New Wallpaper Available

A new wallpaper has been designed promoting the "2 Hats and a Redhead Tour". You can find the wallpaper in the EXTRAS section of fancyreba.com.

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2005 Kat Country Megaticket

VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE – CHARLOTTE
AND WKKT PROUDLY PRESENT
THE 2005 “96.9 KAT COUNTRY MEGATICKET”

This “Season Ticket” will get you into 5 of the hottest country shows of the 2005 concert season at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Charlotte.

REBA MCENTIRE – Saturday, April 16th
ALAN JACKSON – Thursday, May 5th
TOBY KEITH – Friday, June 10th
BROOKS & DUNN – Friday, August 26th
RASCAL FLATTS – Friday, September 16th

NO MORE WAITING FOR THE CONCERTS TO GO ONSALE!
NO STANDING IN LINE!
YOUR TICKET WILL BE MAILED DIRECTLY TO YOU!

On Sale February 17, 2005 - 10:00AM

Public On Sale: Orders for this five show megaticket package will be accepted starting Thursday, February 17th at 10am until Thursday March 10 at 5pm - or while supplies last. The KAT Country Megaticket includes the same seats to all five shows plus some additional VIP perks.

Choose from these three incredible packages:

Gold Circle (sections 1-3) $500 *
*One ticket to all five concerts
*Premier parking for all five concerts
*VIP club access for all five concerts where you have premium bar service and private restrooms

Reserved (sections 4-15) $300 *
*One ticket to all five concerts
*VIP club access to all five concerts where you have premium bar service and private restrooms
*General parking only (no parking pass needed)

Lawn $100 *
*One ticket to all five concerts
*General parking only (no parking pass needed)


* There will be a service charge added to each package.


TICKETS CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED ONLY AT WWW.VERIZONWIRELESSAMPHITHEATER.COM/CHARLOTTE AND WWW.WKKTFM.COM

Methods of payment: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover
*Ticket must be purchased online
*All tickets will be mailed together within 45 days of purchase
*Orders are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will make every effort to accommodate great seat locations
*There is an 8 package limit per person
*Limited number of packages are available at each price level. Available while supplies last

IF ADDITIONAL COUNTRY SHOWS ARE ADDED DURING THE SEASON, THEY WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE.

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'A little bit country' starts Verizon 2005

Four country concerts are the first shows announced for the 2005 season at Verizon Wireless Music Center.

Reba McEntire will perform at the Noblesville amphitheater on May 13, Toby Keith on July 16, Kenny Chesney on Aug. 26 and Brooks & Dunn on Oct. 1.

Beginning Thursday, promoter Sunshine Concerts and radio station WFMS-FM (95.5) will sell "megatickets" that package all four events.

The top-tier ticket, priced at $500, reserves a lower-pavilion seat for the concerts, as well as premium parking and access to on-site parties.

A $400 ticket reserves an upper-pavilion seat for the concerts, as well as premium parking and access to on-site parties.

A $100 ticket includes lawn seating and standard parking.

Individual tickets will go on sale at later dates.

The four-show tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Web sites www.wfms.com and www.cc.com and will be offered through March 4.

The venue's box office, 12880 E. 146th St., will sell the four-show tickets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday only.

For more information, visit www.wfms.com.

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Contest: Voting runoff

Who should win the fancyreba.com singing contest?




To vote in this final round use the poll right here on the NEWS page of fancyreba.com.


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Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire to perform live at the "2005 CMT Music Awards"

NASHVILLE – February 11, 2005 – The star-studded performance line-up for the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is shining bright with the addition of Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire. With over 90 million albums sold between them, superstars Jackson and McEntire will join the previously announced Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson as they perform live on country’s only fan-voted awards show. Hosted by comedy kingpin Jeff Foxworthy, and this year’s only country awards televised from Nashville, the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will be telecast on CMT Monday, April 11 at 8:00-10:00 PM, ET.*

In his 15th year as a recording artist, Alan Jackson’s career only continues to soar. The low-key, high-quality style that’s become one of Jackson’s trademarks continues to serve him well as his most recent release, “What I Do,” repeats the success of his multi-Platinum “Greatest Hits Volume II” CD and previous studio album, “Drive,” by topping Billboard’s pop and country album charts in its first week of release. Following his hit, “Too Much of a Good Thing,” Jackson’s latest single, “Monday Morning Church” is currently climbing toward the top spot on the Billboard and Radio & Records airplay charts. The three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year has sold over 43 million albums and garnered more than 90 major industry awards, including ASCAP’s “Songwriter of the Year” (1993, 1994, 1998, 2002), and ASCAP’s prestigious “Golden Note” Award (2002). An undeniable country superstar, Jackson has written 23 chart-topping hits and earned 31 No. 1 singles, including “Here In The Real World,” “Chattahoochee,” “Gone Country,” “It Must Be Love,” “Where I Come From”, “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” and many others. Jackson was the 2002 winner of the CMT FLAME WORTHY “Love Your Country Video of the Year” award.

In her nearly three-decade career, Reba McEntire has shown the world there is nothing she can’t do. She has maintained an incredible country music career, with 32 No. 1 hits, multiple top grossing tours and she has sold 48 million records. McEntire is a true multi-media superstar, whether she is writing two best-selling books, starring in the WB’s hit television series, “Reba,” playing the lead role in Broadway’s “Annie Get Your Gun” or launching a new clothing line. Last year’s recipient of the 2004 CMT JOHNNY CASH VISIONARY AWARD, McEntire is also the reigning AMA “Favorite Female Country Artist.” McEntire has won numerous other accolades including Grammy’s, ACM and CMA awards, including the coveted CMA Entertainer of the Year (1986) and ACM Entertainer of the Year (1994). Later this year McEntire will launch her Habitat for Humanity Tour presented by Whirlpool with fellow country artists Brad Paisley and Terri Clark.

Tickets for the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS at Nashville’s Gaylord Entertainment Center will be available Feb. 19 at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 615-255-9600, and online at CMT.com and ticketmaster.com.

CMT, America’s No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 77.1 million households in the United States. Go to country music’s biggest web site at www.CMT.com.

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Spend Your Valentine's Day with Reba and Friends

JRN'S LIA & US 99.5's LISA DENT GO LIVE ON THE SET WITH REBA MONDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 14

Jones Radio Networks(r) (JRN)'s Lia and Lisa Dent (of US 99.5/Chicago) will co-host Dillard's Presents Reba Live from the Set on Valentine's Day, Monday, February 14th from 7PM-9PM PST. The 2 hour live special will originate from the Los Angeles set of the Reba WB-TV series and will air on over 450 stations across the country, including Lia's 175 affiliate stations and the Jones US Country and CD Country formats, as well as XM Satellite Radio. The special will feature special celebrity guests including Trisha Yearwood, Terri Clark, Lee Ann Womack, and Brad Paisley, as well as Reba cast members.

Reba McEntire is one of the most acclaimed female vocalists of our time, with over 45 million album sold and countless industry accolades, including the 2004 American Music Award for Country Female Artist Of The Year. McEntire just celebrated her 54th Top 10 single with her current release "He Gets That From Me" from the GOLD CD Room To Breathe. In April, McEntire will launch the Two Hats And A Redhead Tour with Paisley and Terri Clark.

"Radio has never been given the opportunity to get a sneak peek on the set of Reba's hit WB-TV show before," says Scott Borchetta, Sr. VP Promotion & Artist Development, UMG Nashville. "This night is sure to be another memorable event in a career filled with them. And once again we are thrilled to be working in tandem with Jones Radio to bring this unique special to millions of listeners."

Lia has a direct line to Country's biggest artists to bring nearly 3 million listeners the power of the stars, their music, and their lives. A CMA nominee, Lia is also a two-time winner of the esteemed AWRT Gracie Allen Award(r) in 2003 and 2004. Lia is heard on 175 radio stations nationwide.

"Every night, Lia delivers the biggest names in country to radio, but this will be an extra special treat for her listeners," says Ken Moultrie, Sr. Director of Programming, JRN-Seattle. "This will be awesome radio, live from the Reba set in Los Angeles."

Lisa Dent has established herself as a consistent top 5 performer in Chicago's competitive radio market. Lisa has hosted radio sneak peeks aired on all Infinity Country stations with Jimmy Buffet, Tim McGraw, and Keith Urban. In 2004, Lisa won the Radio Mega Blast Award for Favorite Country Radio Personality.

"On behalf of everyone at WUSN, we're thrilled with Lisa's opportunity to be a part of such a special evening," says Mike Peterson, PD WUSN/Chicago.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

A few years ago, Reba participated in one of Aaron Tippin's videos. There were a few requests to show the video on fancyreba.com so here is your chance to see it.

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How radio "paid spins" helped rev up singer's comeback

By Jeanne Anne Naujeck
The Tennessean

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Reba McEntire's song "Somebody" hit No. 1 last summer, it was hailed as a comeback for a country legend who had dominated the charts in the 1990s but hadn't reached No. 1 in seven years.

The payoff for a No. 1 song can be big. It drives record sales for the performer and labels. And other parties have a stake, too, such as songwriters and publishers who make royalties each time a song is played on the radio.

But McEntire's success after years away from the music business ignited a furor on Nashville's Music Row because her record label bought radio time to play the song. That's because the key to hooking customers and selling large volumes of music is radio play. And lots of it.

The spotlight on radio play already has prompted some music labels, radio stations, chartmakers and artists to change their methods, pulling back on the use of independent promoters and altering how No. 1 hits are calculated. Looming in the background are New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who has rooted out fraud on Wall Street and in the insurance industry and is looking into the music business, and the Federal Communications Commission, which has taken a harder line on certain types of programming and disclosure rules.

Sudden success

"Room to Breathe," the first studio album in years for McEntire, who had turned to acting and stars in her own TV sitcom ("Reba," 9 p.m. Fridays on The WB/KTWB), had a soft opening in 2003 for a major music star. The first single released topped out at No. 14 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart.

Then the second single, "Somebody," came out. It spent 30 weeks climbing the chart, then suddenly vaulted from No. 3 to No. 1 in early August.

At the time, the Billboard charts were determined by the number of times a song is played on U.S. radio stations in a given week. When an Aug. 7 Billboard article noted that "Somebody" had just gained 1,150 spins, an unusually large jump, Music Row noticed.

Speculation flew that McEntire's label, MCA Records, got to No. 1 through "paid spins" — buying advertising time on radio and then playing a song during it — to raise the total number of spins a song gets on radio. It's perfectly legal as long as the sponsorship is disclosed. Scott Borchetta, head of promotions for MCA owner Universal Music Group, acknowledges that the label bought some spins but said it was just one element of a plan to accrue a large number of spins during crucial "push weeks" — such as the one that moved the song from No. 3 to No. 1.

"When promotion is brought up, people think there's some kind of black art to it," he said. "It's hard work."

The No. 1 success of "Somebody" jump-started sales of her album "Room to Breathe." The album, which sold 280,000 copies its first two months out, has since sold about 587,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"It certainly had a positive effect ... on her whole profile," Borchetta said. "There was a concern that Reba wasn't as focused on music since she moved to L.A. Now she's announced a 40-date tour for this year. The whole momentum of 'Somebody' going to No. 1 is snowballing."

Memories of payola

The flap over paid spins — and Borchetta is hardly alone in using them — comes at a time of renewed focus on the music industry. Spitzer's investigation of promotional practices has revived memories of the payola scandals of the 1950s, when radio DJs and stations were bribed to put certain songs on the air.
After the Spitzer investigation was announced, Infinity Broadcasting and Entercom said their stations would no longer use independent promoters. Infinity fired a program director in Rochester, N.Y., after it found he kept gift certificates from an independent promoter instead of using them for station giveaways.

The FCC also is interested in what's being played on the radio, specifically how difficult it is for a large variety of acts to be heard on the public airwaves. The federal agency also is charged with enforcing the laws on payola, a federal crime.

Record labels and radio stations say direct bribes aren't the issue as much as consolidation in the radio and the music business that has squeezed both the airtime allotted to play music and the money that can be devoted to developing new acts.

Labels in Nashville spend between $250,000 and $1 million to introduce a new act with a single, video and album release. Pop and rock labels spend even more — two to three times as much, by some estimates.

Nancy Tunick, managing partner of Nashville-based Grass Roots Promotion, compares promotion tactics to a poker ante that ends up costing every label more.

"It's bad for the business," she said. "They spend so much money on promotion that when they're finished they generally have to sell platinum (1 million albums) to recoup. It's a poor business plan for a label, and they recognize that."

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Quote of the Week

"He's like orange chicken for the eyes." Barbara Jean about Dr. Morgan (guest star James Denton) on "Reba."

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Reba receives "Outstanding Mother" Award

Reba has been named an “Outstanding Mother” for 2005! The award, presented annually to contemporary lifestyle leaders of American society, is given by the National Mother’s Day Committee. Reba will be presented with the award and the committee’s Annual Awards Presentation in New York City on May 5. The funds raised by the presentation are donated to child-related organizations.

Founded in 1941, the National Mother’s Day Committee dedicates its efforts to reaching the nation with a message of traditional values and sound family relationships. By designating one Outstanding Mother for her success in these endeavors, the committee honors all mothers and families in the United States and in more than 100 nations around the world.

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Gunned Down

Reba McEntire had hoped that her turn as Annie in the Broadway play Annie Get Your Gun would lead to a movie project, but it appears as if that's not going to happen. "It doesn't seem like it's meant to be," she laments. "There's no future plans." In happier news, Reba was given a Funny Lady award Wednesday by Ladies' Home Journal.

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