Looks like Wall isn't around, so I'll do the honors this week.
--Jon Johnson
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Wollaston, Massachusetts
THE BLUE CHIP RADIO REPORT
News, Charts, Show Prep, Sales Info
January 25, 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: "Don't Come Crying To Me" by Vince Gill.
Writers: Vince Gill & Reed Nielsen. Producer: Tony Brown. Label: MCA
Nashville. Fiddles to the left, fiddles to the right. For some reason,
fiddles are everywhere this week. It's a nice change. If you love country
music, you'll love this song.
Heads are rolling as cuts are being made at Polygram's subsidiary labels.
Affected country labels include Universal, MCA, Decca and Mercury.
Several other non-country labels were involved. Non-country labels
apparently suffered the most in sheer numbers, but the country cuts
rocked Nashville last week.
Many talented Nashville artists and front office people are, or will soon
be, without a label.
Decca Records has been closed. Lead Decca A&R man Mark Wright, one of
Nashville's finest producers, is apparently headed for MCA. For now,
Decca artists Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt and Lee Ann Womack are moving to
the MCA label.
Decca artists left without a label include Dolly Parton, Danni Leigh,
Rhett Akins, Chris Knight, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Shane Stockton.
Parton's highly-acclaimed album and Leigh's hot new single, "29 Nights",
are effectively left out in the cold with no support.
Parton reportedly learned the news from reporters.
At Mercury, John Anderson, comedian Rodney Carrington and new artist
Jenny Simpson have been dropped.
MCA Nashville cut several staffers but hasn't made roster cuts.
About 500 people were cut at the various Polygram labels. About 700 more
are expected to be cut in coming months.
Seagram's paid $ 10.4 billion for the Polygram labels in deal that was
finalized about 6 weeks ago. The company wants to find a way to save $
300 million by consolidating the various Polygram operations.
Legendary steel guitarist Jimmy Day passed away Friday (1/22) after a
long battle with various pancreatic and gastrointestinal diseases. While
some might argue that the most influential steel guitarist in history was
Buddy Emmons or Pete Drake or Shot Jackson or Paul Franklin or someone
else, an equal number will argue that Jimmy Day holds that honor.
Jimmy Day's list of credits is long and impressive. When Webb Pierce's
day job was selling shoes and shirts at Sears, he had a weekend job
performing on The Louisiana Hayride at KWKH in Shreveport. Webb hired
Jimmy Day to play steel guitar on the Hayride (1951).
Jimmy Day would later have stints in Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys, Jim
Reeves' Blue Boys, and Willie Nelson's band (The Record Men). He also
played in the backup bands for Lefty Frizzell, Willie Nelson, George
Jones, Commander Cody, Tracy Nelson and others.
His many honors include election to the International Steel Guitar Hall
of Fame, the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, and the Texas Western Swing
Hall of Fame.
James Clayton "Jimmy" Day was 65 years old.
If you ever wrote to Elvis Presley, be patient.
Karen Goltz, now 50 years old, wrote the king a fan letter in 1960 when
she was just a bopper. No reply, no return to sender. The young lady was
disappointed.
But a few days ago, someone found a reply that Elvis had written. It was
in the attic of a woman who had rented Elvis an apartment during his
military service days in Germany.
The happy fan now has her reply from Elvis. Karen, who lived in
Oberhausen, West Germany, at the time, had written: "It's my birthday
soon and if you send me your autograph I promise I will marry you when I
grow up."
Elvis' personal note ended with "May you have a happy 11th birthday - and
a lot of "Teddy Bears" (referring to his 50's hit) - your friend Elvis".
By the way, a collector in the U.K. has estimated the value of Elvis'
letter to be about 3,600 pounds. Which almost makes it big enough to play
in the Denver Broncos offensive line.
Jerry Buckner at Fox97 in Atlanta has a "Dirty Bird" song getting big
response in several markets. For the uninitiated, the "Dirty Bird" is the
Atlanta Falcons' high-profile celebration dance. Jerry says the song will
be featured on Roseanne's Superbowl Show later this week. You can check
it out at www.RadioMusicNetwork.com . Jerry will graciously furnish a
free copy for your station if you call him at (770) 736-1792.
The lovely and talented Sara Evans and hubby Craig Schelske are expecting
their first child later this year.
The Amy Grant/Gary Chapman split may involve more money than you expect.
If you choose to believe The National Enquirer, about $ 75 million will
be up for grabs if the divorce takes place as expected.
Vince Gill is set to do one of those live TV show where requests are
taken from viewers. Vince's gig will be broadcast Saturday night (1/30)
on A & E, the Arts and Entertainment Channel. Will he play The Blue Chip
Song of the Week during his special?
Reba is being treated warmly in England, but not without a touch of the
classic British snobbery. One critic wrote of her London show, "White
trash showbiz can be great fun and nobody does it better than a fully
fledged country queen."
The critic apparently isn't aware that Reba's gone uptown. There's not a
pair of white boots to be found in her closet.
Trisha Yearwood accepted an offer to join the Grand Ole Opry on the Ryman
Auditorium stage Saturday night, the 16th. She'll go through the formal
ceremony on March 13th.
It wasn't the first time Trisha made a big commitment on the Ryman stage.
She married hubby Robert Reynolds of The Mavericks on the hallowed
hardwood about 6 years ago.
Karl "The Mailman" Malone of the Utah Jazz is a big Lee Ann Womack fan.
Knowing that, Lee Ann called Malone when he co-hosted a Salt Lake City
sports-talk show recently. The Mailman was delighted and told her that he
played "A Little Bit Past Little Rock", his favorite song, every day.
Welcome to our new subscribers, including Brian Collins, Mark Macelroy of
KOLT in Cheyenne WY, Traci Thomas at Grassroots Media, Chuck McDowell at
KOUL 103.7 in Corpus Christi TX, Lori Niks with WEZL 103.5 in Charleston
SC, and Scott Lindy PD at WPOC in Baltimore.
Johnny Cash will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at next month's
Grammy awards ceremony. The Man In Black has won 9 Grammy's during his
career.
An all-star tribute/concert special is planned in New York to honor Cash.
The special will be broadcast April 6th on TNT. Emmylou Harris, Willie
Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Trisha Yearwood are among special
guests. Health permitting, John may perform on the special.
Now don't go playing his songs on the radio and spoil everything.
It's country music week on A&E's "Biography" series this week. The
schedule is in our "Twang TV" feature.
Imagine having your first big hit in years and you can't sing along when
it comes on the radio. That's the problem Aaron Tippin has been dealing
with. Following doctors orders, Aaron had to be silent for a week as part
of the treatment for a polyp on his vocal cords.
Terri Clark is spending those hard earned dollars. For her first new tour
bus, she chose a $ 500,000 Provost with all the trimmings. It's said that
she has a neat video layout to watch movies and her favorite TV channel,
VH-1.
Alan Jackson is quoted in Entertainment News Daily as saying he probably
couldn't duplicate his success if he was trying to launch his career
today. His reasoning: too country.
Alan, if you weren't so country, you might be back in Newnan working on
cars, buddy.
The owners of Belcourt Cinema in Hillsboro Village in Nashville will tear
down the building for new real estate development. According to Lynn
Fuston at 3D Audio in the music city, the building was the original home
of the Grand Ole Opry (even before it was called the Grand Ole Opry) in
the 1920's.
Did you know that President Clinton is an avid fan of Kinky Friedman's
murder mysteries? Hearing that, the kinkster reportedly sent the prez a
copy of "Pearls In The Snow", the excellent tribute album to Kinky's
music. Turns out they have a lot in common. For example, both enjoy a
good cigar.
By the way, Kinky's giving a rare concert on March 10th in Austin to
benefit the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, The
Geezinslaws, Jerry Jeff Walker and a host of other Texas musicians are
also in on the fun.
Who says they don't make 'em like they used to? Marie Osmond, who had big
country hits with "Paper Roses" and "Meet Me In Montana" (the latter with
Dan Seals) is expecting her 7th child. Little Marie will be 40 years old
on October 13th.
It's been on the market for one year now. Most of today's country albums
have disappeared from the charts by now. However, the Dixie Chicks' "Wide
Open Spaces" hit the anniversary mark as the best-selling country album
in America, it's first week at # 1.
Chuck Chellman's "Parade Of Stars" reports that The Kentucky Headhunters
will re-surface soon on Intersound Records.
John D. Loudermilk is living in Bell Buckle TN and still very active in
the Nashville music community, according to reports from our friends in
the music city.
And whatever happened to Cowboy Jack Clement?
BLUE CHIP SPOTLIGHT ALBUM: "Rooster Quantrell" by Rooster Quantrell.
Produced by Col. Buster Doss. Label: Stardust Records.
Stardust is one of those small labels tucked away outside the mainstream
of Nashville. Seems like they've been around forever. I can't recall them
ever being anywhere near the top half of Billboard or R&R's charts (small
labels aren't welcome there anyway), but they come up with an exceptional
vocalist now and then.
Rooster Quantrell is one of the exceptional ones. Smooth as George Strait
and Ray Price, as creative with a syllable as Keith Whitley and Lefty
Frizzell, as effortless as Haggard. Plus, he's got the kind of name that
the Bill Miller's and Jim Smith's of the world would kill for.
This album's 20 cuts are cleanly-produced with every instrument clear to
the ear. It's some of the best Western Swing you will find in 1999.
Loosen up and enjoy it.
Best radio cuts: "Don't Lay Your Troubles On Me", "Where Were You",
"Let's Go Dancing", "Rose Of San Antone", "Any Place In Texas", "Down
South".
TWANG T.V.:
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)
1/26.........."Tammy Wynette Remembered", TNN
1/27..........The Mavericks on Letterman, CBS
1/27..........Tammy Wynette on Biography, A & E (Arts and Entertainment
Network)
1/28..........Shania Twain on Letterman, CBS
1/28.........."Hello Darlin': A Tribute To Conway Twitty", TNN
1/28..........Johnny Cash on Biography, A & E (Arts and Entertainment
Network)
1/29..........Shania Twain on Rosie O'Donnell, syndication
1/29..........Patsy Cline on Biography, A & E (Arts and Entertainment
Network)
1/30..........Buddy Guy on "Austin City Limits", PBS
1/30..........Vince Gill "By Request", A & E (Arts and Entertainment
Network)
1/31..........Dolly Parton on "The Simpsons", Fox
1/31..........Willie Nelson on Biography, A & E (Arts and Entertainment
Network)
2/1............Vince Gill and Randy Scruggs on Letterman, CBS
2/2............"The Life And Times Of Bill Anderson", TNN
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 .
TNN PRIME TIME COUNTRY musical guests:
1/25.......Loretta Lynn
1/27.......An evening with Dolly Parton
2/1.........Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, Jerry Reed (Pt. 1)
2/2.........Bare, Jennings, Tillis, Reed (part 2)
THE BLUE CHIP ADULT COUNTRY CHART (25-49 demographics)
1/25/99
LW TW Title Artist
----- ----- ------- --------
3 1 Spirit Of A Boy..... . . . . . . . ...Randy Travis
4 2 For A Little While . . . . . . . . . Tim McGraw
2 3 Wrong Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reba McEntire
5 4 Stand Beside Me . . . . . . . .... Jo Dee Messina
6 5 Powerful Thing . . . . . . . . . . ..Trisha Yearwood
7 6 Hold On To Me . . . . . . . . . ...J. M. Montgomery
1 7 Wrong Again . . . . . . . . . . . .Martina McBride
9 8 I Don't Want To Miss...... . . . Mark Chestnutt
13 9 No Place That Far . . . . . . . .. Sara Evans
11 10 Unbelievable . . . . . . . . . . . .. Diamond Rio
12 11 Busy Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billy Ray Cyrus
8 12 Right On The Money . . . . . . . Alan Jackson
14 13 A Bitter End . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deryl Dodd
24 14 You Were Mine . . . . . . . . . . .Dixie Chicks
16 15 By The Book . . . . . . . . . . . .. Michael Peterson
17 16 How Forever Feels . . . . . . . . Kenny Chesney
18 17 Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Wilkinsons
19 18 Keepin' Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama
20 19 These Arms Of Mine . . . . . . . LeAnn Rimes
10 20 For You I Will . . . . . . . . . . . ..Aaron Tippin
23 21 That Don't Impress Me...... . . Shania Twain
22 22 Take Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lari White
15 23 There You Have It . . . . . . . . . Blackhawk
35 24 Meanwhile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Strait
30 25 I Can't Get Over You . . . . . . ..Brooks & Dunn
26 26 One Day Left To Live . . . . . ...Sammy Kershaw
28 27 I'll Take Today . . . . . . . . . .... Gary Allan
29 28 I'll Think Of A Reason Later . ..Lee Ann Womack
*** 29 Love Ain't Like That . . . . . . . .Faith Hill
31 30 Hands Of A Working Man . . ..Ty Herndon
32 31 When Mama Ain't Happy . . . .Tracy Byrd
33 32 I'm Yours . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....Linda Davis
37 33 Ordinary Life . . . . . . . . . . . .. Chad Brock
34 34 Every Little Whisper . . . . . . ..Steve Wariner
36 35 Somebody's Out There . . . . ..The Kinleys
40 36 Drive Me Wild . . . . . . . . . . . .Sawyer Brown
38 37 Can't Get Enough . . . . . . . . . Patty Loveless
*** 38 You Won't Ever Be Lonely . . ..Andy Griggs
*** 39 Wish You Were Here . . . . . . Mark Wills
*** 40 Anyone Else . . . . . . . . . . . . Collin Raye
DROPPED: Brown, Nesler, Walker, Diffie
NASH-ROCK (a.k.a "Young Country") (Teens, 18-24 demos)
LW TW Title Artist
----- ----- ------- --------
1 1 For A Little While . . . . . . . . . Tim McGraw
2 2 Stand Beside Me . . . . . . . . . .Jo Dee Messina
3 3 Spirit Of A Boy . . . . . . . . . . ..Randy Travis
4 4 I Don't Want To Miss..... . . . ..Mark Chestnutt
1 5 Wrong Again . . . . . . . . . . . ...Martina McBride
6 6 Hold On To Me . . . . . . . . . . . J. M. Montgomery
7 7 Powerful Thing . . . . . . . . . . . .Trisha Yearwood
10 8 Unbelievable . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diamond Rio
12 9 Wrong Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reba McEntire
11 10 No Place that Far . . . . . . . . . Sara Evans
14 11 That Don't Impress Me..... . . . Shania Twain
13 12 Busy Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billy Ray Cyrus
16 13 You Were Mine . . . . . . . . . . .Dixie Chicks
17 14 Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wilkinsons
18 15 By The Book . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael Peterson
19 16 Keepin' Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama
*** 17 Meanwhile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Strait
20 18 A Bitter End . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deryl Dodd
*** 19 How Forever Feels . . . . . . . . .Kenny Chesney
*** 20 I Can't Get Over You . . . . . . . Brooks & Dunn
DROP: Tippin, Blackhawk, Jackson
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. Keep 'em short and sweet. E-mail addresses will be
added to your signature unless otherwise requested)
I was listening to the classic/new rock station, which we just beat in
the ratings, and heard a Jimi Hendrix tune, Foxy Lady. "Great song," I
said as I turned my truck radio up. Can you recall the last time a
country station played a 30 year old hit song?
Programmers and radio have to come to understand that country music and
country radio weren't invented in the last 6 years nor did they only
begin to succeed within the last ten. The comment most listeners give me
is, "I love the new stuff but every once in awhile I love to hear the
good ol'good ones." Listeners' memories go much farther back than most
station research.
-----Stoney Richards
APD/MD for Y108-WDSY
CBS Radio Pittsburgh
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I've been following this "thread" about new country versus old country
that spawned from WKKG's PD Scott Micheals' comments. While in many ways
I do tend to agree with Scott, BEFORE you all start flaming me just hear
me out. You never hear about Motown artists complaining about today's pop
radio not playing their music, even though their music, just like country
music from the same time period is nothing short of legendary. Alabama
has been on country radio for YEARS. On the pop-rock stations the same
can be said for The Rolling Stones. These artists have kept up with the
times and "rolled with the changes" Age has nothing to do with good or
bad music.
A radio station is a business, and a business has to make money to STAY
in business. How long would a retail store keep their employees and
remain open if they sold "great" items that only a few people purchased?
-----Greg Breeden
WKHK
Richmond VA
First, thanks to everyone who responded and came to my defense regarding
the Scott Michaels letter. I had a feeling I wasn't the only one out
there who felt something was wrong. The Scott Michaels' of the world,
along with the Gnashville good ole' boys, are doing this wonderful
American art form a great disservice.
Anyone with half a brain and good eyes and ears can tell that country
music is now almost a dead issue from a commercial standpoint. Things
better change soon, because the audiences that were enthusiastic about
country a few years ago, are rapidly going elsewhere. And so they should.
-----Bob Cianci
Music Columnist/River Reporter
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Speaking of Internet Radio, here's an incredible source of great country
music all
in one neat little package. Spinner.com (http://www.spinner.com) runs a
service
that features over 100 separate channels of music - seven of them are
dedicated to
different genres of country music - Alt. Country, Americana, Bluegrass,
Classic
Country (Faron Young, Roy Acuff), Country (nice mix of seemingly
anti-corporate
hits from the relatively recent past), Rockabilly, Top Country (corporate
to the
max). They also have a Celtic channel if you want to go roots root and a
Folk
channel if you want to go off shoot.
I sincerely love this app.
-----Dean Kay
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dean Kay)
Special thanks this week to Herb Steiner (steel guitarist for Johnny Bush
and Cornell Hurd), Donny Kees and Buzz Cason. 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. "Shakespeare In Love"
is a great movie. The second time you see it, pretend the setting is
modern day Nashville.
