COUNTRY AIRPLAY MONITOR SEPTEMBER 20, 1996 3

Curb Sandwich UNTRYCONFIDENTIALwtouso Promo Execs Rethink Showcase Strategies URING THE RECENT Bill- can be dramatically different from a showcase board/Airplay Monitor Radio with an entire band. But the real difference be- Seminar in New York, several pro- tween a radio station visit and a convention motion executives said they were showcase has more to do with the environ- rethinking their strategies for making an im- ment than the performance itself. Program- pression on programmers. Several I spoke mers may see the relaxed, hospitable conven- with have grown weary of the fly -in showcases tion atmosphere as being more conducive to that dot the calendars of programmers almost enjoying an artist, whereas the radio station vis- Curb's LeAnn Rimes and David Kersh were among the country performers during weekly, and one particular promo chief feels it may be just an interruption of an already the Sept. 6 country cocktail party at the Billboard/Airplay Monitor Radio Seminar in the "acoustic set in the conference room com- hectic business day. New York. Pictured backstage before their performance, from left, are Billboard and plete with pizza and autographs" radio station While it's impractical to think radio promo Airplay Monitor director of charts Wade Jessen, Billboard radio editor Chuck Tay- visits are on the brink of extinction. tours will halt entirely, we know that promo- lor, Rimes, Kersh, and Airplay Monitor managing editor Phyllis Stark. These promo people may also be re-evaluat- tion departments are constantly monitoring ing the impact of showcases in convention set- the impact of their promotion dollar, and ap- tings. As a member of the Country Radio Sem- parently the convention settings are at least inar agenda committee, I believe our first goal getting a second look. Perhaps we're begin- is to provide a forum for learning. Entertain- ning to see some redirecting of promotional ef- ACTIVEin mills STUIlt ment is secondary to the agenda, with the ex- forts. Only time will tell. ception of the closing agenda event, "WCRS Live!" The same is true of the Monitor Seminar. FOR THOSE ATTEND' NG CRS Midwest Country Struck By More Duopoly Deaths But at any convention, we find ourselves in in Kansas City this week, welcome! Since the Kansas City, New York, or Nashville with two first regional convention two years ago in Dal- fter months of speculation, WFNQ Doug Cannon is named APD/MD at KGMY. days to discuss issues and strengthen relation- las, these smaller gatherings have been build- (93Q) Greenville, S.C., drops young - Daniel Savadove, GM of Patterson Broadcast- ships. It's a tricky to pull off a seminar and stilling a reputation for being more intimate, and end country for young -end album ing's WTCY/WNNK Harrisburg, Pa., adds VP nurture the support of labels by allowing show- in many respects more manageable, than the rock as the Planet. Zakk Tyler, from eastern region, stripes for Patterson, overseeing case sponsorships. For artist showcases to be ofbig CRS in March. album WMFS Memphis, is named PD. 12 stations, including country outlets WCHY Sa- maximum benefit to the sponsoring labels, Please attend the party immediately after WFNQ, which was the duopoly partner ofvannah, Ga., WEEX Allentown, Pa., and WXBM everyone must do his or her part to cooperate. the Friday -night showcases at Broadcast Data WESC, isn't the only duop flanker country station Pensacola, Fla. From a seminar attendee's perspective, if a Systems' headquarters near the airport. It's a to switch format this week. KRBT (Outlaw Coun- Night jock Jim Radler is named interim MD at label is planning to bring an artist by my radio great chance to take a look at BDS' data center try) Fresno, Calif., flipped to modern AC as Star WXTU Philadelphia since Mike Brophey's move station the week after a convention, or perhaps and learn more about what BDS does. Please 101 Sept. 16 after four days of simulcasting sister to WKLB Boston. PD Kevin O'Neal wants T&Rs visited me two weeks earlier, it probably isn't RSVP to Jackie Davis at 816-891-1010. Buses KNAX. KRBT morning co -host Jody Jo Bailey from potential afternoon jocks ASAP going to be a priority for me to attend the con- will depart from the Doubletree immediately moves to interim middays at KNAX while Linell WTNT Tallahassee, Fla., MD/afternoon driver/ vention showcase, even though an acoustic set fbllowing the final showcase performance. Eastton is on medical leave. KNAX night jock production director Bill Kelly relinquishes music John Cavelli is upped to off -air promo director. duties to concentrate on his other duties. PD Tun P/T Stefan Carpenter is named interim night jock. Mercer adds the MD title. KATM Modesto, Calif., APD Randy Black is Former KZDG Denver PD Joe Montrone joins The Country Crew the new PD at KBUL Reno, Nev., replacing Jeff SJS Entertainment in New York as affiliate rela- Baird, now at KBUQ Phoenix. Also, KBEE-AM tions manager. He most recently was in mornings Modesto flips from adult standards to ABC's Real at classic rock WMGK Philadelphia. Country format as KBUL-AM. Melissa Breznerjoins KIKK/KILT Houston in Al Mason is upped from APD/productionthe new creative services director spot. She was manager to PD at WLWI Montgomery, Ala., in promo director at former sister station KKRW. the wake of Carson James' move to John Hart At KYCW (Young Country) Seattle, night host Media in Nashville as director of radio operations. Wynn Richards replaces Scotty Brink in after- Morning host Nancy Knight adds MD duties at noons. P/T jock Beau Roberts moves to nights. WLWI, while Fran Richardson is named pro- WRBQ Tampa, Fla., swing jock/promotions as- duction director. J.R. joins for afternoons from sistant T.R. Campbell takes middays, replacing that shift at sister station WMXS. He replaces Mimi Lawson, who returns from a leave of ab- John Boy Yuhaus, now at WKKX St. Louis. sence to co -host afternoons with Dave Morgan. Joe Abby, most recently at album WROC Fort WOKI Knoxville, Tenn., P/T K.J. Allen has Myers, Fla., is named PD at WJXY-FM Myrtlejoined the morning show for news duties, replac- The country lifegroup gathered for the Sept. 5 opening cocktail party at the Bill- Beach, S.C., replacing Dave Priest. ing Jerry Howell. board/Airplay Monitor Radio Seminar. Pictured, from left, are Epic's Jim Dorman Oldies WWMG Charlotte, N.C., AE Mike Hel- KZEN Grand Island, Neb., afternoon jock and Rob Dalton, Airplay Monitor's Wade Jessen, Columbia's Debi Fleischer, KKBQ sabeck is named WPCM Greensboro, N.C., GM. Rick Lundberg (aka Steve Hart) joins WGNE Houston's Dene Hallam, WYYD Roanoke, Va.'s Robynn Jaymes, Epic's Jack Lameier, WXKX Parkersburg, W.Va., PD/MD/morning Daytona Beach, Fla., for middays/production. and Airplay Monitor publisher Michael Ellis. (For more photos, see page 4.) man Thom Williams exits; reach him at 304-295- WFMB Springfield, Ill., afternoon driver Dave 8962 ... Country WINE Danbury,Conn., now Comstock moves to production director, as Adam simulcasts Nrr sister station WSTC Stamford, "the Hawk" Hawkins joins for afternoons from lie Major and vocal duo or group of the year Conn.... KIXT Santa Maria, Calif., switches net- MD/nights at KEZS Carbondale, Ill. Prairie Oyster. The Paul Brandt and Mark D. works to Radio One's country format KWEN P/T Mike Mitchell jumps to nights at KMFX Sanders -penned "My Heart Has A History" was Tulsa, Okla., MD Tim Howard joins KGMY Rochester, Minn.. .. Shane Media picks up new named song of the year. Garth Brooks won in the Springfield, Mo., as PD. Acting PD/midday host consulting client WCUZ Grand Rapids, Mich. top -selling album category for "Fresh Horses." Meanwhile, Canada's New Country Network was renamed Country Music Television Sept. 14. Sony Ups Johnson; The name change was marked with a one -hour Minimum Cume Set For Chart Panelists program hosted by Twain with appearances by Effective at the beginning of 1997, Airplay The minimum cume requirement is meant CCMA Roundup Clark and Major. Monitor will impose a new minimum cume re- to continue Monitor's policy of being inclu- illJohnson is upped to VP of creative Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea, K.T. Oslin, and quirement for current and potential reporters. sive, rather than exdusive, as far as adding sta- services at Sony Music Nashville. He Mandy Barnett will be among the performers at Effective with the results of the fall Arbitron tions, but will finally give the industry some previously was the company's senior the Musicity Cares concert Oct. 6 in Nashville's book, stations in the country, top 40, and top guidelines on which stations the publication creative director. War Memorial Auditorium. The concert is part 40/adult formats will be required to showconsiders significant enough to include in its Mercury Nashville artists Shania Twain and of a weeklong fund-raising effort for the AIDS 40,000 listeners in their total survey area. Sta- charts. While no stations beneath the guide- Terri Clark each won three awards at the Cana- service organization Nashville Cares. A commu- tions in R&B and rock will be required to show lines will be eligible to report, other stations dian Country Music Assn. Awards Sept. 9 in Cal- nity AIDS walk is planned for Oct. 5. 20,000 listeners. Stations failing to meet that that would normally qualify may still not be gary, Alberta. Twain won in the fan's choice en- Bryan White will host a live radio benefit Sept. criteria will not be added to Airplay Monitor used as reporters because of the availability of tertainer of the year category, as well as the female 30 for the Federal Employees Education Assis- charts. Stations falling below that criteria for space on Broadcast Data Systems' monitors. vocalist of the year and video of the year cate- tance Fund, the organization that provides schol- more than one book will be removed. (Until Finally, effective this week in all four Monitors, gories, the latter for "(If You're Not In It Forarships to children injured or orphaned in the now, the only minimum requirement for sta- our charts will change the misleading term "dis- Love) I'm Outta Here." Clark took home album Oklahoma City bombing. The concert will be tions had been that they show in the fromt oftributing label" to "promotion label" for a label of the year. single of the year ("Better Things To broadcast at 10-11:30 p.m. EDT from the Okla- an Arbitron book.) handling promotion of a smaller label's records. Do"), and the Vista (Rising Star) Award. Other homa Opry and will be syndicated nationally by winners included male vocalist of the year Char- SJS Entertainment.