February 25, 2010 Issue 2 Day One Goes By Swiftly The first full day of CRS 2010 opened with Lady Antebellum’s National Anthem and an address from Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, and powered straight through to the ACM-sponsored Music City Jam. Headliner Taylor Swift “tailored” her arena tour for an intimate industry crowd Wednesday evening (2/24) and brought along Fearless tour openers Gloriana as well as guest Julianne Hough. Swift’s 10-song set included “You Belong With Me,” “Love Story” and “Fifteen,” and she interspersed the tunes with comments and anecdotes about her relationship with Country radio. Recalling an early mailing of her single “Tim McGraw” she said, “I remember putting CDs into the envelopes and thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if they actually played this song?’” She continued, “So thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening this envelope and deciding to put it on the air because the last couple of years have been quite a ride. And I don’t care how big the stage is you play on, you never forget who Standing Room: Taylor Swift sings in the middle of the Nashville brought you to the party.” Convention Center performance hall during Wednesday’s Music City Jam. Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta and Universal Distribution’s Cliff Ramsey recalled attending an NAB conference 11 years ago and O’Sullivan surprised Swift with an immense plaque commemorating hearing about the impending demise of terrestrial radio in the face of sales of 10 million albums and recognizing her status as the best- Internet and satellite challengers. “Reports of our demise have been selling digital tracks artist of all time. The Jam ended with Swift’s greatly exaggerated,” he said, but then chastised the industry for being Fearless tour closer of “Should’ve Said No,” minus the waterfall complacent in good times. “We got fat and sassy and sloppy. When effect. “You guys basically raised me since I was 15,” Swift said. things are going good, any idiot can make it. Even a turkey can fly in “Thank you so much for coming to hang out with us tonight!” a tornado, people. Warren Buffett says when the tide goes out you can tell who was skinny dipping.” Ramsey Has The Key(s) He urged attendees to resist a bunker mentality. “When times are Dave Ramsey addressed the weak economy and the challenges tough it becomes a time of innovation, creativity and gaining market radio faces in his Wednesday morning keynote. “If you’ve got hope, share,” he said. “A ship is safe in a harbor, but that’s not what ships are you can do almost anything,” he said. “Radio is an industry that could for. A eagle is safe in the nest, and that’s not what eagles are for. We use a little hope.” have to return to some basic things. ©2010 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 25, 2010 CRS 2010 Daily Buzz Powered By Country Aircheck Page 2 “Failure,” he said, “is not always bad. It’s actually good. It’s cleansing. UMG/Nashville Luncheon It gets rid of all the dead heads, all the bad branches. It’s instructive CRS attendees crossing the street for Wednesday’s UMG/Nashville too, because it hurts.” Personal responsibility, he added, must also be luncheon at the Ryman Auditorium were stung by bracing cold. Once inside reclaimed. “It is your fault. Turns out, McDonald’s does serve hot coffee.” they were stunned by a powerful display of musical talent. SVP/Promotion He continued, “Quality matters. It’s not just about good marketing. Good Royce Risser explained the concept: one song performed acoustically by marketing helps bad products fail faster. Let’s do radio right.” every artist on the roster (save Shania Twain and George Strait, who were Ramsey proposed three action steps for radio to follow as the not present). “It will move quickly, which means very little talking from me economy takes time to heal. “Take action,” he exhorted. “Get up. Do and more music from them,” Risser said, drawing cheers. something. Quickly. Paint or get off the ladder. My grandmother used to Easton Corbin was up first, singing “A Little More Country Than say there’s a great place to go when you’re broke: to work. That.” Laura Bell Bundy explained her upcoming album has two sides “The second thing is, do not participate in loser talk. Turn off the news. – achin’ and shakin’. The latter is typified by single “Giddy On Up,” It’s negative 24/7 and you will become who you hang around with. Third, and the former by the song she performed, “Drop On By.” learn to serve again. Serve your customers. Take care of your people.” “Welcome to the Ryman,” Mallory Hope said in greeting. “I He referenced last year’s keynote speaker, urging attendees to am not going to throw up.” And she didn’t, instead delivering a read Seth Godin. “Most worlds have changed,” Ramsey said. “I don’t vocally impressive performance of her single “Blossom In The Dust.” know who’s going to figure out this music business model, but when Accompanied only by a piano, David Nail belted out an arrestingly he or she figures it out they’re going to have a really big house.The soulful rendition of his single “Turning Home.” “Thank you for ‘Red consumer demands to be served and when you figure out how to serve Light,’” he said afterward. “Thank you for giving me another chance.” the consumer you always win.” Billy Currington covered the Bellamy Brothers’ “You Ain’t Just Whistlin’ Dixie.” Risser introduced Jamey Johnson by saying, “He’s Humanitarian Awards got a new album and we’re all dying to hear it.” Johnson performed an Beasley Broadcast Group’s George Beasley was the Tom Rivers emotion-drenched spoken-word-verse composition called “That’s Why I Humanitarian Award honoree and WKSF/Asheville (small market) Write Songs” that brought the crowd to a lengthy standing ovation. KXKT/Omaha (medium) and WGH-FM Norfolk (large) received CRB Radio Humanitarian Awards. CRB Artist Humanitarian honoree Trace Adkins said, “I do what I can. I try to help folks out. I’m humbled by [this] and honored by it ... and I’m grateful.” The People Have Spoken WUBL/Atlanta APD/MD Lance Houston moderated the morning Normal People: From The Mouths Of The Consumer session, which surveyed Nashvillians Ashley (15), her mother Karen (40), Billy (22), Kathleen (40) and Jeff (50) and from a Music City suburb, Stephanie (32). Each have iPods and high-speed Internet and Stephanie, Kathleen and Jeff are Sirius XM subscribers. Jeff acknowledged he hasn’t listened to terrestrial radio in nine months, while it has been three years for Stephanie. Out of the six participants, Karen was the only 100% country fan and she doesn’t Cast Of Character: The UMG/Nashville promotion staffs and 18 artists purchase music, except for her children. Karen, Billy, Stephanie gather on the Ryman stage after the label group’s luncheon performance and Jeff all recognized only one Nashville morning host, with Billy Wednesday (2/24). Performing were Easton Corbin, Laura Bell Bundy, stating he would turn off a DJ if he didn’t like the topic, “with the Josh Kelley, Coldwater Jane, Randy Montana, Mallary Hope, Ashton Shepherd, Randy Rogers Band, Ryan Bingham, David Nail, Julianne exception of Gerry House.” None of the participants could name the Hough, Billy Currington, Jamey Johnson, Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Lee AM drivers on WKDF or WSM-FM. Ann Womack, Vince Gill and Sugarland. ©2010 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 25, 2010 CRS 2010 Daily Buzz Powered By Country Aircheck Page 3 Josh Turner followed Gary Allan’s “Right Where I Need To Be” by joking, “I’ve never had so many artists open for me.” Turner then sang an inexplicable yet hilarious few bars of what Dr. Ralph Stanley might sound like covering Nelly’s “Hot In Herre” before playing “All Over Me.” Vince Gill remarked on his 30-year career, joking, “I have had a single die at every number on the chart.” His performance of a new composition titled “Bread & Water,” loosely based on his brother’s life, again brought attendees to their feet. Finally, Sugarland capped the event with an awe inspiring performance of “Wide Open.” The show’s rapid-fire succession of talent, the Ryman’s pristine acoustics and the spare instrumental and vocal arrangements turned what looked on paper like another lunch showcase into a near-spiritual experience. UMGN and CRS would be smart to make this an annual staple. Partnering With Labels Moderator Adrian Michaels, Capitol/Nashville’s Steve Hodges, Sony/Nashville’s Skip Bishop and Mercury’s Damon Moberly said stations wanting access to artists need to be good partners and communicate effectively, during this afternoon session. Providing exposure, having an organized event with a great sound system and a large audience are key to getting artist appearances. Asking “what can I have” without an organized, interesting idea for an appearance, not supporting the artist you’re hosting and not adopting the newer artists are common pitfalls. “I begged a programmer at CRS 10 years ago to put a new artist on his guitar pull,” Hodges said. “And now it’s Keith Urban. You’ve got to be proactive.” PPM: Pardon The Interruption The nuances of the programming clock took center stage during the the PPM: What You Hope Your Competition Doesn’t Know panel.