April 21, 2008 Issue 86 The King’s Crowning Achievement BOTTOM OF THE NI N TH : WE NEED PICS ! 56. The record number of consecutive games in which Joe DiMaggio hit safely. Also, as of today, the number of No. 1 Here’s your last call for baseball photos (Bob Moody): Country singles in George Strait’s amazing career. It’s the most No. 1 Aircheck is looking for the best photos of radio pros, label execs and/ hits by any artist in any genre in the history of recorded music. or artists enjoying America’s pastime with baseball stars from any era for our upcoming Summer Special print edition. Send yours to news@ And, given the current radio-music industry-chart environment, countryaircheck.com by close of business Wednesday (4/23). a record that may well be as unbreakable as Joltin’ Joe’s 67-year old mark. Strait’s string bests Conway Twitty’s record of 55 No. 1s, which included 48 Country Listeners Late To Digital Audio solo chart-toppers and seven duets with Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts may have huge online Loretta Lynn. (All figures represent songs audiences, but Country P1 radio listeners overall are 35% less that went to No. 1 in any of the major, likely than the general population to use or be interested in recognized radio-music industry trade online radio, satellite radio, podcasts and HD radio. That ranks publications.) Country No. 11 out of 12 formats analyzed in Arbitron’s 2008 Digital Radio Survey as part of the its Infinite Dial study in Strait has been a staple of Country George Strait radio since his debut single “Unwound” conjunction with Edison Media Research. was released almost exactly 27 years ago. The 56 No. 1s and An estimated 13% of the 12+ population listened to Internet innumerable No. 2s, Top 5s and Top 10s are a testament to radio in the past week, but that figure was only 8% for Country what radio and the fans think of his music. To commemorate P1 listeners. In the past month, 21% of those 12+ cumed online one of the greatest achievements in music history, a number of radio, with Country P1s scoring just 14%. Nine percent of the past and present execs at MCA – the only label home Strait has U.S. 12+ listened to a podcast during the past 30 days, but only known – offer their thoughts on the feat and the artist. 5% of Country P1s did. However, Country listeners tied for First though, a word from the King, who was asked about No. 2 in satellite radio subscriptions at 14%, slightly more than setting the record during a stint as co-host on Westwood One’s the national average of 13%. Only 12% or Country P1s own Country Countdown USA a few weeks ago. an iPod or non-iPod mp3 player -- lowest among all formats studied. Thirty percent of diarykeepers are very or at least continued on page 4 ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 21, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 2 somewhat interested in HD Radio, but only 20% of Country P1s Mother-daughter songwriting duo Amber and Rhonda are; that’s also lowest among all formats studied. Gunn have signed with Skyline Music Publishing. Songwriter Tim Owens (“Ticks,” “Settlin’”) has signed an Radio News exclusive songwriter agreement with Bug Music. Online: WGNE/Jacksonville is the exclusive distributor of Guitarist Reggie Young will be honored by the Emerson Drive’s song download “You And Me,” available only Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum May 3 as part at www.999gatorcountry.com. All proceeds benefitSt. Jude of its Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Session Children’s Research Hospital. Players series. Rebecca Lynn Howard has re-signed her exclusive Promotions: Ronnie Gilley Entertainment is offering radio songwriting and co-publishing agreement with Roger stations a BamaJam concert promotion that includes three-day Murrah’s Castle Street Music, Inc. passes, on-air trivia contest and pre-produced special and a flash Tony Arata, Gary Nicholson, J P Williams, T. Graham trivia game that can be posted on station websites. The festival Brown and Randall Bramblett will perform at an NSAI takes place in Enterprise, AL June 5-7 with performances by Fundraiser in honor of John Jarrard April 30 at the Bluebird Ashton Shepherd, Jason Michael Carroll, Trace Adkins, Cafe. Jarrard raised more than $100,000 for research, James Otto, Miranda Lambert and more. Radio stations can awareness and education programs of the American Diabetes contact Grassroots Promotion’s Jim Alderdice at 615-333-1271 Association after losing his sight to the disease. Info at www. or at [email protected]. bluebirdcafe.com. Gig Alert: KZPS/Dallas OM Vince Richards is seeking a PD, Individual tickets for the nightly concerts during the CMA send airchecks and resumes to [email protected]. Music Fest June 5-8 in downtown Nashville will go on sale Saturday, April 26 at 10am at 1-800-CMA-FEST or www. Industry News ticketmaster.com. John Michael Montgomery’s Stringtown Radiothon Roundup Records will be exclusively distributed by Here’s a look at recent St. Jude Radiothon results turned in Artist To Market Distribution (A2M). The by Country radio: first record release will be Montgomery’s Time Flies late this summer. • WCYK/Charlottesville, VA, $62,888 (4/17-18) Sony/ATV Nashville President/CEO Troy • WWMS/Tupelo, MS, $25,230 (4/17-18) Troy Tomlinson Tomlinson has extended his contract with the • KAAR/Butte, MT, $9,528 (17-18) company. Songwriter/producer Jeff Stevens has left Warner Chappell Artist News Music to form a self-owned independent publishing and Willie Nelson: An Epic Life by Joe Nick production company, Katy Lou Music. The company will team Patoski is available in bookstores beginning with Bogard Music for artist development, A&R and digital tomorrow (4/22). With all the labels Nelson music endeavors, while creative head Shannon Myers will has recorded for during his career, the title is a represent Stevens’ catalog. bit ironic: He’s never been on Epic. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Trace Adkins will appear on CBS’ Young Kitty Wells with the exhibit Kitty Wells: Queen of Country And The Restless May 2 performing “You’re Music in the East Gallery August 15 - June 2009. Gonna Miss This” as part of an anniversary ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 21, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 3 BIRTHDAYS Tuesday (4/22) – Glen Campbell, Kellie Coffey, Cleve Francis, Heath Wright, Joe Devine Thursday (4/24) – Rebecca Lynn Howard, Richard Sterban, Lori Evans, Christy McDonald, Tim McFadden (tzmcfadden@ aol.com) Friday (4/25) – Rob Crosby, April Rider ([email protected]), Suzette Tucker Saturday (4/26) – Jay DeMarcus, Duane Eddy, Monte Warden, Alan Brewer, Jeff Huskins Sunday (4/27) – Herb Pederson, Michael McNamara surprise for characters Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) and Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow). Aaron Tippin will release He Believed, A Son’s Tribute May 6 featuring nine previously released re-recorded tracks and three new songs available only through Cracker Barrel. Randy Owen will receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York on May 10. The honor recognizes those who show “outstanding qualities in their personal and professional lives, yet maintain the richness of their particular heritage.” Past recipients include presidents, Nobel Prize winners, athletes and leaders of industry. Clay Walker is gearing up for the inaugural Clay Walker Charity Classic benefitingBand Against MS June 30- July 2 in Pebble Beach, CA. “I am thrilled and grateful to be able to raise awareness and funding for a disease that affects so many by combining two of my favorite things, golf and music,” said Walker. More info at www.claywalker.com. Rebecca Lynn Howard and Charlie Daniels performed two songs, “Never Forget” and “USS New York,” respectively at the christening of the USS New York, the ship built from steel salvaged from the World Trade Center, last month. Both are featured on Never Forget, a tribute album to the victims of 9/11, along with Tracy Lawrence, George Jones, Tanya Tucker and more. The CD goes on sale August 26 and a portion of proceeds will go to Hope For The Warriors Foundation. Chronicle Our condolences to family and associates of Dr. James Coleman, who passed last week in his home. Coleman’s long tenure serving music industry patients and artists included being personal physician to the late Chet Atkins. Arrangements are pending. The Week’s Top Stories Full coverage of the week’s news is available in the archives at www.countryaircheck.com. • Clear Channel/Washington, DC & Baltimore Dir./Sales Hartley Adkins was upped to Pres./Market Manager of the cluster, which includes Country WMZQ and WPOC. Adkins replaced Dave Pugh, who left last month for a similar posting with CC’s San Francisco cluster. (CAT 4/16) ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] April 21, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 4 am. It’s no wonder he had such huge success, he was a great TU B E CHECK singer and great entertainer. I was fortunate enough to do some Tuesday 4/22 - Phil Vassar, GAC Nights. shows Conway early in my career. He was always such a nice guy and he didn’t need to be. So to accomplish something that Wednesday 4/23 - Jason Michael Carroll, Drafting Partners (GAC).