February 4, 2010

» The Fix Is In:

Entercom's Top 40 WKRZ & Classic Hits WDMT/Wilkes Barre PD Mike "OD" O'Donnell has been named Dir./Operations for the three-station cluster, which includes Country WGGY. The appointment follows PD/morning host Doc Medek's impending move to Beasley's WXTU/Philadelphia (CAT 1/22) Monday (2/8). Medek's morning counterparts Selena and Jake will continue in wakeups for the time being.

» Sky Hi:

Former Motor Racing Network Consultant/PD Sky Phillips has joined Clear Channel/Wilmington, DE as OM and PD of Country WDSD. He replaces OM Bob Walton and PD Andy Harris, both of whom exited more than a month ago. Phillips' email is still being set up, but he can be reached at 302-395-9800.

» In Case You Missed It: As we told you in this morning's Breaking News and via t witter, the ACM announced its 2010 radio award nominees. Winners will receive their awards prior to the CBS-TV telecast of the 45th Annual ACM Awards April 18 in Las Vegas.

» A Volume Business:

Singer/songwriter Anthony Smith ("Cowboys Like Us," "Chrome") has launched Krankit Records as a joint venture with Artist Garage, which distributes through Universal Music Group subsidiary Fontana. The lead single "Love Is Love Is Love" from his Sunshine album is being worked at radio by Nine North. Mike Regan will serve as Krankit Dir./Operations and publicity is being handled by Wortman Works Media And Marketing and Nic of Time Communications.

» Familiar Face's: AfterMidNite's Blair Garner will co-host Digital Rodeo's Guilty Pleasures Show immediately following the conclusion of CRS 2010's New Faces of Country Music Feb. 26. Garner, whose annual disco served as the unofficial end to CRS in years past, will host segments of the evening and gather content for his website and radio program. For booking inquiries, contact John Pyne here.

» Welcome To The Machine:

Mercury's Sugarland will embark on The Incredible Machine tour April 23 in Primm, NV. Other markets on the 55-city schedule include Los Angeles, Detroit, Tampa and Hartford. Details here.

» Terra Son Ooh Won:

According to Reuters, EMI has posted a $1.65 billion operating loss for the year after writing down the value of its artists and catalog, owing to rapidly declining CD sales and uncertainty about the value of digital and online music markets. The company faces a shortfall when its Citibank covenants are tested at the end of March. The Financial Times reports that the situation has led private equity group (and EMI owner) Terra Firma chief Guy Hands to ask investors for $160 million in further funding. TF sued Citibank last month for alleged fraud in connection to its 2007 buyout of EMI, in which Citigroup acted as adviser for EMI and sole financier to Terra Firma. TF has accused Citigroup of inflating the sale price by allegedly failing to reveal that the only other bidder, Cerberus Capital Management, had withdrawn hours before an auction for EMI closed. Citigroup has said the lawsuit is "without merit."

» Me And My Songwriting Gang: Lyric Street's Rascal Flatts honored 80 songwriters who have written songs for

their six albums during a Musicians Hall of Fame event last night (2/3) in Nashville. Thom Schuyler's surprise tribute performance of "16th Avenue" kicked off the event, which also featured an eight-song acoustic concert of the band's hits. Rascal Flatts closed the evening by presenting an engraved plaque to each writer for their work. Details here.

» Big Green Stagecoach:

Broken Bow's Jason Aldean has been added to the lineup for the 2010 Stagecoach Country Music Festival April 24-25 in Indio, CA. Aldean joins previously announced performers Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland and more. Tickets and details here.

» Now Boarding For Los Angeles:

19/Arista's Carrie Underwood has landed a supporting role in the upcoming movie Soul Surfer, which follows the real life story of one-armed surfing champion Bethany Hamilton. Underwood will play a church youth leader, "Sarah Hill," opposite actors AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Lorraine Nicholson and Kevin Sorbo. Filming is scheduled for this month. Underwood's Play On tour launches March 11 in Reading, PA. Film details here.

» Partnered In Hope:

Show Dog-Universal's Phil Vassar has teamed up with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids for a year-long promotion. The Country Cares station that registers the most "Partner In Hope" monthly pledges to the hospital through Feb. 2, 2011 will win a Vassar concert. Details here.

» Satell-Up:

Following its recent expansion to the iPhone, Sirius XM is offering a free app for subscribers to access the satcaster via BlackBerry smartphones. To encourage sign-up for the required Sirius XM's Premium Online service ($2.99/month), users can get a free seven-day trial.

» Make A Vote Of It: It's a close race in many of the 2010 CRB-Country Aircheck Awards' 28 radio and record categories. Cast your final votes at CRBAwards.com before 5pm PT tomorrow (2/5). Winners will be announced during CRS 2010's New Faces Show Feb. 26 at the Nashville Convention Center.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Feb. 3:

JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2364 points
BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista) 2280 points
JOSH TURNER/Why Don't We Just Dance (MCA) 2223 points
DARIUS RUCKER/History In The Making (Capitol) 2055 points
BILLY CURRINGTON/That's How Country Boys Roll (Mercury) 1832 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Feb. 3:

JIMMY WAYNE f/WHITNEY DUNCAN/Just Knowing You Love Me (Valory)
TIM MCGRAW/Still (Curb)
GEORGE STRAIT/I Gotta Get To You (MCA)
REBA/I Keep On Loving You (Valory)
EMILY WEST f/KEITH URBAN/Blue Sky (Capitol)

» Tube Check Tonight (2/4): Jewel, Ace Of Cakes (Food Network).

Tube Check Tomorrow (2/5): Glen Campbell, Eric Church, Tanya Tucker, CMT Cribs; Steve Wariner, Country Vibe With Chuck And Becca (AMG-TV).

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (2/5): Sara Evans, Cindy Mabe.

» Couldn't Somebody Get Her A Stool? WDAF/Kansas City PD Dan Persigehl (l) and wife Molly hang with Trace Adkins backstage at the Shine All Night tour stop in the city.

» Can't Spell Gokey Without 'OGK: WOGK/Gainesville MD Big Red (l) and PD Mr. Bob (r) welcome Danny Gokey and RCA rep Liz Sledge for a station visit.

» Academy Sports: Republic Nashville's The Band Perry sign up for professional ACM memberships and perform for the trade organization's staff while in Los Angeles this week. Pictured (l-r) are Bob Doyle & Assoc.'s Bob Doyle, ACM Exec. Dir. Bob Romeo, RN Pres. Jimmy Harnen, TBP's Neil and Kimberly Perry, RN CEO Scott Borchetta, TBP's Reid Perry, ACM Awards Exec. Producer R.A. Clark and Bob Doyle & Assoc.'s Josh Pegram.