RIP Don Imus

I stood in awe. I met Don Imus in Cleveland when he was a guest on the morning show on my station.  He was touting a new book and was amazingly fun and clever, as always. .  A few years earlier, he had worked at my station (WHK) and I always thought it was cool that I got to work the same board he did. 

As a kid, I remember when he came to New York to WNBC from WGAR in Cleveland.  The show was fresh and outrageous.  The Right Reverend Billy Sol Hargis selling his plastic Jesus for your dashboard, complete with music accompaniment, was just great radio. 

Before becoming a talk jock, he broke the rules in music radio, singing along with the songs, and changing the words to get a laugh.  He had demons that drove him from New York to Cleveland and then back to New York again, where he cleaned up his act and thrived.

Charles McCord, the staff news guy at WNBC, and Imus just clicked.  I felt his show was never the same after Charles retired, though Imus soldiered on. 

I was one of his biggest fans and feel honored that I met him, albeit briefly.  A giant in radio is gone and I'm sad.

MY HOPES FOR 2020:

Let's have songs with more tempo and less snap tracks.  

 

Some strong artists reaching the superstar level.  Other new artists starting down that road. 

 

The NAB will come up with a campaign to promote the brand of FM/AM radio.  

 

More women like Lynn Anderson and Crystal Gayle will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

More women Brand Managers and General Managers.

 

 

Less people get laid off from radio companies.

 

 

Digital integration that will further benefit broadcast radio, while in the process broadcast basics will not be neglected. 

2017 CMA Awards

This year's show had a different feel.  It was more somber, yet set the right tone in the wake of the Vegas massacre. 

Eric Church opened the show with a touching version of Amazing Grace, followed by every star of the show performing Hootie and The Blowfish’s “Hold My Hand”.

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood had another great opening monologue, with Tim and Faith teasing them about their 10 Years as hosts (giving them Brad and Carrie Barbie Dolls).

Keith Urban has a surprise win for Single of the Year with “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

Taylor Swift wins for Song of the Year for “Better Man” (recorded by Little Big Town).  Women have now won the CMA for Song of the Year for seven consecutive years.

Eddie Montgomery (from Montgomery Gentry) was joined by Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley for “My Town”, in a tribute to the late Troy Gentry.

Brother’s Osborne paid tribute to Don Williams singing “Tulsa Time”.  (They also won for “It Ain’t My Fault” for Video of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year).

Tim and Faith killed it on their new song “Rest of My Life”.

Little Big Town remembered Glen Campbell with “Wichita Lineman.”  Amazing harmony.  The writer Jimmy Webb, played piano.   And LBT won Vocal Group of the Year.

Miranda Lambert wins for 7^th time as Female Vocalist of the Year.

Garth Brooks walks away with Entertainer of the Year for the second year in a row.  I prefer to focus on that aspect of Garth's evening.

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(My wife says the men were better dressed tonight than the women, do you agree?)

Merle Haggard RIP.

As you can see, I haven't blogged in several years.  Merle Haggard has inspired me to do so once again.  Merle (along with Johnny Cash) IS the reason I fell in love with Country music and later, Country radio.  He could do it all.  Write, sing, perform, even produce. Merle was a great collaborator with Willie Nelson and others. He did it his own way, sometimes to his own detriment.  I can't believe it took until 1994 for him to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Seriously?  I had two brief encounters with the man prior to shows.  Once early in my career, and later in 2013.  As you can see from this picture, he looked you in the eye and made the moment count.  This picture is one of my most prized possessions.  When he saw the picture again in 2013, he remarked, "you've aged better than me".

While I feel sad, I feel honored to have grown up with Merle's music and his presence in the world which will never be replaced.  As Eric Church said in a recent song, "I Pledge Allegiance to the Hag".

Happy Birthday Barbara Mandrell

On Christmas day, I find myself reminiscing about one of the greatest entertainers ever - Barbara Mandrell.  Today is her birthday.  She personifies grace, beauty and talent.  How difficult it must have been to be a woman (let alone a tiny woman) in a man's business.

When I was an on-air PD at WEEP (then WDSY's sister station) in Pittsburgh in the 80's - Barbara surprised our station with a visit.  I was on the air.  She entered the lobby.  Unbeknown to me, I started playing one of her songs (I think it was "Woman to Woman")

- and talked about how she had really come into her own - and how her career was blossoming.  She heard every word I said over the lobby speaker.  Once the on air light went off, Barbara burst into the studio, sat on my lap and finished the show with me.  Barry Mardit was there too.

A luncheon was held in her honor that day - and she insisted that I sit next to her.  From that day on, I was a lifetime fan.  I was sad when she retired in 1997 - but not before winning countless awards, hosting a successful network TV show and entertaining millions.  She never carried the bitterness that some performers have when the next generation surpasses their popularity.  Barbara left us wanting more - as it should be.

CMA Awards 2013

Luke Bryan opened the show wearing sequins and a baseball cap with "That's My Kind of Night" ... and Florida Georgia Line cruised through their biggest hit. Do sequins and baseball caps go together? Just askin' ...

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley's monologue was excellent as always! Best laughs were for Obamacare jokes. 

Loved the Zac Brown-Luke Bryan hug during Brad and Carrie's monologue. Is the hatchet buried? Was there ever a hatchet to begin with?

Song of the Year was "I Drive Your Truck". Lee Brice graciously congratulated the writers of his number one hit.

The network censored "roll a joint" from Kacey Musgraves song.  Wonder if the unsensored version aired in Colorado and Washington?

Florida Georgia Line had a big night with a Single of Year win for "Cruise" and the Vocal Duo of the Year award.

Taylor Swift increased her Country "cred" performing with Vince Gill and Alison Krauss on an acoustic version of "Red".

Blake Shelton wins Album of the Year - the award he really wanted to win. He also walks off with Male Vocalist of the Year.

Tim McGraw looked painfully thin ... (Steve Jobs thin) - is he OK? Let's hope so!

Taylor Swift's Pinnacle award was presented to her by all the stars she opened for ... Rascal Flatts ... George Strait ... Brad Paisley ... Tim and Faith ...and Keith Urban. She seemed genuinely touched.

Miranda Lambert has now tied Martina McBride & Reba McEntire for most Female Vocalist of the Year awards (four).

Blake Shelton wins Male Vocalist.

George Strait wins Enterainer of the Year.  Did anyone see that coming?  A great honor to cap off an amazing career that's still going strong. 

 

Paul Drew

I met the legendary Paul Drew in Cleveland when I was a young Program Director.  He was giving seminars for Program Directors.  My station paid for me to go.  Mike McVay, also a Cleveland PD at the time, was also in attendance.  Little did our companies know that Mr. Drew was giving a seminar which included a lengthy discussion on how programmers could get better deals for themselves.  We didn't know that until we arrived. 

What stood out to me from that day was the common theme of the session.  "You don't ask, you don't get".  It seems obvious and

simple, yet how many times do we assume that something would or should come our way when we have neglected to ask for it?  "You don't ask, you don't get".  It never hurts to ask.  You might get a lot more than you might have expected in the first place. 

From that day forward, I learned to ask.  And I got a whole lot more.  Thank you, Paul Drew. 

Lives of Country Radio Listeners

Heartbeat Of Country Radio:  Check this out from Country Radio Seminar: 

http://www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/2013/02/country-radios-heartbeat-the-lives-of-your-listeners.php

State Of The Country Format

My article was posted in yesterday's Radio Ink Daily.  www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2616519&spid=24698

Randy Travis

CNN's Phil Gast has an excellent article on what Randy Travis faces both personally and professionally:

Click here: Can country singer Randy Travis get past his rough patch? - CNN.com

Rusty Walker:  I, like many of us in the radio community, am shaken by Rusty Walker's death. I had a high regard for Rusty, both personally and professionally. Although we were competitors for years, I got to see Rusty at work, as we co-consulted on several stations over the years. His love for radio, music, and most importantly, people, is what I remember most. He was a tenacious competitor who seized every advantage imaginable to win for his clients. I was proud for him, and for Country radio, at his induction into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. His wonderful family beamed at the well-deserved honor. I'm glad that it happened while he was here to enjoy it. Rusty may have signed off from earth, but his influence will be felt for years to come.

Not So Deep Thoughts

Who's a Classic Artist?: Listeners are now refering to Toby Keith and Tim McGraw as "classic" artists. That's not a bad thing for them, as they are still strong and active, like George Strait is, but it does show that the newer artists are gaining momentum and challenging the format's big guns.

Ball Cap Acts: Remember the term "Hat Acts"? These are the stars who wear cowboy hats. Nearly every major superstar in recent years has worn one. However, a new trend is emerging: the "Ball Cap" acts, like Luke Bryan, Eric Church and others. I can't say that I coined this phrase, but it does speak to the newer Country music that's more rock edged, yet no less Country than what has been released in the past.
ACM Awards Show: Performances were great as usual, however, the artists seem to have a tough time hearing themselves, making pitch a challenge. Also, the lack of big hit songs in the first half-hour may have kept the ratings from reaching their accustomed level. If a radio station played a half-hour of unfamiliar songs, we might have a ratings problem.
Congrats To Taylor Swift: Shut out until the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift got the well- deserved ACM win in this category. Can you think of anyone who puts on a better show, or who has done more to bring Country to the masses? I can't.
Ronnie vs. Kix:  Both former Brooks and Dunn guys have current singles.  Ironically, programmers seem to be preferring the Kix single.  Who'd a thunk it?

CMA Awards: My 2 Cents

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood did the best job anyone has ever done hosting that show. They were everything you wanted in hosts. The Tim and Faith Barbi doll segment is a CLASSIC!

Great to see Taylor Swift win Entertainer of the Year. She's done more to help Country music and Country radio than she gets credit for through the halo effect of her mass appeal popularity.

Zac Brown Band should have won SOMETHING for the great year they had. That said, I wished they had performed one of their great songs instead of "Georgia On My Mind".

Why do some artists get two turns - while many worthy ones get none? Just askin'??

Too bad the Hall of Fame has become an afterthought. Not even a picture of the winners. Seems like lately other genres are doing a better job honoring their pioneers.

Now, we should start a Facebook page to lobby for Brad and Carrie to host the Oscars!

Fishing Is King

Each year it seems, a different theme becomes popular in Country music.  This year, fishing rules.  "Just Fishin'", "Bait a Hook" and simply "Fish" are all on the charts. All good songs. I have to say, I much prefer fishing to last year's "my town is smaller than your town and I'm more Country than you" dominant theme.  Lifestyle themes are part of the format, and always will be.  Let's remember, too, that Country is also about universal themes, told in the clearest most honest way.  I wonder what's in store for next year?

Just saw my first "Back To School" ad - on July 3rd. Is this for Summer School?

Classic Country Radio Songs

Phil Sweetland wrote a great column today about Country songs that reference Country radio.  It made me think of others that I either remember, or learned about from Country music's rich past.  Besides the recent Reba hit, "Turn On Your Radio", how about these (in no particular order): 
Nothing On But The Radio - Gary Allan
Fading In, Fading Out - Tommy Overstreet
Listen To The Radio - Don Williams
Tiny Blue Transistor Radio - Connie Smith
(Lord Have Mercy On A) Country DJ - Bill Anderson
Radio Lover - George Jones
There Ain't Nothing Wrong With The Radio - Aaron Tippin
Turn Your Radio On - Ray Stevens
I Watched It All On My Radio - Lionel Cartwright

Radio and Country music are forever entwined in these classic songs.

No Respect For Merle

Kennedy Center Awards are tonight.  Most of the articles and promotion for the show reads something like, "McCartney, Winfrey and others" honored tonight.  One of those "others" is Country Music Hall of Famer Merle Haggard.  While I can't argue that Sir Paul and Oprah are more famous than "Hag", to me he means than both of them put together.  From the 60's through the 80's, no one loomed larger over the Country music landscape than Merle Haggard.  While physically small, he was larger than life.  He could do it all; sing, write, and perform while being strong enough to buck the Nashville star system by succeeding his own way.  In 2010 Merle Haggard continues to do it his own way.  Long live Merle.  My hero.

Wishful Packaging

Is it presumtous to put not yet released songs on a "Greatest Hits" or "Number One's" package?  I think it is. If the song or songs are then released to radio and are not hits or do not make number one, what then?  I suppose all releases are hits with someone.  Just askin'.

CMA Awards 2010

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood did a great job hosting again this year, teasing Nashville's royalty and keeping the show moving. Funny line: (paraphrasing) "After the night Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are having ... expect a baby in 9 months."

Kelly Clarkson performed a powerful song with Jason Aldean, "Don't You Want To Stay Here A Little While".  No surprise that the song was released today to Country radio.

Gwyneth Paltrow sang the title song from her new movie, "Country Strong". Vince Gill sang with her to lend support. She got a standing ovation (in spite of looking nervous during the performance). 

Blake Shelton wins Male Vocalist of the Year, beating out a bunch of heavyweights.  Well deserved.

Blake's fiance Miranda Lambert wins Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and sings the Song of the Year for "House That Built Me".   2010 is the Year of Miranda.

Sissy Spacek introduced a tribute to Loretta Lynn. There wasn't a dry eye in house as Loretta came out to sing "Coal Miner's Daughter" with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow.  I had the privalege of interviewing Loretta (and Sissy) when Coal Miner's Daughter was released, and can tell you that there is no one more genuine and deserving of everything she's received than Loretta Lynn.  She is truly a national treasure.

Why did Taylor Swift utter the word "What?" after her performance.  We may never know.  We do know that after her incredible 2009, the woman who just sold a million albums got shut out of winning any awards last night.

Finally, Brad Paisley gets the well deserved Entertainer of the Year award, giving a heartfelt acceptance speech.   Glad to know that men are now allowed to cry in Country Music.

Is Gwyneth Overshadowing the CMA Awards?

Have you noticed that TV promos for tonight's CMA awards focus mostly on Gwyneth Paltrow's debut singing performance?  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that her spot on the show will no doubt attract viewers who might not otherwise watch.  But I can't help feeling that some of our biggest stars are getting the short shrift.  At least promotionally.  Let's hope her performance on the show is a big hit.  It would be even better if her new movie, Country Strong, is a bigger hit.