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February 6, 2018, Issue 2

Best Seminar Prep: Seminar

Albright & O’Malley & Brenner’s 24th Annual Pre-CRS Seminar opened yesterday (2/5) with Roadmap 2018, the consulting group’s annual study of Country P1s aged 25-54. The research encompasses listening habits, social media usage, podcasting and attitudes towards current music. There were six major takeaways: • Programmers should pay special attention to music diversity with regard to artists, song styles and chronology as data suggests a slight increase in fatigue with similar sounding music. • Great music, compelling content and strong talent remains crucial for station success. • Facebook is still the dominant social media platform across the demographic spectrum, though Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat usage has grown among P25-34. • Texting clubs present a valuable opportunity, but regular and compelling usage is key. • Podcasting opportunities could grow in coming years, but 77% of respondents never listen. Of those that do, podcasts hosted by favorite talent are the most enticing. • Smart speaker integration presents a major opportunity for athome listening. Talent coach Steve Reynolds was up next and employed personal stories, examples of brand success and client airchecks to introduce FAIR (Fun, Authentic, Innovative, Relatable), his four-part recipe for show success. “A winning show is a team of real peo-

Pre-Three: Opry Entertainment Group’s Steve Buchanan (c) with Mike O’Malley and Becky Brenner at yesterday’s (2/5) Albright & O’Malley & Brenner Pre-CRS Seminar.

ple, sharing their lives, doing interesting things with the topics of the day, creating entertainment in ways that cannot be duplicated across the street,” he said. Industry veteran Joe Galante participated in a Q&A that explored the CMA Foundation, which he chairs, and the current state of country music. “The overall state is good,” he said of the latter, breaking it down into live events, publishing and music. But Galante also mentioned some worrisome changes. “One, we started

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allowing artists to write,” he explained. “Not everybody is a writer ... Two, a number of people have come in from both coasts who are ‘track’ guys and have changed the sound of music and nature of the lyric. Now we have six or seven people creating a song – or ‘track’ – and it changes the heart [of the song]. It’s kind of like The Old Man And The Sea. If you put seven people in that story, you don’t have the same story.” More traditional writers feel the need to be part of that process, Galante explained, so they “sacrifice” just to be part of the song. “That’s caused a tremendous change,” he said. “The music is good, but there is a lack of great moments.” The event closed with Opry Entertainment’s Steve Buchanan, who largely addressed the evolution of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Known for decades as home to the Grand Ole Opry, the building was on the verge of demolition after the show moved to its current home in 1974. A plan to demolish it was abandoned after local protests, however, and it went mostly unused until the early 1990s. “We needed to build an independent identity,” Buchanan said of the building. “The Ryman is a place where the spiritual experience isn’t just about country music. It’s about any kind of music and any sort of entertainment experience.” –Russ Penuell

CRS Opens With More

Boasting higher attendance than at any point in the last 15 years, CRS 2018 opened with Arista’s Cam performing the national anthem. She was followed by Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who first addressed the elephant in the room – recent breaking news of her affair with a security staffer – by admitting that the past week has resembled a country song. Barry’s speech was followed by Sarah Cannon’s Dee Anna Smith, who encouraged radio stations to join the organization’s Band Against Cancer initiative. Next, the 2018 Country Music Radio Hall of Fame inductees were named: the late Curtis/Raleigh VP/Programming and longstanding WQDR programmer Lisa McKay Blake; Albright & O’Malley & Brenner’s Michael O’Malley; Barrett, Fox & Berry’s Bill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry; Andy & Alison’s Andy Ritchie and Alison Mencer; and Harmon & Evans’ Steve Harmon and Scott Evans. They will be inducted in June. Country Radio Hall of Famer and the Red Cross’ Dan Halyburton was the Tom River Award recipient for his work with those devastated by recent natural disasters. “Never underesti-

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mate the power of the hug,” Halyburton said. Stealing the show was 15-year-old Jessica Meyer, who has been three years cancer free thanks to the Children’s Miracle Network. Meyer encouraged attendees to support the organization’s work helping children battle cancer in their hometowns. Dierks Bentley was recognized with this year’s Artist Humanitarian Award. Last year’s honoree Zac Brown bestowed the honor via a pre-recorded message, calling it “well deserved.” Through his Miles & Music motorcycle ride, Bentley has raised more than $4 million for charity. He accepted the award by quoting Thomas Rhett’s “Star Of The Show,” joking it was more poetic than “5-1-50,” and citing everyone on his team and in his family who are the genuine stars of his show. “I don’t view this as the end result, I view this as the beginning,” Bentley said.

Bentley On The Mountain

Humanitarian and Capitol recording artist Dierks Bentley examined the mountain with Country Aircheck’s Chuck Aly, as he took an in-depth look back at his career. The mountain metaphor became relevant to Bentley’s career when he noticed that artists who had been opening for him, began jumping him in terms of career. “First it was Sugarland, they were opening and then they surpassed me, then Lady Antebellum, then Luke Bryan,” he said. “It’s like I was on a mountain and I was almost at the top but everyone kept jumping me.” Speaking of pivotal moments in his career, Bentley told the crowd that he and Luke Bryan have been “fired” from hosting the ACM Awards, after holding the post the last two years. “I don’t know if that’s public knowledge,” he said. “We’re out. I had so Dierks Bentley much fun doing it. The ACMs were great.” He also discussed how he learned not to take challenges in his career personally. “One of my hometown stations didn’t play ‘What Was I Thinkin’’ right out of the gate. Maybe it was a week or two after it went for adds and I was pretty confused. Bill Catino told me, ‘You’ll have to learn to hate them all equally.’ What he meant was that there is a lot going on and that if they don’t add your song right off the bat it isn’t a reflection of the song. There’s so much else going on that you don’t know.” Bentley went on to discuss the importance of live music, remembering a time when he went to see U2 in concert and in the middle

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of “Beautiful Day,” Bono threw in a few lines of “Drunk On A Plane” and gave the singer-songwriter one of the biggest thrills of his life. –Erin Duvall

“Alexa ... Play Some Country Music”

Stoney Creek’s Jimmie Allen, MCA’s Jordan Davis and Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean performed at the Amazon Music & CRS Monday Night Showcase, with Allen’s five-song set kicking things off, including his debut single “Best Shot.” Davis followed with seven songs, ending with his debut, the current Top 15 “Singles You Up.” In between sets, Amazon’s “First & Last” interview series played on screens bookending the stage, featuring Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan and others, as well as CRS content from 2017. Headliner Aldean picked seven of his many hits to sing, including new single “You Make It Easy,” “Tattoos On This Town” and “Burnin’ It Down,” during which he forgot the words. “We’ve been off tour since October,” he said, explaining the lyrical amnesia. “It’s funny, you can play songs a million times, but you take a couple months off and you forget everything.” But no one will forget surprise guest Garth Brooks taking the stage during the second verse of “My Kinda Party.” Allen and Brooks closed the show with a song everyone knows the words to – Brooks’ “Friends In Low Places.” –Wendy Newcomer

The Day Ahead 7:30am Programming Mentoring Breakfast David Corey, DJ Stout, Jeff Garrison, Mac Daniels, Scott Lindy, John Shomby, Nikki Thomas, Shelly Easton, Tim Roberts, Drew Bland, Tim Richards, Mike Moore, Mark Anderson, Grover Collins, Rod Phillips, Steve Stewart, Jeff Kapugi, Meg Stevens, Kyle Due, JD Greene, Gator Harrison, Jay Cruze, Tom Hanrahan, Brian Jennings, Shane Collins Omni, Level 3, Cumberland 5-6 7:30am Sales Mentoring Breakfast Sarah Frazier, Judy Lakin, Jeff James, Allison Warren Omni, Level 3, Cumberland 1-2 7:30am Label Mentoring Breakfast Kristen Williams, Annie Sandor, Jimmy Rector, Jim Malito Omni, Level 3, Cumberland 3-4 7:30am Yoga Class by Shakti Power Yoga Omni, Level 3, Mockingbird 1 8am-5pm Music Row Rooms SSM Nashville In2une Music Nashville Parenting Today’s Teens Omni, Level 2, Legends Pre-Function 8:30am Miles Adcox: Intentional Living, How to Get Control of Your Life Back Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom, D-G 9am-11am Social Media Headshots Stop in for an updated headshot for your LinkedIn, Facebook and/ or Instagram. One retouched image delivered to your email address through your survey in approx. 2-3 weeks. Omni, Level 2, Legends Hallway

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9:30am CRS Research Presentation: Country Radio is at Home with Smart Speakers Doug Landis Presented by Edison Research Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom D-G

11:30am Team UMG at the Ryman Kassi Ashton, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Brandon Lay, Maddie and Tae, Brothers Osborne, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban Ryman Auditorium

9:30am-4:30pm MV2 Entertainment Terry McBride, David Fanning, Nora Collins, Eric Dodd Omni, Level 2, Grandview Terrace

2pm-4pm Social Media Headshots Stop in for an updated headshot for your LinkedIn, Facebook and/ or Instagram. One retouched image delivered to your email address through your survey in approx. 2-3 weeks. Omni, Level 2, Legends Hallway

Diane, Uh: A Sony Girls’ Night Out contingent gets crashed. Pictured (l-r) are Olivia Laster, Abi Fishbone, Lauren Thomas, Lisa Owen, Josh Easler as “Diane,” Cam, Ali O’Connell and Jenny Shearin. ©2018 Countr y Aircheck™ — All r ights reser ved. Sign up free at w w w.countr yaircheck .com. S end news to news@countr yaircheck .com

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2:30pm Facebook: Still Our Strongest Ally Bryan Moore, Jeremy Holley, Ashley Alexander, Fitz Omni, Level 3, Legends Ballroom D-G 2:30pm Interactive Learning Workshop #1: Voice Coaching, Are They Hearing Your Voice Omni, Level 2, Broadway Pre-Function, Encore Stage 2:30pm Small Market 101: Raising Your Bottom Line, One Strategy at a Time Josh Roberts, Kate Burcham, Fletch Brown, Halley Phillips Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom A-C 3:30pm Keynote Speaker: Radio Today with Cumulus Media’s CEO, Mary Berner Sponsored by Parenting Today’s Teens Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom D-G 4:30pm Yoga Class by Shakti Power Yoga Omni, Level 3, Mockingbird 1 4:30pm On-Air Talent Mentoring Happy Hour Braden Gall, Big D + Bubba, Danny Dwyer, Joe Breezy, Skip Mahaffey, Sue Wilson, Country with Carsen, Fitz Rebel Engine Lobby Bar 4:30pm SSM Nashville Happy Hour Andy Griggs, Wes Hayden, AC Jones Omni, Level 2, Music Row 1 4:30pm NASH Happy Hour Cam NASH Campus: 506 2nd Ave. S.

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5pm Party Like An Outlaw at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum Ashley McBryde Hall of Fame Event Hall 5pm Drew’s Disco Dance Off Sponsored by Cold River Drew Baldridge Omni, Kitchen Notes 6pm Rebel Engine Happy Hour Omni Lobby 7pm Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley Sponsored by Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 and First Tennessee Bank First drink sponsored by ASCAP Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom A-C 7pm Sony/Nashville Live (Invite Only) CMA Hall Of Fame Theater 9pm Curb Records at Topgolf (Invite Only) Topgolf Nashville (Shuttles will be running from Omni’s 5th Avenue lobby) 9pm Big Loud After Hours (Invite Only) HQ Beercade: 114 2nd Ave S.

Lon Helton, lon@countryaircheck.com Chuck Aly, chuck@countryaircheck.com Wendy Newcomer, wendy@countryaircheck.com (615) 320-1450