August 18, 2008 Issue 103 Peterson: Time For Me To Leaves I didn’t think it was going to happen this quickly, either. WUSN & WCFS/Chicago PD But we all decided we needed to aggressively go after this. I’ve Mike Peterson shocked the Country been part-owner of a tree nursery with Joan’s three brothers for radio and music industry last week with several years. It was never in the cards for me to go back and run the announcement that he was leaving this business this soon, although I expected it might happen in to join an Oregon-based tree business two, three, five years. But some consultants told us we had the in which he’s been a partner for the last ability to do some really big things, and the timing is such that three years. The native Oregonian and the opportunity is over the next couple of years. So, we have to 20-year radio vet has programmed in get started this fall to take advantage of it. Once we worked out Albany, OR, Fresno and Chicago. His the business and economic side of it and realized we really could last day at US99 is August 29, after Mike Peterson do this and really should do this, it became a no-brainer. And, the which he, wife Joan and Hannah (6), Oregon part of going home is icing on the cake. Jake (4 ½) and Ella (nine months) will depart for St. Paul, (continued on page 4) Oregon – a town of 200 about 45 minutes south of Portland. Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton had a few questions for Clear Channel Locks In Execs Several top CC execs have been signed to long-term Peterson about the move – and the decision. contracts. They are Evan Harrison, Susan Karis, Mark Helton: OK. You’re with a great company and have Kopelman, Gene Romano, Tom Schurr and George one of the best jobs in radio, programming one of the Toulas. Additionally, Harrison, Kopelman, Romano and world’s great radio stations in one of the world’s greatest Toulas have been promoted into newly- cities. What the hell are you thinking? created positions giving them expanded Peterson: I know. All of that’s true. But this move roles. Kopelman and Toulas have each really isn’t about the radio business. We have a window of been upped to EVP/Operations for opportunity that is just so great – and the thing is we have to mid-major markets. Harrison has been do it now. named President of the Online Music We talked in Las Vegas during the ACM’s that this & Radio unit, while Romano has been might be in your future … but I didn’t think it would bumped to EVP/Programming. happen so soon. ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 18, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2 Radio News MY TUNES : MUSIC THA T SHAPED MY LIFE Syndication: Cool Broadcasting’s fall line-up of syndicated ADX/Pensacola (which includes Country radio programming will include the two-hour American Driver WYCT) OM and “Assistant Catalyst” Kevin Radio, The Story Behind The Song hosted by Frank Myers King ([email protected]) discusses his most and Country Up-Close And Personal featuring four different important songs, albums or concerts: artist hosts each week. Also coming are the 12-hour A Country 1. Beach Boys, Good Vibrations: My first album. My brother gave it to me for Christmas. Christmas and the year-end wrap up, Looking Back at 2008. Incredible music, then and now. I still have the Country Live USA has added KLAA/Alexandria, LA as it’s disc, but the cover is pretty ragged. newest affiliate. 2. Police, Ghost in the Machine Tour, Kudos: Randy Owen and WIVK/Knoxville raised more than Greensboro, NC: The first time I was part of Kevin King $10,000 with a concert at Cotton Eyed Joe’s for the families such a sonic experience. I was already a big affected by a recent church shooting. fan, but the experience was overwhelming, except for the opening act, The Go-Go’s. 3. Dwight Yoakam, Guitars, Cadillac’s, Etc. Etc.: I was working Top Gig Alerts 40 in Greenville, SC when I first heard Dwight on WESC. I bought • WFRE/Frederick, MD PD/afternoon jock Jess Wright is the album that night and drove my neighbors crazy with incessant looking to fill the station’s midday shift, and the gig could be plays; I loved it. Dwight appeared at the Gaffney Peach Festival later that year and a friend and I stood in a steady rain to see him play. I paired with music duties. Interested parties can send airchecks would still stand in the rain to see a Dwight show. and resumes to [email protected] or via snail mail at 4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Damn the Torpedoes: One 5966 Grove Hill Rd., Frederick, MD 21703. of my main ‘high school soundtrack’ albums. I went through two • KNTY/Sacramento PD Bob McNeill is seeking a weekender. sets of Jensen speakers with the tape. Airchecks and resumes to him at [email protected]. 5. Miles Davis, Kind of Blue featuring Cannonball Adderly and • Federated Media/South Bend, IN OM & Country WBYT John Coltrane: The best jazz album anytime, anyplace. PD/afternoon jock Clint Marsh is currently seeking his • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: Not sure just how important, but my son tried to get me to listen to Modest replacement as PD/afternooner. Airchecks and resumes to Mouse. Couldn’t get through the first song. [email protected]. An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Sampling. • WSRG/Sturgeon Bay, WI Dir./Corporate Operations Jeff I know it’s an “art,” but it seems to me like a creativity vacuum. Stone is seeking an APD/afternoon jock. Airchecks and resumes Anything by Kid Rock. (Yes, we’re playing the new single.) to [email protected]. An album you played or listened to incessantly: Any live • KTTS/Springfield, MO OM Valorie Knight is looking for recording from Alison Krauss and Union Station or The Dave a morning co-host to replace Julie Vanvig-Burnell. Knight is Matthews Band. • An album that never burns: Kenny Chesney’s Be As You Are. Goes continuing to look for a KTTS PD to replace former OM/PD great with the Gulf Coast. Chris Cannon, from whom she took OM duties. Email her at • One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to [email protected]. right now: Drive By Truckers album Brighter Than Creations Dark. Radiothon Roundup • WJPD/Marquette, MI, $10,061 (7/17-18) Here’s a look at recent St. Jude Radiothon results turned in • WMKC/Traverse City, MI, $51,010 (7/24-25) by Country radio: • WLWI/Montgomery, AL, $20,334 (8/7-8) • WSTH/Columbus, GA, $50,830 (8/14-15) ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 18, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 3 BIR T HDAYS Tuesday (8/19): Gary Chapman, Rissi Palmer, Eddy Raven, Clay Walker, Lee Ann Womack, Roger Cook, Heather McBee (heather.mcbee@ sonybmg.com) Wednesday (8/20): Rudy Gatlin, the late Jim Reeves; Tony Stampley; Dan McClain; Lisa Ramsey, Kristen McRary ([email protected]) Thursday (8/21) - Harold Reid (The Statler Brothers), Kenny Rogers, Jack Lameier ([email protected]), Johnny Rose (johnny. [email protected]) Friday (8/22) - Jennifer Day, Holly Dunn, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Mila Mason, Waddie Mitchell, Collin Raye, Mickey Ashworth ([email protected]), Ed Gertler, Amy Macy Saturday (8/23) - Rex Allen Jr., Ira Dean (Trick Pony), Emilio, Shelly Fairchild, Mel Holt, Woody Paul (Riders In The Sky), Dennis Robbins, Becky Robertson (Carter’s Chord), Chuck Tilley (Sixwire), Tara Austin, TJ Holland, Lorie Hollabaugh ([email protected]) Sunday (8/24) - John Cowan, David Koechner (The Naked Trucker), Kristyn Osborn (SheDaisy), Clint Daniels, Darrin Kirkindoll, Chevy Nash, Wendy Pearl ([email protected]) Monday (8/25) - Billy Ray Cyrus, Jo Dee Messina, Henry Paul (Blackhawk), Tim Mensy, Allyson Scott, Karen Tallier (karen@ myloudmouth.com) Industry News Singer/songwriter Tommy Townsend has signed with industry vet Jerry “Jigger” Bridges and four other businessmen’s newly formed Reason 4 Records. The label is located at 1616 Westgate Circle, Brentwood, TN 37027. Phone 615-844-6182; www.reason4records.com. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has launched a new website at nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com complete with bios and images of members as well as news and Q&As with Mike Reid and Bobby Braddock. Artist News Jamey Johnson has been added to the list of performers at the 23rd Annual Farm Aid concert in Mansfield, MA Sept. 20. The Top 5 nominees for the 14th Annual ICM Awards have been announced. Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Josh Turner, Randy Travis and Ricky Skaggs & The Whites are up for Mainstream Country Artist. Full list at www.icm-awards.com. Trisha Yearwood graces the cover of Redbook’s September issue, serving several recipes from her best selling book Georgia Cooking In A Oklahoma Kitchen. The mag also sat down with the book’s co-authors, Yearwood’s sister Beth and mother Gwen, to discuss the process of writing. Darryl Worley’s 7th Annual Tennessee River Run Battle of The Bands entry forms are now available at www.darrylworley. com. The winner will perform at the concert featuring Worley, Keith Anderson and Restless Heart Sept. 13. Worley’s debut Stroudavarious single “Tequila On Ice” will be available on iTunes tomorrow (8/19).