Issue 736 with So Much Happening at a Breakneck Pace the Last Several Weeks, It Would Be Easy to Overlook the State of the Format in the Month of November
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W E E K L Y PPM: A November Not To Remember December 21, 2020, Issue 736 With so much happening at a breakneck pace the last several weeks, it would be easy to overlook the state of the format in the month of November. In fact, it might be for the best if you did. Even with a record poor showing overall, however, Country also had its share of notably strong performances on the station level. The November survey started Oct. 8 and concluded the day after Election Day. For that period, aggregate Country shares in PPM markets stood at its lowest total (excluding Holiday books) since the start of PPM measurement, with four stations setting new low water marks. And for the first time in the PPM era, the format experienced a non-Holiday month without a single market being led by a Country station. The apparent culprit: News-Talk. Just how big were News-Talk’s gains for the month? The aggregate 6+ share for all PPM subscribing News-Talk stations in September was 577.5. October rose to 623.0 and, by November, that number had jumped to 658.0 – a 14% increase over two Happy Holi-Glaze: Country Aircheck months. Conversely, the corresponding congratulates Capitol staffers on their 12th aggregate for Country trended 360.4 consecutive label of the year win. Pictured to 350.8 to 339.2 for a 5.8% decrease (clockwise) are Royce Risser, Donna over the same span. Country wasn’t Hughes, Annie Sandor, Bobby Young, alone: AC and Classic Hits were down Rod Phillips Megan O’Gara, Megan Youngblood, 2% each during the same span, and Top Ashley Knight, Chris Schuler, David 40 was off 3%. The decrease of those four formats nearly Friedman, Katie Bright and Mara Sidweber. adds up to the increase for News-Talk. November’s downturn was not limited to just share. Country Aircheck analyzed the cume for the top 50 stations in each format, Chart Policies & Calendar with Country’s average dropping 2.5% from September to November. Here’s a recap of important Country Aircheck/Mediabase Classic Hits and Top 40 saw drops of 2.6% and 2.2%, respectively, chart policies as well as significant dates for 2021. over that span. AC was up 2.1%, but no format came close to the Adds & Activator Reporting Window: cume jump of News-Talk, which expanded 5% over two months. The Mediabase site is open for reporting Battlin’ Brands: Country’s November numbers may be low adds and Activator playlists beginning 4am overall, but iHeartMedia EVP/Country Programming Strategy Rod ET/2am CT/1am PT Wednesday through 3pm Phillips doesn’t see a concerning trend. (continued on page 6) ET/2pm CT/noon PT on Mondays, except for ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] December 21, 2020 Page 3 the holidays noted below when the deadline shifts to Tuesday at on landing at No. 1 with “Pretty Heart.” The song is McCollum’s those times. All reporting must be completed before closing time. major label debut and the lead single from his Hollywood Gold E P. Even if a reporter is in the system at 1:59 PM CT, if they have not Songwriters are Randy Montana and McCollum. submitted, they will be locked out and no adds will be recorded. A successfully submitted report will result in a confirmation email to the reporter. Absolutely no late adds will be taken by phone or News & Notes email after the deadline. SuiteRadio nationally syndicated Bud & Broadway hosts Play Limits: Mediabase will credit a maximum of two plays on Bud Ford and Jerry Broadway are adding South Georgia any individual song across any 60-minute period. Broadcasters WBYZ/Baxley, GA afternoons effective Jan. 4. Spin Discrepancies: The deadline for submitting any The position has been vacant for more than two years; PD Caleb spin discrepancies that affect the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Karnoutsos has handled duties in the interim. Published Country Chart is 5pm CT Sunday each week. Please EMF is purchasing Country WCDD/Canton-Peoria, IL from direct all queries to [email protected]. Illiana Communications for $170,000. January Schedule: The Add Board will open Wednesday, Loud Media WABY-AM/Watervliet-Albany, NY and Dec. 30 as noted above, and Country Aircheck’s This Week’s Adds FM translator W231DU are now simulcasting Classic Country email will be published the afternoon of Jan. 4. The top 10 Most WNYV/Whitehall-Glen Falls, NY. Added will be published in that evening’s Country Aircheck Weekly; Entercom has committed $1 million to local restaurants, however, there will be no chart in that issue. The first chart of 2021 arts and charitable organizations in the cities where company will be published Jan. 11 without trending – no Last Week rank, no employees live and work via an employee-led initiative that will +/- Points or Plays and no bullets. Trending resumes in the chart distribute gift certificates to all full-time employees redeemable at dated Jan. 19. establishments selected by Market Mgrs. and corporate leaders. T.G. Sheppard will reissue nine of his albums next year Monday Holidays through his newly-signed deal with Time Life. • Jan. 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Gabe Fleet has been named iHeartMedia EVP/Business • Feb. 15, President’s Day Affairs and Chief Music Licensing Counsel. • May 31, Memorial Day Drew Parker has been named to SiriusXM’s all-genre • Sept. 6, Labor Day “Future Five for 2021.” Chart Chat The Week’s Top Stories Congratulations to Parker McCollum, Full coverage at countryaircheck.com. Katie Dean, David Friedman, Royce Risser, • Charley Pride was remembered, new KYGO/Denver morning Chris Schuler and the MCA promotion team Parker McCollum co-host Brian McFayden was profiled and Country stations ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] December 21, 2020 Page 4 WITH ... CHRIS BANDI An inside look at how Records’ Chris Bandi Zoom. The ability to still get on and have is spending his Quaran-Time: that interaction has been great, although We had a bunch of tour dates that had to nothing really compares to being in the be canceled or rescheduled, but have been trying room. I’ve also had a recording set-up to find new and creative ways to stay in front of that I’ve been telling myself for years that fans and hopefully capture new ones! I’ve been I was going to learn. This has forced me fortunate lately in getting back out to meet with to get it all figured out. our friends at Country radio via a socially-dis- I hadn’t really done any social tanced radio tour — playing in parking lots and media live streams before this, so I cul-de-sacs as opposed to conference rooms. It’s didn’t know what to expect. I love how been a little light at the end of the tunnel! intimate and relaxed it is. It’s been awe- I had a quarantine routine down until some to see people hop on that we’ve we started this radio tour back up. It was full of met out on the road and read their Netflix and Postmates. But, recently, I’m home comments about how they’re doing. We maybe Saturday and Sunday, so it consists of try out some new songs while we’re on spending time with my girlfriend and dogs. That there and get real-time feedback, which and doing all my laundry for the next week. is incredible! My girlfriend and I have been quaran- I hopped on the bandwagon I’m with the Bandi tined together with our two dogs. Taking time in and watched Tiger King in one night. Bandi with WTGE/Baton Rouge, LA staffers. our own little parts of the house had been very I’m a big fan of Ozark, so thankfully beneficial. She was working from home, and I’m the third season of that came out in late writing from home, so during the day we try to March. I recently started watching The Undoing, make it as “normal” as possible. I’ll go upstairs and it’s got me hooked! I tried to start a petition to get back out and play for our friends at to write, and she’ll stay downstairs while she’s to get Netflix to release the new seasons of You Country radio, and I think everyone is enjoying working or on calls. and Stranger Things a little early, but no one got this a little bit more than just a conference room I just ordered a keyboard online, so I’m back to me. performance. Even with everyone being so far going to try to learn how to play the piano. Or at We were only supposed to be home five apart, we’re being brought closer because we’re least try to get good enough that I can fake my full days in March, so it’s nice to get to spend a going through something we’ve never had to go way through a song. little extra time with my girlfriend and dogs. Even through before. I believe we will come out of this I’ve been doing a lot of writing on though it’s socially distanced, it’s been a blessing stronger in the end! • Tenille Arts, Travis Denning, Hardy, Ashley showed love to Christmas music in last week’s (12/14) Country McBryde and Matt Stell were voted the CRS 2021 New Faces of Aircheck Weekly.