Garth Against the Machine Awards: What Are They Good For?
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September 8, 2014, Issue 413 Awards: What Are They Good For? After reading Bobby Bones’ comments (CAT 9/4) about the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists, I felt compelled to respond, but not in the way you might think. What concerns me most – perhaps even more than his comment about “going to need a lot of old people in this industry to retire or die before the Nashville ‘guard’ lets something new get recognized” – which I just might take a bit personally ;) – are his assertions that the process is “obviously political” and an “antiquated system.” He also opines that he is at a disadvantage because “I simply don’t play the political games the format is known for.” To suggest that any of the above plays a role in the process is a huge disservice to CMA staffers and Radio Committee members Beaches Of Chi-Town: Pearl/RCA’s Garth Brooks (l) and RCA’s who through the years have taken great pains to ensure the Trisha Yearwood (r) with KBEQ/Kansas City’s Mike Kennedy integrity of the entire process. It is also an affront to anyone who and wife Nycki in Chicago for Brooks’ world tour. has ever won or been a finalist for a CMA (or ACM) broadcast award. The implication is the award was bestowed for reasons other than for being Garth Against The Machine an excellent broadcaster. The familiar circle-G logo was overtaken by a skull and Regardless, it struck me that there might crossbones and ominous industrial sounds before Garth be a lot of people new to this format who Brooks opened his world tour might also be confused or uninformed outside Chicago Thursday (9/4) about the process, and perhaps an with the new song “Man Against explanation was warranted. So, I offer Machine.” After raging against and this response as a long-time member seeming to beat back the Borg in the of the CMA Board of Directors and the uncharacteristically theatrical opener, Radio Committee, which has oversight Brooks and his 10-piece band carried of the Broadcast Awards process. (In full on in more familiar fashion. But the disclosure, I am also one of three National theme was quite clear. Personality finalists – along with the Big D & Bubba show and After all, his very presence onstage zMax Racing Country – in the category in which Bobby entered.) is notable because he stepped out of the machine to devote his time to Garth Brooks (continued on page 10) ©2014 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] September 8, 2014 Page 4 parenting. He also apologized during Thursday’s press conference for continuing to refer to himself in the third person – a device he PAGE THREE PIC employs to acknowledge that “Garth Brooks” is much more than just one person. Topics also included his plans to play YouTube “whack-a-mole” to keep cellphone videos of shows from popping up online. He celebrated Country radio because on social media “it gets twisted ... you guys do it accurate – the guy right there [in his own] voice saying what’s going on.” Brooks also took on ticket brokers (“that’s a kind word”) and discussed the steps he’s taken to keep them out of the process. “I haven’t seen a robot with a credit card yet,” he said. And later, “It’s kind of a man against the machine kind of feel.” Of course, the most momentous announcement was GhostTunes.com, which he founded to avoid selling his music through iTunes, Amazon and other digital retailers. “We don’t want corporations wagging the tail of the dog,” he explained. Clearly, Brooks was trying to tell us something. Mostly, though, he wanted to entertain. Following the openers, “Rodeo” and “Papa Loved Mama,” Brooks admitted, “I’m 107 years old. I can’t sing like this for Blame It All On My Roots: Garth Brooks (l) with RCA’s 11 nights straight so you’re going to have to help me.” The crowd Dan Nelson and his mullet. Have your own hair- carried much of “The Beaches Of Cheyenne” and “The River.” “I gotta raising flashback to share? Send it to pagethreepic@ get some more of that,” Brooks said, kicking off a solo-acoustic version countryaircheck.com. of “Unanswered Prayers” that the audience sang throughout. Perhaps the defining aspect of the show and Brooks as a performer is his barely controlled (or is it?) fervor – a near mania As the “orb” that encircled the drum riser began to spin on a that fuels his interaction with fans with an almost drug-like high. horizontal axis (the kit was stationary), rotate laterally and rise “You really think you can keep this up all night long?” he roared, into the air, the singer climbed one of the contraption’s pillars getting the same enthusiasm back as the band jumped into to stand roughly 10 feet above the stage with nothing to hold “Ain’t Going Down (‘Til The Sun Comes Up).” Afterward, already onto but the spinning sphere. drenched with sweat, Brooks asked, “You had enough?” Then Brooks climbed down safely ... and slowly ... ending the night’s he bent over, put his hands on his knees and wheezed into the only precarious wobble. Otherwise, the passion- and sweat- microphone. “You sure you haven’t had enough?” drenched connection between Garth and his fans continued at A few songs later, Brooks was joined by wife Trisha Yearwood such a pitch that it almost begs the question – is he a man ... or for “In Another’s Eyes,” opening her portion of the set. “I think a machine? “To the woman with the sign that says ‘We missed Garth’s gone to put on a gown or something,” Yearwood joked you,’” he yelled near the end, “we missed you! And to the guy after he left the stage. By comparison, her five-song interlude was with the Fresh Horses t-shirt, I have seen you every day we have understated, but no less well-received. Introducing “She’s In Love been gone! And to the young people who knew every word to With The Boy,” she recalled performing the song for the first time every song .... thank you so so much!” –Chuck Aly while opening for Brooks. “I was scared of the crowd, scared of the stage and scared of Garth Brooks ... and tonight, I’m still scared of all those things, but it’s a lot of fun,” she deadpanned. The Intern Conundrum Garth returned to sing harmony on Yearwood’s single For many in the radio and label ranks who credit unpaid “Prizefighter,” then retook the reigns for “More Than A internships with launching their careers, the idea of being anything Memory,” “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” “Friends In Low Places” and but grateful for the opportunity to get a foot in the door rankles. But “The Dance.” Brooks’ almost unyielding drive to give all he has it’s a litigious new world out there, so Country Aircheck asked a to the audience led to one scary moment during the encore. few folks on the front lines about the evolving landscape. ©2014 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] September 8, 2014 Page 6 “We looked at all the states where we operate and worked with employment attorneys to set standards,” says Emmis VP/Human OFF THE RECORD: JOEL CROUSE Resources Traci Thomson. “Basically, the most we have to do in any state is what we do in every state. That’s usually California, but Show Dog-Universal’s Joel Crouse puts an New York is a close second.” industry spin on the artist interview: Thomson says Emmis has five specific guidelines for unpaid interns. I grew up listening to WKLB/Boston • They must be enrolled in an accredited college’s academic and WRNX/Springfield. Shaggy the DJ program. “So no 30-year-olds who graduated four years ago.” is still there. It’s so crazy going to see him. • They must spend 20% of their time doing in-job shadowing. When I first met him I was like, “Dude, you’re • They can work 20 hours per week or less, unless the college a legend to me.” requires more. The first time I heard myself on the radio I was on my way to a gig in Virgin- • They have to submit an agreement up front that details these Joel Crouse guidelines signed by someone from their academic program. ia Beach and it was on WGH. It was the • Finally, at the end of the internship, they submit a final written craziest experience to hear it coming through regular radio and report about their experience and what they learned. “A lot of times not a CD player. And then the first time I got in the car and it the college requires this, so we’re basically asking for a copy.” was playing randomly, I was in Seattle and KMPS was playing it. The reports also help the company oversee how interns are I don’t even jam out to it. I just take it all in because it’s such a used. “That way we can monitor what’s happening, finding surreal experience. locations where the program may not be up to par and say, ‘You My first radio visit ever was with Phathead, the program need to hire someone for this, not use interns.’ What you don’t want director at WJVC/Nassau. My radio rep said, “I know this is your to do is find out that one of your markets has 30 unpaid interns.