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2021 JUNE 21 CountryInsider.com | Sign Up For Daily Email Here One Month In, WUSN ’s New Morning Team Is Making Itself At Home. On paper, the pairing of Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff should work perfectly as the morning team at “US99” WUSN Chicago. She’s a familiar voice in the market with 22 years of history at a crosstown station. He’s a Nashville native who grew up around the city’s music scene and has connections in the sports world. Even though neither has worked at a country station before coming to WUSN, they appear to have all the elements for success — comfort level, lifestyle music. It’s all there. Real life doesn’t always play out like planned scenarios. This time, though, things seem to be going okay. (Continued on page 4)

COUNTRY INSIDER TOP 5: Country Fans Love 70s And 80s Music — But Is That Where Their Favorite Country Comes From? Why In And Wouldn’t Be The Same Without Norm Schrutt. Mike O’Malley: Radio And The Benefits of Limited Time Offers. Viva Las Vegas: Headed Back To Sin City For Three Nights In December. Meanwhile In Virginia: Eddie Garcia Begins His West Virginia-To-Tennessee Walk.

1 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com

Ryan Fox Joel Burke My Top 5 Favorite Mornings Top 5 Fave Songs Operations Manager NEW Songs: Right Now: KBEY 103.9 Marble Falls, TX Hot Country Format 1. I Was on a Boat That Day - 1. Gone - Old Dominion 2. half of my hometown - 2. I Was on a Boat - Ballerini Old Dominion 3. Wish You Were the 3. Country Again - Whiskey - Priscilla Block 4. We Didn’t Have Much - 4. Country Again - Justin Moore Thomas Rhett 5. Glad You Exist - 5. She Got That - Dan + Shay Drew Green

When It Comes To Music, What Decades Do Country Fans Love Most? Nearly half of American fans think the 1970s and 1980s produced the best music, according to a YouGov poll of more than 17,000 Americans. Country ranked as the fourth-most popular genre behind rock, pop and R&B, with three in 10 (31%) of those polled identifying as fans of country music. According to YouGov data journalist Jamie Ballard, the “data suggests a general trend around people tending to most prefer the music that was popular when they young.” While 23% of country fans say the best music came from the 80s and 21% said the 70s, the poll didn’t specify whether the country fans consider the best country music to have been created during those decades.

Eddie Garcia Makes Day-One Goal In His West Virginia-To-Tennessee Walk. Eddie Garcia of the -distributed “” began his 90-mile trek from West Virginia to Tennessee on Father’s Day, reaching his first-day goal of 16 miles. “We’re making great time,” Garcia said in a video posted early Monday. “I hit the ground running. I’ve been powerwalking — stopped a couple times to stretch and stuff and get a protein bar and refill my water.” Videos from Garcia’s walk are streaming on the show’s YouTube channel. Garcia’s committed to the walk, which he expects to complete Thursday as a fundraiser for National Angels, a foster-care organization.

Jason Aldean Gets “Back In The Saddle” For Three-Night Vegas Run. Jason Aldean returns to Las Vegas’ Park Theater at Park MGM in December for three nights. Aldean’s “Back in the Saddle: Las Vegas 2021” will be held Dec. 9-11 at 9pm PT. Lainey Wilson will open. Aldean previously played three nights at the Park Theater in 2019 for his “Jason Aldean: Ride All Night Vegas” show. Tickets go on sale this Friday (10am PT) via Ticketmaster.

Third Time’s A Charm For Expectant Father Matty Jeff At Townsquare Albany. Townsquare Media Albany Director of Content Matty Jeff and wife Stacy are expecting their third child in October. On Facebook Sunday, Jeff called the news the “Greatest Father’s Day gift ever!” The Jeffs currently have two children, Scarlett and Emmett, and plan to keep the sex of the third a secret for now. Jeff oversees Townsquare’s six-station Albany, NY, cluster, which includes country WGNA (107.7).

3 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com Chicago’s New Morning Team. (Continued from page 1) “It’s difficult to put together a morning show, to Cubs game if you wanted me to, but I had never try to figure out people who have chemistry, and done a minute, so I had to just jump in. I was honestly, these two had instant chemistry,” Audacy impressed right off the bat with the way we got Regional Brand Manager and WUSN PD Marci along. I kept thinking to myself, if we get along this Braun tells Country Insider. “Melissa and Austin” well over Zoom, the freaking magic we can create debuted on WUSN Monday, May 10, running from when we are together in the same room is really 6am-9am. exciting.”

McGurren comes from hot McGurren says Huff, a former high-school football AC “101.9 FM The Mix” standout in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood WTMX, where she spent whose father worked in the Christian music more than two decades, industry, has the ability to quickly put others at first as a traffic reporter ease. “He’s a powerhouse but he’s not threatening,” than as co-host of “Eric in she says. “He rides this fine line of being a strong the Morning.” character but never over the top.

Braun says Audacy “I get his sense of humor. He gets mine. I can be Regional President Rachel sweet but I’m sassy. I’m Williams reached out to sarcastic, and I think he McGurren after she left likes the sarcasm. He WTMX in December. plays off that well.”

A colleague at Audacy Top 40 “B96” WBBM tipped Huff welcomes good- WUSN staff to Huff, a former producer of “The Jim natured sparring, too. Rome Show” who runs a sports blog called Korked “It’s hard to find another Bats and starting hosting the “Titan Up” football radio host that can roll podcast after exiting Hubbard sports/talk “101 with the punches,” he ESPN” WXOS St. Louis at the end of 2019. says. “I can make fun of Melissa, and she won’t “We were mixing and matching several pairs and get upset; she’ll just ideations,” Braun says. “This was the one that make fun of me right back.” was immediate. We knew right away there was something there.” Braun characterizes the pair’s dynamic as a brother-sister relationship, “because they tease Braun noticed the chemistry in her first Zoom call each other constantly. What you get on the air is with McGurren and Huff, an interview held virtually what you get off the air. There’s no pretense.” because of the coronavirus pandemic. When that conversation went well, Braun asked the pair to Indeed, reference a bit from the morning’s show quickly put together a sample show — even though about “Real Housewives of Chicago Morning Radio,” they had never been, and wouldn’t be, in the same and suddenly the duo is off to the races, riffing on room beforehand. McGurren eating cookies for breakfast and the way Huff talks to his dog at home. “I will cuddle with her “I had never had any and snuggle with her … and I probably shouldn’t be conversations with Austin, saying that right now,” he says. didn’t know anything about him,” McGurren says. McGurren and Hall are WUSN’s third morning team since 2016. In Nielsen Audio’s May ’21 PPM survey, Huff had an additional US99 had a 1.7 share of adults 25-54 in the 6am- obstacle. Despite local 9am daypart with a cumulative weekly audience radio stints in St. Louis and of 87,500. Overall, the station ranked 17th in the Nashville, “I had never done market with a 2.5 6+ share and a weekly cume of a segment,” 745,500. he says. “I could talk for 12 minutes about last night’s (Continued on page 7) 4 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com 2021 Country Radio Hall of Fame Inductee Norm Schrutt. Late broadcasting legend Norm Schrutt was known supervised the company’s stations in Chicago, for successfully building country stations in two Washington, Dallas, Atlanta and Minneapolis. He major markets, in part because he understood the also helped bring commercial radio to Scandinavia importance of on-air personalities. as the company’s consultant with the Scandinavian Broadcast System, which owned 10 stations in Schrutt, who died in 2020, will be inducted Denmark, Finland and Sweden. posthumously into the Country Radio Hall of Fame on Oct. 13 at the Westin Nashville, joining a class He then joined forces with prominent Atlanta that includes Bob Call, R.J. Curtis, Bill Hagy, Heather entertainment attorney Joel Katz to form Schrutt and Froglear, Buzz Jackson, Bob Pickett and Angie Ward. Katz, a talent agency that represented more than 20 radio personalities. “Norm put country on the air in Los Angeles on the FM with KZLA and then was moved to “Norm was always really special in Atlanta, where he had country on WKHX understanding talent,” McVay says. “He and built that into a very strong country took an almost Top 40 approach to station,” says Mike McVay, president country radio with air personalities and of McVay Media Consulting. “They their approach to on-air with the faster ultimately ended up buying the other pace, entertaining, highly interactive, country station in Atlanta. In any way lots of telephones. It probably dates you look at it, Norm was a pioneer in back to his days being a salesman and putting major market stations into Los sales manager for WKBW in Buffalo, Angeles and having two of them under which was Top 40. You would have to the same ownership in Atlanta, which credit him with applying a lot of the Top was highly unusual back in the day.” 40 principles to country radio.”

Adds fellow Hall of Fame inductee That included working with big radio Curtis: “Norm had a major influence on personalities such as Dorsey and country radio in two incredible markets. Warren “Rhubarb” Jones, who was the They are big sales and touring markets. He was really longest-running personality in the Atlanta market. instrumental in the growth of the format in the 80s and 90s.” He also convinced James “Moby” Carney to leave a Houston rock station for an Atlanta country station After attending the University of Buffalo, Schrutt and hired and mentored William “Cadillac Jack” served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman in Choate, who replaced Moby after his 2016 retirement. Korea during the Korean War. He launched his radio Last year, Cadillac Jack wished Schrutt happy birthday career in 1963, when he joined Capital Cities as an in a tweet that also said, “Norm ran Kicks like the account executive at WKBW Buffalo, where he rose beast it was!” through the ranks to vice president/general manager in 1977. Schrutt was a mentor to talent, encouraging them when they were doing well and motivating them when In 1980, Capital Cities tasked him with managing its they weren’t. He joked that he was the rabbi of talent. two Los Angeles stations, including KZLA, which he flipped from AC to country, making it the first FM Perhaps he understood personalities because he country station in the market. He loved country music was one himself. “Norm was a force of nature to be but hated Los Angeles, so he asked to be transferred. reckoned with,” says Curtis, who worked for Schrutt at KZLA when he was young. “He had a very big voice A year later, he moved to Atlanta to manage the and was a little bombastic. When you walked into a company’s recently acquired WKHX-AM/FM. He room with Norm, he dominated the room. also oversaw KSCS in Dallas, where he hired on-air personality Terry Dorsey, whom Schrutt will soon join “He was a big man and had a big, gruff voice and in the Hall of Fame. he was in charge—large and in charge,” Curtis says. “Norm had perhaps a gruff and tough exterior, but he Schrutt retired from radio in 1996 as president was a very warm, nice, wonderful person.” of Capital Cities/ABC’s radio stations, where he — Beverly Keel

5 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com POWER TITLE AIRPLAY RETENTION CALL OUT AUDIO POWER SALES COMPOSITE # ARTIST - LABEL Forever After All 1 9 1 1 2 1 1 LUKE COMBS - River House/Columbia 3 4 5 5 4 2 2 & KANE BROWN - RCA Nashville Blame It On You 7 5 7 7 19 3 3 JASON ALDEAN - Macon Music/Broken Bow Settling Down 5 1 27 9 12 4 4 - RCA Nashville Glad You Exist 9 15 4 4 13 5 5 DAN + SHAY - Warner/WAR Gone 2 2 6 6 23 6 6 DIERKS BENTLEY - Capitol Nashville Single Saturday Night 4 3 10 20 15 7 7 - Warner/WMN One Too Many 11 13 16 12 7 8 8 WITH P!NK - RCA/Capitol Nashville Minimum Wage 8 7 18 14 9 9 9 - Warner/WMN Nobody 15 6 3 3 14 10 10 DYLAN SCOTT - Curb NATIONAL CALLOUT TITLE N`EAST MID WEST WEST SOUTH # ARTIST Forever After All 1 1 4 1 1 Combs, Luke Drinkin' Beer. Talkin' God. Amen. 3 2 2 4 2 Rice, Chase Feat. Florida Line Nobody 7 3 7 3 3 Scott, Dylan Glad You Exist 10 6 6 2 4 Dan + Shay Famous Friends 8 8 1 9 5 Young, Chris & Kane Brown Gone 4 5 15 5 6 Bentley, Dierks Blame It On You 11 4 11 23 7 Aldean, Jason You Time 2 11 5 18 8 McCreery, Scotty Waves 5 7 3 37 9 Bryan, Luke Single Saturday Night 9 15 9 11 10 Swindell, Cole ACTION - UNDEREXPOSED TITLE AIRPLAY COMPOSITE # ARTIST - LABEL & 49 12 1 37 - Lil Bit ELLE KING & MIRANDA LAMBERT 48 17 2 31 - Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go..) 39 21 3 18 - Half Of My Hometown f/KChesney LILY ROSE 50 34 4 16 - Villain W/ 28 19 5 9 - Chasing After You KANE BROWN 27 20 6 7 - 40 33 7 7 - Thinking 'Bout You f/M. Porter ELVIE SHANE 19 13 8 6 - My Boy BRETT YOUNG 42 36 9 6 - Not Yet DYLAN SCOTT 15 10 10 5 - Nobody Chicago’s New Morning Team. (Continued from page 4) When McGurren worked for WTMX, WUSN wasn’t “Concerts — concerts, 1000%,” Huff says. “I’m a huge so much a crosstown rival: The Hubbard and Audacy fan of live music, and I’m a huge fan of Chicago, so (then Entercom) studios used the same parking going to concerts in Chicago — I cannot wait. I’m garage and McGurren often shared elevators with so stoked.” He has yet to attend a country show in WUSN staffers or talk with them as they came to Chicago — the Smokeout, a worthy introduction, and from work. will be his first — but he has experienced live music in Chicago. “Even, like, 10 years ago I could see myself working there,” “It was a boy-band cover band,” she says. “There was always he says, adding quickly in his something in me that said I was own defense, “but there aren’t going to work here someday. I a lot of concerts going on right know that sounds weird, but I now.” always kind of felt it.” As far as country-music events McGurren and Huff’s entry beyond the Windy City, he into the world of country radio says, “I’m excited to experience coincides with Chicago’s post- everything because I get pandemic re-opening, so they’re both looking to excited for that kind of stuff.” immerse themselves into the city’s country music lifestyle. McGurren’s particularly looking forward to McGurren has her sights set on returning to the next month’s Windy City Smokeout, which is being in Nashville. “I was there one time, headlined by Brett Eldredge, Darius Rucker and and was a special guest,” she Dierks Bentley. recalls. “The place went crazy. I have to get back to that place.”

7 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com Mike O’Malley: Radio And The Benefits of Limited Time Offers. I’ve been known to enjoy a Big Mac, a Beefy Nacho to coincide with a ratings period. Ideally, the contest Griller or a Popeye’s Spicy Chicken sandwich from time also marries our brand position with the reward. to time. And sometimes, I get inspired by the way fast l food conducts business. Or we run a syndicated special because it reinforces one of our unique brand pillars. One strategy I truly appreciate is their ability to create l successful Limited Time Offers or LTOs. Morning show promos pitch what is special on tomorrow’s show. Radio can benefit by borrowing the idea from fast-food l Specialty weekends bring a specific aspect of our leaders. brand to the forefront.

Cha-Ching And there are sales packages with special advantages “Quick serves have discovered that a good limited- if acted upon within a certain time frame. time offer can boost brand excitement and even Radio is actually an ideal medium for Limited Time single-handedly drive sales,” writes John Morell in QSR Offers. Our reach alone is a significant asset in Magazine. facilitating word of mouth either about one of our The folks at Starbucks would likely agree. Although LTOs or one of an advertiser. Plus we’re staffed with the company doesn’t officially release sales figures for multiple creatives who can and should be tapped for its Pumpkin Spice Latte or any individual beverage, imaginative campaigns. We just need to make thinking Forbes estimated PSL sales generated $100 million in about LTOs part of our ongoing creative process. 2015. A 2017-2018 estimate put sales for a single week A Limited Time Only Strategy Game Plan You Can at $5.6 million. Use Today

Indeed some LTOs exist primarily to drive end-of- Here are three components you’ll need to make your quarter sales. “The best thing about limited-time LTO successful: offers is they work,” says David Hoos of conversion specialists the Good Group, Inc. “Few marketing tactics l Ensure your LTO reinforces brand promise & image. are as dependable as limited-time offers.” l Make scarcity and urgency a critical part of the LTO. The Benes l Use social media (and mass media if you can) to promote and explain. There are multiple benefits. Besides increasing sales, Limited Time Offers create interest in and Your music station competitors have the same excitement for the brand, generate word of mouth ingredients to work with as you do: music, talent, and social media exposure and increase consumption imaging and imagination. by appealing to both hardcore fans as well as more How you use the last one – especially when it comes peripheral ones. to LTOs - may well be what separates you from the Not only do LTOs attract additional customers who rest of the market. – Mike O’Malley might have otherwise passed on the product, they Mike O’Malley is co-founder of Albright & O’Malley & often increase the revenue-per-person compared to Brenner and has consulted country radio stations in those who don’t take advantage of the Limited Time the US and Canada since Offer. For example, Starbucks customers who bought 1992. Before consulting, Mike Pumpkin Spice Lattes spent approximately 20% more launched and programmed per check than those who didn’t. WYNY, . His PD Where Radio Fits Into the Picture background includes country stations in Washington, DC, Actually, radio is an old hand at Limited Time Offers, and Jacksonville, FL. Mike although we might not always think of what we do in is a 2018 inductee into the these terms. Country Radio Hall of Fame. Reach him here: Mike@ l Consider our contesting, which is often designed AandOandB.com 8 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com Clockwise from top: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (l) connects with at Kansas City Live! in Kansas City, MO. Rivers Rutherford signs a publishing deal with Verse 2 Music. From left: Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Verse 2’s Kent Earls, Rutherford, Kane Brown. Maddie & Tae’s Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr show off their double-platinum “Die From a Broken Heart” plaques. At Nashville’s Whiskey Jam, BBR Music Group presents Parmalee and Blanco Brown with platinum plaques for “Just the Way.” From left: Josh McSwain, Scott Thomas, BBR’s JoJaime Hahr, Blanco Brown, 33 Creative’s David Fanning, BMG Nashville’s Jon Loba, BBR’s Rick Shedd, Matt Thomas, Barry Knox. Caitlyn Smith meets the WKLB team, from left: WKLB’s Jaclyn Rooney; ’ Lisa Mastrianni; Beasley Boston’s Cadillac Jack McCartney; WKLB’s Dawn Santolucito and Jonathan Wier; Smith; WKLB’s Ayla Brown, Jim Clerkin and Mary Menna; and Monument’s Drew Bland. Jon Wood inks a publishing deal with peermusic. From left: Peermusic’s Kendall Lettow, songwriter/producer Justin Weaver, Wood, Peermusic’s Michael Knox & Matt Michiels. New RECORDS Nashville artist George Birge (l) and RECORDS’ Jamice Jennings with WGH Norfolk PD Eddie Haskell, MD Karen West and artist Chris Bandi.

9 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com a homecoming while driving, according to RADIO for Boden, Forum Publishing WDAY Fargo Alpha Media Amarillo, TX Market who previously (93.1FM/970 AM). Olson was a Manager Melissa Kibler joins oversaw the fixture on Jamestown radio for MacDonald Broadcasting cluster as more than 50 years after joining Company in Lansing, MI, as President/ KSJB in the 1960s, retiring from General Manager. GM under ABC full-time radio in 2012. Kibler joined Radio and Alpha Media’s from 2005-2012. He has most Radio Vida Kansas has filed Amarillo cluster recently served as VP/Market a $425,000 deal to buy “Real in 2017, having Manager for Alpha Media Country previously worked Fredericksburg. 1030” for Cumulus KCWJ Media in Wilkes- El Dorado Broadcasters, from Barre, PA. MacDonald owns eight which owns stations in Victor Stayton stations in Lansing and Saginaw, Valley, CA and Yuma, AZ — Com­mu­ including country WKCQ Saginaw including country KTTI Yuma nications. (98.1). (95.1) and “Kat Country 100.7” Radio Vida Kansas currently KATJ Victor Valley — launches owns religious KZGC, Garden Beaumont, a mobile app for all of its radio City, KS (91.9) in western TX, is searching for a program station brands, using RadioFX Kansas. Earlier this month director for “Texas Country as its mobile app partner. it also filed a $775,000 deal KD 101.7” KAYD as current “The primary benefit will be to buy talk “Fox News Radio PD Don Brake readies a move the streaming capabilities 1410” KKLO, Leavenworth, KS to another for the user, but our stations from Vision Communications. station within the will be able to do in app, company. Brake, unique contesting, audience Mary Hoxeng has filed a who hosts the polling, and we will have a deal to buy “Cat Country station’s “The KD chat function with our on-air 98.7” WYCT from ADX Com­ Café” in middays, staff – giving our audience yet munications. The deal also has been with another unique experience,” VP/ includes the Pensacola,­ FL- KAYD since 2018, joined from Programming Mark Mitchell said licensed West Virginia Radio WKKW in a release. trans­ Morgantown, WV (97.9). lator Radio Mankato Sales Manager W233CM Forever Media / Chris Painter passed away at 94.5 Wheeling PD Dave Anthony at his home Monday, June 14. FM. The deal does not include is exiting the company to join He was 68. He has served in a cash payment, but rather Community Broadcasters his most recent Hoxeng will transfer three Orangeburg, SC, which role since 2007. Pensacola residential properties includes “Cat Radio Mankato to ADX Communications. Country 105.3” operates seven WGFG. Effective stations in Jason Aldean, Jake Owen July 6, Anthony the Mankato, and Carly Pearce will join will serve as MN market, Skyview Networks’ “Country OM for the including country “Minnesota Top 40 with Fitz” for “An All- th cluster and also 93” KATO and American 4 of July Weekend” will oversee “105.9 North Star Country” special, while “B-Dub Radio” company stations in Florence KRRW. offers a “Grills and Guitars and Sumpter. He succeeds Mike Weekend” special. Current Montgomery, who suffered a North Dakota radio veteran affiliates and stations in non- severe stroke last month. Norman Kidd, who went competing markets can air by “Ole Olson” on the air at both broadcasts Saturday, July Jeff Boden returns to Chesterman Communications 3 – Monday, July 5, anytime Washington, DC as VP/Market classic country KSJB-AM between 6am ET and midnight. Manager of Cumulus Media Jamestown, ND (600), died Contact affiliation@skyviewsat. news/talk WMAL-FM (105.9) suddenly Monday, June 14, com to learn more. and sports WSBN (630). It’s after suffering a heart attack 10 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com

Music, Combustion Music and Music Publishing Founder Bob INDUSTRY Chrysalis Music. She will head DiPiero said in a release. “Jeff The AMG adds Amanda Good Deluge’s Nashville office and is more than a writer/producer. and Kailyn Finnegan to its continue to man her company, He’s a talented working artist team. Good, formerly at UMG Gravity Gone and performer.” Garrison’s Nashville, has been named Music. “Deluge writing credits include cuts by Head of Marketing where has fostered an Kylie Morgan, RaeLynn and Levi she will oversee the strategy incredible group Hummon. and execution of marketing of campaigns for and artists,” Songwriter Kyle Fishman The AMG roster Greene said in a extends his deal with Play It while Finnegan, release. “I care Again Publishing. “Extending Senior Manager about people and their stories. of Touring and I want to help songwriters Live Events, grow yet challenge them at the will work on same time. I am very grateful establishing and excited to be a part of this live events, manage touring team!” strategy and execution for each client. She joins from Live RED Creative Group and Nation. “Amanda and Kailyn Anthem Entertainment are undoubtedly the best and have signed Dylan Guthro to brightest in their fields, and we a worldwide publishing deal. couldn’t be more proud to add “Dylan’s writing and production our publishing agreement with them to our team,” President/ immediately captured my Kyle was of critical importance CEO Rob Beckham said in a attention,” RED Creative Group to the long-term vision for release. President/Owner PIA,” CEO Ryan Dokke said Jeremy Stover in a release. “With his recent Logan Bosemer has launched said in a release. cuts in both country and pop Odyssey Touring. The “He brings a formats, Kyle is on his way to boutique talent agency will fresh and unique having the biggest year of his assist performers across perspective career!” Fishman’s songwriting multiple genres, with a client to the writing credits include Dustin Lynch’s roster that includes Suzy room and has “Small Town Boy” and Luke Bogguss, Jim an incredible work ethic. We Bryan’s “Down to One.” Lauderdale are excited to have him on and Drivin’ N board and can’t wait to hear Round Hill Music Nashville Cryin’. Formerly what he’s going to cook up promotes Bob Squance to Atomic Music next.” Guthro is a member of Senior Director, A&R. Squance Group Senior Port Cities and co-wrote and has been with the company VP, Bosemer has produced Noah Schnacky’s since 2014 with prior stops worked with Alan “Don’t You Wanna Know.” at Ten Ten Music Group and Jackson, Keith Urban and Nitty Big Yellow Dog Music. “Since Gritty Dirt Band. “My affinity Eclipse Music Group signs Jeff joining Round for all things Roots centric has Garrison to a global publishing Hill, Bob has been a hallmark of my work,” deal in partnership with Being proven himself Bosemer said in a release. “I to be a valuable am very thankful for the stops team player,” along the way, but it is time to Round Hill SVP, bring my complete attention to General Manager the roster and agency I want to Nashville Mark create.” Agent Lee Huber joins Brown said in a release. “The Bosemer at Odyssey Touring. move into his new role is well-deserved. I’m pleased to Deluge Music has named Bob Music. “Working along with promote Bob and excited to Stephanie Greene President. Eclipse Music Group is going see him continue to grow as a She joins the company to make Jeff’s footprint in this talented music professional.” following stops at My Good Girl community huge,” Being Bob 12 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com be a special guest. “Being able double-platinum status from ARTISTS to finally do my first headline the RIAA. “It was especially tour is an overwhelming feeling a treat to be able to share for so many reasons,” Rich said this success with the band,” in a release.

Caitlyn Smith is the latest Artist Ambassador for the CMA Foundation, the CMA’s philanthropic arm. She will participate in web-based programming and offline Restless Road will make its activities to engage students Grand Ole Opry debut tomorrow. and empower The trio learned the news from educators Kane Brown during a video throughout filmed backstage at the Opry. June. “I am Maddie & Tae’s Tae Kerr said Restless Road, made up of Zach so honored in a release. “These guys have Beeken, Colton Pack and Garrett to partner been on this wild ride with us, Nichols, signed to Brown’s 1021 with the CMA and they believed in us even Entertainment label through a Foundation as their next Artist when we may have doubted joint venture with Sony Music Ambassador,” Smith said in ourselves. We are a family!” Nashville in February. a release. “Without music education, I don’t know where Tayna Tucker and Sheryl I would be in my own life, and Crow are among the performers I look forward to collaborating at Brandi Carlile’s female- all year with all the amazing fronted Girls Just Wanna music educators and students.” Weekend. The destination concert vacation returns Feb. Texas Hill, made up of former 1-5, 2022, at Hard Rock Hotel “” contestants in Riviera Maya, and Adam Mexico. For more Wakefield with “” info visit girls­just­ contestant Casey James, will wannaweekend. com. Carlile also ’s Kat & was named one Alex has signed with WME. of four headliners The married duo, Kat and Alex for the upcoming Georgia, signed to The AMG Moon Crush Music Vacation in 2020 for management and Harvest Moon event, The three- have a publishing deal with day music event returns to Warner Chappell Music. Kat Miramar Beach, FL, Oct. 20-23. & Alex competed individually on “American Idol” in 2020 release a live acoustic project appears in a video before teaming up. Kat & Alex titled “Stabal Session” on in partnership with Ford that released their debut single, Friday. “These recordings are coincides with the release of “How Many Times,” last year. from our first live acoustic the 2021 Ford Expedition. The session as a trio, and we singer, who releases “Texas Tyler Rich will embark on really had some magic in the to Tennessee” on July 30, a West Coast room that day,” Boyd said in a discusses his country music headlining tour release. The project includes background, being a family man in September. stripped-down recordings of and how he measures success. The singer’s trek previously released “Neon “Growing up around my house, kicks off on Sept. Heart” and “Four Roses.” country music was a way of life. 28 in San Jose, “It’s something I’ve been able CA, and runs Maddie & Tae’s “Die From to take a little bit farther than through October. will a Broken Heart” has earned the living room.”

13 | JUNE 21, 2021 CountryInsider.com JUNE 21, 2021 LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud 6a-7p % 1 1 LUKE COMBS / Forever After All (River House/Columbia 34238 555 9237 183 44.453 -0.407 4778 52 Nash) 2 2 DIERKS BENTLEY / Gone (Capitol Nashville) 31815 995 8699 261 41.514 1.584 4534 52

3 3 CHRIS YOUNG & KANE BROWN / Famous Friends (RCA 29713 1371 8125 396 38.601 2.176 4202 52 Nashville) 4 4 COLE SWINDELL / Single Saturday Night (Warner/WMN) 26152 1804 7235 491 31.883 2.325 3679 51

5 5 JASON ALDEAN / Blame It On You (Macon Music/Broken 25133 1668 6656 423 33.046 4.004 3351 50 Bow) 6 6 JORDAN DAVIS / Almost Maybes (MCA Nashville) 23473 217 6496 43 26.296 -1.277 3143 48

7 7 MIRANDA LAMBERT / Settling Down (RCA Nashville) 23064 19 6290 -3 29.904 0.498 3027 48

9 8 BLAKE SHELTON / Minimum Wage (Warner/WMN) 18876 1368 5130 419 22.834 1.088 2447 48

10 9 CHASE RICE F/F.G.L. / Drinkin' Beer Talkin' God Amen 18551 1292 5060 344 23.346 2.103 2550 50 (Dack Janiels/BBR-BMLG) 11 10 DAN + SHAY / Glad You Exist (Warner/WAR) 18428 1485 5068 412 21.719 1.57 2504 49

13 11 JUSTIN MOORE / We Didn't Have Much (Valory) 16576 431 4630 126 21.183 0.19 2252 49

12 12 KEITH URBAN WITH P!NK / One Too Many (RCA/Capitol 16229 -120 4522 -73 19.013 0.357 2236 49 Nashville) 14 13 LAINEY WILSON / Things A Man Oughta Know (Broken 16061 562 4426 131 18.833 1.41 2016 46 Bow) 15 14 THOMAS RHETT / Country Again (Valory) 15923 759 4396 206 19.82 1.325 2123 48

16 15 TIM MCGRAW & / Undivided (Big 14298 -102 4035 -60 15.699 -0.049 1794 44 Machine-BMLG) 17 16 / Waves (Capitol Nashville) 13824 464 3833 119 17.06 1.302 1760 46

18 17 CARLY PEARCE / Next Girl (Big Machine) 13192 84 3676 7 14.675 -0.406 1360 37

20 18 SCOTTY MCCREERY / You Time (Triple Tigers) 11957 1152 3240 313 13.349 0.999 1354 42

19 19 ELVIE SHANE / My Boy (Wheelhouse) 11740 588 3410 153 12.074 0.506 1352 40

21 20 JAMESON RODGERS / Cold Beer Calling...f/L. Combs 10651 1040 2807 258 12.336 1.093 1174 42 (River House/Columbia Nash) 23 21 OLD DOMINION / I Was On A Boat That Day (Arista 9886 953 2680 313 11.499 0.955 1110 41 Nashville) 24 22 / Memory I Don't Mess With (Curb) 9188 340 2469 105 10.626 0.236 862 35

25 23 / Like A Lady (BMLG) 9126 472 2350 90 9.221 1.443 687 29

22 24 KANE BROWN / Worship You (RCA Nashville) 8644 -459 2282 -97 8.953 -0.412 788 35 26 25 & TRISHA YEARWOOD / Shallow (Pearl) 8580 8 2393 47 8.02 -0.078 966 40

CountryInsider.com/Newsletters AUGUST 7, 2020 | 1 JUNE 21, 2021 LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud 6a-7p % 27 26 / Knowing You (Blue Chair/Warner/WEA) 7896 285 2253 66 7.92 0.346 717 32

29 27 RYAN HURD W/MAREN MORRIS / Chasing After You 7724 741 2138 205 6.97 0.304 581 27 (Arista Nashville) 28 28 JIMMIE ALLEN & / Freedom Was A 7366 332 1977 85 8.01 0.58 582 29 Highway (Stoney Creek) 30 29 PRISCILLA BLOCK / Just About Over You (Mercury 6283 190 1654 48 6.128 0.542 449 27 Nashville/InDent) 31 30 MICHAEL RAY / Whiskey And Rain (Warner/WEA) 6091 277 1620 80 5.792 -0.224 405 25

33 31 / Tequila Little Time (Capitol Nashville) 5711 430 1498 82 6.059 0.806 367 24

32 32 / Home Sweet (Triple Tigers) 5431 91 1437 7 5.461 -0.287 309 22

35 33 CALLISTA CLARK / It's 'Cause I Am (Big Machine) 4749 147 1286 40 3.85 0.302 338 26

37 34 PARKER MCCOLLUM / To Be Loved By You (MCA Nashville) 4097 140 1067 62 3.428 0.202 265 25

36 35 INGRID ANDRESS / Lady Like (Warner/WEA) 3981 -418 1135 -102 3.119 -0.472 290 26 39 36 DUSTIN LYNCH / Thinking 'Bout You f/M. Porter (Broken Bow) 3974 484 997 84 4.267 0.605 274 27

42 37 KELSEA BALLERINI / Half Of My Hometown f/KChesney 3717 542 1130 171 3.328 0.494 305 27 (Black River Entertainment) 38 38 HARDY / Give Heaven Some Hell () 3658 27 1023 14 3.375 -0.141 203 20

41 39 CHRIS STAPLETON / You Should Probably Leave 3536 246 986 54 4.114 1.198 334 34 (Mercury Nashville) 40 40 MATT STELL / That Ain't Me No More (Arista Nashville/ 3422 128 942 46 2.53 0.063 207 22 RECORDS) 43 41 BRETT YOUNG / Not Yet (BMLG) 3039 127 858 24 2.89 1.01 180 21

34 42 / Same Boat (Home Grown/Warner/WAR) 2999 -1856 717 -628 3.414 -3.401 294 41 44 43 / Getting Over Him w/Jon Pardi 2788 38 797 9 1.774 0.092 143 18 (Mercury Nashville) 243 44 / The Worst Country Song Of... (Valory) 2491 2485 689 688 3.08 3.074 390 57

46 45 RILEY GREEN / If It Wasn't For Trucks (BMLG) 2455 153 755 38 1.493 0.179 177 23

45 46 CAITLYN SMITH / I Can't f/Old Dominion (Monument) 2440 72 723 16 1.376 0.043 138 19

47 47 CLAY WALKER / Need A Bar Sometimes (Show Dog 2076 14 682 22 1.051 0.012 102 15 Nashville) 49 48 BROTHERS OSBORNE / I'm Not For Everyone (EMI Nashville) 2039 150 589 35 1.297 0.123 128 22

48 49 CHRIS BANDI / Would Have Loved Her (RECORDS Nashville) 1993 102 632 25 1.018 0.043 98 16

63 50 ELLE KING & MIRANDA LAMBERT / Drunk (And I Don't 1785 681 429 188 1.858 0.482 160 37 Wanna Go..) (RCA/Columbia Nashville)

CountryInsider.com/Newsletters AUGUST 7, 2020 | 1