Issue 618 - September 10, 2018 by Country Aircheck

September 10, 2018, Issue 618

GuestColumn:AViewFromTheBeach

by Sue Wilson A few weeks before I left my job at WQMX/Akron, I wrote a batch of updated positioning liners so imaging could stay fresh if the station didn’t quickly hire a replacement. What I didn’t expect was that my thinking ahead would swing around months later. But I’ll get to that. Programmers end up on the beach for any number of reasons, but there are benefits for those of us who enjoy a constructive view of their time away. After my own “ah-ha” moment, I began wondering what others have learned after their own experience listening like a listener. Mike Brophey retired last year after Sue Wilson more than two decades as WKLB/Boston PD. His first observation? The dominance of in-car listening. “I’m driving less, so my listening is less,” he says. “It’s still difficult to listen without critiquing everything, but it’s fun to tune in as a listener and not a PD.” While he still enjoys radio and will continue to, he finds the medium too predictable at times. “I hear less creativity across the board – in imaging, contesting, promotions, personalities, you name it. As an industry, I hope we return to stretching the parameters so listeners begin to expect the unexpected.” Contributing to subpar creativity are jocks who struggle being focused on and connected to their communities. “When personalities are tracking three other stations while they are on the air live, creativity is reduced,” Brophey says. “People want to be entertained, and their connection to personalities and radio stations is directly proportional to how deeply they get their entertainment needs satisfied. It’s all about content and personality.” Former WYRK/Buffalo PD Wendy Lynn agrees, and is using her time out of the daily grind to refresh her perspective – especially when it comes to on-air talent. Listening to other formats and other markets has her excited. “I was listening to a Pop station in a smaller market and heard this young kid who wasn’t very polished,” she says. “Most PDs or a consultant might have thought he talked too long or too much, but that’s (continued on page 6)

Fri-nally: Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean (c) with WSIX/ Nashville’s Gator Harrison and wife Tennille at the Nashville stop of the High Noon Neon Tour Friday (9/7).

Creative Thinking Churns Profits

An ad campaign from Land O’ Lakes points to a new way the creative community is seeking more and butter (sorry, had to) avenues for music, artists and songwriters. Warner/ Chappell Mgr./Creative & Synchronization Katie Jelen helped facilitate the “She-I-O” effort that found the brand and an ad agency working with recording artist Maggie Rose and songwriter Liz Rose (no relation). “The idea originated with The Martin Agency, a female-fronted, Virginia-based advertising agency for Land O’Lakes,” explains Katie Jelen Jelen. “This particular idea is part of a larger All Together Better campaign meant to raise awareness and celebrate female farmers around Women’s Equality Day (8/26).” Maggie points out the company recently named their first female CEO. “They approached me about rewriting the children’s classic ‘Old MacDonald’ with a modern message, and they also engaged the super talented Liz as my collaborator. We thought

© 2 0 1 8 Co u n t r y A i rc h e c k ™ — A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . S i g n u p f re e a t w w w. c o u n t r y a i rc h e c k . c o m . S e n d n e w s t o n e w s @ c o u n t r y a i r c h e c k . c o m

September 10, 2018

Maggie and Liz

about challenges women face in male-dominated industries, like our own music industry in Nashville, and wanted to celebrate the unsung heroes with an update that is fun and anthemic.” Critically, the effort presents an additional revenue stream, as well as access to new and diverse audiences. Known as “synch” licensing, working with ad agencies and film or TV is Jelen’s focus and she may be the first Nashville-based executive with synch as a sole mandate. “Unlike other areas of the music business, synch licensing fees are not predetermined and are negotiated by all of the parties involved,” Jelen says. “In this case, Warner/Chappell represented Liz and Starstruck represented Maggie’s interests along with her publishers Rx and SeaGayle. Aside from the financial benefits of synch deals, landing a commercial or film/TV placement can help an artist reach an incredible amount of people very quickly. I’ve watched artists tour for years, slowly building a fan base, then one synch changes the game for them overnight.” For Rose the songwriter, the narrow focused messaging of advertising wasn’t a hindrance. “It’s nice to branch out of my comfort zone with an opportunity to use songwriting to inspire other women, especially when I’m so inspired by what they’re doing,” she says. “I’ve done several projects with brands behind them, and it’s always a fun challenge to bring my experiences to help tell a different type of story.” Nevertheless, aligning with a brand poses a unique set of risks, which is why Jelen classifies herself as part protector, part wrangler and part creative translator. “You never know what the end product is going to look like and, while you can take certain steps to protect yourself and your own personal brand, you’re still taking a leap,” she says. “With the ‘She-I-O’ campaign, it helped that both Liz and Maggie are incredibly focused and strong women who know what they want to say and how they want to say it – they’re not going to let anyone push them around or

Page 4

make them say or do something they don’t really believe in. It also helped that the campaign’s creative team brought on amazingly talented partners at every step along the way.”  Reaction to Land O’ Lakes’ campaign has been largely positive (Today, Fast Company), garnering press and attention from the music and advertising industry. That success should lead to butter collaboration in the future (last one, promise). “Let’s just say it’s a work in progress,” Jelen says. “I come from the synch licensing world originally, so it’s been an education process for both sides. The challenging aspect for country is its basis in storytelling, which can conflict with a brand’s message. I recently pitched Thomas Rhett’s ‘Anthem’ for an Old Navy commercial, and it was the first time the brand used a mainstream country song in a campaign. The spot turned out beautifully and helped show the reach country can have.” For an artist like Maggie Rose, the ‘She-I-O’ campaign is a means to an end. “In a world where creative people are consistently not getting fairly compensated for their work, I was able to work with [a company whose] goals and intentions aligned with mine,” she says. “I’m a self-funded artist who saw a business opportunity that allows me to continue enjoying the privilege of making music for a living. I have many albums to make and shows to play, after all. Besides, this was an awesome experience! I met wonderful people and learned a lot along the way. If another opportunity comes along that doesn’t meet those requirements, I’ll pass, but I’m glad I accepted this challenge.” –Caitlin DeForest

Chart Chat

Congrats to Luke Bryan, Royce Risser, Bobby Young, David Friedman and the Capitol promotion staff on notching this week’s No. 1 with “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.” The song is the third consecutive chart-topper from What Makes You Country. Songwriters are Zach Crowell, Ryan Hurd and Chase McGill. And kudos to Lee Adams and the Broken Bow crew for notching 39 adds on Jason Aldean’s “Girl Like You,” topping this week’s board.

Luke Bryan

News & Notes

Nash Nights Live’s Elaina Smith and singer/songwriter Jewel will participate in The Podcast Boom session Sept. 26 at the

September 10, 2018

OFF THE RECORD: Cassadee Pope Cassadee Pope puts an industry spin on the artist interview: I grew up listening to WIRK/West Palm Beach. It was a dream come true to hear myself on that station for the first time. I heard myself for the first time on the radio in Phoenix in 2013 after I released “Wasting All These Tears.” It was insanely surreal. I got lucky too, because I Cassadee Pope was in the middle of filming a CMT docuseries, so that special moment was documented. My favorite radio tour memory was when I played the Mall of America. I had no idea I would have such a huge crowd. Everything happened so fast after The Voice that I never got a moment to soak it all up. That was one of the first times I got to do so. I love traveling with my bassist and music director, Pat McCarthy, and my tour manager, Don Muzquiz. They both have been with me since my first solo country tour in 2013, so we’ve gotten very close. I can’t be trusted in a truck stop, because I usually end up buying a candy bar. I love me some Butterfinger! I’d love to have dinner with Jim Carey. I find him incredibly fascinating. I’m sure I’d be laughing the entire time. I’d order lobster ravioli, because that’s my favorite dish ever. The album I’m working on is bold lyrically, sonically, visually – I didn’t hold back one bit. I covered a lot of different emotions and phases of what I’ve been through over the last year and a half. Life is messy, but can be transformative if you let it. The most redneck thing I’ve done lately is drink moonshine around a fire pit while listening to Tammy Wynette in Vandergrift, PA, where my family is from. I wish I’d written (Leonard Cohen’s) “Hallelujah.” That song is haunting in the best way. The lyrics are genius in how they follow the chord progression. And the melody is timeless. On the road, I have to have my phone and my iPad. I watch a ton of TV shows – it’s my favorite thing to do on a flight. My least favorite interview question is when people ask me what Blake (Shelton) is like. Because I know they know the answer already. He’s the best! I’d love to be stuck in Captiva, FL. It’s a beautiful island on the west coast with the best beaches and sunsets. They have fun, quirky restaurants and the people are always so nice.

Page 6

2018 Radio Show in Orlando. More here. Dierks Bentley will lead the Tribute To Ralph & Carter Stanley concert presented by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oct. 24 in the museum’s CMA Theater. Joining him are Dan Auerbach, the Gibson Brothers, Sierra Hull with Justin Moses, Ralph Stanley II and the Travelin’ McCourys. More here.

Guest Column: A View From The Beach

by Sue Wilson (continued from page 1) what I liked. He was so full of passion and energy!” Those sentiments certainly resonate with my own experience. Away from daily programming responsibilities for about three months, I didn’t listen to much radio at all the first several weeks. Certainly not to the stations I just left. A heavy diet of music – Spotify, Pandora and, in the car, SiriusXM, commenced. I also dove into the world of podcasts and now have several favorites I don’t want to miss. “The growth of podcasting is directly related to the dearth of talent in radio,” says Mike Brophey former radio exec Ed Hill, who admittedly isn’t on the beach. He now makes his living in podcasting. “When corporations stopped compensating talent, when they began failing to appreciate that talent is the lifeblood of radio – talent, not music – radio began its descent.” The medium offers a “wealth of creative content from interesting, intelligent and compelling personalities,” Hill says. And I agree. The art of storytelling and emphasis on content is alive and well in podcasting. Elsewhere, too, perhaps. Also not on the beach, but removed from daily radio is 20year programming vet Don Gosselin, now on the label side at Valory. Stepping away from radio “made it clear to me how many choices listeners have,” says Gosselin, who got SiriusXM with a new car. Howard Stern became a regular listen. “He is so ridiculously talented and absolutely, positively the best interviewer I have ever heard,” Gosselin says. “Anytime I am listening to a great local radio music station, and they roll into a seven-plus minute break, I think, ‘I wonder what Howard is up to?’ Sometimes I go back to the music station, sometimes I don’t.” Which brings us back to my batch of liners. When I began tuning back into music stations in any format, I was bothered by a number of things, but what really bothered me was that I had been guilty of them. The most glaring? Music quantity imaging. When I hear a station

September 10, 2018

Page 8

Board AF: Atlantic/ WEA’s Michael Ray performs for CRB board, staff and Agenda Committee members Friday (9/7) in Nashville.

promoting songs-in-a-row or long music sweeps, it is now completely irrelevant to me. I’m not in the car long enough to get through more than a handful of songs. Further, no radio station can possibly compete with the non-stop music I have at my fingertips with DSPs. Worse, there’s a steep price to pay when the music ends – lots and lots of commercials. Former WQNU/Louisville PD Shane Collins has also done the invaluable disconnect. “Maybe I just needed a break after 29 years, but I find myself listening less to music formats and more to Talk,” he says. Things that bug him? “Not surprisingly, it’s what we’ve been hearing from listeners for years – no artist and title announced on new music, an imaging piece that features one artist but leads into a different artist’s song, and live breaks with no real meaning or purpose.” Is it possible years of post-consolidation, heavy debt-load radio have reduced too many of us into settling for mediocre? Collins: “I hate to say it, but I hear zero buzz about anything radio-related. No excitement about a promotion, talent, artist, or station. That’s not to suggest there isn’t good radio and talent, but it just doesn’t seem to matter to anyone like it used to. Cutting through the clutter is the biggest challenge.” Good radio is still out there. “When I hear a great blend of music, power

Wendy Lynn

Ed Hill

Don Gosselin

recurrents, brand new music from brand new artists, along with an awesome gold song I haven’t heard in a while, I just love it,” Gosselin says. “I also love finding a local personality talking about local activities.” “We tend to over think and focus so much on the details we don’t see the big picture,” Lynn says. “We get stuck in the way we’ve always done things.” Shane Collins A tangible way Brophey would change his programming approach – time management. “One of the biggest challenges is completing everything that needs to get done without every day being 14-hours,” he says. “Even if the will is there, fatigue catches up and it becomes self-defeating. Personal downtime is more beneficial than we realize.“ And that may be the best way for any radio professional to view their time “on the beach.” Mine has reminded me people listen for different reasons. Maybe it’s time our focus shifts to what makes radio unique beyond the music. Maybe we need personalities who can tell the stories behind the songs as well as their own stories in a way that makes us laugh, cry or learn something. And that just might require more talk, not less. Reach Brophey here, Lynn here, Gosselin here, Hill here and Collins here. –Sue Wilson

Lon Helton, lon@countryaircheck.com Chuck Aly, chuck@countryaircheck.com Wendy Newcomer, wendy@countryaircheck.com (615) 320-1450

September 10, 2018

AVAILABLE JOBS

SEEK & EMPLOY

Here’s a list of job seekers and open gigs. Not listed? Send info here and we’ll include you in a future update. MIDWEST

Marshalltown Broadcasting KXIA/ Marshalltown, IA is searching for a morning co-host. Airchecks and résumés to PD JD Justice here. Cumulus WNNF (Nash FM)/Cincinnati is searching for a middayer who would also be the local producer for Ty, Kelly & Chuck. Apply here; PD/ APD Chris Clare is also accepting materials here. Entercom KMNB/Minneapolis has an opening in middays. Five years on-air experience in a medium or large market and strong production skills are required. Apply here. Townsquare/Grand Rapids, MI is searching for an OM. Airchecks and résumés to Rick Sarata here. Townsquare WXXQ/Rockford, IL has an opening for a Dir./Production/afternoon drive personality. Materials to OM/Brand Mgr. «Sweet Lenny» Barber here. Midwest Communications/Evansville, IN is seeking an OM for the four-station cluster, which includes Classic Country WLFW. Airchecks and résumés to VP/MM Tim Huelsing here. Mid-West Family WRTB/Rockford, IL is seeking a morning show co-host. Send airchecks and résumés to PD/morning host Steve Summers here. Rubber City WQMX/Akron has an opening for an OM and PD. Materials here. Bliss WJVL/Janesville, WI has an opening for a part-time weekender. At least one year on-air experience is required. Airchecks and résumés to PD Justin Brown here. Scripps continues its search for a WKTI/ Milwaukee morning personality. At least two years on-air experience is required. Apply here. KSE Radio Ventures/Denver is searching for an engineer. Apply here. Midwest KVOX/Fargo has an unspecified onair opening. Send airchecks and résumés here.

NORTHEAST

Adirondack WFFG/Glens Falls, NY has an opening for a morning host. Airchecks and résumés to PD Chris O’Neil here. iHeartMedia/Washington-Baltimore has an opening for a Marketing Dir., which includes responsibilities for 10 stations in the region including Country WMZQ. Materials to Regional SVP/Programming Jeff Kapugi here. Townsquare WYRK/Buffalo is searching for a Brand Mgr. Resumes and demo to OM Bob Richards here. iHeartMedia/Washington-Baltimore has an opening for a Digital PD. Materials to

Regional SVP/Programming Jeff Kapugi here. Seven Mountains WNBT/Mansfield, PA has an opening for an afternoon personality. Airchecks and résumés to VP/Programming JC Burton here. Binnie/Portland, ME has an opening for an on-air Promotions Asssistant. The cluster includes Country WTHT. Send airchecks and résumés to OM Stan Bennett here. Binnie Media/Maine is searching for a Dir./ Traffic and a part-time Sales Assistant in Portland, for its stations which include Country WTHT and WBQQ. Send materials here.

Strategist/Integrated Marketing & Sales position. See more here; cover letter and résumé here. Dick WRNS/Greenville, NC is looking for a morning host. Send airchecks and résumés here. Vallie Richards Donovan Consulting has an immediate PM drive opening at a legendary east coast Country station. Send airchecks and résumés to “Country Jobs” here. Entercom WKIS/Miami is searching for an evening host. Apply here. Summit WQNU/Louisville is looking for an APD/MD/on-air host. Submit materials here.

SOUTHEAST

LCKM KTFW/Dallas has an unspecified fulltime on-air opening for an experienced talent. Contact PD Mike Crow here. Ranch Radio Group KFXE/Ingram, TX has an opening for a PD/morning host. Airchecks and résumés here. Owens One KRJK/Bakersfield is searching for a MD/afternooner. Materials to PD Brent Michaels here. Noalmark KBIM/Roswell, NM has an opening for a morning host. Materials to GM Darryl Burkfield here. Entercom KILT/Houston has immediate openings for part-timers. Only applicants living in the Houston area are being considered at present. Send airchecks here; apply here. Cumulus KLUR/Wichita Falls, TX has an opening for a PD. Materials to VP/ Country Charlie Cook here. Riverbend KTHK/Idaho Falls, ID has an opening for an afternoon personality. Airchecks and résumés here. Scripps KVOO/Tulsa has an opening for an APD/on-air personality. Apply here.

Warner Bros. Nashville is searching for a Mgr./Streaming. Materials to VP/Streaming Tim Foisset here. Ocala WOGK/Gainesville, FL has an opening for an evening personality. Must be proficient in AudioVault, VoxPro and Adobe Audition. Airchecks and résumés to PD Mr. Bob here. iHeartMedia WKKT/Charlotte is searching for a morning co-host. Airchecks and résumés to Region SVP/Programming Meg Stevens here. Average Joes Entertainment is seeking entry/intermediate level graphic design and video production applicants for full-time employment. More info here; submit résumé and portfolio here. Cumulus WKDF/Nashville is seeking parttime air talent for weekends and fill-ins. Three years of on-air experience and residing in the Nashville area are required. Airchecks and résumés to PD John Shomby here. Entercom WKIS/Miami is searching for a morning host Apply here. Monticello Media has an opening for middays on WCYK/Charlottesville, VA as well as afternoons on WZGN and the cluster’s production point person. Airchecks and résumés to PD Uncle Pauly here. Curtis WQDR/Raleigh is searching for a Dir./Promotions. Apply here. Bristol WXBQ/Johnson City, TN is still searching for a PD to succeed Bill Hagy. The right candidate will also have on-air responsibilities. A minimum of five years as a Country PD is required. Airchecks and resumes here. Big Loud is seeking a National Dir./ Promotion. Send résumés and portfolios here. iHeartMedia/Nashville’s WSIX and WSIX-HD2 & W252CM has an opening for a Dir./Promotions. Apply here. Entercom WPAW/Greensboro, NC has a newly created opening for a morning co-host. At least three years on-air experience is required. Apply here. CMA is seeking applicants for a newly created

SOUTHWEST

WEST COAST

ACM Lifting Lives is searching for an Executive Director. The position will be based in Encino, CA, and successful nonprofit development experience is required. Apply here. Redwood Empire KBBL/Santa Rosa, CA has an opening for a morning host. Materials to VP/ Programming Brent Farris here. Entercom KWJJ/Portland is adding an on-air personality to its Mike & Amy In The Morning show. Apply here. iHeartMedia KNIX/Phoenix has an opening for a PD. Apply here.

OTHER

Consultant Joel Raab has two client stations looking for a PD and an APD/MD in two different Top 100 markets. Send materials here.

SEARCHING

•James Anthony Former KRMD/Shreveport PD/on-air afternoondj@gmail.com 816-232-7915 •Rosey Fitchpatrick Promotion/Marketing industry vet (MCA, Decca, Indie promo, WME) roseyfitch99@gmail.com 615-944-7033 •Tommy & Joe Johnson Former KUBL/Salt Lake City morning co-hosts tommyjohnsonmail@gmail.com

•Pam Russell Former UMG/Nashville VP/National Sales Pamwrussell@icloud.com •Shane Collins Former Summit Media/Louisville OM ShaneC1234@gmail.com •Natalie Kilgore Former SouthComm VP/Marketing NatalieKilgore@outlook.com •Ron “Keyes” Stevens Former KEKB/Grand Junction, CO morning host ronstvns@yahoo.com

WUBL

September 10, 2018

Page 10

August 2018 PPM Scoreboard Country radio shares were down 1.9% compared to last month. Of the 87 stations listed, 31 increased, 45 decreased and 11 were flat. The cume leader was Mt. Wilson’s KKGO/Los Angeles with 1,089,700. Cumulus’ KPLX/Dallas was second with 1,080,800.

Jul 6+ Share

Station/City WKHX/Atlanta WUBL/Atlanta KASE/Austin^ KVET/Austin^ KOKE/Austin WPOC/Baltimore WKLB/Boston WBWL/Boston WCTK/Providence (Boston) WKKT/Charlotte WSOC/Charlotte WEBG/Chicago WUSN/Chicago WNKN/Cincinnati WNKR/Cincinnati WNNF/Cincinnati WUBE/Cincinnati^ WGAR/Cleveland WCOL/Columbus, OH KPLX/Dallas^ KSCS/Dallas^ KWOF/Denver KWBL/Denver KYGO/Denver WDRQ/Detroit WYCD/Detroit WPAW/Greensboro WTQR/Greensboro WWYZ/Hartford KILT/Houston KKBQ/Houston^ KTHT/Houston^+ WFMS/Indianapolis WLHK/Indianapolis WGNE/Jacksonville 500 WQIK/Jacksonville KBEQ/Kansas City^ KFKF/Kansas City^ WDAF/Kansas City KCYE/Las Vegas KWNR/Las Vegas KKGO/Los Angeles WGKX/Memphis

381.0

3.9 4 5.1 5.6 0.8 6.8 4.5 2.4 1.3 6.2 6.9 1.7 3.9 1.8 0.8 1.7 8.1 7.4 16.3 4.1 5.2 1.2 2.5 5.6 2.3 5.5 5.6 6.9 7.1 4.5 5.2 2 7.7 6.6 4.8 7.1 5.8 6.5 4.6 4 4.1 2.3 4.5

Rank

Aug 6+ Share

Rank

Jul Cume

Aug Cume

12t 3.3 14t 598,600 549,400 10t 3.8 11 572,700 553,000 6 5.5 4 303,700 336,800 4 4.7 8t 335,700 296,500 23 1 21t 74,700 85,500 3 6.2 3 431,800 419,600 7 4.3 8 678,600 725,300 13t 2.3 5 483,600 436,900 23 1.2 23 191,400 148,299 4 6.2 3t 468,800 463,200 2t 7.5 2 443,800 509,800 21t 1.8 22 750,300 784,100 7t 3.3 10t 1,063,200 1,022,400 15 1.5 16 141,800 127,900 20t 1.2 19 57,800 47,600 16 1.9 15 177,800 168,100 3t 7.9 3t 445,000 426,000 3 8.1 3 393,900 392,400 1 15.1 1 516,600 556,600 6 4.1 6 1,077,500 1,080,800 2 4.3 3t 841,000 876,600 24 1.3 23t 187,000 191,700 16t 2.3 8 289,000 278,900 3 6.2 3 459,900 459,700 17 2.3 17 476,700 415,400 4t 5.8 4t 734,700 817,100 7 5.6 7 231,300 225,400 5 7.3 3 255,200 245,600 5 6.4 6 197,800 179,100 10 3.9 10 997,400 992,000 5 5.3 5 1,030,600 1,043,800 2 2.3 1 440,300 489,300 2 7 3 359,200 349,700 4t 6.6 5 333,300 323,600 7 4.6 7 234,900 231,000 4 6.8 4 264,100 258,700 5 5 6 348,600 322,900 4 6.2 4 349,600 348,100 8t 4.6 8t 293,500 303,600 8 3.5 11 215,800 210,600 7 4.3 8 269,700 246,400 19 2.4 19t 1,052,500 1,089,700 7 5.2 7 157,400 143,400

395.3 391.8

384.5

400

Legend: A “+” indicates a Classic Country outlet; a “^” designates coowned Country stations in the metro; “t” indicates a tie; and a “*” indicates a station best in that statistic. Ranks are among subscribers.

Jul 6+ Share

Station/City

WLFP/Memphis 1.6 WKIS/Miami 2.7 WNSH/New York (Middlesex) 3.7 WKTI/Milwaukee 4.2 WMIL/Milwaukee 5.6 KEEY/Minneapolis 5.6 KMNB/Minneapolis 4.2 WKDF/Nashville^ 3.8 WSIX/Nashville 5.2 WSM-FM/Nashville^ 6.2 WNSH/New York (Nassau) 2.4 WNSH/New York 2.4 WOTW/Orlando 0.8 WWKA/Orlando 5.6 KMLE/Phoenix 3.8 KNIX/Phoenix 5.6 WXTU/Philadelphia 5.8 WDSY/Pittsburgh 4.7 WPGB/Pittsburgh 3.7 KWJJ/Portland 4.6 KUPL/Portland 3.9 WCTK/Providence 10.1 WNCB/Raleigh 3.2 WQDR/Raleigh 7.2 KFRG/Riverside 4.9 KBEB/Sacramento 3.4 KNCI/Sacramento 5.1 KNTY/Sacramento 2.1 KEGA/Salt Lake City 1.7 KSOP/Salt Lake City ^ 3.4 KUBL/Salt Lake City 5.9 KAJA/San Antonio 5.5 KCYY/San Antonio^ 5.9 KKYX-AM/San Antonio^+ 2 KSON/San Diego 5.9 KRTY/San Jose 5.1 KKWF/Seattle 3.9 KNUC/Seattle 3 KSD/St. Louis 4.2 WIL/St. Louis 5.5 WFUS/Tampa 5.2 WQYK/Tampa 6.5 WMZQ/Washington 2.9 WIRK/West Palm Beach 3.9

Rank

Aug 6+ Share

13t 16t 12t 11 5t 6 10t 10 7 6 13t 18t 22t 7 9 3t 5 8 11t 7t 11 1 13 4 3t 12 4 17 22 12 3t 3 2 20 2t 6 10 14t 11 8 6 2 16 6

390.5 382.2 380.8 368.1

375.3

Rank

Jul Cume

Aug Cume

1.8 13 94,300 86,500 2.7 16 422,000 384,100 3.8 8 190,500 175,300 3.8 11t 264,000 272,100 5.3 7 326,400 300,500 6 4 636,900 649,700 4 11 532,700 545,400 3.6 11t 248,100 247,800 4.3 9 304,800 274,100 6.6 5 279,200 286,900 2.2 17t 172,900 168,400 2.4 17 1,117,500 1,044,800 1 18t 111,700 111,400 6.1 6t 263,500 264,800 4.2 9 575,300 624,200 5.7 4 686,300 695,700 5.3 7 774,300 737,700 4.9 7 353,400 343,000 4.2 9 259,500 275,000 3.9 1 343,600 334,800 2.9 16 299,000 279,200 7.9 4 345,800 335,300 3.3 12 193,800 207,800 6.9 1 299,400 295,300 4.4 3 327,300 307,600 2.3 13t 217,400 220,700 4.4 6t 337,000 320,900 2.1 17 218,100 203,900 1.8 21 150,900 146,100 3.5 11t 246,800 258,700 5.7 3 333,300 330,300 5.6 3 527,700 524,800 6.8 2 612,100 622,400 1.9 20t 136,400 140,800 5.6 4 433,200 410,000 6.1 5 167,700 176,000 4 8t 521,000 480,300 3.6 13 464,600 445,300 3.4 15 453,100 489,000 6.1 1 509,300 534,400 5 6 504,300 494,500 6.3 3 425,400 451,900 2.9 14t 517,800 488,700 5.1 4 149,600 165,000

396.1 398.3

389.5

379.9

356.9

323.9

Format-Wide PPM Ratings Aggregate share for Nielsen Audio subscribing stations month to month.

300

Aug '16 Aug

Sep

Oct

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Dec

Hol

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Feb

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Apr

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September 10, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

LUKE BRYAN

Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

✔

28979

1748

8954

537

56.044 2.839

158

OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

25834

1661

7984

501

50.005 3.659

158

THOMAS RHETT/Life Changes (Valory)

24542

-3965

7737

-1137

48.872 -5.286

158

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb) ✔

23947

1688

7297

464

44.712 3.472

157

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers) ✔

22086

1784

6798

486

41.237 3.988

158

JASON ALDEAN f/M. LAMBERT/Drowns The Whiskey (Broken Bow) 22027

-2810

6890

-738

43.584 -4.834

158

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Simple (BMLGR)

21723

749

6825

260

40.035 0.248

157

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN) ✔

17701

1854

5437

584

2.736

156

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA)

15975

1319

4799

395

30.966 3.509

153

CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl (Warner Bros./WAR)

15870

758

4947

172

29.451 1.644

156

GARTH BROOKS/All Day Long (Pearl)

13763

341

4319

103

26.331 0.773

158

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

13610

1100

4169

362

24.418 2.112

152

LUKE COMBS/She Got The Best Of Me (River House/Columbia) ✔ 13485

1691

4029

496

25.339 4.133

156

ERIC CHURCH/Desperate Man (EMI Nashville)

13437

154

4261

0.825

157

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

13020

662

4079

196

22.436 1.198

158

KANE BROWN/Lose It (RCA)

12133

558

3751

163

22.024 1.086

156

SUGARLAND f/T. SWIFT/Babe (UMGN/Big Machine)

11899

383

3734

124

21.262 0.557

156

MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me (Riser House/Columbia)

11850

430

3630

127

22.193 1.326

154

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

11594

414

3528

119

19.432 0.511

158

JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek)

9926

584

3098

180

18.145 1.468

151

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

9364

1250

2934

364

15.031 1.622

151

BLAKE SHELTON/Turnin' Me On (Warner Bros./WMN)

8882

1083

2525

265

15.908

141

DIERKS BENTLEY f/BROS. OSBORNE/Burning Man (Capitol)

8014

779

2441

258

14.163 1.948

143

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)

7669

672

2408

185

11.568 1.328

151

MIDLAND/Burn Out (Big Machine)

7503

653

2123

207

12.561 1.218

151

Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset (Capitol)

33.3

25.34

2.23

Chart Page 1

September 10, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire (Mercury)

5911

497

1777

105

9.537

1.093

143

JORDAN DAVIS/Take It From Me (MCA)

5668

522

1778

172

7.429

0.592

139

RILEY GREEN/There Was This Girl (BMLGR)

5335

775

1497

187

7.862

1.096

124

DUSTIN LYNCH/Good Girl (Broken Bow)

5325

495

1504

113

7.776

1.206

130

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cry Pretty (Capitol)

4827

-2446

1513

-854

9.733 -4.727

158

TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory)

4340

1355

5.097

0.257

123

DAN + SHAY/Speechless (Warner Bros./WAR)

4132

896

1209

262

7.93

1.249

104

TRAVIS DENNING/David Ashley Parker From... (Mercury)

3867

1259

6.902

0.073

123

SCOTTY MCCREERY/This Is It (Triple Tigers)

3701

417

1191

130

4.622

0.631

120

CRAIG CAMPBELL/See You Try (Red Bow)

3531

1211

4.347

0.169

115

JAKE OWEN/Down To The Honkytonk (Big Loud)

3456

514

1109

192

4.609

1.114

107

GRANGER SMITH/You're In It (Wheelhouse)

3207

239

1008

3.779

0.724

102

AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses (Big Label)

3157

286

948

4.266

0.392

MICHAEL RAY/One That Got Away (Atlantic/WEA)

3054

851

935

217

4.103

1.742

RODNEY ATKINS/Caught Up In The Country (Curb)

2785

890

3.219

0.085

K. CHESNEY f/M. SMITH/Better... (Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA)

2728

966

812

281

3.766

1.302

JON PARDI/Night Shift (Capitol)

2642

762

4.026

0.075

BRETT ELDREDGE/Love Someone (Atlantic/WMN)

2633

124

762

3.358

0.251

ELI YOUNG BAND/Love Ain't (Valory)

2468

685

3.023

0.324

D. BRADBERY & T. RHETT/Goodbye Summer (Valory/BMLGR)

2427

367

834

124

2.833

0.61

CARLTON ANDERSON/Drop Everything (Arista)

2217

656

CODY JOHNSON/On My Way To You (CoJo/WMN)

2204

188

501

4.01

0.225

BRANDON LAY/Yada Yada Yada (EMI Nashville)

2129

655

1.936

0.219

CHASE RICE/Eyes On You (Broken Bow)

2121

515

580

137

2.504

0.385

D. RUCKER f/ALDEAN/BRYAN/KELLEY/Straight To Hell (Capitol) 2109

170

650

3.131

0.098

Debut 49 50

1.803 -0.102

Chart Page 3

September 10, 2018 Country Aircheck Add Leaders

Activator Top Point Gainers

Adds

JASON ALDEAN/Girl Like You (Broken Bow)

KEITH URBAN/Never Comin Down (Capitol)

840 ✔

CODY JOHNSON/On My Way To You (CoJo/WMN)

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (Capitol)

748 ✔

JON LANGSTON/When It Comes To Loving You (EMI Nashville)

LUKE COMBS/She Got The Best Of Me (River House/Columbia)

698 ✔

CHASE RICE/Eyes On You (Broken Bow)

MICHAEL RAY/One That Got Away (Atlantic/WEA)

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers)

648 ✔

SETH ENNIS f/LBT/Call Your Mama (Arista)

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

633 ✔

RILEY GREEN/There Was This Girl (BMLGR)

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

588

DIERKS BENTLEY f/BROS. OSBORNE/Burning Man (Capitol)

544

K. CHESNEY f/M. SMITH/Better... (Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA)

487

DAN + SHAY/Speechless (Warner Bros./WAR)

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

466

LOCASH/Feels Like A Party (Wheelhouse)

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)

459

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers

Activator Top Spin Gainers

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

1854

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers)

1784

LUKE BRYAN/Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset (Capitol)

1748

LUKE COMBS/She Got The Best Of Me (River House/Columbia)

1691

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

1688

OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

1661

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA)

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

LUKE COMBS/She Got The Best Of Me (River House/Columbia)

176

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (Capitol)

174

KEITH URBAN/Never Comin Down (Capitol)

162

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

139

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

130

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers)

129

1319

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

128

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

1250

DIERKS BENTLEY f/BROS. OSBORNE/Burning Man (Capitol)

123

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

1100

RILEY GREEN/There Was This Girl (BMLGR)

123

BLAKE SHELTON/Turnin' Me On (Warner Bros./WMN)

1083

MICHAEL RAY/One That Got Away (Atlantic/WEA)

122

Country Aircheck Top Spin Gainers

Country Aircheck Top Recurrents

Points

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

584

KENNY CHESNEY/Get Along (Blue Chair/Warner Bros//WEA)

16176

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers)

486

DAN + SHAY/Tequila (Warner Bros./WAR)

15995

LUKE BRYAN/Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset (Capitol)

537

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

14192

LUKE COMBS/She Got The Best Of Me (River House/Columbia)

496

LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia)

13291

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

464

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

12257

OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

501

MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA)

9624

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA)

395

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

9469

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

364

SAM HUNT/Body Like A Back Road (MCA)

8966

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

362

D. L. MURPHY/K. CHESNEY/Everything's... (Reviver/Blue Chair)

8409

BLAKE SHELTON/Turnin' Me On (Warner Bros./WMN)

265

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR)

8224

Chart Page 4

September 10, 2018

COUNTRY AIRCHECK ACTIVITY D. BRADBERY & T. RHETT/Goodbye Summer (Valory/BMLGR) Moves 47-45* 2,427 points, 834 spins 5 adds: KCYE, WAMZ, WBUL, WJVC, WUSJ CARLTON ANDERSON/Drop Everything (Arista) Remains at 46* 2,217 points, 656 spins; No adds CODY JOHNSON/On My Way To You (Cojo/Warner Bros.) Moves 49-47* 2,204 points, 501 spins 28 adds including: KASE, KEEY, KHGE, KKIX, KKWF, KNIX, WRTY, KTTS, KUPL, KUZZ BRANDON LAY/Yada Yada Yada (EMI Nashville) Remains at 48* 2,129 points, 655 spins 2 adds: WDRQ*, WSLC CHASE RICE/Eyes On You (Broken Bow) Debuts at 49* 2,121 points, 580 spins 17 adds including: KATC*, KATM*, KHEY, KHKI*, KIIM*, KIZN*, KPLX*, KRST*, WCTO*, WFMS*

A D D DAT E S September 17 LINDSAY ELL/Champagne (Stoney Creek)

September 24

TENILLE TOWNES/Somebody’s Daughter (Columbia) MORGAN EVANS/Day Drunk (Warner Bros./WEA) BRETT YOUNG/ Here Tonight (BMLGR)

October 1

SUNDANCE HEAD/Leave Her Wild (DD Wildcatter) THOMAS RHETT/Sixteen (Valory) Send yours to adds@countryaircheck.com

CHECK OUT 9/14

Carrie Underwood Cry Pretty (Capitol) Underwood co-produced her sixth studio album alongside David Garcia. She co-wrote nine songs, including the title track and lead single, co-written with Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose (The Love Junkies), and the bonus track featuring Ludacris, “The Champion,” which opened NBC’s Super Bowl LII and was used during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games coverage. Willie Nelson My Way (Legacy/Sony) Produced by Buddy Cannon and Matt Rollings, Nelson’s 12th studio album covers 11 songs from the Great American Songbook made famous by Frank Sinatra, including the title track, “Summer Wind,” “It Was A Very Good Year,” “I’ll Be Around,” “Fly Me To The Moon” and “What Is This Thing Called Love,” a duet with Norah Jones. Bill Anderson Anderson (TWI/Sony Orchard) The Country Music Hall of Famer’s 72nd album was co-produced by Anderson, Thomm Jutz and Peter Cooper and features 11 songs written or co-written by Anderson, including the lead single “Everybody Wants To Be Twenty-One,” a duet with Jamey Johnson. David Nail & The Well Ravens Only This and Nothing More (One Five Sound) The debut album from the group (Nail, multiinstrumentalist Andrew Petroff and producer Jason Hall) and Nail’s first independent release features seven songs, including the single “Heavy,” “The Gun” and “Cheatin’ On Me.” September 21 Tyler Rich Self-Titled (Valory) Thomas Rhett Life Changes Deluxe (Valory) Mandy Barnett Strange Conversation (Dame Productions/ Thirty Tigers)

Chart Page 5

September 10, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

LUKE BRYAN

Points

+/- Points

Plays

12527

-175

2726

+/- Plays Stations ADDS

OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

11661

130

2520

THOMAS RHETT/Life Changes (Valory)

10974

-1320

2372

-268

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Simple (BMLGR)

10361

151

2250

Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset (Capitol)

2nd Week at No. 1

-3

JASON ALDEAN f/M. LAMBERT/Drowns The Whiskey (Broken Bow)

9719

-2117

2155

-451

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

9317

362

2045

122

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers) ✔

9176

648

1990

129

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN) ✔

7710

633

1633

130

GARTH BROOKS/All Day Long (Pearl)

7328

376

1543

10 10

ERIC CHURCH/Desperate Man (EMI Nashville)

7305

408

1528

11 11

CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl (Warner Bros./WAR)

7235

382

1585

12 12

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (Capitol) ✔

7092

748

1522

174

13 13

KANE BROWN/Lose It (RCA)

6265

441

1312

15 14

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

6224

588

1363

139

14 15

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

6034

226

1312

18 16

MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me (Riser House/Columbia)

5651

252

1189

20 17

LUKE COMBS/She Got The Best Of Me (River House/Columbia) ✔

5569

698

1224

176

16 18

SUGARLAND f/T. SWIFT/Babe (UMGN/Big Machine)

5479

1165

19 19

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

5174

299

1142

21 20

DIERKS BENTLEY f/BROS. OSBORNE/Burning Man (Capitol)

4305

544

811

123

22 21

BLAKE SHELTON/Turnin' Me On (Warner Bros./WMN)

3898

190

813

23 22

JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek)

3851

350

865

106

24 23

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

3624

466

792

128

25 24

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)

3583

459

768

101

27 25

JAKE OWEN/Down To The Honkytonk (Big Loud)

2679

342

517

26 26

MIDLAND/Burn Out (Big Machine)

2677

336

543

28 27

JORDAN DAVIS/Take It From Me (MCA)

2593

274

507

30 28

CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire (Mercury)

2211

262

453

29 29

AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses (Big Label)

2106

452

31 30

DUSTIN LYNCH/Good Girl (Broken Bow)

1998

150

393

Chart Page 6

September 10, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Points +/- Points

Plays

+/- Plays

32 31

KENNY CHESNEY f/M. SMITH/Better Boat (Blue Chair/Warner Bros./WEA)

1842

487

355

103

Stations Adds

40 32

KEITH URBAN/Never Comin Down (Capitol) ✔

1825

840

363

162

36 33

RILEY GREEN/There Was This Girl (BMLGR)

1647

456

337

123

37 34

DAN + SHAY/Speechless (Warner Bros./WAR)

1556

381

282

34 35

ELI YOUNG BAND/Love Ain't (Valory)

1367

103

206

33 36

D. BRADBERY & T. RHETT/Goodbye Summer (Valory/BMLGR)

1251

-58

248

-10

35 37

TRAVIS DENNING/David Ashley Parker From... (Mercury)

1169

-66

261

-15

41 38

BRETT ELDREDGE/Love Someone (Atlantic/WMN)

1147

210

163

46 39

MICHAEL RAY/One That Got Away (Atlantic/WEA)

1107

369

214

122

38 40

BRANDON LAY/Yada Yada Yada (EMI Nashville)

1100

-53

182

-6

39 41

TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory)

1079

-13

243

43 42

JON PARDI/Night Shift (Capitol)

952

135

182

48 43

SCOTTY MCCREERY/This Is It (Triple Tigers)

898

238

193

47 44

GRANGER SMITH/You're In It (Wheelhouse)

800

101

199

45 45

LUKE COMBS/Beautiful Crazy (River House/Columbia)

787

-23

-2

44 46

CRAIG CAMPBELL/See You Try (Red Bow)

782

-35

187

-6

42 47

DEVIN DAWSON/Asking For A Friend (Atlantic/WEA)

753

-127

102

-18

49 48

RODNEY ATKINS/Caught Up In The Country (Curb)

740

180

57 49

CODY JOHNSON/On My Way To You (CoJo Music/WMN)

702

230

139

55 50

COLE SWINDELL/Dad's Old Number (Warner Bros./WMN)

660

160

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sittin' Pretty (BMLGR)

620

242

52 52

BROTHERS OSBORNE/I Don't Remember Me (Before..) (EMI Nashville)

620

51 53

CASEY DONAHEW/That Got The Girl (Alm.Country/Thirty Tigers)

587

108

54 54

D.RUCKER f/ALDEAN/BRYAN/KELLEY/Straight To Hell (Capitol)

556

104

Debut 51

53 55

RANDY HOUSER f/H. LINDSEY/What Whiskey Does (Stoney Creek)

553

-20

-7

50 56

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine)

548

-42

-4

56 57

ROSS ELLIS/Ghosts (Big Deal Media)

490

RAELYNN/Tailgate (Warner Bros./WMN)

480

59 59

HUNTER HAYES/Dear God (Atlantic/WMN)

480

Debut 60

JASON ALDEAN/Girl Like You (Broken Bow)

462

312

Debut 58

Chart Page 7