Bobby Karl Works UMG’s Luncheon at The Ryman

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UMG Nashville artists and staff at the 2011 CRS Universal Music Group Nashville show at the Ryman on March 2, 2011. Photo: Peyton Hoge


Chapter 361
If Country Radio Seminar is about Country – that is, music – more than it is about current Radio – that is, pseudo science – then its showcases should be its heart and soul.
With that in mind, the other record labels are going to be hard pressed to top the Universal extravaganza staged Wednesday (3/2) at the Ryman Auditorium. Superstar Lionel Richie capped the afternoon. Legendary Vince Gill drew tears and a standing ovation. Twenty-one artists dazzled the crowd, including Lee Ann Womack, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Gary Allan and Billy Currington. Everyone sang with acoustic accompaniment. The Ryman, as you know, is a superb sounding room for acoustic music, so it was quite an afternoon. Here’s the countdown:
1. Sugarland flew in especially for the gig from mid-tour, and flew out immediately afterward. The duo’s performance of “Little Miss” was simply stunning.
2. Canaan Smith staged his debut performance for the label and for country radio at the legendary Ryman. “No pressure, bro,” quipped show host Royce Risser. Smith nailed “We Got Us.” “He did not cave to the pressure,” Risser correctly observed.
3. Dani Flowers also staged her debut. Frankly, she sounded terrified, but “You Learn Something New Every Day” is a wonderfully written song.
4. Kip Moore, a previous DisCovery Award winner in this magazine, introduced his superb, wildly catchy single “Mary Was the Marrying Kind.” Honestly, it was one of the only songs still on my lips hours after the show. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be on this stage,” he said. You belonged there, pal.
5. Louisiana sisters Coldwater Jane offered their ballad “Tough as Nails.” Risser invited them to the stage out of order, so they were a mite rattled.
6. Vivacious Mallary Hope delivered “Butter on Her Wedding Ring” with panache.
7. Lost Highway’s Hayes Carll charmed us with a laconic country weeper titled “Chances Are.”
8. Randy Montana was soulful and soaring on his ought-to-be-a-hit single “1,000 Faces.”
9. “She’s an amazing entertainer, and she’s nuts,” said Risser of Laura Bell Bundy. She enters the studio this Friday to record her fiery “(There Goes) Another Piece of Me.”
10.  Josh Kelley was sweetly emotional on an ode to his daughter called “Naleigh Moon.”
11. Easily one of the show’s highlights was “Look it Up” by Ashton Shepherd. That gal is a blast. By the way, she announced that she is pregnant with her second child at the gig.
12. I am a huge fan of the lead singer’s cool, dusty singing voice, so “Just Don’t Tell Me the Truth” was a winner for the Randy Rogers Band. “Bring back country music!” he proclaimed. Another reason to love him.
13.  Electrifying David Nail delivered “The Sound of a Million Dreams” with white-hot, blue-eyed soul. This boy can sing.
14. Easton Corbin is definitely on a roll. He was wonderfully countrified on his current “I Can’t Love You Back.”
15. Billy Currington gave a bluesy groove to “Let Me Down Easy.”
16. Gary Allan had vocal surgery last year, but is now recovered, as he proved with his performance of his much-loved 1999 oldie “Smoke Rings in the Dark.”
17. Josh Turner was shimmering and sensuous in his delivery of his remake of “I Wouldn’t Be a Man.” They just don’t write songs that great in Nashville anymore.
18. The supremely expressive Lee Ann Womack dropped jaws with a fantastically written gospel plea with its “Send it on Down” hook.
19. Jamey Johnson was stark and all-too-brief doing Merle Haggard’s “You Take Me for Granted.”
20. “I’ve been on MCA Records longer than anybody on the entire staff,” said Vince Gill, before his lump-in-throat performance of “If I Die a Drinkin’ Man.” His overt emotionalism also shined on “Threaten Me with Heaven,” and drew a standing ovation from the starstruck crowd. “What a stud,” quoth Risser.
21. Surprise guest Lionel Richie got a standing ovation before he ever sang a note. He sat at the piano and rolled back the years with a flawless rendition of 1984’s “Stuck on You.” Darius Rucker entered from stage right and the two began to duet on the song, sensationally. This, too, drew a standing ovation. “It’s absolutely a pleasure to be here,” said Lionel. No, sir, the pleasure was all ours.
Invited guests included Mike Hammond, Mike Sistad, John Huie, Jon Freeman, Jon Anthony, Jody Williams, Will Byrd, David Preston, Ken Levitan, Coyote Calhoun, Dale Bobo, Clay Bradley, Brandi Simms, Sherod Robertson, Perry Howard, Teri Brown, Jewel Coburn, Jason Morris, Thomas Cain and, natch, UMG’s Luke Lewis, Tom Lord, Beverly Keel and Brian Wright.
That night at 10 p.m., it was the roster of Warner/Reprise in the spotlight. The label chose to have its performers salute Motown songs. Frankie Ballard selected Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” but Brett Eldredge “cheated” by doing “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” by Lou Rawls. (It was issued in 1976 on Philadelphia International, not Motown.)

CRS Pics: Faith, Tim, Blake, and KCRS Live

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Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were honored with the Humanitarian Award at CRS this week. Among their many charitable efforts was last year's superstar concert benefitting flood relief. Last year's winner Trace Adkins presented the award.


The KCRS Live! songwriter showcase, presented by Stroudavarious Records, featured Aaron Lewis, LoCash Cowboys, Rivers Rutherford and Jeffrey Steele. The performers are pictured here with Stroudavarious execs. L-R: Bill Catino, LoCash Cowboys, James Stroud, Lewis, Rutherford, Steele and Bill Macky.


Blake Shelton headlined the Music City Jam last night, closing out the day's events at the Convention Center with surprise guests including the stars pictured here. (L-R): The Band Perry, Shelton, Eric Church and Luke Bryan

Artists: Out and About

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Crystal Bowersox Makes Surprise Opry Debut

The Grand Ole Opry debut of 2010 Season 9 American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox came as a surprise to both the Opry audience and to Bowersox, herself. This past Friday (2/25), segment host Vince Gill invited Bowersox to the stage. “We do things out here for an awful lot of different reasons, but one is spontaneity, one is fun,” Gill said.

Gloriana Performs at the White House

Gloriana joined some of music’s biggest stars including Smokey Robinson, Sheryl Crow, Jordan Sparks, Nick Jonas, Jamie Foxx, and John Legend at the White House for “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House” concert for The President and First Lady. The concert, celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records, is being broadcast on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and on the American Forces Network.

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.


(L-R): TN Senator Joe Haynes and Bill Anderson


Bill Anderson Receives Joint Resolution

Whisperin’ Bill Anderson accepted a Joint Resolution from Tennessee State Senator Joe Haynes during recent legislative ceremonies held in the Senate chambers in Nashville. The Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry star was recognized for his extensive career accomplishments and upcoming 50th Anniversary at the Opry.


Photo: Amber McSwain


Sara Evans Visits CMT

Sara Evans stopped by the set of CMT Top 20 Countdown to chat with host Evan Farmer this week to promote her new album Stronger which releases on Tuesday, March 8. Evans’ interview with Farmer will premiere Friday, March 4.

Due West On the Streets

Emerging group Due West made a visit to GAC’s On the Streets with host Suzanne Alexander to promote their new CD Forget the Miles.


(L-R): Suzanne Alexander; and Due West members Tim Gates, Brad Hull and Matt Lopez


TV/Film News: Trace Adkins In New McConaughey Movie

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Trace Adkins in The Lincoln Lawyer


>>Trace Adkins has a role in the new Matthew McConaughey film The Lincoln Lawyer. The movie opens March 18 and features Adkins playing the leader of a biker club, and McConaughey as the lawyer who tries to get the bikers out of trouble. Starring as another client is Ryan Phillippe.

>>Rascal Flatts’ upcoming television special will feature guest appearances by pop stars Justin Bieber and Natasha Bedingfield. The concert performance show, Rascal Flatts: Nothing Like This Presented by JCPenney is set to air Saturday, March 12, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on ABC. More on the Flatts and the Bieb here.
>>A new documentary is out about the making of the Waylon Jennings tribute album, The Music Inside. The film Breaking the Myth: Waylon Jennings includes interviews and footage of artists on the tribute project such as Shooter Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams Jr., Dierks Bentley, Alabama, John Hiatt, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Pat Green, Patti Griffin and Sunny Sweeney.
>>Jennifer Nettles shows up in the new music video from pop songstress Sara Bareilles, “Uncharted.” She is one of the celeb guests including Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Josh Groban, and Ben Folds.
>>Nashville’s own Leon Russell continues to ride high on his acclaimed collaboration with Elton John. The music vets teamed up on 2010′s The Union. The recording process of that project was captured in the new documentary of the same name from director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous). It will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 20, followed by a performance from John. The pair will perform April 2 on Saturday Night Live; John is also hosting the show.
>>Fellow Nashville native Miley Cyrus will make her SNL-hosting debut on March 5. Cyrus is also set to star in the new flick So Undercover as a street-smart private eye hired by the FBI to go undercover at a college sorority. Coming in October, the project also stars Jeremy Piven, Mike O’Malley and Kelly Osbourne.
>>Speaking of Nashvillians turned actresses, Ashley Judd has been tapped for ABC’s action drama series Missing. It is reportedly about a mom searching for her 18-year-old son who is missing in Italy.

Photos From Aldean's Platinum Party

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Jason Aldean and producer Michael Knox. Photo: Chris Hollo


Jason Aldean celebrated the platinum certification of his fourth studio album My Kinda Party with an event at Nashville’s Terrazzo on Tuesday (3/1). This is his third Platinum platter, and it got its award in just 11 weeks.
The 15-track disc brings the country rocker to five million total albums sold since his debut five years ago.
Broken Bow Records CEO/President Benny Brown surprised Aldean with keys to a new pickup truck in celebration of the event. Plaques were presented to all the reporting radio stations who play Aldean’s songs.
Since his latest single, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (w/Kelly Clarkson) hit No. 1 on Aldean’s birthday (2/28/77), revelers sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
He was Billboard’s Top Male Artist of 2010 and has two ACM nominations, Male Vocalist and Entertainer.

Benny Brown hands Aldean the keys to a new truck. Photo: Chris Hollo

CRS 2011 Photos: UMG, Big Machine, Sony Music Nashville

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Radio guests enjoy special label events hosted by UMG Nashville, Big Machine, and Sony Music Nashville as part of Country Radio Seminar 2011.

Special radio guests in town for CRS 2011 visited UMG President Luke Lewis’ home last night (3/1) for an evening of musical entertainment. Pictured (L-R): MCA’s Michelle Tyrrell, MCA’s David Nail, WKLB’s Ginny Rogers, MCA’s Josh Turner and Mark Anderson WDSY Pittsburgh OM PD.


Fresh off her Asian tour, Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance last night (3/1) at the CMT/Big Machine CRS party held at Cellar One. The night included performances from Edens Edge, Eli Young Band, Justin Moore and Martina McBride (who offered three new songs), and was hosted by CMT’s Cody Alan and Melissa Peterman. Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry and Sunny Sweeney were also seen hanging in the crowd. Pictured (L-R): Lori Megown, VP Radio, MTV Music Group; Jean Williams, Director, CMT Radio Network; Martina McBride; Taylor Swift; Scott Borchetta; Cody Alan, Host CMT Radio Live; Melissa Peterman. Photo: Brian Bayley


In an unofficial kick-off to CRS 2011 last night, RCA Nashville artist Jake Owen and BNA Records newcomer Casey James performed new music from their forthcoming albums for a crowd of country radio programmers and music industry guests at Margaritaville. This will be the third studio album for Jake and debut album for Casey—both set to release later this year. Pictured (L-R): RCA Nashville VP National Promotion Keith Gale, Sony Music Nashville Senior VP Promotion Skip Bishop, Academy of Country Music CEO Bob Romeo, Owen, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, James, BNA Records VP National Promotion Bryan Frasher.

Shania Twain Pens Autobiography

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Shania Twain’s autobiography, From This Moment On, is set for release May 3. The singer will be back with a bang this summer, as her new docu-series for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will also debut in May.
Twain has experienced monstrous career success, combined with personal highs and lows, but there is no word on what the book will delve into.
The five-time Grammy winner has sold over 75 million albums worldwide. She also triumphed over a painful divorce from husband and producer Mutt Lange. On New Year’s Day 2011 she married Frederic Thiebaud in Puerto Rico, escorted down the aisle by nine-year-old son Eja.
The autobiography is her first book and will be published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster.

Bobby Karl Works The DJ Hall of Fame Dinner, Aldean Party

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(L-R) back: Bill Payne, Charlie Cook, Joe Galante, Naomi Judd, Barry Kent, Dale Carter and Lee Rogers. Front: CRB board member RJ Curtis; Samantha, Hayleigh and Elizabeth Hallam; CRB Pres. Mike Culotta and CRB Exec. Dir. Bill Mayne.


Chapter 360
The “official” kick-off of Country Radio Seminar is the annual presentation of the Country Radio Hall of Fame honors at the Convention Center (3/1).
To start things off, the attending living members of the Hall gathered on stage for a massed portrait. Then Mike Culotta gave the President’s Award to Joe Galante. “Joe epitomizes the criteria set forth for this award,” said Mike. “This barely scratches the surface of the gratitude this organization has for this man.”
“I think this award was given to me because, ‘This guy isn’t going to be calling for adds anymore,’” Joe wisecracked. Turning serious, he added, “Everything I have accomplished, I have accomplished because I was surrounded by great people.”
The 2011 Artist Achievement Award was presented to The Judds. “I was 38 years old when we walked into RCA on March 4, 1983,” recalled Naomi Judd. “We were two scared kids.
“Our whole life has really been about friendships, relationships with you characters. Wynonna thinks you are her uncles. She’s grown up with you. I’m just overflowing with gratitude.”
“I’ve known just about everybody in this room since I was 18 years old,” confirmed Wynonna Judd. “One of my goals this year is to get back on country radio. I have come back home. God has orchestrated this. I am ready. This is only the beginning for me. I look at you, and I feel like you are family.”
Mike Borchetta inducted Bill Payne into the Radio Hall of Fame. “I’m humbled,” said Payne. “I’m grateful to God. Today is a fulfillment of my dream.” He has spent his career owning various stations in Oklahoma.
Bobby Kraig inducted Barry Kent as an on-air personality. “I have worked my entire career in my hometown, which is pretty unheard of,” stated Kent, who is still on the air in Terre Haute, Indiana at age 71. “I’m truly blessed to go to work every day and do what I love to do.”
CRB executive director Bill Mayne did the honors for Lee Rogers, who was also inducted as an on-air personality. “Lee Rogers lives life large – he always has and always will,” said Mayne.
“They don’t usually honor you with things like this until you’re dead,” Rogers responded. He suffered two strokes in 2008. “I learned in that instant to never take anything for granted in this life.”
Rogers was the only inductee to salute country music’s artists. Perhaps not coincidentally, he was also the only one who was a musical performer, himself. He has shared stages with Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Don Gibson, Keith Whitley, Minnie Pearl, Dwight Yoakam and Charlie Daniels, among others
“I never thought I would be at a loss for words,” Rogers continued. He wasn’t. Nor was anybody else that night. We are, after all, talking about radio people. “Believe in yourself,” he concluded. “Believe in God. And don’t give up until the competition across the street gets fired on Christmas Eve!” Then he tossed his cane aside.
Joel Rabb inducted the late Dene Hallam. “I still ‘talk’ to Dene,” Rabb said. “We have ‘conversations.’ He had great ears.” Hallam’s three daughters accepted.
“Wow, what a night,” said Jaye Albright. She introduced the Hall’s youngest inductee in its history, Dale Carter. “It’s my hope that one day, our plaques will be at the Country Music Hall of Fame,” stated Carter. Good luck with that.
Lon Helton inducted the widely loved Charlie Cook. “Charlie Cook was destined for this Hall,” said Helton. “All you have to do is look around this room. His mark upon this business is going to last for a long time.”
“I want to thank Chuck Chellman, who was the father of all of this,” said Cook. “No one has less talent in this Hall of Fame than I do, so I must have a guardian angel.”
Working the room were The Doobie Brothers, Radney Foster, John Cowan, Josh Thompson, Jack Lameier, Eddie Mascolo, Tom Baldrica, Charlie Monk, Mike Dungan, Ron Huntsman, Allen Butler, Bob Kingsley, Bob Paxman, Coyote McCloud, Deborah Evans Price, Vernell Hackett, Gary Greenberg, Paul Barnabee, Phyllis Stark and a throng of others.
On a culinary note, the dinner was rubber-chicken banquet perfection. As someone who has covered hundreds of such occasions, I can expertly attest to this.
• • • • •
It was chips and dips at the Jason Aldean Platinum Record party at Terrazzo (3/1), held just prior to the awards banquet. Aldean’s My Kinda Party is his third Platinum platter, and it got its award in just 11 weeks. He was Billboard’s Top Male Artist of 2010 and has two ACM nominations, Male Vocalist and Entertainer.
Broken Bow hosts Rick Shedd and Benny Brown welcomed a crowd that included Chris Parr, Jason Sellers, Michael Knox, Clarence Spalding, Tom Roland, Terry Bumgarner, Chuck Aly, Mary Hilliard Harrington, Kevin Neal, Carson James, Lee Adams, Rac Clark, Debbie Carroll, Scott Kiley and Hunter Kelly.
One wall held 140 plaques for all the reporting radio stations who play Aldean’s songs. A big group photo was snapped. Since “Don’t You Wanna Stay” hit No. 1 on the star’s birthday (2/28/77), we all sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

Tour News: Paisley Plots H2O II

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Brad Paisley


>>Brad Paisley wrapped his H20 World Tour last weekend in Nashville, and the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year didn’t waste any time announcing his next run. The H2O II World Tour presented by Chevy opens May 28 at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field. The 33-city trek includes five stadiums and an international run through London (O2 Arena), Dublin, Stockholm, Oslo and more. Joining him will be special guests Blake Shelton and Jerrod Niemann.
The new outing will incorporate elements of the previous H2O Tour, such as the “Water World Plaza,” offering water activities and music from emerging artists Brent Anderson, Edens Edge and Sunny Sweeney.
The H20 World Tour played to over 879,000 fans in 2010 and was Pollstar’s the most attended country tour. Paisley’s current single “This Is Country Music” is the title track from his next album which will be in stores May 24. Read more about his Nashville show here (subscribers only).
>>Joe Nichols will journey Down Under this year. The Show Dog-Universal Music artist will headline Australia’s CMC Rocks the Hunter music festival on March 5, and will return in May for a multi-city tour. Nichols’ Greatest Hits CD was released January 25, and his current single, “The Shape I’m In,” is climbing the country charts.
>>Ricky Skaggs has announced the first dates of his 2011 Treasure Chest Tour. It kicks off in Prestonsburg, Ky. on March 18.
>>Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Don Williams has announced his 2011 concert appearances. There are more than 30 dates on the schedule, including a run through Canada.
>>Innovative acoustic guitar virtuoso and two-time Grammy nominee Leo Kottke will play TPAC’s Polk Theater on Wednesday, March 16. The show is produced by The Messina Group/AEG Live. Tickets are on sale at TPAC’s Box Office, TPAC.org or 615-782-4040.
>>BMI and the Mercy Lounge kicked off the third annual Road to Bonnaroo competition on Monday, February 28, with Chancellor Warhol winning a performance slot at the upcoming music festival. The contest is staged during designated nights of BMI’s free 8 off 8th showcase. The remaining 2011 Road to Bonnaroo dates are March 21 and April 18.

Pictured are (l-r): The Kicks’ Adam Stark, BMI’s Mark Mason, The Kicks’ Jordan Phillips, BMI’s Jody Williams, The Kicks’ Gabe Anderson and Lucas Cummins, and BMI’s Clay Bradley.

Jobs Unveils iPad 2

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Apple’s visionary genius, Steve Jobs made an unscheduled appearance at today’s unveiling of the iPad 2 (3/2) at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Jobs, who has been on leave for health reasons, received a standing ovation.
Among the many technical announcements concerning the updated device, Jobs also noted that Random House was the most recent publisher to add its books to the iTunes digital storefront—more than 17,000 titles. Apple has sold over 100 million iPhones and in the past 9 months delivered over 15 million iPads.
The iPad operating system is also being updated to IOS 4.3 which will include face time video calling between mac computers, iPhones, iPads and the new iPod Touch.
iPad 2 will ship on March 11. It is one-third thinner than the original model and weighs 1.3 pounds. (iPad was 1.5 pounds.) Prices will be the same for the Wi-Fi and 3G models as with the previous models. Added features include front and rear facing cameras, a new A5 dual-core processor which greatly speeds graphic processing without draining battery additional power (10-hour life between charges). The iPad 2 will be available in black and white and work with both the AT&T and Verizon networks.
A new output cable allows mirrored HDMI video to be output to TVs for 1080p high-def output.