August 24, 2020, Issue 719 IBA’s Declaration Of Independents Adams Pres./CEO Ron Stone’s open call for an organization of independent radio owners and operators (CAT 4/9) received a resounding answer. The resulting Independent Broadcasters Association (IBA) has signed on more than 3,000 stations and established an initial board of directors in July (CAT 7/23). Below, Stone tells Country Aircheck his vision for leveling the playing field for independent broadcasters. Origin Story: “I was at an industry convention, looking around and realizing that not only were most of the talking points and topics geared toward corporate radio, but the networking opportunities, experiences and Ron Stone services being offered and sold also favored Omaha Stakes: KXKT/Omaha raises $231,501 for the Omaha large groups,” he says. “I was frustrated, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center during a recent radiothon, because pound-for-pound, there are just as many successful, bringing their 18-year total to more than $4.8 million. Pictured growing independent broadcasters and smaller companies, but we (back, l-r) are the station’s Steve Lundy, Gina Melton and Hoss are often excluded from the narrative.” Michaels; (front) the station’s Erik “EJ” Johnson. Stone elected to change the conversation and, after some deliberation, came to the conclusion that the IBA was not only possible, but necessary. He met with attorneys, crafted Hall Of Fame Adapts his open letter, launched a website and worked on articles When the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum of incorporation. First up, he invited those with interest to temporarily closed its doors to the public March 13, it forfeited its participate in May’s Radio Cares: Feeding America Emergency primary source of revenue — admissions. Since then, the Museum Radiothon, which drew interest from not only IBA-eligible owners, has lost $25 million, laid off or furloughed 174 but corporate radio groups, labels, syndicators and industry employees, placed its exhibition schedule on partners. More than $500,000 was raised for Feeding America’s hiatus and canceled all in-person educational COVID-19 Response Fund (CAT 5/4). programming. Despite the devastating “The success of our radiothon showed what collective power economic impact, SVP/Development, Education could be harnessed from banding together,” Stone says. “Shortly & Community Engagement Lisa Purcell and thereafter, nearly a thousand more stations signed up for the her team continue to be guided by their mission IBA.” In a second open letter in June, he outlined his plan, placing of sharing the beauty and cultural significance an emphasis on group employee benefits, revenue generation, of country music, and are working hard at digital services group creation, shared resources and proprietary connecting with people in the most creative Lisa Purcell systems and services. He also issued a survey to the thousands of ways possible. stations who expressed interest. “As I expected, many owners were Rapid Response: With its 1.3 million annual visitors now most interested in cost-saving measures (continued on page 7) stuck at home, a quick adaptation of programs from the physical ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 24, 2020 Page 4 space to the digital one was crucial. “Any kind of hardship – remote sites. We could all be safe and conversational and keep natural disasters, global pandemics – requires discipline and the programs going.” creativity,” says Purcell. “Everyone doubled down on figuring out Since its inception, artists including Dierks Bentley, Don how to remove barriers of access and serve people everywhere.” Schlitz and Caylee Hammack, and more than 30,000 viewers The transition started just four days after closure with the have participated. “From chart-topping artists to Country introduction of website feature Watch And Listen, which offers Music Hall of Fame members, songwriters have stepped up to full runs of programs previously recorded at the museum. Shortly continue carrying thereafter, live programming was shifted from the Ford Theater the programming to social media. Since Watch And Listen debuted, almost 80,000 torch,” Purcell says. people have participated, with more than 150 new items available Those volunteer to stream for free here. efforts are key While the Museum had an online presence before, the to sustaining the challenge – or as Purcell saw it, opportunity – was getting back to institution’s existing a live programming space. “What do you do to maintain service audiences and and stay consistent?” questioned building new ones Purcell. “Because we know people through educational are going to be at home. That programs. demand is going to be great, if Home Write On: Youth & Family Programs Mgr. not greater than ever.” Schooled: Words & Britt McDermott teaches participants Some of the museum’s most Music At Home was how to make their own pocket-sized popular programming centers on created as an online songwriting journal. songwriting. With that in mind, extension of the the team made the decision to non-profit’s flagship transition Songwriter Session to music education program. A step-by-step guide (downloadable Instagram Live beginning April here) through the lyric-writing process and a supplementary lesson 14. “That was the first time about how to use Garage Band and set your song to music give we had ever done traditional at-home viewers applicable information. weekly programs exclusively “When we introduced this, we engaged a number of artists, Relax And Untwine: Register via technology,” Purcell says. explaining how these online resources work through weekly for Online Family Program: “The technology allows you to, programs held in April and May. During these Instagram Live DeFord Bailey DIY Harmonicas (8/28) here. essentially, merge a video call with sessions, artists applied some of the Words & Music At Home another artist or songwriter from resources to their own songs to show folks how they make tactical ©2020 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] August 24, 2020 Page 7 creative decisions [while] songwriting, and of course, they shared Broadcasting, Inc. in a deal that includes R&B Oldies-Blues some music, too,” Purcell says. Artists including Tenille Townes, sister KWXM for $1.2 million. Walker Hayes, Carly Pearce, Matthew Ramsey, Blanco Brown, Brett Kirkman Broadcasting Sports WQSC-A-W253BW/Charleston, Young and Molly Tuttle have participated. SC has flipped to Classic Country. Educational efforts are actually reaching more people online Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA and Billings, MT than they did in person. In 2019, 1,450 programs served 107,000 markets have dropped Nielsen ratings in favor of Eastlan Ratings, people. With reimagined live programs over the past five months, effective August 28. the museum has already reached 125,000 people. Another silver Broadcast Partners Classic Country KPCZ/Rayne, LA lining? “We can really get some new metrics and senses of who is and LaFayette Country WLCT/LaFayette, TN have agreed to engaging with programs and where they’re from, which is great,” a Consent Decree with the FCC to resolve public file violations says Purcell. involving failure to upload political ad requests to the online file “We want to keep the museum’s work top of mind among system. The compliance plan does not include a fine. the country music community’s philanthropic priorities, so iHeartRadio’s new Nashville offices have opened in downtown we can continue to be a lighthouse for this music we love so Music City. much and keep serving global audiences,” Purcell sums. Those who are able are encouraged to donate to the institution’s Coronavirus Relief Fund here. View the live programming The Week’s Top Stories schedule here. –Caitlin DeForest Full coverage at countryaircheck.com. • Country radio pushes forward with Country Cares For St. Jude Kids radiothons and Musically Fed pivots in last week’s Chart Chat (8/17) Country Aircheck Weekly. Congratulations to Justin Moore, Chris • WKIS/Miami PD John O’Connell exited. (CAT 8/21) Palmer, Ashley Sidoti and the Valory • MoJoe Roberts joined iHeartMedia KWNR/Las Vegas as PD. promotion team on landing at No. 1 with (CAT 8/20) “Why We Drink.” The song is the second • Apple launched Apple Music Country Radio. (CAT 8/18) single from Moore’s fifth studio album, Late • WQMX/Akron’s Jeff Lynn added PD duties and will be aided Nights And Longnecks. Songwriters are by APD/morning co-host Sarah Kay following the exit of Ken Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy, Steel and Jody Wheatley. (CAT 8/17 & 19) Jeremy Stover and Moore. • Chronicle: Sonny Fox, Edward “Felix” McTeigue. And kudos to Mike Wilson, Bill Macky Justin Moore and the Black River crew on notching 19 adds for Kelsea Ballerini’s “Hole In The Bottle” landing atop this week’s board. IBA’s Declaration Of Independents (continued from page 1) that can stem from shared services and resources, as well as the News & Notes potential for group medical insurance and savings on similar Jimmy Wayne was added to the Cleveland County Music Hall benefits and HR services,” notes Stone. “But some of the things of Fame Board of Directors. I am most excited about are the opportunities in the spaces of The Georgia Thunderbolts signed with Mascot Records. The revenue generation and digital services.” group will be managed by Kentucky Headhunters’ Richard Young Long Division: The creation of a centralized digital services and booked by UTA. division will offer members web, social, streaming and other Capitol’s Luke Bryan and 32 Bridge/EMI Nashville’s Jon products for use by stations and clients. “Ideally, I would like to Langston will serve as guest hosts for middays on Mt.