January 19, 2021, Issue 739 CRS: Prepare For Different With Country Radio Seminar preparing to mark its 52nd anniversary in the most unconventional of ways – transitioning to a virtual edition amid concerns surrounding coronavirus – the event moves to a four-day experience. With a mix of traditional favorites and new offerings, the session lineup and entertainment slate are packed, despite the lack of in-person opportunities. CRB Exec. Dir. RJ Curtis and CRS Agenda Committee Chair Brent Michaels tell Country Aircheck there are still myriad reasons to be excited about the event. That Thing You Drew: RCA’s Andrew Jannakos virtually hangs In addition to migrating online, CRS is with Beasley stations ahead of the impact date of “Gone Too RJ Curtis extending its week but beginning each day Soon” (2/1). Pictured (top, l-r) are the label’s Mallory Michaels later in the morning. “We will kick off at 10am and Lauren Thomas, Jannakos and the label’s Dan Nelson CT each day, because we understand we have and Larry Santiago; (middle, l-r) the label’s Liz Sledge and attendees from all across the country ... and Dennis Reese, WSOC/Charlotte’s Cameron Moore, KCYE/Las we didn’t want the West Coast constituents to Vegas’ Shawn Stevens and Boston’s Cadillac Jack; (bottom, be logging on at 6am PT each day,” explains l-r) WXTU/Philadelphia’s Mark Razz, WKLB/Boston’s Dawn Curtis. The day will also conclude earlier. Santolucito, Charlotte’s John Reynolds, Las Vegas’ Cat Thomas “This is like programming a radio station, and and the company’s Justin Chase. we are looking at it with an understanding not only of cume, but of TSL and occasions,” says Brent Michaels Curtis. Look for sessions to wrap around 4pm Sonos Centers Radio Around Artists CT daily with music and entertainment immediately following. Known for its wireless, multi-room home audio systems, Sonos CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience officially opens Tuesday, Feb. launched its own streaming radio service last April and added the 16 with the all-new Digital & Streaming Summit. “We are thrilled premium tier Sonos Radio HD in November. Beyond offering to launch a new aspect of CRS and partner with digital platforms access to thousands of existing radio stations, and DSPs [digital service providers] to kick off the week,” says Sonos is curating its own stations with an artist- Curtis. Sessions focusing on streaming, social media and data forward approach that, in terms of country, will fill the day, including a session titled “Inventing Yourself” that initiated with the creation of Dolly Parton Curtis says is not to be missed. Songteller Radio. And according to New Wednesday through Friday sessions will look much like a York-based Global Head of Music Brian traditional CRS agenda with programming, label, women’s and Beck, Sonos is just getting started in country. other networking “breakfasts” moving to digital gathering rooms; “She was on our dream list,” Beck says of Parton. “We thought it was the biggest hands-on workshops in real-time focusing on topics ranging Brian Beck from imaging and production to compiling awards submission longshot ever, but we had to try. And we’re packages; and keynote speeches, research presentations and still pinching ourselves that it happened.” Quarterbacked by John educational panels. (continued on page 12) Zarling and Jackie Campbell at 615 Leverage + Strategy, the deal ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] January 19, 2021 Page 5 and campaign resulted in a in June. Each of the artists we are working with is engaged and station playing music selected giving us new songs, stories and intros that allow us to really by Parton – her own and that program each station.” Programming also includes Artist Radio of others – interspersed with Hours, which are featured on the all-genre Sound System station; stories and liners she voiced. Chris Stapleton will be featured soon. Songteller Radio is among While the service prides itself on curation and the absence of a stable of stations curated algorithms, it is also reticent to share specifics on exactly who the by Thom Yorke, Brittany people are behind the stations, beyond calling them “a network Howard, Third Man Records, of career radio programmers specializing in their genres.” One Bjork, The Chemical Brothers exception is journalist Ann Powers, who is programming the HD and more. stations Sound of Nashville and Americana. In terms of user Country expansion is a focus for Beck and his team. “It’s still experience, those who own early days, especially without being able to travel,” he says. “But Sonos systems control them we are eager to connect with the Nashville community and all from a phone app, which its genres and will be adding many more amazing artists to this can link to Amazon Music, platform. What better way to start than with Dolly Parton?” Learn Pandora, SiriusXM, Spotify, more about Sonos Radio HD here; contact Beck here. –Chuck Aly personal music libraries and other music sources. The Sonos Radio HD portion of Chart Chat the app automatically shows Congratulations to Dan + Shay, local broadcast stations, Kristen Williams, Tom Martens, as well as ad-free Sonos- Michael Chase and the Warner/ generated format stations WAR promotion team on landing (Hot Country, for instance) at No. 1 with “I Should Probably Go and featured stations To Bed.” The milestone is especially like Parton’s. As its name poignant in the wake of last week’s indicates, the premium tier – passing of the label’s Dir./Southeast $7.99 a month after a free Radio & Streaming Promotion Tom Dan + Shay 30-day trial – is delivered in Starr, who was one of the duo’s high-definition audio. most ardent supporters. The song is Dan + Shay’s eighth career “Sonos has just over 25 chart-topper. Songwriters are Sean Douglas, Jason Evigan, million users worldwide,” Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. Beck says. “That community If the top of this week’s chart seems like déjà vu, that’s because has been built over 15 or it is. Last year, on the day after the MLK Day holiday, Dan + Shay’s 16 years, and the system “10,000 Hours” replaced Lady A’s “What If I Never Get Over is so simple to use, people You” atop the chart. Exactly one year later, it’s Dan + Shay again actually listen to music replacing Lady A in the No. 1 position. more.” Country, he adds, What hasn’t been done before shows up on this week’s Add is one of Sonos’ most- Board – a new high water mark in the Country Aircheck era. Big listened-to genres. kudos to Kris Lamb and the Big Machine crew on racking up More than static playlists, featured stations like Parton’s are 152 adds for “Undivided” by Tim McGraw and Florida Georgia continually evolving. “The artists give us music throughout the Line’s Tyler Hubbard. The biggest one-week add total on record period in which a station is live,” Beck says. “What you’re hearing eclipses the May 13, 2019 mark of 149 set by Luke Combs’ “Beer in January might be completely different from what you’re hearing Never Broke My Heart.” Undivided and conquer! ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] January 19, 2021 Page 7 WITH ... QUINN An inside look at how recently named happening and will jump in front of the camera, iHeartMedia WMIL/Milwaukee PD Shanna as Chelsey from 96.3 Star Country in Madison “Quinn” Cudeck is spending her Quaran-Time: can attest to. In 2020, I learned putting myself first is The station uses social media for more crucial to doing my job well. Putting work first and not interactive graphics and topics. Shannen from our taking time to read, journal or do something creative morning show is so good at putting stuff like that and not work-related hurts me in the long run. I set together and keeping it local. They’ll use those aside time to do so every day in the morning before responses on-air, as well as doing part of their work, and sometimes even after work, too. show on Streamyard where listeners can see them My quarantine routine (when I actually and interact with games and phone topics. stick by it) is working from home in the morning. Oh man, I’m a huge fan of The Office, I’ve realized there’s so much I can do from my and I watch it every night before I go to bed. I kitchen island for work versus going into the was super excited to hear Pam (Jenna Fisher) and office! I then head into work to do my shows from Angela (Angela Kinsey) started a podcast, Office the studio … I still prefer being there versus doing Ladies, that gives you a behind the scenes look at shows from my laptop. It puts me in a better state the show along with fun stories on the cast and of mind for a successful show, but so much of my shooting episodes. I listen to it on our iHeartRadio Yee Claws job I have transitioned to doing from home. app. I recently started watching Bridgerton My new hobbies include journaling. Every on Netflix, but I’m not sure if I would be so into it day, I’ll write down a quote that really resonated if it wasn’t for the Duke. can take a break to do laundry or unload the with me that day.