June 11, 2018, Issue 605 Radio’s Last Training Ground? (Pt. 1) Competence in content development, copywriting, social media, audio and video editing, scheduling, ratings methodology, talent management and planning is something station managers look for in potential PDs. At the same time, many point to those qualities as essential for morning show producers. The job is certainly one of radio’s last best training grounds, as Country Aircheck discovered in a series of conversations explor- ing the position. Despite its importance, the job is often overlooked and misunderstood, and in recent years has even become a target for elimination as companies look to improve their bottom lines. This two-part series appears with that in mind, the first of which attempts to understand what exactly morning show producers do. Liam Nissan: Atlantic/WMN’s Brett Eldredge closes out CMA This Monkey Means Business: “A morn- Fest at Nissan Stadium last night (6/10). Pictured (l-r) ing show producer is not some monkey behind are iHeart’s Rod Phillips, Longshot Management’s Rob the board pushing buttons, answering phone Baker, CMA Fest television special Exec. Producer Robert Al Farb calls or getting coffee for the morning show Deaton, Eldredge and the label’s John Esposito. guys,” says KSCS/Dallas APD/MD/afternoon personality Al Farb. “They’re basically the program director for the CMA Fest Stadium Recaps morning show.” Farb knows as he spent the last few years produc- Thursday: Country Music Hall of Famers the Oak Ridge ing KKBQ/Houston’s Q Morning Zoo. The 31-year-old, who left in Boys (backed by the New Orleans Marine Corps Band) kicked off February for KSCS (CAT 2/16), says KKBQ morning host Tim Tuttle night one of the Nissan Stadium shows with the national anthem, described the role best. “He said the show was like a treehouse,” followed by a few choruses of the Oaks’ classic “Elvira.” Nashville Farb recalls. “The hosts are the keepers of the treehouse and invite star Charles Esten (“Deacon Claybourne”) and his fellow co-stars all the listeners to come in and be part of it. The producer is under- performed a set before Kane Brown took neath holding it up, making sure it stands well and looks nice.” the stage and admitted, “This is crazy. I Treehouses are only as sturdy as the tree supporting them, of was so nervous when I got up here. This course, and have a unique and wide-ranging set of maintenance is the biggest venue I’ve ever played.” requirements. “Day to day for me meant prepping and gathering Brown’s show included hits “Heaven” and content for the show, booking guests, and managing any off-air “What Ifs,” featuring Lauren Alaina. content,” Farb explains. “You’re also the liaison inside and outside Carly Pearce sang “Hide The Wine” the building for the morning show. I went to all the promotions and on a satellite stage before Dan + Shay’s marketing meetings and made sure I was copied on all emails. I chart-topping set that included “19 You + handled scheduling for everything, even the morning guys’ vaca- Me,” “Nothin’ Like You” and “From The tions. There’s much more to producing a show than what happens Ground Up,” during which fans lit up the when the show is on the air.” stadium with their phones. The duo thanked Kane Brown (continued on page 8) ©2018 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 11, 2018 Page 3 Cold As Rice: Broken Bow’s Chase Rice at WNNF/ Cincinnati’s SummitFest Saturday (6/9). Pictured (back, l-r) are the station’s Michael McDowell, Austin ‘Tater’ Ratcliff and Amanda Orlando, Rice, the station’s Amy Goetz and Lindsey Ferguson and Susan Toelke; (front, l-r) Scott Lape, the station’s Katie Schroeder, Jen Wilson and Chris Clare, Parker Flautt and the station’s Bernie Mack and Tim Toelke. Country radio for making “How Not To” a No. 1, covered Justin anthem ahead of a seven-song set from Charley Pride. “Is Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and closed with “Tequila.” Anybody Going to San Antone?” “Mountain of Love” and “Kiss Darius Rucker’s “Homegrown Honey,” “For The First Time” An Angel Good Morning” made the 84-year-old’s setlist before and “Alright” prefaced new song he blew the crowd a kiss and took his leave. “Hands On Me.” “Comeback Brett Young opened with “Close Enough” and “Like I Loved Song” was followed by a re-sing You” before playing his favorite cut from his debut album, “Mer- of “For The First Time,” “due to cy.” “You guys sound pretty good,” he told the crowd as they the magic of television,” said joined him on “In Case You Didn’t Know.” Between sets the An- Rucker, who ended his set with drew Jackson Elementary School honors choir took the stage for a crowd favorite “Wagon Wheel.” spot-on rendition of Keala Settle’s “This Is Me” from the Greatest “I moved to Nashville with my Showman soundtrack. brother [John] a long time ago,” Jake Owen made a brief appearance on the satellite stage said Brothers Osborne’s TJ Darius Rucker to perform “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” prior to Luke Combs Osborne. “It never dawned on us taking the main stage for “When It Rains It Pours,” “One Num- that one day, we’d be playing for ber Away,” “Hurricane,” and a snippet of Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot you guys here at Nissan Stadium tonight.” The duo’s set started Scootin’ Boogie.” with “It Ain’t My Fault,” then featured new tunes including “Drank A tech-glitch-turned-crowd-pleaser kicked off Blake Shelton’s Like Hank,” “Weed, Whiskey And Willie” and “Shoot Me Straight.” set. He appeared to be performing, but no sound came from the Headliner Jason Aldean closed night one with a steady PA. Shelton stepped away and when the audio finally came up, the stream of hits including “Lights Come On” and “Tattoos On This first thing heard was him saying, “That’s bullshit,” bringing cheers Town.” “Hey, I know it’s a late night, but I figure it’s the first night from the audience. His set list included “I’ll Name The Dogs,” “I of these Stadium shows – you guys can’t be that tired, right?” he Lived It,” and Hal Ketchum’s “Small Town Saturday Night.” asked. A quick look at a decibel reader app proved in fact, fans Old Dominion played “Song For Another Time,” “Hotel Key,” were wide awake, screaming and ready to “Take A Little Ride.” “Written In The Sand,” “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart,” Friday: Big Loud’s Mason Ramsey performed the national “Break Up With Him” and “Snapback” during their well-received ©2018 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 11, 2018 Page 6 Reviver’s David Lee Murphy with radio friends before joining Blue Chair/Warner Bros.’ Kenny Chesney onstage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Saturday (6/9). Pictured (l-r) are Jon Krieger, WXTU’s Frank Lario, the label’s Will Robinson, WXCY/Wilmington, DE’s Brad Austin, WXTU’s Andi Summers, Murphy, WXTU’s Mark Razz, consultant Joel Raab, WGGY/Wilkes- Barre’s Tanya Krieger, WGTY/York’s Scott Donato and Rick Kennis. slot. Closer Carrie Underwood rang “Church Bells,” “Last New mother Morgane Stapleton understandably didn’t take Name,” “Cry Pretty,” “Wasted” and more. “It has been so fun the stage with husband Chris Stapleton, but the energy was bumping into fans this week,” she said. “That’s what makes this undiminished. “Midnight Train To Memphis,” “Hard Livin’” and week so fun.” “Second One To Know” highlighted a set that eschewed talk and Saturday: Big Loud’s Jillian Jaqueline sang the “Star Span- stagecraft to rile the crowd through sheer force of musical will. gled Banner” before Lee Ann Womack began the evening’s Closer Keith Urban began with “Never Comin’ Down” and performances with “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger.” During the employed video clips of Julia Michaels and Carrie Underwood for solos in George Jones’ “You’re Still On My Mind,” Womack told “Coming Home” and “The Fighter,” respectively. He closed with the crowd, “That’s a fiddle,” and, “That’s steel guitar.” Blistering “Wasted Time,” leaving the audience wishing they had more time closer “All The Trouble” drew the biggest response. with him to “waste.” For his first time on the “big deal stage,”Jon Pardi cashed his Sunday: Cloudy skies had given way to late-day sunshine by “Paycheck,” “Up All Night” and “She Ain’t In It,” among others, the time a choir-backed Ray Stevens took the stage to deliver closing with a medley of “Head Over Boots,” “Heartache On The the national anthem. Brett Eldredge, Thomas Rhett, Dierks Dance Floor” and “Dirt On My Boots.” The evening’s sole surprise Bentley, Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan performed, was Sam Hunt popping up in the crowd to sing his new song with all but the latter delivering six songs. Eldredge, all smiles and “Downtown’s Dead.” boyish excitement, kicked things off with “The Long Way.” Cole Dustin Lynch and band Swindell appeared next for a played “Seein’ Red,” “Good one-off, intimate performance Girl” and “Mind Reader” before of his single “Break Up In The earning a crowd surge covering End.” Rhett’s set followed with Drake’s “God’s Plan.” He closed hits including “T-Shirt,” “Life with “Small Town Boy.” Kelsea Changes” and “Die A Happy Ballerini talked of attending the Man,” highlighted by saxophonist event as a fan and urged hopeful Frank Houston, whose talent was performers in the crowd to keep featured prominently throughout dreaming during a set that in- Rhett’s entire set.