Issue 409 Garth’S Coming: Now What? If Anything Is Known About Garth Brooks, It’S That He Does Things Big

Home , Drunk on a Plane, Dust on the Bottle, I Hold On, Lie a Little Better, Rhett Akins, Take It On Back

August 18, 2014, Issue 409 Garth’s Coming: Now What? If anything is known about Garth Brooks, it’s that he does things big. The same has been true so far of his touring come- back, which started in Chicago with an on-sale that was unlike anything CBS Radio VP/Country Programming and WUSN/Chi- cago PD Jeff Kapugi had ever seen. “One of the best days I have had as a program director in this crazy business” is how he later described it. Given that Garth last toured more than a decade ago, there a lot of other programmers who aren’t quite sure what to expect because they were either in another format or, *cough*, were too young. With that Jeff Kapugi in mind, Country Aircheck examined how Garth’s tour has played out at radio so far. Guitars And Tiki Bars: WQIK/Jacksonville’s Cindy Spicer and The Lead-Up: Garth’s 10 dates in Chicago are a good Columbia’s RJ Meacham take in Kenny Chesney’s Flora-Bama place to start. Though a fan dubbed “Andy from Atlanta” got to Jama Saturday (8/16), with Chesney and David Lee Murphy break the tour-open news on the afternoon of July 14, Kapugi and onstage behind them. ‘USN Dir./Promotions Pam Hamil got a heads up from the promoter early that morning. “Obviously we needed to wait for Garth Chesney’s First Jama to call Andy before we could flip the switch and let the confetti fly,” They came to see Kenny Chesney and his only 2014 concert Kapugi says. “From there, we basically teased a 7:15 announce- – and they were everywhere. On the beach, in the water, on boats, ment with full details the following morning (7/15). And that was stacked three deep in the nearby parking garages, hanging from condo the drum we were beating for the rest of the week.” balconies and on rooftops. Those details consisted of one show, which would go on sale More than 40,000 braved the Friday (7/25) at 10am, just more than a week and a half later. 90+ degree heat to hear hits Kenny Chesney The station soon began pushing the audience to 7:10 Monday and music from Kenny’s new morning (7/21) for their first chance to win tickets. That presale album The Big Revival. promotion, The Great Garth Giveaway, delivered ticket giveaways Chesney appropriately six times per day through the on-sale date. opened the two-and-a-half The On-Sale: Beyond that, rumors flew. Some suggested hour set with a song from as many as 15 Chicago shows. “We even heard that different the new album, “Flora-Ba- venues were on hold,” Kapugi says. “But our first real indication ma.” Co-written with David that something big was about to happen came 45 minutes before Lee Murphy, who later the on-sale when the promoter called and said they were adding joined Chesney for DLM’s three shows. From there I don’t think (continued on page 8) hits “Dust On The Bottle” and “Party Crowd,” the ©2014 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected]

August 18, 2014 Page 4 song was inspired by the 50-year old roadhouse Flora-Bama Lounge PAGE THREE PIC And Package. And, despite only being released a few days ago, the crowd sang with Chesney as fervently as with any of his anthems. He cranked out 26 songs before closing with “The Boys of Fall” and making one young fan’s night when he brought her onstage, put an autographed “No Shoes Nation” football helmet on her head, lifted her up and twirled her in circles. Chesney treated the fans to an encore with “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” before bringing another young fan onstage to get an autographed guitar. He spent another 10 minutes signing autographs and shaking hands as the band jammed on “Tractor,” leaving the stage about 7:30pm. There were few disturbances from a decidedly young crowd making for a very “peaceful” event that got underway at 5pm. In fact, local police reportedly only made one arrest. (It wasn’t me.) Despite the crowd getting regular dousing from fire hoses and free Then-WSTH (Rooster 106)/Columbus, GA PD Ted Turner water stations on the beach, a number of fans succumbed to the (l) presents then-Curb artist Tim McGraw with a copy of heat but were attended to very promptly. the station’s “Where The Green Grass Grows” parody If you’re bummed you didn’t make it, take heart. One of the “Where The Steel Bars Close.” Then-morning host Bear first things I noticed when getting my laminate was the phrase “First O’Brian put it together following McGraw’s 2000 run-in Annual.” That little Flora-Bama-Jama nugget hasn’t been included in with the law when he and Kenny Chesney took off on a any press releases, but given the event’s almost-flawless nature, we’d cop’s horse at a George Strait show. Lawless pics of your be stunned if you didn’t see Kenny in that same spot this time next own? Send them to [email protected]. year. Rent your condo now before they raise the prices. –Lon Helton The Gold category also has a few surprises. Ostensibly a

Nash Icon: Quick Look 1989-forward format with 53 of the 102 Gold titles from 1989- Cumulus’ new format debuted on 15 stations at various times 1999, there are 23 songs from between 1980-88. Among the last Friday, so there are really only two days of Nash Icon music 1980 selections are George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her programming to analyze – Aug. 16 and 17. To give you a feel for Today,” Willie Nelson’s “My He- what those stations are doing, we’ll combine stats from Mediabase roes Have Always Been Cowboys,” 24/7 along with listening to WSM-FM/Nashville for part of the Merle Haggard’s “Big City” and weekend and today. We’re using WSM-FM as the bellwether. “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and The Nashville affiliate is playing 13 Currents, 36 Recurrents Drink.” Tunes from ensuing years and 102 Gold titles. As one might expect, the majority of the include Don Williams’ “Lord I Hope currents are from the top of the charts; nine are from the top 15 This Day Is Good,” Alabama’s There are some interesting exceptions, however. Big & Rich’s “Love In The First Degree,” Earl “Look At You” at No. 23 is the lowest charted song being played Thomas Conley’s “Holding Her while Lee Ann Womack’s “The Way I’m Livin’” is new and not And Loving You,” Exile’s “Give Me yet charted. These two outliers may well fit into the philosophy One More Chance,” Keith Whit- outlined in the original Nash Icon press release which stated the ley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s intention to play new music by icons, regardless of whether or “Fishin’ In The Dark.” Twenty-five songs from the 2000s – with not the song was getting mainstream Country radio airplay. It’s 2011 being the most recent – round out the category. The clocks also a bit surprising to see bro country tunes and artists inter- are obviously Gold heavy, with one, two or three currents and twined among the format’s iconic acts. Bro-leaning hits by Florida three recurrents mixed in to any given hour. Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and others are sprinkled There’s a great “wow” factor in listening to WSM-FM if you’ve through the two days of music. been a country fan longer than 20 minutes. There are loads of ©2014 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected]

August 18, 2014 Page 6 great songs you haven’t heard in a number of years. Gotta admit I OFF THE RECORD: Sonia Leigh smiled when I heard Merle and Willie’s “Pancho and Lefty.” Willing To Fly’s Sonia Leigh puts an industry But, there are train wrecks every now and then, too. One of spin on the artist interview. the challenges in mixing country music’s eras has always been The first time I heard myself on the one of matching “sounds.” Whether it be a matter of evolv- radio I was on my radio tour. “My Name Is ing and advancing production techniques or the change from Money” was out, I was in New York and we analog to digital recording, the sonics of various eras just don’t were driving. I almost jumped out of the car match. Any way you cut it, there are just some tough segues. window. I had no idea it was coming. I met so many great people on my first Overall, the format sounds good to a longtime country fan. It will radio tour. I had a really nice dinner with [then- be interesting to see if Nash Icon can bring back Country listen- Sonia Leigh WCOL/Columbus, OH PD] John-Boy Crenshaw, ers who might have become a bit disenfranchised with Country and he’s kind of a tough guy and scary. But the radio over the last few years, or if it will merely shave the upper longer we were at dinner the more I realized what a super good and demos from a market’s existing Country stations, further com- sweet guy he is. He’s tall and he’s kind of intimidating-looking, but he pressing the shares and niching a niche. –Lon Helton really is a warm dude and I love him to death. And when I met [KKGO/ Los Angeles PD] Tonya Campos, she had this really amazing energy about her that I loved. Chart Chat The scariest part of a radio tour is sitting in a room full Congrats to Dierks Bentley, Royce of strangers in an office environment. You’re trying to spice it up Risser, Steve Hodges, Shane Allen, Katie and create a spiritual moment for the song and for the people. You Dean and the entire Capitol promotion crew want to give them a second to escape their work environment and on scoring this week’s No. 1 with “Drunk On actually enjoy what’s going on, so the pressure of really bringing it A Plane.” The song is the second chart-topper was tough. from his Riser album, succeeding “I Hold On,” I brought my little sister Amanda with me on tour. She’d never really left Georgia or Alabama and she came to Savannah to which attained the chart pinnacle March 24. see me with Eric Church and Brantley Gilbert. I ended up stealing Dierks Bentley her for a year. She sold my merchandise and it was just so cool News & Notes to be able to show her the whole country. Now she’s constantly Tickets for the 48th Annual CMA Awards and CMA Country wanting to come back out on the road. They call it the post-tour Christmas will go on sale to the public Sept. 6 at 10am CT. depression. You’re so used to being in that go, go, go environment, you kind of feel like you’ve been abducted by an alien and then Songwriter Max T. Barnes will present five songwriting semi- dropped back down into reality. nars in Australia from Sept. 7-14 alongside Australian artist Gina I’m stepping into another realm with my music, which Jeffreys and producer/songwriter Rod McCormack. More here. is upbeat, positive, probably more of a pop-country vibe than what The Council On Workforce Innovation’s 2014 Women’s I’ve done before. Conference will take place Sept. 30 at 7:30am at Belmont’s I recently locked my keys in my car, and I was trying Maddox Atrium. Industry vet Anastasia Brown will accept the to open my driver’s side door and the handle broke off. So I’ve Trailblazer Award. More here. been running around getting into my car on the opposite side and Kim Copeland Productions (KCP) now offers artist devel- climbing over, and I’m just too busy to get it fixed. I’m going to all opment services. More here. these meetings and people want to walk me to my car and I’m like, “No, that’s ok!” PLA Media has added Red Light Management artist Ty When I’m going out on the road, The Office is my go-to Bates to its PR roster. show. I never get tired of it so I watch it continuously. Artist News the arcade-type game Beer Pong Master, which he has on tour with DMG/In2une’s Lucy Hale is among the artists featured in him. Fans can win chances to play against him through local radio. Clear Channel’s Honda Stage Live Music Series on iHeartRadio, ArcStar’s Veronica Ballestrini was named brand ambas- CC stations and Youtube.com/Hondastage. More here. sador for Davy Crockett’s Cookies & Cream Whiskey. More Sea Gayle/Arista’s Jerrod Niemann has his own version of info here. ©2014 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected]

August 18, 2014 Page 8 Garth’s Coming: Now What? MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE (continued from page 1) Industry vet Maurice Miner discusses his the chaos really ended until 1:30-2pm. I don’t even remember most influential music. because it was so dizzying.” Kapugi kept a timeline, which helps 1. Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood, make the point. Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1998: I 7:25am: Garth calls [morning show] Lisa & Ray. covered the event and traveled with his team. 9:15am: Beyond 9/4, shows are added for 9/5, 9/6 & 9/11. On the way, Garth said the thing he was 9:30am: Programming meeting regarding on-air, online and anticipating most was hearing the crowds social media tactics. sing – there was something unique about the 10:36am: Fifth show added (9/12). Maurice people of the Emerald Isle. He was right. I’ve 11:01am: Sixth show added (9/13). Miner still never seen anything quite like it. 11:09am: Lisa & Ray return to the air to speak to Garth, who 2. Dan Fogelberg, Hartford Civic Center, 1982: You never called to say thanks to Chicago and US99.5, and to encourage forget your first concert, right? He played guitar on some songs, listeners to hang in there on Ticketmaster as demand is crazy. piano on others. I can still picture the sea of lighters raised and 11:34am: [APD/MD] Marci Braun asks and gets permis- waving in the air during “Longer.” sion to take a potty break. 3. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours: My love of this band and its 11:35am: Garth adds seventh show (9/6, 10:30pm.) members began on mid-’70s AM radio, continued through the (What?! Two shows on Saturday night? Insane! This will shut down ‘80s and probably set the stage for my love of country. the city of Rosemont.) 4. Reba McEntire, Worcester Centrum, 1994: I took my mom 11:48am: Jeff needs a potty break. to see her very first concert. It was the perfect one – theatrical, 11:49am: Eighth show added (9/12, 10:30pm). Jeff skips personal and dazzling, complete with Reba suspended above the his potty break. crowd having done her big “red dress” reveal during “Fancy.” 12:01pm: Jeff takes his potty break. 5. “Over the Rainbow”: In the hands of Trisha Yearwood, 12:41pm: Garth calls to announce shows nine (9/13, Martina McBride and Barbra Streisand it has continued to resonate 10:30pm) and 10 (9/14) and says, “We are gonna call it at that.” with me over time. Melissa Manchester’s recording is stellar. 12:55pm: The US99.5 off-air staff gets to have lunch! •Highly regarded music you’ve never heard: I wish I had “Just when you thought you had the cadence down, it wasn’t a better appreciation for classical. If it wasn’t in the Amadeus what you were expecting,” Kapugi continues. “But it was great soundtrack, The Nutcracker, Fantasia or a Bugs Bunny cartoon, for us as a team [with] everything that was getting done on-air, there’s a good chance I haven’t heard it. online, through promotions, programming and the web. The only •An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Does thing I can really say is to be prepared for anything and have all anyone actually consider Bjork “important?” hands on deck.” •An album you played or listened to incessantly: The Unexpected: Kapugi’s advice applied to Garth’s Atlanta The Carpenters, The Singles (1969-1973). I still love this album. dates, too, but for a different reason. Ticketmaster troubles with the Karen Carpenter’s crystalline vocals just slay me. Aug. 8 on-sale made for a more muted environment, though the •One obscure or non-country song everyone should day began much like in Chicago. Garth’s initial show (9/19) was to listen to right now: Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in go on sale at 10am, and local Country stations were notified about Country Music. Maybe it’s not “obscure” given that it’s made its a half hour earlier that two additional shows had been added. way onto this year’s CMA ballot. “I got an inkling that something wasn’t going according to •One item in your music collection you’d rather not admit plan when they went on sale,” says Cumulus to enjoying: I still have most of the 12” dance remixes (on vinyl) Corporate PD and WKHX/Atlanta PD Greg from when I DJ-ed in the ‘80s – everything from Laura Branigan to Frey. “There were crickets. I was expecting a “blaster mix” of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark.” an action-packed couple of hours where they were just selling out show after show, but it Reach the birthday boy (50) here. didn’t happen. We were all trying to get on Ticketmaster ourselves and you could just so concerned. “The audience members that are 45-plus definitely never could get through. Then Garth called remember the heyday of Garth, but the younger ones who never and suspended ticket sales around 2pm. He experienced it, they hear the rumors. Its almost like [Led] Zeppelin Greg Frey said he didn’t know what the problem was, coming back. It’s something they’ve heard about and may have but that he’d decided to stop until they figured seen on YouTube, and I think they’re excited to experience some of out a better way to go about it.” that themselves.” Ultimately, Garth and Ticketmaster worked out the kinks. On Wilks KFKF/Kansas City PD/morning host Dale Carter Tuesday (8/12) he announced two more Atlanta shows with an agrees, pointing to tangible benefits. KC hosted a one-off series on-sale of Saturday (8/16). Then, on the morning of that on-sale, of nine Garth shows in 2007 surrounding the he added two more for a total of seven. release of his The Ultimate Hits collection at Tour promoter Ben Farrell of Varnell Enterprises is Walmart. “It started with one and it just fell like tight-lipped on pretty much anything related to the shows or what dominoes,” Carter recalls. “Embrace it. It’s go- programmers should expect, but he is clear about the emphasis ing to be huge for the format in whatever cities they’re placing on radio. “Garth Brooks for 26 years has always he goes to. I would just put in a plug for Kansas treated Country radio first and foremost and we will continue to City. That particular fall was particularly good do that every chance we get,” he says. “We deeply appreciate for all three of the Country stations here.” Country radio.” In any event, it’s worth noting that after Format Functions: Despite a clear demand for concert tick- Garth has finished in Chicago and Atlan- Dale Carter ets, there are some programmers who question how much atten- ta, he’ll have performed 17 concerts over tion they should give to Garth’s return to touring. He’s been gone 23 days. Should each sell out, he’ll have played to more than for quite a while, after all. Country’s sound has evolved greatly 308,000 people with a potential gross approaching $21 million. and Country audiences are younger than ever. Frey, though, isn’t And that’s just two cities. –Russ Penuell CAC

August 18, 2014 Chart Page 1

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

2 1 DIERKS BENTLEY/Drunk On A Plane (Capitol) 22885 720 7622 221 54.955 1.808 149 0

4 2 BRAD PAISLEY/River Bank (Arista) 4 22824 2200 7715 817 53.098 3.896 149 0

5 3 TIM MCGRAW f/FAITH HILL/Meanwhile Back At Mama's (Big Machine) 21111 801 7085 240 50.344 1.889 149 0

3 4 LADY ANTEBELLUM/Bartender (Capitol) 21100 419 6961 177 51.406 1.052 149 0

1 5 LEE BRICE/I Don't Dance (Curb) 20318 -3513 6655 -1165 48.835 -7.881 149 0

7 6 KENNY CHESNEY/American Kids (Blue Chair/Columbia) 19367 722 6395 258 46.429 2.081 149 0

8 7 DUSTIN LYNCH/Where It's At (Broken Bow) 4 18752 1251 6252 391 44.731 3.376 149 0

10 8 COLE SWINDELL/Hope You Get Lonely Tonight (Warner Bros./WMN) 4 16842 1826 5734 714 40.145 3.916 149 0

11 9 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Dirt (Republic Nashville) 14754 737 4798 244 37.059 1.871 149 0

12 10 LUKE BRYAN/Roller Coaster (Capitol) 14335 748 4597 298 35.395 1.519 149 0

6 11 BILLY CURRINGTON/We Are Tonight (Mercury) 14011 -4652 4514 -1570 34.316 -10.558 149 0

14 12 BRANTLEY GILBERT f/J. MOORE & T. RHETT/Small... (Valory) 12446 312 4207 98 30.233 0.709 149 0

17 13 CHASE RICE/Ready Set Roll (Columbia) 11936 590 3770 187 28.806 2.02 145 3

15 14 SWON BROTHERS/Later On (Arista) 11853 40 3925 34 27.635 0.542 149 0

16 15 MIRANDA LAMBERT & CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Somethin’... (RCA/Arista) 11848 443 3938 142 29.338 1.249 147 0

19 16 JASON ALDEAN/Burnin' It Down (Broken Bow) 11152 773 3605 253 27.94 2.19 148 0

18 17 ELI YOUNG BAND/Dust (Republic Nashville) 10610 159 3484 10 25.71 0.799 148 0

20 18 ZAC BROWN BAND/All Alright (Southern Ground) 10574 241 3451 82 25.179 0.809 148 1

22 19 SAM HUNT/Leave The Night On (MCA) 10080 869 3425 265 24.092 2.512 146 1

21 20 ERIC CHURCH/Cold One (EMI Nashville) 9464 68 3187 25 22.112 -0.026 147 5

23 21 FRANKIE BALLARD/Sunshine & Whiskey (Warner Bros./WAR) 9441 453 3147 196 22.334 1.449 145 0

24 22 LITTLE BIG TOWN/Day Drinking (Capitol) 8736 370 2955 150 20.873 1.096 145 2

25 23 BIG & RICH/Look At You (B&R/New Revolution) 8703 460 2883 139 18.156 0.99 137 1

13 24 ERIC PASLAY/Song About A Girl (EMI Nashville) 8577 -4873 2883 -1739 21.187 -11.346 149 0

26 25 PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 7102 179 2401 57 16.498 1.186 143 0

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

28 26 KEITH URBAN/Somewhere In My Car (Capitol) 6656 777 2214 232 16.055 3.734 135 3

27 27 RASCAL FLATTS/Payback (Big Machine) 6404 195 2134 80 14.894 0.467 145 1

29 28 SCOTTY MCCREERY/Feelin' It (19/Interscope/Mercury) 5268 586 1834 197 9.751 1.266 129 3

33 29 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 4 5002 1136 1530 402 10.717 2.586 121 12

30 30 DAVID NAIL/Kiss You Tonight (MCA) 4949 380 1689 164 8.913 0.907 137 4

31 31 BROTHERS OSBORNE/Rum (EMI Nashville) 4248 95 1569 63 7.214 0.101 128 3

CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 4 3907 2498 1366 874 7.424 4.838 92 8

32 33 JON PARDI/What I Can't Put Down (Capitol) 3897 -108 1349 -21 6.108 -0.019 136 0

35 34 LOVE AND THEFT/Night That You'll Never Forget (RCA) 3654 81 1270 36 5.789 0.45 124 1

34 35 KACEY MUSGRAVES/Keep It To Yourself (Mercury) 3644 0 1220 -23 7.318 0.14 134 2

36 36 DAN + SHAY/Show You Off (Warner Bros./WAR) 3555 35 1228 9 6.917 0.418 113 3

40 37 HUNTER HAYES/Tattoo (Atlantic/WMN) 3507 696 1031 150 7.037 2.223 112 4

37 38 RANDY HOUSER/Like A Cowboy (Stoney Creek) 3297 14 1140 46 5.484 0.129 119 2

RAELYNN/God Made Girls (Valory) 2987 115 930 70 5.14 0.194 89 8

38 40 JUSTIN MOORE f/VINCE NEIL/Home Sweet... (Big Machine/Valory) 2897 -67 934 -6 5.478 -0.358 98 4

41 41 JANA KRAMER/Love (Elektra/WAR) 2819 341 879 55 4.671 0.634 99 2

42 42 JOHN KING/Tonight, Tonight (Black River) 2593 139 933 69 3.25 0.129 98 3

46 43 BRETT ELDREDGE/Mean To Me (Atlantic/WMN) 1912 399 728 139 3.109 0.713 87 6

43 44 JOSH THOMPSON/Wanted Me Gone (Show Dog-Universal) 1871 85 649 20 2.839 0.202 83 1

Debut 45 THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 1648 513 618 171 3.27 1.048 69 8

Debut 46 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain't Got (RCA) 1636 921 537 310 3.476 1.882 81 16

45 47 JAKE OWEN/Summer Jam (RCA) 1465 -53 420 10 3.778 -0.09 16 0

50 48 KRISTIAN BUSH/Trailer Hitch (Streamsound) 1401 253 446 78 3.769 2.099 62 11

49 49 JERROD NIEMANN/Buzz Back Girl (Sea Gayle/Arista) 1392 214 531 94 1.989 0.244 85 6

Debut 50 THE CADILLAC THREE/Party Like You (Big Machine) 1062 196 396 81 1.262 0.026 63 7 ©2014 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 18, 2014 Chart Page 3

Country Aircheck Add Leaders Adds Activator Top Point Gainers BLAKE SHELTON/Neon Light (Warner Bros./WMN) 58 DUSTIN LYNCH/Where It's At (Broken Bow) 940 4 MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Headlights (Blaster) 34 COLE SWINDELL/Hope You Get Lonely... (Warner Bros./WMN) 900 4 KELLEIGH BANNEN/You Are What You Love (EMI Nashville) 32 CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 846 4 TYLER FARR/A Guy Walks Into A Bar (Columbia) 29 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 678 4 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain't Got (RCA) 16 LUKE BRYAN/Roller Coaster (Capitol) 581 4 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 12 BRAD PAISLEY/River Bank (Arista) 488 KRISTIAN BUSH/Trailer Hitch (Streamsound) 11 JASON ALDEAN/Burnin' It Down (Broken Bow) 482 CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 8 DARIUS RUCKER /Homegrown Honey (Capitol) 8 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Dirt (Republic Nashville) 462 RAELYNN/God Made Girls (Valory) 8 THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 415 THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 8 KENNY CHESNEY/American Kids (Blue Chair/Columbia) 380 Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers Activator Top Spin Gainers CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 2498 4 DUSTIN LYNCH/Where It's At (Broken Bow) 240 BRAD PAISLEY/River Bank (Arista) 2200 4 COLE SWINDELL/Hope You Get Lonely... (Warner Bros./WMN) 193 COLE SWINDELL/Hope You Get Lonely Tonight (Warner Bros./WMN) 1826 4 CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 175 DUSTIN LYNCH/Where It's At (Broken Bow) 1251 4 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 168 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 1136 4 LUKE BRYAN/Roller Coaster (Capitol) 149 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain't Got (RCA) 921 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Dirt (Republic Nashville) 110 SAM HUNT/Leave The Night On (MCA) 869 JASON ALDEAN/Burnin' It Down (Broken Bow) 108 TIM MCGRAW f/FAITH HILL/Meanwhile Back... (Big Machine) 801 SCOTTY MCCREERY/Feelin' It (19/Interscope/Mercury) 103 KEITH URBAN/Somewhere In My Car (Capitol) 777 BRAD PAISLEY/River Bank (Arista) 99 JASON ALDEAN/Burnin' It Down (Broken Bow) 773 THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 90

Country Aircheck Top Spin Gainers Country Aircheck Top Recurrents Points CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 874 JOE NICHOLS/Yeah (Red Bow) 13859 BRAD PAISLEY/River Bank (Arista) 817 CHRIS YOUNG/Who I Am With You (RCA) 9280 COLE SWINDELL/Hope You Get Lonely Tonight (Warner Bros./WMN) 714 LUKE BRYAN/Play It Again (Capitol) 8692 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 402 BLAKE SHELTON f/G. SEBASTIAN/My Eyes (Warner Bros./WMN) 7943 DUSTIN LYNCH/Where It's At (Broken Bow) 391 JAKE OWEN/Beachin' (RCA) 7469 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain't Got (RCA) 310 BRETT ELDREDGE/Beat Of The Music (Atlantic/WMN) 6729 LUKE BRYAN/Roller Coaster (Capitol) 298 JERROD NIEMANN/Drink To That... (Sea Gayle/Arista) 6192 SAM HUNT/Leave The Night On (MCA) 265 JUSTIN MOORE/Lettin' The Night Roll (Valory) 6125 KENNY CHESNEY/American Kids (Blue Chair/Columbia) 258 THOMAS RHETT/Get Me Some Of That (Valory) 6072 JASON ALDEAN/Burnin' It Down (Broken Bow) 253 BRANTLEY GILBERT/Bottoms Up (Valory) 6017 ©2014 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 18, 2014 Chart Page 4 Country aircheck activity A D D D AT E S THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) Debuts at 45* August 25 1,648 points, 618 spins Darius Rucker/Homegrown Honey (Capitol) 8 adds: KFGY, KSSN, KGTX, WDAF, WKMK, WNSH*, BLAKE SHELTON/Neon Light (Warner Bros./WMN) WQMX, WXBQ Chris Young/Lonely Eyes (RCA Nashville) September 2 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain’t Got (RCA) JOE NICHOLS/Hard To Be Cool (Red Bow) Debuts at 46* 1,636 points, 537 spins September 8 16 adds including: KEGA, KHEY, KSSN, KYGO, PCCO, Natalie StovaLl and the Drive/Mason Jar (Hit Shop) WAMZ, WCOS, WGH, WKSJ, WMAD EASTON CORBIN/Baby Be My Love Song (Mercury) JAKE OWEN/Summer Jam (RCA) Send yours to [email protected]. Moves 45-47* 1,465 points, 420 spins; No adds CHECK OUT 8/19 KRISTIAN BUSH/Trailer Hitch (Streamsound) Various Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To MötleyCrüe (Big Moves 50-48* Machine/Mötley/Eleven Seven) 1,401 points, 446 spins Artists including Justin Moore, Rascal Flatts, and Eli 11 adds including: KUAD, KXLY, W1MC*, WBCT, WDAF, Young Band put a country spin on the music of the metal WKMK, WNCY, WOGK, WQNU, WRNS megastars. JERROD NIEMANN/Buzz Back Girl (Sea Gayle/Arista) Chase Rice Ignite The Night (Columbia/Dack Janiels) Rice’s new album features current single “Ready Set Remains at 49* Roll” and co-writes with Florida Georgia Line and hit 1,392 points, 531 spins songwriters Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson. 6 adds: KFGY, KTST, WGGY, WKSJ, WOGK, WPAW Randy Travis Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am (Warner Bros.) THE CADILLAC THREE/Party Like You (Big Machine) Travis sings more of the classics that shaped him Debuts at 50* including “I’m Moving On,” “Set ‘Em Up Joe” and 1,062 points, 396 spins “Sunday Morning Coming Down.” 7 adds: KDRK, WDXB, WKIS, WKSJ, WOGI, WPOR, WUSY Various Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash’s Bitter DEAN ALEXANDER/Live A Little (Elektra/WEA) Tears Revisited (Sony Masterworks) 912 points, 318 spins Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and 2 adds: KNTY, KWEN* more perform the songs from Cash’s concept album about the historical mistreatment of Native Americans. THOMPSON SQUARE/I Can’t Outrun You (Stoney Creek) 851 points, 337 spins; No adds Joel Crouse Even The River Runs (Show Dog-Universal) Massachusetts native Crouse’s debut showcases his mix JOEY HYDE/Get It On (Capitol) of modern country and classic rock with a rangy voice. 776 points, 305 spins; No adds

LUCY HALE/Lie A Little Better (DMG/In2une) Sarah Dunn Band You Or The Whiskey (Audasity) 701 points, 277 spins Singer Dunn learned the fiddle by watching her great 2 adds: WITL*, WMAD grandfather play and listening to Bob Wills songs. The SDB’s new single is “You Or The Whiskey.”

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Points +/- Points Plays +/- Plays Stations Adds 1 1 DIERKS BENTLEY/Drunk On A Plane (Capitol) 9250 124 2369 26 54 0 4 2 BRAD PAISLEY/River Bank (Arista) 8861 488 2251 99 54 0 3 3 TIM MCGRAW f/FAITH HILL/Meanwhile Back At Mama's (Big Machine) 8685 70 2216 36 54 0 2 4 LEE BRICE/I Don't Dance (Curb) 8468 -654 2137 -157 54 0 5 5 LADY ANTEBELLUM/Bartender (Capitol) 8288 270 2118 85 53 0 6 6 KENNY CHESNEY/American Kids (Blue Chair/Columbia) 7714 380 1987 81 54 0 8 7 DUSTIN LYNCH/Where It's At (Broken Bow) 4 7335 940 1818 240 53 0 10 8 COLE SWINDELL/Hope You Get Lonely Tonight (Warner Bros./WMN) 4 6607 900 1636 193 54 0 9 9 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Dirt (Republic Nashville) 6334 462 1627 110 54 0 13 10 LUKE BRYAN/Roller Coaster (Capitol) 4 5912 581 1542 149 54 0 12 11 SWON BROTHERS/Later On (Arista) 5395 11 1324 14 52 1 14 12 BRANTLEY GILBERT f/J. MOORE & T. RHETT/Small Town Throwdown (Valory) 5356 74 1411 27 53 0 16 13 M. LAMBERT & C. UNDERWOOD/Somethin' Bad (RCA/Arista) 5010 110 1333 22 52 0 17 14 ZAC BROWN BAND/All Alright (Southern Ground) 4698 94 1148 32 51 0 7 15 BILLY CURRINGTON/We Are Tonight (Mercury) 4525 -2133 1166 -507 38 0 15 16 ELI YOUNG BAND/Dust (Republic Nashville) 4406 -604 1127 -134 51 0 19 17 ERIC CHURCH/Cold One (EMI Nashville) 4337 218 1100 62 52 1 11 18 ERIC PASLAY/Song About A Girl (EMI Nashville) 4284 -1369 1094 -361 44 0 20 19 CHASE RICE/Ready Set Roll (Columbia) 4148 250 1032 70 47 2 18 20 LITTLE BIG TOWN/Day Drinking (Capitol) 4146 20 1004 3 53 0 22 21 FRANKIE BALLARD/Sunshine & Whiskey (Warner Bros./WAR) 3957 282 988 78 53 1 21 22 SAM HUNT/Leave The Night On (MCA) 3943 168 995 50 50 2 23 23 JASON ALDEAN/Burnin' It Down (Broken Bow) 3900 482 1009 108 49 0 24 24 RASCAL FLATTS/Payback (Big Machine) 3176 102 798 5 51 1 25 25 KEITH URBAN/Somewhere In My Car (Capitol) 2936 235 738 67 48 1 27 26 SCOTTY MCCREERY/Feelin' It (19/Interscope/Mercury) 2660 378 655 103 45 0 26 27 DAVID NAIL/Kiss You Tonight (MCA) 2440 138 625 32 45 1 28 28 BIG & RICH/Look At You (B&R/New Revolution) 2416 170 614 43 45 2 29 29 PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 2162 278 537 65 43 4 32 30 BROTHERS OSBORNE/Rum (EMI Nashville) 1559 65 380 1 40 2

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Points +/- Points Plays +/- Plays Stations Adds

37 31 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 4 1551 678 419 168 44 3 30 32 JON PARDI/What I Can't Put Down (Capitol) 1542 -79 369 -35 39 0 34 33 RANDY HOUSER/Like A Cowboy (Stoney Creek) 1472 279 419 66 38 5 35 34 JUSTIN MOORE/Home Sweet Home f/Vince Neil (Big Machine/Valory) 1362 192 341 42 35 1 33 35 DAN + SHAY/Show You Off (Warner Bros./WAR) 1327 58 320 13 33 2 36 36 JOHN KING/Tonight, Tonight (Black River) 1135 33 252 11 26 1 54 37 CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 4 1046 846 244 175 20 10 39 38 RAELYNN/God Made Girls (Valory) 846 133 191 29 16 3 41 39 BRETT ELDREDGE/Mean To Me (Atlantic/WMN) 811 192 205 55 22 3

38 40 LOVE AND THEFT/Night That You'll Never Forget (RCA) 726 2 197 0 29 1 50 41 THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 638 415 155 90 19 6 42 42 JANA KRAMER/Love (Elektra Nashville/WAR) 571 2 132 7 19 1 43 43 JOSH THOMPSON/Wanted Me Gone (Show Dog-Universal) 511 -21 136 -4 15 1 46 44 HUNTER HAYES/Tattoo (Atlantic/WMN) 478 94 135 32 13 5 44 45 KIP MOORE/Dirt Road (MCA) 388 -86 74 -21 7 0 56 46 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain't Got (RCA) 380 212 96 46 10 10 48 47 KRISTIAN BUSH/Trailer Hitch (Streamsound) 344 65 72 10 12 1 47 48 CHASIN' CRAZY/That's How We Do Summertime (RPME) 275 -84 49 -11 4 0 51 49 JERROD NIEMANN/Buzz Back Girl (Sea Gayle/Arista) 259 45 69 14 8 0 Debut 50 CHRIS YOUNG/Lonely Eyes (RCA) 224 220 55 54 11 4 52 51 SUNNY SWEENEY/Bad Girl Phase (Aunt Daddy/Crescendo/Thirty Tigers) 216 7 41 3 6 0 Debut 52 THE CADILLAC THREE/Party Like You (Big Machine) 210 82 90 25 12 1 53 53 DYLAN SCOTT/Mmm, Mmm, Mmm (Sidewalk) 210 8 63 -1 6 0 Debut 54 TYLER FARR/A Guy Walks Into A Bar (Columbia) 194 87 44 16 5 2 Debut 55 BLAKE SHELTON/Neon Light (Warner Bros./WMN) 190 190 59 59 3 8 57 56 BEN RUE/I Can't Wait (Be My Wife) (Arista) 172 4 80 0 9 0 Re-Enter 57 AUSTIN WEBB/Raise 'Em Up (Streamsound) 140 17 26 3 2 0 60 58 BREELAN ANGEL/Double Standards (MisBhavin') 131 1 28 0 3 0 58 59 LUCY HALE/Lie A Little Better (DMG Nashville/In2une) 130 -31 44 3 6 1 49 60 CLARE DUNN/Get Out (Road 43/BLA) 127 -125 16 -26 2 0