Trade Orgs Best As Separate Entities

page 1
Table of Contents
1 Trade Organizations
Work Best As Separate
Entities
2 Twitter Chart Enters
Deep Dive Data Phase
3 CMT Launches Music
City Madness, The
Singing Bee
4 GMA Immerse Adds
Music Business
Workshops
4 Loveless Recruits Top
Talent For Mountain
Soul II
4 Foster To Cheer
Fabulous Fifty
5 DISClaimer: Jason
Crabb Disc of the Day
Music Row
Communications, LLC
1231 17th Ave. S.
Nashville, TN 37212
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info@musicrow.com
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Friday,
Friday, July
July 17,
17, 2009
2009
Trade Orgs Best As
Separate Entities
by Sarah Skates
While the goals of Nashville’s top three
music trade groups are closely aligned, each
has issues and missions specific to its
genre. The Country Music Association,
Americana Music Association, and
International Bluegrass Music Association
work tirelessly to promote the music they
represent to consumers and the industry.
A recent poll on MusicRow.com posed
the following question: "Would Music City
would be better off if the CMA, AMA and
IBMA merged and became one large trade
organization?" Our readers responded with
an overwhelming “no.” The results were 77
percent “No,” and 23 percent “Yes.”
IBMA leader Dan
Hays explains, “As
genres of music...
Bluegrass, Americana
and Country have
important and interrelated
connections with one
another, but they're three
distinct communities.
Each of the organizations
Dan Hays
listed functions as the
‘chamber of commerce’ for their community
and each has its own unique culture, economic
climate and professional development
needs.
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I believe both Music
City and the music
industry around the
world benefit from
having healthy
organizations devoted to
each. We work together
with AMA and CMA
whenever mutual
opportunities arise (in
addition to many other
music trades), but
having ‘one large trade
organization’ would be akin to suggesting
one Chamber of Commerce to serve New
York, L.A. and Nashville.”
“While there are some artists and industry
employees whose work crosses between
them, Country, Bluegrass and Americana
are three distinct genres of music,” agrees
CMA CEO Tammy Genovese. “Each
format is better served
by having a specific
trade association to
represent them and their
unique needs instead of
one combined
organization. However,
we highly respect both
the other organizations
and all that they do.”
Tammy Genovese
VOTE: new www.MusicRow.com Poll
Do you follow MusicRow on Twitter,
Facebook or both social networks?
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Twitter Chart Enters Deep
Dive Data Phase
by David M. Ross
Songwriter Karyn Williams has signed a publishing contract with
Brentwood-Benson Publishing. Williams has released a book she co-wrote
with her father, Pat Williams, an executive with Orlando Magic basketball,
entitled The Takeaway: 20 Unforgettable Life Lessons Every Father
Should Pass On To His Child. The book also features a companion single,
"Taking You With Me." (L-R): SESAC's Tim Fink, Brentwood-Benson
Publishing's Stacey Willbur, Karyn Williams, Brentwood Benson's Eric
Hurt and Dale Mathews. Photo: Ed Rode
Recent worldwide events have highlighted Twitter's
enormous reach, user engagement and the speed with which
news travels inside its 24/7/365 "real-time conversation." Not
only has the social network with the bluebird logo become a
marketing ally for established entertainers and personalities,
it is also being used by developing artists to grow and
communicate with fans; and that includes country artists.
Several weeks ago MusicRow debuted a list of the Top
75 country artists on Twitter, ranking those artists by the
Red Stripe Plane Music songwriter Shelley Skidmore recently signed
with BMI. (L-R): Jody Williams, BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations;
Skidmore, Red Stripe Plane Music songwriter Billy Joe Walker, Jr.;
Ginny Johnson Walker; and Kim Jones, RSP VP Creative Services.
Photo: Kay Williams
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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number of followers who have signed up to receive their
Tweets (140 character messages). Programming for the
chart was created by Aristoworks' Jon Walker. Phase two of
the project has added 7-day climb +/- percentages plus an
artist detail page which graphs the artist's follower
acquisition progress over time.
The new "stats" area accesses information directly from
Twitter to make growth predictions and give the artist an
overall Twitter rank. An artist's growth over time is charted
inside the deep dive "stats" area, and a variety of metrics
are offered.
For example, Miley Cyrus' account which sits at the top
of the chart has almost 1.3 million followers. Her overall
Twitter ranking is No. 18 and most recent 7-day follower
increase was 7%.
Kellie Pickler sits at No. 4 on the MusicRow Twitter list
with over 80,000 followers, an average daily growth of 1,129
followers and an overall Twitter ranking of 401.
Because of limitations created from within the Twitter
system, the chart numbers are updated once daily. However,
each artist's name on the chart is linked directly to their
Twitter page where one can find real time follower info.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Songwriter Sammi Moore has signed her first publishing deal with Studio
33 Music Group. Moore recently performed at NSAI’s exclusive Pitch-ToPublisher Luncheon and has opened for The Marshall Tucker Band, Big &
Rich, Bucky Covington, James Otto, and more. (L-R) back: Redline Ent.'s
Wes Mayers, Studio 33 owner Campbell Wright, Moore, NSAI Exec. Dir.
Bart Herbison, and NSAI Membership Dir. Sheree Spoltore. Front: Studio
33’s Creative Dir. Amanda Haffecke and Moore’s attorney Steve Weaver.
CMT Launches Music City Madness,
The Singing Bee
CMT.com’s fourth annual Music City Madness competition
returned Tuesday (7/14) with Reba as the host. The winner
of the online talent contest will receive a chance to audition
for execs at label partner, The Valory Music Co., as well as a
trip to Nashville to record CMT’s Studio 330 Sessions and a
backstage experience with Reba. She will serve as an online
mentor for the contestants via CMT.com video blogs. Fellow
Valory/Big Machine artists Jack Ingram, Jewel, Justin
Moore and Jimmy Wayne will also help Music City Madness
contestants. Rhapsody is a first time sponsor of the contest
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Dallas Davidson celebrated his first trip to the top of the country
charts on July 13 at BMI. Davidson co-wrote "Start A Band" with Ashley
Gorley and Kelley Lovelace. The song was published by songwriter
Brett Jones’ Big Borassa Music and recorded by Brad Paisley and Keith
Urban. (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Sony Music Nashville’s Skip Bishop,
Lovelace, Davidson, Gorley, Sony Music Nashville’s Butch Waugh, Jones,
and BMI’s Perry Howard. Photo: Drew Maynard
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page 4
Friday, July 17, 2009
Show Dog's Trailer Choir spent the 4th of July weekend performing at
Colorado's Greeley Stampede before returning to Music City to appear
on WLAC's "Music Row Show" July 7. They also hosted the syndicated
radio show, "Big Time Saturday Night," before opening for country
legend Merle Haggard at Iowa's Riverside Casino on July 10. (L-R):
Crystal Hoyt, WKMK/New Jersey PD Captain Jack Aponte, Butter, Big
Vinny and Shug.
which last year garnered over 22 million online, fan votes.
Entries accepted through Oct. 5 at www.madness.CMT.com.
CMT’s hit new karaoke-style singing competition, The
Singing Bee, boasts four members of Nashville’s music
community in its band, “The Beehive.” The TV series tests
contestants’ lyrical knowledge of popular songs and relies
heavily on the professional singers—Nashvillians Jared
Johnson, Kim Keyes, Kim Parent and Bobby Tomberlin,
as well as the rest of the Beehive—to perform portions of
the songs.
GMA Immerse Adds Music Business
Workshops
Known for it's top notch training for artists, songwriters
and worship leaders, the Gospel Music Association has now
added training for future music business professionals to its
new event, Immerse, which takes place at Belmont University
July 29-Aug. 2. Artist management, marketing, radio
promotion, music publishing, publicity and more will be
covered. Teachers and panelists include Laurie Anderson
(True Artist Management), Lesley Burbridge Bates (Rogers
& Cowan), Mark Funderburg (Word Entertainment), Jeff
Gregg (Creative Artists Agency), John Mullins (SESAC),
Brad O’Donnell (EMI CMG), Mitchell Solarek (Maximum
Artist Group), Nina Williams (Provident Music Group), Jody
Williams (BMI) and Holly Zabka (Essential Music Publishing).
Pillar, Aaron Shust, Leeland, Krystal Meyers, KJ-52
and American Idol finalists Chris Sligh and Phil Stacey are
among the Dove and GRAMMY-award winning artists who
will perform at the public concert series at Belmont’s Massey
Performing Arts Center during Immerse. Details at
www.experienceimmerse.com.
Loveless Recruits Top Talent For
Mountain Soul II
Patty Loveless has reprised the
Appalachian sound of her 2001 Mountain
Soul album with the Saguaro Road
Records release Mountain Soul II,
coming Sept. 29. For the bluegrasstinged instrumentation, her husband
and producer Emory Gordy Jr.
recruited a stellar cast: fiddler Deanie
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Columbia Nashville newcomer Josh Thompson visits with friends at
Citadel while promoting his debut single, "Beer On The Table." (L-R):
Richard Lee, Thompson, Gary Reynolds, and Columbia Nashville
regional Alex Valentine.
Richardson, Dobro player Rob Ickes, singer Jon Randall
and harmony vocalists Rebecca Lynn Howard, all of whom
had backed Patty on the original Mountain Soul. But Mountain
Soul II has some new textures as well. Bluegrass greats Del
and Ronnie McCoury participated, as did Vince Gill, Carl
Jackson, Bryan Sutton, Mike Auldridge, Emmylou Harris,
steel guitarist Al Perkins, Patty's 16-year-old vocal
discovery Sydni Perry and several others.
Foster To Cheer Fabulous Fifty
Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley,
Randy Rogers Band, Marc Broussard,
Bill Lloyd, Lee Roy Parnell and
others are set to help songwriter/artist
Radney Foster ring in his 50th birthday
with style. The hitmaker will debut music
from his upcoming album, Revival, and
the other artists will take the stage. The
party hits the Exit/In on Mon., July 20 at
8 PM. Tickets, $10, at exitin.com.
Radney Foster
Local Radio Wrap-up
At Cumulus' WSM-FM (The Wolf) Donna Britt has left
her post as morning co-host, alongside Charley Connolly.
She will continue her other role as Exec. Producer for
American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks. Reach her
at 615-243-9250 or dbritt@dbr-media.com.
Slam Duncan has exited Clear Channel's WSIX/Nashville
(The Big 98). He served as the nighttime personality and
can be reached at 615-400-0046 or heyslam@aol.com.
CMT Radio has added Jean Williams as Director. She
has had promotion gigs at BNA and Warner Bros. and
previously worked on-air at WKIS/Miami. She can be
contacted at jean.williams@cmt.com or 615-335-8855.
ShortNotes
• Merle Haggard is suffering from health problems and has
been forced to cancel this weekend's appearance at Smoky
Mountain Fan Fest in Sevierville—and possibly the rest of his tour.
• Farm Aid, Willie Nelson’s annual benefit concert, will be
held in St. Louis for the first time this year. The 2009 event
will feature Farm Aid board members Nelson, Neil Young,
John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews on Sun., Oct. 4 at
news@musicrow.com
page 5
Friday, July 17, 2009
the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Mo.,
plus other top artists to be announced.
• Local songwriter Doak Turner is celebrating his 50th Birthday
with a benefit show on Thurs., July 23, 8:30 PM at Douglas
Corner. Joining in the party will be songwriters Byron Hill,
Dave Gibson, and Marc-Alan Barnette to play songs cowritten with Doak and other faves. James Slater, Rory
Bourke, Joie Scott, Jimbeau Hinson, Chas Sanford and
Gary Hannon will play songs Doak wishes he’d written. Also
celebrating onstage will be Whitney Layne, Rob Wolf, Jessica
Ford, Kate Logan and Dave Isaacs. Proceeds from the $5
suggested donation will go to the W.O. Smith School of Music.
• Gaines Sturdivant, previously of New York’s Ron Shapiro
Management joined the staff at Red Light Management this
week. He replaces Crystal (Hogg) Hochhalter who has
left the company. He can be reached at
gaines@redlightmanagement.com.
• A3 Merchandise, a division of Jon Elliot and Christian
Svendsen’s newly formed W.A.Y Entertainment, has
acquired the exclusive merchandise rights for the
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). It will also
have the exclusive online rights to all PRCA marks.
DISClaimer
by Robert K. Oermann
Can I get a witness? Things were
going along in a routine way during
this listening session until I was
stopped dead in my tracks and
struck with profound awe. The
record that did it was the churning,
inspirational “Somebody Like Me” by
Jason Crabb. Stop what you are
doing right now to seek it out and
listen. It just might change your life.
Hands down, the Disc of the Day.
We also have a couple of major tear-jerkers with us today,
and I’m always a sucker for those. “To Say Goodbye” by Joey
& Rory, plus “Love Lives On” by Mallary Hope are both
soaked with emotion. The latter earns a Georgia-born MCA
newcomer a DisCovery Award.
JASON CRABB/Somebody Like Me
Writer: Neil Thrasher/Michael Boggs; Producer: Tommy Sims, Norro
Wilson & Jason Crabb; Publisher: none listed; Spring Hill (track)
(www.springhillmusic.com)
—He used to be the lead vocalist in The Crabb Family. Now
he’s a solo. If you have ever heard him sing, you have never
forgotten the experience, because this man is one of the
greatest male voices of his generation. Searing, soulful and
stunning, he can make the hairs on your arms tingle, raise
goosebumps all over and compel you turn it up to “10.” The
lyric will make you want to run out and do good works for
everyone you meet. His performance of it will make you
believe in the power of music all over again. Sing on, brother.
MALLARY HOPE/Love Lives On
Writer: Mallary Hope/Shane Stevens/Matthew West; Producer:
Derek Bason; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
—It is a pretty gutsy move to kick of your country career
with a ballad, but when it’s one this strong, it’s a risk worth
taking. In the song, her husband has died, but she still has
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
their daughter, and her love endures. It’s a remarkable
performance that starts sweet, sad and small and builds to a
fiery intensity. Strong stuff.
WILLIE STRADLIN/Chop Away
Writer: Izzy Stradlin/Rick Richards; Producer: none listed; Publisher:
Willie Stradlin, BMI; Smith Music Group (www.williestradlinband.com)
—Co-writers Izzy and Rick are from Guns & Roses and The
Georgia Satellites, respectively. But this is a surprisingly
countryfied outing, highlighted by a rolling rhythm track,
tasty harmonica work and a sincere tenor vocal.
JOEY & RORY/To Say Goodbye
Writer: Rory Feek/Joey Martin/Jamie Teachenor; Producer: Carl
Jackson; Publisher: State One Songs America/A Sling and a Prayer/
Rufus Guild/Sony ATV Tree/Songs for My Good Girl, ASCAP/BMI;
Sugar Hill /Vanguard (track) (www.joeyandrory.com)
—Beautifully heartbreaking. If this doesn’t put a lump in
your throat or a tear in your eye, you’re made of stone.
Joey’s lead vocal is a shining gem. Carl Jackson’s production
is poetry. Rory’s harmony work is flawless. The lyric of loss
aches all over.
RACHEL WILLIAMS/You Let Me
Writer: R. Williams/S. Beck/K. Copeland; Producer: Kim Copeland &
Rachel Williams; Publisher: none listed; Her (track)
(www.rachelwilliamsonline.com)
—Righteously rocking, with a soaring, power-packed vocal
performance. Eminently playable.
TOBY KEITH/American Ride
Writer: Joe West/Dave Pahanish; Producer: none listed; Publisher:
Sony ATV Tree/Songs for My Good Girl/Totally Wrighteous/Big Loud
Bucks, BMI; Show Dog Nashville
—Toby sings it with passion and fire, but the lyric makes no
point whatsoever.
RICHIE ALLBRIGHT/11 Months And 29 Days
Writer: Johnny Paycheck/Billy Sherrill; Producer: Bill Green;
Publisher: EMI Algee, BMI; Cactus (888-455-5504)
—Not to be confused with Waylon’s ex-drummer Richie
Albright (with one “L”), this fellow is a Texas traditionalist.
Alas, when you compare his version of this tune with Johnny
Paycheck’s 1976 original, he comes up wa-a-a-a-y short.
DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes
Writer: Brett Beavers/Dierks Bentley; Producer: Brett Beavers &
Dierks Bentley; Publisher: Home with the Armadillo/Big White
Tracks, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (track)
—Dierks gets all warm and romantic on us. After a hard day
at work, he wants to fall into her arms and see where things
lead. Very sexy sounding.
JIMMY BOWEN & SANTA FE
Baby’s Single Down In San Antone
Writer: Wells/Kerr; Producer: Jimmy Bowen; Publisher: Bug, BMI;
Santa Fe (www.jimmybowen.com)
—I know it’s not the producer with this same name, but is
this the bluegrass guy with this same name? If so, he has
gone country and lost his sense of pitch.
ANTHONY SMITH/Bringin’ Back The Sunshine
Writer: Anthony Smith/Jess Leary; Producer: Anthony Smith & James
Stroud; Publisher: Krankit/Leary’s Irish Stew, BMI/ASCAP; Stroudavarious
—Formerly on Mercury, Anthony has always had a rock edge
in his voice. He applies it effectively in this summersounding pop-country bopper.
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