March 26, 2018, Issue 594
ACM Preview: We Go Back
In a little more than two weeks, country goes to Las Vegas for “The Week Vegas Goes Country” and the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards. As the first major country music event in the city since the Route 91 Harvest tragedy, this year’s show and associated events will navigate deeper emotions. That’s not the only way it’s a return, however, as ACM CEO Pete Fisher explains. CA: After holding last year’s awards at the relatively new T-Mobile Arena, why is the show going back to the MGM Grand Garden Arena? PF: The simple answer is hockey. Who would have thought [new Las Vegas NHL Pete Fisher franchise] the Golden Knights would be a playoff contender – as is Nashville, of course – but until they are mathematically eliminated the building can’t be booked. MGM is partners in T-Mobile as well as the Grand Garden, which is a wonderful venue and more of a music room than T-Mobile. The venue has great support space for talent and other aspects of production. And the industry doesn’t even have to walk outside to go to the arena, and we know they like that. How has the Party For A Cause aspect of the week evolved for this year? The goal is always to embrace what’s worked well with Party For A Cause as net proceeds go to ACM Lifting Lives, which improves lives through the power of music. We also want to live up to the moniker of “The Week Vegas Goes Country” and love having the critical mass of country music in one of the world’s top entertainment destinations. We’ve slightly modified the approach with a sharper focus on a few quality events like Stories, Songs & Stars. That’s an example of a critically acclaimed event we held last year (continued on page 9)
Remember When: RCA’s Chris Young and Riser House/ Columbia’s Mitchell Tenpenny raise money for The Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care at WKXC/Augusta, GA’s Music for Memories. Pictured (front, l-r) are RCA’s Dennis Reese, Tenpenny, the station’s Chris O’Kelley, Young and Columbia’s Lyndsay Church; (back, l-r) WQYK/Tampa’s Tee Gentry, Sony’s Steve Hodges and Columbia’s Shane Allen.
Social Goes Local Part Two Last week’s story (CAW 3/19) focused on Facebook’s recent algorithm changes and how brands have been affected. Personal connection, being local and positivity seem to be favored, which certainly plays to radio’s strengths. Finding clues and patterns was the approach for Girlilla Marketing, which represents artists and other brands.
Ashley Alexander
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