Yes, this song like Biker Chick was pulled from radio.  Although for different reasons I'm sure. It was actually pulled before March 30th, the date is went "to radio".  More on this in my blog at a later date...along with my review of the Ridgfield, CT show.  (IT WAS AMAZING!!!  The Music Room Series is a MUST SEE!!!)

Hello everyone.  Sorry I have not updated the site since @ April.  There is a lot going on and I have not had very much time for the site.  But, I am finally back on here and hopefully will have a little time to update.  Thanks for hanging in there.

By Michelle Flowers   March 30, 2009

For months we heard from Messina herself that Unmistakable would be the next first single off of her forthcoming release bearing the same name. The reason I say next first release is because as far as I am concerned this would be the third release from the CD. Biker Chick was of course the first, however, it was pulled from radio 7 weeks after its release to radio. Therefore, it wasn't really given much of a chance. And I'm Done the second single from the CD, had its highest chart position at #34. As far as Curb Records is concerned that makes it a flop. I disagree personally with that notion. I don't believe you can call it a smash hit at #34 but it's far from a flop. That being said, a label doesn't want to put a CD out until they have a Top Ten hit on their hands. The risk with doing so is that the album will flop because people won't know it's out there. What's worse than a single flopping? An entire album flopping. So they call the third single the first single. Why in the world would they do that? Well, I believe they think the listeners will forget about the other two not so successful singles. And if they can fool the listeners maybe they can fool radio as well. Also, from what I've heard neither I'm Done or Biker Chick will be on the release. Therefore, that technically makes the next single the first single.

So, less than a month before the release of Unmistakable to radio the fans got word that the next single due out March 24th would be Shine not Unmistakable. The date would change in true Curb fashion. In the past, single releases have always been done on Tuesdays. However, just recently it was changed to Mondays. I don't really know why radio made this change. But as far as I'm concerned, radio is King.....so, don't argue, just deal with it. So, the new add date became March 30th. March 30th is the official add date but radio stations actual get the physical CD weeks prior to the release. So we've actually seen Shine added as "early adds" to 26 stations. That's really a great start for a new single. It debuted at #58 on the Mediabase Activator chart. Last week it appeared at #52 on the Mediabase Activator Chart. However, many reviews have not been favorable. While the reviewers seem to love Messina herself they are far less enthusiastic about the song.

So what happened to Unmistakable being the next single? Well, you'd have to ask the Curb executives about that. However, I have my opinion on why they are doing what they're doing. I have seen more than one internet post from Jo Dee Messina fans claiming that Curb hates her for some reason. Messina tends to speak her mind about Curb and anything else. That has left some people with the idea that Curb and Messina don't like each other. While I don't claim to know all the ins and outs of their relationships I don't buy that for a second. Messina herself has said that her and Mike Curb have a great relationship. And Curb Records is a business. Mike Curb, President of Curb Records is one of the most respected men in the Music Business. While, Messina may have ruffled feathers I don't believe they are trying to sabotage her career. I believe that Curb Records is a business making what they believe are the best decisions at the time. The Music Business is a strange business.

A label chooses songs that they believe are the best chance for big radio hits. Of course there is never a guarantee that a song is going to do well on radio. So when they decided to release Shine as the next single instead of Unmistakable they did that for a reason. My guess is this..... Traditionally ballads don't do as well on country radio as upbeat songs do. They fare better with current successful artists. Jo Dee has certainly had her issues with radio over the past couple of years. She has released two singles (upbeat) that have not done well on radio. So, releasing a ballad would be a big risk. And I think Curb Records is very well aware of the gem they have with Unmistakable. They probably feel that it would have a far better shot if they had another single go top 20 before releasing Unmistakable.

Normally I would agree with that idea if it were any artist other than Jo Dee Messina. However, radio programmers across the country have many times said they wanted to see a softer side of Messina. Well, you won't get much softer than Unmistakable. Another factor is the way the Record Industry is suffering. People are not buying as much music as they have in the past. This has left Labels scrambling and trying to figure out how they are to continue to make money. The fact is that with so much illegal downloading the money from CD Sales is just not what it once was. The industry has really changed drastically. That leaves the labels trying to figure out what the consumer wants. I think in the case of Messina her label has forgotten about creative process. Instead of just releasing a great song they put so much thought into it. They analyze every detail before releasing a single. They have lost sight of the one reason that they as well as Messina probably all got into the business. For the music!

Michelle Flowers owns and operates Flower Power Muzik, a Marketing/Promotion/Management company. You can find more information on Michelle and Flower Power Muzik at www.flowerpowermuzik.com
and www.myspace.com/flowerpowermuzik

By Michelle Flowers   March 18, 2009

    So you want to hear your favorite song on your local country radio station, right? What do you do? Just call them up and request it and of course they'll play it? Well, it's really not quite that simple. Sometimes, a fan will request a song over and over again and it still doesn't get played. This of course can be rather frustrurating for the fans. Hopefully, this blog will clear up a little confusion. First of all let's have a little simple lesson in the way country radio works and I hope that will help you understand why your favorite song may not be getting played. Every Monday Country radio has what are called "adds." These are new songs that are given to the stations from record labels to be played. For instance, Brad Paisleys new single "Then" is going for adds on March 23rd. Maybe if you're reading this today and realize it's only March 18th and you just heard Brad Paisley's new song today you are confused by this. Well a station actually gets the single weeks prior to the official add date. So as of when I wrote this Brad had 83 early adds. That means those stations have added it to their playlists. So what if the song you're just dying to hear on the radio isn't on any add lists? Well, quite honestly then you're not going to hear it on the radio until it is on that stations add list. However, there are still some things you can do. Remember the old saying, "you get more bees with honey than vinegar"? Well, it's true with radio as well. Imagine if someone wanted you to do something and called you and yelled at you instead of just asking nicely. Would you be as likely to do what they want? No, you'd probably tell them to get lost. Your best approach as a fan is to be nice to the station. So, first you want to thank them for playing such great music. I'm assuming they are playing great music or you wouldn't be listening in the first place, right? Next, tell them you heard _______ song by _______ artist and you really like it. And you hope that they will add it to their playlist soon. That's it, it really is that simple. As a fan if you go in yelling and screaming or saying rude things the only thing you do is make things harder for an artist to get radio airplay with that particular station. And lets face it, it's hard enough for artists these days. We want to help them, not make their life more difficult. As a very wise Scott Borchetta has said, Radio is King! This is very true and radio, love them or hate them, can make or break an artists career!


Michelle Flowers owns and operates Flower Power Muzik, a Marketing/Promotion/Management company. You can find more information on Michelle and Flower Power Muzik at www.flowerpowermuzik.com
and www.myspace.com/flowerpowermuzik

Hi everybody!

Say goodbye to coming home to find Country Weekly in your mailboxes my friends. (insert moment of silence here).

Do not worry, my fellow subscribers.  There is information included below on how to get a refund.

As of the March 2nd issue (which will be for sale starting Feb. 23rd) the magazine will ONLY be available in stores.

I discovered this unwelcome news in the last issue.   It was addressed in the editor's letter and cleverly disguised as a two-page ad I completely missed on my first run through.  If I wasn't bored out of my mind one day I would never have been reading the editors letter.  Does anyone read that? 

Anyway the magazine will now actually live up to its name.  They will be publishing it weekly.  (That means 52 issues a year.  Oy! I'm going to have to rent a storage space to keep them all!)  And the price is being reduced.  It will be $2.49 (it was $3.49). So all is not lost (unless you don't have a store near you that carries it :(). 

I did take a moment and write to them expressing my dismay.  Here is the response I got:

Unfortunately, due to market place conditions, we are no longer offering
subscription service to Country Weekly after the 2/23/09 issue and we
are no longer accepting new or renewal orders. 

 
Effective with the March 2, 2009 issue Country Weekly will be sold at
newsstands only, in a new weekly format. We're excited about this new
change and hope that you pick up a copy at your local retailer.

For the remaining service of your subscription you can select to receive
either Star magazine, Shape magazine or The National Enquirer.

Of course we will refund you the remaining value of your subscription
which you will need to allow 3-4 weeks to process your request. For a
refund, you will need to speak to a customer service representative; you
may contact them at 1-877-566-5832.

We are sorry for any inconvenience as this was an executive decision and
wish to thank you for your interest in our publication.

Well, that's the story.  Excuse me while I go gas up my car and begin searching for a store that carries this magazine....