Here’s the news for 7/2/09. To get today’s news emailed directly to your inbox every day, click here.
» A Thing For Bling: Label vet Stacy Rogers has been hired as Dir./West Coast Promotion & Marketing for Golden Music/Nashville. Rogers' prior stops include RCA, Midas and Lyric Street. She will report to VP/Promotion & Marketing Brad Howell and can be reached at 208-731-8104 or here.
» Angry All The Time: While promoting his new single this morning (7/2), Tim McGraw promised WOGI/Pittsburgh morning co-hosts Jimmy and Wendy that the Nashville Titans will "kick their butt", meaning the Steelers, at the NFL season-opener Sept. 10. Reportedly, Curb veep Adrian Michaels immediately issued the following statement: "If the Titans beat my beloved Steelers, I will personally wash Tim's bus."
» Brown Out: Following up on yesterday's story about alleged country concert scams in Brownsville, TX (CAT 7/1), the July 4 Boys II Men show the City of Brownsville booked through the same Empire Media Group that was pushing the Garth Brooks/Shania Twain and Taylor Swift concerts has been cancelled. According to the Brownsville Herald, city officials are citing "unforeseen circumstances" in the cancellation, though a $7,000 deposit is said to have already been paid. Interestingly, the group is slated to play a city-backed Independence Day concert in Dublin, OH, but city officials contacted by Country Aircheck confirmed their show was booked through Boyz II Men's agency ICM.
» Thursday Is The New Friday: KSCS/Dallas morning co-host Hawkeye gets some expert help deciphering the lyrics of Martina McBride's "This One's For The Girls." Watch here.
» One And Done: Ever wonder how to make a regional lose her cool? Lyric Street Southeast rep Theresa Ford tells Country Aircheck that being pushed out of a plane at 14,000 feet will do the trick. "I have always wanted to try it, so my husband gave it to me as a gift," says Ford. "It takes about five minutes from the time you exit the plane until you land back on the ground. Everyone I've ever talked to says it's addicting, but I'll never do it again."
» Bring Floaties: The Carter Twins, Caitlin & Will, Jypsi and Matt Stillwell join headliner Alan Jackson for this year's Aquapalooza. The July 25 event on Alabama's Lake Martin is only accessible by boat. Information here.
» On The Move: The new interim CFO at Cumulus Media is VP/Controller J.P. Hannon, as nine-year Cumulus CFO Marty Gausvik has left the company to pursue new opportunities. Hannon, who joined Cumulus in 2008, is a former CFO for Lincoln Financial's radio group and former Regent Communications board member.
» Programming Note: In observance of the Fourth of July holiday, the Country Aircheck offices will be closed tomorrow (7/3). Country Aircheck Today will resume publication on Monday (7/6).
» Err Check: KJJY/Des Moines MD Eddie Hatfield was misidentified in yesterday's (7/1) Country Aircheck Today. In the same edition, the label listing for Stylesonic/Picnic Hill/Bigger Picture's Halfway To Hazard's "I Know Where Heaven Is" was incorrect. We regret the errors.
» Crib Note: Congrats to WQNU/Louisville morning host Kris Daniels and husband Matt on the birth of their son Jax. Weighing in at 8 lbs., 11 oz., he joins big sister Sam and brother Cash. The ever-loyal Kris kept listeners updated on her status as she tweeted through labor here.
» Life Note: Our condolences to Big Machine/Valory publicist Natalie Kilgore, who lost her father Alfred Allen Kilgore to liver cancer Wednesday (7/1). He was 59. Visitation was held today at Springfield, TN's Austin And Bell Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held tomorrow (7/3) at noon, preceded by visitation at 10am.
Here’s the news for 6/30/09. To get today’s news emailed directly to your inbox every day, click here.
» Waugh In Order: The Arista Southeast slot vacated by Jeri Cooper last week (CAT 6/26) is being filled by the label's Midwest rep Tyler Waugh, according to several sources. Cooper and Waugh have been visiting stations in the region making formal introductions. No word from Arista on who will take Midwest duties.
» Two The Republic: The Republic/Nashville staff is set with the hires of WBEE/Rochester APD/MD/middayer Weslea Bartholomew as Dir./Southwest Promotion and MTV Networks Coord./Licensing Alicia Torres as Label Resource Manager/Exec. Asst. to Republic/Nashville President Jimmy Harnen. Bartholomew, who left WBEE last week (CAT 6/23), will be based out of her hometown of Albuquerque and can be reached here. Torres can be reached here.
» Write Lightning: Citadel's WSJR/Wilkes Barre morning host Moonshine has added APD/MD duties. Moonshine, who has been with the station about five years, stepped into this newly created post last week.
» Our Fireworks. Does Yours? Here's a list of patriotic tunes to consider as you spruce up the Fourth of July holiday playlist:
- BIG & RICH/Our America
- BROOKS & DUNN/Only In America
- JOHNNY CASH/Ragged Old Flag
- CHARLIE DANIELS BAND/My Beautiful America
- CHARLIE DANIELS BAND/In America
- ELVIS PRESLEY/American Trilogy
- LEE GREENWOOD/God Bless The USA
- SHOOTER JENNINGS/4th Of July
- WAYLON JENNINGS/America
- TOBY KEITH/American Soldier
- TOBY KEITH/Courtesy Of The Red, White & Blue
- WILLIE NELSON/America The Beautiful
- COLLIN RAYE/A Soldier's Prayer
- RASCAL FLATTS/Mayberry
- CHARLIE RICH/America The Beautiful, 1976
- LEANN RIMES/God Bless America
- KENNY ROGERS/Homeland
- SUGARLAND/Everyday America
- LYNYRD SKYNYRD/Red, White & Blue
- KENI THOMAS/Gloryland
- AARON TIPPIN/Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly
- RANDY TRAVIS/America Will Always Stand
- JOSH TURNER/Firecracker
- CARRIE UNDERWOOD/All-American Girl
- PHIL VASSAR/American Child
- HANK WILLIAMS, JR./America Will Survive
» Barnes Door: Lincoln Financial's KYGO/Denver LSM Barnes Goutermout has been upped to GSM. He replaces Steve Price, who becomes Station Manager for cluster Sports stations KKFN & KEPN, as well as Oldies KRWZ.
» Out Of The Norm: Congrats to Westwood One founder/Chairman Norm Pattiz on being one of the 2009 Library of American Broadcasting's "Giants Of Broadcasting" honorees. Emceed by CBS Radio/CBS-TV's Charles Osgood, the seventh annual ceremonies, which will also recognize the late Ed McMahon and Bea Arthur, as well as Ken Burns, Katie Couric and others, take place October 1 at the Grand Hyatt in New York.
» Iconoclast: Country Music Hall of Famer Kris Kristofferson is the latest artist to be presented the BMI Icon at the organization's 57th Annual Country Awards at the Nashville offices Nov. 10. The honor is given to BMI songwriters and artists who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."
» Southern Fried Album: Curb's Tim McGraw will release his new album Southern Voice this fall. The project is led by single "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You," which impacts July 6.
» Gig Alert: Nine North's Larry Pareigis is seeking a new "promotion and marketing monster" for an as-yet-unnamed region. Contact him here.
» Home Sweet Home: Got an extra $172,000 a month in your household budget? That estimated mortgage payment, along with $7.6 million down, will get you Alan Jackson's Sweetbriar plantation home outside Nashville. Just placed on the market for $38 million, the home features a 19,000-square-foot home on 135 acres. Six bedrooms, seven full baths, a 20-car garage, gymnasium, a log cabin overlooking the Harpeth River and a barn with a two-bedroom apartment are among the amenities.
» Boot Loot Boogie: Cold River's Katie Armiger is partnering with AOL's The Boot to document her first headlining tour on the Simon dTour. At each mall stop, one fan will win a $500 Simon giftcard. Complete list of dates here and The Boot coverage here.
» Tossed In Translation: By a 3-0 vote, the FCC adopted an order allowing AM radio stations to use FM translators, granting AM stations the ability to strengthen their penetration within a local community - a move the NAB has applauded. The FCC had been allowing AMs to relay via FM translators on a temporary basis for years. Although an overwhelming percentage of Country programming takes place on FM, as of last fall there were 342 Country stations, 184 Classic Country outlets and 96 "New Country" broadcasters operating on AM, according to Arbitron.
» Crib Note: Congrats to Josh Turner and wife Jennifer on the birth of their second son Colby Lynch Turner last Friday (6/26). Turner has been in the studio working on his fourth album. "My producer Frank Rogers jokingly told Jennifer that she needed to wait until we finished my record before she had the baby," says Turner. "We finished the album last Thursday at 6pm. After I got home, Jennifer went into labor ... Now that's what I call perfect timing."
» Life Note: We're wishing Westwood One Dir./Artist Relations Pam Green a speedy recovery after sustaining a complex fracture of her left shoulder and fracturing her right forearm two weeks ago. She recently underwent surgery for her left shoulder and is in physical therapy.
Here’s the news for 6/29/09. To get today’s news emailed directly to your inbox every day, click here.
» Allen's Town: Eagle's KSJQ/St. Joseph, MO PD/afternoon jock Anthony Allen has been named PD/MD/middayer for Clear Channel's KZSN/Wichita. He succeeds Cody Carlson, who is in the process of relocating to Spokane (CAT 6/9), and starts July 13. Allen's previous gigs include APD/mornings at KTST/Oklahoma City.
» Two Market To Market To Try A Phat Gig: Sony/Nashville VP/Artist Development & Marketing Jon Elliot and Dir./Strategic Marketing Christian Svendsen have left the company for a new venture. Elliot's 15-year Sony career includes four years in the company's New York offices and 11 years in Nashville. Svendsen has been with the label 14 years. He spent 12 years in promotion before moving into the marketing department two years ago. Job postings are soon expected on Sony's website here. Look for details about the company Elliot and Svendsen are forming in tonight's Country Aircheck Weekly.
» Gig Alert: Clear Channel's WKKT/Charlotte OM Bruce Logan is seeking for a morning co-host to join 30-year market vet Paul Schadt, as current co-host Sarah Waters leaves next week after more than 10 years with the station. If you are a "show prep monster, plugged into pop culture both country and non," send airchecks and resumes here.
» Senior Moment: Clear Channel/Miami OM Rod Phillips has been promoted to SVP/Programming for the company's mid-major-markets in the East region, which includes 520 stations in 98 markets, overseen by Miami-based EVP/Operations George Toulas. Phillips, who starts his new post July 13, also will work directly with SVP Dave Crowl in the South and West regions.
» Kudos: Clear Channel's WSIX/Nashville raised $1.6 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with its 5th Annual Dream House promotion. PD Keith Kaufman notes this brings the station's five-year total to a whopping $7.1 million. Per usual, the Southern Land Company donated the house, which was raffled off this weekend.
» Tow Jam: Most of the approximately 1,400 cars stranded by flooding at last weekend's WBCT/Grand Rapids B-93 Birthday Bash (CAW 6/22) were finally removed over the weekend. Insurance adjusters on-scene pronounced many of the vehicles totaled as tow trucks pulled them to a staging area, according to the Grand Rapids Press. Read more here.
» Claire Today: Laughing Penguin Publicity owner Claire Ratliff has joined Webster PR as Senior Publicist, handling Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Ronnie Gilley Entertainment. She can be reached here.
» AM WIRL: Former Classic Country WIRL-AM/Peoria morning host Dan Dermody was awarded Air Personality Of The Year by the Illinois Country Music Association yesterday (6/28). This is Dermody's ninth time receiving the honor. Concurrently, WIRL-AM was named Station Of The Year.
» Play Something Country: The ABC-TV concert special CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock has been extended to three hours to showcase more artists. Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Sugarland and Taylor Swift are the first performers confirmed for the Aug. 31 broadcast at 8pm ET. More will be announced soon.
» Bowers Of Persuasion: BBR artist Ash Bowers has moved to sister label Stoney Creek's artist roster. His upcoming album is produced by Buddy Cannon and contains seven self-penned songs. Bowers' new single "Stuck" goes for adds August 17.
» Boot Scootin' Cowboy: A version of Reba McEntire's song "I Want A Cowboy" will be released to country dance clubs next week. The track is from her upcoming album Keep On Loving You, which hits stores Aug. 18.
» Raised On Promises: Big Machine's Taylor Swift recorded a live version of Tom Petty's "American Girl" for Rhapsody and Verizon's V-CAST. The ringtone, ringback tone and the full-song download will be available beginning tomorrow (6/30) here and here.
» On The Move: Sirius XM SVP/Advertising Sales Paul Turcotte has exited the company after an 18-month stint. Turcotte previously had been SVP/Corporate Sales & Marketing for magazine publisher Hachette Filipacchi. Advertising is a relatively incremental factor in Sirius XM's business model, as CEO Mel Karmazin noted at last October's Dow Jones/Nielsen Media & Money Conference that 94-96% of Sirius XM revenue came from subscriptions.
» Life Note: Congratulations to The Lost Trailers' Stokes Nielson and wife Maria on the birth of their second child, a boy, last Monday (6/22).
» Err Check: KUPL/Portland PD John Paul's daughter Allison was misidentified in Friday's (6/26) Country Aircheck Today. In the same edition, The Road SVP/Producer Richard Kimball's title was incorrect. We sincerely regret the errors.