Country Sales Increase (A Little)

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Happily, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the Top 75 Current Country albums for the week ending 1/25/09 bounced upward 8% over the previous week, without relying on new debut releases. Big Machine continued to control about 27% of that market share based mostly upon sales from its flagship femme, Taylor Swift. Despite the increase this week, however, Top 75 Country’s physical and digital album sales still remained under the 300k level hitting a tepid 294,065 units. Country’s Top 5 and the only CDs to sell above 10k each were Taylor Swift Fearless (62,575) and Taylor Swift (14,407); Sugarland (14,156); Zac Brown Band (13,256) and Darius Rucker (11,137). Sugar Hill newcomers Joey & Rory moved up to No. 15 adding 4,616 units this week to their RTD (release to date) total of 77,030.

Overall industry sales also grew week over week by about 9.1% and Taylor Swift added a ninth consecutive week to her well deserved No. 1 Top 200 reign. Year to date, digital albums and tracks are up 28.9% and 22.6% respectively, although the struggling CD is down 19.7% vs. last year. The demise of the CD is accelerating, likely due to a number of factors including shrinking shelf space. Some might say that the sharp drop is fueled by a self-fulfilling, but questionable, prophecy that consumers no longer want to purchase their music in the shiny disc format. Based upon the numbers country consumers are still only downloading about 7.5% of their country album purchases compared with about 17% for overall music.

New CMA VP Starting Monday

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Dan Bowen will join the Country Music Association as Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications on Mon., Feb. 2, overseeing advertising, promotions, new media, research, and media/PR initiatives and staff. With more than 20 years of broadcast media experience, Bowen most recently spent 11 years with WSTR-FM (Star 94) in Atlanta.

He has served in a variety of leadership roles handling marketing strategies. According to the CMA, Bowen has a proven track record of establishing partnerships that generate ratings and increasing revenues through media and advertising campaigns.

T.J. Martell Selects 2009 Board

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The T.J. Martell Foundation announced its 2009 Nashville Board of Directors and Officers at its annual kick off meeting, held last week at the Frances Williams Preston Building of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. The music industry has long supported the charity’s fight against cancer and AIDS, with many familiar names among those who are involved for the coming year.

The 2009 Officers are President Tony Conway (Pres./CEO, Buddy Lee Attractions); Vice President Derek Crownover (Partner, Crownover/Tisinger, PLC); Secretary Rick Murray (Pres., Greylocke Entertainment); and Treasurer Karen Clark (Financial Specialist).

The 2009 Board of Directors includes Tom Annastas, Renee Bell, Dave Berryman, Danielle Lares-Bouharoun, Anastasia Brown, Lisa Chader, Gary Chapman, David Corlew, Whitney Daane, John Dennis, Scott Durand, Fletcher Foster, Cindy Francis Lovelace, Blair Garner, Rusty Gaston, Ray Gonzalez, Lisa Harless, Steve Hauser, Terry Hemmings, Bill Hearn, Tori Hughes, John Huie, Ben Kline, Mike Kraski, Michelle Owens, Derek Simon, Jules Wortman Pomeroy, Sheri Warnke and Kirt Webster.

Many others have signed on as Celebrity Ambassadors to help with fundraising. Among those are Blue County, Brooks & Dunn, Charlie Daniels, Steve Cropper, Diana DeGarmo, Gerry House, Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, Storme Warren, Jimmy Wayne, Darryl Worley, Chely Wright and Frank Wycheck.

Hall Undertakes Million Dollar Fundraising Campaign

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has launched a $1.1 million fundraising campaign to defray costs associated with its acquisition of instruments which once belonging to Maybelle Carter, Johnny Cash and Bill Monroe. The Precious Jewel Fund opened with leadership gifts including a $150,000 donation from Scott Siman of RPM Management and a $300,000 gift from the Academy of Country Music. Siman and Museum Board President Steve Turner will co-chair the campaign geared toward the music and business communities, while Ricky Skaggs will lead the national appeal to music fans.

The fund will go toward making the four instruments a permanent part of the Museum’s collection. The priceless artifacts have been the subject of a drawn-out legal debate because, unbeknownst to the Hall, they were originally purchased with a donation obtained by allegedly fraudulent means.

Under terms of an agreement finalized last week in court, the Museum is required to pay a $750,000 settlement for the instruments by Feb. 22. Arrangements for a loan to supplement pledges not received before the settlement due date are in place with the Music Row branch of SunTrust Bank.

Tax-deductible contributions may be made by mail (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Fifth Avenue South, Mail Drop DP, Nashville, TN 37203), telephone (615-416-2050), and will soon be available online. Checks should be made out to the Country Music Foundation—Precious Jewel Fund.

Jonathan Singleton & The Grove

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“Livin’ In Paradise”

Universal Records South

Since signing his breakthrough publishing and production deal two years ago with Crosstown Songs Nashville, singer/songwriter Jonathan Singleton has been caught up in a creative whirlwind. His song “Watching Airplanes” (co-written with Jim Beavers) was a No. 1 hit for Gary Allan, earning Singleton an ACM nomination as well as a nomination for Music Row’s Breakthrough Songwriter Award. Singleton also recently had another No. 1 with Billy Currington’s smash “Don’t.”

Singleton and his longtime band The Grove have partnered up with superproducer Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) to record his debut album for Universal Records South. Huff has long had the Midas touch for creating mainstream pop/country hits, but he is moving a bit left of center with Singleton, creating a more roots-rocking, bluegrass sound for the singer and his band.

“Being part of Dann’s publishing and production companies is the perfect place for someone who writes the way I do,” says Singleton, whose lyrics focus on the here-and-now simplicity of everyday life. “Dann’s very in tune with where I’m coming from as a writer and singer, and he’s never felt inclined to do the straight down the middle pop thing with me that he does so well with other artists. The new songs have more of an edgy old school country rock flavor that’s got both of us very excited. My main criterion for a good song is one that makes me want to pick up the guitar and play again and again. It’s never about what’s commercial or how it will reap a certain audience, but all about having that gut instinct that it just feels good.”

Catch Jonathan Singleton and the Grove live in 2009 when they join Eric Church as part of the Young & Wild tour.

www.myspace.com/jonathansingletonandthegrove

Gloriana Joins LeAnn Rimes Dates

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Newcomers Gloriana have been invited to open for LeAnn Rimes on six upcoming tour dates in Washington, California, and Nevada. The band made up of Tom Gossin (vocals, guitars), Mike Gossin (vocals, guitars), Rachel Reinert (vocals), and Cheyenne Kimball (vocals, mandolin) is already creating a buzz with debut single “Wild At Heart,” from its upcoming Emblem Music Group release.

Gloriana has been on a whirlwind radio tour across the country for weeks, getting several adds prior to the single’s official Feb. 9 release date. The song written by Matt Serletic, Josh Kear, and Stephanie Bentley, earned the band Robert K. Oermann’s Discovery Award in MusicRow. An accompanying music video was shot in Nashville recently with director Elliot Lester (Jessica Simpson, Jason Mraz, 30 Seconds to Mars) and executive producers Kathleen Sigmund and Tamera Brooks (Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn) through Stray Dog/17 Hands Productions.

Gloriana and the Eli Young Band are both set to perform at MusicRow’s CRS Meet & Greet on March 3, 2:30-5 PM, at Cadillac Ranch.

Paisley Plans 2009 Tour

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Reigning ACM and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley today (1/26) revealed his 2009 touring plans. The outing, dubbed American Saturday Night, will run through 41 cities starting June 5 in Charlotte, NC. Special guests Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne will join him for the tour that has cross-country dates scheduled through Oct. 17.

His current Paisley Party Tour has sold over 750,000 tickets for its 59 dates and continues through February. Paisley’s recent hit “Start A Band,” a duet with Keith Urban, was his record-setting ninth consecutive No. 1. He is also the cover feature on the March issue of Guitar Player magazine.

Carolwood Adds To Promo Dept.

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Trudie Richardson-Daniell

Trudie Richardson-Daniell will join Carolwood Records on Feb. 9 as Manager, Regional Promotion. With 13 years of music business experience, she will be based out of Atlanta and will work the Southeast and Southwest regions. Prior to joining Carolwood Records, the Belmont graduate worked in the radio promotions department for CO5 Nashville. Lyric Street/Carolwood Records VP, Promotion Kevin Herring announced her hiring today (1/26/09).

DISClaimer

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Christien Sawyer

Christien Sawyer

Doff your caps to the ladies, gentlemen.

This week, the fairer sex rules the listening session. Carrie Underwood has a splendid outing with the Randy Travis goldie “I Told You So.” Newcomer Christen Sawyer is our DisCovery Award winner.

And the Disc of the Day is by a group that actually has “Lady” in its name. Hillary Scott swaps vocals with Charles Kelley on “I Run to You,” and the result is an undeniable single by Lady Antebellum.

The other news of this column is the quality of the songwriting talent we encounter. From Archie Jordan and Hal David’s lovely classic “Santa Barbara” to the fine craftsmanship in “Red Light” (not to mention “I Run to You,” “I Told You So” and “Walkaway Joe”) and including a new collection by the masterful Thom Schuyler, today is a showcase of Music Row composing excellence.

MEGAN MUNROE/Moonshine
Writer: Megan Munroe/Brian Oaks; Producer: Doug Deforest; Publisher: Triple-Sixty/Forever Lush, ASCAP; Diamond (track) (www.meganmunroe.com)
—The production is big and thumping. Her voice isn’t.

LADY ANTEBELLUM/I Run To You
Writer: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Tom Douglas; Producer: Victoria Shaw/Paul Worley; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/DWHaywood/RADIOBULLETPUBLISHING/Shaw Enuff/MLultiSongs/Sony-ATV/Tomdouglasmusic, BMI/SESAC; Capitol Nashville
—Very nicely done. The vocal harmony work is flawless. The production is delicious. The song has more hooks than a tuna boat. If this isn’t a Number-One hit, there is something seriously wrong with our format.

VINCE HATFIELD/Santa Barbara
Writer: Archie Jordan/Hal David; Producer: Vince Hatfield; Publisher: Universal Polygram International/Casa David, ASCAP; Blue Moon (www.vincehatfield.com)
—This lovely 1978 Ronnie Milsap tune gets dusted off for a reprise. But this guy is no Milsap vocally, and the sluggish pace does him no favors.

DAVID NAIL/Red Light
Writer: Jonathan Singleton/Melissa Peirace/Dennis Matkosky; Producer: Frank Liddell/Mike Wrucke; Publisher: Crosstown Uptown/Kobalt/Crosstown Downtown/Karles, ASCAP/BMI; MCA Nashville
—It’s an ordinary day. They’re stopped at a red light, and she tells him it’s over. I like the structure of the song, and his singing is wonderfully piercing. Sign me up for the fan club. Co-writer Singleton, by the way, now has a Universal South recording contract of his own.

CHRISTEN SAWYER/Crazy
Writer: none listed; Producer: Mark Oliverius; Publisher: none listed; Rapid Rise (track) (www.christensawyer.com)
—This is not the Willie Nelson/Patsy Cline “Crazy.” It is a feisty little bopper with some sting in its sound. She sings with plenty of oomph, and a sizzling, searing electric guitar echoes her at every turn. This is one hot disc.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/One In Every Crowd
Writer: Eddie Montgomery/Ira Dean/Kim Tribble; Producer: Blake Chancey; Publisher: Plowin Ground/Copyright Controlled/Music of rpm/Category 5, BMI/ASCAP; Columbia (track)
—This is a stomping ode to the big ol’ “party boy” inside ya. Rousing and fun. Complete with crowd noise.

JUSTIN MOORE/Small Town USA
Writer: Brian Dean Maher/Jeremy Stover/Justin Moore; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publisher: West Moraine/Welk/Lichelle/WB/Universal-Z Songs/West Bay St/2820/Watwedoiz, ASCAP/BMI; Valory Music
—We’ve essentially heard this song a zillion times before. It’s the one about how great it is to be on a dirt road with your baby on Saturday night with a brew and some sounds, and then go to church on Sunday morning, and how great it is to live a simple country life. Yaddadda, yaddadda, yaddadda.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/I Told You So
Writer: Randy Travis; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Sometimes You Win, ASCAP; Arista/19 (track)
—I have always loved this song. Randy had a massive hit with it in 1988. Carrie’s remake is a silver arrow of emotional truth. Soft, subtle harmony work from Vince Gill is the icing on this yummy track.

VINCE MELAMED/Walkaway Joe
Writer: Vince Melamed/Greg Barnhill; Producer: Jim Tract; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Warner-Tamerlane/WB, BMI/ASCAP; Adroit (track) (www.adroitrecords.com)
—This comes from a compilation called Words & Music Nashville. Melamed’s own rendition of this Trisha Yearwood hit he cowrote is loaded with sincerity and purpose. The other writers on the disc include Ray Sisk, Brendan McKinney, Lucas Hoge, Craig Monday, Mason Douglas, Cheley Tackett, Lisa Carver, Joshua Rush and Karleen Watt. Recommended.

THOM SCHUYLER/Prayer Of A Desperate Man
Writer: Thom Schuyler; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Rondor/September Second,; TJS (track)
—It has been far too long since we’ve had a new record from this former Capitol and MTM recording artist. The title tune to Thom’s self-penned collection is a tender, heart-tugging ballad that showcases one of Music City’s true songwriter treasures. For romance, listen to “When She Danced with Me.” For humor, turn on “Who Needs a Hummer?” or “Too Drunk.” For a meditation on mortality, check out “Starting to Go.” This man is such a gem.

UMG Sales/Marketing To Restructure

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According to a Universal Music Group spokesperson, Executive VP Sales and Marketing Ben Kline is leaving the company, effective immediately, to pursue  a new opportunity. Kline was a fixture at the Nashville label for 11 years and with Universal for a total of 17 years. He was a frequent voice in many Music Row articles dealing with his area of expertise. Kline was in charge of all sales, marketing and new media functions for Mercury, MCA Nashville and Lost Highway.

Kline’s departure is effective immediately. It is expected that as soon as next week UMGN will announce a restructuring plan for its Sales/Marketing department which is not expected to include any new hires.