June 26, 2017, Issue 556
Hall Class Goes Deep
From insightful to inspirational, last week’s Country Radio Hall of Fame inductions in Nashville gave a glimpse of the people who make this industry great. Read in-depth stories from this year’s class in our June print issue here. CRB Board President Charlie Morgan introduced 2017 President’s Award recipient, UMG/Nashville’s Mike Dungan, who reiterated his commitment to Country Radio Seminar. Thanking his staff, artists and family, Dungan said, “I also want to thank everyone in radio. Well, almost everyone in radio, for being terrific partners in bringing the world’s greatest music, country music, to its place of dominance in our culture.” Martina McBride’s longtime label head Joe Galante introduced the Artist Career Achievement honoree, calling her voice “virtually unmatched.” Noting most credit any emotional dysfunction to their upbringing, McBride said, “I kind of trace mine back to Country radio. But it’s okay because it made me strong. All the hard work we put in ... made all the success that much sweeter.” She told stories of her radio tours and made a point to thank by name all the regionals and promotion execs she worked with along the way. “I always wanted to have songs on the radio and to have songs that mattered,” she said. “You guys allowed me to do both. Thank you.” On to the Class of 2017: Valory’s George Briner inducted his Tim Closson “brother from a different mother” Westwood One’s Tim Closson, regaling the crowd with a series of favorite stories and hinting at others he couldn’t tell. “What a ride,” Closson began. “It’s not over yet, but none of it happens without the people I’ve talked about tonight.” He thanked his wife and family, mentors and colleagues. Extending an (continued on page 8)
Prison Pose: Big Machine’s Rascal Flatts and WUSN/Chicago’s Marci Braun get a good laugh over the weekend at the Windy City Lake Shake after warning the label’s Alex Valentine that the rap squat is so 2014.
A Real Page Turner
After seven years of marriage, his wife surprised him by asking for a divorce. His son struggled with drug addiction, violated probation and was sentenced to 10 years in the Tennessee State Prison system. Meanwhile, the story’s protagonist was traveling across the country with artists and bands, and living “the high life” with radio friends. No, this is not the latest plot line for CMT’s Nashville. This is real life. Turner’s Big Radio & Record Adventure by radio and label vet Dale Turner is drawn from journals kept during a five-decade career in entertainment.
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