 |
Mark Lillie Radio Talk
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
2007 CMT Awards
The first Country awards show of the year was held last night (4/16) as the 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS broadcast live from NASHVILLE's CURB EVENTS CENTER. The show, the only fan-voted awards in Country, was hosted by comedian JEFF FOXWORTHY. Stand-out performances were given by a number of Country's finest, including RASCAL FLATTS, KEITH URBAN, DIERKS BENTLEY, KENNY CHESNEY, MARTINA McBRIDE and TOBY KEITH, as well as a funny opening skit that included BLAKE SHELTON. One of the finest moments of the evening came when ROSANNE CASH presented singer/songwriter KRIS KRISTOFFERSON with the JOHNNY CASH Visionary Award. KRISTOFFERSON spoke of meeting JOHNNY CASH backstage at the RYMAN and how that encounter impacted his life and career. Another great moment in the show occurred just prior to the last performance of the night when FOXWORTHY gave a great testimony about Country music and why it is so important to him, the artists and the fans. As the awards began unfolding, it became clear that CARRIE UNDERWOOD would have another big night. She emerged as the evening's big winner for her video of the hit, "Before He Cheats," which won for "Video Of The Year," "Female Video Of The Year," and "Director Of The Year," (ROMAN WHITE). KENNY CHESNEY was no slouch, winning "Male Video Of The Year"; RASCAL FLATTS won for "Group Video Of The Year"; and MERCURY stars SUGARLAND picked up "Duo Video Of The Year." Newcomer TAYLOR SWIFT won the first award of her career for "Breakthrough Video Of The Year," and BIG MACHINE labelmate JACK INGRAM also won his very first CMT award, in the "Wide Open Country Video Of The Year" category. And the winners are: VIDEO OF THE YEAR: CARRIE UNDERWOOD "Before He Cheats" MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR: KENNY CHESNETY "You Save Me" FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR: CARRIE UNDERWOOD "Before He Cheats" DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR: SUGARLAND "Want To" GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR: RASCAL FLATTS "What Hurts The Most" BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR: TAYLOR SWIFT "Tim McGraw" WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR: JACK INGRAM "Love You" VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR: ROMAN WHITE "Before He Cheats" For more on the show as well as encore broadcasts, visit www.CMT.com.
Posted by djsource1
at 2:45 PM PDT
Friday, 13 April 2007
Imus Fallout-The Effects The Losses
Now Playing: Imus Fallout-The Effects The Losses
The Imus story is on the top of every newscast, every blog and search engine and financial publication. I don't condone what Imus said and I can certainly understand why many people where angered by the statement, still right or wrong, Don Imus is a true personality and media legend. For those of us radio junkies who tend to read between the lines and always appreciate a true perspective Jacobs Media said it best on the JM Blog this week " terrestrial radio has just lost another star that it cannot replace" And while there are valid points on both sides, Don Imus publically apologized for his slur. Maybe he shouldn't have gotten off the hook too easily, but would he have been fired had it not blown up to such proportions in the media? Here's a last thought from Perry Michael Simon from All Access News-Talk-Sports, " Well, I guess there's not much going on in talk radio this week, so... Frankly, I don't want to talk about the Imus thing, precisely because everyone- EVERYONE- else is talking about it. It's amazing how suddenly everyone's an expert on a show relatively few people listened to and a team about whose existence most people didn't care. Overnight, Imus became Public Enemy Number One, the Rutgers team ascended to sainthood, and a stupid, unfunny, off-hand slur became The End Of Civilization As We Know It and an excuse to indict the entire talk radio culture. And the cable talk shows were overrun with "experts" ready to make their pronouncements on guilt, innocence, virtue, free speech, hip-hop culture, charity, and radio. I did not market myself as an expert on this one, because I really didn't want to be one of those people. I have my opinions, and I know what I would have done had I been in a position to make a Solomonic decision to solve the "crisis." But it would have been pointless, considering that I'm not in charge, nobody in charge was consulting me, and going on some cable show where the only way to get your point across is to out-shout the guy in the other little box on the screen wasn't going to do anybody any good. I watched and listened to a lot of those discussions this week, and I heard almost nothing that approached sanity or a calm, proportional reaction to the situation. But that's how the other media cover radio- they don't, until something minor and stupid happens, at which point they overreact until it's an international incident. If there's one instructive thing to take out of the Imus situation, it's something I've told you before: you can get away with a lot, but the one thing your bosses will absolutely not tolerate is when they get "those" phone calls, meaning complaints. In this case, the complaints were bigger than just phone calls, and they went way, way up to the top of the company, to folks who just do not want or need to be bothered with trouble from some radio show right now. When it becomes clear that those complaints aren't going away anytime soon, not until "something is done," you're toast. Does that mean we're all doomed to walk on eggshells and stick to inoffensive material that won't rock any boats or generate any kind of reaction that might displease corporate? Man, I hope not. "
Posted by djsource1
at 4:56 PM PDT
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
Beasley VP/Programming Jeff Sanders Heads to Wilks
According to http://news.radio-online.com
Beasley Broadcast Group VP/Programming Jeff Sanders exits after nine years to take similar duties with Wilks Broadcasting, a company he has consulted for almost 15 years. Sanders also served as PD of Beasley's Alternative WXNR-FM/Greenville-New Bern. He will continue to consult WXNR and co-owned Alternative WSFM-FM (Surf 98.3)/Wilmington, NC. (12-18-06)
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 6:51 PM PST
Group Has "Letter Of Intent" to Buy Air America
According to http://news.radio-online.com Douglas Kreeger, an initial investor and former Air America Radio CEO, told the New York Times on Friday that there is "a signed letter of intent" for a new group to take over the network, and that he is "likely" to be a part. Additionally, former AAR board chairman, Terence F. Kelly, will likely take the lead equity position. Kelly told the newspaper that the investor group included a new "strategic media partner" and both men declined to speculate when the deal would be complete. (12-18-06)
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 6:42 PM PST
Updated: Tuesday, 19 December 2006 6:48 PM PST
Pinnacle Lists Top Testing Songs Of 2006
According to http://allaccess.com Which are PINNACLE MEDIA WORLDWIDE's top-testing songs of 2006? The company's released its list for ten different formats, and the number ones include:
Hot AC: "Let's Get It Started," BLACK EYED PEAS
AC: "Complicated," AVRIL LAVIGNE
Classic Rock: "Another Brick In The Wall," PINK FLOYD
Country: "Live Like You Were Dying," TIM MCGRAW
Active Rock-Alternative: "Come As You Are," NIRVANA
European Pop: "My Favourite Game," THE CARDIGANS
European Adult: "Ma Baker," BONEY M
Classic Hits: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking FOr," U2
Variety: "Another One Bites The Dust," QUEEN
Oldies: "Oh Pretty Woman," ROY ORBISON
OnlineTRACKER: "Chasing Cars," SNOW PATROL
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 6:37 PM PST
Mediabase Year-End Charts Show Top Songs, Labels For 2006
According to http://allaccess.com MEDIABASE has released its year-end charts featuring the most played songs of 2006 and the label chart share champions for the year.
The winners, as determined by the industry-leading airplay monitoring service:
LABEL CHART SHARE LEADERS:
Overall: ISLAND DEF JAM
Top 40: ISLAND DEF JAM
Rhythmic: ATLANTIC
Urban: ATLANTIC
Urban AC: RCA MUSIC GROUP
Country: ARISTA NASHVILLE
Smooth Jazz: RENDEZVOUS
AC: RCA MUSIC GROUP
Hot AC: ISLAND DEF JAM
Rock: UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC
Active Rock: UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC
Alternative: INTERSCOPE
Triple A: COLUMBIA
TOP SONGS:
Overall: MARY J. BLIGE/Be Without You (Geffen)
Top 40: NATASHA BEDINGFIELD/Unwritten (Epic)
Rhythmic: CASSIE/Me & U (Next Selection/Bad Boy/Atlantic)
Urban: MARY J. BLIGE/Be Without You (Geffen)
Urban AC: ANTHONY HAMILTON/Can?t Let Go (So So Def/Arista/Zomba)
Country: RASCAL FLATTS/What Hurts The Most (Lyric Street)
Smooth Jazz: PAUL BROWN/Winelight (GRP/VMG)
AC: JAMES BLUNT/You?re Beautiful (Custard/Atlantic)
Hot AC: FRAY/Over My Head (Cable Car) (Epic)
Rock: SHINEDOWN/Save Me (Atlantic)
Active Rock: THREE DAYS GRACE/Animal I Have Become (Jive/Zomba)
Alternative: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS/Dani California (Warner Bros.)
Triple A: JACK JOHNSON/Upside Down (Brushfire/Universal Republic)
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 6:27 PM PST
Tuesday, 5 December 2006
Wilks Broadcast Makes Cuts in New Kansas City Group
Following Wilks Broadcast Group's takeover of CBS Radio's Kansas City group on Friday (12-1), Rusty Walker exits 9am-1pm at Country KFKF-FM, as does night talent Tim Peters. MD/midday host Tony Stevens is now doing 9am-2pm. Newsman Randy Birch and morning producer Jim Daniels also exit.
At co-owned AC KCKC-FM (Star 102) night talent Mike O'Brien is also out along with sister Hot AC KMXV-FM (Mix 93.3) Promotions Director Neal Dunker. Country KBEQ-FM, Shotgun Jaxon exits afternoons and is replaced by TJ McEntire. Ronnie Phillips shifts from nights to middays. (12-04-06)
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 11:24 AM PST
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Tribune Delays Sale Decision
 In Tuesday (11/28/06) All Access Net News Reports TRIBUNE CO. is going to take a little more time to decide on the sale of the company. The company issued a statement TUESDAY credited to WILLIAM A. OSBORN, Chairman of the independent committee reviewing offers for the company, that read, "We are committed to a complete review process that will yield maximum value for all TRIBUNE shareholders. We anticipate a final recommendation to the full board during the first quarter of 2007."
TRIBUNE, which owns one radio property, Talk WGN-A/CHICAGO, is under pressure from shareholders to sell all or part of the embattled company. Chairman DENNIS FITZSIMONS says that the sale process "has generated strong interest from a number of parties."
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 8:16 PM PST
Wednesday, 22 November 2006
R&B/Hip-Hop: Did It Take Justin To Bring TempoBack?
According to Edison Research http://www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/2006/11/rbhiphop_did_it.php
For most of this decade, R&B/Hip-Hop radio has lived with a dearth of uptempo R&B product. There are mass-appeal rap records with an R&B feel. There are legitimate R&B ballad hits, more at some times than others, but true uptempo R&B hits (even with a rap included) are a mere trickle. There's a Mary J. Blige "Family Affair" here, an Usher "Caught Up" or "Yeah" there. But it's been nearly a decade since the last period where songs such as Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" or Next's "Too Close" were a regular fixture in the top 10, not the exception to the rule.
The tempo shortage has many different sources. Rap itself is a mid-to-downtempo genre these days, which influences the type of tracks being offered to all acts. The Mainstream R&B artists of the type who might still be inclined to make an uptempo record are often already exiled to Urban AC (so you have to credit Brian McKnight for trying to stay contemporary on his recent "Used To Be My Girl").
But mostly, R&B's tempo shortage stems from the early '90s, when many programmers first started to believe that rap and ballads were the source of the true hits at the format, while uptempo R&B provided balance at best. With labels releasing fewer albums and fewer singles from a given project, there is less willingness to use up what could be an artist's only shot on a record that might not generate immediate reaction.
With Mainstream Top 40 gaining traction these days, you have to wonder if some of its strength is coming from having uptempo, radio-friendly rhythmic music when R&B has little of its own.
And yet, when "Check On It" by Beyonce or "I Don't Wanna Know" by Mario Winans do emerge, those songs become not just durable research monsters for R&B radio, but also multi-format hits, confirming that the demand for such product still exists. And with Mainstream Top 40 gaining traction these days, you have to wonder if some of its strength is coming from having uptempo, radio-friendly rhythmic music when R&B has little of its own.
That brings us to Justin Timberlake and his reverse crossover from Top 40 to R&B/Hip-Hop stations. At this writing, "My Love" has just cracked the Top 5 at R&B/Hip-Hop radio. The previous single, "SexyBack" got to No. 21. In New York, there was a period when the songs between them were getting more than 110 spins a week on WWPR (Power 105) and on WQHT (Hot 97), with "My Love" is in power rotation at both. (Hot backed "My Love" down to only 50 spins this week, and "SexyBack" has finally run its course at both stations.)
That sort of pop-to-R&B crossover was common until the late-'80s. Putting Hall & Oates and George Michael aside, it's been long forgotten just how much pure pop product used to get at least a smattering of R&B airplay. In the Frankie Crocker-influenced early '80s, Joan Jett's "I Love Rock And Roll," Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart," and John Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over" all played on at least one of New York's Urban stations. Even REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling" made Billboard's Hot R&B singles chart in the mid-'80s. When dance music re-emerged in the mid-'80s, acts like Expose' got their first exposure on stations like WRKS New York, because there was nowhere else to go.
Then the first Churban stations popped up and stations like WRKS decided to better define themselves by ceding the pop and dance music. There might have been an occasional R&B artist like Lisa Stansfield who just happened to be white, but the search for the right pop crossover, so much a calling card for PDs like Crocker or Sonny Joe White in the early '80s--pretty much ground to a halt. And once there was an additional format between R&B and Top 40, the reverse crossovers were the songs that came from Rhythmic Top 40--songs that are often "pop" mostly by dint of which record label department worked them first. Akon currently has two uptempo hits at Rhythmic Top 40 but his "I Wanna Love You" is only becoming a solid R&B radio hit now while "Smack That" is still sitting below the top 40.
That Timberlake crossed over faster than Akon can be traced back to the mid-'90s resurgence of teen pop. R&B vocal groups like Boyz II Men had famously broad appeal. As it turned out, so did the pop acts influenced by them. Ten year olds don't care much about format distinctions and when acts like the Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys did autograph sessions or listener events in their early days, the crowds were integrated.
R&B radio didn't usually acknowledge Top 40's teen acts; (WGCI Chicago made a brief, heavily publicized attempt to play the Backstreet Boys, but they were the exception.) But finally, toward the end of their hitmaking streaks, acts like 'N Sync and Britney Spears got a handful of R&B spins by working with producers like the Neptunes until, ultimately, Timberlake's "Cry Me A River" became a No. 11 R&B hit. Since then, there hasn't been a lot of reverse crossover, but there have been a few notable ones: Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" getting to No. 10 last year; Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" getting to No. 25 earlier in 2006.
It has always made sense for R&B programmers to look for the right crossovers--not as a way of expanding the base, but to acknowledge that there are pop records that appeal to the base. But one also can't help but wonder if "SexyBack," "Promiscuous" and "My Love" are finding a home at R&B/Hip-Hop now because there's so little other medium-to-up R&B product that fills that need. After all, the genre's high-profile producers are spending a lot of their time working with pop acts. And "SexyBack" had the advantage of already being a radio hit and coming from an established artist--even if it built its story elsewhere.
Some labels do seem to see the opportunity in the current tempo shortage. The ads for Universal's new Taio Cruz single, "I Just Wanna Know," allude to filling a hole at radio, for instance. And the kickoff single from this Fantasia album is uptempo, not the ballad that led last time. And as with all the years that Mainstream Top 40 suffered from a lack of uptempo, center-lane product, there are still songs to play when PDs are willing to go looking for it. Until now, the only question was whether listeners missed tempo. Now that we have some guidance on that score, one can only hope that R&B acts with tempo, different sounding records or both have the same shot.
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 9:44 PM PST
Monday, 20 November 2006
Air America Radio Gets 1-Week Extension to Find Buyer
 According to http://news.radio-online.com
Air America Radio has received a one-week extension to find a buyer. Company attorney Tracy Klestadt told a bankruptcy hearing today that the liberal talk network was in "advanced negotiations with a few parties" about a sale. AAR filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month after discussions with one of its creditors reached an impasse.
Under its financing agreement, the company had until Wednesday, November 22 to find a buyer, but Klestadt told the court that AAR's lender had informally agreed to extend the deadline by a week. He declined to say who the potential buyers are. Even so, the netw
 ork has managed to remained on the air. (11-20-06)
Powered by Qumana
Posted by djsource1
at 8:23 PM PST
Newer | Latest | Older
|
| « |
April 2007 |
» |
 |
| S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
| 8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
| 15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
| 22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
| 29 |
30 |
|
