Inside the CMT Music Awards Hammer Home
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June 17, 2013, Issue 350 Inside The CMT Music Awards Has social killed the video star? What artist was gearing up for a slip-n-slide? Which big moment had the crew in the truck high-fiving? These were among the questions addressed when CMT President Brian Philips spoke with Country Aircheck following the 2013 CMT Music Awards: CA: Congrats on a great show and an overwhelmingly positive reaction from fans, the industry and radio. BP: Thanks. [CMT SVP/Music Events & Talent] John Hamlin and the creative and production Brian Philips teams wrangled the insanity well this year. This show was booked-up well in advance, the hosts were fun and professional, the artists made great song choices and the ratings came Charlotte Web: Brad Paisley’s Beat This Summer tour rolled through Charlotte recently, snaring radio folks from all over. in on-the-mark. Other years may have been as successful, but most Surrounding Paisley (white hat) were (l-r) WKKT/Charlotte’s were more tumultuous in the making. No one died, no pyro mishaps, Jeff Wyatt, WSOC/Charlotte’s DJ Stout, Bowling Green, KY no golf-cart crashes on the way to the stage, no animals harmed and Corvette Plant Mgr. Dave Tatman, Country Aircheck’s Lon no careers ended on the show – I hope. The fireworks blast over the Helton, Wilks’ Jeff Sanders, Arista’s Jeri Cooper, WSSL/ Bridgestone didn’t go sideways on the launch pad and blow a hole in Greenville’s Bruce Logan and WKKT’s Tyler Reese. the new Convention Center. So, a good night. The post-show success story being told seems focused on social and digital metrics, though a few ratings highlights Hammer Home: Toby Keith Opens Tour have been noted. Is the lack of ratings detail an indication Pyro, cartoons, and patriotism were just a few tools Toby Keith that the audience for the live show is fragmenting? used to keep more than 16,000 people on their Not at all. As important as the social story is, it doesn’t yet outweigh feet for the opening of his Hammer Down Tour on the headlines of conventional TV ratings. Ratings were right on target the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati Friday with where they were last year, which was a good year for us. Ratings night (6/14). From openers Drake White and were virtually flat, with slight growth in 18-49 women. There was no Kip Moore, to Keith and his encore, WUBE/ attrition, which was surprising, because TV viewing habits are indeed Cincinnati afternoon co-hose Big Dave of Big chaotic and fragmented, especially with younger audiences. Ratings for Dave & Chelsie described it as a “fantastic show.” the CMT pre-show and late airing were also way up. All-in, with Toby opened his show with a “long, star- (continued on page 6) studded video,” explains Dave. The words Big Dave ©2013 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 17, 2013 Page 3 PAGE THREE PIC Eh, What’s Up Doc? The Warner Bros./Nashville Bunny Brigade meet with their leader sometime in the early ‘90s. Ol’ Bugs must’ve passed along some great secrets; most of these folks are still active in the music business. Send your looney old pics to [email protected]. “Hammer Down” had been cleverly written into each cast member’s the screens for ‘American Soldier,’” says Dave. “The finale was dialogue, which included NASCAR driver Carl Edwards and Carrot ‘Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue’ with a massive amount Top, among others. “Toby then burst onto the stage to fireworks and of pyrotechnics. Overall it was an incredible night and the near immediately tore into ‘Haven’t Had A Drink’ All Day.’ After that it was capacity crowd had a fantastic time!” hit after hit: ‘American Ride,’ ‘Made In America,’ ‘Beers Ago,’ ‘I Wanna “Drake White did a really nice job with a short set,” says Dave Talk About Me,’ Whiskey Girl,’ ‘God Love Her’ and more.” of the opener. “Even though the majority of the crowd didn’t know Dave adds that the stage setup “… was pretty cool, but nothing him, they responded positively.” over the top. There was a big screen in the back with two light towers Moore followed, garnering big crowd reactions of his own. on each side of the stage and the lights moved to the music.” “There was a lot of hand-holding and couples swaying for ‘Hey Highlights included Keith’s stop-down to salute firefighters, police Pretty Girl,’” notes Dave. “And lots of beers hoisted into the air for and military personnel in the audience, and a mid-show cartoon ‘Beer Money’ and ‘Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck.’” Dave says Moore also during “Beer For My Horses.” Dave says, “Toby did all the lyrics, but stuck around to sign autographs at the end of the night. “There was there were cartoon versions of Toby and Willie acting out the song on just an enormous line,” he says. the screens. Toby also debuted ‘Drinks After Work,’ which we’d heard Upcoming Hammer Down Tour dates include Holmdel, NJ June 21, him do about ten times earlier in the day at sound-check,” continues Philadelphia June 22 and Oshkosh, WI June 28. -- Russ Penuell Dave. “There were also big reactions to ‘Weed With Willie’ and ‘Red Solo Cup.’ He closed the first time with a cover of Ted Nugent’s ‘Stranglehold.’ The crowd was on its feet for the whole show.” Chart Chat It was USA all the way for the expected encore, “complete with Congrats to Blake Shelton, Chris Stacey, Kevin Herring red, white and blue guitars, lights and photos of U.S. soldiers on and the entire WMN promotion team on scoring this week’s No. ©2013 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 17, 2013 Page 4 1 single with Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here.” The song is the second chart- MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE topper from his current album Based Starstruck Dir./Strategic Marketing On A True Story ... , joining “Sure Be & Business Development Kelli Haywood Cool If You Did.” discusses her most influential artists, And, a toast to Show Dog- songs, albums and concerts: Universal’s Rick Moxley, Tom 1. Alison Krauss and Union Station/ Baldrica and their promo crew on When You Say Nothing At All: This is popping 53 adds for Toby Keith’s the very first country song I heard on my own. I was sifting through the channels “Drinks After Work,” making it this Blake Shelton and the music video came on CMT. I week’s CA Add Leader. Kelli Haywood had to sit down and listen the whole way through because I just loved it so much. NEWS & NOTES: That was pretty much the beginning of my love affair with KTCS/Ft. Smith, AR is the latest affiliate forEnvision Radio country music. Networks’ imaging and production library AudioChopShop. Hear 2. Garth Brooks, Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX: My first a demo here; contact ERN’s Melissa Bachtel for info here. country concert and I literally had my face blown off. I had The 2013 Inspirational Country Music Faith, Family and terrible seats, up behind stage left, and yet I still felt like he Country Convention will take place at Opryland’s Two Rivers was performing straight to me. Fellowship Oct. 20-24. An awards show, talent competition and media 3. Reba/And Still: I know this is not one of her most appreciation luncheon are among the scheduled activities. More here. famous hits, but it’s one of my favorites. It’s one of those Brett Eldredge, Steve Wariner and Bob DiPiero will perform songs that sounds great, has great lyrics, and the music at the CMA Songwriters Series July 23-24 at Joe’s Pub in New York video tells a story - like watching a mini-movie. I can’t City. DiPiero will also serve as host. More here. separate the video from the song. I see it every time I TNA Impact Wrestling star and new country music artist Mickie listen. Reba is country music royalty! And I’m proud that I James will be featured in Dr. Pepper’s One of a Kind Personality get to work with her. campaign. View here. 4. The Beach Boys: I just love them. That’s all there is Ashton Shepherd has joined PLA Media for publicity to it. It reminds me of my childhood, growing up, listening representation. PLA’s roster includes Lynn Anderson, The Oak Ridge to oldies in the backyard with my dad and singing along. Boys’ William Lee Golden, Bryan White and more. Honestly, I can sing almost every word to every one of their songs. They’re epic and mostly under three minutes long. 5. Bruce Springsteen: Anything Bruce. The Week’s Top Stories • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never Full coverage at countryaircheck.com. heard: Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. Clear Channel’s John Hogan moves to New York. (6/17) • An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Former Clear Channel KWNR/Las Vegas PD/middayer Rik Currently it would have to be “Gangnam Style” by Psy. McNeil picked up a gig with Mighty Media’s WEBL/Coldwater, MS • An album you played or listened to incessantly: Lee and WUMY/Memphis. (6/17) Ann Womack’s There’s More Where That Came From on vinyl.