May 10, 2021, Issue 755
Welcome To Country! Now What?!
As programmers and personalities enter the format, many comment on the welcoming, familial foundation of radio and records personnel and artists. But what few say – at least out loud – is that Country radio is ... different. Good different (!), but different. Country Aircheck asked radio pros what they wish they’d known before joining from another format, and what advice they might give the newly converted. Cumulus WCTO/Allentown, PA morning co-host Hannah Byrom has been in Country four years after spending time in Top 40 and Hot AC, including a stint with syndicated Zach Sang And The Gang. “My initial misconception was there was no way there would be Country listeners in Boston,” says Byrom, who began her Country career at WKLB/Boston. “Boy, Hannah Byrom was I wrong! And I’ll happily admit that. The stereotype is that Country listeners have to come from blue collar, small town backgrounds, but after being in Country radio in a couple different markets, it’s easy to see none of that matters. It’s about the stories and relating on a human level, which you don’t always get in other formats.” Sonoma KFGY/Santa Rosa, CA morning co-host Amber Henderson recalls a similar sentiment when transferring from Top 40 and Hot AC. “I realized very quickly that most people listen to country music,” Henderson states. “It doesn’t matter what you wear or what you do for a living, country is generally enjoyable.” She even admits not liking the genre prior to joining the format, saying, “It was something I was thrown into, but now I love it!” Amber Because the format is more about Henderson connection, Byrom recommends doing your homework. “Start learning the history of country music by listening to artists from each decade,” she says. Audacy WYCD/Detroit morning co-host Josh “JT” Holleman concurs, sharing an anecdote from his personal archives (continued on page 8)
Trade Secret: Warner/WAR’s Chris Janson drops in on WIRK/West Palm Beach’s Secret Sessions lunch. Pictured (l-r) are the station’s Chelsea Taylor and Tim Leary, Janson and the station’s Bruce Logan and Nick Rivers.
Where Radio Fits In Touring Restart Like horses out the gate, country tours are about to be on track. Pent-up supply and demand likely mean a chaotic couple of years before equilibrium is attained, however, and radio shows – in all their iterations – will undoubtedly be affected. WME/Nashville Partner & Co-Head Becky Gardenhire illustrates the coming rush with press releases. “There is a different tour announcement planned every day from now through mid-June,” she says. “On the flipside, that’s how traffic has generally been, except everyone wasn’t waiting until the end of July or early August to start a tour. You had a whole year to space things out.” Becky And country is but a fraction of the whole. Gardenhire “This is happening in every genre, and 2022
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