Canada Country Aircheck Issue 11

CANADA COUNTRY AIRCHECK This is a special issue where we spotlight everything that is going on next week as we lead up to the 50th CMA Awards next Wednesday November 2nd. This will be a very special night and this year is a black tie event. We will also have our reular features.

6 8 20

We are goingg to tell you who is performing on the show. We also have a special offer for Canadian radio as we go backstage during rehearsals

17

There is someone getting a very special award. We will tell you who and what award.

13

Check out Indie Releases

18

11

We have our weekly DMDS Report listing the top downloads from the last week.

We bring you the news from Canada and Nashville.

Eric Church is releasing a special album and it will only be available at WalMart. Sounds like a cool album.

Dan Davidson has a new single and this indie artist is making big waves in country music.

We’d love to hear your feedback e-mail us here.

DALLAS SMITH TO PERFORM ON THE CP HOLIDAY TRAIN

Starting on November 26th Dallas gets on the CP Holiday Train in Montreal and travels across Canada ending on December 17th in BC. “We are very excited about this year’s CP Holiday Train and are encouraging all event attendees to bring healthy, nutritious food items to the shows,” said Pam Jolliffe, Interim Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. “For the last two decades, CP has played an integral role in raising essential food for the holidays and in raising awareness of hunger-related issues.”

Every pound of food and dollar raised at each stop stays with the local food bank to help feed those in need in that community.

You can check the schedule to see when the CP Holiday Train will be in your area http://www.cpr.ca/ holiday-train/schedule-canada Visit Dallas Smith Online www.DallasSmithMusic.com http://twitter.com/DallasSmith facebook.com/dallassmithmusic

THEN NOW FOREVER COUNTRY CMA AWARDS 50TH On November 2nd you need to tune into ABC at 8/7C to watch the 50th Annual CMA Awards. This is going to be an awards show like no other. It will be a who’s who in Country music and Canada Country Aircheck will be there to bring you all the winners.

Artists set to perform include Alabama, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Reba, George Strait, Underwood, and Keith Urban and just announced today Charlie Daniels and Randy Travis; former Entertainer of the Year winners Ricky Skaggs and Roy Clark; former CMA Awards host Clint Black; CMA Awards winners Jason Aldean, Jennifer Nettles, and Martina McBride; 2016 CMA Awards nominees Chris Stapleton

and Thomas Rhett; and multi-format sensations Elle King, Pentatonix, and Dwight Yoakam.

“This is a celebration of Country Music – both contemporary and the classics – that is certain to resonate with music fans,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “’The 50th Annual CMA Awards’ will certainly reflect our history, but it is equally important to recognize our current nominees and the hits of today.”

“The 50th Annual CMA Awards” will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:0011:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

If your station is interested in receiving artist clips next week before the awards e-mail me here

It was about a year ago that Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake rocked the CMA Awards and made Chris a household name. Released in May on Mercury Records Nashville, Traveller initially debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart with more than 27,000 albums sold, making it the best-selling first week by a debut country artist in 2015. The album also received immediate and extensive critical acclaim and landed him bookings on “Late Show with David Letterman,” “The View,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” among others.

Following a historic turn on the CMA Awards — Stapleton is the first artist to win Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year at the same awards – Traveller became the first album to re-enter the Billboard 200 all-genre album chart at No. 1, where it stayed for two straight weeks. Stapleton also performed a “show-stealing” (Rolling Stone) duet on the live awards show with superstar and friend Justin Timberlake, which Entertainment Weekly called, “an

unapologetic display of abnormal levels of talent.”

Stapleton capped off the year with four nominations at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards — Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best Country Song (“Traveller”) and “Best Country Solo Performance (“Traveller”). Renowned and respected in Nashville, Stapleton has co-written six No. 1 hits for some of country music’s biggest stars and has continually worked as an in-demand session musician, providing masterful backup vocals and guitar work to countless pieces of music.

One of the top nominees in 2016, Stapleton’s list of nominations includes Entertainer (his first in the category); Male Vocalist; Single for “Nobody to Blame”; Music Video for “Fire Away”; and Musical Event of the Year with life and stage partner Morgane Stapleton (her first nomination) for “You Are My Sunshine.” Stapleton only receives one nomination for Single of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer.

KENNY CHESNEY TO RECEIVE CMA PINNACLE AWARD DURING “THE 50th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” CMA will present the Pinnacle Award to four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney during “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” airing live Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

The Pinnacle Award recognizes an artist who has achieved global prominence through concert performances and record sales at levels unique in Country Music. The artist has also attained the highest degree of recognition within the broad expanse of music worldwide. The artist’s talent and presence will have a long-term positive impact on the appreciation of Country Music for generations to come.

“I can’t think of a better occasion than the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards to present an award of this magnitude to an artist of this caliber,” said

Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Kenny’s outstanding career and the millions of fans he has touched through his enormously popular stadium shows epitomize the definition of the Pinnacle Award.”

“When you do what you do, you never think it’s a big deal,” Chesney said with humility. “But when an organization like CMA recognizes you in this fashion, it makes you step back. To receive this award – especially during their 50th Anniversary – is such an honor, because they’re recognizing half a century of Country Music.”

The Pinnacle Award was created in 2005 when it was presented to Garth Brooks. The only other recipient is Taylor Swift (2013).

THE CMA 50TH AWARD NOMINEES A few years ago while talking with Miranda Lambert about the awards she told us that when she was a teenager she would write down who she thought would win and sit and watch the show to see if she was right or wrong. Sometimes as she said she got it right and sometimes she got it wrong. I think a lot of people do this and we are no different. So here is our choices of who we think will win or at least our guesses in colour.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Garth Brooks Luke Bryan Chris Stapleton Carrie Underwood Keith Urban SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s)) “Die a Happy Man” Thomas Rhett Produced by Dann Huff and Jesse Frasure Mix Engineered by Justin Niebank The Valory Music Co. “Humble and Kind” Tim McGraw Produced by Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw Mix Engineered by Byron Gallimore Big Machine Records “My Church” Maren Morris Produced by busbee and Maren Morris Mix Engineered by Dave Clauss and busbee Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville “Nobody To Blame” Chris Stapleton Produced by Dave Cobb and Chris Stapleton Mix Engineered by Vance Powell Mercury Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville

“Record Year” Eric Church Produced by Jay Joyce Mix Engineered by Jay Joyce and Jason Hall EMI Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s)) Black Dierks Bentley Produced by Ross Copperman and Arturo Buenahora, Jr. Capitol Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville Hero Maren Morris Produced by busbee, Maren Morris, and Brad Hill Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville Mr. Misunderstood Eric Church Produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr. EMI Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville Ripcord Keith Urban Produced by Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson, Dann Huff, Greg Wells, Nile Rodgers, busbee, K-Kov, Nathan Chapman, Jonny Price, and Keith Urban Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville

Storyteller Carrie Underwood Produced by Jay Joyce, Mark Bright, and Zach Crowell 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville/Sony Music Nashville SONG OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Songwriter(s)) “Burning House” Camaron “Cam” Ochs, Tyler Johnson, Jeff Bhasker “Die a Happy Man” Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett, and Joe Spargur “Humble and Kind” Lori McKenna “My Church” busbee and Maren Morris “Record Year” Eric Church and Jeff Hyde FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Maren Morris Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Dierks Bentley Eric Church Tim McGraw Chris Stapleton Keith Urban VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Old Dominion Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Joey + Rory Maddie & Tae MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to each Artist) “Different For Girls” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King Capitol Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville “Home Alone Tonight” Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild Capitol Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville “The Fighter” Keith Urban (featuring Carrie Underwood) Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville “Think of You” Chris Young (duet with Cassadee Pope) RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville “You Are My Sunshine” Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton Low Country Sound/Elektra Records NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR Kelsea Ballerini Brothers Osborne Maren Morris Old Dominion Cole Swindell MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR Our choice (Award goes to Artist and Director(s)) “Burning House” Cam Directed by Trey Fanjoy Notes: “Humble and Kind” struck such a strong positive message that all can associate with. It would be nice if Joey and Rory won the Vocal Duo as it would be a nice gesture for Joey.

HOT NEW SINGLE DAN DAVIDSON Dan’s previous single ‘FOUND’ defied the odds for one main reason; it touched listeners and it became instantly identifiable. This said, up until the release of Barn Burner listeners only had one song with which they can instantly identify Dan’s sound and music. We feel that ‘BARN BURNER’ could be Dan’s next top twenty single. I can’t imagine a single listener that won’t be ready to be uplifted and energized by an artist and a sound that in just two singles has become an incredible story in Canadian Country Music. You know it when you hear it.

Early believers include: ADDED at BX 93 - London, ON ADDED at QX 104 - CFQX - Winnipeg, MB

ADDED at GX 94 - Yorkton, SK ADDED at COUNTRY 93.3 - Fort McMurray, AB ADDED at 103.5 The EAGLE - Sydney, NS ADDED at 93. THE ONE - Leduc, AB ADDED at 88.1 THE ONE - Parkland, AB ADDED at 96.5 FM - CKFM- Olds, AB ADDED at SIRIUS XM CBC 171 ADDED at MOOSE FM - Ft. St. John, BC ADDED at COUNTRY 103 - CHAW - Manitoulin, ON ADDED at COUNTRY 107.3 - Tillsonburg, ON FEATURED at CFWE - Edmonton, AB FEATURED at COUNTRY 103 Kamloops, BC FEATURED at KG COUNTRY - Red Deer, AB FEATURED at Q 105.7 - Brooks, AB (Newcap) FEATURED at Q 93.3 - Stettler, AB (Newcap) FEATURED at Mountain Radio - Blairmore, AB FEATURED at KICX 91.7 - Sudbury, ON FEATURED at KICX 106 - Barrie, ON (Larche) FEATURED at CKRM - Regina, SK (Harvard) FEATURED at COUNTRY 94 - Ottawa, ON

IN THE NEWS JENNIFER NETTLES TO HOST “CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS” AIRING NOVEMBER 28 ON ABC Multi-talented entertainer Jennifer Nettles returns to host “CMA Country Christmas” as some of the most powerful and emotionally moving voices in music come together to celebrate the holidays. Taped in front of a live audience on Tuesday, Nov. 8 (7:00 PM/ CT; doors open from 5:30-6:30 PM/CT) at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

The popular holiday special is slated to air on the ABC Television Network on Monday, Nov. 28 (8:0010:00 PM/ET).

“The taping of ‘CMA Country Christmas’ has become a treasured holiday tradition for Nashville families,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

“And watching ‘CMA Country Christmas’ on ABC is equally important as generations gather to celebrate the season.”

Nettles, who is hosting the special for the seventh time this year, will release her first holiday album, To Celebrate Christmas, Oct. 28 on Big Machine Records. Special collaborations highlight lush harmonies with Idina Menzel on “Little Drummer Boy,” the jazz-influenced melody of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” alongside American-soul sensation Andra Day, and “Circle of Love” penned by friend and mentor Dolly Parton. The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter has kept a full schedule this year, releasing her critically-acclaimed sophomore album, Playing With Fire, joining label mates Cheap Trick for a “CMT Crossroads” that earned a CMT Music Awards nomination for Performance of the Year and headlining the 30+ city “CMT Next Women of Country Tour” across the U.S. and Canada alongside Brandy Clark, Lindsey Ell, and Tara Thompson. Visit JenniferNettles.com for upcoming tour dates and more.

A popular feature of the “CMA Country Christmas” taping is a toy drive. Audience members are invited to bring an unwrapped toy for deserving children in need throughout Middle Tennessee. In 2015, through a partnership with ABC Television Network and the

U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program, CMA collected more than 5,000 unwrapped gifts.

“Providing new toys for deserving children shines a spotlight on a worthy endeavor and reflects the values and spirit of giving found in our artists, industry, and city,” Trahern said.

“FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES” GARTH AND FRIENDS TO BE RELEASED FINALLY Garth Brooks is targeting fans who can’t wait until Black Friday to buy his new album by giving them a jacked-up box set two weeks early, in an exclusive arrangement with Target.

The track list, as reported in Billboard, includes several previously unreleased live performances, a cover of a Randy Travis song and a multiartist version of “Friends In Low Places” that was derailed a year ago in back-room negotiations with music publishers. If you remember Garth was going to release that last year but was blocked by music publishers so instead of the writers making a guarantee of $45,000 last year from this song they made $327.00 so I am guessing the writers got all over their publishers for turning down the deal Garth had offered last year.

Garth Brooks: The Ultimate Collection will be in stores on Nov. 11, packing 121 tracks into a 10-disc box set, favorably priced at $29.99. One of those discs is Gunslinger, due as a standalone album Nov. 25 on Brooks’ Pearl imprint.

DAUPHIN’S COUNTRYFEST Friday, June 30th Meghan Patrick Tim Hicks Keith Urban Saturday, July 1st Luke Bryan Sunday July 2nd Johnny Reid On June 29th, Manitoba’s own Doc Walker - a longtime Countryfest favourite - will headline the Thursday

Kick-off party on the MTS Stage.

“We couldn’t be happier with the line-up that is shaping up for 2017,” says Eric Irwin, president of Dauphin’s Countryfest. “Our producer Rob Waloschuk has done a tremendous job securing some of the biggest acts in country music today, and if you want to see them all in one place, then Dauphin, Manitoba is the place to be next summer!”

BCCMA Award Winners The BCCMA held their awards show on Sunday at the Hard Rock Theatre. Some of the performers included JoJo Mason, Patricia Conroy, Chris Buck Band, Madeline Merlo, The Washboard Union & Aaron Pritchett. One of the highlights of the evening was when Patricia Conroy took the stage and gave the audience a super performance leaving everyone talking.

Way to go Patricia! Here is a list of the winners. Congratulations to all the winners and all the nominees.

BC is turning out great country music talent.

Album / EP of the Year Chad Brownlee - Hearts On Fire Country Club Act of the Year Chris Buck Band (Philip Puxley, Michael Vanderlans, Jesse Burch, Taylor Allum ) Country Venue of the Year The Roxy - Vancouver (Christian Aldred ) Don Adam’s Country Music Person of the Year Linda Corscadden

Male Vocalist of the Year Chad Brownlee Producer of the Year Jeff Johnson Radio Station of the Year Country 107.1 - Abbotsford Ray McAuley Horizon Award The Heels (Kyla Rawlins, Bobbi Smith Brittni Dominelli & Georgia Dominelli) Recording Studio of the Year Studio Downe Under (Soren Lonnqvist ) Roots Canadiana of the Year Award The Washboard Union Single of the Year Award Aaron Pritchett - Dirt Road In Em

Country On Air Personality Area Code 250 Louis BigRig McIvor - Country 103.1 Kamloops

Socan Songwriter of the Year Award The Washboard Union - Maybe It’s The Moonshine (Chris Duncombe, David Roberts, Aaron Grain, Grant Vogelfanger, and Witt McKay)

Country On Air Personality Area Code 604 Curtis Pope- Country 107.1 Abbotsford

Video Director of the Year Award Stephano Barberis

Entertainer of the Year Dallas Smith

Video of the Year Award Aaron Pritchett - Dirt Road In Em

Fans Choice Award Aaron Pritchett

Website of the Year Award Ben Klick - www.benklick.com

Female Vocalist of the Year Madeline Merlo

Humanitarian of the Year Award Twin’s Cancer, Gone Country - Here for the Cure

Gaylord Wood Traditional Country Award Jackson Hollow (Tianna Lefebvre-Sanyshyn, Mike Sanyshyn, David Barber& Kirby Barber )

Volunteer of the Year Award Murray Bureyko

Group Duo of the Year The Washboard Union (Brett Ellis, Chris Dunner & David Roberts )

Presidents Citation Steve Adams Barb Adams - Tim Hortons Surrey CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!

Top DMDS Downloads for October 18th to October 25th OCTOBER 18TH 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Adrienne Taylor “Small Town Gossip” (Indie) Renee Lamoureux “Warrior” (Indie/L. Tutty Promo) Granger Smith “If The Boot Fits” (Sony) Garth Brooks “Baby, Let’s Lay Down And Dance” (Pearl/Sony) James Barker Band “Just Sayin’” (Universal)

OCTOBER 25TH 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Little Big Town “Better Man” (Universal) JoJo Mason “Made For You” (Manicdown/604/R. Chubey Promo) Dan Davidson “Barn Burner” (Indie/Sharp 9 Promo) Connor James “Mistake (or Memory)” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo) The Abrams “Champion” (Warner)

OCTOBER 19th 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Gord Bamford “Fall In Love If You Want To” (Sony) The Abrams “Champion” (Warner) James Barker Band “Just Sayin’” (Universal) Chantal Preston “Just Wing It” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo) Teigan Gayse “Your Girlfriend’s Crazy” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo)

Most Added This Week BRAD PAISLEY “Today” GARTH BROOKS “Baby, Let's Lay Down And Dance” JAMES BARKER BAND “Just Sayin” GORD BAMFORD “Fall In Love If You Want To”

OCTOBER 21st 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

James Barker Band “Just Sayin’” (Universal) Dustin Lynch “Seein’ Red” (Sony) Tucker Beathard “Rock On” (Dot/Big Machine) Gord Bamford “Fall In Love If You Want To” (Sony) Genevieve Fisher “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (Indie)

OCTOBER 24TH 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Genevieve Fisher “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (Indie) Emily Bashall “Up On The Hill” (Indie) Jerrod Niemann and Lee Brice “A Little More Love” (Warner) Brad Paisley “Today” (Sony) Thomas Rhett “Star Of The Show” (Valory/Big Machine)

BLAKE SHELTON “A Guy With A Girl” Luke Bryan “Move” First week at number 1 Top Canadian on the Charts is Dallas Smith “Autograph” at # 5 Brad Paisley “Today” Most Added most increased plays comes in on the chart at #44 this week.

Eric Church to Release Mr. Misunderstood On the Rocks Live & (Mostly) Unplugged Eric Church is deep in planning and rehearsals for his Holdin’ My Own Tour that kicks-off in January, however until fans get their fix in-person, Eric Church is answering their demand with a new release, Mr. Misunderstood On the Rocks Live & (Mostly) Unplugged. The collection features seven songs, six from Mr. Misunderstood, recorded at the Red Rocks Amphitheater is Morrison, Colo.

Church commemorates the surprise release of Mr. Misunderstood on its one-year anniversary— when he dropped it unannounced during the 49th CMA Awards after sending over 80,000 copies directly to his fans— with the release of the live album that features incredible raw versions of songs that insist “music is fuel for love, for anguish and, naturally, for other music” (New York Times).

True to his fans-first approach, Church invited those at home to partake in his two-night concert as he broadcast not only part of his show, but also his announcement of his 60+ city 2017 Holdin’ My Own Tour from Facebook Live. Mr. Misunderstood On the Rocks Live, Church’s first live album since 2013’s Caught in the Act: Live, captures this special collection of performances including a Red Rocks Medley of “Mistress Named Music” and a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” in which Rolling Stone said Church “delivered his soul-bearing rendition in tender, fragile style, quietly picking a hollow-bodied electric guitar and singing softly, as if he were alone in a giant natural cathedral.”

The release of the Red Rocks album where Church’s “songs posit music as a magical sun shower to bathe in blissfully,” [New York Times] comes as the seven-time GRAMMY nominee celebrates his second single off Mr. Misunderstood, “Record Year” hitting the top of the charts. Fans can enjoy the live recording of the three-time CMA Awards and five-time ACM Awards Winner’s recently-released, pertinent current single, “Kill a Word” that “unpacks a mighty image” [AXS] on On the Rocks Live available at

Walmart retailers country-wide Nov. 4.

Mr. Misunderstood On the Rocks Live & (Mostly) Unplugged: 1. “Mistress Named Music - Red Rocks Medley” Eric Church - Vocals, Acoustic guitar Driver Williams – Electric guitar Jeff Cease - 12 String guitar Jeff Hyde – Acoustic guitar Lee Hendricks – Bass guitar Craig Wright – Drums Joanna Cotten – background vocals 2. “Chattanooga Lucy” Eric Church – Acoustic Guitar, Vocals Jeff Hyde – Acoustic Guitar Jeff Cease – 12 String acoustic Lee Hendricks - Bass Driver Williams – Electric guitar Craig Wright - Drums Joanna Cotten – Back-up vocals, tambourine 3. “Mixed Drinks About Feelings” Eric Church – Acoustic Guitar, vocals Jeff Cease – Piano Joanna Cotten – Backup vocals 4. “Knives of New Orleans” Eric Church – Acoustic Guitar, vocals 5. “Kill a Word” Eric Church – Acoustic guitar, vocals Jeff Hyde – Acoustic guitar Jeff Cease – Dobro Craig Wright – Drums Driver Williams – Electric Guitar Lee Hendricks – Bass Joanna Cotten – Backup vocals 6. “Record Year” Eric Church – Acoustic guitar, vocals Jeff Cease – Electric Guitar Lee Hendricks – Piano 7. “Hallelujah” Eric Church - Electric guitar, vocals

INDIE RELEASES

Andrew Frelick When I Was Little

Jasen Ridge Deep Water

Renee Lamoureux

Chantal Preston

“Warrior”

“Just Wing It”

Dan Davidson “Barn Burner”

Eli Barsi “Screamin ‘ Jimmy”

Jessica Rhaye Arlene Quinn “Life Is Good”

Ally Kearley “Still The One”

“Good To Be Alive in the Country”