Thank You Notes

.. to Florida Georgia Line, Dustin Lynch, Thompson Square and Brad Paisley, for standing up for country radio's place in their success on CBS This Morning.  You know that even more country superstars will do more of the same thing on the ACM Awards and we are endlessly in their debt for taking time to do it!

... to Arbitron and Edison Research for working together for the 21st time on their "Infinite Dial" studies, which not only give us a great help in future planning but also provides broadcast radio with credible, objective reinforcement in non-radio press venues of our compelling story, like this "Among Weekly Users, Online Radio Consumption Trounces Online Video."

It's nice to have friends like you and we never take your kindness and support for granted.

Awards Shows Experiment With Social

The ACM Awards just kicked off a “Tweet to Unlock” campaign via social media, inviting music fans to tweet 25,000 times to unlock the 2013 ACM Awards date and host announcement!

They have released a short video of already-announced ACM Host Blake Shelton talking about the search for his new, mystery co-host.

The ACM says, "The sooner fans reach that 25,000 tweet mark, the sooner we will release the show information – it could happen over the weekend or early next week, by our estimate."

I think this is an inventive way to get passionate country music fans to help create memes and lots of early buzz for the annual spring event.

Meanwhile, Billboard reports that the Grammy Awards Academy seeking to shake its reputation as an organization that had become staid and retrograde began a social media makeover in 2010 with a user-powered, YouTube-centric promotional campaign branded "We're All Fans" which helped the ceremony that year net its highest ratings in seven years.  "For this year, the Academy is peeling back the artifice of the awards themselves, the new campaign, dubbed "#TheWorldIsListening," is its own democratic platform (shown, Hunter Hayes photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage.com).  Amateur musicians from around the world have been invited to upload their own recordings to a special site on SoundCloud where viewers can go to discover and share what they like."

The Grammys democratic?  Since when?

That's going to be very interesting, since for country radio fans, past Grammy winners have pretty much been head-scratchers, more eclectic opportunities for musicians to give credit to artistic endeavor than commercial success or popularity.

Viewers share what they like?

They can save the trouble.  I can tell them that.

A bit of that "democracy" from the Grammy social site by Rob Mitchell of Thousand Oaks, California:

"I think the Grammy's really missed the mark this year in terms of nominating Best Country album of the year --- there is no question that Jason, Carrie, and Luke put out quality albums out during the last year all featuring muliple #1 songs, great singing, lyrics, and arrangements that are really at the top of artistry today.  Its so frustrating that someone like Jason, Luke or Carrie put their heart and soul into making AMAZING albums with NO filler year after year but seem to get snubbed for some reason."

Country radio and its fans would settle for a country hit that got significant airplay on the radio last year winning an award in the country category for a change.

Hopefully, they're listening as well as talking in their experiments in social.

Why Awards Matter

Digital charts react immediately when buzz happens. And, if you think winning an ACM Award doesn't move the needle, think again:

Source: BDS Nielsen Soundscan

I'll Show Your Mine, If You Show Me Yours

Charlie Cook writes a thought-provoking column each Friday for Music Row Magazine Online.

Twice a year, before the CMA show and the ACM show, he reaches out and asks for opinions of the industry. This week he's asked "what you think of where we are right now or where you think that we're headed.."

Here's mine:

One of country's greatest strengths remains more true than ever - the fact that older listeners whose tastes in music on radio otherwise are all songs from their youth love both the newest music and also their all time favorites. As always, the young side of our target isn't as fond of the country hits from much longer than 3-5 years ago. And, when those moons align - as they have done for the last two years - we get an exciting new group of superstars which drives growth. Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift and Luke Brian, for example, are more than enough to build a new format on, while some very savvy heritage superstars like Brad Paisley, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw have found songs that have kept them in the mix as well. Boom years used to last five to seven years, but everything moves so fast in this culture, the question now is how long will this last? Will it be like the early 1990's boom? Or, more like the brief one in 2006, which peaked in just over one year? Thanks to the fact that all of our "new big seven" stars are all doing exceedingly well in touring, as are many if the historical stars, I am optimistic that as long as we don't push too much mediocre music at listeners, we're going to have a good run, driven this time by the emergence of Generation Y, the largest generation in American history, whose values are going to drive everything for the next decade or so. If you don't understand those values, it is going to pass you by. To learn about them, simply listen to the lyrics of the hits that test well with target listeners.

He promises to weave these thoughts in with all the others this coming Friday. I can't wait to see the tapestry containing many threads that everyone else is thinking!

46 Hats Off, ACM

Winners:

• ACM
• Country Music (sold-out two of the largest arenas in Las Vegas, the MGM
• Grand Garden Arena and the Mandalay Bay Events Center)
• CBS
• Las Vegas
• Country RADIO (thanks, performers, for all the mentions!)
• 600,000 fans who cast votes for Entertainer of the Year (the largest vote ever for this category!!)
• Blake Shelton
• Reba
• Taylor Swift (the eighth and youngest female to take the award in the 40 year history of the category!!!)
• Miranda Lambert
• Brad Paisley
• Sugarland
• Lady Antebellum
• The Band Perry (nearly 155,000 fans cast online and text votes for the New Artist of the Year category, the largest fan vote for this category!!!!)

You Can Get Into This Picture

That's ADX Broadcasting's WYCT/Pensacola PD Kevin King with Sugarland, celebrating the station's ACM 2009 wins. Now, it's time for you to enter next year's radio award competition.

George Strait Is "ACM Artist Of The Decade" And Neil Haislop Was Backstage

Last night in Las Vegas, the Academy of Country Music took advantage of the great number of country stars in town for the Academy of Country Music Awards, to hold many artists over to Monday so they could participate in the taping of special program celebrating George Strait's elevation to the Artist of the Decade award that will air in May. Nearly every star that participated had been influenced by George Strait's music, or had been greatly helped along their path to stardom by becoming an opening act on a George Strait tour.

* Tim McGraw has the honor of opening the show explaining Strait's importance.
* The first act to pay tribute to Strait by singing one of his hit songs was Sugarland with their version of "Adelida."
* McGraw and Faith HIll returned to pay him in a musical tribute by singing a cool version of "Marina Del Rey." Most of the artists that followed made a point to perform George Strait tunes with their own style, which added to the appreciation of George's celebrated ability find and sing hit tunes.
* The generational variety of artists influenced by George Strait was made obvious when Taylor Swift reminded that her first tour experience was opening for George. She then performed her favorite Strait song, "Run."
* Other artists participating include Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Dierks Bentley Jamie Fox, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, John Rich, Jack Ingram and many more. George closes the show singing three of his biggest hits.
* GARTH BROOKS also appears as the most recent winner as Artist of the Decade to pay homage to a man he says he's worshipped since he was a teenager.

We could tell you more, but nothing we could say about what we experienced backstage watching the show, will measure up to watching the show from beginning to the last note played by George and his band when the show comes to an end May 27th on CBS. Mark your calendars now for this once in a decade celebration of an artist that's contributed so much for the last decade.

Here's To The ACM Winners

The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards brought a mix of surprises and predictable wins Sunday night in Las Vegas. (click for the list)

Here are some of The Boot's favorite Reba quotes from the show.

"Seems like everyone wants to cut a country album nowadays. Even Michael Phelps and Willie Nelson are teaming up to do an album. They're covering the Doobie Brothers!"

"Our first nominee is George Strait. George has sold over 62 million albums, which puts him in the same class as Elton John. That's the first time I've ever said straight and Elton John in the same sentence."

Blogging The ACM Awards

As usual, CMT will be blogging and hosting an online chat during the TV show.

The Tennessean has figured out how to get us all to watch video commercials: have their music critic Peter Cooper opine colorfully on the real award that matters, who will be Taylor Swift's best friend, and the back story on how the ACM changed the criteria in order to permit Jamie Johnson's LP to be nominated album of the year and why he thinks it won't win.

As you'd expect the OKC' Oklahoman’s Brandy McDonnell is a big Reba fan, with inside access and a sneak preview of "Strange."

GAC-TV will be live on the orange carpet and also Tweeting during the show.

Karlie Justus is another regular blogger on everything country, worth a read, as is Neil Haislop.

WUSN, Chicago, KMPS, Seattle and WYCT, Pensacola, are among the hundreds of radio stations and personalities blogging the show, and many Westwood One affliates - like KFRG, Inland Empire - have backstage ACM video on their websites.

What are you doing?

The ACM's Take Over Las Vegas

Robin Leach blogs an interview with TV show host Reba plus some inside info on a magical appearance:

I can confirm now that illusionist and MGM headliner David Copperfield will make his first appearance on the show in a magic sequence with Taylor Swift. The noon rehearsals today are cloaked in secrecy, and only top-line producers, Taylor, her band and the camera crew will be allowed. It’s closed and off limits to all else!

The Las Vegas Sun features an article about today's shows in Primm (Alan Jackson’s concert at Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert arena was the first of several concerts going on across town in connection with Sunday’s ACMAs) and downtown:

LeAnn Rimes is scheduled to give a free concert at the Fremont Street Experience Third Street stage at 10:45 p.m. tonight. Before that, ACMA’s top new vocal duo or group winner and top new artist nominees, the Zac Brown Band, will also hit the Third Street stage, at 7:40 p.m. tonight.

Taylor & Miley Reunite At ACM Awards

Following her country-toned debut with pal Taylor Swift at this year's Grammys, Miley Cyrus will perform – solo this time – at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on April 5.

Cyrus, 16, will deliver her hit "The Climb" from the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack, PEOPLE has learned exclusively. Climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and country charts, the song will easily fit in with the sound of the evening.

Could Miley be headed for a future in country music? Only time will tell.

The teen sensation will share the stage with a star-studded line-up that includes Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, John Rich, Lee Ann Womack and Jamey Johnson.

The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by McEntire, will air live on CBS from Las Vegas's MGM Grand on Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET and PT.

Hears (Yes, That's Right) To The ACM Radio Award Winners

Congratulations to this year’s ACM Radio Award winners:

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
NATIONAL - Lon Helton, Country Countdown USA
MAJOR MARKET - Dorsey Gang - KSCS-FM, Dallas, TX
LARGE MARKET - JD Cannon - WFMS-FM, Indianapolis, IN
MEDIUM MARKET - Andy Ritchie, Alison West and Jimmy Holt - WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN
SMALL MARKET - Brent Lane and Dana Cervantes - WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
MAJOR MARKET - WSOC-FM, Charlotte, NC
LARGE MARKET - WSIX-FM, Nashville, TN
MEDIUM MARKET - WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN
SMALL MARKET - WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman, who is also an Academy of Country Music board member, called each winner on the air to share the good news. Learn more about all the winning personalities and stations by clicking here.

AP: Urban Puts Awards In The Proper Perspective

Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Photo / Reuters

New Zealand-born Keith Urban has missed out on two major Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards amid a row over how the top prize was decided. Urban was laughing when he turned up to the awards in Las Vegas with pregnant wife Nicole Kidman on his arm, but left empty-handed after Kenny Chesney won the entertainer of the year category. Urban was also nominated for top male vocalist, but lost out there too. Still, Urban got to perform at the awards ceremony, and he and Kidman cuddled and looked happy as they posed for photographers before the event.

A beaming Kidman told reporters she is "very excited" about the impending birth of her first child with Urban. When asked if the baby had been kicking she replied: "Oh yeah. Not right now, but it has been."

Urban says the reality of becoming a father only fully hit him when he and Kidman found out the sex of their unborn child, which he would not reveal.

Keith Urban ACM '08 - "Tu Compania"

In case you missed his amazing ACM '08 performance, here's a link to the You Tube video.

Can you imagine being one of those folks lucky enough to be standing right next to him during this incredible event?

Keith Urban is undeniably country's historic talent of ANY year!

Chesney Thanks Fans, But Wishes The "Entertainer" Hadn't Become A Popularity Contest

Over half a million fans voted resulting in Kenny Chesney winning his 4th Entertainer of the Year award tying Garth Brooks' record in that category.

Backstage Kenny thanked the fans for voting for him. But, then he expressed a strong opinion that he wished the ACM hadn't changed the criteria of that award.

"I think fans should be involved in voting for ACM awards, but not for the Entertainer of the Year." Kenny would have preferred tying Garth's record under the same criteria he had won the award. Kenny feels strongly that the award is something that should go to an artist who's worked hard all their career."

Note: Alabama holds the overall consecutive wins honors winning entertainer 5 times.

Reba McEntire rendered another brilliant and often funny hosting job as she led the TV and arena audience through the three hour show where fans were able to vote for Entertainer of the Year for the first time in history.

- A&O's buddy Neil Haislop Backstage At The ACM's (where it was a sizzling 104 degrees outside!)

Can't Watch The ACM Awards? The LA Times Has You Covered

If you don't mind your minute by minute critique of the event more than a little bit snarky, check out Todd Martens' written play by play, Live at the Academy of Country Music Awards!