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April 9, 2018, Issue 596

Show Goes On:WQDR’s Mike Biddle

Curtis WQDR/Raleigh PD Mike Biddle was named to the post in March after January’s tragic passing of Lisa McKay Blake (CAT 1/15). Despite the challenging circumstances of the transition, Biddle is perhaps the best possible fit. He’d worked closely with McKay across two formats and two markets, Raleigh among them. Country Aircheck caught up with the Richmond native to get his thoughts on the shoes he’s filling and what’s on the horizon for the acclaimed radio station. CA: What’s your history in radio how often did it cross paths with Lisa’s? MB: Lisa hired me in 2002 just a couple of months after she got here, but we’d worked together before at [Top 40] WRVQ/Richmond, the hometown station where I got my start in Mike Biddle ‘96 or ‘97. I was just a part-time plug-me-inwhere-you-can, sleep-at-the-radio-station college kid. There wasn’t anything full-time available for me when I graduated, so I made a quick detour to Goldsboro, NC, which is just east of here and also a Curtis property. Eventually I realized it wasn’t quite the metropolis I was looking for, so I took a job doing nights at [Top 40] KWIN/ Stockton, CA, where I eventually moved to mornings and, later, afternoons. I was looking to come back when Lisa got the job here in 2002 and made me, I think, her first full-time hire. I did nights for the first year, then middays along with APD/MD duties and anything else she needed. I left in ‘07 to operate a small group of stations for Inner Banks/Greenville-New Bern, in which [Curtis Chairman/ CEO] Don Curtis was a partner, and finally came back to the Raleigh cluster in 2010 to program our Top 40, which I helped sign on with Lisa. And you’d been out of the business for a while prior to this? I went to work in 2016 for a marketing agency to kind of spread my wings and see if there was life outside of radio. That fell through eight or nine months later, so I’d been hanging out and keeping in touch with Lisa. When she passed – and it happened so fast – I reached out to everyone here just to offer my help with any(continued on page 9)

In The End: Warner Bros./WAR’s Chris Janson and Warner Bros./WMN’s Cole Swindell at the final Reason To Drink Tour stop in Los Angeles Saturday (4/7). Pictured (l-r) are the label’s Rick Young, KKGO’s Michael Levine, Janson, the label’s John Esposito, Swindell, the label’s Katie Bright, KUZZ’s Brent Michaels and the label’s Raffaella Braun.

Lights, Camera, Life Changes

Valory’s Thomas Rhett kicked off his Life Changes headlining tour April 5 in Tulsa, OK with Jillian Jacqueline and Brett Young. KVOO & KXBL PD Brian Jennings, KTGX PD Karla Cantrell and KWEN Dir./Branding & Programming Matt Bradley and MD Jenny Law were all on hand sporting reporter notebooks for Country Aircheck. “The stage design was amazing with a huge LED screen and a cat walk reaching into the crowd,” Cantrell says. “The production and visual artistry during the show is

© 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 9, 2018

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Feather In Your ASCAP: ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Mike Sistad, Kele Currier and Holly Chester, EMI Nashville’s Eric Paslay, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and Ralph Murphy, songwriters Clint Lagerberg and Gordie Sampson, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, songwriter/artist Caylee Hammack and ASCAP’s Michael Martin (l-r) at ASCAP’s annual songwriters round at Tin Pan South.

amazing but all eyes were locked on the artists.” Even when Rhett crossed to a B-stage. Law explains, “Fans in the very back of the arena could have the same experience as the fans that were in the front row in the pit.” “The thing that impressed me the Brian most was the audience response,” Jennngs said Jennings. “Usually they stand for the first, maybe second song, then they sit. But this audience was not sitting down. Song six, seven, still standing. There was no lull. He keeps it going. When he’s not playing guitar, he’s dancing and his moves have improved. Thomas Rhett has the moves like Jagger.” Karla Cantrell

Opener Jacqueline returning to sing Maren Morris’ part on “Craving You” with Rhett was a crowd favorite. All of our programmers in attendance agreed that the newcomer nailed her part. “That girl has amazing pipes,” Jennings says. Brett Young’s support slot impressed as well. “Brett is a suMatt Bradley perstar in the making,” Bradley says. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see him doing his own tour next year.” “Brett brought on the tears and the ballads, with the crowd singing every word of ‘In Case You Didn’t Know’ right back to him,” Cantrell adds. Jenny Law Rhett starts his set with a curtain drop and

April 9, 2018

MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE Crowd Surf VP/Marketing Elise Stawarz discusses her most influential music: 1. Taylor Swift: Does anyone do fan experiences better? She’s a master class on how to make fans feel loved, valued and appreciated. 2. Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/ LoveSounds: I still wear my *NSYNC t-shirt from the sixth grade on the reg. Elise Stawarz 3. Bright Eyes’ I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning: My first internship was at Saddle Creek Records in my hometown of Omaha. It taught me I could be from there and be in the music industry. 4. Sugarland: They’re the band that helped me stave off my midwestern homesickness while living in LA. 5. Hamilton: An American Musical: Apparently my 25+ year musical theatre obsession is cool now. • Highly regarded music you’ve actually never heard: My parents actually (very weirdly) don’t like music! And so while I’m trying to play catch up, my knowledge pre1997 is still woefully incomplete. • “Important” music you just don’t get: EDM can be tough for me. It can be great ... but sometimes I just get tired. Too many sounds, all at one time. Also, the shows in that genre go late and I like to be in bed by 11pm. • An album you’ve played incessantly: Spotify tells me the answer is Sam Hunt! I love his vibe and the first time I heard Montevallo I knew I had a new favorite. • An obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: It’s definitely not obscure to Gen-Z but “Burning Up (Fire)” by the K-Pop band BTS is a completely incredible re-invention of every good thing about ‘90s boy bands. • Music you’d rather not admit to enjoying: My threeyear-old niece and I are duet partners for every Disney song out there, but I refuse to feel guilty about something so festive and fun! walks out in jeans, t-shirt and a black silk jacket with “Rhett” across the back. “The set looked like it was straight out of the ‘90s, with geometric shapes and neon colors bouncing with the music,” Law says. “The show was packed full of his older hits as well as the new ones. Rhett threw in album cuts including ‘Sixteen’, ‘Grave’ and the soulful ‘Kiss Me Like A Stranger.’” “He took selfies, sang old school doo-wop with ‘Sweetheart,’

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winding up with the song that got everyone on their feet dancing: ‘Vacation’,” adds Cantrell. “He ended the show with his No. 1 smash ‘Die a Happy Man’,” Law says. “As the confetti shot from the stage, fans cheered and chanted Rhett’s name. While there was no encore, start to finish the show was energetic and dance-worthy! He gave fans exactly what they wanted!” –Erin Duvall

Should’ve Been A Sing-a-long

Toby Keith kicked off his Should’ve Been a Cowboy Tour XXV in Salt Lake City Friday (4/6) with Ned LeDoux in support, and the tour lived up to its billing. “This show feels like drinking with a dear friend you haven’t seen in a long time and it sounds like a man with a band who are already firing on all cylinders!” KUBL/Salt Lake City morning co-host Jared Banks tells Country Aircheck. “Ned LeDoux opens with a no-BS set of pure country passion,” Banks says. “Playing a collection of original tunes mixed with his father’s greatest hits, Ned is traditional cowboy country done right. He set a fantastic tone and high bar for the rest of the night. No one was let down.” Keith and the Easy Money band played 90 minutes of hits from 1993’s first hit from which the tour takes its name, to today. “It’s easy to Jared Banks forget just how many great songs Toby Keith has written,” Banks adds. “But some tunes you haven’t heard, and he hasn’t played in 20 years, made the set list.” A big stage production, Banks says, this tour is not. “It’s the biggest little barroom sing-along you can hit this summer.” –Erin Duvall

Chart Chat

Three-peat congrats to Luke Bryan, Royce Risser, Bobby Young, David Friedman and the Capitol promotion staff for a quite rare third week at No. 1 with “Most People Are Good.” The song is the first three-week bell ringer in more than two years (Thomas Rhett’s “Die A Happy Man,” January 2016).

Luke Bryan

April 9, 2018

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Debutante: Rebel Engine’s Stephanie Quayle and team celebrate her Grand Ole Opry debut Saturday (4/7). Pictured (front, l-r) are Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply’s Shannon Ungersma, Music Choice’s June Holloway, Quayle, WWYZ/Hartford’s Cory Myers, Wrangler’s Amber Roberts, WGSQ/Cookeville, TN’s Philip Gibbons, the label’s Carli McLaughlin and Quinton Digital’s Amanda Quinton; (back, l-r) M Street’s Celine Bailey and Chris Hyndman, the label’s David Shaw, PlayMore Promotion’s Grant Moore, Big D & Bubba’s Patrick Thomas, Quayle’s husband David Couch, Wrangler’s Hannah Manning and Jerry Guiliano, the label’s Chris Borchetta and PlayMore Promotion’s Brad Helton.

And kudos to Adrian Michaels and the WEA reps for landing 130 adds on Kenny Chesney’s “Get Along,” topping this week’s board.

News & Notes

Capitol’s Lady Antebellum and Warner Bros./WAR’s Chris Janson will perform at Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th in downtown Nashville at Fifth and Broadway. Complete lineup and more info here. Brett Young, Tracy Lawrence, James Barker Band, Jimmie Allen and Dee Jay Silver, among others, have been added to the Carolina Country Music Fest lineup. The three day festival June 7-10 in Myrtle Beach, SC will be headlined by Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and Cole Swindell. More here. The inaugural Pigeon Forge Path to Fame Talent Competition will host auditions at Nashville’s Skyville Live April 21. The four eligible talent categories are vocalist, instrumentalist, comedian and

specialty act. The grand prize winner will receive a consultation with Kelsea Ballerini and a one-year mentorship with industry vet John Alexander. More here. Sylvia Hutton and Mark Wayne Glasmire have signed with So Much Moore Media for PR representation. Musicians On Call teamed with Warner Bros./WMN›s Ryan Kinder and Google Fiber on their Virtual Bedside Performance Program, which can broadcast performances to patients at various healthcare facilities through Google Hangouts. To celebrate, Kinder performed for and answered questions from children at Phoenix Children’s Hospital via Google Hangout. Watch here. Jessie Chris is embarking on a nationwide anti-bullying tour, visiting 100 middle schools chosen by the Association for Middle Level Education. Schools interested in participating may contact Jeff Gulko here. Mickey Gilley was made an honorary citizen of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, when he was presented with the Calgary White Hat during his show March 31.

April 9, 2018

Show Goes On:WQDR’s Mike Biddle

(continued from page 1) thing they needed, station-related or not. My first thought wasn’t like, “Oh, they’re going to need to hire somebody and I think I’m going to go for that.” I actually struggled with the idea [of this job] for weeks, just not sure if it felt right. It was an odd time, but the more thinking and soul searching I did, the more it felt right. I finally told [Curtis President/COO] Trip [Savery], “Look, I don’t know where your head is on this, but I’m here and I’m ready to plug in, and nothing would make me happier than to come in and pick up where she left off.” It sounds like Lisa was as much a mentor as a friend or colleague. Very much so. Lisa was the first PD I ever worked for. Even before I left Richmond and before I went to work for her here, we kept in touch. She’s always been inside my head. She taught me so much, not just about radio, but also about life in general. When I worked with her at WQDR it was scary how close we were in our thinking. Sometimes I knew what she was thinking before she thought it. We also worked well together when we had differing opinions. Sometimes she’d defer to mine, though more times than not hers trumped mine – as it should. It was a really cool and unique experience. You can’t dispute the success she had. She came from Top 40 to Country, a world she didn’t know much about, but she was a student of radio and a lover of music and the industry, so it didn’t take her long to get up to speed. She loved the artists, she loved the stories, and she just really owned it. You’re obviously taking over a very successful radio station under challenging circumstances. How do you view the job? You’re right. It wasn’t like someone made a decision to retire or move on. This came out of left field and it’s very much an “I wouldn’t be in this chair right now” type of thing. The station had been firing on all cylinders leading up to Lisa’s passing and through the time I got in here, so I’m not the guy coming in and

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saying, “Oh we’ve got to change this or that.” That said, we certainly recognize that there are opportunities to evolve the radio station and we’re keeping our foot on the pedal. We’re heavily researched, so we have the tools we need to make good decisions. My ear has always been a little different than Lisa’s, so there may be some small tweaks to the imaging and maybe a little tightening up here or there. Otherwise I’m focused on being on-point with music and following our research. We’re also working with [consultant] Phil Hunt now, who’s a great guy. He worked for Rusty Walker for a long time, and we worked with Rusty for a long time at ‘QDR, so that feels right. We’ll continue to make good decisions. It’s been a few years since you’ve worked day-to-day in Country. Is that a challenge? When I left here in 2010 to program the group in eastern North Carolina, one was a Country station and flagship for the cluster. I did mornings and programmed for three years. It was Top 40 in Raleigh for the next six or so, but my office was right down the hall from Lisa’s. I still listened to ‘QDR and kept up with the progression of the format through the bro-country phenomena and all that. And I’ve kept up with those who were baby artists back then, and have really blown up since. I remember when Luke Bryan came around, for example, and now he’s the biggest guy in the format. So from a distance I’ve definitely been keeping my eyes on it. How has the format changed over that time? There are certainly some Top 40-esque things happening. It’s a little more singles-driven than maybe it has been, where usually it’s been very artist-based. The texture of the sound has changed with much more pop influence. But while it’s important for ‘QDR to be on top of what’s happening currently, there are some roots to the format we need to hang on to. There’s a balance required. And of

Add-mirable: Warner Music Nashville staffers celebrate Kenny Chesney’s “Get Along” being the most-added song this week with 135 adds. ©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 9, 2018

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Let The Gaines Begin: WOGK/Gainesville, FL hosts the 29th annual K Country Acoustic Concert. Pictured (l-r) are the station’s Big Red, MCA’s Louie Newman and Kip Moore, the station’s Mr. Bob, Reviver’s David Lee Murphy, the station’s Kathy Dugan, Curb’s Jerrod Niemann, the station’s Lewis Stokes and Reviver’s Rick Hughes.

course all those songs that were currents back then are gold now, which reminds me I’m not as young as I like to think I am. How has the market evolved? Some things that are happening in this town are amazing. The economy is great, the real estate market is great and people are moving here all the time. Raleigh and some of its suburbs seem to pop up on a lot of these top 10 lists of best places to live and so on. But Country has been a hot format in this market forever. We

have so many shows coming through and they always sell well. We’ve got a record number of concerts in general coming to the big amphitheater this year and many are country. We partner with them to do the ‘QDR Megaticket, which is a hot one, obviously. We’re always working hard to connect listeners to these experiences, and now into the fall it’ll be nonstop. Reach Biddle here. –CA Staff CAC

They Are A-Changin’: Valory’s Thomas Rhett kicks off the Life Changes Tour in Tulsa Thursday (4/5). Pictured (front, l-r) are the label’s Brad Howell and Chris Palmer, KTGX’s Tori Walton and the label’s George Briner; (back, l-r) KTGX’s Trevor Morini, KVOO’s Sunny Leigh and Brian Jennings, KTGX’s Houston Gaither, KVOO’s Kristina Carlyle, Rhett, KTGX’s Karla Cantrell and KWEN’s Jenny Law and Matt Bradley.

April 9, 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: Arista/Nashville is seeking a Mgr./Regional Promotion. Apply 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. CMA is seeking applicants for a newly created Strategist/ Integrated Marketing & Sales position. See more here; cover letter and résumé 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. Cumulus’ WIVK/Knoxville is looking for a morning show Exec. Producer. Apply 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.

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

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

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

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

Dick WRNS/Greenville, NC is looking for a morning host. Send airchecks and résumés here. Cumulus’ WIOV/Lancaster, PA is searching for a morning cohost. Apply 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. DBC Radio’s WUBB/Savannah, GA has a morning show opening. Send airchecks and résumés to OM Gabe Reynolds here. 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 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.

Searching •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 •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 9, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

LUKE BRYAN

Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS 3rd Week at No. 1

23825

-13

8895

60.923 -0.058

157

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) ✔

22612

1481

8537

612

56.863

156

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

21498

1262

7912

566

54.561 3.718

152

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

19655

1360

7175

534

50.618 4.492

157

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

19571

248

7185

138

49.778 0.693

157

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) ✔

19186

1305

6984

467

48.096 4.173

157

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

17830

353

6736

115

45.562 1.245

154

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

15706

509

5898

160

39.587 1.804

157

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

13785

4973

36.01

0.007

157

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

12808

620

4575

257

33.131

2.07

157

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

12676

1121

4667

412

32.251 3.662

157

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

12502

680

4646

235

31.397 1.647

155

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory)

10785

285

4072

170

25.305

155

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

10727

733

3984

220

26.055 1.799

153

DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA)

9910

-4692

3823

-1620

26.949 -13.374

157

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

9462

881

3466

334

23.59

2.114

155

LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb)

9258

-534

3531

-164

21.77 -1.226

154

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

8835

371

3041

130

19.54

0.576

136

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

8538

766

3186

251

18.86

0.998

154

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

7863

450

2925

100

16.344 1.053

138

LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek)

7518

-19

2829

-13

15.886

0.22

149

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol)

6883

519

2572

224

13.395

1.08

147

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

6729

2378

13.117 0.407

143

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

6605

107

2580

15.545 0.595

146

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

6052

251

2160

11.459 0.554

147

Most People Are Good (Capitol)

3.73

0.43

Chart Page 1

April 9, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

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

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

5992

665

1995

220

13.308 2.001

138

JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory)

5553

210

2179

101

12.494 0.402

138

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

5305

191

2025

10.093 0.501

138

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

5285

2012

1839

679

13.763

6.42

134

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

4911

362

1806

9.465

0.745

130

4224

1587

12.39

130

KENNY CHESNEY/Get... (Blue Chair/WarnerBros/WEA)✔DEBUT 4224 32

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

4067

323

1550

102

7.112

0.55

134

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

3944

296

1468

117

8.093

0.677

120

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

3902

300

1476

100

6.605

0.689

138

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

3737

254

1327

10.161 0.652

103

RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse)

3354

-195

1262

-10

5.637 -0.686

114

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

3053

1131

4.889 -0.042

111

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville)

2847

124

1113

5.004

0.075

109

SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMGN/Big Machine)

2654

-116

1081

-33

2.819 -0.374

123

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

2564

975

4.099

107

GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse)

2420

-3657

850

-1358

157

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

2396

151

815

4.495

0.425

JERROD NIEMANN/I Got This (Curb)

2166

-134

673

-59

6.014 -0.042

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

2131

705

3.444

0.244

CAM/Diane (Arista)

2128

-65

771

-21

2.864 -0.027

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

2101

377

771

137

2.593

0.079

3.16

0.134

110

0.2

6.094 -7.853

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA)

2019

132

750

BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Preachers (EMI Nashville) 1958

-195

745

-91

JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek)

1935

798

3.3

-0.022

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)

1887

699

3.256

0.141

2.287 -0.375

Chart Page 2

April 9, 2018 Country Aircheck Add Leaders KENNY CHESNEY/Get Along (BlueChair/WarnerBros/WEA )

Activator Top Point Gainers

Adds 130

KENNY CHESNEY/Get Along (BlueChair/WarnerBros/WEA )

1567 ✔

MIDLAND/Burn Out (Big Machine)

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

1395 ✔

CRAIG CAMPBELL/See You Try (Red Bow)

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

1318 ✔

OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

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

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

984 ✔

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

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

943 ✔

TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory)

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

823

MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me (Riser House/Columbia)

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

724

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

669

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

597

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

D. L. MURPHY f/K. CHESNEY/Everything's... (Blue Chair/Reviver) 589

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers

Activator Top Spin Gainers ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

KENNY CHESNEY/Get Along (BlueChair/WarnerBros/WEA)

4224

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

2012

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

1481

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

1360

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

1305

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

212

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

1262

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

180

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

1121

KENNY CHESNEY/Get Along (BlueChair/WarnerBros/WEA )

323

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

307

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

268

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

237

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

178

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

881

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

171

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

766

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

155

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

733

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

127

Country Aircheck Top Spin Gainers KENNY CHESNEY/Get Along (BlueChair/WarnerBros/WEA)

Country Aircheck Top Recurrents 1587

Points

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

15924

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

679

CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury)

12130

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

612

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers)

10653

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

566

DUSTIN LYNCH/Small Town Boy (Broken Bow)

9147

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

534

SAM HUNT/Body Like A Back Road (MCA)

8954

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

467

OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA)

8488

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

412

BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR)

7962

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

334

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

7701

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

257

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

7656

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

251

LANCO/Greatest Love Story (Arista)

7534

Chart Page 3

April 9, 2018

COUNTRY AIRCHECK ACTIVITY CAM/Diane (Arista) Moves 44-45 2,128 points, 771 spins; No adds TRENT HARMON/You Got ‘Em All (Big Machine) Moves 50-46* 2,101 points, 771 spins 18 adds including: KATC*, KATM*, KHKI*, KIIM*, KILT, KIZN*, KPLX*, KRST*, KUBL*, WCTO* CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin’ On (RCA) Moves 48-47* 2,019 points, 750 points; No adds BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Peachers (EMI Nashville) Moves 45-48 1,958 points, 745 spins; No adds JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek) Moves 47-49* 1,935 points, 798 spins 2 adds: KILT, WDXB

CHECK

Jason Aldean Rearview Town (Broken Bow) Produced by Michael Knox, Aldean’s eighth studio album features 15 tracks, including a duet with Miranda Lambert (“Drowns the Whiskey”). Songwriters for the project include Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, Morgan Wallen, Michael Tyler, Josh Thompson, Casey Beathard and David Lee Murphy. Kelley Lovelace, Bobby Pinson and Neil Thrasher penned the title track. John Prine The Tree of Forgiveness (Oh Boy Records) Recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A, Prine’s first album featuring new material in more than 13 years was produced by Dave Cobb and includes 10 songs written by Prine along with co-writers Pat McLaughlin, Roger Cook, Dan Auerbach, Keith Sykes and Phil Spector. The album also features guests Brandi Carlile (harmony vocals), Jason Isbell (electric guitar, slide guitar and background vocals) and Amanda Shires (fiddle and background vocals).

A D D DAT E S 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) CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire (Mercury)

April 30 DEVIN DAWSON/Asking For A Friend (Atlantic/WEA) SHANE OWENS/Lie (Reviver/1608) DAVISSON BROTHERS BAND/Po Boyz (Dreamlined) Send yours to adds@countryaircheck.com

OUT 4/13

Jenn Bostic.

Moonlight Social Make You Smile (–) The five-song EP is the first new collection of songs from the duo (Jennica Scott and Jeremy Burchard) since 2012’s debut album Heading South. Scott and Burchard co-wrote all of the tracks, including “My Everything” with Byron Hill and “Bad Side” with

April 20 Brothers Osborne Port Saint Joe (EMI Nashville) Ashley Monroe Sparrow (Warner Bros./WMN) Old Crow Medicine Show Volunteer (Columbia) Parmalee Party Pack (Stoney Creek) Joshua Hedley Mr. Jukebox (Third Man) Charley Crockett Lonesome As A Shadow (Thirty Tigers) April 27 Willie Nelson Last Man Standing (Legacy/Sony) Keith Urban Graffiti U (Capitol) Morgan Wallen If I Know Me (Big Loud Records) Southern Halo Just Like In The Movies (–)

Chart Page 4

April 9, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

JORDAN DAVIS

✔

Points

+/- Points

Plays

11562

943

2544

+/- Plays Stations ADDS

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol)

11525

2538

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

11511

1395

2421

268

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

10349

385

2236

Singles You Up (MCA)

237

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

10080

669

2195

155

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

9655

724

1978

180

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

8548

192

1796

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

8532

211

1861

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

8208

369

1716

12 10

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

7850

984

1606

212

11 11

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

7587

537

1552

115

13 12

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

6873

589

1480

127

15 13

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory)

6331

548

1380

101

16 14

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

6037

823

1272

171

14 15

LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb)

5928

-206

1275

-6

18 16

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

5254

585

1104

109

10 17

DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA)

5143

-2037

1137

-416

20 18

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

4564

397

910

21 19

LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek)

4408

402

897

19 20

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

4294

-9

907

-1

22 21

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

4136

406

831

23 22

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol)

3877

416

836

25 23

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

3739

597

778

178

24 24

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

3225

642

32 25

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

3126

1318

680

307

28 26

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

2668

139

567

29 27

JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory)

2655

279

557

26 28

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

2564

-82

503

-13

27 29

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

2508

-118

497

-13

30 30

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

2291

161

476

Chart Page 5

April 9, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Points +/- Points

Plays

+/- Plays

17 31

GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse)

2172

-2536

437

-563

Stations Adds

31 32

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

2001

-72

502

-8

34 33

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

1635

332

33 34

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

1580

-127

352

-21

KENNY CHESNEY/Get Along (BlueChair/WarnerBros/WEA ) ✔

1567

323

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

1380

-5

240

-5

Debut 35 36 36 35 37

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville)

1340

-102

240

-25

37 38

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

1286

-80

280

-10

38 39

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)

1231

211

41 40

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA)

1194

113

209

39 41

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine)

1191

217

42 42

AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses (Big Label)

1138

232

40 43

MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia)

1053

-39

205

-10

43 44

CAM/Diane (Arista)

974

201

44 45

RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse)

931

-14

215

-3

46 46

CJ SOLAR/Airplane (Sea Gayle)

855

146

45 47

SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMGN/Big Machine)

738

-86

180

-20

51 48

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

680

-20

107

-8

52 49

THOMAS RHETT/When You Look Like That (Valory)

640

54 50

DANIELLE BRADBERY/Worth It (BMLGR)

620

-4

48 51

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

610

-92

140

-22

47 52

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

569

-173

-23

51 53

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

548

-68

113

-13

Debut 54

MIDLAND/Burn Out (Big Machine)

498

169

Debut 55

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

489

236

112

Debut 56

OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

488

186

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

480

WILD FEATHERS/Big Sky (Warner Bros.)

470

360

55 57

Debut 58 54 59

TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory)

460

53 60

OLD DOMINION/Stars In The City (RCA)

440

-140

-14

Chart Page 6