January 28, 2010


» Season's Beatings: Christmas-programmed competition took a heavy toll on many Country stations again in today's Holiday 2009 Arbitron PPM ratings. Of 18 key signals, only three were up, 12 were down and three remained unchanged. Listed by metro size, all figures are persons 6+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses. Additional stations with diary-based ratings released this week will appear in Country Aircheck Weekly next Monday (2/1).
  • Atlanta: Citadel's WKHX fell 5.6-4.7 (5-7), with cume down 97,700 to 680,800 (10-12). A year ago, 'KHX scored a 5.7 (5) with a PPM-low 678,200 listeners (12). Clear Channel's WUBL declined for the third consecutive measurement, 3.1-2.7 (16-17), with its audience off 30,800 to 595,200 (13-15). However, 'UBL outperformed Holiday '08, when it registered a 2.1 (21) with a PPM-low 524,600 listeners (17) before starting nine straight upticks.
  • Washington, DC: CC's WMZQ slipped 3.3-3.1 (12-13), with cume down 3,300 to 576,700 (12-12). Their ratings were virtually identical to Holiday '08, when 'MZQ delivered a 3.2 (14) with 579,800 tune-in (12).
  • Boston: In its first Holiday sweep, Greater Media's WKLB was down 4.9-4.4 (8-8), giving up 66,100 cume to total 529,900 (12-12).
  • Detroit: CBS Radio's WYCD held at a 4.7 (8-8), and cume was off 34,700 to 810,200 (7-7). Those figures are stronger than a year ago, when 'YCD, facing then-competitor WDTW, had a 4.0 (11t) and 738,500 listeners (10).
  • Miami: Beasley's WKIS was steady at a 3.5 (11t-11), with cume receding 46,300 to 452,100 (15-16).
  • Seattle: CBS Radio's KMPS regained the format lead, rising 3.8-4.1 (10t-7), and adding 31,700 listeners to tally 584,800 (9-9). Entercom's KKWF declined 4.2-3.6 (7-10), but cume was up 19,600 to 532,800 (13-13). CC's KNBQ stayed even at a 1.8 (23-23), while its audience increased for the fifth straight survey to a PPM-best 353,500 (20-18), up 23,300.
  • Phoenix: CC's KNIX dipped 3.9-3.7 (8t-11t), and cume decreased 32,500 to 579,100 (10-11). CBS Radio's KMLE slowed 2.9-2.7 (14-16t) to its lowest share and share rank since PPM started here in April, and posted a cume of 555,500 (12-12), down 19,500.
  • Minneapolis: Also experiencing its lowest share since PPM's start in April, CC's KEEY witnessed its fourth straight decline, off 7.3-6.2 (3-5t). Cume fell 37,800 to 680,600 (6-6).
  • San Diego: Following its best PPM month to date, Lincoln Financial's KSON settled back 4.2-4.0 (10-10), as its cume declined 43,400 to 419,200 (8-9). In yet another PPM low, CC's KUSS was down 2.3-2.0 (17t-18t), with cume falling 91,700 (26%) from a best-ever 352,800 to 261,100 (14-16).
  • Tampa: CBS Radio's WQYK-FM moved 6.3-6.1 (3t-3), as its audience decreased 32,200 to 527,600 (8-7). CC's WFUS edged up 3.6-3.7 (13t-12), though its cume declined 71,500 to 450,900 (10-10).
  • St. Louis: Bonneville's WIL advanced from a PPM-low 5.0-5.2 (10-9), but cume was off 50,900 to 477,200 (6-7), down nearly 100,000 since November. And another PPM nadir was reported for CC's KSD, which fell 3.3-2.8 (12-16) with 436,900 listeners (12-13), down 6,400.
 



» Drake Exits KAGG: Clear Channel's KAGG/Bryan, TX PD Jennifer Allen is seeking a morning co-host to join Tanya Schneider following today's (1/28) exit of APD/morning co-host Adam Drake. Candidates must have three years of Country radio experience, and knowledge of NexGen is a plus. Send airchecks and resumes to her here or via snail mail at 1716 Briarcrest, Ste. 150, Bryan, TX 77802. Drake can be reached at 409-454-9141 or here.
 

» Q Ball: 3 Daughter's Classic Hits WUUQ/Chattanooga, TN flipped to Classic Country as "Q Country" yesterday (1/27) with Barbara Mandrell and George Jones' "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool." Dale Mitchell will serve as PD/PM driver; reach him here. In addition, Susie Luther signs on for AM drive and Scott Miller is in for middays. Q Country fills the market's Classic Country void left by Clear Channel's WLND's recent flip to Hot AC (CAT 1/26).
 
 

» Boy Troy: Clear Channel/Ft. Myers sales staffer Troy Stephenson has been named Promotions Dir. for the company's five Punta Gorda stations, which include Country WIKX. Stephenson will also be APD/PM driver on AC WBCG. Reach him at 954-729-7968 or here.
 

» Love Her Or Weaver: Southern's WTSH/Rome, GA has added Moby Networks' Sandy Weaver to middays. She succeeds Rick Bradley, who segues to nights and adds APD duties. Night jock J.R. Butler moves to weekends/fill-in.
 

» Lunch Menu: Arista's Alan Jackson and 19/RCA's Danny Gokey will perform at Sony Music/Nashville's CRS 2010 luncheon, which will also include an announcement from Arista's Brooks & Dunn. The meal takes place Feb. 25 from 12:30-2:20pm in the CMA Performance Hall at the Nashville Convention Center.
 

» Loud & Proud: Ten Ten Music VP/Business Affairs Jill Napier has been named EVP/Administration for Big Loud Bucks. She succeeds Kele Currier, who is leaving the company to join Ole Music. Concurrently, Hallett & Assoc.'s Harlan Hallett has begun consulting Big Loud Bucks in the area of due diligence reviews, royalty audits and financial services.
 



» Payton Vs. Peyton: The man torn in two, Kenny Chesney, is taking his No Shoes Radio to Super Bowl Week in Miami (2/2-4) as the New Orleans Saints (coached by Chesney friend Sean Payton) prepare take on the Indianapolis Colts (quarterbacked by Chesney friend ... wait for it ... Peyton Manning). NSR will broadcast live from Miami's Surfcomber Tuesday (2/2) 5-7pm and Thursday (2/4) 11am-2pm, as well as Wednesday (2/3) beginning at 8pm and continuing through a live Uncle Kracker concert. Chesney's schedule may prevent him from attending, and his friendships may keep him from predicting a Super Bowl winner.
 

» No Blue Clear Sky: Predictions of severe winter weather in Knoxville and Charlottesville, VA have led George Strait to reschedule this weekend's shows with Reba and Lee Ann Womack. The Knoxville date has been moved to April 2 and Charlottesville, VA is now April 3. Details here.
 

» Saints & Checotah Anymore: Super Bowl XLIV National Anthem singer Carrie Underwood joins a long line of country "Star Spangled Banner" performers including Charley Pride, Garth Brooks, Jewel, Faith Hill and the Dixie Chicks. R&B artist/actress Queen Latifah will perform "America The Beautiful" during the pregame broadcast. Kickoff is at 6pm ET on CBS-TV.
 

» Some Enchanted Evening: Country artists Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift and Julianne Hough were among the celebrity attendees at the Entertainment Industry Foundation's (EIF) Unforgettable Evening Wednesday (1/27) in Los Angeles. McGraw and Hill were presented with the organization's Courage Award for the efforts of their charitable organizations the Tug McGraw Foundation and Neighbor's Keeper. Swift performed "Fifteen," "Love Story" and "You Belong With Me" at the event. Tom Hanks, wife Rita Wilson, Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon and Christina Applegate also appeared. The event benefited EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund.
 

» Have Some Compassion: Compassion International is offering stations free Country-specific resources, information, spots and liners as part of its Help Haiti with Compassion campaign, airing Feb. 1. The effort is intended to help radio raise funds for the children and families affected by the country's earthquake. Participating artists include Lady Antebellum, Jewel, Jeff Foxworthy, Josh Turner, Diamond Rio, Gretchen Wilson, Clay Walker and Mica Roberts. Sign up for these turnkey plug-ins here or by contacting Mike Severson at 615-496-6023 or here.
 

» Chronicle: Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Shirley Collie Nelson, who passed away Wednesday morning (1/27). She was 78. Her duet with then-husband Willie Nelson, "Willingly," broke the top 10 in 1961. She was also previously married to Country Radio DJ Hall of Famer Biff Collie. Funeral arrangements are still pending.
 

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 27:
  1. MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar (Columbia) 2201 points
  2. JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2177 points
  3. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista) 2140 points
  4. JOSH TURNER/Why Don't We Just Dance (MCA) 2070 points
  5. DARIUS RUCKER/History In The Making (Capitol) 1974  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. 27:
  1. TIM MCGRAW/Still (Curb)
  2. JERROD NIEMANN/Lover, Lover (Sea Gayle/Arista)
  3. TYLER DICKERSON/Tell Your Sister I'm Single (Lyric Street)
  4. MALLARY HOPE/Blossom In The Dust (MCA)
  5. EMILY WEST f/KEITH URBAN/Blue Sky (Capitol)
 

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/29): Irlene Mandrell, Coyote Calhoun, Walt Wilson, Elaine Schock.
 

» Tube Check Tomorrow (1/29): Kenny Chesney, Soundstage (re-air) (GAC); Clay Walker, Fox & Friends (FOX News); Aaron Tippin, Sarah Darling, Country Vibe With Chuck And Becca (AMG-TV).
 



» Greene Initiative: KEEY/Minneapolis MD J.D. Greene (l) and wife Kate spend their "American Saturday Night" with Brad Paisley backstage at his local tour stop.
 

» Slightly Crooked: WGTY/York, PA PD Scott Donato and morning co-host Kim Alexander line up with members of Gloriana, Love And Theft and Steel Magnolia, who participated in the station's text-to-win promotion. Pictured (l-r) are LNT's Stephen Barker Liles, Gloriana's Rachel Reinert, LNT's Brian Bandas, Donato, SM's Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones, LNT's Eric Gunderson and Alexander.
 

» County Crows: WWQM/Madison PD John Sebastian (second from l) welcomes Houston County's John Milldrum (l), and Adam and Zack Hooper (r) to the station.
 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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