Interesting Times

For example..

1. A fast-growing ownership group learned yesterday from Miller-Kaplan that they have gone - in just four years - from buying a market's lowest-billing cluster to becoming that city's top-biller in 2011, but still had to work with their lenders to enter bankruptcy because they had the bad timing to have purchased the stations the year before the financial crash of '08.

Going from worst to first in revenues was still not enough to pay the bankers, who - thankfully - cooperated in the restructuring.

2. A longtime major market programmer and air talent who went into music promotion a few years ago lost his job this week when his label owners eliminated their entire promotion staff.

I told him about an on air position with a great company that just opened, but he declined my offer of a recommendation, preferring to continue to pursue work in the record business.

At least he knows where his passion lives and when times are tough, that's the name of the game.

3. Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup" has sold 1,023,617 digital tracks since its release (ranking #1 again in sales), as almost every single track on this week's digital downloads chart is down roughly 40% from the previous sales week.

Given the state of the economy, I guess we all could use a drink and a good laugh.

Finding Out How Many Words Rhyme With "Receptacles"

Strange times we live in, making decisions of taste almost impossible, if you're trying to please everyone.

Toby Keith provided radio a month ago with an (1) unedited, (2) edited, (3) bleeped and (4) "vegetables" version, which wasn't enough for CMT, which created a fifth (fade) version (5).

Five versions may be an all time record for the country format!

In the wake of Whitney Duncan's ‘Survivor: South Pacific’ antics, Luke Bryan's covering the CMA Awards for "Ellen" more thoroughly than he covers his "Country Girl, Shake It For Me" dancers and Zac Brown long ago proving that you can say the word "ass" on national TV, isn't this ado over "testicles" a bit overblown?

Mike OMalley and I are usually for playing unedited versions, but M O'M points out that 'vegetables' is actually funnier.

In short, we've been telling clients to opt for either the edit (ass) or clean (no ass). In any event, no beep.

The radio axiom "what you don't play will never hurt you," certainly still holds, though dead air is definitely not an audience-builder when compared to 3,155,434 views on You Tube!

"There's No Rules"

That is what Show Dog-Universal president Mark Wright told Tom Roland in this week’s Billboard Country Update about the current music business landscape in terms of the "Wild West" frontiers that other artists might shy away from.

The label’s marquee act, Toby Keith, who has the #16 song on the new Billboard country chart remains a minority investor in Taylor Swift’s label Big Machine as well, which had the week’s greatest gainer and was the top most-added song to the airplay chart as an ad touting her new hair style touts, so TK and Show Dog include hedging their bets in that “ no rules” approach.

Even with the growth of the Internet and the increased ability of country acts to gain exposure on TV, Wright still views country radio as the key piece of the puzzle in building careers.

New artists may get a foot in the door in other media, but they still need a song that finds its way to drive-time commutes. “You’ve got to have radio hits,” he told Roland.

But not exclusively, he claims. Show Dog-Universal is working with Universal- affiliated Sanctuary Management on a multi-artist rock tribute album with an international audience, Wright says. And the company is hopeful that a movie soundtrack project will come together.

“You can only work four to five singles at a time in country radio, which is pretty much what a promotion staff is maxed out at,” Wright says. “You’ve got to have what I call non-radio revenue—other projects that you don’t have to just necessarily drive up the charts for 30 weeks to sell an album. We’ve got a couple of those in play.”

I keep hoping that some of the many new artists on small labels which seem to languish for weeks and weeks in the bottom half of the airplay charts, ultimately failing time after time to make it into the top 20, are spending their money productively and (even better!) are making a buck along the way, but I have my doubts.

Wouldn't a larger panel of monitored/reporting stations provide more play list diversity, opening up room for perhaps another ten potential national 'hits?'

Of course it would, but I don't know of anyone who thinks that is on the horizon anytime soon given the economics of the music business.

So, rule #1 in this "no rules" time: don't give up your day job!

Toby Keith Goes Incognito And CMT Shows Radio How To Create Some Summer Buzz

TK appeared last Thursday night at the Irving Plaza in New York City. Ticket holders weren't aware of who the band was and were only told it would be a surprise performance they wouldn't want to miss.

Toby and his band jammed on stage singing their favorite covers from multiple genres. CMT was there and a full coverage story is now on CMT.com.

More appearances from Incognito Bandito are expected this summer but will not be made public far in advance. Hopefully, he's planning to involve local country radio stations at future stops on the tour.

Toby Keith Event Raises Almost $600,000

The final accounting is still underway in Norman, Oklahoma and the numbers are staggering as the seventh annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic counts the proceeds.

Comprised of a dinner/auction/concert and golf tournament the following day, the event has raised almost $3,000,000 since its inception for Oklahoma's children battling cancer and their families.

The perennially sold-out gathering was standing-room-only yet again on May 21-22, with co-emcee Larry The Cable Guy keeping the crowd in stitches and event namesake Toby Keith jumping on stage to perform with headliner David Allan Coe. Surprise guest, and Show Dog-Universal Music label mate, Phil Vassar also took the stage to rock the house for a few songs.

Top draws in the auction included dinner for 20 with Toby Keith. As it did last year, the meal generated such interest that Keith agreed to do two dinners, one for each of the top bidders at $28,000 a piece. A Super Bowl package went for $16,000 and top silent auction items included a canvas of Keith featuring the lyrics to "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song) that went for $3,900, Vikings and Jets Brett Favre jerseys at $4,100 and a Cal Ripken, Jr. package that brought in $3,500. Pros For Africa and Whitten-Newman Foundation Co-Founder Reggie Whitten donated a custom Triumph Rocket III motorcycle autographed by NFL stars Tommie Harris (Bears), Adrian Peterson (Vikings), Roy Williams (Bengals) and Mark Clayton (Ravens). The bike sold for $40,000 and Whitten intends to make the cycle donation an annual occurrence because, in his words, "Triumph" is exactly what he wants the sick children of Oklahoma to do.

Proceeds from this year's event will help fund the OK Kids Korral 16-room guest lodge, which will house pediatric cancer patients and their families on the grounds of Oklahoma University Medical Center. With completion expected in 2012, the 30,000 sq. ft. facility will be a haven of respite for families of young children struggling through cancer treatments.

Visit the Foundation website for full details.

TK and Garth Rock The House - On Two Sides Of The World

The Nobel Prize ceremonies are pretty high-brow events...so who'd a thunk that the awards dinner and concert afterwards would turn into such a cool party, one that included Toby Keith singing Rap with superstar actor, Will Smith?

Toby performed "God Love Her," "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)" and "American Ride," for the 8,000 folks at the concert. Toby, his wife, Tricia, plus his manager and publicist attended the ceremony to watch President Obama receive his Nobel Peace Prize.

It was at the after-party for guests and artists only, when Toby met actor Will Smith, Wyclef Jean, and Natasha Beningfield for what turned into a jamming party for all the artists and guests. Check out this link to catch Toby rapping with the best of them.

By now everybody knows that Garth Brooks came out of retirement (click to watch his pre-show interview with KMLE's Tim and Willy) for a 5 year contract to perform weekend shows at the Wynn Resorts Encore Theater in Las Vegas, on the condition that he could return home on a private jet to continue parenting his daughters on a full time basis as he's done for the last 10 years. The new gig began last Friday and Saturday as fans showed up from thousands of miles away to be as "one-on-one intimate" with Garth Brooks and his talent as you can be without having him singing in your living room.

The big question was, could the star whose show was so big and broad it entertained a million people in New York City's Central Park..be just as compelling by himself, with acoustic guitar and microphone in a venue that held about a thousand people?

The answer, a resounding yes!

Anybody that saw his show over the years experienced moments when he and his guitar would take over the show for a few songs,... but, could Garth and his guitar for an hour and a half, be as riveting and joyful?

The press was invited for the 8 and 10 o clock shows on Saturday night and a song or two into the first show, the answer was quick to come...he can do this, after all, he's Garth Brooks! His voice is still so strong and in tune, so powerful in the joy and emotion that made him great, you don't miss the big production on is records or the great band he had with him on the road.

Garth took the stage dressed in a hooded sweat shirt, baseball cap, jeans and hiking boots. No fancy sets or audio visuals of any kind, just a stool for him to sit on, which he used only to hold his bottle of water. Then, the tour-du-force of this master raconteur, humorist and vocalist begins.

Prior to the show we asked Garth how he had been preparing for this unique experience, whether he been writing notes, recollecting stuff he thought he could use in the show? But he says, "No, it's pretty easy to remember...and thank God I'm only 47, instead of 87, so it's pretty easy to remember the big milestones of my life."

Of course, it's one thing to have a good memory, but few people can recall the range of personal stories and tell them with such humor and pith that Brooks does so amazingly well. It was a wonderful night of humor and great music from the guy who will likely go down as one of the greatest performers America has ever produced. It's also interesting to hear the stories of his how his unique music was shaped by his being a fan of pop icons like James Taylor and Billy Joel. Their songs were included as well as the songs of his greatest country music influences, "The two Georges, George Jones and George Strait."

TRISHA JOINS IN ON THE FUN

At Friday's press conference Garth was asked if Trisha would ever join him during these shows. He said, not that night because she wasn't feeling good. But , about an hour and 20 minutes into the Saturday 8 o'clock show, Trisha came on stage to such a thunderous welcome, Garth exclaimed, "All of the sudden I'm 'Mr. Yearwood!''

Trisha looks great and sang her debut hit "She's In Love With The Boy.'" Then Garth suggested "Walk Away Joe," and ended up singing some sweet harmonies with her on the song." She performed on the later show as well.

GARTH TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WITH FAMILY

Friday Garth provided an example of how the concerts and his family life will work. He flew in for the press conference and first show with his oldest daughter, Taylor," and Trisha. "We're flying out in the morning so that she can participate in a soccer match in Memphis."

Bottom line, the "Only Garth" shows at Wynn Resorts are a resounding success with the first audiences that managed to grab up the tickets to see this uniquely talented performer prove that
"Only Garth", is plenty enough for a great night of music and memoirs from an American music superstar.

- Neil Haislop

TK Meets BBC (Again)

Toby Keith's "World Tour" culminates on December 11 with a performance at Nobel Prize Week and meanwhile he's touring, visiting troops, performing.

"Toby Keith is a massive-seller in the USA but relatively unknown around the rest of the world."

This morning, he did a revealing interview with "The Strand," talking frankly (as usual) about his experiences and sharing his secrets to songwriting, while performing acoustically as well (click to listen)

Play "Rock Band" With TK

"Get ready all you gamers, we’ve got Toby Keith songs for Rock Band. We’ve created the ultimate six pack of songs for you to play along with the band and me." -- Toby Keith

Keith will make his Rock Band debut with the addition of six tracks to the Rock Band® Music Store of downloadable content.

Release Date:
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360®)
Thursday, April 9, 2009 (PlayStation®Store)

Tracks:
Toby Keith "Beer for My Horses"
Toby Keith "I Love This Bar"
Toby Keith "She’s a Hottie"
Toby Keith "Should've Been a Cowboy"
Toby Keith "Who's Your Daddy?"
Toby Keith "How Do You Like Me Now"
(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price:
$1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$9.99 (800 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for Toby Keith 6-pack

News: Chesney/McAnally #1, Urban At Daytona, AJ's New Story Song, TK In Country Weekly

From Neil Haislop:

KENNY CHESNEY SAILS HIS LATEST “DOWN THE ROAD” INTO #1 WITH MAC McANALLY as co-captain taking Kenny more calmly down the superstar highway his more rocking tunes have launched him on. The more simple song style, simply makes Chesney more happy…

“I am really happy about having a #1 with my very good friend, and frankly, one of my songwriting heroes,” Chesney says of the achievement. “The idea that you can go in the studio with a couple guitars and a great lyric, that people want to hear that… that it's still okay to make records like this… that says a lot about what people really want and respond to.

“Down The Road” received an Academy of Country Music Vocal Event nomination earlier this week. The song marks a string of stellar collaborations on Chesney's records that include Randy Travis, Uncle Kracker, Willie Nelson, George Strait and Dave Matthews.

“Having an ACM nomination with Mac is icing on the cake,” says the 4-consecutive and current Academy of Country Music and 4-time and reigning Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year. “If they gave awards for heart and soul, for being gifted, for singing the way he does, nobody could touch him… To be able to be part of a nomination with Mac McAnally is about as good as it gets.”

Keith Urban’s (shown with Tom Cruise at the race) Daytona 500 pre-race performance Sunday was heard by a quarter million fans live at the track, and nearly 40 million viewers on the national TV hookup.Nearly 30,000 of the more than 250,000 fans that lined the legendary Daytona International Speedway infield received a special treat when Urban opened his set, with his #1 smash “Days Go By,” on a satellite stage placed in the middle of the crowd. After the song Urban returned to a massiveNASCAR-created stage, to play his current hit “Sweet Thing” from his Marcm31st CD release Defying Gravity as well as “Better Life”.

The Alan Jackson tune, “Sissy’s Song,” is personal, one that he wrote and recorded as a tribute to a family friend.

Alan explains, “It’s a lady that worked here at our house and household and they’d been with us for a few years and she was like family, just a real sweet young woman…just part of your life more that some of my relatives back in Georgia. and she died suddenly in an accident this last spring…and I had a hard time dealing with it, I just didn’t feel right and it was tough on all of us. And, I set down one day and wrote this song…and after that I felt alright…it might help anybody that’s lost somebody…especially someone that’s young, untimely, it might help them a little bit.”

In the current, on stands issue of Country Weekly, they’ve compiled 30 facts you might not know about Toby Keith, such as…

“He got his first look at future wife Tricia at a dance hall in 1981 where it was love at first sight—at least for him! A life-long Democrat, he re-registered as an Independent last year after being angered by liberal criticism of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Commenting on his politics, Toby says, “I don’t see right and left. I see right and wrong.”

Toby Keith And Stephen Colbert "Duet" To Christmas

Click here to get a preview, suitable for stealing for some silly Holiday imaging drops (with credit of course), of the very funny TK's musical contribution to Colbert's Christmas Special.

I'd link to the hilarious Willie Nelson segment of the show, but you wouldn't be able to see it through all the smoke..

TK Makes Another Forbes ($$$) List

Toby is one of '08's "the world's best-paid music stars" again. Keith ranks No. 3 on the list, behind the Police and Beyonce, with $48 million in earnings between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008. Following Keith in the top five are Justin Timberlake and Madonna.

"Maybe Toby should be sitting in this week during the President's big financial summit." - Neil Haislop

Meanwhile, a special message from Toby was just posted on his official website.

"To my Warriors: The Biggest and Baddest summertime tour ended in Salt Lake City Saturday night. Now we are headed up to Canada to play some shows and we will continue the Biggest and Baddest tour after the first of the year. I want to stop and thank you for the support you have shown. It’s always good to see so many familiar faces in the crowds and at the meet and greets throughout the tour. It’s been a full year for us writing and filming a movie, my annual USO tour to Iraq and Afghanistan, a 35 Biggest Hits CD release, the movie hitting theaters, my new studio album October 28th and the Beer For My Horses DVD release November 11. I am looking forward to seeing you again down the road and thanks again for always being there."

PS: Forbes listed country's wealthiest earners in a last last May and Toby topped that one as well. Click to see what Forbes estimates country stars made last year.

If They Don't Like Toby Keith's New Movie In Oklahoma

.. where would they?

The Oklahoman gives it 2 1/2 stars but admits that "TK fans are likely to enjoy it."
Tulsa's World: "beer turns lukewarm"
Daily Variety: "..even ticketbuyers with a hearty appetite for hayseed humor may be repulsed by the coarse cornpone tomfoolery.."

Jaye Albright: "hey, critics, this is just for a fun, country-filled two hours at the movies, Toby's not trying to be the next Shakespeare, he just wants to entertain his fans, one of which is ME."

"Beer For My Horses" Exclusive Movie Preview

... Thanks to A&O's buddy Neil Haislop, who attended the Hollywood showing: Toby Keith's Show Dog records just released the first single from the Beer For My Horses The Movie soundtrack including the track list for the rest of the album. They also released the video clip with Trailer Choir singing the single, "Off The HIllbilly Hook," plus several cool and funny scenes from the film.

The movie is a road trip comedy starring Keith and comedian Rodney Carrington as sheriff's deputies chasing a drug lord and kidnapper. Written by Keith and Carrington, the film also stars Claire Forlani (CSI: NY), guitar legend Ted Nugent, Barry Corbin, Greg Serano, with special appearances by country icon Willie Nelson and Golden Globe nominee Tom Skerritt.

Toby tells us that once he stepped back and looked at the cast of players they'd gathered, he felt right then that the project was going to be successful.

"To have all these characters, all these human beings from different parts of the world is amazing. Like Claire (Forlani) she knows nobody in country music, she didn't know me, she knew Johnny Cash and that's it. And, she lives in Hollywood and a very liberal person and then you have Ted Nugent over here on the other side, who thinks everybody should have a .50 Cal. machine gun over the portal to their home, and you've got every other thing in the middle of those extremes from musicians to Hollywood and they all get along fine on the set and come away finding everybody adorable was the kind of set we had," -- Toby Keith

To catch just some of the excitement of the Toby's film check out the video clip of the first single from the soundtrack album for "Beer For My Horses."

Toby Keith's Newest "ILTB&G" May Be In Kansas

A new Harrah's, including a TK restaurant, was one proposal presented to the Kansas Lottery Commission after four developers on Monday proposed their ideas for building resort casinos in Sumner County in south-central Kansas. The commission didn't say when they would vote on the proposals, but they face a deadline May 27.

Meanwhile, Toby is wrapping up his new CMT-produced movie (set for theatrical release on August 8), filming of which started after he returned from an Iraq and Afganistan USO tour and getting ready to tour this summer (starting in Birmingham), so it's as busy as ever in his world.

Scenes from "B4MH" are now posted on Toby's website.

Toby Keith, Hero

People's Eileen Finan broke the story: TK and his USO tour troupe encountered mortar fire while they were performing in Afganistan.

Keith, on an 18-show USO tour through the Persian Gulf, was right in the middle of his song "Weed With Willie" when mortar fire on the base interrupted him Thursday night.

"We all ran about 100 yards to a concrete bunker," says Keith's agent, Curt Motley, who is also on the USO tour. Keith, 46, and his band hunkered down with the soldiers in a bunker about an hour, signing autographs and posing for shots to pass the time.

Ask anyone who has spent quality time with him: Keith does this dangerous duty because of his tremendous respect and admiration for the job our troops are doing.

60 Shows A Year Is Toby Keith's "Magic Number"

Toby tells Neil Haislop that he used to do over twice as many dates each year than he does these days. He says over the last few years he's kept his tour dates to around a magic number of 60 big shows a year.

"We used to do a hundred or so, in '95 I did 150 shows. But, through the years we got it down to doing the 60 biggest cities and call it good. We try to protect our markets and stay out of there a year," he says so as not to burn out their welcome. "There are some like Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh, D.C. and other places where we had to do two shows at those amphitheaters and we'll have four or five of those that will add it up a little bit."

TOBY'S BIGGEST AND BADDEST TOUR 2008 kicks of June 19th in Birmingham, Alabama. Montgomery Gentry will open for him along with Show Dog Nashville's fresh new trio Carter's Chord, comprised of the three Robertson sisters, and new signing Mica Roberts

It's Almost A Wrap On "Beer For My Horses"

Primary photography for Toby Keith's film, "Beer For My Horses," is set to wrap up March 15th. Toby has been working his cinematic tail off since he appears in nearly every major scene of the film. Word is that it's Toby's best work as an actor, and screenwriter with the scenes are coming off as funny as he and Rodney Carrington wrote them to be.

Co-stars Tom Skerritt and Claire Forlani have remarked that they're "completely impressed with Toby's acting and script," say he's "great." Funny man, Carrington, is getting high marks for his comedic acting, as well.

The only downside to the filming in New Mexico is that it's been freezing weather for the past few days.

Written by Neil Haislop

Out Of Afghanistan And Into Baghdad

On his fifth USO Tour, Toby Keith travels to visit US troops in the Persian Gulf and Germany.

The tour started off with a performance at a remote Forward Operating Base on the Pakastani border in Afghanistan. Two separate mortar attacks served as a sendoff from the region to Baghdad, where he arrived with a big welcome as nearly 200 soldiers, airmen and marines greeted him at the airport.

Toby took pictures and signed autographs with hundreds of soldiers from the 1st Calvary and the 3rd Infantry Division as well as members of Task Force Troy. A couple more mortar attacks only served as a reminder of why Toby sets aside at least two weeks each year to perform for our armed forces. The day was completed with a performance for more than 5,000 troops at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

Toby said. “I am honored to perform before the brave men and women in the military. It is one of my greatest pleasures to get to play for them”.

The native Oklahoman previously traveled to Africa, Cuba, Belgium, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Italy, Germany and numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO.

Big Dog Daddy Goes Viral

Don't be surprised if a TK fan tells you about his new album, which is due out on June 3:

"Interested in winning a flyaway trip to Toby's show at Red Rocks? How about getting a limited print collectible Special Warrior Edition copy of Toby's new studio album, Big Dog Daddy by street date? How'd you like to be set for Father's Day because each CD you order comes with a special Father's Day card from Toby! How about helping to promote our favorite Big Dog, and getting rewarded for your efforts? We've put together the most incredible presale offering in TobyKeith.com's history, and we're proud to let you in on it! Not only can you get a limited print collectible Special Warrior Edition Big Dog Daddy CD, but you could find yourself (and a guest) rockin to Toby's Big Dog Daddy Tour at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado! We have all that and more at TobyKeith.com with the launch of Operation: Big Dog. "

Get a lesson in using fans to grow a brand from Toby Keith's new website. He writes a pretty compelling promo too!

TK Plans To Do A Movie Every Two Years

Toby Keith's debut film "Broken Bridges" has been such a positive experience for him that he's planning on acting in films often.

"I'm going to try to do a movie every other year," Toby says matter of factly. 'It's about all I can do, unless something comes along that's great that I don't have that much to do with somebody else's movie maybe spend a month playing a great part, I'd do that. But, to have the lead role, have a whole movie wrapped around what I do, I can only do about every other year. It's real time consuming, a lot more than people want to believe it is. Even if you're only shooting for 6 or 8 weeks, the prep time for it and all the media and the soundtrack and all that stuff we get involved in a Show Dog, its really time consuming. I'm working on a script right now called, "Beer For My Horses," I'm going to do a full motion picture on it. I just got get off my lazy butt and finish the script."

-- Neil Haislop