I Was Wrong

When "Love Like Crazy" - the title track to Lee Brice's 2010 debut album - spent 56 weeks on the charts, peaking at #3, setting a record for the longest run in the charts' history, ultimately becoming Billboard's Top Country Song of 2010, I predicted that would be the highest charting single of his career.

Wrong.

I have to admit that I thought he would succumb to the typical talented songwriter-singer tendency to release only songs he wrote himself.

Wrong.

“A Woman Like You” Hit #1 last week, thanks to the fact that Brice knows a big hit when he hears one, no matter who wrote it.

Congrats, Lee (and Johnny)!

How To Make Money At Music

94.9 KUOW/Seattle's Steve Scher snagged me with a teaser to his show yesterday:

"...industry analysts and executives have bemoaned the imminent death of the music industry ever since the birth of the Internet. In reality it's only the record business that's in peril. Album sales once built musical empires. Now touring is the cornerstone of an artist's financial success. Bands who make the road their home are not just insulated from the drop in record sales — they can be profitable! How can you succeed in the modern music industry? Tune in to find out."

The podcast is worth a listen as local booking agent Ali Hedrick talks about the end of record labels and the beginning of management companies/360 deals. Ali brags that she always tries to have tickets to her events available at venues so fans can buy them with no service charges as well (though of course the majority of tickets still sell including "convenience" charges).

Then, this morning, "Lee Brice" emailed to offer to sell me tickets direct from the artist to his shows, cutting out yet another "middle man."

It will be interesting to see if this "added value" approach can provide a long-term business model that keeps musicians playing and music buyers smilin' - while getting more dollars into the hands of creative types as well as lower prices or a better experience to the consumer with less of a "cut" for agents, brokers and traditional exec's.

I can dream, can't it?

When The Artists Podcast Better Than Radio Does

A lesson in creativity from Lady Antebellum:

Lee Brice’s Top 10 hit “Love Like Crazy” got the star treatment from Lady A today in the band’s Wednesday Webisode. Thanks to Lady A’s clever way with a lyric, the title track to Brice’s debut CD is now a love song to…biscuits and gravy and the gastronomic marvels of the Waffle House menu.

"This is really funny, and I am honored that Lady A decided to tackle my song," Brice said. "I understand that mine is the second song they've spoofed and only two songs in, they've perfected the craft. Hey guys, how about a writing session in the next few weeks?”

“Love Like Crazy” spends its 48th week on the charts this week, making it one of only four titles to spend at least 48 weeks on the Billboard Country Songs chart in the magazine’s 66-year history. On the flip side, Brice co-wrote Garth Brooks’ smash hit “More Than a Memory,” the only song in the chart’s history to debut at the #1 position.

A quick consulting tip from Jaye, for what it's worth, Lady A: yes, "television" is a mass medium and so saying to the audience "some of you" as if you're talking to a group of people is the way most folks have traditionally done things on old media, web video (and radio!) is at best experienced one to one.

Improve your impact and level of engagement by talking to one person. Drop the editorial "we" and stop reminding me that you're talking to a camera, a microphone and a world-wide web.

Talk to ME, never "us."

Don't say "we," say "you."