Marla Cannon-Goodman Celebrates No. 1

04/25/2008

Rodney Atkins joined Marla Cannon-Goodman in celebrating their recent No. 1 hit “Cleaning This Gun, Come On In Boy.”

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Pat Rolfe, co-writer Casey Beathard, Cannon-Goodman, ASCAP's Herky Williams and Atkins. Photo: Rory White

Beat The Blues This Sunday (4/27)

04/25/2008

Emerson Drive stopped by FOX Tennessee Mornings to promote their performance at Jammin’ to Beat the Blues, a benefit for the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Association, at the Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, April 27. The band also performed a brand new song, “The Extra Mile,” from their forthcoming album scheduled for release later this Fall.

Pictured (L-R): TN Mornings’ Charlie Chase and Kelly Suttons with Emerson Drive’s Brad Mates, Danick Dupelle, David Pichette, Dale Wallace and Mike Melancon.

Americana To Honor John Hiatt

John Hiatt will receive the Americana Music Association’s 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting on Thurs., Sept. 18 during the organization’s 7th Annual Honors & Awards at the Ryman Auditorium. “It’s a privilege to honor John...

Industry News Friday (4/25/08)

Artists who performed on the 2008 CMT Music Awards experienced significant digital sales bump following the April 14 show. According to Soundscan, Alan Jackson (“Good Time” +345%), Tim McGraw (“I Need You” +238%) and LeAnn...

Texas Tea Party on the Road to the CMA Music Festival

04/24/2008

While in San Antonio performing on the Road to the CMA Music Festival Presented by Tetley® Iced Tea Tour, Darryl Worley and Jennifer Hanson met with Tetley® Iced Tea executives, KCYY Radio staff members and contest winners. During the next ten days the tour will stop in Orlando, St. Petersburg, Charlotte, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Raleigh.

Pictured (L-R): Kyle Quigley, CMA Sr. Mgr. Strategic Mktg. Initiatives; Fred Niedbalski, Sales Mgr. Tetley USA; Hanson; KCYY contest winner; KCYY contest winner; Worley; Kris Winston, KCYY morning show personality; and Mick Jardon, Brand Energy.

Ten Years After: America & Digital Music

David M. Ross – 04/24/2008

At Leadership Music Digital Summit (4/22) NPD Group VP/Sr. Industry Analyst Russ Crupnick presented a compelling entertainment industry look titled, Ten Years After: America & Digital Music. Crupnick had sobering statistics for the industry audience, but started with some good news. “Music consumption has grown by 32% between 2003 and 2007,” he stated. “People are acquiring and enjoying more music.”

According to NPD, the percentage of paid (legal) CD and digital downloads has been falling at an accelerating rate: 2003—60%, 2006—50% and 2007—40%. Not surprisingly, P2P illegal downloads have swelled from 2.5 billion songs in 2004 to 7.5 billion in 2007. “Clearly a new paradigm is needed,” Crupnick warned.

Urging increased attention toward marketing the shiny disk format (CD) during this era of digital transition Crupnick said optimistically, “The CD can still be a cash cow not a mad cow.”

Todd Cassetty Welding Service Makes Swift Launch

Sarah Skates – 04/24/2008

Todd Cassetty

Video production company Todd Cassetty Welding Service, LLC (TCWS) is launching with the release of On The Set With Taylor Swift: Picture To Burn, premiering Thurs., April 24 (8 PM/CT) on GAC. TCWS will provide all aspects of video production services to create programming for the television industry.

Cassetty started interactive marketing company Hi-Fi Fusion seven years ago, marrying video with new media. Hi-Fi’s in-house resources rapidly expanded to include shooting and editing of video content, primarily for online streaming, and creation of enhanced content for CD and DVD formats. Says Cassetty, “Our expertise in shooting, editing and graphic design expanded over time and paralleled my increased involvement as a board member of the Nashville Film Festival. My personal interest in telling stories through video grew from there, and starting a production company was the next logical move. We’re thrilled that our first program will not only air nationally but feature formidable subject Taylor Swift.”

On The Set With Taylor Swift: Picture To Burn was produced with the help of TV veterans including David Rumsey (Can You Duet, Nashville Star) and Pat Isbey (Nashville Star).

Rodney Atkins and Casey Beathard Clean Guns

04/24/2008

Music Row well-wishers gathered on BMI’s rooftop April 23 in Nashville to toast BMI songwriters Casey Beathard and Rodney Atkins on the recent success of their collaboration, “Cleaning This Gun.” Co-written by Beathard and recorded by Atkins, the tune rested atop the charts for three consecutive weeks.

Pictured (L-R): Atkins with son Elijah, producer Ted Hewitt, co-writer Marla Cannon-Goodman, Beathard, Curb’s Kelly Lynn and Drew Alexander, Sony ATV’s Terry Wakefield and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Alan Mayor

Music and Technology Converge at Leadership Music Digital Summit

The fourth annual Leadership Music Digital Summit attracted more than 500 attendees—a 5% increase from last year—for the day-long seminar dedicated to the business, creative and legal issues of digital music.

Held...

Can I Really Ditch A Record Label?

An afternoon panel at the Leadership Music Digital Summit explored the possibilities of indie artists releasing music without record label support. The DIY strategy can be successful, but hinges largely on the artist’s definition of...