COUNTRY Country Fans Want To See & Hear New Artists BY EDWARD MORRIS ed topics. polled -61 of 219 -said they radio where they worked (four re- The surprise was less in how the Of those polled, 98 were in the owned a CD player, although only spondents) or at a live concert votes for favorite star were con- NASHVILLE -Country fans are 21 -35 age range; 77 occupied the 41 ranked CDs as their preferred (five). centrated than in how widely they quick to embrace new acts, and 35 -55 slot; 28 were under 21; and 16 album format. Vinyl was the con- While a small number declined were spread. Those polled listed they increasingly rely on music were older than 55. figuration of choice for 32, while to answer the question, 75 report- more than 60 acts, including such videos to introduce them to new Of the total polled, 30 had been cassettes garnered 125 votes. ed that their total annual family in- newcomers as the Marcy Brothers, songs and artists. These are two of to Fan Fair at least once before; 63 The respondents were video - come was less than $30,000; 83 said Mary Chapin Carpenter, Foster & the findings that surfaced in a poll had attended two to five times; and wise: 180 either subscribed to ca- it was in the $30,000 -$50,000 range; Lloyd, , Lorrie Mor- Billboard conducted during Fan 22 had attended more than five ble TV or had satellite dishes. Of and 36 said it was more than gan, Shenandoah, , Fair here, June 4 -10. Other revela- times. Fifty reported having at- these, 168 said they had access to $50,000. the Kentucky Headhunters, and tions: Fans say they want lower tended one live show this year; 82 TNN (The Nashville Network), Responding to choices listed on Travis Tritt. But also on the list- ticket prices for live concerts, said they had gone to two to five and 93 reported access to Country their questionnaires, the fans' big- more variety on radio, and more concerts; and 63 said they had Music Television (CMT) program- gest complaint was that "not live concerts in their home areas. gone to more than five live shows. ming. enough artists do concerts near Fan Fairgoers said Billboard's pollsters talked to In album purchases during 1990, Asked where they were most where I live." Of the 219, 123 per- 219 of Fan Fair's estimated 24,000 13 respondents said they had likely to be introduced to new ceived this to be a problem, even that `not enough registrants and asked them about bought one album; 61 reported songs, 105 fans answered "car ra- though some who made the com- artists do concerts concert attendance, album buying, buying two to five; and 134 main- dio"; 66 gave the nod to radio in plaint lived in such concert-heavy access to program- tained they had bought five or the home; and 41 said music vid- areas as Las Vegas, Philadelphia, near where I live' ming on television, family income, more. eos. A few reported that they first and Louisville, Ky.- indicating and a variety of other music -relat- More than a fourth of those heard their favorite songs on the that if there is a problem, it may be more one of promotion than of at one vote each -were such veter- availability. ans as Grand Ole Opry star Justin Eighty -nine lamented that radio Tubb, , Merle Hag- did not sufficiently identify the gard, , and songs and artists it programs; 80 . Fan Fair? It Was Fan Great! said radio offered too little vari- CD player ownership was the ety; 80 said that concert ticket highest in the over -55 group: six prices were too expensive; and 39 out of 16. In the under -21 segment, New & Established Acts Delight Crowds said there should be more music it was nine out of 28. For the 21 -35 videos. group, it was 27 out of 98. And in FAN FAIR, THE SEQUEL: Actually, June 4 -10 saw the ruely shoved a fan away from as he left an Overall, Clint Black pulled down the 35 -55 division, 19 of 77 had CD 18th annual sequel for the International Country Music autograph session. Black "stopped dead in his tracks the most votes for favorite star. players. Fan Fair in Nashville (Billboard, June 16). Some 24,000 and told the guard, 'She's not a criminal. This is how I He had 33 and was followed by All age divisions reported heavy fans and hundreds of industry executives attended the make my living-and all she wants is a picture.' " Bravo, Barbara Mandrell (30), Ricky Van record buying. Saying they had various shows, exhibit and autograph booths, and relat- Clint! Security goonism is not needed, or wanted, at Fan Shelton (24), George Strait (18), bought five or more albums in 1990 ed activities during the seven -day extravaganza spon- Fair ... The International Fan Club Organization pre- and (16). Loretta were nine of 16 in the over-55 sored by the Country Music Assn. and the Grand Ole sented its Tex Ritter Award to Roy Clark for his ex- Lynn, Reba McEntire, Garth group; 16 of 28 (under 21); 53 of 77 Opry. Among the highlights: The huge throng at the traordinary relationship with fans through the years ... Brooks, and Alabama got between (35 -55); and 56 of 98 (21 -35). CBS Records show applauding such acts as Waylon Congratulations to PolyGram's Sandy Neese. The pert, five and 10 votes each; and Tammy Jennings, , Ricky Van Shelton, Les petite, and effervescent publicist was voted by interna- Wynette, Conway Twitty, Hank Interns Monica Perry, Beth Blau - Taylor, and Doug Stone, tional journalists to re- Williams Jr., Charlie Daniels, Saw- fuss, and Hal Andrews assisted who wowed the crowd ceive the Media Award yer Brown, and Louise Mandrel] in compiling the information for with his "I'd Be Better presented by the British received two -to -five votes. this report. Off (In A Pine Box)" hit. magazine Country Music . The enthusiastic recep- People ... Nashville tion given Wayne Newton Nashville Scene's all -time hero, Roy following his rousing per- Rogers, was introduced to formance on the Curb the RCA show crowd by NEW ON THE CHARTS Records show ... The TNN's Shelly Mangrum. spicy Cajun show -red- s- The flash cameras erupted At 26, has the road they'd listen to me." hot music on a red -hot day like a disco festival. Rog- to success mapped out before She says life's experiences ... The blend of the estab- ers, a wonderful -looking her. The talented singer /song- have helped to shape who she is lished Asleep At The by Ge r ry Wood '78 (age, not rpm's), plans writer recently made her single and what she does. "There's a Wheel act with the new faces of Exile, Michelle to collaborate with various country music stars on a new debut on RCA Records, with an path you take from being a song- Wright, Lee Roy Parnell, and Alan Jackson on the album of Western-themed songs. Among his likely duet album slated for September re- writer who can sing to an artist," Arista Records show ... Scorching sets by sizzling beau- partners are , Ricky Van Shelton, lease. Berg says. "I'm able to invest all ties on the RCA show, featuring the Judds and Lorrie Restless Heart, K.T. Oslin, Clint Black, and Waylon Produced by those things that I've seen and Morgan ... The still -popular Billy Joe Royal singing Jennings. Rogers looks just like an old Clint Black ... and Josh Leo, Berg's single, felt and experienced into the the still-popular "Down In The Boondocks" to close the Party plaudits of the week go to Arista Records' circus- "Baby, Walk On," is steadily songs and the singing." Atlantic Records show ... Again, the new and estab- themed blowout in the Music Row area. The "Polyester climbing Billboard's Hot Country Berg is managed by Chuck lished-Canyon and Charley Pride showing the depth Purification Ceremony" featured cotton candy, jug- Singles & Tracks chart and is at Flood & Assoc., P.O. Box 121885, and diversity of 16th Avenue Records on its show ... glers, balloons, hot dogs, peanuts, clowns, beer, prizes, No. 63 with a bullet in its third Nashville, Tenn. 37212; 615 -329- The closing the MCA Records magic, games, Sno Cones, and face -painting ... And a week. 9902. Booking representation is show with a flourish ... Travis (Randy) & Travis new entry may be forthcoming for "The Guinness Book Berg has been fortunate. still pending. DEBBIE HOLLEY (Tritt) exciting the Warner Bros. Records show crowd, Of World Records ": shortest time for beer to disappear When she was 18 years old, "Fak- along with Carlene Carter ... showing backstage at a music show. On a hot night, both six- ing Love," a number she co- the Capitol Records show audience why he'll be around packs stocked for the CBS Records tent were gone in 1.7 penned with Nashville songwrit- for many more Fan Fairs ... Daniele Alexander stalk- seconds. er and a duet ing the PolyGram Records stage after a gruff'n'ready performed by and performance by newcomer Rich Grissom ... and Don- RECORD BREAKER: The TNN /Music City News T.G. Sheppard, hit the No. 1 posi- nie Marsico gaining deserved raves during the Super Country Awards show, June 6, gave TNN its largest tion on Billboard's Hot Country Star /Independent Label show. sustained audience in its seven -year history. Telecast Singles chart. Berg was also a re- The autograph lines were long and patient despite the live from the Grand Ole Opry House, the show reached cent Grammy nominee for Reba increase in heat during the week. Lines for the most 2,478,000 households for a 4.9 rating, according to A.C. McEntire's No. 1 "The Last One popular stars, such as Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Nielsen data ... It was a gutsy and good move to kick To Know." and Ricky Van Shelton, snaked around inside and out- off the show with such new talents as Clint Black, Lor- She credits her mom, the late side the buildings. A 92-year -old woman waiting in the rie Morgan, Shelby Lynne, and Garth Brooks. Al- Icee Berg -a noted Nashville Travis line was so tired that she would lie down occa- though Brooks' black suit had the sheen of a seal surfac- session singer and songwriter - sionally during the wait. When she was still 90 minutes ing after the Exxon oil spill and although he detracted for encouraging and building away from reaching Randy, a security guard picked her from his song "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by constant- confidence in her music career. up and carried her to the front of the line. A grateful ly waving at the fans during his performance, he proved Icee would take her daughter Travis recognized her from earlier in his career and himself to be one of the hottest newcomers in the busi- down to all the publishing compa- spent time talking to her and signing an autograph ... ness ... Sight of the night: Presenters Sweethearts Of nies and have her play her songs On the flip side of security, Thomas Goldsmith and The Rodeo, dressed in devilish black, flanking white- for people. "She really believed Robert K. Oermann of the Nashville Tennessean re- hatted good guy Paul Overstreet. Another magical in me and the songs I was writing ported that an overzealous security guard roughly and night in country music. and people could sense that, so MATRACA BERG.

32 BILLBOARD JUNE 23, 1990