Author Archive: David M Ross
David M. Ross has been covering Nashville's music industry for over 25 years. dross@musicrow.com
McBride and Allen Dissolve Long Term Partnership
A spokesperson for Bruce Allen Talent has confirmed an amicable split with long-time client Martina McBride. Allen’s company also manages artists such as Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams and Anne Murray. Allen was honored with the Leonard T. Rambeau International Award by the Canadian Country Music Association in 2006. McBride’s current album Shine has been on […]
ACM Leverages Fan Engagement
“That’s how you start an award show, son,” bellowed a breathless Charlie Daniels after the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music’s opening number, a high-energy “Traveling Band” mashup which included the fiddler, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and CCR hero/songwriter John Fogerty.
Category: Awards, Featured, Organizations
Whew! What A Week or Change Creates Opportunity
Nashville’s music industry has apparently survived what surely registers as a most unprecedented week. Viewed within a slightly wider time frame, the upheaval suggests that we are witnessing a critical moment where pent-up change is exploding through most every industry sector—record labels, publishing, touring, performance rights and industry organizations…
Large corporations move predictably, not quickly. Once a threat to profitability is identified, over time, they begin to act. Sometimes the home office repairs the damage with a scalpel, other times restructuring seems the best way to re-energize performance. Sometimes fiscal redemption can best be accomplished by acquiring competitors or content and growing market share. Over the past few months Nashville’s music community, our friends, family and colleagues have suffered all these strategies.
Category: Featured, Label, Organizations, Publishing
Sweet Tweets: Ads Come To Twitter
Yesterday Twitter launched its first profit spinning initiative, a promising advertising component called Promoted Tweets. A handful of big name advertisers including Starbucks, Sony Pictures, Virgin America, and Best Buy are the first on board.
Category: Featured, Sales/Marketing
Disney Confirms Phased Closure For Lyric Street—Flatts To Remain
NASHVILLE, TN – April 14, 2010 – Disney Music Group (DMG) announced today that they will close operations at Lyric Street Records, DMG’s label presence in Nashville. “The Lyric Street team has had an amazing run, building a slate of well-known artists including the superstar act, Rascal Flatts,” said Bob Cavallo, Chairman of Disney Music […]
Category: Featured
Reports Say Lyric Street Doors To Close
Various—but unofficial— reports, are surfacing, saying that Lyric Street Records will shutter its doors. All Access was first to break the story. Chief Lyric Street staffers include President Randy Goodman and Sr. VP A&R Doug Howard. It also includes promo staffers Kevin Herring, Dale Turner, John Ettinger and Chris Palmer. The label’s roster also includes […]
Chairman Joe Galante Announces Departure from Sony Music Nashville
Nashville, TN – Joe Galante, Chairman of Sony Music Nashville, today confirms the next step of his 39-year music business career by announcing his decision to leave the company. Galante will continue his role as chairman until a new Nashville label group leader is named. Subsequently, he will actively participate in a transition consultancy once […]
ASCAP Reorganization Continues
There has been no official word, but MusicRow has heard that the realignment at ASCAP Nashville included a number of personnel changes today, most notably in the writer rep department. Thought to be exiting due to this re-organization are Herky Williams, John Briggs, Pat Rolfe, Dan Keen and Charlene Wilhite. Remaining on board are Ralph […]
Category: Featured, Organizations
File Sharing Site Disses UK’s Digital Economy Bill
The UK recently enacted the Digital Economy Bill (Digital Economy Bill another report) to restrict music piracy by giving copyright holders the ability to “spy” on those infringing their rights via file sharing. The idea is that after being identified, the offending parties will then be disconnected from the Internet. In effect, this plan, which […]
Category: Featured, Publishing
Lady A Grabs Biggest Slice
Momentum for Country YTD album sales stumbled this week—despite two debuts—as the format’s gain over last year slipped from 15% to 13%.
Carrie Underwood Play On Tour
Carrie Underwood’s latest tour, set to hit 54 cities across North America with support acts Sons of Sylvia and Craig Morgan, presents an artist who has grown into her superstar role,
