Songwriters To Showcase Late Nights During CRS 2012

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Country songwriters will feature prominently among the special events of CRS 2012, particularly with newly planned after-hours series “Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley.”

The stripped down musical showcase will be held Wednesday and Thursday nights during CRS 2012, from 9:30 PM until midnight in the Renaissance Hotel’s Belmont Room. Playing the Acoustic Alley Wednesday night (Feb. 22) are Casey Beathard, Jim Beavers, Corey Crowder, Marv Green, David Lee, Wendell Mobley and Rivers Rutherford. Taking the stage on Thursday (Feb. 23) will be Rhett Akins, Tom Douglas, Ben Hayslip, and Jeffrey Steele. Bob Kingley’s Country Top 40 and SunTrust are the event sponsors.

“There’s nothing better than hearing a favorite song sung by the writer,” says Kingsley. “For a music lover, that’s as good as it gets!”

Other songwriter heavy events at CRS 2012 include WCRS Live! (with BMI writers Matraca Berg, Natalie Hemby, and Lori McKenna) and KCRS Live! (with R&J Records songwriter/performers Jim Collins, Andy Gibson, Aaron Lewis, and Bobby Pinson).

Only CRS 2012 registrants may attend Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley and the Bridge Bar (sponsored by Cumulus and City National Bank). The regular $499 registration rate for the Feb. 22-24 seminar expires today (Jan. 27) and increases to $599 tomorrow. Register here.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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It’s difficult to believe that The Band Perry is still a relatively new group, isn’t it? After “If I Die Young” conquered the world in 2011, it feels like they’ve been around making music for a lot longer. But I suspect this is just the beginning for the Perry siblings.

“All Your Life,” the fourth single from their self-titled 2010 debut, is now the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 song for a second consecutive week. Written by hitmakers Brian and Clara Henningsen, “All Your Life” lets leader Kimberly Perry express her simple desire to have a devoted partner above all else, including the “sun, the moon, and all their light.”

The trio is currently bracing for pranks on Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality tour, but they’ll soon have an incredible opportunity to play on the Grammy stage Feb. 12 with Blake Shelton and the legendary Glen Campbell. They have also reportedly been working on their sophomore album during breaks from the road. The future looks pretty bright indeed.

Weekly Chart Report (1/27/12)

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Kellie Pickler recently stopped by Premiere Radio Networks’ After MidNite to talk with host Blair Garner about her upcoming release 100 Proof, which hit stores Jan. 24.

SPIN ZONE
That sound you hear? It’s probably promotion executives cursing at the logjam happening in the upper half of MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. The Band Perry’s “All Your Life” is tough enough to stay at No. 1 for a second consecutive week, but the Top 10 remains entirely unchanged save for George Strait’s “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” creeping into that last spot.

Things are a little better if we zoom out to the Top 40, at least if you’re a member of something with “Band” in the name. Case in point: Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” is looking to capitalize on the success of “Crazy Girl” and has already risen to No. 27 after four weeks. Similarly, Zac Brown Band’s “No Hurry” is actually moving quite fast, reaching No. 40 in its second week on the chart. Competing with these ensembles is Kellie Pickler’s “100 Proof,” which moves up to No. 28, and Alan Jackson’s “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore,” now at No. 37.

Yep, it’s tough out there, but there are independent (and indie label) artists making headway regardless. Average Joe’s duo Montgomery Gentry has a bona fide hit with “Where I Come From” at No. 8. Neal McCoy is staring down the Top 20 at No. 23 with “A-Ok.” Inside the Top 40 are LiveWire’s “Tater Fed” at No. 35, Madonna Nash’s “Dirty Little Secret” at No. 36, and Taylor Made’s “Good Love” at No. 38. Rodeowave’s Phil Vassar is off to a good start with his latest, clenching the weeks’ biggest debut with “Don’t Miss Your Life” at No. 62, while Marlee Scott also has a big first week with “Train Wreck” debuting at No. 73.

Frozen Playlists: KICR, KITX, KKAJ, KXBZ, KYEZ, WBKR, WKWS, WRHT

Upcoming Singles
January 30
Maggie Sajak/First Kiss/AO Recordings/CO5
Thompson Square/Glass/Stoney Creek Records
Ira Dean/Somethin’ ‘Bout A Sunday/Average Joe’s
The McClymonts/I Could Be A Cowboy/BSM
Leah Seawright/Til Your Boots Are Dirty/AttaBaby
Royal Wade Kimes/Cold Country/Wonderment Records

February 6
Shooter Jennings/The Deed and the Dollar/Flying Island
Jason Aldean/Fly Over States/Broken Bow
David St. Romain/Some Things/DSR Entertainment
Tyler Farr/Hot Mess/BNA

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Phil Vassar/Don’t Miss Your Life/Rodeowave – 62
Jason Aldean/Flyover States/Broken Bow – 67
JT Hodges/Goodbyes Made You Mine/Show Dog-Universal – 70
Marlee Scott/Train Wreck/Big Ride/InstiGator – 73
Sherry Lynn/Breakin’ Up Song/Steal Heart – 78
Bucky Covington/I Wanna Be That Feeling/E One – 79
Kinsey Sadler/Sometimes I Forget/ — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Zac Brown Band/No Hurry/Southern Ground/Atlantic – 382
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine – 376
Alan Jackson/So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore/ACR/EMI – 363
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/WMN/Warner Bros. – 310
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville — 293

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Zac Brown Band/No Hurry/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 29
Alan Jackson/So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore/ACR/EMI — 23
Marlee Scott/Train Wreck/Big Ride / InstiGator — 22
Phil Vassar/Don’t Miss Your Life/Rodeowave — 19
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine — 18
Jason Aldean/Flyover States/Broken Bow — 17
JT Hodges/Goodbyes Made You Mine/Show Dog-Universal — 12
Rachel Holder/In Your Arms/Curb — 12
Kellie Pickler/100 Proof 19/BNA — 10
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville — 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Lewis Copeland/She’s Got It Goin’ On/Phull Entertainment – 197
Claudia Lee/Hollywood Sunset/CLM96enterprises — 195
Kaleb McIntire/Redneck In All Of Us/Rockin’ Country Doc Music – 195
Thompson Square/Glass/Stoney Creek – 158
Ira Dean/Something About A Sunday/Average Joe’s – 154
John Maison/Fast Enough/Big High Five — 152
Coy Taylor/Fall For You — 152

Brantley Gilbert spent his birthday in Cape Girardeau, Missouri as part of the Blood, Sweat, and Beers tour with Eric Church. The gang from B97.9 KBXB/Sikeston, MO took it upon themselves to present the artist with a cake following his set. (L-R): B97.9 Dir/Promotions, George Davis; B97.9 Dir./Programming, C.J. Cruze; Gilbert; B97.9 Afternoon Personality, Brian Taylor

Flying Island’s Levi Riggs visited Clear Channel’s WTCR in Huntington, WV to promote his new single “My Best Friend’s a Girl.” (L-R): WTCR hosts Jim McElroy and Judy Eaton, Levi Riggs.

Singer/songwriter Jason Cassidy recently got two times the Jon while visiting Nashville’s WSIX. The singer/songwriter’s latest single “What If” is currently going for adds at country radio. (L-R): MusicRow Managing Editor Jon Freeman, Cassidy, WSIX Program Director Jon Anthony

Charlie Cook On Air: SOPA and PIPA

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If I was to walk into a Wal-Mart here in Morgantown, put an $11.99 CD under my jacket, and walk out of the store without paying, I would be committing shoplifting in my home state of West Virginia. If I walked into Target and put a $19.99 DVD under my jacket and walked out I would be guilty of shoplifting.

Here is the law in West Virginia:

“A person commits the offense of shoplifting if, with the intent to appropriate merchandise without paying the merchant’s stated price for the merchandise, such person, alone or in concert with another person, knowingly: transfers the merchandise from one container to another.”

This sounds a lot like online piracy to me. Now, the law goes on and on, describing other situations and the penalties. In fact, the law goes on for about two pages. All of this was said, more succinctly many years ago:

“Thou Shall Not Steal.”

Four pretty simple words that lawmakers have not been able to improve through the years.

At the urging of my friend Jim Urie I wrote a letter to Senators Feinstein and Boxer (of my other home state, California), joining with most of the Nashville Music community asking that they support PIPA in the Senate.

Those of you who know me well know that I did not want to write those two Senators. Not because I don’t believe in the cause but because I don’t ever want to show up on a list associated with either of those Senators. But I did. Did it do any good? No.

Their leadership was bullied into backing down because they couldn’t check the definition of a crime on Google one day that week.

The law is to stop U.S. companies from providing funding, advertising, links or other assistance to foreign sites selling pirated material. Pretty simple concept. Not as simple as Thou Shall Not Steal but in the ballpark.

We have become so dependent on the Internet for every aspect of our lives from e-mail, entertainment and information that the new media guys threatened our lifeline and Congress, afraid to be blamed for you not being able to stream Coldplay for one day, buckled.

Unfortunately the White House was no leader on this issue. A carefully worded memo that tried to appease both sides and yet provide no help, gave Congress cover.

I don’t know if PIPA and SOPA are well written bills. I suspect that by watching the other legislation that comes out of Washington we can guess that these laws were poorly constructed too. I mean these are the same politicians who fashioned a tax code that is 1.3 million pages.

We send our representatives to Washington to accomplish things. To protect our interests. Why we keep sending them back when they accomplish so little that is in our best interests boggles me.

(Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow)

Industry Toasts Keith Urban’s “Long Hot Summer”

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BMI and ASCAP celebrated the creative powers behind Keith Urban’s recent No. 1 hit “Long Hot Summer” (Capitol Nashville) at a party held yesterday (Jan. 25) at Cabana. Urban co-wrote the song with Grammy winner Richard Marx, and it’s his 13th overall No. 1.

During the event Urban invited two fans, whom he found on YouTube performing the song, to join him onstage for a sing-along.

(L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, producer Dann Huff, co-writer Richard Marx, Keith Urban, BMI’s Jody Williams, Universal Music Publishing Group’s Pat Higdon, and Capitol Nashville’s Mike Dungan. Photo: Rick Diamond

Richard Marx and Keith Urban perform their No. 1 single “Long Hot Summer” with talented fans Leslie Strong and Patrick Woolam. Photo: Rick Diamond

Alan Jackson Performing At CRS Luncheon

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Alan Jackson has been confirmed to perform for the CRS Capitol/EMI luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 23. The luncheon will be held inside the Performance Hall at the Nashville Convention Center from 12:30 – 2:20.

“This will be a very special experience from a Country music icon and a true American original,” said Capitol Nashville President and CEO Mike Dungan.

The 2012 CRS registration rates increase to $599 for the on-site rate effective Jan. 28.

Alan Jackson’s latest single, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” is from his forthcoming 2012 album.

Capitol Records Nashville is currently in the running for MusicRow’s CountryBreakout award for Label of the Year, which is based on spins from the CountryBreakout Radio panel. Capitol has won the honor for the previous six years, this year’s winner will be announced at the MusicRow Airplay Awards on Feb. 21. Capitol launched EMI Records Nashville in 2010.

ACM 2012 Broadcast Nominees

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Radio Station of the Year – Major Market
KUPL-FM, Portland, OR
KYGO-FM, Denver, CO
WQYK-FM, St. Petersburg, FL
WXTU-FM, Philadelphia, PA
WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI

Radio Station of the Year – Large Market
KAJA-FM, San Antonio, TX
WLHK-FM, Indianapolis, IN
WQDR-FM, Raleigh, NC
WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, OH

Radio Station of the Year – Medium Market
KATM-FM, Stockton, CA
KUZZ-AM/FM, Bakersfield, CA
WBBS-FM, Syracuse, NY
WYRK-FM, Buffalo, NY

Radio Station of the Year – Small Market
KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO
KUAD-FM, Windsor, CO
WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
WXFL-FM, Florence, AL

On-Air Personality of the Year – National
Cody Alan, CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan
Kix Brooks, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Crook and Chase, Crook and Chase Countdown
Lon Helton, CMT Country Countdown USA
Lia, The Lia Show

On-Air Personality of the Year – Major Market
Kelly Ford & Rider, KYGO-FM, Denver, CO
Cledus T. Judd, Dave McKay, Veronica, WQYK-FM, St. Petersburg, FL
Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL
Trish Biondo, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL
Edwards & Lee (Chuck Edwards & Linda Lee), WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI

On-Air Personality of the Year – Large Market
Randy Carroll & Jamie Martin, KAJA-FM, San Antonio, TX
Dave O’Brien, WLHK-FM, Indianapolis, IN
Mike, Marty and Janie, WQDR-FM, Raleigh, NC
Bill Cody, WSM-AM, Nashville, TN
Big Dave and Chelsie, WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, OH

On-Air Personality of the Year – Medium Market
Steve & Geoff in the Morning, KUZZ AM/FM, Bakersfield, CA
Cash and Carey (Natalie Cash and Jim Carey), KWEN-FM, Tulsa, OK
Tom & Becky, WBBS-FM, Syracuse, NY
Roger, Tom & Melissa, WPCV-FM, Lakeland, FL
Scott Wynn & Sue Wilson (Wynn and Wilson in the Morning), WQMX-FM, Akron, OH

On-Air Personality of the Year – Small Market
Scotty & Carissa in the Morning, KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO
Bill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry, KKNU-FM, Eugene, OR
Philip Gibbons, WGSQ-FM, Cookeville, TN
Bearman and Ken in the Morning, WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
Brent Lane, WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

Underwood to Release New Single

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Carrie Underwood will release her new single, “Good Girl,” to country radio on Feb. 23.  The five-time Grammy winner’s new CD will arrive later in spring.

Underwood wrote “Good Girl” with Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley. Gorley also co-wrote two of Underwood’s No. 1 hits “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and “All-American Girl.”

Once again Underwood is teamed up with Mark Bright, who produced her two previous albums as well as seven tracks from her debut album Some Hearts.

Underwood is a current Grammy nominee for Best Country Solo Performance for “Mama’s Song.” The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air Feb. 12 on CBS.

Jimmy Rector Joins Show Dog-Universal

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Promotion vet Jimmy Rector has joined forces with Show Dog-Universal as VP/Strategic Planning & Promotion, and is on the job now. The move puts him back under the same roof as Rick Moxley and Mark Wright with whom he worked at Sony Music Nashville in his previous role as Columbia Records VP Promotion. Rector exited the label group in August 2011.

“When I got the chance to reunite with both Rick Moxley and Mark Wright, it was hard to say no,” says Rector. “Then I heard the music and knew it’s where I belong.”

Congratulate him here.

Garth Brooks and Premiere Launch Las Vegas Sweepstakes

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Garth Brooks and Premiere Radio Networks have joined efforts to create The Garth Brooks Wynn at Las Vegas Sweepstakes, running through Sunday, Jan. 29.

Listeners of Premiere’s country programs such as After MidNite with Blair Garner, The Big D & Bubba Show and The Crook & Chase Countdown can enter the Sweepstakes at any of their respective websites. Contestants will vie for a chance to win a grand-prize round-trip airfare for two to Las Vegas, two-night stay at the Wynn, dinner for two, a private lunch with Brooks and two VIP tickets to see his intimate concert at the Encore Theater.

Garth announced his Wynn residency in Las Vegas in 2009 and continues to perform weekends at the casino.