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February 13, 2019, Issue 1

Making Memories Of Us

As Country Radio Seminar rounds the corner on its first half-century, its contributions to Country radio and country music are immeasurable. While impossible to quantify, its impact was, is and will be felt in countless ways large and small: Sessions that offered enlightenment. Transcendent musical experiences. Connections that led to jobs and careers. Attendees are almost guaranteed they’ll be walking away with an enduring memory. Even artists. Incoming CRB Exec. Dir. RJ Curtis shares one from the Columbia suite at the Opryland Hotel, circa 1990: “It was late, or early, and everyone had been partying,” he says. “Music was playing loudly – Columbia artists only, of course. One of those artists was [the late] Vern Gosdin, who had just walked into the suite. Somebody put on Gosdin’s ‘That Just About Does It, Don’t It,’ which was his most recent single at the time. “The entire room started singing along, especially during the chorus, in a loud and boisterous manner, but out of tribute and respect, not in a satirical way. The sing-a-long wasn’t limited to a verse and chorus; it lasted the entire song. Gosdin was embarrassed at first, but Vern Gosdin also visibly moved and practically had tears in his eyes. It was a terrific CRS moment, because it demonstrated the strong connection between artists and Country radio. Everyone in that room loved and admired Gosdin, and it was apparent he saw and felt that love firsthand. There are so many more examples of that kind of respect for music and artists at CRS, but I had a front row seat for that one and have never forgotten it.”

Like There’s No Tomorrow: The calm before the storm with CRS staffers. Pictured (l-r) are Heather Martin, Jean Williams, Bill Mayne, Chasity Couch, RJ Curtis, Brooke Sanders and Darcie Van Etten.

A 50-year accumulation of stories, unforgotten by the participants, may be the most appropriate way to consider what CRS has meant to these conjoined industries and, crucially, the people who make them go. Clearly, a full accounting is unfeasible, though a tiny sliver can be found in Country Aircheck’s February print issue on newsstands at the event. Look for a few excerpts later in this sheet. In the meantime, welcome to CRS ... and get ready to take a few memories with you. –Chuck Aly

WSIX

WKDF

WSM-FM

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Nashville Radio Overview

For many radio pros, visiting a new city – whether for business or pleasure – is an opportunity to take in a fresh radio landscape. With three FMs and a legendary AM, Music City has plenty to take in. Here’s an overview of the market’s stations, recent ratings histories and their musical presentations. Market & Ratings: Nielsen market 43 with a 12+ metro population of 1,492,200, touts three full-signal Country subscribers as of the Holiday 2018 survey, each a 100kW Class C. They are Cumulus’ WSM-FM (Nash Icon at 95.5) and WKDF (Nash FM at 103.3), and iHeartMedia’s WSIX (The Big 98 at 97.9). Ryman Hospitality, which operates storied 50kW Class C WSM-AM (650 AM), offers Classic Country. Not counting WSM-AM, which wasn’t listed as a subscriber in the most recent survey, the stations accounted for 12.9 shares of listening (Persons 12+). That number came in at 15.9 and 13.8 in the November and December PPM releases, respectively. The ratings story has changed only slightly over the last year. WSM-FM was dominant for most of 2018 (P12+), during which the station won all but two surveys. WSIX was the dominant Country radio station in 2017, however, winning nine of its 13 surveys. For 2018, WSM-FM, WSIX, and WKDF averaged 5.9, 5.1 and 4.5 on the year, respectively. (See a month-to-month picture below) Music & Programming: Musically, a recent seven-day Mediabase analysis shows WSM-FM leads the three FMs in gold plays with 70%, while WKDF and WSIX are 21% and 23% gold, respectively. WSM-AM is gold-based with an 80% gold saturation. WKDF, however, leads in recurrents at 39% with WSM-FM and WSIX at 23% and 33%, respectively. WSIX is the leader in current spins with a 43% composition; WSM-FM, WSM-AM, and WKDF come in at 7%, 19% and 40%, respectively. WSM-FM is still the leader when it comes to most songs played in a week (2,323), followed by WSIX (2,118), WKDF (2,071) and WSM-AM (1,686). In terms of the most unique titles, WSM-FM reigns supreme among the three FMs with 528. WKDF and WSIX come in at 264 and 337, respectively, while WSM-AM and its gold-based playlist spins 1,312 unique titles. Vintage has shifted only slightly from last year, as WSM-FM is now 2004, WSIX is 2015 and WKDF is 2016. Last year, those numbers were 2003, 2014 and 2015, respectively. WSM-AM’s current average vintage is 1993. On-Air & Online: While most of the on-air lineups remain unchanged, the morning landscape has been slightly altered with the launch/rebranding of Cumulus/Westwood One’s nationally syndicated The Ty Bentli Show, which calls WKDF its home base. Premiere’s The Bobby Bones Show is still heard on WSIX, its home base; as is Cumulus/Westwood One’s Marty McFly on WSM-FM. Mornings on WSM-AM continue to be helmed by Country Radio

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HOLIDAY 2018 6.1

5.6

5.0

5.9

6.4

6.6

6.2

6.6 5.6

5.8 5.1

5.2

3.7

4.1 2

5.9

5.2

4.2

5.8

4.1

5.0

5.8

5.3

Feb

5.6

5.1

5.2 4.3

4.0

Apr

May

3.5

Jan

5.7

4.7

3.9

Hol '16 Hol

5.3

Mar

WSM-FM

WSM-FM Cumulus 5.1 (8) to 5.2 (6) Cume: +22,800 to 271,100

4.6

Jun

3.8

Jul

3.7

5.5 5.0

4.0

4.3

Oct

Nov

4.6

4.1

4.2 3.5

3.6

Aug

WKDF

WKDF Cumulus 4.1 (10) to 4.2 (10) Cume: -1,500 to 219,800

Sep

Dec

WSIX

WSIX iHeartMedia 4.6 (9) to 3.5 (12t) Cume: -37,100 to 242,500

Hall of Famer Bill Cody, who’s been in place since 1994. The only thing left do now, of course, is listen. Check out WSIX here, WSMFM here, WKDF here and WSM-AM here. Be sure to say hello to Nashville’s programmers at CRS, too. They are Gator Harrison (WSIX), Charlie Cook (WSM-FM), John Shomby (WKDF) and Jonathan Shaffer (WSM-AM). – Monta Vaden

Fit To Print & More

Those planning to attend the “Metrics That Matter” panel (Thursday, 9am), might consider reading the accompanying feature story in the Country Aircheck print issue in advance. The factors influencing programming decisions are shifting. As author/panelist Jeff Green writes, “There’s a change in the wind. While consistently more than 90% respondents identified

Jeff Green

Hol

February 13, 2019

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‘intangible’ factors such as artist stature/reputation and their own gut feelings as ‘very likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to shape their music motivations, the big story is the rapidly advancing importance of local, data-driven research, which PDs/MDs are examining in an ever-widening variety of forms. This trend, which was emerging in the 2017 survey, became a dominant theme in the 2018 findings for making new adds and especially for increasing spins.” Also in the issue, Warner Music Nashville Chairman/CEO John Esposito reflects on his decade in country music, as well as the challenges facing broadcasters. “Unfortunately for John Esposito radio, consolidation put them into these heavy debt situations and it puts a strain on people, just like the music business,” he says. “When I joined Warner Music, it was 11,000 people and now it’s about 4,200 people. Same at radio. I go on a station visit and somebody will tell me, ‘I am the only employee on the Country format.’ We’re talking massive markets. That means a lot of programming is getting pushed to them and isn’t local, and I think we need a break from that for them to be successful.” Finally, one more vintage memory from the Opryland Hotel by Curb’s Mike Rogers: “Epic had a basement suite at Opryland. We used to call it the Bunker. On one particular all-nighter the power went out at the hotel. Rob Dalton called the front desk to complain Mike Rogers that he was in a pitch black room trying to entertain some folks and when could he expect the power back on? The person on the other end of the phone prompted Rob to think about opening his curtains to let in the daylight. Who would have thunk it? How time flies when you are having fun.” Look for more stories in the issue.

The Day Ahead 10am-6pm Jamie O’Neal’s Breakout Room Omni, Level 2, Music Row 3 11:45am-12pm Paulina Jayne Performance Broadway Pre-Function Area 12pm Warner Music Nashville Lunch + Performance Sponsored by Warner Music Nashville Blake Shelton, Devin Dawson, Morgan Evans, Chris Janson, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Cole Swindell Omni, Level 2, Broadway Ballroom 2pm Time Management: Your Success Depends on It Clay Hunnicutt, Stacy Waugh, Steve Stewart Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom D-G ©2019 Countr y Aircheck™ — All r ights reser ved. Sign up free at w w w.countr yaircheck .com. S end news to news@countr yaircheck .com

February 13, 2019

3pm CRS 2019 Opening Ceremonies Sponsored by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom D-G 3:30pm Tom Rivers Award Presentation + CRHoF 2019 Announcement Tom Rivers Award Winner “Dollar Bill” Lawson; Class of 2019 CRHoF announcement Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom D-G 4pm Keynote Presentation: “Country Music” Sponsored by CMA Writer/Producer Dayton Duncan; Kurt Johnson Omni, Level 2, Legends Ballroom D-G 4pm Westwood One Lounge Sponsored by CMA

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Ty Bentli, Chuck Wicks, Shawn Parr, Elaina Smith, Blair Garner Omni, Level 2, 5th Avenue Pre-Function Area 5pm CRS Welcome Reception Sponsored by CMA and Live Nation Broadway Pre-Function Area 5pm SSM Nashville Happy Hour Omni, Level 2, Music Row 1 6pm Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS Sponsored by Amazon Music; Performances Powered by Live Nation Featuring: Radio Ink PD Awards; Zac Brown Band, Tenille Townes, Adam Hambrick, HARDY, King Calaway Omni, Level 2, Broadway Ballroom

February 13, 2019

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Congratulations to the ACM Radio Nominees National Personality Cody Alan, CMT After MidNite Kix Brooks, American Country Countdown Darren Wilhite & Tim Wall, Wilhite & Wall Lon Helton, Country Countdown USA Tracy Lawrence, Honky Tonkin’ Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase, Crook & Chase Countdown Major Market Personality Chuck, Rachael & Grunwald, WYCD/Detroit Katie Neal, WNSH/New York Rob Stone & Holly Hutton, WYCD/Detroit Tanner In The Morning, WSOC/Charlotte Tracy Dixon, Guy David & Patrick Knight, KYGO/Denver

Large Market Personality Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman, WFMS/Indianapolis Lexi & Banks, KUBL/Salt Lake City Mike Wheless & Janie Carothers, WQDR/Raleigh Ridder, Scott & Shannen, WMIL/Milwaukee Tige Rodgers, Daniel Baker & Mari Mueller, WSIX/Nashville Medium Market Personality Kenn McCloud, KUZZ/Bakersfield Brent Michaels, KUZZ/Bakersfield Mo & Styckman, WUSY/Chattanooga Roger Todd, Julie Kay & DJ Thee Trucker, WPCV/Lakeland, FL Tom & Becky, WBBS/Syracuse Small Market Personality Adam & Jen In The Morning, KIOK/ Tri-Cities, WA

Brent Lane & Candy Cullerton, WYCT/Pensacola, FL The Q Crew with Jason & Ashley, KRWQ/Medford, OR The Roger & Corliss Morning Show, KORA/Bryan-College Station, TX Scotty Cox & Catryna Craw, KCLR/ Columbia, MO Major Market Station KKBQ/Houston KNIX/Phoenix KPLX/Dallas KSCS/Dallas WYCD/Detroit Large Market Station KAJA/San Antonio KUBL/Salt Lake City WLHK/Indianapolis WMIL/Milwaukee WWKA/Orlando

Medium Market Station KATM/Modesto KUZZ/Bakersfield KXKT/Omaha WHKO/Dayton WIVK/Knoxville Small Market Station KHAY/Oxnard, CA KKNU/Eugene, OR KORA/Bryan-College Station, TX WGSQ/Cookeville, TN WYCT/Pensacola, FL

8:30pm An Intimate Solo Acoustic Performance with Garth Brooks Bridgestone Arena

9pm Sun Broadcast Group Tailgate Party Featuring DJ Sinister Omni, Level 1, Barlines

9pm GrassRoots Promotion 2019 Starlight Dinner Bridgestone Arena Platinum Club

9:30-11pm CJ Solar Mardi Gras Party & New Music Preview Omni, Suite TBA

February 13, 2019

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Congratulations to the CRS/CA Award Nominees 1. Major Market Station KILT/Houston KKBQ/Houston KNIX/Phoenix WUSN/Chicago WYCD/Detroit 2. Large Market Station KVET/Austin KWNR/Las Vegas WDSY/Pittsburgh WKDF/Nashville WMIL/Milwaukee 3. Medium Market Station KUZZ/Bakersfield WAMZ/Louisville WHKO/Dayton WSSL/Greenville, SC WUSY/Chattanooga 4. Small Market Station KTTS/Springfield, MO WBYT/South Bend, IN WGSQ/Cookeville, TN WNCY/Appleton, WI WYCT/Pensacola 5. Platinum Label Big Loud BMLG Records Broken Bow Columbia EMI Nashville 6. Gold Label Big Machine Curb Reviver Stoney Creek Wheelhouse 7. Major Market OM/PD Drew Bland, KKWF/Seattle Johnny Chiang, KKBQ/Houston Kenny Jay, WUSN/Chicago Bruce Logan, KILT/Houston Tim Roberts, WYCD/Detroit 8. Large Market OM/PD Anthony Allen, KASE & KVET/Austin Mark Anderson, WDSY/Pittsburgh

Charlie Cook, WSM-FM/Nashville Travis Moon, KUBL/Salt Lake City Kerry Wolfe, WMIL/Milwaukee 9. Medium Market OM/PD Brad Austin, WXCY/Wilmington, DE Buzz Jackson, KIIM/Tucson Kix Layton, WSSL/Greenville, SC Brent Michaels, KUZZ/Bakersfield Nancy Wilson, WHKO/Dayton 10. Small Market OM/PD Fletcher Brown, WXFL/Florence, AL Justin Case, KFDI/Wichita, KS Scott Donato, WGTY/York, PA Jesse Garcia, WBYT/South Bend, IN Brent Lane, WYCT/Pensacola, FL 11. Major Market MD (tie) Christi Brooks, KKBQ/Houston Scott Gaines, WKHX/Atlanta Chris Huff, KILT/Houston Alana Lynn, KMLE/Phoenix Mark Razz, WXTU/Philadelphia Mimi Wheeler, WSOC/Charlotte 12. Large Market MD Heather Davis, WQDR/Raleigh T.J. McEntire, KBEQ/Kansas City Ashley Stegbauer, WWKA/Orlando Wookie, WDSY/Pittsburgh Bree Wagner, KAJA/San Antonio 13. Medium Market MD Tim Cotter, KXLY/Spokane Billy Kidd, WBEE/Rochester Kay Manley, WGKX/Memphis Jody Svoboda Wheatley, WQMX/Akron Melissa Wagner, WUSY/Chattanooga 14. Small Market MD Carol Hughes, KFDI/Wichita, KS Brad King, WBYT/South Bend, IN Charli McKenzie, WNCY/Appleton, WI Chris O’Kelley, WKXC/Augusta, GA Brook Stephens, KZPK/St. Cloud, MN 15. SVP-VP/National Promotion Stacy Blythe, Big Loud Kris Lamb, Big Machine Chris Palmer, Valory

Royce Risser, UMG/Nashville Bobby Young, Capitol 16. Director/National Promotion Katie Bright, WMN Michelle Kammerer, BMLG Records Bill Macky, Black River Erik Powell, Big Machine Ashley Sidoti, Valory 17. Major Market Market Manager/GM Dan Bennett, KSCS & KPLX/Dallas Jimmy deCastro, WUSN/Chicago Lisa Decker, KUPL/Portland Debbie Kenyon, WYCD/Detroit Saul Levine, KKGO/Los Angeles

22. Large Market Personality/Show Amy Paige, WSIX/Nashville Big D, KWNR/Las Vegas Bob Pickett, KVET/Austin Bree Wagner, KAJA/San Antonio Tige & Daniel, WSIX/Nashville 23. Medium Market Personality/Show Aaron Michael, WSSL/Greenville Buzz Jackson, KIIM/Tucson Ken & Daniel, WUSY/Chattanooga Nancy & Newman, WRBT/Harrisburg Sean “Slim” Widmer, KXLY/Spokane

18. Large Market Market Manager/GM Glynn Alan, KWNR/Las Vegas Dan Endom, WSIX/Nashville 24. Small Market Personality/Show Matt Martin, KASE & KVET/Austin Brook Stephens, KZPK/St. Cloud, MN Ben Reed, KCYY/San Antonio Allison Warren, WKDF & WSM-FM/Nashville Cash Williams, KTTS/Springfield, MO Dave Daniels, KHAY/Oxnard, CA The Good Morning Guys, KUAD/Ft. Collins, CO 19. Medium Market Market Philip Gibbons, WGSQ/Cookeville, TN Manager/GM Bob Bloom, WXCY/Wilmington Morgan Bohannon, WGKX/Memphis Nichole Hartman, WUSY/Chattanooga Patty Hixon, KSKS/Fresno Mel Owens, KUZZ/Bakersfield 20. Small Market Market Manager/GM Jim Allgeier, WQHK/Ft. Wayne, IN Mary Hoxeng, WYCT/Pensacola, FL Stephanie Michel, WBYT/South Bend, IN Jonathan Monk, WGSQ/Cookeville, TN Zack Owen, WACO/Waco, TX 21. Major Market Personality/Show Angie Ward, WUBL/Atlanta B-Dub & Chelsea, KWBL/Denver Bud & Broadway, WIL/St. Louis John & Tammy, KSON/San Diego Smokey Rivers, KPLX/Dallas

25. National/Syndicated Personality/Show AfterMidNite with Cody Alan The Blair Garner Show Country Countdown USA, Lon Helton Nash Nights Live with Shawn and Elaina Storme Warren, SiriusXM 26. Regional Promotion Raffaella Braun, WAR Trudie Daniell, EMI Nashville Charlie Dean, Mercury Bill Lubitz, Big Machine Jane O’Malia Staszak, Black River 27. Independent Promotion Team or Executive GrassRoots In2une New Revolution Nine North Jody Van Alin