Country Aircheck
 January 23, 2009

» By Hook Or By Book: Starting with the larger markets, here are the latest Fall 2008 Arbitron diary ratings. All figures are 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parenthesis.
  • Raleigh: Curtis' market champ WQDR elevated 7.4-7.8, notching its best book in two years and widening its lead. Clear Channel's WRDU was level at a 1.8 (14-12t).
  • Greensboro: CC's WTQR posted its best book since Spring '07, up 5.8-6.4 (4-3t), moving ahead of Entercom's WPAW, which after two solid sweeps declined 6.9-5.1 (3-6). GHB's Classic Country WIST-FM edged back 1.8-1.7 (16-16). Blue Ridge's WBRF was off 1.4-1.1 (18-18).
  • Memphis: Citadel's WGKX enjoyed its first up book in five sweeps, 4.7-6.0 (7-6).
  • Albany, NY: Regent's market-leading WGNA shifted 9.9-9.8, holding at No. 1 and beating Fall '07's 9.7. Roser's WBUG stepped up 0.9-1.1 (20-18t), marking its first time above a 1 share in years.
  • Alexandria, LA: Congrats to Cenla's KRRV, which jumped 8.3-10.2 and pulled away from a second-place tie to No. 1, posting its best book since Spring '03. Opus' KLAA was down 8.3-7.7, but remained tied for No. 2. Opus' Classic Country KBKK gained 4.7-5.6 (7t-7), which was its best survey since shifting from AC in '05. After two down sweeps, Tom Gay's Classic Country KAPB rebounded 3.1-4.1 (10-9t).
  • Biloxi, MS: In this subscriber-only market (therefore, no rankings), CC's WKNN was down for the third straight sweep, 6.4-5.7. Triad's WUJM was up 1.4-1.9.
  • Bowling Green, KY: Among subscribers, Skytower's WGGC fell 9.8-8.2.
  • Brunswick, GA: Qantum's WYNR stopped a three-book decline, improving 6.1-7.3 (3t-3). After two strong surveys, Hickey & Esserman's WRJY was down 6.1-4.9 (3t-5t).
  • Ft. Smith, AR: Among subscribers, Cumulus' Classic Country KOMS ended a two-book skid, rising 8.0-8.5. CC's KMAG gained for the second straight time, 8.4-9.3.
  • Greenville, NC: NextMedia's WRNS-FM turned around a two-book decline, advancing 9.4-9.7 (2-2), topping its Fall '07 9.1. Coastal Carolina's Classic Country WNBB inched ahead 3.5-3.6 (8-6t), earning its best book in years. Coastal's Classic Country sister WNBR scored its first up-tick in a year, 0.9-1.6 (18t-14t). Inner Banks' WRHT dipped for the fourth consecutive sweep, 1.8-1.6 (13t-14t).
  • Lafayette, LA: Among subscribers, Regent's KMDL was down 7.9-6.4. Citadel's KXKC declined for the third time in a row, 5.6-3.7.
  • Laurel, MS: Blakeney's market-leading WBBN scored its best book in three years, rising 13.8-14.7 and extending its lead to nearly four shares. Aloha Station Trust's Classic Country WHER drifted downward for the fourth consecutive survey, 3.2-3.1 (7-8t), tied by Dowdy & Dowdy's WZKX/Biloxi, MS, which rose 2.6-3.1 (9t-8t).
  • Mobile: Among subscribers, CC's WKSJ recovered from a rough Summer, stepping up 7.0-7.8. Cumulus' WYOK declined 2.6-2.0, which was its lowest outing since turning Country in Spring '06. Pamal's WXBM/Pensacola, FL registered a 1.5-2.2 bump.

» UMG's Kline Departs: Universal Music Group/Nashville EVP Sales, Marketing & New Media Ben Kline has exited. A restructuring of the department will likely be announced next week, according to a company spokesperson. No new hires are expected. Kline joined UMGN in November 1997.


» Cappin' Morgan: Monticello's WCYK/Charlottesville, VA MD/morning co-host Tom Morgan has added APD to his expanding title after two years with the station. Morgan moved from afternoons to mornings last week (CAT 1/15), joining Pam Garrison.

» Calling Dr. Quyn: Clear Channel's WRWD/Poughkeepsie, NY midday host Paty Quyn has been named interim PD and will move to afternoon drive. She succeeds exiting Aaron "Dave" McCord, who will join Regent's WWJO/St. Cloud, MN Feb. 2 (CAT 1/16). Quyn has been with the station since its start in 1989 and is currently on vacation until Jan. 27. Also, parttimer Cody Allen will step in to fill her vacant midday shift.

» Senior Moments: CMA Coor./Membership & Industry Relations Betsy Walker and Coor./Marketing Catherine Blackwell are both celebrating the addition of Senior to their titles today.

» Who Came Up WIth "Sexy Corporate"? 19/BNA's Kellie Pickler, along with Dancing With The Stars' Cheryl Burke, has been named Sexy Hair's celebrity spokeswoman for 2009. Pickler will represent the company's Big Sexy Hair, Short Sexy Hair, Sexy Bath And Body and Sexy Corporate brands in consumer and trade advertisements.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 22:

  1. BILLY CURRINGTON/Don't (Mercury) 2191 points
  2. DIERKS BENTLEY/Feel That Fire (Capitol) 2098 points
  3. ALAN JACKSON/Country Boy (Arista) 2095 points
  4. BLAKE SHELTON/She Wouldn't Be Gone (Warner Bros.) 2021 points
  5. TOBY KEITH/God Love Her (Show Dog) 1959 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. 22:

  1. RASCAL FLATTS/Here Comes Goodbye (Lyric Street)
  2. MONTGOMERY GENTRY/One In Every Crowd (Columbia)
  3. ERIC CHURCH/Love Your Love The Most (Capitol)
  4. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/I Told You So (19/Arista)
  5. KID ROCK/Blue Jeans And A Rosary (Atlantic/CO5)

» Tube Check Tomorrow (1/24): Charlie Daniels, Craig Morgan, Dierks Bentley, CMT Cribs; Trace Adkins, Talkshow with Spike Feresten (FOX); John Rich, Gone Country 3 (CMT).

Tube Check Sunday (1/25): Montgomery Gentry, Billy Ray Cyrus, John Rich, Headline Country (GAC).

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/24): Keech Rainwater, Stephen Barker Liles (Love And Theft), Ray Stevens, Buzz Cason, Rhonda Forlaw-Adkins, Becky Hobbs, Nancy Tunick, Bobby Young.

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

Monday's Birthdays (1/26): Maria Brunner, Michael Martin, Dave Smith.


Lansing Aboil: Universal South's Eli Young Band tried to stay warm during a visit to WITL/Lansing, MI, where they met with PD Chris Tyler. Pictured (l-r) are EYB's Jon Jones and Mike Eli, Tyler and EYB's James Young and Chris Thompson.

Big Red Cadillac: Beasley's KCYE/Las Vegas APD/MD/afternooner Cadillac Jack (c) and his daughter met Reba (l) and Valory's Chris Loss (r) backstage before her performance at the Orleans Arena.

Sweet Sixteen: Clear Channel's WACO/Waco, TX invited Aaron Watson, Kevin Fowler and Tate Stevens to celebrate Zach and Jim's 16th anniversary as the morning show. Pictured (l-r) are Watson, WACO morning co-host Jim Cody, Fowler, WACO morning co-host Zach Owen and Stevens.














































 




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