» Sum Enchanted Evening: Here are today's Arbitron Fall '09 diary ratings for Country stations in the top 150 markets, listed by metro size. All figures are persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses. Additional stations outside the top 150 metros with ratings released this week will appear in next Monday's Country Aircheck Weekly. Six markets issued today are client-exclusive and not available for publication: Cape Cod, MA; Concord (Lakes Region), NH; Manchester, NH; New Bedford, MA; Portsmouth, NH; and Springfield, MA. 

• Hartford: Clear Channel's WWYZ advanced solidly for the third book in a row, up 7.1-8.5 (4-2) to its best survey in many years.
• Akron: Rubber City's WQMX turned around a three-book slide, improving 5.9-6.7 (2-2). CC's WGAR/Cleveland declined 3.4-2.6 (10-13), while Cumulus' WQXK/Youngstown, OH rose 1.3-1.8 (22-17).
• Stockton: Citadel's market-leading KATM/Modesto, CA was down 9.6-8.0, and moved to No. 2. CBS Radio's KNCI/Sacramento faded 1.0-0.0; it had been tied at No. 21.
• Visalia, CA: Westcoast's KJUG-FM decreased 4.4-3.9 (7t-9t), while Peak's KSKS/Fresno closed in, up 2.0-3.2 (13-11).
• Worcester, MA: Greater Media's WKLB/Boston gained 6.6-6.8 (2-3).
• Modesto, CA: Citadel's metro leader KATM fell 10.4-9.1, but is still No. 1 by a full share.
• Santa Rosa, CA: Maverick's KFGY was off 4.2-3.0 (3-8t), but that matched its Fall '08 performance. In its second autumn survey, Redwood Empire's KGRP nearly tripled 0.6-1.7 (34t-17t).

» Train(ing) Wreck: Following yesterday's bombshell announcement (CAT 1/11) that Michael Skarzynski had resigned as Arbitron's President/CEO and was replaced by William Kerr, the question was why? It appears the move followed word by House Oversight Committee Chairman Ed Towns (D-NY) that Skarzynski "may have provided false testimony" Dec. 2 about personally attending an in-home PPM panelist training session. Evidently, he wasn't there, and so far hasn't issued a statement regarding the matter. As severance, Skarzynski will receive $750,000 in cash and indemnification for up to $100K in legal expenses. He also keeps his insurance coverage, and will not have to reimburse his substantial moving allowance. However, non-compete and other employment-related terms remain in place. Kerr says he's focusing on four key areas: leading through the transition, commercializing PPM, protecting the diary business and "evolving a long-term management structure." The swift moves were not enough to soothe investors, as ARB stock fell nearly 10% today in heavy trading.

» Opening Act: Lyric Street is once again co-sponsoring Albright & O'Malley's annual pre-CRS Client Seminar, which kicks off with a performance from newcomer Tyler Dickerson. This year's keynote speech comes from motivational speaker and Canadian radio programmer Eric Samuels and is titled "Decisions, Decisions: The Art, Science and Magic of Decision Making." A&O's Mike O'Malley will then present the results of the company's fifth client-wide perceptual study. The event starts at 1pm Feb. 23 and is free and open to those working in non-competitive situations with A&O clients. To get your invitation, contact Jaye Albright (206-498-6261) or O'Malley (732-937-5757).

» The Doctor Is In: The ACM and Dr Pepper have partnered to offer one winner and a guest an ACM Awards experience that includes a weekend stay in Las Vegas, tickets to the 45th Annual ACM Awards and a Dr Pepper Welcome Reception with Sugarland. Fans can learn more and enter at DrPepper.com through March 31. The ACM Awards are April 18.

» Down On The Farm: The Tim McGraw- and Gwyneth Paltrow-starring movie Love Don't Let Me Down begins filming this week in Nashville. According to the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission, production company Screen Gems is looking to hire mostly local crew and actors for the $15 million project. Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester and Friday Night Lights' Garrett Hedlund also star in the film, which is being produced by actor Tobey McGuire. Filming is expected to run through March. Details here. 

» Barack Stars: The soundtrack album for HBO's By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama documentary features songs by Tim McGraw, the Dixie Chicks and Sheryl Crow among its 14 tracks. Proceeds from the iTunes exclusive download will benefit United Way and Enterprise. Download here.

» Special List:   Westwood One is offering three market-exclusive Country specials focused on the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. A two-hour Country Nominations special, custom Country Look-Back Vignettes and a Country Ultimate Package that includes two tickets to the Jan. 31 show are available. The first two are available here, the latter here. Contact Donny Walker at 917-957-5028 or here for details.

» Life Note: Our heartfelt condolences are extended to Country Music DJ Hall of Famer Dugg Collins, who lost his wife Joyce to cancer last night (1/11). Funeral arrangements are pending.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 11: 

1. TIM MCGRAW/Southern Voice (Curb) 2169 points
   
2. DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your... (Capitol) 2153 points
3. JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2039 points
4. MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar (Columbia) 1968 points
5. REBA/Consider Me Gone (Starstruck/Valory) 1880 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. 11: 

1. JACK INGRAM/Free (Big Machine)
2. LUKE BRYAN/Rain Is A Good Thing (Capitol)
3. JO DEE MESSINA/That's God (Curb)
4. BLAINE LARSEN/Chillin' (Treehouse)
5. MARTINA MCBRIDE/Wrong Baby Wrong (RCA)

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/13): Trace Adkins, John Burns.

» Tube Check Tomorrow (1/13): Gloriana, Ellen DeGeneres (syndicated); Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC).

» Bull Dawgs: WUBL/Atlanta PD Scott Lindy (l), MD Lance Houston (second from l) and morning co-host Jason Pullman (r) have a "Cold Beer" with Colt Ford before his performance at Wild Bill's last Friday (1/8).

» Moore Shotgun, James: New KCYY/San Antonio MD/morning co-host Randy "Shotgun" Shannon and co-host Jesse James welcome Justin Moore and friends to the city for the opening night of the Brad Paisley tour. Pictured (l-r) are Valory's Jon Loba, Shannon, Moore, James, Big Machine/Valory's Scott Borchetta and Valory's George Briner.

» Acceler-Aid: Arista's Jason Michael Carroll, RCA's Chris Young and 19/RCA's Danny Gokey participate in the Sprint Sound & Speed event at the Grand Ole Opry Friday night (1/8). Pictured (l-r) are Sound & Speed Dir. Kara Bullock, Gaylord SVP/Media-Entertainment Steve Buchanan, Sony Music/Nashville Sr. Dir./Creative Services Scott McDaniel, Gokey,  Young, Carroll, SMN & Arista VP/Promotion Skip Bishop, SMN Chairman Joe Galante, SVP/Sales & Operations Paul Barnabee and VP/Digital Business Heather McBee and Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher.