April 14, 2008 Issue 85 CMT Awards Crank Up The Energy TAKE US Out TO THE BALL GAME The 2008 CMT Music Awards opened tonight (4/14) with a cleverly-executed video featuring Trace Adkins’ Got baseball pics? Country Aircheck is looking for the best photos attempting to score awards show tickets for his Hannah of radio pros, label execs and/or artists enjoying Montana-crazed daughters. Donald Trump, John McCain, America’s pastime with baseball stars from any era for our upcoming Summer Special print edition. Send your Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ryan Seacrest and others pics to [email protected]. If you can work your made cameos in the spot. mom and apple pie into the image as well, all the better. The show, of course, was hosted by Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus. Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn opened the packed performance slate, Hank Jr. joined Brad Paisley for “I’m Still A Guy,” Rodney Carrington took the stage in a full mullet Clear Channel By The Book wig to introduce Toby Keith and, of all bizarre juxtapositions, Right Of The Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel Snoop Dogg helped Jason Aldean introduce Alan Jackson. and the Fall of Commercial Radio, one of two Fan-voted winners included Video of the Year “Our new books about Clear Channel, will be released Song” by Taylor Swift, who also won in the Female Video tomorrow (4/15). The second, Clear Vision: category. “I came here tonight just excited that I had a The Story of Clear Channel Communications, is performance, and currently available for pre-order only. Right Of The honestly didn’t expect Dial, by Alec Foege, is informed by interviews an award,” Swift said with critics and supporters of the company, but in the press room. “The Foege was not granted interviews with the Mays fact that the fans did family despite repeated requests. The book’s title this for me absolutely seems indicative of its take on the company, a blows my mind. There’s familiar refrain of CC’s detractors. nothing more important Clear Vision, by contrast, is an authorized profile of the than my fans.” company, following its development from 1972 through June Taylor Swift reacts to winning Video 2006. Author Reed Bunzel was granted exclusive interviews of the Year. continued on page 5 with top executives, and based on the publisher’s description ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 14, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 2 seeks to downplay CC’s mistakes and cast its actions in a favorable light. Both books can be ordered online. MY TU NES : MU SIC THA T SHAPED MY LIFE CBS Radio WUSN/Chicago APD/MD Marci Radio Awards Braun discusses her most meaningful songs, Online submissions for the 2008 CMA Broadcast Awards albums or concerts: are now being accepted at www.broadcast.cmaawards.com. 1. Barbara Mandrell/Sleeping Single The 2008 NAB Marconi Radio Awards nomination process in a Double Bed: I got kicked out of my is now open. GMs may nominate their stations online at www. kindergarten class for wanting to sing it nab.org/awards/marconis. during class sing-a-long. Honest. Everyone else wanted to sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” & “The ABC’s,” and the teacher freaked out Radiothon Roundup when I told her what I wanted. My mom was Here’s a look at recent St. Jude Radiothon results turned in by asked to talk to the teacher after class was Country radio: over. It set me on the right track to love country music 2. Reba McEntire Rumor Has It: My favorite album hands down, and • WFRE/Frederick, MD, $140,809 (4/10-11) the album that brought me back to country music, which was not cool • KGWY/Gillette, WY, $63,346 (4/10-11) to listen to when I was in grade school and junior high. • KLGT/Sheridan, WY, $9,330 (4/10-11) 3. New Kids on the Block Live (1989): The first ticket I ever paid for. To be • KZMQ/Cody, WY, $39,725 (4/10-11) in an arena with 10,000 other screaming girls was nuts. It’s like a Hannah • WSIP/Paintsville, KY, $27,650 (4/10-11) Montana concert today, but with five cute guys onstage instead. • WKAK/Albany, GA, $22,000 (4/10-11) 4. Barbra Streisand Live (2006): My mom and I sat in the nosebleeds • WJEN/Rutland, VT, $19,043 (4/10-11) and we couldn’t even afford those seats, but it’s amazing what you can • WTRS/Ocala, FL, $30,710 (4/10-11) buy when you eat Ramen for a month! 5. Garth Brooks Live (1993): Went with my dad, and between watching Garth fly across the stage, climb up on the stage scaffolding, and being BRC Supports The Troop able to clearly see the other person’s face across the arena during U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Sean Bennett was on the Today “Unanswered Prayers” because of all the lighters, I knew I was witnessing show this morning to share how his name got in the running for something that would never be captured by another artist again. this year’s Nashville Star competition. Bennett met Nashville Honorable Mention -- Into The Woods Soundtrack: I’m a big Star host Billy Ray Cyrus backstage at a show Broadway geek, and Sondheim is incredible. “Children Will Listen” is in Anchorage, AK where he slipped Cyrus one of my all time favorite songs. his CD. Cyrus not only listened to it but also • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: Raffi’s “Baby Beluga.” personally called Bennett and asked him to audition for the show. “He had to convince me it was him,” said Bennett.”I quizzed him like a graced the No. 1 position for two weeks and was his first multi- Billy Ray Cyrus pro.” Watch the video here. week chart topper. Chart Chat Gig Alerts Congrats to Capitol/Nashville’s Jimmy Harnen, Steve • WBTU/Ft. Wayne, IN PD/afternoon personality Scott “Sam Hodges, Shane Allen and the entire promo staff on Trace Adams” Roddy is searching for his replacement. Send airchecks Adkins’ very first three-week No. 1 single, “You’re Gonna Miss and resumes to [email protected]. This.” Trace’s most recent No. 1, “Ladies Love Country Boys,” • WUSH/Norfolk, VA OM Jay Michaels is on the look out ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 14, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 3 BIR T HDAYS Tuesday 4/15 - Roy Clark, Bobby Kraig ([email protected]), Rick Huckaby Friday 4/18 - Kyle Lehning, Jim Scholten , Marvin Evatt , Randy Guidry Sunday 4/20 - Buddy Cannon for a one person morning show. Send airchecks and resumes to [email protected]. • UMG/Nashville SVPP Royce Risser and Mercury VP Damon Moberly are seeking a Southwest rep. They can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected]. • Montage Music promotion chief Mike Wilson is in need of a Promotion Coordinator/Secondary Promoter. Contact him at [email protected]. Industry News The 4th Annual Leadership Music Digital Summit welcomes social networking site iLike CEO Ali Partovi as keynote speaker. The summit will also examine investment in the music industry with venture capital experts Chris Fralic and Paul A. Santinelli in the panel Future Money: Who Will Invest in Music? The seminar takes place April 22 at Belmont University, more info at www.digitalsummit.org. Murrah Music VP/Creative Dan Hodges has exited the company and is looking for his next opportunity. Contact him at 615-394-0981 or [email protected]. The 25th Annual International Country Music Conference, co-chaired by James Akenson and Don Cusic, will take place May 22-24 at Belmont University. “The International Country Music Conference is the premier academic event for those studying and writing about country music,” says Cusic. More info at www.internationalcountrymusic.org. Artist News Universal South, Phil Vassar and Mozes are giving fans the chance to listen to Vassar’s upcoming album Prayer Of A Common Man before it’s April 22 release. Fans can call 615-823-7929 to join Phil’s Mob (mobile club) and leave him messages. Members are alerted via text message every time a new song is added. Phil Vassar Taylor Swift is the first country artist featured inRhapsody ’s Play Anywhere commercial campaign, which debuted Monday night during the CMT Music Awards. The spot will continue to air through July 1. This year’s Music City Walk Of Fame inductees are Steven Curtis Chapman, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Wariner, Kirk Whalum and, posthumously, Merle Kilgore and Hank Williams. They will be recognized April 20 at 3pm in the Hall of Fame Park in Nashville. The 4th Annual Lonestar & Friends Strike Out For Kids event will be held June 2 at Hermitage Lanes in Hermitage, TN and benefit St. Jude. In addition to the band,Trent Tomlinson, Jo Dee Messina, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Joe ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 14, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 4 Tub E CHECK institutions seeking the dismissal of lawsuits filed byThomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital to compel the banks to fund a Tuesday 4/15 - Trisha Yearwood, Rachael Ray Show (syndicated). $19.5 billion purchase of Clear Channel. The ruling clears the Wednesday 4/16 - Dolly Parton, GAC Nights.