From COUNTRY AIR CHECK - CMA'S

» 2010 CMA Nominations: The first set of nominees for the44th Annual CMA Awards were announced moments ago byJustin Moore and Chris Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The balance of the nominations will be announced tomorrow on ABC-TV's Good Morning America. The winners will be revealed during the CMA Awardstelecast airing on ABC-TV Wednesday, Nov. 10 8-11pm ET.

Job search tools Tuesday

This is for a general job search, but should be used for radio.

Job search tool saves you time. Easy to use.

How many websites do you visit when looking for a new job? One, Two, Ten, Twenty?

Are you ready for Fall 2010?

Check out our FTC Programming check-list PART ONE:

Sunday Driving on Full Throttle County with Country Music Artist Bridgette Tatum

by Jessica Northey


Meet Bridgette Tatum, she's witty, sassy, beautiful and..."She's Country", which is also the title of the Number 1 hit song she co-wrote for Jason Aldean.  She is a lot of things, but no words can distill the essence of Bridgette Tatum better than her own: “Sex, church, and chicken. That’s what it’s all about.”

Saturday Catch-Up: There's a lot to like about Country

How Can I Learn to Appreciate Country Music?

By John Clifton

It sounds like you're someone who's trying to appreciate country music to adapt to a new setting. That is, I bet you either have a new boyfriend/girlfriend who wants to listen to country music, you started working somewhere that plays country music all day or you just moved South and want to understand what the heck these new people are listening to. Or maybe you just want to broaden your horizons and learn to appreciate something new. Whatever the case, let me try to help you.

I've noticed over the years that people, when they don't like or appreciate a type of music, they usually say, "All the songs sound the same to me." That's a natural reaction and an honest one. Learning to appreciate music is to learn what makes that music loved by those who do love the songs. So if you want to appreciate country music, think about why other people you know enjoy country songs.

Country music is first and foremost a story-telling music. So when you listen to country songs, you need to listen to the stories the songs are telling. One of the reasons people listen to country music is because the tunes involve sad stories or funny anecdotes which relate to their lives. Country music is by-and-large stories about living in smaller, agriculture-based American towns, even if the songs are often written by people who live in a city dominated by corporations and marketing firms.

It wasn't always that way, so if you want to appreciate modern country music, you should learn where country music started.

Finger Candy Friday: The Right People

by Jessica Northey

Last week we discussed “The Right Message" as it relates Social Media and the “Holy Trinity" of Advertising: getting the message you want, transmitted to the ideal audience and having it hit right when you want it.

Now we look at the "Right People": Who are they and how do we find them?

FM Chips in Mobile Devices...Good or Bad??

by Jessica Northey

I read an article yesterday in Radio Business Report titled, "The pros and cons of an FM chip in mobile devices"

"We all know by now that NAB and the RIAA may ask Congress to require that new mobile phones include an FM receiver chip. The idea emerged in a proposed compromise for a dispute over whether musicians and record companies should receive royalty payments from radio stations that air their tunes."

BOB KNIGHT'S WEDNESDAY MORNING MEETING

REAL RADIO STORIES

While traveling a week ago through a small market, I heard the EAS test sponsored by an insurance company: "Had this been an actually emergency, are you fully insured?"  I'm sure that you're wondering if the Legal ID was sponsored.  Do you honestly think that I could stick around to listen at the top of the hour?  Of course I did. And, no, they did not sponsor the TOH ID.

Danger Will Robinson

Want to wrap up summer with a splash? Want great Labor Day Weekend imaging, but just don't have the time? Check out the latest batch of Labor Day sweepers from Radio Effects. 10 fun filled sweepers customized for your station and your city... and best of all, it's no work for you. Check them out at Radioeffects.com or contact Will Robinson at Will@Radioeffects.com or call (813) 205-3355.

Radio Effects

Will Robinson

(813) 205-3355

Radioeffects.com

5 Best Cities for Media Professionals (From Media Buzz)

Big cities. Big lights. Big paychecks!

Advertising, Marketing and PR professionals represent the people – so where better to locate yourself than within the hustle and bustle of the city? It’s of no surprise that the most well paid advertising, marketing and public relation professionals are those who migrate to larger cities where more companies, larger firms and more opportunities dwell.

Here at MediaBuzz, we’ve searched and researched the Top 5 Best Cities for Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations professionals to launch and advance their careers.

Our Criteria? Find the cities with the most jobs, highest salaries and lowest unemployment rates and commute time!

So, whether you’re a media professional looking to relocate, an industry newbie considering a job in the field of advertising, PR or marketing or just looking to see which position will grant you the most cash in your pocket, MediaBuzz can help by providing you with a complete list of the best cities for you!

New York
Chicago
Dallas
San Francisco
Atlanta

Which one are you? From RJ Jordan

In my estimation, there are four types of on-air talent:

1. Amateur Andy. Amateur Andy may have worked in this business for ten years, but he sounds like he's been at it for only ten days. He's gotten a marginal to poor voice quality, has no grasp of formatics, not really gifted with the English language, probably has some sort of "local" accent. He generally rambles a lot or goes the other direction, going directly into spots without talking. There aren't as many "Andys" around anymore. You'll find them in the tiniest of markets on stations that aren't already totally on the bird. There were more "Andys" when the demand for weekend and part-time talent came close to exceeding the supply in the late 80s and early 90s. The only reason Andy ever had a job is because no one else wanted to work at his station in his market and time slot for minimum wage.

Who threw the tear gas in Lincoln Financial?

I would not want to be in Don Benson and John Dimick's shoes. John is a very capable head of programming, but to fill three major market programming positions at one time makes him super human. He is a great guy and a superlative motivator. He always communicates with you, not matter who you are and what you do. When he was at KSON, he would always send a card to me when I received a promotion or a new job. 

He sent personal emails and letters to all the KSON applicants. Now he has to fill programming positions in Atlanta, Denver and San Diego. No matter how busy this guy is, he communicates and let's applicants know where they stand. A trait much ignored in this man's radio. 

I Got Friends In Facebook Places, Where the...Wait a Minute...Is This Really For Me?

by Jessica Northey
Forgive me Garth for butchering your song with my "catchy blog title". ;)

Are you like everyone else out there, trying to decide what you think about Facebook Places? I was just getting the hang of Foursquare, and how it could be useful for me, and my clients.

Sunday Driving on Full Throttle County with Publicist Ebie McFarland

by Jessica Northey

Meet the very talented, kind and successful Ebie McFarland. Publicist/Owner of Essential Broadcast Media, LLC. Ebie McFarland’s interest in PR began while attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. In-between classes and work, McFarland booked bands at a local Nashville establishment and handled advertising and PR efforts on behalf of the shows.

From Inside Radio: Today's PD, programmer or plate spinner?

Consolidation brought multi-station duties.  The digital revolution added web site programming and side channels. Now weaving the station and its personalities into the social conversation on Facebook and Twitter is also a priority.  Is the expanding role of the digitally-connected brand manager distracting programmers from focusing on the core product?

“It’s really difficult to be a great PD, listen to the station and focus on the content,” Radio One senior VP of programming content Jay Stevens said at last month’s Conclave. It’s gotten to the point where Clear Channel senior VP of programming Rod Phillips said he sometimes has to force PDs to listen to uninterrupted for 3-4 hours and write down the top 5 things that need to change on their stations.  How local PDs are adapting varies based on their individual market situations. “Even though I’m tied up with a lot of duties, I still find time to obsess over the station and hear every little nook and cranny,” Simmons Media alternative “X96” KXRK, Salt Lake City PD Todd “Nuke ‘Em” Noker says. However, he programs only one station and has a fulltime airstaff.  “Time once spent by the jocks pulling carts and cueing up CDs is now time when they can make a blog entry or be active on Facebook,” Noker says.  

As PD/afternoon host at CHR “Q102” WIOQ Tim “Romeo” Herbster only has an airstaff of three to oversee.  But he also serves as director of digital content for Clear Channel’s five-station Philadelphia cluster. “I love that I have my hands in everything, but you’ve got to get your time management skills down,” he says. “Being digitally active enhances the on-air product, the engagement with the listeners and the content that you’re talking about on the air.”

In Chicago, Rick Vaughn juggles programming CHR “Kiss 103.5” WKSC and directing social media for Kiss, urban WGCI and Spanish hits “Mega 95.5” WNUA.  “If there’s one things that programmers should focus on right now to increase ratings it’s the digital platform,” he says. “It’s not that much more responsibility to jump on Twitter or Facebook or to use Tweetdeck.”  KSLZ, St. Louis PD Jeff McHugh says he had to let certain things go to focus on what’s really important: driving ratings and web site visitors.  That’s meant fewer events and contests.  “They take time and resources that could be spent engaging with people on social media,” he says. “We’re trying to focus the resources that we have into the areas that really matter.”

Finger Candy Friday: The Right Message

“The right message, to the right people, the right amount of times.”

This is the “Holy Trinity” of Advertising: Getting the message you want, transmitted to the ideal audience and having it hit right when you want it.

You can have a great commercial but buy a very small schedule or you put a commercial that speaks to Women fifty plus on the alternative rock station. It is easy to see how the same rules can apply to Social Media Marketing efforts. Understanding how your target audience (as defined by gender, age, and geography) uses Social Media will determine your goals and strategy.

Thursday Thoughts

The Four M’s – An up-date for 2010 on an ageless set of standards for contemporary radio

• Morning Shows need to be focused on the audience and the Country life group, riding the roller coaster of emotion, laughter, serious and comedic. Real people talking about real things. Squeaking by talking about Taylor Swift on Redbook and Martina McBride's Sunny D commercials break after break is inside and music industry related. Real people/listeners don't care. Country music listeners are not Country industry followers. Entertain, inform and communicate. No more needless and useless talk. Focus on brevity.

• Marketing: So we don't have giant promotions dollars, new media marketing means more than banner rolls and bumper stickers. Are you embracing social media, using Facebook and Twitter as a line of communications with your audience? Posting real time events and local happenings. Omit "Win Alan Jackson tickets at 7:55 with Lefty". Social connections are real people talking about real things. Are you producing videos for Facebook and links to the videos on Twitter? These videos should be the most entertaining and creative ways to sell your Country Music Radio station. Video record listeners at events and when they pick-up prizes. This would make killer Social Media Promos.

• Music: Grab your email database, text database and social media database and talk to them about music styles, eras of acceptance and flow of music. The end result will be a CMR that delivers a consistent music product hour after hour, day after day. Make sure you are not "younging down" your station. Our goal is still to attract 25-54 Adults. The proper balance of new and familiar music. We are not here to be cutting edge for the music industry.

• Money: Yes, now we have 4 M's. Work with the sales staff to find clients that you enter into sales and programming relationships with. Work with the sales staff and GSM to find out the needs of customers and then put the CMR to work for the client. The days of selling are over. We are entering into relationships with customers, solving their needs on a local direct and regional level. This is how we are going to make more money. Traditional sign the contract pitches are done, stick a fork in them.

WEDS MORNING MEETING How to Work Efficiently With Media Buyers if You are a Media Rep

I came across this last week and immediately thought of all the radio GM's, DOS', and sellers who violate these suggestions any chance they get.  It's great advice from the Media Buying Academy that every person involved with radio sales should read.  Some of the information presented may seem a little petty, but all of it can help make the sale a smoother experience.  

And hey, aren't we all a little petty sometimes?

First of all, for all of you broadcast media reps reading this newsletter, media buyers go by call letters and market names.  Please don’t call my office and tell me you are Susie from Q-107.  That means nothing to me, since I am probably buying 26 different markets for my client. Also, please don’t call my office and say this is Matt from Maverick Media.  While I would love to be able to remember which media group you represent, if you give me call letters and name of your market regarding which station you represent that we were discussing, it would make my life so much easier.

 

Additionally, since we’re doing business via e-mail more than via phone, when you e-mail me, please give me the following information, since I will eventually need it for my Time/Insertion Orders if you make it on the buy:

 

            Your name and title

            Your company’s name and call letters

            Your company’s address

            Your company’s phone number and fax number

            Your cell phone number

            Your e-mail address

 

If you give me all of the above information when we are e-mailing early on, I will be as happy as a pig dipped in mud.  It means I won’t have to e-mail or call you for it later.  You’ve just succeeded in making my job much easier.

 

Also, when submitting rates, please label them as “net” or “gross.”  I must know which they are before I can put a plan together.

 

Working together efficiently makes our jobs fun and less stressful.  Let’s make it our goal to be more efficient.

-----

Bob Knight

Vice President,

Advertising & Digital Media

Harrison Edwards

Public Relations & Marketing

Westchester:                        Manhattan:

51 Babbitt Road, Suite 7    51 East 42nd Street, 17th Floor

Bedford Hills, NY 10507    New York, New York 10017

+1 914.242.0010                +1 212.682.9210

Mobile: +1 203.837.0436 . www.harrison-edwardspr.com  

Public Relations . Marketing . Advertising . Web design . Digital Media . Event Management

Follow us on Twitter:    @PRharryNewsFeed  (media)       |          @BobKnightAdMan (personal)

7 ways to win in PPM from Doug Erickson

• Play great music, one of my favorite songs, every time I punch you up

• Help me discover new and interesting songs and artists on a regular basis

• Be interesting, and unpredictable, every hour. Give me something I can't get anywhere else.

• Provide companionship by making me feel you are speaking to me, not a faceless mass. In other words, act like a real friend. (If you don't know how real friends act with each other, you have far larger problems than spot set placement.)

• Let me know if something awful has just happened that I need to know about right now. This requires a live body in the studio. All the time.

• Don't ever bore me with mindless blather and self-aggrandizing liners

• Make me feel a strong emotion: Move me. Entertain me. Challenge me. Relate to ME.

Road Trippin' with Sirius/XM

Thanks to Jessica who held down the fort for the past few days, a burned up power supply in the home computer last week then vacation on Friday - I'm back and didn't listen to any terrestrial radio. Sirius/XM was on the Ford Escape from Dollar Rent a Car and I wanted to listen to it instead of commercial, terrestrial radio. First listen was Classic Vinyl Channel 14.

It is really odd musically, because they will play a string of real Classic Hits and then real obscure songs. Walk This Way, Levon, Proud Mary and then Ziggy Stardust, Good Lovin’ (The Dead) and Quicksilver Messenger Service Fresh Air. The imaging is pretty bland and so is the talent. Next listen was The 90’s or GEN X Channel 9. Great imaging with jingles and sweepers done to the tunes of 90’s songs and voice team doing lines from 90’s hit movies. A good listen – The CHR Channel, Hits 1 is real good, a mainstream Top-40 with great imaging and lots of music information. Too many countdowns for my taste.

I didn’t listen to Country, John Marks doesn’t have his hands around it yet and it hasn’t has a real PD since the tag team of John Anthony and Scott Lindy at Sirius and XM prospectfully. All in all, they are doing a good job replicating terrestrial radio. One problem – Too many channels, one day their going to have the RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) Channel. Narrow these down to the prime channels. Too many of the channels replicate each other. Not much difference between Classic Rewind and Classic Vinyl. I told my wife, I could get this in a new car and use it a lot. Road trips are for music and local stations are for running around town. Radio doesn’t have the spark or magic to listen to every station you can on the road.

5 Successful Location Campaigns -- and 5 Big Losers

For the last several months, big brands have been consistently unveiling special offers on location-based services like Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt, Booyah, and others. We’ve seen percentage-based discounts on purchases, dollars off, restaurant loss-leaders like appetizers and drinks, and sometimes even free meals.

After poring over as many offers as we could find, ClickZ News has determined that some brands are clearly sticking their necks out farther than others in the still emerging geo-social marketing arena. Below are the five best and five worst campaign deals we discovered in an admittedly unscientific research project. Our lists were judged based on a simple standard: estimated monetary value of the offers, and how few check-ins they require.

READ MORE

Sunday Driving on Full Throttle County with My Best Friend Kris Daniels

I have known Kris Daniels long enough to have laughed, cried, fought, made up, cried, laughed, and loved always. Sounds like a country song, right.

With over 16 years experience as an On-Air Radio Personality, Kris is originally from Scottsdale, Arizona. She has three children and is happily married to the love of her life! If you didn't know already, Kris Daniels is the daughter of Country Music Radio Legend Larry Daniels.

Describing Krissy, well she loves to shop and is an amazing cook. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the family, if you can figure out a way to add poker to that she is heaven! What you might not know about this drop dead knockout woman is that she is actually a tomboy.

Currently she lives in Louisville Kentucky where she is the morning show of New Country Q103.1 and Assistant Program Director as well as Music Director.

Love Yer Show Kris!


Where are you answering these questions from right now?
In a baby changing station in the mall…don’t worry I washed my handsJ 

What are you wearing right now? 
Why do you want to know??? lol

How did you get started in Broadcasting? 
I’m allergic to manual labor….I was in college to be a fashion designer and it was very boring so I thought I would try radio.

What are 3 items you CAN NOT live without? 
(aside from my kids and husband)  Coffee,  Sun Glasses and the internet.

Favorite item of clothing/jewelry/accessory?
Jean shorts

Have you ever been in a fight? 
Many (I had 2 older brothers who do you think taught me how to fight?)…when I was a pistol and before I was a momJ
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? 
Did I over sleep and have dead-air???
What kind(s) of car do you drive?
Toyota 4Runner and this is a very sensitive subject…I had to trade in the cool card and get…a mini-van…but it’s a black…I never wanted to see that in writing.
Is there anything that you regret?
Besides getting rid of my Jeep for a mini-van…

Kris at Kentucky Derby

What are your fondest childhood memories?
I have many!! I had a great childhood.  Playing sports growing up, hanging with all my friends, going to suns games with my family, when nobody liked the phx suns.  Go to spring training games with my dad and brothers.  Going camping, fishing, and trips with my family/friends…too many to list!  Now that I’m writing this I wish I could move back in with my parentsJ

What current event has your eyes and ears?
The Flight Attendant that quit his job..this guy has balls I love it…some lady cussed him out…he said something on the loud speaker, grabbed his bags…don’t forget the 2 beers and went down the chute…what a way to exit…Take this Job and Shove has a whole new meaning.

How do you use Social Media in your industry for productivity? 
The question is how do you not use Social Media in this industry?  I use it 24 hours a day to keep up with what going on with my listeners and how to let them know what’s going on with station, city and me.

What is your favorite website? 
I have so many but if I had to narrow it down it would be Fulltiltpoker.com, babycenter.com, foodnetwork.com and any shopping website…these have really nothing to do with work…but you asked for favorites.

Favorite snack?
Chips and the hottest salsa ever….I could eat this all day…everyday.

How do you balance your work with other obligations? 
I don’t get any sleep….I am a great multi-tasker…you have to be with a full-time job, full-time student, 3 kids, kids schedules etc!!!  My blackberry helps a lot!!!

Do you get nervous about anything? 
Walking in high heels…I love heels can’t walk in them I know I’m going to fall one day.

Do you have a ritual before you go on the air? 
No

What is your hobby or do you collect anything?
I love Cooking, Sewing, quilting, decorating houses…OMG I sound old.  I love sports, music, poker, camping 4 wheeling and fishing too!!!

What chore to you hate?
Folding laundry because I always am folding laundry it never stopsJ

Do you have an animals? 
1 dog…his name is Bocephus (after Hank Jr)  but he’s a little yorkieJ

Fruits or Vegetables?
Both

Mac or PC?
PC for the moment but I’m changing to Mac.

Ginger or Mary Ann?
Mary Ann

LEARN MORE ABOUT KRIS:

http://www.krisdaniels.com

Kris' Blog
Kris on Facebook
Kris on Twitter
Kris on YouTube

Is Country Music Eating Its Young?

Nashville Skyline

(NASHVILLE SKYLINE is a column by CMT/CMT.com Editorial Director Chet Flippo.)

You know, this has probably been the thinnest music summer I can recall since maybe 1997 or so. Strong songs and albums are as rare as 75-degree temperature days. And there's been a lame competition to capture the even lamer title of "summer anthem" song, and I'm sure you've heard all of the contenders.

Consider summer songs themselves. They've been traditional songs of joy. Summer songs by artists and groups such as the Beach Boys were authentically fresh and original and inspiring. Those songs instilled your life with an infectious joy.

There is something particularly loathsome these days about summer song campaigns, about carefully-plotted and industry-crafted and audience-researched songs that purport to be happy summer songs, patched together purely for commercial reasons.

But that same approach may apply also to the recent trend to target young audiences by focusing on signing and recording young, attractive women and even girls, as well as young, attractive duos and trios and quartets of young, attractive males and females. After Taylor Swift taught Nashville that a young -- mostly female -- country music audience actually existed, there's been an almost door-to-door search for the Next Young Thing.

READ MORE

Friday the 13th is Your Lucky Day or at Least It’s Your Chance to Get Lucky with Anthony Smith!

Looking for a way to integrate Social Media and Country Music?

Krankit Records Hit Songwriter and Rocking Country Star Anthony Smith would like to know what you think "Love Is"?

Inspired by his hit song, “Love Is Love Is Love” and America’s passion for video making, this is a chance to meet Anthony Smith--up close and personal, when he comes to your city, and gives you and your friends, a once in a lifetime private Acoustic show!


The Details for the “Show Me Your Love” Contest are available at www.anthonysmithcontest.com. Now through August 31^st you can send a video of what you think "love is" and you will be eligible to win a Private Acoustic concert with Anthony Smith in your city!

On Sunshine, his first album for Krankit Records, Smith comes on fun, funky and strong. Sunshine glows with a bright, fiery intensity worthy of its name. 


Smith knows about creating hit songs, as he's had a long string of them as a songwriter! 
His songs have been recorded by a virtual "Who's Who" list of Nashville's superstars, including;George Strait, Montgomery Gentry, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Trisha Yearwood,Van Zant, Lori Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Josh Gracin, Trick Pony, Kenny Rogers, Shooter Jennings, and others. Some of his hits include: George Strait's huge hit, "Run" and crowd favorite, "Cowboys Like Us," Trace Adkins' two out-of-the-gate smashes, "Chrome" and "I'm Tryin'," Tim McGraw's "Kill Myself" and recent release "Kristofferson," Rascal Flatts' "My Worst Fear" and Montgomery Gentry's recent top five hit "Whattaya Think About That?"

Participants in the “Show Me Your Love” contest are ineligible if directly related to the panel of judges for the contest. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Contest Rules and the Terms and Conditions of the contest. Anthony Smith and Krankit Records reserve the right (but is not obligated) to verify eligibility qualifications of any entrant or winner.

Each participant or group may submit up to 2 entries. All submissions must be received by August 31, 2010. Late entries will not be accepted. All submissions must be original work.

Email the link to your video to AnthonySmithHQ@gmail.com

VISIT ANTHONY SMITH AT:

http://www.anthonysmithcontest.com
http://anthonysmith.com
http://twitter.com/anthonysmithhq
http://www.facebook.com/AnthonySmithFans