Q&A:WXTU’s Andie Summers

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Radio was the closest thing to doing that, but it seemed even more fun because it was just so much more real and the music is amazing. At the time, ‘90s country was alive and well, and I loved the opportunity to be myself behind the microphone, rather than being the person TV wanted me to be.

Do you remember the moment the music won you over?

It was literally my first shift – Saturday 8pm to midnight. I remember dancing in the studio and thinking, “I hope no one can see me in here.” WXTU is somewhat foundational to Beasley in the Country format. What makes it a good country market in your view?

The genuineness of the audience and the music. People ask, “Who’s the country artist you know that you just don’t like? Who isn’t nice?” I say, “There isn’t anyone in this business that doesn’t deserve to be here because everyone is themselves. You take them as they are and you trust it. The audience can see through them if not.” And that is Philadelphia to a T. They will accept you as long as you own who you are.

You Belong With Me: Andie Summers with Taylor Swift during her first visit to the station. “I saw her getting out of the car and thought, ‘This girl’s going to be such a brat – tall, long blonde hair, the cute little dress and her cowboy boots. This is ridiculous.’ Then we were talking to her and she said, ‘Why are you making that face?’ I said, ‘Honestly, you are the coolest chick I’ve ever met in my life, and I did not expect this.’ So when we took the picture, she suggested we live-out who I thought she would be. She was 15, and that was her idea. Amazing.

Does that describe your approach as well?

In the back of my mind, I always thought I was being myself. But I wanted myself to be many different things through the years. And I’ve learned a lot from those that I worked with along the way. The fun part for our audience may have been to see my personality mature over these last 24 years. When I started with the station I was single and dating my now husband. Everything was new – living on my own just trying to be cool. I remember thinking I had to be perfect and do everything. Eventually, you grow and accept how little you know and that you’ll make a lot of mistakes. That’s so much more relatable. But hey, people in their twenties are supposed to think they know it all.

You’ve won two Gracies, two CMAs as a personality and an ACM for the station during your tenure. Do you think about awards much?

I don’t think about it at all. We have an amazing staff at the station who are insistent that we go through air checks and put packages together, but it is not in the forefront of my mind. Not even a little bit. For the Gracies, I didn’t even know I had been entered. I didn’t know until Caroline Beasley called to tell me I had won. I was looking around the room like, what is she talking about?

You support a lot of charities and other good works. How do you decide which make sense for you?

The spirit just moves me. My daughter plays volleyball and I was talking to another mom who said there’s a club coach who needs a kidney. I don’t even know how it came up, but I was immediately like, “I’ll find him a kidney.” As the words are coming out of my mouth I’m thinking, “What am I saying?” I don’t know this man, but this is what I do and it’s what this community is all about. We had him on the air Wednesday along with another listener we had on a year ago to tell the story of being a kidney donor. We were inundated with phone calls. The first two we took were moms who had been ready to donate kidneys to their daughters but hadn’t been able to before they passed. In moments like that, you realize everyone needed to hear this. Each of those women said, “If I’m a match for George, I’m giving him my kidney.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. We’re all standing in the studio like, “How is this even real life?” That’s the power of Country radio.

That is amazing. Are there other moments that stand out as you reflect on 24 years?

I still run into people – especially around the anniversary date – who call in or tell me in person they were listening on 9/11. My parents were on a cross country flight from Pennsylvania to Washington that day for a cruise, so I was freaking out. They could have been on one of those planes. People didn’t have smartphones and were relying on us for the information, so I really tried to hold it together. But I broke down all of a sudden, to the dismay of my thenpartner, and just couldn’t do it. I lost it. But it was one of those very real moments that stays with people who were listening. I’m actually glad I had the wherewithal to give it up.

How do you manage work/life balance?

I married a guy who’s also married to his work, so this is just how we live. I never had to make apologies for doing something work related and vice versa. Once kids came into the mix, and he started traveling with work more, I had no choice but to make them my priority. I was blessed to have Shelly Easton as my PD at the time, because she totally understood and supported me. Also, every time I was out with a sick kid or on a field trip, that’s show prep and relatable to every listener either as a parent or the child of a parent being pulled in a million different directions. That definitely helped me feel more confident about my position at the radio station as well as being their mom.

Plus, you get to a point in your life where you’re like, if I have to choose my family over my work and my work doesn’t understand that, they don’t deserve me or my family. I was raised to be the hardest working person in the building and, as I grew older, I realized that didn’t always mean spending all the time, but spending smarter time. My co-host Jeff Kurkjian is in his twenties, he and his wife are having their first baby, and he is me at that age. It’s fun to watch his decisions and that process he goes through as he’s working his tail off.

Reach Summers here –Chuck

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

West Virginia Radio WKKW/Morgantown, WV is looking for a nighttime host. Shifts on other WVRC Media stations may also be included. Send materials 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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The 16-track project boasts collaborations with Hailey Whitters (“Let It Flow”), Marcus King (“Heathen”) and Zac Brown (“When I Get Home”), the latter of whom also produced the album. Reflecting on how it came together, guitarist Caleb Miller shares, “Tennessee’s Waiting is our first full-length project in nearly four years, and we feel so grateful to have created it not only alongside each other as a band, but with some of our closest friends and mentors.”

Brett Young Across The Sheets (BMLGR)

Young’s eight-track, fourth studio album is a compilation of new (“Back To Jesus,” “Dance With You”) and old (Tim McGraw’s “Don’t Take The Girl,” “You Ain’t Here to Kiss Me”). “Across The Sheets is by far the most adventurous I’ve ever gotten thematically and lyrically,” he says. “I hope people hear my evolution as a songwriter and artist because I’m really proud of how much I allowed myself to pull back the curtain and let people see more of my life through my music.”