August 8, 2022, Issue 819
The Best Country Market Is...
As noted in this space last month, Nashville and Jacksonville are the top two Country markets – at least when it comes to share of radio listening in PPM. While that’s a significant metric for the top 50 U.S. radio markets, it is but one measure in a limited sample. So what is the best country music market in America? “What’s your goal?” asks Audacy Regional Brand Mgr. Marci Braun. “Would you rather be a big fish in a small pond? Do you look at going after the masses, or having the benefit of having a heavier saturated country music listener base? Do you look at the awesome challenge of converting people to our format?” Marci Braun Josh Easler Anna Cage For broadcasters, those are among the considerations. In PPM and CDM markets, Nashville, Jacksonville, Tulsa, Knoxville, Wichita, Chattanooga and Huntsville post shares at or above 15 (see boxes page 7, 10 and 15). Six smaller markets using Nielsen’s diary methodology raise that 15-to-17 share range by five points or more to 20+. And then there’s the cume argument, in which Houston, Dallas and Chicago are around – or, in George Briner Gator Harrison Houston’s case, well above – 1 million weekly listeners (unduplicated PPM cume). “Easily Houston,” says Records/Nashville EVP/Promotion & Commercial Strategy Josh Easler. “Both stations like new music and play it, and they have insane ratings and impact on music.” But that’s the radio-centered perspective. “I’ve had discussions with artists who claim that a certain city is their ‘best market,’” says Warner VP/Radio Anna Cage. “Typically, that’s in reference to their airplay and their ability to sell tickets. (continued on page 7)
The Cowboy & Me: Big Machine‘s Tim McGraw backstage at Chicago‘s Windy City Smokeout Friday (8/5). Pictured (l-r) are Em.co‘s Jack Purcell, Music Choice‘s Jim Murphy, Country Aircheck‘s Chuck Aly, the label‘s Jane Staszak, Audacy‘s Marci Braun, McGraw, iHeart‘s Jeff Kapugi and WIL/St. Louis‘ Marty Brooks.
Where There’s Smokeout There’s
Four days and nights of music, craft beer and barbecue showed how the Windy City Smokeout has earned its place as one of country’s premier festivals. The ninth event in 10 years (2020 was lost to the pandemic) took place Thursday through Sunday (8/4-7) outside Chicago’s United Center, revealing a whole-isgreater-than-its-parts magic. “We’ve moved locations twice, and those moves helped us grow,” says organizer Ed Warm. “We moved from a small lot in River Ed Warm North to the Chicago Tribune’s lot on the river, which gave us room to do two stages, increase capacity, and add a lot more barbecue.” Outgrowing that space prompted the move to its current location. “Everyone knows where the United Center is, so that helped us grow as well.” Mid-afternoon performances built to each evening’s headliners – Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Sam Hunt and Miranda Lambert, respectively. The first moments of Nelson’s Thursday
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