Pictured (L-R): Trisha Yearwood, Charlie Chase, Bob Kingsley, Lorianne Crook, Garth Brooks. Photo: Chris Hollo
“You guys made country music famous,” Garth Brooks told Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, as Brooks and his fellow superstar entertainer and wife Trisha Yearwood stood onstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
Powerhouse duo Crook & Chase have helped promote country music via country music news, interviews and artist performances for 34 years, via television, radio and online formats.
Brooks and Yearwood were on hand to honor Crook & Chase with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award, during an event held on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry on Monday evening (Feb. 20).
“You can’t imagine having anything to do with this business and not walking through those doors,” Yearwood said. “You guys made us look cool. If you get to be on Crook & Chase, people see you. I don’t know how many homes we got to be in because of you guys.”
Legendary radio host Bob Kingsley earned the inaugural honor in 2014, then decided to make the honor an annual event for members of the industry to be honored on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Joe Galante earned the honor in 2015, as did Jim Ed Norman in 2016.
Among the artists who participated in the evening with performances, appearances and taped messages were Trace Adkins, Moe Bandy, John Conlee, Billy Dean, Tareva Henderson, Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery, Jeannie Seely, Ricky Skaggs, T.G. Sheppard, Doug Stone, Tanya Tucker, The Whites and Mark Wills.
More congratulatory words came from music industry members including Steve Buchanan, Robert K. Oermann, Kip Kirby, Kathy Martingale, Chuck Long, Burt Dubrow, Katie Haas, Kelly Sutton, Terri Bumgarner, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern and more.
Video tributes were sent from Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Chris Young, Charlie Daniels, Blake Shelton, Clint Black, Toby Keith, Reba, Ricky Van Shelton, Darius Rucker, and Dolly Parton.
The evening benefitted the Opry Trust Fund, which has supported the Nashville music community for 50 years. Approximately 50 industry members are aided each year through the organization.
“We feel like we’ve grown up in the business with you guys,” Crook said. “Thank you for trusting us with your artists. It’s been a beautiful, life changing dance.”
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase accept the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
In 1982, Crook was hosting her own show in Nashville, while Chase was also hosting his own show at another Nashville station, when producer Jim Owens saw them and put them together to form Crook & Chase in 1983. They began on the newly-founded network TNN (The Nashville Network) in 1983, under the banner This Week In Country Music. In 1986, the show became known as Crook & Chase, country music’s first national news and entertainment show, and ran until 1993, when it became known as Music City Tonight, when Crook & Chase replaced Ralph Emery’s Nashville Now.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern noted that at one point, TNN had nearly 23 hours of Crook & Chase per week, on either TNN or in syndication. One year, seven of the Top 10 shows on TNN were attributed to Crook & Chase.
“Virtually every country star in the last 30 years has appeared on one of the many iterations of Crook & Chase on radio or on television,” Trahern said.
After 554 episodes, Music City Tonight signed off in 1995 at the height of country’s boom and the duo morphed Crook & Chase into a nationally syndicated talk show.
In the 2000s, Crook & Chase would return to television on RFD-TV. Lorianne hosted 180 episodes of Celebrity Kitchen on GAC-TV in 2003-2004.
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase are members of the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Their radio show, The Crook & Chase Countdown, is now in its 27th year.
Chase brought his trademark humor in accepting the honor, saying, “The biggest reward about this award is it has Garth and Trisha’s fingerprints on it!”
Warner/Chappell Nashville Extends Partnership With THiS Music
/by Jessica NicholsonWarner/Chappell Nashville has extended its worldwide co-publishing partnership with Nashville-based music publishing company, THiS Music. Under the agreement, Warner/Chappell will continue to publish and administer THiS Music’s repertoire. THiS Music was formed in 2006 by owners Rusty Gaston, Tim Nichols, and Connie Harrington, and was launched in partnership with Warner/Chappell Music.
“Rusty Gaston is a force of nature,” said Ben Vaughn, President, Warner/Chappell Nashville. “His relentless drive and passion for growing songwriters’ careers is legendary on Music Row and beyond. The company that he, Tim Nichols, and Connie Harrington built together just celebrated its 11th year of success – an incredible achievement – and everyone at Warner/Chappell is thrilled to continue our longstanding relationship and looking forward to making more great music together.”
Rusty Gaston, Owner, THiS Music, added, “We’re thankful to have Warner/Chappell as a partner who understands, believes, and empowers the philosophy of THiS Music. They have expertly helped fuel our success for more than a decade, and we’re very happy to keep growing together.”
THiS Music’s roster includes Deric Ruttan, who co-wrote Jason Aldean’s current rising single “Any Ol’ Bar Stool”; Emily Weisband, who recently won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Thy Will”; and two-time ASCAP Country Songwriter Of The Year, Ben Hayslip, who co-wrote Thomas Rhett’s No. 1 hit “Star of the Show,” as well as Nichols, Harrington, Jessi Alexander, Marv Green, JT Harding, Molly Reed, Chris Yarber, and country artist Drew Baldridge.
Parallel Music Publishing Nashville Signs Michael Lotten
/by Jessica NicholsonSeated, L-R: Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing; Michael Lotten; Travis Myatt, Parallel Music Publishing. Standing, L-R: Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb; Matt Cottingham, Ritholz Levy.
Parallel Music Publishing Nashville has signed songwriter Michael Lotten. He joins a roster that includes Alex Hall, Blake Chaffin, Lance Carpenter, Jesse Lee, Jennifer Schott and Michael White.
Born in Indiana and raised in Missouri, Lotten moved to Nashville in 2007. He has toured as a guitarist and background vocalist, which led him to signing two consecutive development deals as a pop artist. Lotten has focused solely on writing for the past two years.
“I knew when Travis played me some of Michael’s music that he had something special.” says Tim Hunze, “Lotten is a triple threat as a writer, guitar player and producer. He’s a perfect match for our roster here at Parallel.”
“I’ve been a huge fan of the team at Parallel.” Says Lotten, “it’s such a blessing to now call it home!”
Founded in 2011 by J.P. Williams and Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing has had five No. 1 singles, including Kelsea Ballerini’s “Love Me Like You Mean It,” Michael Ray’s “Kiss You In The Morning” and the Band Perry’s “Better Dig Two.”
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase Honored With Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Trisha Yearwood, Charlie Chase, Bob Kingsley, Lorianne Crook, Garth Brooks. Photo: Chris Hollo
“You guys made country music famous,” Garth Brooks told Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, as Brooks and his fellow superstar entertainer and wife Trisha Yearwood stood onstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
Powerhouse duo Crook & Chase have helped promote country music via country music news, interviews and artist performances for 34 years, via television, radio and online formats.
Brooks and Yearwood were on hand to honor Crook & Chase with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award, during an event held on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry on Monday evening (Feb. 20).
“You can’t imagine having anything to do with this business and not walking through those doors,” Yearwood said. “You guys made us look cool. If you get to be on Crook & Chase, people see you. I don’t know how many homes we got to be in because of you guys.”
Legendary radio host Bob Kingsley earned the inaugural honor in 2014, then decided to make the honor an annual event for members of the industry to be honored on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Joe Galante earned the honor in 2015, as did Jim Ed Norman in 2016.
Among the artists who participated in the evening with performances, appearances and taped messages were Trace Adkins, Moe Bandy, John Conlee, Billy Dean, Tareva Henderson, Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery, Jeannie Seely, Ricky Skaggs, T.G. Sheppard, Doug Stone, Tanya Tucker, The Whites and Mark Wills.
More congratulatory words came from music industry members including Steve Buchanan, Robert K. Oermann, Kip Kirby, Kathy Martingale, Chuck Long, Burt Dubrow, Katie Haas, Kelly Sutton, Terri Bumgarner, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern and more.
Video tributes were sent from Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Chris Young, Charlie Daniels, Blake Shelton, Clint Black, Toby Keith, Reba, Ricky Van Shelton, Darius Rucker, and Dolly Parton.
The evening benefitted the Opry Trust Fund, which has supported the Nashville music community for 50 years. Approximately 50 industry members are aided each year through the organization.
“We feel like we’ve grown up in the business with you guys,” Crook said. “Thank you for trusting us with your artists. It’s been a beautiful, life changing dance.”
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase accept the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
In 1982, Crook was hosting her own show in Nashville, while Chase was also hosting his own show at another Nashville station, when producer Jim Owens saw them and put them together to form Crook & Chase in 1983. They began on the newly-founded network TNN (The Nashville Network) in 1983, under the banner This Week In Country Music. In 1986, the show became known as Crook & Chase, country music’s first national news and entertainment show, and ran until 1993, when it became known as Music City Tonight, when Crook & Chase replaced Ralph Emery’s Nashville Now.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern noted that at one point, TNN had nearly 23 hours of Crook & Chase per week, on either TNN or in syndication. One year, seven of the Top 10 shows on TNN were attributed to Crook & Chase.
“Virtually every country star in the last 30 years has appeared on one of the many iterations of Crook & Chase on radio or on television,” Trahern said.
After 554 episodes, Music City Tonight signed off in 1995 at the height of country’s boom and the duo morphed Crook & Chase into a nationally syndicated talk show.
In the 2000s, Crook & Chase would return to television on RFD-TV. Lorianne hosted 180 episodes of Celebrity Kitchen on GAC-TV in 2003-2004.
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase are members of the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Their radio show, The Crook & Chase Countdown, is now in its 27th year.
Chase brought his trademark humor in accepting the honor, saying, “The biggest reward about this award is it has Garth and Trisha’s fingerprints on it!”
Industry Ink: Jo Walker-Meador, Cold River Records, Silverado Records, Miranda Lambert
/by Jessica NicholsonIndustry Leaders Gather To Celebrate Jo Walker-Meador
Pictured (L-R): Michelle Walker (Jo’s daughter), Judy Turner (Leadership Music), Mary Ann McCready (Flood Bumstead McCready McCarthy), Jo Walker-Meador, Tinti Moffat (TJ Martell), Sarah Trahern (CMA), Ree Buchanan (Wrensong), Pamela Davis Needham (Native Entertainment Group). Photo: CMA
A group of Nashville music industry power players met recently to celebrate the birthday of Jo Walker-Meador. Representatives from Leadership Music, T.J. Martell, CMA, Wrensong, Native Entertainment Group, and Flood Bumstead McCready McCarthy joined to celebrate Walker-Meador, who served as executive director for the CMA from 1962-1991.
One year before she took the helm at the CMA, full-time country radio stations numbered fewer than 100 nationwide. By 1995 there were nearly 2,400 such stations.
Cold River Records Signs Maggie Baugh
Pictured (L-R): Cold River’s VP/Radio Promotion Jim Dandy, President Pete O’Heeron, Maggie Baugh and SVP/Radio Promotion John Ettinger.
Cold River Records recently signed Placer Creek Music Publishing writer, Maggie Baugh, to its artist roster. Cold River’s President, Pete O’Heeron, made the announcement during the label’s pre-CRS party at the Omni Hotel.
The 16-year-old multi-instrumentalist (guitar and fiddle) and singer/songwriter has played fiddle onstage with Neal McCoy and Charlie Daniels Band and has opened for Neal McCoy, Craig Morgan, Phil Vassar, Sam Hunt, Cole Swindell, Mark Chesnutt, Drake White, Old Dominion, Claire Dunn and fellow label mate, Drew Baldridge.
Cold River Records plans to launch Baugh in 2018 after she completes high school.
Silverado Records Signs David Adam Byrnes
David Adam Byrnes with VP/A&R Aaron Chesling. Photo: Hunter Berry
Silverado Records has signed Arkansas native David Adam Byrnes. Byrnes has released two previous studio albums and tours extensively. He’s opened for Hank Williams Jr., Chris Young, Thompson Square and many others. He was a featured act at 2016’s Nationals Final Rodeo at the Mirage in Las Vegas, alongside now label mate, Joe Diffie.
Byrnes is represented by Arlis Albritton and Tayler Bock of Full On Management.
Miranda Lambert Supports Women Creators Scholarship At Belmont University For Second Year
Miranda Lambert. Photo: Becky Fluke
Proceeds earned from Miranda Lambert‘s recent sold-out club show at Joe’s Bar in Chicago on Jan. 24 will help fund the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Scholarship at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business for a second year. The purpose of the fund is to provide a scholarship to an outstanding female student who is majoring in music business, songwriting or entertainment industry studies.
“I am so happy to continue supporting this scholarship fund for Women Creators at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business,” said Lambert. “To be able to assist women in a meaningful way means the world to me.”
Doug Howard, dean of the Curb College, said, “We are grateful and humbled by the continued generous support given by Miranda Lambert to the women songwriters and artists at the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. The level of participation and excitement displayed by our students in connection with this scholarship has been overwhelming, and this year’s gift is once again evidence of Miranda’s firm commitment to inspire and empower the next generation of female creators and entertainment industry leaders.”
Applications are now open for the 2017-18 scholarship. Candidates must complete an online application and submit an original song. A Curb College selection committee will review the applications, and a group of finalists will be sent to Lambert review. Award notification is anticipated to occur in late spring.
Industry Leaders Call For DMCA Reforms
/by Jessica NicholsonT Bone Burnett
Singer/songwriter/producer T Bone Burnett leads several music industry members and organizations in calling for reforms to the DMCA notice-and-takedown process. Burnett submitted a video decrying the “broken” Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires search engines and video-sharing websites such as YouTube to take down music that has been posted without the approval of the appropriate copyright owners.
Additionally 15 major music industry organizations have joined to file new comments with the U.S. Copyright Office, which is directing a review of the safe harbor provisions contained in the DMCA.
Those organizations include the American Federation of Musicians; American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; Broadcast Music, Inc.; Content Creators Coalition; Global Music Rights; Living Legends Foundation; Music Managers Forum – United States; Nashville Songwriters Association International; National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; National Music Publishers’ Association; Recording Industry Association of America; Rhythm and Blues Foundation; Screen Actors Guild –American Federation of Television and Radio Artists; SESAC Holdings, Inc.; and SoundExchange.
“Everyone with a stake in the Internet’s success and the health of our creative democracy must work together to make this right,” Burnett says in the video. “It’s time for Congress to close the loopholes in section 512 of the DMCA. Our culture is at stake.”
The newly-submitted comments describe what the organizations call key failings with the DMCA.
“In the context of search engines and the Section 512(d) safe harbor, the whack- a-mole problem takes a different form: links to infringing content are removed in response to a takedown notice, but then other links to infringements of the same work reappear in search results on the same service. In addition, Google’s search algorithm and search-term suggestion often promotes popular, infringing sites over authorized, legitimate sites for neutral searches for mp3s or downloads of music. Both of these issues are an enormous problem for copyright owner because search engines continue to be a key driver for music discovery and a significant tool that leads traffic to infringing sites.”
T Bone Burnett on the Broken DMCA Safe Harbors from Content Creators Coalition on Vimeo.
“This proceeding is focused on the legal safe harbors in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act – the law that was supposed to balance the Internet’s openness with creators’ ability to earn a living wage from their work,” Burnett stated in his submitted video. “Those safe harbors have failed. The problems are familiar – they are well described in the record of these proceedings from the broken Sisyphus climb of “notice and takedown” to the gunpoint negotiations and pittance wages forced upon creators by the Google monopoly. The Big Tech itopians can track us across dozens of networks, devices, and profiles to bombard us with micro targeted ads, but they can’t even identify unauthorized copies of our work and keep them off their own servers and systems. Or they won’t. The problem here isn’t technology – creators welcome the digital revolution and its power to connect, amplify, and inspire. A modern recording studio looks more like a cockpit than a honky tonk, and that’s just fine.
“The problem is business models – designed to scrape away value rather than fuel new creation, focused on taking rather than making. To restore technology’s place as the rightful partner of tomorrow’s creators, we need change. The safe harbors must be restored – so only responsible actors earn their protection, not those who actively profit from the abuse and exploitation of creators’ work. Technology must be enlisted to make the system work better, not to roadblock progress in a pointless arms race of whack a mole and digital deception. Creators must be given meaningful tools to earn a living from their art.”
RPM Management Rebrands, Names April Rider To President Role
/by Jessica NicholsonApril Rider
RPM Management has rebranded to RPM Entertainment with April Rider named as President. Rider joined RPM in 2012. RPM’s founder and former President, Scott Siman, currently serves as President of Em.Co.
RPM Entertainment has hired Channing Wisz, formally with Miles High Productions in LA, to oversee the digital marketing, play listing, and streaming side of RPME.
RPM and Rider have worked to promote artists including Tim McGraw, Lee Ann Womack, Gary Alan, Jo Dee Messina, Deana Carter, Rodney Atkins, Hank Jr, Leann Rimes, Thompson Square, Chase Rice, Trent Tomlinson and Maggie Rose.
“Since joining RPM in 2012, I have learned so much outside of record promotion and label management. I am very well schooled in artist management, branding, touring, marketing, and of course radio promotion, but if RPM wanted to stay relevant it was high time we expand our emphasis on how we do business,” says Rider.
Rider and Wisz will still consult and manage music artists and brand partners on all aspects of recording, branding, marketing, promotion and touring, but will now do those things and more by incorporating a laser focus on the digital marketing, play listing, and streaming assets.
“I haven’t moved around a lot in the music industry. Each label and management position I have had has been significantly different so honestly when RPM found ourselves at yet another crossroads and it was sink or sail, I got out there and met with people and educated myself on how to build a better boat,” says Rider. “In the digital marketing world, I certainly have seen and worked with all levels of artists that need my help adapting to the digital streaming and marketing world today. We get it and now that I am here, RPM can help them with that part of their career too. We are a great team,” says Wisz.
“Most independent artists today just can’t spend millions of dollars going directly to country radio. I have done so many label budgets and massive radio tour budgets that I can tell you that not only is the cost unrealistic but so are their expectations. We are now in a place that when the time is right for RPM to walk our artist into a radio station or record label, there will be a proven product well worth their investment,” says Rider.
Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Sam Hunt Lead Route 91 Harvest Festival Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Route 91 Harvest Festival will return to Vegas for a fourth year at Las Vegas Village with Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Sam Hunt leading the star-powered lineup. Lauren Alaina, Big & Rich, Lee Brice, Kane Brown, Brothers Osborne, Josh Abbott Band, Maren Morris, Jake Owen, Michael Ray, High Valley and Brett Young have all been added to the bill for the shows, which take place Sept. 29 – Oct. 1.
Three-day passes for the festival go on sale March 3 at Rt91Harvest.com. Fans can also upgrade their passes to include options like the Neon Lounge VIP Package, which offers dedicated hosts, premium elevated viewing, a shaded lounge space, exclusive food vendors, massage services and cell phone charging stations. The Sky Suite VIP Package includes access to an air conditioned Tri-Level Sky Suite complete with a top deck elevated viewing area, in-suite wait service, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, free wi-fi access and more.
“There’s no other city in the world like Las Vegas, and I definitely think that is what makes Route 91 Harvest so special,” said Brian O’Connell, President Of Country Touring at Live Nation. “You have fans coming together from so many different places, with one common thread…they want to have a good time. We have built this festival on the foundation of providing an experience that caters to all. Add to that, one of the most insane lineups of the year and I think it’s going to be one for the books.”
Tortuga Festival Announces Daily Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughThe festival’s Super VIP packages are already sold out, but single-day VIP tickets will be available for $399 on Feb. 24, with a limited quantity of General Admission single-day tickets priced at $99 and a limited number of three-day General Admission tickets as well. This year fans who purchase General Admission tickets will have the opportunity to upgrade for guaranteed access to an exclusive new area in front of the Main Stage called “The Reef.” More info on the festival can be found at tortugamusicfestival.com.
Tortuga Music Festival Lineup:
Friday, April 7 : Headliner Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Brett Eldredge, Kane Brown, G Love & Special Sauce, High Valley, Delta Rae, Jordan David, and Marcus King Band.
Saturday, April 8: Headliner Chris Stapleton, Dustin Lynch, Maren Morris, Granger Smith, Nelly, Daya, Brett Young, Chris Lane, Brooke Eden, Steve Moakler, Russell Dickerson, and Ashley McBryde.
Sunday, April 9: Headliner Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Slightly Stoopid, Old Dominion, Michael Ray, LOCASH, Drake White & The Big Fire, Luke Combs, RaeLynn, Brandon Lay, Jon Langston, and Quaker City Night Hawks.
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase Honored With Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Trisha Yearwood, Charlie Chase, Bob Kingsley, Lorianne Crook, Garth Brooks. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry
“You guys made country music famous,” Garth Brooks told Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, as Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood stood onstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
Powerhouse duo Crook & Chase have helped promote country music via country music news, interviews and artist performances for 34 years, via television, radio and online formats.
Brooks and Yearwood were on hand to honor Crook & Chase with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award, during an event held on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry on Monday evening (Feb. 20).
“You can’t imagine having anything to do with this business and not walking through those doors,” Yearwood said. “You guys made us look cool. If you get to be on Crook & Chase, people see you. I don’t know how many homes we got to be in because of you guys.”
Legendary radio host Bob Kingsley earned the inaugural honor in 2014, then decided to make the honor an annual event for members of the industry to be honored on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Joe Galante earned the honor in 2015, as did Jim Ed Norman in 2016.
Among the artists who participated in the evening with performances, appearances and taped messages were Trace Adkins, Moe Bandy, John Conlee, Billy Dean, Tareva Henderson, Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery, Jeannie Seely, Ricky Skaggs, T.G. Sheppard, Doug Stone, Tanya Tucker, The Whites and Mark Wills.
More congratulatory words came from music industry members including Steve Buchanan, Robert K. Oermann, Kip Kirby, Kathy Martingale, Chuck Long, Burt Dubrow, Katie Haas, Kelly Sutton, Terri Bumgarner, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern and more.
Video tributes were sent from Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Chris Young, Charlie Daniels, Blake Shelton, Clint Black, Toby Keith, Reba, Ricky Van Shelton, Darius Rucker, and Dolly Parton.
The evening benefitted the Opry Trust Fund, which has supported the Nashville music community for 50 years. Approximately 50 industry members are aided each year through the organization.
“We feel like we’ve grown up in the business with you guys,” Crook said. “Thank you for trusting us with your artists. It’s been a beautiful, life changing dance.”
In 1982, Crook was hosting her own show in Nashville, while Chase was also hosting his own show at another Nashville station, when producer Jim Owens saw them and put them together to form Crook & Chase in 1983. They began on the newly-founded network TNN (The Nashville Network) in 1983, under the banner This Week In Country Music. In 1986, the show became known as Crook & Chase, country music’s first national news and entertainment show, and ran until 1993, when it became known as Music City Tonight, when Crook & Chase replaced Ralph Emery’s Nashville Now.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern noted that at one point, TNN had nearly 23 hours of Crook & Chase per week, on either TNN or in syndication. One year, seven of the Top 10 shows on TNN were attributed to Crook & Chase.
“Virtually every country star in the last 30 years has appeared on one of the many iterations of Crook & Chase on radio or on television,” Trahern said.
After 554 episodes, Music City Tonight signed off in 1995 at the height of country’s boom and the duo morphed Crook & Chase into a nationally syndicated talk show.
In the 2000s, Crook & Chase would return to television on RFD-TV. Lorianne hosted 180 episodes of Celebrity Kitchen on GAC-TV in 2003-2004.
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase are members of the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Their radio show, The Crook & Chase Countdown, is now in its 27th year.
Chase brought his trademark humor in accepting the honor, saying, “The biggest reward about this award is it has Garth and Trisha’s fingerprints on it!”
Weekly Register: Reba, Sam Hunt Top Country Charts
/by Jessica NicholsonReba remains atop the Country and Christian albums charts this week. Her Sing it Now album moved 25K. On the country albums chart, Garth Brooks‘ Ultimate Collection lands at No. 2, with 21K sold this week. Brett Young‘s self-titled project debuts at No. 3, with 18K sold. Brantley Gilbert‘s The Devil Don’t Sleep is at No. 4 with 14K, while Keith Urban‘s Ripcord lands at No. 5, with 12K.
Old Crow Medicine Show‘s Best Of package lands at No. 23, with 2.2K.
Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like A Back Road” tops the country digital tracks chart this week, with 58K sold. Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood‘s “The Fighter” is at No. 2, with 45K sold. Little Big Town‘s “Better Man” lands at No. 3 with 25K, while Maren Morris‘ “My Church” is at No. 4 with 24K. Brett Young‘s “In Case You Didn’t Know” is at No. 5 with 20K.
This week’s top debut comes from Kip Moore, whose “More Girls Like You” sold 11K and lands at No. 14.
Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.