Country Aircheck
 December 18, 2009

» Merge Ahead: The new Show Dog/Universal Music staff is beginning to take shape following this afternoon's announcement of a completed merger between Show Dog Nashville and Universal South (Breaking News 12/18). No one will comment officially, but it appears Show Dog GM George Nunes will serve in a similar capacity under SDU Principal Toby Keith and President Mark Wright. VP/Promotion Rick Moxley will be heading a combined promotion team that will include VP/Promotion Teddi Bonadies (whose new role remains undefined), NE rep Suzanne Durham (Show Dog), Midwest regional Jordan Pettit (Universal South), SW rep Greg Sax (SD), West Coaster Lisa Owen (SD), SE regional Rick Hughes (US) and Coord. Laurie Gore (US). Show Dog's Head of Sales & Marketing Bill Kennedy is expected to serve in a similar capacity for SDU. Thought to be exiting are Universal South SVP/GM Fletcher Foster, SVP/Sales & Operations Van Fletcher, West Coast rep Rhonda Christensen and SW regional Karen McGuire; and Show Dog SE regional Nathan Cruise and Coord. Alison Sparico. There have been no indications regarding the makeup of the combined artist roster.

» Lincoln Log-In: Journal's KVOO/Tulsa morning co-host Gary Greenwood is leaving the station Dec. 29 to return to KFGE/Lincoln, NE Jan. 11 for AM drive. Greenwood left KFGE 18 months ago for KVOO and is coming home to be closer to family. JD and Sue were handling the airshift after Greenwood's departure until their exit Friday (12/11). Back in Oklahoma, KVOO PD Luke Jensen is seeking a co-host to join Sunny Leigh. Send airchecks and resumes here or to 4590 East 29th St., Tulsa, OK 74114.


» Tri As You Might: Radio vet Kris Edwards has joined KIOK/Tri-Cities, WA as PD/morning co-host. Edwards previously handled mornings for then-sister KGHL-FM/Billings, MT and most recently worked in Boise. His first day on the air with morning co-host Amy LeMasters is Jan. 4. Reach him here.

» Video Shilled The Radio Star: Former WKMK/Monmouth-Ocean, NJ APD/MD/PM driver Lee Ann Taylor will join Classic Rock WAAL/Binghamton, NY as morning co-host Jan. 4. Taylor, who will also handle a weekend show and fill-in for sister Country WHWK, tells Country Aircheck, "The viewer response to my CNN 30 Second Pitch appearance last month was impressive enough that they are bringing me back for an interview in the 1pm (ET) hour Jan. 4." Contact her here.

» Toy Story: Kudos to WFRE/Frederick, MD PD Jess Wright and staff for collecting almost 2,200 toys and more than $2,000 for Toys For Tots.

» Wall Bling: The RIAA has issued digital platinum certification for Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now."





» And When You're Fifteen: Country Weekly will release its 15th anniversary issue Monday (12/21). Inside, the magazine chronicles the top headlines since its April 12, 1994 debut. Features include a hairstyle flashback, 15 most influential artists and a collection of covers.

» iPhone Update: New KBWF/San Francisco PD Mike Krinik is in the building and can be reached here.

» Life Note: Our thoughts and prayers are with artist/guitarist/songwriter Billy Burnette, who underwent quintuple bypass surgery Wednesday (12/16). The former Fleetwood Mac member is recovering in a Nashville hospital.

» Crib Note: Congratulations to expectant mother Carolyn Dawn Johnson and husband Matt Fisher. Their second child is due next year and will join sister Abigail.

» A Long Winter's Nap: As our industries wind down the year, we at Country Aircheck want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. This is our last regularly scheduled issue of 2009, though we will publish a chart-free Country Aircheck Weekly mini-issue Dec. 29. We'll be back in heavy rotation Jan. 4, hopefully bringing good tidings to you ... and your kin.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Dec. 17:

  1. REBA/Consider Me Gone (Starstruck/Valory) 2161 points
  2. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Need You Now (Capitol) 2150 points
  3. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Capitol) 2039 points
  4. DIERKS BENTLEY/I Wanna Make You Close Your... (Capitol) 1959 points
  5. TIM MCGRAW/Southern Voice (Curb) 1934 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Dec. 17:

  1. LADY ANTEBELLUM/American Honey (Capitol)
  2. RASCAL FLATTS/Unstoppable (Lyric Street)
  3. TAYLOR SWIFT/Fearless (Single Edit) (Big Machine)
  4. TRACE ADKINS/Ala-Freakin-Bama (Capitol)
  5. CRAIG MORGAN/Bonfire (Christmas Version) (BNA)

» Tube Check Tomorrow (12/19): Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Jake Owen, Rodney Atkins, Opry Live (GAC).

Tube Check Sunday (12/19): Sugarland, Christmas In Washington (TNT).

Tube Check Wednesday (12/23): Faith Hill, Reba, Carrie Underwood, A Home For The Holidays (CBS); Trisha Yearwood, Christmas At Belmont (PBS); Sugarland, Tim McGraw, Oprah (re-air) (syndicated).

Tube Check Friday (12/25): Darius Rucker, Good Morning America (ABC).

Tube Check Sunday (12/27): Brooks & Dunn, Private Sessions (A&E).

» Tomorrow's Birthdays (12/19): Little Jimmy Dickens, Janie Fricke, Anthony Martin, Bill Mayne, Roger Ramsey, John Sebastian, Kyle Cantrell.

Sunday's Birthdays (12/20): George Briner, Melissa Pierce, Ronnie Vaughan.

Monday's Birthdays (12/21): Lee Roy Parnell, Brad Warren, Rhean Boyer (Carolina Rain), Doug Johnson, Nina Rossman.

Tuesday's Birthdays (12/22): Chuck Meade (BR5-49), Marla Burns, Karen Conrad, Lori McKenna, John Shomby.

Thursday's Birthdays (12/24): Justin McIntosh.

Friday's Birthdays (12/25): Laura Bryna, Jimmy Buffett, Alecia Elliott, Barbara Mandrell, Steve Wariner.

Next Saturday's Birthdays (12/26): Dustin Eichten, Shelley Hargis, Jan Perry Rodgers.

Next Sunday's Birthdays (12/27): Jim Beavers, David Fitzgerald.

Next Monday's Birthdays (12/28):: Marty Roe (Diamond Rio), Jonathan Fricke, Dan Herrington.

Next Tuesday's Birthdays (12/29): Jessica Andrews, Steve Casey, Ken Robold.


Deck The Calls: The CRB held its Christmas party at the organization's newly renovated offices in Nashville. Pictured (l-r) are WSIX/Nashville's Keith Kaufman, Mayne Street Consulting's Bill Mayne, AristoMedia's Jeff Walker, Clear Channel/Nashville's Tom English, Sony/Nashville's Tom Baldrica and Edgehill's David Haley.

Sea-ing Red: KBEQ/Kansas City PD Mike Kennedy takes the field with Trailer Choir before the group's National Anthem performance at the Chiefs game. Pictured (l-r) are TC band member Shug, TC's Crystal Hoyt and Butter, Kennedy, TC's Big Vinny and Show Dog rep Suzanne Durham.

Stocking Stuffers: Burns & Poe (l), Anna Garrott (c) and Matt Gary (r) were among 30 artists who participated in the 27th Annual Christmas4Kids Tour Bus Show in Hendersonville, TN Tuesday (12/15). The event raised more than $8,600 and allowed 400 underprivileged children to go Christmas shopping for their families.














































 



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