June 5, 2017, Issue 553 Meet Boston’s David Corey Slow Play: MCA’s Sam Named PD for Beasley’s WKLB/Boston last week, David Hunt with WLHK/ Corey is going home to the city after more than a decade in Indianapolis’ Fritz Moser Canada. He spoke with Country Aircheck about programming during the first weekend Country for the first time. of the 15 In A 30 Tour. CA: How did you get into radio? DC: When I was growing up here, my favorite station was Kiss 108 [Top 40 WXKS]. I just called them one day asking if they were looking for interns, came in for an interview, started interning and stayed. I worked my way up – on-air mix show DJ, Asst. MD, MD and then APD. I called my favorite radio station and ended up working there for 22 years. I moved to Toronto in late 2006 and became PD for Hot AC CHUM-FM, then about a year later became VP/Programming for what became Bell Media. Did you oversee any Country stations? Yeah, I was overseeing programming for all David Corey 105 stations, of which nine were Country. Now there are 12. So even though I never pro- grammed a Country station day-to-day, I worked with our Country programming team and got to know the format really well. As a Hunt & Company Cruise matter of fact, I managed a country artist in Canada for about six Our radio reporters in Ohio and Indiana years, which also brought me close to the format. Over that time I chip in for team coverage on the launch of Sam got to know the artists very well – not just the Canadian artists, but Hunt’s 15 in a 30 Tour featuring Maren Morris, some from the U.S. Chris Janson and Ryan Follese. The trek opened I really started to love the format. It’s very different from what over the weekend with shows at Blossom Music I was used to and I was so shocked to see the close working Center in between Cleveland and Akron, and at relationship between artists and radio. There was a mutual respect Klipsch Music Center near Indianapolis. that you don’t generally see in other formats. So my love for Coun- “Opening night for the tour was a sellout,” try started about seven or eight years ago. says WQMX/Akron PD Sue Wilson. “Selling Sam Hunt (continued on page 7) out the opening night of a tour with three fairly ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 5, 2017 Page 3 new and one brand new artists is pretty amazing.” MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE Production featured a multi-layered LED board and dynamic video. “The stage had lots of moving elements including video Creative Nation/New Revolution’s Steve panels that moved to create some fun visual effects,” says WLHK/ Moakler discusses his most influential music: Indianapolis PD/midday 1. John Mayer: I discovered John Mayer, host Fritz Moser. Adds the guitar and songwriting, at the same time. iHeartMedia WGAR/ I think he’s going to be the James Taylor of Cleveland PD/afternoon our generation. When I was first starting to host Charley Connol- write songs I was trying to be John Mayer. ly, “The video screens 2. Bruce Springsteen: My dad is from for Sam were tilted at Steve Moakler New Jersey. As a kid, my dad worked from such unique angles home in our basement and he listened to a lot of Bruce that it made it seem as Springsteen. So it’s forever embedded in my heart and though he was perform- subconscious. As I’ve gotten older, I think he is one of the ing in a venue within a most important and impactful artists alive. venue. Very cozy, cool.” 3. Eric Church: What John Mayer was to me in my teenage Maren Morris Used as a curtain of years, Eric Church is to me now in my 20s. I love every song sorts, the screens raised he’s ever put out. He makes great albums, complete works of as the band walked onstage with Hunt behind them. He opened art. He’s creative, innovative, and breaks the rules. with “Leave The Night On,” “Raised On It,” and “House Party.” 4. David Gray: My family used to listen to his White Ladder “Three very strong songs in a row,” Connolly says. “’Raised On It’ album as we ate dinner pretty much every night. So it’s a was particularly incendiary.” Wilson noticed, too. “I was surprised really special album to me, and he’s got such a cool style. that within the first 20 minutes of the show he did most of his big 5. U2: Bono is such an inspiring activist, and you can hear hits,” she says. “He looked like he was having so much fun, run- a passion to make the world a better place in his music and ning back and forth on the stage, smiling and breaking out a lot what he does offstage. And he is a great songwriter. of great moves.” In Indiana, Hunt leapt into the audience during • Highly regarded music you’ve never heard: I’ve “House Party” and did a lap around the pavilion. never listened through an Adele album. I know the hits on Hunt also show- the radio, though, and I really love them. cased songs he • “Important” music you just don’t get: Prince is an wrote that were artist I really have not gotten into. With his passing, so many hits for other art- people talk about Prince and his impact on them, but it ists including Keith hasn’t connected with me. Urban’s “Cop Car,” • An album you played incessantly: The Wallflowers’ Billy Currington’s “We Bringing Down The Horse. I’ve worn that record out. It never Are Tonight,” Kenny gets old. Chesney’s “Come • Obscure or non-country song everyone should Over” and William listen to right now: Foy Vance’s “If Only You Could See Michael Morgan’s Yourself Like I See You.” If you’re having a bad day – or “I Met A Girl.” He if you’re having a good day for that matter – listen to that brought a bar stool song. I think it’s incredibly moving. Chris Janson onstage, chatting with • Music you’d rather not admit to enjoying: Katy Perry the audience about is an artist that people might be surprised to find that I love. I his country roots. love her hits, like “Teenage Dream” and “Last Friday Night.” “Sam remarked that growing up he couldn’t tell the difference between Madonna or Nirvana, but he did know every single Alan ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] June 5, 2017 Page 5 Jackson song,” says WFMS/Indianapolis OM Stephen Giuttari. house used that language in front of children, I would ask them Hunt performed “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” and paid respects to to stop.” Although neither he nor his morning shows received other influences George Strait and Travis Tritt. He also brought out complaints, he does advise stations along the tour to give their his openers for a run at Outkast’s “Hey Ya.” listeners a heads-up regarding that portion of the show. Speaking of the support, “Ryan Follese, Chris Janson and Mar- Support act Chris Lane’s set received high marks. “He has en Morris complimented the headliner beautifully,” Connolly says. it dialed in for entertaining the 20-30 year old women,” says “There was literally something musically for everyone.” Janson be- Daniels. Pickett adds, “He knows how to work the crowd.” Opener gan with a harmonica cover of “Folsom Prison Blues.” “He made Morgan Wallen “really got the crowd going for his 15 minutes,” you feel like you were hanging out in the warm-up room as they Daniels says. “The whole show moved along very fast from act to tuned up before the show,” says Giuttari. Adds Wilson, “I didn’t act. It was very high energy.” expect him to rock like he did. I consider him a bit of a traditional- Lane and Wallen joined FGL on stage for “Sun Daze.” The ist with songs like ‘Holdin’ Her,’ but he did a punk rock version of encore was a mashup of “Hot In Herre” and “Cruise” with Nelly. ‘Ring Of Fire’ that was amazing.” “Phenomenal show,” adds Wagner. “From the moment FGL hit the Maren Morris’ set started with a video that told her story stage, the production rocked.” The tour heads north to New York’s and about her love of music. Wilson was impressed. “You can Jones Beach, Darien Lake near Buffalo, and Camden, NJ June see the confidence and growth in the past year,” she says. “Her 15-17. –Paul Williams voice is outrageously strong and good.” Moser adds, “There’s a lot of voice in that little package. Every woman around me in the pit knew every single word to her current hit ‘I Could Use A Chart Chat Love Song.’” Congrats to Brett Young, Matthew Har- Audience demographics jumped out at Wilson. “The crowd gis and the BMLG Records promotion staff was younger leaning – pretty heavily 18-34 and lots of teens in the on landing this week’s No. 1 with “In Case mix,” she says. The tour’s next stops are June 15-17 in Toronto, You Didn’t Know.” The song is Young’s second Detroit and Pittsburgh.