BILLBOARD.BIZ/NEWSLETTER/EDITED BY TOM ROLAND, [email protected] DECEMBER 3, 2012 | PAGE 1 OF 18 INSIDE COUNTRY AND CHRISTMAS: THOSE In Memoriam: SILVER BELLS JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE Rick Blackburn >page 4 Most Americans don’t really have chestnuts roasting on an open obvious sentiment, whereas country’s 25-54 core is of an age to fire during the holidays. But that phrase pops into their heads appreciate Santa Claus and the wonder he represents to kids. when they hear the Mel Torme-penned “The Christmas Song,” And, as Brad Paisley pointed out in “This Is Country Music,” one of many musical chestnuts that are part of the annual yule- “tellin’ folks Jesus is the answer” is very acceptable to country Gary Allan Offers tide tradition. fans, making the nativity an appropriate topic. ‘Storm’ Relief >page 6 For country artists, it’s also a tradition— “Other genres may feel [Christmas] bor- moreso than in many other genres—to put SHELTON ders on being too religious,” says Borman out a Christmas album at some point dur- Entertainment VP of artist management ing their career. This year, Blake Shel- Daniel Miller, who works with Lady An- Florida Georgia ton, Scotty McCreery and Lady An- tebellum. “We don’t have to worry about Line’s ‘Cruise’ tebellum all released seasonal projects that.” Docks At No. 1 that reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Top And, because Christmas represents >page 6 Country Albums chart. And two of those a departure from the norm, some other releases—Christmas With Scotty McCreery career aspects that country acts worry and Shelton’s Cheers, It’s Christmas—have about—particularly instrumentation— Shania Twain already been certified gold by the RIAA. are relaxed while making a holiday album. Begins Her By contrast, such pop and rock stalwarts Trumpets? Harps? Gospel choirs? The Vegas Stay as Elton John, Jackson Browne, Ea- kinds of sounds that would raise a red flag >page 8 gles and the Rolling Stones never felt to a country radio programmer during the compelled to record an entire yuletide 11 months of the year are hardly a concern album. And acts like Ozzy Osbourne, for music that’s intended for December. Injured Cactus Kiss and Red Hot Chili Peppers aren’t That means acts have the option to Moser On The as likely to record an entire Christmas stretch stylistically, as Lady Antebellum Road Again album, either. did by incorporating big-band and blue- >page 8 “Certain personalities can do it and be believable versus oth- eyed soul tones in its album On This Winter’s Night. ers,” Shelton suggests. “My personal life and family life has “The production was really fun because we got to use horn sec- been—people know more about that than they do my damn tions and full strings,” group member Hillary Scott observes. music these last couple years, so of course it makes sense to do “It got to be more over the top than we usually do.” a Christmas album because people are already familiar with Lady Antebellum put as much effort into the project as it my lifestyle and what my home life is like.” does a standard album, Scott adds, though much about the ex- The lifestyle of the artists, the message of the music and the perience is a departure from the norm. For starters, a regular demographics of the audience are a big reason that a Christmas album usually introduces new material, whereas the backbone album is practically a rite of passage in country. The young of a holiday project is almost always familiar cover songs that males that rock acts frequently target are typically resistant to have already been remade many times. As an example, ASCAP’s BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE DECEMBER 3, 2012 | PAGE 2 OF 18 ACE database lists more than 300 artists who have recorded Irving Berlin’s THIS WEEK AT CALLOUT AMERICA “White Christmas”—from traditional-pop vocalist Bing Crosby to country singer George Strait to R&B act the Whispers. Finding a new, distinguish- CRAIG MORGAN GETS ing way to convey the song’s emotion is nearly impossible. McCreery faced a similar challenge in recording “The First Noel,” “Winter ‘TRUCKS’ STARTED Wonderland” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” “These are songs that have been sung thousands of Craig Morgan has the top debut with “More Trucks Than Cars” in gear times before,” McCreery acknowledges. “For me, it’s at No. 24 overall in week one and No. 14 favorite. Younger 25-34s rev it to about making it my own and putting your own stamp No. 10 favorite and No. 21 overall. Males 18-plus are the strongest gen- on it in a way that’s similar but it’s still different.” der at No. 14 overall and No. 7 The familiarity of those songs makes recording favorite. Core females are at No. Christmas music a different experience. Even though 16 favorite. TOM ROLAND Shelton plays holiday songs throughout the year for his Editor own enjoyment, he discovered he couldn’t tackle them Underscoring the connection [email protected] the same way he would a typical, non-seasonal title. After that Randy Houser’s “How discussing the dilemma with producer Scott Hen- Country Feels” is making with dricks, Shelton came to realize the songs—particularly listeners, it repeats as the No. the home-themed efforts on Cheers, It’s Christmas—require a different attitude 1 song and winds up as the No. than, say, “Hillbilly Bone.” 11 favorite. Core listeners 35-44 “There’s not 10 guitars wailing and not a drum loop and backgrounds and grade it No. 1, while younger stuff,” Shelton explains. “It’s me hanging out in mid-air. I think that’s what I adults 18-34 chip in at No. 11. always loved about Dean Martin. I’m a big Dean Martin fan, and you listen to Core females are at No. 1, and his records and he’s just out there. Because he’s out there like that, you feel like males 18-plus are at No. 9. you’re getting to know him and his personality and his charm, and so I really was listening to a lot of Dean Martin before singing these things.” Chris Young moves into the top Which Shelton recorded, in true Rat Pack form, mostly between midnight five with “I Can Take It From and 3 a.m. There” at No. 4, up from his No. MORGAN 9 debut. The title also researches as the No. 2 favorite. Adults 25-54 score it at No. 1 and No. 2 favorite, while 18-44s mark it at No. 10 and No. 2 favorite. Core 35-44 males are at No. 1, and core females are at No. 4. Faith Hill stays well in front of the radio spin chart with core 35-44s rank- ing “American Heart” at No. 10 positive and No. 5 favorite. Core males are the power gender at No. 5 and No. 6 favorite, and adult males 25-44 are at No. 7. Core females place the song at No. 5 favorite. Tim McGraw is new to the top 20 with “One of Those Nights” at No. 20, up from his No. 26 debut. Adults 35-44 are at No. 7, as are adults 35- 54. Females are supportive at No. 18, with core females at No. 16. Male strength lies with 35-44s at No. 6. View the latest research here User ID is Callout; password is America. GAC premiered the holiday special “Christmas With Scotty McCreery & –John Hart, Bullseye Marketing Research Friends” on Dec. 1. From left are Brett Eldredge, Jana Kramer, McCreery email: [email protected] and Gloriana members Rachel Reinert, Tom Gossin and Mike Gossin. BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE DECEMBER 3, 2012 | PAGE 4 OF 18 slated to air Dec. 3, while McCreery and Lady A both fashioned specials for GAC, and there are several other annual traditions that typically use country acts, such as NBC’s “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” TNT’s “Christmas in Washington” and ABC’s Jennifer Nettles-hosted “CMA Country Christmas.” Should a marketer wait too late, he or she misses those options. But manag- ers often run into a brick wall if they strategize too soon with media partners. “The bad thing is some people don’t want to talk about Christmas or think about it until a certain point in the year,” Miller says. On the other hand, even in January, everyone knows Christmas time’s a- comin’. As a result, having a holiday album means Shelton, McCreery and Lady Antebellum have something to work with not just in 2012, but in every December. It’s part of country’s Christmas tradition. IN MEMORIAM: RICK BLACKBURN Veteran record executive Rick Blackburn, who played a key role in the careers of Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs and John Michael Montgomery, died Nov. 30 in Franklin, Tenn., following a kidney ailment. Blackburn, 70, came to Nashville in 1974 to run Monument Records, launch- ing Billy Swan’s million-selling “I Can Help” in his first year at the label. From 1976-1987, he worked for CBS during the peak commercial years for Nelson Carrie Underwood took a moment with WLHK Indianapolis PD Bob and George Jones. Richards during an Indiana stop on her Blown Away tour. From left are Merle Haggard signed with the company’s Epic label during Blackburn’s Arista Nashville manager of regional promotion Ryan Dokke, Underwood tenure, and the Highwaymen venture—which teamed Nelson, Waylon Jen- and Richards. nings, Johnny Cash and former Monument act Kris Kristofferson—also came into existence during Blackburn’s watch.