DreamWorks' Keith Links With Fans Via `Chain' Of Awards, Hit Singles BY PHYLLIS STARK executive James Stroud. and the oddball "Getcha Some," NASHVILLE-In the eight years since Keith wrote all but three of the 13 which peaked at No. 18 but forced Scene his recording career began, Toby songs on the album, most with long- many in the industry to take notice of Keith has emerged from the chorus of time collaborator Chuck Cannon or Keith, some for the first time. TV NEWS: Grand Ole Opry Live, the "She Treats Her Body Like a Tem- hat acts as an artist who makes un- new writing partner Scotty Emerick. "Toby has made some great career televised segment of the WSM Grand ple." Also, David Allan Coe makes a usual-even brave -musical choices. A bonus track, "Gimme 8 Seconds," decisions lately," says KNCI Sacra- Ole Opry, will move from its long- guest appearance on the song "Still While industry recognition has come was co- written by Keith and Bernie mento, Calif., operations manager time home on TNN to sister network One Outlaw Left." slowly, Keith has been a success since Taupin and will be the theme for an Mark Evans. "The last album was his CMT, beginning Aug. 18. The pro- Randy Travis has teamed with his first single, "Should've Been a upcoming CBS -TV special about pro- best yet. He's moved up the ladder of gram had been running on TNN Image Entertainment to release the Cowboy," hit No. 1 in 1993. fessional bull riding. success and is now one of our format's since 1985. It is telecast live from first live concert recording of his Until this year's Academy of Coun- Keith says he had the benefit of top artists. He's also stayed fresh and Nashville's Grand Ole Opry house. career. Randy 71-avis Live: It Was Just try Music (ACM) Awards, however, the label's trust and creative control creative with his music and avoided With the move to CMT, the show will a Matter of Time is due Aug. 28 on Keith had not won any major industry on this album. "I don't think there is the `sounds like his last hit' syndrome, expand from 30 minutes to one hour DVD Video, VHS, CD, and audiocas- awards. He made up for it that night anybody else in town that has as which is another tribute to his talent." and will mix behind- the -scenes seg- sette. The set was recorded last by landing two top honors -album much creative freedom as I have at ments with December at a concert in Anaheim, and male vocalist of the year. DreamWorks," he says. "The week RISKS YIELD REWARDS the live per- Calif., and features 25 songs. The "I feel like now I've not only got my before I went in and cut [the album], KMLE Phoenix PD Jeff Garrison G M T formances. It DVD includes a tribute to 1Yavis from label [DreamWorks] on my side, but James had a great band put togeth- says Keith "is getting dialed into his MUSIC TELEVISION will be tele- former President George Bush. I've got the industry and the fans," er, and he had not heard one single career. I was happy he received the cast three times per weekend. Both Reba McEntire's new single, "I'm Keith says. "I've always wanted to be recognition he deserves for his years of TNN and CMT are part of Viacom's a Survivor," will be the theme song a major player, and I've always felt I hard work at the ACMs. His record MTV Networks. of her new WB sitcom, Reba, which was overlooked -like no matter what speaks for itself. Not only is Toby one Meanwhile, WSM -AM Nashville premieres this fall. I had or accomplished, nobody cared." of country's best singers, he continues morning host Bill Cody has been After selling 1.5 million records to write huge hits. He has had pa- tapped to host a new classic- country ON THE ROW: Industry veteran Anne without any industry awards, Keith tience. Now he is seeing the rewards." video show on Great American Coun- Weaver joins the team at Nashville - says, he decided, "The industry don't According to DreamWorks head of try (GAC). The show, GAC Classic, based Emergent Music Marketing as dig what I do, so I've just got to go and marketing Johnny Rose, the four - will air weekdays 9 a.m. -11 a.m. and VP of promotion. She will continue do my thing." His last album, 1999's month-long marketing plan for Pull 8 p.m. -9 p.m. (EST), beginning in working her current project, Eidetic platinum- selling How Do You Like Me My Chain encompasses a tie -in with early August. GAC's Tamara Saviano Records artist Michael Mason, Now?!, changed all of that. "Now peo- Philadelphia -based POC Marketing, will be executive producer. through Emergent. Weaver most ple are like, `He ain't going to go away. which is airing Keith's current video in recently was national director of pro- He does write his own stuff. He stadiums and arenas, at sporting out- ARTIST NEWS: Texas country artist motion at Dreamcatcher Records and doesn't compromise and fill an album lets, and on TV sports wrap -up shows. Cory Morrow filed suit July 16 previously was VP of promotion at up with songs the label wants him to Keith's album will be part of Uni- against retailer Larry Thompson of Mercury. Emergent clients include do.' I deserve to stand here today and versal Music and Video Distribution's Ralph's Records, Tapes & CDs in U.S. VFR, Sugar Hill, Dualtone, WE say I carved my own niche." song. This is a very important album "strike force field merchandising pri- District Court for the Northern Dis- Records, and Radio Records. to DreamWorks. It's a big effort on ority," a status Rose says will give it trict of Texas. The suit alleges that After buying Tim Rushlow's self - FOLLOWING HIS HEART everybody's part, and the whole label "high visibility at retail." New -release Thompson produced and sold pirat- titled album from the now -defunct Keith says sticking to his own path just stood back and said, `T, bring it banners went up July 20 at retail, ed copies of Morrow's first release, Atlantic Records Nashville division, as an artist is finally paying off for him: in here.' They're that comfortable country dance clubs, and Western - The Cory Morrow Band -Texas Nashville -based indie Scream Re- "It's an old, trite thing to say, but with me, and I'm that comfortable wear stores. There is also an Internet Time Thavl'n, which was released in cordings has retained five country you've got to do what you do best and with making my music." campaign under way on "all the major 1995 and is currently not available at promotion veterans to work the sin- stay with what you believe in in your The second single from Pull My music sites and portals." retail. Morrow, who seeks $150,000 gle "Crazy Life" to radio. They are for- heart. If it doesn't work, you're not Chain will be the hilarious Bobby Keith is also getting much visibili- in damages, says the early recording mer Giant staffers Fritz Kuhlman going to be happy with your A &R Braddock -penned male attitude ty as part of the Brooks & Dunn Neon is not representative of the quality of and Dick Watson and ex- Atlantic department bringing you some lame, anthem, "I Wanna Talk About Me," Circus and Wild West Show tour. Rose his more recent work and wants it staffers Lee Adams, Jon Loba, and middle -of-the -road, radio -safe ballad. that's more rapped than sung. "There says, "They've performed for close to out of circulation. Jim Dorman. The album will be OK, you're a hit, but you're going to ain't nobody in town [that's] got balls half a million people, and Toby's told Tyler England has split with Capi- repackaged with the new title Crazy go out, and it's not going to be real on enough to do this song," Keith says. every one of these people when the tol Records after one album. He pre- Life and will be rereleased in the fall the road, and you're going to be done "I'm your huckleberry." album is coming out." viously recorded for RCA. through Scream's distribution agree- in a couple of years." Keith says he knows he's "going to DreamWorks head of promotion Eighteen female country music ment with Navarre. By following his own heart, Keith get banged a little" for cutting it. and artist development Scott Borchet- artists are participating in Kellogg's The Christian Country Music Assn. has released six albums -including a "They're going to call it a rap, [al- ta says the radio set up for the album Driving 'Em Crazy campaign. The Awards are scheduled for Nov. 1 at 1998 greatest -hits package that though] there ain't nobody doing rap includes a world- premiere special with artists are being featured on boxes of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. peaked at No. 5 on Top Country Al- who would call it a rap." But he American Country Countdown host several of the company's cereal bums two of which have sold gold, defends his choice: "I'm a country boy, Bob Kingsley the weekend before the brands promoting three compilation SIGNINGS: Hamstein Music Group has the other four platinum.