August 4, 2008 Issue 101 CBS Sale: Five For Fighting? Certified Gold Local CBS Radio programmers contacted by Country Kenny Chesney and Aircheck have heard “nothing definitive” as the potential manager Clint Higham ramifications fromCBS Corp.’s announced station sale hosted more than 100 continue to come into focus. With 50 stations to sell outside of industry friends of Dale and Earline Morris (pictured) its holdings in the top 15 markets, eight Country stations are Sunday night to celebrate possibly on the block (market rank): the couple’s 50th wedding • WQYK/Tampa (19) anniversary. Among those • KWLI/Denver (22) on hand to toast Earline • KUPL/Portland (23) and the manager par • WDSY/Pittsburgh (24) excellence were artists • WSOC/Charlotte (25) Gretchen Wilson, John • KFRG-KVFG & KXFG/Riverside, CA (26) Rich and Shannon Brown; Sony BMG/Nashville Chairman Joe • KNCI/Sacramento (27) Galante; BMI President & CEO Del Bryant; ASCAP Sr. VP Connie • WIRK/West Palm Beach, FL (46) Bradley and husband, former RCA/Nashville President Jerry Bradley; Stroudavarious President James Stroud; manager Marc Oswald; Well aware of their unspecified future, staffers at these William Morris’ Greg Oswald; SBMG’s Butch Waugh and Tom stations now play the waiting game. As VP/ CBS/Pittsburgh Baldrica; publisher Tom Collins; television/video producer Robert Programming Keith Clark notes, “Everyone is taking the Deaton and CMT’s John Hamlin. news in stride. We worry about what we can control.” In the same vein, CBS/Tampa OM and WQYK PD Mike Culotta round of divestitures is complete the company will have closer says. “We’re just doing what we do and focusing on generating to half that number. ratings and revenue. The rest will take care of itself.” In Country, CBS Radio could be going from a company Of course, the market dynamics of spinning off 50 stations that had 25 stations and $223 million in revenue in 1999, to hardly seem favorable at a time when radio is poorly valued one with only five stations --WUSN/Chicago (3), KILT/ by capital markets and local advertising numbers are weak Houston (6), WYCD Detroit (11), KMPS/Seattle (14) and enough to prompt the sale in the first place. Two years ago, KMLE/Phoenix (15) -- drawing (at 2007 levels) close to $96 CBS Radio operated almost 180 stations, but once this second million annually. ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 4, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2 CC: Aloha All Over Again MY TUNES : MUSIC THA T SHAPED MY LIFE Less than a week after going private – and just a few days Lyric Street Sr. Dir./Nat’l Promotion after CBS Radio announced it would be selling 50 of its radio Renee’ Leymon ([email protected]) properties (see above) – Clear Channel announced today (8/4) discusses her most important songs, albums that it had placed another 60 stations in the Aloha Station Trust or concerts: to comply with the FCC’s ownership rules. 1. Journey: They got me through my Media Venture Partners has been engaged to teenage years of crisis! sell the stations. Country stations on today’s 2. Garth Brooks: Sitting at the reception list include WIBL/Augusta, GA; WFRE/ desk at Arista watching CMT, I was easily Frederick, MD; and WEBL/Macon, GA. converted to loving country because of him. Renee’ Leymon 3. Rascal Flatts, Rascal Flatts; SheDaisy, Those stations join a number of others transferred to the Trust in The Whole SheBang: Sounds cheesy, but it’s true. One, because I July 2007. Almost 30 Country stations have been part of that list, love the music. And two, because they are the first projects I’ve had including KBQI/Albuquerque, WGAR/Cleveland, WBCT/ the honor of being a part of from start to platinum and beyond... Grand Rapids and WNOE/New Orleans. Clear Channel is which did change my life! also offering for sale stations in Cincinnati and Houston to 4. Dave Matthews: If I had one choice of food it would be chips meet Dept. Of Justice conditions to take the company private. and salsa. If I had one choice of music on a deserted island it would It was previously ordered to sell stations in Las Vegas and San be Dave Matthews. Francisco to meet similar conditions. 5. Rascal Flatts, Bob That Head Tour: The best concert I’ve ever seen was just two weekends ago. Again, I know it may sound cheesy but I can’t help myself. From Taylor Swift’s beginning then DJ/Radio Hall Criteria Change on to the new set the guys have created, I laughed, cried, sang, CRB has revised criteria for the Country Music DJ and danced and did I mention I cried? Something I’ll never forget. Radio Hall of Fame to include individuals whose radio careers • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: began 20 years ago, as long as they Metallica. I know it’s huge. My grandson loves it and I’m sure I’ve have spent at least 15 years in the heard some, but I just don’t like this kind of music. Or heavy rap. Country format. Previously the time • An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: I can sing period was no less than 25 years. some of the songs, but Abba used to really get on my nerves. • An album you played or listened to incessantly: Any new music Other requirements include having that Randy Goodman and Kevin Herring give me. And Norah Jones’ made a significant contribution to the growth and development Come Away With Me. of Country radio as well as to the preservation and enhancement of country music as an art form. Nominees cannot be current 1150 Pepsi Place, #300, Charlottesville, VA 22901 or to vkice@ CRB Board or Agenda Committee members. Nominations must cvillestations.com. be received by the CRB at 819 18th Ave. S., Nashville, TN • WGH-FM/Norfolk Dir./Programming & Operations John 37203 by Sept. 15. Shomby is looking for part-time air talent. Send airchecks and resumes to [email protected]. No websites, please. Gig Alerts • KMRK/Odessa, TX PD/midday jock Dre Castillo, who is hoping to move to afternoons, is seeking a midday jock and • WCYK/Charlottesville, VA OM Vinnie Kice is accepting possibly additional airstaff. Send airchecks and resumes to dre@ airchecks and resumes for a PD/morning host via snail mail at gapbroadcasting.com. ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 4, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 3 BIR T HDAYS Tuesday (8/5) - Terri Clark, Vern Gosdin, Mark O’Connor, the late Sammi Smith, Larry Franklin, Austin James, Tim Nichols, Matt Valley ([email protected]), Tim Wilson ([email protected]), Sherri Garrett Wednesday (8/6) - Mark Dufresne (Confederate Railroad), Peggy and Patsy Lynn, Lisa Stewart, Kathy Best ([email protected]), Brad Helton ([email protected]), Nancy Shapiro Thursday (8/7) - Rodney Crowell, Raul Malo, Michael Peterson, B.J. Thomas, Greg Carmichael, Charlie Cook ([email protected]), Kirt Webster ([email protected]) Friday (8/8) - Phil Balsley (Statler Bros.), Jamie O’Hara, the late Webb Pierce, Mel Tillis, Mark Wills, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Maynard, Greg McCarn ([email protected]), Heidi Tieslau Saturday (8/9) - the late Merle Kilgore, Teresa Russell, Diane Williams Sunday (8/10) - Jimmy Dean, Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio), Bob Burwell, Jerry Crutchfield ([email protected]), Whitney Cheshier ([email protected]) Monday (8/11) - John Conlee, Joe Casey, Eddie Pirtle • Webster & Associates PR Dir./Media Services Chris Waters is looking for someone with IT qualifications to join the company in a New Media capacity. Send resumes to him at [email protected]. • WOKK/Meridian, MS PD Todd “Sharkey” Rupp is still looking for a production dir./afternoon jock. Send airchecks and resumes to [email protected]. • WKHK/Richmond, VA PD Buddy Van Arsdale is looking for part timers. Send airchecks and resumes to buddy.vanarsdale@ coxradio.com. Industry News Gilda’s Club Nashville is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with two songwriter showcases at the Bluebird Cafe Aug. 12. Rivers Rutherford, Chris Wallin, Liz Rose, Dave Berg, Walt Aldridge, Benita Hill, Pam Belford, Thom Shepherd, Kristi Manna, Chas Sandford, Bryan White and Barbara Cloyd. Tickets are $30 and go on sale August 5 at www.bluebirdcafe.com. The 9th Annual NSAI Song Contest, presented by CMT, kicked off last Friday (8/1) with prizes including a mentoring session with Big & Rich’s Kenny Alphin and 2008 American Idol songwriter Regie Hamm. Chart Chat Congrats to Sugarland, UMG/Nashville’s Royce Risser, Mercury’s Damon Moberly and the entire Mercury promotion staff on scoring a No. 1 single with Sugarland’s “All I Want To Do,” giving the duo the most heard song and most purchased album in country music this Sugarland week. Love On The Inside opened with 313,000 copies sold. ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 4, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 4 Lifenotes CHECK OU T IN Sto RES : 8/5 Big congrats to Amanda Helton Wright and husband Jim on Friday’s birth of daughter Keith Anderson C’mon! (Columbia) Samantha Anne Wright, already rooting the Anderson shares co-writes on every Cubs on to their first World Series victory in the track of his Columbia debut except a cover last 100 years. Proud first-time grandparents are of Foster & Lloyd’s “Crazy Over You,” which Lon and Anne Helton.