January 2, 2020 • Issue 685 Wenzel To WFMS Former iHeartMedia WMAD/Madison, WI midday personality and cluster Dir./Promotions Isaac “Brooks” Wenzel has joined Cumulus WFMS/Indianapolis as MD/afternoon host. On-air, Wenzel succeeds Jack Shell, who exited in October (CAT 11/4/19); he takes over MD duties from Adam “Kash” Kashner, who has segued to the company’s WXBM/ Pensacola, FL (CAT 12/18/19). “His passion for country music, relatable personality on the air and breadth of skills behind-the-scenes make Isaac ideally suited for this job,” says OM/ Isaac Wenzel PD Christopher “Boomer” Layfield. Wenzel departed WMAD in October (CAT 10/29/19), and his prior career stops include La Crosse, WI; Rochester, MN; Signage: Hot Country Knights (Douglas “Doug” Winona, MN and Saint Louis Park, MN. Reach him here. Douglason, Trevor Travis, Marty Ray “Rayro” Roburn, Terotej “Terry” Dvoraczekynski, Barry Van Ricky and Monte Montgomery) has signed with Capitol. Pictured (front, l-r) are the label’s Cindy Mabe, Douglason (aka Dierks Bentley) and Mike Egger Helms iHeart/Denver Dungan; (back, l-r) the label’s Brian Wright, Red Light’s Mary KSE/Denver SVP/MM Brenda Egger has been Hilliard Harrington, Dvoraczekynski, Roburn, Van Ricky, named iHeartMedia/Denver Region Pres. overseeing 31 Montgomery, the label’s Royce Risser, Travis and the label’s Jay stations, including Country KWBL/Denver and KCCY/Colorado Williams. Watch the group invade the UMGN building here. Springs. She succeeds Tim Hager, who has exited after four years. “We have a tremendous team and strong brands in the Denver region, Chart Policies & Calendar and I am confident that Brenda’s tenure in the In conjunction with the fine folks at Mediabase, here’s a recap region provides the leadership and excellence of important chart policies, as well as significant dates for 2020. that our partners and our advertisers have Adds & Activator Reporting Window: open for reporting come to expect,” says Division Pres. Jeff Tyler, adds and Activator playlists beginning 4am ET/2am CT/1am PT to whom Egger reports. Prior to joining KSE in Wednesday through 3pm ET/2pm CT/noon PT on Mondays, except 2008, Egger served as then-Citadel/Colorado for the holidays noted below when the deadline shifts to Tuesday Brenda Egger Springs Market Mgr. at those times. All reporting must be completed before that time. Even if a reporter is in the system at 1:59 PM CT, if they have not submitted they will be locked out. A successfully submitted report Brown Departs Sony/Orchard will result in a confirmation email to the reporter. Absolutely no late Sony Music Entertainment/The Orchard Dir./Label & Artist adds will be taken by phone or email after the deadline. Acquisitions Dewayne Brown has left after 25 years with the Play Limits: Mediabase will credit a maximum of two plays on any individual song over any 60-minute period. organization. (continued on page 3) ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] January 2, 2020 A D D D AT E S Page 3 Brown Departs Sony January 6 (continued from page 1) THOMAS RHETT f/JON PARDI/Beer Can’t Fix It (Valory) Sony and The Orchard merged in 2017, prior to which Brown was with Sony’s RED distribution January 13 division. He is a 43-year industry vet and can ZAC BROWN BAND/Leaving Love Behind be reached at 615-617-7747 or here. At (ZB Collective/BMG/ Wheelhouse) The Orchard, GM Jessica Phelps-Colvin RAYNE JOHNSON/Front Seat (Studio2Bee/Legend) is taking on Brown’s former responsibilities. TENILLE ARTS/Somebody Like That (Reviver) ADAM DOLEAC/Famous (Arista) Dewayne Brown Monica Leaves WQNU January 20 Summit WQNU/Louisville APD/morning MIDLAND/Cheatin’ Songs (Big Machine) host Kristin Monica has exited. She joined from Cumulus WFYR/Peoria, IL last May (CAT 5/14/19) Send yours to [email protected] and was elevated to her most recent post in September (CAT 9/30/19). Monica is seeking Spin Discrepancies: The deadline for submitting any her next opportunity and can be reached here. spin discrepancies that affect the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Summit/Louisville OM & WQNU PD Cagle is on Published Country Chart is 5pm CT Sunday each week. Please the hunt for her successor; reach him here. Kristin Monica direct all discrepancy queries to [email protected]. Duets: Chart share will be awarded in full to listed imprints with country promotion teams for duets, which must be indicated Dunsavage Departs WSJR by an ampersand (&) on the single itself. “Featuring” (f/) and Cumulus WSJR/Wilkes-Barre, PA APD/ “With” (w/) designations award chart share only to the label team midday personality Dave ”Savage” representing the main artist. Dunsavage has exited after more than four years. He transitioned to middays in 2015 Monday Holidays (CAT 8/10/15) after handling weekends. • January 20, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Dunsavage’s prior stops include Binghamton, • February 17, President’s Day NY; Lafayette, LA; and Allentown, PA. He is on • May 25, Memorial Day the hunt for his next opportunity and can be reached at 570-237-1361 or via email here. • September 7, Labor Day Dave Dunsavage No word on plans for the position. ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] January 2, 2020 Page 5 Rockwell To Binghamton Host Mortem Townsquare/Utica, NY Dir./Digital Strategy & Mgr./ Capitol’s Carrie Underwood is stepping down from co-hosting Digital Sales Paige Rockwell has joined iHeartMedia/ the CMA Awards after 12 years in the role, according to a post Binghamton, NY as VP/Sales for the six- on social media. “It’s hard to believe that it was my 12th year hosting station cluster, including Country WBBI & and I will always treasure every show, from the 11 that I was so lucky Classic Country WINR. She will report to to do with my partner in crime and friend for life, Brad Paisley, to iHeartMedia/Hartford, CT Area Pres. Robert sharing the stage with two of my all-time heroes,” she shared. “I’m Morgan. Rockwell’s prior experience so incredibly grateful to everyone involved with includes time with Wolf, Inc./Syracuse, the CMA Awards all these years. It’s hard to NY as well as Regent and Citadel. Reach imagine topping what we have accomplished her here. Townsquare has posted the open together, so I’ve decided that it’s time to pass position here. Paige Rockwell the hosting torch (at least for now!) to others that will cherish it and honor it as much as I do.” The CMA added, “Thanks for 12 amazing Country Format Ranks Third years hosting the CMA Awards. We look forward Country listening continues to decline, according to Nielsen’s to working with you in 2020 and beyond to Carrie Tops of 2019: Radio report. The format ranks third P25-54 behind help spread Country Music to fans around Underwood AC and Pop CHR, slipping 7.3% (4) to 7.0% (3t) to 6.8% (3) of the world!” See that post here. Underwood listening over the last three years. Country ranks second P18-34 hosted November’s 53rd CMA Awards with guest co-hosts Reba – 8.4% (2) to 8.5% (2) to 7.7% (2) – and third 6+ – 7.6% (3t) to McEntire and Dolly Parton. No word on plans for the gig, but 7.3% (3) to 6.7% (3). See all formats here. a CMA rep tells Country Aircheck that Exec. Producer Robert Deaton is already hard at work preparing for this year’s show. Three’s Company Cox RVP Rob Babin, Hubbard CFO Dave Bestler and Engage Meant Seven Mountains Owner/CEO Kristin Cantrell have been The Bobby Bones Show producer Ray elected to the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB)’s 2020 Board Slater (a.k.a. ”Producer Ray”) asked Laura of Directors. A complete list of board members is available here. Birdwell to marry him at Nashville’s “Glow” holiday event at First Tennessee Park. “He finally put a ring on it, y’all,” shares Birdwell (known to Bones listeners as ”Bae”) via Twitter. Reviver’s Michael Tyler proposed to Laura Birdwell girlfriend Sydney Shackelford over the and Ray Slater holidays. ”I liked it, so I put a ring on it,” says Tyler via Instagram. Saga WCVL/ Charlottesville, VA Rob Babin Dave Bestler Kristin Cantrell morning host Adam Rondeau popped the question to Alicia Adam Rondeau Sanzi on a beach in Best In Snow and Alicia Sanzi Maine before surprising Warner/WMN’s Blake Shelton had the top-selling country her with a restaurant full Michael Tyler album the week of Fully Loaded: God’s Country’s release (12/13). of family and friends waiting to shower the and Sydney Total sales and streaming activity exceeded 95,000, according to couple with best wishes. Send congrats to the Shackelford Nielsen SoundScan. couple here. ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] January 2, 2020 Page 6 C H E C K O U T Crib Notes Jan. 10 Columbia Specialist/Promotion Christy Garbinski and Tenille Arts Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In husband Matthew Garbinski welcomed a Between (Reviver) baby girl, Nora Elaine Garbinski, Dec. 21 at 2:31pm CT. She joins big brother Levi, who Jan. 17 turned two in October. Send congratulations to Little Big Town Nightfall (Capitol) the family here. Dustin Lynch Tullahoma (Broken Bow) Singer/songwriter Cam and husband Adam Weaver welcomed their first child, baby Jan.