Fall 2009 - AristoMedia

Vol. 2, Issue No. 4

Aristo International Report

Fall 2009

> Promoting the World of Country Music Around the Globe

Are Veteran Acts Setting the Trend Overseas for Nashville’s Next Generation? For years, there has been a small but determined number of artists willing to invest their time, money and energy to make a go of touring overseas. Acts like Charlie Daniels, The Bellamy Brothers, Dwight Yoakam and Dolly Parton come to mind, but in the last several years, more and more artists are getting the hint and heading across the pond to entertain fans that would stand outside in the rain for good Country music - literally. Just ask Alan Jackson, who returned to Europe for the first time since 1990 this year, where 20,000 fans waited nine hours in a downpour (pictured at left) for the legendary performer to take the stage. It seems American artists are finally starting to embrace the global stage. Toby Keith, for example, will finally make his first trek overseas with a run of dates through Northern Europe in November, while Brooks & Dunn have enjoyed two extremely successful tours to Australia in recent years. And, Martina McBride returned to Europe last month for the first time in 15 years. So, will these veteran acts serve as some kind of “trendsetter” for the next generation of American stars? Jo Walker-Meador, former Executive Director of the CMA, hopes so. “Those acts and others should send a message to the younger stars, especially those who haven't yet reached superstar status,” she says. “I believe that it is possible to build an international and domestic following simultaneously. Johnny Cash became a world famous name early in his career. Dolly Parton is another, and she still tours to sellout audiences. Kenny Rogers played some of his first European dates in the ‘70s. I think an artist has everything to gain and not much to lose by building a career in other parts of the world.”

Certainly, acts like Taylor Swift have noticed the potential earning power of the international audience. According to the teen’s label, Big Machine Records, Swift’s Fearless has been certified either Gold, Platinum or Multi-Platinum in 14 countries, including Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, Taiwan, Singapore and Norway. Dierks Bentley opened for Brooks & Dunn to great response on the duo’s 2009 Australian tour, and acts like Sugarland just made their first visit to Europe earlier this year. Even bluegrass artists like the Grascals are catching on overseas, having just returned from Greece this month. Adding to the attractiveness of international touring is a slowly strengthening global economy, says international promoter Judy Seale, of Judy Seale International. “Festivals in 2010 are already looking much better than 2009,” she notes. “Evidently, the global economy is rebounding and events are booking early for next year.” Sounds like good news for everyone.

Country Music Awards...

(con’t)

Ireland’s Country Music Awards, held in Castlebar, honored a pair of U.S. Country legends last month, with Randy Travis receiving Best International Act and George Jones receiving the Hall of Fame honor. Male Vocalist of the Year went to Jimmy Buckley, while Female Vocalist was awarded to Philomena Begley. Daniel O’Donnell took home Entertainer of the Year, and Anne Marie O’Riordan was honored with the Horizon Award, also known as Best Newcomer. New Zealand honored some of its finest artists at the National Country Music Awards at Founders Theatre in Hamilton, NZ last month on Aug. 15. Male Artist of the Year went to Dennis Marsh and Female Artist of the Year went to Marian Burns. The Topp Twins took home the Group/Duo Award. Telstra Road to Tamworth winner Peter McWhirter impressed the audience with his live performance, as did 2008 Horizon Award winner Ashley Cooper.

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Upcoming International Country Music Festivals Mildura Festival, Sept. 25-Oct. 4 (Australia) Amber Lawrence, Carter & Carter, Mitchell Shadlow Deniliquin Ute Muster, Oct. 2-3 (Australia) Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, The Sunny Cowgirls, Kirsty Lee Akers Country Night, Oct. 3 (Switzerland) Ray Scott, Burrito Deluxe, Cripple Creek Band Country Gold, Oct. 18 (Japan) Mark Willis, Trent Willmon, Jeff Bates Country Music Fair, Nov. 7-8 (Germany) TBA

Joe Nichols Visits Troops, Films “Believers Challenge From Iraq” With Military When Joe Nichols visited the troops in Iraq earlier this year, he asked them to film a short video clip describing what they believed in and why. The idea first began as a means to promote his single, “Believers,” using fan-submitted videos, but after making his trip abroad, Nichols was so moved by what he saw that he expanded the initiative to include the servicemen and women stationed overseas. “I think it's really important for people to hear what our men and women in the military have to say,” Nichols said. “When I went to Iraq and saw the strength and character the men and women in our military service exhibit every day and their belief in what they're doing, I knew I wanted to get that on film and share it with everyone. They are my inspiration.” View the “Believers Challenge From Iraq” on YouTube here.

AirPlay Direct Launches New Digital Distribution Platform and Global Radio Charting System

The Grascals at the Athens Country Music Festival in Athens, Greece, Sept. 12, 2009

Upcoming Award Shows International Bluegrass Awards - Oct. 1 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN, USA Australian Indep. Country Music Awards Oct. 3 Mildura Country Music Fest, Mildura, Victoria CMA Awards - Nov. 11 Sommet Center, Nashville, TN, USA CMAA Awards - Jan. 23 Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Convention Centre, Tamworth, Australia

Digital delivery provider AirPlay Direct has unveiled a new platform that includes radio tracking reports and a global radio chart for singles and albums. The company serves as the exclusive provider for Dolly Parton and offers content from other artists such as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Steve Martin, and more. Their current international radio station membership tops 3,800 stations, with a global artist and label membership of 19,000+.

Americana Going Global? It was a hotly debated topic at the annual AMA Conference in Nashville this month. The “Americana and the Global Marketplace” panel took a look at the growth and perception of the format on a worldwide scale with panelists Dobe Newton of Sounds Australia, artist Holly Golightly, artist James Intveld, producer Mark Moffatt and author and music exporter John Lomax III. AristoMedia president Jeff Walker served as moderator. Though at times opinions varied on what exactly “Americana” is by definition, there was no denying the growing popularity of this roots-driven genre, as evidenced by the Recording Academy’s creation of the first Americana Grammy category at this year’s Grammy Awards.



Vol. 2, Issue No. 4

Fall 2009


Q&A with:

Jo Walker-Meador

In this issue, we spoke with former CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador. Jo, you were the CMA’s first employee when it began in 1958. Did you ever dream it would become an organization with so much international influence? No, it was impossible to imagine at that time that CMA could ever become what it is today, especially with respect to its influence world wide. It was some four or five years after CMA was launched that we could engender enough financial status to begin to market the music and the Association, even on a domestic basis. You were responsible for the creation of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Fan Fair, and the CMA Awards before your retirement as Executive Director in 1991. What is the one achievement you are most proud of during your career with the CMA? Too much credit is given to me for the creation of these major CMA activities. I believe that my best achievement was inspiring and encouraging creative people to support these efforts. I am most proud of getting the first home built for the Hall of Fame which opened to the public in 1967. I'm also proud of holding CMA together in those first very lean years. Most memorable Country music moment you personally witnessed outside the U.S.? There are several - in the ‘70s, when an audience at Wembley Arena in London was mesmerized by Don Williams. Later in Nice, France, when the Oak Ridge Boys performed at the dedication of the city’s convention center and then for Princess Grace's favorite charity in Monaco. More recently, the 20th anniversary of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival in Craponne, France in 2007, and the 20th anniversary of Country Night Gstaad, in Gstaad, Switzerland in 2008. Also watching the legendary Bill Monroe perform a capella at the Country Gold festival in Kumamoto, Japan! Country music has definitely crossed over to the Pop audience. Do you think this is the best chance today for international artists to break here in the U.S.? I believe that a true country artist with talent for writing good songs and a better than average voice can break in the U.S., especially if that artist has "sex appeal." There is some mystique to an artist from another country which appeals to audiences. What do you think the next step is for our industry to continue growing the Country music genre in foreign markets? This is a difficult question to answer, but I believe that those people in decision-making positions should encourage the artists in this country to travel and perform internationally. I think that influence could encourage their counterparts in other countries to give more attention towards the value of recording and promoting the artists, not only the American artists, but also their native performers.

Bonus Points... ๏ Rural TV has started to carry a new, hour-long program called ‘Hot Country’ as of Sept. 28. The show features Country music stars from the Irish, UK and U.S. scene. Available on Sky Channel 279 and Freesat 403. ๏ Taylor Swift has been nominated for the Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. The teen superstar is up for ‘Fave Song’ and ‘Fave International Singer.’ The winners will be announced November 13 on Australia's Nickelodeon. ๏ Charlie Daniels just returned from his fifth visit to Korea, where he played for troops stationed in Seoul and Dongducheon. The tour was sponsored by IMCOM-Korea, Family & MWR Division. ๏ Australia’s The McClymonts have been busy recording their new album, Wrapped Up Good, between Nashville’s Blackbird Studios and Chalice Studios in Los Angeles . Produced by Nathan Chapman, the album will be released in Australia on Oct. 2. ๏ The 7th annual French Country Music Awards nominees have been announced here. The 2009 winners will be announced in October. ๏ Artist/producer Gail Davies and AristoMedia president Jeff Walker have been named this year’s International Country Music Ambassadors by the International Country Music Day Organization. ๏ The newest British Country Music Hall of Fame inductees are: promoter Mervyn Conn and performers Ed Pearson, Bob McKinlay and The Hillsiders. The nonprofit company, BCMHoF, was recently formed to serve as the parent company of the Hall of Fame. ๏ CMR Nashville’s Lee Williams Show is now being broadcast in Spain on Heart FM. The network has also launced a new weekly program called ‘From One Songwriter to Another.’



Vol. 2, Issue No. 4

Fall 2009