CRS 2012 Update: Hall of Fame After Party, New Panelists

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(L-R): Jerrod Niemann, Brent Anderson, and Wade Bowen

On Feb. 21, prior to the official kickoff of Country Radio Seminar 2012, Sony Music Nashville and Sea Gayle Records will stage the Official Country Radio Hall of Fame After Party with Brent Anderson, Wade Bowen and Jerrod Niemann. The full-band show will be held at 8:30 PM in the Renaisannce Hotel’s Music City Ballroom immediately following the Country Radio Hall of Fame dinner and induction.

“This is the first time that Sea Gayle Records and Sony Music Nashville have had the opportunity to collaborate on a special event,” says Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton. “We are proud and excited to be able to bring the music of Brent, Wade and Jerrod to all CRS attendees. It is such an honor for us to celebrate this year’s Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees.”

The following day Feb. 22 begins the educational portion of Country Radio Seminar, which will feature some of the music industry’s big thinkers in a series of informative panels. Included on the docket are John Dimick of Lincoln Financial Media, Todd Cassetty of Hi Fi Fusion, Thompson Square, Owen Grover of iHeartRadio and many others. They join previously announced speakers including Clear Channel’s Bob Pittman, CMT’s Stephen Linn, David Houle, and Twitter For Dummies co-author Laura Fitton.

CRS 2012 regular registration rate of $499 ends on Friday, Jan. 27. Starting Jan. 28, the price increases to $599. Register here.

MusicRow Reveals 2012 CRS CountryBreakout Awards Performers

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L-R: The McClymonts, JT Hodges, Marlee Scott

MusicRow Magazine is pleased to announce a must-see lineup for its 10th Annual MusicRow CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards with performances by JT Hodges, The McClymonts, and Marlee Scott.

The invitation-only event takes place Feb. 21 2:30-4:45 PM/CT at Margaritaville in downtown Nashville and serves as an unofficial kick-off to Country Radio Seminar Feb 22-24, which attracts broadcasters from around the country.

The afternoon’s events will feature food and drink, performances from the talented lineup, and appearances from yet-to-be-announced award recipients. Awards presented during the show are based on radio airplay and include Independent Artist of the Year, Label of the Year, Breakout Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year and CountryBreakout Reporter of the Year. An in-depth profile of each recipient will be featured in the February/March 2012 MusicRow print magazine.

For 10 years, the MusicRow CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards has celebrated the next generation of rising superstars with past performances and appearances by Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Eli Young Band, and The Band Perry.

“The MusicRow CRS Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards gives artists a tremendous amount of exposure to the radio industry and provides a great opportunity to showcase their talents,” says Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “This year’s event is going to be ‘off the hook’ with the talents of JT Hodges, The McClymonts, and Marlee Scott. Seriously, off the hook! We are all very excited to offer this event to the CRS participants and look forward to honoring deserving recipients with their CountryBreakout Awards.”

The CRS print issue will be available at the 2012 awards ceremony and at the MusicRow kiosk in the Nashville Convention Center during CRS. As with all issues, it is available for sale on MusicRow.com and MusicRow subscribers receive their copies in the mail.

About the Performers:

The McClymonts— Sisters Brooke, Samantha and Mollie McClymont joined forces five years ago to become one of the largest country acts in their native Australia. They debuted in the U.S. (BSM) in June 2010 and opened for Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum. This past year, the girls released Wrapped Up Good in the U.S. and picked up the 2011 CMA Global Artist of the Year award.

JT Hodges— Two years ago the singer/songwriter relocated from Texas to Nashville, and in the spring of 2010 landed a record deal at Show Dog Universal. Hodges met producers Mark Collie and Don Cook who brought him to Show Dog Universal’s Mark Wright. The result is Hodges’ debut album, which is undoubtedly country with a rock-edge.

Marlee Scott— Scott is set to release her new single, “Train Wreck,” on Jan. 23. The Ontario, Canada, native and Nashville resident is currently finishing her U.S. debut album, due out in early 2012 on BigRide Entertainment. Scott released the single “Beautiful Maybe” in 2011 and reached international acclaim with the song “Here To Heaven,” which went Top 20 in Canada and Australia and No. 1 in England, Germany and Holland.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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At some point in a romantic relationship, the partners have to make a bold declaration of commitment or move on. But before that can ever happen, as Kimberly Perry notes, the object of one’s affection has to take “notice.”

So the Band Perry’s “All Your Life” is the CountryBreakout Chart’s new No. 1 song, making it the trio’s third career chart-topper. The catchy mid-tempo walks the thin line between yearning and desperate, making a sturdy case for Kimberly Perry as one of country’s secret weapon vocal stylists in the process. The carnival atmosphere video features snake handlers, masked boxing matches, fortune tellers, and more.

Kimberly, Neil, and Reid are currently out on Brad Paisley’s huge Virtual Reality Tour, but will return to Nashville in summer to play CMA Music Festival. And there’s no official word regarding release date, but a new Band Perry album is in the works.

Weekly Chart Report (1/20/12)

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Bigger Picture Group recently kicked off 2012 with an industry showcase at the Rutledge featuring the talents of four new signings plus Craig Campbell. (L-R): Bigger Picture’s newest artists, Rachel Bradshaw and Ryan Kinder. Photo: Eric England

SPIN ZONE
Following a small shakeup at the top of the CountryBreakout Chart, The Band Perry’s “All Your Life” emerges as the new No. 1 song after 23 weeks. This is the trio’s third overall No. 1 on our chart, after “You Lie” and their breakout smash “If I Die Young.” Perennial hitmakers Keith Urban (“You Gonna Fly”), Dierks Bentley (“Home”), and Kenny Chesney (“Reality”) are clustered together in spots 2-4, a margin of 17 spins separating highest from lowest. Anything can happen in the next chart.

Country radio has really taken to Rascal Flatts’ new release “Banjo.” The first single from the group’s upcoming album Changed, “Banjo” strummed up nearly 600 new spins in its second week charting and jumped to No. 33. Just ahead at No. 32 is Kellie Pickler’s “100 Proof,” already at No. 32 after three weeks and gaining quickly. New to the chart this week with no prior reports are Alan Jackson’s “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore” at No. 57, Zac Brown Band’s “No Hurry” (a James Otto co-write) at No. 68 and Kelly Parkes’ “Don’t Make Me” at No. 73

Frozen Playlists: KXKZ, WBKR, WTCM

Upcoming Singles
January 23
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville
Marlee Scott/Train Wreck/Big Ride
Jason Cassidy/What If/A-Blake/Quarterback

January 26
Acklen Park/Great American Song

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Alan Jackson/So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore/ACR/EMI — 57
Zac Brown Band/No Hurry/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 68
Kelly Parkes/Don’t Make Me/Lofton Creek — 73

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine — 593
Alan Jackson/So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore/ACR/EMI — 391
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/WMN/Warner Bros. — 373
Lady Antebellum/Dancin’ Away With My Heart/Capitol — 357
Miranda Lambert/Over You/RCA — 344

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine — 38
Alan Jackson/So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore/ACR/EMI — 37
Zac Brown Band/No Hurry/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 23
Kellie Pickler/100 Proof/19/BNA — 15
Phil Vassar/Don’t Miss Your Life/Rodeowave — 14
Kelly Parkes/Don’t Make Me/Lofton Creek — 10
Brantley Gilbert/You Don’t Know Her Like I Do/Valory — 10
Josh Turner/Time Is Love/MCA — 9
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/WMN/Warner Bros. — 9
JT Hodges/Goodbyes Made You Mine/Show Dog-Universal — 9

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Bucky Covington/I Wanna Be That Feeling/E One — 173
Kinsey Sadler/Sometimes I Forget — 171
Sherry Lynn/Breakin’ Up Song/Steal Heart — 155
Coy Taylor/Fall For You — 152
Brent Anderson/Amy’s Song/Arista — 139

The Band Perry hung out backstage with Premium Choice PD and Grand Rapids OM Doug Montgomery during the first stop on Brad Paisley’s “Virtual Reality World Tour.” The sibling trio played to a sold-out house at the Van Andel Arena. Pictured (L-R): TBP’s Neil Perry, Montgomery, TBP’s Kimberly Perry, Republic Nashville’s Cliff Blake and TBP’s Reid Perry. Photo: Courtesy of Republic Nashville

Charlie Cook On Air: How Come

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How Come:

  • Craig Morgan isn’t a bigger star?

I saw him perform in Las Vegas last month and it seemed like every song was a hit and the stuff he did off his new CD is very good. The CD is in my player in the car. He seems like a nice enough guy. That shouldn’t be a problem.

  • Taylor Swift (whom I love) still struggles with research numbers yet sells more music and tickets than almost anyone?

No one has anything bad to say about Taylor. I look forward to her new music. I try to watch her every time she is on TV because she reflects so positively on Country Music and Country Radio but song after song, her stuff scores poorly and burns quickly.

  • Females just have not risen to the level of consistency in Country Music like they have in Pop?

Country has its stars. The aforementioned Taylor, Miranda, Carrie, Martina and Sara come to mind right away but if you look at the chart (Mediabase 1/16/12) Martina and Taylor are the only females in the top 20. Pop’s biggest stars are females and this week 5 of the Top 10 are females in CHR and 8 of the top 20 are females in AC with two more are males/female duets.

  • Every radio station doesn’t support the ACM and the CMA?

We have a couple of organizations that are advocates for the format and are there to help it grow (along with both doing incredible charity work) and yet most of the stations in the format ignore any participation with the groups. (Okay, I serve on the board of both the ACM and CMA and I may be biased about them but believe me we are better for the efforts of Steve Moore and Bob Romeo.)

  • More radio stations and personalities don’t enter the ACM and CMA awards competition?

I know that this takes some effort. Think of it as show prep. You do need to prepare all year so that you can collect the material for when you enter the competition. But you can do it once for both contests with basically the same entry. It is a good team building exercise and a great morale builder for stations that make the finals.

  • That NARAS just does not get Country Music?

I admit that this year they got it right. There are a couple of goofy songs but that’s okay. Getting it 80% right is better than in the past. They made so many changes after the show last year that the good stuff may have trickled up to the Country categories too. I know that when a Country Song wins as THE song of the year (“Need You Now”) I shouldn’t complain but you need to look at the nominees in 2011 and you’ll agree with me. This year? Maybe they are starting to get it.

  • Radio stations and artists don’t all require fan “gating” on Facebook?

Hand in hand with this is the need to provide material that the visitor really wants. If you provide something valuable to the fan make sure that they “Like” you before they have access to it. Remember what mom used to say, “who’s gonna buy the cow when they get the milk for free?” Not sure that’s what she was talking about but you get the idea.

  • Radio stations still play the chart game with record companies?

I understand that record promotion and record sales are not necessarily tied together. Different staffs and different goals but shouldn’t one’s goal be to drive the other? I had a friend send me SoundScan information for LA. The highest Country CD was Lady A at No. 17 with less than 1000 units sold. The second highest country record was The Band Perry at No. 35 at about 500 units sold. The bad news here is that both of these acts get considerable AC/CHR play to drive the sales. The top Country radio only CD was Clancy’s Tavern – Toby Keith at No. 38. And those were the only Country acts in the Top 50. This in a city where over a million listeners cume the Country station each week. Something about promoting music to Country Music fans is not working.

  • Every Country Radio station, with live personnel, is not attending the Country Radio Seminar?

Nothing provides more usable information for the success of your station and your staff then the three days in Nashville next month. Plus you meet the artists that you play every day. I know that this is not inexpensive and it is time away from the station but the ROI is incredible.

  • Every Country Station is not doing something with St. Jude?

I did not go to Memphis last week. I have never been to the facility. But I believe in the work that they do and the relationship with Country Radio and the kids that are helped. If you’re not THE St. Jude station in your town, still do a weekend event sometime during the year to raise some money for the cause.

  • No Country stations have played Adele?

If AC can play the acts mentioned in the last comment how about Country inviting Adele into Country. Heck she’s Country…well from another Country. That should count for something.

• • •

Just thinking. Let me know about your “How comes.”  And do not write, “How come you have a weekly column?” Just get over that.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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Things are often more memorable in groups of three. “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness;” “blood, sweat and tears;” and because I need a third thing to make this statement complete let’s say Larry, Curly, and Moe. It is indeed a magic number.

So Luke Bryan should be feeling pretty satisfied about earning that magical third week at No. 1 on the CountryBreakout Chart with his “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” The song closed out the final chart of 2011 on top, and hung on through the break to remain in charge for the first two editions of 2012. Just days ago, the single received Gold certification from the RIAA and earned the Capitol Records artist the highest digital track sales week of his career with 128,000 downloads. His current album Tailgates & Tanlines is also certified Gold.

Bryan will soon join his Georgia buddy Jason Aldean on the road for the 2012 leg of Aldean’s My Kinda Party Tour, beginning January 20 in Greenville, SC.

Weekly Chart Report (1/13/12)

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Alan Jackson recently flew into Philadelphia to visit WXTU in support of his new single "So You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore." (L-R): WXTU PD Shelly Easton, Jackson

SPIN ZONE
It’s good to be on top, but also tough work to defend your territory week after week. But Capitol’s Luke Bryan has successfully done that for three consecutive weeks now with “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” which is newly certified Gold for downloads. Bryan’s song takes a tiny dip in spins this week, and leaving The Band Perry’s “All Your Life” well positioned to earn the siblings another No. 1 next week. Making a big leap to No. 3 is Chris Young’s “You,” which gained an extra 193 spins to zoom ahead of Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly,” Dierks Bentley’s “Home,” and Kenny Chesney’s“Reality.”

Things are back to being slow in this chart edition, with Lady Antebellum’s “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” the lone new entrant to the Top 20. Help might be on the way in the form of Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It,” the week’s greatest spin increase, which is now at No. 27. The other half of the Shelton household, Miranda Lambert, is just a shade behind her husband at No. 30 with “Over You.” And Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” is finding a spot on numerous playlists, rocketing up to No. 34 after a 281 spin gain.

Frozen Playlists: KBCR, KREK, WKWS

• • • • •

RADIO BENEFIT
Bold Gold Media’s WDNB/Thunder 102 in Liberty, New York has partnered with the American Red Cross and Catskill Regional Medical Center on the 6th Annual Thunder Blood Bowl to help facilitate local donations. The event takes place at Monticello Casino & Raceway 1-7 PM/ET Thursday, January 26. “The response of our listeners to the needs of others in Thunder Country has been phenomenal,” says Paul Ciliberto, GM and host of Ciliberto & Friends, “we are humbled by the acts of kindness by our ThunderHeads.” More info here.

Upcoming Singles
January 17
Ronnie Dunn/Let The Cowboy Rock/Arista
Bryan Cole/Love Doesn’t Live Here/Perfect Vision
Clay Walker/Like We Never Said Goodbye/Curb
Jana Kramer/Why Ya Wanna/Elektra/W.A.R.
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine
Dustin Lynch/Cowboys and Angels/Broken Bow
Kelly Parkes/Don’t Make Me/Edge

January 23
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville
Marlee Scott/Train Wreck/Big Ride
Jason Cassidy/What If/A-Blake/Quarterback

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine – 60
Mark Cooke/Any Way the Wind Blows/CVR – 77
Claudia Lee/Hollywood Sunset/CLM96enterprises — 79

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/WMN/Warner Bros. – 523
Lady Antebellum/Dancin’ Away With My Heart/Capitol – 422
Miranda Lambert/Over You/RCA – 351
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine – 349
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville — 281

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Rascal Flatts/Banjo/Big Machine — 28
Kellie Pickler/100 Proof/19/BNA — 25
Blake Shelton/Drink On It/Warner — 23
Miranda Lambert/Over You/RCA — 18
Eli Young Band/Even If It Breaks Your Heart/Republic Nashville — 18
Kip Moore/Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck/MCA — 10
Lady Antebellum/Dancin’ Away With My Heart/Capitol — 10
Josh Turner/Time Is Love/MCA — 8

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Bucky Covington/I Wanna Be That Feeling/E One – 151
Uncle Kracker/My Hometown/Top Dog/Atlantic – 147
Brent Anderson/Amy’s Song/Arista – 136
Kinsey Sadler/Sometimes I Forget/Motion/Evergreen – 128
James Meadows/Like A Radio/ATP Records  — 126

Charlie Cook On Air: Predictions

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Last month I wrote about Taylor Swift leading a Country Music charge and opening the door for the format going into 2012. I think that we all agree that this would be great for everyone involved.

At the end of the year CBS flipped a long time AC station in Minneapolis to Country to go up against long time market leader Clear Channel’s KEEY. I predict that there will be a minimum of 20 MORE stations flipping to Country Music in 2012. Many of them will be in the top 100 markets and the format will be even more forefront than it is today.

The coming Summer has a SUPER tour with Kenny and Tim sweeping the country. That is going create incredible excitement.

George and Martina are on tour this year. Jason Aldean continues his tour with Luke Bryan. Lady A is going to continue into 2012 with an even bigger show. The ACM show, in April, will raise the level of excitement and of course the CMA Music Fest promises to be the best ever with the biggest names already signed on.

Of course this is without even mentioning ZBB, Toby, and on and on.

In January it is always fun to make predictions. What is great about making predictions is that no one remembers them except they guy who got them correct. So read these predictions below. Then forget about them. If any of them turn out to be right I will remind you. If they are wrong, then both of us will forget them. You have no responsibility past the next couple of minutes.

Okay, I predicted 20 new Country radio stations in 2012. I am going to count Buzzin’ in Minneapolis and Biggie 96 in Wheeling/Moundsville, WV. Both of them flipped late in 2011. Good enough for me.  Cumulus flipped Journey in Cincinnati to Country on New Year’s Day. That’s three. I may up my count to 25.

Please do not disregard the OBVIOUS predictions. I am working on my predictions percentage.

2. Miranda Lambert is going to continue to be THE female artist in the format. Her music is just too good. Carrie has a new CD coming and she too will be forefront with great new music. Taylor continues to be everyone’s darling.

3. Last year Chris Young, Jake Owen and Eric Church broke out and became successful in selling CDs.  This year the break out CD sellers are going to be Easton Corbin, Brantley Gilbert and Luke Bryan.

4. First time chart success (apparently identified as a top 15 record) will come to Andy Gibson, James Wesley and Jana Kramer.

5. Ronnie Dunn will have a number one record this year, his first as a solo act.

6. The top 5 Country Radio performers for 2012 will be ZBB, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert.  (think about this, 2 females in the top 5—BOLD Prediction)

7. There will be three major record company changes in 2012.  (I get to decide what is major-a guaranteed winner)

8. Skip Bishop is going to surface someplace special and big.   Because he is special and a big star.

9. Look out for a HUGE spike for Tim McGraw, already heard on most stations about 18 times a day. He will have two labels working his product this time. Lucky for all of us Tim fans.

10. HD radio is going to be a player for terrestrial radio. Maybe not by the end of 2012 but the pressure for success is going to continue to grow throughout the year and this is another FREE source for Country Music fans.

KCRS Live! Showcase Talent Revealed

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(L-R) Jim Collins, Andy Gibson, Aaron Lewis and Bobby Pinson

The lineup for this year’s KCRS Live!, sponsored by R&J Records, will feature Jim Collins, Andy Gibson, Aaron Lewis and Bobby Pinson. The artist/songwriter showcase will be held Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 4-5 PM at CRS 2012.

Collins has written some of Country music hits for Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Jason Aldean. Gibson’s debut release as a songwriter was “Don’t You Wanna Stay” for Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. His current single as an artist is “Wanna Make You Love Me.”

Staind frontman Lewis has sold more than 14 million albums to date, including more than 300,000 copies of his 2011 R&J Records debut Country release, Town Line. Lewis will perform cuts at KCRS Live! from his soon-to-be released album, produced by R&J Records President James Stroud. And Pinson, a BMI Songwriter of the Year, has penned hits for Sugarland, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, among others.

“R&J Records is thrilled to be hosting KCRS Live! again this year,” says R&J Records’ Bill Catino. “Our industry and lives would be pretty boring without the music, and it all begins with a song. We have an amazing lineup again this year.”

CRS 2012 is held Feb. 22-24, 2012, in downtown Nashville, TN. The $499 regular rate registration expires Friday, Jan. 27.  On-Site registration increases to $599 effective Jan. 28. Visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com to register today.

InstiGator Hires Luke Jensen

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Luke Jensen

InstiGator Entertainment has hired radio vet Luke Jensen as Director of Promotion. Jensen will report to InstiGator president Gator Michaels, who launched the company in September 2011. Jensen will be based in Nashville, TN.

“Luke is a winner,” said Michaels. “His passion, knowledge and energy are infectious and I’m thrilled to have him as part of our family.”

Jensen brings nineteen years of radio experience to his new position. Most recently, Jensen was Program Director/mornings at KVOO/Tulsa where he led the station to its first No. 1 ratings book in the station’s history. Jensen also spent time at KCKC/Kansas City as PD/mornings and was on air at WSOC/Charlotte. Before that, Jensen served in various roles at KBEQ/Kansas City, KZKX/Lincoln, and KXBZ/Manhattan, KS.

“Words can’t describe the excitement I have to be joining the team at InstiGator,” said Jensen. “With Gator’s track record of success and the entire team’s passion for great music, I am confident this opportunity will provide me a great foundation to use my radio experience to positively impact our roster of artists and radio partners.”

Jensen can be reached at 918-508-9683 and [email protected].