December 8, 2008 Issue 119 True Confessions: Programming In A PPM World The diary era is coming to an end in 19 more markets in 2009 and 16 additional metros in 2010. If you’re a PD in one of those markets and haven’t yet started contemplating what’s coming, maybe you should. To that end, Arbitron’s Consultants Fly-In last week showed a video of interviews with several Philadelphia programmers including Beasley’s WXTU PD Bob McKay. Having the vantage point of working in the nation’s longest- running PPM market (current since March 2007), they offered several recommendations. Among the directives: weekly meetings to review PPM data and get familiar with the Season’s Meet & Greetings: 19/Arista’s Carrie Underwood formatting. Don’t go crazy over fluctuations hosted a Christmas-themed gathering before Sunday’s show at Nashville’s Sommet Center, and she was sure to invite the big in the weeklies, but rather focus on the guy. And we’re not sure if that means Sony/Nashville Chairman monthly reports. Keep a reference log of Joe Galante or Santa Claus. Pictured (l-r) are Sony’s Butch Bob McKay what events took place locally and when they Waugh, Underwood, Arista’s Skip Bishop, Mr. Kringle, Sony’s Tom Baldrica, Galante, 19 Entertainment’s Ann Edelblute and occurred to compare against the ratings. Sony’s Renee Bell. The PDs emphasized how important it was to tease for stop- set retention, along with emphasizing appointment promos. At Paul Takes KUPL Airshift least in Philadelphia, middays are proving to be the strongest KUPL/Portland, OR PD John Paul took over afternoon daypart, moving ahead of mornings. And weekend mornings are drive today (12/8), following the exit of Leela Kaye. Paul says performing as strongly as weekdays. Here are more of McKay’s Kaye is “a great talent with proven ratings in Portland (she sage observations to the newbies: just had a No. 1 trend among women).” She can be reached at On anticipating PPM: “It was very exciting that PPM [email protected] or 704-724-9406. was coming in to replace diaries – it was going to reflectreal That news followed this afternoon’s CA Today story that listening. I was under the illusion that it would be real-time data WUSN/Chicago APD/MD Marci Braun began voice-tracking that happened yesterday. The first thing I realized is that it’s evenings tonight (12/8). Both are CBS Radio Country outlets. what happened four weeks ago. That’s something that people CA talked with a few other CBS PDs, and at press time there should be prepared for.” (continued on page 5) were no other changes to report. ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] December 8, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2 Post Fly-In: Putting PPM To Use MY TUNES : MUSIC THA T SHAPED MY LIFE The Arbitron Consultants Fly-In generated a lot of positive Clear Channel/Austin OM Mac Daniels buzz, and KKGO/Los Angeles VP/Programming Charlie Cook discusses his most important songs, albums was among many who came away with nuggets of knowledge. or concerts: “After a discussion correlating airplay and PPM panelist tune- 1. Johnny Cash, Live At Folsom Prison: The out, I came back to the station and laid down minute-by-minute first album I owned. I memorized each word PPM data for one day last month, along with of dialog and all the words to all the songs. corresponding Mediabase airplay, to see if there There will never be another Johnny Cash. I was anything that sent people to other radio still play it today and am amazed how real stations. Sure enough, there were a couple of Mac Daniels and pure the project is. recurrents where the tuneout was obvious, so 2. Lyle Lovett, Pontiac: Great listening while enjoying your favorite bourbon on the rocks. It also exposed me to Ms. Francine we pulled them.” Reed. Gawd, can she sing… Cook continued, “I also learned that there is 3. Frank Sinatra: Lyrics and music blended together perfectly to Charlie Cook a possibility of audience degradation based on help heal any bad day and make the good days better. spot sets being in adjacent quarter-hours. And how important it 4. Bob Seger, Dallas, TX: This was probably one of the best is to extend invitations to listeners to stay tuned or to come back, concerts I’ve ever seen, especially when he started into “Turn The as in PPM you can see how effective quarter-hour maintenance is. Page.” Awesome. Since I got here, I’ve been keeping a PPM log of local events, and 5. Tammy Wynette: Any song of hers. Try listening to “’Til I Can it’s been interesting to see which ones have had an impact. Under Make it On My Own” and not hurt for that woman. PPM you can see your station is a seven-day-a-week operation. • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: U2’s You’re getting incredible listening on weekend mornings and Achtung Baby. Sunday afternoons. These dayparts probably go unappreciated by • An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Anything from the opera. I respect it, but don’t get it. advertisers, and should be seen as real sales opportunities.” • An album you played or listened to incessantly: The Eagles’ Hotel California or Waylon Jennings’ Waylon Live, depending on Chart Chat the mood. This week’s CC is a veritable • One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to sleigh full of best wishes and kudos right now: “Jackson Station” by Band Of Heathens. on jobs well done. First, a tip of Santa’s cap and a shot of Beam to Columbia VP Sugarland’s “Already Gone” is No. 5, Jamey Johnson’s “In Jimmy Rector and ND David Color” comes in No. 7 and Billy Currington’s “Don’t” checks Friedman on taking Montgomery in at No. 9. Can’tcha hear ‘em trying to figure out how to get Gentry’s “Roll With Me” to No. 1. Montgomery Gentry ‘em all to No. 1 from here? This is the follow-up to the guys’ “Back When I Knew It All,” And, finally, this little nugget from the ol’ man’s bag: Unless making this the first time they’ve ever had back-to-back No. 1 you scrolled way down on today’s Mediabase 24/7 Building hits. This is MG’s fifth chart-topper. Chart, you may have missed a little history being made. There, Next, three French hens for VP Damon Moberly and at No. 223, was “’Walken’ In A Winter Wonderland.” By Jim his merry band, who posted a trio of tunes in the Top 10. Dorman. Now, we’ve been doing this awhile, and can’t recall ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] December 8, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 3 BIR T HDAYS Tuesday (12/9) - Sylvia Hutton, David Kersh Wednesday (12/10) - Johnny Rodriguez, Kevin Sharp, Darcy Miller-Lashinsky ([email protected]), Annie Sandor ([email protected]) Thursday (12/11) - Brenda Lee, Tony Brown, Kristen Williams ([email protected]) Friday (12/12) - Hank Williams III, Jay Thomas (jay.thomas@xmradio. com), Liz Kiley ([email protected]) Saturday (12/13) – John Anderson, Ron Getman, Randy Owen, Taylor Swift, John Wiggins, Buck White, Laurel Altman, Claudia Mize, Darren Wilhite Sunday (12/14) – the late Charlie Rich, Mary Rene Baxter ([email protected]) Monday (12/15) – Doug Phelps, Susan Myers (susan@ nashvillesongwriters.com), Rundi Ream, Kurt Williams the last time a record promoter showed up as the artist on a “charted” tune. OK. Let’s amend that to say, “… as the artist on a tune that got airplay on any reporting stations.” Better. If you’re as curious as we are, you might want to know which stations were actually playing a song from the Black River Music Group western regional promoter. Those stations would be (sorry guys, gotta call you out): KJUG/Tulare (does consultant Larry Daniels know?), KNTY/Sacramento (a trip to Pebble Beach must be coming up) and KSKS/Fresno (we have no idea what the vig is there). Anyway, you should have received Dorman’s little ditty – “sung” as Christopher Walken – last week. You can get it from any Black River rep. If you dare. Artist News Accolades were shoulder deep for George Jones as a Kennedy Center Honoree yesterday (12/7) in Washington, D.C. While “Possum” sat next to President and Mrs. Bush, performers paying tribute included Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Shelby Lynne, Brad Paisley and Randy Travis. James Otto, Big Kenny, Marty Stuart, 3 Doors Down and Jon Nicholson are participating in the No Veterans Left Behind benefits, proceeds from which will aid homeless veterans in the Nashville area. Events will be held Dec. 16 at Sound Kitchen Studios in Nashville, and Jan. 6 at the Ryman Auditorium. Details at www.wearebuildinglives.org. Gary Allan is the first major country artist to sign with merch company Zazzle, which allows fans to customize hats, shirts, mugs, stickers, bags and more. The Gary Allan Custom Shop is live now at www.garyallan.com. Decorated Marine veteran and Aria artist Stephen Cochran spent Thanksgiving Day at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, CA entertaining wounded servicemen. His benefit shows already have helped purchase 15 $30,000 iBOT wheelchairs for veterans.