January 22, 2010

» Numbers Racket: Here are today's Fall 2009 Arbitron diary ratings for stations in the top 150 markets, ranked by metro size. All figures are persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses where applicable. Syracuse is a client-exclusive market and not available for publication. Additional stations with ratings released this week will appear in Country Aircheck Weekly next Monday, Jan. 25.
  • Raleigh: Curtis Media's WQDR dipped 6.4-6.1 (4-4). In its final book as Country before switching to Talk early this year, Clear Channel's WRDU was down 2.2-1.7 (12-14).
  • Norfolk: In this subscriber-only market (therefore no rankings), Max Media's WGH-FM fell 6.0-4.6. After three straight upticks, Sinclair's WUSH slipped 3.2-3.0, but still nearly doubled Fall '08's 1.6.
  • Greensboro: Following two consecutive increases, CC's WTQR declined 5.9-5.4 (3-5), while Entercom's WPAW was off 5.0-4.5 (4t-7). In its best book in recent memory, Blue Ridge's WBRF gained 1.4-2.0 (16t-14), moving ahead of GHB's Classic Country WIST-FM, which slowed 1.5-1.3 (15-16).
  • Jacksonville: CC's WQIK stepped back 6.4-6.0 (5-4) as Renda's WGNE edged ahead 3.9-4.1 (9-9t). In its first Fall survey, Renda's co-owned Classic Country sister station WMUV rose 2.5-3.3 (12t-11).
  • Memphis: Citadel's WGKX ended a three-book skid, rising 4.4-5.2 (8-7). After a soft Summer, First Ventures' WVIM rebounded 0.4-1.1 (25t-16t), nipping last Fall's 0.9.
  • Richmond: Following two gains in a row, Cox's WKHK was level at an 8.2 (4-2), beating its 7.5 from a year ago. Main Line's WLFV pepped up 1.0-1.4 (15-15), surpassing Fall '08's 1.1.
  • Albany, NY: Regent's WGNA posted its best book in more than two years, climbing 8.7-10.1 (1-1); it leads all others by nearly four shares. Pamal's WFFG-FM saw its ratings halved, 1.2-0.6 (18t-20t), tying its Fall '08 performance.
  • Greenville, NC: After its highest quarterly in 18 months, NextMedia's WRNS-FM declined 10.4-8.7 (1-2). Coastal Carolina's Classic Country WNBB recovered from a slow Summer, improving 2.4-3.4 (10-7). Inner Banks' WRHT nudged forward 1.9-2.0 (12t-13t), good enough to top Fall '08's 1.6. Coastal Carolina's Classic Country WNBR moved up 1.3-1.7 (19-15), besting its 1.6 from 12 months back.
  • Lexington-Fayette, KY: Earning its highest ratings in three-and-a-half years, CC's market champ WBUL jumped 8.9-12.5 (1-1), leading by 5.6 shares over Cumulus' WLXX, which slipped 7.2-6.9 (2-2). Wallingford's WCYO/Irvine, KY retreated 1.9-1.2 (15-15).
  • Lafayette, LA: The leap of the day goes to Rose Ann Marx's KBON, which soared 2.7-6.6 (14-2!). That moved 'BON ahead of Regent's KMDL, which stopped a three-book slide, gaining 6.2-6.3 (2t-4t). Citadel's KXKC rose 5.1-5.4 (8-8t), well above its 3.7 from Fall '08. In its last book as Classic Country before flipping to Oldies KLEJ, Broadcast Partners' Classic Country KKOO was up 2.1-2.6 (16-13). CC's WYNK/Baton Rouge decreased 1.3-0.7 (18t-22t).
  • Fayetteville, AR: Scoring its strongest results in two years, CC's metro leader KKIX accelerated 10.9-12.7, and is 5.7 shares ahead of everyone else. Also notching its best book in two years, Cumulus' KAMO moved up 3.8-4.0 (9-9t).

» Doc In Station: Entercom's WGGY/Wilkes Barre PD/morning host Doc Medek has been hired for mornings at Beasley's WXTU/Philadelphia, joining incumbent morning personality Andie Summers, whose co-host Kris Stevens segues to a part-time role with the station. Medek, who has been with the Froggy stations more than 10 years, becomes Summers' third co-host in less than a year following the April '09 switch from Scott Evans to Stevens. He starts Feb. 8. Plans in Wilkes Barre are still up in the air, but GM Ryan Flynn is seeking a replacement for Medek, or possibly two in separate programming and on-air roles. Airchecks and resumes to Flynn at 305 Highway 315, Pittston, PA, 18640.
 

» Wade To Go: Country radio vet Joe Wade Formicola is relocating to Denver to join Dial Global's DG Local custom formats in afternoon drive. Most recently PD/morning host for East Carolina's WRSF/Nags Head, NC, Formicola joins the DG division that offers localized content to stations. He starts Feb. 1. "Joe's got a strong programming background and is a great jock," says DG EVP/Programming Beau Phillips. "So while other companies shed talent, Dial Global is proud to bring in quality guys like Joe."
 

» I'm Little, But I'm Proud: Kudos to Bold Gold's WDNB/Jeffersonville, NY for raising almost $50,000 during yesterday's (1/21) 16-hour Thunder Thompson Dollars For Haiti Radiothon. The funds will be donated to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF.
 

» Big Rig: Kudos to WCTK/Providence's Tim Leary & The Morning Showgram, which filled four 24-foot trailers with more than $25,000 of gently used toys during its 2nd annual Land Of The Misfits toy drive. The toys will be donated to needy children across southern New England in addition to earthquake victims in Haiti.
 

» Maxwell's House: Belmont graduate Thomas Maxwell has joined MCA/Nashville's promotion department as Administrative Assistant. He succeeds Coord./Promotion Amanda Gavron, who left the company at the end of the year (CAT 12/4). Maxwell previously worked for Apple and can now be reached at 615-524-7566 or here.
 

» Going Down To Rosedale: Capitol's Keith Urban and rocker John Mayer will be the next pairing on CMT Crossroads. The show will tape next Tuesday (1/26) to air at a later date. This is the second Crossroads taping for each artist. Urban was paired with John Fogerty and Mayer with Brad Paisley for earlier broadcasts.

» Woman Enough: Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn has been added to the 2010 Lilith Fair lineup. Lynn joins previously announced country artists Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris. Markets include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and Los Angeles. Details here.
 

» Donate Nashville: Show Dog-Universal's Toby Keith has donated seven tractor-trailers to Project Haiti in order to transport supplies to the earthquake-ravaged country. The organization was created by CAN-DO's Eric Klein (runner-up on Oprah's Big Give). Nashvillians can take donations to Sound Stage (1420 Cowan Court, Nashville, TN 37207) between 9am-5pm. Items needed include medical supplies, soap, water purification, hydration containers, non-perishable food, baby formula, diapers, work gloves, tarps, face masks, head lamps, clothing and blankets. Follow Project Haiti's efforts or make monetary donations here.
 

» Save The Date: The Leadership Music Digital Summit 2010 has been moved to September, though specific dates are still TBA. Sign up for email updates on the event here.
 

» iPhone Updates: Former WGAR/Cleveland PD Chris Miller can be reached at 404-808-8852 or here, following his exit Wednesday (CAT 1/20). And former WPKX/Springfield, MA morning co-host Todd "Shaggy" Gregory can be reached at 413-533-8033 or here, following his exit Tuesday (CAT 1/19).
 

» Crib Note: Congrats to Travis TV Associate Producer Melissa Carr Fitzgerald and husband David Scott Fitzgerald on the birth of their daughter Josephine Rose yesterday (1/21).
 
 

» Help Haiti Now: Compassion International is offering stations free Country-specific resources, information, spots and liners as part of their Help Haiti with Compassion campaign. The effort is intended to help radio raise funds for the children and families affected by the country's earthquake. Participating artists include Eric Church, Josh Turner, Diamond Rio, Gretchen Wilson, Carter's Chord, Fast Ryde, Clay Walker and Mica Roberts. Sign up for these turnkey plug-ins here or by contacting Mike Severson at 615-496-6023 or here.
 

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 21:
  1. JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2273 points
  2. DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your... (Capitol) 2138 points
  3. MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar (Columbia) 2124 points
  4. TIM MCGRAW/Southern Voice (Curb) 2039 points
  5. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista) 1988 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. 21:
  1. REBA/I Keep On Loving You (Starstruck/Valory)
  2. BRANDI CARLILE/Dying Day (Columbia)
  3. JOHNNY CASH/Ain't No Grave (American/Lost Highway)
  4. JOHNNY CASH/I Corinthians 15:55 (American/Lost Highway)
  5. JOHNNY CASH/Redemption Day (American/Lost Highway)
» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/23): Harley Allen, the late Johnny Russell.

Sunday's Birthdays (1/24): Keech Rainwater, Ray Stevens, Buzz Cason, Rhonda Forlaw-Adkins, Becky Hobbs, Nancy Tunick, Bobby Young.

Monday's Birthdays (1/25): John Alexander, Jayme Austin, Kippi Brannon, Mike Burch, Lee Carroll, Rick Hughes.

» Tube Check Tomorrow (1/23): Lady Antebellum, Top 20 Country Countdown (re-air) (GAC).

Tube Check Sunday (1/24): Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Jake Owen, Rodney Atkins, Opry Live (re-air) (GAC).

» Nichols' Slots: KTEX/McAllen PD JoJo Cerda and APD/MD Patches pose backstage with Joe Nichols at the station's St. Jude acoustic show Wednesday (1/20). Pictured (l-r) are Show Dog-Universal rep Greg Sax, Patches, Julie Cerda, Nichols, Cerda, consultant Keith Hill and Amy Hill.
 

» Mmm ... Donuts: WKSF/Asheville, NC MD/PM driver Brian Hatfield (l) and PD Jeff Davis (r) happily accept BBR Southeast Clay Henderson's version of sustenance before the kickoff of Jason Aldean's tour.
 

» Man And Life: Columbia's Josh Thompson hangs with label execs before his performance at the Nashville Lifestyles' "Music In The City" benefiting the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School. Pictured (l-r) are Columbia Dir./Nat'l Promotion Mike Wilson, Sony/Nashville VP/Promotion Skip Bishop, Thompson, Sony/Nashville Chairman Joe Galante and Columbia VP/Promotion Jimmy Rector.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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