Weekly Chart Report (11/23/11)

Twang City Records/Flying Island Entertainment recording artist Coy Taylor (R) celebrates his single “Fall” with KEAN/Abilene’s Rudy Fernandez (L).

SPIN ZONE
It’s a short holiday week for most, and there’s a higher than usual amount of frozen playlists comprising this CountryBreakout Chart edition. Positions 1-7 remain unchanged, with Lady Antebellum’s “We Owned The Night” clenching No. 1 for a fourth consecutive week. Alan Jackson’s “Long Way To Go” moves up to No. 8, followed by Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” at No. 9, and Justin Moore’s “Bait A Hook” reels in the last spot of the Top 10.

Despite the slow moving chart, songs performed on the CMA Awards telecast are still experiencing a bump. The biggest spin gainer is Faith Hill’s “Come Home,” moving up to No. 45 in its second week charting. Newly entering the chart is the Sugarland and Matt Nathanson collaboration “Run,” which plants its feet at No. 76.

That’s all for today… everyone have a happy Thanksgiving!

Frozen Playlists: KBCN, KBCR, KBXB, KBOE, KCJC, KCNY, KDXY, KFTX, KGMN, KICR, KMKS, KVAY, KVOM, KWEY, KWWR, KXBZ, KXIA, KXKZ, KYEZ, KYKX, KYYK, KZZY, WEIO, WIBL, WKBQ, WKDZ, WKKW, WLJE, WMEV, WOOZ, WQNZ, WTCM, WZMR, WTHO, WUCZ, WUPY

WMN newcomer Jana Kramer (center) recently visited the nationally syndicated Rick and Bubba Show.

Upcoming Singles
November 28
Shawna Russell/Waitin’ On Sunrise/Way Out West

December 5
Steve Holy/Until The Rain Stops/Curb
Taylor Swift/Ours/Big Machine

December 12
Josh Thompson/Comin’ Around/RCA

• • • • •

 

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Sugarland and Matt Nathanson/Run/Vanguard — 76
Chris Weaver Band/Go Easy On Me — 79

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Faith Hill/Come Home/Warner Bros./WMN — 177
George Strait/Love’s Gonna Make It Alright/MCA — 159
Sugarland and Matt Nathanson/Run/Vanguard — 139
Toby Keith/Red Solo Cup/Show Dog-Universal — 113
Zac Brown Band/Keep Me In Mind/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 95

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Faith Hill/Come Home/Warner Bros. — 12
George Strait/Love’s Gonna Make It Alright/MCA — 6
Rodney Atkins/He’s Mine/Curb — 5
Trace Adkins/Million Dollar View/Show Dog – Universal — 4
Sugarland and Matt Nathanson/Run/Vanguard — 4

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Her and Kings County/White Trash Country Boy/Warner Bros./WMN — 144
Joanna Mosca w/Richie McDonald/Where Does Good Love Go?/Dolce Diva Music — 144
Bill Gentry/This Letter/Tenacity Records — 136
Jackie Arredondo/Rockin’ the Trailer/Gold Voice — 135
Brent Anderson/Amy’s Song/Arista — 122

Skyville Records’ Stealing Angels performed the national anthem at a recent NASCAR race in Phoenix. The trio’s new single “Little Blue Sky” has just been released to radio. (L-R): Jennifer Wayne, Adam Jeffries (KJUG/Visalia-Tulare), Tayla Lynn and Caroline Cutbirth

Shelton “Free To Tweet”

Blake Shelton has added his name to the growing list of artists and celebrities speaking out in support of freedom of expression.

As part of the 1 for All campaign, Shelton will participate in “Free to Tweet,” a daylong online celebration of First Amendment rights on Dec. 15, Bill of Rights Day. During the tweetathon, all Americans are encouraged to tweet their support of the First Amendment and how they enjoy those freedoms, using the hashtag #FreeToTweet.

High school and college students nationwide are eligible to win one of twenty-two $5,000 scholarships by tweeting creatively about the First Amendment. More information is at FreeToTweet.org.

“Free speech comes naturally to Blake Shelton,” said Ken Paulson, president of the First Amendment Center and founder of 1 for All. “Candor and integrity are hallmarks of his career and we’re very pleased to have him join this effort.”

Ellen DeGeneres, John Mellencamp, Ke$ha and David Gregory are also among the performers, artists and journalists who have shown their support for the First Amendment through 1 for All.

Photos: Tracy Lawrence’s Turkey Fry & Danielle Peck’s Benefit Concert

Titans players Jordan Babineaux, Rob Bironas and Daniel Graham greeted Tracy Lawrence at the Nashville Rescue Mission with a donation of 100 turkeys to kick off his 6th annual “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry, which took place earlier today (11/23). Artists such as Restless Heart, American Idol’s Lacey Brown, The Roys and The McClymonts greeted those making turkey donations. The event’s goal was to help serve more than 7,000 meals. Since the launch of the “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry, Lawrence and his friends have donated more than 5,000 turkeys, served almost 35,000 meals and raised more than $100,000 for the Nashville Rescue Mission.

(L-R): Daniel Graham, Tracy Lawrence, Rob Bironas, and Jordan Babineaux. Photo: Andy Hubright

• • • •

There was a packed house at 3rd and Lindsley on Nov. 15 for a concert to benefit Safe Haven Family Shelter. Hosted by GAC’s Nan Kelley, the evening was full of great performances by organizer Danielle Peck, as well as Jamie O’Neal, Burns and Poe, The Roys, Julie Roberts, The North Pole Patrol and Ray Scott. Rob Bironas of the Tennessee Titans was also on hand to show his support for SHFS by signing and donating a Tennessee Titans Football for the auction. SHFS is currently hosting an online auction with memorabilia from artists such as Randy Travis, Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill, and Amy Grant. The auction can be accessed online at http://safehaven.kintera.org/daniellepeck. The auction will run through the end of the month.

(L-R): GAC's Nan Kelley, Burns & Poe, Ray Scott, Danielle Peck, Jamie O'Neal, and The Roys. Photo: Aaron Crisler / The Judy Nelon Group

Industry Ink Wednesday (11/23)

Nashville-based folk-pop band Humming House recently signed with ASCAP. Fresh from recording their upcoming debut album with Grammy-winning producers Vance Powell (The White Stripes, Chris Thile, Buddy Guy) and Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay), Humming House’s single "Cold Chicago" is available on iTunes. Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Jesse Willoughby, Humming House's Mike Butera, Justin Wade Tam, Ben Jones, Josh Wolak, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, RPM's Amanda Fletcher. Photo: Anna Maki

Danny Gokey and Sony Music Nashville have parted ways.

• After a 20+ year career, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Mark D. Sanders has released his first album. History & Hope showcases some of his most personal songs, many of which are previously unreleased. Sanders has penned 14 No. 1 hits, including “I Hope You Dance,” co-written with Tia Sillers.

Amy Duggar from the popular TLC show "19 Kids and Counting" was in Nashville recently recording and preparing for her first music showcase. (L-R) Amy Duggar, Shirley Hutchins, and Amy's manager Ron Woolman

• Flat Earth Music has signed songwriter Dan Isbell. Flat Earth Creative Director Todd Wilkes is overseeing development of the budding tunesmith.

• The Academy of Country Music Stage at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will host performances by Chancey Williams & The Younger Brothers Band, Roger Creager, The Dirt Drifters, Brett Eldredge, JT Hodges, Steve Holy and James Wesley.  The event runs Dec. 1-10 in Las Vegas.

• Songwriter Gretchen Peters wrote an insightful essay about her transgendered son which was published by the Huffington Post.

• The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) took a panel of industry experts to Murray State University for the second installment of an ongoing initiative called “College of Knowledge.” The session was emceed by NATD President Steve Tolman and moderated by NATD Directors Tony Conway and Ed Bazel. Panelists included Sherrill Blackman (SDB Music Group), Paul Compton (The Song Writer Agency), Chris Carpenter (artist/writer), Lyndsey Highlander (artist/writer), Pat Finch (Southern Crossroads Publishing), Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), Jeff Howard (APA), Kate Dore (Outback Concerts), Brandon Mauldin (Ontourage Management), Julie Roberts (recording artist), Shelly Mullins (Webster & Associates Public Relations), Clyde Bright (Collinsworth Bright & Co.) and Karen Kane (Sony Records). How did the troupe travel to Murray State? A tour bus, of course.

NATD Board Presents “College of Knowledge” Scholarship to student Sydney Guilliams (L-R): Randi Perkins, Bonnie Sugarman, Tony Conway, Guilliams, Steve Tolman, Carrie Moore-Reed, Ed Bazel

 

 

Android Ice Cream Sandwich Coming Soon?

There’s a new 4G phone about to debut and it runs on something that sounds like dessert for Thanksgiving dinner, Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). That’s the name of the latest–and greatest–new Android operating system, 4.0 that is included as part of the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

The new phone packs a beefy 4.65 inch display while keeping very compact dimensions at the same time. The screen size is one of the largest yet, especially when compared with the 3.5” iPhone 4s display. According to reviewers, the new Android system has greatly improved and simplified many of the everyday tasks making the phone more friendly overall.

This phone was released a few days ago in the U.K and is scheduled to be released in the U.S. via Verizon before year end. Rumors say that Verizon will rename the phone Nexus Prime. One of the more talked about features on this unit is its facial recognition software to unlock it.

Unfortunately, the Wall Street Journal’s Katherine Boehret said, “I found the facial-recognition feature to be unreliable. To set this up, I held the Galaxy Nexus up as if I was about to take a photo of myself with the front-facing camera, and a traced image of my face appeared on the screen. I also set up a back-up unlocking option: tracing a pattern on the screen. Whenever I wanted to use the phone, I held it up to my face and if facial recognition worked, it unlocked. But this only worked half the time, sometimes because of low lighting, whether outside at night, in restaurants or even in my own kitchen. Other times it just didn’t recognize me.”

Overall however, Boehret noted, “If you’ve been curious about Android, the release of Ice Cream Sandwich will mark a good time to jump in.”

Wednesday Photos

Show Dog—Universal Music’s JT Hodges recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

(L-R) Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher, Hodges and SDU President Mark Wright

•••

BMI and the Basement teamed up again to present the latest installment of BMI Buzz on Nov. 2. Snapshot sets from Charlene Marie, Brandon Rhyder, Ann Marie, and CALEB fueled the quarterly showcase, which exemplifies BMI’s and the Basement’s commitment to developing songwriting talent in all genres.

(L-R) BMI’s Mark Mason and Jody Williams; Brandon Rhyder; CALEB’s Scott Mills, Caleb Chapman, and Will Chapman; and BMI’s Bradley Collins.

Rodney Atkins To Kick-Off The Holidays With TV Performances

Curb Records’ Rodney Atkins will kick off his Thanksgiving celebration a day early making an appearance tonight (11/23) on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon at 12:35 AM/ET. Accompanied by the Fallon house band, The Roots, Atkins will perform his latest No. 1 and the title track of his new album, “Take A Back Road.”

Following his Late Night performance, he will join TODAY Show’s Al Roker tomorrow morning (11/24) at 7 AM/ET, and later perform in The 85th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC.

Post-Thanksgiving, Atkins will continue to ring in the holiday season with a performance Dec. 1 at the 89th Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting, live from Washington, D.C. The event will air on PBS and be streamed live at www.thenationaltree.org.

In addition to his upcoming television appearances, People magazine spotlights the singer in this week’s edition. Atkins opens up to the publication about his adoption and the emotional moment when he was reunited with his birth mother.

Indiana State Fair Victims File Comprehensive Suit

Sugarland returned to Indianapolis Oct. 28 for a free concert at Conseco Fieldhouse to raise money for victims of the state fair tragedy.

Sugarland, show producers, and stage riggers are among those named in the most comprehensive lawsuit yet stemming from the Indiana State Fair tragedy, according to the AP. Bringing suit are forty-four survivors and the family members of four people who died during the Aug. 13 disaster. The report states:

Attorneys representing at least 20 law firms across Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky filed the complaint alleging breach of reasonable care to the victims in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis….Sugarland’s contract specified the act had the final say on whether to cancel the concert due to weather, plaintiff’s attorney Mario Massillamany said in a news release.

Other lawsuits and legal actions are ongoing, some of which name the state of Indiana. According to the AP, a state administered fund has paid about $564,000 to 28 people, and has about $400,000 more to pay. Indiana law puts a $5 million cap on the state’s liability for damages from the stage collapse.

Country Sales: Six Weeks Remain

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, so I’m going to be brief and promise this year not to wing it with the holiday puns. Everyone is too busy stuffing holiday bins trying to get a leg up for the upcoming black Friday sales to suffer the gobble gobble jokes. If you’ve been keeping a-breast of our weekly sales reports then you’ve noticed the fowl downward direction that our YTD comparisons have been taking since the week of 10-23. Oh how the mighty have tumbled into a cranberry bog! Country album sales YTD have been carved from a surplus of 9.3% one month ago, to our present 1.4% increase. All genre sales are doing slightly better, still ahead 2.8%.

The squashed numbers are easy to explain, we just haven’t had enough product this year to match the plate full of releases we had at this time last year, and that’s it. For example, last year at this time we had debuts from Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban who together sold almost 325,000 units. Still we should be Thankful because there are encouraging signs on the horizon especially in the tracks department, but wait let’s not jump to dessert before the main course.

Country album sales are topped by Idol phenom Scotty McCreery who shifted over 33,000 units to land at No. 1. Lady Antebellum (32,000), Miranda Lambert (28,000), Luke Bryan (22,000) and Jason Aldean (21,000) round out the Top 5. David Nail has the only Top 10 country album debut this week scanning about 13,000. Taylor Swift’s CD/DVD live package is in the racks now, so we’ll get some numbers next week. No idea where that will land, but it’s going to be hard to offset the continued decline in country’s YTD album tally.

For those counting we have six more weeks to complete the year. To equal last year’s total (43.720 million) we need to sell an additional 9.2214 million units or an average of 1.535 million for each of the remaining six weeks. (Last week we sold 829k).

Talking Turkey
If you’re not winning, why not challenge the system measuring your results? And in fact, readers of this column know this writer’s desire to have Nielsen SoundScan create country and overall TEA (track equivalent albums) charts in time for next year. (It would be a great Christmas present!)

YTD country has sold 128 million tracks. That’s a TEA of almost 13 million albums, almost a 40% increase if added to country album sales. That is significant and either is or should be profitable. Some people will find this upsetting to hear, but get over it—tracks are the new albums with respect to sales.

Need more convincing? This week’s top five country track positions were filled by Toby Keith “Red Solo Cup” (58k), Luke Bryan “…Night To End” (56k), Taylor Swift “Movie” (52k), “Ours” (47k), and Blake Shelton “God Gave Me You” (42k). Added together that is 255,000 tracks or over 25,000 TEA albums. Total country tracks this week hit 2.56 million or a quarter million albums!

Have you tried the new Google Music offering yet? Join me at +davidmross or tweet @davidmross and let me know your reaction.

A special HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all. Your readership means so much to me. Thank You so much for your support. Best to you and yours—have a great holiday!

A Skaggs Family Christmas Comes To Nashville

(L-R): Sharon White Skaggs, Buck White, Rachel Leftwich, Ricky Skaggs, Cheryl White, Luke Skaggs and Molly Skaggs. Photo: Erick Anderson

A Skaggs Family Christmas will bring the holiday spirit to Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Thursday, December 22 at 7 pm. Members of the Skaggs and White families will combine for an ensemble performance of bluegrass-inspired holiday favorites and originals backed by Jim Gray and the Nashville Session Players.

The 15-member group will feature Skaggs, his wife Sharon, their children Luke and Molly, Buck and Cheryl White with Cheryl’s daughter Rachel, plus Kentucky Thunder and guests. This is the ninth year for A Skaggs Family Christmas to tour during the holiday season, and this year’s itinerary includes Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, The Paramount Theater, Music Center at Strathmore, Tennessee Theatre, Honeywell Center, Niswonger Performing Arts Center of NW Ohio, Smokey Mountain Performing Arts Center and wraps with the Nashville performance at the Schermerhorn. Get tickets here.

“We started singing these songs in our living room ages ago,” explains Sharon. “We had no idea that we would ever take this show to so many different places.”

Additionally, Ricky Skaggs and the Whites will sign autographs at the Country Music Hall of Fame store this Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2 pm as part of the museum’s “Deck The Hall” program.