Issue 595 - April 2, 2018 by Country Aircheck

April 2, 2018, Issue 595

Boomer’s Excellent Adventure

Incoming Cumulus/Indianapolis OM and WFMS PD Christopher “Boomer” Layfield (Breaking News 3/20) counted 11 radio stops prior to this, his first in Country. He took a break from packing boxes last week to tell Country Aircheck about coming home to the format. CA: How’d you first get the radio bug? B: My family is from Brooklyn and I grew up in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s listening to [Top 40 WHTZ] Z100 – Scott Shannon, the Z Morning Zoo and the “worst to first” campaign. That’s what made me a Top 40 guy. My dad worked on Wall Street in finance and was part of a very small group of investors who had just enough money to get their hands on five or six radio stations in small markets across the Atlantic coast. Most of them were Country stations. For a couple of summers I remember driving around from market to market and visChristopher iting these stations. The magic these men and Layfield women created hooked me instantly. I was a shy kid, so the ability to perform behind the shield of a microphone was probably what drew me to the business. Any favorite memories of those visits? I have two. The first is, at some point we rode on The Oak Ridge Boys’ tour bus, right in their heyday. The other is getting to spend the night at Mel Tillis’ house, which had this huge hallway down the middle that reminded me and my brother of a bowling alley. He let us slide things down and pretend it actually was. Where does the travelogue start? I was a high school intern for News/Talk WABC-AM. Top 40 WPLJ was across the hall. The night jock on ‘PLJ, I think his name was Domino, actually helped with my first Top 40 aircheck. I’m sure it was terrible, but I wish I still had it. I had a mobile DJ service through high school and into college at St. Bonaventure. After my freshman year, I somehow convinced the dean to allow us to keep the radio station on during the summer, putting kids from the local vocational school on it as DJs. I guess that was my first program director job. (continued on page 6)

Don’t Stop Retrieving: Valory’s Brantley Gilbert (second from l) and wife Amber (l) present a veteran (c) with a new companion dog with help from the folks at Pedigree (r) during his The Ones That Like Me Tour.

Introducing Country AF Radio

What does radio sound like when ratings, corporate mandates, charts, transmitters and even the need to make money aren’t considerations? Look no further than Country AF Radio, says Las Vegas nightclub owner Chris Lowden. The Stoney’s Rockin’ Country principal, along with Marketing Dir./business partner Jeff “Toad” Higginbotham, launched the internet station March 1 Kris Daniels, Chris Lowden and as a vehicle to promote Jeff “Toad” Higginbotham emerging artists and, of

© 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 rc h e c k . c o m

April 2, 2018

MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE Big & Rich’s John Rich discusses his most influential music: 1. Johnny Cash: He’s the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. He said more with less than any writer ever did. I aspire to write with his efficiency of words and level of power in the delivery. 2. Roger Miller: He was the Robin Williams of country music. No one in our John Rich genre ever had a quicker wit, or a more crafty delivery than Roger. He’s the one guy I wish I could have met. 3. John Anderson: He’s the George Jones of my generation. No one has ever sounded like him. The songs he recorded are all classics – even the ones that weren’t on the radio. He’s pure country. 4. AC/DC: The guitar riffs and four-on-the-floor beats really appealed to me when I was younger, and I’ve used that influence in a lot of my songwriting: “Save A Horse,” “Hicktown,” “Johnny Cash,” “Comin’ To Your City,” and so on. 5. Johnny Horton: He was famous for writing and recording “American history”-type songs, like “The Battle Of New Orleans,” “Sink The Bismarck” and “North To Alaska.” I’ve written a few like that, and really admire what he stood for and how he felt about America. • Highly regarded music you’ve actually never heard: You may not have heard of Angie Aparo. But I love his singing so much, I’ve put it in my will for him to sing at my funeral, should he outlive me. He’s an alien of a singer. I’d suggest everyone go buy his records immediately. My favorite of his is called The American. • “Important” music you just don’t get: Death Metal. Anything that has no melody and hurts my head isn’t something I care to listen to. Seems like it would drive people crazy if they listened to it all the time. • An album you listened to incessantly: Roger Miller’s Dang Me. • Obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: John Anderson’s “Weeds.” This song is so deep in the lyric, you need three listens before you absorb it all. And there are very few lyrics in it. John is a genius songwriter. • Music you’d rather not admit to enjoying: ‘80s pop – Mister Mister, Toto, etc.

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course, Stoney’s. And for anyone doubting the seriousness of the project, last month the pair appointed former KCYE (102.7 The Coyote)/Las Vegas PD/morning host Kris Daniels to help lead it (CAT 2/26). Country Aircheck recently joined a conference call with the trio to find out what prompted the new offering and what they hope to accomplish. The Why: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country is a 19,000 square foot nightclub five miles from the Las Vegas Strip and well known not only to local country fans, but to the industry as well. A partner to the Academy of Country Music in the annual Party For A Cause events, SRC is intently focused on being a stop for upand-coming talent. Lowden and company say strengthening that position can be a challenge, especially given the parameters governing the market’s two Country stations – KCYE and iHeart’s KWNR. “We learned about the restraints that terrestrial radio stations are under fairly quickly,” Lowden says. “Everyone seems to have their hands tied when it comes to marketing emerging artists.” He argues that social media outlets have proven to be better advertising platforms for the club, and that local radio isn’t always interested in supporting unfamiliar artists. Complicating matters are the casinos, which spend a lot of money on radio and enjoy a cavalcade of top-tier country acts. “We get the short end of the stick,” Lowden says. “We generate 3,000 visits a week, but we’re still just a bar. Ultimately, Toad and I just decided to go our own way.” The What: Enter Country AF Radio. “Money is not the primary goal,” Lowden says of the station. “It’s to create a compelling product where people can hear great songs by emerging artists that they don’t typically hear on terrestrial radio, and to tie that in to what we’re already doing for [those acts] at Stoney’s.” Radio vet Daniels was an obvious choice to help lead the effort. “We worked together when I was still at The Coyote, so we already had a working relationship,” she says of Lowden and Higginbotham, who approached Daniels after her departure from KCYE (CAT 8/23). “As someone who’s been in terrestrial radio for 20 years, it’s kind of hard to wrap your head around how this works, but the reason I got into radio in the first place, and country specifically, is because I have a passion for the music and artists.”

April 2, 2018

OFF THE RECORD: Shane Owens Reviver/1608’s Shane Owens puts an industry spin on the artist interview: I grew up listening to WTVY/Dothan, AL. They played good traditional country music, and I remember the Grand Ole Opry was always playing on that station every Saturday night. The first time I heard myself on the radio, I was in my hometown of Samson, AL, Shane Owens driving down the road. Like any other artist, I was excited. It’s one of the coolest things to have a song on the radio, at any time. One of the funniest things that happened on radio tour was, I had a guitar picker out with me one time and he just drew a blank when we started playing. I like to throw in a classic country cover or two, and I said, “Let’s do ‘Forever And Ever, Amen’.” He just looked at me, with a room full of people. I said, “Man, do something.” (laughs) But things like that happen sometimes. Last year we traveled with John Anderson. He’s one of my favorite singers, and he’s just a great guy to work with, too. He’s a legend in this business. Every time I’m at a truck stop, I get sunflower seeds. I love the way they taste. If you’re sitting on a bus for 10 or 12 hours, eating them takes up a little bit of time. I’d love to have dinner with my grandfather, who passed away. We’d have fried oysters, because he loved those. My new single “Lie” is upbeat and funny. Every guy can relate to it. Every girl’s known a guy like this. My last impulse buy was a pair of Lucchese boots. They were real expensive – and I’m a cheap kind of guy. Being from Alabama, we do redneck stuff on a daily basis. But I guess the most redneck thing I’ve done lately is tearing off my shirt and jumping in the catfish pond to cool off. I wish I’d written “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman). It’s the greatest country song ever written. I have to have a toothbrush and fingernail clippers with me on the road. I am OCD about hygiene. I’d love to be stuck in Dallas. I feel like I could’ve been born in Texas. Everybody there shows you great hospitality. And there are a lot of traditional country music fans there who appreciate real country music.

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The How: A sample hour from Country AF Radio (below) supports its new artist position, adding a smattering of familiar recurrent and gold titles. Average vintage: 2015. Aggressive, humorous and sometimes salty creative drives station messaging, which at times includes listener explanations of what it means to be “Country AF.” The logo proclaims, “ Emerging, Badass, New.” Daniels fronts the morning show in addition to her programming responsibilities. “It’s the same interactive morning show I did before,” she says. “Listeners connect via social media, call or text – nothing has changed in that regard.” On the whole, “it’s like taking the great music found on Spotify and pairing it with the content found on terrestrial radio,” she says. A familiar face to Stoney’s customers, Higginbotham sometimes joins Daniels on the show and fronts various afternoon features. The Goals: Without traditional measures of success (ratings, revenue), it’s natural to wonder what success looks like for Country AF. Higginbotham’s first goal is to familiarize Stoney’s clientele with up-and-coming acts before they play the club. “Success would be when an artist comes back to town and it’s already happening for them at Stoney’s,” he explains. “I want them to prefer playing Stoney’s over the casinos because they know we are Country AF.” A national listening audience and local brand recognition are also targets. The SRC crew is also tracking listenership and audience growth internally. Those in terrestrial radio might wonder how Lowden and company are handling expensive digital licensing fees. Lowden notes that because Country AF is owned by Stoney’s which already has a licensing agreement in place, the station enjoys some fee efficiencies similar platforms don’t. The Wrap: If all this sounds a little offbeat, that’s the way Lowden likes it. “We have always taken the outside-of-the-box approach and this is just another example of the forward thinking we all have at Stoney’s,” he says. Listen commercial-free on the web here. Download the app for Android and iPhone here and here. Reach Daniels here. Look for Lowden and the Country AF crew during the Stoney’s-produced ACM Party For A Cause April 12-15 in Las Vegas. –CA Staff

Country AF Sample Hour: Chris Stapleton, “Broken Halos” (2016) Dierks Bentley, “Riser” (2014) Love And Theft, “Love Wins” (2017) Luke Combs, “When It Rains It Pours” (2017)

April 2, 2018

CJ Solar, “Airplane” (2017) Eric Church, “Record Year” (2015) Kacey Musgraves, “Follow Your Arrow” (2013) Midland, “Make A Little” (2017) Josh Abbott Band, “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” (2017) Lanco, “Greatest Love Story” (2016) Trent Harmon, “You Got ‘Em All” (2018) Jordan Davis, “Singles You Up” (2017) Justin Moore, “Small Town USA” (2009) Brooke Eden, “Daddy’s Money” (2016) Russell Dickerson, “Yours” (2015) LoCash, “Don’t Get Better Than That” (2018) Carrie Underwood, “Something In The Water” (2014)

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate the opening of their new exhibit Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s (CAT 1/11) with a special concert May 25 at the CMA Theater. Under the musical direction of Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, the event will feature performances by Bobby Bare, Jessi Colter, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson and Ashley Monroe, among others. Complete lineup and more info here.

The Week’s Top Stories

Chart Chat

Consecutive congrats to Luke Bryan, Royce Risser, Bobby Young, David Friedman and the Capitol promotion staff on securing a second week at No. 1 with “Most People Are Good.” The song is the second single and second chart-topper from Bryan’s What Makes You Country. Writers are David Frasier, Ed Hill and Josh Kear. And kudos to Chris Palmer and the Valory reps for landing 32 adds on Tyler Rich’s “The Difference,” topping this week’s board.

News & Notes

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Luke Bryan

WJJM/Lewisburg, TN has added Envision’s The Country Oldies Show hosted by Steve Warren. More here. Tennessee native James Carothers is the 2018 WSM Road Show winner, after performing his original song, “Relapse,” and a cover of George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He was presented an Alan Jackson-autographed guitar and will open for the Country Music Hall of Famer on an upcoming Grand Ole Opry date. Ty Herndon and CMT/Premiere’s Cody Alan will host GLAAD’s third annual Concert for Love and Acceptance June 7 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. Performers include Michael Ray, Cassadee Pope, Terri Clark, Calum Scott and Brandon Stansell. More here. Singer/songwriter/actor (ABC’s The Goldbergs) Hayley Orrantia has partnered with Texas Pete for her Strong, Sweet & Southern Tour. Schedule here.

Full coverage at countryaircheck.com. • Lisa Ray joined Sandbox Entertainment as day-to-day Manager for Dan+Shay. (CAT 3/29) • O.J. Jackson retired from Adams/Northern Indiana. (CAT 3/28) • Christine Travaglini was named Pres. of Katz Media Group. (CAT 3/28) • Paul Capodanno joined Sun Broadcast Group as VP/Marketing & Digital. (CAT 3/28) • Johnny Gimble, Dottie West and Ricky Skaggs were named the 2018 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. (BN 3/27) • Jason Reed was named OM for Bristol/Johnson City, TN which includes Country WXBQ. (Cat 3/27) • Ali Harnell was upped to SVP/Global Touring Team for AEG Presents. (CAT 3/27)

Boomer’s Excellent Adventure

(continued from page 1)

No pay, of course. I’d post the back page of R&R’s top 40 songs. We didn’t have a music schedule, I just told the jocks, “If it’s on the list, you can play it.” My first “real job” was Top 40 WKYN/St. Marys, PA, which was built in the shack of a drive-in theater. The screen was still up in the backyard and the studio was the old snack bar. The drive was 90 minutes from the campus to the station and my life for a year was going to school, getting in the car at 10pm, doing overnights, doing some production, getting back into the car at 7am, running through the dining hall, going to class, taking a nap and starting all over again. And then a succession of Top 40 stations? Yeah, Cape Girardeau, Nashville, St. Louis and San Diego. My second run in St. Louis at the new KSLZ is where I met [current

April 2, 2018

iHeartMedia RSVPP] Jeff Kapugi for the first time. He hired me as his afternoon guy and gave me the chance to be an MD and an APD. He asked me to go with him to Tampa when he went back to run WFLZ and it killed me to say no to my mentor, but I knew if I stayed I was going to get the program director job. After I was part of the big reduction-in-force on inauguration day 2009, Jeff came riding in with shiny armor on his white horse and got me back in the business with a lead in Fort Myers. Then I had the opportunity to go to WHQC/Charlotte for [current Big Loud President] Clay Hunnicutt and couldn’t pass it up. After nothing but Top 40s, why get into Country? A couple years back [iHeartMedia EVPP] Steve Geofferies wanted me to take a look at a Country job. Through that process of listening to the station, I really found a passion and love for the format. I was hooked all over again. That situation didn’t work out, but knowing that I wanted to put these other clubs in my bag had me on the lookout for sure. What’s your programming approach? What I love about radio is the opportunity to create, be informative and entertain. That can be lost to some degree today, in part because of corporate mandates, and also because people just don’t have the time. I’m not coming into WFMS with a master plan, though I’ve done my due diligence and submitted my reports on advancing these brands forward. But this is a collaborative effort, which is my management style. Not everybody can make decisions, but everybody can be involved and have input. That’s where many of the best ideas come from – the intern speaks up and next thing you know it’s one of the best promotions you’ve ever done. I’ve had a chance to sit with Jim, Deb and Kevin from the morning show a couple times and you can feel their passion to win. Adam “Kash” Kashner has done an incredible job keeping this moving forward while they’ve been without a PD and he’ll be one himself if that’s what he wants. You can tell he’s got the goods. They all want to be part of the process and I want their buy-in as we collectively push the ball up the hill. As someone who has spent his career often competing with Country stations, how do you view the format’s strengths and challenges? When I was working at WYHY/Nashville in the mid-’90s, WSIX

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did a radiothon for personality Hoss Burns, who was fighting AIDS. I walked into that conference room and saw the biggest names in country music sitting around the table, taking calls from listeners. That these megawatt superstars dropped whatever they were doing to be involved in something like that speaks to the connective tissue between artists, radio stations and listeners. I wish I could get pop stars to do half the things I see country artists doing. I am so looking forward to being a part of that environment and culture. As far as the opportunity with WFMS, this is the time to go from good to great. Speaking to that connective tissue, the way to do that is to be ingrained in the consciousness of the listener. You’ve got to be active in the community, willing to jump in with both hands and both feet. We want to be a part of these listeners’ lives. We want to be the station they hear their favorite music on, where they can be in touch with their favorite artists and where the jocks are like their best friends. They’ve done a good job of that so far, but now we’re going to do our best to advance that. Beyond those you’ve already mentioned, who from the Country world has reached out? Who are you connecting with? Well, there’s been no shortage of contact from record people. I have the 615 area code all the way down my recent calls list. Obviously, I’m in the deep end with Top 40 relationships, but I’m also looking forward to making new ones. [Arista’s] Ali O’Connell and both the Toms – Martens and Starr {Warner] – are a few I already know. And the folks at Cumulus have been great. [VP/ Programming Ops] Doug Hamand has been nothing but accommodating. [EVPP] Mike McVay is obviously one of the best of the best. And when it comes to Country programming and branding, [VP/Country] Charlie Cook is the best in the business. I can’t wait to get started. Reach Boomer here. –Chuck Aly

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

Hey Joe: Arista’s Lanco with WSOC/Charlotte staffers and friends before their show at Coyote Joe’s. Among those pictured are the band’s Chandler Baldwin, Tripp Howell, Brandon Lancaster, Eric Steedly and Jared Hampton, the station’s DJ Stout, Krista Stout, Chele Fassig, Stacey Canady and Melanie Day and the label’s Ali O’Connell. ©2018 Countr y Aircheck™ — All r ights reser ved. Sign up free at w w w.countr yaircheck .com. S end news to news@countr yaircheck .com

April 2, 2018

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Seek & Employ Available Jobs Here’s a list of job seekers and open gigs. Not listed? Send info here and we’ll include you in a future update: CMA is seeking applicants for a newly created Strategist/ Integrated Marketing & Sales position. See more here; cover letter and résumé here. Buck Owens Productions’ KUZZ AM & FM/Bakersfield is searching for a Sales Assistant in the Radio Sales and Camera Ads departments. Send résumés here.

Cumulus’ KQFC/Boise is looking for an afternoon host who can also handle afternoon traffic and production for the fivestation cluster. Details here. Consultant Joel Raab has two client stations looking for a PD and an APD/MD in two different Top 100 markets. Send materials here. iHeartMedia’s WMZQ/Washington is looking for an MD/ evening host. Send materials here. iHeartMedia/Tampa is looking for a Sr. Dir./Promotions. Apply here.

Saga’s WPOR/Portland, ME has an opening for a morning co-host. Airchecks and résumés to PD Crash Poteet here.

Cumulus’ WIVK/Knoxville is looking for a morning show Exec. Producer. Apply here.

iHeartMedia’s KNIX/Phoenix has an opening for a PD. Apply here.

Summit’s WQNU/Louisville is looking for an APD/MD/on-air host. Submit materials here.

Dick WRNS/Greenville, NC is looking for a morning host. Send airchecks and résumés here.

Scripps’ WKTI/Milwaukee is looking for a morning show host here.

Cumulus’ WIOV/Lancaster, PA is searching for a morning cohost. Apply here.

CMA is looking for a Market Research Analyst and a Creative Content Project Manager. Send cover letter, résumé and salary requirements to HR Consultant Sarah Pinson 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.

Searching

Ingstad’s KXDD/Yakima, WA is searching for a MD/morning co-host. Send airchecks, résumés, social media samples and a cover letter here.

•Tommy & Joe Johnson Former KUBL/Salt Lake City morning co-hosts tommyjohnsonmail@gmail.com

DBC Radio’s WUBB/Savannah, GA has a morning show opening. Send airchecks and résumés to OM Gabe Reynolds here.

•Pam Russell Former UMG/Nashville VP/National Sales Pamwrussell@icloud.com

Entercom’s KMNB/Minneapolis is searching for an OM/PD. Apply here. iHeartMedia has a number of key PD openings including WQIK/Jacksonville and KBEB/Sacramento. Send materials to iHeartCountry format captain Rod Phillips here. Entercom’s KFRG/Riverside has a full-time on-air opening. Apply here. Entercom’s WKIS/Miami is searching for an evening host. Apply here. Mid-West’s WRTB/Rockford, IL has newly created on-air opening. Airchecks and résumés to PD Steve Summers here. Beasley’s WQYK/Tampa is looking for a PD. Send materials 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.

•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 •Jeremy Guenther Former KSSN & KMJX/Little Rock MD, on-air; Capitol SW Regional 501-590-4878 jguenther01@gmail.com • Jeff Roper Former KCYY/San Antonio APD/MD/morning host 210-790-7099 ropershow@gmail.com

Midwest’s KVOX/Fargo has an unspecified on-air opening. Send airchecks and résumés here. ©2018 Countr y Aircheck™ — All r ights reser ved. Sign up free at w w w.countr yaircheck .com. S end news to news@countr yaircheck .com

April 2, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

LUKE BRYAN

Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS 2nd Week at No. 1

23840

1217

8866

421

60.983 2.728

157

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) ✔

21116

1998

7918

814

53.099 5.581

156

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

20234

1409

7345

546

50.838 4.049

152

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

19323

471

7047

193

49.085 1.204

157

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) ✔

18301

2006

6644

779

46.138 3.907

157

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) ✔

17885

2171

6519

794

43.931

157

HIGH VALLEY/She's With Me (Atlantic/WEA)

17477

541

6621

152

44.317 1.787

154

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

15195

1035

5737

427

37.779 1.826

157

DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA)

14614

-8002

5449

-2973

40.358 -15.332

157

CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury)

13807

-4390

5085

-1901

40.389 -6.791

157

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

13688

1418

4901

469

36.012 3.763

157

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

12184

1189

4316

445

31.061 3.916

157

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

11822

1467

4411

506

29.755 3.291

154

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

11557

1675

4256

682

28.586 4.494

157

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory)

10498

735

3901

240

24.869 2.847

155

MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (Big Loud/BMLGR)

9996

937

3765

387

24.263 2.567

153

LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb)

9792

-120

3695

-1.159

154

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) ✔

8581

1876

3132

638

21.479 7.034

154

CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud)

8464

492

2911

215

18.968 1.568

134

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

7772

198

2935

17.855 0.776

145

LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek)

7539

1095

2843

342

15.674 3.101

149

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

7413

1121

2825

399

15.291

136

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

6674

679

2354

267

12.704 1.079

143

JON PARDI/She Ain't In It (Capitol)

6502

375

2534

107

14.966

146

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol)

6360

745

2346

282

12.303 1.581

146

Most People Are Good (Capitol)

5.64

1.79

0.92

Chart Page 1

April 2, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

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

GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse)

6089

-6242

2214

-2335

13.979 -14.903

157

CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth (Broken Bow)

5801

199

2097

10.912 0.974

146

JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory)

5343

706

2078

273

12.083 1.542

134

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

5329

920

1776

343

11.313 1.459

135

LAUREN ALAINA/Doin' Fine (19/Interscope/Mercury)

5110

498

1930

208

9.581

0.695

138

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

4556

485

1732

161

8.74

1.333

129

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

3744

162

1448

6.562

0.533

131

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

3648

403

1351

174

7.414

0.958

115

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

3598

260

1374

129

5.91

0.457

137

RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse)

3547

262

1271

6.313

1.092

114

ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega (Atlantic/WAR)

3483

120

1255

9.508

0.676

102

KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol)

3262

-88

1155

-95

7.319

-2.21

112

DUSTIN LYNCH/I'd Be Jealous Too (Broken Bow)

3041

1121

4.932

0.226

111

SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMG/Big Machine)

2770

1114

3.193

0.131

123

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville)

2721

308

1052

4.921

0.722

108

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

2490

105

955

3.893

0.274

105

JERROD NIEMANN/I Got This (Curb)

2296

138

730

6.045

0.173

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

2249

134

768

4.076

0.127

CAM/Diane (Arista)

2191

112

791

-3

2.887

0.001

BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Preachers (EMI Nashville) 2144

-71

832

-14

2.636 -0.097

110

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

2070

154

681

3.186

0.069

JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek)

1910

177

792

3.322

0.677

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA)

1889

200

711

3.026

0.415

Debut 49

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)

1801

310

672

3.131

0.797

Debut 50

TRENT HARMON/You Got 'Em All (Big Machine)

1722

599

633

214

2.505

0.872

Chart Page 2

April 2, 2018 Country Aircheck Add Leaders

TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory) KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol) OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA) TRAVIS DENNING/David Ashley Parker From... (Mercury) MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me (Riser House/Columbia) DAN + SHAY/Tequila (Warner Bros./WAR) KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River) TRENT HARMON/You Got 'Em All (Big Machine) JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In... (Atlantic/WAR) BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR) BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville) CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud) JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek) RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers) SMITHFIELD/Hey Whiskey (Deluge/In2une)

Activator Top Point Gainers

Adds 32 24 14 11 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

1351 ✔

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

926 ✔

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

857 ✔

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

828 ✔

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud)

816 ✔

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

752

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

734

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

710

KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol)

684

MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (Big Loud/BMLGR)

653

Activator Top Spin Gainers ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

2171

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

2006

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

1998

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud)

1876

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

1675

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud)

184

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

1467

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

174

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

1418

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

155

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

1409

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

146

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol)

1217

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

145

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

1189

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

135

Country Aircheck Top Spin Gainers

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

309

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

221

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

209

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

185

Country Aircheck Top Recurrents

Points

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

814

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

17213

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

794

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers)

11285

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

779

DUSTIN LYNCH/Small Town Boy (Broken Bow)

9735

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

682

SAM HUNT/Body Like A Back Road (MCA)

9159

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud)

638

OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA)

8803

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

546

THOMAS RHETT/Unforgettable (Valory)

8193

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

506

BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR)

8132

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

469

LUKE COMBS/When It Rains It Pours (River House/Columbia)

8119

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

445

LANCO/Greatest Love Story (Arista)

7777

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

427

KANE BROWN f/L. ALAINA/What Ifs (RCA)

7320

Chart Page 3

April 2, 2018

COUNTRY AIRCHECK ACTIVITY BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Peachers (EMI Nashville) Moves 43-45 2,144 points, 832 spins 1 add: WBCT LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista) Moves 47-46* 2,070 points, 681 spins 1 add: WQIK JIMME ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek) Moves 49-47* 1,910 points, 792 spins 4 adds: KRYS, WBWL, WKDF*, WPCV CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin’ On (RCA) Moves 50-48* 1,889 points, 711 spins 2 adds: WQIK, WTGE KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River) Debuts at 49* 1,801 points, 672 spins 6 adds: KDRK, KKBQ, WKHK, WKHX*, WNSH*, WSSL

A D D DAT E S

TRENT HARMON/You Got ‘Em All (Big Machine) Debuts at 50* 1,722 points, 633 spins 6 adds: KCYE, KDRK, KKWF, WDRM, WIVK*, WKXC Craig Campbell/See You Try (Red Bow) MIDLAND/Burn Out (Big Machine) OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

April 9

April 16 THOMAS RHETT/Life Changes (Valory)

April 23

RODNEY ATKINS/Caught Up In Country (Curb) WALKER HAYES/Craig (Monument/Arista) Parmalee/Hotdamalama (Stoney Creek) Send yours to adds@countryaircheck.com

CHECK

OUT 4/6

David Lee Murphy No Zip Code (Blue Chair/ Reviver Records) Murphy co-wrote all 11 tracks including the single “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” a duet with Kenny Chesney, who co-produced the album with Murphy and Buddy Cannon. Contributing songwriters include Brett Beavers and Jim Beavers (“Get Go”), Jamey Johnson and Phil O’Donnell (“As the Crow Flies”) and Jesse Murphy (“No Zip Code” and “That’s Alright”). Various Johnny Cash: Forever Words (Sony Legacy) Recorded at The Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, TN and co-produced by John Carter Cash and Steve Berkowitz, the collaborative project consists of songs created from Cash’s unknown poetry, lyrics and letters set to music by artists including Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Elvis Costello and John Mellencamp. Blackberry Smoke Find A Light (Thirty Tigers) The band’s sixth full-length studio album was self-produced and boasts 13 new songs written or co-written by lead singer and guitarist Charlie Starr. The album also features guests Robert Randolph (“I’ll Keep Ramblin’”), Amanda Shires (“Let Me Down Easy”) and The Wood Brothers (“Mother Mountain”). Don Gibson The Best Of The Hickory Records Years (1970-1978) (Omnivore) Compiled by Grammy-winning producer and Omnivore co-founder Cheryl Pawelski and Craig Shelburne, author of an upcoming Don Gibson biography, the project features 25 remastered tracks, including “Woman (Sensuous Woman)” and “Snap Your Fingers.” April 13 Jason Aldean Rearview Town (Broken Bow) Moonlight Social Make You Smile (–) John Prine The Tree of Forgiveness (Oh Boy Records)

Chart Page 4

April 2, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

LUKE BRYAN

Points

+/- Points

Plays

+/- Plays Stations ADDS

11493

-472

2498

-45

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) ✔

10619

857

2307

209

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) ✔

10116

1351

2153

309

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

9964

-214

2160

-32

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

9412

926

2040

221

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

8931

542

1798

133

10 7

HIGH VALLEY/She's With Me (Atlantic/WEA)

8356

276

1776

11 8

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

8321

752

1796

174

12 9

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

7839

710

1640

145

DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA)

7180

-3276

1553

-787

3rd Week at No. 1

Most People Are Good (Capitol)

14 11

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

7050

638

1437

135

16 12

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

6866

828

1394

185

17 13

D.L. MURPHY f/K. CHESNEY/Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Reviver/Blue Chair)

6284

538

1353

146

15 14

LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb)

6134

-10

1281

18 15

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory)

5782

147

1279

19 16

MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (BMLGR/Big Loud)

5214

653

1101

118

13 17

GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse)

4708

-2108

1000

-442

21 18

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) ✔

4669

816

995

184

20 19

JON PARDI/She Ain't In It (Capitol)

4303

908

24 20

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

4166

734

842

155

22 21

LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek)

4006

443

814

101

23 22

CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud)

3730

200

764

26 23

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol)

3460

374

750

27 24

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

3195

155

633

25 25

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

3142

-67

600

-9

28 26

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

2646

142

516

29 27

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

2626

159

510

31 28

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

2529

395

541

30 29

JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory)

2376

205

503

32 30

LAUREN ALAINA/Doin' Fine (19/Interscope/Mercury)

2130

102

441

Chart Page 5

April 2, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Points +/- Points

33 31

ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega (Atlantic/WAR)

2073

141

Plays

510

+/- Plays

Stations Adds

40 32

KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol)

1807

684

373

119

34 33

CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth (Broken Bow)

1707

-34

373

-2

35 34

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

1583

325

37 35

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville)

1443

176

265

39 36

DUSTIN LYNCH/I'd Be Jealous Too (Broken Bow)

1386

222

245

36 37

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

1366

290

42 38

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)

1219

196

206

38 39

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine)

1136

-37

210

-6

41 40

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

1092

215

44 41

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA)

1081

124

191

45 42

AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses (Big Label)

1062

123

212

43 43

CAM/Diane (Arista)

949

-50

199

-9

46 44

RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse)

946

218

48 45

SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMGN/Big Machine)

823

200

50 46

CJ SOLAR/Airplane (Sea Gayle)

763

140

51 47

SIR ROSEVELT/Something 'Bout You (Elektra/WAR)

742

140

49 48

BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Preachers (EMI Nashville)

702

-49

162

-15

47 49

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

700

-124

115

-9

53 50

THOMAS RHETT/When You Look Like That (Valory)

630

54 51

LOCASH/Don't Get Better Than That (Reviver)

616

126

52 52

DANIELLE BRADBERY/Worth It (BMLGR)

614

102

56 53

OLD DOMINION/Stars In The City (RCA)

580

103

55 54

TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory)

460

-40

-4

Debut 55

RAELYNN/Queens Don't (Warner Bros./WMN)

397

113

Debut 56

KACEY MUSGRAVES/Space Cowboy (MCA)

376

Debut 57

CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire (Mercury)

374

0 0

KEITH URBAN/Parallel Line (Capitol)

360

-100

-10

Debut 59

57 58

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

355

Debut 60

JUSTIN MOORE/Hell On A Highway (Valory)

330

Chart Page 6