CMJ NOMINATIONS THE STATION AWARDS.

Welcome back friends! Yesterday I went through the reasons Douglas Blake from Pirate! should be your pick for Promoter of the year.  (You can see that in the post below)  Today I wanted to go through the Station awards and how I pick who I will nominate.


This year there are 8 Station awards.  I would say the average promoter talks to 100+ stations. Some more, some less. So to divide those 8 awards up between those stations is difficult. I am sure quite a few promoters come from really great stations and will nominate them for a lot of the awards but lucky for me my station is dead so it is not something i consider.

Over the past week I have asked stations to tell me what they want to be nominated for, with that answer not being EVERYTHING.  I try to get the MD think about what their station should be recognized for. I know most MD's don't like to pick themselves for MD of the year but if thats what you think you should be recognized for I say go for it.

I also try and look at previous years awards and not nominate the same stations over and over again.
Last year WTBU won station of the year and MD of the year so I would try and pick someone else.

Here is the full list of last years winners.

Radio Awards

---

Station Of The Year
WTBU (Boston, MA)

Music Director Of The Year
Ingrid Jin, WTBU

Specialty Music Director Of The Year
Andrew Weiler, CJLO

Most Creative Programming
KALX (Berkeley, CA)

Best Community Resource
KUOM (Minneapolis, MN)

Best Student-Run, Internet-Only Station
WVAU (Washington, DC)

Best Taste In Music
Trevor Morrison, WHUS

Best Use Of Limited Resources
Radio UTD (Richardson, TX)

Rookie Of The Year
Michelle Feghali, WDBM

Biggest Champion Of The Local Scene
KUOM (Minneapolis, MN)

Biggest Improvement
WVFS (Tallahassee, FL)

Will Never Sell Out
Ross Koeberl, KUOM

 Not to say I won't nominate those stations for anything but I won't nominate them for what they won last year, but all of those stations above are still very good. 

So lets look at each award. (keep in mind these are from MY pool of stations) 

Most Creative Programming

Station with the most interesting and innovative programming

 For me this is almost a runner up to the Station of the Year award.  Last years winner KALX is a great example.  Other good stations I would consider for this award are KUOM, WVFS, KZSC, KVRX. 

Best Student-Run, Internet-Only Station

Student-run station doing great things without a terrestrial signal

Last Year WVAU won and they are not one of my stations. These stations tend to be on the smaller side but of course as it says above they do great things.  Out of my stations I really like Spinnaker radio in Florida, 

Small Station, Big Idea

Station that accomplished the biggest and best things with limited resources

I guess this station would be the one that is like the one above but has an actual signal. WLUR is one of the more consistent stations I have and I would consider them. WRRG as well. KSYM, KRSC all come to mind also. 

Biggest Improvement

Station that took the biggest strides in the past year

I always feel bad about this one. It's like you were pretty awful last year and well you are doing better this year. So I guess its a good thing that you are better but its mostly that we all disliked your former MD.  WLUW is one of the stations that has gotten better recently without changing MD's so thats one I will think about.  KTSW is doing good things. KSJS has also gotten its act together after what seems like a year off. WMUL has also done a good amount to improve. 

Biggest Champion Of The Local Scene

Station that best supports their surrounding city and community, from local bands to record stores to listenership and beyond

Last years winner KUOM is a great example of this and I don't fault anyone that nominates them again.  I would pick a station that tries to do a lot of different things with local artists and with artists while they are in town.  WDWN, WVFS, WBWC, and WTSR are good candidates this year. 

Specialty Music Director Of The Year

Best music director with a specialty/genre focus. Please include name and station.

As someone that just promotes to the top 200 I do not talk to a lot of specialty directors but if you have someone in mind I will post below with the other pushes from radio stations. 

Music Director Of The Year

Best overall music director. Please include name and station.

 Now we are on to the big guns. What makes a good music director? You might think I would say its someone that charts all of my records but it's not. It's someone that returns my calls and emails on a regular basis. That listens to the records I prioritize for that station and that has constructive feedback for me. Some of my favorite MD's barely play any of my records. But I respect them for the way they run the station.  

Its so hard to pick one but my short list  right now are Geoff from KRSC, Chloe from WLUW, Madison from WTSR, Shay from KZSC, Dan from WHUS, Jamie from WITR, Quentin from KUMD, Sean From KVMR and David from WVFS  One of those will be my  nomination. 

Station Of The Year

Best overall station

Now last year WTBU won Station of the year. They are not my station. But I was surprised. There was a lot of talk last year about how the awards are carried out both on the Industry and Station side and if the way the voting is done really leads to "the best" being rewarded. It really ends up being a numbers game at CMJ if you bring 30 people from your station, you get 30 votes and well you are more likely to win. I do not know if this was the case last year but this has been brought up to me many times as to how people win. With that said of the Music Directors listed above one of those stations will be my station of the year. And while you can see the 2 going hand in hand I try to have a different station in each category. That is just they way I choose to do it. 

So that does it. This years preview of the Station nominations for the CMJ awards. If you want me to add anything just tweet at me. 

So far I have received 2 emails promoting themselves, and If I get anymore I will post them here. 

This is From WKNC 

Biggest Champion Of The Local Scene -- We have 10 hours a week that are strictly NC music, featuring interviews and live performances of local bands. We also host Local Band Local Beer every Thursday. 

Small Station, Big Idea- Unfortunately our university does not entirely acknowledge us, probably because they are focused on other matters. Because of this we are almost entirely self funded and have a bunch of events that help us raise money to do cool things. For example, we just had the Radio Ride and made over $1000 from that alone. We are kinda the angsty 3rd son trying to get our dad's (NC State) attention! Help us get noticed by our dad!!

Biggest Improvement-- WKNC has been growing a ton this year. We are getting more and more bands for our Lounge sessions and we are finalist for CBI's National Student Production Awards for the categories of audio newscast and social media. 

Most Creative Programming -- If someone wants to play a certain genre they can. Currently we have specialty shows for the following genres: Emo, Punk, Disco, South Asian, A Capella, Spanish programming, K-pop and post rock. Pretty crazy 

This is From WDWN 

Biggest Champion Of The Local Scene 

Station that best supports their surrounding city and community, from local bands to record stores to listenership and beyond

I forgot this earlier from WTSR 

Have you voted for CMJ nominations yet? Do I still have time to convince you that WTSR should be nominated for Biggest Champion for the Local Scene? Station of the Year? Are you not totally sick of me being around after two years and want to nominate me for MD of the Year? I plan to use my newly minted argumentation and debate skills to make my case.  Are you campaigning for Promoter of the Year? Lemme hear why you should get my vote!

This just in from WVUA 

Golly jee, we're at it again! Last year we won CMJ's Best Student-Run, Internet-Only Station. This year we want to take home that and more! American University's WVAU has had an exciting year after we were crowned last year at CMJ, but as always we are looking to move forward and think bigger. We hope to not only prove we can take the Student-Run Internet-Only title two years running, but want to flex our waveform muscles with some other awards as well. The nominations we hope to receive are: Best Student-Run, Internet Only Station Station of the Year Music Director of the Year (Michael Lovito) Click here for the nomination form! WE got KALX as well now  Woah totally forgot about the CMJ COLLEGE RADIO AWARDS! We would definitely appreciate a nomination for most creative programming! A  quick look at our charts definitely shows that we have incredibly unique programming, and with specialty shows dedicated to metal, difficult/avant-garde, world/international, jazz, RPM, roots, country, hip hop, and rap, we try and succeed at diversity. Here's our livestream to see what I mean. AND WLUW  You could nominate WLUW for like "Best at not doing what they're told" or like "Best at saying no to authority" or something like that. Or maybe most improved if we're being serious? Like have you seen our youtube channel and how awesome our in-studios are now? You could also nominate me for "always sick" or "best meltdowns during tracking" or "most likely to get too drunk and run away during CMJ." Or best music director it's whatever.

CMJ NOMINATIONS THE INDUSTRY AWARD

A few stations have asked me to do a run down blog of what goes into picking who I will nominate for each award for CMJ.

You have until Wednesday, September 9 at 3 p.m. EST

http://www.cmj.com/column/on-air/2015-cmj-college-radio-award-nominations-now-open/

The lone Industry award this year is Promoter of the year.
There are a lot of promoters out there and so I thought it would be helpful if I gave you a reason why you should nominate ME --Douglas Blake from Pirate instead of them.  Also follow me on instagram and keep up with my promotional posts on why you should pick me!



So lets start with AAM 

Tenni. --She is Canadian and should be disqualified

Rogo--He is a rockets fan

That new guy--see I can't even remember his name and NEITHER CAN YOU

The Syn

Joe--sure he once dressed up as St. Vincent... I WILL BECOME ST VINCENT FOR YOU

Allen--owns a Prius ( or so I heard)

Michelle--Once stole a handbag from kmart, I saw the tape.. you are better than that.

Co-Sign

Tyler-- is from Ohio and doesn't know Lebron James... I don't trust him.

Anthony--come to think of it.. I have never seen him in NYC I don't think he is real

Team Clermont 

Bri--She hates Pizza. I love pizza. end of story

Shil-- well he is pretty awesome, if I had to lose to anyone I would hope it would be him

**JJ--JJ was left off originally not because I forgot who he was but because I was still mad about him not being in his office hours at WUOG on September 29th 2013 .. now we are even JJ...

The Band Mom

Jenn- ( TWO N"S JEN(N) COME ON come back to us when you figure that out!

Planetary

Oscar --would just sell the award to buy McDonalds

Jesse-- Is part robot. That seems unfair.

Luke-- Is in the band chumbawumba. Look it up. ( let me help https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chumbawamba)


Terrorbird

John--I hate to tell you this but John is a ghost .. you know like that movie six sense... don't tell him he gets really mad

Karen--She won before, or if she did not she should of cause she is pretty nice so lets pretend she did.

Shannon--Never met her but I did hear once that she can't even do like 7 pushups? Sounds kind of weak to me.


A Man A Plan A Canal 

Graham-- Does not own a cat or a dog! Does he hate them? HE MUST!!!!

Erik--Never Trust anyone that adds a K in place of a C  NEVER TRUST THEM

Vitriol 

Jesse--Can't even beat me in fantasy Football.. how can he deal with the pressure of being promoter of the year!

Jerry--Too tall

Never Better 

Rupam-- Actually hates you.

Robb--The extra B means that he is alergic to winning.. something called Blastophomirida very rare.. don't vote for him.. it could kill him

Distiller 

Joe, Laura and Nick are all sleeping actually ...shhh don't wake them... You see living in portland makes you very sleepy.

Pirate!

Canada! --If you can guess his real name you can nominate him but thats the only way. THE ONLY WAY

Now as far as Label promoters.... DON'T GET ME STARTED!!!! !

I HOPE THIS HELPS.... NOMINATE ME!!!

(tomorrow I help you with the station nominations)

(if i forgot you, I am sorry It just means you have no chance of winning)

CMJ AWARD NOMINATIONS

It is that time of year again! Time for the CMJ award nomination process!
This year there are 8 station awards and 1 industry award.

I am very excited that it is more station focused than it has ever been.

So who should be nominated?



Station Awards
Station Of The Year
Best overall station
Music Director Of The Year
Best overall music director. Please include name and station.
Specialty Music Director Of The Year
Best music director with a specialty/genre focus. Please include name and station.
Biggest Champion Of The Local Scene
Station that best supports their surrounding city and community, from local bands to record stores to listenership and beyond
Biggest Improvement
Station that took the biggest strides in the past year 
Small Station, Big Idea
Station that accomplished the biggest and best things with limited resources
Best Student-Run, Internet-Only Station
Student-run station doing great things without a terrestrial signal
Most Creative Programming
Station with the most interesting and innovative programming
Industry Award

Promoter Of The Year
Best overall promoter. Please include name and company.

COLLEGE RADIO RECAP WEEK 34 CMJ ISSUE 1407

It felt like early on that we were headed for both a classic ADDS battle and a down to the wire battle for number one.  One of those things happened.

Lets talk about the ADDS first. Beach House dominated. At one point I checked adds and out of 137 reporters 100 of them had added the record. Those that did not add Beach House looked a lot like this

1. MAC DEMARCO Another One 2. FKA TWIGS M3LL155X [EP] 3. BULLY Feels Like 4. HEALTH Death Magic 5. QUANTIC PRESENTS THE WESTERN TRANSIENT "Creation (East L.A.)" [Single]

Where most of the records added were OLD. So I would not be shocked if Beach House gets even more adds next week.  Someone asked me if it was that the record was that good or that the competition was that weak. I thought early on that Destroyer would be neck and neck with Beach House but it was never close. Some stations I asked even asked who is Destroyer. I thought that was absurd but reminded me of another conversation about "heritage" artists.   

For as long as I can remember there are certain artists that dominate college radio. Anytime Bjork, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Tom Waits and a few others had a record you could pencil it in at #1.  Now it seems that the collective memory of college radio has become shorter.  Matt and Kim were a #1 artist 2 records ago.  Passion Pit went #1 just one record ago and both new records struggled to get past the top 20 marker. 

One of the great things about college radio though is that it is ever evolving. Change happens every year or at least every other year as a new MD comes in and new DJ's come in. They naturally will be drawn to different records than the past music directors.  Of course one of  our jobs as promoters is to educate the new directors about music. Let them know who and why someone like Tom Waits is important if they don't know.  In working the new Wilco record currently it should not surprise me when I have to explain who Wilco is. It does but me yelling YOU DONT KNOW WHO WILCO is does not really help. Instead taking 5-10 min to explain their history might be in order.   I had a new MD the other day ask me who New Order was. I guess there really is that much new music that being exposed to heritage bands may not of happened. But that is our job. To help educate. 

I expect there to be a lot of new MD's coming in soon and a lot of conversations about bands they may of not heard of and I am looking forward to it. 

The charts this week were fun to watch.  Going in we had a pretty good idea that the top 5 would  be, in some order comprised of these 6 records, Tame Impala, La Luz, Mac Demarco, Wilco, Mynabirds, Titus Andronicus.  You could early on separate them into two packs the only records with a clear shot of #1 this week were incumbent Tame Impala and then last weeks #2 Mac Demarco and you could see an early push from La Luz was happening.   There was clear separation of those three above the others. 

I thought early on Mac Demarco would take #1, but I changed my mind mid day on Tuesday when La Luz had more of everything it seemed. More #1's, more bigger stations. But fittingly the Mac Demarco supporters seemed to wait until the end to report and the gap got smaller and smaller and eventually they pulled ahead. It WAS very close with an argument either way. Had La Luz taken #1 I think I would of understood why. But Mac Demarco did take it and it still made sense. 

It will be interesting to see what happens this next week with Beach House. I could see it going from ADD week to #1 in a single week. I could also see a push for La Luz, Mynabirds and Wilco.  There are significant gaps but with a lot of new MD's on the way back there should be  a larger pool of stations to draw from.  

Seems like Fall is almost here and I am looking forward to more excitement on the charts! 

Talk to me on Twitter! 

Thank you for reading. 

Doug 

COLLEGE RADIO RECAP WEEK 33 CMJ ISSUE 1406

Do you know what the most exciting thing that happened at college radio this week was? It was that at least 3 different stations told me they start classes next week! FALL IS ALMOST HERE!!! Welcome back those of you that are on the way back. You have been missed.

To catch you up on what has happened this summer... Tame Impala has been #1 the whole time... Ok that is not true. Thee Oh Sees have been #1 as well. Alabama Shakes, Hot Chip and Bully each had some time as well.

As I thought would happen last week the top five remained the same but in a different order.  I would not be surprised to see it stay this way for the next few weeks although  I could see a different  record or 2 make an appearance in the top five. The thing is that 4 of the top five records right now could have a shot at #1. And there appears to be no record currently out of the top five that would have enough juice to challenge.  ( see last weeks post for clarification on who should and should not be pushing for #1)

It will be interesting to see what happens as everyone comes back to school.  I think stations will gravitate naturally to those bands they know, Tame Impala, Mac Demarco, Wilco should all continue to gain.  So can one of those records gain more to dethrone Tame Impala?

The transition from Summer to Fall or from Fall to Spring usually benefits the newer records. So keep an eye out on those records going for adds this week, next week and going forward as those tend to have an easier time than the older records.

I am excited for the Fall though! It is almost here!

If you want to talk about anything you can find me on the twitter

COLLEGE RADIO RECAP CMJ ISSUE 1405 WEEK 32

Now that was a fun week.  Summer can be somewhat of a chore with a lack of big records and lack of stations to talk about the few big records that are out there. That seemed to change over the last week. We had a huge add week last week with Mynabirds, Wilco, Mac Demarco, La Luz, Health all having big add weeks so we knew they would all shoot up the charts and start to put a little heat on Tame Impala.

Now going in I thought there was no way anyone but Tame Impala was not going to be #1 and that held true throughout the reporting period. There was an hour that went by where 23 stations reported and 19 of those stations reported Tame Impala. There was no real challenge from anyone else.  The rest of the top 10 though was up for Grabs.

For a while there was a race between Ducktails and Mac Demarco for #2. They were within a few stations all day Monday and even early Tuesday they were only separated by 3 stations. Mac Demarco pulled away big time starting around Noon on Tuesday gaining 46 stations over the last 3 hours of reporting while Ducktails gained 38.

While those two were battling it out Wilco made a run of their own and challenged for that #3 spot as they also gained 38 stations in the last 3 hours.

The number 5 spot was a tough one to predict as Leon Bridges was doing his best job to hold on and La Luz was doing their best push to get into the top 5. In the end the new record won out.

So now we have a pretty exciting top 5

1	1	1	1	4	TAME IMPALA	Currents	Interscope
2	48	-	2	2	MAC DEMARCO	Another One	Captured Tracks
3	6	-	3	2	DUCKTAILS	St. Catherine	Domino
4	13	27	4	3	WILCO	Star Wars	dBpm
5	128	-	5	2	LA LUZ	Weirdo Shrine	Hardly Art

All of these records have been on the charts for a very short period of time.  The question now is does  Mac Demarco have the juice to take it next week? With Ducktails being jumped do they have a shot at #1?  When one company is working more than one record in the top 5 you really don't know what will happen.  Do you play it safe and just try and keep Tame Impala #1 or do you try for Ducktails and also La Luz to get #1?  Should be fun to watch. 

So as you get emails from your promoters this week you might see any one of these records be highlighted with a **GOING FOR #1**  banner above the album title, or next to or it might just be a little paragraph on top.   I know a lot of promotion companies do this. I do it myself. I think its completely fine. The question is does it work?   As a radio station are you invested in trying to get a record #1? Do you get caught up in the action? Wanting to be a part of it?  I know It had an impact on me when I was a Music Director. I remember Built to Spill was going for #1 once and I had them at #10 before I sent out my charts. When I talked to the promoter I decided to move them up to #5 so that I could help.   I am sure some of you out there do that as well.   I would love to hear from some of you if it has any real impact on what you do. 

Also it seems that some companies have gotten very liberal with the "pushing for #1" banner. I saw a record that was a good 50 stations away in week 5 "pushing for #1" That record has NO CHANCE at #1.  But if it works then I can't fault them.  I  have also seen it used for TOP 5 this week. TOP 10! TOP 20! TOP 30! TOP 145!!!! WE NEED TOP 145!!!!!  Ok it has not gone that far but I seems like I would not be shocked if I saw that.  

At what point does PUSHING FOR X lose its impact? I think going for top 5 or top 10 matter but Top 20?  I suppose if you have a bonus tied to it then yes that could warrant an extra push. I just think that if I were an MD now and I heard from each company I talked to PUSHING FOR X I would start to tune it out.   

So let me help you. If anyone else is pushing for #1 and they are not currently in the top 5 records listed above, those promoters are liars.  They have no shot at #1. 

Ok thanks or reading. Almost FALL!!!!! 

Talk on Twitter? 

COLLEGE RADIO RECAP CMJ ISSUE 1404 WEEK 31

Oh Hello there August!

One more month of summer time before everyone comes rushing back! Soon there will be many huge records every week. Soon we will be talking about the CMJ festival. Soon... soon... Until then I imagine Tame Impala might hold on to the #1 spot on the charts.  Although things are going to get a little crazy in the top 10.

This week saw 3 records get over 100 adds each!  Just look at this top 5.

1	138	MAC DEMARCO	Another One	Captured Tracks
2	129	LA LUZ	Weirdo Shrine	Hardly Art
3	103	MYNABIRDS	Lovers Know	Saddle Creek
4	80	HEALTH	Death Magic	Loma Vista
5	72	WILCO	Star Wars	dBpm

I would have to imagine all of those records have #1 aspirations! 

Then if we take a look at what is already on the charts. Last weeks #1 most added, Ducktails comes in at #6 will surely be in the top 5 next week. Titus Andronicus debuted at 16 and should easily be in the top 10 next week. 

Looking at this top 10 

1	1	74	1	3	TAME IMPALA	Currents	Interscope
2	2	2	2	6	LEON BRIDGES	Coming Home	Columbia
3	4	11	3	4	WHITE REAPER	White Reaper Does It Again	Polyvinyl
4	3	1	1	6	BULLY	Feels Like	Startime
5	14	81	5	3	CHEMICAL BROTHERS	Born In The Echoes	Astralwerks
6	-	-	6	1	DUCKTAILS	St. Catherine	Domino
7	15	24	7	4	WESTKUST	Last Forever	Run For Cover
8	18	121	8	3	RATATAT	Magnifique	XL
9	9	40	9	3	BIRD AND THE BEE	Recreational Love	Rostrum
10	7	3	1	11	THEE OH SEES	Mutilator Defeated At Last	Castle Face

How many records will still be in there next week? 

With Ducktails, Titus Andronicus, Wilco ( at #13) Mac Demarco (#58) all charging up. We are going to see a lot of turnover I would think very soon.  

What do you think ? Tame Impala is in the drivers seat right now but you have the same company working multiple records that have #1 in their sights. I can't know what conversations go on there but I could tell you that If I had 2 records that were both #1 possibilities I would do my best to try and get them both #1. When you do that though you leave the door open for others to swoop in there. 

Out of those records.. who do you think has the best shot at #1? Who will for sure not get #1? 

Should be fun to watch. 

Lets chat on the twitter machine.