January 15, 2010

news@countryaircheck.com

» Rate Shop: Here are today's Fall '09 Arbitron diary ratings for stations in the top 150 markets. All figures are persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses. The metro reports for Mason City, IA and Sebring, FL issued today are client-exclusive and are 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.

• Charlotte: In this always-tight battle, CBS Radio's WSOC climbed 5.3-6.5 (4-2) to its best book since Spring '08. That improvement enabled 'SOC to retake the crown from Clear Channel's Summer format leader WKKT, which slipped 5.5-5.2 (3-4t).
• West Palm Beach: CBS Radio's WIRK eased 4.3-4.1 (3-6), but beat Fall '08's 4.0. Beasley's WKIS/Miami was even at a 1.3 (22-19t).
• Sarasota: CC's WCTQ ended a three-book skid, rising 3.8-4.5 (5-4). Co-owned WIKX/Pt. Charlotte, FL edged up 1.5-1.7 (19t-15t), while sister WFUS/Tampa advanced 1.1-1.6 (22t-18t).
• Gainesville: Wooster Republican Printing's market-leading WOGK dipped 10.4-10.1, matching its Fall '08 figures. Although down for the third straight survey since then, 'OGK is still No. 1 by half a point. After a big Summer sweep, Asterisk's WTRS retreated  5.8-3.4 (4-10), but still topped its 2.9 from a year ago.
• Lakeland: Hall's metro champ WPCV declined 12.0-11.4, but continues to lead all others by more than six shares, fending off three outside signals: CC's WFUS/Tampa, 1.9-1.2 (10t-21t); Cox's WWKA/Orlando, 0.6-1.1 (33t-23t); and CBS Radio's WQYK-FM/Tampa, 1.1-0.8 (25t-30t).
• Tyler, TX: Gap's KNUE shifted 7.6-7.5 (3-3t), but that eclipsed its 7.0 from 12 months ago and was its best Fall book in three years. The same was true for Access.1's Classic Country KKUS, which grew 4.6-5.3 (7t-7), also outperforming Fall '08's 4.7. Access.1's sister KYKX was dealt its lowest numbers in years, down 3.8-2.9 (10-10).

» KNTY Changes: Entravision's KNTY/Sacramento GM Allyson Maiman is seeking a PD following today's (1/15) exit of three-year station vet Bob McNeill. Applicants must already be based on the West Coast; send airchecks and resumes to HR here. Also departing are morning teamers Dave Kelly and Susan Brown. Plans for AM drive are still undetermined, but the new focus will be on music. Maiman tells Country Aircheck, "Based on PPM, more music in the mornings is what works." In the just-released Q4 PPM ratings, KNTY trended 5.0-3.8-3.7 -- with the last number including being off the air for four days of the Dec. sweep. The PPM ratings for CBS Radio competitor KNCI over that same time span were 5.7-4.7-4.5.

McNeill joined KNTY in April '07 (CAT 4/11/07) from Bend Radio Group/Bend, OR, where he spent two years as OM in addition to programming Country KSJJ and AC KMGX. His background also includes stints as VP/Programming for Heritage Media, Viacom and Westwood One, with Country PD experience at KYNG/Dallas and WMZQ/Washington, DC. Reach him at 916-390-2312 or here.

» Country Is A Highway: Qantum Communications brought the Florida Panhandle 98.1 frequency out of the darkness earlier this week, debuting Country WHWY "Highway 98"/Ft. Walton Beach, FL. It's currently running 9,800 songs in a row as it prepares to staffup. Dan Collins is the OM of the four-station cluster. Formerly Classic Rock WRKN, Qantum officially acquired the station in December following lengthy litigation. Qantum had agreed to buy then-WTKE from Star Broadcasting for $3 million in 2003. Star, however, backed out to pursue a better offer from Cumulus. Charlie Cook is Highway 98's consultant.

 

» Brooke Who's Talking: Waller's Top 40 KFRO & KLJT/Longview, TX middayer Brooke Diaz is now morning co-host/middayer at Wilks' KWOF/Denver. She joins PD Jonathan Wilde in mornings with Chuck Clark, and in middays replaces Tracy Taylor, who exited the station in November (CAT 11/23). Diaz's resume includes stops at WBRU/Providence and KHKZ & KBFM/Weslaco, TX. Reach her here.

» Ahead WBUL: Former WIRK/West Palm Beach morning host JD Pelletier has joined WBUL/Lexington, KY as AM driver, replacing Dusty Dan, who exited the station in November. Co-host DeAnn Stephens remains with The Moo Crew, which debuts its new lineup Jan. 20. "JD's brand of morning radio is the kind of show that is a perfect fit for central Kentucky and 98.1 The Bull," said Ops. Dir. Michael Jordan. Pelletier previously spent 13 years at WIRK before exiting last April (CAT 4/29).

» Staff Cuts:

An estimated 50 staffers were let go today across multiple labels and distribution at Universal Music Group, according to the Los Angeles Times. That represents less than 1% of the company's 8,000-member workforce. There are reports that the layoffs have reached Nashville, but those names had not been released by press time. In Country Aircheck's year-end Mediabase analysis, UMG's Mercury and MCA were Country music's No. 4 and 6 imprints, respectively, in 2009 with 7.2% and 5.6% label share. UMG Distribution also represents Big Machine, which ranked No. 5 with 5.9% label share.

» Search Engine: SESAC COO and Nashville-based Leadership Music board Pres. Pat Collins is chairing a five-member search committee to replace Exec. Dir. Kira Florita, whose resignation becomes effective Jan. 18 (CAW 12/29). Applicants must have experience leading small teams, a history of success working with volunteers and board members, and a background in accounting/finance. Resumes may be sent here through Feb. 8.

» Roundabout: Country legend Willie Nelson has signed a deal with Rounder Records. Nelson's first release will be the T Bone Burnett-produced, 15-track album titled Country Music, out April 13. Full track listing and more information here.

» Americans, That's Who: The Envision Radio Network is offering a free download of Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers' "Americans, That's Who," which was recorded for The Country Oldies Show Thanksgiving Special in November. "If your station is running any PSAs or solicitations for any organizations seeking aid for the people of Haiti, perhaps you might give Larry’s song a few spins to remind your listeners of our place in history as caregivers, builders, and liberators," the company said in a statement. "This is not a song hastily written in response to current events as we occasionally see in the flush of patriotic songs after a national crisis." Download it here.

» All Ye Vote: Only 14 business days left to cast your final votes for the 2010 CRB-Country Aircheck Awards. Make your pick of the industry's best in 28 radio and record categories at CRBAwards.com before Feb. 5. Winners will be announced during CRS 2010's New Faces Show Feb. 26 at the Nashville Convention Center.

» Life Note: Best wishes to Sarah Buxton on her engagement to Tom Bukovac. Lyric Street's publicist Cindy Heath tells Country Aircheck that Buxton became engaged to Bukovac Dec. 20.

» Scheduling Note: The Country Aircheck offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. All Country Aircheck/Mediabase monitored reporters can submit station adds anytime until 3pm ET/Noon PT Tuesday, Jan. 19. CA non-monitored Activator reporters may submit their full reports anytime during that same time frame. The Country Aircheck Weekly will be delivered Tuesday evening, Jan. 19.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 14:

1. TIM MCGRAW/Southern Voice (Curb) 2283 points
   
2. DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your... (Capitol) 2212 points
3. JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2192 points
4. MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar (Columbia) 2127 points
5. DARIUS RUCKER/History In The Making (Capitol) 1859 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. 14:

1. JACK INGRAM/Free (Big Machine)
2. LUKE BRYAN/Rain Is A Good Thing (Capitol)
3. KATIE ARMIGER/Kiss Me Now (Cold River)
4. JO DEE MESSINA/That's God (Curb)
5. MARTINA MCBRIDE/Wrong Baby Wrong (RCA)

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/16): Ronnie Milsap, Sandy Pinkard, Bill Macky.

Sunday's Birthdays (1/17): Steve Earle, Amanda Wilkinson, Ryan Barnstead, Kim Markovchick.

Monday's Birthdays (1/18): Mark Collie, Bobby Goldsboro, Travis Hensley, the late Dene Hallam; Bob Mitchell, Bill Moore.

Tuesday's Birthdays (1/19): Phil Everly, Dolly Parton, Bill Carter, Cooper Samuels.

» Tube Check Tonight (1/15): Reba, The Singing Bee (CMT); Luke Bryan, Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (CBS); Lady Antebellum, Top 20 Countdown (CMT).

Tube Check Tomorrow (1/16): Various Artists, CMT Music Awards 2009 (re-air).

Tube Check Sunday (1/17): Lady Antebellum, Introducing (GAC).

Tube Check Monday (1/18): Carrie Underwood, Live! With Regis And Kelly (syndicated).

Tube Check Tuesday (1/19): Shania Twain, American Idol (FOX).

» Country Cares: The 21st annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar is underway at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Programmers and personalities from more than 150 radio stations, artists and music industry professionals are participating in the three-day seminar that wraps up with the annual Randy Owen-hosted dinner tomorrow night (1/16). Attendees learn how to plan successful radiothons, and have the opportunity to tour the hospital and meet patients and their families. Jewel (l) and Carrie Underwood (r) are among the many artists witnessing the difference the $365 million raised by Country radio has made over the past 30 years.

» Bryan Me Time: ACM Exec. Dir. Bob Romeo (l) chats with Luke Bryan at the organization's Los Angeles offices this week. Bryan was in town to tape an appearance on CBS-TV's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, which airs tonight (1/15).

» Chord Valiant: KFGY/Santa Rosa, CA staffers chill with the ladies of Carter's Chord during a station visit. Pictured (l-r) are CC's Becky Robertson, PD Rob Taylor, MD Stacy Hoblitzell, middayer Splash and CC's Emily and Joanna Robertson.