April 1, 2013, Issue 339 Inside Bones’ Hall Call Following this afternoon’s news that Premiere syndicated morning host Bobby Bones will be inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame with the 2014 class, Country Aircheck digs deeper into the unexpected acceleration of the selection process. CRS Exec. Dir. Bill Mayne explains that the Hall of Fame selection committee waived its usual application criteria for a number of reasons. “For several years, we’ve been concerned at the lengthy delays in the process,” Best Western: CMA’s Steve Moore and industry leaders Mayne says. “To keep the Hall as relevant as Bobby Bones gather to sign the “Ampersand Agenda” urging the possible and to grow the induction dinner as an re-adoption of “Western” in describing the genre. An event, it is imperative that we reflect Country’s youth movement.” initiative born of recent CMA research, the widespread use Previously, candidates were required to have at least 20 years of “Country & Western” is expected to raise the genre’s in radio and a minimum of 15 in Country radio. Bones, 33, has profile in the Western region. Pictured (l-r) are Moore, been in the format since Feb. 18. “To be perfectly honest,” Mayne Broken Bow’s Benny Brown, UMG/Nashville’s Mike continues, “Premiere was diligent in researching the rule changes Dungan, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, WMN’s John Esposito, and got there first with Bobby’s nomination. And let’s face it, Sony/Nashville’s Gary Overton, Show Dog-Universal’s Bobby has set one of the fastest zero-to-60 times in Country radio Mark Wright and Curb’s Mike Curb. history. He’s a perfect fit for the new approach.” Bones is taking the news in stride. “As long as I’ve been in Music Row Relocation Country radio, I’ve dreamed of being in the Hall of Fame,” he The Nashville Planning Commission’s decision to says. “Just to be among all those great names like Gerry House move the city’s music businesses east to accommodate the and ... other people. It’s a real honor. I’m not one to brag a lot rapidly expanding Vanderbilt University seems to have been about this or my other accomplishments, but it’s nice.” accepted by both community leaders and industry executives. The Bobby Bones Show team is already preparing for Companies located on 16th through 18th Avenues will begin the big night, which will open CRS 2014. “I haven’t actually relocating to 15th through 13th as soon as April 31. been to the Country Radio Hall of Fame,” he admits. “But I “We are actually planning a parade to encourage labels, am gathering some personal photos and mementos for my publishers and others to carry their desks and roll their chairs exhibit. Lunchbox will be inducting me, and you’ll be able to right on over,” says Mayor Karl Dean. “We’re setting up a see all the video on bobbybones.com.” station where people can borrow wheeled carts – the Hello, Mayne also reveals that Belmont University student Josephine Dollie booth. There are also plans for a concert and recycling King will receive the 2014 President’s Award. “Jo is one of the top event headlined by Willie Nelson named the ‘Box-Call Willie.’” students in her class, and we feel confident she will make tremendous One complication with the “Re-Row-cation” has been contributions to Country radio over the course of her career. But if she convincing Thom Schulyer and Lacy J. Dalton to rewrite and changes her mind and goes into real estate, the plaque will certainly re-record her song “16th Avenue.” Schuyler is one of the few be a great conversation starter.” sounding a cautionary note about the changes. “This is complete bull- (continued on page 17) (continued on page 17) ©2013 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 1, 2013, Issue 339 Vegas: Bob Romeo Q&A Country goes Vegas (and vice versa) this weekend in advance of Sunday’s 48th Annual ACM Awards (4/7). Among the most notable changes is moving the ACM Experience from the Mandalay Bay to The Orleans. Country Aircheck asked ACM CEO Bob Romeo what to expect from this year’s event and telecast. CA: Why the move to The Orleans? Bob Romeo: Two reasons. The Mandalay Bay didn’t have a lot of space left in that parking lot and we knew we wanted to Bob Romeo supersize it and step up to a two-day Party For A Cause Festival. And that was backed up by price-point, which we found a lot of fans were concerned about. The Orleans being off the strip gives them a different financial model that allows a Today Was A Good Day: Illinois Governor Pat Quinn proclaims couple three nights, VIP passes to the festival and tickets to the Friday (3/29) Blake Shelton Day before Shelton’s show with Brad Paisley-headlined Fan Jam for about $680. WUSN/Chicago at Joe’s Bar. Pictured (l-r) are Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, Shelton, Quinn, WMN’s Chris Stacey Walk us through the weekend that couple might and the station’s Jeff Kapugi. experience. It starts Friday at The Orleans with the Party For A Cause Festival, which Big Machine is hosting with their artists and sponsor General Vegas: Previewing Radio Remotes Mills for Outnumber Hunger from 3pm to 9pm. When that ends, “We’re going to handle it like a big, local event.” That’s fans can go inside to the casino, where the agencies and different Clear Channel’s KWNR/Las Vegas PD/ labels have taken over four lounges and will be programming talent morning personality JoJo Turnbeaugh from 9pm until 1am. The Official After-Hours party is on Fremont describing his approach to this week’s Dial Street, where Gary Allan is headlining. Global ACM remotes in Sin City. “This is Saturday, the festival starts at noon and honors the military and great for the radio station and even better for wounded warriors. We have several special moments and donations KWNR listeners, as they have great access to planned, and Kix Brooks is hosting. When Dierks Bentley closes that all things ACM going on in Las Vegas.” show, we will again have the lounges in the casino, or people can go A total of 24 stations will be set up at to Fremont where Jake Owen will close. The idea is that the festival is the MGM Grand 11am-4pm Friday (4/5) for families, and the die-hard partiers can go to Fremont. and again 10am-4pm Saturday (4/6), with JoJo Turnbeaugh The free ACM Expo is open Friday through Sunday, which access to more than 20 artists who are is awards show day. Brad hosts the Fan Jam that night, which nominated, performing or presenting. is being taped for a GAC special. When the awards are over at Execution of radio remotes has evolved in recent years, 8pm, there’s the All Star Jam at the MGM Grand. with most stations now opting to record and edit artist (continued on page 4) ©2013 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 1, 2013 Page 3 interviews into soundbite-sized clips that air over song PAGE THREE PIC intros. “Probably fewer and fewer stations are broadcasting entire shows live in this PPM world we live in now,” observes Dial Global EVP/ Entertainment & Strategic Partnerships Max Krasny. “We don’t have strict requirements that we used to, with stations coming out and doing it live. And because of random time zones, it works for PM drive at East coast stations, but not for the West.” KWNR and CBS Radio’s WUSN/Chicago Max Krasny are two exceptions that will air live midday and afternoon shifts, respectively. WUSN MD Marci Braun says afternoon personality Drew Walker will do his regular show Friday and again Saturday. “He does a great job of getting artists in short bursts,” she says. “Then we put all the content online in the form of podcasts; we Facebook and All-Star Lineup: In honor of baseball’s opening day Tweet a ton, too.” Braun gives Walker high today, here’s a shot from the dugout at Wrigley Field, marks for balancing artist visits with the taken during a Rascal Flatts concert in 2009. Pictured (l- requirements of PPM timing: “That’s the r) are Lyric Street’s Dale Turner, consultant Joe Patrick, LS’s Doug Howard and consultant Charlie Cook. Send beauty of jocks now, they have to be great your action shots to: pagethreepic@countryaircheck. interviewers but also great editors.” Marci Braun Turnbeaugh’s plan is similar: “We’ll be utilizing all the audio gathered before News & Notes and during the remote times. On top of that, my digital Average Joes’ Administrative Assistant department will be shooting video and sending it to our social Nicole Wyatt has been upped to the newly media platforms and our website.” created position of Coord./A&R and Digital. Krasny says other highlights from the remotes will include Succeeding Wyatt is Karalyn Gillen, who a presence from the BMLG/General Mills Outnumber Hunger had been an intern. Congratulate Wyatt campaign at Thursday evening’s (4/5) pre-broadcast orientation, here and Gillen here. followed by a live performance from Republic Nashville artist The National Association of Nicole Wyatt and The Voice Season Three winner Cassadee Pope.