OFF THE RECORD

Monument’s Caitlyn Smith goes Off (The Record):

I did my last UK tour solo. I loved it so much, I wanted to bring similar intimacy to the U.S. During the pandemic, I started to support the National Independent Venue Association with my single “I Can’t.” Losing venues I grew up seeing live music in was not something I could stand by and watch.

Through that, I learned a lot about how these venues operate and how important they are to their communities. I deeply relate to the small business mindset, as that’s what I’m building for myself. I want to truly experience the music scene in each market I visit, and these venues are the best way to do that.

Caitlyn Smith

News & Notes

The late Laurie Kahn is the 2023 recipient of the MIW Trailblazer Award. Friend and business partner Patty Kincaid will accept on her behalf at the 2023 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show April 18.

Fix The Mix has released its first report on gender representation in audio production and engineering here

Sun & Fun Media and EZ Merch have partnered to offer branded merch for radio stations for cash or barter. Details here

Big Night with Women In The Round will take place May 16 at 7pm CT at Grammy Museum Mississippi in Cleveland, MS featuring Beth Nielsen Chapman, Ashley Cleveland, Pam Tillis and Tricia Walker. Tickets here

Trace Adkins will headline Somewhere In America: A Concert For Mayfield May 20 at Mayfield, KY High School to benefit areas devasted by a 2021 tornado. Details here

Reba McEntire will release an album, Not That Fancy, October 6, and accompanying book, Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots. Pre-order the album here and book here

High & Low is about all aspects of my life – I take a journey through every emotion. It kicks off with the highest of Highs and dives into the lowest of Lows. It’s about real life … and how we can’t have one without the other. I take people through joy and sorrow, through pain and triumph. My hope is that this record gives the listener a space to hold these feelings and feel seen – in the high and the low.

With this being my first time in the producer’s chair, I experienced a lot of growth. When I walked into the first session, I was so nervous and a little intimidated, but by the last song, I was confident enough that I actually cut the whole thing by myself, playing all the instruments, producing, engineering and recording it in my home studio.

“High” is a special song, of course, because Miley Cyrus cut it for her record, but also because it kicked off the journey of this project. I love Miley’s version, but I knew I needed my own version on this record.

“Lately” is one of my favorites. Everything listed in the verses is what I was actually doing to distract myself from what I was missing during 2020. “Alaska” was very hard to write, but one I’m very proud of. It’s raw and real, and I was honored to work with co-writer Ben West.

“Maybe In Another Life” was a heartbreaker to write and is a heartbreaker to sing. The record has a one-take tracking vocal that was so in-the-moment we had to keep it.

“The Great Pretender” is probably the most personal song on the record. Since I wrote it after the project was finished, I had to cut it in just a few days by myself to make the master deadline. It was the perfect way to complete the record and summarize this transformative season I’ve walked through.

Darius Rucker will host the 14th annual Darius And Friends concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital June 5 at the Ryman Auditorium. Ticket info here

The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum is showcasing 13 songs written and recorded by Nashville area students through an extension of its Words & Music program. Listen here

Separation Anxiety: New Airplay Rules?

(continued from page 1)

And if another artist reaches that level, the template’s been built.”

“It reminds me of when Garth was as hot as Morgan is now,” says Audacy VP/Country Format Tim Roberts. “Whether it’s hand-editing the playlist or putting a new rule in your scheduling system, you’re breaking rules, because artists are setting records and doing things we haven’t seen. We’re finally coming to a place where instead of labels deciding what the single is, we’re realizing it’s better to let the fans do it.”

Big Loud SVP/Promotion Stacy Blythe won’t argue with that. “[Working two singles] definitely wasn’t the initial thought,” she admits. “As ‘Thought You Should Know’ was peaking, ‘One Thing At A Time’ was raising its hand as the next single. Some stations were already playing it, and it was the one Morgan wanted. Then, ‘Last Night’ started exploding in consumption. Republic wanted to run with it at Top 40, and [Country] programmers were calling to say, ‘We can’t let other formats own this song.’ A couple stations took it upon themselves to add both. ‘Last Night’ was actually out-streaming ‘One Thing At A Time,’ so we followed suit and chased it. I’d love to say it was our genius idea, but we were just following the fans.”

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Fans may be more accustomed to binge listening than in past eras. “When the consumer listens anywhere but radio, they’re hearing artists’ songs back-to-back,” says Sony EVP/Promotion & Artist Development Steve Hodges. “The old days of wide separation – hours, in some cases – had to change as TSL has fallen.”

Having seen listener behavior shifts from different industry vantage points, Jay agrees. “I watched this happen on the label side and was frustrated radio didn’t grasp the opportunity to play superstar acts whose songs clearly had the metrics to be contenders at a more rapid pace. With TSL dropping to the levels it is, we can expose hit songs and top artists more frequently.”

Unlimited streaming bandwidth doesn’t apply at radio, however. More singles for some artists means fewer for others. “If you’re not a top tier artist, your music has to be great,” Jay says. “There’s not as much room for error in what you bring to radio as there was 10 years ago or even three years ago.”

Hodges concurs, adding, “There are so many analytics, you kind of know how fans have reacted. If they don’t react to the music, you can’t expect a great showing at radio. I’d rather have a conversation with the artist to cut bait so we can get to a song that is a hit.”

While Blythe notes the difficulty for “those artists

Rock And A Hardware Place: Elektra/ WMN’s Bailey Zimmerman is surprised with a plaque commemorating the platinum (2x) certification of “Fall In Love” and “Rock And A Hard Place.” Pictured (l-r) are The Neal Agency‘s Adi Sharma, WMN‘s Diane Monk and Stephanie Hagerty, Elektra ‘ s Kevin Liles, manager Scott Frazier, WMN‘s Cris Lacy, Elektra ‘ s Jacob Fain, The Core Entertainment’s Tracy Martin WMN‘s Ben Kline, Elektra Nadel, The Core Entertainment’s Zaruk, Elektra ‘ s Jonathan Janis Core Entertainment’s who are slower to consume but quicker to research,” she adds, “The real difference is at the top of the chart. The ability to be forced to [No. 1] is more difficult. Other records are going to have to be organically as strong ... or stronger.”

“You still have to balance streaming hits with the superstars who don’t necessarily stream at those levels,” Jay admits. “As long as there is a 40-plus crowd that’s not into streaming at the level of younger demos, we can still have those turntable hits for a traditional radio audience.”

Another potential drawback is also worth considering. “Outside of too many commercials, Country radio P1s’ next complaint is playing the same songs over and over,” Jay says. “The exposure for artists to have multiple singles is great for the format, but it has to be carefully balanced not to upset station TSL. Creating great musical quarter hours with entertaining talent adds to the critical P1 want of ‘makes me feel good when I listen.’”

Sea change or circumstantial – “We’re just in a season where two superstars released big projects close to each other,” Blythe suggests – it’s a (mostly) good problem to have. “I’m not sure the format has been this healthy with songs and artists in a long time, and PDs are recognizing it,” Hodges says. “When was the last time we saw so many songs crossing over from Country to other formats? The audience is hungry for it – we should feed them.” –

Chuck

Aly CAC

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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 KKAQAM. 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

Cumulus WFMS/Indianapolis OM/ PD Christopher “Boomer” Layfield is searching for a Digital Content Dir./midday personality. Complete job description and application 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. See the complete job description here; send résumés and airchecks to Reilly here

Townsquare/St. Cloud, MN Dir./ Content Paul Shea is searching for a Brand Mgr./on-air host to join Country WWJO. See the complete job posting and apply here; send résumés and airchecks to Shea 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

Northeast

Audacy/Rochester, NY VP/GM

Sue Munn is looking for 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 onair 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

SOUTHEAST

Forever WOGY/Jackson, TN EVP Jared Mims is searching for a morning co-host who will also write and produce newscasts each morning. Send résumés and airchecks to him here.

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 co-host. 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.

Saga WVVR/Clarksville, TN PD Mike Sanders is searching for a morning co-host. Send résumés and airchecks to him here.

WVRC Classic Country WKWS/ Charleston, WV PD Crash Poteet is looking to add a full-time on-air personality for mornings. Send résumés and airchecks here.

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

WEST COAST Results Radio/Redding, CA

MM Beth Tappan and SVP/Strategic Development Dave Shakes are looking for an OM for the five-station cluster that includes Country KNCQ. See the complete job description here; send résumés here

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 KUBL/Salt Lake City PD Travis Daily is searching for a co-host to join newly minted host Jesse James See the complete job description and apply 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

Townsquare Corporate Recruiter/ Content Savannah Bullard is seeking a Dir./Digital & Radio Content for the Billings, MT cluster that includes Country KCTR. See the complete job posting here; send résumés and airchecks to Bullard 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.

Other

River House Artists Dir./Digital Strategy Kristin Watson Byrne is looking for a Coord./Digital. Send résumés to her here

OH Creative owner Olivia Hanceri is searching for a Nashville-based Coord./PR to join her growing team. See the complete job posting here; send résumés, references and writing samples to Hanceri here

Seeking Jobs

•Greg Cole

Former WKCQ/Saginaw, MI OM/PD GCole27000@gmail.com 916-502-4734

•Marc Lavik (aka Dave Marcus) Former on-air talent ZimaGuy@gmail.com 401-467-6737

•”Big” John Horton

Former KFSA/Ft. Smith, AR afternoon host BigJohn@TheBigJohnShow.com

•AJ McCloud

Former WWFF/Huntsville, AL APD/afternoons AJ.McCloud@charter.net 256-503-2301

•Bill Hickok

Former KBMR/Bismark, ND morning host BillHickok1950@gmail.com

•Scott Davidson

Former WHOF-HD2/Canton, OH PD/on-air host Davidson1023@gmail.com

•David Dean

Former KXDD/Yakima, WA afternoons DaviDean5@gmail.com

•Brian “Wookie” Kostek

Former WDSY/Pittsburgh APD/MD/afternoons BKostek24@gmail.com

•Kim Brixton

Former WNWN/Battle Creek, MI mornings/middays KimBrixton@gmail.com

•Mark McKay

Former Riser House Dir./ Southeast Promotion MMcKay973@gmail.com

•Tami Rumfelt

Former WPAW/Greensboro afternoons TamiRumfelt@gmail.com

•Mike McKay

Former WQRB/Eau Claire, WI Brand Mgr./mornings McKProd@charter.net

•Jimmy Elliott

Former WOVK/Wheeling, WV WPP/ PD/MD/mornings JimmyElliottSchlosser@gmail.com

•Bill “Stu” Stewart

Former KASH/Anchorage, AK PD/ morning co-host 602-785-5329 BStu1013@gmail.com

•Jim Pearson

Former KDBL/Yakima, WA PD/mornings JimsCoolEmail@gmail.com 831-261-1822

•Aaron “Gator” Glass Former WQNU/Louisville mornings GatorGlass.53@gmail.com

•Carly Quinn

Former WGH/Norfolk morning co-host NewEnglandClamChowder2021@yahoo.com 863-388-9606

•Chuck Akers Former KTHT/Houston morning co-host chuckakers@comcast.net

•Scott Gaines

Former Summit/Knoxville OM & WCYQ PD GainesRadio@gmail.com

•T.J. “J.T.” Michaels Former WCPV/Burlington, VT PD/afternoons TJMichaelsRadio@gmail.com 802-249-3570

•Caitlin “CJ” Johnson Former KKBQ/Houston afternoons Caitlin.M.Johnson25@gmail.com

•Jonathan Wier

Former WKLB/Boston morning co-host JonWierWLCA@gmail.com

•Quinn Alexander

Former WCJC/Kokomo, IN middays Quist23@gmail.com

•Bob Reeves

Former Riser House SVP/Promotion BReeves780@gmail.com 615-347-9499

•Bryan “Ryder” Konold

Former KDBL/Yakima, WA Brand Mgr./ mornings BryantRyderKonold@gmail.com

•Lexi Papadopoulos

Former KUBL/Salt Lake City mornings LexiOnTheRadio@gmail.com

•Jared “Banks” Danielson

Former KUBL/Salt Lake City mornings JaredDanielson1@gmail.com

•Adrian Kulp

Former syndicated Backstage Country Exec. Prod. AdrianKulp@gmail.com

•Megan Youngblood

Former Capitol Dir./West Coast Promotion MegaYoungBlood@gmail.com

•Greg Raneiri

Former Mercury Dir./West Coast Promotion G.Raneiri@gmail.com

•Kevin “Crash” Davis

Former WEBL/Memphis OM/PD/ mornings KevinDavisRadio@gmail.com

•Blake Nixon

Former Show Dog Dir./ Southeast Promotion Blake.Nixon@comcast.net