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Weekly Chart Report (4/27/12)

Brett Eldredge (L) visited with WQYK/Tampa MD Jay Roberts (R) at Sunday’s (4/22) Fun 'n Sun concert and promoted his latest single “It Ain’t Gotta Be Love.”

LIFENOTE
Congratulations to KKWF/Seattle Morning host Fitz and wife Bethany on the birth of their new baby girl, Drew Lynnae. Drew was born Saturday (4/21) and both she and mother are doing well.

SPIN ZONE
You know you’ve had a pretty big hit when you can shed a few spins and stay at No. 1. And so Rascal Flatts’ “Banjo,” 16 weeks into its chart journey, holds for a third consecutive week in the CountryBreakout Chart’s top spot. But it could all change by next week: Eric Church’s “Springsteen” moves up to No. 2, and looks strong with a gain of 102 spins. Also eying the top position are Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States” at No. 4 and Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” at No. 5.

Arista Nashville’s Kristen Kelly recently visited KPLX in Dallas to promote the release of her debut single “Ex-Old Man.” (L-R): Mark Phillips (KPLX Dallas), Kristen Kelly

Kip Moore might also have a big ole hit on his hands with “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck.” He’s at No. 10, and still adding on the rotations with each new chart. And to continue the hit parade, look at Keith Urban’s “For You.” It’s only three weeks old at this point, and already to No. 24. On top of that, it made a huge gain of 505 spins–the week’s largest–to move up from No. 42. There’s also an indie insurgence happening in the Top 40, with Shawna Russell’s “Waitin’ On Sunrise” (No. 31) and Tim Culpepper’s “Ghost” (No. 33) leading a pack that includes Darryl Worley (No. 35), Kaleb McIntire (No. 38), and Marlee Scott (No. 39).

King George Strait is ever the picture of consistency with “Drinkin’ Man” making a big debut at No. 57, which lands just in front of “Come On” by Eric Lee Beddingfield, last week’s top debut. This chart also features the solo country debut of Kelly Clarkson, whose “Mr. Know It All” is finding favor with country programmers at No. 68. Keep an eye out for upcoming singles from Neal McCoy (“Shotgun Rider”) and Jaida Dreyer (“Guy’s Girl”) as they prepare to debut.

Upcoming Singles
April 30
Kristen Kelly/Ex-Old Man/Arista
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joes
Jason Sturgeon/Time Bomb/Toolpusher
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA
JJ McCoy/Sunshine State

May 7
Randy Houser/How Country Feels/Stoney Creek
Michael Dean Church/That’s How We Roll/MDC Records
Bucky Covington/I Wanna Be That Feeling/eOne/New Revolution
Lewis Copeland/She’s Got It Going On/Phull/Jeff McClusky/Turnpike
Jason Thomas/Roll On/MD Records

• • • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 57
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19-RCA – 68
LiveWire/Gone (Remix)/Way Out West – 75
Justin Haigh/People Like Me – 77
Josh Abbott Band/Touch/PDT – 79
Erica Nicole/Tell Me What You Think About Us/Heaven Records – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 505
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 354
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 266
Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw/Feel Like A Rock Star/BNA – 257
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol – 208

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 26
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 21
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster – 13
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19-RCA – 11
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 11
Edens Edge/Too Good To Be True/Big Machine – 11
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joe’s – 9
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol – 9
Scotty McCreery/Water Tower Town/19/Mercury/Interscope – 8
Chris Young/Neon/RCA – 8
Rick Monroe/Crazy Not To/Render Records – 8
Love and Theft/Angel Eyes/RCA – 8

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Lucas Hoge/Give A Damn/Animal House – 195
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster – 171
Scotty McCreery/Water Tower Town/19-Mercury-Interscope – 169
Jaida Dreyer/Guy’s Girl/Soundstream – 169
Adam Gregory/High On You/Calusa Entertainment-GMV Nashville – 167

Black River Entertainment’s Glen Templeton recently paid a visit to WYNK/Baton Rouge. (L-R): Templeton, Black River's Megan Good; WYNK Music Director Austin James; Black River's General Manager, Greg McCarn

Marlee Scott stopped by Thunder 102/WDNB in upstate New York to be a co-host on Ciliberto & Friends. She also helped Paul Ciliberto with his karate kick. (L-R): Michelle Semerano (Ciliberto & Friends), Scott, Ciliberto.

Charlie Cook On Air: Chrysler and Advertising

Newsflash: Advertising works!

I guess those of us in radio have always known that. Otherwise why would we be playing 10-20 commercials per hour?

Chrysler Motors has discovered this recently. Considered the little sister of the Big Three automakers, Chrysler was way behind in the perception of the car buying public.

I grew up in Detroit and as a kid Chrysler was always behind GM and Ford. General Motors was SOOOOO big and Ford was the local company.

Chrysler tried so many things to chase primarily Ford. They went the muscle car route chasing the Mustang and then they finally hired Lee Iacocca after he left Ford. Mr. Iacocca went in a different direction and basically invented the minivan taking Chrysler to a specific winning position. (I understand that Mr. Iacocca was not the designer of the minivan but without his support it would have never happened.)

Fast forward to the last five years as the auto industry hit the skids. Radio was one of the biggest losers in this fall. Less car sales means less advertising. Less advertising means less disc jockeys. (It will be interesting to see if more car sales and thus more advertising means more disc jockeys. HAHAHA I crack myself up).

Two of the three American automakers took financial support from the US government in order to get through these bad times. Chrysler was one of the two and their future really did look gloomy.

But something has happened that has lifted Chrysler ahead of GM. Chrysler does not seem to be as stained with the bailout as GM, derisively referred to as Government Motors.

What has helped Chrysler climb out of the basement? Good ole advertising.

A lot of people will look back to the Clint Eastwood spot during the Super Bowl as a reason for the success but a recent survey found that this was more of a negative than a positive for Chrysler. The spot certainly got America’s attention but some thought that it was more a political endorsement than a car commercial.

Getting everyone’s attention was worth the effort though, as Chrysler got on people’s radar. Once the car buying public was attuned to Chrysler again their marketing started to make inroads.

You cannot sell something to someone unless you get their attention. Running a spot, any spot, in the Super Bowl will usually get people’s attention.

The car company launched a huge “comeback” theme campaign and introduced 16 new or redesigned models in the last couple of years. They had a lot to talk about and this has translated into a 25% increase in sales last year and just as importantly an increase in positive opinion with potential car buyers. The more often you see a Chrysler product on the road the better you feel about the car and it opens your mind to purchasing one.

A survey company named YouGov calculates a buzz score for products. Their results measure the difference between the positive and negative things people are saying about a company.

This month Chrysler measured a +17. The scale goes from -100 to +100 so +17 is better than it sounds.  And the +17 was good enough to best GM’s +15. Ford is at +37.

And to put this in better perspective, three years ago Chrysler scored -41.

This 57 point swing tells us that the trend for Chrysler is very good and you will begin seeing even more Dodge and Jeep products on the road. You will also be hearing more Chrysler advertising on the radio and that is good for us.

Bobby Karl Works NaFF’s World Premiere of the Hank Cochran Documentary

Lee Ann Womack yesterday (4/25) at NaFF.

Photos by Shelley Justiss/NaFF

Chapter 395

I usually try to make a point of supporting the Nashville Film Festival by attending some of its many movies with music themes. On Wednesday evening (4/25) that meant a trip to Green Hills for the sold-out screening of Hank Cochran: Livin’ for a Song. The documentary tells the life story of one of the most endearing, gifted, fascinating, charismatic, charming and quirky characters who ever called Nashville home.

Hank Cochran died in 2010. The filmmakers immortalized his remarkable saga during the five years leading up to then. The film’s content is thoroughly compelling, for Cochran was one of the great raconteurs. His life story is fascinating as a fourth-grade-educated Mississippi child who rose to become a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (and who should be a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame). His classic songs are undeniable – “Make the World Go Away,” “She’s Got You,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” “The Chair,” “Don’t Touch Me,” “It’s Not Love But It’s Not Bad,” “Why Can’t He Be You,” “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me,” “Ocean Front Property,” “A-11,” “That’s All That Matters to Me,” “A Little Bitty Tear,” “This Ain’t My First Rodeo,” “Who You Gonna Blame it on This Time,” “You Comb Her Hair,” “Funny Way of Laughing,” “Is It Raining at Your House” etc. etc.

Whenever someone performs one of these in the movie, time stands still. Elvis Costello, Ronnie Milsap, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Mandy Barnett, Beegie Adair, Mike Henderson, Mark Chesnutt and others create magic whenever they’re on screen in song.

Buddy Cannon yesterday (4/25) at the NaFF.

So, yes, the content is terrific. The film’s finesse, not so much. The Nashville Scene charitably described it as “a straight-forward, no-cinematic-frills documentary.” What that means is that absolutely no attention seems to have been paid to photographic composition, lighting, film technique or visual quality. It’s as if the subjects were simply sat down just anywhere and the camera turned on. At times, the visual results are downright ugly. Also, my heart went out to whoever had to deal with the wildly varying sound quality during editing and post-production.

But for the sheer enjoyment of seeing and hearing “Hanktum” again, we were willing to put up with oafish production values. Packing the Regal Cinema 16 were John Prine, John D. Loudermilk, Dean Dillon, Dale Dodson, Luke Lewis, Martha Moore, Troy Tomlinson, Mandy Barnett, Buddy Cannon, Jay Orr, Suzanne Kessler, Cathy Gurley, Brett Woolcott, Suzi Cochran, Holly Gleason, Vernell Hackett and Belmont’s Don Cusic and James Elliott, among many others.

Mark Chestnutt and NaFF Executive Director Ted Crockett.

Other music-oriented films at the festival centered on Paul Williams, Charlie Louvin, Rick Springfield, Dolly Parton, Paul Simon, Bobby Bare Jr., Wes Cunningham, Andrew Bird, Common and Hole rock drummer Patty Schemel. Under African Skies, the doc about Simon’s Graceland album, won the Music Films Grand Jury Prize. Parton was given the Career Achievement Award. Williams was presented with the Mike Curb Award for Film Music. Nashville theater entrepreneur, director, actor, playwright and filmmaker jeff obafemi carr won a special award for He Ain’t Heavy, his controversial film about fraternity hazing.

• • • 

The hostess with the mostest at Tuesday’s (4/24) Dining Out for Life AIDS charity event at numerous Nashville restaurants, was Kay West, presiding at the French-themed bistro Table 3.

She attracted such fabulons as Kristi Rose, Jill Forbert, Robert Ellis Orrall, Tamara Saviano, Wendy Stamberger, Liz Thiels, Elaine Wood, Paula Batson and Denise Stiff, not to mention a big politico table including Rich Riebling, Christine LaLonde, Dan Kornfeld, Hedy Weinberg and I-hope-our-future-mayor Megan Barry.

Miss Mary dined on the succulent veggies in puff pastry. I had the beef bourguignon, which was delish.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/25/12)

This is the time to shine for Lee Brice.

As a singer, songwriter and record maker, he is firing on all eight cylinders. As a singer, he had Billboard’s most-played country single of 2010 with “Love Like Crazy.” As a songwriter, he had Billboard’s most-played country single of 2011 with The Eli Young Band’s rendition of his “Crazy Girl.” That same song earned him the 2012 ACM award for Song of the Year. You will recall that in 2007, he was the cowriter of “More Than a Memory” by Garth Brooks, the only song to debut at No. 1 on the charts. Yesterday, his Hard 2 Love CD hit the stores with a bang. Its leadoff single, “A Woman Like You” rules the hit parade at No. 1. In addition, this week, Lee Brice lands his first Disc of the Day award from “DisClaimer” with the album’s title tune.

And he’s not the only one with a happening track today. The Lionel Richie & Billy Currington duet, Sawyer Brown, Bucky Covington and Due West all gave Lee a run for his money.

Our DisCovery Award goes to Herrick. The four-piece band enlisted Michael Bonagura of Baillie & The Boys to produce 10 tracks of its album, plus four “bonus” tunes produced by Buddy Cannon. Not too shabby, eh? The group’s debut full-length CD is titled New Dance. It will pin your ears back.

LOCASH COWBOYS/C.O.U.N.T.R.Y.
Writer: Chris Lucas/Preston Brust/Jeffrey Steele; Producer: Jeffrey Steele; Publisher: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Sony-ATV Tree/Jeffrey Steele/BPJ, ASCAP/BMI; R&J
—This is not the same song that Joe Diffie had with this title in 1996. No indeedy. This one is an amped-up, super-electrified rocker that has next to nothing to do with actual country music. I’ll take Diffie’s tune any day.

CRAIG MORRISON/Fences
Writer: none listed; Producer: Mark Moffatt; Publisher: none listed; CMM (track) (www.craigmorrisonmusic.com)
—This Aussie cracks the U.S. country marketplace with a gently rolling social statement about the nature of barricades in our lives. Well written and expertly produced, it’s a mighty promising debut.

BUCKY COVINGTON/I Wanna Be That Feeling
Writer: Jimmy Yeary/Ben Hayslip; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Black to Black/Get a Load of This/Warner Chappell, BMI/ASCAP; Entertainment One (www.buckycovington.com)
—Hearty and engaging, this comeback single has plenty of melodic oomph and production excitement. With pile-driving punch a-plenty, it’s exceedingly radio friendly. A real contender.

DUE WEST/Things You Can’t Do in a Car
Writer: Brad Hull; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Hull to Pay/Offer You Can’t Refuse, BMI; Black River
—In praise of pickup trucks, this jaunty little number bubbles and bounces in all the right places.

SAWYER BROWN/Ain’t Goin’ Out That Way
Writer: Robert Ellis Orall/Stephen Barker Liles/Brad Douglas Warren/Brett Daniel Warren; Producer: Mark Miller; Publisher: Orall Fixation/It’s a Birthday Party/Rockapop/Stylsonic/EMI Blackwood, ASCAP/BMI; Beach Street (CDX)
—The country-rock arrangement is sunny and bright, yet the gritty, poor-boy lyric is a downbeat contrast. I dig the dogged, determined message as well as the insanely catchy track.

PAT GREEN/All Just to Get to You
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Sugar Hill (ERG)
—The song is terrific, as is his vocal delivery. He should have been surrounded with a more lustrous or muscular production instead of this somewhat spare one. But the performance and composition are so strong that they carry the day nevertheless.

MARK WAYNE GLASMIRE/I Like You
Writer: Mark Wayne Glasmire; Producer: John Albani & John Wayne Glasmire; Publisher: Traceway, ASCAP; Traceway (track) (www.markwayneglasmire.com)
—I have consistently enjoyed this artist’s releases. But this faux-beach, pseudo-Buffett style of country music is among my least favorites. Pass.

LEE BRICE/Hard to Love
Writer: Billy Montana/John Ozier/Ben Glover; Producer: Kyle Jacobs & Matt McClure; Publisher: Mike Curb/Dandon Ranch/Over the Bar/91 One/Arose/EMICMG, BMI/ASCAP; Curb (track)
—Lee is coming off a chart topper (”A Woman Like You”) and remains a strong up-and-comer, so this release is crucial to his forward momentum. I think it will do the trick just fine. The insistent tune, steady rhythm, earnest vocal and true-to-life lyric are all ear tickling. Up, up, up it goes.

HERRICK/Cry Memphis
Writer: Donna Herrick/Kerry Herrick/David Walker; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: none listed; BreakAway (track) (www.herricklive.com)
—I like it, I like it. The song has a cool, moody, minor-key tune and a dramatic, girl-gone-wrong lyric. Donna’s lead vocal is supported by the band’s ultra-haunting harmonies. Captivating.

LIONEL RICHIE & BILLY CURRINGTON/Just for You
Writer: Lionel Richie/Paul Barry/Mark Taylor; Producer: Tony Brown & Lionel Richie; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville (track) ()
—The songs on Richie’s new Tuskegee CD of country duets are his familiar classics. Except for this one. Evidently, it was a hit in Europe, but it only got to No. 92 on the U.S. pop charts (in 1994). Leave it to song-magnet Currington to wind up with this deliciously melodic, hypnotically rhythmic jewel as his selection on the disc. No one, but no one, writes songs this perfectly pristine as Lionel Richie does. Music to make your heart sing.

Keith Urban Inducted Into the Grand Ole Opry

(L-R): Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP and General Manager; Trace Adkins; Urban; Josh Turner; Photo: Chris Hollo

Keith Urban was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family this Saturday (4/21) by Opry members Trace Adkins and Josh Turner.

(L-R): Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP and General Manager; Urban; Steve Buchanan, President Grand Ole Opry Group; Photo: Chris Hollo

After Urban performed his hits “Days Go By” and “Without You” on the Opry stage, Adkins presented him with his Opry Member Award and made his membership official.

“Thank you very much! Yee haw! That is awesome!” Urban began. After thanking the Opry’s members, his parents, wife and daughters, and fans among others, the country artist who was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia continued, “It’s a long way from Caboolture [Queensland, Australia] to the stage here at the Grand Ole Opry. To stand in this circle is the most phenomenal thing. I just want to thank the Opry for this honor, but also the responsibility. This is a responsibility that I take deep to the heart of me. This once and for all shows the global popularity and reach of country music. I honor the history of country music, but I absolutely fully dedicate myself to the future of country music, as well. God bless you all.”

After the induction Urban added his name plaque to the Member Gallery backstage at the Opry by using a pocketknife given to him by Opry member Marty Stuart. Later during an after show reception, Urban used the same knife to cut the Fender-shaped guitar cake.  Urban quipped, “I just got this knife tonight and already I’ve used it to screw in a plaque and cut a cake.”

Urban at press conference backstage of the Opry.

Prior to his induction during the Opry show, Urban held a press conference backstage. Reflecting on the career milestone Urban said, “I get asked a lot where my musical inspiration comes from. Of course, from my family and friends, and in particular, from one line in a Waylon Jennings song called, ‘Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way.’ The song has always been the perfect summation of what I love about playing country music because it’s about the diversity, evolution and keeping it growing. For me, getting this induction is a way to dedicate myself not only to the history, but also to the future of country music. There’s a line in the song asking, ‘Where do we take it from here?’ That is the defining question that inspires me to keep trying new things and bring new things in to expand and grow it. I am passionately interested in where we go from here.”

Urban added, “I first came to town in 1989 and shopped a demo around to four or five different labels. Looking back it was just a terrible demo, no wonder nobody made it through the first two verses. But out of all the people I met, I got some good support in a letter from RCA’s Mary Martin. She talked about country music being in a particularly traditional period. But she said ‘I hope you find a home here,’ and that was all I needed to hear.”

(L-R): Steve Buchanan, President Grand Ole Opry Group; Trace Adkins; Keith Urban; Josh Turner; Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP and General Manager; Photo: Chris Hollo

MusicRow Chats With Country Legend Dolly Parton (Part 2)

MusicRow recently sat down with country legend Dolly Parton to discuss her latest project, An Evening with… Dolly, how Whitney Houston affected her life, the new Water and Snow Park venture in Nashville, her future plans and more. For Part 1 of this interview, click here.

With Whitney’s passing, could you talk through the amazing history of “I Will Always Love you?”

“I Will Always Love You” is just another one of those songs like “9 to 5.” It just keeps going and going. I’ll probably be remembered for that more than anything. As most know that have followed my career, I wrote it about leaving the Porter Wagoner Show. When I started with Porter, I already had three chart records and I said I’d stay for five years. When the five years ended, we were really hot and Porter didn’t want me to go. I said “you said I could.” He said “well, you’re not,” and I said “I am.” This went on and on and we fought a lot over it. I finally thought he’s so stubborn and he’s never going to listen to me. This is going to be nothing but heartache and we’re going to go through this every day. I went home that night and wrote out what I was feeling in my heart and took it back the next day and said, “Porter, sit down. There’s something I need you to hear.” I started singing the song and I was emotional, he got emotional and we’re both crying by the time I finished the song. He said “Okay, that’s the best thing you ever wrote and you can go if I can produce a record on that song.” “Okay, it’s a deal,” I said. So that’s how it came to be.

And then as everyone knows, the song went on to become a huge hit for you.

Yes, I had a No. 1 record on it. And again when I did the Best Little “Chickenhouse” in Texas. Vince and I had a Top 10 duet with it. But it was only when Whitney Houston took it and took it all over the world with The Bodyguard that it really became what it is today. I always think of that as our song and it just killed me when they lifted her coffin up at the funeral and they started playing that song. It was like you could have stabbed me in the heart with a dagger! And that’s when I broke down. I bet that won’t be the only coffin lifted up for that song to play. I figured when I’m dead, it’ll probably be the same thing and it was just overwhelming to me. I will always be grateful and thankful to her for making that song all the things that it is.

When you start to write a song, is it the same now compared to when you were first starting out?

Well, the process has not changed. As a songwriter, you always long for that time and that space, when you can go on what I call a writing binge. I’m addicted to my songwriting. That’s my favorite thing I do. I long for those days. I write something almost every day. Everything rhymes to me and everything is a song. There is nothing more sacred and more precious to me when I can really get into that zone where it’s just God and me. I really let those juices flow, and I still get the same feeling from it as I did when I was young, hoping I made money for it. But I never did it for the money and I would still do it if I wasn’t making money. It’s a sacred place for me.

Have you always had so much confidence on stage?

Well, I haven’t always had the confidence but hopefully you build it through the years since you’re always growing. I do get those butterflies. People say, “Do you get nervous?” I don’t get scared, but I do kinda get a little nervous sometimes. I remember the first time I ever went on stage. My uncle Bill Owens, who’s my mother’s brother, had so much confidence in me and thought I was going to be star. He used to take me around to all these places and the first time I sang in front of an audience, it was on The Cas Walker Show in Knoxville. It was a radio show but it was done in a little theater and there were people in the audience. I went out to sing my song and it tore the house down. I didn’t have another song so I kept singing that same song over and over. When we were walking through the parking lot, I said to my uncle, and I was 10, “Well, they like me, didn’t they? I guess I’m gonna be a star.” It was years later that I realized I wasn’t that good. They liked me cause I was little, not ’cause I was good. That built my confidence ’cause I got that great response and I fell in love with the crowd. I always try to remember that and still do.

Dolly with former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee who recently visited Nashville to interview the superstar for his show on Fox News.

What is your favorite cut that somebody else made of one your songs?

I love the way people interpret my songs. I love it. They did that tribute album a few years back, all those girls, and I was surprised at all the different ways they did my songs. I think probably one my favorite things outside of Whitney’s “I Will Always Love You” is Emmylou’s song of mine called “To Daddy.” She had a number one song on that. A lot of people don’t know that I wrote the song. I had written it in one of the biggest fights that Porter and I ever had. He had produced the song and this goes to show you how songwriters are. We had recorded it and he thought that we should put it out as a single. Well, Emmylou, being a friend was down at the studio when we were recording and said, “Dolly, I have to have that song.” Porter said, “Well, you can’t have that song ’cause we’re going to put that out with Dolly.” I said, “She can have that song!” And he said, “She can’t have that song!” Emmy said, “I don’t mean to start no trouble but I would really love to have that song ’cause you can write some more!” Anyway, I fought Porter over it and I guess you know who won! He never did forgive me when it became a number one. I was always really proud of that and it had a story to go along with it.

What can you tell us about the new Water Park and Snow Park?

We’re excited. I want to clear up a few things. I think everybody in Nashville is thinking we’re going to rebuild Opryland. It’s not going to be Opryland. It’s not going to be Dollywood. We’re actually trying to come up with a whole new concept. Our first phase is going to be the water and snow park. Hopefully we’ll have the first phase open Spring 2014. We will be announcing what’s going in the next phase at that time. We’re still working on what it’s going to be. We are providing good jobs for people that need them right now. The first phase will have at least 500 people with the construction this fall when we start breaking ground. We’re still trying to come up with the perfect name.

Any upcoming projects?

I’m not touring this year. I took time off to write. I’m writing my life story as a musical and I’m probably going to do my life story as a movie too. I have a book that’s going to come out this fall, a positive uplifting little book that I’ll be donating most of the proceeds to The Imagination Library, my literacy program. I’m also going to be writing some children’s books.

Having recently completed a media blitz that included 82 interviews in 14 hours over 2 days, along with her long list of upcoming projects, there’s no sign this country legend has any plans to slow down.

Underwood Leads CMT Noms

Carrie Underwood is the leading nominee for the 2012 CMT Music Awards, scoring nods in five categories. Miranda Lambert earned four nominations—two for her solo work and two as a member of first-time nominees Pistol Annies.

Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars and Thompson Square secured three nominations each.

The candidates were announced this morning (4/23) on NBC’s Today show by host Hoda Kotb, guest co-host Willie Geist, and Little Big Town, who received a nomination in the CMT Performance of the Year category for their version of Coldplay’s “Fix You” from the concert special, Music Builds: The CMT Disaster Relief Concert.

Fans can vote now through June 4 to determine the winners. Voting is online at CMT.com, and available on mobile devices at CMT Mobile., and the CMT Insider app for iPhone, iPad or Android.

The five nominees for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com, CMT mobile, on the CMT Insider app and via text message throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

The 2012 CMT Music Awards marks the 11th anniversary of the show and will air live from Nashville on June 6 on CMT and CMT.com.

Video of the Year
Jason Aldean — “Dirt Road Anthem”
Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter — “You and Tequila”
Toby Keith — “Red Solo Cup”
Lady Antebellum — “We Owned the Night”
Miranda Lambert — “Over You”
Brad Paisley With Carrie Underwood — “Remind Me”
Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield — “Easy”
Blake Shelton — “God Gave Me You”
Taylor Swift Featuring the Civil Wars — “Safe & Sound”
Carrie Underwood — “Good Girl”

Male Video of the Year
Jason Aldean — “Dirt Road Anthem”
Luke Bryan — “I Don’t Want This Night to End”
Eric Church — “Drink in My Hand”
Toby Keith — “Red Solo Cup”
Blake Shelton — “God Gave Me You”
Keith Urban — “Long Hot Summer”

Female Video of the Year
Sara Evans — “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”
Miranda Lambert — “Over You”
Martina McBride — “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
Kellie Pickler — “Tough”
Taylor Swift — “Ours”
Carrie Underwood — “Good Girl”

Group Video of the Year
Eli Young Band — “Crazy Girl”
Lady Antebellum — “We Owned the Night”
Pistol Annies — “Hell on Heels”
Rascal Flatts — “Banjo”
The Band Perry — “All Your Life”
Zac Brown Band — “Keep Me in Mind”

Duo Video of the Year
Love and Theft — “Angel Eyes”
Montgomery Gentry — “Where I Come From”
Sugarland — “Tonight”
The Civil Wars — “Poison and Wine”
Thompson Square — “Glass”
Thompson Square — “I Got You”

USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year
Lauren Alaina — “Georgia Peaches”
Brantley Gilbert — “Country Must Be Country Wide”
Hunter Hayes — “Storm Warning”
Scotty McCreery — “The Trouble With Girls”
Pistol Annies — “Hell on Heels”
Thompson Square — “I Got You”

Collaborative Video of the Year
Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)
Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter — “You and Tequila”
Brad Paisley With Carrie Underwood — “Remind Me”
Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield — “Easy”
Lionel Richie With Shania Twain — “Endless Love”
Taylor Swift Featuring the Civil Wars — “Safe & Sound”
Zac Brown Band Featuring Jimmy Buffett — “Knee Deep”

CMT Performance of the Year
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT
Jason Aldean — “Tattoos on This Town” from 2011 CMT Artists of the Year
Lady Antebellum — “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” from 2011 CMT Artists of the Year
Little Big Town — “Fix You” from Music Builds: The CMT Disaster Relief Concert
Blake Shelton — “Footloose” from Invitation Only: Blake Shelton
Sting and Vince Gill — “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You” from CMT Crossroads: Sting and Vince Gill
Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood — “Just a Dream/Dream On” from CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam

Weekly Chart Report (4/20/2012)

WCOW/Sparta, WI picked up the People’s Choice Award for Best Radio Station in Northwest Wisconsin at the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards in Appleton last Sunday (4/15). WCOW PD Arnie Andrews (pictured) dedicated the honor to the Rice family, who have owned the station since 1953.

SPIN ZONE
Rascal Flatts is still making a case for “Banjo”-driven music and some rural surroundings, sticking for a second week as the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 song. In fact, positions 1-6 remain entirely unchanged despite big gains by Eric Church’s “Springsteen” at No. 3 and Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States” at No. 4. Maybe next week, guys. Strutting their way toward the top are Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You” moving 10-7, Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” moving 9-8 at Kip Moore’s“Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck” moving 12-10.

It’s superstar summer single-stravaganza time, and heatwave calibrated tunes are on the rise. Toby Keith’s “Beers Ago” is hovering just outside the Top 10 at No. 12, moving up with a big 268 spin gain. Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw’s “Feel Like a Rock Star” isn’t far behind at No. 16 after only three weeks. Also in the hunt is Dierks Bentley’s “5-1-5-0” which jumps to No. 20.

A couple of impressive debuts jump out in the second half of the chart, led by MusicRow Independent Artist of the Year Eric Lee Beddingfield’s “Come On” at No. 71. Just a step behind at No. 72 is Montgomery Gentry’s “So Called Life.” Outside the Top 80 and poised for some chart action is Josh Abbott Band’s “Touch,” and the countrified version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Mr. Know It All.”

Frozen Playlists: KYKX, WAAG, WGGC, WKBQ, WKWS

Upcoming Singles
April 23
Rick Monroe/Crazy Not To/Render
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19/RCA
Eric Lee Beddingfield/Come On/Rebel Dawg
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster/Rodeowave

April 30
Kristen Kelly/Ex-Old Man/Arista
Little Big Town/Pontoon/Capitol
Lewis Copeland/She’s Got It Going On/Phull
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joes
LoCash Cowboys/C-O-U-N-T-R-Y/R&J
Jason Sturgeon/Time Bomb/Toolpusher
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Eric Lee Beddingfield/Come On/Rebel Dawg Records – 71
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joe’s – 72
Greg Bates/Did It For The Girl/Republic Nashville – 77
Chad Warrix/Rain On The Roof – 78
Steve Richard/Toothbrush/Force MP – 79
Edens Edge/Too Good To Be True/Big Machine – 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 378
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 313
Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw/Feel Like A Rock Star/BNA – 281
Toby Keith/Beers Ago/Show Dog – Universal – 268
Eric Lee Beddingfield/Come On/Rebel Dawg Records – 233

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol – 24
Eric Lee Beddingfield/Come On/Rebel Dawg Records – 20
George Strait/Drinkin’ Man/MCA – 13
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol – 12
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joe’s – 10
Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw/Feel Like A Rock Star/BNA – 9
Greg Bates/Did It For The Girl/Republic Nashville – 8
Martina McBride feat. Pat Monahan/Marry Me/Republic Nashville – 7

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
LiveWire/Gone (Remix)/Way Out West – 205
Josh Abbott Band/Touch/PDT – 200
Justin Haigh/People Like Me – 199
Erica Nicole/Tell Me What You Think About Us/Heaven Records – 179
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19-RCA – 171

Show Dog – Universal Music’s Jessie James and her fiancé, Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, kicked off the singer’s birthday (4/12) with a stop at KMPS/Seattle. (L-R): Jimmy Rector (Show Dog-Universal), Pat Garrett (KMPS MD), Decker, James, Ed Hill (KMPS PD).

MCA’s Kip Moore recently dropped by to visit KEEY/Minneapolis. His "Somethin' 'Bout A Truck " is making its way up MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart, landing at No. 10 this week and passing Gold download sales. (L-R): KEEY’s Gregg Swedberg, Moore, KEEY’s JD Greene.

Gloriana recently visited WXBQ in Bristol, VA and the group’s single “(Kissed You) Good Night” is currently at No. 17 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): Gloriana’s Rachel, Bill Hagy (WXBQ PD), Reggie Neel (WXBQ on air personality) with Gloriana’s Tom and Mike.

Curb Records recording artist Rachel Holder stopped in for a visit with Todd Nixon at WCKT/WCTQ Cat Country 107.1 in Fort Myers, FL. Holder’s new single, “In Your Arms,” is racing up MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart at No. 21 this week. The single’s video at CMT Pure and CMT.com.

Todd Cassetty’s First Film Set For Nashville Premiere Thurs.

“It’s not dissimilar from what we do with a lot of artists here in Nashville,” explains filmmaker Todd Cassetty of his first documentary, set for its Music City premiere tomorrow night (4/19) at the Nashville Film Festival. “We follow them through what they’re doing in the moment, in detail, and tell their story. In this case, it just happened to be a story that involved us getting pepper-sprayed.”

Cassetty, a director and producer who has created television specials for Taylor Swift, and recent pieces for Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, is behind 5 Days In Denver, his first full-length film which follows a group of protestors at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. The film is also an examination of present day First Amendment rights, media coverage of dissent, and the relevance of protest in modern society.

Todd Cassetty

“I’ve always wanted to make a documentary,” explains Cassetty. “And it was 2008, an election year, and I came up with the idea of following protestors through either the Democratic or Republican national convention because I’d never seen a modern documentary that follows protestors in the moment. I found a very organized and focused group that was going to protest in Denver at the DNC. For eight days during the DNC I had a crew of 12 following them around as they took to the streets.”

The group of protesters called Re-create 68, named for the spirit of 1968, rallies against the American government. In Denver in 2008 this included defying federal court orders and ultimately being arrested.

“There’s plenty of drama with police and riot gear and pepper spray and we were right in the middle of all that,” Cassetty continues. “We had gas masks with us, in case we needed them. We had a lawyer on speed dial. But another key part of the film deals with the preparation leading up to the DNC and how this group had to struggle to exercise their First Amendment rights. They had to sue the city of Denver and the Secret Service to get access to parade routes. They were vilified in the media. It was really eye-opening for somebody like me, who’s not very political, to see what these people had to go through. And even if I’m not interested in making a sign and marching in the street, I still feel like people should be able to do that, and I was shocked by how the government does not make it easy. Before this, the only exposure I’ve had to protestors is what most people have had: a sixty second clip on the news.”

The documentary took three years to complete due to Cassetty’s busy career, but it is now making the film festival rounds, timed perfectly during the current election and the DNC next September. He hopes to tackle more socially conscious projects in the future while continuing the entertainment work he loves.

The film’s tagline: Think democracy is easy? Think again. See the trailer below.

Weekly Register: Lionel Richie Rides High

Lionel Richie and Tim McGraw after singing "Sail On."

This week in sales again belonged to Lionel Richie who topped the country album sales chart with over 128k units driving Tuskegee’s 3-week sales to a lofty 423k. Actually, Richie was the only current country album in chart positions 1-39 to post a positive move, jumping 35%. For the how? and why? Read on.

Readers will recall that last week’s Nielsen SoundScan rankings were impacted by the ACM Awards show which gave many artists nice looking percentage gains and boosted the Rascal Flatts debut, but in reality, didn’t greatly move the needle on total country album sales tonnage. And like the tide, last week’s incoming percentage gains gave way to this week’s outgoing deficits as w/w country album sales dropped 23%.

The ACM wisely takes advantage of having all the artists gathered for its awards show by shooting an additional TV special the following day (as does the CMA with its Christmas gala). This year it was ACM Presents Lionel Richie and Friends, an all-star benefit for ACM’s Lifting Lives charity. The chief architect of this event should take a deep bow, for it proved to achieve a splendid convergence of goals. The two-hour show gave CBS a ratings win for the evening, offered a stellar marketing tie-in with the Tuskegee album, raised money for charity and offered multiple artists additional TV time.

Richie’s new album of duets with country stars was re-created In Concert and it worked smoothly. Performers included Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans and Marc Anthony, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, and Blake Shelton, but one star shown brighter than all the rest. Mr. Richie exuded the confidence and charm of a seasoned professional while his voice and songbook did the talking. Several artists have already personally confided to me that working with Lionel Richie was a career highlight.

The Weekly Grid
This week’s grid has a new column and a few tweaks. The data is all YTD and now shows Last Week and This Week to offer a bit more perspective. The far right column is new and shows album sales including TEA albums for both country and all genre. This is the first week we have been able to get all the necessary information to be able to compare apples to apples, meaning 2012 to 2011. Country is showing a healthy 11.06% YTD sales gain compared with the same period last year while all genre sports a more modest 2.42% gain. These results are not surprising because country track sales are exploding compared with all genre, up 23.8% YTD (all genre is up 8%). The country albums w/TEA total is 15.929 million albums. The all genre figure is 131.716 million. Last week’s TEA index helps to show the percentage of the albums w/TEA that is tracks based.

Upcoming
Kip Moore, Lee Brice and Carrie Underwood are some of the upcoming releases. Click here to see more.

Also, there’s still time to register for next week’s Leadership Music Digital Summit. Your Scribe will be taking part in what promises to be an educational day. Don’t miss it.