ISSUE 56 MUS I C EDITION SEPTE M BER 17, 2007 Radio's Take On Nashville KXKC/Lafayette, LA PD Casey Carter gave a less than glowing review. “It was awful. I do think the concept of the Country Aircheck had a hard time finding folks who tuned show itself is decent, but if these are the ‘stars of tomorrow,’ in for the premiere of Fox’s new “reality” show, Nashville. we as a format may be in trouble.” When asked for his reaction, KQFC/Boise, ID PD Wes McShay answered, “I didn’t see it and I couldn’t find anyone else who did either.” Apparently, Fox also had a tough time finding people to watch. According to zap2it.com, Nashville had a 1.7/3 rating, leaving it in last place behind ABC, CBS and even CW. The show drew fewer viewers than Fox's Anchorwoman, which was cancelled after one episode. Watch it for yourself at www.fox. com/fod/. Those broadcasters who did see it had a strong reaction. “My expectations weren’t very high, but it was almost impossible to watch after a few minutes," Regent’s VP/Programming Bob Moody says. "The Chuck Wicks segments were interesting “Chuck Wicks has the 'it' factor,” wrote WCTK/Providence since he has a song on the charts now. And I enjoyed seeing PD Steve Giuttari. “He was the clear star on the show. The Monty Powell, but most of the hour was spent setting up others didn’t really shine like he did. I thought the show stereotypes that promise to get worse in future episodes. Can you portrayed an accurate picture of the Nashville music scene. But even imagine seeing a young Alan Jackson or Reba McEntire there was too much dramatic fluff and the acting was sub-par.” as part of the trendy and superficial world that the Hollywood (continued on page 5) producers are passing off as typical of Music Row?” WUSN/Chicago MD Marci Braun gave the show a fair Pat & Tom Visit Montana shot. “I watched the first 5 minutes of it, got all excited when I CBS Radio KNCI/Sacramento morning men Pat Still saw people I knew...but then came the 'drama' part and I totally and Tom Mailey unwittingly engineered a broadcasting tuned out. I might TiVo it again this week but I'm pretty sure coup earlier this month. Billy Ray Cyrus had previously I'll be fast forwarding through the 'drama' and just watching for interviewed with the Pat & Tom Show, during which the duo the performances.” jokingly invited themselves to LA for a taping of the Hannah ©2007 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Send news to [email protected] September 17, 2007 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 3 Montana show. ATE HE C K Cyrus, it seems, D C didn't laugh. Instead, September 18 – 4th Annual Dale Franklin he arranged for the Leadership Music Award trip and, in true Schermerhorn Symphony Center radio fashion, the station launched a contest. September 20 – SOLID New Member Pary And that's how Bar Twenty3, Nashville Pat, Tom, their kids and two winners Best Dads Ever: Pictured (l-r) are Hannah Montana September 25 – NSAI World’s Largest No. 1 Party ended up at a actor Jason Earles, KNCI's Pat and son Lucas, Mi- ley Cyrus, KNCI's Tom and daughter Emm a, and CMA Parking Lot closed-set rehearsal KNCI contest winner Haley. of Disney's pre-teen blockbuster series. After the rehearsal, Billy Ray, his daughter September 26 – Bluebird On The Bridge and the show's star Miley, and other cast members sat for an Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge almost 30-minute interview. Pat and Tom aired it the next morning while broadcasting from the studio of CBS sister Alternative KROQ/Los Angeles. "Billy Ray told us it's the September 30 – Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music first time in the show's two year history anyone from the radio For Kids” Motorcycle Ride industry has been on the set of the show or had access to the cast in that way," Mailey says. October 14 – iebaLIVE! Conference Hilton Suites Downtown Nashville The Week's Top Stories For details on these and the rest of the week’s news, visit the October 15 – ASCAP Country Music Awards Country Aircheck archives at www.countryaircheck.com. KKGO/Los Angeles OM/PD Mike Johnson was upped to Sr. Ryman Auditorium Ops & Programming Manager. (CAT 9/17) KKGO MD/middayer Tonya Campos was promoted to PD. after five years with the CBS Radio Country outlet. (CAT 9/12) (Breaking News 9/13) Sony BMG/Nashville Dir./Sales David Fitzgerald elevated KDRK/Spokane OM/PD Cary Rolfe was named PD for to Sr. Dir./Sales. (CAT 9/12) KWNR/Las Vegas. (Breaking News 9/14) Former NFL lineman Sean Gilbert launches IPAK Records Universal South Sr. VP/Promotion Michael Powers exited. and taps WPAW/Greensboro evening talent Brian “Opie Joe” (Breaking News 9/14) Creason as Dir./Radio Promotion. (CAT 9/13) Clayton Allen named OM for Tejas Broadcasting/Corpus Christi and PD for KOUL. (CAT 9/14) WITL/Lansing & WFBE/Flint, MI PD Jay J. McRae died Industry News of a heart attack. (CAT 9/11) The young music industry professional organization, WDSY/Pittsburgh morning co-host Chris DeCarlo resigned SOLID, will present “Moving On Up: How to Get In, Fit In ©2007 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Send news to [email protected] September 17, 2007 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 4 BIRTH D AYS Tuesday (9/18): the late Hank Penny, Marci Braun ([email protected]), Steve Fishell, Tatum Hauck, Erin Morris ([email protected]) Wednesday (9/19): Jim Collins, Bob Heatherly (bob@ musiccityrecords.com), Trisha Yearwood, Ralph Carroll ([email protected]), Sam Ramage, Jeff Bates Friday (9/21): Faith Hill, Ronna Reeves, Katharine Hodges, Jeff Roper ([email protected]), Lynn Waggoner, Mark Wright, Stacy Blythe ([email protected]) Saturday (9/22): Lex Browning, Deanna Cox, Ted Cramer, R. J. Meacham (rjmeacham@curb. com), Airik Sanders, John Saville, Carson Schreiber ([email protected]) Sunday (9/23): June Forester, Don Herron Monday (9/24): JoJamie Hahr (jojamie@ brokenbowrecords.com), Robin Lightner ([email protected]), Luke Burland and Take It To The Top,” an industry education panel, Oct. 24 at Belmont University. Panelists include Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher, Capitol Sr. Dir./A&R Autumn House, Harlan Howard Songs President/Owner Melanie-Smith Howard and Ocean Way Studios Manager & Dir./Operations Glenda Miller. The panel is free and open to the public. Gold Mountain Entertainment Assoc. Manager Al McManus has left the company to pursue other opportunities. He’d been with the company for 10 years, handling day-to-day management of clients including Ronnie Milsap, Lorrie Morgan and Rodney Crowell. Artist News The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will open the “Family Tradition: The Hank Williams Legacy” exhibition March 28, 2008. The exhibit, which will run for two years, will explore the connections between the eldest Hank Williams and his biological and musical heirs. In other Williams family news, Hank Williams Jr. will be honored as CMT’s next “Giant” during a two-hour special that will be taped Oct. 25 in Los Angeles. Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kid Rock, Gretchen Wilson, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Buddy Guy are set to honor the life and music of Bocephus. The show will premiere Nov. 17. Steve Azar will participate in the Pro-Am Viking Golf Classic Sept. 26 in Madison, MS. The Viking Classic benefits several charities, churches and schools in Azar’s homestate of Mississippi. Following the classic, he’ll perform at the After Play Party Sept. 30 in Choctaw, MS. ©2007 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Send news to [email protected] September 17, 2007 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 5 Lisa Hartman Black will make another rare appearance on- TU B E CHE C K stage with her husband, Clint Black, at his upcoming show in Milwaukee, WI October 4. She’ll join her hubby on three tunes, including “When I Said I Do.” Tuesday (9/18) – Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Elvis: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member John McEuen and Gracie Viva Las Vegas (ABC); Rascal Flatts, Ellen DeGeneres Grantham, daughter of POCO’s George Grantham, are (syndicated); Steve Earle, The Late Show with David teaming up to auction memorabilia to help defray medical expenses following the severe stroke George suffered. More Letterman (CBS); Trisha Yearwood, Master Series (GAC). info at puttingheadstogether.org. Jimmy Fortune, formerly of the Statler Brothers, will Wednesday (9/19) – Reba McEntire, Oprah (syndi- perform with Wil Reid and Langdon Reid (sons of Statler cated), Entertainment Tonight (syndicated). Brothers’ Harold and Don Reid) during the March 9-16 Country Music Cruise aboard the Carnival Valor. For more info about this cruise, visit www.jimmyfortune.net. Thursday (9/20) – Reba McEntire, Good Morning Montgomery Gentry will appear on the premiere of NBC’s America, The View (ABC); Craig Morgan, Carolina Las Vegas Sept. 28 performing “Hell Yeah.” Rain, Riverfront Concert (GAC). Gig Alert Friday (9/21) – Billy Ray Cyrus, 20/20 (ABC); Trisha KJUG/Visalia, CA PD Dave Daniels is searching for a midday Yearwood, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Crossroads personality. Rush airchecks and resumes to [email protected]. (CMT); Rascal Flatts, Diary (CMT); Bob DiPiero, Tony Mullins, The Hitmen Of Music Row (GAC). Nashville's Slow Start (continued from page 1) While a few television critics were positive (as ranked on Saturday (9/22) – Rascal Flatts, Fan Mail (CMT); www.metacritic.com), nine of 13 panned the show: Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels Band, Danielle Peck, The Tennessean: “The show focuses on six twenty- somethings who moved to Nashville to pursue their music.