Photo Friday (5/4/12)

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To celebrate the recent release of her fourth album, Blown Away,  Carrie Underwood performed an exclusive, private show for Clear Channel listeners at the iHeartRadio Theater presented by P.C. Richard & Son. The show was also streamed live on iHeartRadio’s website.

(L-R): Ann Edelblute (XIX Entertainment), Lesly Tyson (Arista Nashville VP National Promotion), Tim Castelli (Clear Channel Media and Entertainment President of National Sales, Marketing and Partnerships), Underwood, Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO), Andrew Berkowitz (Sony Music Entertainment VP Artist Relations)

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Justin Timberlake along with his best friend/WilliamRast business partner Trace Ayala were recently hanging backstage with country music legend Hank Williams Jr. Williams was in town doing a concert in Southhaven, Mississippi, where Timberlake along with fiancée Jessica Biel, mother Lynn Timberlake, and Ayala all took in a night of some ‘Rockin Randall.’

(L-R): Timberlake, Williams Jr., Ayala

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A mix of Country stars and former football players gathered at The Governor’s Club in Nashville, Tenn., recently to show support for ex-NFL player Kevin Turner at the Kevin Turner Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament. The fundraising event was held to help further ALS research efforts.

(L-R): Randy Merrill (Winterset Concert Events), Mike McGuire (Shenandoah), Louis Newman (Flying Island Entertainment), Brian Eckert (Verge Management).

Artist Updates (5/4/12)

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Darryl Worley will conduct his first live chat via Twitter on Monday (5/7) at 8 pm CT, using #CMchat, one of the site’s largest hashtag communities. Jessica Northey, creator of #CMchat, will host the talk. Worley’s brand new single “You Still Got It” (Tenacity/Crazytown Records) is currently at No. 33 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

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Grammy-winning artist Dwight Yoakam has signed with Paradigm for booking representation, reports Billboard. Yoakam is also planning to release his first album since 2005’s Blame The Vain.

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Joe Nichols will discuss his musical journey, the abuse he suffered in childhood, and his ongoing struggles with alcoholism in Backstory: Joe Nichols, which will premiere on GAC Saturday, May 12 at 10 pm CT. Featured in the special are Nichols’ brother, wife, manager, producer and more.

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Show Dog-Universal has released newcomer Rose Falcon’s 19th Avenue EP to iTunes, and she’s already finding some high profile fans. Bon Jovi leader Jon Bon Jovi recently updated the band’s Facebook page and called Falcon a “true artist who has the ability to make you listen as well as feel.” Grab the EP here.

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Sony Music Nashville’s Joanna Smith ran 13.1 miles at the St. Jude Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon presented by Nissan on Saturday (4/28), and started the morning off by singing the National Anthem for the runners. Prior to the race, she visited with St. Jude executives at the start line.

(L-R): ALSAC/St. Jude’s Teri Watson, Sr. Director, Radio &Music Industry Marketing; Chris Boysen, VP Field Operations; CEO RickShadyac; and Joanna.

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WMN’s The Dirt Drifters have canceled all upcoming tour appearances, according to a Facebook status update. Yesterday, the band posted the following: “Hi all…we hate to disappoint you guys, especially after all the support you have given us over the past few years, but due to some private, personal issues we will not be going out on the road and will be canceling all upcoming shows and appearances. We apologize for any inconvenience to anyone who had plans to come see us this summer, you know there is nothing we love more than playing music and we will miss you. We cannot thank you enough for your support and for standing by us. Peace. The Dirt Drifters.”

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Trace Adkins will help send 33 World War II veterans to Washington, DC, courtesy of Brookshire’s/Super 1 Foods WWII Heroes Flight on May 31. That day, Adkins will perform the national anthem at a public sendoff in Tyler, TX, and the veterans will fly to DC to visit the WWII Memorial, Capitol, and more through June 2. Brookshire Grocery Company, the exclusive retailer of Adkins’ Hightower’s Country Smoked Sausage, is sponsoring the trip.

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University of South Carolina alumna Julie Roberts has written and recorded “Sweet Carolina,” a song honoring her home state and university, as part of USC’s “Carolina Promise” campaign. Roberts will perform the song live Thursday, May 10, in Columbia, SC, at the official kick off for the campaign. More info here.

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Singer and actress Claudia Lee will present at the 33rd Annual Young Artist Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (5/6). The program honors performing artists under the age of 18 in TV, film, theater, and music and raises scholarship money for physically and financially challenged young performers. Lee’s “Hollywood Sunset” recently charted on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart, and she also plays Magnolia Breeland on the CW Network’s Hart of Dixie.

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Cody Collins, the former singer of Lonestar and now headliner of Country Superstars in Las Vegas, recently released his self-titled solo EP to iTunes. The collection was produced by John Edwards in Nashville at Benchmark Sound.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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It’s well established that sound and memory are tied together. A snippet of an old TN show theme, a car’s horn, a grandfather clock’s chime–they can transport you to another time and place.

Eric Church gets it, and the new CountryBreakout No. 1 song “Springsteen” is a fine example of the phenomenon. It’s not about the titular rockstar so much as it’s about how his extensive body of work conjures up a sacred (and enduring) memory for the song’s narrator. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t relate to that idea, Springsteen fan or not.

The No. 1 is well-timed for Church, who is returning home to perform at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Saturday (5/5). Church’s Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour with Brantley Gilbert has been selling out venues nationwide, and he will also play CMA Music Fest at LP Field on Saturday, June 9.

Team Rio Raises Over $90,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters

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Diamond Rio’s Jimmy Olander and Gene Johnson both celebrated firsts on Saturday while leading Team Rio in the St. Jude Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon. Olander completed his first full marathon and Johnson completed his first half marathon. Team Rio 2012 had over 100 adult runners and 60 Team Rio Kids participants from several local schools, raising $90,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

Last year Olander, Team Rio’s Celebrity Running Captain, accomplished his goal of finishing the half marathon in less than two hours, but this year the high temperatures in Music City slowed him down.

“I finished about 30 minutes later than I had anticipated,” explains Olander. “The heat zapped me this year and my hamstrings said, ‘no sir!’ around mile 14. That and my Chatty Cathy nature probably added another half an hour to my finish time.”

New this year, Team Rio added a spinning component to the fitness and fundraising efforts at the official Team Rio cheer station, FIT in the Gulch. Situated at the mile two marker, spinners participated by spinning 13.1 miles, while DJ Silver spun his own musical mash-ups to help pump up not only the spinners, but also the passing runners.

“Ebie and I came up with this idea last year while cheering on the runners and wishing there was a way for us non-runners to be active while supporting Team Rio,” shares Bryan Berndt, the owner of FIT in the Gulch. “We had an amazing time and we’re looking forward to an even bigger spin-off next year!” Passing runners showed their appreciation for the spinners with waves, thumbs up, and dancing to the music as they ran.

To make a pledge on behalf of Team Rio please visit www.teamrio.kintera.org.

International Songwriting Competition Announces 2011 Winners

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New Zealand’s Kimbra took home the International Songwriting Competition’s (ISC) highest honor for her title, “Cameo Lover.” She receives $25,000 cash and a slew of merchandise including a Lowden F50 Guitar valued at $11,170. Kimbra was recently featured on Gotye‘s smash “Somebody That I Used To Know.”

Writers Blake Bollinger (Parallel Music), Neal Carpenter (Bug Music) took home first place honors in the Country category. Second and third place Country category winners went to Rodney Clawson, Lynn Dutton, Dustin Lynch, Joshua Dorr, Bruce Wallace, and Kaci Bolls. Nashville’s Rory Feek was honored with a second place Americana title, “Sweet Emmylou,” written with Catherine Britt.

Celebrity judges for the competition included Wynonna, Billy Currington, Craig Morgan, Tom Waits, Kelly Clarkson, Ozzy Osbourne, Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, and industry executives Allison Jones (Big Machine Label Group), Monte Lipman (Universal Republic Records), David Massey (Mercury Records), Kim Buie (Thirty Tigers), and Trevor Jerideau (RCA Records) among others.

Established in 2002, the ISC has grown to accept more than 16,000 song entries and awards more than $150,000 in cash and prizes to both amateur and professional songwriters worldwide. Entries for the next year are now being accepted here.

To sample some of the winning songs and see a complete list of winners, click here.

Honorable mentions for the Country category include:
“Do What You Gotta Do” – Dave Bastien – Londonderry, NH, USA
“Lie” – Ruben Estevez, Jason Massey, Brad Ramsey – Nashville, TN, USA
“Nothing Sweet About Alabama” – Bill DiLuigi, Jesse Stern, Dave Tough – Cane Ridge, TN, USA
“Quicksand” – Lou Penta – Ventura, CA, USA
“Stone Cold Crazy” – Michael McGee, Scott Miller (McGee) – Locarno, Switzerland
“This Feels Good” – Lee Johnson, Scott Miller – Washington, DC, USA
“When It All Goes South” – Jaylene Johnson, Sharlene Loveless, Jolene Keats – Winnipeg, MB, Canada
“When It Hurts Like That” – Matthew Ullman, Kyle Marion – Mt. Juliet, TN, USA
“With Love” – Josh Finlayson, Willie Mack – Nashville, TN, USA

Charlie Cook On Air: Radio Chips in Cell Phones

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I am a small government guy. I think the less government intrudes in the private business world the better.

But we all have our own agendas and in this one case I am not such a small government guy. I would love to see the government mandate the addition and activation of radio chips in cell phones. I am happy to admit to being self-serving here. I guess it would be redundant to say I am self-serving and I don’t care.

We know House members have met with smartphone manufacturers in the last two weeks and while the government may not force this issue, just scheduling the meeting may very well push the phone folks in the right direction.

Adding a radio chip would save lives, be a real convenience and would be fair. One of the best parts of having a radio chip in your cell phone is you get the local weather, news, sports and music without having to worry about eating up your data plan.

I lost my smart phone about 6 weeks ago while on a road trip. I ran across the street to a Best Buy and picked up a “load as you go” Nokia phone and was pleasantly surprised to learn that this $25.00 phone came with radio included. I found my $400 smart phone a few days later at Delta’s lost and found at Hartsfield. Yeah I have a million radio station apps and all of the push apps on the smartphone. But when I am on the treadmill and I want to listen to the Mountaineers game, I can do it on the cheapo phone. The Mountaineers cannot be streamed by their local affiliates.

And I am not using up my data plan.

When enjoying a beautiful West Virginia afternoon, hiking the magnificent mountains, and I want to check the local weather forecast, I can also do it on this cheapo phone. (Okay, I have never actually hiked the beautiful West Virginia Mountains, but I would feel much more comfortable doing do so if I had a radio on my cell phone.)

What about the safety issues? I have never heard an Amber Alert on Pandora. Spotify has yet to warn me of a tornado in the area. What happens if the school bus is going to be 2 hours late? Darn! I missed that announcement on Last-FM.

I mentioned fair above. Usually people cry “unfair” when they have no case to make, but players like Pandora and Spotify have lobbied the auto manufacturers to include them on the dashboard while CD makers were blindsided and lost their space in new Fords.

Radio has the right to lobby smartphone makers to get on the handheld units. But you have Consumer Electronics President Gary Shapiro saying that mandating radios in cell phones is, “not in our national interest.” WHAT!? Allowing al Qaeda to set up a recruitment booth in Times Square is not in our national interest. Releasing killer bees on the Mall in Washington, DC during the 4th of July celebration is not in our national interest. But not being able to tune in Brad Paisley on my cell phone while I grill hot dogs on my deck, really? Heck, the NAB and RIAA can not agree on what day it is most of the time and they BOTH think putting radios in cell phones is a good idea. They know this is good for both of their businesses. At the recent NAB meeting in Las Vegas, the talk was about HD Radio on phones. Think of the additional 40 or 50 options in a city like LA. Mr. Shapiro must be looking for new ways to warn the nation.

We are a society of choices. We watch television shows on our phones and tablets. We listen to push and pull audio on our smart phones.

Does it make me a self-serving SOB to want to hear “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton while I read his tweets on the same device?

Americana Music Assoc. Recruits Stellar Line-Up For Fundraiser

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Clockwise: Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Jim Lauderdale, John Oates

Rosanne Cash, John Oates, Jim Lauderdale and John Leventhal will perform at the Americana Summer Celebration at Blackberry Farm resort. The fundraiser for the Americana Music Association will be Friday and Saturday, July 20-21.

“We are honored that artists of this caliber will be participating in our Americana Summer Celebration,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “This event has become an important fundraiser and highly anticipated precursor to our ever-growing fall festival in Nashville. We’re curating our third musical weekend at Blackberry Farm and it just gets better and better.”

The weekend will highlight pairs of performers. Cash will perform with producer husband Leventhal. Oates and Lauderdale will take the stage together.

Blackberry Farm is a luxury property situated on 9,200 acres in the Smoky Mountains. The Relais & Châteaux resort is home to an award-winning culinary program and wine cellar. It was voted the No. 1 resort in North America for 2011 by Travel + Leisure readers in the World’s Best awards.

For reservations, please contact Blackberry Farm at 1-800-557-8864 or [email protected].

Weekly Chart Report (5/4/12)

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Average Joes Entertainment recording artist Matt Stillwell (R) visited with WJVL/Janesville, WI's Justin Brown promoting his new single, "Ignition." WJVL listeners were also treated to a short acoustic set at Wiggy's Saloon in downtown Janesville.

RADIO NEWS
• Longtime WATZ/Alpena, MI Music Director Susie Martin has retired after 18 years with the station and her last day was April 30. Going forward she can be reached at [email protected]. Taking over her music duties is Phil Wenzel, who can be reached at [email protected] or 989-354-8400 x 304. Music call times are Tuesdays 1:30 – 4 pm ET and Wednesdays 2 – 4 pm ET.

• WQNZ/Natchez, MS Operations Manager Mark Porter has taken over Music Director duties following the exit of Mickey Alexander. Reach him at [email protected].

• Rob Grayson has been named Program Director for WKBQ/Covington, TN after the departure of Jimmy Hicks. He can be reached at [email protected] or 901-619-2468.

SPIN ZONE
There’s no need to apologize for this one: Eric Church has earned his second CountryBreakout No. 1 song with “Springsteen,” on the day after his birthday. Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States” flies over a couple spots to land at No. 2, followed by Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You.” Also muscling for top of the chart status are Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” and Zac Brown Band’s “No Hurry.” And everyone’s on the move: Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Toby Keith all benefit from some extra spins.

It looks like one of those good weeks to be a promotion rep. A big section of songs is earning triple digit spins, positions are mostly improved, and newcomers are buzzing toward the Top 20. Rachel Holder’s “In Your Arms” is now at No. 20, followed by Thomas Rhett’s “Something To Do With My Hands” at No. 21, Jana Kramer’s “Why Ya Wanna” at No. 24, and Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys and Angels” at No. 26. Also making big gains are Keith Urban’s “For You” at No. 19, and George Strait’s “Drinkin’ Man” at No. 43.

Blake Shelton had (literally) a zero to 60 week with his new single “Over.” Right in his wake at No. 61 is “Pontoon,” the latest from Little Big Town. Lee Brice is coming off a huge hit with “A Woman Like You.” It’s currently outside the Top 80, but get ready for a big debut from “Hard To Love” next week.

Frozen Playlists: KIAI, KYKX, WBKR, WJVL, WKWS

Upcoming Singles
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

May 14
Jessie James/Military Man/Show Dog-Universal
Due West/Things You Can’t Do In A Car/Black River
Lee Brice/Hard To Love/Curb

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New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros. – 60
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol – 61
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster – 66
Scotty McCreery/Water Tower Town/19/Mercury/Interscope – 76

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros. – 390
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 388
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 377
Toby Keith/Beers Ago/Show Dog-Universal – 307
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 295

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros. – 30
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 21
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol – 21
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster – 15
Edens Edge/Too Good To Be True/Big Machine – 14
Lee Brice/Hard To Love/Curb – 13
Jon Pardi/Missin’ You Crazy/Capitol – 12
Greg Bates/Did It For The Girl/Republic Nashville – 12
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19-RCA – 12
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joe’s – 11
Jerrod Niemann/Shinin’ On Me/Sea Gayle/Arista – 10
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Lee Brice/Hard To Love/Curb – 199
Lucas Hoge/Give A Damn/Animal House – 197
Adam Gregory/High On You/Calusa Entertainment-GMV Nashville – 191
Jaida Dreyer/Guy’s Girl/Soundstream – 178
Clinton Gregory/Bridges/Melody Roundup – 164

Don Gosselin (WNOE/New Orleans OM/PD) joined The Band Perry during the filming of the trio’s new music video for, "Postcard From Paris." Gosselin is pictured behind the wheel, Kimberly riding shotgun, and Neil and Reid in the backseat.

UMG Nashville’s Lauren Alaina appeared with label mate Easton Corbin at KFDI/Wichita’s Listener Appreciation Show. (L-R): KFDI’s Carol Hughes, Lauren Alaina, Mercury regional Jill Brunett

Kellie Pickler recently stopped by WSIX Nashville to co-host the morning show and promote the title track from her album 100 Proof. (L-R): WSIX morning show host Billy Greenwood, Pickler, WSIX midday personality Amy Paige, and BNA/Columbia's David Friedman

Gonzales and Dorman Launch Triple Crown

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Rich O'Toole

Former Nine North Records regional promotion staffers Doc Gonzales and Jim Dorman have announced the launch of Triple Crown Promotions Company, an independent promotion outfit. Will Robinson, also previously with Nine North, has also joined the team.

Triple Crown’s first artist project will be Rich O’Toole, who is releasing his single “Drunk Girl” to country radio.

Reach out to Gonzales at [email protected], Dorman at [email protected], and Robinson at [email protected].

No. 1 Party: George Strait’s “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”

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Pictured L-R: ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, UMG's Brian Wright, Sea Gayle Music's Liz O'Sullivan, Al Anderson, Chris Stapleton, UMG's Royce Risser, Tony Brown and ASCAP's Mike Sistad.

Producer Tony Brown took a seat at the grand piano in ASCAP’s lobby and played the iconic theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey to call to order the crowd at the No. 1 party for “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright.” It was the first of two events celebrating George Strait’s 59th No. 1, and although the King was not in attendance, he is one of the few artists deserving of such an introduction.

“Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” songwriters Al Anderson and Chris Stapleton were present to accept honors at the celebration on Monday (4/30).

ASCAP writer Stapleton received praise from Sea Gayle’s Liz O’Sullivan, CMA’s Brandi Simms, and CRB’s Bill Cody. Brown, along with UMG Nashville’s Royce Risser and Brian Wright, were additionally recognized.

Anderson, who writes for Big Yellow Dog, said “I’m proud to have a George Strait cut, it’s like a holy grail.” Echoing that feeling, Stapleton added, “It’s a humbling thing to just to have any song cut by somebody, but to be picked up by George and for it to go No. 1 is amazing.”

Afterward BMI writer Anderson was honored at an intimate rooftop reception at the organization’s offices. Shortly after the festivities, Anderson and his band the World Famous Headliners headed out of town for the Key West Songwriters Festival.

Pictured (L-R): MCA Nashville’s Van Haze, producer Tony Brown, MCA Nashville’s Joe Putnam, Erv Woolsey Management’s Dottie Oelhafen, co-writer Al Anderson, MCA Nashville’s Ken Robold, Big Yellow Dog’s Carla Wallace, and BMI’s Clay Bradley. Photo: Steve Lowry