Inside the Interview Iheart Draws a Crowd
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May 2, 2016, Issue 497 Inside The Interview Television journalist Charlie Rose said recently that a good interview is one where the guest is “engaged and real and revealing.” The absolute best, he said, were those where guests were “so in the moment that they went beyond where they ever imagined they might go.” WUSN/Chicago morning co-host and 2016 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee Lisa Dent offers a similar definition for radio. “Good interviews get content that has never been aired before and causes the guest to share something personal they never thought of sharing and that the world doesn’t know about them.” But how is that done? Country Aircheck Hall Of Fame: RCA’s Miranda Lambert squeezes attempted to find out. in a group photo backstage at the iHeartCountry No Excuses: Comprehensive research Festival Saturday (4/30) in Austin with (l-r) iHeart’s comes first and it’s rarely lost on the guest. Steve Geofferies, Jackie Tigue, Marc Chase, Tom “It’s not helpful to ask questions like ‘where Poleman and Meg Stevens. ya from’ or ‘what was your first single’ when Lisa Dent you should know,” argues Rob Simbeck, who has interviewed artists as Bob Kingsley’s iHeart Draws A Crowd Nashville Bureau Chief for more than 20 A new captain, expanded offerings, a cautious marshal and years. “They want you to come in with respect for them and the potential homelessness were among the storylines at Saturday’s work they put into their craft by knowing as much as possible; (4/30) iHeartCountry Festival in Austin. “This meters go off in their heads when you don’t.” was a whole new level, obviously,” says format The good news is that good information is relatively easy to find. captain Rod Phillips, who was enjoying his “In the age of social media there is no excuse for any interviewer first run through the event in his current role. anywhere not to know as much about most artists as their mother “We’re proud of the team that puts this knows,” Simbeck continues. “You may have to page back through event together,” he tells Country Aircheck. mountains of social media, blogs or videos, but it’s there.” “They do a nice job making it better every That’s not to say other media should be discounted; look year, [but] watching it behind the scenes was everywhere and look for depth. “I look for print media interviews even more impressive. They just don’t miss a Rod Phillips they’ve done because it seems like more is revealed in print,” beat. We get tremendous feedback from our Dent offers. label partners that this is one of the best-run Pay close attention to personal interests. “There’s a great shows out there. That wasn’t a surprise, but Barbara Walters book I read in college,” recalls America’s it’s cool to be a part of that experience and participating in all the Morning Show co-host Kelly Ford. “It basically argued that if you things that go into making that happen.” can get someone talking about themselves, you’re usually good. As in its first two years, the show benefits from iHeart’s rotating stage and another top-shelf lineup: Florida Georgia Line, Chris (continued on page 8) Young, Zac Brown Band, Thomas Rhett, Brett Eldredge, Sam ©2016 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 2, 2016 Page 3 including Flonase, Aaron’s and Firestone. Within 30 minutes, the standing area in front of the stage was full. Fifteen minutes Village Idiots: later, the call came over the radio that the Austin fire marshal was The Raging closing the plaza. From that point forward, hundreds formed in Idiots’ Bobby two lines hoping to get in as others exited, or gathered around the Bones (r) and fence line to listen and watch. Eddie Garcia “You never know with a free show if people will come stand with Natalie in the Austin sun to take it in,” says Phillips, who was relieved to Stovall (l) and only see one person pass out from the Texas heat and humidity. Lindsay Ell. “There’s the concern you’re going to have 500 people and a lot of empty space. But we had a great up-and-coming lineup of artists and had to turn people away.” An expanded village is likely next year, but the question is where. The Frank Erwin Center is slated for demolition. “I’ve Hunt, Lee Brice, The Raging Idiots, Cole Swindell, Keith Urban heard it’s eventually coming down,” Phillips says. “They’ve been and Miranda Lambert, in that order, performed short sets. The doing construction around it for two years now, but we don’t have Idiots played two songs, ZBB topped out at seven. Notable official word.” Backstage, speculation was that iHeart will have to moments included the debut of FGL’s “H.O.L.Y.”, Chris Young and find a new home in 2017. Cassadee Pope on their new chart-topper, ZBB’s cover of Prince’s Wherever it’s held, the iHeartCountry Festival is now fully “Let’s Go Crazy,” and Lee Brice and Jerrod Niemann rolling out “A Phillips’ responsibility after the 2016 slate was put together by his Little More Love.” predecessor, Clay Hunnicutt. “That starts immediately,” Phillips “The artists are so great at doing all the associated things from says. “In fact, [National Programming Platforms President] Tom meeting with listeners to advertiser integrations,” Phillips says. Poleman and I have been talking about that since about midnight “Even if there’s a question mark at management coming in, by the Saturday. What do we do next?” time they get here everybody is just in. They do what it takes to get Certainly, the plan includes continued focus on the festival as a it done and move on.” platform cornerstone. “A marquee event like this helps to build the New this year and where Phillips was most involved was the iHeartCountry brand, but it’s only important if it helps the local Daytime Village on a plaza outside the Frank Erwin Center. stations build their image,” Phillips says. “That’s why we do it. It’s Performing were Chris Lane, Maren Morris, Granger Smith, about being an iHeartCountry station meaning something, having LoCash and the aforementioned Idiots. something special to provide the listener. Otherwise, it’s just one Opening at 3pm, the plaza featured food trucks, vendors, show in one town.” Watch this year’s festival on AT&T’s Audience merch tents, a mechanical bull ride and sponsor activations Network May 13 at 9pm ET. –Chuck Aly ©2016 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 2, 2016 Page 6 Chart Chat MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE Congrats to Chris Young, Cassadee Pope, Keith Gale, KVOO/Tulsa's Greg Mozingo Matthew Hargis and the RCA and discusses his most influential music: Republic Nashville promotion 1. Rod Stewart & Aerosmith: There departments on scoring this week’s are two concerts I attended because No. 1 with “Think Of You.” The song they were my wife Kim's favorite: Rod Chris Young and is the second chart-topper from Cassadee Pope Stewart in Columbia SC in the '90s and Young’s I’m Comin’ Over album, and Aerosmith in Memphis in 2002. She Pope’s first No. 1. is a huge fan and both shows were Extra kudos to Hargis and the gang, who may have problems, absolutely fantastic. Greg Mozingo but 99 aren’t one. Florida Georgia Line’s “H.O.L.Y.” registered 2. Best of Eddie Rabbitt: Before that many adds today, topping this week’s board. college I had very little exposure or a taste for country music. A Sigma Chi fraternity brother introduced me to his 8-track copy of Rabbitt's '70s hits. "Rocky Mountain Music" was the first News & Notes song I ever played as a Country DJ on WLWI/Montgomery, AL Accountant/controller JoAnn Johnson has joined Beasley/ in 1981. Las Vegas as Business Mgr. Reach her here. 3. Journey's Escape: I'm a big fan of the band. I recall Producer/songwriter Jason Deere has signed an exclusive buying Escape on vinyl in the summer of 1981. Then later, songwriting agreement with Million Midnights Music. on cassette, CD, and i-Tunes. The icing on the cake was when Carl Geisler’s daily, two-minute syndicated feature Today In "Don’t Stop Believing" from that album was used in the final Country Music History is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The Sopranos episode. Sweet. program airs on 25 stations. More here. 4. Randy Travis' Storms of Life: In my opinion, the Neo-TraditionalUPDATE movement led by Randy was a big deal for Country radio and set up the country boom of the '90s and a Artist News stretch of time in radio that was very fun to be a part of. Charley Pride will celebrate his 50th anniversary in the 5. Fleetwood Mac's Rumours: The soundtrack of my high business with a tour that kicks off April 30 in Albuquerque, NM. school years. It seems like they were on the radio all the time. See the dates here. And of course Stevie Nicks with her skirts, shawls and platform Darryl Worley is set to host this year’s Waddell & Reed 2016 boots was way cool – and hot. charity golf tournament benefitingChristmas 4 Kids May 6 at • A highly regarded song or album you've never Nashville’s Hermitage Golf Course.