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January 3, 2022, Issue 788

CRS 2022: A Preview

Next month, Country Radio Seminar (CRS) returns to a live, in-person event to mark its 53rd installment. CRB Exec. Dir. RJ Curtis, Agenda Committee Chairman Brent Michaels (KUZZ/Bakersfield) and Vice Chair Joey Tack (WLHK/Indianapolis) tell Country Aircheck what to expect when the event kicks off in about seven weeks. Stream A Little Stream: “From top to bottom, this agenda and slate of events is packed with opportunities for attendees,” RJ Curtis says Curtis. The Streaming Summit, which debuted during last year’s CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience, returns and occupies the opening day of CRS 2022. Topics will include an introduction to Chartmetric, Twitch and livestreaming for radio, music discovery through streaming and the highly touted “Talk Data To Me” panel. “That session is on my personal list of can’t-miss panels,” says Michaels. Tack adds, “The Streaming Summit day is not just for the digital and DSP providers but will have fantastic information for programmers and personalities, as well.” Unlike recent years, the Wednesday slate of events will begin at 8am CT with a Streaming Breakfast & Streaming Terms event. The Warner luncheon also returns to its Wednesday slot, becoming the first of three label luncheons. The new Heads Of State series was previewed in a September CRS 360 session (CAT 9/10/21). “These fireside chats will offer an intimate, two-on-one conversation between our expert moderators and some of the key figures in our industry, paired off with one radio head and one label head per discussion,” Curtis explains. Previously announced participants include Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley, Hubbard CEO Ginny Morris, Alpha CEO Bob Profitt, Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson, BMLG Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta, UMG/ Nashville Chairman/CEO Mike Dungan, WMN Chairman/CEO John Esposito, Sony/Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman, BMG/Nashville Pres. Jon Loba, Audacy Pres./CEO David Field and iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman. Moderators are RAB’s Erica Farber, Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton, McVay Media’s Mike McVay and All Access’ Joel Denver. (continued on page 6)

Boston Team Hi: Black River’s Ray Fulcher in Boston. Pictured (back, l-r) are son Levi and WLHK/Indianapolis’ Sean Copeland; (front, l-r) then-WQMX/Akron’s Jeff Lynn and wife Kristi, WKLB’s Dawn Santolucito, Fulcher, Kelly and husband WXTU/ Philadelphia’s Mark Razz and the label’s Bailey White.

NEWS IN THIS ISSUE • • • •

Carson Blackley Leaves Radio JD Greene On A Bus To St. Cloud Bud & Broadway Show To End Hot Air: Amy Paige To ‘KDF

Nashville NYE: 4.4m Viewers

The inaugural New Years Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash cohosted by Bobby Bones on CBS finished second to ABC’s New Years Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest Friday night (12/31), according to preliminary numbers posted by spoilertv.com. During primetime, ABC had 4.938 million total viewers, ahead of CBS’ 4.439m. NBC’s 2021: It’s Toast finished third with 2.777m, while the replay of the iHeartMusic Festival on CW had 493,000 viewers. The ratings among Persons 18-49 were 1.2 for ABC, 0.7 for CBS,

© 2 0 2 2 Co u n t r y A i rc h e c k ™ — A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . S i g n u p f re e a t w w w. c o u n t r y a i rc h e c k . c o m . S e n d n e w s t o n e w s @ c o u n t r y a i r c h e c k . c o m

January 3, 2022

0.4 for NBC and 0.1 for CW. During the late-night portion of programming leading up to the midnight ball drop, ABC pulled away with 7.45m viewers from 11pm-12m ET, compared to the 3.439m for New Year’s Eve Live. NBC’s 11pm offering, Miley Cyrus’ New Year Party, closed the gap with 3.432m for third place. The 18-49 ratings for the 11pm hour were: ABC 2.1, NBC 0.8 and CBS 0.7.

Blackley Leaves Radio

iHeartMedia WNCB/Raleigh PD/midday personality Carson Blackley is leaving radio after nine years with the company and a yearand-a-half in her most recent post. “I owe a lot of my life to radio; I even met my husband in 2014 because he was family friends with my PD,” says Blackley via Instagram. “My entire Carson adult life has been defined by my career until Blackley my daughter was born. Nothing bitter about this goodbye. I’ve never been more sure of my decision to hang up the headphones.” Blackley was named PD in 2020 (CAT 7/13/20) and has worked for clusters in Pittsburgh, Memphis and Raleigh throughout her tenure. EVP/Country Programming Strategy Rod Phillips tells Country Aircheck there will be an active search for a successor; reach Phillips here.

Greene To St. Cloud

Former iHeartMedia WPGB/Pittsburgh PD/ afternoon personality JD Greene has joined Leighton KZPK/St. Cloud, MN as PD. He succeeds Brian Rickman, who departed in 2020. Greene exited WPGB in July after nearly seven years with the station and 15 with the company (CAT 7/9/21). He previously spent JD Greene six years at KEEY/Minneapolis, with prior Top 40 stops in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Morgantown, WV. Reach Greene here.

Bud & Broadway To End

SuiteRadio syndicated The Bud & Broadway Show host/creator Jerry Broadway will cease production and delivery of the program after Feb. 28, according to an email memorandum from SuiteRadio Pres. Cruze obtained by Country Aircheck. “We deeply regret this development and are surprised and disappointed to have to communicate this news to our valued affiliates,” says the memo. Read it in its entirety here. Bud & Broadway Show Bud & Broadway co-host Bud Ford left the show and radio in May (CAT 5/10/21); Broadway remained, along with cast members Tim Wall, Becca Walls and Mitch English. Ford and Broadway originally teamed at WVTY/Dothan, AL in 2010 with ensuing stops including KTGX/Tulsa and WIL/St. Louis. The duo signed with SuiteRadio in 2020 (CAT 8/5/20). No word on future plans for the cast members; reach Broadway here.

Hot Air: Amy Paige

No official word, but former iHeartMedia WSIX/Nashville midday personality Amy Paige has joined crosstown Cumulus WKDF for similar duties. She succeeds Toni Marie, who departed in October after 11 months (CAT 10/25/21). Paige resigned from ’SIX in 2020 (CAT 10/28/20) after nine years with

Amy Paige

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the station. Prior stops include SiriusXM Prime Country and The Highway, WYNY/New York, WMZQ/Washington and WDRE/ Nassau. Paige’s addition – joining syndicated Big D & Bubba (mornings) and Tyler Reese (afternoons) – gives WKDF a lineup reminiscent of WSIX’s from several years back. Reach Paige here.

Daniels Departs

Seven Mountains/Olean, NY OM & Country WPIG afternoon personality “Big Rick” Daniels is leaving radio and will join WideOrbit as a Client Success Specialist Jan. 4. “After 20-plus years, I’m hanging up the headphones on a full-time basis,” shares Daniels via Facebook. “Thanks to everyone “Big Rick” Daniels in radio who has mentored me over the years and made my dream of being a radio personality come true.” Daniels joined the Olean cluster in July (CAT 7/19/21) following time with WKKG/Columbus, IN; WYGB/ Columbus, IN; WTVY/Dothan, AL; WGGC/Bowling Green, KY; and KIZN/Boise. Reach him here.

Gig Alert

Summit/Birmingham Chief of Staff Kori White is searching for an APD/MD/afternoon personality for Country WZZK to fill the voids created by Lance Tidwell’s November departure (CAT 11/30/21). See the complete job posting here; send résumés and airchecks here.

Chart Chat

Congratulations to Dustin Lynch, MacKenzie Porter, Carson James, Lee Adams, Shelley Hargis Gaines, Renee Leymon and the Broken Bow promotion team on holding at No. 1 this week with “Thinking ‘Bout You.” The song becomes Lynch’s second multi-week No. 1; “Small Town Boy” spent two weeks at the top in Sept. 2017. Songwriters are Andy Albert, Hunter Phelps, Will Weatherly and Lynch.

Mackenzie Porter and Dustin Lynch

New Music Season

As seasonal songs fall out of airplay, programmers and other curators turn to the Nashville music pipeline. Among the new releases impacting Jan. 10 are Maren Morris’ “Circles Around This Town,” Ruthie Collins’ “Hypocrite” and King & Country’s “Relate.” Priscilla Block’s “My Bar” hits radio and DSPs Jan. 14, as does Kip Moore’s “Crazy One More Time.” Additionally in January, Midland’s “Sunrise Tells The Story” hails, Jackson Dean gets his introduction to radio and Jason Aldean has a new single. Review all the early 2022 music priorities label-bylabel in the December print issue of Country Aircheck here.

Engage Meants

Futuri Partner Success Consultant Scott Lindy popped the question to Westwood One syndicated and Cumulus WKHX/Atlanta Kincaid & Dallas morning co-host Dallas Scott Lindy and McCade on Christmas Eve. “It was Dallas McCade a very romantic proposal at our home,” McCade tells Country Aircheck. See her share the news and show off her ring via the WKHX Facebook page here. Send best wishes to Lindy here and McCade here.

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SiriusXM Mgr./Music Programming Operations & Asst. Music Programmer Emily Fenton said yes when Joe Persia popped the question while ringing in the new year in Nashville. “I’m still in shock,” says Fenton. Persia hit one knee as the clock struck midnight central time. Send best wishes to the couple here.

cluster for many years and has handled various dayparts during his tenure. Follow his health journey and donate here.

Crib Note

Former Curb|Word VP/Music Publishing Drew Alexander died Dec. 31 after a short illness. He was 52. Alexander was the son of former Tennessee senator Lamar Alexander and joined Curb in 1994 as a receptionist before working his way up to the VP role. He departed the company in 2017 after 22 years (CAT 10/4/17) and founded his own Blair Branch Music. A private graveside service will be held at the family cemetery in Walland, TN; a celebration of life will be held at a later date in Nashville. Complete obituary here. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee (331 Great Circle Road, Nashville, TN 37228).

RCA’s Kane Brown and wife Katelyn welcomed their second child, daughter Kodi Jane, Dec. 30. “Secret’s finally out,” Brown shared via Facebook. The couple kept the pregnancy hidden from the public, as Katelyn notes in her Instagram reel documenting the pregnancy here. Kodi Jane joins big sister Kingsley Rose, age two (CAT 10/31/19).

Life Notes

Katelyn, Kane and Kodi Jane Brown

Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Stevens is mourning the passing of his wife, Penny Jackson Ragsdale, who died Dec. 31 shortly before midnight following a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 78. The couple were married for more Penny Jackson Ragsdale and Ray Stevens than 60 years and have two daughters, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Stevens shared a small collection of photos via Facebook here. Services are pending. Curb’s Dylan Scott is mourning the death of his mother, Marty Lynn Robinson, who passed away Dec. 28 at the age of 58. Services were held Dec. 30 in Bastrop, LA. Obituary here. Telemedia WGRX/Federicksburg, VA on-air personality Mike Neville suffered a massive heart attack Dec. 17 and remains on life support at Mary Washington Hospital. “After the cardiovascular team repaired damage to Marty his heart, his vitals were solid, but he has yet to Lynn Robinson wake up and respond to commands,” shares WGRX GM Tom Cooper via a GoFundMe for Neville here. “The family has decided to give Mike time to possibly heal and wake up and continue on with life.” Neville has worked with the Telemedia

Chronicle

Mike Neville

Drew Alexander

The Break’s Top Stories

Items you may have missed. Search for news and people in the archives at countryaircheck.com. Catch up on everything you missed during the holidays in last week’s (12/29) Country Aircheck Weekly. • Justin Moore is joining KABZ/Little Rock’s Morning Mayhem show as co-host. • Connoisseur EVP/CFO/Co-Founder Michael O. Driscoll stepped down as EVP and was succeeded by Oliver Price. • Jared Merves is joining Cumulus as SVP/Digital.

CRS 2022: A Preview

(continued from page 1)

Learn Notice: Thursday sees the return of both the Believers Breakfast and the Programming Mentoring Breakfast before educational sessions on networking, social anxiety, rethinking revenue and audience analysis. “I’m looking forward to the ‘Reality Check: Who Is The Country Music Fan’ panel Thursday afternoon; I think it’ll be a great gut-check for programmers as we take a closer look at who makes up our listening audience,” says Michaels. Curtis touts the annual CRS Research Presentation, which will also be unveiled Thursday. “We’ve taken care to not

January 3, 2022

Burnin’ It Down: Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean with Country Heat Weekly’s Kelly Sutton (l) and Amber Anderson. schedule mass-appeal panels at concurrent times; our key sessions will be stand-alone,” he states. Team UMG At The Ryman will hold its now-traditional Thursday luncheon spot, and Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley rounds out the day. The Women’s Mentoring Breakfast and Label Mentoring Breakfast return on CRS Friday. “Our lineup of breakfasts has become a staple , and the Women’s Mentoring Breakfast may be our most-attended each year,” notes Michaels. “And following the breakfasts, Friday goes straight into some sessions we’ve either never tackled or haven’t addressed in a long time.” Among the topics are dealing with imposter syndrome, creating commercials that keep listeners from punching out, emotional intelligence in leadership and the business of touring. “I’m also interested to hear the takeaways during ‘Who’s Your Data,’ which will be during the Friday morning portion of CRS,” says Tack. “As an on-air talent with a programming mind, I always appreciate any insights into who my listeners are and how they operate.” Also Friday is the BMLG label luncheon and a featured artist interview with Warner/WMN’s Blake Shelton (CAT 8/16/21). “Attendees have come to love the artist interviews, and having Blake Shelton on stage is sure to be enlightening and entertaining,” says Curtis. CRS 2022 will conclude with the already-sold-out New Faces Of Country Music dinner and performance featuring Warner/WAR’s Gabby Barrett, Monument’s Walker Hayes, MCA’s Parker McCollum, River House/Columbia’s Jameson Rodgers and Broken Bow’s Lainey Wilson, as voted upon by the industry (CAT 12/6/21). Hall Access Pass: In addition to the educational agenda and luncheons, the week will include the return of hallway experiences and showcases as part of the return to in-person attendance. A slate of pre-event workshops and clinics will also be offered for professional development, and the next class of inductees to the Country Radio Hall of Fame will be revealed. Additionally, this year not only offers the opportunity for three first-time attendees to take part via the Rusty Walker Scholarship, but also sees the inaugural Lisa McKay Women In Radio Scholarship bestow attendance awards to two. A special emphasis will also be placed on student attendees

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with separate receptions and showcases. “Top-to-bottom, this may be one of the most well-rounded years we’ve had at CRS,” says Curtis. “And, I can’t oversell the excitement that’s building for a return to in-person.” More speakers, panelists and mentors will be announced in coming weeks, leading up to what Michaels deems “the most anticipated CRS I can personally remember.” Feeling ’22: Aside from their aforementioned recommendations, the trio each offer one must-see session according to their personal preferences. “‘Streaming Mythbusters: Streaming Fraud & Radio vs. DSP’ is going to be honest, candid and eye-opening, and is absolutely one of the most intriguing segments of The Streaming Summit,” shares Michaels. Tack recommends “I’m A Fraud: Dealing With Imposter Syndrome,” saying, “I didn’t even know what to call it until fairly recently, but Imposter Syndrome is something I’ve struggled with my entire life, and I know this panel will open a lot of my peers’ eyes about what it is, how to handle it, and how long they may have been dealing with something none of us talk about nearly enough.” Curtis points to a nuts-and-bolts session on networking, “The Net Worth Of Networking.” “The information and ‘life hacks’ presented during this session will lay a strong foundation for navigating CRS during the week, but it will also help attendees become more confident in their networking skills and abilities in any situation – in person, online and in both personal and professional settings.” To be part the greatest family reunion in country music and “learn ... connect ... advance” at CRS 2022 Feb. 23-25 at Omni Nashville, register here. Lon Helton, lon@countryaircheck.com Chuck Aly, chuck@countryaircheck.com Caitlin DeForest, caitlin@countryaircheck.com Monta Vaden, monta@countryaircheck.com (615) 320-1450

San Antoni-bros: Valory’s Eli Young Band with KAJA/San Antonio’s Alek Halverson. Pictured (l-r) are Jon Jones, James Young, Halverson and Mike Eli.

January 3, 2022

SEEK & EMPLOY

AVAILABLE JOBS MIDWEST

Summit KFDI/Wichita OM Justin Case is searching for a morning co-host. See the complete posting here; send résumés and airchecks to Case here. Alpha KZEN/Columbus, NE Dir./ Content David Gustafson is seeking a morning host. See the complete job description and apply here; reach Gustafson here. Midwest/Peoria, IL VP/MM Mike Wild is looking to add an OM for the cluster that includes Country WXCL. See the complete job description here; send résumés, cover letters and airchecks to Wild here. Townsquare KOEL/Waterloo, IA Dir./ Content Johnny Marks is searching for a Brand Mgr./morning host. See the complete job description and apply here; send résumés and airchecks to Marks here. Zimmer KATI/Jefferson City, MO OM Jeremy Washington is seeking a PD/morning co-host. Send résumés, social media samples and airchecks to him here. Townsquare SVP/Content & Programming Kurt Johnson is looking for a Dir./Content for the Lansing, MI cluster that includes Country WITL. Send résumés and airchecks here. MacDonald WKCQ/Saginaw, MI OM/PD Jason Addams is looking for a full-time, live night host. Send résumés and airchecks to him here. NORTHEAST

Cumulus WCTO/Allentown, PA OM/PD Jerry Padden is searching for a morning co-host. Complete job description and application here. Audacy/Rochester, NY VP/GM Sue Munn is looking for an OM for the fivestation cluster that includes Country WBEE. Complete job description and application here. Townsquare/Atlantic City, NJ Dir./Content Joe Kelly is on the hunt for an Asst. Dir./Digital & Radio Content to join the cluster that includes Country WPUR. Complete job description and application here. Townsquare/Portsmouth, NH Regional Market Pres. Christine Sieks is looking for a Dir./Digital & Radio Content for the cluster that includes Country WOKQ. Complete job description and application here. Sieks is also searching for a Digital & Radio Content Leader/on-air host and a morning co-host for WOKQ; apply here and here, respectively. SOUTHEAST

Summit/Louisville OM Cagle is

seeking a full-time midday personality with at least two years of on-air experience to join Country WQNU; PPM experience is a plus. Send résumés and airchecks to Cagle here. Mel Wheeler WSLC/Roanoke, VA Dir./HR Cheryl Skinner is looking for a midday personality. Send résumés and airchecks to her here. Gulf South WTVY/Dothan, AL GM Bryan Holladay is seeking an OM/PD/ morning co-host who can also handle PD duties for Top 40 sister WKMX. Send résumés and airchecks here. Townsquare KMDL/Lafayette, LA PD Jude Walker is searching for a midday personality. Complete job description and application here. Dick/Savannah, GA is in need of an OM to oversee the cluster that includes Country WUBB. Complete job description and application here. Summit/Knoxville Pres. Chris Protzman is looking for a Mgr./ Promotions to oversee the four-station cluster that includes Country WCYQ. Complete job description here; send résumés here. iHeartMedia WUBL/Atlanta SVP/ Programming Meg Stevens is “looking for future stars” to join for mornings. Complete job posting and application here. Cumulus WIVK/Knoxville PD Rich Bailey is seeking a midday personality. Complete job description and application here; reach Bailey here. Saga Group PD Scott Chase is looking for a morning host to join WCVL/ Charlottesville, VA. Complete job posting here; send résumés and airchecks to Chase here. Saga Classic Country WSIG/ Harrisonburg, VA OM/PD Paul “Uncle Pauly” McDaniel is searching for a morning co-host. Send résumés and airchecks to him here. ADX WYCT/Pensacola PD Brent Lane is looking for a midday personality. See the complete job description here; send résumés, social media samples and airchecks to Lane here. iHeartMedia EVP/Country Programming Strategy Rod Phillips is seeking a PD/midday personality for Country WNCB/Raleigh to succeed Carson Blackley. Reach him here. Summit/Birmingham Chief of Staff Kori White is looking for an APD/MD/ afternoon personality for Country WZZK. Complete job posting here; send résumés and airchecks here.

searching for an MD/morning co-host with an understanding of Texas country. Send résumés and airchecks to him here. Seigler is also seeking a PD/afternoon personality for KORA; send résumés and airchecks here. Cumulus VP/Country Charlie Cook is looking for a PD/midday personality for KAYD/Beaumont, TX. See the complete job description and apply here. Cox KCYY/San Antonio PD Christi Brooks is searching for a morning cohost to join incumbent Beth Chandler. Apply here. Alpha/Amarillo, TX MM Cal Hall is seeking a Content Dir./Brand Mgr. for the cluster that includes Country KGNC. Complete job description and application here. WEST COAST

Cumulus KBUL/Reno, NV PD/ morning host Bob Richards is seeking a full-time morning co-host to join The Moo Crew. Complete job description here; send résumés and airchecks to Richards here. Cumulus KATM/Modesto, CA PD Andy Winford is looking for a third-mic morning co-host to join DJ Walker and Jaimee Lee. See complete job description and apply here. Townsquare KAWO/Boise Brand Mgr. Chris Pickett is searching for a live midday personality. Job description and application here. OTHER

Townsquare Country Format Lead Doug Montgomery has immediate openings for PDs and morning talent. Send résumés and airchecks to him here. iHeartMedia EVP/Country Programming Strategy Rod Phillips has current openings for “great PDs in various size markets.” Send résumés and airchecks to him here. Pandora is adding a Dir./Country Programming to manage the programming and curation of country music destinations on the platform. See the complete job description and apply here. Townsquare Country Format Lead Doug Montgomery is searching for an Exec. Prod./Content Prod./on-air talent to join nationally syndicated Taste Of Country Nights. Complete job description and application here.

SOUTHWEST

Brazos Valley KORA/Bryan-College Station, TX VP/GM John Seigler is

January 3, 2022

SEEK & EMPLOY

SEEKING JOBS •Tony Kelly Former WUSN/Chicago morning producer KellyT_60468@yahoo.com 708-642-8518 •Greg Cole Former WKCQ/Saginaw, MI OM/PD GCole27000@gmail.com 916-502-4734 •Jonathan West Former WKTI/Milwaukee afternoons JonathanWestRadio@gmail.com 320-774-9300 •Marc Lavik (aka Dave Marcus) Former on-air talent ZimaGuy@gmail.com 401-467-6737 •Cory Mikhals Former KIZN/Boise morning co-host CoryProductions@icloud.com •”Big” John Horton Former KFSA/Ft. Smith, AR afternoon host BigJohn@TheBigJohnShow.com

•David Dean Former KXDD/Yakima, WA afternoons DaviDean5@gmail.com

•Ashley King Former KHLR/Little Rock, AR afternoons AKingMarsh@gmail.com

•Brian “Wookie” Kostek Former WDSY/Pittsburgh APD/MD/afternoons BKostek24@gmail.com

•Jess Tyler Former WOKQ/Portsmouth, NH Brand Mgr./ MD/middays JTyler1999@yahoo.com

•Kim Brixton Former WNWN/Battle Creek, MI mornings/middays KimBrixton@gmail.com •Mark McKay Former Riser House Dir./Southeast Promotion MMcKay973@gmail.com •Tim Taylor Former KWJJ/Portland afternoons Tim.Taylor1@comcast.net •Amber Rainey Former KSON/San Diego middays AmberRaineyOnAir@gmail.com •Tami Rumfelt Former WPAW/Greensboro afternoons TamiRumfelt@gmail.com

•Kris Richards Former WKJO/Smithfield, NC afternoons FireCop947@yahoo.com

•Mark “Skid” Lavin Former WOTW/Orlando Dir./Production & On-Air MarkLavin@yahoo.com 407-619-5346

•AJ McCloud Former WWFF/Huntsville, AL APD/afternoons AJ.McCloud@charter.net 256-503-2301

•Kerry Wolfe Former WMIL/Milwaukee SVPP & PD KerryLWolfe@hotmail.com 414-788-3764

•Mac Daniels Former KPLX & KSCS/Dallas PD MacDaniels@me.com

•Mike McKay Former WQRB/Eau Claire, WI Brand Mgr./mornings McKProd@charter.net

•Brittany Tully Former WYNK/Baton Rouge PD BriLynn718@gmail.com •Bill Hickok Former KBMR/Bismark, ND morning host BillHickok1950@gmail.com •Amy Nic Former WAMZ/Louisville afternoon host AmyNicRadioChick@gmail.com •Ron “Keyes” Stevens Former WQRB/Eau Claire, WI afternoon host RonStvns@yahoo.com

•Jimmy Elliott Former WOVK/Wheeling, WV WPP/PD/MD/mornings JimmyElliottSchlosser@gmail.com •Steve Powers Former iHeartMedia/Mobile, AL SVPP StevePowers961@yahoo.com •Jim Dorman Former iHeartMedia/Wichita SVPP & Country KZSN PD/middays JimDorman2@aol.com

•Scott Davidson Former WHOF-HD2/Canton, OH PD/on-air host Davidson1023@gmail.com

•Eddie Rupp Former iHeartMedia/Sarasota, FL SVPP/OM & Country WCTQ middays ER-1001@hotmail.com

•Trace Hamilton Former WEBG/Chicago night host TheTraceHamilton@gmail.com

•Amy Lynn Former WCKT/Ft. Myers, FL middays AmyLynnRadio@gmail.com

•Ryan McCall Former WGLR/Platteville, WI MD/afternoons RyanMcCall@yahoo.com

•Bill “Stu” Stewart Former KASH/Anchorage, AK PD/morning co-host BStu1013@gmail.com

•Jim Pearson Former KDBL/Yakima, WA PD/mornings JimsCoolEmail@gmail.com 831-261-1822 •Crash Poteet Former WPOR/Portland, ME Brand Mgr./afternoons OKCCrash@gmail.com •Aaron “Gator” Glass Former WQNU/Louisville mornings GatorGlass.53@gmail.com •Todd Elbrink Former Cox/Houston DOS TElbrink@icloud.com •Carly Quinn Former WGH/Norfolk morning co-host NewEnglandClamChowder2021@yahoo.com 757-617-8171 •Chuck Reeves Former KTFW/Dallas & KTWF/Wichita Falls, TX PD/afternoons ChuckReeves33@yahoo.com •Chuck “DZL” Thompson Former WKKT/Charlotte PD DZLradio@gmail.com 704-615-7095 •Corey Garrison Former WTHT/Portland, ME PD GarrisonCorey@yahoo.com •Jared Marlowe Former WWOF/Tallahassee weekender RadioJared@gmail.com •Dan Gallo Former KTHT/Houston morning co-host DanJGallo@hotmail.com •Chuck Akers Former KTHT/Houston morning co-host chuckakers@comcast.net •Ryan Wild Former WLHK/Indianapolis PD/middays WildOnAir@aol.com 815-353-6101 •Stephanie Crist Former KMDL/Lafayette, LA midday personality StephanieCrist1956@gmail.com •Kyle Murphy Former KSJB-AM/Jamestown, ND morning personality KyleMurphyRadio@gmail.com

SCOREBOARD

January 3, 2022

December 2021 PPM Scoreboard The arrival of Christmas music competitors drove shares down on more than 60% of the format’s stations in the December 2021 PPM Book (11/11-12/8). That resulted in a monthto-month drop of more than 7% in total shares, from 339.0 to 314.9. That is the third lowest total share on record behind the Holiday books of 2019 and 2020. Format cume was similarly down, off 6.4% from November to 22,610,800. That is a 4.9% decrease from last December. KILT/Houston had the top cume in the format

Station/City

Nov 6+ Share

WKHX/Atlanta WUBL/Atlanta KASE/Austin^ KVET/Austin^ KOKE/Austin WPOC/Baltimore WKLB/Boston WBWL/Boston WCTK/Boston (Providence) WKKT/Charlotte WSOC/Charlotte WUSN/Chicago WUBE/Cincinnati^ WNKN/Cincinnati+ WNNF/Cincinnati WYGY/Cincinnati^ WGAR/Cleveland WCOL/Columbus, OH KPLX/Dallas^ KSCS/Dallas^ KYGO/Denver KWBL/Denver WDRQ/Detroit WYCD/Detroit WPAW/Greensboro WTQR/Greensboro WWYZ/Hartford KILT/Houston KKBQ/Houston^ KTHT/Houston^+ WFMS/Indianapolis WLHK/Indianapolis WGNE/Jacksonville WQIK/Jacksonville KBEQ/Kansas City^ KFKF/Kansas City^ WDAF/Kansas City KCYE/Las Vegas KWNR/Las Vegas KKGO/Los Angeles WGKX/Memphis WLFP/Memphis WKIS/Miami WKMK/Middlesex (Monmouth)

Rank

Dec 6+ Share

Rank

Nov Cume

Dec Cume

CUME NOV DEC 4 1 KILT/Houston 747,700 1 2 KKBQ/Houston 740,700 3 3 WUSN/Chicago 722,400 2 4 KPLX/Dallas 684,800 5 5 KSCS/Dallas 615,700 6 6 KKGO/Los Angeles 576,000 10 7 KNIX/Phoenix 492,200 9 8 WKLB/Boston 487,400 8 9 WXTU/Philadelphia 481,500 7 10 KCYY/San Antonio 479,500

400

WMIL/Milwaukee KEEY/Minneapolis KMNB/Minneapolis KLCI/Minneapolis+ WKDF/Nashville^ WSIX/Nashville WSM-FM/Nashville^ WGH/Norfolk WUSH/Norforlk WWKA/Orlando WXTU/Philadelphia KMLE/Phoenix KNIX/Phoenix WDSY/Pittsburgh WPGB/Pittsburgh WLYI/Pittsburgh^+ WOGG/Pittsburgh^ WOGI/Pittsburgh^ KUPL/Portland KWJJ/Portland WCTK/Providence WNCB/Raleigh WQDR/Raleigh KFRG/Riverside KNCI/Sacramento KNTY/Sacramento + KYRV-HD2/Sacramento KEGA/Salt Lake City KSOP/Salt Lake City KUBL/Salt Lake City KAJA/San Antonio KCYY/San Antonio^ KKYX-AM/San Antonio^+ KSON/San Diego KRTY/San Jose KKWF/Seattle KNUC/Seattle KSD/St. Louis WIL/St. Louis WFUS/Tampa WQYK/Tampa WMZQ/Washington WIRK/West Palm Beach

349.4

335.6 338.2

329.0 400

349.4 329.0

NOV DEC 2 1 9 2 3 3 6t 4 4 5 6t 6 10 7t 1 7t 5 9 6t 10

Nov 6+ Share

Station/City

2.4 15t 2.4 14t 345,800 376,400 2.4 15t 2.6 13 379,800 362,500 3.3 10 4.1 8 181,500 194,900 7.7 2 6.4 4 281,500 284,300 1.4 18t 0.9 19t 80,100 80,200 7.1 2 6.3 3 274,300 266,200 5.2 6 4.4 7 524,000 487,400 1.8 19 2.0 16t 357,000 288,800 0.6 25 0.5 25t 105,600 93,600 6.9 1 7.0 2 334,000 325,100 5.2 4t 5.2 7t 322,200 331,600 2.4 16t 2.5 15 762,900 722,400 5.9 3 5.9 5 352,300 323,900 2.7 12 1.9 15 143,200 128,400 1.9 15 1.8 16 168,500 148,100 1.1 19 1.1 19 118,200 87,300 6.3 6 5.8 6 279,300 301,400 7.2 3 6.9 3 269,700 240,700 4.1 6t 3.8 6t 763,200 684,800 3.6 9 3.5 11t 681,300 615,700 6.2 1 5.1 3t 357,300 326,200 2.0 19 2.2 18 186,900 175,000 1.8 19 1.6 19t 287,500 258,100 4.1 9t 3.5 13 471,600 406,500 4.3 8 4.0 9 164,300 145,300 6.2 6 5.5 6 182,500 179,900 7.6 2 8.0 2 178,600 156,000 3.4 11 3.5 12 735,400 747,700 4.1 10 3.6 11 764,400 740,700 2.0 21 2.2 WUBL 20t 359,300 354,700 6.9 7 6.5 6 222,300 200,500 3.9 11 4.1 8t 199,600 191,500 5.8 6 5.5 6 185,300 190,700 6.8 5 7.8 WUBL 4 221,900 226,200 3.6 12 3.6 11 223,700 175,800 500 4.0 10 4.2 9 229,400 188,700 5.4 5 3.8 10 323,000 175,800 2.5 12t 2.1 13t 165,400 141,200 5.0 5 3.1 11 149,800 151,300 500 2.3 16 2.0 17t 599,000 576,000 4.2 8t 3.3 9 147,100 141,300 2.3 14 2.0 14 88,300 84,000 2.5 17 2.4 15t 306,300 323,600 1.7 19t 1.8 18t 79,700 66,700

Dec. PPM Top 10

Dec. PPM Top 10 SHARE

in December, but its reach of 747,700 is the second lowest total to lead the format behind only the lockdown month of April 2020. The largest share in the format for the month belongs to WWYZ/Hartford, which edged up 7.8 to 8.0. Legend: A “+” indicates a Classic Country outlet; a “^” designates co-owned Country stations in the metro; a “t” indicates a tie; and a “*” indicates a station that is a recent subscriber for which ratings were not currently available. Ranks are among subscribers.

290.7 335.6 338.2

Rank

WWYZ/Hartford 8.0 WQIK/Jacksonville 7.8 WCTK/Providence 7.7 WKKT/Charlotte 7.0 WCOL/Columbus, OH 6.9 WFMS/Indianapolis 6.5 WSIX/Nashville 6.4 KVET/Austin 6.4 WPOC/Baltimore 6.3 KSOP/Salt Lake City 6.2

Dec 6+ Share

Rank

4.7 8t 4.8 5.0 8t 4.5 2.4 15 3.0 1.8 18 1.4 3.2 12 2.7 6.7 4 6.4 5.8 6t 5.4 4.2 10 3.5 4.9 6 4.4 5.2 9 4.3 4.4 8 3.5 3.0 14 2.3 4.0 7 3.9 4.0 10 3.2 2.9 13 2.9 1.9 14 1.9 0.6 22 0.6 1.5 15t 1.7 3.7 11t 3.8 2.6 17 2.0 7.4 4 7.7 2.2 15 2.0 4.4 9 4.1 4.3 5 3.7 5.6 6 4.9 1.7 15 1.3 0.7 22t 0.3 0.7 26 0.9 6.9 4 6.2 3.7 11 2.3 4.5 9 5.0 5.4 5 4.8 1.3 20 0.9 5.8 3 5.8 4.3 6t 3.9 2.6 18t 2.8 2.2 21 2.3 4.5 9 4.8 4.4 10t 4.4 4.7 7 5.1 3.7 9t 3.3 3.8 11t 3.1 3.9 6 2.7

Nov Cume

Dec Cume

6t 257,500 252,100 9t 420,000 445,500 15t 300,200 303,400 19t 111,100 109,100 13 155,000 147,100 4 217,700 203,300 7 196,800 170,700 11 178,500 160,800 9 149,500 159,400 9 154,900 165,500 9t 537,200 481,500 20 428,000 374,000 7 493,400 492,200 10 244,700 221,300 12 191,100 185,300 14 82,700 76,500 22t 50,600 51,200 15 89,600 100,600 7t 244,600 242,200 18 261,500 238,700 3 270,500 257,900 16 119,300 118,800 8t 199,000 190,300 4t 250,300 213,700 6 307,000 276,000 17 75,900 87,800 25 43,400 30,700 22t 103,900 111,600 4 267,200 224,200 15 229,200 186,100 5 377,700 387,600 7 546,200 479,500 22 99,300 64,800 2 338,300 313,900 7 129,900 125,700 17 319,500 301,800 19t 249,800 229,900 9 398,300 366,000 10 361,700 322,500 6 327,100 349,400 13t 300,800 296,300 15 419,700 328,000 8t 102,500 100,800

349.7

360.9 355.2 355.5 354.6 350.9

349.7

360.9 355.2 355.5 354.6 350.9

339.8

345.7

339.0 314.9

339.8

345.7

339.0 314.9

300

290.7

Format-Wide PPM Ratings

300

Aggregate share for Nielsen Audio subscribing stations month to month. 200

Dec '19 Dec

Hol

Jan

Feb

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Jul

Aug Sept

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Nov

Dec

© 2 0 2 2 Co u n t r y A i rc h e c k ™ — A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . S i g n u p f re e a t w w w. c o u n t r y a i rc h e c k . c o m . S e n d n e w s t o n e w s @ c o u n t r y a i r c h e c k . c o m 200

Dec '19 Dec

Hol

Jan

Feb

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Apr

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Jul

Aug Sept

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Nov

Dec

January 3, 2022 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

D. LYNCH f/M. PORTER

29732

8142

37.908

158

Thinking ‘Bout You (Broken Bow)

MICHAEL RAY/Whiskey And Rain (Warner/WEA)

27706

7646

36.016

159

CHRIS STAPLETON/You Should Probably Leave (Mercury)

26641

7382

34.358

157

JORDAN DAVIS f/LUKE BRYAN/Buy Dirt (MCA)

25181

7094

30.378

158

JON PARDI/Tequila Little Time (Capitol)

23539

6349

30.279

159

J. ALLEN & B. PAISLEY/Freedom Was A Highway (Stoney Creek)

21844

5995

27.236

159

KANE BROWN/One Mississippi (RCA)

20375

5667

23.869

158

MORGAN WALLEN/Sand In My Boots (Big Loud)

19715

5553

24.848

158

ZAC BROWN BAND/Same Boat (Home Grown/Warner/WAR)

18374

5106

27.018

154

K. BALLERINI f/K. CHESNEY/Half Of My Hometown (Black River) 17729

5039

21.565

159

PARKER MCCOLLUM/To Be Loved By You (MCA)

16256

4450

20.157

157

SAM HUNT/23 (MCA)

14893

4077

16.972

158

ERIC CHURCH/Heart On Fire (EMI Nashville)

14576

3911

17.813

158

E. KING & M. LAMBERT/Drunk ... (RCA/Columbia)

13805

3784

14.701

144

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Home Sweet (Triple Tigers)

13610

3690

15.224

159

C. PEARCE & A. MCBRYDE/Never Wanted ... (Big Machine/WMN) 12121

3471

12.672

158

BLAKE SHELTON/Come Back As A Country Boy (Warner/WMN)

11437

3162

----

12.34

157

D. BENTLEY w/BRELAND & HARDY/Beers... (Atlantic/Big Loud/Capitol) 10721

2836

11.834

157

CALLISTA CLARK/It's 'Cause I Am (Big Machine)

10687

3028

10.57

152

HARDY/Give Heaven Some Hell (Big Loud)

10062

2781

10.5

154

KEITH URBAN/Wild Hearts (Capitol)

9948

2725

10.781

156

CODY JOHNSON/Til You Can't (CoJo/Warner/WMN)

9643

2649

11.164

153

MIRANDA LAMBERT/If I Was A Cowboy (RCA)

9160

2618

9.104

155

JAKE OWEN/Best Thing Since Backroads (Big Loud)

8450

2297

8.502

156

C. SWINDELL & L. WILSON/Never Say Never (Warner/WMN/BBR) 8273

2229

9.279

153

4 =Top 5 Point Gainers

Chart Page 1

January 3, 2022 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

THOMAS RHETT/Slow Down Summer (Valory)

8145

2222

8.572

150

LUKE BRYAN/Up (Capitol)

6704

1817

7.309

149

TIM MCGRAW/7500 OBO (Big Machine)

6267

1691

5.902

149

DAN + SHAY/Steal My Love (Warner/WAR)

6030

1656

5.717

152

L. ALAINA w/J. PARDI/Getting Over Him (Mercury)

5791

1691

4.984

152

TOBY KEITH/Old School (Show Dog)

4829

1422

2.989

138

BROTHERS OSBORNE/I'm Not For Everyone (EMI Nashville)

4394

1235

4.353

138

PRISCILLA BLOCK/Just About Over You (InDent/Mercury)

4211

1051

4.842

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Damn Strait (Triple Tigers)

4002

1080

4.713

106

DYLAN SCOTT/New Truck (Curb)

3922

1136

2.994

138

FRANK RAY/Country'd Look Good On You (Stoney Creek)

3917

1162

2.813

114

TENILLE ARTS/Back Then, Right Now (19th & Grand )

3750

1132

2.308

119

CHRIS YOUNG w/M. TENPENNY/At The End Of A Bar (RCA)

3635

910

3.561

T. SWIFT f/C. STAPLETON/I Bet You Think About Me (Republic/MCA)

3492

1030

2.753

121

WALKER HAYES/AA (Monument)

3256

917

2.948

CAROLINE JONES/Come In ... (Mailboat/New Revolution)

3061

951

1.363

112

PARMALEE/Take My Name (Stoney Creek)

2699

745

2.384

CHRIS LANE/Fill Them Boots (Big Loud)

2619

745

2.157

LEE BRICE/Soul (Curb)

2423

629

1.404

CHRIS JANSON/Bye Mom (Warner/WAR)

2404

699

1.364

CHASE RICE/If I Were Rock & Roll (Dack Janiels/Broken Bow)

2321

638

1.348

LUKE COMBS/Doin' This (River House/Columbia)

2313

561

4.176

DREW PARKER/While You're Gone (Warner/WMN)

2296

632

1.763

ADELE f/CHRIS STAPLETON/Easy On Me (Columbia)

2285

692

2.287

MORGAN WADE/Wilder Days (Arista)

1994

588

1.306

4 =Top 5 Point Gainers

Chart Page 3

January 3, 2022 Country Aircheck Top Recurrents

Points

J. ALDEAN & C. UNDERWOOD/If ... (Macon Music/Broken Bow/Capitol) 24025 LUKE COMBS/Cold As You (River House/Columbia)

19955

WALKER HAYES/Fancy Like (Monument)

17043

CHRIS YOUNG & KANE BROWN/Famous Friends (RCA)

16483

LUKE COMBS/Forever After All (River House/Columbia)

14211

RYAN HURD w/MAREN MORRIS/Chasing After You (Arista)

13536

CHASE RICE f/FGL/Drinkin' Beer... (Dack Janiels/BBR/BMLGR) 13024 LEE BRICE/Memory I Don't Mess With (Curb)

10427

COLE SWINDELL/Single Saturday Night (Warner/WMN)

10348

LEE BRICE/One Of Them Girls (Curb)

9202

LUKE BRYAN/Waves (Capitol)

8359

Country Aircheck Add Leaders Add leaders will return January 10

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers Add leaders will return January 10

PARMALEE f/BLANCO BROWN/Just The Way (Stoney Creek) 7877 THOMAS RHETT/What's Your Country Song (Valory)

8326

J. RODGERS f/L. COMBS/Cold Beer... (River House/Columbia) 8166 BRETT YOUNG/Lady (BMLGR)

7990

DIERKS BENTLEY/Gone (Capitol)

6608

LUKE COMBS/Better Together (River House/Columbia)

6246

DAN + SHAY/Glad You Exist (Warner/WAR)

5860

SCOTTY MCCREERY/You Time (Triple Tigers)

5876

GABBY BARRETT/The Good Ones (Warner/WAR)

5515

LUKE BRYAN/Down To One (Capitol)

5932

NIKO MOON/Good Time (RCA)

5340

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Love You Like I Used To (Triple Tigers)

5392

SAM HUNT/Breaking Up Was Easy In The... (MCA)

5440

ELVIE SHANE/My Boy (Wheelhouse)

5057

JUSTIN MOORE/We Didn't Have Much (Valory)

4882

JAKE OWEN/Made For You (Big Loud)

4677

GABBY BARRETT/I Hope (Warner/WAR)

4665

LAINEY WILSON/Things A Man Oughta Know (Broken Bow)

4338

MAREN MORRIS/The Bones (Columbia)

4443

Country Aircheck Top Spin Gainers Add leaders will return January 10

Activator Top Point Gainers Add leaders will return January 10

Activator Top Spin Gainers Add leaders will return January 10

4 =Top 5 Point Gainers

Chart Page 4

January 3, 2022

COUNTRY AIRCHECK ACTIVITY CHRIS JANSON/Bye Mom (Warner/WAR) No. 45 2404 points, 699 spins CHASE RICE/If I Were Rock & Roll (Dack Janiels/Broken Bow) No. 46 2321 points, 638 spins LUKE COMBS/Doin’ This (River House/Columbia) No. 47 2313 points, 561 spins DREW PARKER/While You’re Gone (Warner/WMN) No. 48 2296 points, 632 spins

ADD DATES Send yours to adds@countryaircheck.com

JANUARY 10

RUTHIE COLLINS/Hypocrite (Sidewalk/Curb) MAREN MORRIS/Circles Around This Town (Columbia)

JANUARY 17 None Listed

JANUARY 24

KIP MOORE/Crazy One More Time (MCA)

ADELE f/CHRIS STAPLETON/Easy On Me (Columbia/Mercury) No. 49 2285 points, 692 spins MORGAN WADE/Wilder Days (Arista) No. 50 1994 points, 588 spins MIDLAND/Sunrise Tells The Story (Big Machine) 1953 points, 530 spins JUSTIN MOORE/With A Woman You Love (Valory) 1868 points, 557 spins NIKO MOON/Paradise To Me (RCA) 1776 points, 550 spins MORGAN EVANS/Love Is Real (Warner/WEA) 1703 points, 488 spins OLD DOMINION/No Hard Feelings (Arista) 1686 points, 466 spins

CHECK OUT JANUARY 21

BROTHERS OSBORNE Skeletons Deluxe (EMI Nashville) TEXAS HILL Heaven Down Here (—)

JANUARY 28

MADDIE & TAE Through The Madness Vol. 1 (Mercury) AARON LEWIS Frayed At Both Ends (Valory)

Chart Page 5