October 2012 - AristoMedia

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Vol. 5, Issue No. 3
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Oct 2012
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Aristo
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Promoting the World of Country Music Around the Globe
Dean Brody Wins Big at 2012
CCMA Awards; U.S. Stars Perform
Australian Acts Raising Profile at
Americana Music Festival
The 2012 Canadian Country Music Association Awards
were held Sept. 9 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, celebrating one
of the most star-studded events in Canadian country music.
More than two
dozen Australian
roots music artists
arrived in Nashville
last month for the
annual Americana
Music Festival and
Conference, held
Sept. 12-15. The
trip marked the
third consecutive
year the Aussies have participated in the event, thanks in part
to a sponsorship by the government-supported music export
organization Sounds Australia.
Dean Brody opened the show
with his chart-topping single,
“Canadian Girls,” making it
clear from the start that it
would be a night to remember
for the 2012 nominee. On the
heels of his third studio album,
DIRT, Brody landed two 2012
Canadian Country Music
Association Awards - Album
of the Year and Male Artist of
the Year. Johnny Reid took
home the coveted Fan's Choice
Award, following his win for
Top Selling Canadian Album
of the Year. Carolyn Dawn
Johnson went home with
Female Artist of the Year and trio Hey Romeo took Group or
Duo of the Year. Welcomed to the fold with her first CCMA
Award was Rising Star Award winner, Kira Isabella.
The 2012 CCMA
Awards broadcast
featured more music
than ever before, with
a total of 19
performers taking the
stage at Saskatoon's
Credit Union Centre.
Presenters included
Alan Doyle, Allan
Hawco, Amber
Marshall and
Graham Wardle, Theo Fleury and 2012 CCMA Generation
Award winner Taylor Swift, to name a few. The newly
created award “highlights those few select internationally
celebrated artists who have pushed Country music forward to
new audiences and have created and brought awareness of this
genre of music across the globe,” according to the CCMA.
The show also saw performances from U.S. stars Jason
Aldean, Pistol Annies, Eric Church and Miranda Lambert.
For more info, visit www.CCMA.org.
Photos courtesy of Grant W. Martin Photography.
The Aussies took part in numerous festival showcases,
luncheons and other Americana-related activities during the
week.
Kasey Chambers and
Shane Nicholson (pictured above),
Felicity Urquhart, Caitlin
Harnett and Jordie Lane
(pictured right) each landed
coveted showcase slots, while the
Maton “Aussie Luncheon” featured
Chris Altmann, Chambers and
Nicholson, Harnett, Chris
Pickering, Shandell, Urquhart and
husband/wife duo O’Shea. Other
events included the third annual
“Tamworth Taste of Australia at
The Bluebird Café” songwriters
night on Tuesday, Sept. 11, a Sister Cities of Nashville/
Sounds Australia reception at the conference’s host hotel and
the Sunday afternoon “Stagemothers Aussie BBQ,” featuring
performances from all 25 artists in this year’s group.
Capping off the trip was a special, Aussie-themed Music City
Roots radio show on Wednesday, Sept. 19. The lineup
included Chris Altmann, Caitlin Harnett, Jordie Lane, Felicity
Urquart and “honorary Aussie” Tom Mason. The roots music
program is broadcast live every week from the iconic Loveless
Café and streams worldwide at www.MusicCityRoots.com.
Photos courtesy of Bev Moser, Moments By Moser.
Drop us a line at global@aristomedia.com | © 2012 The AristoMedia Group - All Rights Reserved
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Promoting the World of Country Music Around the Globe
2013 CMC Rocks The Hunter Lineup
Balances Superstars, Emerging Artists
Lady A Concludes OWN THE NIGHT
2012 WORLD TOUR
American
supergroup Rascal
Flatts (left) has
been announced as
next year’s
headliner at the
CMC Rocks the
Hunter 2013
festival, held
March 15-17 at
Hope Estate in
Hunter Valley.
Joining them on the bill will be international and local
Aussie stars, including Billy Ray Cyrus, Chris Young, The
Band Perry (pictured below right), Adam Brand, Corb
Lund, Craig Morrison (pictured below left), Catherine
Britt, Amber Lawrence, Morgan Evans, Bob Corbett, the
Hurtin’ Albertans and more. Additional artists will be
announced soon, according to event promoters.
Lady Antebellum,
the reigning CMA
and ACM Vocal
Group of the Year,
wrapped up its
wildly successful
OWN
THE
NIGHT 2012
WORLD TOUR
with the group’s
third consecutive
sold out show at the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia
on Wednesday, October 3.
Now in its sixth year,
the popular music
and camping festival
has established itself
as one of the biggest
international Country
and Roots events
outside of North
America, bringing
together both
superstar acts and
emerging artists performing across three different stages.
Tickets to the three-day festival go on sale Oct. 4.
Previous years at
CMC Rocks the
Hunter have included
performances from
major Country stars
such as Taylor Swift,
Alan Jackson, Tim
McGraw, Faith Hill,
Kasey Chambers,
Sugarland, Dierks
Bentley, Joe Nichols,
Gary Allan and Jack
Ingram, among others. Visit www.CMCRocks.com.au for
more information and to purchase tickets.
The tour traveled across the U.S., Canada, Europe and
Australia, where the Grammy winning trio was welcomed by
more than one million fans in 11 countries on three
continents. Lady A sold out shows in top markets including
Los Angeles, Chicago, two nights in New York City,
Toronto, London, three nights at Sydney’s Opera House and
even opened a sold out show at London’s Hard Rock Calling
(pictured below) for one of the group’s rock n’ roll idols,
Bruce Springsteen.
“The success of this
tour is probably the
accomplishment we
are most proud of as a
band,” said Lady
Antebellum's Charles
Kelley. “It started as
a sketch on a paper
plate, and it ended
halfway around the
world performing
three nights at one of the most famous venues in the world.
To think that we were able to take Country music to all of
these new places is mind-boggling to me. It’s been one long,
crazy, unforgettable year for us.”
In celebration of the tour, the trio also announced that they
will release a live concert film titled OWN THE NIGHT
WORLD TOUR on Dec. 4 in the U.S. and Canada, with
plans for release worldwide in 2013. For now, fans can
check out their journey through Australia in a Webisode
Wednesday installment here.
Lady Antebellum photos courtesy of Adam Boatman.
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Promoting the World of Country Music Around the Globe
CMA Posthumously Honors Journalist
Rineke Van Beek
The CMA posthumously
honored international
journalist Rineke Van Beek
in August with its Wesley
Rose International Media
Achievement Award. The
presentation was made in
Rotterdam, the Netherlands,
by CMA Director of
International Relations
Bobbi Boyce. The award
was presented to Van Beek’s husband, Leo Van Beek; Rineke
Van Beek’s mother Hennie Koert, and close friends Ruud
Kegel of Nashville FM and Jack Gerssen.
Van Beek passed away in 2011 following a 25-year career in
the Netherlands’ Country music industry. She served as
International Director for Country Gazette magazine for more
than two decades, then went on to work at Nashville FM.
The Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award
recognizes outstanding achievements in the media, which
contribute to the development of Country Music outside the
United States. Pictured L-R: Leo Van Beek, Jack Gerssen,
Ruud Kegel and Rineke's mother, Hennie Koert.
Toby Keith Collects International Honors
at British Country Music Awards
U.S. Country artist Toby Keith was
chosen as International Act of the
Year at the sold out Sept. 2 British
Country Music Awards, and his
album Clancy’s Tavern received
International Album of the Year
honors.
The recognition follows
Toby's successful 2011 European
tour, which saw the singer perform
shows in Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Germany, Holland
and the U.K. Keith accepted his
award via a pre-recorded video.
Lady Antebellum’s “We Owned The Night” won
International Song of the Year. Other winners included
Henry Smith Band (Entertainer of the Year), Thrillbillies
(People’s Choice), C’est La Vie (Band of the Year), Nancy
Ann Lee (Female Vocalist) and Gary Perkins (Male
Vocalist). Veteran Country music journalist and publicist
Tony Byworth, acclaimed artist/band leader Jon Derek and
legendary BBC broadcaster Bob Harris were inducted into
the British Country Music Hall of Fame. For a complete list
of winners, visit www.bcmawards.co.uk
Drop us a line at global@aristomedia.com | © 2012 The AristoMedia Group - All Rights Reserved
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Promoting the World of Country Music Around the Globe
Aristo Q&A with: RGK Entertainment Group’s Ron Kitchener
Ron Kitchener is the president and
founder of RGK Entertainment
Group Inc., a multi-faceted
entertainment company that includes
management, label, publishing, TV
production and event touring
services.
With offices based in
Toronto and Nashville, Kitchener
manages Canadian artists Corb
Lund, Dean Brody, Doc Walker
and others. He also runs a successful
Canadian record label, Open Road
Recordings, with a roster including
Dean Brody, Emerson Drive, The
Road Hammers and Johnny Reid.
With artist management being the cornerstone of RGK
Entertainment, how much emphasis do you tend to put on an
artist’s global career path? Is there a strategy right out of the gate,
or do you wait and assess that potential more as you go?
RK: We are globally minded as a rule off the top for all efforts.
From there, our international plans depend on the set up and the
team on the ground in the respective territory/country.
The
approach with Dean Brody in Australia differs a bit from Corb
Lund in the UK, but plans are driven from the initial passion of the
labels, agents, promoters in their respective markets and carried
forward by the set up that allows us to make the most impact when
we arrive.
Is radio still the preferred means of breaking a “foreign” Country
artist in the U.S. or has touring or some other avenue become more
attractive as radio continues to consolidate and shrink its playlists?
RK: I would say yes, radio is still the dominant avenue to breaking
a country act in the USA. However, a strategic plan that involves
touring, social media and third party marketing sources may be
essential for seeking the attention of gatekeepers in today's
business. Labels and promoters want to know you have an active
fan base, which basically is your volunteer marketing team.
It seems that Country music festivals in general do extremely well
in Canada. Is that due mostly to the geography of the land itself
(i.e., markets being so far apart)? Is it conceivable that an act
could make a living just playing a festival circuit? Are there acts
that do that?
RK: Canadians want to be outdoor all summer, as they are indoors
too much of the rest of the year! (laughs) The festival circuit there
is well spread out, with mid size and large size festivals in all the
main regions of the country and not much overlap competition, so
the crowds are strong and loyal.
The majority of Canadian artists make 80-100 percent of their
touring income from summer festivals. Very few of those would be
financially secure just playing festivals, though. There are just not
enough of them, and any artist that can make a great living must be
touring outside of the summer. The good news is that there are a
few more acts having successful careers with only a domestic
record deal and by touring Canada alone.
Spotify is rumored to be launching in Canada soon. What are your
thoughts on the service? Will you encourage your artists to have a
presence there?
RK: Spotify is a wonderful service for music fans. Other similar
providers like Slacker and Rdio have impacted Canada with
increasing levels of success, so the market will embrace them, and I
expect Spotify to have great impact. We would like our artists
present, yes. This is the model the music business has been
heading towards, whether they’ve encouraged it or not. The
technology and the fans will dictate our industry's future. We need
to be strategically active, seek to grab our fair share and adjust our
overall models accordingly.
What do you see as the biggest challenge to emerging artists in
terms of cutting through “the noise” and developing a connection
with Country music fans?
RK: Staying “real” and never compromising your artistry. Keeping
on “point” as per the long-term plan set out by you and your team.
The most difficult part is carrying the momentum when things are
rolling. Aim to ride that wave with poise, and use your instincts.
Before signing an artist, what is the most important aspect of their
career that you typically look at for signs of growth? Social media
numbers? Publicity? Number of shows? Commercial appeal?
RK: Live presence! Do they have the “it” factor? This usually
comes through in their stage presence, confidence and ability
through their music and personality to reach the folks hanging in
the “back of the room.”
Visit RGK Entertainment Group at www.RGK.ca.
The Aristo International Report is a
quarterly newsletter published online
by The AristoMedia Group, P.O. Box
22765 Nashville, TN, 37202.
Publisher: Jeff Walker
Editor: Ryan Moore
Please submit your international Country music news items
for consideration to: global@aristomedia.com
Drop us a line at global@aristomedia.com | © 2012 The AristoMedia Group - All Rights Reserved
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Oct 2012
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Promoting the World of Country Music Around the Globe
๏ Flynnville Train and The Steeldrivers were among the
acts that performed in July at the 31st Piknik Country
Festival in Mragowo, Poland. Flynnville Train was joined
on stage for their song “Last Good Time” by Polish
Country music superstar Lonstar.
๏ Bucky Covington
performed Aug. 25 at
the newly renamed
Festival Country
Mexico (previously
Festival Country
Chihuahua), which
drew more than 5,000
Country music fans
this year. Covington
pictured left with festival promoter Armando Valesquez.
๏ The Mavericks performed at the SCC Country Music
Festival in Silkeborg, Denmark on August 10th and the
Scandinavia Country Fair in Furuvik, Sweden on August
11th. These are the only two overseas performances the
group will make this year since reuniting. The festivals
reportedly drew record crowds.
๏ The 28th Country Gold Festival will take place on
October 21st in Kumamoto, Japan with Rick Trevino,
Dale Watson, Georgette Jones and event organizer
Charlie Nagatani.
๏ Irish singersongwriter Pete
Kennedy took home
UK Album of the Year
honors at the Sept. 2
BCM Awards for his
The Nashville Sessions
Volume 1 project.
Pictured here at the
Nashville AristoMedia
offices with President/CEO Jeff Walker.
๏ Independent music publisher Ole has been honored by
the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) as
Music Publisher of the Year for the 6th consecutive time in
the company's eight-year history. Ole writer/artist Gord
Bamford was named Songwriter of the Year.
๏ Martina McBride, Craig Campbell, Los Pacaminos
feat. Paul Young, and Swiss group Tinkabell will
perform at the 24th Country Night Gstaad, Sept. 21-22.
๏ Celebrated
Australian
Country music
broadcaster
Nick Erby
visited Nashville
in September.
Pictured L-R:
veteran arranger/
conductor Bill
Walker, Erby, Mark Moffatt, Ted LeGarde, Craig
Morrisson, Tom LeGarde and Jeff Walker.
๏ The 4th French Highways Awards will take place on
Nov. 7 in Paris, France, with a tribute to Glen Campbell
and coverage of the 46th CMA Awards. Vote at
www.HighwayFM.com.
๏ The BIGSOUND
Music Conference
was held in
Brisbane,
Queensland, on
Sept. 12-14 and
featured keynote
speaker Steve Earle
(pictured with Time
Off’s Steve Bell,
right). The conference debuted a dedicated Country venue,
showcasing Catherine Britt, Jasmine Rae, Harmony
James, Brad Butcher and The McMenamins. CMA
Board member Rob Potts and Americana Music Assoc.
International member Mark Moffatt spoke on the panel
“Country’s Not A Dirty Word.”
๏ The Band Perry performed their first shows in London
and Dublin in March, and recently performed at the BBC
Radio 2 Hyde Park concert with Jessie J and Tom Jones.
๏ In September, Joe
Nichols made his fourth
trip Down Under when he
performed at Sydney’s
Evan Theatre (26th), the
Tamworth Regional
Entertainment
Convention Centre (28th)
and made his debut
appearance at the Deni
Ute Muster. Nichols’ first trip to Australia was in 2009,
when he headlined the CMC Rocks the Snowys festival.
Drop us a line at global@aristomedia.com | © 2012 The AristoMedia Group - All Rights Reserved
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Promoting the World of Country Music Around the Globe
2012 CCMA Awards / AMA Festival & Conference Photo Gallery
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Drop us a line at global@aristomedia.com | © 2012 The AristoMedia Group - All Rights Reserved