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Date: 1.3.1999 19:40 Uhr
From: DelanoBoy
THE BLUE CHIP RADIO REPORT
News, Charts, Show Prep, Sales Info
March 1, 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: "Stranger In My Mirror" by Randy
Travis. Writers: Skip Ewing and Kim Williams. Producers: Randy Travis,
Byron Gallimore and James Stroud. Label: Dreamworks Records. CDX volume
207. This one jumps out of the speakers. Clearly distinctive from the rest
of the pack.
Vince Gill was in David Foster's Malibu CA studio last Monday (2/22) with
Barbra Streisand. In The (Nashville) Tennessean, Jay Orr reported that Gill
recorded a duet with Streisand on a Richard Marx song with an undisclosed
title. Word is that it will be on Streisand's next album.
Mr. Streisand, James Brolin, is a big country music fan, apparently
explaining the connection between Streisand and country music.
Vince Gill may have drawn the biggest laugh of the Grammy awards show
when he held his trophy his ear and said, "Somebody told me that if you
listen real close, you can hear Garth Brooks play baseball.'' Whoever was
directing the shot selection for CBS must have been a country
music fan (or extremely lucky for an inside laugh). The camera panned to
Trisha Yearwood who looked as if she'd just swallowed a tablespoon of vinegar.
Lots of country artists were wearing black at the Grammy Awards. Most,
if not all, won't be around long enough to earn a Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award. The original man in black, Johnny Cash, got his last week. June
Carter Cash accepted the award for her husband. John R. was resting
at the family home in Jamaica.
Clint Black won a Grammy for his role in the "Tribute To Tradition"
album. It was Clint's first win after 14 nominations.
Patti Page also won her first Grammy Wednesday night. Vince Gill won his
12th in the past 10 years.
Best quote by a winner goes to Ricky Scaggs, winner of Best Bluegrass
Album, on why bluegrass continues to grow in audience size: "(Bluegrass)
never had to make a fashion statement to be cool. Bill Monroe survived The
Beatles. He survived Bob Dylan. He even survived Nashville."
Welcome to our new subscribers, including Loretta Crawford with the
morning show at WPOR 101.9 in Portland ME; Dugg Collins from KFDI in Wichita
KS; songwriter John Bettis; Chuck Edwards with KSCS-fm in Dallas/Ft. Worth TX;
and Hiromi Chida, Country DJ at FMK Radio in Kumamoto, Japan.
Actor B.T. Stone played an investigative reporter on last night's episode
of "The Practice" on ABC. Those of you in Tennessee and Kentucky will
probably remember him as WIVK's Bob Thomas. Bob spent 20 years on-air at the
Knoxville station before heading to Hollywood.
Blue Chip Radio Report reader Terri Fricon, with The Fricon Entertainment
Company in Nashville, has been busy lately. Terri was the music supervisor
for "Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke", the mini-series starring Lauren
Bacall and Richard Chamberlain which aired on CBS last week. Fricon also
supervised the music for the recent Miramax release "Down In The Delta"
starring Wesley Snipes and Alfie Woodard. Next up: "Fatal Error", a made for
TBS movie starring Janie Turner, Robert Wagner, and Antonio Sabato, Jr., which
will premiere on The Superstation March 28th.
According to Country Weekly, John Michael Montgomery likes to listen to
demo tapes in his pickup truck. "I want the song to touch me just like I was
hearing it over the (radio) for the first time", says John Michael.
By the way, John Michael Montgomery is the latest country singer who has
let it be known that he'd like to be in the movies.
The rumble is that VH1 wanted to play The Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open
Spaces", but wanted to edit out the fiddle parts. The group refused. Guess the
banjo didn't bother them.
Jeff Cook from Alabama is selling his home. "Excalibur", on Lookout
Mountain near Ft. Payne AL, is a castle featuring a Japanese-style kitchen
with an eat-around hibachi grill, 8 bedrooms (including 4 master suites), pool
with rock waterfall and other luxuries. Asking price is $ 4,820,000.
Austin based drummer Donald Lindley died February 3rd of cancer. He had
been diagnosed with the illness in December.
Lindley may have been best known for his work with Joe Ely, Lucinda
Williams, Dave Alvin, Julie and Buddy Miller, and others. A memorial page has
been established at http://www.tcb2000.com/donald .
Clay and Allene Blaker have established an excellent tribute page to the
great steel guitar player Jimmy Day, who died a few weeks ago. Visit
http://www.clayblaker.com/jimmyday1.html .
Shania Twain in The New York Daily News on why women are saturating the
country charts in greater numbers: "Women are being taken more seriously in
all professions. Women have been rising to the top. Music is no exception."
Of course, it's a mere coincidence that the women being taken "more
seriously" in country music wear considerably less clothing than the women of
10 years ago. Who was the rock artist who recorded a song, years ago, entitled
"Video
Killed The Radio Star"?
Trio II, the long-awaited album from Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and
Linda Ronstadt, debuted moved at # 5 on Billboard's Country Albums chart last
week. This week, it moved up to # 4. According to Richard Lawson in The
Nashville Business Journal, the album sold over 50,000 units in its first two
weeks on the market.
I haven't heard it on the radio, though, have you?
Dollywood in Gatlinburg TN is hiring hundreds of seasonal employees,
including a number of entertainers. If you might be interested in what's
available, immediately call 1-423-426-3386.
Asylum has re-serviced Monte Warden's "Someday" on the latest CDX .
"Someday" is a former Blue Chip Song Of The Week. It's up-tempo country
with a pop sound, but without the tiring, loud drum mix so prevalent today.
Yeah, I know the percentage of Top 10 hits with a loud drum mix. But the
percentage of songs that bomb with a loud drum mix is much higher. But don't
trust me- pull out 100 or more of your latest promo copies,
listen, and do the math.
Loud drums have long been an indicator of weak lyrics and melody.
The word out of Nashville is that Tammy Wynette's daughters have fired
their attorney and hired lawyers with higher profiles. The Wynette autopsy
request is getting heavy media play in the music business city.
In what may be a first for a country star(s) with a former # 1 hit,
Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson were recently grounded for breaking curfew. It
seems the kids lingered too long after a church hay ride.
MerleFest will take place April 29-May 2, 1999 in Wilkesboro, North
Carolina. Merlefest honors the great Doc Watson and his late son, Merle.
For more info, visit http://www.merlefest.org, or call Myers Media at
212-977-8111. For ticket info, call 1-800-343-7857.
Turner Broadcasting System plans to launch a new regional cable TV
channel geared for viewers in the southeastern U.S.A. The company hopes to
eventually reach 6 million homes.
The channel will draw on shows from the Turner movie and TV series
library, pro sports (Braves, Hawks, Thrashers), country music and other
regional favorites. A weekly program from The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville is on
the
programming menu.
Garth Brooks may have sat on the bench for his high school baseball team,
but he's starting to impress several of the San Diego Padres. Not with his
playing, of course, but with his work ethic. The players have noticed that Garth
is first on the field every day and
last off every night. He takes extra batting practice, fields extra
grounders, runs extra windsprints. Then he signs autographs for several hours
after practice, an act of kindness that most players detest and avoid. He's also
more mannerly than most players, even thanking the batting
practice pitcher every time he leaves the cage. As manager Bruce Bochy says,
"He's awfully nice."
Wrote Ann Killion in the San Jose Mercury News: "For those of us used to
the regular rude boys of baseball, it was stunning." Is there a lesson or two
here?
Someone with the academic credentials to pull it off will write a
textbook on Garth someday. He's a living, breathing model of the perfect
business marketing strategy.
Dwight Yoakam used to date Sharon Stone. Now he's been seen around L.A.
with Bridget Fonda. Who says the Hollywood babes don't like guitars, Cadillacs
and hillbilly
music?
And whatever happened to Sammi Jo?
TWANG T.V.:
3/1...........Randy Travis on Donny & Marie
3/1...........Barbara Mandrell on "At Home With...", HGTV
3/2...........Trisha Yearwood on "Jag", CBS
3/2...........Dolly Parton on Donny & Marie
3/2..........."The Life and Times of Deana Carter", TNN
3/3...........Shania Twain special, CBS
3/3...........Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Mindy McCready on "Girls
Night Out", CMT 3/3............Reba McEntire on Donny & Marie
3/6............Vince Gill, Martin McBride on "Austin City Limits",
PBS *
3/8............Garth Brooks on Conan O'Brien, NBC
3/13...........Hank Thompson, Ray Price on "Austin City Limits",
PBS *
* 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.superstarcountry.com , a source for many of the Twang TV listings.
CROOK & CHASE musical guests: (afternoon shows repeat the next
morning)
2/26........Mark Wills
3/1..........Tareva Henderson
3/2..........Trisha Yearwood
3/3..........The Del McCoury Band, Tareva Henderson
3/4..........David Kersh
3/5..........Aaron Tippin
TNN PRIME TIME COUNTRY musical guests:
3/1.........Trini Triggs, Wynonna
3/2.........Davis Kersh, Shania Twain
3/3.........Alan Jackson, The Wilkinsons
3/4.........John Michael Montgomery
3/8.........Michael Peterson
3/10.......Billy Ray Cyrus
THE BLUE CHIP ADULT COUNTRY CHART (25-49 demographics)
3/1/99
LW TW Title Artist
----- ----- ------- --------
1 1 I Don't Want To Miss...... . . .. Mark Chestnutt
2 2 Powerful Thing . . . . . . . . . . ..Trisha Yearwood
3 3 You Were Mine . . . . . . . . . . .Dixie Chicks
7 4 No Place That Far . . . . . . . ...Sara Evans
10 5 Busy Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...Billy Ray Cyrus
6 6 Hold On To Me . . . . . . . . . . .J. M. Montgomery
11 7 Meanwhile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Strait
8 8 Unbelievable . . . . . . . . . . . ...Diamond Rio
9 9 How Forever Feels . . . . . . . . Kenny Chesney
12 10 I'll Think Of A Reason Later . ..Lee Ann Womack
14 11 Gone Crazy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Jackson
13 12 Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Wilkinsons
17 13 I Can't Get Over You . . . . . . ..Brooks & Dunn
15 14 Keepin' Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama
18 15 Ordinary Life . . . . . . . . . . . .. Chad Brock
16 16 Love Ain't Like That . . . . . . . .Faith Hill
5 17 For A Little While . . . . . . . . . Tim McGraw
23 18 Wish You Were Here . . . . . .. Mark Wills
20 19 Hands Of A Working Man . . ..Ty Herndon
22 20 You Won't Ever Be Lonely . . ..Andy Griggs
4 21 Wrong Night . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reba McEntire
24 22 Anyone Else . . . . . . . . . . . . Collin Raye
19 23 That Don't Impress Me...... . . Shania Twain
28 24 Don't Come Crying To Me . . . Vince Gill
25 25 Somebody's Out There . . . . ..The Kinleys
26 26 Drive Me Wild . . . . . . . . . . . .Sawyer Brown
27 27 Can't Get Enough . . . . . . . . . Patty Loveless
29 28 Everytime I Cry . . . . . . . . . . Terri Clark
21 29 When Mama Ain't Happy . . . .Tracy Byrd
32 30 I'm Leaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aaron Tippin
31 31 No More Looking Over ..... . . Travis Tritt
33 32 You Don't Need Me Now . ... . Clint Black
35 33 What's The Matter..... . . . . .. Claudia Church
34 34 You Still Shake Me . . . . . . . .Deana Carter
38 35 Better Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Warren Bros.
36 36 Say Anthing . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shane McAnally
37 37 With You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lila McCann
39 38 Hillbilly Shoes . . . . . . . . . . . Montgomery Gentry
*** 39 Your Own Little Corner . . . . . .Blackhawk
*** 40 Maybe Not Tonight . . . . . . . .Sammy Kershaw & Lorrie Morgan
DROPPED: Dodd, Messina
NASH-ROCK (a.k.a "Young Country") (Teens, 18-24 demos)
LW TW Title Artist
----- ----- ------- --------
1 1 I Don't Want To Miss..... . . . ..Mark Chestnutt
2 2 Unbelievable . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diamond Rio
5 3 You Were Mine . . . . . . . . . . . Dixie Chicks
6 4 Powerful Thing . . . . . . . . . . . .Trisha Yearwood
4 5 Hold On To Me . . . . . . . . . . . J. M. Montgomery
8 6 No Place that Far . . . . . . . . . Sara Evans
9 7 Busy Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billy Ray Cyrus
10 8 That Don't Impress Me..... . . . Shania Twain
12 9 Meanwhile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Strait
13 10 How Forever Feels . . . . . . . . .Kenny Chesney
11 11 Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wilkinsons
14 12 Keepin' Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama
17 13 I Can't Get Over You . . . . . . . Brooks & Dunn
15 14 Somebody's Out There . . . . . Kinleys
16 15 I'll Think Of A Reason Later . . Lee Ann Womack
18 16 Love Ain't Like That . . . . . . . .Faith Hill
19 17 Ordinary Life . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chad Brock
20 18 Gone Crazy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Jackson
*** 19 Wish You Were Here . . . . . . Mark Wills
*** 20 Anyone Else . . . . . . . . . . . ..Collin Raye
DROP: McGraw, McEntire
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