Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2007

The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced the 2007 class of Leadership Bluegrass. The three-day interactive program is made up of advanced learning experiences which examine the challenges and opportunities facing the genre, as...

Cole Deggs & The Lonesome Visit KTST/KXXY

01/17/2007

Columbia Nashville band Cole Deggs & The Lonesome paid a visit to Oklahoma City’s KTST (The Twister) and KXXY (96.1 KXY) while promoting their debut single, “I Got More.” Pictured (L-R): KTST/KXXY MD Bill Reed; the band’s Cole Deggs, Shade Deggs, Jimmy Wallace, David Wallace and Brian Hayes; and KTST PD Tom Travis.

Digital Sales Reach $2 Billion; IFPI Calls On ISPs

David M Ross – 01/17/2007

Digital music sales are estimated to have doubled in 2006 reaching a worldwide value of about $2 billion, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The new value represents about 10% of all music sales. The report also says that single track downloads increased 89% to 795 milliion. IFPI Chairman and CEO John Kennedy said, "The record industry today has evolved into a digital thinking, digitally literate business. By 2010 we expect at least one quarter of all music sales worldwide to be digital. The chief winners in the rise of digital music are consumers. They have effectively been given access to 24-hour music stores with unlimited shelf space. They can consume music in new ways and formats - an iTunes download, a video on YouTube, a ringtone or a subscription library. Yet the market remains a challenge. Other industries, such as film and newspapers, are struggling with the same problems that we have had to live with. As an industry we are enforcing our rights decisively in the fight against piracy and this will continue. However, we should not be doing this job alone. With cooperation from ISPs we could make huge strides in tackling internet piracy globally. It is very unfortunate that it seems to need pressure from governments or even action in the courts to achieve this, but as an industry we are determined to see this campaign through to the end."

Brett James Partners With Stage Three

Sarah Gilbert Skates – 01/17/2007

Brett James

Hit songwriter Brett James and Stage Three Music have entered into a long-term worldwide co-publishing agreement and have also partnered to form a new publishing company. As part of the agreement, Stage Three will acquire co-publishing rights to James' back catalog, particularly the hits "Jesus, Take the Wheel," "When the Sun Goes Down," "You Save Me," "Love You Out Loud," and "Drugs or Jesus." James, who shared ASCAP Songwriter of the Year honors with Rivers Rutherford in 2006, will focus on signing and developing songwriters for the new joint venture. Stage Three's Nashville office is home to songwriters Bobby Pinson, Steve Leslie, and Jon Mabe and is headed by GM Tim Hunze with Missy Roberts serving as Creative Director.

On a sad note, Brett's father, Sam Cornelius, passed away last night (1/16/07) in Oklahoma City. Visitation will be Sun., Jan. 21 at the Vondel L. Smith & Sons Mortuary, 6934 Southwestern St., OKC, OK 73139. The funeral will be Mon., Jan. 22 at First Southern Baptist Church, 6400 South Sooner Road, Del City, OK.

On/Off Satellite Radio Merger

David M Ross – 01/17/2007

The merger of XM and Sirius satellite radio companies—once thought to be impossible—may be slowly moving toward reality, according to speculation in the Wall Street Journal (1/17). Getting the blessing of the Federal Communications Commission however, still presents a formidable hurdle to be crossed. The argument that Sat broadcasters face new competitors such as HD radio and the iPod is gaining traction, lessening the fear that a merger would be anti-competitive. Barton Crockett, a J.P. Morgan analyst told the WSJ, “XM executives have softened their public posture. To my mind that is a strong indication that they are open to this, at least attempting it.” Controlling costs has been a seemingly impossible task for both Sirius and XM. A merger would help achieve economies of scale that hopefully would lead to greater profitability.

Later yesterday (1/17) however, FCC Chariman Kevin Martin reiterated that the satellite licenses forbid a merger between the two licensees. The statement sent the two sat-casters’ stocks plunging. Some analysts still believe that a softening of the rules and subsequent merger is not out of the question.

Urban Back on Road in April

Sarah Gilbert Skates – 01/16/2007

Keith Urban’s Love, Pain & the whole crazy World Tour is set to kick-off in April with a short run of club shows in the United Kingdom and Germany. In May the tour will move to arenas in Australia, before heading to North America in June for more arena shows in the United States and Canada. Dates and other specific details are still being finalized, but further announcements are expected in the coming weeks. Urban’s latest album, Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing, was released on Nov. 7.

High Times And Hangovers 2007

Sarah Gilbert Skates – 01/16/2007

Dierks Bentley and Cross Canadian Ragweed are set for their third annual High Times And Hangovers tour during the first part of February. The nine city club run includes stops in college towns throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Bentley says he and CCR plan to play mostly old country cover songs and a few of their own hits. After wrapping up the tour, Bentley will travel to the Daytona International Speedway to perform at NASCAR's annual Budweiser Shootout, being broadcast live Feb. 10 on Fox.

Strait Talk

Sarah Gilbert Skates – 01/16/2007

George Strait has given a rare interview to USA Weekend magazine and will appear on the cover of its Jan. 19-21 issue. The country superstar appears as part of the publication’s “American Icon” series which has previously featured Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. Senior Writer Dennis McCafferty conducted the interview and says that Strait was “very affable and charming.” USA Weekend is carried in 600 U.S. newspapers, and commands more than 23 million in circulation.

Josh Gracin with KAJA “Two Guys”

01/16/2007

Josh Gracin interviewed with KAJA/San Antonio's "Two Guys In The Morning" Clayton Allen (L) and Randy Carroll (R) while backstage at the Wheel of Fortune "Country Music Week" set in Charleston, SC.

Baccerstick Builds Team

Sarah Gilbert Skates – 01/16/2007

New indie label Baccerstick Records has tapped CO5 Nashville, a division of CO5 Music, to oversee all national radio initiatives for its upcoming Jason Meadows project. Baccerstick will release Meadows' first single, “100% Cowboy,” on Jan. 22. The song is the title cut from his album scheduled to be in stores May 15. The CO5 team members and their territories are David Newmark, National/Northeast (factor@CO5Music.com); Trudie Richardson, Southeast (trudie@CO5Music.com); Darlene Starr, South/Midwest (Darlene@CO5Music.com); and “Bubba” Wayne McManners, West (bubbawayne@CO5Music.com). In addition, Holley-Guidry Public Relations & Marketing will be handling PR duties and strategic sponsorship marketing. Holley-Guidry team members include Randy Guidry, Partner (randy@holleyguidry.com) and Debbie Holley, Partner (debbie@holleyguidry.com). Meadows was the first runner-up on season three of Nashville Star. The label is located at 1311 16th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37212. Ph: (615)463-8339 or Email: info@baccerstick.com.