This week in Canada Country Aircheck we have our DMDS report for the week and we list the most added singles. In our Listening Room we have a lot of new music for you to check out. Coming up on January 21st in Red Deer is the ACMA Awards weekend. In this issue we spotlight the nominees and some of the events happening that weekend. Alberta is full of great country music artists. We wish all the nominees well. Our cover story this week is Danielle Marie. She has just released a new single to radio that is getting lots of great reaction. We feel that 2017 will be Danielle’s year to break big on radio across Canada.
In our Nashville News we have stories about how High Valley is making it big south of the border, Ricky Skaggs abd Bruce Hornsby tour together, Eric Church Announces his 2017 Tour Dates and he will be touring across Canada. Shania will open an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and much more. Now Barry Haugen and I have been back and forth about “Who’s car is it? Webb Pierce or Hank Williams Jr.” You can get in on the discussion. If you have a story you would like us to cover simply e-mail us at news@canadacountryaircheck.com
DANIELLE MARIE “I WANNA GO THERE” 2015 BC Country Music Ray McCauley Horizon award winner and the 2015 Canadian Country Music Spotlight winner started off 2016 with the release of ‘Drive Away’, co-written with Byron Hill, which had a 15 week run on the Canadian Country top 100 TRAX charts. Danielle spent the month of January in Nashville writing for her current project with some of the finest – Patricia Conroy, Phil Barton, Michelle Wright, Byron Hill, and Tenille just to name a few. Upon her return she opened for George Canyon’s Jekyll and Nothing to Hide Tour in Kamloops, leading into a busy summer festival season. She kicked off Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, AB for headliners Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Carrie Underwood, then headed to Sunfest, BC for 2 shows with a packed lineup including Dallas Smith, High Valley,Carrie Underwood and Dierks Bentley. She then took main stage at the 10th Anniversary Manitoulin Country Fest in Ontario with the likes of Brett Kissel, The Road Hammers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jess Moskaluke, Madeline Merlo and closed out the summer opening for Charlie Major and Corb Lund at Veggfest in Alber-
ta. Danielle performed 2 showcases in September at CCMA week in London and she was also chosen to showcase with some of the best talent worldwide at Indie Week Canada in Toronto in November. Most recently Danielle was nominated for two 2016 BC Country Music awards, Female Vocalist of the Year and SOCAN Songwriter of the year for ‘Drive Away’. This brand new single ‘I Wanna Go There’ is one she brought back from her writing trip to Nashville, written with Patricia Conroy and Phil Barton. It’s a soaring song of affection that sounds like it was made for radio and Danielle enthuses that “It’s a love song that takes you on a journey with a couple who are not worried about their destination but just being together”. The track was produced by Scotty Chops, a heavyweight producer known for his work with Florida Georgia Line, Dallas Smith, Cold Creek County, and Chase Rice to name a few. Danielle is headed back into the studio with Scotty Chops for her follow-up single, and is also anticipating a 2017 tour. Click on the picture below to see Danielle’s video!
Follow Your Heart George Canyon, Wes Mack,Todd Richard ... and many more. Follow Your Heart – a song for Variety BC grew organically out of a shared compassion for kids with special needs in BC with country musicians Todd Richard and Jeff Johnson. Creating the uplifting new anthem for Variety BC was written in the hopes that other country musicians would rise to the challenge and lend their vocals to a truly impactful cause. Musicians George Canyon, Shylo Sharity, Wes Mack, Rod Black, Rick Tippe, Becca Hess and more contributed, helping “Follow Your Heart” fulfill Todd Richard’s dream of changing the world with just a song. All proceeds benefit Variety – the Children’s Charity of BC, and all talent’s time and vocals were donated to the cause. A special thanks to Jeff Johnson of Bailey Way Entertainment, Todd Richard, Rob Smith of Royalty Records, Joe Wood of RDR Music Group, Sheldon Zaharko and all performers who helped make Follow Your Heart a reality.
Special Preview Alessia Cohle “Talk To Me” Coming January 16th Alessia Cohle is poised to take country radio by storm in 2017. She’s opening for Brett Kissel and her new single, “Talk to Me” hits radio on January 16th Watch for Alessia on tour: Jan 18 – River Run Centre, Guelph (opening for Brett Kissel) Jan 21 – Centre for the Arts, Milton Feb 5 – Conference Centre, Milton Mar 10 – Big Texas, Niagara Falls May 5 – Big Texas, Niagara Falls Jul 1 – Churchhill Meadows Park, Mississauga Jul 14 – Big Texas, Niagara Falls
IS SOCIAL MEDIA IMPORTANT TO YOUR CAREER SUCCESS?
You have recorded a great song, hired a tracker to work on radio stations to play it now what? Building a fan base is one of the most important things you can do. This will not only prove to radio stations that you have a strong fan base but it will turn your music into a revenue stream. You can have the greatest song in the world but if nobody knows about it then it becomes a wasted project. Social media is a great tool but the problem is that it can take up all your time by posting to all the various sites. There are companies that will help you out and we went to one of Canada’s best and talked to Celena “Pinky” Simms from Black Mountain Social Media. “I think we do social media management a little differently.” That’s what Black Mountain Social Media’s owner Celena “Pinky” Simms said when recently asked about her company. “A lot of social media companies concentrate on the quantity of posts they do for their clients. We see social media as being just as fluid as the music our clients create. We don’t worry too much about the number of times and how often we post. Like
anything else in this business, it’s a sort of relationship marketing strategy.’ Relationships drive the music business (and most other businesses) Black Mountain Social Media is all about the relationship between Celena and her clients, her clients and their fans, and also—and this is an important one, all of those and their relationships to other people in the music business. Celena says, “building and maintaining all of these relationships is important. We look at every facet of the business and create a strategy that embraces them all—definitively creating and shaping an artist’s (or company’s) brand.” “Recently, we’ve formed a sort of strategic alliance with Nashville-based MapleStar Music & Media.” They’ve been working with Canadian artists like Gord Bamford, Dawson Reigns, Shane Chisholm, The Western Swing Authority—as well as American artists like Austin Wahlert, Denny Strickland, and others, to give them a presence in international markets like the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
They’ve had a lot of success getting airplay for artists in these markets, and we’ve developed a package that now adds social media to that airplay mix. Arlene Quinn is the first artist we’ve done this for, and it’s be very successful. This kind of things sets us apart.”
—2013 SCMA Rising Star winner Will Ardell… We’ve worked together for 18 months. He’s another client who has evolved from me being his Social Media Manager to include a Public Relations role and assistant.
What else does Black Mountain Social Media do? According to Celena, a lot. “I manage all social media platforms an artist has. No limitations. Including their personal pages if they want. I Guide them on public image, prep them for interviews (if needed); source interviews on blogs, newspaper, radio (mainly online, U.K.); travel with them and take photos and video; I try, through my website and FB & Twitter accounts, to support a lot of Indie Artists who don’t work with me by sharing what’s going on, or doing interviews. During last year’s CCMA’s, I did ‘LiveFromLondon’ on my Facebook Live and featured Indie artists from across Canada on live interviews to give them a chance to talk about what they are doing. All of my artists are profiled on my website and social media platforms. Last year, I traveled with Brad Sims (we’re not related, for those who keep wondering) on has radio tour. I took photos and recorded the experience for his social media.”
—Arlene Quinn CMAO & CCMA recording artist… Arlene won 2 WOBA awards and a MRE award in 2016. We’ve worked together for 14 months. Arlene is the first artist with whom I work jointly with Nashville-based international radio promo company, MapleStar Music & Media.
“I want to be affordable, so I do short term contracts—just the length of singles—as well as long term contracts, and I keep my rates low so Indie artists can afford me.” Current Clients —2016 ACMA RisingStar nominee Brad Sims…I first worked with him for a few months in 2015. And now it’s been over 14 months. He keeps me busy, not only as his Social Media Manager, but I handle a lot of his Public Relations and recently have been working in the capacity of Personal Assistant (I wear many hats!)
Past Clients —Sarah Beth Keeley CCMA ACMA recording artist and my first client. I started with SBK as her Street Team Leader and as they say the rest is history! I will always be grateful to Sarah and the start she gave me in the business. I still help SBK when she needs me and hope to work with her on future projects. —Brodie Dawson BCCMA recording artist. Another artist I still support whenever I get the chance. —Ashlynne Vince CMAO CCMA recording artist. Some clients I work with just during the release of their single. Ashlynne was one of these clients. An extremely talented young lady! —KoolCountry. I worked social media for this UKbased digital radio station. Find out more at www.blackmountainsocialmedia. com
4. January 6th 1. Rascal Flatts “Yours If You Want It” (Big Machine) 2. River Town Saints “Bonfire” (Open Road) 3. Bucko & Toad “Country Song” (604/A. Wilson Promo) 4. Anthony Tullo “Gasoline” (Music Mentor/B. Martineau Promo) 5. Lisa Nicole “Come Find Me” (Indie/Pitbull Promo)
January 9th 1. Brett Kissel “She's Desire” (Warner) 2. Rascal Flatts “Yours If You Want It” (Big Machine) 3. Kenny Chesney “Bar At The End of The World” (Sony) 4. Tyler Farr “Our Town” (Sony) 5. Danielle Marie “I Wanna Go There” (Indie) January 10th 1. Brett Kissel “She's Desire” (Warner) 2. Amanda Sadler “Drop the Needle Down” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo) 3. Tyler Farr “Our Town” (Sony) 4. Kenny Chesney “Bar At The End of The World” (Sony) 5. Rascal Flatts “Yours If You Want It” (Big Machine)
Rascal Flatts “Yours If You Want It” (Big Machine)
5. Amanda Sadler “Drop the Needle Down” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo)
MOST ADDED SINGLES Luke Bryan “Fast” River Town Saints “Bonfire” Jason Aldean “Any Ol’ Barstool” Dan Davidson “Barn Burner” Kenny Chesney “Bar At The End Of The World” Miranda Lambert “We Should Be Friends” Rascal Flatts “Yours If You Want It” Chris Lane “For Her”
New Indie Artist On the Charts RYAN KEOWN Best Thing #50
Top Can Con Song January 11th 1. Brett Kissel “She's Desire” (Warner) 2. Florida Georgia Line f. Blackstreet “God, Your Mama, And Me” (Big Machine) 3. Amanda Sadler “Drop the Needle Down” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo) 4. Kenny Chesney “Bar At The End of The World” (Sony) 5. Rascal Flatts “Yours If You Want It” (Big Machine) January 12th 1. Brett Young “In Case You Didn’t Know” (Big Machine/Universal) 2. Florida Georgia Line f. Blackstreet “God, Your Mama, And Me” (Big Machine) 3. Brett Kissel “She's Desire” (Warner)
Chad Brownlee “Something We Shouldn’t Do” #7
Most Increased Plays River Town Saints “Bonfire” Dan Davidson moves up two spots this week to #44 with Barn Burner
Michael Painchaud “Raised By Wolves” Michael Painchaud is a promising new voice on the country scene. His sound is a unique blend of traditional and contemporary Country music. “Raised by Wolves” is his debut single. Be sure to check it out today!
Alessia Cohle “Talk To Me” Coming January 16th Alessia Cohle is poised to take country radio by storm in 2017. She’s opening for Brett Kissel and her new single, “Talk to Me” hits radio on January 16th Watch for Alessia on tour: Jan 18 – River Run Centre, Guelph (opening for Brett Kissel) Jan 21 – Centre for the Arts, Milton Feb 5 – Conference Centre, Milton Listen to a Sneak Preview of Talk To Me
AM to FM Promotions we make YOU a priority with us and with radio! 416-469-1314 cell: 416-527-2967 andrea@amtofm.com andrea@indieconnectors.com www.amtofm.com
We are rich in talent in Canada and Alberta country artists shine through. The ACMA have announced the nominees for the ACMA Awards. The awards weekend will be held January 21st to the 23rd in Red Deer. The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) is pleased to present your Top 5 nominees in each awards category for the upcoming 2016 Alberta Country Music Awards. Female Artist of the Year Alee Amy Metcalfe Maddison Krebs Sydney Mae Trinity Bradshaw Male Artist of the Year (Top 6) Bobby Wills Dan Davidson Drew Gregory Jamie Woodfin Steve Arsenault Trevor Panczak
Group/Duo of the Year Sponsored by Calgary Stampede Domino The Travelling Mabels TwoShine County The Doll Sisters The Dungarees Fan’s Choice Bobby Wills Cole Bradley Domino Hailey Benedict The Dungarees Rising Star Sponsored by Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall Amy Metcalfe Brad Sims Dan Davidson Jamie Woodfin Trevor Panczak
Musician of the Year Sponsored by Gilmore Guitars (Top 6) Lisa Dodd Luanne Carl Mark Branconnier Mitch Jay Ray Banman Smokey Fennell Single of the Year Down By The River - Bobby Wills Found - Dan Davidson Ride With Me - Hey Romeo Say Hello To Goodbye - Alee Bobby Wills - Won’t You Be Mine Song of the Year All About It Written by: Drew Gregory and Frank Meyers Performed by Drew Gregory Found Written by: Dan Davidson and Clayton Bellamy Performed by Dan Davidson I’m Down Written by: James Murdoch,Robb Angus, Darrek Anderson, Kiron Jhass, Clint Moffatt & Bob Moffatt Performed by The Dungarees Meteorite Written by: Troy Kokol and Beamer Wigley Performed by Beamer Wigley Myself to Blame Written by: Kym Simon and Ryan Balanecki Performed by Kym Simon Album of the Year Sponsored by Sirroma Entertainment Golden - Alecia Achielle Karack Hendriks - Karac Hendriks I Was There - Drew Gregory Video of the Year All About It - Drew Gregory Found - Dan Davidson I Can Be The Lover - Trevor Panczak Myself to Blame - Kym Simon We Just Did - Domino
Industry Person of the Year Sponsored by LJVM Projects Angie Morris Bill Borgwardt Jenn Dalen Jody Seeley Laurie Brown Talent Buyer of the Year Sponsored by LJVM Projects Big Valley Jamboree Calgary Stampede Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall Sakamoto Agency Winners in the Industry Person of the Year and Talent Buyer of the Year will be announced Saturday January 21, 2017 during the ACMA Songwriters Event. All other winners will be announced Sunday January 22, 2017 during the LIVE broadcast of the 2016 Alberta Country Music Awards on Shaw TV. Sponsors of the ACMA and the 2016 ACMA Awards Weekend include H-Factor Productions, REAL Country 95.5 Red Deer, the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel, Ranchmans Cookhouse & Dancehall, Gilmore Guitars, Sirroma Entertainment, Calgary Stampede & Exhibition, LJVM Projects, Principle Projects, the Alberta Government, 840 CFCW Edmonton, Miller Thompson Avocats/Lawyers, Jamboree For Charity, XM105 Whitecourt, CISN Country Edmonton, Country 105 Calgary, Royalty Records Inc., and Shaw TV. We wish all the nominees good luck and whether you walk out with an award or not you are all winners. Congratulations from Canada Country Aircheck. On the next page we have some cool events for you to attend.
Coming to CRS Register Today and Save $100
Registration for Country Radio Seminar 2017 increases to $699 today Friday, January 13. Individuals who have not registered, but are planning to attend, are encouraged to register today at the $599 rate, which is a $100 savings, at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com. The CRS 2017 Agenda is packed full of valuable networking and educational opportunities. Some of this year’s panel highlights include: “Objects are Larger Than They Appear: Small Markets that do BIG Things,” “Speeding Towards Tomorrow: Programming & Branding in the Mobile World,” a CRS Research Presentation: Presented by Edison Research,” “Women Empowering Women,” “Victory in the Hallways: Creating a Positive Work Culture,” “More Than Words: Presenting Ideas That Inspire Bold Ac-
tion,” “Promotions Start to Finish: Part YOU,” “Capturing the Millennial Ear: Rethinking our Traditional Medium for the Next Generation,” and many more. As a first time guest of CRS, Olympic figure skater, Scott Hamilton, will present the keynote address and will inspire others through his motivational story and how to overcome life’s obstacles. Other CRS 2017 agenda highlights include two label luncheons and performances (sponsored by Big Machine Label Group and UMG Nashville), Acoustic Alley (sponsored by Bob Kingsley), the CRS featured speaker discussion, “My Way” with Toby Keith (sponsored by BMI), the popular New Faces of Country Music Dinner and Performance and much more.
Eric Church To Tour Canada Eric Church wastes no time bringing music to his fans in 2017 as he embarks on his Holdin’ My Own Tour this weekend. The singer will see 60+ cities in North America and will be without any opening acts for the entire tour. The award-winning singer/songwriter and his band will bring their two-set show that New York Times says is “fuel for love, for anguish and, naturally, for other music,” to both coasts before ending with a two-night blowout at Nashville, Tennessee’s Bridgestone Arena in May. All fans who hope to see “one of country’s smartest, most ambitious singers and songwriters,” (Vulture) from beginning to end on the Holdin’ My Own Tour, need to ensure they take their seats by 8:00 p.m. local time, as Church will kick the show off promptly with a huge moment, without any opening support preceding.
2017 Holdin’ My Own Tour Canadian dates are as follows: Tuesday, February 28: London, ONT Budweiser Gardens Thursday, March 2: Toronto, ONT Air Canada Centre Friday, March 3: Ottawa, ONT Canadian Tire Centre Saturday, March 4: Montreal, QUE Bell Centre Tuesday, March 7: Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre Thursday, March 9: Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre Friday, March 10: Edmonton, AB Northlands Coliseum Saturday, March 11: Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome Tuesday, March 14: Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
This is a very special year for Canada as we celebrate our 150th Birthday. Cool Broadcasting for the last 6 years have been producing our Canada Day Radio Special. This is a three hour long special that features 100% Can Con music and we talk to country artists as well as actor who have made in big in LA and NYC on TV and in the movies. They all tell us why they are proud to be Canadian. This year to celebrate our 150th we are offering radio stations a minute and a half vinettes that will feature Canadian artists, actors and key moments in our 150 years. These will be available starting in March leading up to Canada Day. We live in a great country and we all need to be proud to be Canadian.. This is a market exclusive feature and for more information contact us at steve.graham@cool-broadcasting.com Some of the other specials we have announced for 2017 include: 1. May Long Weekend Radio Special. This is the first long weekend that people head to the cottage and get it ready for the summer.
2. Labour Day Weekend Special. This is the last weekend of the summer before the kids go back to school and also the time when we either go to the cottage or have friends and family for that last BBQ of the summer. 3. Thanksgiving Radio Special where we celebrate everything we have to be thankful for. This star driven music intensive special has become a listener favourite as the stars tell us about their Thanksgiving. 4. A Country Christmas is a 12 hour show that celebrates it’s 29th year. The stars drop by and tell us about their favourite Christmas memory, tradition, gift or movie. A Country Christmas is heard across Canada, USA and Europe. 5. Looking Back at 2017 is a 12 hour special that looks back at the music, the events and the artists that made 2017 a great year for country music. All of our specials are music intensive, star driven and include the required Can Con. E-mail us today to find out how your radio station can carry these specials. steve.graham@cool-broadcasting.com
COOL BROADCASTING CANADA 613-482-2291 NASHVILLE: 615-844-3656 E:MAIL steve.graham@cool-broadcasting.com