Bobby Karl Works The Country Radio Hall of Fame Ceremony

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Chapter 389

The official/unofficial first Country Radio Seminar cocktail party occurred just prior to the Country Radio Hall of Fame awards at the Convention Center.

This is always a good opportunity to see which recording artists are early birds trying to catch the worms of country radio’s gatekeepers. On Tuesday evening (2/21), they included Josh Thompson, Deborah Allen, Jerrod Niemann, Radney Foster, Mark Collie, Jay DeMarcus, Connie Smith, Jana Kramer and Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall and Richard Sterban.

CRS chair Charlie Morgan dubbed the ceremony, “the most special night, the night we honor our greats, our legends.” Country Radio Broadcasters board president Mike Culotta gave the President’s Award to Hall of Fame member Bob Kingsley.

“I’m getting an award for something I truly love,” said the honoree. “Every industry has its own convention, but none can compare to ours.” Kingsley has attended 40 of the 43 CRS confabs. He was instrumental in getting songwriters involved and has worked at literally every level of the planning and execution of the annual get-together.

Pictured at the Country Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony are the 2012 class of the Country Radio Hall of Fame. (L-R): CRS President Mike Culotta, Eddie Stubbs, Ron Rogers, Beverlee Brannigan, Rusty Walker, Bill Whyte, Moby, Bob Kingsley, CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. Photo: Bev Moser

R.J. Curtis presented the Artist Career Achievement Award to Glen Campbell. The superstar’s hits played with a video montage, since he was en route to Boston for another stop on his farewell tour. Keith Urban appeared, also via video, to thank Glen for, “blazing such a trail for guitar-slinging singers in this town” and being, “such a huge influence in what I do.” Keith performed “Wichita Lineman” in Glen’s honor.

T.K. Kimbrell accepted for Glen, who has Alzheimer’s Disease. “This is perfect timing,” said Kimbrell, “because Glen can still understand what an honor this is.” He said he’d spoken to the star about it the day before. “This award is a real testament to how a country boy from Delight, Arkansas, can reach people all around the world.”

The first Radio honoree was Midwest programmer and operations manager Beverlee Brannigan, who is considered to be a trailblazer for women in country radio programming. “I was truly the only woman in the room for most of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” she acknowledged.

Famed consultant Rusty Walker has worked with more than 750 stations. He was the second Radio honoree.

“If I live to be 150, I’ll never be able to repay this debt,” he said. “Thank you, CRS, for creating a learning and networking environment.”

Ron Rogers was introduced by Bill Mayne as, “one of the best teachers I’ve ever met, hence his nickname, ‘Coach.’” Rogers is noteworthy for his work in the Austin, TX market.

“It’s easy to get puffed up about an honor like this,” said Rogers. “I said to my wife on the way up here, ‘In your wildest dreams, did you ever think we’d be flying into Nashville to go into the Hall of Fame?’ She said, ‘Ron, you’re not in my wildest dreams.’”

The on-air personalities were saluted next. Linda Davis and Lang Scott inducted their friend Bill Whyte, presenting a gag CD cover of “Lady Grannybellum,” picturing them with him. On a more serious note, Scott said, “We’re in the heart of Music City, in the heart of country music and in the heart of country radio. And that’s appropriate, because Bill has a heart. I think you’re very wise to honor a man of such integrity.”

Whyte, currently on WSM, recalled beginning his career playing records on small-market radio stations from trailers in cow pastures. He was unapologetic in giving the evening’s longest acceptance speech. His on-air stints include time spent in Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Indianapolis, as well as Nashville. He is also a singer-songwriter.

“To all those who never told me I couldn’t, thank-you so much and God bless,” he concluded.

His fellow WSM broadcaster Eddie Stubbs was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. At age 50, Stubbs is the youngest inductee to date and also perhaps the only one who comes from a public-radio background.

“He’s crazy as a bat, and I know that because it takes one to know one,” said inductor Marty Stuart. Stubbs is a walking encyclopedia of historic country music and plays it on his shows. “He can take us to the heart and soul of country music,” said Stuart. “If you follow your heart, it will always take you to the right place. Eddie followed his heart,” and it led him to the Hall of Fame.

A veteran of The Johnson Mountain Boys bluegrass band, Stubbs recalled fiddling for the late Johnny Wright and wife/co-star Kitty Wells. Kitty, age 92, was in attendance and received the night’s longest and loudest standing ovation.

“I didn’t get into this for self-gratification,” Stubbs said. “It’s always been about the music….This award tonight is a monumental blessing, and I thank God.”

Entertainment attorney titan Joel Katz inducted James Carney, known on the air as Moby. The DJ is a Crossville, TN native and Belmont dropout who grew up country but gained fame as a rock shock jock. He went back to his country roots in 1991 on the air in Atlanta.

“I never thought I’d see the brass ring of the country-radio carousel, but look at me tonight,” quoth Moby. “It’s the Academy Award of country broadcasting.”

Roughly 400 folks attended. Working the room were Jim Halsey, Sherman Halsey, Skip Bishop, Mark Wright, Mike Dungan, Charlie Monk, Phyllis Stark, Dan Rogers, Donna Hughes, George Briner, Scott Borchetta and Tom Baldrica. Hall of Famer Smokey Stover was there celebrating his 90th birthday. Dale Turner, Bobby Wright, Mike Ford, Bob Cole, David Haley, Steve Dean, Sue Sturdivant, Charlie Cook and Byron Gallimore dined on steak medallions, roasted potato wedges and broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and other mixed steamed veggies. Apple pie and/or chocolate cake were the deserts.

Immediately afterward (2/21), Sony and Sea Gayle showcased Wade Bowen, Jerrod Niemann and Brent Anderson in the Renaissance Hotel Ballroom. The laminate/invitation included those magic words, “open bar.” Schmooze on!

At the “Official Country Radio Hall of Fame After Party” are (L-R): Liz O’Sullivan (Sea Gayle Senior VP of Creative), Lesly Tyson (Arista Nashville VP National Promotion), Frank Rogers (Sea Gayle Partner), Wade Bowen, Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO), Chris DuBois (Sea Gayle Partner), Brent Anderson, Norbert Nix (Columbia/BNA Records VP National Promotion), Jerrod Niemann. Photo: Bev Moser

Pittman and Houle Kick Off CRS 2012

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Country Radio Seminar 2012 officially opened its first full agenda day, Wednesday February 22, with a keynote address form Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman and a presentation from futurist David Houle.

But first, Country Radio Broadcasters Executive Director Bill Mayne welcomed the crowd with hopes that the upcoming event might accomplish three basic things for the gathered attendees—increase station revenues, market share and advance personal careers.

Next it was Nashville Mayor Karl Dean’s turn to salute the convention crowd. Dean pleaded with a big smile, “Please spend a lot of money while you’re here.” Dean then told the crowd about the city’s new convention center scheduled to open in April 2013, Music City Center. He also discussed the new Omni Hotel that would connect with a Country Music Hall of Fame that would double in size. “The Hall of Fame has seen about 450,000 visitors in the past year,” Dean said. “And that is during very challenging times, especially with all the construction and parking issues in the area. We’re confident that once completed that visitor count will double.”

Bob Pittman

Bob Pittman, a former CEO of MTV Networks and COO of America Online was next. “America loves radio,” said Pittman. “There’s nothing wrong with this business. It’s the most exciting business in the the country, with nothing but upside.” The Clear Channel executive showed research that named TV, Radio and the Web as the media with which people spend the most time. “Country radio reaches over 65 million listeners every week,” he said. “The consumer loves radio.”

Pittman noted that digital was “wonderful” for the future of radio because radio is not about a tower and transmitter, but a content franchise. Pittman showed that radio can drive social media and offered the iHeart Radio concert last year as an example. The digital app’s Facebook Page had about 80,000 likes, but after an extensive concert promotion that number grew to over 1.5 million.

Pittman also touched on the subject of Radio vs. “music collection” or “audio stream” technologies such as Pandora, Spotify, Rdio and others. “Listeners want to hear about the outside world and get new music,” he explained. “That’s what radio is about. Music Collection is more about being inside your own world. People can’t bond with a thing or a technology,” he added. “Only to humans.”

Pittman’s feel-good, warm and fuzzy analysis never identified even one challenge facing radio for the future. For example, he talked glowingly about the synergistic relationship between radio and the record labels, but never discussed whether that meant he might consider agreeing to pay a sound copyright royalty to artists and labels. Pittman never discussed the fact that radio ad revenues have fallen over the past few years, or for that matter that his own company is struggling under a debt load of over $20 billion dollars and still paying more in interest than it makes through operations. Also missing from the dialogue was any consideration about the expanding reach of the Internet into automobile dashboards.

• • •

David Houle

The morning’s next presentation, “Flows” was from futurist David Houle who discussed material from his upcoming book, Entering The Shift Age. Houle described his futurist role as acting as a catalyst to get people thinking about the future. He told the attendees, “I’m going to speak about change in the larger context of the future, you’ll have to decide how it fits for the radio business.”

Houle suggested that compared to 1,000 years ago, (1012), the rate of change in our world has increased perhaps 100 times. Therefore, what took 1,000 years to happen will now happen in ten years. Part of his premise is that we are experiencing three major force flows as part of the ShiftAge. First is a “Flow to Global.” The world is no longer city, state or national, it is happening on a global scale. “This is why national governments can’t seem to solve the problems they are facing anymore,” he explained.

The second force is a “Flow to the Individual,” which has resulted from an explosion of choice. Thirdly was the “Flow of Accelerated Connectedness,” which has meant that the time communication differential between speaking to someone 25 ft. away or 12,000 miles away (via cellphone) is only about 2 seconds. Place is now irrelevant to communication.

Houle covered numerous additional topics, but one of my favorite was his coining the phrase “Digital Natives” to describe people under 18 years old. Everyone else is a “Digital Immigrant” he said.

“Radio and the music business will change shape and form over the next decade,” he warned. “Legacy thinking will no longer work.” At the end of his talk he called Facebook the first 21st Century online utility, but said that like the phone company, it really didn’t have much brand loyalty. “The digital natives will show us the next big thing,” he predicted. “Keep your eyes on them.”

(L-R) Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman, Lauren Alaina who sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne

Bobby Karl Works MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Awards

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Chapter 388

Listen, I live all year long in one unending schmoozathon, but nothing tops CRS in the schmooze department.

The 43rd annual Country Radio Seminar got underway Tuesday afternoon (2/21) with the presentation of the 10th annual Country Breakout Awards by MusicRow magazine. Staged in the upstairs party room at Margaritaville, in reality the event was a manic gab fest. Talk about a tough room – the schmoozers just barely paused to applaud Artist of the Year Brad Paisley.

(L-R): MR Managing Editor Jon Freeman, Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Brad Paisley and MR Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Izzynashville.com

Brad didn’t seem to mind – he knows what CRS is all about. “I hope you have a great week,” he told the babbling crowd. “Take care of yourselves. Don’t drink too much. But don’t abstain from drinking, either.”

The CMA Entertainer of the Year was accompanied by Gary Overton. “It’s a real honor to work with Brad Paisley,” said Gary O. “You can’t ask for a better partner.”

Thompson Square won the Breakthrough Artist award. “Shawna and I are pretty humbled today,” said Keifer Thompson. “We played this [Lower Broadway] strip for years and years.” Margaritaville, you see, lies in the heart of the district where country dreams are born and die in Music City.

(L-R): Jon Freeman, Thompson Square's Keifer & Shawna Thompson and Sherod Robertson. Photo: Izzynashville.com

For the seventh consecutive year, Capitol Records was named Label of the Year. Steve Hodges led the company’s promo staff in accepting.

The Independent Artist of the Year honor went to Eric Lee Beddingfield. “I take a lot of pride in being an independent artist,” he said. “Thank you MusicRow for helping artists such as myself and giving us the chance to get our music heard.”

(L-R): Jon Freeman, Sherod Robertson and WPPL's Jim Quinton

The magazine’s awards are based on the number of spins that artists or labels receive from its 102 chart reporting stations. Of those stations, the Reporter of the Year went to Jim Quinton at WPPL Mountain Country in Blue Ridge, GA. In a room full of his peers, Jim received the afternoon’s rowdiest ovation.

“I love the music that we have right now – so many different styles to choose from,” Jim said. “Our audience is just growing and growing. Use this time [in Nashville at CRS] to re-charge yourself.”

Some of that diverse music was performed during the event. Marlee Scott is a Canadian now living in Nashville. The porcelain skinned, raven-haired beauty is a FaceBook sensation with 25,000 followers. She has topped the country charts in England, Germany ahd Holland. Marlee offered the partiers a sprightly “Crazy for You,” the tuneful hit “Beautiful Maybe” and her funky current single “Train Wreck.”

JT Hodges Performs

For my money, the performer of the day was JT Hodges. His gleaming smile, neo-rockabilly hairstyle and pent-up intensity added up to a charismatic stage presence, and his urgent singing completed the package. The rollicking “Hunt You Down,” driving “Sleepy Little Town” and throbbing “Goodbyes Made You Mine” all sounded like hits.

The McClymonts probably commanded the crowd’s attention the most. Although performing last, no one at the bash left while those three Aussie charmers were on stage. Their harmony singing was flawless, as always.

Joanna Smith, who showcased at last year’s MR event, dropped by to offer the attendees the world premiere of her new single “We Can’t Be Friends.” She got the song from Kenny Chesney, she said.

More than 500 people rsvp’d, setting a record for this shindig. Bobby Karl spotted Oak Ridge Boy William Lee Golden, plus Ron Allen, Allen Brown, Steve Ferguson, Steve Markland, Shelly Marks, Chuck Dauphin, Chuck Thompson, Frank Myers, Isabel Ross, Tinti Moffatt, Paul Ciliberto, Ed Carter, Mike Thomas, Martha Moore, Ed Spacek, Bill Wence, Sherrill Blackmon, Tom Long, Teddi Bonadies, Paula Szeigis, Clif Doyal and Becky Harris in the schmoozing throng.

The Margaritaville staff was super attentive, passing around the club’s signature Cheeseburgers in Paradise snacks and offering a tasty nacho bar. Not to mention plentiful adult beverages.

“We are so honored to start off your CRS,” said the mag’s head honcho Sherod Robertson. “Hope your CRS is off to a great start,” added co-host Jon Freeman. Thank you. It is.

Amy Staley Joins Valory Promotion Team

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Amy Staley (Director of West Coast Promotions, Valory Music)

The Valory Music Co. announced Amy Staley as Director of West Coast Promotion effective immediately.

Staley will lead west coast promotions for the label’s roster of artists including Reba, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert and new additions The Mavericks and Thomas Rhett.

Staley majored in Music Business from MTSU and most recently served as Director of Sales for Biomin Industries. Previously, she had stints at Nashville’s William Morris and has coordinated VIP events for entertainers.

“After spending years in booking and venues, I am thrilled to be transitioning into radio and to become a part of sharing great new music with the world,” said Staley. “Being from Nashville, country music has always been my first love and I am especially excited and honored to be joining the Valory family.”

Congratulate her here.

Nashville Gears Up For CRS 2012

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CRS 2012 will keep the industry hopping this week, with events starting today and the seminar officially opening tomorrow. Country Radio Seminar is headquartered at the downtown Nashville Convention Center, jam packed with educational opportunities, showcases, and parties for Country radio professionals who have assembled in Nashville from around the country.

Overall attendance at CRS has increased two years in a row, and tickets to the Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony and the New Faces of Country Music Show are sold out.

Here’s a very brief list of highlights:

Tuesday, Feb. 21
• MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Awards and Meet & Greet is today at 2:30 p.m. at Margaritaville
• Sold out Country Radio Hall of Fame dinner honoring Beverlee Brannigan, Ron Rogers, Rusty Walker, Moby, Eddie Stubbs, Bill Whyte, Glen Campbell, and Bob Kingsley
• Sony Music Nashville and Sea Gayle Records present the “Official Country Radio Hall of Fame After Party” at 8:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Hotel

Wednesday, Feb. 22
• Keynote address by MTV co-founder and Clear Channel exec Bob Pittman, remarks by futurist David Houle, and the expansive CRS research study
• UMG Nashville luncheon at the Ryman with performances by its roster
• Lady Antebellum concert at Municipal Auditorium

Thursday, Feb. 23
• Agenda topics include diary methodology, PPM strategies, coaching air talent, social media, and CMA’s “Year of Country Radio” presentation
• Alan Jackson at Capitol Nashville luncheon
• WCRS Live! with hit songwriters Matraca Berg, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna and Ashley Monroe

Friday, Feb. 24
• Panel topics include mobile device usage, marketing case studies, multi-format programming, the Digital University roundtable discussions, and small market programming
• Faith Hill at the Warner Music Nashville luncheon
• CRS 2012 New Faces performers are Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, David Nail, Sunny Sweeney and Thompson Square

A detailed schedule with descriptions of all panels and events can be viewed at www.CRB.org.

CO5 Adds New Regional

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CO5 Nashville VP Promotion David Newmark has announced the hire of Weslea Neas to the position of Director of Promotion, SW/MW region.

“I met Weslea when she was in radio and was instantly aware of her love for music and the Country format,” says Newmark. “Weslea built her reputation quickly as one of radio’s best and brightest. She was a great communicator at radio and continued to do so when she made the switch to promotion. We are excited about the opportunity to have her on our team.”

Neas’ career began in radio with WBEE/Rochester, NY, where she took on Music Director responsibilities and filling a midday air shift, before being promoted to Assistant Program Director. In 2009, she joined Republic Nashville and was part of the team that helped break The Band Perry and their No. 1 “If I Die Young.”

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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His previous years have been pretty amazing, to be sure, but Dierks Bentley looks primed for an outstanding 2012. It’s only mid-February now. His critically-acclaimed sixth album Home dropped Feb. 7 and subsequently hit No. 1 in Country sales for the week. He also showed up as a presenter on the Grammys and then performed on the Ellen DeGeneres Show just a few days ago.

The title track from Home is at least part of the puzzle, its message of reconciliation and hope reverberating with country audiences and beyond. Probably not a huge surprise, but it’s now the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 song for a second straight week. As a testament to its reach, early in the song’s life Bentley got the chance to perform it at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama during a PBS special.

Bentley is currently off exploring the cold North of Canada on his “Country & Cold Cans” tour, and he’s scheduled to head the land down under in March for a series of dates. “Country & Cold Cans” returns for a string of U.S. dates in April. Info here.

Weekly Chart Report (2/17/12)

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Darren Warren (NuCorp Entertainment) took a trip from his home outside Paducah, KY to Madison, WI’s WJVL to promote his "Cowboy Up and Party Down" single with PD/midday personality Ken Scott (L)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Country Radio Seminar 2012 is next week, and MusicRow will present its annual CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Margaritaville. Attendees will be treated to excited performances from Marlee Scott, JT Hodges, and The McClymonts. Email Eric Parker for details on how to attend.

SPIN ZONE
Somebody, quick: I need a word for a place that one lives and stays, if not permanently, at least for a long time. Well whatever you call that, it’s the thing Dierks Bentley’s “Home” has found at the top of the CountryBreakout chart for the second straight week. Both Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly” and Martina McBrides “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” maintain their positions, but Montgomery Gentry’s “Where I Come From” and Taylor Swift’s “Ours” are encroaching.

It’s always nice to see some new faces arriving in the Top 20. It’s not Eli Young Band’s first trip, of course, but they’ve followed “Crazy Girl” with an even faster rising single in “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” now at No. 17. On the other hand, it is the first time inside the Top 20 for MCA’s Kip Moore, whose “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck” is currently at No. 20. Just ahead of him at No. 19 is Zac Brown Band with “No Hurry.”

Despite some considerable chart movement, there aren’t a ton of new singles debuting. Luke Bryan is ahead of the pack with “Drunk On You” hitting No. 54. Tracy Lawrence is up next with “Pills” at no. 74, followed by Candy Coburn and “Don’t Walk Away” at No. 78. Filling the last chart slot is newcomer Thomas Rhett, whose “Something To Do With My Hands” has quickly caught programmers ears.

Frozen Playlists: KSED, WKBQ, WKTT, WZMR

Upcoming Singles
February 21
Thomas Rhett/Something To Do With My Hands/Valory
Julie Ingram/Thank God (For Mom & Dad)/LongShot/Nine North/Turnpike
Matt Stillwell/Ignition/Average Joes
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol
Eric Church/Springsteen/EMI Nashville

February 27
Adam Gregory/High On You/Calusa Entertainment/GMV
Lisa Matassa/Wouldn’t You Like To Know/It Is What It Is/Nine North
Easton Corbin/Lovin’ You Is Fun/Mercury

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol – 54
Tracy Lawrence/Pills/LMG – 74
Candy Coburn/Don’t Walk Away/LomaJean – 78
Thomas Rhett/Something To Do With My Hands/Valory — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Eric Church/Springsteen/EMI Nashville – 539
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol – 420
Miranda Lambert/Over You/RCA – 357
Jason Aldean/Fly Over States/Broken Bow – 333
Zac Brown Band/No Hurry/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 299

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol — 37
Eric Church/Springsteen/EMI Nashville — 35
JT Hodges/Goodbyes Made You Mine/Show Dog-Universal — 15
Thomas Rhett/Something To Do With My Hands/Valory — 14
Phil Vassar/Don’t Miss Your Life/Rodeowave — 11
Darryl Worley/You Still Got It/Tenacity — 11
Rachel Holder/In Your Arms/Curb — 9
Thompson Square/Glass/Stoney Creek — 9
Josh Turner/Time Is Love/MCA — 9

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Bobby Dean/White Lightning Pink Champagne/Lamon – 219
John Maison/Fast Enough/Big High Five – 216
Jon Wolfe/I Don’t Dance — 194
Steve Holy/Until The Rain Stops/Curb – 183
Matt Kennon/You Had To Pick On Me/Roaddawg – 176

Birmingham’s WZZK/104.7, home of the syndicated "Rick and Bubba Show" worked with Birmingham Mayor William Bell to find a new home for Joe Don Rooney, whose Picher, Oklahoma hometown was dissolved in April 2009 by a vote. In June 2009 the Federal government issued the citizens checks so they could move from the city permanently. Joe Don Rooney was presented a proclamation making him a ‘Son of the City’ from the Mayor at Rascal Flatts' concert Feb. 10, where they were performing with Sara Evans and Hunter Hayes. The trio's "Banjo" lands at No. 13 on MusicRow's CountryBreakout Chart this week.

Charlie Cook On Air: Brand Loyalty

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We greet every day with the hope that we can build a brand as strong as Apple. This is true if you work at a radio station or a record company. This is the goal if you’re a performer or work with performers. We would all like to be thought of as WABC in its heyday. Wouldn’t you like to create a brand as strong as the old RCA Records or have the staying power of Elvis?

Wouldn’t we all like to be top of mind with the consumer? Wouldn’t we all like to be Apple, Amazon or Facebook? These are three of the top four brands in the English-speaking world today. Every tablet is an iPad. (Unfortunately for this ACER owner, that is not true, btw.) Amazon sells everything that isn’t bolted down and then some things that are. Social Media and Facebook are synonymous.

How do we get to that point?

The obvious answer is to build a great product, market that product and then deliver great customer service. Kind of.

Have you heard of the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Index? Neither had I. The 2012 Engagement Index has recently been released and I found a couple of surprises on the list.

I was not surprised to learn that the aforementioned three brands topped the list, but was surprised to learn that the top car manufacturer was Hyundai. I have nothing against Hyundai. I think that the Genesis is a beautiful car and I had a Sonata as a rental recently and really liked it.

This index measures the emotional value with the rational value and identifies a bond with the consumer.

The number one credit card: Discover; Cosmetic: Mary Kay; Tequila: Patron; Drug Store: Walgreens; and Cellular service: ATT. Okay, that last one really throws me off considering ATT has become the punch line for cell phone jokes, and they kind of throw out the “best customer service” issue.

I don’t think I would have correctly guessed any of those brands as No. 1.

My point here is that being the best in your brand may not be all it takes to build a bond with your target. The BKCLI also measures the entire category and then finds your place in it.

So if listeners rank radio as an important part of their day, you then you need to find your place in that category. It does no good to be number in a category that is not important. I am going to stretch this a bit by asking how important would it be to be the No. 1 Country Music artist in the Chinese-speaking community in San Francisco?

Building a bond with the consumer will make your message stand out. It will help you build your brand through word of mouth and give you the benefit of the doubt when there is a question of choosing you over a competitor.

I thought of this while watching the Super Bowl. Auto dealers were the biggest category but the top spots were snack food and beer. What were you doing during the Super Bowl? Snack food and beer or thinking about buying a new car?

Doritos has become the go-to snack food and their spots are expected in the Super Bowl. They own that category. Budweiser is the same for beer. While I felt many of their spots were weak this year, the Weego spot was the No. 1-ranked commercial. But when you think of beer during the Super Bowl you think of Bud. Now they need you to think of Bud while you’re at Joe’s Bar.

All of the money spent during the Super Bowl, $3.5 million per spot, and neither of those brands are in the top 20 on the loyalty engagement brand list.

Oh, but there is hope for America. No, not the Clint Eastwood spot. Though that was inspiring (maybe a little political), David Beckham ranked No. 35 and Adrianna Lima ranked No. 36 and the two Go Daddy spots ranked No. 50 and 54—last.

Internet Magazine To Debut at CRS

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A new Digital Content Syndication (DSC) publication called Living Country will debut next week at Country Radio Seminar.

Living Country, a product of DSC, was created by Dan Swensson and Stewart Day as a way to connect broadcasters and consumers with exclusive content. The monthly publication is available to broadcasters for free.

Swensson was a broadcaster in Cincinnati during the early 1980s and GSM of WYHY Nashville. Day founded Nashville Parent Magazine for Middle Tennessee and was the former president of Parenting Publications of America. Together, Day and Swensson created teen lifestyle publication Blast Magazine, and Warm 98 Family Magazine.

For a sample of Living Country in action, click here.