for the week.
There’s also news on the country chart, but before we shift gears let’s note a few things. First an amazing 60% of the Gaga album sales were in digital form, about 660k units. Of those, unconfirmed reports estimate about 450k were sold at Amazon for 99¢, without which the album would never have broken the one million barrier. The bargain sale price meant that Amazon took a loss on the sales—not the record label—but one can certainly debate what this gambit will do to the price/value of music in the consumer’s mind, going forward??
A Paisley Design
Brad Paisley took top country positioning this week as his new album This Is Country Music rides atop the Current Country sales chart with first week totals of about 153k. Compilation debuts from Idol’s Scotty McCreery (No. 3; 23k) and Lauren Alaina (No. 9; 10.5k) also landed inside the country Top 10. On the country tracks chart McCreery and Alaina ruled the top two spots with “I Love You This Big” downloading over 170k units and “Like My Mother Does” churning over 120k.
Debuts from Warner’s Frankie Ballard (No. 33; 2,700) and Show Dog’s Carter’s Chord (No. 48; 1,700) also entered the chart. (Even with Top 75 country sales up 71% this week vs. last week (475k total) it only took 716 units to earn a spot on the list.)
The Big Picture—Albums
All genre album sales YTD are now up .4%. Not a huge uptick, but how long has it been since we were able to report any uptick in this category? Country album sales YTD remain in negative territory, -5.3%, but they have been improving of late.
The Big Picture—Tracks
Track sales are showing 10% YTD gains as we complete the first five months of 2011 with sales of about 536 million. Country track sales account for about 57 million or 10.6% of that track sales total.
Coming Soon
Upcoming country album projects can be found here. Potential future standouts with respect to sales include Ronnie Dunn (June 7), Blake Shelton (July 12) and Chris Young (July 12).
A Penny For Your Thoughts?
What about pricing albums for 99¢? What does that mean for this industry going forward? Comment below.
 

Post Holiday Highlights

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Colleen Taylor


>>>Colleen Taylor has joined Big Machine Label Group as Administrative Assistant. A connecticut native and recent Belmont University grad., Taylor interned with the label before gaining this full time position.
“Colleen is an extremely smart & talented young lady who is a great addition to our team,” said BMLG CEO/President Scott Borchetta. “The building fell in love with her while she was an intern and we made sure we didn’t let her get away!” Taylor will report to Harry Lyons, Borchetta’s Executive Assistant. To congratulate her click her email: [email protected]
 

(L-R) Clarence Spalding and Gillie Crowder (SOURCE member/Live Nation) Photo: Denisse Fussell


>>>Spalding Entertainment’s Clarence Spalding shared information about artist management with SOURCE—an organization of women executives in Nashville’s Music Industry on May 24. Spalding roster currently includes Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Terri Clark, and Ashley Monroe.
 
>>>In preparation for the new exhibition Chet Atkins:  Certified Guitar Player, which opens at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on August 11, 2011, Museum Curatorial Director Mick Buck and VP Museum Services Carolyn Tate met with three of Atkins’ CGPs:  Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles and Steve Wariner.  CGP – “certified guitar player” – was the honorary degree created by Atkins and bestowed upon only a handful of legatees.

(L-R) Mick Buck, Steve Wariner, John Knowles, Tommy Emmanuel and Carolyn Tate. Photo: Donn Jones


 

Jaron Lowenstein


>>>For Memorial Day Weekend, Jaron Lowenstein (Jaron and The Long Road To Love) asked his fans to post pictures of themselves or family members who are or were in the armed forces so that he could see faces rather than just use the faceless term “men and women of the armed forces.” His Facebook wall exploded into a moving tribute to these soldiers and their families. Also, check out Jaron’s YouTube channel which has a duet with Big Kenny called, “Beautiful Lies.”
 

Artist Visits: Photo Spread

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Zac Brown Band shoot their latest music video for “Knee Deep” in Careyes, Mexico.  Zac and family (wife Shelly and their four daughters) stayed the weekend to enjoy the local cuisine, drinks and sunshine.

Zac Brown chilling in the pool at a resort in Careyes, Mexico. Photo: Amanda Edwards/PictureGroup

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Brad Paisley was a special guest recently on ABC’s Good Morning America in support of his newly released album This Is Country Music. After an interview with GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts, Paisley along with supergroup Alabama, performed their No. 1 Billboard hit, “Old Alabama.” Co-written by Paisley, Chris DuBois, Dave Turnbull, and Randy Owen, this marks Paisley’s 19th No. 1.

(L-R): Brianna Golodryga, GMA Weekend Anchor; Jeff Cook, Alabama; Robin Roberts, GMA co-anchor; Paisley, George Stephanopoulos, GMA co-anchor; Randy Owen, Alabama; Lara Spencer, GMA lifestyle anchor; Teddy Gentry, Alabama. Photo: Ben Enos

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Columbia Nashville artist Bradley Gaskin performed his debut single “Mr. Bartender” on a recent visit to the Crook & Chase Show.

(L-R): Lorianne Crook; Gaskin and Charlie Chase.