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Artist Co-Writes On The Decline?by Sarah Skates

page 1 Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Artists co-writing their own material has been a growing Music Row trend, but a look at the current country radio singles chart indicates the trend may be reversing. According to research conducted by ASCAP’s Ralph Murphy, 50 percent of the No. 1 country hits in 2008 were written or co-written by the artist. In 2009, the number of what he calls “inside jobs” accelerated to 61 percent. As the first quarter of 2010 comes to a close, a handful of artists who are known for solid songwriting skills have cut and released outside material. Lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert—acclaimed artists who usually write and record their own hits—looked beyond their own catalogs for their latest singles. Lady A turned to songwriters Cary Barlow, Hillary Lindsey and Shane Stevens for their fond remembrance of youth, “American Honey.” Jackson may have sold 50-plus

million units by recording his own material, but his latest, “It’s Just That Way,” is from the pens of his longtime producer/collaborator Keith Stegall, with Vicky McGehee and Kylie Sackley. Lambert picked Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin’s “The House That Built Me,” as the follow-up to her first No. 1 single. “It caught my attention; seeing those three major acts,” says Green Hills Music Group Pres. Woody Bomar of the latest radio chart. “I hope this is a trend. It may be an indication that people are looking for the greatest song and not just the greatest song in their catalog.” Numerous other artistswho sometimes nab a writing credit—and an extra income stream to compensate for dwindling sales—also

Table of Contents1 Artist Co-Writes On The

Decline?

3 Allan Debuts, Shelton and

Gokey Ride Wk. 2 Slide

4 DISClaimer

6 Warner/Bertelsmann Joint

Bid for EMI?

6 Shelton Sells Out Ryman

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Woody Bomar

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

HappySaint

Patrick’s Day

©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED news@musicrow.com

turned to outside writers for their current

hits. Are they realizing that a quality song

trumps these other perks?

“I think our chart has been watered

down by mediocre artist co-writes for the

last couple of years,” says Universal Music

Publishing Nashville Exec. VP/GM Pat

Higdon. “Some artists may have realized

that they aren’t really songwriters at this

point in their careers, and they’ve turned

to Nashville’s top songwriters for material. Easton Corbin

is a great example of a young artist who really hadn’t

jumped into the game trying to be a songwriter—and

maybe he’ll become a writer down the road—but he has

been very wise letting his label find great songs for him.

That’s a trend we hoped for and maybe it is happening

now. It is too early to tell.”

Superstars like Martina McBride and Tim McGraw

have built powerhouse careers out of finding and cutting

superior songs from Nashville’s first-rate tunesmiths, and

they are sticking to that winning formula with their new

singles.

“If you’ve written a hit, great,” Higdon continues. “If

not, find a hit. The artists who do that are the real career-

type of artists that we have had in the format in the past,

and hopefully will have in the future.”

Artist Access Obviously an artist can’t record a song they’ve never

heard, so publishers say access to the artist is key to

getting songs cut. “When you’re pitching songs you want

to get as close to the artist as you can,” explains Bomar.

“You want to go through as few filters as possible. If you

can get directly to the artist and play it for them, that is

absolutely the first choice. The second choice

would probably be the producer; if it is a producer

who is very involved and passionate about finding

songs. Managers can also be very influential in

what gets recorded. Another option would be

the A&R people who work with the artists at

their labels.”

Higdon says label A&R departments used

to facilitate pitch sessions with the artists, but

not these days. With so many other avenues

leading to the artist, has the effectiveness of

A&R waned? Most major producers have their

own connections, and some see little need to

go through the record company when they are

on the song search. There are also financial

incentives that come into play from a label

perspective. With mechanical royalties on the

decline, singles and the performance income

they yield are more important than ever. Because

of this Higdon thinks labels are reluctant to

pass along songs that aren’t what they consider

radio friendly. Bomar adds, “Because of controlled

composition clauses in recording contracts, if

Warner Music Nashville recently celebrated Blake Shelton’s latest No. 1 “Hillbilly

Bone.” (L-R): WMN Pres. John Esposito, Danielle Taylor, Kristen Williams, April

Johnson, George Meeker, VP Promotion Bob Reeves, Brooks Quigley and Sr. VP

Promotions Chris Stacey.

Pat Higdon

page 2 Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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the artist is a writer on the song, the labels don’t have to

pay as high of a royalty rate on mechanicals.”

“I think a lot of artists, especially newer artists, have

relied on hearing songs from one or two sources, instead

of spending time with really good songwriters and publishers

to see what else is out there,” Higdon explains. “I’ve

been doing this for 30-something years, and never have

there been fewer superstars in our building [listening to

songs] than there have been in the last three or four

years.”

“It’s the job of a great songplugger to go out and

find the artist,” he continues, recalling his own pitching

session in Kenny Rogers’ car at the height of the star’s

popularity. “You can get there if you’re confident about

what you do, if you work your connections properly, and

you’ve got the goods and people know you’ve got the

goods. You can get close to the inner circle.”

Allan Debuts, Shelton & Gokey Ride Wk. 2 Slideby David M. Ross Gary Allan fired up bar code

readers and mouse clickers

nationwide to scan almost

65,000 albums with the debut

of Get Off On The Pain this week

according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Week no. 2 for Blake Shelton

(28.5k) and Danny Gokey (24.5k)

saw album sales for both artists drop an average of

62%. Corbin Easton debuted last week with 43k, and

dropped a less steep 49% this week.(A second week

drop of about 60% is quite usual for country artists.)

Shelton's six pak project is charting new waters due to

Songwriter Westin Davis has signed a

publishing deal with Magic Mustang

Music. (L-R): Davis and Magic Mustang’s

Creative Dir. Juli Newton-Griffith.

The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s

“Brenda Lee: Dynamite” exhibit runs through June

and features artifacts and multimedia from Lee’s

career. (L-R): Liz Thiels, Kyle Young, Brenda Lee,

Kay Smith and Judi Turner. Photo: L Wenner

page 3 Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Danny Gokey performed at the 3rd Annual

Jeffrey Steele & Friends benefit concert,

in memory of Jeffrey’s son, Alex. Steele

co-wrote two tracks on Danny’s debut

album, My Best Days. (L-R): Gokey and

Premiere Radio Networks’ Robin Rhodes.

©2010, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED news@musicrow.com

its lower retail price, however, it seems to have

reacted—at least in week two—without exception.

Country sales lagged this week, compared

with last week, but 2010 album sales compared

with 2009 are up a strong 18%. (This compares

favorably with the overall all genre industry

which is down 8%.) Country's good fortune is

being driven by Lady A's newest, the debuts

above, plus strong sellers from Zac Brown

Band, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

The YTD digital stats show that online

adoption is rapidly growing among country

consumers. For example, purchases of digital

country albums YTD comparing 2010 and 2009

are up 59%. Digital albums now make up 15.2%

of 2010 country album purchases. During 2009

they were 11.3%.

Lady A continues to rule country's digital

tracks list with "Need You Now" pinned solidly in

the top spot totaling almost 134k downloads this

week. The uber trio's "American Honey" also

holds the No. 3 spot (36k) and "I Run To You"

(13k) is No. 18. Taylor Swift's "Today Was A

Fairytale" (47k) holds No. 2, plus Swift has tracks

sprinkled throughout the Top 100 in No.s 9, 19, 31, 33,

52, 71, 74, 89, 95, 97 and 99.

DISClaimerby Robert K. Oermann Spring must be here, because

suddenly Music Row is blooming

with sounds.

Things are actually backlogged

here at DISClaimer. There are

enough new country records on

my desk right now to fill two more

columns this size. So everybody

must be waking up from winter

hibernation or something.

Despite the quantity, there

is absolutely no question about

who is Da Man this week. Brad

Paisley handily wins DISC of the

Day with “Water.” This guy is on a winning streak with

one-word titles—“Then,” “Celebrity,” “Alcohol,” “Ticks”

and “Online” have all been prior biggies.

Lathan Moore is a former miner from Illinois who

broke into the Nashville music scene the classic way, via

the honky-tonks of Lower Broad. His debut single earns

him a DISCovery Award this week.

TRAILER CHOIR/Rollin’ Through The Sunshine

Writer: Butter/Big Vinny/Isaac Rich; Producer: Toby

Keith; Publisher: none listed; Show Dog - Universal

—Their best yet. Love the rumbling rhythm track, the

sensational vocal harmonies, the ultra-catchy tune and

the attitude pointing straight to the spring and summer

ahead.

DAVID BRADLEY/Soak It Up

Writer: David Bradley/Brady Seals; Producer: Brady

Seals; Publisher: Wrensong/Gypsy Outfit, BMI/ASCAP;

Gecko (www.davidbradleymusic.com)

—Undistinguished, generic beach music.

Curb Music held a writing retreat at Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN March 7-9 for

upcoming recording projects. (L-R): Curb’s Brian Davis, Tammi Kidd and Drew

Alexander; Broken Bow’s Blake Wise; Curb’s Bobby Tomberlin; Stroudavarious’

Darryl Worley; Republic Nashville’s Sunny Sweeney; Curb’s Tiffany Goss and Lee

Brice; and BMI’s Mark Mason.

page 4 Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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JAKE OWEN/Tell Me

Writer: Jake Owen/Don Poythress/Jimmy Ritchey; Producer:

Jimmy Ritchey; Publisher: Universal-Careers/Shitake Maki/

Big Loud Songs/Big Songs of Extreme/The Flying Poythress/

Vibe Room/Jimbalaya/BPJ, BMI/ASCAP; RCA (track)

—I dig this guy. The uptempo track has a cool, moody

vibe with searing steel, lowdown guitar and a southern-

drawled vocal that seriously rawks. An instant favorite.

THE JANEDEAR GIRLS/Wildflower

Writer: Susan Brown/Vicky McGehee/Jeremy Stover;

Producer: John Rich; Publisher: Sony ATV Tree/Middle

Child 2/Big Loud Bucks/EMI April, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.

—They are a new duo, but their rocked-up, I’m-so-country

song is a theme we’ve all heard a million times before. Pass.

BRAD PAISLEY/Water

Writer: Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Kelley Lovelace; Producer:

Frank Rogers; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Arista (track)

—The first time I played Brad’s superb American Saturday

Night CD, this tune bored its way into my brain. And it

has remained there ever since. Ridiculously infectious,

delightfully melodic, irresistibly rhythmic and headed

straight for the top of the charts.

BECKY SCHLEGEL/Colorado Line

Writer: Becky Schlegel; Producer: Becky Schlegel & Brian

Fesler; Publisher: Lily Ray, BMI; Lily Ray (800-704-6292)

—She is heard regularly on A Prairie Home Companion

(yes, I listen to NPR). Her delicate mountain soprano

trills over a largely acoustic, uptempo track here.

Mandolin and acoustic-guitar solos and way-

up-high steel-guitar notes complete the delights

of this sweet-sad outing. It is taken from her

new CD, Dandelion.

GARY ALLAN/Get Off On The Pain

Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed;

Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville

—His raspy, edgy delivery matches this dark

loser’s lyric perfectly. The band rocks loudly.

SUSAN HICKMAN

Hell Still Ain’t Frozen Over

Writer: Bobby Pinson/Melissa Pierce; Producer:

Doug DeForest; Publisher: Music of Stage

Three/Bobby’s Song and Salvage, BMI; Prickly

Pear/4 L Clover Entertainment

(www.susanhickman.com)

—She’s quite a vocalist, with a delivery as sure

and true as an arrow. The throaty breaks in

her performance are perfect for the heartache

in this finely crafted power ballad. The

production builds splendidly in the choruses.

Excellent work all around. Well worth your

spins and your support.

Lyric Street recording group Love and Theft stopped by the CMA offices Monday

(3/15) to perform songs for their debut album World Wide Open. (L-R): CMA VP

Corporate Communications Wendy Pearl, Love and Theft's Eric Gunderson and

Stephen Barker Liles, O-Seven Artist Mgmt.'s Ron Harris, Love and Theft's Brian

Bandas, Lyric Street Records Mktg. Dir. Heather Conley and CMA Sr. Coord.

Member & Industry Relations Betsy Walker. Photo: Amanda Eckard

page 5 Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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GUY PENROD/Are You The One

Writer: Tammy Hyler/Shaye Smith; Producer: Brent Rowan;

Publisher: Song Catchers/Godfather Rich Muzik/State One

Music America/Nellie of the Valley FSMGI, ASCAP/IMRO;

Servant/Gaither/Quarterback (www.guypenrod.com)

—Well known in gospel circles for his work in the Gaither

Vocal Band, Penrod aims for country acceptance with this

soaring message tune. He sings well, with plenty of power

and range. But he sounds kinda “pop” to me.

LATHAN MOORE/Beautiful Girl

Writer: Will Nance/Casey Beathard/Buddy Brock; Producer:

Rick Holt & Norro Wilson; Publisher: Smoking Grapes/

Bilagray/Lil’ Geezer/Sony ATV/Hand 2 Mouse/Lil Rody,

BMI; Blue Steel (track) (www.lathanmoore.com)

—He may be broke, with a beat-up truck and an ugly

dog, but his baby is a babe. This is a rollicking good time

sonically, a humorously delivered vocal and a cleverly

penned song. You’ll smile and tap your toes, I promise.

An extremely promising career beginning.

Industry Newsby Peter Cronin

Warner/Bertelsmann Joint Bid For EMI? Warner Music Group executives are reportedly talking

with KKR/Bertelsmann, a private equity-backed music

joint venture, about a joint bid for music company EMI

Group, according to people familiar with the talks.

It was not clear if the bid would be for parts or all of

EMI, or whether it would be before or after any bankruptcy.

Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and

German media group Bertelsmann created a joint venture

last year to own and manage music publishing rights.

EMI is owned by London-based private equity firm

Terra Firma, which has warned of a shortfall when the

covenants on its 2.6 billion pound ($3.88 billion) debt

are tested at the end of this month. In recent years EMI

has lost market share to rivals as they struggle in the

changing music business.

EMI Music, which is seeking new funds to avoid

breaching debt covenants, recently announced that CEO

Elio Leoni-Sceti would step down on Mar 31, just a month

after he was expected to come up with a new business

plan. Charles Allen will become Executive Chairman

after Leoni-Sceti leaves.

Terra Firma is also embroiled in an increasingly bitter

legal dispute with Citigroup relating to the advice and

financing it gave to enable the private equity group's

acquisition of EMI in 2007.

One of the people familiar with the Warner/KKR talks

said the music company will wait for the outcome of the

legal dispute before making a move for EMI.

Shelton Sells Out The Ryman Tickets sold out quickly for ACM

Vocal Event of the Year nominee

Blake Shelton’s upcoming show at

Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. In

addition to his past hits, fans will

hear the Twitter-friendly star perform

songs from his new album Hillbilly

Bone, including his chart-topping,

ACM-nominated single, “Hillbilly

Bone.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to

perform at the Ryman as part of the

Grand Ole Opry and that is an honor onto itself,” Shelton

says. “I cannot wait to stand up on the historic Ryman

stage, in front of my family and fans, and give the best

performance of my life.”

(L-R): Patty Griffin and Jack Ingram during

the studio recording of their ACM-

nominated Vocal Event “Seeing Stars.”

Jerrod Niemann joined labelmate Brad

Paisley onstage for the finale performance

of “Alcohol” at Brad’s L.A. tour date.

Niemann got an up-close chance to marvel

at the beer-bottle picking Brad does just

for the song. Photo: Ben Enos

Blake Shelton

Actor James Pickens, Jr. (Chief Richard

Webber on ABC’s Grey's Anatomy) attended

the 28th Annual George Strait Team Roping

Classic held this past weekend. Winners

are posted on www.georgestrait.com

page 6 Wednesday, March 17, 2010