Tag Archive for: featured-2

Radio Host Danny Winchell Passes

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WAMB radio show host Danny Winchell has died at age 84. He was also a pop singer, magazine publisher, record producer and music promoter.
Winchell died on February 16 in Nashville. His weekly program, “The Danny Winchell Show,” aired on Fridays at 2:05 p.m. on WAMB, at 1200 on the AM radio dial. He sometimes sang on it with his pop trio Moonlight & Memories, which included vocalists Carole Shaw and Lisa Webb.
He was a New York native who began his show-business career in the early 1950s. In 1952, he scored a pop hit singing the standard “Carolina in the Morning” on MGM Records. Other pop singles included “Two Who Love as One” (1951), “There Goes My Heart” (1952), “Joshua” (1953), “Por Favor” (1956), “Dungaree Doll” (1956), “Don’t Say You’re Sorry” (1959) and “We’re Gonna Have a Rockin’ Party” (1959).
He also took credit for co-producing “Blue Moon” by The Marcels, a No. 1 hit in 1961.
In later years, he wrote the syndicated column “The Winch Line” and published the entertainment periodicals Panorama and In & Around.
Danny Winchell is survived by Judy, his wife of 56 years, daughter Jerri Findley, son Kenny and brother Sam. Memorials may be made to the Community Foundation/ Danny Winchell Music to help fund musical education for disadvantaged youth. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Eastland Funeral Home. According to http://dannywinchell.com, a celebration of Winchell’s life will be held in Nashville next month.

Industry Voices Criticizing iTunes; Google Applies Pressure

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A few years ago iTunes looked like the music industry’s knight in shining armor. Unfortunately, today with the added inventory of apps, books, movies, TV shows and more, plus some new rules, stakeholders are beginning to feel the relationship is getting strained. Apple’s latest skirmish is with book and magazine publishers. They are unhappy with the Cupertino giant’s new plans to take a 30% cut of all digital publications sold on its iPad and iPhone devices. Porter Bibb, a consultant at Mediatech Capital Partners and the first publisher of Rolling Stone magazine told the LA Times, “You’ve seen what Apple did to the music industry —they decimated it. Apple owns the music industry now, and publishers are loath to have that happen to them.”
Adding to the rukus is Apple’s plan [press release here] to withold highly valued personal subscriber information from the publishers unless the buyer specifically opts to share the data. Apple also demands that all apps allow for in-app purchasing. On the plus side publishers can now sell subscriptions by the week, month, year or other period of time instead of hoping readers will buy each one separately. “We believe that this innovative subscription service will provide publishers with a brand new opportunity to expand digital access to their content onto the iPad, iPod touch and iPhone, delighting both new and existing subscribers,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement.
If the art of negotiation is finding and applying leverage, then the weight of Apple’s 15 million iPads in the marketplace and over 160 million users with credit cards on file surely sits heavily of the back of the book industry.
Google has entered the discussion by offering a new payment system for digital content, charging publishers a more modest 10% fee and offering to share the consumer data with publishers. Tension has been building between Apple and Google for a considerable period now. They compete with mobile operating systems—Apple’s IOS and Google’s Android plus Google is rumored to be opening a music store soon.
Blogger Chris Holmes suggests the music industry fight back against Apple with what he calls the Privateer System which gives bloggers, pirates and fans an opportunity to “make money while spreading music. Bloggers that host an up-and-coming act would host their music and take a percentage of the sales. Fans too.”
Rhapsody CEO John Erwin called the idea of having to pay a 30% “Apple tax” on music subscriptions, “economically untenable.” Rdio CEO Drew Larner also voiced strong concern, “That fee is certainly untenable for us. It creates a situation where it’s not financially possible for us to be in the environment, that’s a loss for consumers and I don’t think that’s a good thing.”
But what about consumers? Ultimately, Apple has to be careful not to upset the value proposition that drives them to purchase its hardware. For example, if Pandora apps are no longer available for the iPad or Rdio or Kindle books how will consumers react? And book publishers also have to carefully consider if they want to ignore the power of the Apple technology train and its dedicated cadre of consumers.

Weekly Chart Report (2/18/11)

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SPIN ZONE

Capitol Records Nashville’s Walker Hayes isn’t kidding when he says he’s ready for winter to end. The “Why Wait For Summer” singer was in Birmingham, AL last week to perform at WDXB’s annual St. Jude event when he and WDXB morning show co-host Dollar Bill got down and ‘snowy’ together.


You knew this was coming, right? Following a huge night at the Grammys, Lady Antebellum’s anthemic “Hello World” ascends to No. 1 on the CountryBreakout Chart and holds off Taylor Swift’s “Back To December” by a mere 32 spins. Brad Paisley’s “This Is Country Music” is close at No. 3, and Jason Aldean’s “Don’t You Wanna Stay” leaps over Billy Currington’s “Let Me Down Easy” to stick at No. 4.
Sunny Sweeney’s “From A Table Away” has taken the Jamey Johnson/Lee Brice route to heavy rotation, clocking 33 weeks of chart visibility before reaching No. 8. Other recent songs to last longer than 30 weeks include the JaneDear girls’ “Wildflower,” which stayed 33 weeks and reached No. 23. Joe Nichol’s “The Shape I’m In” hit No. 10 after 30 weeks, and Eric Church’s “Smoke A Little Smoke” lasted 31. Back in 2009, Love and Theft’s “Runaway” bested them all with a 35 week run to get to No. 2.
Several older titles have fallen subject to our 20/20 rule this week, and that means a bounty of new debuts. Highest of them all is Kenny Chesney’s “Live A Little,” which hit No. 45 nearly a full month ahead of its March 14 add date. Then there’s Toby Keith’s “Somewhere Else,” which landed at No. 53 following a gain of 431 spins. And Justin Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” has clearly caught some programmer ears as it debuts at No. 57.
Frozen Playlists: KYEZ, WBYZ, WTCM





Upcoming Singles
February 22
Aaron Lewis/Country Boy/Stroudavarious
Justin Moore/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away/Valory
Sarah Darling/Something To Do With Your Hands/Black River
Charley Pride/Except For You/Music City Records
Walker Hayes/Why Wait For Summer/Capitol
Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow/Me and Tennessee/Curb
Royal Wade Kimes/I’m An Ole Song/Wonderment
February 28
Jessica Ridley/Flaming Red/EMG/Universal/Nine North
Frankie Ballard/A Buncha Girls/Warner Bros./WMN
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA
Jason Thomas/I’m Your Radio/MD Records
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Nashville
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Kenny Chesney/Live A Little/BNA — 45
Toby Keith/Somewhere Else/Show Dog-Universal — 53
Justin Moore/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away/Valory — 57
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA — 70
Gretchen Wilson/I’d Love To Be Your Last/Redneck Records/CO5 — 76
Badhorse/My Little Man/Global Maximus — 77
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Nashville — 79
Mark Wills/Looking For America/Mitzi Matlock Music — 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/Live A Little/BNA — 576
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/Arista — 506
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 473
Toby Keith/Somewhere Else/Show Dog — Universal — 431
The Band Perry/You Lie/Republic Nashville — 321
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Kate Russell/Damned If I Do/Urunga/Spinville Records — 216
Bucky Covington/Hometown — 215
Curtis & Luckey/Eye Candy/KMG Music Group — 204
Tim McGraw & Gwyneth Paltrow/Me And Tennessee/Curb — 202
David Nail/Let It Rain/MCA — 201
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Toby Keith/Somewhere Else/Show Dog-Universal — 32
Justin Moore/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away/Valory — 25
Badhorse/My Little Man/Global Maximus — 23
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 23
Eric Church/Homeboy/EMI Nashville — 21
Walker Hayes/Why Wait For Summer/Capitol — 16
Tim McGraw & Gwyneth Paltrow/Me And Tennessee/Curb — 12
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA — 11

Gearing up for his sold-out show at City Limits Saloon in Raleigh, NC, Show Dog-Universal’s Randy Houser gladly opened his bus to WQDR for some pre-show camaraderie. (L-R): WQDR's Marty Young, Houser, Billy's wife Amanda, and WQDR MD Billy Dukes.


The Dirt Drifters started their Southwest radio run with a stop at KAJA in San Antonio. (L-R): Ryan Fleener, Jeremy Little, Matt Fleener, KAJA PD Travis Moon, Nick Diamond, and Jeff Middleton.


Davis Music Group/Nine North artist Jacob Lyda brought his new single “I'm Doing Alright” to KMLE Phoenix during his recent SW tour. (L-R): Davis Music Group's Gator Michaels, KMLE's Andrew Bland, Lyda, KMLE's Jeff Garrison and Nine North's Dave Collins.

CMA Songwriter Series Invades LA; Music Festival Unveils Photo Contest

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The CMA Songwriters Series returned to Los Angeles on Feb. 15 with a stellar performance at Club Nokia. Backstage before their performance were (L-R): singer/songwriter/producer Victoria Shaw; songwriter/host Bob DiPiero; 2010 CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Chris Young; two-time CMA Award winner Gretchen Wilson; and singer/songwriter Brett James.


The Music Festival turns 40 this year and to help celebrate, the CMA is sponsoring a photo contest. Six of the submitted photos will be used as the artwork on the official event tickets. Past festival attendees can submit photographs online creating what will become an ongoing photo archive that documents the event’s history.
The contest will begin Feb. 17 and run through Mar. 7. Prizes will be awarded to submitting fans, including commemorative, framed 40th anniversary CMA Music Festival plaques with a ticket containing their photograph displayed for the top three photos; merchandise prize packs; and more. The Grand Prize winner will also receive two Gold Circle four-day tickets to the 2012 CMA Music Festival.
CMA Music Festival, which started as Fan Fair® in 1972 at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium; moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982; moved to its current home, Downtown Nashville, in 2001; and changed its name to CMA Music Festival in 2004, the same year it was first filmed for a network television special. In addition to artist performances and artist/fan meetings, CMA is hopeful that photos will be submitted that capture images of fans interacting with each other; recent events like the parade and celebrity sporting events; former events such as the Chuck Wagon Gang serving meals at the Fairgrounds or the “CMA Celebrity Close Up” sessions at the Ryman Auditorium; or the unexpected.
For full contest rules and to submit photos, fans can visit CMAfest.com beginning Thursday, Feb. 17. CMA Music Festival 2011 will take place in Downtown Nashville, Thursday-Sunday, June 9-12.

Artist Ink

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>> Luke Bryan, reigning ACM Top New Artist, has just sent his third consecutive single to No. 1. The song “Someone Else Calling You Baby,” comes from his Gold album, Doin’ My Thing which also produced No. 1 hits “Do I” and “Rain Is A Good Thing.” Currently the Georgia native is performing on the Rascal Flatts tour, and this summer will join Tim McGraw. Bryan’s next single will be “Spring Break 3…It’s a Shore Thing.”
>>Gretchen Wilson strikes hard with her new single, “I’d Love To Be Your Last.” Written by Rivers Rutherford, the song is monumental. Wilson was in LA earlier this week for the Grammy Awards, an appearance on The Talk and a performance on Leno’s The Tonight Show. She also performed at a special CMA songwriter show at the Nokia Theatre and earned a standing ovation on the new single.
>>Hazel Smith, host of CMT’s Southern Fried Flicks is jumping onto the radio dial. Smith joins the cast of Nashville’s New Country, a syndicated show that can also be heard online. This week she joins hosts Chuck and Steve as they talk to Josh Thompson and hear new music from Ronnie Dunn and Sarah Darling. Tune in here.

JaneDear girls


>>The JaneDear girls, nominated for ACM Top Vocal Duo and Top New Vocal Duo or Group joined with YouTube sensation Keenan Cahill to create a spin-off of The Lonely Island’s single “I’m On A Boat.” Not surprisingly the new title is “We Need Ya Vote!” Click here to watch. Susie Brown and Danelle Leverett our on the road with Jason Aldean and their hit “Wildflower is already Top 15.

Curious About Qriocity? Sony Debuts Music Service

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Sony launched a new music service in the U.S. today. “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” is a cloud-based, digital music service offering about 6 million songs from the catalogs of Universal, Sony, Warner, and EMI Music, as well as numerous indies and publishers.
The service is ad-free and runs on a monthly subscription basis. The Basic plan is $3.99/month and Premium is $9.99.
One thing Qriocity has going for it is that it is designed to work with existing Sony hardware, including certain Bravia TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, PlayStation3, Vaio computers, and portable devices. It is also expected to work with third-party portable devices including the Android platform.
Many of these connections play into the company’s desire to capture in-home listeners, where it says more than 70 percent of consumers listen, but are underserved in terms of digital music.
Qriocity essentially works as a customizable streaming station offering personalized channels. The Premium subscription plan enables users to listen to songs on demand, and create personal playlists. The system tailors stations based on “like or dislike” song ratings, and analyzing the user’s existing music collection. Sony claims, “the more you listen, the more uniquely personalized your music channels become.”
Users can also synchronize their existing music files from other media players including iTunes.
Qriocity was already available in the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Today it also launched in Australia and New Zealand.

New Smartphone Apps Connect Consumers To Artists

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The booming smartphone market is providing new opportunities for fans to connect with artists, and tech-savvy companies are leading the way with cool new apps.
Kenny Chesney has partnered with digital syndicator Qello for the release of his 2009 concert film Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D. The Chesney App is Qello’s debut product and gives fans with iPhone and Android smartphones interactive access to the film in 2D-HD format, including behind the scenes footage. Qello will also soon release the film and app to the gaming market to have it available on as many devices as possible.
“Kenny Chesney is one of the most popular performers in the world and a perfect partner for the launch of the exciting Qello platform,” says Qello President Bob Frank. “Just as Netflix did for movies, Qello is a first-mover, changing the way music fans will consume live concerts.”
The Qello app, available now, can be found here.
Red Light Management and AT&T have announced a mobile barcode program to allow fans more ways to connect with the company’s artists. Red Light has used this program in campaigns for its artists like Dave Matthews Band, Steel Train and Tim McGraw. Fans are encouraged to use smartphones to scan a barcode on an artist’s promotional materials, which will open up a world of special content including free apps, videos, fan club access and more.
“Our artists are continuously looking for new ways to connect with their fans and get the word out about their latest activities,” said Evan Cooper, Red Light Management. “By using AT&T’s mobile barcode program, we can effectively promote our artists and give fans the opportunity to keep up with their favorite musicians on-the-go.”
Check out the mobile barcode program here.

Chris Tomlin, TobyMac Lead Dove Nominations

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Chris Tomlin (L) and TobyMac (R)


Nominations for the Dove Awards were revealed this morning in Atlanta, with Chris Tomlin and TobyMac scoring six nods each.
Following closely were Jason Crab who earned five nominations, and Francesca Battistelli with four.
For the first time the awards will be handed out in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre. The awards show will take place on Wednesday, April 20, and will air Easter Sunday, April 24 on the Gospel Music Channel.

Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Jason Crabb
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Natalie Grant
Marvin Sapp
tobyMac
Chris Tomlin
Song of the Year song title; artist; writer; publisher (award to the writer and publisher)
• “All of Creation”; MercyMe; Bart Millard, Robby Shaffer, Jim Bryson, Mike Scheuchzer, Barry Graul; Brown Bannister, Dan Muckala, Simpleville Music/Wet As A Fish Music/Wintergone Music/Banistuci Music (ASCAP)
• “Beautiful, Beautiful”; Francesca Battistelli; Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Andrew Fromm; Word Music LLC (ASCAP), Designer Music, Inc./Honest and Popular Songs (SESAC), Universal Music/Z Songs/ Ocean at Night Music (BMI)
• “Get Back Up”; tobyMac; Toby McKeehan, Cary Barlowe, Jamie Moore, Aaron Rice; Achtober Songs (BMI), Emack Music/Rizzle Music/Jamnu Music (ASCAP), Castle Bound Music, Inc./Bummerman Music, Inc. (SESAC)
• “Hold My Heart”; Tenth Avenue North; Mike Donehey, Jason Ingram, Phillip LaRue; Formerly Music/Peertunes Ltd./Sony/ATV Timber Publishing/Windsor Way Music (SESAC)
• “Lead Me”; Sanctus Real; Matt Hammitt, Jason Ingram, Chris Rohman; Birdwing Music/Toledo Tomorrow Music/1012 Rosedale Music (ASCAP), Windsor Hill Music/So Essential Tunes/West Main Music (SESAC)
• “Let The Waters Rise”; MIKESCHAIR; Sam Tinnesz, Mike Grayson, Ben Glover; Screaming Norman Music/WB Music Corp (ASCAP),
Curb Congregation Songs/Strength to Shout Publishing /Wave and Romi Publishing (SESAC)
• “Love Came Calling”; Triumphant Quartet; Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey; PsalmSinger Music/Bridge Building Music/Hefton Hill Music (BMI)
• “Our God”; Chris Tomlin; Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin; Thankyou Music (PRS), sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Said And Done Music/Vamos Publishing/SHOUT! Publishing (ASCAP)
• “Sometimes I Cry”; Jason Crabb; Gerald Crabb; Christian Taylor Music (BMI)
• “Starry Night”; Chris August; Chris August, Ed Cash; Word Music LLC (ASCAP), Alletrop Music (BMI)
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris August
Doug Anderson
Jason Crabb
Brandon Heath
Israel Houghton
Marvin Sapp
Chris Tomlin
Female Vocalist of the Year
Audrey Assad
Francesca Battiselli
Natalie Grant
Britt Nicole
Janet Paschal
Kerrie Roberts
Laura Story
Group of the Year
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Gaither Vocal Band
Mercy Me
Mikes Chair
Sidewalk Prophets
Tenth Avenue North
New Artist of the Year
Audrey Assad
Chris August
Forever Jones
John Mark McMillan
No Other Name
Kerrie Roberts
Kristian Stanfill
Producer of the Year
Bernie Herms
Ed Cash
Ian Eskelin
Jason Ingram & Rusty Varenkamp
Wayne Haun
See the complete nominations list.

Billy Ray Cyrus Tells "GQ" About the Pitfalls of Fame

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Tish, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards


Billy Ray Cyrus sat down with GQ magazine in December, just days after pictures of daughter Miley smoking out of a bong were leaked, becoming the latest controversy surrounding the young singer. In the lengthy interview, Billy Ray says that her rise to fame on the Disney show Hannah Montana “destroyed [his] family.” He says he wishes they never agreed to do the show and move to California. “I’d take it back in a second,” he told the magazine from his home in Tennessee. “For my family to be here and just be…safe and sound and happy and normal, would have been fantastic.”
The elder Cyrus, currently going through a divorce with wife Tish, accepts some of the blame for his family woes, admitting he should have been more of a parent and less of a friend to Miley. But he also blames Miley’s team, and says today he is “scared for her… [because] some of these handlers are perhaps more interested in handling Miley’s money than her safety and her career.”
The bong video was shot at her 18th birthday party, which Billy Ray says he refused to attend because it was being held in an age 21-and-up bar. When Miley’s team became aware of the lost cell phone containing the video, they wouldn’t let Billy Ray in on why finding the device was so important he told GQ. “They told me it was none of my business,” he claimed. “I’m dealing with somebody that had only known my daughter for possibly four years and I’m her daddy. I was pretty damn insulted….And I took that as the ultimate alarm.”
Billy Ray also used the interview to clear up what he says is another misconception. “I’ve never made a dime off of Miley,” he insisted. “You got a lot of people have made percentages off of her. I’m proud to say to this day I’ve never made one commissioned dollar, or dime, off of my daughter.”
More here.

Industry Ink Wednesday

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>>Curb Music Publishing recently hosted a two-day Songwriters Retreat at Blackberry Farm near the Smoky Mountains.

Curb writing retreat (front row, L-R) Senator Lamar Alexander and Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson; (back row, L-R) Blackberry Farm's Sam Beall, Curb's Director of Publishing Drew Alexander, Bobby Tomberlin, Capitol artist Kelleigh Bannen, Curb artist Lee Brice, songwriter Billy Montana, and Anderson's manager Lee Willard.


>> Business magazine Fast Company has named BigChampagne to its latest “World’s Most Innovative Companies” list. BigChampagne is recognized for the groundbreaking comprehensive media measurement of its Ultimate Chart. Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March 2011) is on newsstands beginning Feb. 22.

Anthony Corder


>>Anthony Corder has been named General Manager of Anchor Down Entertainment. Owner Dean Blocker and Corder will work to further develop the seven-year-old independently operated publishing company. Corder can be reached at Anthony@anchordownent.com or 615-292-9898.
>>Canadian songstress Sarah McLachlan is splitting with manager Terry McBride of Nettwerk Music Group after 23 years.
>>Nathan Chapman produced a few tracks for pop singer Anna Nalick’s new album. She is best known for the hit “Breathe (2AM).”

Gareth Dunlop. Photo: Anthony Scarlati


>>Northern Ireland native Gareth Dunlop has been signed to a joint venture publishing deal with Moraine Music Group and Nettwerk One Music. His songs have been featured in the television series Cougar Town, Private Practice, One Tree Hill and Life Unexpected. Brent Maher is producing Dunlop’s debut LP, to be released later this year.
>>JKMusicwerks owner Jeffrey Kadlubowski has signed songwriter Larry Wiater to a one-year publishing deal.
>>Former American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus recently recorded at Nashville’s Pacific International Studios with producer Mike Flanders.

(L-R): Pacific International Music Producer Michael Flanders, Siobhan Magnus, Pacific International CEO Rob Mackay.