February 11, 2008 Issue 76 Cumulus Shuffles Music Mix HOLIDAY SC H EDULE Cumulus Country stations have undergone a significant musical realignment since a change was made at the top of its Country Aircheck will be closed Monday, Feb. 18 in observance of the President’s Day holiday. All Country corporate programming department last December. Concurrent Aircheck Mediabase monitored reporters can submit with Sr. VP/Programming station adds via www.airplayaddboard.com any time from Jan Jeffries assuming the this Thursday (2/14) until 3pm ET/Noon PT on Tuesday, Feb. Country reins from former 19. Country Aircheck non-monitored Activator reporters VP/Country Charlie Cook, may submit their full reports any time during that same Cumulus Country outlets time frame. The Country Aircheck Weekly will be delivered have seen the percentage of Tuesday evening, Feb. 19. Current music being played slashed, while Recurrents have taken on a greater role. According to the Gold/Recurrent/Current percentage The story is also pretty much the same in the company’s comparisons of 11/13/07 and 2/11/08, as tabulated by smaller markets, where WLXX/Lexington, KY changed its Mediabase 24/7, KPLX (The Wolf)/Dallas has cut its Current Currents from 33%-20%, its Recurrents from 32%-35% and percentages from 34% to 19% while its Recurrents have its Gold from 35%-45%. KRMD/Shreveport has gone from increased from 15% to 28%. Its Gold has remained relatively 35%-18% Current, 27%-29% Recurrent and 37%-53% Gold. flat, edging higher 51% to 53%. There seems to have been little The Average Year in both cases dropped from 2003-2001. change in the actual titles being played, as the Average Year of It has, however, been status quo at WLWI/Montgomery, the music on the station remained steady at 2000. home-base for Cumulus Dir./Country Bill Jones. Currents have There’s a similar story at WSM-FM (The Wolf)/ gone 25%-22%, Recurrents 20%-24% and Gold 55%-54%. Its Nashville, where Currents have dwindled from 26% to 14%. Average Year remained at 1999. The shift to Recurrents and Gold is a bit more subtle, since the WFMS/Indianapolis has remained close to its November previous percentages in those categories were fairly balanced. musical mix, as well. Its Currents are off 34%-30%, Recurrents Recurrents went from 27%-31% while Gold shifted 47%-55%. have gone from 16%-19% and Gold is steady at 51%. Its The Average Year was 2000 in both instances. Average Year has dropped from 2001-2000. ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 11, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 3 Detailing Current airplay in the company’s three top Country markets, with Currents defined as songs appearing DATE CH ECK on the Country Aircheck chart the week prior to the Current March 5-7 - CRS-39 - www.crb.org percentage being calculated by Mediabase, KPLX airs 50 songs six or more times per week; 14 of them are Currents. It March 12-16 - South By Southwest (SXSW) Music plays seven songs 37 or more times per week, five of which are Conference - Austin, TX - www.sxsw.com Current; seven tunes from 20-36 plays per week, five of which are Current; and 36 songs between 6-19 plays, four of which are March 14 - Rumble On The Row - The Factory in Franklin, TN current. The rest are Recurrents. WSM-FM also plays 50 songs six or more times per April 1-5 - Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival - Nashville, TN - www.tinpansouth.com week. Of those, 13 are Currents. Four are aired more than 46 times per week, one is played 21 times; six got 11-20 spins April 14 - 2008 CMT Music Awards - Belmont University’s and two are under 10 plays per week. All remaining plays Curb Event Center - www.cmt.com came from Recurrents. Full calendar info at www.countryaircheck.com The picture’s a little different at WFMS, where only 37 songs air more than six times per week. Of those, 21 are Currents. Eight play between 32-34 times per week, seven air from 21-25 times and the next logical and natural continuation of six spin from 8-14 times. All others are Recurrents. that philosophy.” Kraski launched Tenacity The number of songs each of the six stations plays 10 Management & Consulting today, and the or more times a week: KPLX, 12; WFMS, 20; WLXX and company will focus on artist management and KRMD, 13; and, WSM-FM and WLWI, 11. This past week, corporate consulting. Kraski exited Equity in nine songs are common to all six stations. There seem to be a November (Breaking News 11/20) after four couple of “Wild Cards” in each station’s arsenal. KPLX is the years, and previously served as EVP/GM for Mike Kraski lone Cumulus station playing Mark Chesnutt’s latest; WFMS Sony, where he started as an inventory clerk in is the sole station playing the new Phil Vassar single; WLWI 1976. CORRECTED contact info: Phone, 615-351-4449. E-mail, has no company on the Craig Morgan single; WLXX is the [email protected]. Fax, 615-246-2690. PO lone purveyor of the Trace Adkins; and only WSM-FM has Tim Box 1768, Nashville, TN 37212-1768. McGraw in the 10+ category. KPLX and WSM-FM are the only two airing the Eagles. The rest of the differences come in airplay Hot Air: The subtext of Kraski’s departure from Equity includes on two brand new singles – the George Strait and the Taylor speculation that Little Big Town had a key-man clause in their Swift. And, a couple of them aren’t airing Kenny Chesney or contract with the label that named Kraski. Word on the street is Rodney Atkins in double digits. that the band is actively shopping for a new label deal. All of the markets listed here have Country competitors. We’ll keep track of how the new music philosophies translate Radiothon Roundup into ratings. The new year has brought a new round of St. Jude Radiothons. Here’s a look at recent results turned in by Kraski Shows Tenacity Country radio: “My philosophy and goal when I started Equity was that • WKHX/Atlanta, $752,483 (2/7-8) we as a label would be partners with the artist,” says former • WYCD/Detroit, $469,510 (2/6-7) Equity President Mike Kraski. “The formation of Tenacity is • WSIX/Nashville, $416,292 (2/6-7) ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 11, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 4 BIRT H DAY S Tuesday (2/12) - no birthdays Wednesday (2/13) - Randy Owen Thursday (2/14) - Razzy Bailey, Shelby Kennedy (skennedy@ bmi.com), Stacy Nichols ([email protected]) Friday (2/15) - Melissa Manchester, R. G. Jones (rg.jones@ sonybmg.com), Brent Jones ([email protected]), Hank Locklin Saturday (2/16) - Doug Phelps, Jo Walker-Meador, Paul Worley, Jill Napier ([email protected]) Sunday (2/17) - Jon Randall, Bryan White, Larry the Cable Guy Monday (2/18) - the late Pee Wee King, Juice Newton, Tom Bigbee, Paul Corbin, Dawn Richardson Tuesday (2/19) - Lorianne Crook, Joe Redmond (joe@ robbinsnashville.com) • WPOC/Baltimore, $405,153 (2/7-8) • WKHK/Richmond, $222,631 (2/7-8) • WDSY/Pittsburgh, $160,229 (2/7-8) • KXLB/Bozeman, MT, $146,986 (2/7-8) • WYNK/Baton Rouge, $125,197 (2/7-8) • WCOS/Columbia, SC, $79,205 (2/7-8) • WXCL/Peoria, $68,025 (2/7-8) • KKIX/Fayetteville, AR, $67,502 (2/7-8) • WTHI/Terre Haute, $51,753 (2/7-8) • WLFW/Evansville, $33,964 (2/7-8) • KGTW/Ketchikan, AK, $16,685 (2/7-8) • WNUS/Parkersburg, WV, $10,361 (2/7-8) Radio News Formats: WJEN (95.1)/Rutland, VT is simulcasting on now defunct sister station AAA WEBK’s former 105.3 frequency. WJEN will assume the 105.3 frequency permanently and the new as-of-yet-announced format station WDVT will be launched on 95.1 in the next few weeks. Personalities: Author of seven gardening books Denny McKeown will host the Garden Show on WUBE/Cincinnati Saturday’s from 6-9am. McKeown will also share gardening tips Monday through Friday on the station. WYCD/Detroit has added the After Hours Show with Will Harvey and Matt Vaughn following their live broadcast from Coyote Joe’s with Chuck Edwards. The show airs Saturday night/Sunday morning from 2-6am. Syndication: Alan Jackson is hosting a one-hour radio special for his upcoming album Good Time. It’s available at www. mccoyandassociates.biz for broadcast starting Feb. 29. More info at 615-683-5025. ©2008 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 11, 2008 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 5 Production: KUSS/San Diego Tony and Kris Show Assistant Producer Kristi Lyons has exited the station and can be reached TU B E CH ECK at [email protected]. Exec. Producer Jack Heine will Tuesday 2/12 - Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, CMT Online assume her responsibilities. Awards; Brad Paisley, Late Show with David Letterman (CBS); Lori McKenna, GAC Nights Gig Alert: Citadel WGKX/Memphis PD Tim Jones is looking for a night personality who will also handle additional assistant Wednesday 2/13 - Dwight Yoakam, The Collection (GAC). production duties. Overnight airchecks and resumes to him at 5629 Murray Rd., Memphis, TN 38119. No phone calls or Thursday 2/14 - Willie Nelson, Tonight Show with Jay Leno emails please.