Tag Archive for: featured-2

New Singles From Country Songstresses

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Joanna Smith


Some of country’s rising females have new music climbing the charts. See the latest from Joanna Smith, Jana Kramer, Ashton Shepherd, and Katie Armiger.
>>The latest single from Columbia Nashville newcomer Joanna Smith hit the airwaves Feb. 7. “Georgia Mud” is streaming at www.joannasmithofficial.com. The single has already received rave reviews from music critics such as MusicRow’s own Robert K. Oermann. Smith was also named one of the new artists to watch by Billboard, Roughstock.com and Variety. CRS attendees can catch Smith first-hand at the MusicRow Meet & Greet on March 1 at Cadillac Ranch, where she and Colt Ford will perform.
>>Jana Kramer has released a single via Warner Music Nashville’s Elektra Nashville. “I Won’t Give Up” reached No. 2 on the iTunes Top Country Songs. The actress is a regular on The CW’s One Tree Hill, which will feature the song an upcoming episode. Kramer has had several other television roles, including appearances on Friday Night Lights, 90210, and Entourage.

Ashton Shepherd


>>The new single from MCA’s Ashton Shepherd is seeing lots of adds at country radio and the video for “Look It Up” is equally popular. The Michael Salomon-directed video was shot in Los Angeles and shows Ashton as a wronged lover who is selling her cheating ex’s belongings in a yard sale. Fans can see behind-the-scenes footage here.
>>Katie Armiger’s latest single “Best Song Ever” grabbed the fan-voted No. 1 spot on the GAC Top 20 Countdown recently. It is also climbing the Music Row chart. Armiger penned the single with Bruce Wallace and Amanda Flynn to show what goes on after a breakup. The video was shot during three days in Nashville and directed by Stephen Shepherd (Gary Allan, Emily West, and Josh Gracin).

Facebook Prioritizes News Feeds

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Edison Research Strategy VP Tom Webster has written an interesting blog regarding Facebook’s practice of “attention rationing” with respect to its news feed.
Webster points out that the social network’s news feed changed its flow a while back from a “chronological, roughly real-time stream of your friends’ activities, to something a little more ‘selective.’ ” As Webster notes,

…with Facebook enjoying massive mainstream adoption, understanding how it ranks and prioritizes items in your news feed is of great importance. For brands and companies the game is still to produce compelling content that readers and “likes” will value and interact with. Webster explains, Facebook’s optimization algorithm, EdgeRank, essentially scores your interactions with your Facebook friends, and promotes items in your stream from people you favor with your attention, every time you read their profiles, click on their links, or comment on their updates. Close friends are assigned more weight than distant acquaintances, comments are weighted more heavily than the easily-given “likes,” and newer tends to trump older.

Has the new algorithm improved the user experience? Webster seems to think so, although he realizes that marketers now must try to engage and interact with all their fans to get the benefits of having a large number of “likes.” And for those who love lists, there’s three conclusions on how to make the most of the new EdgeRank optimization algorithm.

SoundExchange Names Huppe President

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Michael Huppe


SoundExchange’s Board of Directors announced today that longtime Executive Vice President and General Counsel Michael Huppe will be the nonprofit’s new President.
Huppe succeeds former head John Simson, who announced his intention in July to return to creative work, ending his ten-year stewardship of the non-profit he had led since its inception.
In recent years, Huppe directed SoundExchange’s approach to rate-setting proceedings and a series of business-positive agreements with industry services, including much-publicized accords with webcasters.
Previously, he served as Senior Vice President for Business & Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel with the RIAA.
SoundExchange had record-high distributions in 2010; evidence of the group’s expanding role and importance in the industry.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (2/9/11)

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This week, we have two superstars at the peak of their powers and two newcomers vying to rock your world.
The superstars in question are Ronnie Dunn and Keith Urban. The understated, restrained performance by the latter won my heart as the Disc of the Day.
The two rocking first timers are Bridgette Tatum and actor-singer Christian Kane. Despite my reservations about his using a rock producer, Christian Kane’s songwriting ability and undeniable vocal talent led me to crown him with a DisCovery Award.
For less thunderous experiences, check out the gently lovely work being done this week by Billy Dean, Due West and Justin Moore.
TOMMY GOBEL/If You Can’t Do the Time
Writer: Lisa Gobel/Tommie Gobel; Producer: Leo J. Eiffert, Jr.; Publisher: Boodle O/Three Labs/Young Country, BMI; Boodle O
—Your tipsy uncle and his friends are camped out in your garage. The neighbors are complaining about the racket they’re making.
KEITH URBAN/Without You
Writer: Dave Pahanish/Joe West; Producer: Dann Huff & Keith Urban; Publisher: Wrighteous/Big Loud Bucks/Sony ATV Tree/Songs for My Good Girl, BMI; Capitol Nashville (track)
—He’s such a hotshot guitarist and such a top flight songwriter, that we tend to forget what a dynamite vocalist he is. This lilting, simply arranged love song is a showcase for some wonderfully expressive singing.
JONI RAE JACK/Western Bling
Writer: Joni Rae Jack/Robby Turner; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Michelle Rose/Robby Turner, BMI; JRJ (www.joniraejack.com)
—Tuneless noise.
JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away
Writer: Dallas Davidson/Rob Hatch/Brett Jones; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publisher: Big Borassa/Universal-Careers/Down the Hatch/Jonesbone, BMI/ASCAP; Valory Music
—I confess that I’ve never been overly impressed with this artist’s seemingly endless string of redneck-rocker releases. This time out he’s found a first-class piece of material. The song has loads of heart, the production is solid and his emotional performance is right on the money.
BRIDGETTE TATUM/Hillbilly Rockstar
Writer: Bridgette Tatum/Danny Myrick; Producer: Danny Myrick; Publisher: Root 49/Cackalacki Twang/Danny Myrick, BMI; Root 49 (www.bridgettetatum.com)
—The title pretty much sums it up. The surprise is her husky, throaty alto delivery that is positively “macho” in its impact. It is such a striking vocal sound that it even manages to dominate the screaming-guitars production.
RONNIE DUNN/Bleed Red
Writer: Andrew Dorff/Tommy Lee James; Producer: Ronnie Dunn; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Super Phonic/Pretty Woman/EverGreen, BMI; Arista
—The message is peace. The ballad is powerful. The performance is thrilling. This veteran voice can still send chills all over your body.
SABASTIAN ROBERTS/It’s Still Country to Me
Writer: Gary Nicholson; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Gary Nicholson/Sony ATV Cross Keys, ASCAP; Homage/Spinville (www.sabastianroberts.com)
—Yes, I know that’s not how most people spell “Sabastian.” This is, however, how most people in contemporary Nashville music seem to think: If you fuse Hank and Van Halen, you’re still “country.”
BILLY DEAN/The Greatest Man I Never Knew
Writer: none listed; Producer: Ray Barnett; Publisher: EMI April/Lion-Hearted/Layng Martine Jr., no performance rights listed; BDMG (track) ()
—Billy’s latest CD, released on his own imprint, is a tribute to songwriter Richard Leigh.  It does not include such Leigh-penned Billy Dean hits as “Somewhere in My Broken Heart” or “Only Here for a Little While.” It does feature covers of Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and this 1992 Reba classic. Billy’s delivery is enormously touching, as always. A very worthy remake of an extraordinary song.
DUE WEST/When the Smoke Clears
Writer: Matt Lopez/Don Rollins; Producer: Jason Deere & Jimmy Nichols; Publisher: Deere Lights/Recognizant/Warner Tamerlane/Songs of BDAS, BMI; Black River (track) (615-353-2778)
—This trio’s sophomore single is a textbook example of harmony vocalizing. The ballad has a dreamy, almost jazzy tone, like smoke curling up to the ceiling at midnight. Very classy stuff.
CHRISTIAN KANE/The House Rules
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bob Ezrin &  Jimmie Lee Sloas; Publisher: none listed; Outlaw Saints/Bigger Picture (track) (www.christiankane.com)
—This fellow stars on the TNT television series Leverage as a Harley-riding justice seeker. His style of country is of the amped-up, sweat-stained, guitar-screaming variety. The title tune and first single from his CD is pretty cool, saying that at the end of a week, you owe yourself a rowdy good time. He sings it quite well. Get rid of the rock production, and you might have yourself something.

Sony Announces Realignment

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[This story is being updated as it develops. Check back throughout the day.]
Sony Music Nashville today (2/8) announced a realignment of its staff and their related functions to better position itself to serve its artists and meet the challenges and opportunities of the evolving music business. The new structure includes the following promotions:
1. Skip Bishop is promoted to Senior Vice President, Promotion, Sony Music Nashville, from Vice President, Promotion.  Concurrently, Bishop announces the promotion of
2. Lesly Tyson to Vice President, Promotion, Arista Nashville
3. John Sigler takes Tyson’s previous role of National Director, Promotion, Arista Nashville
4. Paul Barnabee is promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing, moving from his former role as Senior Vice President Sales and Operations. Barnabee will oversee the Digital Marketing, Creative Services, Media, Strategic Marketing, Artist Development and Marketing departments.
5. Mike Craft is promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations from his former post as Vice President, Finance and Operations.
6. Chris Melancon is promoted to Director, Media Content, Sony Music Nashville, and will continue to report to Allen Brown, Vice President, Media and Corporate Communications.
Barnabee, Bishop, Craft and Senior Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs Kathy Woods, all report directly to Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton.
A number of staffers have also exited in the wake of these changes:
Exec. VP A&R Renee Bell has exited. She can be reached at renee.bell11@gmail.com. Her old phone number is no longer active.
David Gales was previously a digital executive with Sony, and has now returned to his own company The Gales Network. He can be reached at david@galesnetwork.com.
Manager Marketing/Operations Britta Coleman can be reached at bcolemanj@comcast.net.
Also exiting is Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing Paul Williams.
paulwilliams615@comcast.net and Legal Coordinator Kendra Miles. kendramile@comcast.net
Former staffers can send their new contact information and updates to news@musicrow.com.

Ratings Race: Super Bowl v. Awards Shows

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Sunday night’s Super Bowl was the most-watched telecast in U.S. history, attracting 111 million viewers (Nielsen). Ratings for other popular TV events may pale by comparison, but the numbers are worth a look.
With today’s ever-fragmenting audiences, garnering high ratings is becoming increasingly difficult. It is easy to see a correlating decrease in viewership as each of the following shows appeal to a more narrow group of fans.
The demographic-crossing Oscars are traditionally a ratings magnet, falling only behind the Super Bowl and NFL championship games each year. In 2010, the show drew about 41.3 million viewers.
In 2010 the Grammy Awards—which appeal to music fans of a variety of genres—posted an average audience of 25.8 million viewers.
Last year’s American Idol season finale scored 24.2 million fans.
The CMA Awards and ACM Awards draw mostly country music fans. Last year the CMAs attracted about 16.45 million viewers. The ACMs garnered about 13 million viewers.

30k Fans Watch Dierks In Studio

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Bentley in the studio.


More than 30,000 fans logged on to watch Dierks Bentley track 15 songs for his sixth studio album during five days in the recording studio. The entire recording process was streamed via a 24 hour video feed from the Echo Mountain studio in Asheville, NC. The project wrapped last Friday (2/4).
“This entire recording process was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had as a singer or a musician…it was definitely intense and at times a roller coaster emotionally as we worked through the arrangements of these songs,” said Bentley. “I guess I’m still a little old school in the way I like to record..and as a fan, the way I like to listen to music. I still enjoy the process of making an album and not just a collection of singles. Letting the fans be part of that process was a total bonding experience…it was 24 hours a day, and they probably know more about me than they ever wanted to now!”

Flatts Part Ways With Management

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In a brief press release Rascal Flatts announced this evening they will part ways with Turner Nichols & Associates after more than a decade of working together.
“We will always consider Trey and Doug to be a part of our family,” says Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts. “We have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for the work that we’ve done together over the past ten years.”
“The Flatts are great guys and will always be part of our family as well,” shared Trey Turner and Doug Nichols.  “We wish them nothing but the best.”
Business going forward should be directed to Rascal Flatts Entertainment. They can be reached at 615-772-5466 or info@rascalflattsent.com.

Chris Young Celebrates 3 Consecutive No. 1s

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Chris Young


Three times the charm for Chris Young celebrating his third consecutive No. 1 single. “Voices” from his sophomore CD, The Man I Want To Be has reached the summit a.k.a. chart heaven. Three-in-a-row is pretty sweet, but in this case it was the second go round for “Voices” which was originally released in 2008 and peaked at No. 37. Written by Young, Chris Tompkins and Craig Wiseman, “Voices” marks the second time that an artist has hit the top target after re-releasing a song. In fact, it was Randy Travis’ “On The Other Hand” that went to the top in 1986 after originally peaking at No. 67.
Young’s previous two No. 1 singles were “Getin’ You Home,” and “The Man I Want To Be.”
Chris Young was recently nominated for his first Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal and is currently on the road as part of the Rascal Flatts tour. He also has a new album scheduled for this summer. Young’s new single “Tomorrow” delivers digitally to radio this week.

Artists Drive Fans To ACM Polls

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Artists are going viral to drive ACM votes from fans. The nominees in the new artist categories are using free downloads, Facebook and funny videos to spur fans to vote for them here.
Voting goes through Feb. 24 and the winner in each category will be announced in March. Those winners will then move on to compete for the Top New Artist prize through online voting. The Top New Artist will be announced live on the April 3 ACM Awards.
Eric Church‘s campaign for Top New Solo Vocalist is being boosted by his video “Everyone Is Doing It” at ericchurch.com. Fans can share the link via email and social media and the person who draws the most views through their personal link will win a trip to the CMA Music Festival.
For his campaign, fans of Randy Houser will be entertained by this funny animal kingdom video.
Easton Corbin posted a video message to fans on his Facebook page, and his official website has a free download available.
In the running for Top New Vocal Duo or Group, The Band Perry, Steel Magnolia and the JaneDear girls are offering free song downloads to drive votes via the above links.