» Chapter One: Here are the first results of the Fall 2009 Arbitron diary ratings, listed by metro size. All figures are persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses where applicable.

• Allentown: Citadel's WCTO shifted 11.0-10.9 (1-1), extending its lead to a full share over its nearest competitor.
• Wilkes Barre: Entercom's WGGY held steady at a 7.8, but climbed from fourth to No. 2, beating Fall '08's 6.7. After a soft Summer survey, Citadel's WSJR rebounded 1.6-2.8 (14-8). Backyard's WILQ/Williamsport, PA more than doubled, 0.6-1.5 (26t-14t), while Citadel's WCTO/Allentown fell 2.5-1.4 (8-18). 
• Mobile: In this client-only market (therefore no official rankings), Clear Channel's WKSJ gained 8.3-9.5 to lead all subscribing stations in its best Fall book since 2005.
  

» Saint Goes Marching In: Riviera's Rock KEDJ & Rhythmic KKFR/Phoenix PD Bruce St. James has been named to the same post for CBS Radio/Phoenix's KMLE and Rhythmic KZON. Kris Abrams, who added KMLE PD duties in February 2008, will return to focusing on programming Classic Hits KOOL. "Bruce has been trained to interpret and implement research, motivate and coach talent, and work with sales to generate ratings and revenue," SVP/Market Manager Tim Pohlman said in a memo sent to CBS Radio/Phoenix staffers. "I feel fortunate that we have Kris Abrams and Bruce St. James at the programming helms of KOOL, KMLE and KZON." Formerly Riviera Managing Partner/CEO, Pohlman joined CBS Radio/Phoenix last month (CAT 12/14).

» Jim Beams: KSOP Inc.'s KSOP/Salt Lake City middayer “Gentleman” Jim Mickelson has been upped to APD. "Jim is a solid format/SLC market veteran and will make a great addition to our music and programming departments," says PD Deb Turpin. "I am really excited to get with him and toss some new ideas around that will take us to the next level." Contact him here.

» Shotgun Wedding: Former Wilks' KWOF/Denver PD/MD/morning co-host Randy "Shotgun" Shannon and co-host Jesse James have been hired for mornings on Cox's KCYY/San Antonio. Shannon will also serve as APD/MD. The Jesse & Shotgun Show debuts Jan. 11, replacing 10-year station vets Kris Winston and Alyce Ian, who aired their last show Dec. 31 (CAW 1/4). “We are proud to welcome this talented duo to the Cox family,” said Cox/San Antonio VP Ben Reed. “The show is a blend of current events, slice-of-life and a unique brand of fun that Y100 listeners will love.”

» Bask All's Flat? With the overall record industry down 11%, country music's relatively flat year-over-year sales total looks like a moral victory for Nashville. Nielsen SoundScan numbers show the genre sold 46,925,000 albums in 2009, a 1.5% decline from 2008's 47,657,000 units. The overall best-selling album was Taylor Swift's Fearless, which moved 3,216,000 copies in '09 to edge a late surge from Susan Boyle. Country's market share rose from 11.1% to 12.3%. CD sales were down 5.1%, with digital album sales climbing 41.6% but still only amounting to roughly 5 million copies. And there's the little matter of Nielsen's 2009 including 53 weeks, giving it a seven-day edge over '08. But who's counting?

» Odell Room: Sandusky's Adult Hits KIXI-AM/Seattle and sister Rhythmic AC KQMV Dir./Marketing & Promotions Annie Odell will join crosstown Entercom's Country KKWF as Promotion Dir. Jan. 18. She succeeds Joe Hammill, who will continue to focus on sister Alternative KNDD. Prior to Sandusky, Odell worked at CBS Radio/Seattle, where she rose from Promotions Asst. to Sales Coord.

» The Heat Is On: Cox's WWKA/Orlando morning co-hosts Doc And Grace shared the airwaves this morning (1/6) with local 90-year-old public housing resident John Sterling whose apartment had been without heat for nearly two years. Reportedly, the Sanford, FL Housing Authority hadn't been able to find parts for the units and instead furnished tenants with space heaters. Following the broadcast, Rinalid's Air Conditioning sent crews to fix the heaters free of charge for the man and his 12 neighbors. Read more here.

» Sub Mission: The CRB has extended the deadline for 2010 Radio Humanitarian and Promotion Awards submissions to Jan. 15. Both are presented to stations in Large, Medium and Small market categories for public service or radio promotions held from Nov. 1, 2008-Dec. 21, 2009. For consideration, submit a written presentation of humanitarian efforts (two-page maximum, including photos) here or a one-page summary (PDF format) of the most successful promotion (photos and videos are allowed) here. All applicants must include their name, city, call letters, daytime phone and market size. Radio Promotion winners will recieve a free trip to CRS 2010, including airfare (up to $500), hotel accommodations and registration fees. Awards will be presented during CRS 2010 Feb. 24-26.

» Down On The Pharm: 19/Arista's Carrie Underwood will make her television acting debut on an upcoming episode of CBS-TV's How I Met Your Mother. Underwood will play "Tiffany," a pharmaceutical sales rep and "Ted's" love interest, opposite Josh Radnor, for the episode set to air in March.

» Crib Note: Congratulations to Clay Walker and wife Jessica on the birth of their daughter Mary-Elizabeth, who was born Dec. 27. This is the second child for the couple, who welcomed son William in Aug. 2008.

» Chronicle: Our condolences are extended to the friends and family of WCMS/Norfolk co-founder Marjorie S. Crump, who passed last Friday (1/1). A memorial service will be held at Suffolk, VA's Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Jan. 16 at 2pm. Donations may be made to the Marjorie Crump Memorial Fund for the Preservation of Radio History at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (222 5th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203). Read more here.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 5:

1. REBA/Consider Me Gone (Starstruck/Valory) 2199 points
2. DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your... (Capitol) 2156 points
3. TIM MCGRAW/Southern Voice (Curb) 2122 points
4. MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar (Columbia) 2037 points
   
5. JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 1996 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Jan. 5:

1. MARTINA MCBRIDE/Wrong Baby Wrong (RCA)
2. JEWEL/Stay Here Forever (Valory)
3. CRAIG MORGAN/This Ain't Nothin' (BNA)
4. RYAN BINGHAM/The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart) (New West)
   
5. LADY ANTEBELLUM/American Honey (Capitol)

» Tube Check Tonight (1/6): Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, 2010 People's Choice Awards (CBS).

Tube Check Tomorrow (1/7): Jake Owen, Origins (GAC).

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/7): John Rich, Lyn Daniels.

» Trailer Love: WIL/St. Louis MD Danny Montana poses backstage with performers at a station event. Pictured (l-r) are Trailer Choir band member Shug, Love And Theft's Eric Gunderson, TC's Big Vinny (lying), Luke Bryan, Montana (kneeling) TC's Crystal Hoyt, LNT's Stephen Barker Liles, TC's Butter, LNT's Brian Bandas and Justin Moore.

» Work Harter: New KBWF/San Francisco PD Mike Krinik (l) gets a royal welcome back to radio from The Harters' Mike, Leslie and Scott (r). 

» Shocker: Root 49/Nine North's Bridgette Tatum (c) takes her single "(I Like My) Cowboys Dirty" to KATM/Modesto APD/middayer Nikki Thomas and PD Randy "Bubba" Black.