Issue-868-July-24-2023

KUZZ Passes The Morning Buck

A new morning show can be a challenge for any station, but transitioning to only its third wakeup iteration since moving to FM in 1988 adds even more weight to the recent moves at Owens KUZZ/Bakersfield. Rather than fraught, the retirements of Cliff Dumas and Tanya Brakebill offered opportunity for continuity and growth by teaming afternoon host Kenn McCloud and evening host Vanessa “Ness” Heraldez. Both duos recently spoke with Country Aircheck

The new show’s origin story opens with a kicker. “I got into radio when I got out of prison,” says Heraldez. “I used to be a teacher at a prison, but I was laid off during Covid and heard on the radio they were looking for people.” While training for a weekend shift, she met McCloud, eventually following him on-air when she moved to the night shift. “The two of us would hang out the last hour of my show,” McCloud says. “I’d done mornings before, and I knew just from her personality and how well we got along that there was more than just potential here. When we found out that Cliff and Tanya were going to retire, we presented ourselves as an option.”

Once they’d gotten the nod but before starting in mornings, McCloud and Heraldez took advantage of their on-air proximity. “We started doing our show together from 6pm to 7pm,” says Heraldez. “We did that for two months and could tell it was working.” Adds McCloud, “It was basically spring training. We had the opportunity to work on our rhythm, chemistry and bits before we started in mornings.”

They also benefited from a good relationship with their predecessors. “In most situations when a new morning show starts, it’s because the other morning show didn’t work out or moved to another market,” McCloud says. “That’s not the case here.”

Q2 Drivetime Leaders

Following the release of the June Nielsen PPM monthlies, Country Aircheck has analyzed Q2 numbers for stations with the leading cumes and shares in morning and afternoon drive. Quarterly averages eliminate the wobbles that can be present at a daypart level on a month-to-month basis. All figures are Persons 6+.

Mornings : The Bobby Bones Show retains its place atop the cume rankings with a total cume of 1,176,200 over 16 stations, down 22,700 from Q1. KKBQ’s 93Q Morning Show with Andy Riggs, Erica Rico and Katelyn Maida is the largest cumeing single station show with 298,200, followed by WUSN/Chicago ’s Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff with 283,700 weekly listeners.

Country Tilt-A-Girl: Capitol’s Luke Bryan at the California Mid-State Fair. Pictured (l-r) are KUZZ/Bakersfield’s Vanessa “Ness” Heraldez and Kenn McCloud, Bryan, KRTY(.com)/San Jose’s , the label’s Katie

and KSNI/Santa

Cumulus’ Dallas duo holds down fourth and fifth places with KSCS’ Hawkeye In The Morning reaching 256,100 just ahead of KPLX’s Wake Up With The Wolf show at 239,700.

Two stations tied to top the morning drive share ranker. WCOL/ Columbus’ Wakeup Call with Zuko & Kayla and WQIK/Jacksonville’s Big Show with Robbie & John each landed a 9.1 share for the quarter. Last quarter’s leaders, KSOP/Salt Lake City’s Dave and Deb slip to third, while a three-way tie in fourth sees WWYZ/Hartford’s Damon & Cory, Nashville’s airing of The Bobby Bones Show on WSIX and Marty McFly on WSM-FM/Nashville all with a 6.8 share.

Afternoons: For the first time in three quarters, WUSN/Chicago’s Scotty Kay reclaims the top cume in afternoon drive with 404,900. He edges out last quarter’s leader, KKBQ/Houston’s Lauren “Lo” Sessions by 7,800. Texas stations hold places three through five, with Cumulus’ Dallas duo of KPLX and KSCS in third and fourth and Houston’s KILT landing in fifth.

WCOL/Columbus ’ Brandon “Boxer” Nasby holds the afternoon share lead for the third straight quarter and adds nearly a full share in the process, moving 10.4 to 11.3. In second place with a 7.9 is WMIL/Milwaukee ’s Shanna “Quinn” Cudeck , while three personalities tie for third with a 7.6: KEEY/Minneapolis ’ Muss , WCTK/Providence ’s Kevin Lawrence and WUBE/Cincinnati ’s Jesse Tack & Anna Marie . See the 2023 Q1 leaders here

– Chris Huff

Tour Launch: Jason Aldean

Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean brought his Highway Desperado Tour to Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center Friday (7/21) with Mitchell Tenpenny, Corey Kent and Dee Jay Silver in support. WUBE/Cincinnati APD/afternoon host Jesse Tack was there to find out what happens when the lights come on.

“The crowd was hyped, as this was only the second major country show we’ve had in Cincy this year,” he says. “The first was one week prior with Eric Church. Everyone there knew what kind of energy they were expecting, and they got it.”

Onstage, Aldean sported a red Riverfront Stadium shirt in tribute to the venue that was home to the Bengals and Reds before being demolished. Numerous fans were wearing shirts that said “Try That In A Small Town.”

“The hands-down biggest moment of the show was when he spent three minutes talking about the controversy behind ‘Try That In A Small Town,’” says Tack. “Everyone was expecting it and we wondered what he would say. And when he sang the song, someone handed him an American flag which he wore during a large part of the performance.”

Aldean told the crowd, “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, you can think something all you want to, doesn’t mean it’s true. What I am is a proud American. I love our country and want to see it restored to what it once was before this bullshit started happening to us. I love my country, I love my family and I will do anything to protect that.” The audience responded by chanting “USA, USA.”

Aldean continued, “One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans who saw through a bunch of the bullshit. I saw country music fans rally like I’ve never seen before. It was badass.”

He added that when asked if he was going to play the song, “The answer was simple. The people have spoken and you guys spoke very, very loudly this week.”

His set included “Flyover States,” “Amarillo Sky” and “Hicktown.” For “If I Didn’t Love You,” Carrie Underwood appeared on screen as Aldean played piano.

Source: Nielsen Audio; Subscribing stations only

Highway Find: WUBE’s Anna Marie, Corey Kent and the station’s Jesse Tack

Tack says, “The stage had lighting throughout for the sole purpose of lighting up the crowd whenever the time seemed appropriate. The stage also had a thrust that allowed Jason to walk out about 20 feet to be surrounded by fans in the pit. He was very generous during the show when it came to signing autographs – usually right in the middle of a song!”

Near the end of the evening, Aldean said he doesn’t do encores and concluded with “She’s Country.”

“The tone and mood of the crowd the entire night was proud and rebellious,” sums Tack. “It really felt as if Jason could do no wrong. My key takeaways are that Jason is riding a high right now and he’s definitely endeared himself to more fans and strengthened the relationships to the ones he already had.”

Produced by Live Nation, the tour wraps Oct. 28 in Tampa.

Chart Chat

–Sarah Skates

Congratulations to Luke Combs, Steve Hodges, Lauren Thomas and the Columbia promotion team on holding “Fast Car” at No. 1 for a second week. This marks Combs’ 33rd career week at No. 1, placing him in a tie with Randy Travis for 18th all-time in the R&R/CA/MB era. Songwriter is Tracy Chapman.

Kudos to Damon Moberly and the Mercury crew on leading this week’s CA/MB Add Board with 135 adds for Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse.” The lead single from his upcoming Higher release is the first song on the label to score triple-digit adds since Shania Twain’s “I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” had 127 in October 2002.

News & Notes

Stoney Creek’s Parmalee will guest host middays on KKGO/Los Angeles during the month of August.

SuiteRadio’s Rowdy Ride Home with Josh “Rowdy Yates” Holstead has been added on Great Northern KICR/Spokane, WA; D&H KOKO-AM/Clifton, MO; Weeks KXCS/Big Spring, TX; Spoon River WBYS-AM/Canton, IL and Spoon River WCOE/LaPorte, IN For more info, contact VP/Affiliate Sales Jim Jones here

The Texas Country Music Association presented its industry awards July 23 in Carthage, TX. Radio winners include KOKE/Austin (Terrestrial Radio Station), RealTexasRadio.com (Internet Station) and Shayne Hollinger, KFWR/Fort Worth (Radio Programmer). Complete list of winners here.

Drake White, Kylie Frey, Ray Fulcher and more will perform during Artists Against Trafficking Aug. 16 at Whitewood Hollow; tickets here

Martina McBride headlines One Mind’s 29th Annual Music Festival for Brain Health in Napa at the Staglin Family Vineyard Sept. 9; info here

The Week’s Top Stories:

Full coverage at countryaircheck.com

• Relive the CRHoF induction and remember the late Jerry Bradley in last week’s (7/17) Country Aircheck Weekly

• Mike Wheeler was named OM for Cumulus/Detroit and Ann Arbor. (CAT 7/21)

• WTGE/Baton Rouge PD/afternoon co-host Abby Leigh departed. (CAT 7/21)

• WGKX/Memphis morning co-host Renée Castle departed (CAT 7/20)

• Tim Wenger was elevated to Audacy/Buffalo SVP/MM. (CAT 7/19)

• Liz Yount was named Dir./Promotions for Summit/Knoxville (CAT 7/18)

• Courtney Johanson joined Red Light  in a management role. (CAT 7/18)

• Chronicle: Jerry Bradley, Chuck Flood , Jan Woods

KUZZ Passes The Morning Buck

(continued from page 1)

Just Be Kuzz: Learning from their own experience, Brakebill and Dumas facilitated a smoother handoff than they enjoyed three years ago when they took over for a station icon. “[Previous morning host] Steve [Gradowitz] had been here for 30 years,” Brakebill says. “The listeners didn’t like us too much at first, but Cliff was so seasoned. I watched him learn this community, and we finally won them over.”

“’Seasoned’ is a wonderful way to say ‘old,’” interjects Dumas, who arrived at KUZZ after doing mornings at KSON/San Diego. “When I came here, working for the Owens family was an immediate highlight. Seeing how powerful this station is in this market was really a throwback to what radio used to be like. You can’t go anywhere in Bakersfield without feeling the presence of KUZZ. When you step back and look at what an outlier this station is, we were able to end our show and introduce the new show in a positive way. To have personalities just disappear when changes are made is a crime against the listeners. So doing this the right way with Kenn and Ness has been an absolute career treat.”

“Kenn is going to be a great leader,” says Brakebill. “And Ness is basically me 20 years ago. She just started on air a year-and-a-half ago, but she’s so connected with her own life and with the listeners. She’s also a social media expert.”

“My advice is just to be their authentic selves and share their lives on the air,” adds Dumas. “In order to do that effectively, you must be true partners and that means living your life beyond the walls of the radio station. Radio is the original social media, and where do you turn in any community when you want a connection? You turn to the radio; you’re not going to get that from a playlist.”

Heard. “We are doing everything we can to make the show two friends that hang out every day,” McCloud says. “We talk about what’s happening in the world in a way that’s entertaining enough for our listeners to want to be a part of it too.” Adds Heraldez, “Radio is everything I thought it was going to be and then some. It’s a lot of work, and there’s a lot involved behind the scenes I had no idea about, but being a part of the Bakersfield community is really rewarding.”

For McCloud, the reward comes every morning. “Ever since I’ve been in Bakersfield this has been my biggest goal – doing mornings on this legendary station,” he says. “We are so proud to have that red, white and blue guitar logo around us. If this is my last job, I’m ok with that because this is the pinnacle.” Reach Brakebill here; Dumas here; Heraldez here and McCloud here

–Chris

Huff

Luke Combs

Tanya Brakebill and Cliff Dumas

Vanessa “Ness” Heraldez and Kenn McCloud

AVAILABLE JOBS

MIDWEST

Ingstad/Thief River Falls, MN VP/Broadcasting

Jake Weber is looking for a GM to oversee the cluster that includes Country KKDQ & Classic Country KKAQ-AM Send résumés and cover letters to Weber here

Federated WBYT/South Bend, IN PD Jesse Garcia is on the hunt for a morning host to succeed Zach Miller. Send résumés and airchecks to Garcia here

Linder Radio KRUE/Waseca, MN is seeking a PD/ afternoon host to succeed Ben Merritt. Send résumés and airchecks here

Townsquare KWYY/Casper, WY Brand Mgr./ morning host Drew Kirby is seeking a co-host to join him. See the complete job description here; send résumés and airchecks here

Midwest/Wausau, WI OM Jon Reilly is seeking a Brand Mgr./afternoon host for Country WDEZ. Complete job description here; send résumés and airchecks to Reilly here

Mountain Dog Media WFON/Fon Du Lac, WI Brand Mgr. Aaron Carreno is seeking a morning co-host to join Trace “Moose” Moustakas. Interested parties can send résumés and airchecks to Carreno here

MacDonald WKCQ/Saginaw, MI OM/PD Jason Addams is searching for candidates for a future, full-time on-air role. Send résumés and airchecks to him here

Midwest/Fargo, ND OM Corey “Zero”

Schaffer is searching for a Brand Mgr./on-air talent to join Country KVOX. Send résumés and airchecks to him here

MacDonald WKCQ/Saginaw, MI OM/PD Jason Addams is looking for an afternoon drive host. “This is not a voice -tracking opportunity,” Addams tells Country Aircheck. “If you can shine while making the music and listeners the star, we want to hear from you.” Send résumés and airchecks to him here

Big Radio WJVL/Janesville, WI is searching for an on-air talent. “The position will be primarily live Saturdays with possible sports producing [and] voice-tracking [on other stations],” PD Justin Brown says. “Previous radio experience preferred, but we will train the right personality.” Send materials to Brown here

Midwest WXCL/Peoria, IL Brand Mgr. Bill Fox is searching for a full-time morning co-host. Applicants should be able or be willing to learn to handle short solo onair shifts, including operation of the station’s audio delivery system. Send résumés and cover letters here

NORTHEAST

Audacy/Rochester, NY VP/GM Sue Munn is looking for a Brand Mgr. for the five-station cluster that includes Country WBEE. Complete job description and application here

Townsquare/Augusta, ME OM Cooper Fox is searching for a morning host/content creator to join Country WEBB. See the complete job posting and apply here

Pamal Corp. Dir./Operations & Programming Kevin Callahan is seeking a full-time PD for Country WKLI/ Albany, NY. Send résumés and airchecks to him here

Audacy Regional Brand Mgr. Chris Michaels is looking for two new on-air hosts to join WBEE/Rochester in mornings. See the complete job posting here; reach Michaels here

Pamal WKLI/Albany, NY Corp. Dir./Operations & Programming Kevin Callahan is seeking a midday personality. Send résumés, social media links and airchecks to him here

Community Broadcasters WLFK/Gouverneur, NY Owner/Pres. Jim Leven is searching for a PD/morning host. Send résumés and airchecks to him here

Community Broadcasters/Gouverneur, NY is looking for an OM for its three-station cluster. The position also includes morning host duties for WLFK. Send résumés and airchecks to Leven here

iHeartMedia/Dover-Wilmington,DE, which includes Country WDSD, is searching for a VP/Sales with at least three years’ experience as an Account Exec. or Mgr./ Sales in the media industry. Apply here

SOUTHEAST

Forever EVP/Programming, Digital & Sales Development Jared Mims is on the hunt for a GM for the Bowling Green, KY and Glasgow, KY markets. Oversight includes Country WBVR/Bowling Green and Classic Country WLYE/Glasgow. See the complete job description here; send résumés here.

Mississippi Broadcaster WOKK/Meridian, MS PD Todd Berry is searching for a live-and-local morning cohost. See the complete job posting here; send résumés, cover letters and airchecks to Berry here.

Listen Up Y’all Media/Natchez, MS Group PD Kidd Conley is looking for a five-station APD for the cluster that includes WQNZ. Send résumés, cover letters, production demos and airchecks here.

Saga Classic Country WSIG/Harrisonburg, VA OM Brandy Lindsey is seeking a morning host to join incumbent Ivy Lee. Send résumés and airchecks to Lindsey here.

Beasley WKML/Fayetteville, NC PD Sarah Weaver is seeking an APD/afternoon personality. Send résumés and airchecks to her here.

Curtis WQDR/Raleigh PD Mike Biddle is searching for an APD/MD/midday personality to succeed Heather Davis. Complete job posting here; send résumés and airchecks to Biddle here.

Cumulus/Memphis VP/MM Morgan

Bohannon is searching for a PD for WGKX following the departure of Chad Heritage. According to the post, “Energy, enthusiasm and experience within the genre is a must.” See full description here

Midlands Media WUDE/Columbia, SC is searching for on-air talent with production and light engineering skills. VP/COO Marie Stover adds, “Tired of corporate radio? If you love the south, country music and serving local clients and community, let’s talk.” Send résumés and airchecks to Pres./CEO Keith Stover here.

WNGC/Athens, GA is searching for a morning host to join Haley Bartoletta. See the job posting here.

Saga WVVR/Clarksville, TN has an opening for a morning host. “Work for a great company and a team that values local programming, and is dedicated to serving,” says PD Chad Heritage. “If you have at least three years full-time Country/AC experience ...” send résumés and airchecks here

SOUTHWEST

LKCM Classic Country KTFW/Fort Worth OM Mark Phillips is seeking a midday host who can handle a “personality intensive daypart with a lot of phones, contests and appearances.” Reach him here.

Depot KDPM/Marshall, TX is looking for a local on-air talent/marketing representative. Send materials to PD Chip Arledge here

WEST COAST

Townsquare KUAD/Ft. Collins, CO Brand Mgr. Matt Sparx is hunting for a morning host. See the complete job description and apply here

Momentum KJUG/Visalia, CA PD Rik McNeil is looking for an APD/midday personality. Complete job posting here; send résumés, social media profiles, mobile content, examples of past success and airchecks to McNeil here

Cumulus KSKS/Fresno, CA PD Andy Winford is seeking a morning host to join incumbent Jody Jo Mize See the complete job posting and apply here

Buck Owens KUZZ/Bakersfield, CA PD/on-air talent Brent Michaels is searching for an on-air morning talent or team. See the complete job posting here; send résumés and airchecks to Michaels here

RWPC Pres. Scott Huskey is searching for a morning host to join McKenzie River KKNU/Eugene, OR. Send résumés and airchecks to Huskey here

Cumulus KATC/Colorado Springs, CO OM Bobby Irwin is searching for a PD/morning co-host to succeed Bo Jaxon. Complete job description and application here

Audacy RVP/West Coast Programming Scott Roddy is seeking a personality to join The Wake Up Call morning co-host Kelli Green. The complete job description and application is forthcoming.

McKenzie River KKNU/Eugene, OR PD Jim Davis is looking for a replacement for retired morning host Tim Fox. Reach Davis here

Cumulus KATM/Modesto, CA is looking for a Dir./ Promotions with a possible morning show role. Apply here

OTHER

Albright & O’Malley & Brenner VP Kenny Jay is searching for “a talent looking for their big break, or someone tired of corporate radio life who would like to settle down in California … [someone who] can have fun and entertain live and local at night.” The opportunity may include APD/MD duties as well. Send demos and resumes to Jay here

Albright & O’Malley & Brenner VP Kenny Jay is searching for a Brand Manager/prime time personality. “You must be a persuasive leader, a self-starter, have a strong desire to get things done, and have fun ... in one of the most livable cities in the US,“ he says. Three years of full-time management and on-air experience are required. Send demos and resumes to Jay here

Summit Media is looking for an SVP/Digital Strategy. The newly created position will adapt the company’s digital plan and organized initiatives into a comprehensive roadmap. See full posting here

An undisclosed programmer is seeking a “fun, engaging, relevant” personality. “A market-leading station in the Midwest is looking for a great storyteller ... engaging on air, online and in person.” Aircheck, résumé, social links and “anything else that will make you stand out” can be sent to this EOE here

Midwest Communications is looking for a Radio & Digital Sales Marketing Consultant, a Digital Support Specialist and Street Team members. For the consultant and street team positions, send your cover letter and résumé here For the specialist opening, email Mgr./Digital Systems Support Brandon Wickwire here. See all postings here

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AIRPLAY BY STATION OWNER

MARKET AIRPLAY PROFILE - BOSTON

B. GILBERT & B. SHELTON f/V. GILL/Heaven By Then (Valory/WMN)

Moves 36-45

2788 points, 777 spins; No adds

PARKER MCCOLLUM/Burn It Down (MCA)

Moves 50-46*

2700 points, 785 spins

6 adds: KFRG, KHEY, WCKT, WKHX*, WPAW, WUSN

JULY 31

None Listed

Send

AUGUST 7

FRANK RAY/Somebody Else’s Whiskey (Stoney Creek)

Remains at 47*

2563 points, 784 spins

1 add: WKIS

MORGAN EVANS/Over For You (Warner/WEA)

Moves 46-48

2471 points, 725 spins; No adds

CHASE RICE/Bad Day To Be A Cold Beer (Dack Janiels/Broken Bow)

Moves 48-49*

2465 points, 666 spins

2 adds: KWEN*, WSSL

TIGIRLILY GOLD/Shoot Tequila (Monument)

Re-enters 50*

2388 points, 701 spins

1 add: KFRG

NEON UNION/’Bout Damn Time (Red Street)

2305 points, 700 spins; No adds

WARREN ZEIDERS/Pretty Little Poison (Warner/WEA)

2132 points, 515 spins

6 adds: KCYY, WFUS, WGTY, WIRK, WQYK, WWQM

MORGAN WALLEN/Thinkin’ Bout Me (Big Loud)

2105 points, 611 spins; No adds

EASTON CORBIN/Marry That Girl (Stone Country)

2064 points, 643 spins; No adds

KIMBERLY PERRY/If I Die Young (Pt. 2) (Records Nashville)

1848 points, 532 spins; No adds

MEGAN MORONEY/I’m Not Pretty (Columbia)

M. GUYTON f/K. BROWN/Nothing Compares To You (Capitol)

AUGUST 14

None Listed

COUNTRY AIRCHECK ACTIVITY CHECKOUT

JULY 21

Hailey Whitters I’m In Love (Songs & Daughters/Big Loud)

Produced by Jake Gear and Whitters, the six-song EP follows concept albums The Dream and Raised “Both of these records are foundational to who I am,” she says. “Along the way I’ve lived a lot of life and learned a lot about myself, and I’m excited to get more personal and straight from the heart with this next chapter. If you’ve made it this far, you know where I’m coming from. Now I’m ready to share where I’ve been and who I am.”