April 6, 2009 Issue 135 Radio Reacts To ACMs If Country PDs make good barometers of public opinion, the ACMs’ ratings success is reflected in their comments to Country Aircheck. It all starts with a good host, and by all accounts, Reba delivered. KIIM/Tucson PD Buzz Jackson said, “I thought Reba was fantastic, and I hope they have her locked in for at least the next couple of years.” Journal/Wichita OM Beverlee Brannigan agreed, “Reba’s hosting was terrific; great material. She’s always so classy, and her performance was also excellent.” Programmers were united that the ACM salute to the Wounded Warrior Project, highlighted by Trace Adkins’ performance A special Oprah Winfrey Show next Tuesday, April 14, will be dedicated of “’Til The Last Shot’s Fired” with the to Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker. West Point Glee Club, was the evening’s Check local listings here. centerpiece. WBCT/Grand Rapids PD Doug Keith Vs. Cooper: Press Room Fireworks Montgomery reports, “Our phones have Trace Adkins “Are you Peter?” “Yeah.” The disdain was obvious in Toby been ringing all day about Trace. WUBE Keith’s voice as he entered the ACM press room and walked past & WYGY/Cincinnati PD Travis Moon hailed it as “one of Tennessean reporter Peter Cooper. And the tension only grew. the most special moments I’ve ever seen live. It had to be just The issue began Friday with a story by Cooper in the paper’s as powerful on TV, and left me speechless. There were tears celebrity column about a new Rolling Stone profile of Kris on the faces of many people sitting in the stands around me.” Kristofferson. Written by actor Ethan Hawke, the feature Jackson concurred, “The highlight for me was Trace Adkins’ opens at Willie Nelson’s 2003 birthday concert at New York’s performance. But he was also great when he was accepting Beacon Theatre. As Hawke tells it, a country star with a song [the Single of the Year Award] for ‘You’re Gonna Miss This,’” about “bombing America’s enemies back into the Stone Age” referring to Adkins’ humorous admission that he’d advised walks by Kristofferson and says, “None of that lefty sh-- out Capitol/Nashville President/CEO Mike Dungan not to release it. there tonight, Kris.” (continued on page 6) ©2009 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 6, 2009 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2 At that point, Kristofferson reportedly explodes at the Y UNES USIC HA T HAPED Y IFE younger star, reminding him that, having never worn a service M T : M T S M L uniform, he had no idea what he was talking about. Said star is WBEE/Rochester APD/MD/middayer humiliated in front of Nelson, Ray Charles, Norah Jones, Elvis Weslea discusses her most important Costello, Shelby Lynne and others. songs, artists or concerts: Cooper writes: “Let’s see… big country star, hit song about 1. New Kids On The Block, Toronto, military aggression, friends with Willie Nelson. I wish Hawke Summer 2008: I flipped out! It was a childhood dream come true. And, just in could have given us something to go on here. Like, ‘Does a case you were wondering…I’m a Donnie bunch of truck commercials,’ or ‘Often refers to himself as girl! Step by Step was the soundtrack to my ‘Big Dog Daddy’’ or ‘Name rhymes with ‘Moby Teeth.’’” And Weslea life in 4th grade! later, “Kristofferson, however, resisted the urge to pile on with 2. Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome a ‘How do you like me now? Whoa, snap!’” Song: This is one of the BEST albums I’ve ever heard. The first The biggest problem with his whole putting-Toby-in-his- time I listened through I lost track of time. It has this amazing place business is that Kristofferson says he doesn’t recall any continuity and it just pulled me in. It rarely leaves the CD player such thing. “I have no memory of talking so tough to anyone in my car. at Willie’s birthday party — least of all to Toby Keith (if 3. The Divinyls/I Touch Myself: When I was in high school I was that’s who the nameless star is), for whom I have nothing but obsessed with this song, and then I found out what it was about. admiration and respect,” Kristofferson said in a Saturday note I just thought it was fun to dance to, my bad! to Rolling Stone. Publicist Elaine Schock, who reps both Keith 4. Austin City Limits Music Festival, 2004: It was and Nelson, says Willie confirmed to her that “the incident overwhelming. In three days I saw Modest Mouse, Dashboard never happened.” Confessional, G. Love, Jack Johnson, Elvis Costello (dear God, I almost fainted), Pixies, Ben Harper, Cat Power, Pat Green…and a Enter press room. After a few questions from other lot more. It was just so flippin’ amazing to see all those artists in reporters, Cooper raised his hand and Toby glared at him. “Are such a short amount of time. you nervous?” Keith asked before devoting his remaining time 5. Bush with No Doubt: This was the first concert I went to in the room to a profanity-laced questioning of Cooper. Though unaccompanied by my parents. I remember crowd-surfing and obviously furious, Keith never once raised his voice. feeling my first taste of freedom, it was all downhill after that “Ethan Hawke reported a fictitious story about me, Kris and (sorry, Mom and Dad). Willie...and you ran it and took it to f--in’ super-size french • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: fries,” Keith said. “You’ve never sh-- in your f---in’ nest like Let me see what singles are on my desk. Just kidding! I’m you have right now. embarrassed to say I’ve never listened to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side “You did the ‘Moby Teeth’ sh-- about five of the Moon all the way through. times. Did you think that was funny? You even • An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: I really closed out with a little touché about ‘how do don’t get John Mayer! I’ve tried to get into him, I just can’t! you like me now.’ Why did you not call me or • An album you played or listened to incessantly: Live’s Kris or Willie?” Throwing Copper. There isn’t a bad song on that album, and I’ve listened to it about 93,489,032,374 times. To his credit, Cooper faced the hostile music Toby Keith and has since printed both Kristofferson’s comments, as well • One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: The Decemberists’ “O Valencia.” It’s on The Crane Wife as Keith’s. But the paper has printed no retraction, and a senior (amazing album). You must listen now! editor said there would be no further comment. A Rolling Stone ©2009 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 6, 2009 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 3 BIR T HDAYS Tuesday (4/7) – Bobby Bare, John Dittrich, C. C. McCartney. Wednesday (4/8) – John Schneider, Bud Schaetzle, Jill Brunett (jill. [email protected]), Reggie M. Churchwell ([email protected]). Thursday (4/9) – the late Carl Perkins. Friday (4/10) – the late Don Gibson; Billy Joe Royal; Curtis Stone; Michelle Brown; Alicia Lanier ([email protected]). Saturday (4/11) – Chalee Tennison, Jim Lauderdale, Jeri Cooper (jeri. [email protected]), Bob Moody ([email protected]). Sunday (4/12) – Vince Gill, Deryl Dodd, Dave Weigand. The Hats and the Cats: Receiving their hardware as Small Market Personalities of the Year are WYCT (Cat Country)/Pensacola, FL morning partners Brent Monday (4/13) – Marlene Augustine (marlene.augustein@umusic. Lane (l) and Dana Cervantes (r). WYCT GM/owner Mary Hoxeng (c) and OM com), EJ Bernas ([email protected]). Kevin King (not pictured) were also on hand to also on hand to accept WYCT’s trophy as Small Market Station of the Year. We’ll have extensive coverage on the broadcast winners, including their personal ACM Week memories, in the Stacy Rogers Leaves RCA June print issue of Country Aircheck. RCA West Coast rep Stacy “Nichols” Rogers spokesperson says, “We fully stand behind our reporting.” has resigned her post after seven months with Requests for comment from Hawke received no reply. the imprint. She previously worked the same “If what was in Rolling Stone wasn’t true, I regret having region for Midas/Nashville, and prior to that pointed people toward that article,” Cooper told Country served as Promotion Coord. for Lyric Street. Aircheck this morning. He later called back to note that the Rogers can be reached at 615-506-9004 or Stacy Rogers mag was standing by Hawke’s account. “I used humor in at [email protected]. VP/Promotion Keith Gale is there, and I think that’s what Toby took exception to.” working to fill the position. Asked if he regretted the flippant attitude of his story, Radio News Cooper said, “There’s a tone you use in a celebrity column • Gig Alert: KKJG/San Luis Obispo, CA PD Pepper Daniels and a tone you use when writing a straight news story. If the may be on the prowl for a morning host. He is accepting story is untrue, then I think it’s obviously a great disservice airchecks and resumes at [email protected].