August 9, 2021, Issue 768 Hybrid WFH Plans Begin To Variant A not-so-funny thing happened on the way to the pandemic’s end: it didn’t, and the country business is responding accordingly. In the first of a two-part look at the evolving work environment, Country Aircheck reached out to decision makers at an unscientific sampling of companies and stations for an overview of how they are planning for, or adjusting plans for, working in-office. (Next week’s story will focus on a broader survey of industrywide views; take it here.) Hybrid Vigor: Across company sizes and types whose executives replied, only 5% are fully back in the office, 30% remain in work-from-home mode and 65% are in a hybrid arrangement. Rising COVID cases and the Delta variant seem to be shifting views, however. “There’s more caution and it’s coming up on every other phone call at this point,” says one label executive who declined to be named. “It’s frustrating because we thought after the shot this would all go away.” (Ed. Note: The vast majority of individuals contacted for this story declined attribution citing the need to not publicly speak for parent companies.) Plaque Stage: RCA’s Chris Young is surprised backstage Triple Tigers President Norbert Nix echoes at the Opry with a plaque commemorating more than the sentiments of many who were hoping for four billion Pandora streams by the company’s Beville Dunkerley (l) and Alina Thompson. Norbert Nix more face time with coworkers. “We have had some smaller staff meetings, and it is evident that in person human interaction has been sorely missed and is very necessary,” he says. “The creative process is better in person – much more impactful than a Zoom call.” A publishing executive Tour Launch: Zac Brown Band adds, “Maybe 85% of it is fine, but you miss those magic moments Thursday night (8/5) saw the kickoff of Zac of collaboration.” Brown Band’s The Comeback Tour at the The opportunity for more of those moments may now be PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, about delayed. “We were pretty well down the road to opening the 40 miles outside of New York City. Audacy offices in full, but with a few of our vaccinated employees WNSH/New York MD/afternoon host Jesse contracting [COVID] we have slowed that down a bit,” says one Addy was in attendance and agreed to label GM. “The office is open for anyone that needs it, but we are double as Country Aircheck’s correspondent very mindful that we don’t need to take any chances in the name and share his experience. of the old way of doing things.” “The house track faded, and the band walked out onto a dark stage. Everyone got Jesse Addy (continued on page 20) ©2021 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 9, 2021 Page 10 into position and launched into ‘Homegrown’ OFF THE RECORD with a splash of color and light on the first note,” he says. “The stage had five tall video An Off The Record conversation with panels in the back. The colors were very Monument VP/Promotion Luke Jensen: vibrant through the entire show. The energy of I listened to two stations growing ‘Homegrown’ as [the] first song [was] such a up. KHOK/Great Bend, KS, where Scott great move. Zac briefly addressed the crowd, Donovan was the morning host. He’s still there and we’ve become friends. That was saying, ‘We’re so glad to be back. Without the first station I ever set foot in, and it gave Caroline Jones you guys, we’d just be a bunch of people me the bug. When I turned 12 we moved to playing in a garage.’ Kansas City and I started listening to KBEQ, “Opener Caroline Jones made her debut as a guest player which was a Top 40 station at the time. I with ZBB. She stood out front to perform Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Big was not a country person at all, but in 1993 Love.’ The crowd really cheered when she let her vocals soar near Q104 flipped, I heard a Garth Brooks song the end of the song. She’s such a talent.” and went, “Wow, this is cool.” LUKE JENSEN In typical Zac Brown Band fashion, the show had a healthy The last couple years I was in radio dose of covers, including several surprises. Addy notes, “’Enter I knew I wanted to make the transition to records, and Scott Borchetta, Steve Hodges and Royce Risser were all Sandman’ has become a staple now, but wrapping up act one really helpful in talking to me about that. Then Gator Michaels gave me with [Adele’s] ‘Rolling In The Deep’ was a fun surprise. They took the opportunity. From a leadership standpoint, those guys led me down a 10-minute intermission before starting back up with a slow- that path. jammed ‘Dancing In The Dark,’ which was really cool. They Having radio experience as a PD and a jock has helped me then segued right into Kings of Leon’s ‘Sex On Fire,’ which was all the way through, including in this new role with Monument. I probably the loudest people were singing a cover all night. have an understanding of what my client base is going through on a “There was a moment about 40 minutes into the show [when] day-to-day basis. the crowd had settled in, the weather was perfect and everyone The first two weeks at Monument were crazy and some of the most sang ‘Free’ about as exciting of my professional life. I’ve known Walker Hayes for a long time. He came to visit my station in Tulsa, I got to work with him as a regional loud as they could – with on “You Broke Up With Me” and being reunited in this moment is pretty purpose,” Addy continues. special. And seeing radio’s response – they’re getting it. “The show closed with In my radio days, people hired me to be a PD and let me do that. ‘Chicken Fried’ [and] a That’s what my philosophy is with my team. They have a job to do, so do member of the US Navy it. Mine is to help them and give them the tools they need to be the best. was brought out during That’s been lost some places. Hire great people and let them be great. the song.” I grew up in cities and since I’ve moved to a more rural area outside The encore was Nashville I’ve felt the need to get a bit more countrified. Having more time a medley of covers at the house in the pandemic, I borrowed tractors and tore trees down. I even bought a chainsaw. These are things I’d never done before. including “Black Betty,” Working from home will stick. With this job, you’re at radio “I Want You To Want stations and shows, talking to people all the time. Very social. It’s nice Me,” “Two Tickets To at home to decompress without people around you. You can’t stay Paradise,” “La Bamba,” home seven days a week, but having more flexibility is great. “Jump,” “What’s Up?” Standing in Central Park wearing my Dr. Seuss hat and seeing and “Come Together.” Addy says, “Caroline Jones sang lead on Garth rise out of the stage is a moment I will never forget. And Eric Aerosmith’s ‘Love In An Elevator,’ which was not on anyone’s Church’s Carolina is a record I’ve worn out and will listen to until I die. bingo card. During this segment, easily the loudest singing by the A kid I went to high school with, Jason Sudeikis, has a show crowd was for ‘What’s Up’ by 4 Non-Blondes. called Ted Lasso. Seeing him having this success is surreal and we’re pretty into watching that show. As Addy sees it, “The magic of a Zac Brown Band show is Reach Jensen here. Zac puts a setlist together to allow the band to excel and connect ©2021 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 9, 2021 Page 12 OFF THE RECORD with the audience and then drops a song like ‘Colder Weather’ An Off The Record conversation with at just the right moment to get everyone on the same page.” See BMLGR/19 Recordings’ Laci Kaye Booth: upcoming tour dates here. Reach Addy here. –Chris Huff I didn’t realize until the pandemic how much my body appreciates self-care, how important Chart Chat it is for my body and mind and how Congratulations to Chase much physical damage stress can do. Rice, Carson James, Lee I’ve started sharing small Adams, Shelley Hargis clips of my demos and new songs Gaines, Renee Leymon and on social media. I love getting fans’ the Broken Bow promotion reactions! When they like something, team on notching a second LACI KAYE BOOTH it makes me super giddy and proud. week at No. 1 with “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” I just can’t wait to see what they think featuring Florida Georgia of this new collection. FGL and Chase Rice Line. It can be said that Rice I grew up listening to KYKS/Lufkin, TX. That’s where has never had a one-week No. 1, as both his chart-toppers have I heard all my favorite country songs growing up.