May 1, 2017, Issue 548 Big Numbers In Big D Working at a small Dallas directional AM – KBOX, Mac Daniels listened to “All Star Country” KPLX sign on with Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River” in 1980. Daniels soon went to work for the then-Susquehanna station in nights, rising to MD and eventually APD. For the duration of his 14-year run, KSCS was “the competition, the enemy,” he says. Returning as PD for both stations in February 2016, Daniels has proved you can go home again – even if the furniture’s been moved around. KPLX has spent the last three months as the market’s No. 1 station 6+ and this March Mac Daniels as America’s largest cuming station. KSCS has risen to more than one million cume. Know Way: Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean in Fort Wayne, IN on With heritage air staffs on both and minimal differences in the the opening weekend of his You Don’t Know Tour. Pictured (l-r) approach to imaging and events, Daniels says music has been the are WQHK’s Dave Michaels, the label’s Dawn Ferris, Aldean key to both differentiating the stations and to ratings growth. and WBYT’s Jesse Garcia. “Texas Country” and “’90s To Now” positioned KPLX is the Hot AC, as Daniels hears it, with a core 25-54 target demo. The station has grown from a 4.4 to 6.0 6+ over the past year. “New Aldean Tour: Yes They Do Country” KSCS has moved from a shade under a million in 6+ Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean kicked off his They Don’t Know cume a year ago to 1.083 million this March, and is the Top Tour with RCA’s Chris Young and Kane Brown over the week- 40-leaning offering aimed 18-49. “But 25-54 is very important on end in Toledo, OH, Fort Wayne, both,” Daniels says. IN and Green Bay, WI. Team (In) Building: Overseeing two Country stations in “What a night with Jason,” a market is nothing new for Daniels, who programmed KASE & says Midwest WNCY/Apple- KVET/Austin for six years after stints at WMZQ/Washington, DC ton-Green Bay, WI MD/morn- and WYCD/Detroit. Since he lived the battle “back in the day,” ing co-host Charli McKenzie. Daniels wanted to “reignite the passion on both sides of the halls.” “You can tell why he was given He concentrated on KSCS, since it was striving against the strong Entertainer of the Year. I thought Wolf brand. “The KSCS staff was ready,” he says. the screams were going to make Mark “Hawkeye” Louis has been on the KSCS morning show me go permanently deaf. They since 1988 – he’s the longest running morning personality on couldn’t get enough.” In Fort the FM band in DFW. His longtime co-host, the late Terry Dorsey, Wayne, Federated WQHK PD/ retired in 2014. Louis is now surrounded by youthful co-hosts MD midday host Dave Mi- Jasmine and Konnected K. Michelle Rodriguez started at KPLX in chaels reports Aldean “opened Aldean with 2004 in promotion and on-air part time, switched to nights at with the new single ‘They Don’t McKenzie (continued on page 8) ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 1, 2017 Page 4 Know’ and I think from OFF THE RECORD: MIDLAND the first note until the Jason Aldean end of the show, no Cameron Duddy from Big Machine’s one sat down. He was Midland puts an industry spin on the definitely on and glad artist interview: to be back on stage.” I grew up listening to KROQ/Los WQHK had Aldean sign Angeles and KRTH/Los Angeles. a set of “old barstools” My scariest memory of radio for a giveaway. tour? Perhaps it’s this hotel room I’m in Both McKenzie and right now. Once, we were with WUBE/ Michaels remarked that Cameron Duddy Cincinnati’s Grover Collins and we drove Kane Brown, drew one across the border into Sugartit, KY. But of the bigger crowds they that was one of my fondest memories! Without sounding too had seen for an opening mushy, after two decades of playing music, it’s really an honor act. “He had people’s to be out here doing this. attention the minute he All of our promo reps are fun to be around. [Former started singing,” observed McKenzie. “Kane Brown was the shock SVP/Promo] Jack Purcell was our first and I got to spend a of the show,” added Michaels. lot of time with him. He’s a musician, he plays drums. He “Chris Young, as always, was stellar,” says Michaels. He noted turned me on to music I hadn’t heard, while we were driving that during the first handful of songs, Young spent time signing hundreds of miles. He was a mentor to me. But also, Kris autographs from the stage and taking selfies with the audience, Lamb, he’s like a big brother. And Erik Powell is the drill “The fans loved it.” McKenzie added “The crowd was on their feet sergeant/football coach. They’re all really cool. his whole set. He sang nine No. 1 songs in a row.” We play modern traditional country music. We’re In Green Bay, Aldean’s band performed 22 songs including an influenced by ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s country. We like to think of encore of “Big Green Tractor” and “She’s Country.” The tour has a ourselves as a cross between the Eagles and Dwight Yoakam. new dynamic new backdrop and pyro during Aldean’s set. I’m not really an impulse buyer. Spoiler alert: we’re not This week, Aldean is in Texas at the iHeartCountry Festival in making any money right now, so I have to be a good boy on the Austin and the Off The Rails Country Music Fest in Frisco. The tour road and think of my family. But I do have a penchant for cowboy kicks back in at Blossom Music Center in Ohio May 12. hats, and if I find a good one, it’s hard for me to resist. –Paul Williams Only Bob Dylan could have written “Like A Rolling Stone.” But I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall to see the stream of consciousness that must’ve happened when he wrote that song. Chart Chat It’s probably one of the most powerful songs ever written. Congrats to Sam Hunt, Royce Risser, We always have a vial of tea tree oil with us on the road. Katie Dean, David Friedman and the ex- When you’re staying in the world’s worst motels, you sprinkle tended MCA promotion team on landing this that on your pillow. It makes the room smell better. week’s No. 1 with “Body Like A Back Road.” I never get annoyed by any interview question, but I The song is the first single from Hunt’s upcom- guess having to describe the meaning of “Drinkin’ Problem” ing album. is sort of annoying. There’s no real meaning. I don’t know if And kudos to Bobby Young and the there’s anything deeper than just the hook. Capitol staff on notching 49 adds for Jon Par- Sam Hunt If we were on radio tour, I’d love to be stuck in Phoenix. di’s “Heartache On The Dance Floor,” topping I love the desert heat. If I’m picking anywhere in the world, I’d this week’s board. say Paris. I love that city. No one’s ever “stuck” in Paris. Panel Changes: New reporters for this week’s chart are WKTI/ Milwaukee and WOKQ/Dover-Portsmouth, NH. New Activator panel reporters are WIOV/Lancaster, PA; WDEN/Macon, GA; ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 1, 2017 Page 6 MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE WGTR/Myrtle Beach, SC and KHAY/Oxnard, CA. No longer reporting are WPAW/Greensboro, NC and WNCB/Raleigh. Webster Public Relations CEO/President Kirt Webster discusses his most influential music: 1. David Frizzell & Shelly West, Celebrity News & Notes Theater, Phoenix: It was my first concert. WHSX/Bowling Green, KY adds Envision’s Collin Raye’s The duo had “You’re The Reason God Made Rewind Country. Oklahoma” out and Shelly was touring off of her The RAB Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group’s hit “Jose Cuervo” and “Flight 309 To Tennessee.” 10th Annual Rising Through The Ranks seminar will be August 2. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton’s Real 16-17 at the BMI Nashville office. Scholarship applications and Kirt Webster Love, HBO: Growing up, Kenny and Dolly were registration available here. everything country music was. I set a goal to move to Nashville Gene Watson and Moe Bandy’s Country’s Family Reunion and work for them. Here I am today, representing both artists, Presents The Gene and Moe Show will air nationwide on RFD-TV knowing everything I dreamed is completely how I envisioned it. in May. Check local listings here. 3. Janie Fricke: She was one of my first clients more than 20 Crystal Gayle, Patti Smith and Harry Shearer will be years ago. I’ll always remember how she took a chance and honored at the National Music Council’s 34th annual American gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream of doing PR/ Eagle Awards July 13 at the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville.