Taylor Swift Does CSI, ACM and CRS

Taylor Swift is everywhere these days, and tonight (3/5) at 8:00 CT, she’ll be appearing on one of her favorite TV shows, CBS network’s popular CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Swift plays the part of troubled teen Haley Jones in an episode entitled “Turn, Turn, Turn.” A preview of the show can be viewed at www.cbs.com/primtime/csi. Entertainment Tonight will also air an interview tonight with Swift talking about her CSI acting experience.

In additional Swift news, the singer/songwriter’s chart-topping sophomore album, Fearless, picked up an Album of the Year nomination today from the Academy of Country Music. Joining the singer with ACM top album nominations are George Strait, Jamey Johnson, Carrie Underwood and Montgomery Gentry.

As if that weren’t enough … Swift has been named headliner and host of the Academy of Country Music-sponsored Music City Jam at next year’s Country Radio Seminar. The event, which is entering its sixth year, has become a centerpiece of CRS, and Swift succeeds a superstar list of hosts including Keith Urban (2006), Toby Keith (2007), Brad Paisley (2008), and Tim McGraw, who ably hosted CRS-40’s Music City Jam last night.

Caraeff Tapped As Digital Summit Keynote Speaker

Rio Caraeff, Executive Vice President of eLabs for Universal Music Group, has been chosen as keynote speaker of the fifth annual Leadership Music Digital Summit, coming up March 23-25 at Belmont University. Caraeff’s comments will kick off the summit at 8:45 am on Tuesday, March 24.

eLabs handles UMG’s electronic commerce initiatives, Internet exploitation, and new technology business opportunities, and Caraeff oversees the implementation of the company’s digital strategy, exploring digital opportunities and emerging business models.

With a broad background in new entertainment technologies, Caraeff previously served as GM for Universal Music Mobile. Under his leadership, UMG became the first company to launch the direct-to-consumer mobile sales.

A second keynote will feature Michael Masnick, Editor of Techdirt Blog, and President/CEO of Floor64. Masnick will present “Serving Your Fans: The Trent Reznor Case Study,” on Wednesday, March 25 at 8:30 am. His speech will explore innovative business models utilized by musician Trent Reznor and his band, Nine Inch Nails, to connect with fans.

KCRS Live

CRS-40 festivities continued on Wednesday (3/4) with the ASCAP sponsored “KCRS Live Show” featuring Jimmy Wayne, Kelley Lovelace, Ashley Gorley and Jonathan Singleton. (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Singleton, Gorley, ASCAP’s Connie Bradley, Wayne and Lovelace.

Music City Jam

Last night’s Music City Jam was headlined by Tim McGraw and sponsored by the Academy of Country Music. The Warren Brothers hosted with Lance Miller, Halfway To Hazard, Lori McKenna and McGraw’s niece Catherine Raney performing. Faith Hill introduced special guest Randy Owen. ACM’s Bob Romeo announced Taylor Swift as next year’s Music City Jam performer.

Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Randy Owen and Lance Miller

Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Randy Owen and Lance Miller

Jamey Johnson’s Downtown Shutdown

A crowd of over 2000 attended UMG’s “Downtown Shutdown” yesterday (3/4) featuring a performance by Jamey Johnson. As Johnson performed his new single, “High Cost Of Living,” UMG staffers launched foam boomerangs to the fans from the rooftop of their Commerce Street office building. Photo: Peyton Hodge

Lyric Street/Carolwood Records CRS Guitar Pull

Lyric Street Records/Carolwood Records hosted a CRS guitar pull last night (3/4) at the ICON in the Gulch featuring performances by Billy Ray Cyrus, Trent Tomlinson, Sarah Buxton, Bucky Covington and Love And Theft. (L-R) front: Greg McCarn, Lyric Street/Carolwood Records and Dale Turner, Lyric Street Records Promo. Back: Covington; Chris Palmer, Carolwood Records Promo; Renee Leymon, Lyric Street Records Promo; Randy Goodman, Lyric Street/Carolwood Records; Buxton; Tomlinson; Johnny Park (The Parks); Kevin Herring, Lyric Street/Carolwood Records Promo; Clint Park (The Parks); Cyrus; Brian Bandas (Love And Theft); Stephen Barker Liles (Love And Theft); John Ettinger, Carolwood Promo; and Eric Gunderson (Love And Theft).

Richie Fields Ushers In CRS 40

Joint Journey Records artist Richie Fields hosted a dinner at The Palm in Nashville Tuesday night (3/3) to welcome friends in radio to CRS-40. (L-R): WAKG’s Alan Rowe, KLMJ’s Mike Betten, promoter Christina Bear, Fields, promoter Regina Raleigh and WGLR’s Ryan McCall. Photo: Clif Doyal

Bobby Karl Works the DJ and Radio Hall of Fame Banquet

(L-R): Hall of Fame Inductees Chuck Collier (DJ), Bob McKay (Radio), Moon Mullins (Radio), Shelia Shipley Biddy (Presidents Award) and Gerry House (DJ). Photo: Bev Moser

(L-R): Hall of Fame Inductees Chuck Collier (DJ), Bob McKay (Radio), Moon Mullins (Radio), Shelia Shipley Biddy (Presidents Award) and Gerry House (DJ). Photo: Bev Moser

Chapter 305

House and Haggard rocked the room at this year’s Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame banquet.

Nashville’s favorite morning jock and the poet of the working man were in the spotlight in the Convention Center ballroom Tuesday evening (3/3) as we eased our way into this year’s Country Radio Seminar whoop-de-doo.

Merle Haggard received the Career Achievement Award from Larry Daniels. It seems that Larry was a DJ at the Bakersfield, CA radio station when a young Merle came by and asked if he could listen to records in the station’s library. Larry also had a band. Merle asked if he could sit in and sing some songs for $35. By the time Larry was on the air in Phoenix, Merle was making $35,000 per show!

Singer Jack Ingram recalled that in Dallas, his first set list had 25 songs, 12 of which were Merle Haggard tunes. “I sang this one at every show,” Jack said, referring to 1982’s “Are the Good Times Really Over.”

“I was in my car when I first heard that,” said Emmylou Harris, “and I nearly drove off the road….I’m nervous about singing my favorite Merle Haggard song in front of Merle. It is also a waltz.” Accompanied by Carl Jackson and Phil Madeira, Emmy sang 1985’s “Kern River.”

Merle was greeted by a long standing ovation as Larry brought him to the stage. The first thing Merle did in his acceptance speech was to thank Jack and Emmy. He is back to touring and recording following a period of ill health.

“I’ve been battling pneumonia, and I think I’m winning,” said Merle. “I’m one of the lucky few who survived lung cancer without chemo or radiation.”

He reminisced about label execs Jimmy Bowen and Rick Blackburn, recalling that the latter repeatedly criticized and made fun of “Kern River.”

“I said, ‘Are you the s.o.b. who fired Johnny Cash yesterday? You’re the dumbest s.o.b. I’ve ever met!’” The crowd roared.

Attendees roared even louder during Gerry House’s evening-closing acceptance speech. Peppered with gags, it was easily the jolliest in the event’s history.

An early radio job was in Richmond, KY, where Gerry recalled that the station was owned by a shyster preacher who said, “Send me your tumors. I’lll heal them and send them back.” He referred to sidekick and inductor Mike Bohan as “my male escort.” “It’s good to see you back in men’s clothes,” he wisecracked. WSIX sidekicks Duncan Stewart and Al Voecks were also ribbed, the latter having endured Gerry’s age jokes for years. “We played ‘What’s in your wallet.’ And when we opened Al’s there was a picture of Jesus. And it was a Polaroid!” Gerry quipped. He thanked his mother for giving him his sense of humor. Back in the day, she was often on his show.

Mother: “I painted the toilet seat, forgot and sat on it.”

Gerry: “What color was it?”

Mother: “Well, I have the only Blue Moon in Kentucky.”

Gerry’s wife Allison and daughter Autumn House were also on the receiving end of his quips. In concluding, Gerry said, “I just hope radio doesn’t forget we’re in the entertainment business.” In his case, it certainly is.

The other DJ Hall of Fame inductee was Chuck Collier, who was inducted by Cleveland’s WGAR p.d. Brian Jennings. Chuck is rare in this industry in that except for a 1975-76 stint in New York City, he has spent his entire career, 37 years, at the same station, WGAR.

Quoting Bill Anderson, Chuck said, “If you can find something you’re so passionate about that you’d do it for free, but they pay you anyway, you’ll never work a day in your life….I’m very blessed.”

A Radio Hall of Fame category was added to this ceremony in 2001 to honor folks who made contributions off the microphone. This year’s honorees were Moon Mullins and Bob McKay.

Bob Moody inducted Moon as “a man who has programmed some of the truly great radio stations in the history of this format.” Moon’s itinerary has included Lubbock, Kansas City, Wichita, Louisville, New York City, Nashville and Tulsa.” He’s currently in Owensboro, KY.

“I’m glad to be going in with a bunch of good guys,” he said, referring to his fellow honorees.

McKay was inducted by Lon Helton. “He has programmed major market country radio stations for 32 years,” said Lon. “He retires at the end of this year after 43 years.”

Bob was the most emotional of the honorees, choking up several times during his acceptance speech. “I really am overwhelmed by this tremendous honor,” he said.

Becky Bremer presented the CRB President’s Award to Shelia Shipley-Biddy.

“I look around and I see many of you who have become my extended family,” said Shelia. “The two areas of my career that I hold most dear are country music and country radio. I’m proud that I worked during the era of this format’s greatest growth.”

Charlie Monk and R.J. Curtis recognized the Hall of Famers in the audience, including Bob Kingsley, Johnny K, Charlie Douglas, Smokey Smith, Romeo Sullivan, Cayote Calhoun, Dandelion, Dr. Bruce Nelson, Les Acree, Ed Salamon and Ted Cramer.

Working the room were Phil Vassar, Radney Foster, Craig Morgan, Darius Rucker and Jeffrey Steele, not to mention Jewel Coburn, Ed Benson, Mike Dungan, Joe Galante, Gregg Brown, Hank Adam Locklin, Sarah Brosmer, Butch Waugh, Jimmy Harnon, Fletcher Foster, Tammy Genovese, David Haley, Tom Baldrica, Bill Catino and Chuck Chellman, who founded the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame way back in 1975.

(L-R): CRB Executive Director Ed Salamon, Jack Ingram, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, guitarist Carl Jackson, CRB President Becky Brenner. Photo: Bev Moser

(L-R): CRB Executive Director Ed Salamon, Jack Ingram, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, guitarist Carl Jackson, CRB President Becky Brenner. Photo: Bev Moser

Swift Rules; Owen Debuts At No. 2 (3/4/09)

So far this year, as Taylor Swift sells, so goes the country music world. With that scientific axiom as one’s basic assumption it is therefore no surprise that the precocious teen again this week topped both the Top 200 Current Albums all genre list and the Top 75 Current Country list with 73,174 units scanned of Fearless. Swift’s first CD landed at No. 6 (country) with 13,613 units. These two numbers effectively mean her sales accounted for about 12% of all country sales (722k units) this past week.

Jake Owen’s sophomore set Easy Does It debuted at No. 2 on this week’s chart with 23,187 units. Owen’s single “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” is currently No. 13 on the Country Breakout airplay list and moving upward. The singer/songwriter recently earned ACM nominations for Vocal Event and Top New Male Vocalist.

YTD Country music sales continue to lag about 14% behind the same period last year, however country digital album sales (contained in the above totals) have increased a strong 46%. Catalog (trending downward) now accounts for 50% of total country sales.

SoundScan still doesn’t break out hot digital track sales by genre. (Editor: A spokesperson recently said this should begin happening later this year. Hopefully it will be in place before SoundScan numbers become completely irrelevant to the music industry metrics of success.) Anyway, top country digital download tracks include Taylor Swift “Love Story” (72,146) and “White Horse (35,656);  Zac Brown Band “Chicken Fried” (31,101); Jason Aldean “She’s Country” (24,752); and Toby Keith “God Love Her” (18,537). No. 1 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart for the week was Flo Rida “Right Round” with 334,312 units downloaded.

Erv Woolsey Partners With 377 Management’s Enzo Divincenzo

Erv Woolsey

The Erv Woolsey Agency’s Erv Woolsey and Enzo Divincenzo of 377 Management have formed a joint venture to manage and develop new country music acts.  Woolsey’s current management roster includes Hall of Fame member George Strait and former CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Lee Ann Womack, while Divincenzo manages Texas favorites Cross Canadian Ragweed, Stoney LaRue and the Randy Rogers Band, but the new venture will primarily focus on new artists. Both managers will retain their current offices and staffs.

“I have known Enzo for many years through our association at MCA Records and have watched him grow his management organization in the right way,” Woolsey said. “He brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the table and will give us the opportunity to expand both of our bases.”