The Highway Girl Does “Ring of Fire”

Samantha Murphy

Indie artist and Internet pioneer Samantha Murphy, also known as The Highway Girl, partnered with licensing and royalty service RightsFlow to raise awareness for Limelight, a service that assists artists with clearance for cover songs for release.

Murphy wrote, produced and is featured in the informational video “Ring of Fire,” which explains how the Limelight service assists artists in securing the necessary mechanical licenses and pay royalties to songwriters and publishers.

“I wanted to record a version of this Johnny Cash song for years,” Murphy explains. “Limelight provided the solution for my licensing needs and allowed me to finally record this amazing song.”

CMT will add Murphy’s music video for “Ring of Fire” to their Wide Open Country program this week.  Murphy produced the song, from her forthcoming album Some Assembly Required, with multi-Grammy-winning producer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle).

“Samantha is the rare combination of accomplished musician, technology advocate and champion for artists and songwriters.  She has produced not only a compelling video that highlights Limelight’s ease-of-use, but has also delivered a memorable version of Johnny Cash’s classic “Ring of Fire.” We are extremely grateful for her talents, passion and vision for this incredible song,” said Michael Kauffman, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Rightsflow.  The video premiered on both the Limelight and Highway Girl websites and is available through various channels and social networks in order to create awareness and education within the musician community.

Vezner Has An App

Grammy winning songwriter Jon Vezner has aptitiude. His new music video, “I’ve Got An App For That” co-written with Si Kahn highlights what may be becoming an addiction for millions of people worldwide.

The music video, created by filmmaker Louise Woehrie of Whirlygig Productions is inspired by Vezner’s wry humor and deadpan persona. Using a traveling minstrel theme, Woehrie joined forces with co-director/editor Chip Johnson and graphic designer Casey Burres to bring the tale to life as Vezner dons his troubador hat to comment and commiserate with fellow app addicts about life on the cutting tech trail.

Best Lawyers Recognizes Horsnell and Sullivan

Christian Horsnell

Best Lawyers has named Christian Horsnell of Milom Joyce Horsnell Crow PLC in the area of Intellectual Property Law; and Robert Sullivan of Loeb & Loeb in the area of Entertainment Law as Lawyers of the Year from the Nashville entertainment community. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored annually. Both attorneys are also listed in the current edition of MusicRow’s directory, InCharge.

Robert Sullivan

According to the company, “Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The current, 17th edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2011) is based on more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

“The lawyers being honored as ‘Lawyers of the Year’ have received particularly high ratings in our surveys by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.”

Initial MerleFest Lineup Announced

MerleFest 2011 has announced their initial lineup, slated for April 28th – May 1st, 2011. Doc Watson will host the artists at the Wilkes Community College campus in Wilkesboro, N.C., in celebration of what Doc refers to as “traditional-plus” music—the unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass, old-time music, Americana, country, “plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.”

Merlefest will feature 90 artists on 14 stages including Lyle Lovett, the Del McCoury Band, Tim O’Brien, the Alison Brown Quartet, Corb Lund, the Sam Bush Band, Cadillac Sky, the Doobie Brothers and Jim Lauderdale.

“The MerleFest 2011 lineup offers an incredibly exciting, diverse and talented group of musicians, which is always our mission as a festival,” comments Festival Director Ted Hagaman. “Another goal this year is to give our festival attendees up-to-the-minute information about lineup additions and other aspects of MerleFest. As new artists are added, we will share that information immediately through our social media venues.  So, staying in touch with us via our website (www.merlefest.org), Facebook and Twitter is crucial!”

On November 4th at 8:00 p.m. EST, public radio station WNCW will air a special devoted to the artists of MerleFest 2011. Fans from around the globe can listen live at www.wncw.org.

The MerleFest box office will open for 2011 ticket sales on Tuesday, November 9, at 2:00 p.m. EST. Ticket purchases can be made on the web at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. An early bird ticket discount is available through March 13, 2011.

MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College Endowment Corporation and a celebration of “traditional plus” music.

Broken Bow Signs Cook; Blackmon in ASCAP’s SCORES Program

Pictured (L-R): BBR’s A&R/Artist Development Tina Crawford, Magic Mustang’s Creative Director Juli Newton-Griffith, BBR CEO/President Benny Brown and Kristy Lee Cook.

Broken Bow Signs Kristy Lee Cook

Broken Bow Records announced the signing of Kristy Lee Cook to a recording and publishing deal on Broken Bow Music and Magic Mustang Music.

Singer-songwriter Cook, who appeared on the seventh season of American Idol, is also known for her work as a host for The Outdoor Channel’s Outdoor’s 10 Best and Versus’ Goin’ Country.

“Kristy Lee Cook has a natural talent and beauty that is very captivating,” says Benny Brown, Broken Bow Records’ CEO/President. “She has so much going on and is so passionate about her music, we are thrilled to sign her to our Broken Bow roster.”

Jason Aldean is my favorite country artist,” enthuses Cook.  “To be on the same label as Jason is truly a dream come true!  I feel like everything has fallen into place and I am now going to get a real shot at my music career.  I am so thankful and excited about my future.”

Odie Blackmon

Odie Blackmon Gives Back in ASCAP’s America SCORES Program

Grammy-nominated songwriter Odie Blackmon has enrolled in ASCAP’s Songwriter Residency at America SCORES, a national songwriting mentorship program. This program gives ASCAP writers and composers the opportunity to give back to their communities through engaging and inspiring inner-city children through songwriting and recording.

Through the program, ASCAP members collaborate with children over three sessions, co-writing a song and recording it in a professional studio. Blackmon will lead songwriting classes with kids in the St. Louis area and will record the songs at Shock City Studios. The finished song will be included on ASCAP’s compilation CD, which will be distributed to each of the schools involved in the program and to music industry decision makers.

Blackmon’s number one hits include George Strait’s “She’ll Leave You With a Smile,” Lee Ann Womack’s  “I May Hate Myself In The Morning,” and Gary Allan’s “Nothing On But The Radio.” He has been honored with three ASCAP song awards, a Nashville Songwriter Association International Award, and Billboard Magazine distinguished him as #1 Hot Country Songwriter in 2005. Blackmon is a Lecturer of Music at Vanderbilt University.

“I’m very thankful to get this chance to share my passion for music with the kids in St. Louis,” Blackmon says. “I hope to plant seeds there that will grow long after I am gone.”

Music City Walk of Fame Inductees Announced

Music City Inc. announced the inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: Eddy Arnold, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Hebb, Kris Kristofferson, Rascal Flatts and Mel Tillis.

This eighth class of honorees will be recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, November 7th, at the Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South. The induction ceremony, which begins at 2:00 p.m., will be sponsored by Great American Country (GAC) and is free and open to the public.

Produced with the support of Gibson Guitar, GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks, The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB). “We are pleased to honor this amazing class of inductees,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the NCVB. “Each honoree represents the immense talent, creativity and diversity that have made Nashville Music City.”

The Music City Walk of Fame, located on Nashville’s Music Mile, was created in 2006 in tribute to musicians from all genres who have have preserved the musical heritage of Nashville while contributing to the world through song or other industry collaboration. After the induction of the eight class of honorees, there will be 48 total stars along the Walk of Fame.

Nominations in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive were open to the public, and application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame anonymous selection committee.

Sunny in California, Nichols in Indianapolis & Nail in Milwaukee

Pictured (L-R): Republic Nashville's Lois Lewis, K-FROG OM/PD Lee Douglas and Sunny Sweeney.

Republic Nashville artist Sunny Sweeney hit the California coast, celebrating her current single, “From a Table Away,” the highest charting debut single from a female artist since 2007’s Kellie Pickler.

Pictured (L-R): SDU’s Jordan Pettit, Hank Promotions Director Lisa Aigner, Joe Nichols, and Hank PD Bob Richards.

Show Dog artist Joe Nichols visited Hank FM in Indianapolis, supporting his current single, “The Shape I’m In.”

Pictured (L-R): WMIL MD J.D. Green, Nail and VP National Promotion Van Haze

MCA’s David Nail stopped in the WMIL studio in Milwaukee while on the road with Lady Antebellum.

SESAC Ups Riggle, Signs Rickman

Gregory Riggle

Gregory Riggle has been promoted to Vice President, Industry Relations & Business Communication at SESAC. Riggle, who was formerly Associate Vice President, Broadcast Licensing, started his career with SESAC in 1986 in the Broadcast Licensing Department before serving as Vice President in the Writer/Publisher Relations Department. Riggle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Recording Industry Management from Middle Tennessee State University.

“Greg Riggle has played an integral part in the growth and success of SESAC over the years,” says Pat Collins, President/COO, SESAC. “He has demonstrated the ability to grasp the long term vision of the organization and has successfully implemented strategies that have propelled SESAC’s remarkable growth. Greg is the consummate innovative executive and the ideal person to helm this multi-industry initiative to forge new relationships that will benefit our licensees and affiliated composers and music publishers. I look forward to working more closely with Greg in pursuing important new music business avenues and continuing our success into the future.”

•••

SESAC has signed singer/songwriter Brandon Rickman for representation. Rickman, the lead singer and guitarist of the Lonesome River Band, released a solo project titled Young Man, Old Soul last year.

Pictured (from l-r): SESAC’s Amy Beth Hale, Rickman and SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Peyton Hoge

Performance Royalty Consensus Still Elusive

The debate between radio and the record labels over the payment of performance royalties continues to slog through a quagmire of conflicting views. Inside Radio recently conducted an unscientific poll which shows that 75% of its readers  believe, “It’s a tactical error to concede that radio should pay for the performance of music.” One reader noted, “The political climate dictates we cut bait and move on. Plus then we can focus our collective efforts on growing and expanding our industry instead of defending and holding on to what is rapidly becoming an outdated business model.”

Earlier in the week both the NAB and MusicFirst issued a flurry of announcements, but things have quieted down. Apart from discussion over the setting of actual rates, is the demand promoted by the NAB that all portable products such as smart phones and MP3 players be equipped with FM radio chips. This issue is especially alienating the Consumer Electronics Industry. CEA head Gary Shapiro told the NAB this week, “[CEA] has yet to identify one member of Congress willing to support your attempt to impose old FM technology on new portable products.” Shapiro promised to highlight to decision makers that radio is a “legacy horse and buggy industry. Its refusal to innovate … raises questions about the ongoing wisdom of broadcaster use of publicly owned spectrum that could be better used for broadband services that serve the public interest.”

It appears that all sides are still very much in a fluid stance of negotiation with consensus still a distant goal.

Weekly Chart Report (10/29/10)

Eric Lee Beddingfield stopped by KLMJ/Hampton, IA to talk about his new release "The Gospel According To Jones" featuring legend George Jones. (L-R): Beddingfield and KLMJ MD Mike Betten.

RADIO NEWS
WGH/Norfolk PD John Shomby is handling music and programming duties for Max Broadcasting Group Holdings’ WCMS/Elizabeth City-Nags Head, NC after the departure of PD/MD Ray Turner. WCMS is currently seeking Turner’s replacement.

SPIN ZONE
Taylor Swift’s third album Speak Now is flying off shelves and headed toward a monster sales week, while its first single “Mine” has become the new CountryBreakout Chart No. 1 song. It is followed by The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young,” which moves up to No. 2, and “As She’s Walking Away” by Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson at No. 3. Reba’s “Turn On The Radio” and Brad Paisley’s “Anything Like Me” also get a little push to fill out the Top 5.

Movement is still a little slow, with Luke Bryan’s “Someone Else Calling You Baby” the only new song in the Top 10 at No. 9 and Toby Keith’s “Bullets In The Gun” the only new entry in the Top 20 at No. 18. Two tracks outpacing much of the Top 40 are Billy Currington’s “Let Me Down Easy” which moves up to No. 31 and Kenny Chesney’s “Somewhere To You” which makes a giant leap to No. 39 ahead of its Nov. 8 add date.

Three new songs have joined the final three spots of the chart. Josh Turner’s “I Wouldn’t Be A Man” leads the bunch at No. 78, and he’s followed by Gwyneth Paltrow’s debut “Country Strong” at No. 79. Curb artist Ashley Gearing gets the last spot “What Do You Think About Us.”

Upcoming Singles
November 1
Randy Rogers Band/Steal You Away/MCA
Adam Craig Band/Nothin’ Wrong/American Roots/Quarterback

November 8
Blake Wise/I’ve Got This Feeling/Broken Bow
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA
Easton Corbin/I Can’t Love You Back/Mercury

•  •  •  •  •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Josh Turner/I Wouldn’t Be A Man/MCA — 78
Gwyneth Paltrow/Country Strong/RCA — 79
Ashley Gearing/What Do You Think About Us/Curb — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA — 507
Toby Keith/Bullets In The Gun/Show Dog – Universal — 246
Keith Urban/Put You In A Song/Capitol — 232
Billy Currington/Let Me Down Easy/Mercury — 230
Luke Bryan/Someone Else Calling You Baby/Capitol — 230

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Braden Gray/A Little Less Lonely/ATP Records — 206
The Dirt Drifters/Something Better/WMN — 203
Chris Filer/John Deere, John 3:16/Lofton Creek — 194
Jason Sturgeon/Rollin’ On/Toolpusher/Spinville/Nine North — 163
Daisy Mallory/Do You Think Of Me?/Front Water — 155

Two Week Most Added*
Artist/song/label — New adds
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA — 32
Little Big Town/Kiss Goodbye/Capitol — 12
Billy Currington/Let Me Down Easy/Mercury — 10
Josh Turner/I Wouldn’t Be A Man/MCA — 10

Rodney Atkins, Luke Bryan and Frankie Ballard performed at KSON/San Diego’s CountryFest show at Viejas Casino last Saturday (10/23). (L-R): KSON morning host Cliff Dumas, KSON APD and morning host Brooks O'Brian, Ballard, KSON PD Kevin Callahan, and KSON personality Nick Upton.

Curb Records recording artist Ashley Gearing recently visited with the staff at WMAD 96.3 in Madison, Wis. in support of her current single “What You Think About Us.” (L-R): WMAD’s Stephanie Peters and John & Tammy; Gearing; WMAD’s Mike Ferris; and New Revolution Entertainment’s Renee Leymon and Andy Elliott.

The Adam Craig Band paid a visit to Q106 PD John Sebastian in Madison, Wisconsin while promoting their latest single “Nothin’ Wrong.” (L-R): The Adam Craig Band’s Ryan Jones, Adam Craig and Jimi Hendrix; Sebastian; and the Adam Craig Band’s Johnny Duke and Brian Smith.