Ronnie Dunn Interviewed for SiriusXM’s “Town Hall,” Performs on Fallon

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Arista Nashville’s Ronnie Dunn is slated to sit down for a live Q&A session with an audience of SiriusXM listeners at the satcaster’s studios in New York City. SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Ronnie Dunn will air live on Prime Country, channel 58, Thursday, May 24 at 11 am/CT. The special will be hosted by SiriusXM host Storme Warren.

Prime Country will also present a special broadcast of Dunn’s concert at The Stage in Nashville, which was recorded live on May 16. The concert will air on Friday, May 25 at 8 pm/CT and will be rebroadcast throughout the weekend.

The event is part of SiriusXM’s “Town Hall” series that gathers musicians and SiriusXM listeners in intimate settings. Previous “SiriusXM Town Hall” specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Coldplay, and more.

Additionally, Dunn’s newest solo album Ronnie Dunn—Special Edition was reissued yesterday (5/22) as a Cracker Barrel exclusive with bonus tracks. To support the release, Dunn will appear on CBS This Morning and on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, May 24.

Arrangements Set For Rusty Walker

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Veteran radio consultant Rusty Walker died today (5/21) at age 59. He suffered a heart attack over the weekend and was airlifted from his hometown Iuka, MS to a hospital in Tupelo. He passed in the hospital.

Walker, whose real name was Sammy Darwin, was a much loved member of the radio community, earning a 2012 induction into the Country Radio Hall of Fame.

Walker had over 40 years of broadcast experience, including time as a programmer, consultant and on-air personality. He launched his firm in 1983 and grew to be one of the most powerful consultants in country radio. During his career, he worked with more than 750 different country stations from market 1 (NYC) to market 543 and smaller. As a personality and Program Director, his stops included WQYK, WQIK, WZZK and KFKF.

Walker was named by R&R in a three way tie for “Country Radio’s Greatest Programmer” of the 20th Century in 2000. He was also named Billboard’s Country “Consultant Of The Year” seven consecutive years out of the eight years the award was given. He also served on the CMA Board of Directors.

Outside work, he enjoyed being a father, boating and high school sports. He was an active member of Mt. Evergreen United Methodist Church and an enthusiastic supporter of the Tishomingo County School System. He volunteered in many civic capacities, including serving as emcee of the Iuka Christmas Parade and on the Iuka Heritage Day Committee Board of Directors.

The last few months were extremely difficult for Walker and his family. His 17-year-old daughter Kinsley Darwin died unexpectedly in March. He was also preceded in death by son Jay, who died in a hunting accident, and his parents, Jimmy and Mollie Darwin.

He is survived by wife of 38 years Teresa Darwin; two daughters, Nikki Darwin Clark and husband Nathaniel, of Iuka, and Beth Darwin Huntley and husband, Ryan, of Jacksonville, FL; and two grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for 4:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 25, at Mt. Evergreen United Methodist Church. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 26, at the Tishomingo County High School Gymnasium. The body will lie in state at the gymnasium from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Sammy Darwin/Rusty Walker Memorial Fund, c/o BancorpSouth, P.O. Box 377, Iuka, MS 38852.

MusicRow offers sincere condolences to all his loved ones. More here.

New Radio Licensing Rates Established

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Performing rights organizations are experiencing a significant decrease in licensing income from radio stations. In January the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) agreement with ASCAP was approved by the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, resulting in radio stations paying lower licensing rates to the PRO. A similar agreement was reached with BMI earlier this month and is awaiting court approval.

The separate agreements with the PROs run through December 2016 and are retroactive to January 2010. Also covered in the agreements are licensing rates for new media, Internet websites, smart phones, wireless devices, and HD/Multicasting radio channels.

The ASCAP deal placed licensing fees at 1.7% of individual radio station revenue. The RMLC reports this is about a 30% decrease in cost for most stations. According to the RMLC, the changes appeared on ASCAP’s January 2012 billing statement. For 2012, ASCAP’s revenue will be about $80 million less than what was paid based on 2009 rates. More from ASCAP.

The RMLC is approaching SESAC differently because its licensing rates are not subject to scrutiny by a federal court.

The RMLC represents the commercial radio industry’s 10,000 terrestrial stations. It is structured as a 501(c)(6) non-profit Tennessee corporation based in Nashville. The RMLC’s staff consists of Executive Director William Velez, and Staff Accountant/Data Manager Rebekah Smith. More from the RMLC.

David Shaw Joins Tenacity Records Promo Team

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David Shaw has joined the Tenacity Records promotion team as a National Director of Promotion, it was announced today (5/21) by Tenacity President Mike Kraski. The addition of Shaw rounds out the label promo team of Gary Greenberg, Jeff Davis and Anne Sarosdy, and headed by David Haley. Tenacity is home to recording artists Bill Gentry and Darryl Worley.

“David Shaw is everything a label could hope for in a professional and a person,” Kraski said. “I couldn’t be more excited about adding him to the team.”

Shaw comes to the label with 20 plus years of experience in radio promotion, including stints at Columbia Records, Category 5 Records, Ride Records and most recently R&J Records. He has worked with artists including Randy Owen, Jerrod Niemann, Steve Azar, Andy Gibson, Aaron Lewis, Aerosmith, Destiny’s Child, James Taylor, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Train, Billy Joel, David Bowie, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Sammy Kershaw and the Dixie Chicks.

Reach him at 401-219-1139 or david.shaw@tenacityrecords.com.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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In the new video for Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You,” the story picks up where the “I Don’t Want This Night To End” video left off. Luke the country star is preoccupied with the beauty he met at a bonfire and leaves a ticket in hopes that she’ll show at one of his concerts.

And now the song is the new No. 1 on this week’s CountryBreakout Chart. The lyrics don’t explicitly link it to Luke’s previous hit, but it’s traveling similar thematic territory. This time around, the campfire encounter has blossomed into a full-on intoxicating obsession.

“Drunk On You,” penned by Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear, appears on Luke’s third studio album Tailgates & Tanlines, which was recently certified Platinum. Luke is also currently on the road as part of Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party tour.

Weekly Chart Report (5/18/12)

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EMI Records newcomer Kelleigh Bannen recently kicked off her radio tour to promote her debut single, “Rose Colored Glasses.” She brought a 'fish eye' lens to take photos with her visits with WVVR/Clarksville. Pictured (L-R): Fletch (Fletch & Bailey on WVVR) and Bannen

SPIN ZONE
It’s new No. 1 song time, as Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You” climbs into the CountryBreakout Chart’s top position after 14 weeks of airplay. Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” moves up to No. 2, followed by Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” at No. 3. Brantley, Toby, Kip, and The Band Perry also gain spins inside the Top 10.

Blake Shelton’s “Over” is really on the move, leaping to No. 30 in its third week on the chart. Other new offerings by Lady Antebellum (“Wanted You More”), George Strait (“Drinkin’ Man”) and newcomer Greg Bates (“Did It For The Girl”) are also making quick work of the chart. Lee Brice’s “Hard To Love” and Jake Owen’s “The One That Got Away” are neck-and-neck at No. 55 and 56, respectively, after only two weeks.

Several big debuts are impacting the chart, beginning with Kenny Chesney’s “Come Over.” Chesney and Tim McGraw’s “Feel Like A Rock Star” is in the upper reaches of the chart, but his new solo effort rocketed up to No. 63 in its first week of reporting. Newcomers Florida Georgia Line also made an impression with summertime-ready single “Cruise,” which lands at No. 71. Rascal Flatts’ “Come Wake Me Up” gains 203 spins to hit No. 77, and Due West’s “Things You Can’t Do In A Car” picks up 184 spins to jump to No. 79.

Frozen Playlists: KDOL, KYKX, WBKR, WBYZ, WXXK

Upcoming Singles
May 21
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros./WMN
Bill Gentry/That Kind of Life/Tenacity
Rascal Flatts/Come Wake Me Up/Big Machine
Jake Owen/The One That Got Away/RCA

May 29
Jason Charles Miller/Up To Me/Render
Mavericks/Born to Be Blue/Valory
Big & Rich/That’s Why I Pray/WMN

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Kenny Chesney/Come Over/BNA – 63
Florida Georgia Line/Cruise/Big Loud Mountain – 71
Rick Monroe/Crazy Not To/Render Records – 75
Rascal Flatts/Come Wake Me Up/Big Machine – 77
Due West/Things You Can’t Do In A Car/Black River – 79
Kristen Kelly/Ex-Old Man/Arista – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros. – 446
Lady Antebellum/Wanted You More/Capitol – 421
Kenny Chesney/Come Over/BNA – 374
Jake Owen/The One That Got Away/BNA – 232
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 232

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Lady Antebellum/Wanted You More/Capitol – 28
Kenny Chesney/Come Over/BNA – 28
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros. – 18
Rascal Flatts/Come Wake Me Up/Big Machine – 18
Due West/Things You Can’t Do In A Car/Black River – 16
Jake Owen/The One That Got Away/BNA – 15
Heidi Newfield/Why’d You Have To Be So Good/Sidewalk Records – 15
Greg Bates/Did It For The Girl/Republic Nashville – 13
Florida Georgia Line/Cruise/Big Loud Mountain – 11
Lee Brice/Hard To Love/Curb – 10
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol – 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Jessie James/Military Man/Show Dog-Universal – 211
Craig Wayne Boyd/I Ain’t No Quitter/Big Ride – 198
Randy Houser/How Country Feels/Stoney Creek Records – 193
Sean Patrick McGraw/Git Yer Cowboy On/Little Engine Records – 191
Glen Templeton/Sing That Song Again/Black River Entertainment – 180

Black River Entertainment's Sarah Darling kicked off her radio tour this week with 103.7/WSOC in Charlotte. (L-R): Rick Baumgartner (Black River Ent.), Rick McCracken (WSOC MD), Sarah Darling, D.J. Stout (WSOC PD), and Megan Good (Black River Ent.)

Show Dog-Universal’s Trace Adkins paid a visit to Denver’s/KYGO while out on his his “Songs and Stories” Tour. (L-R): John Thomas (PD), Adkins, SDU Regional Promotion Director Lisa Owen, and Garret Doll (MD)

Darryl Worley visited with The Farm backstage at WWYZ/Hartford’s benefit for Wounded Warriors on Monday (5/14). Several country stars participated in the 92.5 "Swingin' and Singin" fundraiser at the Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Hartford. (L-R): Nick Hoffman (The Farm), Worley, and The Farm’s Krista Marie and Damien Horn

Charlie Cook On Air: Halfway MVP Awards

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We are already about half way through 2012. I hope that the Mayans were wrong, by the way.

I thought I would look at the MVPs at this point in the year. We have one awards show down and the CMA show coming in the fall. The CMT Awards show is in a couple of weeks and the MusicRow Awards nominees were announced earlier this week.

I don’t want to use just the awards and the nominations as the criteria for the “Halfway MVP” awards. If it was that easy I would just report on the nominees and winners so far. Additionally, the CMT awards use a very different standard than the other awards shows, as the video is the determining factor. First I thought I would look at some of the radio superstars that haven’t yet won awards.

Artists like Kip Moore and Lee Brice, who have not won performing awards yet, have had a huge presence on radio so far in 2012. Also true for the Eli Young Band and Brantley Gilbert.

We talk a lot about radio’s influence on sales but the number one advantage is introducing new acts to the public and the above acts are perfect examples of this benefit. To be fair it is really easy to look back six months and “make predictions.” If you can’t get that right you really have problems.

I went back and looked at some new artist/break through artist choices made in MusicRow in past years. Winners like The Band Perry, The Zac Brown Band and Lady Antebellum look like geniuses are picking these choices. Past winners also include Buddy Jewel, Eric Heatherly and Mark McGuinn.

Buddy had two big radio songs. Not so much for Eric and Mark.

There have been some past MVPs missing from the list this year. Someone is going to win the Albert Puljos award for first half of 2012 (renamed from the Adam Dunn Award-2011).

I have spoken to fans who are missing Sugarland. Easton Corbin has a hit on the radio right now but he seemed to disappear from the first half of the year. Randy Houser was on the cusp of exploding last year but has slowed down a bit this year.

Here are my “Halfway MVP” award nominees for 2012 and from this will come a “Halfway MVP” award winner.

  1. Montgomery Gentry: Their resurgence on the chart this year is much more impressive than first glance would indicate. Average Joe’s Entertainment took a flyer with the guys after they left Sony and paired them with a new producer that recaptured their old sound.
  2. Miranda Lambert: Country fans in Boston and Dallas love her for the same and different reasons. There is no doubt this lady lives and breathes Country but her lyrics are sophisticated and edgy enough to cut through the lives of every woman no matter if her accent is Long Os or Twang.
  3. Jake Owen: Two No. 1 songs in a row now. “Alone With You” is my so far favorite song of 2012. I guess when you’re personal life is going as well as this newlywed’s apparently is, your professional life is that much easier.
  4. Blake Shelton: Nothing else has to be said.
  5. Chris Young: Talk about being able to open a movie. How many No. 1s in a row? He is just so smooth and such an accomplished writer now that he is going to starring on his own tour shortly.
  6. Luke Bryan: See Jake and Chris.
  7. Kenny Chesney: In his case his year is just now getting started with the touring to begin. Kenny is not going to be the “Halfway MVP” but he is going to be in the top two at the end of the year.
  8. Jason Aldean: I saw his concert in Nashville and was blown away by his emergence as a TRUE format superstar. I also now know why I hate concerts. Young people (of which I am not included) stand through the entire show.
  9. Zac Brown Band: Just get used to them being on the list from now on.
  10. Eric Church: Right there.

The list could really be 20 artists. Lady A has had a great first half. Taylor, Flatts and Toby could be on the list but I had to cut it at some point. The above 10 have the buzz so far this year.

My choice for the “Halfway MVP” is Blake Shelton. Number one after number one, social media and TV exposure are hard to beat.

Who did I miss? Let me know your thoughts.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)

No. 1 Party: Lee Brice’s “A Woman Like You”

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(L-R): SESAC’s Tim Fink, Skyline Music Publishing’s Paul Worley, HoriPro Entertainment’s Butch Baker, co-writer Jon Stone, BMI’s Clay Bradley, Lee Brice, Curb Records’ Mike Curb, co-writer Johnny Bulford, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing’s Steve Markland, co-writer Phil Barton, and HoriPro Entertainment’s Amy Hendon. Photo: Steve Lowry

“Today is a unique celebration of firsts,” said BMI Assistant VP Writer/Publisher Relations Clay Bradley as he greeted the noisy crowd. The event, held yesterday (5/15) in the Country Music Association’s atrium, was BMI and SESAC’s opportunity to salute the creative team behind Lee Brice’s No. 1 “A Woman Like You.”

Turns out Bradley wasn’t exaggerating. The hit single marks the first No. 1 for its writers Jon Stone, Johnny Bulford, and Phil Barton. It’s also Stone’s first No. 1 in the producer’s chair. And finally, it’s the elusive first No. 1 as a recording artist for Brice, himself a formidable songwriter who has scored No. 1s with Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory” and Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl.”

SESAC VP Writer/Publisher Relations Tim Fink noted that “A Woman Like You” was actually the first hit for Stone as a newly-minted SESAC writer. The origin of the song apparently involved an afternoon writing session and barbecue. “That’s the formula right there, barbecue,” joked Fink.

HoriPro’s Amy Hendon saluted Phil Barton, who has had numerous cuts for others and as an artist in his native Australia. “He’s changed my life, and I’m his biggest fan,” she said. “There’s hillbillies in Australia, y’all!” added HoriPro Sr. VP Creative Services Butch Baker.

Warner/Chappell VP Steve Markland was on hand to celebrate Bulford, and Paul Worley was there representing Stone’s publisher Skyline. Curb Records Chairman Mike Curb came in to honor his rising star Brice and the promotion team led by Adrian Michaels that pushed his song to the top.

Barton waxed excitedly about his time in Nashville. “It’s really the people you write with that make it such a magic place,” he said.

Bulford admitted that he was nervous about speaking to crowds. “My list of people to thank is in my phone, and my girlfriend took my phone,” he said. He also thanked the girlfriend, calling her his ‘woman like you.’ Aww.

Stone has a long background as a writer, but never scored a No. 1 until now (his “Me and My Gang” for Rascal Flatts fell just shy). “It’s only two feet high, but it’s taken me 13 years to climb it,” said Stone in reference to finally standing on the No. 1 stage.

Everyone involved was also quick to praise Lee Brice for his performance and ability to recognize a great song even though he didn’t write it. Brice was happy to throw praise right back to its creators.

“This song was written to the wall. Every word is perfect,” he said.

EJ Bernas Joins Bigger Picture Group

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EJ Bernas

Michael Powers, President of Bigger Picture Group Artist Ventures, today announced the hiring of EJ Bernas as Director of National Promotion. In the new role he will oversee radio promotion efforts for Bigger Picture artists Craig Campbell, Chris Cagle, D. Vincent Williams, Rachel Bradshaw, Ryan Kinder and Chris Janson, and assist in promoting Atlantic Records artist Zac Brown Band.

“We didn’t know whether to sign EJ to our artist roster or our executive staff, we only knew that we had to have him and we could figure the rest out later,” said Powers. “Either way, our Twitter numbers are on the rise.”

With more than 10 years of experience in country radio promotion, Bernas has been involved in hits by George Strait, Gary Allan, Lee Ann Womack, Josh Turner, David Nail and Ashton Shepherd. He was most recently VP of Music and Entertainment for the Tin Roof Corporation. Prior to that he spent eight years at Universal Music Group as Senior Director of Southwest Promotion for MCA.

Vice President of Promotion Matt Corbin added, “I’m very excited that my first hire as VP of Promotion is EJ Bernas. He’s a great leader and motivator that will help this company move forward.”

“I wasn’t sure I was going to have this opportunity,” said Bernas. “I was lucky to have been able to take some time away from promotion and explore another side of the business; to take a step back to reflect and refresh. The passion for music has always been there for me, and this is the moment I have been waiting for. To be a part of this team and to work with the people who are leading the company, to be a piece of this puzzle, it’s amazing.”

EJ can be contacted at ej@biggerpicture.com.

Nine North Taps Jane O’Malia To Lead Northeast Promo

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Turnpike Music President Larry Pareigis and VP Tom Moran announced the hiring of Jane O’Malia as Director of Promotion Northeast for Nine North starting next Monday (5/21).

O’Malia has worked with WDSY and other stations at CBS Radio Pittsburgh as Promotion Director for the past 11 years where she created signature station promotions including the Y108 Freedom Fest, Tiki Town, and Send Me Backstage.

A graduate of Youngstown State University, O’Malia got her start in radio at Rubber City Radio, which includes WQMX and WONE in Akron, OH. For two years she was on the air at WQMX, then became Promotions Director of WONE for two years.

“This is exactly the forward-looking kind of person that we need in a company like this; she’s a very intelligent, funny and relatable rule-breaker with a world of experience,” Pareigis says.

Reach her here: jane@ninenorthmail.com.