Keith Hill on Keith Hill

June 1, 2015, Issue 450 Addressing SaladGate Six pages of in-depth reporting on Women In Country and a post-CRS panel write-up in which Keith Hill urged slashing female- voiced songs made nary a ripple outside the business a few months back. But the consultant’s lettuce-and-tomatoes analogy last week in this space touched off a social and, eventually, major media tidal wave. Go figure. We’ll get to Hill in the next story (right), after female PDs and MDs weigh in with their thoughts on a well-known though still confounding reality. In full disclosure, some of the women we contacted declined to contribute for lack of time or lack of what they felt would be helpful feedback. Some passed because they weren’t comfortable publicly commenting in a “no-win argument.” And some came to us asking to be part of the conversation. Lost In Translation: “I don’t think he phrased what he was trying to say especially well,” says Scripps/ Spark Plug: Big Spark/Star Farm’s Olivia Lane hosts industry Tulsa OM and KVOO PD Jules Riley, whose pros at Handlebar J in Phoenix over the weekend. Pictured station has averaged 9% female current/ (front, l-r) are Big Spark’s Dennis Kurtz, Handlebar J’s Ray Herndon, Susan Pohlman (wife of KMLE/Phoenix’s Tim recurrent airplay and 14% in gold since Jan.1, Pohlman), KIIM/Tucson’s Buzz Jackson and wife Dena, KTGX/ according to Mediabase 24/7. “It did strike a Tulsa’s Kristina Carlyle, Lane, KTEX/McAllen’s JoJo Cerda little bit of a nerve. The best song wins, and and wife Julie, radio vet Larry Daniels and wife Marilyn, some weeks that’s going to be tomatoes and and Neste’s Nina Gambill-Rojas; (back, l-r) are KMLE’s Tim some weeks it’s going be lettuce.” Pohlman, guests Nancy and Tim Hall, Star Farm’s Jim Dorman, “What Keith did was say something Jules Riley Kinkead’s Greg Hanna, SF’s Michael Powers, consultant Keith unpopular in a very public forum, but it’s Hill, Kinkead’s Bob Kinkead, BS’ Anne Weaver Price, SF’s Matt an opinion that many programmers share,” says crosstown Corbin, Hill’s guest Barbara Fairbanks, KXLY/Spokane’s Tim iHeartMedia KTGX PD Kristina Carlyle, whose station shows Cotter and guest Lindsey Gibson, SF’s Chris Borchetta and Gambill-Rojas’ husband Joshua. a 12% current/recurrent and 9% gold female mix. Carlyle spent some time with Hill at a showcase this weekend and asked him about it. “Keith Hill isn’t a misogynist, he’s a Keith Hill On Keith Hill man with a ton of measurable data to back “I think you’ll be surprised,” Keith Hill his position,” she says, adding that their says when asked what his week of being conversation revealed a cemented correlation tossed about like, well, a salad has taught in Hill’s mind between cutting playlists to 15% him. “They’re right.” female and better ratings, a formula that Artists, fans, blogs, social media and has worked many times for him. “However, mainstream outlets are offering commentary I pointed out to him that I really doubted ranging from reasoned to raging. After several cutting the female Kristina Carlyle (continued on page 8) days of social media abuse, Hill has figured it Keith Hill ©2015 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 1, 2015 Page 4 out. “Ironically it wasn’t some lucid argument that got me thinking. PAGE THREE PIC It was, why are they calling me all these terrible names? “I’m not going to make any apology for using the tomato analogy, as some have counseled me,” he continues. “What I want is to understand why they are so angry. And it’s because they think we [as an industry] are sexist. And you know what, we are.” Is “sexist” really the right word? “Well, it’s bias, but not by conscious thought,” he says. “No one says, ‘We dislike women’ or sets out to hold them back. But I do understand their perception that I am unfair and the industry is unfair.” Like just about everything, it is unfair, and Hill says seeing it from critics’ perspectives has helped him accept the anger and frustration. “God populated the planet with just as many women as men,” he says. “We live in America and we want equality – certainly in opportunity even if we don’t expect it in the outcomes. “Unfortunately, Country radio and the record business appears to be the most sexist business on planet earth, but it’s not by willful, malicious intent.” [Ed. Note: We might suggest the Active Rock format, but that’s another story.] “It certainly looks like we Grin Beneath My Wings: Artist Gary Morris (c) with KSCS/ make decisions based on the sex of the person who is singing, but Dallas’ Laura Seymour and Victor Sansone before a we don’t. The results appear to be incredibly sexist, but it is bias benefit concert for Dallas-area children’s charities in the based on consumer behavior and it’s very strong.” early ‘90s. Have your own suit-clad shots from days gone Explosive reactions aside, Hill finds the industry response by? Send them to [email protected]. equally interesting. “Normally, the record community is ready to weigh-in on something that so directly affects what they do. But I’m not hearing from Scott Borchetta, Mike Dungan or Scott who is not in the industry tweeted me one word within an hour of Hendricks. They are quiet as church mice. That’s because what I last week’s story being published: douchebag.” said is true. And we all know if you strap guitars on boys and girls Not that all civilians have been so ... uncivil. “I got an email and send them to Nashville, the males get deals at rate of seven from a woman in Washington, DC that is suitable for framing. to one. That’s the marketplace.” She told me to keep my chin up and not let what appears to be Radio is a different story. “I have at least 250 supportive emails political correctness bother me.” from radio programmers, people I respect and mentors of mine,” Maybe a little understanding can come from this after all. Hill he says. Songwriters and artists have also been in contact. “Matraca seems to think so. “I now understand that a woman who loves Berg reached out. Maggie Rose wants to talk to me. And I was very Carrie Underwood and had the night of her life at a Miranda disheartened at Shane McAnally, who contacted me through Facebook Lambert show wakes up in Aberdeen, MD and sees a headline and basically just said, ‘F-you.’ The irony is I’ve been saying Kacey over her morning coffee that says, ‘Keith Hill says take females Musgraves is great and have been playing her relentlessly.” off the radio.’ I get their calculus at that point. I’d be angry, too.” Hill has learned a bit about national media, particularly Reach Hill here. –Chuck Aly during his appearance on CBS This Morning. “They interviewed A Thousand Horses me for 35 minutes and used eight seconds of me saying Miranda Lambert tweeted that I’m done in this business.” Chart Chat Congrats to A Thousand And he does have one apology to make: “I am sorry I was so Horses, Matthew Hargis and the myopic and naive as to be consumed with the idea of speaking Republic Nashville promotion to an audience of radio and records readers. I had no idea super apes on scoring this week’s No. 1 P1 fans read Country Aircheck. A lady named Jan in New York with “Smoke.” The song is the first ©2015 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 1, 2015 Page 6 single from their debut album Southernality, out next week. MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE And kudos to Van Haze and the MCA crew on landing 37 adds for Sam Hunt’s “House Party,” topping this week’s board. For The Lonely Records' Jason Michael Carroll discusses his most influential music: What They’re Saying 1. Aerosmith's The Nine Lives Tour: A roundup of media coverage over the past several days: It was unbelievable. So good. • “A country radio consultant has ignited a war of words 2. The Village People and Kool & among musicians and fans for referring to female musicians The Gang: I grew up in a very strict as “the tomatoes of our salad,” and suggesting that stations Christian home and wasn't allowed to play fewer records by female artists if they want to improve their listen to anything but gospel. So to branch ratings.” –LA Times out and be able to go to any concert • “Well, at least he didn’t say we were cherries on top of the Jason Micheal was awesome and this was my first. My sundae. As you might imagine, this is causing some women on Carroll friends, who had been to concerts before, Music Row to give voice to their anger. For many, this is proof that thought it would be lame. But I had the best time! female artists are being discriminated against in country radio.” – 3. Brad Paisley/Part II: I love songs that matter, that mean Beverly Keel in The Tennessean something. The whole album was a really good record, but • “I was taken aback by the comments in the article.

Load more