ARTISTS & MUSIC BNA's lonestar `Already' Getting Response To New Album BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE thing," McDonald says of Lones- ald says their philosophy was "if it previous album -all the great able to be at home a lot of the time, NASHVILLE -Following a hit tar's third album, which followed isn't broke, don't break it. It seems writers in Nashville are definitely but in our minds, we don't ever album is no easy feat, but BNA 1996's self-titled debut and 1997's like we found our niche with Lone- pitching you their `A' songs," says leave.' So I started this song." band Lonestar refused to be intim- Crazy Nights. ly Grill and the sounds that Dann McDonald, whose bandmates are RCA Label Group (RLG) chair- idated by the success of its plat- McDonald says the success of Huff created, and we wanted to go guitarist Michael Britt, drummer man Joe Galante is naturally inum- selling album Lonely Grill Lonely Grill, which has spent 104 in the same direction. Everybody Keach Rainwater, and keyboardist pleased with the single's quick when it went into the studio to weeks on Billboard's Top Country said, `Will you have another Dean Sams. "Unfortunately there ascent of the charts. It rises 6 -4 record the forthcoming I'm Al- Albums chart, "gave us the luxury" "Amazed" on there ?' And we didn't are only 12 songs on an album. If this issue after just nine weeks on ready There. of being more confident in record- want to do the same thing twice not, we would have had 100 great the chart. Indeed, according to Lonestar ing the new album. "You always feel because everyone would say, `Hey, songs on there. It was a tough "Lonestar was the first group I lead vocalist Richie McDonald, the pressure," he says, "but it's more they did it again.' We just wanted selection process. You just narrow signed when I came back to Nash- success of Lonely Grill, propelled going in and just wanting to do bet- to make it different but still let it be it down to those ones that you real- ville," Galante says, referring to by the multi -format hit "Amazed," ter than the last time. You try to the same direction." ly feel passionate about." his return to Music Row after a provided a more comfortable find passionate songs. There was One perk the group gleaned stint with RCA in New York. platform from which to launch the pressure, but not as much pressure from Lonely Grill's momentum "I've always been impressed with band's new endeavor. "We felt as there has been." was having its pick of Nashville's how good a band they are, and on pressure when we recorded In approaching the new album top songs. "That's another luxury each and every record, they've Lonely Grill. We had to do some- with producer Dann Huff, McDon- when you have success on your grown tighter and better. They are going to continue to be part of the fabric of country music 20 years from now." Though "Amazed" brought the Derailers Bach On Track With Lucky Dog; band success beyond the country format, there are no plans to con- Purchases BCM tinue pursuing crossover success. Carus Entertainment "Lonestar is not creating music to SIGNINGS: The Derallers have been signed to Sony continue her role as honorary chairperson of BCM. be pop. Lonestar is just creating Music Nashville's Lucky Dog label. The Austin, Texas- Meanwhile, BCM has licensed the production, broad- LONESTAR great music," says RLG executive based group previously recorded for London /Sire cast, and marketing rights to the annual Canadian VP Butch Waugh. "If we can have Records. Their first Lucky Dog album, produced by Country Music Awards show for the next five years. McDonald is particularly enthu- pop success, that's great.When you Kyle Lehning, is due Aug. 14 and features Delbert BCM's plans include the largest budget commitment siastic about "Not a Day Goes By," listen to the album, there are songs McClinton playing harmonica on one track. for the show in its 15 -year history. This year's show will written by Steve Diamond and that could easily cross to pop, but Dualtone Records has signed former Decca artist be held Sept. 10 in Calgary, Alberta. Maribeth Derry. Another one of his that's not the way the album was Chris Knight. His first album for the label, Pretty Good favorite cuts is "Unusually Unusu- cut. The album was cut for country Guy, is due Sept. 4. Dan Baird, formerly of the Geor- ARTIST NEWS: Lyric Street artist Kortney Kayle al," penned by VFR Records artist radio. If we have pop success, it will gia Satellites, is producing. has landed a recurring role on sister company ABC - Mark McGuinn of "Mrs. Steven be natural and organic, just the way The William Morris Agency has signed Lucky TV's daytime drama One Life to Live. Kayle will play Rudy" fame. McDonald remembers `Amazed' was." Dog /Columbia artist Charlie Robison for book- herself throughout the summer and will have several being so excited the first time he According to Debbie Schwartz, ing representation. He was previously booked by musical performances on the show. Her debut appear- heard it that he called McGuinn's senior director of marketing and Monterey Artists. ance airs the week of July 2, and her first musical per- publishing company from a hotel artist development for BNA formance on the show is room in London. "I didn't realize Records, the label plans an aggres- ON THE ROW: Karen July 20. the time difference, and I got the sive push at radio in the weeks Conrad has been promot- Brad Paisley and answering machine," he recalls. "I before the album streets. In addi- ed from VP to senior VP Chris LeDoux will be said, 'I wanted to leave this mes- tion to a syndicated radio special, of country music for BMG among the performers sage for Mark McGuinn and let him hosted by actress Victoria Principal Songs. Also in BMG's Nashville on the TNN Country know that Lonestar loves "Unusu- (who Waugh says is a huge Lones- Nashville office, Ron Weekly Awards June 13 ally Unusual," and if he pitches it tar fan), Schwartz says the band Stuve is promoted to VP in Nashville. Charlie to anyone, we'll break his legs.' will be "hitting their equity mar- of the repertoire depart- Seem Robison will be a pre- Then I saw Mark at the [Academy kets, performing acoustically at ment. He had been senior senter on the show. of Country Music Awards], and he radio stations." director of the depart- LeDoux, who will per- said, ` Richie, I saved that message Managed by Borman Entertain- ment. Replacing him in form, "For Your Love," because I thought it was the funni- ment and booked by the William that capacity is Chris by Phyllis Stark will be making his first est thing.' " Morris Agency, the band has been Oglesby, who was previ- TV appearance since The title cut from the new album getting key exposure performing as ously senior creative director. Michelle Berlin is named his liver transplant surgery last October. Backing is whetting appetites for its June part of the George Strait Country creative director of the repertoire department. She joined LeDoux on stage will be Charlie Daniels on fiddle. 26 street date. "The Lonestar sin- Music Festival. "We're using the the company in 1998 as a professional manager. Capitol will repackage and rerelease Chris Cagle's gle is the fastest -performing tour as a vehicle to bring awareness Meanwhile, at Universal Music Publishing in Play It Loud June 19, adding two more songs and other record that I've had on the air in a to the consumer about this new Nashville, Kent Earls is promoted to senior director elements on an enhanced CD. The album was original- very long time," says Gail Austin, record," says Schwartz. "We're of creative services. Betty Reid, formerly of Warn- ly issued on Cagle's previous label, the now-defunct PD at WCOL Columbus, Ohio. looking at doing TV buys on cable er /Chappell Music, joins as director of business affairs. Virgin Records. The album will feature a new cover "We started playing it at 50 spins a networks, and we will be handing Katie Dalton, formerly of PolyGram Music, joins as and packaging and will also contain the video for "My week and haven't stopped since. out postcards promoting the new creative director, as well as product manager for sev- Love Goes on and On," behind-the -scenes footage of People have been saying this sin- release at the Strait dates." eral Universal writers. Creative director Molly Cagle on the road, and new photos. The new songs are gle could be as big as `Amazed.' It Waugh says the retail campaign Reynolds gets the additional title of coordinator of "I Breathe in, I Breathe Out," a Cagle /Jon Robbin has that potential." for the new record is "set up like alternative markets and will develop opportunities for composition previously cut by David Kersh, and "Are McDonald, a Sony /Tree writer, the Eiffel Tower." Plans include Universal writers in the pop, rock, alternative, and You Ever Gonna Love Me ?" Cagle is also set to make co -wrote the song with Gary Baker prime positioning, point -of- R &B markets. his Grand Ole Opry debut June 16. and Frank Myers. He's especially purchase materials, and a perform- Fan Fair will take on a new, charitable benefit ele- gratified by the single's success ance by the band at the Wal -Mart OH CANADA: Canadian company Corus Entertain- ment this year. Half of the net proceeds from the event because the song is so personal to stockholders meeting. There are ment recently completed the 100% purchase of Balmur will go to charities designated by participating artists. him. "I called home one night and also plans for a special event at the Cores Music (BCM), a music and TV production, dis- In addition to picking the charity of their choice, artists was talking to my son, Rhett, who Mall of America (the largest fully tribution, marketing, and talent management company may also select one of two nonprofits officially desig- was 2 years old at the time, and he enclosed retail and entertainment formed last year through a partnership between Corus nated by Fan Fair: the Country Music Retirement asked, `Daddy, when are you going complex in the U.S.) during street and Anne Murray's Balmur Entertainment Ltd. Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The to be home ?' It hit me real hard," he week that will involve Sam Goody BCM's music publishing, artist management, and pro- remaining net proceeds will continue to go into the says. "It always hits me hard, but and KEEY (K102) Minneapolis. duction facilities are based in Toronto and Nashville. Country Music Assn.'s special fund for the promotion that particular night we'd been The label is also organizing special Cores also owns Canada's Country Music Television and development of country music. Fan Fair is set for gone for six weeks, and I just Father's Day promotions, since the and four country radio stations in Canada. Murray will June 14 -17 in Nashville. remember hanging up the phone single offers natural ties to the hol- and thinking, `Physically, I'm not iday's sentiment.

BILLBOARD JUNE 9, 2001 www.billboard.com 33 www.americanradiohistory.com