>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 00:11:44 EST
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
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>Subject: The Blue Chip Radio Report 1/18/99
>X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by
clifford.livenet.net id AAA03587
>
>
> THE BLUE CHIP RADIO REPORT
> News, Charts, Show Prep, Sales Info
>
> January 18, 1999
> Bill Miller
> Editor & Publisher
>
>
> The Blue Chip Radio Report is a free weekly newsletter for people in the
>radio and music industries. To add your name to our e-mailing list, or to
>remove your name, send your request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks!
>
>
> The Blue Chip Song of the Week: none.
>
>
> The Judds have sold nearly all the $ 299 seats for their New Year's Eve
>reunion concert. Members of their fan club picked up most of the ducats for
>the Phoenix AZ concert before they hit the open market.
> Officially, The Judds have said they would consider doing more if the
>demand is there. Since Wynonna hasn't caught on with the rock crowd and her
>country career is struggling, consider the demand "there".
> Besides, mom-and-daughter have signed a 2-year deal with K-Mart to
>replace Penny Marshall and Rosie O'Donnell as their spokespeople. The deal
>includes in-store appearances.
> All the rest is spinnery.
>
>
> "Outlaw Justice" is scheduled to be the CBS movie of the week on Sunday
>(January 24th). Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and
Travis
>Tritt star in the film. Travis plays the sheriff who works with the
>characters of Willie and Kris. The trio is out to even the score for the
>death of Waylon's gunslinging character.
>
>
> Sara Evans wants to sell her digs and move up to a bigger crib now that
>she's climbing the charts. Her farm house and 5 acres in Springfield TN
(just
>outside Nashville) are on the market for $ 117,000.
>
>
> New artist Chad Brock is from the horse country of Ocala FL, just
outside
>Gainesville. Being so close to the University of Florida, it's only natural
>that he's a big Gator fan. In fact, he has the university's Gator logo
>tattooed on his leg.
>
>
> Trisha Yearwood is the newest member of The Grand Ole Opry.
>
>
> Wade Hayes is planning to tie the knot. You can see his fiancee, Danni
>Boatwright, in Wade's new video "Tore Up From The Floor Up".
> Does this mean he had to move the motorcycle out of the bedroom?
>
>
> Nan Sumrall, Gary Chapman's sidekick on the TNN's Prime Time Country, is
>also engaged. Nan's beloved is Charlie Kelley, a member of the now extinct
>group, The Buffalo Club.
>
>
> Haven't seen enough of Shania Twain? Look for her on the cover of the
>February edition of Cosmopolitan magazine.
>
>
> Also in the magazine rack: The February issue of "Life" featuring Alan
>Jackson and wife Denise.
>
>
> Welcome to our new subscribers, including Nancy Johnson with WMLB in
>suburban Atlanta, Pete Spaan PD and DJ for Country Crossroads on Radio
>Deurne in The Netherlands ( http://www.radiolink.net/countrycrossroads ),
>Logan Key with WLAY/fm in Muscle Shoals AL, the folks at Major Bob Music in
>Nashville, Mary Fleenor OM at the Jacor stations of Dayton OH
>(WONE/WLQT/WBTT/WBKI/WMMX/WTUE/WXEG/WIZE), and Hawkeye Louis and Terry Dorsey
>from the morning show at KSCS 96.3 in Dallas/Ft. Worth TX.
>
>
> More than 900 pieces of Minnie Pearl memorabilia were sold at auction in
>Nashville on Saturday. If you had wanted one of her straw hats with the
price
>tag attached, you would have had to match a $ 350 bid.
>
>
> Fan Fair is set for June 14-19 at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in
>Nashville. Tickets are $ 90 for all six days. For the first time in many
>years, Fan Fair wasn't a sell-out last year.
>
>
> Hal Ketchum will host a new radio show for Public Radio International.
>Hal will interview his favorite singer/songwriters on "Troubadours". Sounds
>like my kind of gig.
>
>
> After a nearly 10-year absence, Alan LeBoeuf has re-joined Baillie & The
>Boys. That brings the group back to its original lineup.
>
>
> Reba McEntire is currently on tour in Europe.
>
>
> Hank Williams, Jr., will team up with Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd
for
>50 concert dates this year.
>
>
> The Kinley's "Somebody's Out There Watching" is from the soundtrack for
>Touched By An Angel.
>
>
> As reported earlier in BCRR, LeAnn Rimes would still like to release
four
>albums this year: a pop album, a hard-core country album, a gospel album and
>a Christmas album.
>
>
> The Oak Ridge boys have signed a recording contract with Intersound, a
>division of Platinum Entertainment.
>
>
> Attention afficionados: Newly released is a double-CD from Ernest Tubb
>and the Texas Troubadours. "The Complete Live 1965 Concert" is said to
>contain many of ET's greatest hits.
>
>
> "The Prince Of Egypt Nashville" soundtrack (which isn't really a
>soundtrack) has been certified gold.
>
>
> Chely Wright's new album, "Single White Female", is due in May. Also
due
>in May is Tim McGraw new collection, "A Place In The Sun".
>
>
> And whatever happened to John D. Loudermilk?
>
>
> BLUE CHIP SPOTLIGHT ALBUM: "Big Red Sun" by Mollie O'Brien. Produced
>by Charles Sawtelle. Label: Sugar Hill Records. Americana radio
discovered
>this album months ago, but everyone should be aware of this lady. Mollie,
the
>sister of bluegrasser Tim O'Brien, has one of the finest voices to step up to
>any microphone.
> Unlike so many country albums, this one isn't watered down with
>unimaginative singer-songwriting. The material is top-flight and includes
>tunes from Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry and Randy
>Newman.
> Best Radio Cuts: "No Ash Will Burn", "Big Red Sun Blues", "Denver To
>Dallas", "Gambling Man".
>
>
> TWANG T.V.:
>
> 1/23..........Trace Adkins, Clay Walker on "Austin City Limits",
>PBS
> 1/24..........Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Travis Tritt in
>the movie "Outlaw Justice", CBS
> 1/24..........The Judds on Biography, A & E (Arts and
Entertainment
>Network)
> 1/25..........Merle Haggard, Clark Family Experience on "The Oak
>Ridge Boys From Las Vegas", TNN
> 1/25.........."The Life and Times of Hank Williams", TNN
> 1/25..........Kenny Rogers on Biography, A & E (Arts and
>Entertainment Network)
> 1/26..........Loretta Lynn on Biography, A & E (Arts and
>Entertainment Network)
>
>
>Check local listings for all shows, especially syndicated programs and
"Austin
>City Limits". Special thanks to Katie Pruett at SuperStar Country
KYNG/fm in
>Dallas/Ft. Worth TX and her work on the station's website, http://www.young-
>country.com .
>
>
> CROOK & CHASE musical guests: (afternoon shows repeat the next
>morning)
>
> 1/18........Terri Clark
> 1/19........Deborah Allen
> 1/20........Tareva Henderson
>
>
> TNN PRIME TIME COUNTRY musical guests:
>
>
> 1/18.......Alabama, The Dixie Chicks
> 1/19.......George Jones, Billy Ray Cyrus, Charley Pride w/ their
>spouses (an evening with the Nashville Wives)
> 1/20.......An evening with Lorrie Morgan
> 1/21.......An evening with Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks
>
>
>
> THE BLUE CHIP ADULT COUNTRY CHART (25-49 demographics)
> 1/18/99
>
>
>LW TW Title Artist
>----- ----- ------- --------
>
> 1 1 Wrong Again . . . . . . . . . . . ..Martina McBride
> 2 2 Wrong Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reba McEntire
> 3 3 Spirit Of A Boy..... . . . . . . . ...Randy Travis
> 4 4 For A Little While . . . . . . . . . Tim McGraw
> 5 5 Stand Beside Me . . . . . . . .... Jo Dee Messina
>
> 7 6 Powerful Thing . . . . . . . . . . ..Trisha Yearwood
>10 7 Hold On To Me . . . . . . . . . ...J. M. Montgomery
> 6 8 Right On The Money . . . . . . . Alan Jackson
>12 9 I Don't Want To Miss...... . . . Mark Chestnutt
> 8 10 For You I Will . . . . . . . . . . . ..Aaron Tippin
>
>11 11 Unbelievable . . . . . . . . . . . .. Diamond Rio
>13 12 Busy Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billy Ray Cyrus
>14 13 No Place That Far . . . . . . . .. Sara Evans
>15 14 A Bitter End . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deryl Dodd
> 9 15 There You Have It . . . . . . . . . Blackhawk
>
>17 16 By The Book . . . . . . . . . . . .. Michael Peterson
>18 17 How Forever Feels . . . . . . . . Kenny Chesney
>19 18 Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Wilkinsons
>20 19 Keepin' Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama
>24 20 These Arms Of Mine . . . . . . . LeAnn Rimes
>
>21 21 Wine Into Water . . . . . . . . . T. Graham Brown
>22 22 Take Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lari White
>25 23 That Don't Impress Me...... . . Shania Twain
>26 24 You Were Mine . . . . . . . . . . .Dixie Chicks
>16 25 You're Beginning To.... . . . . . Clay Walker
>
>27 26 One Day Left To Live . . . . . ...Sammy Kershaw
>28 27 Slow Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Nesler
>31 28 I'll Take Today . . . . . . . . . .... Gary Allan
>32 29 I'll Think Of A Reason Later . ..Lee Ann Womack
>34 30 I Can't Get Over You . . . . . . ..Brooks & Dunn
>
>33 31 Hands Of A Working Man . . ..Ty Herndon
>35 32 When Mama Ain't Happy . . . .Tracy Byrd
>37 33 I'm Yours . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....Linda Davis
>29 34 Every Little Whisper . . . . . . . Steve Wariner
>*** 35 Meanwhile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Strait
>
>36 36 Somebody's Out There . . . . ..The Kinleys
>38 37 Ordinary Life . . . . . . . . . . . .. Chad Brock
>39 38 Can't Get Enough . . . . . . . . . Patty Loveless
>40 39 Behind Closed Doors . . . . . . Joe Diffie
>*** 40 Drive Me Wild . . . . . . . . . . . .Sawyer Brown
>
>
>DROPPED: Brooks & Dunn (Husbands), Raye
>
>
> NASH-ROCK (a.k.a "Young Country") (Teens, 18-24 demos)
>
>
>LW TW Title Artist
>----- ----- ------- --------
>
> 1 1 Wrong Again . . . . . . . . . . . ...Martina McBride
> 2 2 For A Little While . . . . . . . . . Tim McGraw
> 3 3 Stand Beside Me . . . . . . . . . .Jo Dee Messina
> 5 4 Spirit Of A Boy . . . . . . . . . . ..Randy Travis
> 6 5 I Don't Want To Miss..... . . . ..Mark Chestnutt
>
> 7 6 Hold On To Me . . . . . . . . . . . J. M. Montgomery
> 8 7 Powerful Thing . . . . . . . . . . . .Trisha Yearwood
> 4 8 Right On The Money . . . . . . . Alan Jackson
> 9 9 For You I Will . . . . . . . . . . . . Aaron Tippin
>14 10 Unbelievable . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diamond Rio
>
>11 11 No Place that Far . . . . . . . . . Sara Evans
>12 12 Wrong Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reba McEntire
>13 13 Busy Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billy Ray Cyrus
>15 14 That Don't Impress Me..... . . . Shania Twain
>10 15 There You Have It . . . . . . . . . .Blackhawk
>
>18 16 You Were Mine . . . . . . . . . . .Dixie Chicks
>16 17 Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wilkinsons
>17 18 By The Book . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael Peterson
>19 19 Keepin' Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama
>20 20 A Bitter End . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deryl Dodd
>
>
>DROP: none
>
>
>
>Letters To The Editor
>
>(Please indicate your permission to publish your letter online by writing
>"Letter To The Editor" in the subject line of your e-mail. Letters
subject to
>editing. E-mail addresses will be added to your signature unless otherwise
>requested)
>
>Scott Michaels letter in last week's issue generated a record number of
>replies. Here are some of them. -The Editor
>
> Scott Michaels' letter in the 01/11/99 issue of "Blue Chip Radio Report"
>was fascinating. It's not often that the head of a radio station that large
>admits in a public forum that he has no idea what he's talking about.
> First of all, George Jones wasn't dropped from MCA. He asked label head
>Tony Brown to release him from his contract.
> As for the quality of Jones' last album ("It Don't Get Any Better Than
>This"), I suppose it's a matter of opinion, but I thought it was a great
>record, personally. "Wild Irish Rose", Possum's version of the George Strait
>hit, "When Did You Stop Loving Me?" - those are tremendous songs in my book.
>What's more, the record sounded like George Jones, not George Jones trying to
>sound like Bryan White.
> C'mon, Scott. 'Fess up. We both know that the failure of the record at
>radio had less to do with how it sounded than the fact that Jones is over 40.
>Sure, it's a common accusation that's thrown at country radio and radio
>programmers always throw back the same three examples of older artists who
are
>still successful at radio: Alabama,
>George Strait, and Reba McEntire. Programmers are constantly reciting
>"Alabamageorgestraitrebamcaentirealabamageorgestraitrebamcentire..." as a
kind
>of Holy Trinity; an incantation to protect them against charges of ageism and
>selling out country and western for a fast buck. I don't say this because
I'm
>over 40 - I'm 34 - but it's downright weird: A world of programming almost
>completely devoid of anyone over 50. It's almost like a large segment of the
>radio industry based its entire philosophy of
>programming on a midnight showing of "Logan's Run."
> Fortunately, the times they are a-changin', and I really don't think
that
>country radio stations have any idea how fast that change is coming. Just
>as cable TV steadily eroded the position of the major networks during the
'80s
>and '90s, internet radio is finally giving dissatisfied listeners a place to
>go. It's already a factor in millions of homes and offices around the
>country.
> The last nail in the coffin will be when affordable delivery of net
radio
>signals to cars is ironed out. Once that happens you're going to see in
about
>four or five years the kind of loss of market share that it took cable TV
>nearly twenty years to wrest from the major networks.
> At this point, you can have your hits. Keep 'em. They don't do
anything
>for me and a lot of other people. Fortunately, there are other options
now.
> No, I don't need to hear everything that comes in the mail. But by the
>same token, I don't need to hear the same fifty or sixty songs crammed
down my
>throat.
> --Jon Johnson
> Wollaston, Massachusetts
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> If the philosophy of "Just the Hits" all the time is so successful, why,
>pray tell, are so many formerly #1 stations like WMZQ Washington and WKHY
>Dallas no longer the top stations in their market when all they play are the
>hits, all the time? The fact is, while your station may be successful, most
>markets have seen a marked decrease in ratings for country stations. A
>national overview of Arbitron shows 60%+ of former #1 country stations no
>longer in that position and many not even in the Top 5.
> I recently visited the Indianapolis area and listened to your station.
>The fact is that you could do a lot to satisfy audience members 35+ by
digging
>a bit deeper into the well of great tunes, all hits, just older than what you
>currently play.
> Bob Cianci is right, Nashville, in conjunction with stations like yours,
>is force feeding pop pablum and it ain't working. A few artists are selling
>the vast majority of the product and those artists are getting a lot of
>crossover play. Most artists are having trouble going gold, when 5 years ago
>most major label artist went gold with no problem.
> If what you do works for you, that's great, but do your research before
>you start slamming Bob or anyone else who disagrees with your programming
>philosophy, for the future holds hope for the rest of the listeners who
give a
>rats ass about the latest Shania release. Netradio, digital satellite radio,
>PC's for the auto (unveiled last week at the Consumer Electronics show) open
>up new listening avenues for the disenfranchised country listener, and that's
>a demo growing daily.
>-----Mike Hays
> Owner/PD - www.TwangCast.com
>
>
> No, I don't believe that your radio should play everything that comes in
>the mail, but if you pass on *everything* that's not listed in Billboard,
>Radio and Records, or what the consultants recommend, then you end up passing
>on a LOT of great country music.
> When you say that Radio is not forcefeeding bland lifeless music, and
>that no one is holding a gun to anyone's head making them listen, then I must
>disagree. When you limit my choices, then you are in-effect forcefeeding me
>bad radio. I still have a choice, I can listen to bad radio or I can search
>out decent radio that broadcasts over the Internet.
> Due to a lack of decent radio in my local area, that's exactly what I
>have done. When I listen to radio, it's Third Coast Music Network out of San
>Antonio
>( http://www.accd.edu/tcmn ), TwangCast ( http://www.twangcast.com ), The
>Bluegrass Radio Network ( http://www.bluegrassradio.com ), or one of the
>Americana radio shows from public radio. Thanks to technology, I don't
have to
>be force fed crappy music any longer.
> Your claim that (Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings) continue to release
>music that sounds as if it was recorded in 1960 just shows that you never
took
>the time to listen to either's latest releases. Waylon's record is heavily
>rock influenced while Willie's features a Latin rhythm.
> Your comments concerning the more traditional sounding country music
>baffle me. I think that there is actually a place for both kinds of music.
>What I call country, and what you call country. I just don't care to
listen to
>your particular flavor of Country. I want my music to be about adult
themes. I
>want emotion. Three Chords and the Truth.
> Take a chance, and please God, let it Twang.
>-----Jeff Wall
> Virginia Beach, VA
> http://www.twangzine.com
> "The Webs least sucky music magazine"
>
>
> Radio has recently run under the apparent assumption that it is somehow
>slave to the record industry. Radio is not driven by hits -- hits are
driven
>by radio.
> Radio, now is the time for you to act. The phrase,"too country" is
>impossibly stupid. Suppose the fans dismiss you all as"Too Radio."
>-----John M. Stevens
> Songwriter, Musician, Fan
> Altoona PA
>
>
> (Michaels) diss'd Dolly Parton? Dolly Parton! There is no female
country
>artist as distinctive as she. No artist today comes close to delivering a
>song with the soul it takes to make it believable like Merle Haggard, George
>Jones, Ray Price and Marty Robbins, to name a few. No artist today has the
>balls, the individual spirit it takes to be a Willie, a Waylon or a Dwight.
>No one.
> (Michael's) statement "It's about the music," is hypocritical beyond
>belief. It's about the business. None of us are naive. We just believe it
>can thrive in harmony with the art of making music. The force feeding you
>think that does not exist reminds me of this: If your only tool is a hammer
>then everything looks like a nail.
>-----Joyce Symans
> Nash Angel Promotions & Productions
> Nashville~Los Angeles
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> In your 1/11/99 report, Scott Michaels of WKKG wrote "Willie, Waylon,
and
>all these guys want to continue to make songs that sound like they were
>recorded in 1960 and then blame radio and young p.d.’s when they don’t get
>airplay."
> I thought I was going to fall out of my chair when I read that. Oh, and
>by the way it was just a regular chair - not a wheelchair. I'm 35 not 135.
>Scott's letter shows a great degree of age discrimination, don't you think?
>Throwing words around like old artists/ young pd's. "Old" certainly doesn't
>always equal out of touch or disposable and "young" certainly doesn't always
>equal hip or cutting edge.
> I do agree with Scott on one point: Artists like Willie Nelson, George
>Jones, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton don't belong on today's "Young Country".
>Their voices, songs, and general styles are too intense, rich, and heaven
>forbid....different to mix in with the cottage cheese blandness (today's hit
>music). Could you imagine what a train wreck you'd have if you played
>"tired, old" Willie's "I Never Cared For You" next to today's song writing
>genius and soul-stirring, intellectual works such as "The Watermelon Crawl"?
>-----Parks Stamper
> WMLB/Atlanta
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> Listen, country music fans are not complaining so much about what (radio
>stations) do play, but the complaints are concerned with what they are not
>playing. There should be room for a little bit of everything. I like
>Blackhawk, LOVE Brooks and Dunn, and I even like Garth, but let's face it, it
>ain't Hank.
> Besides, it's not the groups or the artists, it's the SONG, and some of
>the new songs are simply awful. I think it's a sad state of affairs,
>regardless of who they play, when you hear the same, tired songs (read
that as
>HITS) all the time. Lately I haven't listened to much country because I hear
>the same stuff all the time. I can turn off a station for up to six months,
>turn it on and hear the SAME playlist I heard six months ago, and that's from
>the stations playing the HITS.
>-----Larry Bowie
> (e-mail address withheld by request)
>
>
> You presented an interesting juxtaposition of ideas in the "Letters to
>the Editor" portion of the 1/11/99 edition of the Blue Chip Report.
> Connie Owens spoke with the kind of genuine affection traditional
country
>music inspires while Scott Michaels presented himself as a loudmouthed know-
>nothing. And while Michaels was sufficiently insulting and displayed the kind
>of ignorance towards country music that has watered down the genre until what
>radio presents as country music has become the weaker, ignoble cousin of
bland
>pop music, he was way off base in his lack of respect towards the real
>pioneers of country and western music and all that that entails.
> While Michaels, and many others, continues to quote us line and verse
>concerning current sales figures, bottom lines and chart positions, the
>comparison can be made between the homogenized pop schlock that corporate
>Nashville is turning out for contemporary country radio as fast as they can
>and the number of burgers fried up everyday at certain fast food chains. A
>steady diet of either is not good for you.
> There was a time when radio was a medium that entertained, informed and
>educated. Play lists were not determined by consultants who placed age limits
>upon artists, regionalism was fruitful and encouraged young, developing
>artists and variety was the key that made it all work together with ease.
>Further, I suggest that it's not that the pioneers or the current generation
>of traditionalist who are releasing new material are of less quality as much
>as it is the lack of experience and knowledge on the part of the narrow,
>underdeveloped minds who are pulling the corporate strings and sending out
>edicts detailing what is and is not acceptable for radio consumption.
>-----Jana Pendragon
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>Blue Chip Communications produces great-sounding, easy-to-sell radio
features!
>
> AUTO CARE: The Car Corner
> AUTO RACING: High Ridin' Heroes
> BASEBALL: Master Baseball Trivia
> COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Who's That Cat? (U. of KY.) annually.
> Other college teams periodically.
> COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Who's That Vol? (U. of TN.), Who's That Nittany
Lion?
> (Penn St.), Who's That Dawg? (U. of GA.),
> Who's That Yellow Jacket? (Ga. Tech) annually. Other college
>teams
> periodically.
> COMING: Look for our menu of radio features to expand in the future.
>
>
>The Blue Chip Radio Report is a copyrighted feature of Blue Chip
>Communications, All Rights Reserved. (c) Bill Miller, Blue Chip
>Communications. Our address for promotional materials is PO Box 12763, St.
>Petersburg FL 33733 (include your e-mail address if you'd like a response).
>E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] to subscribe or unsubscribe to this mailing list.
>If Al Gore wants to stop the impeachment talk immediately, all he has to
do is
>announce his intention to appoint Hillary as Vice-President once Bill is
>bounced out of office.
>
>
>
Jeff Wall
http://www.twangzine.com The Webs least sucky music magazine
727 Alder Circle - Va Beach, Va - 23462 -(757) 467-3764
