Station Profile: WCOL/Columbus, OH ACM Camp's Dual Impact
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May 21, 2018, Issue 602 Station Profile: WCOL/Columbus, OH More than 65% of iHeartCountry stations saw gains with Per- sons 25-54 over the winter, according to format captain Rod Phil- lips, and the company’s WCOL/Columbus, OH enjoyed some of the most impressive. The station was up 25% year over year in that demo, and continues to post enormous numbers 6+. WCOL averaged an 11.9 over the last 13 PPM surveys, in fact, the highest being April’s 14.4. It was ‘COL’s best overall showing since PPM arrived in the market. The Columbus powerhouse has always been successful, but the last few months have been especially notable. PD Dan Zuko, who’s heading into his 20th year with the station and fifth at its helm, Rod Phillips attributes WCOL’s success to a seasoned and involved staff, increased concert traffic and a potent music cycle. Phillips, meanwhile, praises the “highly en- There’s A Neon Light: Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean at gaged” Zuko, the morning show Zuko co-hosts and a station that the St. Louis stop of his High Noon Neon Tour Thursday totally embraces its community. Country Aircheck recently caught (5/17). Pictured (front, l-r) are WIL’s Bud Ford, Jerry up with both to better understand what’s driving WCOL’s growth. Broadway, Kelly From Arnold and Danny Montana; Staff, Mornings & Competition: (back, l-r) Grady, KSD’s Jules Riley, Aldean, Ashley, “It’s crazy right now,” Zuko says of the sta- KSD’s Dusty Panhorst and the label’s Jim Malito. tion’s success. “If I had to point to one thing, it would be my staff.” They’re hard workers who love their jobs, he explains, and they’ve been ACM Camp’s Dual Impact in place for a long time. Mornings, for exam- Going into its ninth year, ACM Lifting ple, have included Zuko and Woody Johnson Lives Music Camp (June 13-19) has made a for nearly 17 years. Afternooner Joe Boxer has tangible difference in the lives of many with been on the station for nearly as long as Zuko, a rare genetic condition. In partnership with and middayer Andy Clark and evening per- the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, the effort Dan Zuko sonality Joe Kelly each have extensive tenures has advanced research and training related to in the market. Kayla Hanley, who joined the Williams Syndrome and, along the way, has morning show five years ago as co-host and producer, is consid- become deeply woven into the fabric of how ered the staff newbie. “So longevity is key,” Zuko says. “And they’re the country music community gives back. all dedicated to winning.” Kennedy Center Sr. Research Specialist Elizabeth Roof has been involved since the Elizabeth Roof (continued on page 7) ©2018 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 21, 2018 Page 3 beginning, five years prior to the music industry connection. “Be- cause I’ve been with the camp since it started 14 years ago, I have personally seen how incredibly valuable having ACMLL involved has been in the continuation and evolution of what we created,” she says. Charged with “improving lives through the power of music,” ACMLL stepped in at a crucial time. “That’s exactly what this camp was doing, [but it] had actually lost funding and was close to shutting down when ACM got involved,” says Lifting Lives board member Lori Lytle. “The partnership saved the camp.” In addition to causing medical and developmental problems, Williams Syndrome typically creates a heightened affinity and talent for music. Working with top names in country music on songwriting workshops, recording sessions, karaoke and the clos- ing Grand Ole Opry performance provide unique opportunities for each year’s roughly 30 campers. Research participation is voluntary and key to the long term view of the camp. “We don’t want to create a magical week that ends on the last day,” Lytle says. “We want to better understand the connection between music and people with WS. Where does that affinity for music come from, and how can we use it to improve their lives?” Beyond music, campers receive other ben- Lori Lytle efits. “We’re figuring out their strengths and what challenges they face and what we can do to help improve their quality of life,” Roof says. “In addition to music, we’re teaching life skills and independence that can help them beyond camp and into their daily lives.” Camp participation can even lead to real world achievements. For instance, Clancey Hopper, who first participated as a 16-year- old. “She enjoyed it so much that she came back as a counselor, then Pete Fisher [now ACM CEO] hired her at the Opry to give tours,” Roof says. “Campers love seeing her, because she started where they are, and now she’s the one giving them tours. There’s another young man who started as a camper and now works at Vanderbilt, sterilizing surgical equipment. His family told us that the skills he learned at camp and the connections and friend- ships made a huge difference in his life. Ultimately, our goal is to spread awareness that people with disabilities have the same hopes and dreams that everyone else does. Having a disability may make you different, but it also makes you special.” That may be part of why the creative community has become so supportive of the camp. Artist participants have included Jake Owen, Lee Brice, Hunter Hayes, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts and Maren Morris. “The celebrities are always amazed at the real mu- sical talent campers have,” Roof says. “We’ve even had campers correcting artists on lyrics from their own songs! When it comes to karaoke, campers can remember all of the lyrics to 30-year-old songs. Their memory is amazing.” Lytle adds, “From songwriting workshops with Dierks Bentley and Ross Copperman to recording sessions with Carrie Under- wood and Kelsea Ballerini, the community helps us make each year unique. One of our biggest moments was when the campers were invited to sing ‘Music From The Heart’ with Darius Rucker live at the ACMs in 2011. That brought so much visibility to not only the camp, but Williams Syndrome in general.” Her favorite memory, however, is a bit more specific. “Unbe- knownst to us, there was a girl from Canada with Williams Syn- drome in the audience during our end-of-the-week Opry perfor- mance one year,” Lytle says. “She had never met anyone else with Williams Syndrome, so we were able to bring her backstage to meet the campers. It was such a special and tear-soaked moment. She ended up coming back as a camper.” Read more about the camp and Williams Syndrome here. – Caitlin DeForest ©2018 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 21, 2018 Page 5 Chart Chat OFF THE RECORD: DUSTIN LYNCH Congrats to Kane Brown, Steve Hodg- Broken Bow’s Dustin Lynch puts an es, Dennis Reese and the RCA team on industry spin on the artist interview: two weeks in “Heaven” at the No. 1 spot. The It’s always fun to visit radio stations and song is Brown’s second chart-topper from his goof off a little bit. I can’t remember why, self-titled debut. Songwriters are Matthew but recently, [Ty, Kelly & Chuck’s] Kelly Ford McGinn, Lindsay Rimes and Shy Carter. was throwing a baseball down the hall and And kudos to Katie Dean and the MCA I was trying to play catcher. It didn’t go well reps on landing 107 adds for Sam Hunt’s Kane Brown (laughs). “Downtown’s Dead,” topping this week’s One of my favorite people to travel with board. Dustin Lynch is my Ben Patyk, my assistant tour manager and merch guy. We always have a blast. He’s also my accountability coach when it comes to working out. Every time I’m at a truck stop, I get a Snickers ice News & Notes Withers’ KBXB/Sikeston, MO and Beverly’s WRHA-AM/ cream bar and the occasional Mello Yello. And sunflower Spring City, TN have added Rockcastle Media Networks’ seeds in the summer. Wilhite & Wall in mornings. My new single “Good Girl” was unexpected for Cumulus Nash Nights Live co-host Elaina Smith and Ty, everybody, including myself. Back in February I was bummed Kelly & Chuck co-host Kelly Ford are featured in the May 2018 out. I didn’t have any new music, so I plastered my schedule issue of Franklin Lifestyle Magazine as “Local Female Movers & with writing sessions. One weekend I had Justin Ebach and Shakers.” Andy Albert out with me on the road. We wrote “Good Girl” The fourth edition of former CRB Exec. Dir. and MTSU pro- in Chicago. Before we even had the chorus lyrics – we just fessor Paul Allen’s Artist Management for the Music Business is had the melody and the hook – I started jumping up and available now. down. I told Andy to pick out a boat, ‘cause he just made Southwest Airlines passengers can now access iHeartRa- one. We instantly knew we’d struck gold. We played the work dio free of charge through the onboard entertainment portal on tape for everybody that night after the show. I watched body their personal devices. language, and my guitar player’s wife and her friends started Morning Hangover Creator/Publisher Kurt Bardella will dancing and didn’t even know what song it was.