Country Aircheck
 November 13, 2009

» Real Country Changes: Citadel Media's Today's Best Country PD Gary Reynolds is now handling PD duties for Real Country, following Richard Lee's exit today (11/13). Also exiting Real Country is morning personality John Calhoun. The format's new lineup is: 12am-5am (Mon-Fri, Sun) Skip Edwards, (Sat) Alan Craig; 5am-10am (Mon-Sat) Bob Forester, (Sun) Tim Marx; 10am-3pm (Mon-Sat) Kris Wilson, (Sun) Randy Fuller; 3pm-7pm (Mon-Sat) Jim Casey, (Sun) Alan Craig; 7pm-12am (Mon-Sun) Linda O'Brien. Wilson remains MD.

» Conway Departs: Buddy Lee Attractions CEO/co-owner Tony Conway is leaving the agency after 33 years. "I want to thank the late Buddy Lee for mentoring me in the business and the Lee family for allowing me to be a part of country music history," says Conway. "I am now excited about the next chapter in my own business ventures and the opportunity to apply my experience to new projects." Conway can be reached at 615-478-4989 or here.


» Missing Parsons: XM Radio founder Gary Parsons has resigned as Chairman and director for Sirius XM, making way for Los Angeles Times Publisher/CEO Eddy Hartenstein to step up from Independent Director to non-executive Chairman. Parsons, XM's Chairman prior to Sirius acquiring XM in 2008 (CAT 7/29/08), said, "While it has been a privilege to serve Sirius XM and to have guided the company successfully through the merger, I believe now is the right time to step aside." Hartenstein is a former Chairman/CEO of DirecTV.

» Gayle Force Wins: Sea Gayle Music Publishing principals Chris DuBois, Frank Rogers and Brad Paisley have launched Sea Gayle Records in a joint venture with Sony Music/Nashville. The label's first artist, Jerrod Niemann, will be on Sea Gayle/Columbia and worked at radio by the Columbia promotion staff, as well as by New Revolution.



» Sanz Own Time: People Assistant Managing Editor Cynthia Sanz was presented the CMA Media Achievement Award by Blake Shelton at the trade organization's Media-Publicist Brunch Wednesday (11/11). "Cindy took a redneck with bad hair and a beer gut, and turned him into one of People's sexiest bachelors of the year," said Shelton.

» In Other People News: Arista's Alan Jackson and wife Denise grace the cover of December's People country issue, on newsstands now. The couple reveals their greatest gifts, along with Carrie Underwood, Joe Nichols, Zac Brown, Holly Williams and others for the feature "I Count My Blessings." Among the Jacksons' many gifts, No. 1 is their 30-year marriage. "When we started out, we were just kids and didn't know what real love was," Alan says of his high school sweetheart Denise. Also look for vintage pictures of Underwood's rise to fame from the elementary school stage, Brown's growing family, and wedding photos from Williams and Nichols. A free 10-track download is also available here.



» Life Notes: Sirius XM's Amy Paige and her unborn child are doing well following a car accident Wednesday night (11/11). She and husband David Friedman (Columbia Dir./Nat'l Promotion) missed the CMA night festivities after a teenage driver t-boned Paige's SUV as she was driving to the Sommet Center to host the satcaster's live broadcast. Paige was held for observation at the hospital, but she and the baby were unharmed. The CMA broadcast was to have been Paige's last before going on maternity leave; she's due at the end of the month.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Big Bill Lister, who is currently in the ICU after becoming ill on the Heart of Texas Country Cruisin' 2009 trip. Although he can't communicate, Lister does seem responsive when read cards or letters. Send yours to him at Life Care Hospital of San Antonio, 8902 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78240.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Nov. 12:

  1. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Need You Now (Capitol) 2384 points
  2. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cowboy Casanova (19/Arista) 2129 points
  3. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Capitol) 2055 points
  4. CRAIG MORGAN/Bonfire (BNA) 1883 points
  5. REBA/Consider Me Gone (Starstruck/Valory) 1830 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Nov. 12:

  1. JESSICA HARP/A Woman Needs (Warner Bros.)
  2. KEITH URBAN/Til Summer Comes Around (Capitol)
  3. CLAY WALKER/She Won't Be Lonely Long (Curb)
  4. MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Oughta Be More Songs About That (Columbia)
  5. STEVE AZAR/Catfish Christmas (Ride)

» Tube Check Tonight (11/13): Tim McGraw, Invitation Only (CMT).

Tube Check Tomorrow (11/14): Sugarland, Live On The Inside (re-air) (CMT).

Tube Check Sunday (11/15): Kenny Chesney, Soundstage (re-air) (GAC).

Tube Check Monday (11/16): Carrie Underwood, Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien (NBC).

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (11/14): Dottie Chamberlain, Rockie Lynne, Ashley Heron, Tina Crawford, Eddie Mascolo, Katie McCartney.

Sunday's Birthdays (11/15): Jack Ingram, Trudie Daniell.

Monday's Birthdays (11/16): Keith Burns, Rick Blackburn, John Dennis, David Haley, Clint Higham, Chris Parr, Tony Thomas.



San Friends This Row: KBWF (The Wolf)/San Francisco morning co-host Corey Foley and co-host/exec. producer Eddie King (r) caught up with Keith Urban during the CMA radio remotes in Nashville this week.

Hat Trick: Also at the remotes, Buddy Jewell congratulates WPOC/Baltimore's Laurie DeYoung on her upcoming CRB 2010 Country Music DJ Hall of Fame induction.

Zeke And Ye Shall Find: And not to be left out, Bridgette Tatum chatted with the KBEQ/Kansas City morning show at the remote broadcasts. Pictured (l-r) are co-host Zeke Montana, Wilks VP/Programming and KBEQ PD/morning co-host Mike Kennedy, Tatum and Nine North's Ryan Barnstead.














































 



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