September 10, 2012, Issue 311 Fall Tune-Up Regularly scheduled maintenance is a must for your radio station, just as it is for your station vehicle. With autumn upon us, Country Aircheck reached out to some certified station mechanics for a refresher on the age-old tune-up. Inviting us into their shops are Albright & O’Malley’s Mike O’Malley, Joel Raab Associates’ Joel Raab and the UnConsultant’s Keith Hill. Providing views from the track are WGKX/ Memphis PD Duane Shannon and WGSQ/ Cookeville, TN PD Jonathan Monk. Pull in and pop your hood. “I view it like spring training,” says Hill. “Mornings, music, clocks, liners, promotion; it’s the time to make sure it’s all being done well. It’s the time to identify bad habits that have crept Better In A Red Jersey: Cold River’s Katie Armiger cools her back in, [to thin] music libraries that have grown Mike O’Malley pipes after singing the National Anthem for the Falcons/Chiefs and to review jock content goals.” season opener on Sunday (9/9). Pictured (l-r) are the label’s Music is almost always job one. “Check every Wayne Manning, KBEQ/Kansas City’s Mike Kennedy, Armiger, song and make sure you’re getting a good the station’s TJ McEntire and CR’s Jim Dandy. rotation for the category – a day-and-a-quarter for a song in a gold category, for example,” says Raab. “If songs aren’t rotating properly or getting Wade Hayes: To Feel Better When former Columbia artist Wade Hayes was diagnosed enough exposure, check the rule and fix it.” with Stage IV colon cancer last December, the fit 42-year-old’s “Do the same for artist separation and song first thought was, “I’m too young.” Statistically, he wasn’t a likely rotation rules,” says O’Malley. “Often those can Joel Raab candidate for the disease. Worse yet, the cancer had already be tightened. Prune the list so that the hits have spread to his liver. “I had somewhere between a one-in-16 and strong exposure, and check the exposure of your one-in-eight chance of surviving,” he admits. core artists.” Hill adds, “Eliminate the mistakes His writing instincts still healthy, Hayes worked through his of software ‘favorites’ and songs that get played emotions by penning the song “Is It Already too little.” Time.” The answer, thankfully, is not yet. Reviewing song and tempo codes is also Following what he calls “a miracle surgery” and important. “I realize this is an understatement, months of chemotherapy, Hayes is currently but often these have been entered over the years cancer-free. Now he’s hoping the song will allow by more than one person,” Raab explains. “Do Keith Hill him to help others. “I’m so glad to be here and it with at least one other person that you trust. so thankful,” he says. “I want people to take the Being that music and entertainment are subjective, two or even song to heart and remember that life is precious three heads are better than one.” (continued on page 8) and can turn on a dime.” Wade Hayes ©2012 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] September 10, 2012 Page 3 Industry vet Jeri Cooper was part of the Columbia promo staff that helped Hayes’ 1995 debut release “Old Enough To Know Better” PAGE THREE PIC rise to No.1. With an assist from Hayes’ longtime manager Mike Robertson, Cooper rallied others members of that team, all of whom have agreed to take “Is It Already Time” – recorded by Hayes’ original producer Don Cook – to radio. Oswald Mgmt. partner Bob Mitchell, Quarterback’s JR Hughes and former Sony label heads Allen Butler and Scott Siman are in. Fellow Columbia alum Craig Campbell and Hayes’ own publicist Ronna Rubin agreed to handle publicity duties. For all, the project is a labor of love. Cooper convinced Play MPE to donate digital distribution and Radio Informer’s Dale Turner to include it on the Sept. 17 edition of RI’s Country Sampler CD, sent monthly to all reporting and non-reporting Country stations. “Every person I’ve called has been a yes,” she says. “So I have to believe this is something that’s supposed to happen.” At the same time, Cooper’s expectations are realistic. “The goal isn’t to get a No. 1 record,” she says. “This Playing Chicken: Thirty years ago, Bill Anderson (r) and is about exposure on as many radio stations as possible – their Southern Tracks independent promoter Mike Borchetta websites, blogs, Facebook pages, morning shows, whatever. If (l) hand-deliver the first copy of Anderson’s new single someone wants to add this and play it every day, that’s great, too.” “Southern Fried” to NASCAR legend Richard Petty, who Siman, whose recently launched RPM Entertainment includes a was in Nashville for a race. Petty is heard on the chorus handful of Columbia alums, is donating that label’s promotional of the song that Anderson describes as being about efforts, as well. “This is something that’s important to us, sharing the “life in the South and how things are down here.” Have message and the music,” he says. “Everybody has another day job, but shots from the start of your industry race? Send them to [email protected]. we can all moonlight and talk this up.” Available now on amazon.com and soon through iTunes, the song’s proceeds will benefit the Colon Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit patient advocacy organization. “This is including Paul Brandt, Dean Brody (Album, Male Artist), really half-song, half-PSA,” says Mitchell. “Wade did a great recording, George Canyon, Terri Clark, Emerson Drive, Carolyn so if people want to address this issue in their market, it’s a great way.” Dawn Johnson (Female Artist) and Michelle Wright. Hayes’ goal is both lofty and humble. “I just want it to help Held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan this year, the event is a somebody,” he says. “The song wrote itself, and I initially combination of CRS, CMA Music Fest and CMA Awards week that struggled with what to do with it. If anyone has any inkling brings together artists, labels, radio, managers, bookers and more, something is happening with his or her digestive system, please and offers a day for fans. Kicking off the week featuring more go get checked.” For info, contact Cooper here or check out than 100 musical performances Thursday night was the New Artist Hayes’ website here. –RJ Curtis Showcase. Friday was filled with seminars that included a few familiar names. Premiere’s Rick Murray moderated “Making Your Mark: Tips & Tricks To Get Noticed,” which included AristoMedia’s Jeff CCMA: Love Those Saskatunes Walker and journalist/author David Ross. Later, After MidNite’s The Canadian Country Music Association wrapped up its Blair Garner and Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton took part in 35th Country Music Week Sunday night (9/9) with a nationally conducting “The Perfect Interview.” televised award show that featured Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Guitar pulls, songwriter Miranda Lambert and the Pistol Annies. Taylor Swift showcases and open mic who was on hand to accept the CCMA’s Generation Award, nights featured the country’s presented via video by Bryan Adams. A number of performers best and brightest new artists and award winners have recorded for major Nashville labels and songwriters. Making ©2012 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] September 10, 2012 Page 4 MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE CMT’s Craig Shelburne discusses his most influential songs, albums and concerts: 1. TNN, 1990s: My teen years in rural Nebraska were spent watching endless hours of TNN, from Video Morning to Ralph Emery to the Opry. That’s how I learned about country music and its history. 2. George Strait’s Strait Out Of The Box: Strait’s string of hits in the 1980s is Craig Shelburne unrivaled, in my opinion. This essential four-disc set was released in 1995. I think it’s time for a second volume. 3. Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Stones In The Road: The 1990s were ripe with women who had something to say. Even now, this Grammy-winning project remains one of the most relatable albums I’ve ever heard. 4. CMA Awards, New York City, 2005: I met so many friendly New Yorkers on that trip by having my dinners at the bar. If you can talk about music, you can have a conversation with just about anybody. 5. CMT, 2000s: For 10 years at CMT.com, I’ve written about country legends, current superstars and countless lists (Here’s one more!). Now I’m branching out with a new roots blog, CMTEdge.com. • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: Vernon Dalhart’s “The Wreck Of The Old ‘97/The Prisoner’s Song.” In 1924, this became the first million-seller in country music history. And he’s in the Country Music Hall of Fame because of it. I’ve done my research on Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, but I don’t know anything about Mr. Dalhart. • An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Why is it so important for platinum country artists to cover AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses or Metallica in concert? I don’t get it. If you’re selling a million albums, save your biggest hit for the encore instead.