10 Questions with ... Jimmy Harnen

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I began my career as an artist in the '80s before moving to Nashville in the mid '90s. I first worked at Gavin as a sales rep, then Curb Universal as the SW Regional in Dallas, and then Scott Borchetta hired me at DreamWorks as the NE Regional in Washington before he promoted me to Co-National and relocated me back to Nashville.

In 2003, I worked with Stuart Dill at Refugee Management. In November of 2004 Mike Dungan hired me as the National at Capitol Records before promoting me to VP of Promotion in March of 2005 and then promoting me to SVP of Promotion in 2006.

1) Congratulations on having done 10 Q's more than anyone else in our format! We talked to you last about 6 months ago, when you were just starting up at Republic Nashville. Have the first 6 months developed as you had planned?

Thank you for asking me to participate again on the Ten Questions.

The first six months have been great. I truly enjoy building teams. We have had a lot of laughs and fun together as we are building this new label. There is a real sense of pride and accomplishment that is happening as we all grow and succeed together.

2) What are you excited about from your label for 2010?

First, I cheer on and thank our incredible team. We have the greatest and coolest people who all work very hard to make us look so damn good! So cheers to Bobby, Shari, Weslea, Lois, Kathleen, Kelly, Justin, Sandi, Whitney, Lindsey, J2, Glenn, Madalyn, Allison, Andrew, Ashley, Shea, Natalie, Judy, Michelle, Harry, Scotty B, Monte, Avery and all of our brothers and sisters at Republic New York/LA, Big Machine and Valory!

Music wise, we are loaded for bear!

The Band Perry - They are super talented young artists. God has blessed them with whatever that "it" factor is. I have visited about 75 radio stations in the past few months with TBP and the response has been just killer. They are so much fun to be around and so uniquely fresh musically. We will continue their radio promo tour right through January. You just gotta see them! We will also be releasing new music from Sunny Sweeney. She has a lot of fans at country radio based on of all of the touring that she has done before she signed her record deal. We are very excited to bring her new music to Country radio. She is as real as real gets.

Fast Ryde, my boys - James "Do you have pink drinks for J?" Harrison and Jody "point-click-cut" Stevens will release the song that radio has been asking for, "Top Down" this spring. Also, look for a few surprises that we will roll out later in the spring/summer of 2010.

3) What do you think were the best changes or developments in our business this past year?

Change itself was the best. There are a lot of people who are looking for new and innovative ways to do things. Only good can come from that.

4) Sometimes we ask people where you see things five years from now, which seems like an impossible thing to ask. But where do you think the music industry will be this time next year?

Being the consummate optimist, I believe that we will work through our problems and be more successful than we are today. And that is definitely going to have to be a "team" sport. The music business is global village. We rise and fall together.

5) Do you still think that a great song always makes it through? Personally it seems that some very good music and talented artists are falling through the cracks.

No, not all good songs get through. One concern I have is that we all have to be cognizant not to condition ourselves or our audience to the same things over and over again. Like in nature, growth occurs at the edges. The fruit grows at the end of the branches and to get to the fruit, we have to walk out on some shaky branches.

6) Radio is still the barometer for many things, but in reality, David Letterman or Jay Leno will give a new artist air time before small market radio stations do. Is it time for a chart that included airplay, but also gauged downloads, social networking sites, etc.?

Radio is still the barometer, in my opinion but downloads, social networking, videos, press, everything is important. The smart radio PDs know that and ask for the latest information in all of those areas. You never know where a "story" will come from. Now, let me give a big shout out to Country radio. Ask any artist when was the first time they heard their song on the radio and they will tell you the exact day, time, city they were in, who they were with, what they were wearing and what they had for breakfast that day. And they always remember who supported them in the very beginning. As for your question about new music, I guess I am a little bit disheartened when I hear a small minority of radio folks say that their audience isn't interested in new music.

As I observe the world around me. I see people interested in the next new issue of a magazine. They are interested in the next new style of fashion. The next new year model car. They always watch the "news." (Part of that word is "NEW.") The next new diet. The next new book, etc. But suddenly, according to a few, when it comes to music, apparently the audience's normal every day behavior does a 180 degree turn. That just does not make any logical sense to me.

People are very interested in new music. Through the years I have been frustrated when I would talk to any programmer who, when asked; "Have you watched the EPK we sent you?" "Have you listened to the sampler?" "Have you seen the act live?" "Have you seen the sales numbers?" and their response was, "No, that does not interest me".

Respectfully, that is very short sighted and they are depriving their radio station and their listeners of a huge DISC-overy. All of what I mentioned above provides valuable information. It's the artist portfolio. It's just like investing in a stock. Successful investors learn as much as they can about a product and the company before they invest. And when they chose to invest. They invest.

7) What do you consider your strongest talent?

Knowing that I have so much yet to learn. I try to surround myself with passionate, intelligent, driven people who educate and challenge me and I have an entire team of them at Republic.

8) You have to be proud of what you did with Mike Krinik. You took him from WGGY/Wilkes Barre and made him your West Coast Regional at Capitol, and now he's going to KBWF/San Francisco. Plus, this gives you another chance to pluck him out of radio again

Pat Paxton, Mike Moore and I often have a laugh about that very thing when we see each other. Seriously, Mike is a rock star. He was an OUTSTANDING regional. One of the best I have ever known. He has the world's biggest heart accompanied by relentless drive, creativity and a tireless pursuit of excellence. I could not be more happy or proud of Mike and all that he has accomplished in such a short time. He is one of my best friends in the world and he is going to work for a great group of people in a very beautiful city! Way to go Dr. Krinik!

9) Is there synergy between all of the labels in the Scott Borchetta empire- Republic Nashville, Valory and Big Machine? We're not looking for any secrets, just a little bit about how the whole operation works together as a whole and then separately.

We are a team, in every sense of the word. Scott builds great teams. There are no "walls." Everyone wants the absolute best for his or her brother or sister.

10) What artist(s) from outside of the format could Country artists take a lesson or two from?

I think there are plenty INSIDE the format. Reba McEntire - does it get any better than that in terms of music, class, elegance, talent and longevity? Every female Country act I have ever known says, "I want to be Reba!" George Strait - I sat at his post ACM tribute show and was knocked out by the career and songs that this man has had. He is the king! And what about the next generation of artists we have? Taylor Swift - she has completely inspired and moved a generation with everything she has done. Recently, I remember the first time I heard "Fifteen." As a father I was blown away. I stopped dead in my tracks. It's just a spectacular song. I want my daughter Katie to listen to this song every day of her young life. Darius Rucker is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Was his acceptance speech at the CMA's just amazing or what? Here's a guy who sold 40 million records and won a Grammy acting like it was it first time on stage. That's freaking cool! Go D!

I could go on for days. We are all so blessed to do what we do and to do it with the artists that we have in this format.

1) Are you still running and are you training for a marathon?

I am still running but not training for any race. I try to run seven miles a day at least four days a week just to stay healthy.

2) What's your favorite album of the year from outside of Country?

21st Century Breakdown - Green Day.