Attwater Heads the Bill

The time has come. All the hard work is paying off. Today the single and video for Attwater’s “Never Gonna Happen” is released.

And, come June 9 you can call Attwater a headliner.

Yes, the country duo is primed and ready to take the spot at the top of the bill. And the show comes just in time to celebrate this first of many single releases.

If you live in the Sacramento area, don’t miss your chance to jump on the Attwater bandwagon before the rest of the world. The show starts at 9:30pm at the Powerhouse Pub in Folsom.

About Attwater

This Sacramento-based band mixes modern country, classic rock and a bit of bluegrass as well as any back-roads folk. Erika Attwater and Jonathan Richards, principle members of the band, have country music in their blood.

As one of our recently signed acts, TTM is still beaming over our happenstance meeting with Erika and Jonathan over Twitter. It only took a quick listen to understand what this undiscovered band had to offer.

We are overjoyed with the success and attention Attwater is receiving even before the release of their debut album.  Here’s to the start of something big!

Never Gonna Happen

As we said, today marks the release of Attwater‘s single and music video, “Never Gonna Happen.” The talented Jeremy Cowart took the reigns for this high-energy, country rock video.

Enjoy!

And to keep up with the band, head on over their official site, attwatermusic.com or Twitter, @attwatermusic.

Filed under: Attwater , Attwater, Jeremy Cowart, Never Gonna Happen

NATHAN TASKER BRINGS IT HOME

After four years without a single in his homeland of Australia, Nathan Tasker once again finds success on the charts. Twenty Ten Music is proud to have played a role in the production of Nathan’s new recording and a continuing role as his worldwide co-publisher.

Although Nathan was on top of the world Down Under with three best-selling albums, he knew the time had come to make a change, so in 2006 he packed up his bags and with wife and business partner, Cassie, moved across the world to Nashville, Tenn. It was in America that Nathan could take advantage of learning from the very men who inspired his own music.

It was with this new creative order that Nathan set to work with fresh eyes and renewed heart. The songs on his new album, Home, capture snap shots of the human condition and describe a love beyond comprehension.

It comes as no surprise to anyone who has ever had his music grace their ears that the young singer is topping the charts with his new single “Something Beautiful.” Already No.1 on the Australian Christian Charts, the single is the most played song on mixed format radio and has become one of the fastest No. 1’s in the 10-year history of this chart.

Listeners quickly find that his album, Home, was well worth the wait. As the release date staggered across the globe from Australia to the UK and finally to the US, audiences began to chime in on the Aussie’s music noting its cohesive message, innovative instrumental variety and light acoustic-based sound that navigates the waters of vulnerability.

With the welcomed reception of this recently released album, Nathan will be spending some quality time with the road. If he comes anywhere near your town, make sure to stop in for a listen. We know you won’t be disappointed.

We’re proud of you Nathan. Congratulations!

Filed under: New Releases , Nathan Tasker, Nathan Tasker Home, Nathan Tasker Something Beautiful, Twenty Ten Music

PRESS RELEASE: ATTWATER SIGNS WITH TWENTY TEN MUSIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWITTER AND TWANG:

PRODUCER CHARLIE PEACOCK USES TWITTER TO SIGN NEW COUNTRY BAND ATTWATER

Grammy Winner Follows-up The Civil Wars with Sacramento Discovery

Nashville, Tenn (Tuesday, April 12, 2011) – Grammy Award-winning producer Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, Switchfoot), Sr. VP of A&R for Twenty Ten Music, proudly announced today the signing of new country band Attwater to an exclusive production and music publishing deal.

ATTWATER photo by Allister Ann

Erika Attwater and Jonathan Richards, the songwriting team and principal members behind Attwater, began following Peacock on Twitter after seeing his producer credit on the hit folk/country act, The Civil Wars. Attwater had recorded a live album for free download, were faithfully playing gigs and doing what 21st century artists do – making the most of the social networks.

“I noticed Sacramento, California was the city on their Twitter follow,” says Peacock. “I got my start there and love the people of Nor Cal. The least I could do was check Attwater out, maybe send them a note of encouragement.  Then I heard Erika’s amazing voice singing these great songs, and I thought: I’m the luckiest man in the world – I just found a diamond in my old backyard!  I’m a big fan of Twitter right about now.”

In early January 2011, Peacock and Attwater began work on the band’s debut project tentatively titled, Still Me Still You. The recording is a unique combination of modern country, classic rock ala Fleetwood Mac and Heart, and bluegrass flavors.

The songwriting team of Erika Attwater and Jonathan Richards ably carry the record, with co-writing help from Nashville tunesmiths Luke Laird (Carrie Underwood), Sam Ashworth (Sixpence None The Richer), Ross Copperman(Thompson Square), Trent Dabbs, Matthew Perryman Jones and producer Peacock.  Still Me Still You features the fiddle and mandolin of Andy Leftwich (Ricky Skaggs), guitarist Jerry McPherson (Faith Hill), bassist Mark Hill (Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler), drummer Steve Brewster (Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich), and the pedal steel work of Bruce Bouton (Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum). Justin Niebank (Taylor Swift, Keith Urban) and Richie Biggs (George Strait, The Civil Wars) are slated to mix.

 

Charlie Peacock, Erika Attwater, Jonathan Richards, Sam Ashworth. Photo credit: Allister Ann

With label and release date pending, Attwater’s Still Me Still You is very much in tune with the emerging Record Business 2.0.  Peacock explains, “This is such a great time in the music business. With the crazy money off the table it’s all about the music again. The label and release options are many and varied – even exciting.  I can tell you it was a thrill to see the indie release of The Civil Wars “Barton Hollow” sitting at number one on iTunes and #12 on Billboard, knowing that the fans and just a handful of smart, committed people on laptops made it happen. But that’s Nashville. It’s a city of great music and some very enterprising people.  We’ll see where we end up with Attwater – whatever’s best for the music is what we’ll do.”

According to Attwater, what’s best for the music is authenticity and putting the music first: “Country music is in our blood. I think we spent a few years a little unsure if it was the direction we would go, but there came a point where nothing else made sense and we knew we were home again. Now we have this opportunity to maybe contribute something to the story of country music and that’s a real honor. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose, right?  We’re definitely in it to win it!”

About Charlie Peacock

Charlie Peacock co-founded the independent music company Twenty Ten Music with friend and entrepreneur David Kiersznowski in January 2010.  Peacock serves as producer and Sr. VP of A&R.  Peacock began his artist, songwriting and production career in the early eighties with recordings for A&M, Island, and the Sparrow Label Group. Peacock has played a lead role in creating major hits in three separate decades—most notably Amy Grant’s “Every Heartbeat” (1991), Switchfoot’s “Dare You to Move” (2002) and The Civil Wars’ breakout debut album Barton Hollow (2011).  Charlie is the founder of the label re:think/EMI and former Sr. A&R consultant to Sony/ATV and EMI CMG. Named by Billboard’s Encyclopedia of Record Producers as one of the 500 most important record producers in music history, the Grammy Award-winning producer has over 20 Million sales to his credit with a diverse roster of artists ranging from Al Green to Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Switchfoot.  Peacock’s director/producer credits include Any Day Now, Ten Out Of Tenn’s award-winning performance documentary feature and The Legend Hank Cochran, a documentary tribute in collaboration with BMI and Sony/ATV featuring legendary songwriter Hank Cochran (Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley) and his famous friends: Merle Haggard, Jamey Johnson, Lee Ann Womack, Elvis Costello, Cowboy Jack Clement and others.

About Twenty Ten Music

Twenty Ten Music is a multi-genre artist development, music publishing, and film/TV music placement company. In its first year, Twenty Ten Music produced The Civil Wars Barton Hollow and produced the Brooke Waggoner DVD, And The World Opened Up; developed the country/gospel act Daves Highway; created micro-publishing projects with The Daylights, k.s. Rhodes, De Novo Dahl, and Ruby Amanfu; scored original music for the upcoming film Searching For Sonny starring Minka Kelly and the documentary Wrestling for Jesus; and contributed music to Nicole Kidman’s Rabbit Hole, Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, and the NBC Family Movie Night telefilm franchise soundtracks for The Jensen Project, A Walk In My Shoes, and Change of Plans in association with producer Randy Jackson.

# # #

Contact Information:
Charlie Peacock
Twenty Ten Music
twentytenmusic@me.com

Ebie McFarland or Leigh Parr
Essential Broadcast Media
615.327.3259
ebie@ebmediapr.com
leigh@ebmediapr.com

Essential Broadcast Media
PO Box 120921, Nashville, TN 37203 | 615-327-3259 | Fax: 615-329-4762
ebie@ebmediapr.com | www.ebmediapr.com

Filed under: Attwater , Attwater, Charlie Peacock, Twenty Ten Music

THE FAST ROMANTICS VAMP ON COOL KIDS FOR CW NETWORK

TTM’s own Canadian rock band The Fast Romantics have their song “Cool Kids” placed in tonight’s episode of The Vampire Diaries (Oct. 7). The show airs on the CW Network, Thursdays 8/7c. Afterwards visit the handy jukebox CW provides to find all the cool music you just heard. Check it out at:http://www.cwtv.com/thecw/the-vampire-diaries-music

These vampire plot twists have our heads spinning. Watch for startling information, a night of violence, confession and heartbreak. We’re just glad The Fast Romantics are playing. That we can understand.

Remember, vampires are not real, but good music is. Thanks for showing up Fast Romantics! And many thanks to the good Daniel and Secret Road for the placement!

Filed under: Uncategorized , Cool Kids, CW Network, The Fast Romantics, The Vampire Diaries, Twenty Ten Music

Brooke Waggoner’s “And The World Opened Up”

The release of Brooke Waggoner’s long awaited concert documentary and artist profile is just around the corner – September 29th to be exact.  TTM co-founder Charlie Peacock directed and produced this beautiful film and TTM Creative Director Sam Ashworth edited it. We are running some cool deals around this project to make it a really special release:

The first 250 people to pre-order “And the World Opened Up” DVD will receive the film in special limited edition packaging containing animal cutouts from the animated portion of the film on the watercolors of the album cover. Each order will be personally wrapped in metallic gold gift wrap with a personal handwritten thank you note for your support. All pre-orders will be shipped out 1 week before the release.

To pre-order your copy of “And the World Opened Up” DVD for $20 + shipping & handling, visit Brooke’s webstore at:
http://www.brookewaggoner.com/store/

Physical copies of the dvd will be available online September 29, 2010 for $20 + shipping & handling.

A digital audio EP containing 5 of the songs from the film will be available on iTunes October 5, 2010 (purchase includes 2 free live music video versions from the film as well).  Audio produced by Charlie Peacock and Brooke Waggoner, mixed by Richie Biggs.

“Catalog Bundles” of all 3 previous audio releases (Fresh Pair of Eyes EP, Heal for the Honey CD, & Go Easy Little Doves CD) and the DVD “And the World Opened Up” will be available for $39 + shipping & handling. Sets are bagged in special fabric with gold embossed ‘BW’ initials on the overlay.

To commemorate the release, there will be a special screening of the film at the historic Belcourt Theater as part of the Next Big Nashville Festival in Nashville, TN. If you’re in or near Nashville please join us.  We would love for you to come celebrate the film and Brooke’s amazing music with us!

Film starts at 7 p.m., September 29, 2010.

Filed under: Music Video , And The World Opened Up, Belcourt Theatre, Brooke Waggoner, concert documentary, DVD, Nashville music, Next Big Nashville, Sam Ashworth, Twenty Ten Music

THE DAYLIGHTS SYNCH RABBIT HOLE

This past year Los Angeles rock band, The Daylights created a seven song project for Twenty Ten Music.  We love these songs!  Thanks to our partners Secret Road, the song “Oh-Oh” was placed in the upcoming film RABBIT HOLE, starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Sandra Oh.

The Daylights full-length releases September 14th, 2010.  Watch for the band on tour with Civil Twilight and Needtobreathe.

Filed under: Film Synch , Aaron Eckhart, Nicole Kidman, Oh Oh, Rabbit Hole, Sandra Oh, The Daylights, Twenty Ten Music

ZACH WILLIAMS TOURING WITH BEN FOLDS

Brooklyn-ite and Twenty Ten songwriter Zach Williams is touring with Ben Folds over the next few weeks.  Try to catch him if you can.  Everything that was ever great about Van Morrison, Springsteen, and U2 when they first started out playing clubs is exactly what is great about Zach.  110% passion all the time.  Zach is a newcomer that already sounds aged and classic.

Check Zach out at: http://www.zachwilliams.com/

Date	City	Venue
Fri, 03/19/2010	Charlotte, NC	The Fillmore Charlotte
Sat, 03/20/2010	Norfolk, VA	The Norva
Sun, 03/21/2010	Richmond, VA	The National
Tue, 03/23/2010	Charlottesville, VA	Jefferson Theater
Wed, 03/24/2010	Baltimore, MD	Rams Head Live
Thu, 03/25/2010	Raleigh, NC	Meymandi Hall – NC Symphony
Fri, 03/26/2010	Washington, DC	9:30 Club

Filed under: 1 , Ben Folds, concert tour, Zach Williams

SERIOUSLY JAY . . . REALLY?

Jay-Z gave some provocative remarks to the BBC recently. Apparently on Jay-Z’s planet earth there are less than 56 great musical artists in the world worthy of our attention: “I remember the first year I was at Def Jam we put out 56 artists.  There’s not 56 great artists in the world, and this is one company.” I have to disagree. There are definitely 56 great musical artists in the world and many more. Our city alone, Nashville, has at least 56 great artists. I do agree with Jay that major labels should sign less artists (which they are doing anyway). From a major label standpoint I’ve always felt that each metropolitan area in America probably has two or three major label candidates. So I get that Jay’s about the hyperbole to make a point. Really though, who’s spending much time thinking about major labels? Jay’s about the Bentley though and a world where only an elite few moneymakers live. He’s still living the goldenring/wealth/major label model while the whole rest of the world has moved on. Jay says: record labels need to “be smarter about how they A&R,” that is, sign less acts.  ”Record companies need to catch up to that, someone needs to send them the memo.” I guess what I want to say is that someone needs to send Jay a memo.  So here goes:

Dear Jay-Z,

First off we think you’re one of the good ones. Great job on Empire State of Mind. And your wife Beyonce . . . well, if we have to have show-biz/diva/actress/singer/dancer/songwriters then thank God we have Beyonce. She has stratospheric talent. Back to the memo though. This is just a friendly heads-up. You’re right, the democratization of the music making/promotion process has created a gazillion-headed monster of artists and bands that think they deserve our attention. And major labels did take on too many artists looking to pad their bottom line through distribution volume. We can’t put the genie back in the bottle on all the pretenders on myspace but we can acknowledge that the major label system needs a massive overhaul. But then doesn’t everyone know that? And frankly Jay most people who do not own or have Bentley car payments have moved on. What have we moved on to? Well mostly a music-making, neighbor-loving, planet-caring life. The kind where people get in a room together and make something they are proud of – and we do it before we interface with the market. We’re getting back to figuring out what we love about music rather than figuring out what consumers (I mean people) want. We’re singing music, not business. We don’t get our mogul on before we get our music on. As a result there are hundreds, even thousands of great emerging musical artists in the world that are not waiting for you, or a major label to affirm their existence. These artists have little to no interest in conspicuous consumption or receiving the attention of their father’s music business. Jay if you really want to find out where the great artists are, the more than 56, you’ve got to stop looking where they are not. You’re a smart guy. Show a little prescient leadership and visit the new world. Come on, we could use you.

Respectfully,

The Rest of the World

Jay-Z and the BBC: http://tinyurl.com/y9nz36p

Filed under: 1 , BBC, Beyonce, Def Jam, Jay-Z, major labels

IS THIS FUTURIST RIGHT ABOUT THE NEW MUSIC BUSINESS?

I follow several writers and blogs focused on the evolving new music business, what many, including me, call Music Business 2.0.  One futurist/writer/provocateur is a fellow named Gerd Leonhard.  He found renown by co-authoring a book a few years ago titled The Future of Music (with Berklee prof Dave Kusek).  Gerd just let loose with his 9 ideas for what he thinks needs to happen in 2010, to move this industry forward — all of which I’ll reprint for your below.  Do check out his blog at http://www.mediafuturist.com/  though.  There you’ll get hip to his particular vision and unique terminology.  I mention him at this time, not because I agree with everything he says, but because he does highlight several ideas that Twenty Ten Music certainly holds to.  Here’s my 2010 takeaway and then I’ll let you read his 9 ideas for yourself:

1.  Lighten up on complex legal and technical protection — the “quest for control” and contingency is fear-based and a sure-fire optimism killer.  It says you’re way more interested in back-end problems than front-end solutions and real conversations that work out a version 2.0 compensation scheme that can be adjusted with time.

2.  The old days are not going to “magically return.”  Anyone who isn’t advancing – is falling behind.  It’s not an age thing, it’s a heart and brain thing.

3.  Question your assumptions.  Are there things that I still believe, that affect my approaches everyday, that simply are no longer true?  This is a critical warning for people who have resources and infrastructure.  Your whole approach could be killing you and you won’t know for a few more years because you have a royalty stream and resources (for now) but no real future.

In Gerd’s Own Words:

1. Stop pushing for more and more and…more legal or technical protection measures and lighten up on the constant quest for control: think (and act) compensation not control!

1. Access to music is going to replace ownership, very soon, so start thinking ‘Selling 2.0′ – if copies are abundant and can no longer be monetized in the same way as before, what else can you sell? This is crucial. You need to groom and build the New Generatives not push harder to pass laws to try and get the old times to magically return.
2. Friction truly is Fiction i.e. utterly wishful thinking, now, so you have a choice: get out of the way… or lend a hand (you have heard that song before). Reinvent your relationship with the artists and the ‘people formerly known as consumers‘. Stop hiding behind technological tricks and artificial hurdles: protection is in the business model not in the technology (need more? Check out my new book “Friction is Fiction”).
3. Stop hanging on to that good old, comfortable EGOsystem paradigm – start building the new ECOsystem. The future is not in Google paying for all music online, or the ISPs paying for all music on their networks – it’s in constantly moving, interconnected, fluid and tri-brid (that is hybrid+1) systems of ‘I pay, you Pay, 3rd party pays‘.
4. Collaborate – engage don’t enrage, have real conversations not monologues, drop the big sticks and start growing more carrots. The time for Music 2.0 is now.
5. Offer a public digital music license that legalizes – and monetizes – all use of music online.
6. Music consumption via computers is getting less and less important – it’s all moving to Mobile Devices (read my mobile Music 2.0 book and see the video below;)
7. The new money is in connecting the cloud (where the music is) with the crowd (where the money is) – access comes first now, ownership is second. And this is good news!
8. Question your assumptions: what do you still believe that is no longer really true…? (see the video below).

Filed under: 1 , Dave Kusek, Gerd Leonhard, Music Business 2.0, The Future of Music, Twenty Ten Music

On the List of KGRL.fm Best Albums Of 2009

KGRL.fm has named Go Easy Little Doves, Brooke Waggoner’s latest opus, to their Best Albums of 2009 list.  Congratulations Brooke!  According to KGRL:  ”it is not your typical indie release. It’s a 35-minute orchestral record that offers a holistic listening experience, meaning that it must be listened to from start to finish to fully appreciate it. Go Easy Little Doves is a musical landmark for Brooke Waggoner. It proves just how talented and mature she is in both songwriting and orchestration.”  We agree.  As mentioned before, TTM is producing the live concert DVD and recording of this remarkable album.  Not to be outdone, Charlie Peacock’s production of The Civil Wars Poison and Wine made the best of EP list, as did his Shannon Curtis production, Why Don’t You Stay.  Our friend, the delightful Joy Williams topped the list too with her fine solo recordings.  KGRL gushed: “It does seem that Joy Williams owns a factory that manufactures all these finely-crafted hooks and gorgeous melodies. Pick one or pick em all, it doesn’t really matter for sooner or later you’ll own all three.” Also on the list, friends: Butterfly Boucher, Summer Ames, Katie Herzig, Katy Perry, Linda Good, The Mary Dream, Elle Macho, and Natalie Prass.

Filed under: 1 , Brooke Waggoner, Butterfly Boucher, Charlie Peacock, Elle Macho, Go Easy Little Doves, Joy Williams, Katie Herzig, Katy Perry, KGRL, Linda Good, Nashville music, Natalie Prass, Poison & Wine, production, Shannon Curtis, Summer Ames, The Civil Wars, The Mary Dream, Twenty Ten Music