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three people. “Radio rabbi” Lon Helton was hailed for his sage advice, Butch Waugh was thanked for “doing what you’ve done and saying ‘Yes’” to Galante’s job offer, and wife Phran Galante “who has never been properly thanked” was addressed in a heartfelt tone as his “rock and guiding light.” Career Achievement honorees The Judds kept the crowd chuckling with their banter. “Knowing us, we’re going to be here a while,” Wynonna warned. “Go ahead and eat.” Mom Naomi tried on her radio voice, later turning serious to thank Country radio for the “paradigm shift” they created in their lives. Wy noted the three-to-five stations the duo visited each

CRS 2011: Hall Aboard The event may officially begin today (3/2), but “CRS Tuesday” has truly become a day of honor in the world of country music. Morning brought the news of three new Country Music Hall of Famers, and evening saw six inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Beyond career recognition, however, the day rang with deeper meaning, as it does every year. Few imaginable circumstances could keep Reba from attending the announcement of her ultimate professional affirmation, and yet she remained in Oklahoma with her ailing father as Bobby Braddock and Jean Shepard were acknowledged at the Hall of Fame. At the Radio Hall of Fame Dinner, Charlie Cook addressed the chair he left empty at his table in honor of his late parents and others who supported him. The daughters who were Dene Hallam’s greatest passion accepted on behalf of their departed father – a man who seemed to define passion for radio. And inductee Lee Rogers told of waking up in the hospital ICU after his recent strokes, telling the radio and industry crowd, “I learned in that instant not to take anything in life for granted.” He concluded his acceptance by defiantly throwing his walking cane across the stage. Those in attendance will never forget. Those who weren’t should circle the date for 2012. President’s Award recipient Joe Galante opened Tuesday’s post-dinner ceremonies with a story of being accosted by Charlie Monk at an early CRS, but turned serious in thanking

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Not For Plaque Of Trying: Tuesday night’s Country Radio Hall of Fame honorees gather following the dinner and induction. Pictured (l-r, top row) are Bill Payne, Charlie Cook, Joe Galante, Naomi Judd, Barry Kent, Dale Carter and Lee Rogers; (l-r, bottom) are CRB board member RJ Curtis; Samantha, Hayleigh and Elizabeth Hallam; CRB President Mike Culotta and CRB Exec. Dir. Bill Mayne.

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Hallam was celebrated in remarks by consultant Joel Raab, who remembered his friend as someone who would “never accept mediocrity” and had “incredible ears” for music and radio talent. Raab read a list of “seven life lessons” learned from Hallam, as submitted by Hallam’s mentor Ed Salamon: 1. Be dedicated to pursuing a career you love. 2. Do what is right regardless of the consequences. 3. Speak the truth, no matter how unpopular. 4. Always pay attention to detail. 5. Enjoy your work so it becomes your play. 6. Appreciate your friends. 7. Nothing is more important than family. To the last point, Hallam’s daughters Elizabeth, Hayleigh and Samantha accepted their father’s plaque, with Hayleigh saying, “We love you and we miss you. See you on the other side, superstar.” Jaye Albright introduced KFKF/Kansas City’s Dale Carter, noting his unflagging support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Carter took the podium and noted, “I’ve always been a disc jockey who just happened to be a PD.” Discussing his early interest in radio, Carter drew laughs when telling of his stepfather’s comments about “the benefits of military service.” He told how St. Jude became the cause that trumped his fear of flying and expressed his pride at signing on WWYZ/Hartford’s Country Cares radiothon, which to-date has raised more than $11 million. “I’m blessed in so many ways I can’t count them,” he said. Carter also apologized to his family, joking, “All of them have been show prep.” Concluding, he noted, “They say the Hall of Fame is a crowning achievement, but after 35 years I’m just getting started.”

day on their first radio tour, saying she reminds all new artists, “I want you to suffer like I did – in the backseat of a car with my mom.” She also threw down a gauntlet: “One of my goals for this year is to get back on Country radio. I’m just going to say it and claim it. Tonight is a marker for me, but it’s only the beginning.” Mike Borchetta introduced the night’s first inductee Bill Payne as “the original Prairie Home Companion.” Payne recalled his early days in radio, thanking “God, my family, the people who nominated me, my friends and my employees.” Noting that the people at his Payne Radio Group stations share a common goal with those assembled – promoting Country music – he concluded by saying, “What a time of humbleness for me. Today is a fulfillment of my dream.” Bobby Kraig brought out inductee Barry Kent from WTHI/Terre Haute, IN, who recounted some of his favorite CRS memories, wryly pointing out “everyone closes their curtains these days.” He told of meeting The Judds before their career took off, telling Wynonna, “We’ll play ya!” His lifelong devotion to radio was a recurring theme and he pointed out, “I’m truly blessed to be able to go to work every day and do what I do. I truly love my job.” Kent’s final salute was to his late mother, “Not bad for a little fat boy from West Terre Haute!” he exclaimed. CRB’s Bill Mayne brought on veteran programmer and air talent Rogers, who Mayne described as a man who “lives life large.” Rogers’ tale of signing off at KUPL/Portland and having his move to Phoenix interrupted by two strokes set an emotional tone for the rest of his remarks. He thanked the artists who instilled his love of music, acknowledged all the “GMs who wanted to fire me but didn’t” and said, “I would take a bullet for Jaye Albright to this day.” Mentioning the importance of show prep and waiving his stack of notes he told his fellow personalities, “You do not receive one of those [plaques] without doing a lot of this.” Rogers choked up while thanking his wife, Peggy, and stunned the crowd by introducing the man he “shared a hooch” with while serving in Vietnam. The two reconnected on the internet this year after being out of touch for 43 years. The night reached its emotional pinnacle when Rogers closed by proclaiming, “Believe in yourself, believe in God and don’t give up until the PD across the street is fired on Christmas Eve!”

Filling The Circle: Two of the three 2011 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees, Bobby Braddock and Jean Shepard, pose in the Hall Rotunda following this morning’s announcement of their upcoming inclusion in the hallowed institution. The third, Reba McEntire, was not in attendance as she tends to her ailing father.

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Final inductee Cook was introduced by Lon Helton, who along with Rogers completes the former KLAK-AM/Denver airstaff triumvirate in the Hall. “Everywhere you look, you find managers, programmers and air talents he’s mentored over the years,” Helton said of Cook’s legacy. Cook thanked CRB founder Chuck Chellman, hailed his long association with the ACM, talked of meeting a turban-and-harem-pants-wearing Mike McVay and tipped his hat to United Stations for continuing to let him tap into his creative air personality vein. Cook was heartfelt in addressing his eldest daughter Jackie and his “Skype family,” wife Suzanne and daughter Izzy, who have not yet made the move from Los Angeles to West Virginia. His comedic side showed through when he mentioned his daughter’s third grade teacher’s disbelief that Cook was being inducted into a hall of fame: “I’ve met your dad and you’re going to have to come up with a much more believable excuse for missing school.” He went on to suggest “no one in the Hall of Fame has less talent than I do,” which Cook takes as proof he’s had a guardian angel looking out for his career.

More Country Listeners Embrace Streaming … So Should You At Albright & O’Malley’s Pre-CRS Client Seminar Tuesday, which featured warmly received performances by MCA’s Kip Moore and Mercury’s Randy Montana, A&O partner Jaye Albright showed that nearly 61% of P1 Country listeners now tune-in online weekly, up from less than 57%. The good news? Nearly 27% listen more to their local station because it’s online. Those who said it’s important for their fave Country station to stream jumped from 48%-56% in one year. Artist news, early-bird concert tickets and discount coupons are “desirable” station website attractions. Edison Media Research’s Larry Rosin says that while 12-24-year-old Country listeners are somewhat inclined to use Pandora, the service is “a bigger threat to radio because it’s one big brand,” as opposed to several smaller competitors. He advised, “Shutting up and just playing the music, followed by a lot of spots, is the worst thing you can. The future is not ‘12 in a row’; online services can do that better. I believe, more than anything, in personality radio. That’s why recruiting young people is so important.” Townsquare/Montana PD and Social Radio Pros partner Ray Massie offered a wealth of knowledge about the proper and improper use of Facebook, which he calls “a one-to-one relationship strategy, not a broadcast strategy. Stop talking about yourself.” He warned, “Stations are cannibalizing their own websites by driving listeners to Facebook. And you can’t make any money off doing that.” Talent coach Tommy Kramer encouraged broadcasters to focus on just one subject when encouraging a Facebook conversation. “The litmus test should be ‘Is it as good as one of your best songs?’ If you want reaction, don’t ask for calls or do a poll. Give an opinion.” Kramer cautioned against using Twitter for promos and commercial-sounding imaging. “That’s the worst way ever. What matters most is the listener.” Perhaps the most sobering advice came from Jacobs Media partner Paul Jacobs regarding the growth of streaming radio and importance of mobile: “Stop treating your stream as a second-class citizen. Pandora is committed to mobile and to hurting radio. You want your station six inches away. Ignore it at your own peril.”

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The Day Ahead Here’s an all-in look at the official CRS proceedings for Wednesday, March 2:

9:30-11am Keynote With Ken Lowe National Anthem by Carrie Underwood Speaker Scripps Networks Interactive CEO Ken Lowe NCC 204-205

11-11:30am Presentation of Humanitarian Awards Mary Quass (NRG Media) - Tom Rivers Award Artist Humanitarian Award Presenters Mike Culotta (WQYK/Tampa) and Lois Chooljian (Radio Ink) NCC 204-205

11:30-12:20pm Digital Life: Doing Business In An Increasingly Digital World Shelly Palmer (NBC Universal Live Digital With Shelly Palmer) NCC 204-205

12:30-2:50pm UMG Luncheon Gary Allan, Laura Bell Bundy, Hayes Carll, Coldwater Jane, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Dani Flowers, Vince Gill, Mallary Hope, Jamey Johnson, Josh Kelley, Randy Montana, Kip Moore, David Nail, Randy Rogers Band, Ashton Shepherd, Canaan Smith, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack and special guests Ryman Auditorium

3-3:50pm Compelling On Air Interviews: What Makes The Meter Move! Chris Car (WUBE), Philippe Generali (Media Monitors), Captain Jack (WKMK), Tommy Kramer (Talent Coach), Lon Helton (moderator) NCC 206

3-3:50pm Show Me The Money: The Economics of the Radio and Music Industry Ken Robold (UMG), Chuck Flood (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy Inc.), Tom English (Clear Channel), Erica Farber (moderator) NCC 204-205

4-5:20pm KCRS Live! Sponsored By Stroudavarious Rivers Rutherford, Aaron Lewis, LoCash Cowboys, Jeffrey Steele, Bob Kingsley (host) NCC 204-205

After Hours4pm-2am Connections: CRS Private Bar Renaissance Grand Ballroom

6pm Artist/Attendee Welcome Reception NCC Level 1

7:30pm Music City Jam Sponsored by Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 honoring the Wounded Warrior Project Blake Shelton NCC Performance Hall

7:30pm Chords Of Hope MS Benefit Concert Clay Walker & Guests Wildhorse Saloon (120 2nd Ave N)

10pm WMN’s Motown Throwdown Blake Shelton, John Rich, the JaneDear girls, James Otto, the Dirt Drifters, Brett Eldredge, Frankie Ballard, Gloriana, Uncle Kracker, Ty Stone, Craig Campbell, Jason Jones and special Motown guests aVenue (120 3rd Ave S) RSVP: wmgnash.rsvp@wmg.com

9:30pm Capitol EMI Party Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Walker Hayes Hard Rock Café (100 B’way)

10pm Skytone Showcase Leah Seawright Renaissance Fisk Room

10pm SDU: Incognito Bandito Margaritaville (322 B’way) Contact SDU rep for details

10:30pm Stoney Creek: Thompson Square w/Ash Bowers The Wheel (421 B’way)

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