February 16, 2021, Issue 743 Welcome To The Clubhouse The newest social media platform at the center of conversation – literally – is Clubhouse, an invite- and audio-only app still in beta testing but growing exponentially each day. Founded in 2020 in Silicon Valley, and still only available to iPhone users, Clubhouse has grown from approximately 3,500 members in December to more than six million currently. Early adopters have included those in the tech industry, celebrities – including Oprah and Ashton Kutcher – and music industry professionals. Country Aircheck spoke to a few heavy users for their take on the platform’s relevance to country music and Country radio. Big Loud/Maverick artist manager Marc Rucker shares a not atypical discovery Prova-loan: WNCY/Appleton-Green Bay, WI staffers reveal story. “I found out about Clubhouse through Marc Rucker their Y100 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon amount. an artist who had been on,” he says. “He Pictured (l-r) are Dan Stone, Charli McKenzie, Hannah, told me he spent three hours the night before talking music with Shotgun Shannon, Luke Reid and PJ. DeadMau5 and other industry professionals, so it immediately piqued my interest.” Since his initial log-on, Rucker finds himself spending time on the app daily, whether tuning in as a listener while commuting or devoting three- to four-hour chunks of CRS Liners: Back To The Future? time engaged in networking and professional development As CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience kicked off today (2/16), conversations. “The platform currently has a lot of independent attendees have had the opportunity to explore the platform’s added creatives looking for advice, networking and sharing projects ... benefits, which include viewing or re-watching and I’m excited for it to open to more people who will bring in sessions in an on-demand setting. And beyond more topics, ideas and ways to use the platform,” he says. Many the expected educational panels, workshops, Nashville-based creatives have utilized the platform for socializing, networking opportunities and musical even scheduling sessions named for the popular local watering performances, CRS is offering yet another hole The Red Door Saloon. added benefit for this year’s attendees – audio Safe In Sound: The appeal of the app, for many, is three- and video content from multiple artists for use fold. Clubhouse is audio-only, connecting people without the on-air and online. need for decorative backgrounds or combed hair required by For those familiar with the artist liners of now-daily video conferences. The conversation-based nature and yesteryear, well, this isn’t that. In fact, CRB Exec. RJ Curtis requirements to list your legal name in your profile also serve to Dir. RJ Curtis says it’s better. “We’ve worked deescalate many situations that could lead to more aggressive with most of the major labels in town to bring together dozens of name-calling and “keyboard warrior” posturing via text-based audio liners from their full rosters of artists and compiled those in platforms like Facebook and Twitter. one place for radio to access,” Curtis says. (continued on page 8) ©2021 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 16, 2021 Page 5 Without the ability to bring artists and radio together in person, News & Notes liners are no longer customized for each station. On the plus side, ONErpm founder Emmanuel Zunz has unveiled a new a one-time read-through allowed more artists to participate. “We distribution and marketing platform along with a suite of upgrades phased out the custom liners, because it got harder and harder to to the company’s proprietary platform. Check out the new and get artists to participate, and it became logistically more difficult to updated offerings here and here. produce over the years,” says Curtis. “This isn’t a handful of artists American Songwriter has partnered with songwriters Bonnie reading custom liners anymore, so the volume of content we’ll give Baker and Forest Glen Whitehead for songwriting workshops people access to is massive.” Participating label groups offering and free YouTube tutorials. The Expanding Your Songwriting Skills liners from their roster include UMG, Sony, Warner, BMG/ workshop begins Feb. 20 here; Music City Playbook workshops will BBRMG and Curb. be held Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 here. Additionally, Curtis is excited about the addition of video Ol Timey Broadcasting, LLC is selling Classic Country content. “We have approximately 15 artist interviews that each run KRRD-AM/Fayetteville, AR and translator K291CK to KTV approximately 15 minutes in length,” he says. Those interviews were Media, LLC for $300,000. conducted by Production Content Inc. owner Joe Wills, who will “Stevie Jay” Khachaturian is buying out his partners’ provide his scripted questions for each artist, as well. The package shares of SJ Broadcasting, including Country WGKC/ includes audio and video of the interviews, which can be customized by Mahomet, IL. stations and personalities for use on-air, online and on social media. Greau Creative has partnered with vCreative as the agency “You’ll get interviews with Darius [Rucker], Cole [Swindell], Priscilla of record to handle all national creative design, event production, Block, Chris Young, Jameson [Rodgers], Dustin Lynch ... it’s a communications and branding. great collection of artists from different labels,” Curtis says. The audio Vivendi is signaling it plans to spin off Universal Music will be posted the week of CRS, and all videos should be fully produced Group (UMG) in an IPO by the end of 2021 with a valuation of at and available for download the week after CRS concludes. least $36.4 billion. The audio and video packages come with full, multiple platform Show Dog duo Waterloo Revival – comprised of George usage permissions from the participating labels and artists. Approved Birge and Cody Cooper – have parted ways, calling their run “an artist images are also included, making it easy to build and promote unbelievable ride.” See their announcement via Instagram here. a complete content piece. These packages will be made available to Adkins Publicity’s Makenzie Clayburg was promoted to all CRS registrants, free of charge. Find the complete CRS 2021: The Dir./Publicity & Social Media. Virtual Experience agenda and offerings, all on-demand content and Ken Benson’s P1 Media Group released findings from a the new audio and video packages here. - Monta Vaden survey of Country radio listeners citing only 18% of listeners say they were aware of music from Big Loud’s Morgan Wallen being pulled from radio, CMT and SiriusXM, among other Chart Chat platforms. See complete survey results here. Congratulations to Kelsea Ballerini, Benztown has launched the Benztown Swag Bank, a Mike Wilson, Bill Macky and the Black new collection of creative customized promotional items made River team on landing this week’s No. 1. exclusively for radio and available for barter. Details here. “Hole In The Bottle” is Ballerini’s sixth chart- topper and first since “Miss Me More” did the trick on 6/10/19. It also ends a 28-week solo The Week’s Top Stories female drought atop the chart. Songwriters are Full coverage at countryaircheck.com. Jesse Frasure, Hillary Lindsey, Ashley Kelsea Ballerini • Check out the top 100 Power Gold titles, a sneak peek at the Gorley, Steph Jones and Ballerini. Feb. print special, My Tunes with Alex Kline and Nielsen Fall And kudos to Michael Chase and the 2020 Diary ratings here. Warner/WAR crew on notching 29 more adds for Dan + Shay’s • John Beck joined iHeartMedia/St. Louis as Market “Glad You Exist.” This is only the third time in the past year that a Pres. (CAT 2/12) song has led the add board for two consecutive weeks. ©2021 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 16, 2021 Page 8 WITH ... LAINEY WILSON A look at how Broken Bow’s Lainey Wilson I’ve had to get creative to promote is spending her Quaran-Time: my music. To kick off my monthly song releases I’ve learned how to channel my in the spring of 2020, I created four characters creativity in a lot of different ways during this (I played all of them) and a script for the quarantine. For example, I painted my bathroom announce video (watch here). On the “WWDD” wall a bunch of bright colors … it still scares me release day, I digitally signed photos for fans a lil’ every time I turn the light on. I’ve gotten into who posted about the song since that was the TikTok — it’s been a great way for me to share closest I could get to an actual autograph. my music, fashion aesthetic and how funny I think I’ve had co-writers and fans participate in the I am. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than #ThingsAManOughtaKnowChallenge. We’ve 2020 to knock me down. done a variety of fun things on top of connecting My quarantine routine consists of with folks over Zoom. I’m constantly trying to drinking a pot of coffee, hitting the gym, writing a come up with ways to keep things fun, fresh, song, TikToking and cooking supper. engaging and as personal as possible. I love being on the move, and this past I’m bingeing The Queens Gambit and year forced me to (somewhat) slow down. But, Bridgerton. Isn’t everyone? They roped me in I’ve written more than 200 songs and spent a lot pretty quick. of time being crazy on social media, so I’ve tried My go-to quarantine snack is a turkey to focus on what I can do instead of thinking too sausage egg scramble with a whole lot of Pardon My Frenchie much about what I can’t control.