Weekly Chart Report (4/27/12)

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Brett Eldredge (L) visited with WQYK/Tampa MD Jay Roberts (R) at Sunday’s (4/22) Fun 'n Sun concert and promoted his latest single “It Ain’t Gotta Be Love.”

LIFENOTE
Congratulations to KKWF/Seattle Morning host Fitz and wife Bethany on the birth of their new baby girl, Drew Lynnae. Drew was born Saturday (4/21) and both she and mother are doing well.

SPIN ZONE
You know you’ve had a pretty big hit when you can shed a few spins and stay at No. 1. And so Rascal Flatts’ “Banjo,” 16 weeks into its chart journey, holds for a third consecutive week in the CountryBreakout Chart’s top spot. But it could all change by next week: Eric Church’s “Springsteen” moves up to No. 2, and looks strong with a gain of 102 spins. Also eying the top position are Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States” at No. 4 and Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” at No. 5.

Arista Nashville’s Kristen Kelly recently visited KPLX in Dallas to promote the release of her debut single “Ex-Old Man.” (L-R): Mark Phillips (KPLX Dallas), Kristen Kelly

Kip Moore might also have a big ole hit on his hands with “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck.” He’s at No. 10, and still adding on the rotations with each new chart. And to continue the hit parade, look at Keith Urban’s “For You.” It’s only three weeks old at this point, and already to No. 24. On top of that, it made a huge gain of 505 spins–the week’s largest–to move up from No. 42. There’s also an indie insurgence happening in the Top 40, with Shawna Russell’s “Waitin’ On Sunrise” (No. 31) and Tim Culpepper’s “Ghost” (No. 33) leading a pack that includes Darryl Worley (No. 35), Kaleb McIntire (No. 38), and Marlee Scott (No. 39).

King George Strait is ever the picture of consistency with “Drinkin’ Man” making a big debut at No. 57, which lands just in front of “Come On” by Eric Lee Beddingfield, last week’s top debut. This chart also features the solo country debut of Kelly Clarkson, whose “Mr. Know It All” is finding favor with country programmers at No. 68. Keep an eye out for upcoming singles from Neal McCoy (“Shotgun Rider”) and Jaida Dreyer (“Guy’s Girl”) as they prepare to debut.

Upcoming Singles
April 30
Kristen Kelly/Ex-Old Man/Arista
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joes
Jason Sturgeon/Time Bomb/Toolpusher
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA
JJ McCoy/Sunshine State

May 7
Randy Houser/How Country Feels/Stoney Creek
Michael Dean Church/That’s How We Roll/MDC Records
Bucky Covington/I Wanna Be That Feeling/eOne/New Revolution
Lewis Copeland/She’s Got It Going On/Phull/Jeff McClusky/Turnpike
Jason Thomas/Roll On/MD Records

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New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 57
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19-RCA – 68
LiveWire/Gone (Remix)/Way Out West – 75
Justin Haigh/People Like Me – 77
Josh Abbott Band/Touch/PDT – 79
Erica Nicole/Tell Me What You Think About Us/Heaven Records – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 505
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 354
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 266
Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw/Feel Like A Rock Star/BNA – 257
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol – 208

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 26
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 21
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster – 13
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19-RCA – 11
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 11
Edens Edge/Too Good To Be True/Big Machine – 11
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joe’s – 9
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol – 9
Scotty McCreery/Water Tower Town/19/Mercury/Interscope – 8
Chris Young/Neon/RCA – 8
Rick Monroe/Crazy Not To/Render Records – 8
Love and Theft/Angel Eyes/RCA – 8

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Lucas Hoge/Give A Damn/Animal House – 195
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster – 171
Scotty McCreery/Water Tower Town/19-Mercury-Interscope – 169
Jaida Dreyer/Guy’s Girl/Soundstream – 169
Adam Gregory/High On You/Calusa Entertainment-GMV Nashville – 167

Black River Entertainment’s Glen Templeton recently paid a visit to WYNK/Baton Rouge. (L-R): Templeton, Black River's Megan Good; WYNK Music Director Austin James; Black River's General Manager, Greg McCarn

Marlee Scott stopped by Thunder 102/WDNB in upstate New York to be a co-host on Ciliberto & Friends. She also helped Paul Ciliberto with his karate kick. (L-R): Michelle Semerano (Ciliberto & Friends), Scott, Ciliberto.

Charlie Cook On Air: Chrysler and Advertising

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Newsflash: Advertising works!

I guess those of us in radio have always known that. Otherwise why would we be playing 10-20 commercials per hour?

Chrysler Motors has discovered this recently. Considered the little sister of the Big Three automakers, Chrysler was way behind in the perception of the car buying public.

I grew up in Detroit and as a kid Chrysler was always behind GM and Ford. General Motors was SOOOOO big and Ford was the local company.

Chrysler tried so many things to chase primarily Ford. They went the muscle car route chasing the Mustang and then they finally hired Lee Iacocca after he left Ford. Mr. Iacocca went in a different direction and basically invented the minivan taking Chrysler to a specific winning position. (I understand that Mr. Iacocca was not the designer of the minivan but without his support it would have never happened.)

Fast forward to the last five years as the auto industry hit the skids. Radio was one of the biggest losers in this fall. Less car sales means less advertising. Less advertising means less disc jockeys. (It will be interesting to see if more car sales and thus more advertising means more disc jockeys. HAHAHA I crack myself up).

Two of the three American automakers took financial support from the US government in order to get through these bad times. Chrysler was one of the two and their future really did look gloomy.

But something has happened that has lifted Chrysler ahead of GM. Chrysler does not seem to be as stained with the bailout as GM, derisively referred to as Government Motors.

What has helped Chrysler climb out of the basement? Good ole advertising.

A lot of people will look back to the Clint Eastwood spot during the Super Bowl as a reason for the success but a recent survey found that this was more of a negative than a positive for Chrysler. The spot certainly got America’s attention but some thought that it was more a political endorsement than a car commercial.

Getting everyone’s attention was worth the effort though, as Chrysler got on people’s radar. Once the car buying public was attuned to Chrysler again their marketing started to make inroads.

You cannot sell something to someone unless you get their attention. Running a spot, any spot, in the Super Bowl will usually get people’s attention.

The car company launched a huge “comeback” theme campaign and introduced 16 new or redesigned models in the last couple of years. They had a lot to talk about and this has translated into a 25% increase in sales last year and just as importantly an increase in positive opinion with potential car buyers. The more often you see a Chrysler product on the road the better you feel about the car and it opens your mind to purchasing one.

A survey company named YouGov calculates a buzz score for products. Their results measure the difference between the positive and negative things people are saying about a company.

This month Chrysler measured a +17. The scale goes from -100 to +100 so +17 is better than it sounds.  And the +17 was good enough to best GM’s +15. Ford is at +37.

And to put this in better perspective, three years ago Chrysler scored -41.

This 57 point swing tells us that the trend for Chrysler is very good and you will begin seeing even more Dodge and Jeep products on the road. You will also be hearing more Chrysler advertising on the radio and that is good for us.

Bonnie Raitt To Receive Americana Lifetime Achievement Award

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Bonnie Raitt. Photo: Marina Chavez

Bonnie Raitt has been chosen by the Americana Music Association to receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance at the organization’s 11th Annual Honors and Awards, set for Wed., Sept. 12 at the Ryman Auditorium.

Raitt will also participate in the Artist Keynote Interview during the Conference. The in-depth interview, hosted by NPR Music’s Ann Powers, is slated for September 12 and open to conference attendees.

Raitt, a nine-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, launched Redwing Records in 2012 to release Slipstream, her first album in seven years.

Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement honor include Gregg Allman, Levon Helm, Wanda Jackson, Asleep at the Wheel, Jason & the Scorchers, Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Chris Hillman, and Emmylou Harris.

The annual AMA Awards ceremony, hosted by Jim Lauderdale with band leader Buddy Miller, is part of the 13th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference which will be held September 12-15 at the Downtown Nashville Sheraton.

Lambert Brings Pistol Annies On Tour

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Pistol Annies are scheduled to perform on Miranda Lambert’s On Fire tour beginning April 26 in Fresno, CA. The trio featuring Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley had its live debut last April on the CBS special, Girls’ Night Out.

The title track to the group’s acclaimed album Hell on Heels quickly reached Gold Certification and has garnered many accolades including Nashville Scene’s Top Album, Top New Artist and Top Duo or Group categories as selected by over 70 critics nationwide.

“We have chemistry as friends, we have chemistry on stage, and we have chemistry in our writing,” says Lambert. “It’s one of my favorite times during my show because I get to step into a different role.” What began on a whim during a writing session a few years ago has become a musical journey for the ladies.

The Pistol Annies will perform with Lambert on the following dates:

4/26 Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
4/27 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
5/10 Omaha, NE – CenturyLink Center
5/11 Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
5/12 Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Pavilion
5/17 Tallahassee, FL – Tallahassee Leon Civic Center
5/18 Southaven, MS – Landers Center
5/19 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
6/1 Virginia Beach, VA – Patriotic Festival
6/2 Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
6/3 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
6/8 Indianapolis, IN – Klipsch Music Center
6/9 Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field
6/10 Detroit, MI – Comerica Park
6/14 Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
6/15 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6/16 Maryland Heights, MO – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
6/21 Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Arena
6/22 Beaumont, TX – Ford Park Arena
6/23 New Orleans, LA – UNO Lakefront Arena

Special guests Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann will continue to support Miranda on these upcoming dates.

Chief Compensation—Salaries Are Just The Starting Point

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The exorbitant income of top media executives is making headlines this week. And salaries are just a starting point for financial compensation.

Performance bonuses often add to the already lucrative base salaries of many bosses. Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts and NBCUniversal Chief Executive Steve Burke scored more than $5 million each last year for positive performance. This was included in pay packages that totaled $26.9 million and $23.7 million, respectively, according to SEC filings obtained by The LA Times.

Similarly, poor performance can result in a hit to the pocketbook. Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings raked in $9.3 million in 2011, but because the company struggled through last year, his compensation for 2012 will be lower. He will maintain his $500,000 salary but have a 50 percent slash in the initial value of his stock option allowance from $3 million to $1.5 million. The Times reported on Hastings, and Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer’s compensation cut which brought his earnings to about $4.3 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

Retention bonuses for renewing contracts can also contribute to the bottom line. Ticketmaster Chief Executive Nathan Hubbard scored a $2 million bonus late last year from parent company Live Nation when he extended his contract through 2015. The new contract includes a 20% salary raise for 2012, up to $750,000, an additional bonus which could near the $1 million mark, and up to 200,000 shares in the company. Back in 2010 his total compensation was $5.7 million.

Think those packages are high? Here’s more from the LA Times:
CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves—$69.9 million
Discovery Communications Chief Executive David Zaslav—$52.4 million
Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman—$43 million
Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger—$31.4 million
Time Warner Inc. Chief Executive Jeffrey Bewkes—$25.9 million.

On the talent end of the spectrum, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest re-upped with the hit show this week, inking a two-year deal for $15 million per year—a 50 percent bump from his previous salary of $10 million.

In a world of haves and have-nots, the media industry is a reflection of reality. In April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing annual median pay of radio and TV announcers was $27,010 in 2010.

George Jones Cancels Concert Dates

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Country Music Hall of Fame member George Jones has postponed his concert performances through May 20, while he continues to recuperate at home in Franklin.

Jones was originally hospitalized in late March to treat an upper respiratory infection. According to a statement from his publicist, Jones’ condition has improved greatly but his doctors are ordering an extended mandatory recovery time. Canceled dates are below.

In other Jones news, he recently posted a video about his recovery and also publicly addressed some family turmoil with his daughter Georgette. The Tennessean has an article with Georgette’s side of the story, and Nashville’s Fox 17 had the story last night (4/25).

Canceled dates:
April 28 Caruthersville, Mo, Lady Luck Casino
May 11  Pembroke, Ont., Pembroke Memorial Centre
May 12  Rama, Ont., Casino Rama
May 13  Kahnawake, QC, Kahnawake Sports Complex
May 15  Halifax, NS  Halifax Forum
May 16  Woodstock, NB, Carlton Civic Centre
May 18  Bouctouche, NB, Civic Centre
May 19  New Glasgow, NS, New Glasgow Stadium
May 20  Yarmouth, NS, Mariner Centre

April/May ’12—On the Cover: Blake Shelton

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Blake Shelton, the reigning ACM and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year recently celebrated three Grammy nominations and No. 1 hits with “Drink On It,”  “God Gave Me You” and “Honey Bee.” All three singles are off his release Red River Blue, which debuted at No. 1 on the Soundscan Top Current Albums chart and Soundscan Top Country Albums chart with the Associated Press calling the album “the best album of his career.” Shelton’s infectious multi-week No.1 hit, “Honey Bee” is also off Red River Blue and is his first-ever digital Platinum single. He holds the record for the fastest-selling digital Platinum single for a male country solo artist. Shelton has 11 No. 1 hits and has not had a single peak outside the Top Ten since 2007. Shelton currently appears on NBC’s The Voice for the second season along with other celebrity judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine.

“If you’d have told me a few years back that my life would be this good,” Shelton says, “I’d have told you that you were crazy. But I’ll damn sure take it.”

Shelton’s journey since his first single “Austin” in 2001 has been a testament to the talent and persistence he brings to the table. He left Ada, Oklahoma at 17, two weeks out of high school, for Nashville after encouragement from legendary songwriter Mae Axton (“Heartbreak Hotel”). He met and worked with another legend—Bobby Braddock (“He Stopped Loving Her Today”)—and earned a deal on Giant Records. It would be several years before that led to a contract with Warner Bros. and “Austin,” which launched his career. Since then, his star power, world-class voice and irreverent personality have brought him the acclaim that has translated so well from the world of country music to a wider audience.

“I’m still learning, still reaching and growing,” he says, “and it’s great to have more and more people along for the ride.”

Label Warner Bros. Records
Current Album Red River Blue
Current Single/Video “Drink On It”
Current Producer Scott Hendricks
Hometown Ada, Oklahoma
Management Starstruck Management Group
Booking William Morris Endeavor
Recent Hits “God Gave Me You,” “Honey Bee,” “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” and “Home”
Awards Reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year & Vocal Event of the Year, two consecutive CMA Male Vocalist of the Year awards, CMT Male Video of the Year & Collaborative Video of the Year, AMA’s Favorite Country Male Artist of the Year
Special TV/Film Appearances NBC’s The Voice; Co-hosting the Annual Academy of Country Music Awards with Reba on CBS
Birthday June 18, 1976
Interesting Facts I have never owned a car, only trucks.
Outside Interests Hunting; Gardening – growing watermelon, squash, sweet corn, and potted tomatoes.
Musical Influences Earl Thomas Conley, Bellamy Brothers, Conway Twitty, John Conlee
Favorite Record Somewhere Between Right & Wrong (Earl Thomas Conley)

Nielsen to Host Webinar For CMA Members Today

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Nielsen SoundScan will host a webinar on the state of the country music industry for CMA Members today (4/26) at 2 pm CT. The report, which includes a look at the year 2011 in Country music and a recap of Q1 2012, will be delivered by Nielsen’s Analytics SVP, David Bakula.

Click here to join the online meeting. In addition to this afternoon, the report will be made available on the CMA member-only website.

For more info, email Nielsen’s Josh Bennett here.

Bobby Karl Works NaFF’s World Premiere of the Hank Cochran Documentary

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Lee Ann Womack yesterday (4/25) at NaFF.

Photos by Shelley Justiss/NaFF

Chapter 395

I usually try to make a point of supporting the Nashville Film Festival by attending some of its many movies with music themes. On Wednesday evening (4/25) that meant a trip to Green Hills for the sold-out screening of Hank Cochran: Livin’ for a Song. The documentary tells the life story of one of the most endearing, gifted, fascinating, charismatic, charming and quirky characters who ever called Nashville home.

Hank Cochran died in 2010. The filmmakers immortalized his remarkable saga during the five years leading up to then. The film’s content is thoroughly compelling, for Cochran was one of the great raconteurs. His life story is fascinating as a fourth-grade-educated Mississippi child who rose to become a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (and who should be a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame). His classic songs are undeniable – “Make the World Go Away,” “She’s Got You,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” “The Chair,” “Don’t Touch Me,” “It’s Not Love But It’s Not Bad,” “Why Can’t He Be You,” “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me,” “Ocean Front Property,” “A-11,” “That’s All That Matters to Me,” “A Little Bitty Tear,” “This Ain’t My First Rodeo,” “Who You Gonna Blame it on This Time,” “You Comb Her Hair,” “Funny Way of Laughing,” “Is It Raining at Your House” etc. etc.

Whenever someone performs one of these in the movie, time stands still. Elvis Costello, Ronnie Milsap, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Mandy Barnett, Beegie Adair, Mike Henderson, Mark Chesnutt and others create magic whenever they’re on screen in song.

Buddy Cannon yesterday (4/25) at the NaFF.

So, yes, the content is terrific. The film’s finesse, not so much. The Nashville Scene charitably described it as “a straight-forward, no-cinematic-frills documentary.” What that means is that absolutely no attention seems to have been paid to photographic composition, lighting, film technique or visual quality. It’s as if the subjects were simply sat down just anywhere and the camera turned on. At times, the visual results are downright ugly. Also, my heart went out to whoever had to deal with the wildly varying sound quality during editing and post-production.

But for the sheer enjoyment of seeing and hearing “Hanktum” again, we were willing to put up with oafish production values. Packing the Regal Cinema 16 were John Prine, John D. Loudermilk, Dean Dillon, Dale Dodson, Luke Lewis, Martha Moore, Troy Tomlinson, Mandy Barnett, Buddy Cannon, Jay Orr, Suzanne Kessler, Cathy Gurley, Brett Woolcott, Suzi Cochran, Holly Gleason, Vernell Hackett and Belmont’s Don Cusic and James Elliott, among many others.

Mark Chestnutt and NaFF Executive Director Ted Crockett.

Other music-oriented films at the festival centered on Paul Williams, Charlie Louvin, Rick Springfield, Dolly Parton, Paul Simon, Bobby Bare Jr., Wes Cunningham, Andrew Bird, Common and Hole rock drummer Patty Schemel. Under African Skies, the doc about Simon’s Graceland album, won the Music Films Grand Jury Prize. Parton was given the Career Achievement Award. Williams was presented with the Mike Curb Award for Film Music. Nashville theater entrepreneur, director, actor, playwright and filmmaker jeff obafemi carr won a special award for He Ain’t Heavy, his controversial film about fraternity hazing.

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The hostess with the mostest at Tuesday’s (4/24) Dining Out for Life AIDS charity event at numerous Nashville restaurants, was Kay West, presiding at the French-themed bistro Table 3.

She attracted such fabulons as Kristi Rose, Jill Forbert, Robert Ellis Orrall, Tamara Saviano, Wendy Stamberger, Liz Thiels, Elaine Wood, Paula Batson and Denise Stiff, not to mention a big politico table including Rich Riebling, Christine LaLonde, Dan Kornfeld, Hedy Weinberg and I-hope-our-future-mayor Megan Barry.

Miss Mary dined on the succulent veggies in puff pastry. I had the beef bourguignon, which was delish.

Photos: WO Smith Benefit; CMHoF Words And Music Night

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Stars Perform at WO Smith Benefit Concert

Billy Currington, Ronnie Milsap, Phil Vassar and the Lost Trailers performed at Tuesday night’s (4/24) fifth annual Dustin J. Wells Gift of Music Foundation benefit concert at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. Proceeds from the event benefit the W.O. Smith Music School which provides 50 cent music lessons to Nashville’s under-served children.

Pictured (L-R): Billy Currington, Ronnie Milsap and Phil Vassar with members of the W.O. Smith School student band. Photo: Aaron Crisler / The Judy Nelon Group

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Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum hosts 33rd annual Words & Music Night

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum hosted its 33rd annual Words & Music Night on Tuesday (4/24). Diamond Rio hosted the event during which Nashville-area students performed their original songs accompanied by professional songwriters. Words & Music Night is the culmination of the year-long Words & Music program where students learn about the lyric-writing process and write or co-write lyrics in the classroom; the lyrics are then given to professional songwriters, who refine their lyrics and add melodies.

Pictured (L-R): Director of Education and Public Programs Ali Tonn, Diamond Rio’s Dan Truman and Gene Johnson, Museum Director Kyle Young, DR’s Marty Roe and Jimmy Olander, Vice President of Museum Programs Jay Orr and School Programs Manager Nathalie Lavine. Photo: Donn Jones