Tag Archive for: featured-2

Social Media Success Sends CJaye LeRose To Nashville

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CJaye LeRose


“Social networking” has become one of those overused marketing phrases—discussed continuously, but rarely implemented. That makes it all the more contagious when an indie artist without the benefit of any marketing machine to do the heavy lifting, attracts attention in the form of fans, followers and views and ends up with more links than a chain fence.
In 2009 CJaye LeRose somewhat innocently created a YouTube channel to raise awareness about animal adoption. But she soon realized that reaction to her message spiked when she posted videos of her songs. Soon she wrote a song encouraging people to adopt pets and events escalated. Today, her YouTube channel has over 2 million views and 32,000 subscribers.
“My channel grew like it did not only because of my love for music, but also because of my love for people,” says LeRose. “I would spend all day just writing people back and answering as many comments as possible. I’ve gotten to be friends with so many of my subscribers.”
LeRose is also active on Twitter where she has 18,000 followers and Facebook with 12,000 fans. Feeling encouraged from all her online success, the 25-year-old finally decided it was time to move to Nashville from hometown Houston.
The social media butterfly is starting to get noticed. Last week LeRose hosted an online Teen Hoot that originated from Nashville’s Westwood Studios, owned by producer David Malloy. Twelve artists performed including Nickelodeon star Devon Werkheiser, Lilly Winwood, the youngest daughter of Steve Winwood and Julienne Irwin, a finalist on America’s Got Talent. Over 1400 viewed the event stream online.
According to Malloy, “I have had over 150 artists perform since we started  the Hoot. The goal is to help the many talented artists trying to break through the system. The Hoots are successful because each act only performs two songs. We think this is the way music should be discovered. We stay in constant contact with our online audience through Live Chat, gauging their reactions and giving them more of what they want.”
CJaye LeRose’s self released CD is due later this year and her official website www.cjayelerose.com launched this week. You can get a free download of her song “The Porch” here. View her YouTube channel here and to check out the Teen Hoot click here.

Arista Promo Team Aligns Under Tyson, Sigler; Hires Dokke

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(L-R): Lesly Tyson, John Sigler, Ryan Dokke


Arista Nashville is announcing a reworked promotion team in time for next week’s Country Radio Seminar.
The label has promoted Lesly Tyson to Vice President, Promotion, and John Sigler to National Director, Promotion.
Joining the department effective Mon., Feb. 28 is Ryan Dokke, who will serve as Manager, Regional Promotion. Based in the label’s Nashville headquarters, Dokke arrives at Arista Nashville with more than a decade of experience in country radio, most recently as Asst. Program Director, Music Director, and on-air personality for WKKT-FM in Charlotte, NC.
The promotions of Tyson and Sigler were revealed as part of a larger company-wide restructuring earlier this month. Sony Music Nashville Sr. VP, Promotion Skip Bishop announced the promotion of Tyson, who in turn named Sigler to her previous role.
Tyson first came to the Sony family in 2004. Sigler joined Arista Nashville in 2007.

Artist Roundup

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Briggs Appears As Nashville Cat • Josh Kelley Co-Writes Sitcom Theme Song • Jamey Johnson Gets Gold Record

David Briggs


>>Noted keyboard session player David Briggs will appear as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians series on March 26. The program which starts at 1:30 p.m. is free to museum members and/or included with museum admission. It will also be streamed live on www.countrymusichalloffame.org. In 1969, Briggs and Norbert Putnam opened Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville. which recorded sessions for artists including Jimmy Buffet, Linda Rondstadt and Neil Young before it was sold in 1976. A few years later, Briggs opened a new recording studio, House of David. In 1985, he joined with Will Jennings to form publishing company Willin’ David Music. The partnership published the Academy Award-winning song “Up Where We Belong.”  Briggs also found success recording commercials for a variety of clients including Budweiser, Chevrolet, Coke and Sears. He served as musical director for TV specials including several CMA awards telecasts, The 65th Anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, the CBS Hall of Fame Special and a Minnie Pearl tribute.

Josh Kelley


>>MCA singer/songwriter Josh Kelley has co-written the theme song for CBS sitcom Mike & Molly with Keb’ Mo’. “The Mike & Molly theme song came around sort of randomly,” Josh says. “In 2004, I called up Keb’ Mo’ and said, ‘I’d really love to write a song with you.’ I drove up to his house and we wrote ‘I See Love.’ He put it on his album. Probably six months ago, he called me and said, ‘There’s a TV show called Mike and Molly that wants to use the song because they came to my live show and heard it.’ It’s funny because now I’m a really big fan of the show and every time I watch it, I get to hear this cool song.” Kelley’s debut country album Georgia Clay is set for release March 22.
>>Universal Music Group Nashville presented Jamey Johnson with a plaque commemorating the gold certification of his ambitious 25-song double album during a gathering in Nashville (2/18). The Guitar Song is up for Album of the Year at the ACM Awards and recently received two Grammy nominations. UMGN Chairman Luke Lewis told the crowd, “I can’t be any prouder than to hand my friend Jamey Johnson a gold record.”

(L-R) Ken Levitan, Vector Management; Jamey Johnson; Luke Lewis, Chairman, UMG Nashville. Photo: Brian Kaplan

Sales: Thank You Edition

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Jimmy Fallon’s late night show has a Friday feature where he thanks various people and explains why. So on behalf of MusicRow and record label stakeholders everywhere, we’d like to extend the tradition to this week’s column. So let me say…
“Thank You,” Valentines Day. “You bring so much heart to the SoundScan chart by reminding people to give gifts. After chocolate, flowers and jewelry, music is high on the list.
“Thank You,” Grammy Awards. For the last three years you have highlighted Nashville’s musical contributions resulting in nice ‘week after’ numbers. (PS: You didn’t deserve that ‘sore loser’ letter earlier this week.)
Yes, this week’s SoundScan report was heavily influenced by the Grammy telecast (2/13) and the holiday of hearts. Country album sales climbed 10% over the previous week, all-genre sales jumped 12%. But it can all be summed up in three words, “Need You Now.”
Lady Antebellum’s TV trophy romp resulted in the album and single of that name rising to No. 1 on the Current Country Albums (85k) and Country Digital Singles charts (105k) respectively. The album has now sold almost 3.3 million units and the single almost 4.8 million. Taylor Swift is the trio’s only competition for  totals this lofty on the country charts. Swift’s “Love Story,” leads Lady A slightly with over 4.9 million downloads and her Speak Now album trails by about 100k units.
Lost Highway’s Hayes Carll debuts in the No. 12 position on the country chart with sales over 10k of his album Kmag Yoyo. Chris Young’s “Tomorrow” crashes into the digital download chart in the No. 8 position downloading over 30k tracks. By way of comparison, Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” performed on the Grammy show debuted with over 508,000 downloads!
Some careful number crunching shows that YTD country digital album sales as a percentage of total country album sales now total 20.3% (33% all genre). Last year the number  for this period was 15.3%. In line with that number, digital country album sales are up 16.35% this year which shows that country consumers are continuing to catch up to all genre consumers which download more and purchase physical product less—but still have a way to go.
“Thank You SoundScan,” for helping us to track industry sales.

Two-Screen Viewing Enhances TV Experience

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How many nights a week do you sit in front of the TV with a mobile device in your hand or a notebook computer in your lap? Well, marketers are on to you—and they’ve named it “two-screen viewing.”
A new study by Deloitte’s media and entertainment group shows that three-quarters of television viewers are also either online, on the phone or texting.
“The initial fear was that Internet and mobile video and entertainment would slowly cannibalize traditional TV viewing,” says Nielsen Company media product leader Matt O’Grady. “But the steady trend of increased TV viewership alongside expanded simultaneous usage argues something quite different.”
Instead of detracting from program viewing, marketers say the two-screen experience can enhance it. They believe viewers feel more connected to the show when they are discussing it online, turning the shared viewing experience into an event. Engaging with other watchers of the program before, during and after the show via Facebook, Twitter and other sites creates a sense of camaraderie. This trend also encourages live viewing of an episode or awards show, instead of recording it on DVR.
“We know people are multitasking while they’re watching TV,” ABC-TV exec Albert Cheng told the New York Times. “The question is, how do we tap into that and create a whole different consumer experience? We don’t have all the answers, but we are definitely trying different things and seeing how people are reacting.”
ABC is the broadcast home to this Sunday’s (2/27) Academy Awards. The network is teaming with Oscar.com to live stream behind-the-scenes video of the big night. Through about 30 strategically placed cameras, viewers will get to see all the action on the red carpet, in the theater, backstage and at the post-awards Governors Ball. There is a free ad-supported version, or a $4.99 all-access pass. Also available is an Oscar Backstage Pass app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod for 99 cents.
In recent years, awards shows and other programs have been experimenting with ways to enhance viewing through social media. The CMA has hosted Twitter Viewing Parties and live streaming feeds for its awards. At fan-voted awards ceremonies, fans can often vote while the show is airing live.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (2/23/11)

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Music City is Boys Town today.
The ladies are evidently taking the week off, since every platter here on the reviewing desk comes from a solo male. Let the testosterone festival begin.
Your top choices for airplay come from David Nail, Keith Bryant, Steve Azar, Walker Hayes, Kip Moore and Toby Keith. I know nothing whatsoever about Kip Moore, except that he is an exceptional singer with a sensationally well written song. Give him the DisCovery Award.
The Disc of the Day was a contest among Steve Azar, David Nail and Toby Keith. For melodic inventiveness and for daring to do something different, Toby Keith is my man of the hour.
JON WOLFE/Let a Country Boy Love You
Writer: Jon Wolfe/Britton Cameron; Producer: Lex Lipsitz & Jon Wolfe; Publisher: Fool Hearted/Big Music Machine/Golden Gears/Super 98, SESAC/BMI; Fool Hearted (track) (www.jonwolfecountry.com)
—There already is a George Strait. Find your own style.
TOBY KEITH/Somewhere Else
Writer: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Toby Keith; Publisher: Tokeco Tunes/Music of Stage Three/Bobby’s Song & Salvage, BMI; Show Dog Universal
—This has a very cool, tongue-tripping groove and unexpectedly jazzy chord changes. He fires the lyric at you, but holds back just a wee bit of bluesy drawl. A terrific, addictive change of pace.
ALLEN KARL/That’s All Behind Me Now
Writer: Larry Alderman; Producer: Tom Manche; Publisher: Aldersong, ASCAP; Century II (track)
—The title tune to this artist’s latest CD is taken at a glacial pace, without the global warming.
STEVE AZAR/Hard Road
Writer: Steve Azar/James House; Producer: Steve Azar & Justin Niebank; Publisher: Webbie Writin’/Nice Shot/Kobalt/Jamshare/Friday Records/Evergreen, BMI; Ride (track) (www.steveazar.com)
—The sound is marvelously crisp as this shambles its way into your heart. It’s a traveling-the-highway song with just the right touch of blue-collar angst. Play and believe.
THE PEAR RATZ/Ozona
Writer: Joe Talbert; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; KSB (www.pearratz.com)
—The vocal is mired in sonic muck to thick you can hardly hear it. Incompetence preserved forever on plastic.
DAVID NAIL/Let It Rain
Writer: David Nail/Jonathan Singleton; Producer: Chuck Ainley & Frank Liddell; Publisher: Scrambler/Carnival/BMG Gold Songs/Glassbean and We Jam Writers Group, ASCAP; MCA Nashville (CDX)
—This man’s winning streak continues. His heart is shredded to pieces in this midtempo meditation, and it shows in every vocal inflection.
KEITH BRYANT/The Note
Writer: George Teren/Tom Hambridge; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Songs of Elevation/Teren It Down, BMI; Jordash (www.jordashrecords.com)
—I have always liked this guy’s singing, and I’ve always been a sucker for story songs. His clear phrasing is just right for this tale of old lovers reconnecting in the wake of her father’s passing.
HAYES CARLL/KMAG YOYO
Writer: Hayes Carll/Scott Davis/John Evans; Producer: Brad Jones; Publisher: Highway 87/Bug/Scott Davis/Shakeabush, SESAC/BMI; Lost Highway
—This nightmare imagery of wartime Army drug experimentation is equal parts Jerry Lee Lewis and Bob Dylan, with a dash of Hendrix electric guitar tossed in for spice. It probably rocks too hard for country radio, but is mighty potent nonetheless.
WALKER HAYES/Why Wait for Summer
Writer: Walker Hayes/Fred Wilhelm; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville (track)
—I loved everything about his debut single, “Pants.” This shiny, bright follow-up bops right along with its good-times message. Sunny, to say the least.
KIP MOORE/Mary Was the Marrying Kind
Writer: Kip Moore/Scott Stepakoff/Dan Couch; Producer: Brett James; Publisher: Music of Stage Three/Songs of Connan/Roll Though/BMG Rights Management/Sony-ATV/Songs From the Couch, BMI/ASCAP; MCA Nashville (CDX)
—He sings with terrific urgency, and the thumping production matches him lick for lick. As he goes through a laundry list of lovers, he realizes what an awful mistake he’s made in romance. The heartbeat rhythm section is perfection.

Garth Brooks, Leon Russell To Join Songwriters Hall

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Garth Brooks (L), Leon Russell (R)


Garth Brooks, Leon Russell, John Bettis, Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly and Allen Toussaint will become the newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization’s 42nd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. The event is set for Thursday, June 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Certified by the RIAA as the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history, Brooks has sold more than 128 million albums and is the only solo artist in RIAA history to have six albums top the 10 million mark. As a songwriter his credits include “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Unanswered Prayers” and more.
Fellow inductee Leon Russell has been busy collaborating with Elton John. His songwriting credits include “A Song For You,” “This Masquerade,” ” Delta Lady,” “Tight Rope,” “Bluebird,” “Back To The Island,” and “Hummingbird.” He will also be honored with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s first Award for Musical Excellence in March.

Other inductees include John Bettis, who has written songs that have sold more than 250 million records worldwide such as “Human Nature” and “Crazy For You;” musician, songwriter and record producer Allen Toussaint, who wrote songs “Yes We Can” and “Working in the Coalmine;” and Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly who co-wrote five No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, including “Like A Virgin,” “True Colors,” and “Eternal Flame.”

Is Product Placement Coming To Tune Town?

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Tom Forrest


Britney Spears’ video “Hold It Against Me” [watch here] was released Feb. 17 and has garnered a flurry of attention. Fans perhaps loved the song’s thumping beat or the video’s modern, ultra chic techo-icity, but the trade mags were most enthralled by the unrelenting use of product placement  for companies like Sony, Plenty of Fish (dating website), Britney’s Radiance perfume, Sephora makeup and lots more. Product placement is the practice of exposing products in an admiring light that are really not integral to the video. According to www.tmz.com, Spears netted $500k for the various placements in “Hold It…” PlentyofFish.com, which reportedly spent in the six figure range, saw its traffic spike 20% the day after the video premiered.
Taking advantage of the product placement revenue stream in pop music videos is actually becoming almost the norm for those stars high enough on the food chain to attract such offers. In recent months Avril Lavigne, Lady Gaga and others have benefitted in this way. But what about country music? Is product placement on its way to Music City?
“We haven’t seen much on our end,” says Tom Forrest, President/Partner in Taillight TV whose company produces music videos and other projects. “For the longest time CMT had a policy about no overt product placements or endorsements in the videos,” he says. “Sometimes a male artist will drive a truck they endorse in the video, but it isn’t really meant to be a product placement. They need a vehicle for the video and certainly can’t be seen driving another manufacturer’s truck.” Forrest explains that his company does not participate in these deals. “In every contract we sign there is the payola clause. We cannot call up Coke and work a deal to make sure Reba drinks a coke. Those deals originate between an artist or label and the product.”

Craig Bann


However, with CD sales continuing to slide, music industry execs are busy fishing every revenue stream to see what they can catch. So is it reasonable to assume that country music artists may also begin to seek this kind of compensation?
“The potential for product placement is going to grow as more and more time is spent watching videos online,” says Craig Bann, AristoMedia Sr. VP Marketing & Publicity. “The fact that sites like YouTube, Vevo and others aren’t worried about product placement offers labels and artists a chance to recoup production costs. In the future I’d look for videos from developed artists to have two versions, one with product integrated into the concept and a second that’s product free to be delivered to broadcast outlets like CMT and GAC.”
“Who is willing to pay for Britney Spears to make a $500,000 video?” asks Forrest. “Most likely it isn’t the record company. Only with product placements is she able to afford this kind of imaging. It would be pretty difficult to do if MTV was the primary source of where that video would be seen. But music videos are being seen more and more on the web, on sites that are comfortable giving artists more control over their rights of what products they want to associate with. So yeah, you could definitely start to see this approach come to country. YouTube doesn’t care about product placement.”

Sarah Trahern


GAC Sr. VP Programming Sarah Trahern says she’s heard discussion about product integration from country artists, but has yet to see it appear in a video. “GAC has not yet set a formal policy on integration,” Trahern says. “If we do set one, it will be related to the blatancy of the product integration and whether or not it strongly distracts from the story content of the clip to viewers.”
Product placements on TV have become commonplace. In fact, The Nielsen Company ranks such movements by product and the shows that feature them. For example, According to Ad Age, during the period Jan. 1-31 Coca-cola, Chevrolet and Everlast sport equipment had the highest number of placement occurrences. ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NBC’s 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards and NBC’s The Biggest Loser were the top three shows in terms of total placement occurrences.
The product placement discussion will evolve because the potential profits are ample, but ultimately, artists will still need to interact with their fans and bear the responsibility for keeping their trust.

Artists Testing The Country Waters

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They may have gotten their starts in the pop/rock world, but The Doobie Brothers and Uncle Kracker are among a group of artists warming up to country.
As reported earlier this month, The Doobie Brothers have been working their single “World Gone Crazy” at country radio. Now comes the news that the band will make its Grand Ole Opry debut on Sat., Feb. 26. Founding members Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston, along with members John McFee (formerly in Southern Pacific) and Guy Allison, will be joined by touring member John Cowan, of New Grass Revival fame.
The band, celebrating its 40th Anniversary in April, has long flirted with country sounds, with songs such as “Black Water” and “Long Train Running.” Their newest album, World Gone Crazy, continues the country connection with a guest performance from Willie Nelson on “I Know We Won.”
Uncle Kracker has enjoyed some country crossover success for several years, spurred originally by his connection with Kenny Chesney and their hit “When The Sun Goes Down.” Uncle Kracker’s recent radio hit “Smile” was also a success on the country charts. His collaboration with Kid Rock, “Good to Be Me,” is nominated for ACM Vocal Event of the Year at the upcoming awards show.
Now Kracker is in Nashville recording his new album with hitmaking producer Keith Stegall, according to Billboard. Among the writers contributing songs are J.T. Harding and Shane McAnally, who scored as co-writers of Chesney’s latest hit, “Somewhere With You.”
Kracker is set to hit the road with Chesney next month.
Other rockers venturing into the country world as of late include Staind frontman Aaron Lewis. Of course, the biggest crossover success story in recent memory is Darius Rucker, whose 2008 country debut Learn To Live spawned three No. 1 singles and helped earn him a Top New Artist CMA Award.

Swift Leads Country Money Makers

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Taylor Swift netted more money than any other country entertainer last year, according to Billboard’s Money Makers 2011 issue (Feb. 19). The recently released list is based on net earnings derived from U.S. touring, music sales, and music and video streams.
21-year-old Swift saw her bank account swell by about $20.7 million, and ranked No. 6 on the all-genre tally. Her income came from 4.4 million in album sales, which translated to about $7.4 million in mechanical royalties for the star, not including publishing. Her tour grossed over $30 million, netting Swift around $10 million.
CMA reigning Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley netted almost $14 million, sliding into No. 12 on the list. According to Billboard Boxscore, his H20 Tour was the top-grossing country run, with receipts nearing $38 million. He also pocketed a cool million from music sales.
With about $13.5 million each, Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw came in 13th and 14th on the list, respectively.
Rounding out the country names on the tally are Rascal Flatts (No. 16, $11.9); Toby Keith (No. 21, $9.8); Lady Antebellum (No. 24, $9.1); Brooks & Dunn ($8.6); George Strait (No. 31, $7.3); Reba (No. 32, $7.1); and Sugarland (No. $4.4).
Lady Gaga was the year’s biggest money maker, pocketing about $30.5 million. More from Billboard.