January 20, 2010

» Arbie Doll: Here are today's Fall 2009 Arbitron diary ratings for stations in the top 150 markets, ranked by metro size. All share figures are persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses where applicable. Additional ratings released this week will appear in Country Aircheck Weekly next Monday, Jan. 25.

Indianapolis: In this subscriber-only market (therefore no official rankings), Cumulus' WFMS jumped 7.8-9.6, ending a two-book slippage and posting its best Fall numbers in three years. It is No. 1 among participating stations. Emmis' WLHK improved for the third consecutive sweep, 4.5-4.9, earning its best ratings in recent years.
Birmingham: Cox's WZZK snapped a four-book decline by scoring its strongest book in a year, up 7.1-7.5 (3-3). After two straight upticks, Clear Channel's WDXB fell 5.7-4.5 (5-9). Cox's WNCB was down for the first time in a year, 2.0-1.3 (14t-17t), but still beat Fall '08's 1.2.
Honolulu: Salem's KHCM-FM dipped 2.2-2.0 (16t-19), slightly below its 2.1 from 12 months ago. The station has experienced alternating up/down books for the past eight surveys.
Huntsville, AL: CC's market-leading WDRM was off 12.8-10.3, but continues to be No. 1. Abercrombie's Classic Country WQAH slipped for the third straight sweep, 3.5-3.4 (12-10), though it still topped Fall '08's 3.2. Cumulus' WWFF descended 1.8-1.0 (14-15t).
Ft. Collins, CO: Regent's metro champ KUAD was down 7.5-5.7, but remains No. 1. Wilks' KWOF/Denver gained 1.5-2.4 (16t-11t). CC's KXBG doubled 1.1-2.2 (22t-14), notching its best showing in two years of being in, out and back in the format. Lincoln Financial's KYGO/Denver rose 1.1-1.4 (22t-22t).
Salisbury, MD: Congrats to CC's WWFG, which declined 7.4-6.6, but that was still good enough to rise from third to No. 1. Delmarva's WKTT shifted 4.2-4.0 (8-7), while CC's WDSD/Wilmington, DE faded 1.2-0.8 (18-19t).
Eugene, OR: After a spectacular 9.3-17.6 leap to No. 1 between Fall '08 and Spring '09, McKenzie River's KKNU settled back to a 13.3, but is still in front by more than seven shares.

» Miller Exits WGAR:

Clear Channel/Cleveland's WGAR and Hot AC WMVX PD Chris Miller has exited the position he took in March (CAT 3/9) after programming stops in Atlanta, Portland and Dallas. OM Keith Abrams is serving as the programming contact for both stations while he searches for a replacement. Reach Abrams here.

» Montgomery Departs KKWF:

Entercom's KKWF/Seattle APD/afternoon jock Wingnut has picked up music duties with Friday's (1/15) exit of MD/middayer Lola Montgomery. Prior to joining KKWF from Wolf sister KBWF/San Francisco in November 2008 (CAT 11/13/08), Montgomery had stops at KWJJ/Portland, KATM/Modesto, CA and KWNR/Las Vegas. Reach her at 206-619-6643 or here.

» Bill Is Due:

As we told you via Twitter this morning (1/20), Broken Bow Midwest rep Bill Heltemes will join the Golden Music/Nashville staff as Dir./Midwest Promotion & Marketing Jan. 25. "Bill's presence on the Golden team brings us a whole new level of excellence," says EVP/Promotion & Marketing Lisa Strickland. "There's no doubt this is one of the most experienced and respected professionals in our industry." The 32-year promotion vet joined BBR for the second time in November 2007, with previous stops at 903 Music, Giant and Atlantic. Based in Kentucky, he can be reached at 859-586-1225 (o), 869-653-1345 (c) or here.

» Reno What's Going On:

Former Citadel's KBUL/Reno, NV AM driver Steve "Woody" Woods has found a new home at crosstown Lotus' KUUB, where he'll co-host mornings with eight-year station vet Malayna Kerton beginning Monday (1/25). Kerton's current co-host Mike Murray segues in to the cluster's sales department fulltime, while co-host Big Chris Hart focuses on his APD/MD/PM drive duties.

» Gig Alert:

There is an account executive opening at Citadel/Lafayette, LA's five-station cluster, which includes Country KXKC. Send cover letter, resume and references to Lance Knoll here or via snail mail at Citadel Broadcasting, 202 Galbert Road, Lafayette, LA, 70506.

» Jackson Five:

19/Arista's Carrie Underwood has been invited by the Recording Academy and the Jackson estate to be part of a five-artist tribute to the late Michael Jackson at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. Underwood will join Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson and Usher for the performance, which will feature a never-before-seen 3-D mini-movie for "Earth Song," originally produced for Jackson's This Is It tour. Millions of free 3-D glasses will be available at Target stores nationwide Sunday (1/24) through Jan. 31, when the Grammys air live on CBS-TV at 8pm ET.

» All a-board:

Former Nielsen Media Chairman/President/CEO John Dimling has joined Arbitron's board of directors until the ratings firm's next annual meeting. Dimling brings a background in radio measurement research and technology.

» Heart, Don't Forget: Love Your Heart, the second installment in Tim McGraw's My Little Girl children's book series, will be released Feb. 16. The 32-page book co-written by McGraw and songwriter Tom Douglas follows the story of "Katie" and her journey to discover her talent for kindness. Get details and pre-order here.

» The Best A Fan Can Get:

Arista's Brad Paisley will headline the 7th Annual New England Country Music Festival at Foxboro, MA's Gillette Stadium Aug. 21. Other artists on the bill include Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans and Easton Corbin. Tickets go on sale next Saturday (1/30) here.

» Into That Good Night:

Lyric Street's Sarah Buxton will open 31 dates on the Martina McBride- and Trace Adkins-headlining Shine All Night tour beginning Friday (1/22) in Little Rock. Other markets on the schedule include Buffalo, Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Complete list of dates here.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 19:

TIM MCGRAW/Southern Voice (Curb) 2300 points
JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2172 points
DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your... (Capitol) 2111 points
MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar (Columbia) 2065 points
BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista) 1919 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. 19:

REBA/I Keep On Loving You (Starstruck/Valory)
JOHNNY CASH/Ain't No Grave (American/Lost Highway)
JOHNNY CASH/Cool Water (American/Lost Highway)
JOHNNY CASH/Aloha Oe (American/Lost Highway)
JOHNNY CASH/Redemption Day (American/Lost Highway)

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/21): Mac Davis, Jimmy Ibbotson, Rick Trevino, Nicole George, Jackie Straka.

» Tube Check Tomorrow (1/21): Blake Shelton, Charlie Daniels, Rodney Atkins, Crook & Chase (RFD-TV).

» House Mouse: Carolwood/Lyric Street's Love And Theft stop in to see WSIX/Nashville morning host Gerry House and PD Keith Kaufman. Pictured (l-r) are Lyric Street Sr. Dir./Nat'l Promotion Chris Palmer, LNT's Eric Gunderson and Brian Bandas, House, LNT's Stephen Barker Liles, Lyric Street Sr. Dir./Nat'l Promotion Renee Leymon and Kaufman.

» Higher Bowers: Stoney Creek's Ash Bowers (c) poses with KILT-FM/Houston programming assistant Lauren Wilson and APD/MD Greg Frey during a recent visit.

» Nail In The Offin': MCA's David Nail fraternizes with CMA board members and employees after performing his single "Turning Home" at the trade organization's offices yesterday (1/19). Pictured (l-r) are UMG/Nashville's Tom Lord, Sr. Mgr./Membership & Industry Relations Hank Adam Locklin, VP/Strategic Marketing & Communications Dan Bowen, Nail, Chairman Steve Moore and Morris Management's Clint Higham and Brian Wolf.