CO5’s Roberts To Lytle Management As reported via Twitter and Facebook earlier this evening (3/14), CO5/Nashville VP/Promotion Denise Roberts is leaving the company for a position with Lytle Management Group. She will focus on radio and tour promotion for Lytle client Gary Allan and other LMG clients. Roberts will be coordinating efforts on behalf of Allan with UMG/Nashville. “Gary Allan and I are honored to have a music professional the caliber of Denise Roberts join our
Is There A Draft In Here? It’s big-check season at Country radio, otherwise known as Country Cares radiothonery, as this group from WBYT/South Bend, IN can attest. Pictured (l-r) are staffers Keith Moody, Deb Mills, Cody Austin, Brad King, Jesse Garcia and Kristine Moore with the $178k total for St. Jude.
Cumulus-Citadel: What The Merger Means As expected, the $2.4 billion Cumulus-Citadel “deal of the century” was made official last week (CAT 3/10). For those of you not paying attention in class, this mega-merger will grow Cumulus’ station portfolio to almost 600 outlets, making it the second-largest operator of radio stations in America behind Clear Channel, which boasts approximately 1,200. Even without the merger, Cumulus already has a formidable Country profile, with 52 stations. Add Citadel’s 36 properties and Country will make up a considerable portion (15%) of the total station count for Cumulus. Among the Citadel/soon-to-be Cumulus Country stations are several powerhouses: WKHX/Atlanta has a 30+-year history in the format and has continued to win, despite an aggressive challenge from Clear Channel’s WUBL, which jumped into the race in 2007. WIVK/Knoxville is a legendary Country outlet programmed by Country Radio Hall of Famer Mike Hammond and perennially ranked No. 1. The station has averaged an 18 share (12+) for the last two years. For many years, ‘IVK posted shares in the low-to-mid 20’s. KATM/Modesto, CA is still in the midst of a years-long undefeated streak of No. 1 ranked Arbitron books. Its sister station, KUBL/Salt Lake consistently wins that market’s three-station battle. Other notable call letters Cumulus will soon absorb include KIIM/Tucson, KHKI & KJJY/Des Moines and WITL/Lansing, MI.
Denise Roberts(continued on page 8)
March 14, 2011 Issue 234
team,” Lytle Management Group President John Lytle says. “Her experience across the record and radio worlds makes her a great fit for this job.” Roberts can be reached at 615-770-2688, 818-679-5479 (cell) or at [email protected].
More From Cumulus Call Today’s quarterly conference call (3/14) also found Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey reporting that he envisions $50 million in synergies, which will occur in the first six months once the merger occurs. Personnel, programming or other details were not discussed. Cumulus reported total 2010 broadcast revenues of $259.2 million, up 2.8% from 2009, with net income of $29.4 million.
Country: A Class Act The CMA has launched CMA EDU, an education-based, national college initiative geared to students seeking knowledge about country music marketing, promotion and entrepreneurship. The effort was announced at a press event tonight in Nashville (3/14). Workshops, panels, networking and leadership training are among the endeavors, with Nashville’s Belmont University serving as the pilot program. More than 100 students have been enrolled, with other schools and
universities throughout the Southeast expressing interest. CMA Board member Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town said, “The networking possibilities are endless.
I would have jumped at the opportunity as a student to be part of something this closely tied to the actual music business being done in Nashville.” CMA Sr. Coordinator/Partner Programs Sarah McGrady is spearheading the project. For details, visit www.cmaworld.com/cmaedu.
Leapfrog, PPM360 Top Advisory Council Issues Highlights from last week’s Arbitron Radio Advisory Council meeting in Annapolis, MD include progress on expanding in-person PPM panelist recruiting, address-based sampling and a finer level of geographic control. The Council encouraged the ratings firm to move aggressively in rolling out its “PPM360” initiative, a mobile platform-enabled meter that can continuously upload data, rather than night-time docking. On the diary side, the Council encouraged Arbitron to furnish more details regarding
its work on project Leapfrog, an experimental approach featuring a week-long Web/mobile-based survey methodology. Arbitron commented, “We appreciate the Council’s suggestions to share more about our work to enhance the diary and PPM service, and we are planning a series of communications about our initiatives as soon as possible.”
Bradley Gaskin: CRS Phenom This story has no photo because, well, there’s been no photo shoot. In fact, there’s been little in the way of standard artist-launch preparation because Columbia and Sony Music/Nashville weren’t expecting the reaction they’ve gotten to 30-year-old Bradley Gaskin. “We scheduled Bradley on the Boat and in our suite as a tease for the CRS crowd,” Columbia VP/Promotion Jimmy Rector says. “It just blew up. He played our suite at the Renaissance Wednesday night and about 16 or 17 people showed up. Friday, after Thursday’s Boat show, about 60 or 70 showed up to hear him.” Gaskin’s debut solo-penned single, “Mr. Bartender,” was set for release in May, but the CRS buzz drew multiple inquiries from radio programmers. The single was rushed to stations digitally, though physical shipment didn’t happen until last Friday (3/11). “We don’t even have images,” Rector admits. “The photo shoot is scheduled for [this] week, so we’re sending everything with a white label.” The Duck Springs, AL native was discovered through MySpace by John Rich and Charlie Pennachio, who are co-managing. Rich is producing.
The Page Three Pic
RLG ... And We Don’t Mean “Record Label Group”: The late Dene Hallam, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Bill Catino ([email protected]) and Jeff Garrison ([email protected]) (l-r) circa 1994. Got a great vintage photo? Send it to [email protected].
Industry News Singer/songwriter and musician JT Hodges has been signed by Paradigm Talent Agency. Hodges will release his debut album on Show Dog-Universal later this year. FUNL Music’s Amber Hayes has entered into an exclusive booking deal with Brand N Music Partnerships. VP/Operations Greg Burns will handle Hayes’ U.S. dates and can be reached here or at 615-562-3726. Pheromone/MegaForce/Sony RED recording artist Greg Hanna has enlisted radio promotion veterans Rick Kelly, Sarah Matlock, Lisa Smoot, Jen Trail, Jerry Duncan, Sam Cerami, Jack Pride and Jay Taylor for support of his newest single “Makin’ Love Real.” Craig Bann of Marco Promotions is tapped for video promotion and Webster & Associates will handle publicity. The Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID) and CAA have joined to organize the 3rd Annual Music Row Madness Showdown Tuesday (3/15). The bowl-a-rama competition, consisting of 16 teams of employees from Nashville’s music community, is expected to raise more than $10,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Details here.
Artist News The Toby Keith Foundation’s Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic will be held May 20-21. The event will have a “Denim & Diamonds” theme and benefit the OK Kids Korral. Details here. Darius Rucker will perform May 11 as part of Military Appreciation Day during The Players Championship. All active duty, reserve and retired military personnel and their dependents will be admitted free during tournament week in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Details here. Andy Griggs and Tennessee Titan Cortland Finnegan will co-host the Waddell & Reed Charity Golf Tournament April 7 at the Hermitage Golf Course to benefit Christmas 4 Kids. Details here. Bri Bagwell, Adrienne Beasley, Courtney Cole, Danielle Lauderdale, Andrea Person, Steven Clawson, Matt Dame, Matt Mason, Ben Smith and Wynn Varble are the 10 contestants who will compete on CMT’s Next Superstar. Top Chef Canada’s Thea Andrews will host the series, which premieres April 8. Details here. David Ball is appearing as a celebrity spokesperson in a national TV campaign for Operation Troop Aid, which works to send care packages to deployed US troops.
My Tunes: Music ThaT shaPed My Life
KFRG/Riverside MD Scott Ward discusses his most influential songs, albums or concerts:1. The Clash, Austin, June 1982: It got kind of scary when I got trapped inside the middle of a massive slam dance. That moment of fear also taught me a lot about the power of music. It can empower, teach, heal
and even turn some into homicidal maniacs.2. George Strait, Lubbock, TX, December 1985: My first country concert taught me more about the power of music. I was amazed at how George could hold the undivided attention of thousands of people while they were two-stepping around the Civic Center floor! 3. Led Zeppelin/Whole Lotta Love: It was burned on my brain at the tender age of five when I watched a group of hippies going nuts as this song blared out of their car stereo. At the time, I had no idea who the band was or anything about the song but I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment. 4. Charley Pride/Kiss An Angel Good Morning: The first song I ever owned and still have on my iPod. 5. Big & Rich, Horse Of A Different Color: I am still blown away by the production, the songs and the utter disregard for format constraints.• A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: Anything by the Strokes.• An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Opera. I’m too white trash.• An album you played or listened to incessantly: The Who’s Who’s Next.• One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: Lyle Lovett’s “If I Were The Man You Wanted.”
Columbia’s Josh Thompson puts an industry spin on the artist interview: What radio station did you grow up listening to? WMIL/Milwaukee was the only Country radio I got. Every Sunday they had Rick Jackson’s Hall of Fame from 6-10am, which is where I got a large amount of my traditional country education. They played everything from Hank, Jr. to Linda Ronstadt, George Jones to Tex Ritter. Do you remember the first time you
heard yourself on the radio? I was on Interstate 5 out west when “Beer On The Table” came on. The station was fuzzy, but I still turned it up and listened to it. I still haven’t found the right way to put that into words after working at it for so many years. It’s an out-of-body experience. It almost doesn’t seem real. Which regional is the worst driver? Everybody says it’s Jen Thorpe, but I’m going to go with David Friedman on this one. It’s just that he’s talking on his Bluetooth, emailing people and driving with his knee. He’s gotten better since a trip to Memphis where he swerved over into the other lane. We didn’t get into an accident, but we got honked at. Most reps have a reputation of not being good drivers. What do you remember about your radio tour? It’s all kind of run together. Red Bull and coffee were my best friends because we’d do 15-20 stations a week. What gross truck stop food tempts you? I usually get beef jerky and some kind of almonds or something. I still try to eat as healthy as I possibly can even though it’s not that easy. Those taquitos that are sitting on the rolling rotisserie for like eight hours, you could probably pick a guitar with them. What’s the craziest meet-and-greet outfit you’ve ever seen on a fan? This girl got her head shaved by another girl. She carved, “I love JT” into the side of her head. That is some straight-up love. What’s the one question you never want to answer again? “So tell me about yourself.” That’s such a hard question to answer. Where do I start?
Josh Thompson
Stephenville, TX’s David Key (Header) and Fallen, NV’s Jade Corkill (Heeler) are the new Grand Champions of the 29th Annual George Strait Team Roping Classic. Key and Corkill took home custom painted GSTRC Championship Chevy Silverado Duallies, among other prizes. Sarah Darling performed during CARE’s Conference and International Women’s Day Celebration in Washington, DC last week. Michael Franti and Crystal Bowersox also performed during the event, which raises awareness on international women’s issues.
This Week’s Top Stories Full coverage can be viewed in the archives at www.countryaircheck.com• Airplay Direct VP/Radio Strategies and longtime Top 40 programmer Dan Bowen was named PD for Cumulus’ WSM-FM/Nashville. (CAT 3/10)• Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge rises to Chairman/CEO. (CAT 3/9)• Wilks’ KLLL/Lubbock, TX APD/MD/afternoon host Ken Buckner will join Cumulus’ KPLX/Dallas to anchor its Wake Up With The Wolf morning show, starting March 2. (CAT 3/11)• Entercom’s KBWF/San Francisco weekender Ali Wilder was bumped to full-time status and will now handle nights. (CAT 3/11)
Fort Call-ins: Brian Gary, Todd Harding and Pete Hanson (l-r) tote the note that KUAD/Ft. Collins listeners ponied up to fight child abuse in Northern Colorado. It’s been a big week for KUAD, including receiving two Awards of Excellence from the Colorado Broadcasters Association (Best Remote and Station-Sponsored Community Event) as well as receiving a nomination for an NAB Crystal Award (CAT 3/14).
• Wilks’ KFKF/Kansas City morning co-host Mary McKenna and afternoon personality Dan Holiday exited the station. (CAT 3/11)• Radio vet Mark Allen is the new PD/afternoon host for Cumulus’ WLXX/Lexington. (CAT 3/11)
Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey alluded on today’s earnings call, when he said Citadel Media assets would be put “on the grid” at various stations. With so many markets and stations involved, there will no doubt be plenty of what-ifs and crystal-ball exercises taking place between now and the merger’s closing. Ultimately, the nature of Cumulus’ Country culture will be determined by SVP/Programming Jan Jeffries who, beyond his existing stable of experienced Cumulus execs, will inherit top Citadel programmers including Dave Kelly, Eddie Haskell, Steve Stewart, Mark Richards, Ed Hill, Hammond and many others. That assimilation will now come sooner than expected, another point Dickey revealed on today’s earnings call, when he said the closing would likely come by the end of the third quarter. CAC
• WGSQ/Cookeville, TN OM/PD/afternoon host Stew James will join Citadel’s WKDF/Nashville PD/morning personality Marty McFly in wake-ups. (CAT 3/9)•Clear Channel’s KUSS/San Diego APD/MD/morning host Cindy Spicer officially added middays at Country sister KNIX/Phoenix. (CAT 3/8)
What The Merger Means (continued from page 1) Interestingly, only two markets will necessitate serious competitive decision-making. Country Aircheck recently analyzed the future Cumulus combo of KPLX & KSCS/Dallas at length (CAW 2/22). On the eve of CRS, we furnished a profile of the Nashville Country radio landscape (CAW/2/28). That has since changed with the promotion of Marty McFly to PD at Citadel’s WKDF (CAT 3/7) and the hiring of PD Dan Bowen at Cumulus’ WSM-FM (CAT 3/10). What effect will this latest round of consolidation have on the Mediabase Country chart? Currently, Clear Channel’s 41 Country reporters constitute 32% of the total reporting panel. Once the 18 reporting Citadel stations are folded into Cumulus, the newly merged company will make up 16.5% of the panel (15.9% of its total weight). Add CBS Radio’s 11 stations and Entercom’s seven, and four radio groups will comprise 63% of the station total. Another component of this multi-billion-dollar merger is Citadel Media, the program supplier/syndicator that provides specialty shows and fulltime programming for many formats including Country radio. It’s the network that American Country Countdown, hosted by Kix Brooks, calls home. The syndicated nighttime Jeremy Show, along with 24/7 formats Real Country and Today’s Best Country, are also part of Citadel Media. With its footprint nearly doubling, it’s unimaginable Cumulus wouldn’t utilize some of this programming, a point to which
David St. Romain All I Really Wanted To Say (Aria Records Nashville) Nashville Star season seven finalist and Alexandria, LA native Romain co-wrote nine of his debut album’s 12 tracks including the upcoming single “Twenty Years Late,” which celebrates
mother-child relationships. Co-writers include Brett James, Paul Rant, Chris Tompkins and Jim McCormick. Shawn Pennington and Steve Pefler produced.
Country Aircheck Top Spin GainersKENNY CHESNEY/Live A Little (BNA) 603DARIUS RUCKER/This (Capitol) 371CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow (RCA) 355THOMPSON SQUARE/Are You Gonna Kiss... (Stoney Creek) 345TOBY KEITH/Somewhere Else (Show Dog-Universal) 321ZAC BROWN BAND/Colder... (Southern Ground/Atlantic/BPG) 307TAYLOR SWIFT/Mean (Big Machine) 279KEITH URBAN/Without You (Capitol) 268JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away (Valory) 255BAND PERRY/You Lie (Republic Nashville) 243
Country Aircheck Top Point GainersKENNY CHESNEY/Live A Little (BNA) 1624 4DARIUS RUCKER/This (Capitol) 1058 4TAYLOR SWIFT/Mean (Big Machine) 942 4CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow (RCA) 928 4THOMPSON SQUARE/Are You Gonna Kiss Me... (Stoney Creek) 914 4ZAC BROWN BAND/Colder... (Southern Ground/Atlantic/BPG) 874KEITH URBAN/Without You (Capitol) 856JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away (Valory) 767TOBY KEITH/Somewhere Else (Show Dog-Universal) 754SARA EVANS/A Little Bit Stronger (RCA) 748
Activator Top Point GainersKENNY CHESNEY/Live A Little (BNA) 2010 4CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow (RCA) 1602 4TOBY KEITH/Somewhere Else (Show Dog-Universal) 1257 4JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away (Valory) 1253 4THOMPSON SQUARE/Are You Gonna Kiss... (Stoney Creek) 1164 4DARIUS RUCKER/This (Capitol) 929TAYLOR SWIFT/Mean (Big Machine) 889RASCAL FLATTS/I Won't Let Go (Big Machine) 881ZAC BROWN BAND/Colder... (Southern Ground/Atlantic/BPG) 862ERIC CHURCH/Homeboy (EMI Nashville) 770
Activator Top Spin GainersKENNY CHESNEY/Live A Little (BNA) 330CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow (RCA) 259JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away (Valory) 214THOMPSON SQUARE/Are You Gonna Kiss... (Stoney Creek) 206TOBY KEITH/Somewhere Else (Show Dog-Universal) 200DARIUS RUCKER/This (Capitol) 158TAYLOR SWIFT/Mean (Big Machine) 157ZAC BROWN BAND/Colder... (Southern Ground/Atlantic/BPG) 149RASCAL FLATTS/I Won't Let Go (Big Machine) 136ERIC CHURCH/Homeboy (EMI Nashville) 133
Country Aircheck Add LeadersTAYLOR SWIFT/Mean (Big Machine) 64BRAD PAISLEY f/ALABAMA/Old Alabama (Arista) 33TOBY KEITH/Somewhere Else (Show Dog-Universal) 26KIP MOORE/Mary Was The Marrying Kind (MCA) 22ERIC CHURCH/Homeboy (EMI Nashville) 18ELI YOUNG BAND/Crazy Girl (Republic Nashville) 11TIM MCGRAW & GWYNETH PALTROW/Me And Tennessee (Curb/RCA) 10JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away (Valory) 9CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow (RCA) 8DUE WEST/When The Smoke Clears (Black River) 8LITTLE BIG TOWN/Reason Why (Capitol) 8
CMT BLAKE SHELTON/Kiss My Country Ass (Warner Bros./WMN)KEITH URBAN/Without You (Capitol)LEE BRICE/Beautiful Every Time (Curb)
CMT PUREBLAKE SHELTON/Kiss My Country Ass (Warner Bros./WMN)DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS/Fire And Dynamite (Dualtone)KEITH URBAN/Without You (Capitol)TRAMPLED BY TURTLES/Victory (Banjodad)
GACCARTER’S CHORD/A Little Less Comfortable (Show Dog-Universal)DUE WEST/When The Smoke Clears (Black River)KEITH URBAN/Without You (Capitol)SECRET SISTERS/Tennessee Me (Universal Republic)
VideO adds
March 14, 2011 Country Aircheck Chart Info Chart Page 3
MARCH 21ASHLEY GEARING/Five More Minutes (Curb)BRADLEY GASKIN/Mr. Bartender (Columbia)JANEDEAR GIRLS/Shotgun Girl (Warner Bros./WMN)
MARCH 28BRAD PAISLEY f/ALABAMA/Old Alabama (Arista)EDENS EDGE/Amen (Big Machine)GLORIANA/Wanna Take You Home (Emblem/WMN)JODY BOOTH/Gold Digger (Vigilante/CO5)
APRIL 4MARTINA MCBRIDE/Teenage Daughters (Republic Nashville)TRACE ADKINS/Just Fishin’ (Show Dog-Universal)
Country Aircheck ActivityKATIE ARMIGER/Best Song Ever (Cold River) Moves 45*-45; 818 points, 293 spins No adds
LEANN RIMES/Crazy Women (Curb) Moves 47*-46; 688 points, 243 spins No adds
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)
Country Aircheck Top Recurrents Points
BLAKE SHELTON/Who Are You When I'm... (Warner Bros/WMN) 11463LUKE BRYAN/Someone Else Calling You Baby (Capitol) 8530CHRIS YOUNG/Voices (RCA) 7398KENNY CHESNEY/Somewhere With You (BNA) 7124TIM MCGRAW/Felt Good On My Lips (Curb) 6724KEITH URBAN/Put You In A Song (Capitol) 5921ZAC BROWN BAND f/A. JACKSON/As... (So. Ground/Atlantic/BPG) 5532JASON ALDEAN/My Kinda Party (Broken Bow) 5185RASCAL FLATTS/Why Wait (Big Machine) 4481BAND PERRY/If I Die Young (Republic Nashville) 4324
March 14, 2011 Country Aircheck Chart Info Chart Page 4
