page 1 Friday, September 18, 2009 Table of Contents 1 Miller Wins Big At Miller Wins Big at Americana Americana Honors & Awards by Jon Freeman 2 Copyright Holders Fighting Honors & Awards For Performance Fees The annual Americana Honors & Awards 3 AirPlay Direct Opens Nashville Office is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize 3 Conference Update: IEBA artists for their contribution to the roots- th And CRS based genre, and the 10 installment of the 4 Campbell Adds To Roster program last night (9/17) at the Ryman 4 Chevy To Honor Military delivered a spectacular night of music and Members At CMA Awards entertainment. 4 615 Produces New Music Buddy Miller was the night’s big winner. For Today Show In fact, the only thing standing between Miller 4 Kostas Is Makin’ Music and a clean sweep was an absent Gurf 4 Local Voice Coach Morlix winning Instrumentalist of the Year. Expands Business Internationally The veteran songwriter/producer/sideman 4 Allman Brothers Take UMG took home the awards for Album of the Year To Court (Written in Chalk), Song of the Year (“Chalk,” 5 DISClaimer: Not a Clunker featuring Patty Griffin), Duo/Group of the In Sight Year (with wife Julie), and Artist of the Year. (L-R): Buddy Miller & Justin Townes Earle. When not walking to the podium to accept Photo: Ray Kennedy/The Image Thief Music Row Communications, LLC awards, Miller also led the all-star house 1231 17th Ave. S. band featuring hot shot players like engaged during setup changes. Midway Nashville, TN 37212 615-321-3617 Spooner Oldham and Al Perkins. through the show he even donned a Pilgrim’s [email protected] Oldham opened the event with a hat and delivered a semi-impromptu song www.musicrow.com rendition of the Box Tops’ hit “Cry Like A called “Now That’s Americana” backed only Baby,” which he wrote with Dan Penn. by piano. While his attempt at a kickline Lifetime Achievement Award Performance with Buddy Miller wasn't quite Broadway- winners Asleep At The Wheel were up next ready, the effort was still appreciated. and then Rodney Crowell performed Dobro wizard Jerry Douglas delivered “Closer to Heaven” from his Sex & Gasoline a dazzling medley featuring elements of collection. “Tribute to Peador O’Donnell,” and the Allman Affable Jim Lauderdale returned to Brothers’ “Little Martha.” John Prine host the proceedings, and kept the crowd teamed with Nanci Griffith to salute ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Friday, September 18, 2009 Lifetime Achievement Producer/Engineer winner Jim Rooney fired back, “Now, Jim, this isn’t the Ameri-Kanye Awards,” on his “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness.” drawing laughs and applause. The music always leaves lasting memories at the The Americana Music Association’s President’s Award Americana Honors, and the night of outstanding performances was given to the late Lowell George, who led the band included Band of Heathens, Sarah Borges & the Broken Little Feat and whose career also included work with Frank Singles, The Belleville Outfit, Reckless Kelly, The Sinatra, The Standells, and Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Flatlanders, Raul Malo, The Gourds, Buddy Miller with Invention. The last performance of the evening was a fitting Patty Griffin, Lauderdale, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, salute, a romp through Little Feat’s “Dixie Chicken” with and Sam Bush. help from Lauderdale, Justin Townes Earle, Jason Isbell, The night’s boldest sartorial choice came courtesy of Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller and Sam Bush. Justin Townes Earle, who would go on to be named the Later in the evening New & Emerging nominee Sarah New & Emerging Artist of the Year. The wiry son of Steve Borges & The Broken Singles performed at the Mercy Lounge, Earle was dressed in a red velvet three piece suit, thick delivering a ferocious set that mixed country melody with plastic eyewear, and a bowtie. And he also gave one of the punk energy. She was followed up by Texan Charlie Robison, night’s best performances, a breathtaking version of supporting his Beautiful Day collection. Cross Canadian “Mama’s Eyes.” Ragweed was playing simultaneously at the Cannery Jerry Douglas presented the Lifetime Achievement Ballroom downstairs. Across town, Raul Malo was playing Award for Songwriting to John Fogerty, who was given a at 3rd & Lindsley. standing ovation. Fogerty called Douglas his “favorite There are still two more days of amazing musical musician in the whole world” and then explained how he showcases left, so get out there and find your new favorite always saw his musical development and love of disparate artist. styles very strange. “I thought I was the weirdest person in the history of the world, until I came here today.” Americana Award Winners Fogerty treated those in the know to a set at the Mercy Album Of The Year: "Written In Chalk," Buddy & Julie Lounge on Wednesday night (9/16), and he performed two Miller songs for Awards attendees: “Garden Party” from his Blue Artist Of The Year: Buddy Miller Ridge Ranger Rides Again collection, and a hair-raising Duo/Group Of The Year: Buddy & Julie Miller version of the classic “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” New & Emerging Artist Of The Year: Justin Townes Earle Emmylou Harris paused to pay tribute to recently Instrumentalist Of The Year: Gurf Morlix departed Mary Travers before honoring manager/ Song Of The Year: "Chalk" Written By Julie Miller, businessman extraordinaire Ken Levitan with the Lifetime Performed By Buddy Miller And Patty Griffin Achievement Award for Executive. Another Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lifetime Achievement Awards Sam Bush for his instrumental contributions. Presenter Performance: Asleep At The Wheel John Cowan noted of Bush’s percussive playing style, “If Executive: Ken Levitan there’s a drummer’s hall of fame, I hope Sam goes in it as Songwriter: John Fogerty the first mandolin player.” Bush accepted his award Producer/Engineer: Jim Rooney graciously, only to be jokingly interrupted by Lauderdale Instrumentalist: Sam Bush saying that another mandolin player should have won. Bush President's Award: Lowell George Copyright Holders Fighting For Performance Fees Music stakeholders—with performing rights organizations in the lead—want iTunes and other digital download stores to start paying performance fees. Cnet.com tackled the issue recently, explaining that while digital music downloads are subject to mechanical fees, there is no performance fee for the 30-second song clips available on iTunes. Copyright holders are also seeking performance fees from film and TV downloads. This content contains music but there is not usually a mechanical or performance payment for the download. "If you watch a TV show on broadcast, cable or satellite TV there is a performance fee collected," David Israelite, president and CEO of the National Music Publishers Association told Cnet. "But if that same TV L-R): Emmylou Harris, Justin Townes Earle, Jim Lauderdale, John Fogerty and Buddy Miller. show is downloaded over iTunes, there's Photo: Erika Goldring not. We're arguing that the law needs to be ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 3 Friday, September 18, 2009 clarified that regardless of the method by which a consumer being a primary contributor to the Chicken Soup For The watches the show there is a performance right." Soul series. Other special guests at IEBA include Phil Vassar, This is a major point of contention—whether playback of Michelle Branch, Joey & Rory, Chubby Checker, Boyz a download is a public or private performance. II Men, Don Felder, The Wailers, Jamey Johnson, Cnet says the music industry is lobbying Congress to Randy Houser, Chris Young, Jessie James and blogger pass legislation that would require anyone who sells a Bob Lefsetz. download to pay a performance fee, but little progress has CRS: Best-selling business author and award-winning been made. journalist Bob Rosner will host the “Workplace 911” panel The Digital Media Association (DiMA), a trade group that at Country Radio Seminar 41, to be held Feb. 24-26, 2010, represents online music/media companies such as iTunes, is at the Nashville Convention Center. Rosner is the author of fighting the initiative. Among its arguments is that rights The Boss's Survival Guide, as well as a regular contributor holders are typically paid a synchronization fee on the front on the Today show and CNBC. end for the use of their music in film and TV. AirPlay Direct Opens Nashville Office AirPlay Direct has established a Nashville office and appointed longtime songwriter/plugger Raleigh Squires as Operations Manager. AirPlay Direct, headed by CEO Robert Weingartz, is a digital file transfer system that was developed to streamline radio/artist promotion activities. Squires’ 30 year career includes time as a staff songwriter and songplugger for the Mel Tillis music publishing companies before establishing his own independent songplugging company, www.HitMenSongPluggers.com. His outfit was one of the first to pitch songs via the Internet. George Strait, Vern Gosdin, Don Williams, and The Oak Ridge Boys have recorded his songs. Squires can be reached at [email protected]. ASCAP recently hosted a release party for Radney Foster's new album Revival. The album features tracks with collaborations from longtime Conference Update: IEBA And CRS co-writers Darrell Brown, Jay Clementi and friends Dierks Bentley and IEBA: Leadership/management expert Dan Clark will Darius Rucker. In conjunction with the release of Revival, Foster also be the opening keynote speaker at the 2009 IEBA Conference, released a feature length DVD documentary that explored the making running Oct. 11-13 at the Nashville Downtown Hilton. He is of the album titled Behind The Confessions. The 90-minute film was CEO of Clark Success Systems, a multi-million dollar speaking, directed by Sundance award-winning filmmaker Jeff Horny and was co- publishing, sports performance and business-consulting firm, produced by Foster, his wife Cyndi, and Horny.