An Early Walk Through CRS - Country Aircheck - December 18... · Bobby Helms/Jingle Bell Rock 5. George Strait/Christmas Cookies 6. Alan Jackson/A Holly Jolly Christmas 7. Faith Hill
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Cloud Nine: The Capitol promotion team celebrate their ninth consecutive year as the No. 1 chart-share label. Pictured (clockwise from top left) are Brent Jones, Jason McColl, Ashley Laws, Megan Youngblood, Mara Sidweber, Bobby Young and Annie Sandor.
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An Early Walk Through CRS Seven weeks from now, the Country music business will gather for its most important annual event. Education, debate, network-ing and a lot of music will make CRS 2018 (Feb. 5-7) the latest
critical chapter in an almost 50-year run for the seminar. “Every year is different,” says CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne. “We strive to make the content relevant.” In a short attention span world, one of the most important innovations in recent years has been a more focused presenta-tion. Mayne reports attendee feedback has confirmed compressing from the old four-day event into two and a half was the right move.
“And getting away from the weekends is key,” he adds. “We know folks want their weekends.” The shortened schedule also cuts down the number of hotel room nights from four to three. “Everyone can travel Monday morning and not miss anything,” Mayne explains. “The cost of doing business in Nashville has gone up and we didn’t want to increase prices moving from the Renaissance to the Omni.” So far so good, as attendance is trending up. “Our advance registration numbers are ahead of last year,” Mayne says. A Walking Tour: Opening ceremonies will include a moment of silence paying respect to victims of Route 91 Harvest. The Artist Humanitarian Award will be presented to Dierks Bentley, with the Tom Rivers Award honoring Dan Halyburton. “Dierks is a great guy and he works his ass off,” says Mayne. “What Danny has done with the Red Cross, especially this year with the hurricanes and wild-fires, is exceptional.” This year’s Welcome Reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame will include museum tours and, after seven years, there will be no Opry-sponsored event the first night. The evening’s music will have a new sponsor, soon to be announced. Look for dynamic video, special effects and product giveaways.
The Year In Music: 2017 Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Backroad” was the most-heard song at Country radio this year. Blake Shelton was the top overall and male artist, Maren Morris was the top female artist, Florida Georgia Line were the top duo/group, Luke Combs was the top new artist and Capitol earned a record ninth consecutive Label of the Year crown. Look for full coverage
on the year’s Mediabase 24/7 numbers in the December print edition, out this week. Also featured: the year’s top stories, a preview of first-quarter music plans and Garth Brooks in The Interview.
Top 10 Songs of 2017 See the full Top 100 here.1. Sam Hunt/Body Like A Back Road2. Jon Pardi/Dirt On My Boots3. Blake Shelton/A Guy With A Girl4. Luke Combs/Hurricane5. Brett Young/In Case You Didn’t Know6. FGL & Tim McGraw/May We All7. Dylan Scott/My Girl8. Josh Turner/Hometown Girl9. Brett Eldredge/Wanna Be That Song10. Michael Ray/Think A Little Less
Top Overall Performers1. Black Shelton2. Thomas Rhett3. Brett Young4. Jason Aldean5. Florida Georgia Line
Chart Chat Congrats to Blake Shelton, Kristen Wil-liams, Katie Bright and the WMN Radio & Streaming staff on landing this week’s No. 1 with “I’ll Name The Dogs.” The song is the first single from Shelton’s Texoma Shore. Writers are Matt Dragstrem, Ben Hayslip and Josh Thompson.
Top 10 Christmas Gold Here are the season’s top gold titles on Country radio, accord-ing to Mediabase 24/7. See the top 30 here.1. Vince Vance & The Valiants /All I Want For Christmas Is You2. Brenda Lee/Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree3. Alabama/Christmas In Dixie4. Bobby Helms/Jingle Bell Rock5. George Strait/Christmas Cookies6. Alan Jackson/A Holly Jolly Christmas7. Faith Hill/ Where Are You Christmas8. Burl Ives/Have A Holly Jolly Christmas9. Taylor Swift/Last Christmas10. Montgomery Gentry/ Merry Christmas From The Family
Ten Lords A-Leaping: KILT/Houston hosts their annual 10 Man Jam to benefit the Lone Survivor Foundation. Pictured (l-r) are the station’s Nick Russo and Erin Austin, EMI Nashville’s Gary Allan, the station’s Bruce Logan, Cody Johnson, Curb’s Lee Brice, Broken Bow’s Dustin Lynch, and the station’s Corey Dillon, Chris Huff, Yasely Carrizales, Tracy Wilkinson, Colleen Keehn and Sarah Frazier.
UMPG Nashville VP/A&R & Special Projects Ron Stuve discusses his most influential music:1. “Amazing Grace”: God is good!2. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Greatest Hits: My dad had this on 8 Track. Simple, hooky melodies.3. Steve Miller, “Fly Like An Eagle”: It represents freedom for me. I listened to this song over and over when I first got my driver’s license.
4. Van Halen, “Runnin’ With The Devil” - Eddie and Alex Van Halen’s musicianship and sound was larger than life.5. Trisha Yearwood’s “Thinkin’ About You”: It was my first No. 1 single as a songplugger.• “Important” music you just don’t get: Pink Floyd.• An album you listened to incessantly: Sam Hunt’s Mon-tevallo. Every song could be a radio hit.• An obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now (and why): “The Very Thought Of You” by Nat King Cole. It’s a great love song.• Music you’d rather not admit to enjoying: Kiss. It takes me back to my youth.
MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE
Ron Stuve
Top 10 Christmas Currents/Recurrents Here are the season’s top current and recurrent titles on Coun-try radio, according to Mediabase 24/7. See the top 30 here.1. G. Brooks w/T. Yearwood/Ugly Christmas Sweater2. Luke Bryan/O Holy Night3. Chris Young/The Christmas Song4. Dylan Scott/Santa Claus Is Coming To Town5. Rascal Flatts/Someday At Christmas6. Robin Meade/Ghost Of My Christmas Past7. G Brooks w/T. Yearwood/Baby It’s Cold Outside8. Brett Eldredge/Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 9. Chris Young/Holly Jolly Christmas10. Carrie Underwood/Little Toy Guns
The Week’s Top Stories Full coverage at countryaircheck.com.• KMPS call letters were reassigned to Entercom Sports KRAK-AM/Victor Valley (12/12).• Paul Williams was named Reviver VP/Marketing & Artist De-velopment (12/14).• T Gentry is returning to Beasley/Augusta as OM and WKXC PD (12/18).• Roger McCoy was named PD/afternoons at Cumulus WLXX/Lexington, KY.
Heaven Is A Place: RCA’s Kane Brown at his first headline arena concert at Landers Center in Southaven, MS. Pictured (l-r) are producer Dann Huff, tour manager Shawn Richesin, Huskins-Harris’ Becky Harris, Sony’s Paige Altone, Jim Catino and Caryl Healey, Brown, Universal’s Kent Earls, EFG Management’s Martha Earls, Sony’s John Zarling, producer Matt McVaney, EFG Management’s Nikki Boon, WME’s Braeden Rountree and Sony’s Allen Brown.
The seminar’s emphasis on health and wellness offers a new voice to attendees. “Onsite CEO/Owner Miles Adcox will talk about how to take your life back,” Mayne says. For example: “The cell phone is everywhere. He taught me not to look at it first thing in the morning. Take three to five minutes for yourself first. I have found it gives me more focus and energy.” As for the cornerstone research presentation, Cumulus VP/Programming and CRS Agenda Chair Greg Frey stresses the inclusion of applicable knowledge. “We want people to have something they can immediately implement when they get home, and this year it is important that stations tell listeners how they can
Grace Fought What? Valory’s Delta Rae with WLHK/Indianapolis staffers. Pictured (back, l-r) are the station’s Jackie Kew and Tanner McDaniel, the label’s Adam Burnes, DR’s Eric Hölljes and Brittney Hölljes, the station’s Fritz Moser, DR’s Liz Hopkins, the station’s Nikeeta Brown, DR’s Ian Hölljes and the station’s Tyler McCune; (front, l-r) the station’s Paul Schiffman and Grace Fought.
tune in on at-home devices,” he says. Also in the tech vein, CMA will present a study on streaming trends. “How does terrestrial ra-dio compete with streaming for share of ear?” Mayne asks. “These two important studies will provide insight.” Tight & Bright: Another change in the seminar platform is a reduction in competing panels. “Last year, people were having to make difficult choices on which to attend,” Mayne says. “So we are going to focus on the best of the best this year.” Frey adds, “We tried not to impose restrictive time limits. If a subject needs more, lets give it the time it deserves.” With two-thirds of attendees being non-reporters, a small market panel on revenue is being offered along with branding strategies. Podcasting will also be highlighted. “Some jocks may be told they have to start one,” Frey says. “Some may think it is a
way to generate revenue on their own. We’re going to show how to create them and what makes them most effective.” Some of the most anticipated sessions are longtime standards including the mentoring breakfasts, now in sales, programming and record label flavors. “The women’s mento-ring session will be even bigger this year,”
Family Tradition: The Big Machine Label Group family show their support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s “This Shirt Saves Lives” campaign.
adds Frey. Air talent mentoring returns as a happy hour, as do the UMG/Nashville lunch at the Ryman and Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley songwriter round. And stay tuned for a slew of big announcements in the new year. See the CRS Agenda and register here. –Paul Williams
Country Aircheck Top Spin GainersBLAKE SHELTON/I'll Name The Dogs (Warner Bros./WMN) 806
BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR) 722
RUSSELL DICKERSON/Yours (Triple Tigers) 533
AARON WATSON/Outta Style (Big Label) 499
KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River) 476
LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek) 451
SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers) 436
THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory) 432
ERIC CHURCH/Round Here Buzz (EMI Nashville) 373
OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA) 357
Country Aircheck Top Point GainersBRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR) 2041 ✔BLAKE SHELTON/I'll Name The Dogs (Warner Bros./WMN) 1935 ✔RUSSELL DICKERSON/Yours (Triple Tigers) 1380 ✔OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA) 1244 ✔THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory) 1224 ✔AARON WATSON/Outta Style (Big Label) 1157
SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers) 1121
LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek) 1100
KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River) 1001
MIDLAND/Make A Little (Big Machine) 992
Activator Top Spin GainersKEITH URBAN/Female (Capitol) 232
BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR) 174
ERIC CHURCH/Round Here Buzz (EMI Nashville) 144
RUSSELL DICKERSON/Yours (Triple Tigers) 103
CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury) 100
GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse) 95
OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA) 94
WALKER HAYES/You Broke Up With Me (Monument/Arista) 93
KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River) 90
AARON WATSON/Outta Style (Big Label) 88
Activator Top Point GainersKEITH URBAN/Female (Capitol) 1140 ✔
BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR) 740 ✔
ERIC CHURCH/Round Here Buzz (EMI Nashville) 658 ✔
RUSSELL DICKERSON/Yours (Triple Tigers) 574 ✔
EASTON CORBIN/A Girl Like You (Mercury) 497 ✔
WALKER HAYES/You Broke Up With Me (Monument/Arista) 481
AARON WATSON/Outta Style (Big Label) 412
THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory) 412
CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire (Mercury) 397
KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River) 363
Country Aircheck Top Recurrents Points
LANCO/Greatest Love Story (Arista) 15945
THOMAS RHETT/Unforgettable (Valory) 14937
LUKE COMBS/When It Rains It Pours (River House/Columbia) 12752
KANE BROWN f/L. ALAINA/What Ifs (RCA) 12226
DUSTIN LYNCH/Small Town Boy (Broken Bow) 11183
SAM HUNT/Body Like A Back Road (MCA/Capitol) 10038
CHRIS JANSON/Fix A Drink (Warner Bros./WAR) 9051
BILLY CURRINGTON/Do I Make You Wanna (Mercury) 6329