It’s no secret it’s been a tough year for the music industry. But it’s that time of year again, for those that subscribe, even those that don’t, to vote for everything from their favorite new music artist to radio and record person via the New Music Awards. Log on and vote right now at www.newmusicweekly.com/. Because 4 of the 5 stations I program are music intensive FM’s, I am hands on with 3 formats that add new music each week- top 40/CHR, country, and A/C. Long gone are the days of having a full-time air staff for each station….or a separate music director for each, as well. Those days of having many bodies to help cover everything are gone. Thank goodness we have technology to support the lower workforce number. Not so thankful? All of the folks that somehow left the industry this year, whether it was their choice or someone else’s. It’s sad to see such talented people on the beach, or electing to do something different because of the security a new career might offer. Not that radio and record jobs have really ever been secure. I think there should be awards given in certain categories. And while these are all tongue-in-cheek, there’s good reason behind them. PROMOTER MOST LIKELY TO CALL 5 MINUTES AFTER DEADLINE: Bill Jerome. Great guy, but if you have Bill’s name as a secret Santa somewhere, I’m thinking a wristwatch would be appropriate. PROMOTER LIKELY TO CALL WITHIN 60 SECONDS OF THE SCHEDULED START OF YOUR CALLS EACH WEEK: Alan Young. Truthfully, we don’t have caller ID here but I’ve answered the phone at 11:30 on Monday mornings and said, “Hey, Alan”…and I’ve never been wrong. PROMOTER BEST AT STILL TALKING MUSIC OUTSIDE MUSIC CALL TIMES: Rick Kelly. I’ll tell him I’m on the air, and he’ll say, “sorry man, I’ll call you later, I wanted to talk to you about…..” and then, off he goes to tell me everything he would have said if I wasn’t busy anyway. Tenacious. PROMOTER WITH THE MOST HISTORY IN THE BIZ: Gene Kennedy. He was producing and promoting for major labels about a year, I think, after TV became popular in our society. You think I’m kidding? MOST PREDICTABLE ONE LINERS: This one’s a tie. Bill Wence, “Hey, Randy, Bill Wence….you doin ok?” Chris Taylor, “well, alright then.” And, Larry Weir, “Hey buddy”. SONGS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HUGE HITS BUT I DON’T NEED TO HEAR FOR A FEW YEARS NOW: “Boom Boom Pow”, Black Eyed Peas; “Lovegame”, Lady Gaga; Jason Aldean, “Big Green Tractor”; Colbie Caillat, “Bubbly” (though “Fallin For You” has the opposite effect…I can’t get enough of that song); Miley Cyrus, “Party in the USA”. MOST SPINS ON ‘THE ADAMS’ DVR: “I told you so”, Carrie Underwood. You can’t fix perfection. Here’s hoping that the new year will bring us less headaches, more great music, and help straighten out this windy, wacky road we all love, and sometimes love to hate. KEEP THE NEW MUSIC REVOLUTION ALIVE!