October 25, 2010 Issue 215 Radio to Taylor: You Belong with Me the Media Assault for Taylor Swift’S Speak Now May Be Unprecedented in Scope
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October 25, 2010 Issue 215 Radio To Taylor: You Belong With Me The media assault for Taylor Swift’s Speak Now may be unprecedented in scope. As a national, if not international, event, the launch comes in an era marked by even more pervasive media and pseudo-media outlets than at any time in history. To wit: Tonight’s triple play on MTV Networks (CMT/MTV/VH1), old grey dames like the Times (New York and Los Angeles versions) and quite literally millions of fans tweeting, facebooking and otherwise socialing (we made up a word). Not lost in this deluge, certainly not to Big Machine, Swift or the readers of this publication, is broad, multi-format radio Big Bad Jim: Jimmy Dean’s daughter, Connie Dean Taylor, looks heavenward after accepting her father’s Country Music Hall of Fame play. So we asked a small panel of experts if, amid this multi- induction medallion from Bill Anderson. media blizzard, it’s important for Country stations to try to assert “ownership” of Swift as an artist and, if so, how. Dean, Williams Receive Highest Honor Universally, our respondents say Taylor’s cross-media, cross- Don Williams and the late Jimmy Dean were inducted into the format popularity is a positive. “She got her wholesome start and Country Music Hall of Fame last night, joining 2010 classmates image in Country,” says KUPL/Portland PD Scott Mahalick. Ferlin Husky and Billy Sherrill who were enshrined last May. “It’s even better for the format for her to cross over. All boats This particular Medallion Ceremony had a strange feel to it, since rise when that happens. Stereotypes in the New York ad agencies it was the first time ever that no honoree was present. Dean passed start to break down. If Taylor is truly America’s sweetheart, then away last June, a few months after receiving the news he would lets share her with the world. She is one of the artists that keeps go into the Hall. Williams cancelled Saturday night following the growth in motion on the young end. Many females are turned a visit to a Kentucky hospital where he was diagnosed with on to the format for the very first time by Taylor, and that is a bronchitis. Nevertheless, the night was a celebration of the lasting good thing for our future.” legacy and music left by these iconic figures. (continued on page 6) ©2010 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] October 25, 2010 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2 Jimmy Dean’s ascension to stardom from an impoverished childhood in Olton, TX, a stint in the military and early MY TUNES : MUSIC THA T SHAPED MY LIFE Washington, DC area radio and TV appearances was punctuated Average Joe’s Entertainment’s Joe by musical interludes from Shawn Camp, who sang the 1953 Schuld discusses his most important songs, artists or concerts: hit “Bumming Around,” Hall of Famers Roy Clark and Charlie 1. The Beatles/ I Saw Her Standing There, McCoy collaborating on 1962’s “Little Black Book” and Daily I Want To Hold Your Hand: When I was in & Vincent with Statler Brother-esqe harmonies on “Harvest Of second grade (1965), I convinced three guys Sunshine.” The “inspired casting of the night” honor, however, to join me onstage for a school talent show. We all brought instruments, but we only had goes to whoever decided to recruit Trace Adkins and the an accordion in my house. We lip-synched “I Jordanaires to do Dean’s self-penned 1961 country and pop No. Want To Hold Your Hand”, then got mobbed 1, “Big Bad John.” Joe Schuld during recess. I lived in Beatlemania. I talked Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson welcomed Dean into the guy with the guitar into letting me have it when we did “I Saw Her Standing There” after recess. This time, the elite group with an incredibly heart-felt and eloquent speech we sang with the record and I belted it out. After that, I bought filled with personal anecdotes of time spent with one of his best every Beatles record as soon as it came out. I was hooked! friends. “I doubt I ever had a closer friend, but I know I never 2. Neil Young, Rust Never Sleeps Tour: I was grounded in the music of Neil Young when I was at Central Michigan University, had a better one,” said Anderson. two hours from Pine Knob. I remember it like it was yesterday. Dean’s greatest contributions to this format came not from his When we’re having a beer, ask me about this night if I haven’t told charted songs, but from the country artists he put on the stage of you already. All I can say is, I ended up in the second row with his network TV show. Anderson recalled the late Roger Miller blood running from my palm down my forearm as I was thrusting my arm into the air and in a trance as Neil played “Tonight’s The sending Dean a gold door-knob to “thank him for the million Night.” Everyone there died and went to heaven, led by Neil. doors he opened” after Dean had him on the show to sing “King 3. Jimmy Buffett, Kansas City: I have seen him play more than of the Road.” Anderson added, “If you have ever made any part any artist I have not worked with, even though he’s only been to Kansas City once in the 20 years I’ve lived there. I love the way I can of your living from Country music, Jimmy Dean opened doors be at home and escape in his music at the same time. for you, too.” 4. Toad The Wet Sprocket, William Jewell College: I saw an inordinate amount of unbelievable musical moments at Columbia Records, including The Rolling Stones at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT. But Toad The Wet Sprocket in an ancient, small auditorium at William Jewell College was a moment frozen (there was even snow) in time. “All I Want” was my stand, and it was amazing to see their career take off with that song. 5. Jerrod Niemann, Stampede, Manhattan, KS: The first time I saw Jerrod play. It was a hot, humid Kansas day, and he played two shows in the blazing sun. He entertained the crowd like nobody’s business, mixing his songs with the perfect covers. When Category 5 folded, he was concerned his career was over, but I told him it was just beginning and it was time to make the album he wanted with no rules other than a few singles. You can imagine what I thought when I first heard Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury. • An album you played or listened to incessantly: The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and Bob Marley’s Exodus. • One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to Hall About It: Hall of Famer Jim Foglesong (l) with Don Williams’ longtime right now: “Lord Is It Mine” by Supertramp. manager, Robert Pratt, who accepted the Country Music Hall of Fame induction medallion on behalf of the singer. ©2010 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] October 25, 2010 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 3 Anderson talked to Dean on the phone not long after Jimmy TUBE CHECK was informed of his election to the Hall. Dean told him, “Billo, I never thought I’d make it. I figured I pissed-off too many people Tuesday 10/26 - Taylor Swift, Today (NBC) and Late Show With David Letterman (CBS); Jamey Johnson, Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC). down there (Nashville.).” Choked with emotion a number of times during his Wednesday 10/27 - Taylor Swift, Live! With Regis & Kelly introduction, Anderson closed by saying, “I wish all of you cold (syndicated); The Judds, Better TV (syndicated); Jennifer Nettles, have known the Jimmy Dean I knew. His song says Big John Chelsea Lately (E!). was a ‘big, big man.’ He didn’t have a thing on Jimmy Dean.” Thursday 10/28 - Brad Paisley, Conversations From The Road (re-air) (GAC). Dean’s daughter Connie Dean Taylor, the subject of Dean’s 1962 hit “To A Sleeping Beauty,” accepted the Medallion on Friday 10/29 - Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Top 20 Country behalf of family present, including Dean’s wife of 19 years Countdown (GAC). Donna Meade Dean. Taylor kissed the medal and looked skyward as she told the assembled, “He loved country music and Saturday 10/30 - Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Tippin, On The Streets (re-air) (GAC) he loved to entertain. But I believe what he loved most about his profession was the many friends he made. He always said what a Sunday 10/31 - Rascal Flatts, GAC Special: Why Wait (re-air) (GAC). lucky and fortunate man he was.” Don William’s musical tribute featured the last minute Monday 11/1 - Taylor Swift, Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated). addition of “Amanda,” performed by tour mates Joey + Rory. That song replaced “Help Yourself To Each Other,” which Williams had been scheduled to sing. Del McCoury and his the Medallion on behalf of the Williams family, which was band put their fabulous high-harmony bluegrass touches on represented in the Ford Theatre by his sons Tim and Gary and “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good,” Chris Young delivered their families. a great rendition of “I Believe In You,” and, before singing “You’re Just A Country Boy,” Alison Krauss said, “I’m crazy about Don Williams.