November 27, 2017, Issue 578
Dear Diary: Summer Loving
Sure, blood levels of tryptophan are still twice the legal limit, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for a look back at Summer Diary Ratings from Nielsen. Country Aircheck asked stations that topped the charts in their markets to share how they snared the most shares. Let the No.1 parade begin…. • Townsquare WGNA/Albany PD/afternoon host Matty Jeff says “Cool experiential artist promotions” keyed their market win. “Along with several local concert ticket giveaways and meet and greets, we gave away trips to see Luke Bryan in Austin, Zac Brown Band in Ft. Lauderdale and more with ‘here and there’ promotions,” says Jeff. The station also sponsors CountryFest, which will celebrate 25 years in 2018. “It’s at the fairgrounds, a huge stage in a field that has a massive tailgating tradition and 15,000 listeners,” Jeff reports. Aggregated, the station’s efforts during Matty Jeff the book led to increases in every daypart. “Our new morning show debuted No. 1 25-54,” says Jeff. “And Brian & Christy’s momentum led to recycling listeners in all the departs.” ‘GNA also topped every female demo. “And we were five shares above the No. 2 station in women 25-54,” shares Jeff. • In the northern part of the state, Entercom WBEE/Rochester OM Bob Barnett says a musical change led their success. “In the top-of-mind game, it’s how your brand is perceived,” says Barnett. “At the end of Winter we reformulated and chose not to chase the ‘hot and new’ angle. We lowered the number of currents and their exposure, upping the recurrent hit ratio.” His goal was to pull 25-54 listeners back in, but he was surprised with the results. “It actually increased our 18-34 numbers in all dayparts,” Barnett says. Onstage, the Summer was bookended with the station’s Bob Barnett Stars & Guitars shows “and a ton of outdoor concerts” at CMAC Ampitheatre, Darien Lake to the West and Lakeview to the East. (continued on page 5)
My Girl(s): Arista’s Cam (l) and Born To Fly’s Sara Evans with Smokey Robinson at the 91st Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday (11/23)
One For The Brooks
“The problem with most anthologies is, artists wait until 50 years after they’re gone to do it. I don’t know how you enjoy it. And then it’s all a bunch of guesses. The cool thing about this is, all these guys who created [the music] are all right here, right now.” That’s Pearl’s Garth Brooks, telling Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton why he recently
Brooks’ first promo photo, 1988.
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