CRS Day One

Hello from Nashville! The Country Station is attending the Country Radio Seminar. Day One begins with several meet and greet get-togethers, so old friends can reconnect, and attendees can make new acquaintances for the week ahead. Plus, you eat more than you do on a cruise ship, because most showcases and functions provide food and, oh yeah, an open bar. It will be a good week! Now you know why so many attendees think the acronym CRS stands for “can’t remember stuff.”

Much of the convention discusses the radio business, but a lot of the events are designed to showcase new artists to radio. It’s an opportunity for programmers from around the country to see, hear, and meet the artists who will be sending singles and asking for airplay. A lot of now-famous acts have made great impressions on radio through these types of showcases. Your humble scribe had the opportunity to see a young man named Scott Lindsey, who looks and sounds a lot like Jason Aldean. Also up for a couple of songs were The Bellamy Brothers – The Second Generation. Ok, that’s a long name for a duo, but Jesse and Noah Bellamy are the sons of David Bellamy, one of The Bellamy Brothers. They are now performing their own brand of country music.

Later, it was off to Mt. Richmore, John Rich’s house. This is the house that hits built! It’s ultra-modern in design, dazzled with a hint of Texas longhorn. Its multi-levels make it tall, but it’s still smaller than one would imagine a superstar’s mansion would be. Although, what it lacks in expansiveness, it makes up for in swank. Mr. Rich’s home is built with a nightclub on two floors, complete with a hanging mirrored-saddle. It’s like a disco ball, but it was a saddle, covered in mirror chips and spinning. Tonight was the first time that an artist got to perform on his personal stage. The Jane Dear Girls were quite entertaining and very talented on a variety of instruments. One has played fiddle since she was two years old. The other girl played acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, and harmonica. John was quite humble in welcoming the gathering of radio folk to his home, saying that many people were impressed with the full-service bar. He said, “I didn’t put a bar in my house; I put a house in my bar.” After John’s invitation to “look around,” many guests went up to check out the pool / yard / and patio on the roof. Yes, the grass was on the roof, and the pool sunk down to the 4th floor with a window in the wall overlooking the bar and nightclub. Perhaps so guests can hold their breath and watch a show on the stage from under the water? Presumably the first two floors that were off-limits to guests were the personal living quarters. For exclusive tidbits about John Rich’s party, and other offerings this week at CRS, be a friend of the KGRT Facebook page.

Still to come this week: a performance from Taylor Swift, who sent out “thank you” cupcakes to CRS attendees (delicious); a 10-year celebration performance from Rascal Flatts; a special announcement from Brooks & Dunn on Thursday; the New Faces of Country Music Class of 2010 Show with Chris Young, Justin Moore, Randy Houser, Love & Theft, and Gloriana; and much more. Stay Tuned.