Honky Tonk TV Opens New Country Window by David M

page 1 Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Honky Tonk TV Opens New Country Window by David M. Ross Honky Tonk TV celebrated its 100th show this week (8/17). The Orlando, Florida-based country music news program, operated by Executive Producer Chris James and Public Relations executive Elly Liao, is currently syndicated across 162 markets and in over 61 million households. In addition to the daily TV news show, the company also operates Honkytonkmag.com which according to James, began on Independence Day (7/4) in 2007. "We are pretty much across the CW network," says James who became a U.S. citizen after moving to the U.S. almost nine years (L-R): Honky Tonk TV hosts: ago from the U.K. "But we Creed Bowlen, Lauren Brown, aren't in Nashville yet, and Autumn Alexander, Ben of course really want to do Daniele and Crystal Louthan that. Honky Tonk TV is currently a segment within a show that has been going for magazine front we envision seven years called The Daily ourselves being like a Rolling Stone for Buzz, a three hour news show. We are country music," James says. "But because aiming now at expanding into our own the TV entity is daily and we are a small evening half-hour." operation there is only so much attention Honky Tonk Magazine was formed we can devote to the magazine at this with the idea of presenting more time. We are hoping to make the TV detailed and thoughtful articles. "On the portion successful, get to the half hour

©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Wednesday, August 19, 2009 show and then be able to partner with a larger entity to help us take the magazine national. Our No. 1 goal was always to launch the TV show and we got to it a lot earlier than we had hoped. We are extremely blessed to be having so much fun with it. The more live guests we have on, the more time we get and the more we can help promote country music. Having a daily show also means we are a lot more in the know about what is going on." James doesn't really see the show's Orlando location as a drawback for artist participation, rather it can become a stopping point while they are out on radio tours, performing, or otherwise in transit. "We aren't that far away from Nashville," James agrees. "Just a short plane ride away. We can offer MCA Nashville recording artist David Nail kicked off the promotion of his almost ten minutes of exposure on national TV, debut album I'm About To Come Alive with a visit to the Nashville chapter of including a performance. It's a lot of fun, but we do The Recording Academy and a trip to CMT's downtown Nashville studio to need help from the country music community to showcase the record for staffers and to record footage that will be available make this work. The best way to arrange a visit is on www.cmt.com this week. Pictured: Nail (middle) and MusiCares staffers, to call myself or Producer Tony Persaud including South Regional Director Susan Stewart (middle). (407-808-9882)." The list of guests who have sampled Honky Tonk hospitality include Trisha Yearwood, Trailer Choir, Katie Armiger, Billy Ray Cyrus, James Stroud, Deborah Allen and more. Justin Moore, and James Otto are scheduled in upcoming weeks. Honky Tonk TV, which can be viewed at http:// www.honkytonktv.com rotates among a group of five hosts chosen from the Orlando area. "We didn't want the show to be centered around just one personality," says James. "It's more about the music. Our brand takes the classic American terminology 'Honky Tonk' and updates it to our vision. Country acts like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Gloriana are reaching a demographic that includes the whole country. You can see it in the sales, it's not just country music fans buying Last week ASCAP celebrated the success of Matthew West's "The the music. That larger group is our audience. If you Motions" written by West, Sam Mizell and Jason Houser.The song spent 14 weeks at No. 1. (L-R): ASCAP's Dan Keen; Chad Segura, Word turn on the Daily Buzz and watch Honky Tonk TV as Music Publishing; Mark Nicholas, Simpleville Music; Karrie Hardwick, part of that, you may not be into country music, but Word Music Publishing; Mizell; ASCAP's Connie Bradley; Matthew will still get turned onto some of the acts because of West; Joel West, Method Management; Houser; and Michael Martin, the way we are trying to promote it." Extreme Writers Group.

Get One Thing Strait Let's get one thing Strait about this week's sales, it's all about King George. The legendary Texas troubador once again 'sales' to the No. 1 position on both the Top 75 Current Country and Top 200 current Album lists scanning 155,049 units. George's debut places him as the third highest this year behind No. 1 debuts from Rascal Flatts Unstoppable (4/7/09; 351,025) and Keith Urban Defying Gravity (3/31/09; 171,525). Strait's previous release notched about 11k units higher with only 6% digital sales. This year, his digital sales almost doubled to 10%, adding to a growing body of evidence that the country consumer is transitioning to digital engagement much more rapidly than most marketers anticipated. Justin Moore's chart performance triggers a second outburst of "ooooh, wow" as his debut places smiles on Valory team faces ringing up a very healthy 34,024 units (11% digital). Moore's debut also makes for an interesting comparison with newcomers Gloriana who debuted last week at 44,388 units (19% digital). Two new artists, a traditional solo male and a contemporary vocal group each attracting perhaps a somewhat different audience. To properly analyze the 30% sales difference between the two debuts one would need to office with the addition of Beth Torroll to its staff. Torroll will consider factors such as airplay—both audio and video, the serve as Director of Client Services, acting as the company’s musical style, touring opportunities (Gloriana opened on first locally-based Music Row liaison in its 30-year history. Taylor Swift's tour) and other marketing events. Also one Bill Young Productions serves the concert and touring week is not a career. Each artist is different and the real industry with advertising media products, including radio story will take many months to play out. and TV ads, print, animation, multi-media and web-based media. Country clients include George Strait, Keith Urban, Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, and other artists like Bill Young Productions Opens Justin Timberlake, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Elton John, Billy Joel, and Britney Spears. Nashville Office Torroll’s music business resume is extensive and includes Bill Young Productions, a company with superstar clients work in public relations, management, agency, editorial and which creates concert advertisements, has opened a Nashville label positions. During the last seven years she managed

creative projects for William Morris Agency, Creative Artist Agency, Universal Music Group and Walt Disney Records, working with artists like Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, Big & Rich and Sugarland. She can be reached at the new Bill Young Productions office in Nashville at (615) 746-7440 or via email at [email protected]. Songwriters Headed To Martha’s Vineyard The inaugural Martha’s Vineyard Songwriters Festival will inhabit the famous East Coast playground September 18 and 19. Staged at hotspots in Vineyard Last week Valory Music Co. artist Justin Moore visited Wal-Marts across the Haven and Oak Bluffs, MA, the festival will combine Midwest celebrating the release of his self titled debut album. On Wednesday pop and country BMI hit makers in a format similar to (8/12) he stopped in Frankfort, KY and performed and signed autographs for the successful Key West Songwriters Festival. It is over 500 people at an in-store supported by WFKY (Froggy 104.9). (L-R): T. J . designed to introduce top pop and country songwriters Stigers (James Pond), Valory's Jon Loba, Jeremy Beam (Davey Croakett), not only to a wider audience, but to one another as Stephanie Young (Cricket), Amanda Young (Holly Hopkins), Brett Waford well. (Jumpin' Jim Beam), Aaron Glass (Gator Glass), Moore and Valory's George The eclectic list of performers includes Kim Briner. Carnes (“Bette Davis Eyes”), Scotty Emerick (“As Good As I Once Was,” “I’m Just Talkin’ ‘Bout Tonight”), UK pop singer/songwriter Lucie Silvas, Hugh Prestwood (“Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart,” “The Song Remembers When”), Natalie Hemby (cuts by Miranda Lambert and Lee Ann Womack), alt-pop singer/songwriter Daniel Tashian, New York-based Jeff Cohen (co-writer behind Big & Rich’s “Holy Water,” Evan & Jaron’s “Crazy for this Girl”), James Slater (“In My Daughter’s Eyes”), lauded Key West singer/songwriter Scott Kirby, Chris Barron (former frontman for the Spin Doctors “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong”); and five-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Paul Overstreet, the pen behind standards including “Deeper than the Holler,” “Forever and Ever Amen,” “Love Can Build a RCA Nashville songstress Sara Evans brought the good feelings of her new Bridge,” and many more. single, “Feels Just Like a Love Song,” to her tour stop at metro-Atlanta’s Advance tickets for each show are $25. Admission Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre. (L-R):Sheri O’Malley and her husband, for both nights of performances is also available in Citadel Regional Pres. Paul O’Malley; Evans; WKHX Atlanta Operations Mgr. Mark Richards; Evans’ husband Jay Barker; and WKHX midday personality advance for $45. To purchase tickets, visit Sari Rose. ticketsMV.com.

Music City Networks Adds Managing Partner Local businessman Paul McCulloch has joined Lang Scott as a managing partner of MCN, Music City Networks, the web design and new media firm. The move immediately replaces Jon Wright from day-to-day operations, but he will remain on as a consultant. McCulloch joins MCN armed with years of experience in business and online development to help identify growth opportunities and products that Paul McCulloch will offer a competitive advantage in the marketplace. He recently spent eight years as President The B104.7 Morning Crew hung out with Keni Thomas at Ft. Riley, Kansas after his performance at The Big Red One's Victory Week and CEO at Goldleaf Technologies, where he led the financial Celebration in Manhattan, Kansas. (L-R): Lindsey, Thomas and Drew. services technology company to develop specialized software solutions, as well as website and online marketing products for hundreds of banks and businesses nationwide. He is also a part owner of recording studio Vibe 56, on Music Row. Musical Chairs And Signings • Airplay Specialists Radio Promotion has hired Abby Montgomery, previously of RowHouse Records and One Ryan Bitzer To Launch Sparkart’s Mile South radio promotions, as General Manager. She replaces Kelly Bolick, who made the move to BMI. Local Office Airplay Specialists promotes singles to 400 stations The full-service digital agency including the MusicRow reporting stations and 290 Sparkart Group has hired former RPM Secondary non-reporters. Montgomery can be reached at staffer Ryan Bitzer to launch and run 615-321-0033 and [email protected]. its Nashville division. Sparkart’s • Dan Herrington and Mitchell Fox have signed 19-year- services include web design, old developing artist/songwriter Morgan Tobias to development, branding, and digital Herrington Fox Management. marketing. As former Chief Strategy • Paul Revere and the Raiders have signed with Buddy Officer at rpm management, Bitzer Lee Attractions for appearance booking. In his fifth decade managed the web presence and in the music business, Paul Revere continues to tour marketing of Tim McGraw and Ryan Bitzer extensively. Julianne Hough. In addition, he was responsible for company operations, digital strategy, and brand partnerships including Hough’s Lifenotes Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit campaign. Bitzer was instrumental in Former Confederate Railroad member Warren planning and executing the strategy for McGraw’s online and "Gates" Nichols died Friday, Aug. 14 at Hospice Tranquility mobile efforts, which were built and operated by Sparkart. in Austell, Ga. after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The 65- He can be reach at [email protected] or 615-967-7010. year-old musician played steel guitar in Confederate With revenue increasing 42 percent in the last three years, Railroad in the early-'90s, appearing on hits like “Queen of Sparkart provides digital services for a number of musicians Memphis” and the Grammy nominated “Trashy Women.” A and entertainment brands, including Linkin Park, Carrie multi-instrumentalist, Nichols also played bass guitar on the Underwood, and UFC. 1976 pop hit “Shannon,” by Henry Gross. Nielsen Getting Competition? Tidbits The major television broadcast networks are leading the • Belmont University will host “On the Blvd” Aug. 28 from charge to find a competitor for Nielsen. One of the 4-11 PM. There will be four stages on Belmont Boulevard advantages of the new system would be tracking audience featuring student performers and local band Modoc. The measurements over TV, the Internet and mobile devices. event is sponsored by The Mike Curb College of Entertainment The New York Times says NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox are and Music Business and BMI. Admission is free. For more working on the project with “cable channel operators, information visit www.belmontcemblog.com. including Viacom and Discovery; three of the country’s • The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), announced yesterday biggest-spending advertisers, Proctor & Gamble, AT&T and that leading online music services such as Microsoft, Unilever; and two of the biggest advertising agency holding RealNetwork’s Rhapsody, la la, Last.fm, and Slacker are companies, GroupM and the Starcom MediaVest Group unit using their services as the primary mechanical licensing of the Publicis Groupe.” provider for interactive streams and limited and permanent downloads at the new statutory rates.