weekly July 31, 2023, Issue 869
Q&A:WXTU’s Andie Summers
Last week’s multi-year extension for Beasley WXTU/Philadelphia morning personality Andie Summers (CAT 7/25) is a milestone. Beyond furthering her impressive 24 years in the airshift, she also continues as one of the still all-too rare women fronting a major market morning show in the format (see: WPOC/Baltimore’s Laurie DeYoung). And if that’s not enough, she’s out there finding kidneys for people, too. CA: The title has been The Andie Summers Show for several years, but I’m thinking in some sense it’s been your show far longer ... how did everyone else get there? AS: When I partnered with Frank Lario, we decided no names. We’re not bigger than the Andie Summers station – ‘XTU is the star – so we were the XTU Morning Crew and it took pressure off everyone. We were just like this big, happy family. Then Frank left, we got some consultants in and they decided it was The Andie Summers Show. How did you get into radio? I was a Mass Communications major at Bloomsburg University, which didn’t have any classes in radio, which was fine because I had no interest until a friend of mine took a job at a 6,000-watt Country station in town. They were hiring part-timers and he said it would be a great résumé builder. I had no experience and no interest in country music, but after one shift I thought, “This is what I want to do forever.” What clicked? I had my sights set on television and would have loved to do a talk show, but knew they don’t just pull people from college to do that. I’d have to be a news anchor, and I was not cut out to be a reporter. As much as I’m a hard worker, I was also realistic about the work I would have to put in to even get a shot at what I really would have loved doing. (continued on page 7)
E = mca²: MCA’s Sam Hunt in Indianapolis. Pictured (l-r) are WLHK’s Cara Denis, the label’s Donna Passuntino, Hunt and WFMS’ Matt Malone.
Tour Launch: Need A Savior
Jelly Roll’s inaugural headlining arena and amphitheater tour, the 44-date Backroad Baptism Tour, kicked off this past weekend. WKHX/ Atlanta APD/afternoons Lucas Phelan and Coord./Promotions Jake Bennett and iHeartMedia WUBL/Atlanta afternoon host Kristen Gates shared their takeaways from Saturday’s (7/29) show at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre with Country Aircheck. “Jelly Roll is more country than people give him credit for,” says Phelan, pointing out not a single note was missed and his voice Pretty In Ink: Gates with Jelly Roll. “sounded better than ever.”
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