June 21, 2011



» Enchanted: Saturday's Taylor Swift bonanza didn't end at Heinz Field for WDSY/Pittsburgh, according to OM/PD Mark Anderson. "We commemorated the event on-air by becoming 'T108' for the day," he tells Country Aircheck, saying the station played nothing but Swift songs for 12 hours. "Apparently, Taylor happened across this while en route to the venue, listened to it in the car and had it playing backstage all day. She had some folks seek Stoney [Richards] and me out to tell us how pleased she was hearing some of the songs that are her personal favorites, though maybe not singles."

Swift personally thanked Anderson and Richards at her meet-and-greet that night, but that wasn't all. "Today, Y108 received a beautiful flower bouquet from Taylor, along with a very nice note thanking us for playing all of her songs on Saturday – a classy gesture, a testament to how special she is and to how special the country music/Country radio family is."


» Massie Exits In Billings: Townsquare/Billings, MT Dir./Operations Ray Massie, who also programmed Country KCTR and Classic Rock KMHK, has exited. Massie joined the combo in February 2010 (CAT 2/2/10) after programming KNIX/Phoenix. His resume includes KFRG/Riverside, as well as PD stops in San Francisco and St. Louis. Massie will continue consulting with Albright & O'Malley. Reach him here. No word yet on plans for the Billings post.




» Kissed Over Columbus: AC WSNY/Columbus, OH staffer Steve Kelly joins WTUZ Radio's WTUZ/Uhrichsville, OH (near Canton) as PD/mornings, replacing Brad Scupe, who left the station in April. Kelly is already on the job wearing the PD hat; his first day on the air will be Monday (6/27). In addition to his responsibilities at 'TUZ, he'll continue a weekend shift at WSNY.


» Try Becca: Citadel's WKDF/Nashville midday host Becca Walls has been named Nashville Correspondent for Envision Radio Networks' AmeriCountry prep service, replacing Donna Hughes, who is now at Capitol/Nashville (CAT 5/31). Walls will host and produce the Nashville 60, a daily entertainment report. She'll continue her midday shift at 'KDF in addition to co-hosting mornings on Maverick Media's WAXX/Eau Claire, WI.


» First Gone, Then Country: Cox Radio's Alternative KHPT/Houston night jock Katy Dempsey and weekender Michele Fisher have joined Country sister KKBQ (93Q) for part-time work after the company decided to shutter 'HPT and simulcast Classic Hits clustermate KGLK on its 106.9 frequency.


» Wolf Fitz FOX: Entercom's KKWF (The Wolf)/Seattle morning host Fitz will host a "Fitz @ Five" segment on local Q13 FOX News @ Five beginning Monday (6/27). Fitz's content will be entertainment- and human-interest-based. He'll continue in mornings on The Wolf, and will be launching a national countdown show soon.


» MP-Free: The redesign of CBS Interactive Music Group's MP3.com offers more than a million complimentary downloadable tracks, supported by a 30-day promo blitz across CBS Radio's 90+ music stations. Partnered with co-owned Last.fm, MP3.com focuses on independent artists, but major artists are included, as well. Today's country "Free MP3 of the Day" is Ronnie Dunn's "I Just Get Lonely," and country is one of four major genres featured on the site, which also includes videos powered by Vevo.




» The Eye Has It: CBS-TV and The Recording Academy have entered a 10-year deal that makes the network the official home of the Grammy Awards through 2021. "We are so pleased to continue our longstanding partnership with our friends at CBS, which has grown beyond our signature Grammy Awards event," says Recording Academy Pres./CEO Neil Portnow. The agreement also covers the Nov. 30 special Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night. The 54th Annual Grammy Awards airs Feb. 12, 2012. More here.


» Seeing Rhett ... And Raising: EMI Music Publishing has extended its six-year relationship with singer-songwriter Rhett Akins. The co-publishing deal will maintain the company's representation of Akins' catalog, which includes "All About Tonight," "Gimme That Girl" and "All Over Me."


» Picked A Peck For Pickled Steppers: Thursday's (6/23) Pickin' On The Patio series will feature Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes and Jason Jones. Doors open at 5:30pm for those 21+ at the WMN offices (20 Music Square East).


» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the top 5 songs for June 20:
  1. BLAKE SHELTON/Honey Bee (Warner Bros./WMN) 2655 points
  2. TAYLOR SWIFT/Mean (Big Machine) 2572 points
  3. CHRIS YOUNG/Tomorrow (RCA) 2289 points
  4. JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away (Valory) 2270 points
  5. BAND PERRY/You Lie (Republic Nashville) 2245 points

All airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.


» Country Aircheck Today Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for June 19-20, compared with the same days last week:
  1. GEORGE STRAIT/Here For A Good Time (MCA) +781 points
  2. TOBY KEITH/Made In America (Show Dog-Universal) +721 points
  3. BRAD PAISLEY & CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Remind Me (Arista) +581 points
  4. JASON ALDEAN/Dirt Road Anthem (Broken Bow) +489 points
  5. SCOTTY MCCREERY/I Love You This Big (19/Interscope/Mercury) +478 points

All airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.


» Tube Check Tonight (6/21): Blake Shelton, The Voice (NBC).

Tube Check Tomorrow (6/22): Dierks Bentley, 2011 National Hockey League Awards (Versus and CBC); Alison Krauss & Union Station, Conan (TBS).


» Tomorrow's Birthdays (6/22): Kris Kristofferson, Georgia Mock-Bedwell, Kim Fowler, Barry Hutchens, Lisa Strickland.




» Big Bash, LoCash: R&J's LoCash Cowboys stop to visit with the WBCT (B93)/Grand Rapids team while in town for the B-93 Birthday Bash. Pictured (l-r) are R&J's Tim McFadden, LCC's Preston Brust, WBCT's Doug Montgomery, LoCash's Chris Lucas, 'BCT's Dave Taft and R&J's Bill Heltemes.


» Sweet Meets: WGGY/Wilkes Barre's Tanya Burko finds herself in the middle of a Sugarland sandwich during a recent tour stop. Pictured (l-r) are Kristian Bush, Burko and Jennifer Nettles.


» I Make My Living Off The Evening News: HLN's Robin Meade gets her Kicks visiting with WKHX/Atlanta while promoting today's release of her album Brand New Day, which features the single "Dirty Laundry." Pictured (l-r) are Kicks morning teamers Tug and Cadillac Jack, Meade and morning co-host Dallas.


» Sister Act: Texas-based sister duo Lighter Ray stand front and center among Country Aircheck staff, moments after showcasing their stunning harmonies while performing "Pourin' Over Me," "The Good Life" and "How Do We Stay In Love."  Pictured (l-r) are CA's Brad Helton and Lauren Tingle, guitarist Charles Longoria, CA's Chuck Aly, Stokes Tunes' Stokes Nielson, LR's Lauren Leiter, Stokes Tunes Sr. Advisor Tom English, LR's Chynna Rae, CA's Lon Helton, RJ Curtis, Jeff Green and Mary Forest Findley.




CAT BN Ad 6/21/11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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