page 1 Wednesday,Wednesday, MarchMarch 24,24, 20102010 Table of Contents 1 New Kids In Town New Kids In Town by David M. Ross 3 Republic Nashville Plans EP From The Band Perry There's a new sheriff on the country Ford, (who makes an appearance on Gilbert's 5 Chesney App A Hit 5 Puckett's To Open music album charts—Lady Antebellum. album) is nestled nicely at No. 36 on the sales Downtown Nashville (According to Nielsen SoundScan.) The Capitol chart, where after 59 weeks he has RTD Location Nashville trio debuted in the top spot for the (release to date) sales of almost 148,000 units. 7 Easton Corbin Goes No. 1 week ending 1/31/2010—and ever since (8 Country sales this week trended down 7 Joey+Rory Win ACM, Plan weeks and counting) has remained firmly somewhat from last week, but YTD country New Album rooted at No. 1. Antebellum's Need You Now album sales remain elevated a stalwart 17% 8 AirPlay Direct Ups Welch sales have dwarfed all other country albums due to Antebellum, 8 Artist David Bradley Builds during that time selling almost 1.5 mmillionillion Swift, ZZacac BBrownrow Team units equaling about 17% of all countrytry BBandand, CarriCarriee 9 DISClaimer: Terri Clark albums sold YTD in 2010. UnderwUnderwoodood pplus DISC of the Day Most directly impacted by this saless sursurgege oothers.thers. Respect Intellectual Property: was Taylor Swift's Fearless which previouslyeviously MusicRow transmissions in email and file form plus online passwords, are had owned the No. 1 album position. Beginningeginning intended for the sole use of active 1/31/10 Fearless slipped back in the list to subscribers only and protected under the copyright laws of the United States. make room for the trio. Swift's CD hass bbeeneen Resending or sharing of such intellectual on the charts for 71 weeks, scanning ccloselose property to unauthorized individuals and/or groups is expressly forbidden. to 5.7 million units, so there remainss MusicRow Publications, Inc. reserves the right to cancel, without refund, the nothing but joy in her camp. A formalal account of any subscriber found to be announcement is yet to be made, butt in violation of this policy. Swift reportedly will release a new Music Row Communications, LLC project next fall. Top debut this week 1231 17th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212 was Average Joe Entertainment 615-321-3617 www.musicrow.com artist Brantley Gilbert who's CD Halfway To Heaven rides the country News/Press Releases chart at No. 19 with sales of almost [email protected] 5,000. Gilbert label mate Colt ©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 ©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 3 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Country digital album sales have increased this year a staggering 57% YTD, which clearly shows that country consumers are adopting and embracing "mice for music" at an accelerated rate. Country's newly created digital tracks chart shows a picture similar in many ways to the albums list. Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" is at No. 1, having sold almost 120,000 download units for the week (RTD sales are 2.76 million), followed by Taylor Swift's "Today Was A Fairytale" which sold just over 41,000 and RTD has logged about 830,000. Total top 100 country digital track sales for the week were just shy of 850,000. Figuring an average of about one million units per week or 52 million annually, it adds the equivalent of over 5 million albums (10 Business and music industry leaders and celebrities gathered at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel tracks = 1 CD) to annual country sales. Based on Monday (3/22) for the T.J. Martell Foundation Honors Gala. The Foundation annually upon last year's totals, 5 million units would supports cancer research through the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Along with supporting this worthwhile cause, the Gala result in an 11% increase. recognized Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, the Honorable William H. Frist, M.D., Watch for upcoming 3/30 debuts from Brooks and Dunn, Michael Bolton and Susan Simons for their humanitarian efforts. Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson and The (L-R): Ronnie Dunn, Frist, Simons, Bredesen, Kix Brooks and Bolton. Photo: Alan Mayor Grascals. The EP will be available exclusively through iTunes for the first four weeks, and as part of iTune’s “Complete My Album” service, fans will be able to purchase the only Industry News remaining tracks when the full-length by Sarah Skates album comes out this summer. To write their new album the Mobile, Republic Nashville Plans Alabama natives teamed with Brett EP From The Band Perry Beavers, Kara DioGuardi, Jeff Cohen, On April 6 Republic Nashville will Brian Henningsen and Clara release a five-song EP from The Band Henningsen. Nathan Chapman Perry. The eponymous collection from produced most of the EP, with Paul siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Worley helming one cut. Perry contains the band’s first single, Republic Nashville Pres. Jimmy “Hip To My Heart,” currently No. 19 on Harnen says The Band Perry has had MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart. tons of requests about purchasing its The Band Perry ©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 4 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 ©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 5 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 music, so releasing an EP should tide fans over until the full project is complete. This trend is growing in popularity; Warner Music Nashville recently released a Six-Pak album by Blake Shelton for the same reason. Chesney App A Hit Nashville-based mobile design and innovation firm Aloompa is celebrating the success of Kenny Chesney’s new iPhone application. Released one month ago, the free app has been downloaded over 40,000 times and delivered over 10,000 streaming hours of the SESAC presented the Band of Heathens with a plaque in honor of their No. 1 Chesney-programmed No Shoes Radio. Americana album, One Foot in the Ether. The band, which was rehearsing at “Monitoring the reaction Kenny fans are having the Loveless Barn in anticipation of their appearance at Music City Roots: Live to the application, especially to the hidden features, From The Loveless Café, is currently on a nationwide tour. (L-R): SESAC’s Tim has been a real thrill,” says Aloompa co-founder Drew Fink, Ed Jurdi, Colin Brooks, John Chipman, Gordy Quist, Seth Whitney and SESAC’s Amy Beth Hale. Photo: Ed Rode Burchfield. “In the end, it’s not just about Kenny having an iPhone app; it’s about the fans interacting with him in interesting ways. It is also proving itself to be an effective way to sell music and merch, so we’re extremely pleased with the results so far.” In addition to the streaming media player, the application features concert ticketing, GPS-enabled mapping and directions to each venue, event countdowns, news, video, photos and a custom e- commerce integration with Richards and Southern, Kenny’s official merchandising partner. It is the first artist-specific app created by Aloompa, which has worked with music festivals including Bonnaroo in the past. Puckett's To Open Downtown Nashville Location Blake Shelton performed for a sold-out crowd at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium last Thursday night (3/18). Shelton performed fan favorites and new songs from Puckett's Grocery & his recently released album, Hillbilly Bone, including the No. 1 title track Restaurant has plans to featuring Trace Adkins, who surprised fans by joining Shelton on stage. (L-R): add a downtown Nashville Chris Stacey, Sr. VP Promotion Warner Music Nashville; Brandon Blackstock, location. The eatery/store Starstruck Mgmt. Group; Rob Beckham, William Morris Endeavor; John Esposito, known for hosting song- Pres./CEO Warner Music Nashville; Adkins; Sally Williams, GM Ryman Auditorium; writer nights already has Shelton; and Narvel Blackstock, Starstruck Mgmt. Group. Photo: Heather Brand locations in Leiper's Fork ©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 6 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 ©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 7 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 and downtown Franklin. The Nashville outfit at 500 Church St. is expected to open this fall. Owner Andy Marshall added the singer-songwriter component after purchasing the original Lieper’s Fork establishment. He then added the second location which has become a fixture of downtown Franklin. Marshall will maintain the Franklin property and the new one in Nashville. The Leiper's Fork location is now in the hands of entrepreneur, Rob Robinson. Easton Corbin Goes No. 1 New Mercury Nashville artist Easton Corbin has claimed his first No. 1 single, "A Little More Country Than That." His label says that makes him the first country male solo artist to achieve this feat with a debut single since 2003. "A Little More Country Than That" was written by Rory Feek, Don Easton Corbin made Poythress and Wynn Varble, and his Grand Ole Opry produced by Carson Chamberlain. Ken Johnson has signed an exclusive songwriting agreement with debut March 20. Tune Corbin will make his national Combustion Music. Johnson’s most recent work can be heard on in to NBC’s Late television debut with an April 1 slot on Josh Thompson’s debut hit single “Beer On The Table.” (L-R): Chris Night with Jimmy Farren, Ashley Hertzog, Johnson (seated), Chris Van Belkom and NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Fallon April 1 to see Stephanie Greene.