Country Aircheck
 October 22, 2009

» Final Flurry: Here is the last chapter of Summer '09 Arbitron diary ratings, listed by metro size. All figures are persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses except in the subscriber-only markets of Spokane and Mobile. Ratings for Greenville, NC also were released today, but are client-exclusive and embargoed from publication.
  • West Palm Beach: CBS Radio's WIRK slipped 4.6-4.3 (4t-3), but still beat last Summer's 4.2. Beasley's WKIS/Miami improved 0.9-1.3 (26t-22).
  • Albuquerque: Clear Channel's KBQI grew 3.7-3.9 (9-6t), topping its 3.4 from a year ago. That was good enough to move in front of Citadel's KRST for the first time since Fall '08 as, after a long string of mostly up books, it fell 4.6-3.2 (4t-11). Aloha Station Trust's Classic Country KABQ, which was Smooth Jazz until May, earned a 3.1 in its first survey (18-12t).
  • Bakersfield: Owens One's KUZZ declined 8.5-7.1 (1-2), while co-owned Classic Country KCWR stepped up 1.6-1.9 (17t-16), outperforming its 1.3 of Summer '08. Robert & Katherine Bohn's KCNQ/Santa Rosa, CA held steady at a 1.3 (19t-19).
  • Spokane: CC's KIXZ increased 4.1-5.3, up for the second book in a row and its best in a year. KIXZ's gain ended the five-book format-winning streak of Mapleton's KDRK, which declined 4.9-3.7. In its third survey, Spokane Television's KEZE fell 4.1-3.0. (No ranks; subscriber-only market.)
  • Colorado Springs: Citadel's KATC enjoyed its second straight strong sweep, 5.9-6.9 (3-3), surpassing its 5.9 of a year ago and remaining within a share of the market lead. CC's KCCY settled back 5.1-4.9 (5-8), but nipped its 4.5 from 12 months past. In its second book, Citadel's Classic Country KCSF dropped 1.8-0.5 (15t-18t).
  • Mobile: CC's WKSJ was down 9.6-8.3, but is still No. 1 among participating stations, and did better than its 7.0 from the previous Summer. Pamal's WXBM/Pensacola, FL was up 2.0-2.2. (No ranks; subscriber-only market.)
  • Madison: Mid-West Family's WWQM dipped 5.9-5.5 (4-6). Closing within 0.4 share was CC's WMAD, which gained 4.5-5.1 (8-7) and beat Summer '08's 4.8. Dodge Point's WDMP was off 1.6-1.0 (16-16t), as was Bliss' WJVL/Janesville, WI, 2.1-0.7 (13-18).
  • Huntsville, AL: Scoring its best book since Spring '08, CC's market champ WDRM moved up 12.2-12.8, extending its lead to six shares. Abercrombie's Classic Country WQAH slipped 3.9-3.5 (11-12), but still beat the 2.7 it posted last Summer. Cumulus' WWFF gained 1.3-1.8 (14-14), also outshining its 1.5 from a year ago.


» Wyatt Be Like That: Clear Channel's WDXB/Birmingham Promotions Dir. Daniel Wyatt is moving to sister WUSY/Chattanooga, TN to join the Bearman & Ken morning show as producer and third personality Nov. 2. Wyatt wraps up his eight-year run in Birmingham Oct. 29 and can be reached here. Back at 'DXB, PD Tom Hanrahan is seeking Wyatt's replacement; send resumes here.

» Boarded Up: The CMA board elected the following 2010 officers Wednesday morning (10/21): Chairman Steve Moore, President Steve Buchanan, President-Elect Gary Overton and Secretary/Treasurer Erv Woolsey. See the full 78-member list here.

» Tickets, Please: The first round of Garth Brooks tickets go on sale this Saturday (10/24) at 8am PT, and the Wynn Las Vegas is still developing its promotional opportunities for Country radio. In the meantime, if you wish to obtain tickets for on-air promotional use, the venue encourages you to do so when they go on sale to the general public. In addition, list the Program Director's name and call letters as the primary holder of the reservation, and contact the Wynn Entertainment Marketing (702-770-3720) office beginning Monday (10/26) to discuss particulars.

» That's Like Half A Million: The We're All For The Hall benefit concert, hosted by Keith Urban in Nashville Oct. 13 (CAT 10/14), has raised more than $500,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. That total doesn't include corporate donations or the planned online auction of Taylor Swift's signed guitar from the evening's performance. The proceeds will be invested in the institution's collection, school and family programs and enhancements for its core exhibition, Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music.

» Just Trying To Save Each Other: Co-headliners Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser have partnered with CMT One Country to encourage CMT On Tour concert attendees to write "Thank You" postcards to troops through the USO. "Those guys in the field need some emotional connection to home, and I think this project will bring a little bit of home to them," Marine Corps veteran Johnson says. After the tour, an online auction of Johnson and Houser memorabilia will be available at CMTauctions.com benefiting the USO. Details here.




» I Still Like Bologna: Arista's Alan Jackson and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store have partnered to offer the lifestyle "Alan Jackson Collection" beginning Nov. 2 at all locations. Among the 40+ items featured in the collection are a custom rocker and a 12-track CD Songs Of Love And Heartache featuring unreleased songs "That's What I'd Be Like Without You" and "Nothing Sure Looked Good On You."

» For The Guitar Man: The Gibson Guitar Foundation and Gibson Guitar are hosting a free tribute concert honoring the late Les Paul Nov. 19 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Artists scheduled to appear are John Rich, Emerson Drive, JD Souther, Steve Wariner, Joan Jett, Josh Kelley, Kiss' Ace Frehley and others. Steve Miller will front the Les Paul Trio as the house band. Register for tickets beginning Monday (10/26) here.

» Signage: RCA's Sara Evans has signed with Spalding Ent. for management. Singer/songwriter Chris Janson has inked a recording contract with BNA. American Idol finalist and 19/RCA recording artist Danny Gokey has signed with RLM/Mission Management.

» Chronicle: Our condolences are extended to the friends and family of Leona Atkins, who died Wednesday (10/21) after a lengthy illness. She was 85. Leona sang with her twin sister Lois as The Johnson Twins before marrying the late Chet Atkins. Visitation will be held Saturday (10/24) from 11am-1pm at Nashville's Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, with a memorial service immediately following. Donations may be made to Willowbrook Hospice (381 Riverside Dr., Suite 440, Franklin, TN 37064) or the Chet Atkins Music Education Fund (P.O. Box 44025, Nashville, TN 37244).

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Oct. 21:

  1. ZAC BROWN BAND/Toes (Atlantic/Home Grown/Bigger Picture) 2177 points
  2. BRAD PAISLEY/Welcome To The Future (Arista) 2163 points
  3. KEITH URBAN/Only You Can Love Me This Way (Capitol) 2067 points
  4. CHRIS YOUNG/Gettin' You Home (The Black...) (RCA) 2003 points
  5. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cowboy Casanova (19/Arista) 1951 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Oct. 21:

  1. LEE ANN WOMACK/There Is A God (MCA)
  2. CALEB ROWDEN/Made (Christmas Version) (Executive Music/Universal Music Christian)
  3. BRAD PAISLEY/Welcome To The Future (Acoustic Version - Missing Verse) (Arista)
  4. BLAKE SHELTON f/TRACE ADKINS/Hillbilly Bone (Warner Bros.)
  5. DEREK SHOLL/When They Come Back (RMM/CO5)

» Tube Check Tonight (10/22): Miranda Lambert, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC).

Tube Check Tomorrow (10/23): Tim McGraw, Today (NBC).

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (10/23): Bart Allmand, Jimmy Wayne, Dwight Yoakam, Jeff Walker.



Zac Attack: The Zac Brown Band frontman and namesake Zac Brown visited with Crook & Chase during a media day last week. Pictured (l-r) are Charlie Chase, Brown, Lorraine Crook and Syndication Services' Tim Riley.

Say, Cheese: Curb's Bomshel played for WWQM/Madison listeners to celebrate the Tuesday release of their album Fight Like A Girl. Pictured (l-r) are Promotions Dir. Malerie Davis, morning co-host Jason Stephens, Bomshel's Kristy O., PD John Sebastian, Bomshel's Kelley and morning co-host Nicole Andrews.

The Night Is Young: RCA's promotion staff celebrates Chris Young's ascension to No. 1 with "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" last week in style. Pictured (l-r) are Dan Nelson, Josh Easler, Keith Gale, Norbert Nix, Young, Liz Sledge, Steve Pleshe and Matt Galvin.














































 



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