Pollstar Concert Wire

Best Of The Best – Concert Industry Awards Winners

Jay Smith — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:01:00 GMT

The 23rd annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards took place Friday night at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

Coming together in one massive networking spectacular, the concert industry’s major players took advantage of our unlimited open bar, ate exotic foods and even made a few deals. Oh, and they honored their own as award winner after winner walked up to the podium to receive the plaque that will be treasured forever. Or sold on eBay, depending on our economy’s future.

So without any further delays or additional service charges, here are the Concert Industry Award winners for 2011.

Major Tour of the Year – Lady Gaga

Most Creative Stage Production – Roger Waters

Best New Touring Artist – Adele

Red Rocks Award for Small Outdoor Venue (non-touring) – Greek Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)

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Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue – Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, CA)

Arena of the Year – Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

Theatre of the Year – Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)

Nightclub of the Year – Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)

Best New Major Concert Venue – Austin City Limits Live At The Moody Theater (Austin, TX)

Facility Executive of the Year – John Bolton (BOK Center, Tulsa, OK)

Major Music Festival of the Year (non-touring) – Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (Indio, CA)

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Music Festival of the Year (non-touring) – The Hangout Music and Beach Festival (Gulf Shores, AL)

Bobby Brooks Award for Agent of the Year – Jonathan Levine (Paradigm)

Third Coast Booking Agent of the Year – Scott Clayton (Creative Artists Agency)

Independent Booking Agency of the Year – The Windish Agency

Booking Agency of the Year – Creative Artists Agency

Personal Manager of the Year – John Silva (Foo Fighters, Beck, Ryan Adams)

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Road Warrior of the Year –Gus Brandt (Foo Fighters, Blink-182)

Bill Graham Award for Promoter of the Year – Louis Messina (The Messina Group)

Talent Buyer of the Year – Don Strasburg (AEG Live)

Nightclub Talent Buyer of the Year – Lesley Olenik (Club Nokia, Los Angeles, CA, Fox Theater, Pomona, CA)

Lighting Company of the Year –Upstaging

Sound Company of the Year – Clair

Staging or Equipment Company of the Year – All Access Staging & Productions

Transportation Company of the Year – Rock-It Cargo

Video Company of the Year – Moo TV

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UK Booking Agent of the Year – Neil Warnock (The Agency Group)

International Promoter of the Year – Barrie Marshall (Marshall Arts)

International Music Festival of the Year – Glastonbury Festival (UK)

International Venue of the Year – The O2 (London, UK)

Todd Snider Beefs Up His Calendar

Jay Smith — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:01:00 GMT

Traveling America with a full band, Todd Snider pumps 25 new dates into his already fat schedule.

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A perpetual touring machine, this time Snider is supporting his upcoming album, Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables, which drops March 6 on Aimless Records.

New stops on Snider’s schedule include several newly listed shows in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Tennessee with the tour wrapping up in Nashville, Tenn., at the famed Ryman Auditorium.

New destinations along the way during Snider’s journey to The Ryman include Sacramento, Calif., at Harlow’s Night Club April 14; two nights at Seattle’s Triple Door April 19-20; Salt Lake City at The State Room April 24; Dallas at Granada Theater May 2 and New Braunfels, Texas, at Gruene Hall May 4-5.

Snider also has a few dates in the Denver area, playing Fort Collins at Hodi’s Half Note April 25; Boulder at Boulder Theater April 26 and the Denver’ s L2 Arts and Culture Center April 27.

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Some of the new dates are already on sale. Click here for more information.

Iron & Wine To Headline Old Settler’s

Jay Smith — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:31:00 GMT

Singer/songwriter Iron & Wine tops a lineup featuring Amos Lee, Railroad Earth and JJ Grey & Mofro.

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Scheduled for April 19-22 at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCullock outside Austin, Texas, the 25th annual Old Settler’s Music Festival will also feature performances by Doyle Lawson, Bob Schneider, Psychograss, James McMurtry, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sarah Jarosz, Gaelic Storm, Marshall Crenshaw, The Bottle Rockets and more.

With Old Settler’s you get four stages set in the great outdoors and the chance to experience four days of no rush/no hurry festival action. There will be artisans, children’s activities and more, all for you to experience while soaking up the event's blankets and lawn chairs atmosphere. This isn’t your gigantic rock-till-you-drop festival, and Old Settler’s fans like that just fine.

Tickets include four-day platinum packages that include camping and perks to single day passes. Visit OldSettlersMusicFest.org for more information.

Black Sabbath Answers Ward’s Plea For ‘Signable Contract’

Jay Smith — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:01:00 GMT

Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward posted a message to his website Thursday saying he couldn’t go along with the band’s reunion tour and album unless he received a “signable contract.” The band has now answered him and the news isn’t pretty.

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Plans for the original Black Sabbath lineup include the band’s first album with Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ward in 33 years, as well as a global tour scheduled to begin in Moscow May 18. But that was then.

Now it looks as if the album and tour will go forward as planned but without Ward.

From BlackSabbath.com:

“We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans...we have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open... We are still in the UK with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll... See you at Download!!!

Steven Tyler Defends National Anthem Performance

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:01:00 GMT

Steven Tyler says he meant to sing the national anthem like that.

The Aerosmith frontman and “American Idol” judge endured plenty of jabs after his rendition of the anthem at the AFC Championship game last month, but Tyler says he doesn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

“I don’t know. As I said before, I put emphasis on, ‘In the land of the free’ and I went up,” Tyler explained. “Oddly enough I hit the note so I don’t know what they are talking about. I emphasized ‘free’ which was for freedom. It was well thought out prior to. I wasn’t messing with American tradition.”

Enduring negative criticism at that football game did not stop Tyler from enjoying pre-Super Bowl festivities with Carrie Underwood. The duo is in Indianapolis for CMT’s “Crossroads,” which brings acts from different genres together to perform. It’s not the first time the two have sung together: They performed a duet at the Academy of Country Music Awards last year.

“I just love to sing and I love her stuff. A good friend of mine writes songs with her. When I heard ‘Undo It,’ I said, ‘What is that?’ That is an Aerosmith song, right? I am going to finish recording that with you. He said, ‘No, I wrote that with Carrie, it is coming out in a week,’“ he said. “I met her and it was all over after that, once I looked into her eyes. She opened her mouth and sang and she is that good. I loved singing with her.”

The two rehearsed Thursday evening in North Greenfield, just outside of Indianapolis, ahead of their scheduled Saturday show (it will air the same night on the network). The former “Idol” champ says she enjoys working with the lively Tyler because he “makes everybody all warm and fuzzy.”

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While Tyler, closely connected to Boston for years, made clear he was rooting for the New England Patriots in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, Underwood demurred when asked to name her pick. In her house, she says hockey is the main focus, since husband Mike Fisher is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

“He is Canadian so I have had to switch his focus from so much hockey to a little football because we watch a lot of hockey,” she said. “I love watching him and I love watching the Predators.”

Odds & Ends: Mötley Crüe, Ziggy Marley and The Search For The Lowest Voice … Ever

Jay Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:01:00 GMT

Las Vegas honors Mötley Crüe; Ziggy Marley gets his own show on SiriusXM and a record label launches a search for the person capable of singing a note that has yet to be sung.

Vegas Loves Mötley Crüe

Mötley Crüe begins its Las Vegas residency at The Joint @ the Hard Rock Hotel / Casino tonight, playing 13 shows now through Feb. 19. To celebrate, Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaimed today “Mötley Crüe Day” in Sin City.

Now, before you start entertaining images of Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee running rampant through the desert city on a day where nothing is denied to them, think again. It’s just a proclamation and not the keys to the city or a collective “king for a day” arrangement. But wouldn’t it be fun to turn the town over to Mötley Crüe for a day? The mind boggles as to what the boys might do if given total control over the city.

Meanwhile, the band’s residency has The Crüe playing four shows a week, including Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. Visit Motley.com for more info.

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Ziggy On The Air

Ziggy Marley has signed on to SiriusXM Radio with a new monthly show.

Appropriately titled "Ziggy Marley’s Legends Of Reggae,” the radio program features the son of reggae legend Bob Marley talking about, well, reggae legends. Debuting Feb. 5 on the eve of Bob Marley’s 1981 death, the first program features Ziggy talking with Jimmy Cliff.

Along with talking to and about reggae musicians, the program will feature plenty of music from the entire Marley family as well as Ziggy talking about music and culture.

“It is my privilege to use this medium to honor the legends of reggae and to use it as a vehicle to educate and enlighten listeners,” Marley said.

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Hitting Rock Bottom

Believe it or not, there are notes that haven’t yet been sung, some too high and some too low.

The Decca music label has launched a search to find someone with the pipes to sing the latter, a low “E,” which resides in a very bassy world located almost three octaves below a piano’s middle “C.”

There’s a reason for all this low-end activity. Paul Mealor, who composed the Christmas hit “Wherever You Are” sung by The Military Wives, has written a piece called “De Profundis (Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord), which features the never-before-sung low “E,” reports Reuters.

“My setting of De Profundis calls for a rich and powerful voice; a voice that can not only touch the heart with its sincerity and truth, but also make every fabric of the human body resonate as it plunges into the very lowest parts of the vocal spectrum,” Mealor said.

As to how low a voice can go, “Guinness World Records” claims the lowest note produced by a singer is a low “F Sharp” sung by American Roger Menees two years ago.

Think your voice can go deep enough on the scale to hit low “C?” The label has a website where singers can upload their recordings. Click here for all the details.

More 'Book Of Drugs' Dates For Mike Doughty

Jay Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:01:00 GMT

The former Soul Coughing frontman lines up more cities for his “Book Of Drugs” tour featuring music, a reading from his book and taking questions from fans.

Mike Doughty’s memoir – “The Book Of Drugs” – covers his career including all the nasty parts like addiction and what he refers to as his “doomed-from-the-start” time with Soul Coughing. Every show includes Doughty reading from the memoir as well as answering questions from the audience.

But “The Book Of Drugs” is only one aspect of his tour. He’s also supporting his most recent studio album, Yes and Also Yes, as well as his new two-disc live album, The Question Jar Show.

New dates include Evanston, Ill., at Space March 22; Minneapolis at the Theatre At The Woman’s Club March 24; Milwaukee’s Shank Hall March 25; Ames, Iowa, at the Maintenance Shop March 28; Kansas City at Knuckleheads March 31; Seattle’s Triple Door April 7; San Francisco at the Swedish American Hall April 10 and San Diego’s Anthology April 13.

Many shows are on sale now. Visit MikeDoughty.com for more information.

James Taylor In The U.S.A.

Jay Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:01:00 GMT

After spending three months touring Europe, Sweet Baby James returns to North America beginning in June.

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While some dates for James Taylor were released by individual venues, his summer tour is beginning to take shape, showing the singer/songwriter cruising through the U.S. in June and July.

Additions to Taylor’s schedule include Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center June 20; Syracuse, N.Y., at the Oncenter Complex June 21; Holmdel, N.J., at PNC Bank Arts Center June 23 and Portland, Maine, at Cumberland County Civic Center June 24.

But wait, there are more shows you need to know about. Like Atlantic City at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa July 6; Cleveland at Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica July 9; Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena July 12 and Memphis at Mud Island Amphitheatre July 15.

Heading westward, Taylor plays Springfield, Mo., at the JQH Arena July 17; Tulsa’s BOK Center July 18; St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox theatre July 20; Kansas City at Starlight Theatre July 21 and Morrison, Colo., near Denver at Red Rocks Amphitheatre July 23.

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Presales will launch Feb. 6 and 7. Most general onsales begin Feb. 10. Head on over to JamesTaylor.com for more information.

Sasquatch! Music Festival Announces Lineup

Jay Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:01:00 GMT

The Northwest festival unleashes a gigantic lineup for its 11th year ranging from Jack White to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah to Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins and more.

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Scheduled for May 25-28, the lineup for the Sasquatch! Music Festival is packed with talent and includes Beck, Bon Iver, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head And The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metrick, Explosions In The Sky, and more.

Actually, we could burn through tons of bytes listing all the acts appearing at Sasquatch! this year like The Walkmen, Spiritualized, Wild Flag, and The War On Drugs as well as M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Jamey Johnson and the country/folk duo The Civil Wars.

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There’s also some funny business planned for this year’s Sasquatch in the form of comedians Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Todd Barry, Beardyman, Rob Delaney, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer and more.

But we’re just brushing the surface of the festival named for the mythical beast that roams the Northwest. For more data, including ticket information, visit SasquatchFestival.com.

Black Sabbath Drummer Wants ‘Signable Contract’

Jay Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:01:00 GMT

Saying he’s vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract, original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward warns that he may not be on board for the band’s reunion tour.

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In a lengthy posting on his website, Ward said he would “love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour.” But, as with all good things, there is a catch.

“However, I am unable to continue unless a ‘signable’ contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band.

“Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with Tony [Iommi], Ozzy [Osbourne] and Geezer [Butler]. And on 11/11/11, again in good faith, I participated in the L.A. press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another ‘unsignable’ contract was handed to me.”

Ward doesn’t actually say why the contract was “unsignable." Instead, he focused on what might happen if he signed the contract offered to him.

“The place I’m in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to play and participate, I also have to stand for something and not sign on,” Ward wrote. “If I sign as-is, I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician.”

If you’re thinking Ward’s objection to the contract offered him is all about the money, the drummer says he’s not “greed-driven.”

“I’m not holding out for a ‘big piece’ of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal. I’d like something that recognizes and is reflective of my contributions to the band, including the reunions that started fourteen years ago.

“After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract. I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I’ve brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning.”

Ward’s essay is the second speed bump to emerge for Black Sabbath’s reunion tour. Last month the band announced guitarist Tony Iommi had been diagnosed with lymphoma but did not say whether the illness would impact the tour.

So far, Black Sabbath has only announced Euro dates for its global outing. The reunion tour is scheduled to be in Moscow at Olympiiski May 18.

Madonna Tickets Soon?

Jay Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:00 GMT

Live Nation’s top exec says Madonna tickets will go on sale after this weekend’s Super Bowl.

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It’s shaping up to be a Madonna weekend, what with Clear Channel honking her new single – “Gimme All Your Luvin’” – throughout the corporate giant’s multi-platform empire of radio stations, websites and billboards. Then comes Sunday with Madge headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show, ensuring that everyone in the known universe is aware of her album, her single, her… infinite presence.

Plus, it’s looking as if we’re going to see Madonna tour dates and ticket onsales very soon. While speaking to the Los Angeles Times’ Randy Lewis about big names like Springsteen, Roger Waters and Van Halen hitting America’s touring superhighway in 2012, Live Nation president and chief executive Michael Rapino said tickets for Madonna will go on sale very soon.

“Madonna’s going on the road, and those tickets will go on sale right after the Super Bowl,” Rapino said.

As to this year’s concert scene, the article also mentioned the possibility of The Rolling Stones touring, although Jagger & Co. haven’t confirmed any plans. But the Times did quote Pollstar’s own Megamind Gary Bongiovanni saying the next 12 months will be “blessed with riches” and that 2012 is “going to be a great year with a wide array of artists out there working.”

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But first, Madonna. We’ll see how accurate Rapino’s remark is come Monday.

Country Or Folk? The Civil Wars Blur Grammy Lines

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:00 GMT

Even Grammy voters don’t know what to do with The Civil Wars.

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The duo has been nominated for best folk album and best country duo/group performance, two categories that bear little resemblance to each other. Fellow nominees run the spectrum from Kenny Chesney to Eddie Vedder to Gillian Welch and Fleet Foxes.

And John Paul White and Joy Williams love it.

“We kind of had a little bit of a grin between the two of us and our team as well about that, too,” Williams said. “I think it’s fun the fact that we can’t be pigeon-holed into one or the other. That’s just fine with us.”

“We’re going for best dance recording next year. We’re going to do a dubstep record,” White joked.

The truth of the matter, though, is they don’t have time to record an album right now.

The Civil Wars were one of music’s underground success stories of 2011. The pair of hard-working, long-toiling solo artists joined together as a songwriting partnership and found the next step in their performance careers. Championed by Taylor Swift, Adele and dozens of other artists, it’s been a nonstop acceleration as they continue to sell copies of their 2011 debut album Barton Hollow, tour the United States and Europe, and collaborate with artists they never would have expected.

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They recently debuted “Safe & Sound,” their “Hunger Games” soundtrack song with Taylor Swift, live at Ryman Auditorium with a surprise visit from the pop star. And they unveiled the new documentary soundtrack for “Finding North” which they co-wrote with T Bone Burnett at Sundance. They’ll leave for their first European tour about two weeks after the Feb. 12 Grammy ceremony in Los Angeles.

They hope to spend time there with fellow nominee Swift, who has become a close friend. Swift knew each as a solo artist, and was instrumental in drawing attention to them at a pivotal point in the duo’s career.

“I love The Civil Wars because they’re such a perfect example of two people who seem to be absolutely meant to make music together,” Swift said in an email. “Seeing JP and Joy come up with harmonies in the studio together is like watching a pair of twins communicating in their own way, finishing each other’s sentences and thoughts.”

That incredible chemistry has led to new heights each week, it seems. They hope to achieve the same kind of audience reaction in Europe. In less than a year, their audience has grown from a hundred or so a show to thousands who soak in their dramatic harmonies and simple instrumentation in rapt silence.

“I’d be lying if we said we had our brains wrapped completely around it,” White said. “We’ve kind of had blinders on all the last year and just focused on what’s going on that day. And each night we look up to a bigger crowd in a bigger city, a bigger piece of transportation, our crew gets bigger and it’s like, ‘How did this happen?’“

Billy Ray Cyrus Signs With Amazon

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:01:00 GMT

Billy Ray Cyrus is the latest celebrity to sign up with Amazon.com.

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The singer of “Achy Breaky Heart” and father and former co-star of Miley Cyrus has a memoir, “Hillbilly Heart,” coming in spring 2013.

Amazon.com, which has been aggressively expanding its publishing operation, announced Thursday that Cyrus would discuss with “great candor” everything from his early years to life as the parent of a teen superstar. Cyrus and his daughter starred together in the hit TV series “Hannah Montana.”

Others with Amazon deals include actress-director Penny Marshall and actor James Franco. Those books, however, will not be available everywhere. Barnes & Noble Inc. announced earlier this week that it would not stock releases from its rival retailer.

Springsteen Guitarist Anticipates Emotional Shows

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:01:00 GMT

Bruce Springsteen guitarist Steve Van Zandt says touring without saxophonist Clarence Clemons is sure to be emotional for the E Street Band and its audience.

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Clemons died at age 69 last year after a stroke. Van Zandt said Thursday that the band’s work will always be a tribute to Clemons and keyboard player Danny Federici, who died in 2008. Springsteen and the E Street Band begin a long tour next month.

Despite the emotion, Van Zandt says band members have to ask themselves whether their colleagues would have wanted them to carry on with the work. The guitarist said: “I think the answer’s yes.”

Besides the music, Van Zandt is promoting “Lilyhammer,” Netflix’s first original series. It is set in Norway and begins streaming Feb. 6 on Netflix.

Madonna Launching Video On Billboards, Online

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:01:00 GMT

Clear Channel is giving Madonna all its luvin’.

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The radio giant announced plans Friday to premiere the 53-year-old pop star’s new single “Give Me All Your Luvin’“ and its music video across Clear Channel radio stations, electronic billboards and online venues. Clear Channel, which owns 850 stations nationwide, estimated the promotional campaign would reach more than 150 million people around the world.

Beginning on Friday morning, “Give Me All Your Luvin’“ is scheduled to premiere simultaneously across 95 radio stations and on more than 1,600 digital billboards in the United States, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Singapore, Belgium, Finland and the United Kingdom, as well as on demand at iHeartRadio.com, Clear Channel’s customized online radio service.

“This first-of-its-kind multimedia premiere with Madonna demonstrates the unequalled scope and strength of the entire Clear Channel platform – a range and depth that enables us to work with the most talented and creative artists in the world to develop truly groundbreaking promotional opportunities,” said Bob Pittman, CEO of Clear Channel, in a statement.

The Material Girl push is the latest multimedia endeavor from Clear Channel, which organized a two-day concert in Las Vegas last year that featured the likes of Jay-Z and Lady Gaga and announced last month that it was taking a minority stake in the production company of “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest, who produces E!’s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”

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Madonna is expected to perform “Give Me All Your Luvin’“ and three other tunes at her Super Bowl halftime performance Sunday in Indianapolis. Her new album MDNA is set to be released in March.