Issue 260 Print Preview: Music Boom & More … · Print Preview: Music Boom & More The September print edition of Country Aircheck will be arriving at radio stations and on industry
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Print Preview: Music Boom & More The September print edition of Country Aircheck will be arriving at radio stations and on industry desks this week, and while many will be flipping directly to the Power 31 to see how their fellow readers voted, there’s much more to glean from the issue. Here are some highlights: • Sonic Boom: Country’s strong ratings, a few network star turns and some big album debuts have whispers of a new country boom becoming open conversation. And programmers are mostly in agreement: It’s the music, stupid. Consultant and former Cox Format Coordinator Gerry McCracken says, “We’re seeing new music testing better, and it’s testing better more quickly. When we add a song now, it’s not unusual for it to take [just] two or three weeks to be testing through the roof. We’re running the rats through the snake faster.” “It’s all based on consumer feedback,” agrees consultant Rusty Walker. “We’re seeing a convergence of consumer demand and producer innovation.” Albright & O’Malley’s Jaye Albright sounds a cautionary note for programmers. “If you’re alone in your market and have no competition, yes, it’s a good time to move newer,” she says. Check out the full article for more from top radio thinkers, a strong dissenting opinion and advice about framing newer music.
Marconi Personality Finalist This Thursday (9/15), the 2011 NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show will take place at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Continuing our coverage of this year’s nominees, here’s a look at Medium Market Personality of the Year finalists Mark Ericson (also OM) and Karen Kiley of Cumulus’ WOKQ/Portsmouth, NH. A five-time winner as the best morning show in New Hampshire, the Morning Waking Crew has been nominated for 12 national awards including six CMAs, four ACMs and now its second Marconi. Alongside their entertaining “Impossible Questions” and “Stupid News,” Mark and Karen dedicate efforts (continued on page 6)
Keys For My People: Curb’s Rodney Atkins presents a new Chevy truck to a WKIS/Miami listener while in town for the station’s Undercover Concert series last week. The giveaway came through Curb’s “Take A Back Road” promotion, which ran in Country Aircheck in April. Pictured (l-r) are WKIS’s Ken Boesen, Mrs. Hansen, Atkins and Mr. Hansen.
The Who? Drawn from the vault, this backstage shot features vintage Alabama with industry friends, though some details have been lost in the intervening years. Pictured (l-r) are Mark Herndon, unidentified, Dale Morris, Carson Schreiber ([email protected]), Randy Owen, Charlie Cook ([email protected]), Jeff Cook (no relation), unidentified and Teddy Gentry. First one to reach us with IDs and info on the setting gets a free subscription to Country Aircheck. Send your lost photos to [email protected].
to the station’s Year of Service campaign (this year, $100,000 in WOKQ support goes to Habitat For Humanity), and numerous other causes. It’s no wonder their show is No. 1, up 8.9-13.8 year-to-year 12+. ME: WOKQ has had the same calls and format for 40 years, so this is the ultimate definition of a station that’s part of the community. If the lights go out or the snow flies, this is where people come to, even if they’re not Country P1s. It’s also about what we’ve done over the years. At our annual Special Olympics Penguin Plunge, 700 people jump into the Atlantic the first weekend in February. Last year we raised more than $500,000 in one day. If I’m lucky, they give me Miss New Hampshire in a bikini to help me out of the water. KK: There’s no Mr. New Hampshire, but Special Olympics is very close to me, too, so I have no problem going into the frigid water alone. I’m an animal lover, and we’ve worked closely with a local shelter for many years. I’ve already adopted one dog, and am ready for 17 more! I’m also the spokesperson for the American
The Joe’s In Ones: Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night campaign included a concert for 800 WUSN/Chicago contest winners at Joe’s Bar in the Windy City. The stripped-down show was also streamed live via Country radio websites and Facebook page. The radio contingent on hand to eat their weight in deep dish pizza and cheer on Lady A included (back row, l-r) WTNR/Grand Rapids’ Shane Goad; KMLE/Phoenix’s Drew Bland; CA’s Lon Helton; WDEZ/Wausau, WI’s Vanessa Ryan; WNOE/New Orleans’ Don Gosselin; Capitol’s Steve Hodges; WUSN/Chicago’s Marci Braun; Lady A’s Charles Kelly; KASE & KVET/Austin’s Joel Burke; KUPL/Portland’s Scott Mahalick; KBEQ/Kansas City’s Mike Kennedy; and Capitol’s Mike Dungan and Tom Becci. Second row (l-r) are Joe’s Tommy DiSanto and Ed Warm; WMAD/Madison’s Abby Zellmer; the label’s Brent Jones; LA’s Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott; KNIX/Phoenix’s Kevin Mannion and Nielsen’s Josh Bennett. Fronting the group (l-r) are Capitol’s Rachel Dobson, Hard Rock Hotels’ Arron Reynolds and the label’s Shane Allen.
Show Dog-Universal’s JT Hodges puts an industry spin on the artist interview:Which station did you grow up listening to? KSCS/Dallas. I’ve been listening to them since elementary school. What part of the country has blown you away on the radio tour? Skaneateles, NY on one of the Finger Lakes where the Clintons vacation. It’s a beautiful town, and the house where we were staying was on a Civil War graveyard. We took a break from
a late-night writing session, and my guitarist shined his lighter on the gravestones. Every one of them was dated 1813-1890.When was the first time you heard yourself on the radio? WQYK/Tampa’s Dave McKay and I had great conversations at a shrimp shack after the meeting. He was very complimentary of me and asked the PD if he could play my song. I woke up the next morning and listened to the show. He talked about me, gave my whole back-story and played the song twice. I called him after and thanked him because he didn’t have to do that. He said, “We’ll do everything to help get this single off the ground.” Any favorite truck stop eats? Really good fried chicken. I’ll do backstrokes in the grease. Which regional is the worst driver? Lisa Owen. Her speed fluctuates with the conversation and she forgets she’s driving. While cars are driving 70 mph, we’re going 45. Who is the best road hang? Jordan Pettit. We have good conversations and love football. He’s a former Vanderbilt footballer and a Chicago Bears fan. I’ve been a Dallas Cowboys fan ever since I was two.Do you have any epic concert memories? We played the Gorge in Washington recently. I played a backstage event before the show so I missed everyone filing in. About 10 minutes before I went on, I looked out and 35,000 people were already there. I had a standing ovation that night. A lot of them knew “Hunt You Down,” and it’s only been out for nine weeks. However they heard it, they were singing it back to me.
JT Hodges
Heart Association, which is also a personal cause for me. ME: We have a good time working together. Our audience still wants to hear the school cancellations, but they just want some fun in the morning … people having a good time, not yelling at each other or being too serious. So if we’re having fun, in general, they’re having fun, too. We keep it pretty family-friendly. You’re OK if you have a six-year-old in the front seat of the car listening to us. KK: Actually, if he were in the front seat, then you’d have another problem! ME: What I meant to say was that if you had a six-year-old in the trunk of your car, he could hear our show and be OK with it.
Arbitron Shuffles Markets Philadelphia over Washington, Tampa over Denver ... sound like NFL game picks? Actually, it’s new Arbitron metro rankings. The ratings firm adjusts 12+ population estimates annually, and the latest standings incorporate 2010 Census figures. Among the noteworthy changes in the top 30 PPM metros for Fall ‘11: Philly (8-7), Washington (9-8), Atlanta (7-9), Tampa (20-19), Denver (19-20), Baltimore (22-21), St. Louis (21-22) and San Antonio (31-28) and San Jose (34-37). Other changes of four or more places in the top 100 were New Orleans (52-47), Jacksonville (46-50), Greenville, NC (86-82), Gainesville (82-86), Stockton (83-87), Monterey (80-88), Springfield, MA (87-91), Daytona Beach (90-94) and Toledo (89-95). Ten markets were established or redefined including Hudson Valley (debut 39); Portland, ME (168-90); Corpus Christi, TX (137-111); and Fayetteville, NC (128-130). Click here for the complete rankings.
Helping Flood Victims Following up on Friday’s (9/9) coverage about Clear Channel WRBT/Harrisburg’s support of Susquehanna River flood victims, PD J.T. Bosch tells Country Aircheck the station raised $6,200 in just a few hours this morning for the Red Cross, much of it through $20 pay-per-play donations. “One listener was so moved by Martina McBride’s new single that she donated $100 after she heard it. We also auctioned off a guitar for $3,000 signed by Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Billy Currington, Uncle Kracker and LeAnn Rimes.”
Radio Remembers 9/11 KAWO (WOW 104.3)/Boise, ID organized a rally downtown with morning team Randy & Alana, scouts, speakers and an elementary school choir leading the Pledge of Allegiance. A 35-foot U.S. flag was unfolded and a “We Will Never Forget”
My Tunes: Music ThaT shaPed My Life The Dirt Drifters’ Jeff Middleton discusses his most influential songs, albums and concerts:1. Bruce Springsteen/Thunder Road: As a songwriter, this is one those songs I wish I’d written. It’s what you shoot for every day when you grab the pen and paper. 2. Garth Brooks/Learning To Live Again: This song is the reason why I am in Nashville. Heard it and decided this was the town for me.
3. Bryan Adams/Summer Of ‘69: This was the first song I ever learned to play on the guitar. It never gets old.4. Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band’s Live 1975-1985: If you haven’t listened to this three CD set, you are missing out. The stories, songs and acoustic version of “No Surrender” are killer. 5. Cyndi Lauper/Time After Time: Listen to the background vocal. It’s amazing. It’s one of those songs that reminds me why I love writing. • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: The Sex Pistols’ Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols. But I am going to listen to it tonight so I don’t catch any heat from a certain promotion guy at Warner Music Nashville. • An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Opera. It’s not my cup of tea. • An album you played or listened to incessantly: Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction. I still play it while driving the Dirt Difters’ RV in the middle of the night.• One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: Gary Burr’s “The Time Machine.” Collin Raye recorded it, and it’s simply one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s like going to songwriter school every time.
banner was signed by all to be sent to Ground Zero. “While we always seem to be in pursuit of marketing and publicity, it was fulfilling to hold an event that was strictly for the community,” says PD Dan Matthews. WQHK/Fort Wayne, IN’s Freedom Fest featured performances by Kellie Pickler, Brantley Gilbert, Gloriana and Matt Mason, as well as the fire department’s “Pipes & Bags” bagpipers. Local firefighters, police and law enforcement officers were honored. A reminder of the ongoing effort sparked by 9/11 came to WCTQ/Sarasota in the form of U.S. Navy Senior Chief Jimmy Boglarsky. A listener from the area, Boglarsky had emailed air personality Maverick from Afghanistan, receiving a few on-air shout-outs and a song dedication to his wife in Bradenton. Boglarsky presented Maverick with an American flag flown over Kandahar Airfield this past July 4. Audio here.
Radio News Cumulus Media has extended until Friday (9/15) the deadline to Citadel Broadcasting shareholders to submit their election forms for Cumulus stock or warrants. Triton Digital has rolled out new applications and services to help stations capture audiences across social media and mobile devices. They include user-generated contesting, enhanced social media integration, mobile marketing and loyalty club registration, gamification and QR code registration and contesting. Details here. Davis Music Group’s Jacob Lyda will host Cool Broadcasting’s A Country Christmas. The show is market-exclusive and is available for barter. Click here to inquire.
Artist News The RIAA has issued double-platinum certification for Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party, platinum certification for Rascal Flatts’ Nothing Like This and gold certifications for Scotty McCreery’s “I
Jeff Middleton
Love You This Big” and Brad Paisley’s and Carrie Underwood’s “Remind Me.” Atlantic/WMN’s Hunter Hayes launches his headlining Most Wanted Fall Tour 2011 Oct. 8 in Beaumont, TX. Hayes is offering VIP ticket packages on the club tour. More here. Randy Houser, Craig Campbell, Ashley Gearing and Brice Long will play a benefit concert for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and cancer research. Hosted by GAC’s
Suzanne Alexander, the event will be held Sept. 28 at The Listening Room Cafe in Nashville.
Print Preview (continued from page 1) • Power To The People: What if radio programmers surrendered their usual iron-clad grip on playlists and listeners decided which songs air and in what sequence? It’s happening right now with Listener Driven Radio (LDR) and Jelli. “PDs have a robust and deep understanding of how to create one stream of music that’s pleasing to a broad number of people,” Jelli CEO Michael Dougherty says. “And that is not trivial. It’s challenging in a world of personalization, fragmentation and instant gratification.” As for Country radio specifically, Dougherty and team found some surprises: “When we started, the premise I heard about [Country] listeners not being connected or using Facebook is just not true. They use it a lot and are highly collaborative.” LDR co-founder Daniel Anstandig says this technology could be radio’s answer to Pandora. “Instead of doing one-to-many programming, you’re doing many-to-many, with listeners becoming the MD. It gives a more interactive hook to a station, versus an independent jukebox that doesn’t respond to listeners’ real-time opinions.” Read the article for real-world experience with the two technologies from three top Country programmers. • The Interview: Among the most forceful positions taken by Lincoln Financial Media SVP/Programming & Operations John Dimick regards the idea of stripping stations of all but music in pursuit of PPM glory. “What is that thing that someone’s favorite Country station has that Pandora doesn’t quite have? What is that thing that speaks directly to the listener in your city that satellite radio just can’t do when it comes to connecting listeners with the community? Each programmer must find what they do that separates their station from that automated or voice-tracked station across the street that’s playing the same music.” And for those who say PPM doesn’t like the stuff between the songs, Dimick says flatly, “They’re wrong.” Get the full story in the September print issue of Country Aircheck.
Terri Clark Roots And Wings (Beartrack/The Orchard) Clark points to losing her mom and other struggles as inspiration for the 10-track album. “The challenge for me was to come to the other side of that with some growth and a lighthearted attitude,” she says. Kristen Hall (formerly of Sugarland), Tia Sillers and Tom Shapiro are among the co-writers.
Dirt Drifters This Is My Blood (Warner Bros./WMN) This five-piece band has already given away 30,000 copies through the “Give Blood” campaign, which featured a second give-away disc with every purchase of the album at tour stops. The release includes singles “Something Better” and “Always A Reason.” Willie Nelson appears on “I’ll Shut Up Now.” Justin Niebank produced. Brantley Gilbert Halfway To Heaven Deluxe (Valory) New tracks “More Than Miles,” “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” and “Hell On An Angel” close Gilbert’s 15-track deluxe edition of 2010’s Halfway To Heaven. “Country Must Be Country Wide” and “Dirt Road Anthem” are featured, with Colt Ford guesting on “DRA.” Two music videos and an “Up Close” featurette are included.
Steve Holy Love Don’t Run (Curb) Holy’s third album includes Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and an acoustic version of “Good Morning Beautiful.” Holy co-wrote four of the 11 tracks. Rodney Atkins, Rodney Clawson and Jim Collins are among the songwriters. Holy and Lee Miller produced. Lady Antebellum Own The Night (Capitol) Hillary Scott says the trio’s third album documents the journey of self-awareness. “Every song isn’t just about an overall emotion or a feeling,” she says. “It’s about a specific moment in time that has helped to make you who you are today.” Lady A have songwriting credit on all but two songs on the 12-
Of the 101 stations (mostly with a 1.0 share or more 6+), 53 declined, 39 were up and nine remained level, for a net total share loss of 2.2%. In terms of reach, 59 declined and 41 were up, with one unchanged; overall cume was up 0.7%. The “Book of the Month” went to Entercom’s KWJJ/Portland, which climbed 5.2-6.7 to a station best in share and rank (2). Legend: A “+” indicates a Classic Country outlet, a “^” designates co-owned Country stations in the metro; “t” indicates a tie; and a “*” indicates a station best in that statistic.
September 12, 2011 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 7
Airborne indicates songs that have been added to 60% of the Countr y Aircheck/Mediabase repor t ing panel . 4=Top 5 point gainers.
1 1 JAKE OWEN/Barefoot Blue Jean Night (RCA) 17949 174 6035 22 40.985 0.425 135 0
5 2 TOBY KEITH/Made In America (Show Dog-Universal) 4 16531 1170 5513 314 37.638 3.198 134 0
4 3 RODNEY ATKINS/Take A Back Road (Curb) 16458 615 5587 189 37.379 1.873 135 0
Country Aircheck Top Spin GainersLADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol) 533JASON ALDEAN/Tattoos On This Town (Broken Bow) 487MIRANDA LAMBERT/Baggage Claim (RCA) 422TRACE ADKINS/Just Fishin' (Show Dog-Universal) 335TOBY KEITH/Made In America (Show Dog-Universal) 314RASCAL FLATTS/Easy (Big Machine) 308BLAKE SHELTON/God Gave Me You (Warner Bros./WMN) 307ERIC CHURCH/Drink In My Hand (EMI Nashville) 294KEITH URBAN/Long Hot Summer (Capitol) 248BAND PERRY/All Your Life (Republic Nashville) 238
Country Aircheck Top Point GainersLADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol) 1637 4JASON ALDEAN/Tattoos On This Town (Broken Bow) 1450 4MIRANDA LAMBERT/Baggage Claim (RCA) 1253 4TOBY KEITH/Made In America (Show Dog-Universal) 1170 4RASCAL FLATTS/Easy (Big Machine) 1061 4TRACE ADKINS/Just Fishin' (Show Dog-Universal) 1043
ERIC CHURCH/Drink In My Hand (EMI Nashville) 992
BLAKE SHELTON/God Gave Me You (Warner Bros./WMN) 971
KEITH URBAN/Long Hot Summer (Capitol) 798
GEORGE STRAIT/Here For A Good Time (MCA) 763
Country Aircheck Add LeadersZAC BROWN BAND/Keep Me In Mind (So. Grnd/Atl./BPG) 32
CHRIS YOUNG/You (RCA) 23
LUKE BRYAN/I Don’t Want This Night To End (Capitol) 20
JASON ALDEAN/Tattoos On This Town (Broken Bow) 17
ANDY GIBSON/Wanna Make You Love Me (DMP/R&J) 12
ERIC CHURCH/Drink In My Hand (EMI Nashville) 12
BAND PERRY/All Your Life (Republic Nashville) 10
LADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol) 9
JUSTIN MOORE/Bait A Hook (Valory) 8
CHRIS CAGLE/Got My Country On (BPG) 7
Country Aircheck Top Recurrents Points
DIERKS BENTLEY/Am I The Only One (Capitol) 10211
ZAC BROWN BAND f/J. BUFFETT/Knee Deep (So. Grnd/Atl./BPG) 9955
JASON ALDEAN/Dirt Road Anthem (Broken Bow) 9101
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Just A Kiss (Capitol) 9063
BLAKE SHELTON/Honey Bee (Warner Bros./WMN) 8427
LUKE BRYAN/Country Girl (Shake It For Me) (Capitol) 7267
THOMPSON SQUARE/Are You Gonna Kiss... (Stoney Creek) 5457
CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow (RCA) 5305
BRAD PAISLEY f/ALABAMA/Old Alabama (Arista) 5195
JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away (Valory) 4510
Activator Top Point GainersLADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol) 1782 4MIRANDA LAMBERT/Baggage Claim (RCA) 1374 4JASON ALDEAN/Tattoos On This Town (Broken Bow) 1299 4ERIC CHURCH/Drink In My Hand (EMI Nashville) 1043 4LUKE BRYAN/I Don’t Want This Night To End (Capitol) 1017 4ZAC BROWN BAND/Keep Me In Mind (So. Grnd/Atl./BPG) 993ELI YOUNG BAND/Crazy Girl (Republic Nashville) 918BAND PERRY/All Your Life (Republic Nashville) 889THOMPSON SQUARE/I Got You (Stoney Creek) 850BLAKE SHELTON/God Gave Me You (Warner Bros./WMN) 777
Activator Top Spin GainersLADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol) 296MIRANDA LAMBERT/Baggage Claim (RCA) 226JASON ALDEAN/Tattoos On This Town (Broken Bow) 216LUKE BRYAN/I Don’t Want This Night To End (Capitol) 185ZAC BROWN BAND/Keep Me In Mind (So. Grnd/Atl./BPG) 180ERIC CHURCH/Drink In My Hand (EMI Nashville) 167THOMPSON SQUARE/I Got You (Stoney Creek) 150ELI YOUNG BAND/Crazy Girl (Republic Nashville) 140BAND PERRY/All Your Life (Republic Nashville) 134KEITH URBAN/Long Hot Summer (Capitol) 124
September 12, 2011 Country Aircheck Chart Info Chart Page 3
September 19JANEDEAR GIRLS/Merry Go Round (Warner Bros./WMN)LOST TRAILERS/Underdog (Stokes Tunes)
September 26COY TAYLOR/Fall For You (Twang City/Flying Island)CRYSTAL SHAWANDA/Love Enough (Sun/Nine North)KIP MOORE/Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck (MCA)
OctOber 3BLAKE WISE/Can’t Live Without (Broken Bow)BRENT ANDERSON/Amy’s Song (Sea Gayle/Arista)COREY SMITH/Maybe Next Year (Average Joes)SUNNY SWEENEY/Drink Myself Single (Republic Nashville)TRENT TOMLINSON/A Man Without A Woman (Skyville)
Country Aircheck ActivityLEANN RIMES/Give (Curb) 580 points, 198 spins No adds
CHRIS CAGLE/ Got My Country On (BPG) 575 points, 212 spins 7 adds: KJKE, KUBL*, KWJJ, WDSY*, WGH, WNOE, WPCV*
CHRISTIAN KANE/Let Me Go (BPG) 352 points, 139 spins 1 add: WIVK*
add daTes
Aircheck Activity includes the top 15 songs that rank 45-50 on this week’s chart or are those that are not charted and have a minimum of 300 airplay points and have shown growth in two of the past three weeks. (* indicates auto adds)
September 12, 2011 Country Aircheck Chart Info Chart Page 4
CMTBLAKE SHELTON/God Gave Me You (Warner Bros./WMN)LADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol)LITTLE BIG TOWN/Shut Up Train (Capitol)TRACE ADKINS/Just Fishin’ (Show Dog-Universal)
CMT PURELADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol)LEANN RIMES/Give (Curb)LITTLE BIG TOWN/Shut Up Train (Capitol)SONIA LEIGH/My Name Is Money (Southern Ground)TRACE ADKINS/Just Fishin’ (Show Dog-Universal)
GACBAND PERRY/All Your Life (Republic Nashville)CHUCK WICKS/Old School (N2U)LADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night (Capitol)LEANN RIMES/Give (Curb)LITTLE BIG TOWN/Shut Up Train (Capitol)
THE COUNTRY NETWORKMIKE CORRADO/Still In The Fight (Grunt Tunes)