February 24, 2010

» Snow Business Likes Show Business: Capitol's Lady Antebellum delivered a stirring version of the National Anthem and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean welcomed attendees as CRS 2010 officially opened in

wintry Music City this morning. Keynote speaker Dave Ramsey delivered a message of hope and exhorted radio to take action, shun "loser talk" and return to serving both customers and employees. "Don't stand around and watch this opportunity disguised as a challenge go by you," he urged. Extended coverage of all of today's happenings can be found in tomorrow's CRS Daily Buzz.

» Here I Go Again:

WXTU/Philadelphia's Natalie Conner accepted the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award on behalf of Beasley Broadcast Group founder George Beasley, who is out of the country. WKSF/Asheville (small market), KXKT/Omaha (medium) and WGH-FM Norfolk (large) received CRB Radio Humanitarian Awards. Last year's CRB Artist Humanitarian honoree Randy Owen presented this year's recipient, Trace Adkins. "The first concert I ever went to was Whitesnake," Trace said as he took the podium. "The second was Alabama. They were very different shows." Laughs continued as he said, "I do truly deserve this because I've never killed anybody. And I've wanted to. Maybe some of you." He paused. "I'd like to announce my retirement." Turning sincere, Adkins said, "I do what I can. I try to help folks out. I'm humbled by [this] and honored by it ... and I'm grateful."

» In Case You Missed It:

As we told you in this afternoon's Breaking News and via Twitter, Mozes, Inc.'s music division head Chris Stacey has been named SVP/Promotion for Warner Music/Nashville, overseeing a newly structured department that will include two promotion teams. The current radio promotion team continues to be helmed by newly promoted VP/Promotion Bob Reeves (Breaking News 2/8), who, along with the to-be-determined head of the new promotion team, reports to Stacey.

» These Are My Peoples: Here is the first batch of January Arbitron PPM ratings, ranked by metro size, with many stations rebounding from a soft Holiday period. All figures are persons 6+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses.

Los Angeles: Mt. Wilson's KKGO gained 1.7-2.1 (24t-19t). Its cume was up 22,000 to 959,100 (25-25).
Chicago: CBS Radio's WUSN improved 3.8-4.3 (7t-5), with its reach increasing 16,700 to 1,183,700 (11-12).
San Francisco: Entercom's KBWF accelerated 1.8-2.1 (22-20t), and its audience rose 4,900 to 455,800 (26-25). Empire's KRTY/San Jose climbed 1.0-1.4 (27-25t), adding 50,400 listeners (21%) to total 287,300 (29-27).
Dallas: Cumulus' KPLX moved up 3.8-4.4 (7-4), though its listenership declined 80,500 to 1,041,800 (4-5). Citadel's KSCS edged back 3.9-3.8 (6-8t), with its cume falling 64,100 to 797,200 (10-12).
Houston: Cox's KKBQ remained firm at a 3.8 (9-11), and its tune-in picked up 3,000 to 918,200 (7-8). CBS Radio's KILT-FM was also level, holding at a 2.8 (15-16), as its reach retreated 89,700 to 754,000 (9-13). Cox's Classic Country KTHT upticked 1.5-1.8 (23-21), with cume up 17,700 to 528,000 (20-20).
Atlanta: Citadel's WKHX advanced 4.7-5.4 (7-4t), while its audience was up 6,400 to 687,200 (12-11). Clear Channel's WUBL held steady at a 2.7 (17-16), and its reach broadened 18,000 to 613,200 (15-14).
Philadelphia: Beasley's WXTU jumped 3.8-4.8 (6t-5), with its listenership also up significantly by 74,500 to 685,800 (15-15).
Washington, DC: CC's WMZQ shifted 3.1-3.0 (13-16t), with its cume slipping 20,000 to 556,700 (12-13).
Riverside: CBS Radio's KFRG stepped up 4.5-4.6 (6-5), with cume rising 4,100 to 347,900 (8t-8). Mt. Wilson's KKGO/Los Angeles was steady at a 1.3-1.3 (23t-27t), with its reach gaining 30,500 to 154,800 (24-25).
San Jose: Empire's KRTY grew 3.2-3.9 (12t-9), with cume ahead 17,700 to 192,800 (15-12).

» Ivy's League:

Clear Channel/Augusta, GA GSM Ivy Elam has been upped to Market Manager for the seven-station cluster, which includes Country WIBL. She replaces Jared Stehney, who is now VP/MM for CC/Chattanooga , TN (CAT 12/9).

» Radiothon Roundup:

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

WBWN/Bloomington, IL, $47,164
WKWS/Charleston, WV, $203,215
WKML/Fayetteville, NC, $169,507
WYZB/Ft. Walton, FL, $31,378
WMSI/Jackson, MS, $94,629
WHKR/Melbourne, FL, $34,522
KHAY/Oxnard-Ventura, $42,170
WDSY/Pittsburgh, $97,484
WDEZ/Wausau, WI, $112,329
WLLR/Quad Cities, IA-IL, $100,363
KSLY/San Luis Obispo, CA, $28,633
WQYK/Tampa, $196,786

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Feb. 23:

JOSH TURNER/Why Don't We Just Dance (MCA) 2341 points
DARIUS RUCKER/History In The Making (Capitol) 2069 points
BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista) 2046 points
BLAKE SHELTON f/TRACE ADKINS/Hillbilly Bone (Warner Bros.) 2000 points
BILLY CURRINGTON/That's How Country Boys Roll (Mercury) 1926 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. 23:

LITTLE BIG TOWN/Little White Church (Capitol)
TOBY KEITH/Every Dog Has Its Day (Show Dog-Universal)
GLORIANA/The World Is Ours Tonight (Emblem/Warner Bros./BPP)
MCCLYMONTS/Save Yourself (Executive/C05)
EASTON CORBIN/A Little More Country Than That (Mercury)

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (2/25): the late Faron Young; Tony Benken; Buck Stevens.

» Tube Check Tonight (2/24): Dolly Parton, Master Series (re-air) (GAC).

Tube Check Tommorrow (2/25): Sarah Buxton, GAC Nights.

» Faces Of Mt. Richmore: Warner/Nashville newcomers the JaneDear girls work the room following their performance at labelmate John Rich's Mt. Richmore last night (2/23). Pictured (l-r) are WMN Pres. John Esposito, JDG's Susie Brown, managers Doug Nichols and Trey Turner, JDG's Danelle Leverett and VP/Promotion Bob Reeves.

» Ain't Done Yet: Arista's Brooks & Dunn celebrate their CRB Career Achievement award with Sony/Nashville Chairman Joe Galante and former longtime promotion veep Bobby Kraig at last night's (2/23) Country Radio DJ & Music Hall of Fame ceremony. Pictured (l-r) are Galante, Ronnie Dunn, Kraig and Kix Brooks.

» Betten On Mitchell: KLMJ/Hampton, IA MD/PM driver Mike Betten (l) hangs with Jason Mitchell before the singer's performance at Nashville's Tracking Room.