Hurray for the Holidays—Sales by David M

page 1 Wednesday,Wednesday, DecemberDecember 2,2, 20092009

Hurray For The Holidays—Sales by David M. Ross

OK carolers, start singing: Fa-la-la- registers. Swifty regained the No. 1 la-la-[breath]-la-la-la-la. position with a 48% jump (125k). Indeed, this week's sales numbers will Underwood jumped 44% (124k) put you in a festive mood. We have glad slipping gently from No. 1 to No. 2. tidings for almost all, according to Nielsen AMA Breakthrough Artist winners Soundscan a division of the Nielsen Gloriana (No. 31) increased a robust Company. 86% to just under 5k followed closely Delivering an impossible-but-true scan by Jimmy Wayne's debut at No. 32. performance is Britain's Got Talent winner, A word should be said about Susan Boyle. The unlikely superstar who Lady Antebellum. The trio's lone gained worldwide recognition on YouTube offering from its upcoming CD, has become a sensation. In the UK I Dreamed A Dream sold more first week copies (410k) than any other debut album in that nation's history. In Australia Boyle immediately went Platinum, selling over 70k copies. And now, in the U.S. she hits the 2009 record books racking up first week sales of over 701,000 units besting previous '09 record holder Eminem whose Relapse logged 608k. On the Top 75 Current Country List there were also lots of stocking stuffers to please record label sales departments as holiday shoppers and the American Music Awards conspired to ring

single "Need You Now" is also the week's highest selling country track with over 74k downloads. The song could hit a million total sales as early as next week. Lady A's album, now out 85 weeks still jumped 10% this week, to about 41k in sales and No. 3. (Hopefully, Lady A fans unable to endure the wait for more new music will not begin jumping off bridges.) Holiday offerings are gaining momentum, although one needs to look on the current and catalog lists to get the full story. Swift's current Holiday Collection, a Target exclusive, boosts 32% to reach 60k units, and Faith Hill's catalog Joy To The World also ups 32% to slightly over 14k. Sales of Sugarland's current Gold And Green grew by 20% to about 33k. ASCAP recently hosted a No. 1 party for Chris Young's "Gettin' You Home (The Big picture: All genre YTD is down 13% compared Black Dress Song)."Co-written with Cory Batten and Kent Blazy, the song is to last year; and country is down 2.6%. Young's first No. 1 as a writer and as an artist. (L-R): producer James Stroud, Young, ASCAP's Connie Bradley, EMI Music Publishing'sGary Overton, manager FBMM Names Dunaway VP John Lytle, Sony Music's Joe Galante and ASCAP's Dan Keen. Photo:Kay Williams Business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. (FBMM) has named Roger “Trey” Dunaway Vice President of Taxes and Royalties. In this position Dunaway will oversee all tax and royalty matters for the company’s clients worldwide and act as chief compliance officer for the firm. Dunaway was recruited by Roger Trey Dunaway FBMM in 2005 after an 18-month search, with the intention of him helping lead the company into the next generation. At the time he The Country Music Association honored legendary singer/songwriter Bobby Bare was named Director of Taxes, Royalties and with a reception celebrating his 50th anniversary as a Country Music entertainer. Investments, working closely with CPAs John Bare received a plaque commemorating his achievement. (L-R): Bare, CMA McCarthy and John Kelly; and Chairman Frank Board member Kitty Moon Emery, CMA Board Pres. Steve Moore, and CMA Bumstead. Earlier this month McCarthy announced Board Pres. Elect Steve Buchanan. Photo: Amanda Eckard

his retirement after 41 years in the accounting business. Georgia native Dunaway was previously the Director of Finance for the Universal Music Group. The Vanderbilt graduate achieved the second highest score in the nation on the CPA exam in 2003. He is a member of the CMA, ACM and NARAS and is a member of the 2009-2010 Leadership Music class. FBMM Co-founder Chuck Flood commented on Dunaway’s promotion saying, “Trey has made an indelible impact on our company. His knowledge, intellect and character are world class.” GRAMMY Nominations Tonight The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Valory Music Co. artist Jimmy Wayne recently performed in Buffalo for Night®, airs tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 2 WYRK’s annual Stars & Guitars concert. (L-R): WYRK PD John ‘JT’ Thomas, on CBS from 8-9 PM/CT. Sugarland Wayne and Sara Evans. is the only country act set to perform at the show at Club NOKIA in Los Angeles. LL Cool J will host and Dwight Yoakam is among the presenters.

Keith Headed For Nobel Prize Concert Toby Keith will perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert honoring President Barack Obama on Dec. 11 in Oslo, Norway. He will share the stage with disco diva and Nashville resident Donna Summer, British pop star Natasha Bedingfield, R&B singer Wyclef Jean, and Chinese pianist Lang Lang, among others. Will Smith and his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, will host the concert, which will be held in Oslo the day after the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama is being honored for his "efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Recording artist Jeremy McComb performed at the Nashville Predators game versus the Detroit Red Wings. The Predators topped the Red Wings 3-1, making it the team's sixth consecutive win. Pickler Spreads Christmas Cheer With Donation To CMA Charity Kellie Pickler is in the holiday spirit, and will help the CMA by presenting a check donation next week to the 2009 CMA Music Festival’s “Keep The Music Playing,” benefiting music education in Davidson County. Pickler is also offering fans a new version of “Santa Baby,” which is airing on CMT and cmt.com. Her rendition of the Christmas classic is also featured on two compilation albums this winter: Now That’s What I Call A Country Christmas, and A Very Special Christmas, Volume 7, which benefits the Special Olympics. Other John Cowan, Shawn Camp, Green on the Vyne and 18 South performed at stars on the Special Christmas album are Carrie Music City Roots: Live from the Loveless Cafe Nov. 25. Cowan performed Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Gloriana, Vanessa songs from his new E1Entertainment release, Comfort & Joy. (L-R): Cowan Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Colbie Caillat, and Carter and acclaimed Americana artist Mary Gauthier. Twins.

©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 4 Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Aldean Debuts iTunes EP, Web site Jason Aldean has a new eight song live EP out exclusively on iTunes. The raw performance includes intimate renditions of some of his biggest hits as well as tracks off his latest album Wide Open. It is part of iTunes’ “Sessions” series and was recorded in Nashville at Treasure Isle Studio. Aldean also launched a new Web site this week. He partnered with Sparkart Group, Inc., an Oakland-based full-service independent digital agency, to develop, design, and manage the online portal at www.jasonaldean.com. His Jason Aldean account will be supervised by Ryan Bitzer, Sparkart Nashville's VP of Broken Bow/Holeshot Records artist Krista Marie teamed Business Development, who joined the company in August to launch with Harley-Davidson’s Bill Davidson and Willie G. and run the company’s Music City division. Bitzer can be reached at Davidson and winners from radio stations WTQR and [email protected] or (615) 967-7010. Aldean joins Sparkart's roster KIZN to watch Eddie Krawiec win his fifth NHRA Pro of music clients which includes Carrie Underwood and Janet Jackson. Stock Motorcycle event of the season Auto Club Raceway in California. (L-R): Bill Davidson, VP Core Mktg. Harley- Davidson Motor Co.; WTQR winner Tom Smith, Marie; Don Light Inducted Into KIZN winner Robert Sievers; and Willie G. Davidson, Sr. VP/Chief Styling Officer, Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame Talent agent, manager and musician Don Light was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame at Dollywood recently in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Light began his career as a Grand Ole Opry drummer and general manager of Billboard Magazine’s Nashville office. He (L-R): Light and SGMA president secured his place in gospel music history by Karen Peck Gooch. launching the first booking agency for Photo: Randall Franks gospel music artists. Don Light Talent launched with the Happy Goodman Family and the Oak Ridge Boys in 1965, soon adding to the roster the Chuck Wagon Gang, Governor Jimmie Davis, The Florida Boys, the Lewis Family, the Rex Nelon Singers, the Cathedral Quartet, the Singing Rambos, Wendy Valory Music Co. artist Justin Moore recently performed Bagwell and the Sunliters, the Thrasher Brothers and others. a concert for WGH/Norfolk and was joined by sister The 2009 SGMA class of inductees also included Neil Enloe, Ed Hill, labelmates, Big Machine’s Steel Magnolia, who opened Harold Lane, Bill Lyles, Elizabeth "Lady" Mull, Billy Todd and the show. (L-R): Joshua Scott Jones, Moore, Meghan Charlie Waller. Country Music Hall of Famer Barbara Mandrell Linsey and WGH on-air personality Eric. received the James D. Vaughn Impact Award at the event.