CANADA COUNTRY AIRCHECK ISSUE 7
Melissa Hunt is our cover story this week. She has a new single out called “Smoke & Cinders” and we introduce you to her. She has a real bright music future ahead of her!
We have our regular features including our DMDS Report, Most added singles, we go to Nashville and get the Nashville News, we have some research information in our Radio news plus new music from Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Lindsay Ell, Jake Owen and Kacey Musgraves.
New Music from Crystal Shawanda. Her latest release “Laid Back” … is an extremely strong recording and is pure Crystal through and through. Make sure you check out all of our Indie Releases where you can just click and listen on our Indie Release page.
MELISSA HUNT Standing 6ft, she is as talented, driven and down to earth as she is tall and ready to make her first footprint in Canadian Country Music. In the case of Melissa Hunt, it’s a dream worth taking seriously. Melissa is totally committed to her audience, and her voice caresses a lyric with a passion beyond her years. Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, raised in Longview, Texas, and Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Melissa’s life values are shaped by family dedication and sweat equity. Country music has always played a role. “I think it’s kind of in my background,” says Melissa. At the age of 14 Melissa recorded her first demo in a small New Brunswick studio. This recording piqued the interest of Maureen Ennis and Mark Murphy, the song writing team behind Canada’s Juno Award-winning Ennis Sisters, who offered to write some songs for her. “It was such a pleasure to meet and work with Melissa,” remembers Murphy. “She has such vitality and talent and is so ‘real’ that she can be anything she wants in this world. For our sakes, I hope she chooses music!”
Next to singing and playing the acoustic guitar, it was a natural next step for Melissa to begin her journey in song-writing. Having been mentored for 4 years by late award-winning songwriter-producer Larry Wayne Clark (who mentored a teenage Chris Young and co-wrote his debut single, “Drinkin’ Me Lonely”), Melissa continues on co-writing songs with writers from the provinces of Canada to Nashville, TN and is eager to record her debut album and deliver her musical message to the public in earnest. Performing live across her home province and the Maritimes she and her support team are preparing to campaign her first single release and radio tour.
“Standing 6ft, she is as talented, driven and down to earth as she is tall”
Another early fan was Platinum Blonde alumnus Kenny MacLean who Melissa performed with on the Saint John Boardwalk and proclaimed himself a true fan. She was a local finalist in David Foster’s Ovation Star Search, opened for Juno Award winner Melanie Doane as well as CCMA duo award nominee’s Twin Kennedy.
Melissa strives to pave her way into the Canadian country music scene while she is hard at work on an EP project that promises both scrumptious ear candy and contemporary Country at its heartfelt best. “I want nothing more then to share my music with the world, to be inspired and to inspire others.” “Smoke & Cinders” tells a story where wisdom is passed down from generation to generation.
Melissa delivers lyrics such as “Walked hard roads, seen a bit of trouble” infused with an electric charge juxtaposed with a sultry smokey sound in lines like “It can sift right through your fingers”. With her powerful singles in 2016 and soon to be released EP, Melissa is living by her own words as she continues to gain ground in the Canadian Country Music Industry. “I want nothing more then to share my music with the world, to be inspired and to inspire others” Melissa Hunt
RADIO NEWS Share of Ear: 18-24s Cross the Threshold
The combination of sample size and tracking in our Share of Ear surveys allows us to see the changes in audio consumption as they happen.
Sharing the road An Interesting blog from Edison Research. Share of EarÂŽ results are from a nationally representative sample of 8,721 Americans ages 13+ who completed a 24-hour audio listening diary between September 2015 and May 2016. Radio is winning according to this survey.
In our most recent release of data, we found that for the first time, among 18-24 year olds Streaming Audio (that is, audio from Internet pure plays from Pandora, Spotify, and their ilk) has surpassed Broadcast Radio. As the nearby graph shows, Streaming has now inched ahead, 29%-28% among this young age group.
We recommend you go and see the presentation https://app.customshow.com/login.do
LOTS OF NEW MUSIC THIS WEEK
This advantage comes despite the fact that for audio consumption in the car, streaming is as yet quite small. Despite this disadvantage, streaming wins at-home and at-work in sufficient amounts to surpass radio overall. Go online to find out more http://www.infinitedial.com/
At this time of year artists are rushing product out to make sure they get airplay before the Christmas season starts. Our mailbox has been filling up this week with new releases. We thought we would mention them here in case you missed them.
RADIO NEWS BLAKE SHELTON “A Guy With A Girl”
NOT NEW BUT SONY TRYING TO GET TO NUMBER 1 Kenny Chesney with P!nk Setting the World on Fire
JAKE OWEN “If He Ain’t Gonna Love You”
THOMAS RHETT “STAR OF THE SHOW”
COMES OUT FRIDAY AT 6 AM
RADIO NEWS KACEY MUSGRAVES
The Dungarees To Raise Money
“PRESENT WITHOUT A BOW”
For Alberta Cancer Foundation 24 Hour Gig-A-Thon
LINDSAY ELL “All Alright”
Top DMDS Downloads for September 20th to September 26th SEPTEMBER 26TH SEPTEMBER 20TH 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Dan + Shay “How Not To” (Warner) Bruin “Road Trip” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo) Jon Pardi “Dirt On My Boots” (Capitol Nashville/Universal) Ryan Laird “Wear Me Out” (Studio Gold Nashville/Sharp 9 Promo) Artists Of Then, Now & Forever “Forever Country” (Universal)
SEPTEMBER 21st 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Artists Of Then, Now & Forever “Forever Country” (Universal) Ryan Laird “Wear Me Out” (Studio Gold Nashville/Sharp 9 Promo) Cole Swindell “Middle Of A Memory” (Warner) Dan + Shay “How Not To” (Warner) Jon Pardi “Dirt On My Boots” (Capitol Nashville/Universal)
1.
Tebey “Old Schol” (Warner)
2.
Lindsay Ell “All Alright” (Sony)
3.
Artists Of Then, Now & Forever “Forever Country” (Universal)
4.
Ryan Laird “Wear Me Out” (Studio Gold Nashville/Sharp 9 Promo)
5.
Dan + Shay “How Not To” (Warner)
Most Added This Week Brett Kissel w/Carolyn Dawn Johnson “I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair” AARON GOODVIN “Woman In Love” WILLIAM MICHAEL MORGAN “I Met A Girl”
SEPTEMBER 22nd 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Artists Of Then, Now & Forever “Forever Country” (Universal) Ryan Laird “Wear Me Out” (Studio Gold Nashville/Sharp 9 Promo) Kimberley Dawn “Burn For You” (Noonan/Last Tango Promo) Jon Pardi “Dirt On My Boots” (Capitol Nashville/Universal) Bruin “Road Trip” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo)
SEPTEMBER 23rd 1. 2. 3.
Artists Of Then, Now & Forever “Forever Country” (Universal) Jon Pardi “Dirt On My Boots” (Capitol Nashville/Universal) Ryan Laird “Wear Me Out” (Studio Gold Nashville/Sharp 9 Promo) 4. Brett Kissel f. Carolyn Dawn Johnson “I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair” (Warner) 5. Steve Newsome “Enjoy The Ride” (Dog Rump Creek/L. Tutty Promo)
ERIC CHURCH FEAT. RHIANNON GIDDENS “Kill A Word” AARON PRITCHETT “Out Of The Blue” JASON BLAINE “Back To You” TUCKER BEATHARD “Rock On” Dierks Bentley is not moving from the number 1 spot with “Different For Girls” which is number 1 for 6 weeks now Top Canadian on the Charts is Washboard Union with “Shot of Glory” at # 5 Brett Kissel w/Carolyn Dawn Johnson “I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair” Most Added Hits chart at #42
INDIE RELEASES
Chris Buck Band Melissa Hunt “Smoke & Cinders”
"Sun Sets Down”
Steve Newsome “Enjoy The Ride”
Kimberley Dawn “Burn For You”
Shae Dupuy Dungarees “I’m Down” “Good For Me”
Steve Arsenault “Easy”
Lauren Mayell
Ray Mattie
“Better Believe”
JUST ANOTHER SMILE
CHASE RICE TAKES FANS ON CANDID "DAY IN THE LIFE" JOURNEY WITH NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “EVERYBODY WE KNOW DOES,”
Ryan Hurd and Lacy Cavalier. Known for live shows that are “energetic and country rogue” (Providence Journal), Rice has built a widespread and fiercely loyal fan base through years of relentless touring and will have logged more than 175 days on the road in 2016 alone by the time his fall tour winds down. His new single is already making a “powerful live impact” (Sounds Like Nashville) at shows and a new studio album is expected out early next year.
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With his new music video for “Everybody We Know Does,” Chase Rice isn’t just giving fans a glimpse into his world away from the lights and the noise and the stage – he’s busting the doors wide open and inviting everyone in to be a part of it. Rice, who shared the video directly with fans 24 hours ahead of its worldwide premiere via Vevo today, September 23, says his current single is “one-hundred-percent me” and embodies the lifestyle and values he holds most dear. He solicited his own friends and family for the candid music video shoot at his property on the outskirts of Music City, tapping his longtime tour videographer Cody Cannon to capture the authentic spirit of “Everybody We Know Does” on camera. “This music video is as real as it gets,” said Rice. “’Everybody We Know Does’ is my life in a song -- it’s not just about what we do; it’s about what makes us who we are and what brings us together and we wanted to capture that in the purest way possible with this video. It’s literally my friends and me hanging out at the farm, gathering around a fire, singing our favorite songs and trying to make the most out of life. Whether we’re on the road, performing for thousands of people or just kicking back at home, this is who we are.” Rice is currently on his fifth headlining tour, the Everybody We Know Does Tour, with special guests
Dolly Parton To Appear On The Talk and Makes Debut Appearance & Performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Oct. 3
On Monday, Oct. 3, Dolly Parton will be the lead guest and perform as part of the Outdoor Concert Series on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” her first-ever appearance on the late night program. In addition, earlier Monday morning, Dolly will appear as the featured guest on “The Talk,” where she will chat with hosts Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Aisha Tyler and Julie Chen about her new movie, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors - Circle of Love, the success of her most recent album “Pure & Simple” (which remains in the Billboard Country Albums Top 10 chart) and much more. Just in time for the holidays, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors - Circle of Love, premieres on NBC this Nov. 30. The sequel to the critically-acclaimed film Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors will be available on DVD beginning on Dec. 20 and digitally on Dec. 1.
Cam Marries Adam Weaver in Intimate Desert Ceremony
After the honeymoon in Tokyo and Bali, Cam says she's really looking forward to starting married life with Weaver, 30, a commercial real estate agent. "It's just fun saying someone's your husband! I'm excited for our life together, encouraging each other and getting more dogs."
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KACEY MUSGRAVES STARTS HER CHRISTMAS TOUR IN CANADA!
Just off the road with the Dierks Bentley tour Cam ran off to California and got married. "Burning House" singer Cam and her fiancĂŠ Adam Weaver are married. The California natives wed in an intimate ceremony in the desert town of Joshua Tree, California on Saturday evening, her rep confirms. The couple shared their first dance to Miranda Lambert's version of "Oklahoma Sky" because it reminds them of a date they shared, spending time on the California coast. "It's just one of the most beautiful songs," says Cam. "It has such an atmosphere to it. It just pulls you in and both of us loved it." The most exciting moment for the bride, 31, was no doubt seeing her groom at the altar (the pair opted not to see each other before the wedding!) but "the second biggest moment is the arrival of the churro," Cam jokes about the wedding's Mexican-themed cuisine. "Adam and I are obsessed with churros."
Mercury's Kacey Musgraves will kick off the eight-city A Very Kacey Christmas Tour Nov. 26 in Windsor, ON at Caesars Windsor
CONGRATULATIONS TO KENNY CHESNEY
JASON ALDEAN MAKES IT A BIG DAY FOR COUNTRY FAN TAYLORE WINGARD
Last Friday before his Six String Circus Tour stop in Cleveland, Broken Bow's Jason Aldean gifted fan Taylore Wingard with a new Kia Soul, tickets and VIP passes to the night's show, her own parking spot at the venue, a pair of Justin boots and Aldean's signature Resistol hat. "This is so amazing I don't even know what to do," Wingard told Aldean. "My son went through cancer treatment twice and your music has gotten me through so much." Watch the video on Facebook here
Blue Chair/Columbia's Kenny Chesney will receive the BMI President's Award at the 64th annual BMI Country Awards in Nashville Nov. 1. The honor is given to songwriters who have distinctly and profoundly influenced the entertainment industry. Past recipients include Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn, P!nk and Adam Levine.
Grand Ole Opry Star Jean Shepard Passes Away!
Shepard was the longest-running Opry member and celebrated her 60th anniversary with the show last year. Her signature songs included the Ferlin Husky duet "A Dear John Letter," "A Satisfied Mind," "Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)" and "Slippin' Away." Funeral is open to fans on Friday in Nashville.
Brandy Clark Plays to Sold Out Crowds Across the Pond on Unplugged U.K. Tour
If attendance is any indicator, a “big day in a small town” is the same in U.S. as U.K.! The “best songwriter in Nashville” (Garden & Gun), Brandy Clark returned to the U.S. this week after an overwhelmingly successful stretch of sold out acoustic dates in the U.K. The tour included a stop at Cadogan Hall in London, which No Depression’s Lyndon Bolt praised “may have been in a big city far away but I felt very much part of small town American life as illustrated by the photos on the new album. Perhaps overused, but in this case spot-on, authentic is the way to describe Brandy Clark. This isn’t pop country glitz but the real deal in playing, voice and lyrics.” “I was blown away by the response I got from everyone in the U.K. There were times I couldn’t even hear myself because the crowd was singing so loud,” shares Clark, who also spent time last week with BBC’s Bob Harris, Ricky Ross and Robert Elms. “I had such a great week over there and I’m already looking forward to going back.” “…any chance to catch her live in the UK is a much anticipated event,” shared 2Country’s James Daykin.
“Relaxed, open and honest. Brandy Clark’s music is pure Country with a modern lyrical twist. Her songs sound like they could have been recorded anytime between 1973 and 2016. She sings with a clarity and conviction that many other acts would kill to have and as a singer and focal point she draws her audience in with personal stories and anecdotes that are part amusing, part tragic. A fantastic performer, great lyricist and warm hearted entertainer –the very definition of what this genre is about.” Clark performed not only seasoned favorites such as “Stripes” and “Take a Little Pill” from he widely lauded 12 Stories, but she also shared much of her latest album, Big Day in a Small Town, which released this June and debuted Top Ten on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Big Day has been at the top of critic’s lists since, garnering places on TIME magazine’s Best Songs of 2016 So Far, Rolling Stone magazine’s 45 Best Albums of 2016 So Far, Rolling Stone’s 25 Best Country & Americana Albums of 2016 So Far, NPR’s Songs We Love lists and also “Critic’s Pick” from Taste of Country.
LESS THAN THREE MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATES IT’S 28TH YEAR It’s hard to believe but Christmas is less than three months away. Cool Broadcasting is proud to offer A Country Christmas for radio stations across Canada, USA and Europe. A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS has been on the air for 27 years and 2016 marks our 28th year. This 12 hour special spotlights the stars of country music talking about their family traditions, what Christmas means to them, that very special gift they got and lots of music of the season.In fact we program on average 15 songs an hour and for our Canadian affiliates we include the required Can Con. As one programmer said “I really think Country Christmas is a terrific program. We get great feedback on it every year. People love that we aren’t just a music jukebox over the holidays.” A Country Christmas has become a listener favourite and is heard each year across Canada, USA and Europe and listeners love the show and look forward
to it each year. It is produced in such a way as you can run an hour a day leading up to Christmas and then repeat the whole special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We are the only 12 hour show that is focused on country music and the stars of country music. One listener wrote “Christmas is a magical time of year. I can’t think of abetter time than to have family and friends, opening presents feating all while A Country Christmas plays on the radio. I listened with my family as a teenager and I have carrie the tradition over to my own family now.” A Country Christmas works on a market exclusive basis. For more information or to order this special for your market send us an e-mail at steve.graham@cool-broadcasting.com
COUNTRY MUSIC UNITES TO LIFT “FOREVER COUNTRY” INTO NO. 1 DEBUT; SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO GO VIRAL AROUND THE WORLD Powered by an unprecedented gathering of Country Music talent, a never-before-seen radio roadblock, and unanimous industry support, CMA’s historic “Forever Country” has vaulted to the top of multiple charts in its first week.
More Than 93,000 Sold
“Forever Country” also debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen’s Country On-Demand Streaming Chart with 5.68 million streams (one million audio/4.7 million video), and also posts on the sales charts with debuts at No. 2 on Nielsen’s Digital Songs chart and No. 1 on the Country Digital Songs chart with just over 93,000 tracks sold. It is also trended as the No. 3 most popular Country song on Shazam.
Fans around the world got their first listen Sept. 16, when CMA partner radio groups nationwide came together to premiere the single simultaneously during Friday morning drive time, and their first look on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” last Tuesday. Fan response was immediate and overwhelming in their approval of the project, showing their support in “Forever Country” has been the No. 1 selling single of all sales, streaming, and downloads of the music music genres at iTunes and the corresponding music video is ranked No. 1 among videos for all music genres, outpacing video and single. typical video sales at a rate of eight to one. Thanks to participating artists sharing the video through their individual social channels, The project is also a global phenomenon, posting on 25 international iTunes charts and 18 international Spotify charts. fans raved across social media, watching the The song ranks at No. 1 in sales in Canada; No. 2 in Australia video online more than 31 million times in the first five days and commenting across the and New Zealand; Top 25 in Scandinavia; and Top 40 in the United Kingdom, of all music. On television, the music video internet in celebration of the project, which is a hit in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the U.K. Digitally, pays tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the the song debuted on the Spotify Global Viral 50 chart and CMA Awards. has been holding steady at No. 2. “Forever Country” makes its Billboard Hot The music video is also going into heavy rotation on CMT Country Songs debut exploding into the No. and CMT Pure, and was featured in this weekend’s Top 20 1 spot. This makes it only the third song to debut at No. 1 since Hot Country Songs began Countdowns on GAC and CMT. as a multi-metric chart in October 1958.
The frenzy hit the mainstream as the project was the topic of media coverage on ABC News, ABC’s “Good Morning America,” ABC’s “Nightline,” NBC’s “TODAY,” Billboard, CNN/HLN, “Entertainment Tonight,” E!, People, Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Associated Press, Rolling Stone, POPSUGAR, Forbes.com, and many more.
and music video in honor of “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” that features 30 CMA Award-winning acts performing a medley of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Denver, Nelson, and Parton are all former CMA Entertainers of the Year. Universal Music Group Nashville is exclusively part• “Those are some of my favorite all time songs,” nering with CMA to market and distribute “Forever Amy Robach – “Good Morning America” Country” worldwide. The song is available at all digi• “Maybe the most elaborate, star-studded singa- tal retail and streaming outlet partners. CMA profits long in recent memory,” – “Nightline” from the sales and streaming of “Forever Country” • “Standing ovation! That is so good,” Hoda Kotb; will benefit music education causes through the CMA “That is so fabulous,” Kathie Lee Gifford; “Hoda’s been Foundation. playing [it] on repeat,” Carson Daly – NBC’s “TODAY” “Forever Country,” the single, was produced by CMA • “Not since ‘We Are the World’ have so many Award winner and CMA Board member Shane superstars blended their voices on one recording.” – McAnally and the video was directed by Grammy Rolling Stone Award-winning director Joseph Kahn. • “The video for ‘Forever Country’ has all your favorite singers and songs in just 4 minutes.” – POPSUGAR • “What do you get when you combine 30 of the biggest Country stars on the planet and three of the most beloved songs of all time? ‘Forever Country,’ an impressive video mash-up of talent dreamed up by the Country Music Association to help promote ‘The 50th (Annual) CMA Awards,’ which air live on Nov. 2.” – Forbes.com “Forever Country” is CMA’s history-making single
New Music From Crystal Shawanda “Laid Back” It is so good to see Crystal Shawanda back with new music. The last time I saw Crystal was when we were doing our syndicated radio show Cool Country Live and she came in and talked about her career and music and performed for our live audience. She was great and still is great.. Her latest release “Laid Back” … is an extremely strong recording and is pure Crystal through and through. Crystal Shawanda (born 1983) is a Canadian country music artist.( CMT documented her rise to fame in the six-part series Crystal: Living the Dream, which was broadcast in February 2008.
It became the highest charted album by a full-blooded Canadian First Nations country artist in the SoundScan era.
Her first single, “You Can Let Go”, peaked at number 21 on the Hot Country Songs charts. Signed to RCA Nashville in 2007, she released In mid-2009, Shawanda left RCA Nashville her first single, “You Can Let Go”, in Canada and, through her own record label, New Sun in January 2008. It was the fastest climbing Records, and a distribution deal with EMI/On single on the Canadian Country Singles Chart Ramp Records released a Christmas album since Carolyn Dawn Johnson’s “Georgia” in titled I’ll Be Home for Christmas. 2000, reaching the Top 10 in five weeks. It was released in the United States on FebruIn 2009 Crystal was awarded the CCMA Feary 25, 2008. male Artist of the year, and then in 2013 won the Juno for best Aboriginal Album of the Shawanda’s first album, Dawn of a New Day, year. was released in Canada on June 24, 2008, and in the United States on August 19. The Visit Crystal online: album entered the Canadian Country Alhttp://www.crystalshawanda.com bums chart at number 2, and the Billboard Top Country Albums chart at number 16.