Weekly Chart Report (5/11/2012)

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Kix Brooks visited with Lexington/WBUL PD Michael Jordan (R) before a recent show. Brooks’ solo debut, “New to This Town,” is currently making the rounds at country radio.

SPIN ZONE
It’s dude central at the top of this week’s CountryBreakout Chart. Eric Church’s song about hearing “Springsteen” stays at No. 1 for a second consecutive week with a small spin gain. Georgia boys Jason Aldean (“Fly Over States”) and Luke Bryan (“Drunk On You”) are at No. 2 and 3, respectively, and still picking up new plays. It’s an incredibly tight Top 10 however, with only Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” making forward movement to No. 5.

Slow-moving applies to the rest of the chart as well. Keith Urban’s “For You” manages to gain 210 spins, but only moves up one spot to No. 18. Similarly Jana Kramer’s “Why Ya Wanna” adds 180 new spins, but only gets a small bump to No. 23. Easton Corbin, Justin Moore, Love and Theft—all get triple digit spin increases, but only one spot higher positioning.

Outside the Top 40, things are less of a traffic jam. Blake Shelton’s new single “Over” is already to No. 42 in its second week, right on the heels of Montgomery Gentry’s “So Called Life” at No. 41. Lady Antebellum just flew into the chart at No. 63 with “Wanted You More,” and Lee Brice’s “Hard To Love” makes a promising debut at No. 68.

Frozen Playlists: KGRT, KICR, WBKR, WDXX, WKWS, WXMM, WXXK

Upcoming Singles
May 14
Jessie James/Military Man/Show Dog-Universal
Due West/Things You Can’t Do In A Car/Black River
Lee Brice/Hard To Love/Curb

May 21
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros./WMN
Bill Gentry/That Kind of Live/Tenacity
Rascal Flatts/Come Wake Me Up/Big Machine
Jake Owen/The One That Got Away/RCA

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Lady Antebellum/Wanted You More/Capitol – 63
Lee Brice/Hard To Love/Curb – 68
Jake Owen/The One That Got Away/BNA – 77
Jaida Dreyer/Guy’s Girl/Soundstream – 78
Adam Gregory/High On You/Calusa Entertainment/GMV Nashville – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros. – 394
Lady Antebellum/Wanted You More/Capitol – 373
The Band Perry/Postcard From Paris/Republic Nashville – 241
Toby Keith/Beers Ago/Show Dog-Universal – 236
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 235

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Lady Antebellum/Wanted You More/Capitol – 29
Blake Shelton/Over/Warner Bros. – 26
Lee Brice/Hard To Love/Curb – 10
Jake Owen/The One That Got Away/BNA – 10
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joe’s – 9
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 9
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol – 9
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19-RCA – 9
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 8
Hunter Hayes/Wanted/Atlantic Records – 8

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Rick Monroe/Crazy Not To/Render Records – 167
Clinton Gregory/Bridges/Melody Roundup – 164
Kristen Kelly/Ex-Old Man/Arista – 159
Florida Georgia Line/Cruise/Big Loud Mountain – 156
Craig Wayne Boyd/I Ain’t No Quitter/Big Ride – 153
Jason Sturgeon/Time Bomb/Toolpusher – 149
Bradley Gaskin/Diamonds Make Babies/Columbia – 147

WMN’s Hunter Hayes visited with KKWF in Seattle earlier in May. His latest single, “Wanted,” is climbing MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart at No. 40. (L-R): Mike Preston (KKWF PD), Hunter, Chris Stacey (WMN SVP of Radio Promotion)

Martina McBride recently visited with WGTY/Gettysburg’s staff and took calls from listeners with PD Scott Donato and morning host Kim Alexander. McBride’s latest single, “Marry Me” with Train’s Pat Monahan currently holds the No. 34 spot on the CountryBreakout chart. (L-R): Alexander, Donato, McBride, Cindy Ford (WGTY GM), Kirk Brechbiel (WGTY Sales Manager) and Republic Nashville’s Cliff Blake

Pistol Annies headlined KRTY/San Jose's 20th Anniversary show at Shoreline Amphitheatre a few weeks ago in Mountain View, CA. (L-R) Back: Gary Scott Thomas (KRTY Mornings), Nate Deaton (KRTY GM). Front: Angaleena Presley, Julie Stevens (KRTY PD), Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, Tina Ferguson (KRTY GSM), and Larry Santiago (RCA Nashville)

Charlie Cook On Air: Mother’s Day

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Sunday is Mother’s Day. This is a perfect opportunity to salute the mothers that make Country Music so special. We can start by saying that Country Radio is the mother of all radio formats but that would be too easy a line. Oh what the heck—I have already written it so I am just going to leave it in.

It is also an easy reach to talk about the Ryman Auditorium being the Mother Church of Country Music and “Mother” Maybelle Carter being the matriarch of the first family of Country Music. And lastly on this tack, Mother Country Music by Vern Gosdin—“The Voice” before there was The Voice.

The topic of the actual child-bearing mother has also played a significant role in the format.

Merle Haggard takes the pain on his shoulders for not turning out how Flossie had hoped in “Mama Tried.” If she had just taken the train to see Merle in prison, THIS would have been the perfect country song.

Johnny Paycheck took it a step further, saying Mama was a good woman except for how he turned out in “I’m The Only Hell Mama Ever Raised.”

Steve Wariner and Glen Campbell covered all the motherly duties in “The Hand that Rocked the Cradle.” A very similar topic was used for Jamie O’Neal’s ode to mama, “Somebody’s Hero.”

In the case of the Judds, the motherly duties included raising Wynonna on a moving bus. For a few years there the jury was out on how that was going to work but all is well and Wynonna’s crooning about a boy that was crazy for her was a huge hit.

Wy should have known better. Had she been listening to Shenandoah’s “Mama Knows” she would have known that she didn’t really have a chance.

My favorite country song about mothers was from 1974. Melba Montgomery left a lasting impact discussing whether mothers should be paid for all they do for their children in “No Charge.” I’ll bet that kid in the song wishes he could swallow the $15 invoice he tried to pass off for his chores. I’ll also bet that most mothers feel they are paid in full when their children become upstanding citizens of the world.

We can’t really put a price on 18 years (and many more today with kids moving back into their parents’ homes after school) but I can tell you that one of the best tear-jerking songs ever, “26 Cents” by The Wilkinsons, is the most outdated. I listened to it the other day and I am not sure if I teared up because of the mother/daughter relationship or because you cannot find a phone for 25 cents anymore.

This topic is more recently explored in Carrie Underwood’s “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” but the mother in this song apparently knows that a quarter is not going to get it done.

I love that Brad Paisley finds a way to tie in motherhood and the love he has for his children’s mother. Aren’t we all envious of how Brad sees things from another angle? Aren’t we all just flat out envious of Brad for about a thousand reasons anyway?

There are scores more Mother’s Day songs in the format and I would be remiss to exclude the one that most of the husbands should be thinking about regularly. Be sure that Trace Adkins is not the only one telling your wife that she is “One Hot Mama.”

I cannot fail to mention the mother of all mothers in the format. Andrea Swift has raised a beautiful young lady who has taken the musical world to new heights. Mrs. Swift has been at Taylor’s side through it all and we should take a second to thank her for being part of making Country Radio even more in the mainstream because of her marshaling abilities.

And for all of you who still have your mother in your life, make sure that she knows how much you love her. My mother has been gone for a long time but as she looks down on me she knows how much I still love her.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Blaster Entertainment Adds Aaron Lewis, Recruits Team Members

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Blaster Entertainment has added former R&J Records artist Aaron Lewis to its roster, and his music will be distributed through Warner Music Nashville.

“Aaron Lewis is a great musician,” said Tom Porter, CEO of Blaster Entertainment. “His songs relate true country values and life experiences. We’re excited about having him on the Blaster team.”

Lewis’ management team at Vector Management has also recruited former Sony Music Nashville VP Promotion Skip Bishop, along with John Ettinger, Tony Benken and the Quarterback promotion team, to promote the artist’s current single “Endless Summer.” Former R&J Records Marketing & Artist Development head Derek Simon has been added to the project in a similar capacity. Webster & Assoc. will handle public relations.

The video for “Endless Summer” recently debuted on CMT’s Big New Music Weekend, and Lewis played to a record crowd at the Stagecoach Festival in California. The Blaster Entertainment family also includes Hank Williams Jr., Neal McCoy and Brother Trouble.

GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Names Inductees

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Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin, Ricky Skaggs, Dallas Holm, The Hoppers, Love Song and Rex Humbard will be inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The GMA Foundation (GMAF) will induct the honorees on Tues., Aug. 14, 2012 at Trinity Music City Auditorium in Hendersonville, TN at 6:00 PM. Admission is free to the public.

“The diverse talents represented in this years class of inductees have impacted millions of people around the world. It is an honor to induct these individuals” said Charles Dorris, Chairman, GMA Foundation.

About the inductees:

Dallas Holm

Aretha Franklin—In 1972, she released the gospel album Amazing Grace. It eventually became her biggest-selling release ever, selling over two million copies and becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time. In 1987 she returned to her gospel roots with the album, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. Her classic hits include “Respect” (1967) and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).” In 1987 she was the first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Dallas Holm—Has been writing and performing for 40 years. His 38 recordings have resulted in gold records, multiple Dove awards and No. 1 songs. Artists Steven Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris and Greg Long of Avalon say Holm has impacted their lives and ministries. Holm can be seen on several of the Bill Gaither Homecoming videos.

The Hoppers

The Hoppers—Comprised today of family members Claude & Connie, son Dean and his wife, Kim, and son Mike Hopper, The Hoppers were formed in 1957. The award winning family group has been singing to global audiences for over 55 years with appearances ranging from presidential religious inaugural ceremonies to New York’s Carnegie Hall. Known as America’s Favorite Family of Gospel Music, they are favorites on the Gaither Homecoming videos and tours.

Rex Humbard—The Rex Humbard Ministry program ran from 1952 to 1985. In the early 1970’s, Time Magazine did a feature story on Humbard and coined the phrase “tele-evangelist” to describe him. In 1999, Rex was named as “one of the 25 shapers of the 20th century” by US News and World Report because of his visionary use of the media to promote his message of hope, love and salvation. One of the most vital parts of his ministry was gospel music.

Rex Humbard

Love Song— In the early 70’s, during the beginnings of what became known as the “Jesus Movement,” a group of young, longhaired, hippie musicians called Love Song began to use their music to express their faith in Jesus Christ. A mixture of rock and pop, Love Song’s music was new and unique for the Christian music world. It helped blaze the path for Contemporary Christian Music.

Ricky Skaggs—Bluegrass stalwart who is a fourteen-time Grammy Award winner, and two-time Dove Award winner, with eight CMA Awards and eight ACM Awards. Now in his 40th year as a professional musician, he continues to record and tour with his band Kentucky Thunder.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, established in 1971, has inducted more than 150 members since its inception. A full list of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductees is available at gmahalloffame.org.

Ricky Skaggs

Love Song

“Hot Nights” Return to the Hall of Fame

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Hot Nights At The Hall summer concert series for members will return to downtown Nashville on June 5 with a performance from MCA Nashville hitmaker David Nail.

The series debuted last summer and features live music, food, autograph signings and exclusive museum access. Additional performers in the summer months will be Jana Kramer on July 13, and Love and Theft on August 31.

“Our members are a vital part of our museum family, and their contributions directly support our mission,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “We created Hot Nights at the Hall last year as a way to say ‘thank you’ to the members we have, and to encourage others to join us by providing them with a really great value and yet another benefit to museum membership. We’re excited to bring the series back this summer and again offer members old and new a chance to hear some great music, meet the performers, and enjoy our exhibits after hours.”

Museum members get free admission to the shows. Hall of Fame Membership begins at $40 and includes all three Hot Nights shows plus a year of admission to the museum. More info here.

By The Numbers: The Week Vegas Goes Country

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2012 was the first year of the ACM Experience.

A breakdown of The Week Vegas Goes Country.

ACM Awards
• 2 hosts
• 2 venues MGM Grand Garden Arena and Mandalay Bay Events Center
• 3 hours
• 24 performances
• 26 acts
• 36 special guests
• 100+ musicians and background singers
• 1,320 Tweets per minute during the show
• 676,000 social media comments during the telecast

The Week Vegas Goes Country
• 5 days
• 50 volunteers
• 61 hours of live music
• 80 staffers
• 84 artists
• 107 media outlets
• 150 separate performances
• 214 members of the media
• 700+ production personnel
• 6,121 credentials issued
• 20,000 attendees at the ACM Experience
• 45,500 attendees per night at the ACM Concerts on Fremont Street Experience, the most ever
• 108 million media impressions about the ACM Experience

Facts released by the ACM, according to market research firms including Precision Opinion, Trendrr, and BlueFin.

Chesney Recruits “Guitarist of the Year” For Summer Tour

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Chesney (L) and McGraw (R)

Kenny Chesney has added guitarist Kenny Greenberg to his touring band for his Brothers of the Sun Tour with Tim McGraw. Greenberg is the Academy of Country Music’s 2012 “Guitarist of the Year” and is a veteran Nashville session musician who has previously collaborated with Bob Seger, Willie Nelson, and Etta James.

After moving to Nashville at age 21, Greenberg began writing, producing, and recording for artists in a wide range of genres, including folk, gospel, pop, and country. Between producing several Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated songs, Greenberg has frequently collaborated with Chesney, including on his upcoming album, Welcome To The Fishbowl and 2010’s Hemingway’s Whiskey.

“Kenny is one of the best guitarists out there today, period,” Chesney said. “He’s been a great friend and collaborator over the years, right through Welcome To The Fishbowl, and it’s going to be amazing to have him at the party each night this summer.”

In addition to Greenberg, Chesney’s band features Wyatt Beard (keyboards), Sean Paddock (drums), Steve Marshall (bass), Clayton Mitchell (guitar), Jim Bob Gairrett (steel guitar), and Jon Conley (guitar/fiddle). The coast-to-coast Brothers of the Sun Tour, with Chesney and McGraw, kicks off June 2 in Tampa, Florida.

For tour dates, click here.

Starlite Nightclub Founder Passes

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Mary King

Mary King, the founder of Nashville’s oldest continuously operating nightclub, has died at age 91.

Known as “Sis,” Ms. King was the owner and manager of The Starlite Dinner Club. She built it on a former cow pasture in East Nashville and opened it on Christmas Eve, 1952. The nightclub is still going strong, having entertained generations of Nashvillians with its country-dancing format and hearty dinner menus. The Starlite remains at its original location, 3976 Dickerson Pike.

Mary Frances Garner King was a native Nashvillian. She is survived by her sons Roger Keefer and Lonnie Dale Garner and daughter Patricia Garner Frensley. She was preceded in death by her fourth child, son Timothy Joseph King.

Other survivors include six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Ms. King died of complications from Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, May 9. Her Starlite Dinner Club will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Dec. 24, 2012.

A celebration of Mary King’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the chapel of the Spring Hill Funeral Home, and interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Visitation hours with the family are on Thursday, 4-8:00 p.m. and on Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery are at 5110 Gallatin Pike. Memorial contributions should be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alzheimers.org.

Kenny Rogers Working on New Album For Warner Bros.

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Kenny Rogers has reunited with former longtime label home Warner Bros. Records and is working with award-winning producer Dann Huff on a new album scheduled for release later in 2012.

Rogers made the announcement last night (5/9) during the first of his two sold out Artist-in-Residence performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater.

“I’m looking forward to returning home to Warner Bros. Records after all these years,” he commented. “Our history together, combined with the incredible team that’s in place now, provides the catalyst for a great new relationship going forward.”

Rogers first worked with the label in 1967 when he was part of First Edition and released the hit “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).”

“With his unique storytelling ability and soulful voice, Kenny Rogers’ music has touched generations across all musical formats. He has not only had a remarkable career but is truly an American icon,” said John Esposito, President & CEO of Warner Music Nashville. “Warner Music Nashville looks forward to continuing his musical legacy but more importantly, having him back home at Warner Bros. Records.”

Rogers celebrated his 50th year in show business in 2008. During his career he has amassed more than 120 million is worldwide record sales, driven by timeless classics including “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Lucille,” “She Believes in Me,” “Islands in the Stream,” and “We’ve Got Tonight.”

Herring Joins EMI Records Nashville

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Capitol Records Nashville has announced that promotion veteran Kevin Herring will be joining the company as VP Promotion for EMI Records Nashville. He fills the role recently vacated by Angela Lange, and will be reporting directly to Capitol Records Nashville Sr. VP Promotion Steve Hodges.

Over Herring’s 30 years in the business, he has promoted a wide variety of artists including Aaron Tippin, Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain and Toby Keith. His career began in radio at WWWW/Detroit, and he also worked with Polygram and Mercury Records. He spent 13 years with Lyric Street Records, nine of which he served as VP of Promotion. Most recently, he served as President of Skyville Records.

“Kevin brings a wealth of experience to the table,” says Steve Hodges. “His extensive professional background and relationships at radio are two metrics that are key to success in the promotion world.  I’m delighted he is joining our EMI team in a leadership role!”
Herring begins his new job May 16 and can be reached at kevin.herring@emicap.com or 615-269-2085.

The EMI Records Nashville roster includes Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, and Kelleigh Bannen.