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DeepRockDrive is hosting a live show from Whiskey Falls tomorrow night (Thursday). The band will be playing live in Las Vegas and you can have a front row seat on the net. The show is free and registration is required for your ticket. Go here to resereve your spot. Show starts at 8pm CST.
DeepRockDrive blends the live show experience with the interactivity of online video games. You don’t just watch a concert, you support the artists you love live by participating. From voting on songs that get played during the set to controlling your own camera views, you get to take live music online to a new level.
LUKE JENSEN
PD Journal Broadcasting KVOO/Tulsa
Previous Stations & Positions:
KBEQ/ Kansas City, Mo Intern /Pt On-Air
KXBZ/Manhattan, Ks Nights/Afternoons/MD
KZKX/Lincoln, Ne Afternoons/MD
KBEQ/ Kansas City, Mo Nights/Mornings
WSOC/ Charlotte, NC Afternoons
KCKC/ Kansas City PD/Mornings
KVOO/ Tulsa PD / Afternoons
Years in the biz: 15
Marital Status: Married
Kids: Hopefully someday
How do you like Tulsa so far? Tulsa is great so far. When I started talking to the folks here about the job, I had no idea what to expect…tumbleweeds and oil wells were what I pictured. Thankfully Tulsa has much more to offer…I figured if Garth calls it home, and Mike Severson was raised here, it’s probably a decent spot!
What is your favorite restaurant in Tulsa? I’m fat, so Nutra System is my favorite…If the wife let’s me go out to eat, I’ll usually be found at a local Mexican Cantina.
There are three FM country stations in your market, two of which are Journal. What are the unique challenges of programming in the Tulsa market? Journal has KVOO and the Classic Country KXBL, and Cox has KWEN. It is definitely an interesting dynamic in the market. The Classic Country is doing well and does it’s own thing. The real battle is between KVOO and KWEN…KWEN has been consistently on top over the years and we are ready to change that.
Are you currently utilizing, or planning to utilize: podcasts, video, texting or other digital technology in your programming and promotions? If so, in what way? We are in the process of redoing all of our websites, at which point we will become more active with Podcasts, video etc. Journal leadership is very proactive in this area and has a great vision for the future so I expect us to be maximizing these efforts in the very near future.
What is the most pressing problem radio faces today? How do you think it should be resolved? Radio is becoming very good at being unremarkable. It is no longer about passion, fun, or excitement, but, how can we save money. There are many places people can go to for a jukebox. We have to get back to what made radio special. What can we do that an IPOD, Satellite, or Phone can’t…
What can record labels and artists do to better serve you and your station? We have been very fortunate in Tulsa to have great support from both the artists and record labels, which makes it easy to work together to accomplish our specific goals.
Who has had the most influence on you in your career thus far? Why? Mike Kennedy would be the one person who has turned me into the grouch that I have become. He gave me an opportunity in high school to become a part of the KBEQ family, and has given me countless opportunities since. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work next to the best.
What are your favorite web sites and blogs? I love Perez Hilton, and check it out daily. I am a pop culture junkie and find myself entertained by Perez…My daily list of websites consist of TMZ, CNN, All Access, NASCAR.com, Weather.com, and Airliner.net (I like planes).
What is the most ridiculous thing about the music business? Some of the people and the positions they hold.
Do you ever play local or regional country acts? If so, do you have a success story? We don’t at this time.
What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the music business? Go to college and have a backup plan. This is a fun business, but I have seen two many people get caught up in the thrill of the ride and not have a plan for when the ride ends. Unfortunately, for most folks, the ride ends sooner then they would like. If you know that going in, you’ll be alright!
How important is it for a station to be local for their specific market? It is very important. We spend a lot of time and effort finding ways to be more involved in our community. People can listen to country music form a variety of mediums, but they can’t listen to their favorite song and find out what’s happening at the Riverwalk this weekend, or the big charity walk downtown.
What are your plans for the rest of 2008? Stay employed, stay married, and have fun doing the job that I love!
THANKS LUKE!
After trips to Little Rock, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and San Antonio, we spent our final day of the week long tour in Houston and a visit to KILT. Pictured above is MD Greg Fry, Adam Gregory, OM/PD Jeff Garrison and me. Below is Adam’s performance of “Down The Road From Me”. An amazing song.
Adam Gregory is out playing for radio this week and the tour continues in Oklahoma City. The following is from his performance of “Anything At All” for the staff of KKNG. Special thanks to morning gal KC Sheperd.
Out on the road visiting radio with Adam Gregory. Below are my friends from KSSN/Little Rock and KVOO/Tulsa.
(top photo) KSSN/Little Rock: MD Jeremy Guenther, me, Adam, and PD Chad Heritage
(bottom photo) KVOO/Tulsa: me, morning gal Sunny, Adam, and PD Luke Jensen
KEVIN CHRISTOPHER
Operations Director for Tyler Media, PD KKNG / Oklahoma City, OK
How long with KKNG? 10 years
Previous stations you have been with?
KTLS Ada, OK
Marital Status? Married 18 years to Shari
Kids? Konner 13, Kloe (Chloe) 8
Years in the biz? 23
What do you like best about the OKC market? Oklahomans are fantastic people…and OKC is on the move with great growth and soon…an NBA franchise…and of course, the Sooners!
What is your favorite vacation spot with the family? We go skiing in Breckenridge most every year…great times!
What are the unique challenges of programming in the OKC market? 2 direct country competitors make this market unique and very, very challenging
KKNG just celebrated 10 years on the air. Congratulations! What has been King Country’s biggest moment in the last decade? What are the goals for the next 10 years? Starting as a Classic Country Station and winning 20 out of 21 12+ books was a thrill…now the transition to Mainstream Country and trying to grow the station younger is fun and a challenge.
Are you currently utilizing, or planning to utilize: podcasts, video, texting or other digital technology in your programming and promotions? If so, in what way? We King Pod the morning show each day with 3-4 highlights listeners can download to the Ipods and listen too…tons of video on the site from station events and artist visits…also done a couple of successful text messaging campaigns
What is the most pressing problem radio faces today? How do you think it should be resolved? If we do great radio the listeners will come and the ad dollars will follow…there’s just not enough good radio being done today…we’ve stripped it down to a point where creativity is at a minimum
What can record labels and artists do to better serve you and your station? I have no complaint from the record side…reps could do a better job of doing their homework and understanding our “sound” and seeing if there product fits that sound instead of having their own agenda
If money and time were no object, what would you most like to do? Play golf on the PGA tour.
What are the advantages of working for a smaller radio company like Tyler Media? I can have coffee with my owners every morning and find solutions to problems quickly.
What are your favorite web sites and blogs? RnR, All About Country and All Access…and National Weather Service…I know, that makes me really sound like a geek.
What is the most ridiculous thing about the music business? That could be incriminating…I’ll pass on that question.
I know you play unsigned local or regional country acts. Do you have any particular success stories? Several…spinning the CCR and Kevin Fowler and both are top 6 research for me.
What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the music business? It’s a volatile time…make sure this is really what you want to do before you choose this as a career.
How important is it for a station to be local for their specific market? Extremely, it’s the only thing that differentiates your station from other technology.
THANKS KEVIN!
For the first time in Academy of Country Music Awards history, the fans have the opportunity to vote along with the industry for the ACM Entertainer of the Year award.
I won’t say who I voted for in all the other categories, but I did cast a ballot for Keith Urban for Entertainer of the Year. I love George Strait - he is the King of Country and one of my favorite artists I’ve worked with in my career, but out of these 5 nominees, Urban puts on the best performance I have seen in the past 12 months. Keith IS an entertainer.
You can vote for your favorite at www.acmvote.com.
Teen Magazine has a feature on Adam Gregory this month:
“Meet Adam Gregory, a 22-year-old country crooner who’s our pick for the next big thing! We just love his new single, “Crazy Days,” and thought you guys would get a kick out of “meeting” him. So, without further ado…….”
Go here to check out the complete Teen interview with Adam.
ANDY ELLIOTT
PD Citadel KJJY/KHKI Des Moines, IA
Marital Status: Married
Children: 3 girls Darby 13, Libby 10, Ava 1 (pictured)
Previous stations you have been with: KIOA in Des Moines (Oldies) and KOKZ in Waterloo (Hot AC)
Years in biz: 17
How long have you lived in Des Moines and worked at 92.5 KJJY & 97.3 The Hawk? I was born and raised in Des Moines and have worked for KJJY since 1992. I took over KHKI 3 years ago.
What is your favorite thing to do in Des Moines? I love to golf and we also have one of the nicest Triple A ballparks in the country so I like to catch a game with a brat and beer now and then.
What are the unique challenges of programming two country stations in the Des Moines market? The hardest part is making sure each station has it’s own identity.
If money and time were no object, what would you most like to do? Become a professional poker player.
What are your favorite web sites and blogs? I enjoy You Tube and CBS Sportsline during football season ( Go Pack ). I suppose your blog will become a favorite of mine too.
What is the most ridiculous thing about the music business? All of the over thinking that goes on. A hit is a hit and a stiff is a stiff. No amount of spin can change that in the long run.
Do you ever play local or regional country acts? If so, do you have a success story? We have a local guy here named Jason Brown. He’s a great guy with an unbelievable fan base. He’s also been able to find some very strong songs. He’s been a nice little secret for us over the last couple years and I hope the secret gets out because he’s a very deserving artist.
What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the music business? Take care of your fans. They don’t care about the politics of the music business. They care about feeling a connection with you and believing that you know how valuable they are to you.
How important is it for a station to be local for their specific market? Outside of the music, it’s the most important thing. You have the chance to give them something that no one else can.
You and the stations have a great reputation of being aggressive and playing new music. How do you make sure that strategy (which I completely agree with by the way) works to the stations advantage? I’m in a unique situation where I have two stations. I’m able to be extremely aggressive on one station and then gage reaction to determine what’s working before we commit to the other station.
Could Eddie Hatfield run for mayor of Des Moines and win? Only if they would let him govern from his recliner at home. You could bet there would be great food at all the council meetings.
Being a fellow Green Bay fan, how do you think the team will perform with Aaron Rodgers at the helm? It all depends on his durability. If he can stay healthy, I think we’ll be back in the playoffs. If he is injury prone…I’m blaming you.
Thanks Andy!!
I’d like to see the ratio and breakdown of recently successful acts from record labels. A comparison of brand new artists that no one has heard of to artists that have been lifted off one of the following: American Idol, Nashville Star, Dancing With The Stars, MySpace, from another format, through Muzik Mafia, or from independent labels.
Where are the new star acts that can say they were actually scouted and discovered by a major label? Like when an A&R rep would be on the road and hear the buzz about an incredible artist, who they went to see, and then brought to Nashville to showcase and sign?
Yes, it still happens on occasion, but it seems so rare and sometimes more accidental than anything else.
Has allowing television, the Internet, publishers, and indie labels do the ground work for them made most major labels complacent or has the business of finding acts changed?
Sure social networks and YouTube has made discovery easier and more cost effective, but I have to think there is plenty of pure amazing talent out there that didn’t audition for a television show and doesn’t have the time or means to market themselves full time on the Internet.
Let’s find them. For all of our sake.
A feature on the Leadership Music Digital Summit can be found in The Tennessean. It’s based on what I thought was one of the weaker panels of the day, “Can I Really Ditch A Record Label?”. The title of the panel was interesting and the potential was great, but it ended up being mostly about the positive aspects of major labels and not about how an artist can truly succeed without one (which I thought was the point of the panel). Read the article here.
Music Row magazine also has a write up about the same panel here.
The opening night gala for the 2008 Nashville Film Festival recently took place. The red carpet walk included Emerson Drive, William H. Macy, Jessi Alexander, Carter’s Chord, Wild Bill, and other notable guests for the debut night featured film “The Deal”.
WGNE & Emerson Drive Team Up For Charity
RENDA BROADCASTING Country WGNE (99.9 GATOR COUNTRY)/JACKSONVILLE is partnering with MIDAS RECORDS group EMERSON DRIVE to help the kids at ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL.
The boys recorded a special acoustic version of the LIFEHOUSE song “You and Me,” recently; it’s available exclusively for download at www.999gatorcountry.com for a $1 donation to ST. JUDE.
Click here to hear a sample of the song and here to download.
Tim Jones
Program Director - Citadel WGKX Memphis
Previous employment:
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KBQI/KSYU Albuquerque PD
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Clear Channel HD Format Lab PD
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WDDD Marion-Carbondale, IL PD
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KEZS Cape Girardeau, MO PD
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KDXY/KDEZ Jonesboro, AR PD
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WYCQ Nashville, TN On-Air
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KFIN/KIYS Jonesboro, AR Evening Personality
Years in biz: 18
What do you miss about Albuquerque? The golf courses, my cousin Mark and various friends, the dry weather and the Sandia mountains.
What is your favorite restaurant in Memphis? Hands down… always will be the world famous Rendezvous.
What are the unique challenges of programming in the Memphis market? Memphis is a great market to program in but just like Albuquerque I find myself in an ethnic battle for the top spot. This is not only challenging but often frustrating.
Are you currently utilizing, or planning to utilize: podcasts, video, texting or other digital technology in your programming and promotions? If so, in what way? We are doing some podcasts and video. The texting is on the horizon for us as well. I am excited about the future of technology hence why I have an Iphone. I love it.
What is the most pressing problem radio faces today? How do you think it should be resolved? Shrinking budgets and audience. I believe you have to put money in to make money. I am very fortunate that Citadel still believes in this as well. I am very blessed to be in this company. As far as audience goes, people’s tastes change, we have to change with them and give them what they want or they will go somewhere else.
What can record labels and artists do to better serve you and your station? I think country does a great job. You will not find rock or pop artists doing what country will. We are very lucky.
If money and time were no object, what would you most like to do? Travel around the world on my time schedule with no cell phone and on my own personal jet with my best friends and family in tow.
I’ve never known a time where Rita did not work the front desk. How long has she been there now? 14 years and counting, she rocks.
What are your favorite web sites and blogs? I am a Perez Hilton/TMZ addict. I also check out NY times, All Access, Ebay, Mediabase and Yahoo daily. Crazy thing is my search engine is GOOGLE but my home page is Yahoo. I know, doesn’t make sense to me either.
What is the most ridiculous thing about the music business? That could turn into a novel. Do you really want me to go there?
Do you ever play local or regional country acts? If so, do you have a success story? I am a fan of a local guy here: The Brad Kessler Band. This kid has something. We’ve spun him here and there and he always opens for us when we need him.
What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the music business? This too could be another novel. Main point would be …be careful who you are getting into business with. Personally, I think some of the old blood in Nashville needs to move on because they are way behind times. Sorry, that was my inside voice.
How important is it for a station to be local for their specific market? That’s the thing that keeps us close to the listener…no matter what anyone tells you…this is the key!
THANKS TIM!
The Mother Church of country music, The Ryman Auditorium, in downtown Nashville. Original home of the Grand Ol’ Opry. So many photos of this historical building have been taken, it is difficult to show it in a unique way. This is my attempt.
50 Cent and Universal Music Group are being sued for promoting the “gangsta lifestyle”. Read about it here.
That got me thinking about what lifestyle country music is promoting. Who could sue us? Soccer moms? Former 70’s rock fans? The state of Texas?
See comments and please feel free to add your own.
Debut of the Adam Gregory video for “Crazy Days”. Directed by Wes Edwards. Check out more information on his web site www.adamgregory.com.
Directed by Wes Edwards
Midas Records/No Strings Attached recording artist Adam Gregory is making his U.S. debut with the release of “Crazy Days.” The single was co-written by Adam, Lee Brice, Kyle Jacobs and Joe Leathers and was co-produced by Keith Follese and Brad Allen.
Though he’s just 22 years old, Adam Gregory draws on more than a decade’s worth of writing and performing experience for his upcoming debut album on Midas.
Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Adam’s musical journey began when he wrote his first composition at age 12 and was signed to a record deal with Sony Canada. After recording his debut album, he launched into life as a road warrior opening shows for the likes of Alan Jackson, Keith Urban and Lonestar. Adam scored several top ten hits on Canada’s country charts throughout his teens, gaining a loyal following with the release of three studio albums.
Now in Nashville, Adam looks forward to bringing his music to the U.S. market. He is currently on a series of radio tours promoting the single release and looking forward to continued touring in support of the upcoming album.
Emerson Drive, Southwest Airlines and the Nashville Film Festival are teaming up and giving away a trip to Las Vegas and the ACM Awards. Love music? Into film? Dig Southwest? Well then here’s the lowdown:
Amy and I went to a party for our good friends Mitch and Sarah who are getting married later this month. It was at the home of their friends David Thoener and Tamera Petrash. David is a highly regarded sound engineer, mixer and producer. I knew that he worked on the Santana project and won a Grammy in 2000 for “Smooth”. Cool. Great song.
So we went to their home and it was a nice group of friends and new people we hadn’t met before. After engaging in some wine and cake, Amy and I decided to go explore the house since it had a nice variety of art and music industry awards.
In David’s office I noticed a wall full of gold and platinum albums (yes, the door was open). I couldn’t help but to check them out. I still remember how much I wanted one of those back before moving to Nashville and it finally happened in 1994 with The Mavericks. Such an amazing memory that lead to more “awards” over the years. I’m very proud to have played a part in so many artists careers and music and the plaques are nice reminders of that. Over time though, they just aren’t that important to me anymore, but I still love to look at them when they are displayed at other people’s homes or businesses. Especially the blasts from the past.
The first plaque on David’s wall to catch my eye was the J. Geils Band “Freeze Frame”. Wow! That was one of my favorite records in high school. Then I noticed Billy Squier “Emotions In Motion”. No way! Another fantastic album. Then a quick scan of the rest: Heart, Sammy Hagar, Meat Loaf, AC/DC, Aeorosmith, KISS, Triumph, Bon Jovi, The Fixx, Billy Joel, The Hooters, ELO, Def Leppard and many others. It was everything I listened to in my youth. The Rock utopia of the 70’s and early to mid 80’s.
Amy said I was standing there with my mouth open just staring. It was like the soundtrack of my high school years before my eyes as the songs on those albums created flash points in time. A memory of listening to J. Geils “Centerfold” on a beat up radio while riding to school on the bus. Or camping out for Billy Squier tickets that went on sale Saturday morning right after the Sammy Hagar concert ended on Friday night. When “Pyromania” came out and rocked my world. Seeing Bon Jovi open up for the unmasked KISS. Turning it up to 10 when the cannons fired on AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock”.
As I continued to be amazed at the wall, David walked into the room and proceeded to tell stories about how he recorded the cannons on the AC/DC track. What Bon Jovi was like back in the day before he exploded. Working with Mutt Lange, Gene Simmons, Santana, David Bowie, Def Leppard, ELO, and John Mellencamp on albums and in the studio. The history of my rock and roll years. The songs and artists that influenced my taste in music. David was in the mix. Literally!
David, according to his bio, started his career in 1974 as an assistant engineer at the Record Plant in New York City. He learned his craft working on such seminal albums as Aerosmith “Toys In The Attic,” Bruce Springsteen “Born To Run,” David Bowie “Young Americans,” John Lennon “Walls and Bridges,” Electric Light Orchestra “Face The Music” and Richie Blackmore “Rainbow Rising.”
He began engineering and mixing records in 1976, and since then has enjoyed a thirty year run of hit records including classic records for AC/DC (”For Those About To Rock”) , John Mellencamp (including “Little Pink Houses”), John Waite (including the smash “Missing You”), J. Geils Band (all of their hits), Matchbox 20 and many others.
He has worked on countless Country and Contemporary Christian projects as well. If you’d like to check out his complete discography with dates please go here.
Just when you think you can’t be awed any longer in Music City, there is always a surprise waiting to happen. That’s one of the reasons I love this town and the incredibly creative and down to earth people in it.
I am on a mission now to have David guest blog.
Wanna hear it? Go to their myspace site and click on it.
You can also go here to check out the lyrics.
Batter up!!
Thank you Trace for being an exemplary representative of the country music community on “Celebrity Apprentice”. You handled yourself with class and integrity. We all can learn a thing or two by the character you displayed, which is not as common as it should be.
I’m sure you’ve made a lot of new fans, and rightly so.
Emerson Drive was a recent guest of the Big 98 WSIX in Nashville. The band performed six songs acoustically at the station’s Full Throttle Garage and answered questions from the invited listeners. Two of the songs are going to be on the next album. Check out “Extra Mile” by clicking here.
The rest of the tunes are here.
Emerson Drive is still in the studio working on the album tentatively scheduled for a Fall release.
If not, why not? Radio will need to embrace aggressive podcasting and video strategies to compete for the attention of future listeners. The age of P1 demo of many country radio stations is rising because they are losing younger generations of consumers. These tech savvy “self broadcasting” demos are getting what they want when they want it. They aren’t waiting around through ad spots and countless other songs to hear their new favorite.
Creative and innovative use of podcasts, video, web sites, and mobile based activity will not only enable radio to stay in the game, but be active in the lives of listeners. This could also answer the concerns of being local and developing engaging personalities, but radio companies need to make a commitment in making it happen. Will they?
These new media outlets will not only expand the brand of the station, but also be more easily monitored and accurately measured for advertising purposes. For example, YouTube users can now better analyze the viewing patterns of videos far more easily according to this story from Media Week.
The bottom line is creating entertaining content value and connecting to the listener and consumer. The more ways radio can do that the better chance they have to compete and win in a quickly changing landscape.
KFTX GM/morning show host, radio legend and Country Music DJ Hall of Fame member Dr. Bruce Stratton is now a movie star. He is making a special appearance in the soon to be released western film Palo Pinto Gold.
Shot in Texas, the movie stars Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Trent Willmon, and Anthony Henslee. Special guest appearances, besides Corpus Christi’s own Dr. Bruce, by Kinky Friedman, Jay Novacek, Kevin Fowler and Robert Earl Keen.
Dr. Bruce is the bartender, seen at 1:10 into the trailer which can be viewed below. Notice how well he delivers his lines!
For a synopsis of the film and more information you go to www.palopintogold.com.
In the event you haven’t had the opportuntity to see, or if you have somehow forgotten, just how good Whiskey Falls is in a room. No frills, no enhancements, no dog & pony……so turn it up:
Performing “Falling Into You” at a CRS lunch for radio programmers hosted by Bob Kingsley. Thanks to Bob and crew for having us and for their amazing support!
“Load Up The Bases” by Whiskey Falls has been officially named the FSN South and SportSouth pre and post-game theme for the Atlanta Braves’ 2008 season. The guys are shooting the video at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, Georgia today. Stay tuned for more huge partnerships in the forthcoming baseball season!
The Academy of Country Music has announced the nominations for the categories, which, due to time constraints, will not be televised during the show. Congratulations to all of the radio stations and individuals up for an award. Click on the following link to see all of the nominations……. Read the rest of this entry »
More behind the scenes footage of Emerson Drive at Country Radio Seminar with a special guest appearance by Charlie Daniels.
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The Skylink train at DFW is fantastic. So much better than that clunky old tram that took forever to get to another concourse. Skylink is sleek, quick, and since it sits atop the terminals, offers great views.
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Speaking of views, the new Cowboy’s stadium in Arlington is gigantic. You can see it clearly all the way from the airport and so far it resembles the contraption they built in the movie “Contact”. Massive.
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The entire airport at DFW has improved greatly. It reminded me how I’ve always loved airports and planes since I was a kid. Call me crazy.
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Omaha has a very nice Warehouse District. Cool shops and great eats! They are also getting some major concerts in the market.
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Des Moines Warehouse District is growing and looking impressive. The city is such a great market for country music too because of stations KJJY and KHKI (The Hawk). They support new music and help the format grow. We just had a huge show with Emerson Drive there, which was sold out. Thanks to everyone at the stations, especially Andy Elliot and Eddie Hatfield. Well done!
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Des Moines, however, is one of the worst places to fly out of to get back to Nashville. Always seems overly expensive.
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Heard some of the new music from Emerson Drive on their bus after the show. They are going to deliver something AMAZING. The whole band is operating on an entirely higher level. Very exciting.
RADIO IN 3D
by Daniel Anstandig
Radio cannot grow if its operators insist on constricting the delivery of their brands to the sense of sound. Sure, there is no way around the fact that “speakers to ears” is our primary delivery method. Still, listeners and advertisers are now challenging radio stations to “think outside the speakers” into the interactive world. They want three-dimensional radio.
Many advertisers are now convinced that an audio ad is no longer enough to reach their customers. New Media has opened up new options to reach consumers—outside of television and radio, and local direct advertisers are buying campaigns that are “diversified” in nature. Radio/advertising companies that offer a multi-dimensional solution to advertisers (including audio, online showcasing, online lead generation, etc.) are more likely to win the lion-share of the business. Many of the radio companies we consult on building their digital marketing/sales strategies have reported that the street-level enthusiasm for radio buys with an interactive bend is at an all-time high.
McVay New Media’s 2008 Interactive Revenue forecast is calling for a 9% increase in this year’s spending on local banner ads alone. Across the United States in 2008, we will see approximately $10 Billion spent on local internet advertising by local direct buyers. Last year, radio is estimated to have pulled a whopping 1% share of that revenue.
These numbers concur with a study done by Borrell and Associates, which estimates that only 1.1% of last year’s $8.5 Billion spent in local online advertising (banners, audio/video streaming, and paid search engine placement combined) went to a radio station. Approximately $1.2 Billion dollars in streaming audio/video advertising alone will be placed online by local advertisers in 2008 (up 317% from 2007). It is estimated that $6.3 Billion will be spent by local advertisers on banner ads alone.
Broadcasters now stand at a cross-roads on whether to further include interactive media into their advertising-product-portfolio or not. The operators that effectively include interactive media in their strategies for audience and revenue growth will see returns this year. The operators without a vision for including interactive in their plans will leave money on the table—and sacrifice dollars to local internet portals.
KRYS PD Frank Edwards returned from the snow in Nashville on Saturday to thunderstorms that rolled through Corpus Christi yesterday afternoon. No one knows for sure if it was straight winds or a tornado, but it did considerable damage to the building, including tearing off part of the roof, that houses the Clear Channel affiliates including K99. Check out the video here to see the aftermath.
Whiskey Falls rocked the packed house at the CRS After Midnite Disco Party! Seven, Damon, Buck and Wally jammed for 30 minutes at the annual bash (only one act beside WF played that long!). The band shined with three different lead singers on songs ranging from rock to disco to one of their own originals. Following are the guys getting funky on “Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Again” & “Rapper’s Delight”. Blair has it right when he said Whiskey Falls ”kicks butt!”.
Now that I am fully recovered and rested from Country Radio Seminar, I can get caught up on the blog and the rest of my life.
The keynote address at CRS was actually turned into a panel after the cancellation of Sean Hannity a few days before. The hot topic? Sound performance rights for music on terrestrial radio. It was a high octane discussion fueled by radio consultant Joel Raab. Unfortunately, I don’t think it went far enough into the matter and like most panel discussions, ended without any ideas toward resolution.
David Ross writes about the keynote in Music Row:
Moderator/radio consultant Joel Raab framed the session with a brief synopsis of the opposing points of view. Labels and artists want terrestrial radio to pay a sound copyright fee, something which is recognized in all but four other countries worldwide. Radio’s stance is that they expose the product and therefore already perform a service for the artists and labels, so the use is a fair exchange. Panelists included Mike Kraski of Tenacity Management, John Simpson of SoundExchange, Tom Taylor from Radio-info.com and NAB Exec. VP John David. “Radio revenues are flat,” said Taylor, “but labels are in true pain. My hunch is that this year nothing happens, but this issue won’t go away.” “I wish everyone fun at the label parties,” said David, immediately adopting an argumentative stance while intimating the labels still have lavish party budgets. “We are not impressed with the $1.25 million small station proposed exemption, either. Our intention is that the money is not going to come.”
Simpson pointed out that these artist royalties are collected overseas, but in most cases not sent to the U.S. because this country does not have a reciprocal right. SoundExchange collects performance rights in sound recordings for digital transmissions, satellite radio and cable radio. “Artists who had great records of songs they didn’t write get nothing when their music is played over and over for years,” Simpson remarked. “In some sad cases they are forced to work until they die to pay the bills.”
Kraski delivered the label point of view. “On our side it is a moral imperative,” he said. “If one side wins big while the other loses then we all fail. We need radio, and radio needs content. There has to be a middle ground.” Kraski also answered the exposure argument by saying at least 40% of radio airplay is Gold music which doesn’t need exposure and is just to the benefit of the station.
Audience questions quickly brought the emotional impact of this economic issue to a boil. Radio audience members cheered when David said, “Zero is the only acceptable number to pay.” Fortunately the crowd was small and moderator Raab wisely cut off the discussion with a fade to lunch.
The Buckeyes were Emerson Drive crazy when the band performed at Newport Music Hall on campus of Ohio State University.
I attended several tech panels today, which I am glad to see on the schedule. One in particular was a panel that had Sean Ross from Edison Research, Dean Ernst from Play MPE and Jim Kerr from Pollack Media Group.
They each debated and rated the hottest tech trends as “Boom” or “Bust”. Here’s a quick rundown on how they voted:
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HD Radio: Majority BUST
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iPhone: Majority BOOM (shows you how fast technology moves because this has been an obvious boom for a while now)
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Internet Radio: Majority BOOM (although they said it would take a while to get up to speed)
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Podcasting: Majority BOOM
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360 Label Deals: Mostly BUST (in my opinion this is relative to which artists and managers)
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User Generated Content: Majority BOOM
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Mobile Content Distribution Channel: Majority BOOM
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DRM-Free Music: Majority BOOM
CRS greetings to those of you who couldn’t make the trip……..”Wish You Were Here!”
The finalists for the ACM Awards came out this morning and Emerson Drive picked up nominations for Group of the Year and Song of the Year for “Moments”.
Also, congratulations to my good friend Mike Wrucke who co-produced the Miranda Lambert project which is up for Album of the Year and her song “Famous In A Small Town” which is competing for Single of the Year. Nice work Mike!
Go here for a complete list of nominees.
Whiskey Falls had an early wake up call on Saturday morning to get prepped for an appearance on the CBS Early Show. For those of you who slept in, here is the segment on the 2nd Cup Cafe.
I recently witnessed the best country music show of the year so far- Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood. Yes I know, they are not artists I work directly with, but I’m in this business because I love music and will give it recognition whenever it is good or when an artist does the right things. I may also let you know when I feel like a song is doing nothing but taking up valuable space; but I’m not here to talk about the Garth & Huey Lewis single today.
Anyway, if you have seen a show with Keith Urban lately and you don’t vote for him as Entertainer of the Year, you are on crack! I’ve seen him as part of The Ranch and then a few times after going solo. He has always put on a solid show and is a great guy to hang with, but after the show I just experienced I can testify he is hands down the most charismatic and exciting performer in the country format. From his backstage visits with fans and radio, to the inventive production and the powerful show, it was done first class. He gets it! Carrie Underwood opened and she certainly is a star and a nice fit for Urban. A complete home run for the guys and the gals.
Between sets a talented DJ was spinning and mixing music from all genres and all generations. I was impressed how the entire evening was very relevant to the crowd and you could feel the exciting buzz of the house from start to finish.
I am fortunate to be working with Emerson Drive, Whiskey Falls and Adam Gregory because I really do believe they are phenomenal artists, but if all I did was write and talk about my own artists then I would be doing a disservice to you and to myself. We are all in this together and I’m not simply an outlet for company talking points. My mission is much bigger than that.
Country Radio Seminar is coming up next week. Some of you radio folks are attending, but most of you are unable to make it because of budgetary reasons. For those of you in the latter category, keep coming back to “For The Record” for articles and video updates as the event kicks off on Tuesday.
I’ll try to provide you a virtual postcard from CRS 2008.
The next country music star is about to shine. Adam Gregory just wrapped up a video in Florida for his first single “Crazy Days”. The following clip is behind the scenes footage from the making of the music video. Do yourself a favor and at least listen to this incredible track. Be ahead of the game and click play!
