February 19, 2010


» Less Than Zero: Radio's combined local and national advertising revenues for 2009 were down 20% to $13.2 billion, with Q4 off 10%, reports the Radio Advertising Bureau. However, December '09 was a level month for the medium, which is encouraging considering that May was -25% from the previous year. Including network, digital and off-air, radio generated $16.029 billion for the year, an 18% decrease; it was radio's third consecutive annual decline and a 26% erosion from radio's peak in 2006. Digital, representing 3% of industry business, was the one category showing growth in '09 (+13%), compared to local (-20%), national (-19%), network (-9%) and off-air (-9%).
 

» Borders Crossing: Entercom's Corporate Dir./Digital Development Nick Borders has been named Dir./Internet Operations for Alpha/Portland's six-station cluster, which includes Country KUPL. Borders will oversee all Internet initiatives and begins March 1. Borders spent five years with Entercom and previously worked for New Interactive, Inc. and Digimarc Corp.
 



» Talk Radio: Midwest's Country WDEZ/Wausau, WI and its four sister stations stopped playing music from 8-9am yesterday (2/18) to educate listeners about the proposed Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848). "This is not something I think is on a lot of listeners' radar," OM Chris Conley tells Country Aircheck. "We wanted to show them what will happen if it's passed, and tell them what they can do about it." Listeners were urged to contact Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI) to voice their opposition. Read more here
 

» 31-Gun Salute: Kudos to WFMS/Indianapolis for raising $205,770 for Riley Children's Hospital during its annual radiothon last weekend. Additionally, congrats to MD/PM driver JD Cannon, who celebrates his 31st anniversary with the station today (2/19).
 

» Radiothon Roundup: Here's a look at recent St. Jude Radiothon results turned in by Country radio:

  • WNCO/Ashland, OH, $30,375
  • WUSY/Chattanooga, TN, $286,081
  • KOLT/Cheyenne, WY, $12,650
  • KCCY/Colorado Springs, $98,005
  • KHEY/El Paso, $19,070
  • KMON/Great Falls, MT, $28,820
  • WBUL/Lexington, KY, $41,330
  • WPAP/Panama City, FL, $41,256
  • WXCL/Peoria, IL, $110,866
  • WYYD/Roanoke,VA, $27,854
  • KFDI/Wichita, $65,630
     
 

» Kerr-Ching! Five weeks after taking the job, Arbitron President/CEO and company board member William Kerr has signed a two-year employment agreement good through January 2012. Kerr's base salary will be $800K and includes an incentive bonus that could double his income, as well as stock options.
 

» Honky Nite: Florida-based Honky Tonk TV is partnering with webisode series Nashville At Nite to provide more content from Music City. The shows' first collaboration will take place next week during CRS 2010. Honky Tonk TV is syndicated on CW affiliates, and Nashville At Nite streams here.
 



» Port-Au-Purse: Reunion/Provident Music's Michael W. Smith has enlisted Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Wynonna, Restless Heart, Lee Greenwood and a number of top Christian artists to record "Come Together Now" to benefit Samaritan's Purse and the American Red Cross for Haitian relief. The single is the lead track from Healing4Haiti (out March 2). "Come Together Now" is available at all digital retailers now. Watch the video here and learn more here.
 

» In Case You Missed It: Arista/Nashville's Brad Paisley was a guest on Wednesday's (2/17) Jimmy Kimmel Live. Paisley revealed that his high-end coffee comes from a lemur's backside and tells how he pranked Lonestar. Part one of the interview can be viewed here, and part two here. Watch his "American Saturday Night" performance here.
 

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Feb. 18:

  1. JOSH TURNER/Why Don't We Just Dance (MCA) 2367 points
  2. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista) 2180 points
  3. JASON ALDEAN/The Truth (BBR) 2001 points
  4. BILLY CURRINGTON/That's How Country Boys Roll (Mercury) 1961 points
  5. DARIUS RUCKER/History In The Making (Capitol) 1911 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. 18:

  1. MIRANDA LAMBERT/The House That Built Me (Columbia)
  2. GLORIANA/The World Is Ours Tonight (Emblem/Warner Bros./BPP)
  3. KENNY CHESNEY/Ain't Back Yet (BNA)
  4. GARY ALLAN/Kiss Me When I'm Down (MCA)
  5. GARY ALLAN/We Fly By Night (MCA)
 

» Sunday's Birthdays (2/21): Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eric Heatherly, Bruce Reiner.


Monday's Birthdays (2/22): Greg Holland, the late Del Wood; Dave Hanner; Rebekah Sterk.

 

» Tube Check Tomorrow (2/20): Tim McGraw, Soundstage (GAC).

Tube Check Sunday (2/21): Luke Bryan, Gloriana, Introducing (re-air) (GAC).

Tube Check Monday (2/22): Carrie Underwood, Invitation Only (re-air) (CMT).

 



» A KUPL Of Buds: MCA's Josh Turner (r) says hello to KUPL/Portland APD/MD Rick "Bubba" Taylor backstage at the Roseland Theater Wednesday (2/17).
 

» Tie Together With A Smile: WDBY/Danbury, CT AM driver Mr. Morning (l), APD/PM driver Matt Carey (second from l) and middayer Dan Hopkins (r) welcome Phil Vassar to the Constitution state for a performance at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
 

» Here John: Newcomer John Carter poses with the Country Aircheck staff after a three-song set that included his debut single "Everything I Want." The former Marine and Arkansas native is gearing up for CRS 2010, where he'll play Cadillac Ranch next Thursday (2/25). Pictured (l-r) are CA's Jeff Green and Lon Helton, Triple 7 PR's Tanya Taylor, CA's Erin Duvall and Lauren Tingle, Carter, pickers Shane Sutton and Kelly Shoenfield and CA's Mary Forest Findley and Chuck Aly.
 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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