page 1 Friday, November 20, 2009 Sarah Buxton's "Outside My Window" Colors Outside The Lines by David M. Ross In today's music industry we like to make a video under Hudson's direction. think there's a right and a wrong way to DiPiero says, "They decided to assemble do things. But every so often a creative the whole package themselves and then group of risk-takers navigates a new route, bring it in to Randy Goodman, Doug and sometimes, they even make it work. Howard and the Lyric Street staff hoping The engaging story behind Sarah Buxton's to get them excited." Distribution was not latest single and video, "Outside My an issue since Buxton did not have a Window," is just such a tale. physical CD in the marketplace. According to Leslie Tomasino DiPiero, long- time Buxton publisher, friend and mentor, it all started one afternoon when Victoria Shaw invited Buxton to join Click here to her for a writing session with see the VIDEO Leslie Tomasino DiPiero friends Mark Hudson and Gary Burr. "As a publisher I'm not so excited about four-way writes," smiles DiPiero, "but off they went." The group wrote "Outside My Window," and were enthusiastic that it was perfect for Sarah. Buxton's first three singles failed to catch fire, and somehow that evening the award winning foursome decided to take matters into its own hands. A plan developed for Buxton to record the song, then have the four writers ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Friday, November 20, 2009 Shaw became the location scout and casting director all this, it's incredible,' they were blown away. At first for all the extras, while Burr painted scenery, gathered props they wanted to use the video just for a radio promo tool, and handled some of the camera chores. Buxton did her but once they heard that GAC would air it, they decided to own hair, makeup and wardrobe and they all spent an entire release it and make the song a single." 10-hr day. "Mark went back to LA and poured over this in "We made this video for only $80 and had so much his little cave for a week—day and night—editing and fun that day running around Nashville and getting all the working his magic on it," says DiPiero. "He was completely scenes," says Buxton during the intro to the clip which has obsessed. Mark does award wining independent videos, logged almost 140,000 views on YouTube. "This song and he's brilliant." video is undeniably Sarah Buxton concentrate!” [like When Hudson finally unveiled his work Buxton and orange juice concentrate] Shaw were watching it at the office. "All I heard was "Outside My Window" is currently No. 12—and still screams," recalls DiPiero. "Everyone loved it." gaining spins—on MusicRow's CountryBreakout™ chart, Shaw then took the video to Sarah Trahern and Ed which is based upon programmer spin reports from 110 Hardy at GAC and it was sent to CMT's Jay Frank. "Trahern small-market radio stations nationwide. "Yes, this was thought it really captured Sarah well," says DiPiero. "She unconventional," says DiPiero, "but we're in the wild had a few small fixes for us to make and then she wanted west right now, you kind of have to take chances." to air it. Frank was a bit more apprehensive about the format of the shoot and wasn't fully on board with the low budget aspect of the film, but we're hopeful he may still give it a chance." According to GAC SVP Programming Sarah Trahern, "We first saw the 'Outside My Window' video on Sarah Buxton's site and were interested in getting it on air. It's a whimsical piece that makes you smile. We added it on July 8 to light and it's currently in medium rotation on the network." Now with GAC onboard, the went to the label. "Randy The Country Music Association held its first Songwriter Luncheon Wednesday (11/18) educating the gathered has always been open to tunesmiths on the advantages and benefits of CMA membership. Among the speakers at the luncheon were what Sarah is thinking CMA Board members Steve Bogard, Kix Brooks, Tim DuBois, Pat Higdon and Victoria Shaw, as well as CMA creatively," says DiPiero. CEO Tammy Genovese and CMA Sound Health Care overseer R.J. Stillwell. (L-R): Hank Adam Locklin, "She walked into the label CMA Sr. Mgr. Membership/Industry Relations;R.J. Stillwell, Reg. Dir. Nashville Business Assoc.; Tim DuBois, meeting so passionate that Pres. Tim DuBois Productions; Steve Bogard, Owner One Music Group; Shaw; Brooks; Genovese; Pat Higdon, they said, 'OK, you've done Exec. VP/GM Universal Music Publishing Group; and Bobette Dudley, CMA Sr. VP. Photo:John Russell ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 3 Friday, November 20, 2009 ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 4 Friday, November 20, 2009 The Latest on EMI’s Money Woes EMI Music owner Terra Firma is having a hard time reaching an agreement with lender Citigroup over how to restructure EMI's debt. Digital Music News reports an expert has recommended selling off parts of the music company. An analyst for Pali Research suggested the most lucrative option would be “selling EMI's recorded music division to Warner Music and either leaving Terra Firma with EMI's music publishing arm or auctioning the asset to another bidder.” The New York Post speculates EMI’s shaky financial ground is hindering its ability to sign artists, but the music company points to recent deals with many new acts and well- known stars like Alice in Chains, Snoop Dogg and Depeche Mode. Things going in EMI’s favor include the recently reissued Beatles albums. Legendary bassist and producer Norbert Putnam was honored Saturday (11/14) as part of the ongoing Nashville Cats series at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Billy Ray Cyrus Movie, Music Museum. Hosted by Bill Lloyd, the program traced Putnam’s career from top studio Gets Big Online Push musician to successful producer and studio owner. (L-R) back: studio keyboardist and songwriter Randy McCormick, guitarist Reggie Young, Putnam, harmonica player Billy Ray Cyrus stars in an upcoming Charlie McCoy, Lloyd, and studio guitarist and producer Steve Gibson. Front: bassist movie for the Hallmark Channel and has Bob Moore, drummer Jerry Carrigan, guitarist Wayne Moss, and former Lynyrd recorded a new song and music video for the Skynyrd guitarist Ed King. Photo: Donn Jones project. The new music will be backed by a multiplatform rollout across a variety of Web sites and social networking accounts. this weekend’s Opry performances at the historic Ryman Cyrus appears in the Auditorium were sell-outs. Hallmark Channel’s Christmas Elsewhere on the web Saturday night, over 140,000 In Canaan, which premieres fans tuned in to Ustream.com to chat with Jo Dee Messina December 12. The film is and see all the behind-the-scenes action at a stop on her based on a book co-written by Music Room Series tour in Kenny Rogers. Facebook fans Southern California. Over the of Hallmark will get to stream course of three hours, the the new song from the movie, viewers were able to chat with “We’ll Get By Somehow (We Billy Ray Cyrus the star, watch her and the band Always Do),” starting November warm up, and see the nightly fan 24. Additional opportunities to access the song and the meet and greet. As an added video will be announced at Twitter/HallmarkChannel, bonus, viewers got to walk with along with instructions on how fans can win a signed Messina and her band from the copy of Cyrus’s CD. Cyrus taped the song’s new music bus onto the stage and see video at his farm outside Nashville and that video will portions of the show from a premiere exclusively during another Hallmark Channel unique backstage perspective. movie on Saturday, November 28. Messina has been chatting with fans online every night of this tour, giving them access to Webcasts Growing In Popularity her, the band, her personal life On Saturday night (11/14) country fans were logged and the general craziness of on to webcasts from the Opry and Jo Dee Messina. being on the road. During the That night the Grand Ole Opry teamed with MySpace nightly chats she has been talking Music and Ustream for the first-ever live webcast of an about her upcoming single “That’s Opry performance featuring Carrie Underwood, Martina God,” the album due out in Spring Carrie Underwood McBride, Rodney Atkins, and Jake Owen. All three of 2010, as well as plans for the Photo: Joel Dennis ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 5 Friday, November 20, 2009 December 5 Christmas charity concert which will be ShortNotes broadcast for free in its entirety. That show—taking place Premiere Radio Networks didn’t renew the contract for in Nashville at the Brentwood United Methodist Church— • The Jeff Foxworthy Countdown which will be winding will feature several BUMC youth choirs and all proceeds down at year’s end. The show spent a decade counting will benefit Harvest Hands Community Development down the hits. Corporation. • Bluegrass band Rockin' Acoustic Circus has signed with Class Act Entertainment, headed by Mike Drudge. CMA Industry InSite On Country Radio Understanding local Country radio stations is the focus Date Update of the latest installment of CMA Industry InSite, an online Bonnaroo 2010 will be held June 10–13 in Manchester, educational series, which is posted on CMA's member • Tenn.