» Dog Father Universally Loved: "They made me, as Roger Miller would say, an offer I cannot understand," Toby Keith said of the impetus for the merger of his Show Dog Nashville label with Universal South. "They gave me every single thing I asked for and more." The occasion was today's (1/13) Nashville press conference officially announcing Show Dog-Universal, which Country Aircheck has already detailed in depth (Breaking News 12/18, CAT 12/18, PDFs: CAW 12/29, 1/4). SDU principal Keith and President Mark Wright discussed the complementary strengths each company brought to the merger, with Wright's Nashville presence – politically for awards shows and in terms of proximity to the songwriting/publishing community – noted as key. "Not that I needed it, but some of the other artists need that ... and Mark's better suited," Keith said. 

"We've come out with a combined company that's stronger," Wright said, acknowledging the tough staffing decisions that resulted in the departure of "some good people who didn't lose their jobs because of performance." Keith declined to discuss specific deal points that made him comfortable he wouldn't lose the autonomy he sought in establishing Show Dog in 2005, but did say it included "every single thing you would want – masters and ownership – [Universal Music Group President/COO] Zach [Horowitz] came right to the table with. I haven't given up the freedom I had at Show Dog."

The event was punctuated by the surprise signing of 15-year Capitol/Nashville artist Trace Adkins (Breaking News 1/13), who joined Keith and Wright in answering questions from the assembled press corps. Wright even led the room in singing "Happy Birthday" to Adkins, who was also presented a birthday cake to go with his new label deal. Expressing his appreciation for his years at Capitol first, Adkins admitted being "very excited and invigorated" with the move to SDU. Saying he saw an enviable energy in Keith during their 2009 tour, Adkins described it as "grinning from ear-to-ear like a 12-year-old on Christmas morning. It's real – he ain't that good an actor. I wanted me some of that." Plans for a single and album from Adkins are in the works. The SDU roster is otherwise unchanged.

» Arb-er Shop: Here are today's Fall '09 Arbitron diary ratings for stations in the top 150 markets, listed by market size. All figures are persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses where applicable. Charlottesville, VA and Tallahassee, FL, whose reports were also released today, are client-exclusive and not available for publication. Additional stations outside the top 150 metros with ratings released this week will appear in next Monday's Country Aircheck Weekly.

• Tucson: In its best Fall survey in three years, Citadel's market-leading KIIM bumped up 8.9-9.2, continuing its hold on No. 1 and easily beating its 7.7 from a year ago.
• Dayton: In this subscriber-only market (therefore no official rankings), Cox's WHKO held steady at an 8.8, leading all other participating stations. That share surpassed its 8.3 from Fall '08. In its second sweep, Aloha Station Trust's WDSJ was down 1.2-0.9.
• New Haven, CT: Clear Channel's WWYZ/Hartford declined 5.7-5.0 (3-4).
• Youngstown, OH: Cumulus' WQXK advanced 10.2-11.5 (1-2) in its best book since Spring '07. Forever's WWGY/New Castle, PA rose 2.1-2.7 (12-10t).
• Canton, OH: Congrats to Cumulus' WQXK/Youngstown, OH, which jumped 6.8-8.1 and from a tie for second to tie for No. 1. Rubber City's WQMX/Akron improved 4.6-4.9 (7-6), while Ed Schumacher's WTUZ/New Philadelphia, OH gained 0.8-1.1 (24t-20t) and Wooster Republican Printing's WQKT/Wooster, OH fell 1.1-0.7 (20t-24t).
• Appleton, WI: Midwest Communications' market champ WNCY eased 11.6-11.4 (1-1), down for the third straight session, but still leads by more than a share. Cumulus' WPKR experienced its lowest share in several years, off 3.9-2.7 (9-10).

» Street Call Named Thee Hired: Clear Channel's KSWF/Springfield, MO PM driver/street team leader Clint Gerlek has moved to mornings following AJ Maguire's departure last month (CAT 12/1). PD/middayer Adam Burnes is now handling afternoons and seeking a middayer/street team leader. Send airchecks and resumes here.

» Whoever's In New England: Forever's WFGS/Murray, KY PD/PM driver Justin Tyler is leaving the station Jan. 21 to relocate to New Hampshire. Tyler joined 'FGS from WWGR/Ft. Myers last June (CAT 5/12). He tells Country Aircheck, "I do have a job lined up, and I’ll be able to share that with everyone in about two weeks." In the meantime, reach him here.

» Gig Alert: Clear Channel's WMZQ/Washington, DC PD Meg Stevens is seeking a full-time producer/announcer to join morning host Joe Boxer, as well as to host a weekend shift. Knowledge of Prophet/NexGen and Adobe Audition is necessary, as is two-four years of full-time on-air/producing experience and excellent production skills. Send airchecks and resumes here or via snail mail to Clear Channel, Attn. Human Resources, 1801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.

» Gigs? We Got 'Em: NRG Media's KFGE/Lincoln, NE OM Steve Albertsen is seeking a morning co-host to join Gary Greenwood. Candidates must possess a sense of humor and be creative, spontaneous and innately entertaining. On-air auditions with listener feedback will determine finalists. Send airchecks (no longer than two minutes) and resumes here or to KFGE-FM, c/o Steve Albertsen, Broadcast House OM, 4332 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68510. No phone calls, please.

» T-R-O-U-B-L-E: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) yesterday called the circumstances surrounding Monday's (1/11) sudden resignation of Arbitron President Michael Skarzynski "troubling." Testifying in December to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Skarzynski allegedly misstated that he had personally attended a PPM training session. That violated company policy, and Skarzynski has been replaced by Meredith Chairman William Kerr (CAT 1/11). While drawing attention to the Media Ratings Council's Monday (1/11) denial of PPM accreditation in numerous markets, Menendez said, "[This matter] must be thoroughly investigated to ensure that Congress was not intentionally misinformed, and appropriate action must be taken based on the findings." Because Skarzynski testified under oath, could Menendez be implying that "appropriate action" includes formal charges? A call to Sen. Menendez's office regarding that question was not returned at presstime. The senator, who advocates an FCC investigation in what he calls "flawed PPM ratings" as it relates to minority broadcasters, represents a state whose attorney general announced a year ago today a settlement with Arbitron regarding the PPM service.

» A Name-Label Suit: A lawsuit from October 2008 alleging violations of Section 1 of the Sherman (anti-trust) Act by the major record companies regarding prices and terms of Internet sales resurfaced today. After a four-month review, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York found the original complaint contained "enough factual matter" to overturn a lower district court's dismissal of the plaintiff's charges. The case of (Kevin) Starr et al vs. Sony BMG Music Entertainment et al (including Bertelsmann, EMI Group, Sony Corp., Time Warner, Vivendi and Warner Music Group) alleges that the labels created deals and licenses that Circuit Judge Robert Katzmann found "sufficient to plausibly suggest" a price-fixing conspiracy.

» iPhone Update: New Dial Global Sr. Dir./Country Programming John Paul's first day on the job is Tuesday (1/19). Starting then, he can be reached at 720-873-5128 or here. 
 

» Country Compassion: Compassion International is encouraging Country radio to help relief efforts in Haiti following yesterday's (1/12) devastating 7.0 earthquake. Any station interested in getting involved can contact Mike Severson here. Send immediate help by texting "DISASTER" to 90999 to give $10 or more to Compassion's Haiti relief fund, or log on here.

» Hit List:

• Forbes has listed Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ($28 million), Josh Kelley and Katherine Heigl ($20m), and Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman ($17m) among its list of "Hollywood's Top-Earning Couples." Complete list here.
• According to the Wichita Eagle, Brad Paisley's father Doug helped save a man's life at Brad's Wichita concert last Saturday (1/9). Doug administered CPR to an arena employee suffering from a heart attack.
• Roy Orbison will receive a star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame Jan. 29.
• Steve Azar will join celebrities Kurt Russell, Alice Cooper, Emmitt Smith, Dr. Phil McGraw, Kevin Nealon and others for the 51st Bob Hope Classic Jan. 18-24. Learn more here.
• The final installment of Johnny Cash's American Recordings album series American VI: Ain't No Grave will be released on what would have been his 78th birthday, Feb. 26. The project was produced by Rick Rubin.

» Services Update: A funeral service for Joyce Collins, the late wife of Country Music DJ Hall of Famer Dugg Collins (CAT 1/12), will be held Friday (1/15) at Memphis, TX's Red Marble Ministries. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday (1/4) at Amarillo, TX's Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home from 6-8pm. Donation can be made in her name to Amarillo's Make-A-Wish Foundation.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 12: 

1. JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2235 points
2. DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your... (Capitol) 2227 points
3. TIM MCGRAW/Southern Voice (Curb) 2137 points
   
4. MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar (Columbia) 2074 points
5. REBA/Consider Me Gone (Starstruck/Valory) 1867 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. 12:

1. JACK INGRAM/Free (Big Machine)
2. DAVID NAIL/Turning Home (MCA)
   
3. JO DEE MESSINA/That's God (Curb)
4. LUKE BRYAN/Rain Is A Good Thing (Capitol)
5. KEN DOMASH/Countrified (Thunder Mountain/Spinville)

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/14) Billie Jo Spears, the late Billy Walker; Martin Fischer; Susan Levy; Tim Murphy; Chuck Thagard; Anne Weaver; Renee White.

» Tube Check Tonight (1/13): Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC). 

Tube Check Tomorrow (1/14): Rosanne Cash, Tavis Smiley (PBS).

» Who Needs Pictures? KKNG/Oklahoma City morning teamers MD Lynn Waggoner (l), KC Sheperd and PD Kevin Christopher (r) rub elbows with Brad Paisley before his performance at the OKC Ford Center Friday (1/8).

» Single's Seen: Lyric Street newcomer Tyler Dickerson kicked off his radio tour at the Citadel Media/Dallas offices yesterday (1/12) with a performance of his debut single "Tell Your Sister I'm Single." Pictured (l-r) are Today's Best Country MD Kris Wilson and PD Gary Reynolds, Dickerson and SVP/Programming and Distribution Carl Anderson.

» Dave? Dave Is Here: Mountain/Nine North's Hello Dave tested the Country Aircheck office fire codes with their "Chicago Twang" this morning (1/13). The band performed an acoustic version of their single "Golden" for staffers, and shared the story of their sound guy – you guessed it, Dave – whose attention isn't always easy to get. Pictured (l-r) are consultant Ed Gerter, publicist Nicole Pope, manager John Wanzung, CA's Lauren Tingle and Chuck Aly, HD's Mike "Magoo" McGohan, Big Al Wetzel, Peter Bauschke, Marty Williamson and Mike Himebaugh, CA's Erin Duvall and Mary Forest Findley and Nine North's Tom Moran.