Final nominees for the nation’s t
op Country radio stations and broadcast personalities were delivered to Country Radio today, when Chuck Wicks revealed the 2009 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year finalists live from Premiere Radio Networks’ New York City studios. The winners will be notified in mid-October and will be acknowledged at “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards.”
A tough race to call this year is who will claim bragging rights for the National Broadcast Personality of the Year. Nominee Bob Kingsley has won the trophy two times, in 2001, which was the inaugural year for the CMA National Broadcast Personality Award, and 2003. Lia Knight was nominated in 2003 and won in both 2005 and 2007. Nominated for the first time in 2008, Kix Brooks, of Brooks & Dunn, host of “American Country Countdown,” is nominated again in 2009 and if he wins it would be the first time that a County artist would claim a CMA Broadcast Awards trophy.
CMA BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:
National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Citadel Media
“Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40″ (Bob Kingsley) – KCCS Productions, Inc.
“The Lia Show” (Lia Knight) – Dial Global
Major Market
• “The All New Dr. Don Morning Show with Doc, Grunwald, Rachael, and Jason” (Don Carpenter, Steve Grunwald, Rachael Hunter, Jason “The 300 Pound Cowboy” Raithel) – WYCD, Detroit, Mich.
• “Cliff and Company: Cliff, Morgan, Tanner, and Tori” (Cliff Dumas, Morgan Thomas, Bill Tanner, Tori Peck) – KSON, San Diego, Calif.
• “The Cornbread Morning Show featuring Cornbread, Pat James, Producer Annie, Father Harry, and Captain Mac” (Cornbread, Pat James, Annie Henson, Harry Schroeder, Mac “Captain Mac” Douglas) – WIL, St. Louis, Mo.
• “The Laurie De Young Morning Show” (Laurie De Young) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
• “Paul Schadt and Sarah in the Morning” (Paul Schadt, Sarah Waters) – WKKT, Charlotte, N.C.
Large Market
• “Bucky & Bob: The Talk of Austin” (Bucky Godbolt, Bob Cole) – KVET, Austin, Texas
• “Chris Carr & Company” – (Chris Carr, Jeffrey “Maverick” Bolen, Jason Statt) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
• “Jeff Roper in the Morning” (Jeff Roper, Angie Ward, Adam “Flash” Dellinger) – WTQR, Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, N.C.
• “Jim Denny and Friends” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, Kevin Freeman) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
• “Karen, Scott and Radar. . .The Moo Crew” (Karen Dalessandro, Scott Dolphin, Tony “Radar” Hess) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
Medium Market
• “The 97 Country Breakfast Club with Roger, Tom, and Melissa” (Roger Todd, Tom O’Brien, Melissa Moran) – WPCV, Lakeland, Fla.
• “Brian and Kellie Morning Show” (Brian Pierce, Kellie Michaels) – KFDI, Wichita, Kan.
• “The Kat 103 Morning Show with Steve Lundy, Gina, and Craig (Steve Lundy, Gina Melton, Craig Allen) – KXKT, Omaha, Neb.
• “Tom & Becky in the Morning” (Tom Owens, Becky Palmer) – WBBS, Syracuse, N.Y.
• “WIVK at Night with Jack Ryan” (Jack Ryan) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
Small Market
• “Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, Tracy Berry) – KKNU, Eugene, Ore.
• “Bearman and Ken in the Morning” (Benny “Bearman” Martin, Ken Hicks) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
• “Gator & The StyckMan” (Gator Harrison, Greg “StyckMan” Owens) – WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.
• “Mee in the Morning” (Kevin Mee, Brenda Mee) – KIZN, Boise, Idaho
• “Middays with Philip Gibbons” (Philip Gibbons) – WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.
CMA RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
Major Market
KMPS – Seattle/Tacoma, Wash.
KYGO – Denver/Boulder, Colo.
WPOC – Baltimore, Md.
WUSN – Chicago, Ill.
WYCD – Detroit, Mich.
Large Market
KAJA – San Antonio, Texas
KASE – Austin, Texas
WQDR – Raleigh, N.C.
WTQR – Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, N.C.
WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio
Medium Market
KSSN – Little Rock, Ark.
KUZZ – Bakersfield, Calif.
KXKT – Omaha, Neb.
WBBS – Syracuse, N.Y.
WGNA – Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y.
Small Market
WAXX – Eau Claire, Wis.
WBKR – Owensboro, Ky.
WKSF – Asheville, N.C.
WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.
WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.
Tidbits: Digital Summit, SOLID, Symphony and More
/by Sarah Skates———————————-
The Music Row Turkey Bowl, hosted by SOLID, is set for Sat., Nov. 21 at Ted Rhodes Park (2400 Metro Center Blvd.) in Nashville, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The 24th annual co-ed flag football tournament has become a favorite event for many on Music Row. It is a significant annual fundraiser for SOLID, Second Harvest Food Bank and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If your music industry company would like to put together a team—or for more details— click here.
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To mark Giancarlo Guerrero’s official debut as Music Director, and to kick off the 2009/10 season, the Nashville Symphony will show the entire opening night concert on a huge video screen on the plaza of Schermerhorn Symphony Center, live and free of charge. The First Tennessee All-Beethoven Opening Night with piano sensation Lang Lang will be held Friday, September 11. Beginning at 7 p.m., one hour before the concert, the Symphony is also offering a live, pre-concert streaming video webcast, which will be available on the Symphony website at NashvilleSymphony.org.
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The Bluebird Cafe is proud to present the photographs of New Orleans-based fine art music photographer Erika Goldring. Her character-driven portfolio features photos of numerous musical acts in genres ranging from jazz to bluegrass. The Goldring exhibit will run from September 17, 2009 – January 23, 2010. The opening reception is in conjunction with The Americana Music Festival on September 19, from 3-5 PM.
Mandrell Enters Steel Guitar Hall of Fame
/by Sarah SkatesBarbara Mandrell with Steel Guitar Hall of Fame founder DeWitt Scott ("Scotty") accepting her Hall of Fame honor. Photo: Donna Stroup
Barbara Mandrell became the first woman to be inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame at the International Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, September 5.
Known as the “Sweetheart of the Steel,” Mandrell was a multi-instrumentalist by the time she was 10. She was on tour with The Johnny Cash Show by age 13 and had her first Billboard chart record at age 21. Her NBC variety show, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters drew nearly 40 million viewers weekly and introduced a nation to country music. Earlier this year, Mandrell was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and now accepts the honor of joining the ranks of elite masters of the steel guitar.
Driskill Returns to ASCAP as VP/GM, Nashville
/by FreemanNashville,
TN, Sept. 9, 2009: Connie Bradley, Senior Vice President of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) today announced that Marc Driskill has joined ASCAP as Vice President & General Manager, Nashville. In this newly established position reporting to Bradley, Driskill will direct the goals and objectives of the Nashville Membership staff as well as focus on ASCAP’s general membership efforts.
Bradley commented, “We are delighted to have Marc rejoin us at ASCAP. His business skill and acumen have been well regarded in Nashville both during his previous tenure at ASCAP and in the intervening years at Big Loud Shirt. He will bring a focus and energy to our operations here that will be crucial to our continued success.”
Driskill rejoins ASCAP from Big Loud Shirt and Big Loud Bucks Administration, music publishing and copyright administration companies respectively, where he served for more than three years as Chief Operating Officer for both entities. Prior to his experience at these companies, Driskill was Assistant Vice President, Nashville with ASCAP for nearly eight years.
“I am grateful to be rejoining Connie Bradley and the ASCAP team in Nashville. Connie has been an incredible mentor to me and I look forward to working with her in this new capacity to help ASCAP achieve its ultimate success,” stated Driskill about the appointment.
Photos From CMA’s Big Announcement
/by Sarah SkatesCMA hosts a breakfast at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York City to view the CMA Awards nominations announcements live on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Sept. 9. (l-r) Dan Bowen, CMA VP of Marketing and Communications; RCA Nashville recording artist Chuck Wicks; CMA CEO Tammy Genovese; MCA Nashvhille recording artist Lee Ann Womack; CMA Board President Steve Moore, Senior VP, AEG Live!; Julie Talbott, Executive VP of Affiliate Marketing, Premiere Radio Networks and incoming CMA Board President Steve Buchanan, Sr. VP, Gaylord Entertainment. photo: Stuart Ramson
CMT hosts Cody Alan and Alecia Davis and Universal Records South artist Randy Houser announce some of the final nominees for "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" on CMT’s “CMT Insider” broadcast live from their studio in Nashville on Sept. 9. (l-r) Hank Adam Locklin, CMA Senior Manager of Membership and Industry Relations; John Hamlin, SVP Production and Development, CMT; Alan; Davis; Houser; Laurissa Ryan, Senior Director Talent Relations, CMT; and Jay Frank, SVP Music Strategy, CMT. photo: John Russell
Save The Date: Grammy Noms To Be Announced
/by Sarah SkatesNominations in several categories will be revealed and there will be performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees. Presenters, performers and additional information will be announced shortly.
The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, airing live at 7 PM/CT on CBS.
Twestival Hits Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesThe first global Twestival was held Feb. 12, 2009, and 202 cities participated. The 24-hour “‘tweet-up’ with a social conscience” inspired thousands and raised $250,000 for charity, with Twestival Nashville raising more than $2,200.
Twestival Local gives every city in the world the chance to hold their own Twestival benefiting a local charity of their choice. More info at www.twestivalnashville.com. @twestivalnash
Apple Updates iPod Lineup
/by FreemanThe popular iPod Touch will now be offered in a beefy new 64GB model, priced at $399. The existing 32GB and 8GB models will now be offered at $299 and $199, respectively. And though the iPod Classic is the last of Apple’s iPod devices to use a hard drive instead of flash memory, a new 160GB version will be introduced at the current price of $249. Also announced was Version 9 of iTunes, available for download now.
The event also marked the return of Apple CEO Steve Jobs to the spotlight, since announcing his medical leave from the company in January. Jobs returned to work in June following a successful liver transplant in spring. At the conference Jobs thanked his donor, a young adult who died in a car accident, and urged the audience to become organ donors.
Georgia Boys Give Back: Luke Bryan, Zac Brown Band
/by Sarah SkatesCapitol Rec
ords Nashville artist Luke Bryan is planning a Farm Tour to benefit charities in local farming communities. With the inaugural show set for Oct. 5 in Statesboro, Georgia, these special one-off shows will continue throughout Bryan’s career with additional dates already planned for 2010.
GAC’s Top 20 Countdown will film their show on site at the Oct. 5 event at Hurricane Plantation outside Statesboro. Money raised that night will go to a scholarship fund for students at Georgia Southern University, Bryan’s alma mater. Tickets are available tomorrow (9/10) at lukebryan.com.
The first-ever Farm Tour sh
ow is also the kick-off for Bryan’s Doin’ My Thing album launch where he plans to head to multiple cities in a two week timeframe to meet his fans and play new music. Doin’ My Thing is due in stores Oct. 6.
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CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Zac Brown Band will take their Breaking Southern Ground tour to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre on Oct. 30 to headline a benefit to rebuild the Athens, GA landmark the Georgia Theatre. Prior to a devastating fire earlier this year, the movie-palace-turned-music-club hosted performances by ZBB and local legends including R.E.M., B-52s, Drive-By Truckers and Widespread Panic.
Zac Brown Band are hosting the show and are the first confirmed performers, but they hope to add other successful acts who came up through the beloved venue. Tickets will cost $100 and are available via Ticketmaster. Presented by Outback Concerts.
All For The Hall Adds Etheridge
/by Sarah SkatesAcademy and
Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum artist Melissa Etheridge has been added to the star-studded line-up of performers at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s All for the Hall Los Angeles fundraiser, which will take place on Thurs., Oct. 1 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Etheridge joins previously announced performers Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Dwight Yoakam. www.allforthehall.com/LA.
Meanwhile, several upcoming events at the Hall in Nashville will be presented in conjunction with Americana Week. There will be a screening of Behind the Confessions: Radney Foster’s Revival featuring opening remarks by Foster (9/17), a Songwriter Session with Will Kimbrough (9/19), Banjo Demonstration with Ned Luberecki (9/20) and a screening of 35 Years of Austin City Limits: The Anniversary Show with Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel with opening remarks by ACL founder Terry Lickona (9/19). Free to Americana Music Association conference registrants with badges, and Nashville Film Festival members.
Other happenings: Interview and Performance with Jerry Chesnut as part of the Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters series on Sept. 26. And free Workshops for Teachers on Sept. 17, 22 and Oct. 1. Details for teachers at education@countrymusichalloffame.com.
CMA Broadcast/Radio Nominations
/by Sarah SkatesFinal nominees for the nation’s t
op Country radio stations and broadcast personalities were delivered to Country Radio today, when Chuck Wicks revealed the 2009 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year finalists live from Premiere Radio Networks’ New York City studios. The winners will be notified in mid-October and will be acknowledged at “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards.”
A tough race to call this year is who will claim bragging rights for the National Broadcast Personality of the Year. Nominee Bob Kingsley has won the trophy two times, in 2001, which was the inaugural year for the CMA National Broadcast Personality Award, and 2003. Lia Knight was nominated in 2003 and won in both 2005 and 2007. Nominated for the first time in 2008, Kix Brooks, of Brooks & Dunn, host of “American Country Countdown,” is nominated again in 2009 and if he wins it would be the first time that a County artist would claim a CMA Broadcast Awards trophy.
CMA BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:
National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Citadel Media
“Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40″ (Bob Kingsley) – KCCS Productions, Inc.
“The Lia Show” (Lia Knight) – Dial Global
Major Market
• “The All New Dr. Don Morning Show with Doc, Grunwald, Rachael, and Jason” (Don Carpenter, Steve Grunwald, Rachael Hunter, Jason “The 300 Pound Cowboy” Raithel) – WYCD, Detroit, Mich.
• “Cliff and Company: Cliff, Morgan, Tanner, and Tori” (Cliff Dumas, Morgan Thomas, Bill Tanner, Tori Peck) – KSON, San Diego, Calif.
• “The Cornbread Morning Show featuring Cornbread, Pat James, Producer Annie, Father Harry, and Captain Mac” (Cornbread, Pat James, Annie Henson, Harry Schroeder, Mac “Captain Mac” Douglas) – WIL, St. Louis, Mo.
• “The Laurie De Young Morning Show” (Laurie De Young) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
• “Paul Schadt and Sarah in the Morning” (Paul Schadt, Sarah Waters) – WKKT, Charlotte, N.C.
Large Market
• “Bucky & Bob: The Talk of Austin” (Bucky Godbolt, Bob Cole) – KVET, Austin, Texas
• “Chris Carr & Company” – (Chris Carr, Jeffrey “Maverick” Bolen, Jason Statt) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
• “Jeff Roper in the Morning” (Jeff Roper, Angie Ward, Adam “Flash” Dellinger) – WTQR, Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, N.C.
• “Jim Denny and Friends” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, Kevin Freeman) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
• “Karen, Scott and Radar. . .The Moo Crew” (Karen Dalessandro, Scott Dolphin, Tony “Radar” Hess) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
Medium Market
• “The 97 Country Breakfast Club with Roger, Tom, and Melissa” (Roger Todd, Tom O’Brien, Melissa Moran) – WPCV, Lakeland, Fla.
• “Brian and Kellie Morning Show” (Brian Pierce, Kellie Michaels) – KFDI, Wichita, Kan.
• “The Kat 103 Morning Show with Steve Lundy, Gina, and Craig (Steve Lundy, Gina Melton, Craig Allen) – KXKT, Omaha, Neb.
• “Tom & Becky in the Morning” (Tom Owens, Becky Palmer) – WBBS, Syracuse, N.Y.
• “WIVK at Night with Jack Ryan” (Jack Ryan) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
Small Market
• “Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, Tracy Berry) – KKNU, Eugene, Ore.
• “Bearman and Ken in the Morning” (Benny “Bearman” Martin, Ken Hicks) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
• “Gator & The StyckMan” (Gator Harrison, Greg “StyckMan” Owens) – WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.
• “Mee in the Morning” (Kevin Mee, Brenda Mee) – KIZN, Boise, Idaho
• “Middays with Philip Gibbons” (Philip Gibbons) – WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.
CMA RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
Major Market
KMPS – Seattle/Tacoma, Wash.
KYGO – Denver/Boulder, Colo.
WPOC – Baltimore, Md.
WUSN – Chicago, Ill.
WYCD – Detroit, Mich.
Large Market
KAJA – San Antonio, Texas
KASE – Austin, Texas
WQDR – Raleigh, N.C.
WTQR – Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, N.C.
WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio
Medium Market
KSSN – Little Rock, Ark.
KUZZ – Bakersfield, Calif.
KXKT – Omaha, Neb.
WBBS – Syracuse, N.Y.
WGNA – Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y.
Small Market
WAXX – Eau Claire, Wis.
WBKR – Owensboro, Ky.
WKSF – Asheville, N.C.
WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.
WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.