Tag Archive for: featured-2

DISClaimer Single Reviews (2/16/11)

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Contemporary country music sounds wildly diverse this week.
We have bluegrass flavored The Roys, outlaw sounds from the George Brothers, rollicking pop-country by Kenny Chesney and southern, guitar-slinger rock via Frankie Ballard. How’s that for variety?
The expert instrumental work on the George Brothers single earns the duo a DiscCovery Award.
I have a three-way tie for the Disc of the Day. For songwriting excellence, the winner is Jamey Johnson. For poetry in production, the prize goes to Gretchen Wilson. And for all-out vocal splendor, give one to Chris Young.
GEORGE BROTHERS/Brothers, Friends And Outlaws Forever
Writer: Dandall George/Leslie Wright; Producer: George Brothers & Leslie Wright; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Velma Jean (870-715-2867)
—I like it that the two electric guitars “answer” each other from opposite speakers. The duo’s single is a stomping southern rocker that name-checks Waylon, Willie, Johnny Cash, Jesse James, John Wayne, farmers, the troops, mama, Jack Daniels, Bud Light and the like. They won’t win any prizes as singers, but they get the job done, and the track is smokin.’
TIM McGRAW & GWYNETH PALTROW/Me And Tennessee
Writer: A. Martin; Producer: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw & A. Martin; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Curb
—Taken from the soundtrack of Country Strong, this echo-soaked ballad of rekindling faded love never actually gets around to singing its title. All atmosphere and little substance.
VINCE HATFIELD/Beth
Writer: Robert Alan Ezrin/Stanley Penridge/Peter Criss; Producer: Vince Hatfield & Eric Paul; Publisher: Rock Steady/Intersong/Cafe Americana/Irving/All By Myself/Peter Criss, ASCAP; Blue Moon (www.vincehatfield.com)
—Vince thinks this 1976 ballad by Kiss would make a good country single. I don’t.
CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow
Writer: Chris Young/Frank Myers/Anthony Smith; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: Runnin’ Behind/EMI April/Sixteen Stars/Frank Myers/Grand Poobah/Dreams To Music, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; RCA
—He sings with so much heat you can practically warm your hands by the speakers. This ultra-melodic ballad of conflicted romance sounds like a major, major hit. Straight from his beating heart.
THE ROYS/Coal Minin’ Man
Writer: Lee Roy/Matt Rogers; Producer: The Roys & Andy Leftwich; Publisher: none listed; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.theroysonline.com)
—This single from The Roys’ upcoming Rural Rhythm debut (due in March), is a sparkling acoustic gem. The lilting dobro licks, weaving fiddle lines and rippling guitars create an enchanting tapestry of sound around their plaintive voices. In a word, delightful.
FRANKIE BALLARD/A Buncha Girls
Writer: Frankie Ballard/Rhett Akins/Dallas Davidson/Ben Hayslip; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/EMI Blackwood/Rhettneck/String Stretcher/WB/Melissa’s Money/Get a Load of This, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
—This exudes potent self confidence and musical muscle. Put some rocking sass in your playlist.
KENNY CHESNEY/Live A Little
Writer: Shane Minor/David Lee Murphy; Producer: Buddy Cannon & Kenny Chesney; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; BNA (track)
—It may be February outside, but Kenny is already bopping into the summer season. A single with a built-in smile. Tap your toes and sing along.
GRETCHEN WILSON/I’d Love To Be Your Last
Writer: Rivers Rutherford/Sam & Annie Tate; Producer: Gretchen Wilson & Blake Chancey; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/SESAC; Redneck (track) (www.gretchenwilson.com)
—I guess there are just some things we weren’t meant to understand in our lifetimes. Like how a track on an independent-label CD that was never even released as a single winds up with two Grammy nominations. Now it is finally a single, and a spectacularly lovely one. Gretchen sings the ballad with breathy, aching emotion, and the super-tasteful, guitars-and-cello arrangement is simply gorgeous. Awesome.
JAMEY JOHNSON/Heartache
Writer: Jamey Johnson/Rivers Rutherford; Producer: the Kent Herdly Playboys; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Big Gassed Hitties/Universal/Macirhcyco, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
—This darkly ominous composition takes the unusual perspective of treating Heartache as though it were a sentient, threatening predator. Jamey growls his way through a tale that takes you through the historical past and into a smoldering, sexual present. Brilliantly creative and fabulously listenable.
MARK WILLS/Looking For America
Writer: Bernie Nelson/Philip Douglas/Jeremy Bussey; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Publisher: Lisa Marie/SongsStarters/Buzz Cut, SESAC; Big Red M (CDX) (615-772-8868)
—He misses the good old days, surrounded by a stellar audio production.

YouTube Videos Lead Dupre To Deal With Warner

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An interesting path led James Dupre to Warner Bros. Records. He was working as a paramedic in Louisiana, singing in bars and making music at night. Eventually one of his many YouTube videos caught the attention of the team at Ellen, who invited him to come on the show.

Last March Dupre visited the fellow Louisiana native’s show and sang the Matchbox Twenty hit, “3 AM” (see video below). That put him on the radar of Warner Bros., which signed him to a record deal.
Dupre has posted over 100 YouTube videos and garnered over 500,000 channel views.
He is working with producers Kyle Lehning and Jerry Douglas, and has an album available at iTunes and CDbaby .com.

New Paisley Project Coming In May

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It’s the first major release date revealed this year, but SoundScan watchers will have to wait until May to see a sales boost.
Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley is slated to release his new album, This Is Country Music, on May 24 via Arista. Paisley once again teamed with longtime producer Frank Rogers for the upcoming release, which will be his first all-new studio album since 2009’s acclaimed American Saturday Night. In between studio efforts, he also released Hits Alive in November 2010.
The lead single and title track is already a hit at radio, climbing to No. 4 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart this week.
The digital single for “This Is Country Music” is available, and fans who pre-order the album for $9.99, will also receive an immediate download of the single. In addition, pre-orders will entitle purchasers periodic access to exclusive content.
Amid work on the new album, Paisley is currently headlining his H2O Frozen Over Tour.
Paisley has proven to be a consistent hitmaker, with 18 No. 1 singles to his credit (including the last 14 in a row) and career sales in excess of 12 million albums.

Bobby Karl Works The Grammy Viewing Party

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Miranda Lambert on the Grammy red carpet.


Chapter 358


The Nashville Grammy viewing party had door prizes, a dance DJ upstairs hosted by Red Bull, the Gibson Guitar tour bus parked outside and a generally merry atmosphere.
It was held at the Hard Rock downtown (2/13), so you know the food stations were first rate. The parking lot I chose had a broken machine, so I got away free. And the balmy weather couldn’t have been better.
As a viewing experience, if I wasn’t such a Recording Academy fan, I doubt that I would have stayed tuned in. Several of the much-vaunted “only-at-the-Grammys” collaborations failed to fizz. Early in the telecast, the Bruno Mars, B.o.B. and Janelle Monae mash-up was just a big flapdoodle about nothing. Katy Perry looked fabulous but sang flat. Arcade Fire’s performance featured kids on bicycles wheeling around pointlessly, plus disorienting camera work.
Mick Jagger’s “Everybody Needs Somebody” tribute to the late Solomon Burke was sung in a two-note range. Both of Rihanna’s appearances (with Eminem and Drake, respectively) were less than thrilling. The video flame effects used several times during the show looked exactly like the ones in Logan’s Steak House ads. The dancers deployed during the Muse tune were just weird.
On the plus side — at least for this community — was the fact that just about every time a Nashvillian appeared, the show perked up. First on was Martina McBride, more than holding her own during the show-opening Aretha Franklin tribute alongside Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams and a clearly outclassed Florence Welch (from Florence & The Machine). Miranda Lambert sounded scared and a little timid during her simply staged performance of “The House That Built Me,” but her genuine emotion carried the day.

(L-R) Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, and Yolanda Adams.


“First Grammy performance ever – first Grammy ever,” said Miranda upon winning her Female Country Vocal prize. “It means the world to me. Thank you very much. I love country music.”
Americana stars The Avett Brothers shone brightly alongside Mumford & Sons and Bob Dylan during their folk-rock Grammy moment. Those kids in Lady Antebellum can sure-enough sing. The trio’s flawless harmonies were the most pitch-perfect of the entire show, both on the Teddy Pendergrass tribute “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and on their own “American Honey” and “Need You Now.” The group picked up a stunning five Grammy Awards during the night.

Lady A performing during the Grammy Awards.


“This has been a huge, huge year for us,” said Lady A’s Charles Kelley when the group won Country Album of the Year. “This past year has changed our lives,” echoed Hillary Scott when they won the overall Song of the Year. “Thank you to everyone who loved this song,” added their collaborator Josh Kear. When Record of the Year was announced, Hillary exclaimed, “We’re so stunned, we started walking the wrong way.” Added Charles, “We’ve cried our eyes out backstage.” Lady A also won Country Group and Country Song.
Continuing the Nashville performance excellence was Keith Urban. He sang “Jolene” as a tribute to Lifetime Achievement winner Dolly Parton alongside Norah Jones and a lost-at-sea seeming John Mayer. Non-Nashville musical highlights included Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber & Usher (with super tumblers), flamboyantly feathered Cee Lo Green & Gwyneth Paltrow and “Evergreen” Barbra Streisand.

John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban singing a tribute to Dolly Parton.


CBS evidently urged the Recording Academy to use its non-musical TV stars as presenters throughout the show, so it was extra welcome to see our homies doing some of these honors. Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown, Paramore, Kings of Leon, Jewel, Kris Kristofferson and Miley Cyrus were all among the other presenters.
Unseen, but scoring triumphs was the triple Grammy winning CD by The Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Other pre-telecast local honorees included Marty Stuart, Larry Carlton, Patty Loveless, The Black Keys, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Alan Jackson & The Zac Brown Band, Jack White, Bela Fleck and Keith Urban.
Even if you weren’t on the show, you had a good chance of being seen. Just about every commercial break featured a music star – Taylor Swift for Cover Girl, Carrie Underwood for Olay, Jennifer Hudson for Weight Watchers, Justin Bieber for CSI, Alecia Keys for HP, Taylor Swift for Target, Keith Urban for Target, Ricky Martin for the American Cancer Society, Jennifer Lopez for Venus razors, Eminem (in cartoon form) for Brisk beverages, Queen Latifah for Cover Girl….

Nicole Kidman


You could also be noticed by just walking in. Jewel rocked the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder Grecian-draped, pale yellow frock that disguised her being pregnant with a baby boy. Proud papa-to-be Ty Murray was by her side. Julianne Hough also looked great, in a ruffled and purple hued creation, but said she was jet lagged from a flight from Hong Kong. Hillary Scott of Lady A debuted a new hairstyle with brunette bangs. Miranda Lambert wore a floor-length, one-shouldered, double-strapped metallic number that hugged her curves. Titian tressed Nicole Kidman was a dish in a strapless, rose-petal-patterned gown. Nicki Minaj wore what appeared to be a giant Q-tip on her head and a leopard-print dress and tights. Bedraggled looking Miley Cyrus continued her red-carpet-catastrophe tradition. Lady Gaga arrived in her egg.
Rocking the Hard Rock viewing fiesta were Anthony L. Smith, Gabe Dixon, Shannon Sanders, Karen Clark, Barry Landis, John Oates, Jed Hilly, Becky Hobbs, Lane Brody, Mark Collie, Trent Summar, Larry Sheridan, Lori Badgett, Ashley Gearing, John Lomax III and of course our hostesses with the mostestest, Ashley Ernst and Lynn Aurelius.

Sony Signs Bush Hawg

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Sony Music Nashville has officially welcomed the band Bush Hawg as the newest act on its RCA Nashville roster. Bush Hawg’s debut album will release later this year.

Pictured (back, l-r): Bush Hawg producer/manager Michael Knox; Sony Music Nashville Creative Services VP Scott McDaniel; Marketing Sr. VP Paul Barnabee; Promotion Sr. VP Skip Bishop; Chairman & CEO Gary Overton; and Sales VP Kerri Fox-Metoyer; RCA Nashville Promotion VP Keith Gale; Sony Music Nashville A&R VP Jim Catino; and Buddy Lee Attractions President Kevin Neal. (front, l-r): RCA Nashville Natl. Director of Promotion Norbert Nix; and Bush Hawg band members Jim Phipps, Russ Caldwell, Craig Hand, Shaun Ames, Alex Wilshire, and Ben Helton. Photo credit: Alan Poizner

Lady A Sweeps Grammys

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Lady A took home five Grammy Awards last night.


Driven by the wild success of its song “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum was the top winner at last night’s (2/13) Grammy Awards. The Capitol Nashville trio took home the all-genre trophies for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for the format-crossing smash. Lady A was the lead country nominee heading into the show, and walked away with all but one of the awards for which it was nominated. The only category in which the group was shut out was Album of the Year, which went to rock outfit Arcade Fire.
“Need You Now” has racked up over 4 million paid downloads, and its namesake album has sold more than 3 million units. Sharing the Record of the Year honors with bandmates Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood are producer Paul Worley and engineer Clarke Schleicher. The band shares Song of the Year honors with co-writer Josh Kear.
Miranda Lambert performed on the televised show and won the award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Keith Urban took home the male vocal trophy. Best Country Collaboration With Vocals went to Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson for “As She’s Walking Away.” Marty Stuart scored the award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for “Hummingbyrd.”

Songwriters Allen Shamblin (pictured left) and Tom Douglas won Country Song of the Year for "The House That Built Me." Miranda Lambert won for her performance of that song.


Winners in the Americana categories include Mavis Staples, Patty Loveless, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs.
Gospel Field awards went to two-time winners BeBe & CeCe Winans, as well as Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, Lalah Hathaway, Switchfoot, Israel Houghton, Diamond Rio, and Patty Griffin.
The Nashville Symphony also won three awards.
See select Nashville winners below in RED and the complete list here.
GENERAL FIELD (all genres)
Record Of The Year:
“Nothin’ On You” — B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
“Love The Way You Lie” — Eminem Featuring Rihanna
“F*** You” — Cee Lo Green
“Empire State Of Mind” — Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
“Need You Now” — Lady Antebellum
Song Of The Year:
“Beg Steal Or Borrow” — Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
“F*** You” — Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)
“The House That Built Me” —Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“Love The Way You Lie” — Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Rihanna)
“Need You Now” — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

Gretchen Wilson scored a nod with her independent release.


COUNTRY FIELD
Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
“Satisfied” — Jewel
“The House That Built Me” — Miranda Lambert
“Swingin’” — LeAnn Rimes
“Temporary Home” — Carrie Underwood
“I’d Love To Be Your Last” — Gretchen Wilson
Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
“Macon” — Jamey Johnson
“Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” — Toby Keith
“Turning Home” — David Nail
“‘Til Summer Comes Around” — Keith Urban
“Gettin’ You Home” — Chris Young
Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals:
“Free” — Zac Brown Band
“Elizabeth” — Dailey & Vincent
“Need You Now” — Lady Antebellum
“Little White Church” — Little Big Town
“Where Rainbows Never Die” — The SteelDrivers

Dierks Bentley and Zac Brown


Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
“Bad Angel” — Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
“Pride (In The Name Of Love)” — Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
“As She’s Walking Away” — Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
“Hillbilly Bone” — Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
“I Run To You” — Marty Stuart & Connie Smith
Best Country Song:
“The Breath You Take” — Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (George Strait)
“Free” — Zac Brown, songwriter (Zac Brown Band)
“The House That Built Me” — Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“I’d Love To Be Your Last” — Rivers Rutherford, Annie Tate & Sam Tate, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)
“If I Die Young” — Kimberly Perry, songwriter (The Band Perry)
“Need You Now” — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
Best Country Album:
Up On The Ridge — Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give — Zac Brown Band
The Guitar Song — Jamey Johnson
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
Revolution — Miranda Lambert
Best Country Instrumental Performance:
“Tattoo Of A Smudge” — Cherryholmes
“Magic #9” — The Infamous Stringdusters
“New Chance Blues” — Punch Brothers
“Willow Creek” — Darrell Scott
“Hummingbyrd” — Marty Stuart

Winners Zac Brown Band


AMERICAN ROOTS FIELD
Best Americana Album:
The List — Rosanne Cash
Tin Can Trust — Los Lobos
Country Music — Willie Nelson
Band Of Joy — Robert Plant
You Are Not Alone — Mavis Staples
Best Bluegrass Album:
Circles Around Me — Sam Bush
Mountain Soul II — Patty Loveless
Family Circle — The Del McCoury Band
Legacy — Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Reckless — The SteelDrivers
Best Traditional Folk Album:
Genuine Negro Jig — Carolina Chocolate Drops
Onward And Upward — Luther Dickinson & The Sons of Mudboy
Memories Of John — The John Hartford Stringband
Maria Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy — Maria Muldaur
Ricky Skaggs Solo: Songs My Dad Loved — Ricky Skaggs

Best Contemporary Folk Album:
Love Is Strange – En Vivo Con Tino — Jackson Browne & David Lindley
The Age Of Miracles — Mary Chapin Carpenter
Somedays The Song Writes You — Guy Clark
God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise — Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs
Dream Attic — Richard Thompson
GOSPEL FIELD
Best Gospel Performance:
“He Wants It All” — Forever Jones
“You Hold My World” — Israel Houghton
“Nobody Greater” — VaShawn Mitchell
“He’s Been Just That Good” — Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway
“Grace” — BeBe & CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Song:
“Beautiful Things — Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)
“Better Than A Hallelujah” — Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)
“It’s What I Do” — Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)
“Our God” — Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris
Tomlin)
“Return To Sender” — Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)
Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album:
Church Music — David Crowder Band
For Those Who Wait — Fireflight
Beautiful Things — Gungor
Rehab — Lecrae
Hello Hurricane — Switchfoot
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album:
Beauty Will Rise — Steven Curtis Chapman
Love God. Love People — Israel Houghton
Pieces Of A Real Heart — Sanctus Real
Mosaic — Ricky Skaggs
Tonight — TobyMac

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album:
Times Like These — Austins Bridge
The Reason — Diamond Rio
Expecting Good Things — Jeff & Sheri Easter
Journey On — Ty Herndon
Live At Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River — Karen Peck & New River
Best Traditional Gospel Album:
The Experience — Vanessa Bell Armstrong
A City Called Heaven — Shirley Caesar
Downtown Church — Patty Griffin
Here I Am — Marvin Sapp
All In One — Karen Clark Sheard
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album:
Get Ready — Forever Jones
Love Unstoppable — Fred Hammond
Triumphant — VaShawn Mitchell
Aaron Sledge — Aaron Sledge
Still — BeBe & CeCe Winans
Also, the Nashville Symphony’s recording of Michael Daugherty’s Metropolis Symphony and Deus Ex Machina received three Grammys. Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero and the orchestra won in the category of Best Orchestral Performance, while composer Daugherty won in the category of Best Classical Contemporary Composition. In addition, the recording’s engineers, Mark Donahue, John Hill and Dirk Sobotka, earned an award in the category of Best Engineered Album, Classical (in a tie with the engineers of Quincy Porter’s Complete Viola Works).
All photos from Grammy.com, courtesy of WireImage.com.

Darling Video Debuts

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Sarah Darling has debuted a video for the first single from her latest CD, Angels & Devils. The video/single, “Something To Do With Your Hands,” features two time TNA World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, AJ Styles. The video was directed by Stephen Shepherd and produced by John Burke.
Darling wrote nine of the tracks on her Black River Entertainment 11-song collection due out on Feb. 20. The album was produced by Jimmy Nichols with assistance on two cuts by Adam Shoenfeld.
“My first album was very much about a lost love,” Darling explains. “Since then, my writing has become a lot more broad and venturous. I write about things that are relevant to everybody.”

Weekly Chart Report (2/11/11)

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After MidNite’s Blair Garner (L) was sporting his 29 jersey and holding on to Sara Evans as they chatted about her latest hit single “A Little Bit Stronger” and her new RCA Nashville album, Stronger, releasing March 8.


SPIN ZONE
Blake Shelton’s “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” scores another week in the CountryBreakout Chart’s top spot, but loses a few spins in the process. Positions 2-4 are separated by approximately 120 spins, so the next No. 1 is likely going to be a shootout between Lady Antebellum’s “Hello World,” Taylor Swift’s “Back To December,” and Brad Paisley’s “This Is Country Music.”
Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean is also aiming for the top of the chart with “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” This week the Kelly Clarkson-assisted single picks up 249 more spins and moves to No. 6. Over at Stoney Creek, Thompson Square is the lone new entry to the Top 10 as “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” moves to No. 8. Inside the Top 20, new releases from Zac Brown Band (“Colder Weather,” No. 14), Miranda Lambert (“Heart Like Mine,” No. 15) and Rascal Flatts (“I Won’t Let Go,” No. 16) all gain over 200 spins and move up.
Walker Hayes has written the anthem for everyone in wintry Nashville, and it debuted at No. 78. Following our recent spate of snow and ice, heading for the beach like the narrator in “Why Wait For Summer” sounds like the perfect prescription for all of us. Also debuting are Sean Patrick McGraw’s “My So Called Life” at No. 79 and Lathan Moore’s “Love In Your Life” at No. 76.

Upcoming Singles
February 14
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/Arista
Bridgette Tatum/Hillbilly Rockstar/Root 49/Quarterback
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
Justin Moore/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away/Valory






New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Lathan Moore/Love In Your Life/Blue Steel Records — 76
Walker Hayes/Why Wait For Summer/Capitol — 78
Sean Patrick McGraw/My So Called Life/Little Engine Records — 79
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/Arista — 527
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 484
Rascal Flatts/I Won’t Let Go/Big Machine — 368
Zac Brown Band/Colder Weather/Bigger Picture — 342
Reba/If I Were A Boy/Starstruck/Valory — 310
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Curtis & Luckey/Eye Candy/KMG Music Group — 178
Emma King & The Heartsets/I’m Not Forgotten/PLC — 178
Bucky Covington/Hometown — 177
The Grascals/I Am Strong/BlueGrascal — 168
Scott Lindsey/Miss Lead Me On/Gray Trailer — 163
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Keith Urban/Without You/Capitol — 32
Ronnie Dunn/Bleed Red/Arista — 31
Walker Hayes/Why Wait For Summer/Capitol — 18
Chris Young/Tomorrow/RCA — 12
Justin Moore/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away/Valory — 12
Steve Holy/Love Don’t Run/Curb — 11
Jacob Lyda/I’m Doin’ Alright/Davis Music Group/9 North — 11

MCA’s George Strait recently paid a visit to WQYK/Tampa. (L-R): MCA’s Louie Newman, WQYK’ Jay Roberts, George Strait and WQYK’s Mike Culotta


EMI Records Nashville’s Eric Church was in Chattanooga, TN last weekend on a “My Kinda Party” tour stop. Church, who is currently working on the follow-up album to his critically acclaimed Carolina, is up for the ACM’s fan voted Top New Solo Vocalist award at this year’s show. Pictured L-R: Trudie Daniell (EMI Records Nashville SE Promotion Director), Gator Harrison (WUSY/Chattanooga OM/PD), his wife Tennille and Church.


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

Miranda Dazzles; Taylor Travels; Penrod and Sweeny Perform

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>>At a silver-themed bash last Friday evening (2/4), Miranda Lambert celebrated back-to-back Platinum success of all her albums to date: Kerosene, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Revolution.

Pictured (l-r): Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton, Producer Frank Liddell, Lambert, ShopKeeper Management's Marion Kraft. Photo credit: Alan Poizner


>>Taylor Swift kicked off her Speak Now World Tour 2011 on 2/9 with a sold-out show at Singapore’s Indoor Stadium. She is currently slated to play 90 shows in 19 countries spanning four continents on the tour.

Pictured: (L) Swift signs autographs for fans outside the stadium; (R) Swift on stage at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.


>>Guy Penrod visited with the MusicRow Staff on Wednesday (2/9) and performed several songs including current single, “Pray About Everything,” from his debut country CD, Breathe Deep.

Pictured (L-R): David Ross, “Pray About Everything” co-writer Bob Regan, Penrod, Sherod Robertson, Michelle Stephens, Sarah Skates and Jon Freeman.


>>The Academy of Country Music recently welcomed Republic Nashville recording artist Sunny Sweeney to its L.A. offices. While at the Academy, she performed on the ACM’s new 3rd floor Stage.

Pictured: Sunny Sweeney and her band. Photo Credit: Michel Bourquard/ACM

WMG And Citigroup Race To Attract Buyers

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The Egyptian crisis is disrupting financial markets and political strategies around the world, but closer to home and having more immediate consequences for the music industry is the continued movements of EMI and Warner Music Group. Both companies are in play. WMG has already announced its buy/sell strategy concerning the record label and its Warner Chappell publishing assets. EMI, now owned by Citigroup who recently wrested the corporation from the hands of Terra Firma’s Guy Hands is also in a sell mode. And like WMG, EMI has two assets, EMI Music Publishing and a record label.
Unlike Egypt, there are not thousands of people protesting in Times Square, L.A. or in front of Nashville’s courthouse, but according to the New York Post a line of almost 20 “interested parties” are kicking the WMG tires. While it is unusual to find a major label for sale, it is utterly remarkable to have two of the giant content houses on the sales block at the same time.
Analysts note that having two companies on sale at the same time could be detrimental for both. Therefore a premium is being placed on being first to market. WMG is already asking bidders to submit first round bids by the end of Feb. Citigroup, understanding that time is of the essence is reportedly racing to prepare its offering too.
Meanwhile, adding to the confusion is the real possibility that WMG CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. is said to fancy EMI’s recorded music division and may be willing to sell Warner Chappell to get it. However, according to the Post, “In the bidding mix for Warner are several names, include Zomba founder Clive Calder and Russian investor, Leonard Blavatnik. Others include Universal Music; Sony Music; private-equity giants KKR, Apollo and Providence Equity, and Netherlands-based music publishing giant Imagem. Some of those names are also considered potential buyers of EMI.”
Warner’s recent fourth quarter report (2/8) showed music revenue off 14% and music publishing revenue off 15%. The numbers sparked a selloff in the stock which fell from a high this past week of about 6.34 to around $5.50 but appears to be rebounding this morning (2/11) hitting $5.75. Wall Street analyst Richard Greenfield of BTIG stated that he expects to see digital units sales fall for the first time ever during Q2 or Q3.
If Greenfiield’s outlook proves correct, then the dance of buyers and sellers shopping for major label assets may only be beginning.