2006-2007 CMA Board

Sarah Gilbert – 10/26/2006

The Country Music Association held the annual Board of Directors election meeting in Nashville this week for the new Board beginning Nov. 7, the day after the 2006 CMA Awards. Taking over as President of the Board is Clarence Spalding, President of Spalding Entertainment. The new CMA Board Chairman will be Mike Dungan. Also serving as Officers of the Board for the 2006-2007 term are President-Elect Randy Goodman, President Lyric Street Records; and Secretary/Treasurer Tim Wipperman, Chief Creative Officer Equity Music Group.
CMA Directors: Jeff Walker, Aristo Media/Marco Promotions; Kix Brooks, B&D, Inc.; Trace Adkins; Brett James, Cornman Music; Tim Nichols, THIS Music; Ron Sakamoto, Gold & Gold Productions, Alberta, Canada; Paul Fenn, Asgard Promotions LTD, London; Gary Overton, EMI Music Publishing; Tim Wipperman, Equity Music Group; Clint Higham, Morris Management Group; Clarence Spalding, Spalding Entertainment; Victor Sansone, ABC Radio Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.; Becky Brenner, KMPS-FM, CBS Seattle, Seattle, Wash.; Rusty Walker, Rusty Walker Programming Consultant, Inc., Iuka, Miss.; Luke Lewis, UMG Nashville; Randy Goodman, Lyric Street Records; Sue Peterson, Target Stores, Minneapolis, Minn.; Tony Conway, Buddy Lee Attractions; Steve Buchanan, Gaylord Entertainment; Brian O'Connell, Live Nation; Brian Philips, CMT; Kitty Moon Emery, Moll Anderson Home; Paul Corbin. Lifetime Directors: J. William Denny, National Tape & Disc., Inc.; Ralph Peer II, peermusic, Novato, Calif.; Frances Preston, New York, NY.
Directors At Large: Amy Abrahams, Weiden+Kennedy, New York, NY; Bruce Allen, Bruce Allen Talent, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Charlie Anderson, Anderson Merchandisers, Knoxville, Tenn.; Mick Anselmo, Clear Channel, Minneapolis, Minn.; Bill Bennett, Warner Bros. Records; Connie Bradley, ASCAP; Barry Coburn, Ten Ten Music Group, Inc.; Charlie Cook, Cumulus Media, Atlanta, Ga.; Jay DeMarcus, Rascal Flatts; Bob DiPiero, Love Monkey Music/Sony/ATV Songs; Tim DuBois, Universal South; Mike Dungan, Capitol Nashville; Larry Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Hartley Co.; Jim Free, Smith-Free Group, Washington, D.C.; Joe Galante, SonyBMG Nashville; Dick Gary, The Gary Group, Santa Monica, Calif.; Troy Gentry, Montgomery Gentry; John Grady; Ed Hardy, Great American Country; Lon Helton, Country Aircheck; Pat Higdon, Universal Music Publishing; John Huie, Creative Artist Agency; Clay Hunnicutt, WSIX Clear Channel Communications; Wade Jessen, Billboard/Radio & Records; TK Kimbrell, TKO Artist Management; Kim Kosak, Chevrolet Motor Division, General Motors, Detroit, Mich.; Ken Levitan, Vector Management; Eric Logan, XM Satellite Radio, Washington, D.C.; JD May, ECHO Music; Mike Moore, KWJJ-FM Entercom Communications, Portland, OR; Steve Moore, AEG Live; Rob Potts, Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, Sydney, Australia; John Rich, Big & Rich; David Ross, Music Row Publications, Inc.; Rick Shipp, William Morris Agency; James Stroud, UMG Nashville; Jody Williams, BMI; Jim Yerger, Broken Bow Records

Dierks Debut Leads Country Sales

David Ross – 10/26/2006

Dierks Bentley’s Long Trip Alone stormed into the No. 1 country position with debut week sales scanning 82,448 copies and beating first week sales from last year’s album by about 10%. Also in debut news: Vince Gill’s box set reached the No. 4 spot with 42,187 units sold and Lonestar closed out the Top 10 with 22,105 units in sales. Bentley’s Capitol outing also earned him Top 5 honors on the Top 200 sales list which was topped by No.1 and No. 3 debuts respectively from Diddy (170,483 units) and JOJO (108,053 units).

Universal South Restructuring

David Ross – 10/26/2006

“I can’t confirm anything now,” Universal South Senior Partner Tim DuBois told Music Row yesterday afternoon (10/24). “There is no official word.” Rumors have swirled on Music Row during the past few weeks, including that DuBois had unsuccessfully tried to buy Universal South from Universal. Universal South is a joint venture label that was formed almost a full five years ago with Tony Brown and Tim DuBois in 2002. The label roster includes Joe Nichols, Katrina Elam, Matthew West, Shooter Jennings, Rockie Lynn and others. Speculation is that DuBois will exit and Brown, in light of his 18+ years of previous Universal service at MCA, will retain a position inside the Universal family. As many as three major label groups may be involved in this spin of Nashville’s executive turntable, but we'll have to wait for contracts to be signed, plans firmed and the appropriate staffs informed before it can be revealed.

Dixie Chicks Help Environment

Michelle Ross – 10/26/2006

The Dixie Chicks will make their Accidents & Accusations tour carbon neutral. For any CO2 put out into the environment by tour transportation, and even fans driving to and from concerts, the Chicks will donate money to protect enough rainforest to neutralize the damage done to the environment. The fall North American leg kicks off Oct. 27 in Ottawa and wraps Dec. 5 in Dallas.

Deana Carter And Heart Performances

Michelle – 10/26/2006

Deana Carter and Heart are set to perform on CBS’ Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson to sing “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” a song they will also perform at the Nov. 5 Songs Of The Year concert in Nashville. Also, Hank Williams, Jr., Josh Turner and Jason Aldean have joined the concert lineup.

MuzikMafia TV on CMT.com

Michelle Ross – 10/26/2006

The new made-for-broadband series, MuzikMafia TV will premiere Tuesdays on CMT.com. The shows will feature Gretchen Wilson, Big Kenny, John Rich, Cowboy Troy, Two Foot Fred, James Otto, Jon Nicholson, Chance and guest appearances by Billy Joe Shaver, John Anderson, Willie Nelson and others. MuzikMafia TV attempts to bring viewers into the backstage world in short-form episodes. CMT Loaded will debut a new episode each week over 10 consecutive weeks.

Urban Previews Upcoming Album

Michelle – 10/26/2006

Keith Urban will preview his new album Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing on Nov. 6 on Sirius Satellite Radio (channel 60) before the album's release on Nov. 7. The preview will include an interview with Urban about each new song along with one track from his new CD played each hour. It starts on Mon., Nov. 6 at 11 p.m. and all day Tues., Nov. 7.

Publicists—The Independent Squeeze

Part Two

Shrinking retainer fees and a general lack of respect are among the top concerns of independent publicists working in Nashville. Many also say out of town publicists are over-valued by artists and their handlers.

In last week’s column, the...

Publicists—Hardest Working & Most Undervalued?

Part One

Publicists are among the hardest-working people in the music industry. But to hear them tell it, they’re also the most undervalued and underpaid, are routinely saddled with blame when things go wrong, and must constantly battle label bosses, artist...

Flicka’s Opening Weekend

Sarah Gilbert – 10/24/2006

Flicka, starring Tim McGraw, opened in fifth place at the box office last weekend. The 20th Century Fox release earned $7.70 million. It had stiff competition, including The Prestige which opened at No. 1, earning $14.80 million during its first three days.