Inside the Acms with RAC Clark Teri Watson Celebrates 25 Years
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April 26, 2021, Issue 753 Inside The ACMs With RAC Clark 56th ACM Awards Exec. Producer RAC Clark goes behind the scenes of the April 18 CBS telecast. With last year’s show postponed to September, how did you approach the quick jump into this one? That’s the fastest turnaround we’ve ever done with a three-hour awards show. Artists came with great music, and the messaging all seemed to come together. We did ask for certain things in terms of music. For instance, we wanted Alan Jackson to do a different one of his classics, but he sent me the medley with “Drive,” and I said, “Yep, you’re right.” What were the messaging points the show needed to cover? First of all, COVID. When we saw the masked and vaccinated front-line workers at RAC Clark the Super Bowl, we grabbed that idea, and it Somebody Somewhere 19th & Grand’s Tenille evolved into having workers from Vanderbilt Arts celebrates her first No. 1, “Somebody Like That.” in [the Opry House and The Ryman]. Once you have an audience, Pictured (top, l-r) are the label’s Anna Bea Major, Suzanne you can celebrate a little more, as opposed to September when we Durham and Kellie Longworth; (middle, l-r) the label’s Jim had to keep the tone down. Dandy, Dave Collins and Jim Malito; (bottom, l-r) the Being on the Academy board helped me with insight into its label’s Gator Michaels, writer Allison Veltz Cruz, Arts and agenda, both in diversity and inclusion and its support of Lifting producer/writer Alex Kline. Lives. We were able to weave those together in having two out of three in terms of diversity, female presence and Lifting Lives on almost every performance without feeling preachy. The other Teri Watson Celebrates 25 Years element was showcasing Nashville, which has had a rough year St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Sr. Dir./ with the tornado, the bombing and the halt in live music. Entertainment Marketing Teri Watson began attending Country From interacting with her over the last few years, I knew Mickey Cares (CC) seminars in the Guyton would be a bit more effusive than Keith Urban, giving him late ‘80s. From the moment someone to react to in that emcee role. And according to the Lifting she walked through the doors, Lives folks, we got lots of donations. So, all the elements came together. she knew she was witnessing How did you freshen the production? something bigger than herself Working with [Co-Exec. Producer] Raj Kapoor, we charged and was forever changed. the production, design and lighting team to up the production Watson celebrates 25 years value a bit at the Opry, Ryman and Bluebird. That meant we with St. Jude this month, and Oh, Snap: Watson with then-St. got to add some scenic elements in the Maren Morris and Ryan reflects on her journey with Jude patient and now fellow Country Aircheck. Hurd performance. (continued on page 8) employee Carlos. ©2021 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 26, 2021 Page 4 Watson was given the opportunity to lead KZLA and KLAC-AM/Los Angeles’ first Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon as Dir./Marketing in 1990. “Seeing first- hand how the funds from our station and the many stations across the country were being used to support cutting edge research and help families receive unsurpassed Miracle Smile: Watson with patient care was Randy Owen. truly amazing and fulfilling,” she says. Fast forward to 1996, she moved to Nashville and opened an ALSAC/St. Jude office on Music Row. Although she “loved the mission and felt great about the work,” Watson didn’t see herself staying for five years, let alone 25. “It was difficult being so far away from family, but my commitment to serving the St. Jude mission and working with the music industry in Nashville won out.” In ’96, Country Cares raised $10.7 million, contributing to a 32-year total now exceeding $950 million. Watson credits the country music industry and St. Jude’s willingness to innovate “We have evolved in our technologies, resources and flexibilities with in-studio and external events on the radio side,” she says. That evolution and success also informed expansion into Hispanic, Urban AC, Gospel and Rock formats. One of Watson’s best memories was the 2007 BNA release Make A Miracle: Country Cares For Kids. “We brought a bunch of patients in to a Nashville studio to sing,” she says. “The label’s Debbie Linn and I worked on it, Randy Owen was one of the artists and other labels provided songs and support. It was a great collaboration for the industry, but for the kids, it was something they’ll never forget. They got to wear headphones, sing and meet artists. It was a miracle in lots of different facets.” While St. Jude was not immune to the effects of the pandemic, Watson says it confirmed the team was already on the right track with its digital transformation. “When we moved to an all work- from-home workforce last year, our teams never missed a beat,” she notes. All fundraising events became virtual – from marathons to galas, performances to sporting events. “How we fundraise may have evolved, but the hearts of millions of supporters still beat strong for St. Jude.” The biggest lesson Watson has learned in 25 years is, “radio knows how to do radio! Give them the tools and resources and let them do it. They will make it happen.” Case in point: Funds raised by Country radio have contributed mightily to the overall childhood cancer survival rate rising from 20% when the hospital opened in 1962 to more than 80% today. Ultimately, it’s the personal connection she holds dearest. “I have been impacted by incredible people from every sector of the industry, all of whom have given their precious time and talent to give these kids a chance to be who and what they ©2021 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 26, 2021 Page 6 want to be,” she says. “Randy Owen set the precedent and we have been blessed to have so many ‘Angels Among Us’ OFF THE RECORD – Greg Fowler, Joe Galante, Lon Helton, Gene Bridges, Bill Mayne, Don Langford, Dave McKee and many others. But the Country Aircheck goes Off The Record patients are the stars and our heroes. Hearing their stories, with Wheelhouse’s Elvie Shane: feeling their gratitude and seeing their hope is an incredible gift The pandemic-inspired life that is so inspiring and keeps you going day in and day out.” Congratulate Watson on her 25th anniversary here. adaption I plan on continuing –Caitlin DeForest is, surprisingly, virtual interaction. Zoom meetings and FaceTime made me realize how much more I can Chart Chat see people I care about and handle Congratulations to Tenille Arts, Jim business from afar. Malito, Dave Collins, Suzanne Durham, ELVIE SHANE I’m very active on socials. I try Kellie Longworth, Rick Young, Jim to post daily and share my everyday Dandy, Anna Bea Major and consultant Gator Michaels on landing the first ever life through stories. I also love coming up with creative video No. 1 for both Arts and the label this week content ideas. with “Somebody Like That.” Songwriters are I believe I was part of the first hi-def virtual radio Allison Veltz Cruz, Alex Kline and Arts. tour. We did more than 130 shows in six weeks from a state- The song debuted on the chart one year ago Tenille Arts of-the-art studio. It was the best 9-5 I’ve ever had! tomorrow (CAW 4/27/20) and, in addition I grew up listening to a few radio stations: WBKR/ to being Arts’ first No. 1, the song also makes history as the first Owensboro, KY; WGGC/Bowling Green, KY; and Classic Rock chart-topper to be produced solely by a female producer (Kline). WPTQ/Bowling Green, KY. Every time I hear myself on the radio, It is also the first No. 1 exclusively by a Canadian act since it feels like the first time. I’m like, “Holy crap! That’s me!” Emerson Drive’s “Moments” nearly 14 years ago (CAW 6/4/07). With ’s “The Good Ones” at No. 2, this week is The County Roads EP is an honest account of my Gabby Barrett the first time women have occupied the top two slots since May 9, upbringing in rural Kentucky. It spans from my religious 2011. Those songs were Sara Evans’ “A Little Bit Stronger” and introduction to music to my wilder encounters with Miranda Lambert’s “Heart Like Mine.” country and rock. It’s a bit of a sonic roller coaster of my Kudos to Matthew Hargis and the BMLGR crew on scoring influences combined with life’s twist and turns that got me 59 first week adds forBrett Young’s “Not Yet.” here today. New reporters with airplay reflected this week areKTGX/Tulsa What’s the most redneck thing I’ve done lately? and WCYQ/Knoxville. KVOO/Tulsa has been dropped. New Well, I just raced a jacked-up diesel truck in a rental minivan weights will be published in next week’s Country Aircheck Weekly. ... does that count?? I wish I’d written Gary Allan’s “Watching News & Notes Airplanes.” I’ve never heard another song that puts you The Independent Broadcasters Association (IBA) is offering there quite like that one.