October 6, 2010



» Accumulo Numbahs: Here are the first of four days of Arbitron's September PPM ratings for the period of Aug. 19-Sept. 15, with markets listed by metro size. All figures are persons 6+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight, with rankings in parentheses. Country Aircheck is only authorized to provide overall figures, but if you've got more details to share, email us here.
  • Los Angeles: After back-to-back PPM lows, Mt. Wilson's KKGO advanced 1.5-1.7 (26t-24t), with cume down 3,900 to 987,000 (26-26). In September '09, Go Country generated a 3.1 (12t), reaching 1,160,300 listeners (21).
  • Chicago: After its lowest monthly since PPM started here in July '08, CBS Radio's WUSN promptly rebounded 3.6-4.1 (10-5). Its reach declined 20,300 to 1,154,200 (15t-14). Twelve months ago, US99 earned its best-ever month in PPM: a 4.8 (3) with 1,385,400 listeners (10).
  • San Francisco: Entercom's KBWF moved 1.7-1.6, holding at No. 25 and reaching 477,900 (24-24), down 700. In September '09, The Wolf had a 2.1 (20t) with 495,000 listeners (21). Empire's KRTY/San Jose stayed close, up 1.1-1.2 (28-27t), gaining 8,500 cume to tally 226,800 (32-32). A year back, KRTY notched a 1.0 (31), reaching 245,800 (31).
  • Dallas: Delivering its strongest share since last December, Cumulus' KPLX grew 4.8-5.2 (4t-2), up for the third month in a row. Its listenership declined 60,100 to 1,206,600 (No. 4 for the fifth straight month), but that cume remains No. 1 among all Country stations in America. In September '09, The Wolf was No. 1 with a 6.1 and an audience of 1,303,300 (3). After posting its best month since last November, Citadel's KSCS slipped 4.0-3.7 (8-8), as its reach fell 47,000 to 874,000 (11-12). A year back, 'SCS drew a 4.0 (6) with tune-in of 896,100 (9).
  • Houston: Cox's KKBQ shifted 3.7-3.6 (9t-8), with cume decreasing 20,500 to 958,800, ranking No. 7 since April. In September '09, 'KBQ had a 4.1 (9) and 972,000 listeners (7). CBS Radio's KILT-FM held steady at a 3.3 (13t) for the third straight session, but attracted 51,200 more listeners to reach 884,100 (10-9). That performance edged KILT-FM's 3.2 (12t) and 880,600 cume (10) last year. Cox's Classic Country KTHT bumped up 1.5-1.8 (23-22), increasing its reach by 25,800 from a PPM low to 412,800 (21-21). Last September, 'THT recorded a 1.9 (22) and 535,600 cume (20).
  • Atlanta: Citadel's WKHX dipped 5.6-5.2 (3t-4), and its audience was down 62,400 to 741,000 (9-10). Those figures are just below September '09's 5.3 (5) and cume of 742,500 (11). Improving for the eighth straight month, Clear Channel's WUBL pulled within a share of  'KHX for the first time in PPM, rising 4.3-4.6 (8-8t), posting a new share record for the third month in a row; it's also a new share rank peak. The station also beat WKHX in cume for the first time in PPM, though its reach was down 33,000 to 741,800 (11-9); that cume rank is also a station high. A year ago, 'UBL earned a 3.8 (9) with 659,900 listeners (13). APD/MD Lance Houston tells Country Aircheck, "This is the first time that WUBL has beaten WKHX 25-54!" [4.7 (7) to 4.4 (9)]. Houston also reports WUBL won the 18-34 format battle [6.1 (4) to 4.2 (10)].
  • Philadelphia: Beasley's WXTU ended a two-book skid, up 4.1-4.4 (9-7), with cume rebounding from a soft August by 88,700 (+13.6%) to 738,800 (16-15). Last September, 'XTU also had a 4.4 (7) with 730,600 listeners (16).
  • Washington, DC: CC's WMZQ set new PPM records in share and share rank, rising 3.9-4.3 (8t-8) with 631,100 listeners (12-12), 21,000 fewer than last month. A year ago, 'MZQ produced a 3.8 (12) and nearly identical cume of 633,900 (12).
  • Riverside: With its third consecutive increase in share and cume, CBS Radio's KFRG notched its third-best month ever in PPM, up 4.0-4.8 (7-6), adding 18,500 listeners to reach 349,000 (11-9). Those figures easily beat last year's 3.9 (7) and audience of 274,600 (11). Mt. Wilson's KKGO/Los Angeles stepped up 1.3-1.5 (24t-23t), picking up 2,200 cume to total 150,500 (23-24), eclipsing September '09's 1.4 (25t) and nearly doubling that month's tune-in of 85,200 (35).
  • San Jose: Empire's KRTY shifted 3.9-3.8 (9t-10t), giving up 14,200 listeners to reach 164,200 (17-18). Twelve months back, KRTY also had a 3.8 (9) and audience of 199,200 (10).




» KILT's Frey Decides To Move On: As we reported via Twitter earlier today, CBS Radio's KILT-FM/Houston APD/MD Greg Frey has resigned and is leaving the station Oct. 15. "I've had a tremendous experience at CBS Radio/Houston, but I've decided to explore other opportunities and challenges," Frey says. "I'd like to thank VP/Market Manager Brian Purdy and PD Mark Adams for being so gracious to me." Morning man Rowdy Yates will serve as interim APD/MD following Frey's departure. Prior to his six years at KILT-FM, Frey did six at KSON/San Diego and a decade at KCYY/San Antonio. Keep in touch with him at 713-705-2088 or here.


» Fund Fest: During today's (10/6) Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum press conference in the restored Ford Theater, CMA announced that the 2010 CMA Music Festival yielded a record $2,924,936 in charity funds to support Nashville music education and to aid flood relief. CMA CEO Steve Moore, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Kix Brooks, Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town) and Luke Bryan revealed two oversized checks reflecting the split total to benefit the CMA's Keep The Music Playing campaign and The Community Foundation Of Middle Tennessee. "The CMA Music Festival went on as planned just a month after the devastating May flood, and it was the largest, most successful Festival to date," Mayor Dean said. "That's a testament to the strength of Music City and the commitment [the] CMA has to Nashville." Moore added, "We are thrilled to make a donation of this size, and we have confidence that the funds will be put to immediate and good use reaching the hands of the people who need it most."


» Sweet Music Makers: Last night's (10/5) second annual We're All For The Hall concert tightened country's generation gaps as Keith Urban led a 10-artist lineup through the heroes-themed evening. Urban opened the show with a five-song run of his hits before the set change, after which he and Vince Gill led an all-star session player band (featuring Dann Huff and Paul Franklin, among others) in backing the evening's guests. Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and John Mayer each performed two songs—one of their hits and a cover from one of their country heroes. Urban sang Don Williams' "I Wouldn't Want To Live If You Didn't Love Me" (dedicated to his wife), Currington delivered a moving rendition of Kenny Rogers' "Sweet Music Man" and Pride drew a rousing ovation for Conway Twitty's "Hello Darlin'." Watch videos and see a complete set list here.


» Whiskey-A-Go-Go To The Top: Kudos to Kenny Chesney and the BNA and Sony/Nashville teams on landing his Hemingway's Whiskey atop the overall and country albums sales charts. The release sold more than 183,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan numbers provided by the label. This marks Chesney's 10th consecutive No. 1 debut on the country albums chart.


» Gone With A Trace: Show Dog-Universal's Trace Adkins will soon embark on his third USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to the Middle East. Adkins' previous treks include stops in Bahrain, Iraq and Afghanistan.


» Pop Artist: Southern Ground/Atlantic/BPG's Zac Brown Band will perform a free concert during NASCAR's two-day Coca-Cola Fuels NASCAR Drive event in Miami Nov. 18. The group's music will also be featured in an ad campaign airing at the start of the 2011 racing season. Details here.


» Grand Ole Appry: The Grand Ole Opry has launched a free mobile app for iPhone and Android devices. WSM-AM/Nashville, Opry show schedules, videos, member bios and online store access are among the features. Download here.




» Coast With The Most: Organizers of Brad Paisley and Bon Jovi's Concerts For The Coast in Gulf Shores, AL (Oct. 17 and 15, respectively) still have some ticket opportunities available for radio stations. Contact Molly Kummerle here for details.


» Near The Music: Non-profit Hear The Music Live is giving one foster care child the chance to attend the Nov. 10 44th Annual CMA Awards, and radio can play a part. The organization, which provides teen and pre-teens in foster care with opportunities to see live concert events, will provide airfare, hotel and tickets to one winner and a guest. Stations are encouraged to place the contest widget on their websites; details  here.


» Second Hand: The Take A Second For St. Jude Kids songwriter event opens next week at 5:30pm (10/11) at Nashville's Blue Bar and will continue the second Monday of each month. Richard Leigh ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"), Wayne Carson ("Always On My Mind") and Brice Long ("Anything Goes") are on Monday's bill. Arlos Smith ("Mayberry") will host. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.


» Life Note: Congrats to Cold River's Jeff Davis and radio promotion vet Jessica Cohen on their Oct. 3 marriage, which took place in downtown Nashville. The groom surprised the bride by sneaking Emerson Drive into the service to sing "their" song "Belongs To You." "She flipped," Davis says. "It was great!"


» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Oct. 5:
  1. JOSH TURNER/All Over Me (MCA) 2240 points
  2. EASTON CORBIN/Roll With It (Mercury) 2195 points
  3. DARIUS RUCKER/Come Back Song (Capitol) 2188 points
  4. KENNY CHESNEY/The Boys Of Fall (BNA) 2082 points
  5. SUGARLAND/Stuck Like Glue (Mercury) 1809 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. 5:
  1. LITTLE BIG TOWN/Kiss Goodbye (Radio Edit) (Capitol)
  2. CHRISTIAN KANE/The House Rules (BPG)
  3. LEE BRICE/Beautiful Every Time (Curb)
  4. TIM MCGRAW/Felt Good On My Lips (Cold Ending) (Curb)
  5. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Hello World (Radio Edit) (Capitol)


» Tomorrow's Birthdays (10/7): Kieran Kane, Bill Dotson, Mary Hamilton, Cindy Heath, the late Buddy Lee; Jon Peterson; Ryan Simpson; Rick Walker; William Patton.


» Tube Check Tonight (10/6): Toby Keith, Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC).

 

Tube Check Tomorrow (10/7): Toby Keith, Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (CBS).




» You'll Pink Of Me: Stoney Creek's Thompson Square's Kiefer (l) and Shawna Thompson (r) get a belly laugh from KNIX/Phoenix's Barrel Boy, whose fashions have gone pink to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.


» We Represent The Lollipop Guild: Show Dog-Universal's Trace Adkins visits WKLB/Boston's Ginny Rogers (l) and Dawn Santolucito (r) during a visit to Munchkinland.


» Eye Karli: Ohio Records' Karli Whetstone launches the radio tour for her new single "I Didn't" with a visit to Country Aircheck's palatial office compound. Pictured (l-r) are CA's Jeff Green, Kelley Keith, Angela Gimlin and Lauren Tingle, Whetstone, CA's Chuck Aly and Mary Forest Findley and Grass Roots Promotion's Nancy Tunick.


» 85 And Counting: In celebration of Gaylord WSM-AM/Nashville's 85th birthday Monday (10/5), air personalities (l-r) Bill Cody, Mike Terry and Eddie Stubbs prepare to enjoy some cake. The station marked the anniversary by throwing a party on its front lawn with guests including Lynn Anderson and Ralph Emery. The station's month-long celebration offers a listener breakfast this week and two nights at the Ryman Auditorium with soon-to-be Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams Oct. 20 and 21.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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