ISSUE 17 MUSIC EDITION DECEMBER 11, 2006 FCC Comes to Music City ACTIVATOR CHART BOWS JAN. 8 The FCC held media ownership hearings today at Country Aircheck will launch a new “Activator Nashville’s Belmont University. Chairman Kevin Martin and Chart” in the Jan. 8 Music Edition. Compiled in Commissioners Michael Copps, Jonathan Adelstein and conjunction with Mediabase, the Activator chart Nashvillian Deborah Tate were present; Robert McDowell panel will combine airplay information from stations was absent. monitored by Mediabase with playlist information submitted by reporters via the internet. Martin opened the proceedings and at the end of his Country Aircheck is now in the process of selecting remarks received an ovation when he stated, “I also want to Activator Reporters. Programmers wishing to have briefly touch upon an issue of interest to many of you here their stations included in the Activator panel should today -- payola. The FCC has longstanding rules prohibiting submit a request to [email protected]. payola. These rules serve the important purpose of ensuring Please include 25-54 ratings info for the past year -- shares and rank -- and a current playlist that includes that the listening public knows when someone is seeking to artist, title and number of weekly spins. In addition influence them. Broadcasters must comply with these rules. to being ratings winners, Activator Reporters must We will take enforcement action if they uncover violations of maintain a minimum current percentage of 25% and the payola rules.” (Continued on Page 6) be willing to submit ADDS in the case of Mediabase monitored stations, and current airplay lists and ADDS in the case of non-monitored reporters. Capitol’s Foster To Universal South Submissions are due by December 21, 2006. Capitol Sr. VP/Marketing Fletcher Foster has been named Sr. VP/GM for artists with whom he has worked.” Universal South, joining Mark Wright “Mark’s enthusiasm and love of music are what attracted who was recently named the label’s me to this new venture,” Foster says. “I look forward to a President. “We’ve attracted the highest great partnership with him, as well as being back at Universal quality of leadership with Fletcher,” with [UMG President/COO Zach Horowitz]. We want to says Wright. “Throughout his career, create an environment where the employees have passion for he has not only demonstrated true the music, and where the artists can be inspired and thrive.” leadership in a variety of situations, Foster starts Jan. 2. Prior to joining Capitol/Nashville but an unwavering commitment to the in November 2000, Foster worked for Arista, both in Los ©2006 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. To subscribe visit www.countryaircheck.com December 11, 2006 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 3 Angeles and Nashville, Sony Music/Nashville and MCA in DATE CHECK L.A. No word on how this move affects current Universal February 27 - Country Radio & DJ Hall of Fame Dinner. South Sr. VP/GM Van Fletcher. www.crb.org CRB To Honor Humanitarian Wilson February 28 to March 2 - CRS-38. www.crb.org Former Citadel Communications Chairman & CEO Larry Wilson is the recipient of the Country Radio May 15 - 42nd Annual ACM Awards. Broadcasters’ 3rd Annual Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award. www.acmcountry.com He will receive the honor at the opening ceremonies of CRS- 38 on he morning of Thursday, March 1, 2007. America’s Grand Ole Opry Weekend year-end special, hosted The award is named in honor of late CRB Board Member by Josh Turner. The four hour special features cuts recorded Tom Rivers. It recognizes individuals in the Country Radio on the Opry stage. Contact Donny Walker at industry who have displayed a magnanimous spirit of caring [email protected]. and generosity in service to their community. Benefits: Citadel WHWK/Binghamton, NY welcomes Linn, Svendsen Rise At SBMG Jimmy Wayne, Little Big Town and The Wreckers for a Sony BMG Sr. Director/Artist Development Debbie local Toys For Tots show on Wednesday (12/13). Linn has been promoted to the newly created position of Sr. Director/Strategic Marketing, while BNA Manager/Southwest Industry News Promotion Christian Svendsen has been upped to Director/ The Songwriters Capital Gains Equity Act has been made Strategic Marketing. Both will work with the Arista, BNA, permanent by Congress. Originally enacted in May for a five Columbia and RCA imprints, reporting to VP/Marketing Tom year term, the provision preserves a 15% rate on catalogue Baldrica. sales, versus the previous 40% rate. Details at Linn started with RCA in New York in 1990, moving to www.nashvillesongwriters.com. Nashville in 1994. Svendsen has been with BNA since 1995. Hi-Fi Fusion owner Todd Cassetty has launched He will continue to be based in Dallas. Verberate, LLC, which offers a web-based artist scheduling and tour management system. A beta version is already being Radio News used by management teams for Wynonna, Josh Gracin, More Hats: Country WQHK & Hot AC WMEE/Ft. Wayne, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Gary Nichols and more. Details IN Asst. OM Dave Michaels has added MD duties at the Hot at www.verberate.com. AC station. Michaels is already handling music for WQHK. Record News Gig Alert: KXKC/Lafayette, LA PD Casey Carter is Montage Music Group has hired Stevie Zea for the seeking a morning show producer for the Scott & Casey in Marketing & Artist Development department. Zea comes the Morning show. Prep, board, appearances and a possible to Montage from Broken Bow and is a recent graduate of weekend airshift are on the table, so snailmail your resume Middle Tennessee State’s Recording Industry program. and aircheck to Carter at 202 Galbert Rd., Lafayette, 70506. Sony BMG/Nashville Sr. Director/Marketing & Artist Development Kim Markovchick has exited after three years Networks & Syndication: Westwood One is offering an with the company. Markovchick’s background also includes ©2006 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Send news to [email protected] December 11, 2006 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 4 17 years with Mercury/Nashville. She can be reached at 615- TUBE CHECK 438-7537 or [email protected]. Reach former Columbia Southeast regional Lloyd Stark Tuesday (12/12) – The Wreckers, The Today Show, at [email protected] or 770-335-4271. (NBC); Brad Paisley, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, (NBC); Willie Nelson, 60 Minutes Special Music News (CMT). Category 5 has signed singer/songwriter Jerrod Niemann. Niemann’s first single “I Love Women My Mama Wednesday (12/13) – Alan Jackson, GAC Specials (GAC). Can’t Stand” is due in February. The RIAA has issued platinum certification forVince Thursday (12/14) – Kellie Pickler, The Tonight Gill’s four-disc These Days collection. Show with Jay Leno, (NBC). Porter Wagoner has signed with LA-based Anti Records and is recording an album called Wagonmaster with producer Friday (12/15) – Kellie Pickler, The Ellen DeGeneres Marty Stuart. The release is one of a number of events due Show (NBC), Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Lindsey in 2007 to celebrate Wagoner’s 50th anniversary with the Haun, Broken Bridges, (CMT); Reba McEntire, CMT Grand Ole Opry. Insider Special Edition: Charlotte’s Web (CMT); Compadre Records will release Billy Joe Shaver’s Billy Gilman, GAC Nights (GAC). Greatest Hits on Jan. 23, 2007. Saturday (12/16) – Toby Keith, MWL Special Aria Records’ Stephen Cochran has recently released (CMT); Bon Jovi, Sugarland, CMT Crossroads, his first single “Friday Night Fireside” from a debut album (CMT); Vince Gill Patty Loveless, Rodney Crowell, due in spring 2007. Jim Allison produced, with Isaac Rich Grand Ole Opry Live, (GAC); Deana Carter, -- younger brother of John Rich -- receiving co-write credits Julie Roberts, Blue County, Steve, Azar, Bucky on several tracks. Covington, Christmas At The Tennessee, (GAC). Benefit News Sunday (12/17) – Brooks & Dunn, John ASCAP is collecting coats for needy children in Van Mellencamp, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Top 20 Buren County Tennessee. Clean extra coats, new coats, even Countdown (CMT). adult clothes, shoes and toys can be dropped at ASCAP’s Music Row offices through Friday. Monetary donations will Monday (12/18) – Heartland, Joe Nichols, Josh also be accepted; checks payable to LaRawn Scaife Rhea. Turner, Keith Anderson, Keith Urban, CMT Insider (CMT); Martina McBride, Good Morning America, CMA is accepting DVD, CD and adult clothing (ABC). donations that will be distributed to U.S. troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Items should delivered to CMA’s Nashville office by Friday, Dec. 15. ContactBrandi Sanford Giordano’s Pizza of Chicago -- Paisley’s favorite. ([email protected]) for details. Bomshel’s 2007 tour is sponsored by McCormick Distilling and is dubbed the Wicked Women of Tequila Rose Artist News Tour. A number of promotions and contests are planned. Brad Paisley’s 2006 Time Well Wasted Tour wrapped Details at www.bomshel.com. over the weekend in Chicago after playing 87 cities for more Charlie Daniels will perform the National Anthem than 750,000 fans. The after-show party was catered by prior to the Outback Bowl in Tampa on New Year’s day. ©2006 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. To subscribe visit www.countryaircheck.com December 11, 2006 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 5 The University of Tennessee plays Penn State on the ESPN BIRTHDAYS telecast. Tuesday (12/12) - Hank Williams III, Jay Thomas Trent Tomlinson will headline the private Supercuts ([email protected]), Liz Kiley Beach Bash concert on Dec. 16 in Nassau, Bahamas for ([email protected]) winners of a Supercuts-sponsored contest. Arista’s Carrie Underwood will be part of an upcoming Wednesday (12/13) - John Anderson, Ron Getman, USO Tour to the Persian Gulf to perform for and meet with Randy Owen, John Wiggins, Laurel Altman, Claudia service members in the region.