Last week I wrote about going to the Eric Church show in Washington, DC, a couple of nights before Hurricane Sandy. Of course, I knew at the time that Sandy was churning her way to the East Coast after doing a great deal of damage in the Caribbean.
I was in DC on Friday and Saturday and the weather was beautiful. Like most cynics, I thought that the forecasters were overestimating the potential damage. I mean, come on, who believes weather forecasters?
This is not news. They were right this time.
I got home to West Virginia early Sunday morning, and the newscasts were warning of snow as our contribution from Sandy. But Sunday was not a bad day and, after all, who believes weather forecasters?
Monday morning Sandy arrived and brought her cousin Frosty the Snow Devil.
Millions were surprised by the force of the storm, in conjunction with cold air from the north that dumped feet of snow on West Virginia and western Maryland. As I write this a week later schools are still closed, and thousands in West Virginia are still without power. The last number I heard about NY/NJ was that 3.5 million people are without power.
The stations that I work with here in West Virginia were all touched in some manner. Some for short periods of time and some for longer times. In most cases it was a loss of commercial power at transmitter and studio sites. Some of these sites are on top of mountains on the other side of scores of downed trees and drifts of snow. These roads up to the mountain tops are not easy to traverse in August, much less after storms.
The list of stations off the air included New York City and Washington DC—big markets, with redundancy in place in most cases. Yet this storm said, “Hah! I am the real king of all media.”
If you are in the radio business you know that silence is the worst sound. Radio people call it “dead air.”
Everyone jumps when there is dead air.
For no significant length of time were any of our home cities without service from at least one of our properties. If we had a problem with one signal, another in our cluster was serving the public. There were a dozen employees of West Virginia Radio Corp. that went way beyond the call of duty by trudging to snowbound sites to fill generators with fuel and helping clear roadways.
The FCC (not always a friend of radio) reported that broadcast radio performed better than cellular phone services, and that 25% of the cell towers in the area went out.
I didn’t experience any cell problems so I can’t tell you whether those who did are back online today.
There are still a lot of people without power. I heard from a number of listeners who went to their cars to listen so they could learn about shelters and where to find fuel.
Broadcast radio, like it always does, rose to the challenge and provided important information to those in harm’s way. So many in the radio industry have been asking cell phone manufacturers to include AM/FM in the phone. Maybe we would be better served investing in batteries that drive portable radios.
Join me in applauding the hundreds of radio engineers who worked their asses off to make sure the public was served in a time of need.
Just to be fair, not all broadcasters are to be applauded. I follow a particularly offensive internet radio host on Twitter. He and his listeners spent much of last week laughing at and berating East Coasters devastated by the storm. Treating their fellow Americans like dummies for where they live. This note from Karma: “I’m watching and listening.”
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow)
George Jones Reveals Final Nashville Concert
/by Eric T. Parker“The Grand Tour will have surprises throughout the shows – you never know who may show up!” said Jones. “The Possum has lots of friends so it is going to be the most exciting thing to see who shows up during the final show.”
The Nashville show is among approximately 60 dates The Possum will visit during his farewell tour (announced dates below), which will include surprise guests at various stops.
Tickets for the Nashville show go on sale Friday, November 16 at 10 am at all Ticketmaster locations.
The tour will be promoted by Outback Concerts. Visit www.georgejones.com for more information.
The Grand Tour (2012-2013)
11/09 – Branson, MO – The Mansion Theatre
11/10 – Morton, MN – Jackpot Junction Casino
11/16 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center
11/17 – Hiawassee, GA – Anderson Music Hall
11/23 – Winnie, TX – Nutty Jerry’s Winnie Arena
11/24 – Bossier City, LA – Horseshoe Casino
12/01 – Elizabeth, IN – Horseshoe Casino
12/15 – Jackson, TN – Carl Perkins Civic Center
02/02 – Tunica, MS – Sam’s Town
02/07 – Lakeland, FL – Youkey Theater
02/22 – Greenville, TX – Greenville Memorial Auditorium
02/23 – Forrest City, AR – East Arkansas Community College
03/15 – Joliet, IL – Realto Square Theater
03/16 – Muncie, IN – Emens Auditorium
03/22 – Chattanooga, TN – Memorial Auditorium
04/05 – Fairfax, VA – Patriot Center
04/06 – Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Coliseum
04/19 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theater
04/20 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
04/27 – Huntsville, AL – Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
05/17 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
05/18 – Spartanburg, SC – Memorial Auditorium
06/01 – North Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theater
06/02 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theater
11/09 – Grant, OK – Choctaw Event Center
11/22 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
RIAA Issues Fall Gold & Platinum Recognitions
/by Eric T. ParkerSwifts “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was certified 2x multi-Platinum to mark the singer’s sixth career double-Platinum song, attributing to her more than 33 million career downloads sold.
Republic Nashville duo Florida Georgia Line also earned high marks for the Big Machine Label Group with, “Cruise,” receiving a first-time digital song certification alongside Havana Brown (“We Run the Night”), Driicky Graham (“Snapbacks & Tattoos”), Imagine Dragons (“It’s Time”), Kreayshawn (“Gucci Gucci”), and French Montana (“Pop That”).
Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” was certified Platinum, denoting more than one million downloads sold since its release, alongside Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me” and Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Otis.”
October’s Gold certified albums included Glassnote Records’ Mumford & Sons sophomore album Babel, which easily surpassed the mark with first week sales exceeding 600k. Additionally, the Mumford crew earned its first double-Platinum download certification for “Little Lion Man” and a third Gold single award for the new track “I Will Wait.” Dave Matthews Band’s Away From the World and P!nk’s Truth About Love also earned Gold album status.
In total, 38 digital single awards and 8 album certifications were issued for October. The Black Keys, Postal Service and Madonna additionally received notable sale benchmarks.
Levon Helm Documentary Due in 2013
/by FreemanUnder the guidance of director Jacob Hatley, Ain’t In It For My Health follows Helm at home in Woodstock, NY, in the middle of recording his first studio album in 25 years. Filmed over two years, the documentary tracks the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer through an intensively creative period after his 2007 album Dirt Farmer brought him back to the spotlight.
“Jacob was the perfect fly on the wall for many months as we experienced the ups and downs of a wonderful time in all our lives,” says Helm collaborator and musical director Larry Campbell. “The result is a rare, artful, and honest glimpse into the fascinating world of one of our true American treasures, Levon Helm.”
This news follows the recent “Love For Levon” concert in early October, featuring Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Lucinda Williams, Roger Waters, Gregg Allman, John Hiatt, and many more. Proceeds from that event benefited the Helm estate, including home, barn, and studio.
Veterans Day News
/by FreemanThe music video for Kristy Lee Cook’s new single “Airborne Ranger Infantry” debuted exclusively on Fox411 Country yesterday (Nov. 8). Directed by Roman White, the clip is a tribute to the men and women who have served in the US military as well as the loved ones who await them at home. Cook co-wrote the song with her father Larry Cook, in addition to songwriters Michael Logen and Luke Sheets, based on her father’s experiences in Vietnam.
“Singing a song about men and women that have fought and served for our country and those who have lost their lives for us is very emotional – and I’m not an emotional person but there is a soft spot in my heart for our soldiers,” says Cook. “I feel very privileged to be able to sing something for them in return for their sacrifice for me.”
See the video here.
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Swift Reveals RED Tour Pre-Sale Details
/by Eric T. ParkerOption 1: One floor ticket in the first 20 rows, an autographed copy of Red, and access to the Pre-show VIP lounge, hosted by a dedicated personality. The official lounge will include complimentary food and non-alcoholic beverages, prizes, gift bags, photos, and VIP check-in and event entrances (where available). A customer service hotline is also provided.
Option 2: One lower level ticket and gift bag.
Swift’s North American RED Tour will headline 58 shows in 45 cities with general admission tickets available Nov. 16 for a number of dates. Applications for pre-sale access can be found here.
In other Swift news, Sony Electronics announced the Nov. 20 release of 8 Hours/Taylor Swift, a 60 page photo book available to Sony customers who purchase a Sony Alpha DSLR or NEX camera in an official store. Ten copies signed by photographer Nigel Barker and Swift will be auctioned by Sony on eBay to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
‘CMA Country Christmas’ Bringing Holiday Cheer to ABC
/by Caitlin RantalaArtists on the two-hour special celebrating the season with songs and stories include Dierks Bentley, Colbie Caillat, Katherine Jenkins, Lady Antebellum, John Legend, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Nettles, The Band Perry, and Keith Urban.
In 2011, the broadcast of “CMA Country Christmas” drew more than 9 million viewers, which was an increase of nearly 23 percent over the inaugural broadcast in 2010. Adults 18-49 increased year-to-year by nearly 50 percent. Total viewers who watched the show within a week of premiere increased 2 million viewers from 2010 to 2011 (7.663 vs. 9.624). The cumulative audience for all three airings reached 14 million viewers.
“The popularity of ‘CMA Country Christmas’ grows each year,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The special is reaching across format lines and bringing in new viewers who appreciate great performances. It is especially rewarding that ABC has made the decision to air the program three times during the holiday season.”
CMA Country Christmas is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Paul Miller is the director, and David Wild is the writer. Full CMA Country Christmas show details can be found at CMAChristmas.com.
Nashville Wins Big At Billboard Touring Awards
/by Eric T. ParkerDuring Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw's final 'Brothers of the Sun' dates (8/24-25) at Foxboro, MA's Gillette Stadium. Photo: Jill Trunnell
Country music took home big honors during Billboard’s 9th Annual Touring Awards last night (11/8), hosted by actress/comedienne Sandra Bernhard at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
Billboard’s Breakthrough Award went to Lady Antebellum. The Brothers of the Sun tour brought home Top Package honors for Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and Jake Owen, marking Chesney’s seventh win in the category. Independently, McGraw took home the Concert Marketing & Promotion Award with Pennzoil while Chesney additionally received The Road Warrior Award.
The Top Package Award recognizes the top-grossing tour with 3+ artists on the bill, which also included Taylor Swift’s Speak Now Tour with Needtobreathe, Danny Gokey, Frankie Ballard, Hunter Hayes, Randy Montana, Josh Kelly and more; and Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party with Luke Bryan, Lauren Alaina/Rachel Farley and DeeJay Silver.
The Breakthrough Award, which honors artists still in their first decade of headlining, additionally nominated Miranda Lambert and The Black Keys.
Billboard honored its own Ray Waddell with the Legend of Scribe Award to mark his 25 years of tour industry reporting.
Additional awards were bestowed upon the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival; The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas; Live Nation; William Morris Endeavor Entertainment; Roger Waters; Bruce Springsteen, and Lady Gaga. A full list of winners can be found here.
The Awards cap off the Billboard Touring Conference, which took place Nov. 7-8 and included panels with Holly Williams and Irving Azoff.
Snapshots (11/9/12)
/by MichelleThis Music’s Rusty Gaston joined sponsor Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless in the WSM studio with Ben Hayslip and WSM’s Tom English for the premiere of “The ASCAP Songwriters Show.” The exclusive weekly songwriter program will air Wednesdays from 2-3 pm and spotlight a different ASCAP songwriter each week. The writers will talk about the stories behind their hit songs, play live in the studio, and feature new songs currently being pitched to some of the biggest artists in music today.
(L-R) Rusty Gaston, Lisa Harless, Ben Hayslip, Tom English
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Big Ride’s Craig Wayne Boyd performed at WFKY/WVKY’s annual St. Jude Jam at the Grand Theatre in Frankfort, Ky on November 3. Country artists J.D. Shelburne and Darren Warren also performed. Boyd, Shelburne and Warren ended the acoustic event with a surprise group jam.
WFKY/WVKY Staffers with Darren Warren, J.D. Shelburne and Craig Wayne Boyd
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Steve Luscombe made his debut performance on the Billy Block Show, now 16 years old, at Mercy Lounge Tuesday evening (11/6). Luscombe’s debut single on Taytown Records, titled ” I’m a Natural,” has shipped to country radio.
(L-R): InstiGator Entertainment's David Haley, Steve Luscombe and Billy Block
Carter Robertson Releases Memoir
/by Caitlin Rantala“Very seldom does one get to experience the view from inside the circle around a superstar artist like we do in Carter Robertson’s Playin’ on the Tracks,”says John Zarling, VP/Promotion & Media Strategy for Big Machine Label Group. “Her life is one fully lived, and fully documented, leaving her vulnerable for the benefit of every reader.”
Robertson has worked in the music industry most of her life. She sang on more than 15 of Jennings and his wife Jessi Colter’s albums, including hits like “Luckenbach Texas,” “Are You Ready For the Country” and “The Good Ol’ Boys” (Dukes of Hazzard theme song). Other studio credits include Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and James Taylor. She later joined up with Waylon and other friends to form the Waymore Blues Band. She is also the mother of Becky, Emily, and Joanna Robertson of Carter’s Chord.
For more information about Playin’ on the Tracks as well as Robertson’s new CD and live show based on the book, visit www.carterrobertson.com.
Charlie Cook On Air: Sandy and Radio
/by contributorI was in DC on Friday and Saturday and the weather was beautiful. Like most cynics, I thought that the forecasters were overestimating the potential damage. I mean, come on, who believes weather forecasters?
This is not news. They were right this time.
I got home to West Virginia early Sunday morning, and the newscasts were warning of snow as our contribution from Sandy. But Sunday was not a bad day and, after all, who believes weather forecasters?
Monday morning Sandy arrived and brought her cousin Frosty the Snow Devil.
Millions were surprised by the force of the storm, in conjunction with cold air from the north that dumped feet of snow on West Virginia and western Maryland. As I write this a week later schools are still closed, and thousands in West Virginia are still without power. The last number I heard about NY/NJ was that 3.5 million people are without power.
The stations that I work with here in West Virginia were all touched in some manner. Some for short periods of time and some for longer times. In most cases it was a loss of commercial power at transmitter and studio sites. Some of these sites are on top of mountains on the other side of scores of downed trees and drifts of snow. These roads up to the mountain tops are not easy to traverse in August, much less after storms.
The list of stations off the air included New York City and Washington DC—big markets, with redundancy in place in most cases. Yet this storm said, “Hah! I am the real king of all media.”
If you are in the radio business you know that silence is the worst sound. Radio people call it “dead air.”
Everyone jumps when there is dead air.
For no significant length of time were any of our home cities without service from at least one of our properties. If we had a problem with one signal, another in our cluster was serving the public. There were a dozen employees of West Virginia Radio Corp. that went way beyond the call of duty by trudging to snowbound sites to fill generators with fuel and helping clear roadways.
The FCC (not always a friend of radio) reported that broadcast radio performed better than cellular phone services, and that 25% of the cell towers in the area went out.
I didn’t experience any cell problems so I can’t tell you whether those who did are back online today.
There are still a lot of people without power. I heard from a number of listeners who went to their cars to listen so they could learn about shelters and where to find fuel.
Broadcast radio, like it always does, rose to the challenge and provided important information to those in harm’s way. So many in the radio industry have been asking cell phone manufacturers to include AM/FM in the phone. Maybe we would be better served investing in batteries that drive portable radios.
Join me in applauding the hundreds of radio engineers who worked their asses off to make sure the public was served in a time of need.
Just to be fair, not all broadcasters are to be applauded. I follow a particularly offensive internet radio host on Twitter. He and his listeners spent much of last week laughing at and berating East Coasters devastated by the storm. Treating their fellow Americans like dummies for where they live. This note from Karma: “I’m watching and listening.”
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow)