CRS 2011 overall attendance numbers show a 22 percent increase over last year’s event. The total number of 2,649 registrants were divided into 2,004 full registrants (attendees, exhibitors, panelists and sponsors) and 645 participant registrants. Participant registrants are attendees that register for individual CRS events or purchase single day seminar passes. Total attendance for CRS 2010 was 2,181 and CRS 2009 was 2,106.
Additionally, changes to the CRS Agenda Committee and CRB Board of Directors have been announced. The newly elected CRB Board officers and CRS Agenda Committee leaders are as follows:
CRB President: Mike Culotta (WQYK/Tampa, Fla.)
CRB Vice President: R.J. Curtis (Country Aircheck/Nashville, Tenn.)
CRB Secretary: Carole Bowen (WKIS/Miami, Fla.)
CRB Treasurer: Jeff Walker (AristoMedia/Marco Promotions/Nashville, Tenn.)
CRS 2012 Agenda Chair: Annie Sandor (Curb Records/Miami, Fla.)
CRS 2012 Vice Chair: Clint Marsh (Talking Stick Communications/Warsaw, Ind.)
Three members who were previously appointed by the CRB President have been elected back to the CRB Board of Directors. Clarence Spalding (Spalding Entertainment/Nashville, Tenn.) and Johnny Chiang (KKBQ/Houston, Texas) were elected to 3-year terms, and Dan Halyburton (RadioTime / Palo Alto, Calif.) was elected to a one-year term.
Other CRB Board members re-elected for three-year terms include: Carole Bowen, R.J. Curtis, David Haley, Clay Hunnicutt, Royce Risser, Tim Roberts and Jeff Walker.
Skip Bishop (Sony Music Nashville/Nashville, Tenn.) was elected to fill a one-year term.
Newly re-elected CRB President Mike Culotta also appointed three new CRB Board members: John Esposito (Warner Bros./Nashville, Tenn.), Brian O’Connell (Live Nation/Nashville, Tenn.) and Jerry Phillips (Big River Broadcasting/Florence, Ala.).
Continuing their terms on the CRB Board are: Jim Asker, Tom Baldrica, Becky Brenner, Joel Burke, Natalie Conner, John Crenshaw, Mike Dungan, Keith Kaufman, Renee Leymon, Mike McVay, Charlie Morgan, Joel Raab, Denise Roberts, John Shomby, John Zarling and Director Emeritus Charlie Monk.
“CRS 2011 was a tremendous success for our Board, our attendees and the Country radio industry,” says CRB President Culotta. “From the insightful Country radio research presentation, to our CRS smartphone applications, to the new Connections Lounge, this year’s seminar integrated a lot of new ideas to ensure Country Radio Seminar remains innovative and relevant as we move forward towards next year’s CRS 2012.”
CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Visit www.CRB.org for more information about Country Radio Seminar and the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.
To view an online photo gallery of events and panels from CRS 2011, visit: www.flickr.com/AristoPR
Date Set For CMT Awards
/by Sarah SkatesThe CMT Music Awards will take place Wed., June 8, organizers announced today (3/8). No other details were revealed.
This date coincides with the CMA Music Festival, which will take over downtown Nashville June 9-12.
Last year the CMT Music Awards took place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and tickets were available for fans to purchase.
Star-Studded TV Special Celebrates Kenny Rogers' 50-year Career
/by Sarah Skates(L-R): Smokey Robinson, Linda Davis, Chris Isaak, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, and the Oak Ride Boys perform during the TV taping in April 2010. Photo: Rahav Segev/Retna Ltd.
Kenny Rogers is the subject of a new GAC special documenting his 50-year career. Taped at the MGM Grand At Foxwoods in Connecticut, the performance show features Rogers with a slew of guests including: Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Alison Krauss, Smokey Robinson, Chris Issak, Tim McGraw, Wynonna, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, Sheena Easton, The Oak Ridge Boys, and the original First Edition.
Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years will debut tonight (3/8) at 8:30 p.m. EST on Great American Country (GAC). Executive Producer/Writer Kelly Junkermann mixed in vintage clips and interviews with the live performances.
Rogers has also released his first Gospel album, exclusively at Cracker Barrel. The Love of God collection features guest vocals by Point of Grace, The Whites and others. Among the beloved songs on the album are “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms.”
Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers perform. Photo credit: Rahav Segev/ Retna Ltd.
[updated] Tim Allen, Jan Rodgers Exit BMG Chrysalis's EverGreen
/by Sarah Skates[updated] Jan Perry Rodgers left EverGreen at the end of 2010. She is freelancing for publishers, managers, and producers and can be reached at janpr@comcast.net or 615-604-8991 (cell).
Tim Allen exited his position as Director of Licensing with BMG’s EverGreen office last week. He has worked in publishing for 17 years and had been with the company for 14 of those, surviving several changes in ownership. At least one other licensing staff member also exited.
Allen was originally hired as Licensing Manager for Integrated Copyright Group (ICG) in 1996. EverGreen Copyrights purchased ICG in 2006, and Allen was promoted to Director of Licensing. BMG purchased EverGreen Copyrights in October 2010.
Allen’s recent negotiations include numerous film and television placements such as “Country Strong” for the film of the same name, and ad campaigns for Chevy and AT&T. He also helped create the licensing module of ICG’s proprietary software, and EverGreen’s e-store allowing consumers to purchase license agreements online.
Allen can be reached via e-mail at tim.allen.nash@gmail.com or by phone at 615-498-6769.
Tin Pan South Preview Party Today
/by Sarah SkatesThe 19th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will be held Tuesday, March 29 – Saturday, April 2, in Nashville. Produced by NSAI, the world’s largest all-songwriter festival offers 75+ shows. Fast Access Passes let guests club-hop with preferred admission, and go on sale tomorrow (3/9) at tinpansouth.com. Proceeds from the festival support the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Artist Action: Kix Brooks Dabbles In Acting
/by MichelleKix Brooks
Kix Brooks recently completed a small acting role in the upcoming movie Thriftstore Cowboy. According to an interview with the Associated Press, Brooks describes the film as “kind of a modern age urban cowboy scenario.” The star has also accepted a leading role in another film, The Last Ride, which will be shot in May in Arizona.
Brooks also hosts the radio show American Country Countdown and owns Arrington Vineyard in Tennessee. He is reportedly working on a new solo album that will be released on a Sony imprint.
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Condolences to artist Emma Jacob on the passing of her mother Linda Chapman during CRS last week. Ms. Chapman apparently died from a sudden heart attack while watching her daughter perform at an event. Donations can be made in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
• • • • •
Alan Jackson launched his first tour of Australia over the weekend with a sold-out show at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Last night he was scheduled to headline CMC Rocks the Hunter Festival in Hunter Valley, then travel to Sydney today, and end with a three-night stand in Brisbane later this week. All six shows sold out within minutes when tickets went on sale last fall.
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GRAMMY-winning guitar virtuoso Steve Wariner has launched a series of short instructional video clips at www.stevewariner.com, in which he plays songs from his new Guitar Laboratory CD, demonstrating various licks and showing aspiring guitarists how to capture the same sounds.
• • • • •
The Dixie Chicks documentary Shut Up & Sing will air on CMT for the first time. The film explores the controversy surrounding the band and the making of their 2006 album Taking the Long Way. The show airs Saturday, March 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Halper Exits Skyville As Private Practice Ramps Up
/by Freeman“My commitments to my clients and management roster have resulted in my being able to devote less time to Skyville than I would have liked,” says Halper. “Given the strong full-time team, I leave knowing Stealing Angels is in the best possible hands with Wally Wilson, Paul Worley and Kevin Herring. Their combined creative energy will bring the company and Stealing Angels great success.”
Halper currently serves as Head of Worldwide Business Development for Perpetuum Jazzile, a choir from Slovenia whose innovative rendition of the Toto hit “Africa” has garnered over 10 million hits on YouTube. The group is curently planning a US tour for Summer 2011. Additionally, Halper manages singer/instrumentalist Kate Lee and Native American group Brulé. He also heads legal affairs for multiplatform media streaming company iClips Network.
“It has been an dynamic year of growth for these clients, and being part of such almost unprecedented success has made me focus very hard on my schedule,” continues Halper. “To be breaking ground, doing global business and exploring cutting edge technology as a business person requires focus and time — and out of respect for everyone I’ve been blessed/fortunate to be associated with, this seems to be the best solution for everyone.”
Reach Halper at wayne.halper@comcast.net or 615-429-8500.
CRS Attendance Up 22%; CRB Board Announced
/by MichelleAdditionally, changes to the CRS Agenda Committee and CRB Board of Directors have been announced. The newly elected CRB Board officers and CRS Agenda Committee leaders are as follows:
CRB President: Mike Culotta (WQYK/Tampa, Fla.)
CRB Vice President: R.J. Curtis (Country Aircheck/Nashville, Tenn.)
CRB Secretary: Carole Bowen (WKIS/Miami, Fla.)
CRB Treasurer: Jeff Walker (AristoMedia/Marco Promotions/Nashville, Tenn.)
CRS 2012 Agenda Chair: Annie Sandor (Curb Records/Miami, Fla.)
CRS 2012 Vice Chair: Clint Marsh (Talking Stick Communications/Warsaw, Ind.)
Three members who were previously appointed by the CRB President have been elected back to the CRB Board of Directors. Clarence Spalding (Spalding Entertainment/Nashville, Tenn.) and Johnny Chiang (KKBQ/Houston, Texas) were elected to 3-year terms, and Dan Halyburton (RadioTime / Palo Alto, Calif.) was elected to a one-year term.
Other CRB Board members re-elected for three-year terms include: Carole Bowen, R.J. Curtis, David Haley, Clay Hunnicutt, Royce Risser, Tim Roberts and Jeff Walker.
Skip Bishop (Sony Music Nashville/Nashville, Tenn.) was elected to fill a one-year term.
Newly re-elected CRB President Mike Culotta also appointed three new CRB Board members: John Esposito (Warner Bros./Nashville, Tenn.), Brian O’Connell (Live Nation/Nashville, Tenn.) and Jerry Phillips (Big River Broadcasting/Florence, Ala.).
Continuing their terms on the CRB Board are: Jim Asker, Tom Baldrica, Becky Brenner, Joel Burke, Natalie Conner, John Crenshaw, Mike Dungan, Keith Kaufman, Renee Leymon, Mike McVay, Charlie Morgan, Joel Raab, Denise Roberts, John Shomby, John Zarling and Director Emeritus Charlie Monk.
“CRS 2011 was a tremendous success for our Board, our attendees and the Country radio industry,” says CRB President Culotta. “From the insightful Country radio research presentation, to our CRS smartphone applications, to the new Connections Lounge, this year’s seminar integrated a lot of new ideas to ensure Country Radio Seminar remains innovative and relevant as we move forward towards next year’s CRS 2012.”
CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Visit www.CRB.org for more information about Country Radio Seminar and the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.
To view an online photo gallery of events and panels from CRS 2011, visit: www.flickr.com/AristoPR
Billy Ray Cyrus Revamps Career Team
/by adminBilly Ray and Miley Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus has announced a new entertainment team to guide his career. He has reunited with Rogers & Cowan, the same publicity company that helped launch his career in 1992. He will now be managed by Sanctuary Artist Management plus Mick Adkins of MicnE Productions. He will be represented by WME for motion pictures and television; and Buddy Lee Attractions for live concert performances.
“Billy Ray Cyrus is one of America’s true entertainers in music, film and television. We are thrilled to represent such a remarkable talent,” says Stuart Dill, President of Sanctuary-Nashville.
“I’m very excited about my new management and agency teams, and look forward to our partnerships,” says Cyrus. More announcements concerning upcoming projects in TV, film and music are expected.
Shelton Joins NBC's "The Voice"
/by Sarah Skates“We couldn’t have a panel that represented the hottest American music without a strong country presence, and Blake is at the top of his game right now,” said Paul Telegdy, EVP, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. “Not only is he incredibly charismatic, but his passion for collaborating with and bringing the best out of other talented artists makes him the perfect choice to round out this ‘Dream Team’ of musician coaches.”
The Carson Daly hosted show will follow the four musician coaches as they each select singers to mentor during a blind audition process. Once the coaches have their teams, they will bring in their songwriter and producer friends to help their teams evolve. Ultimately, the viewer at home will vote on the winning singer.
Valory's Briner Adds West Coast Duties
/by Freeman“To have the opportunity to work from Denver, Colorado and continue to do what I love and support the great music coming from The Valory Music Co., is a wonderful opportunity for me,” says Briner.
Briner is a 25 year veteran of country radio promotion and was recently upped to his current position after being Valory’s Dir. National Promotion/Northeast/Midwest Promotion & Marketing. Reach him at George.Briner@valorymail.com.