A Bright Outlook

Home , Danny Gokey, Gimmie That Girl, Hillbilly Bone, Jimmy Ritchey, Kendell Marvel, Mark Chesnutt

page 1 Friday, October 16, 2009

A Bright Outlook by Sarah Skates Times may be lean in the music extravagant amount of money, there is a industry, but the spirit driving the lot of added pressure for results that pay business hasn’t wavered, says renowned off. Genre consideration rarely comes producer and label head Mark Bright. into play for Underwood, who has had “Our passion for making a great record major hits in Country, Christian and Pop. has not changed,” he told the group of Bright explained, “Carrie records what young industry professionals assembled she wants to record, and it comes from last night (10/15) for the SOLID (Society her heart.” Of Leaders In Development) Besides discussing his meeting. The difference is current roles, Bright shared that in today’s environment, a his career path with the great album has to be made SOLID members. He grew up for less money. listening to Christian music Known most recently and went to Belmont for his huge success as University to get into the Carrie Underwood’s multi- business. In true rising- platinum producer, Bright through-the-ranks fashion, his balances studio time with his early days were spent in the role as Pres./CEO of Christian tape room at what would music company Word Mark Bright become EMI Music Entertainment. This means Publishing. He went on to he has to operate in both the earn an executive role at the CCR and Country/Pop worlds, which can company. Along the way, ASCAP’s John be very different, especially when it Briggs turned him on to Country, and comes to recording budgets. He says a executive Tim DuBois gave him his first new CCR artist will get only a fraction of shot at producing. Bright’s first single on the funding of a new country artist. that Blackhawk project went straight to At the other end of the spectrum is No. 1. In the years that followed, he Underwood, one of only a few acts on stayed active as a publisher and worked the planet who essentially head into the with stellar talents including songwriter studio with an unlimited bank account. Brett James. Bright also thought back With the label spending such an several years and recalled meeting a

©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Friday, October 16, 2009 young band who wanted to make a bluegrass album. That band was Rascal Flatts, and recognizing that they were anything but bluegrass, Bright took them into the studio and three multi-platinum albums followed. Through career ups and downs, Bright emphasized having faith and continuing to learn. His motto: “First be a good student of the song, and then be a good student of the business.” Bright is currently teamed with a new American Idol. Danny Gokey finished in the Top 3 during the show’s eighth season and signed with 19 Recordings/RCA Records Nashville. And Bright still says he’d love to work with one of his very first musical favorites, Amy Grant. Paisley Jump-starts New TV Series Brad Paisley is working on a new television show Matchless Music Group artist David St. Romain made a stop at the Big tentatively titled Nashville, which is scheduled to begin D and Bubba Show on Oct. 8 to perform his debut single "That's Love." airing next season on the CW network. He has partnered Pictured (L-R): Matchless Music Group's Shawn Pennington, Big D, with actor Zach Quinto (Star Trek, Heroes), producer Bubba, St. Romain, and Edgehill Music's Joe Redmond Mark Schwann (One Tree Hill), writers Neal Dodson and Matt Bomer (White Collar, Chuck) to create and co- produce the drama. The storyline revolves around an aspiring young female singer headed for stardom and a male songwriter whose career isn’t as certain. Paisley plans to include some of his hit songs as well as songs from other artists, and also appear in a cameo role from time to time. “Look for some of your favorite country music stars to make their acting debuts on the show—either by playing themselves or as a character in the script,” says Paisley. “Country songs are like great scripts already and it’s going to be fun to see how some unfold on the show.” New Memoir From Joe Leathers, known for hits like Jason Michael Carroll's "Where I'm From," Adam Gregory's "What It Takes," and Craig Morgan's "Tough," Bluegrass Great recently re-signed with ASCAP. Leathers' songs have also been recorded Ralph Stanley released his autobiography by Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, and Lee Brice. Pictured (L-R): ASCAP SVP yesterday, Oct. 15. Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Connie Bradley, Leathers and ASCAP VP Dan Keen

Times was written with music journalist Eddie Dean. Inside, the 82-year-old bluegrass veteran recalls his ASCAP Gives London hardscrabble boyhood years in rural Virginia, the influence of folk and church music, early Stanley Awards, Debuts Web site Brothers recording, brother Carter’s death, and fellow Sir Paul McCartney was named Songwriter of the musical greats. Stanley was set to play New York’s Year at the 29th Annual ASCAP Awards in London on Carnegie Hall earlier this month with banjoist, actor and Wed., Oct. 14. He was recognized for the songs "All You comedian Steve Martin. Need Is Love," "Come Together" and "Hello Goodbye." The Song of the Year honor went to Coldplay for “Viva La Vida,” and Universal Music Publishing earned Publisher Lifenotes of the Year for having five of the most-performed songs: • Little Big Town husband and wife Jimi Westbrook "Viva La Vida," "Paper Planes," "Mercy," "Sweet Dreams" and Karen Fairchild are expecting their first child, due and "Swagger Like Us." in March. The band shared the good news with fans on their website. • Warner Bros. publicist Brandi Sanford and Chad Hall welcomed daughter Alexia Jade on Oct. 13. She debuted at 6 lbs, 4.5 oz, and 19 inches long. Sarah Lai will be temping while Sanford is on maternity leave and can be reached at [email protected] or 615-214-1500. Bluewater Expands International Roster Bluewater Music has signed Italian composer Paolo Buonvino and will exclusively represent his music outside of Italy, with the exception of his film scores. Based in Rome, Buonvino has had significant success with Italian pop stars Elisa and Negramaro, among others. He is also an award winning composer of numerous Italian film scores. Bluewater Ray Stevens Music Publishing recently hosted a group of songwriters aboard a houseboat President Brownlee Ferguson says this for a day of creative co-writing.Pictured (L-R): Front: Ray Stevens; 2nd Row: Craig Curtis, is another step toward making the 20- Emily Shackelton, Matt Cline (Ray Stevens writer), Suzi Ragsdale (Ray Stevens writer), Sabrina Shelfer (Ray Stevens Music, Creative Director) Back:Max T. Barnes (Ray Stevens year-old Nashville based publisher an writer), Sanna Shoates, Matt Mason, Benton Blount, Cynthia Anderson, Perry Howard, international company. Drew Davis, Blake Chaffin,Tyler Farr, Brent Baxter, Brandon Kinney, Shelley Skidmore, C.W. Buddy Kalb(Ray Stevens writer), Bob Regan, Robby Wilson, Buddy Jewell, Lane Turner.

Cold River Records' Katie Armiger (L) visited RCA Nashville’s Martina McBride (L) is currently on Blue Steel Records' Anna Garrott (L) is with WLLX's (Lawrenceburg, TN) Dan the charts with her single, “I Just Call You Mine,” promoting single "What A Way To Go" to Hollander (R) following her Country Cafe and recently visited with WIVK Knoxville PD Mike radio and stopped to visit with WQNZ's performance at the station Oct. 8. Hammond (R) (Natchez, MS) Mickey Alexander (R)

Meanwhile, ASCAP has launched its new Member video gave CMT.com a +147% boost from its average Access portal at http://members.ascap.com, giving number of total day streams. Her “Thug Story” was songwriter, composer and music publisher members the previous record-holder. The online world premiere improved access to catalog, performance and royalty of “Fifteen” was part of CMT’s multi-platform weekend information. The new technology offers better search of programming dedicated to Swift. capabilities, direct deposit sign-up, and access to request • The Board of Directors of the Blues Foundation will be PDF or MS Excel copies of catalogs. Also, members can meeting in Nashville for the first time on Oct. 23 create designated users who are able to view and/or edit aspects of their membership, catalog or royalty data. A new secure paperless option allows members to view, download and sort statements by music user, by earnings, by domestic or international distributions and by distribution date ranges. Tidbits • The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the Performance Rights Act (S. 379). The bill will amend copyright law so radio stations would have to compensate artists, musicians and rights holders. A similar bill, H.R. 848, was approved earlier by the House Judiciary Committee. Keith Anderson helped friend, Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck, with • Taylor Swift’s brand new music video, “Fifteen,” his Vino Veritas fundraiser to benefit his Believe and Achieve brought record numbers to CMT.com with its Oct. 9 organization. Pictured (L-R): CSI Miami actor Adam Rodriguez (who world premiere. In the first 24 hours of streaming, the grew up with Bulluck in NYC), Bulluck, Anderson

is brilliant here. It left me with a lump in my throat and DISClaimer by Robert K. Oermann tear in my eye. And that’s a very, very good thing. It gives me infinite joy to report to you that this week, all 10 singles are bona fide country music—there’s not a GWEN SEBASTIAN/Hard Rain schlocky pop note in the batch. Writer: Jason Jones/Brett Jones; Producer: Louis What an embarrassment of riches we have here. The Newman; Publisher: WB/Jonesbone, ASCAP; Open Road/ Trent Tomlinson, Gwen Sebastian and Manning-Dickson Lofton Creek (www.gwensebastian.com) songs are all superbly well written. Mark Chesnutt, —She has pert voice that’s plenty “country.” The song’s a George Strait, Brad Hines, Joe Nichols and Blake Shelton winner, too. A girl gets abandoned and gives up her baby with Trace Adkins are all beckoning us to take a smiling for adoption. She later tries to reconnect, but the bridge twirl across a honky-tonk hardwood floor. has been burned. Newman’s production touch is super But I have always said that people like to cry as much hooky. I like it. I like it. as they like to laugh. I know I do. And that’s where Toby Keith comes in. He has a heart-tugging Disc of the JOE NICHOLS/Gimmie That Girl Day. Writer: Rhett Akins/Dallas Davidson/Ben Hayslip; I’m so excited by the fact that everything is country, Producer: Mark Wright; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/ country, country, I’m giving away three DisCovery Rhettneck/String Stretcher/Melissa’s Money/Get a Load Awards. For Male, it’s Brad Hines. For Female, it’s of This/WB, BMI/ASCAP; Universal South Gwen Sebastian. For Group, it’s Manning-Dickson. —If this isn’t a monster hit, there’s no justice on earth. Joe delivers a sexy lyric with a hint MANNING-DICKSON/Cold as Her of smile, and Mark crafts a track that Heart crunches and crashes in all the right Writer: Jason Manning/Jason places. Dickson; Producer: Manning- Dickson; Publisher: none listed, BMI; SUSAN HICKMAN/Whipping Post ManningDickson Writer: Gregg Allman; Producer: (www.manningdickson.com) Doug DeForest; Publisher: Elijah —This honky tonker slams right into Blue/Unichappell, BMI; 4 L Clover your face from the opening note. Entertainment And it doesn’t let up for one second. (www.susanhickman.com) The fiddle and steel bob and weave —She has the bluesy vocal chops to over the stomping beats. But what’s pull off this Southern-rock classic. even better are the two Jasons’ The guitars probably scream a little perfect harmony vocals and a super too loudly for most country listeners, well-written song that demands to however. be a giant. BLAKE SHELTON & TRACE GEORGE STRAIT/Twang ADKINS/Hillbilly Bone Writer: Jim Lauderdale/Kendell Marvel/Jimmy Ritchey; Writer: Craig Wiseman/Luke Laird; Producer: Scott Producer: Tony Brown & George Strait; Publisher: Hendricks; Publisher: Big Loud Shirt/Universal-Careers/ Wudang Mountain/Bug/Marvel Man/Songs of Windswept High Powered Machine, ASCAP/BMI; Warner Bros. Pacific/Big/Vibe Room/Jimbalaya/BPJ, SESAC/BMI; MCA —A New Yorker comes South to go honky tonking and Nashville (CDX) takes to it “like a pig to mud.” That’s because we all have —George goes uptempo in this chugging salute to the “a hillbilly bone down deep inside.” Romping, raucous joys of listening to a jukebox country song. I’m with him fun. all the way. TRENT TOMLINSON/Angels Like Her MARK CHESNUTT/Going On Later On Writer: Trent Tomlinson/Arlos Smith/Aaron Barker; Writer: Jimmy Ritchey/Bob Regan; Producer: Jimmy Producer: Leigh Reynolds & Trent Tomlinson; Publisher: Ritchey; Publisher: Vibe Room/Green Hills/Travelers Hope-N-Cal/Trent Tomlinson/Multisongs/Marlight/ Ridge/Regan, BMI/ASCAP; Lofton Creek (CDX) Skymonkey, BMI/SESAC; Carolwood (615-726-0099) —This has the sound of an instant country classic. —Chesnutt takes on a hillbilly tempo tune, too. It’s a Conway would have loved this majestic slab of come-on lyric with fabulously stuttering electric guitar roadhouse misery. “It’s angels like her that send guys solos and some dazzling tickling of the 88s. What are like me straight to hell.” Trent sings the fire out of it. you waiting for? Get up and dance! Lovers of true Country music, prepare to rejoice. This is the 100-proof Real Deal. TOBY KEITH/Cryin’ For Me (Wayman's Song) Writer: Toby Keith; Producer: none listed; Publisher: BRAD HINES/Hooked on the Bottle Tokeco Tunes, BMI; Show Dog Nashville Writer: Jeff Prince; Producer: none listed; Publisher: —It’s about saying goodbye when a loved one passes Liquid Lady, BMI; Blue Boot (www.bradhinesmusic.com) away. And it couldn’t be any more tender and moving. —It’s a two-step about tying one on with a broken heart. Toby’s melody is simply gorgeous, and his vocal phrasing Is that country or what?