Issuu

February 26, 2018, Issue 590

CRS Deep Dive: Guts & Data

“Most of the world will make decisions by either guessing or using their gut,” data analytics entrepreneur Suhail Doshi has said. “They will be either lucky or wrong.” His point is that data is allowing us to make an increasing variety of decisions with a confidence not yet seen in human history, so why not take advantage? Radio, of course, is a petri dish for gut versus data-backed decision-making, something Stone Door Media Lab’s Jeff Green explored in depth during CRS 2018’s “The Matrix Of The Metrics” panel, again one of the seminar’s most popular. Gut instinct still rules, he found, but radio’s data toolbox is getting much more impressive. “The point of the presentation was to show how data can be used to identify hits as early as possible,” Green says of the study. “Nobody needs help if a record Jeff Green is already Top 15, but when you’re talking about a new record that could sit in overnights for 20 weeks, that’s an expensive proposition for everyone involved.” Streaming & Shazam: Part of the presentation centered on Music Decision Survey 2017, a joint effort with Country Aircheck that for the second year showed gut feeling, artist stature/ reputation and playlist fit as the top considerations for making add decisions (see the full story here). Those approaches have merit, of course, but it’s streaming data that’s beginning to make things interesting. “The evidence is mounting that songs that generate lots of streams are performing pretty well in the end at radio,” Green contends. Programmers appreciate streaming as an important bellwether, the survey shows, but they appear to be thinking of it in general terms. Green’s data identifies specific markers and platforms worth watching. Streams per spin in a song’s second chart week is the big one. Eventual No. 1 Country singles tend to have reached an average of 802 streams per spin at that point, considerably (continued on page 5)

Stream Team: Blue Chair/Warner Bros. Kenny Chesney spends time with his radio and streaming team ahead of his 2018 Trip Around the Sun Tour. Pictured (l-r) are Ray Mariner, Diane Monk, Kristen Williams, Chad Schultz, John Esposito, Chesney, Tim Foisset, Shari Roth, Cris Lacy, Stephanie Hagerty, Adrian Michaels and Kate Myers.

Remembering Dr. Bruce The passing of Country Radio Hall of Famer Dr. Bruce Nelson Stratton (Chronicle 2/25) was met with sadness and fond memories by those who worked with him over more than 50 years in the business. • Country DJ Hall of Fame founder Chuck Chellman: “I first met Bruce in Tupelo, MS. His pop air name was Phil Harmonic and he was on the staff with Hall of Famer Les Acree. Bruce was

Stratton with George Strait

© 2 0 1 8 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 rc h e c k . c o m

February 26, 2018

MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE ACM 2017 Keyboard Player of the Year Dave Cohen discusses his most influential music: 1. Eagles, Hell Freezes Over Tour: I saw this tour with my dad and it was the first time I realized you could be a keyboard player and play cool music. All I knew at the time was classical piano lessons. There was hope. 2. Wallflowers, Bringing Down The Dave Cohen Horse: As far as I’m concerned it is a textbook of modern rock B3 playing by Rami Jaffee. Crisp pop arrangements. Great sounds. 3. Bruce Hornsby And The Range, The Way It Is: I love Bruce’s piano playing. His block chords and ability to fuse jazz voicings in pop music always drew me in. 4. Bill Evans, Live At The Village Vanguard: Bill is the most lyrical and accessible jazz pianist I know of. This live recording was a brief snapshot of him with his best trio, in the prime of his playing and creativity. 5. Phish, Rift: It’s just amazing. • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: I think I’ve heard all the highly regarded ones. • “Important” music you just don’t get: Almost anything by The Doors. • An album you played incessantly: Tommy Sims’ Peace And Love. • Obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: Ernest K.’s Trouble With Us. •Music you’d rather not admit to enjoying: Most anything from The Wrecking Crew years coming out of LA – The 5th Dimension, Herb Alpert, Gary Lewis, etc.

Page 3

very passionate about the music and valued input from promotion guys. I used him on the voting board for the Hall of Fame longer than most because his information on Country radio people was better than most promo folks. The radio community has just lost one of its greatest allies. He will be missed.” • Artist Joe Stampley: “The first time we met he was at KENR/ Houston and told me about playing my music with [rock band] The Uniques when he was at a Rock station in Clarksdale, MS in the ‘60s. He liked all music and loved rock and roll, but he also had a dry sense of humor and told me a few years back, ‘I’ve either got to retire or go crazy playing all this new sounding music.’ He was a dear friend and we had a lot of good times. I hate that he’s gone.” • Country Radio Hall of Famer Arch Yancey: “The first time we met he was driving in to start work at KENR/Houston and I was on the air at KIKK and mentioned the competition had hired a new $1.25-an-hour guy to try to beat us. We actually met that night and became great friends. “He got one of those mail-order minister licenses just for a laugh and ended up marrying Jan and myself. He must have done 15 or 20 and we liked to laugh that ours was the only wedding he performed that actually took. “Bruce was on top of everything and a real innovator. He competed with me in Houston, later worked for me and I worked for him. He was good to work for and good to have working for you. Music was his forte and he knew what was going to be a hit on the first listen, just about. He was a very dear friend and I’m going to miss him.” • Radio and promotion vet Chris Taylor: “He was a different kind of bird, but I loved him dearly. He was a great friend to the industry and would help new artists as much as he could. And he was doing that right up until his retirement.

CHRIS YOUNG IS COMING HOME TO NASHVILLE! SATURDAY SEPTERMBER 22 - BRIDGESTONE ARENA

February 26, 2018

“Live and local was important to him long before it was a phrase you heard much. He knew his market and programmed accordingly whether it was Michigan, Houston or Corpus. You might not agree with his decisions, but it was all about what worked in his market. And he was a big fan of country music. At CRS one year Big & Rich were doing their MuzikMafia thing and I passed him outside the hall. He said, ‘Had enough. I’m going back to my room to put on a Mark Chesnutt CD.’ (laughs) He didn’t hate Big & Rich and he played their music of course, but that show just wasn’t where his heart was.” • KFTX/Corpus Christi, TX PD/MD Austin Daniels: “Bruce is the guy who put the word ‘person’ in ‘personality.’ He brought out the best in everyone he worked with and I loved listening to him do interviews because he really drew people out. Plus, he knew everybody in the business. “He was such a great guy and was like my second dad. The stories he would tell should have been collected for a book. The things he and Waylon Jennings did together would keep you in stitches for days. One he told was about working in a one-room station in Virginia when there was a knock on the door. It was Mooney, Loretta Lynn’s husband, standing there and she was sitting out in this big old car. Bruce listened to the record Mooney gave him, liked it and asked if he could bring Loretta in for an interview. At which point Mooney yelled out the door, ‘Get them curlers out of your hair, girl. You’re about to be on the radio!’ Those were the kinds of stories Bruce loved to tell. “He ended every show saying, ‘God sees the world through your eyes. Are you showing him a good time?’ And Bruce really did. That man showed everyone a good time.” –Chuck Aly

Chart Chat

Congrats to Scotty McCreery, Kevin Herring and the Triple Tigers staff on scoring this week’s No. 1 with “Five More Minutes.” The song is McCreery’s first chart-topper and was recently certified gold. Writers are Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell and McCreery. And kudos to Katie Bright and the WMN reps on landing 79 adds for Cole Swindell’s “Break Up In The End,” topping this week’s board.

Page 5

News & Notes

Sony ATV’s Ted Goldthorpe, Brook Law Firm’s Jeremy Brook and songwriter Ron Pope will participate in a free panel discussion on the Music Modernization Act and its impact on creators, rights’ holders and entrepreneurs. Heather McBee will moderate the panel at Nashville Entrepreneur Center on March 6 from 5-7pm. Songwriters Lee Thomas Miller, the Warren Brothers, Margaret Valentine and Tina Parol will perform at the third annual Nashville’s Music Row Comes to the Ballpark event, which gives charitable donors access to the Baltimore Orioles spring training as well as country music. Songwriter Jenae Cherry Brach, whose husband is Orioles pitcher Brad Brach, will join the show as a special guest. The four-day event begins on March 1 and benefits Girls, Inc. and the Music Health Alliance. Comedian Jeff Foxworthy, The Oak Ridge Boys, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs, Joe Diffie, The Bellamy Brothers, Shenandoah and others will perform on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam for the sixth annual Country Music Cruise Jan. 27-Feb. 3, 2019. Lorianne Crook returns as official host. More than 50 live performances and artist-based events, activities and dining are included. More here.

The Week’s Top Stories

Full coverage at countryaircheck.com. Lee Cagle was named OM for SummitMedia/Louisville. KZPK/St. Cloud, MN PD/morning host Kris Valentine is leaving radio in April. Josh “Rowdy Yates” Holstead joined RFC Media’s SuiteRadio.

CRS Deep Dive: Guts & Data

Scotty McCreery

(continued from page 1) more than singles that peak lower on the chart. And of those that log 1,400 streams per spin or more in the second chart week, 82% reach the top. That’s more than twice the average of all charting singles, only 40% of which reach No. 1. Another measure screaming for attention is Shazam data. Though the music discovery platform ranked 20th on the list of biggest add influencers, Shazams per spin is closely linked to chart success. Eighty-four percent of Country No. 1s during the survey period got 10 Shazams or more per spin in the second radio chart week, for example, and the more Shazams per spin they got, the faster they went No. 1. “When you see that a single is getting

February 26, 2018

strong early Shazams per spin, it’s usually a very good sign,” Green declares. Pandora & Most Added: A close look at Pandora’s Top Spins can also serve programmers well. The 2017 Music Decision Survey put the platform near the end of the list when it came to influencing both adds and spin increases, but the truth is it often predicts hits early. The average lead over radio in predicting Top 10s is 5.4 weeks, though some have been ahead of the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart by more than 10. Of the 72 Top 10 radio hits examined over the survey period, 58 went Top 10 on Pandora’s Top Spins chart first (80.6%). And Green says an even closer look is warranted. “Broadcasters should be asking their label partners about factors such as ‘thumbs up,’” he explains. “In my conversations with people from Pandora, that’s a very important part of the algorithm they use to present music to their users. And it’s data they’re now starting to make available.” Most added is the fourth big signal of good things to come on Green’s Matrix. Specifically, 62% of singles that reached No. 1 were most added, and when those adds include 60% or more of reporters, the chance of No. 1 success grows to 74%. Striking, too, is the fact that 80% of Top 15 singles enjoyed a most-added designation. “Having studied 12 years of data, there’s no doubt in my mind that being most added is correlated with success,” Green insists. “Of more than 450 different No. 1 most-added singles since 2006, only eight never charted.” Grand Central Stations: The last of the seven hit indicators on the Matrix is specific station airplay, a long-held consideration of many programmers. It’s hard to identify stations truly worth watching, however, which is why Green examined longtime Mediabase and BDS reporters with an eye on turnover/speed to familiarity and how quick and selective they are in adding songs. Based on Green’s formula, KYGO/Denver was the fastest to deliver familiarity among major market stations, followed by WNOE/New Orleans (large), WYRK/Buffalo (medium) and WTCM/Traverse City, MI (small). Green identifies a top 10 list of stations for each category, which can be seen in the presentation linked below. Small market stations were found to be particularly useful. “Based on their turnover ratios, some stations are able to generate familiarity among their audience much faster than others,” Green explains. “And most of those are in small markets. So it would be worth learning from your label colleagues how the record is doing

Page 7

for them there. These stations really can be valuable for identifying hits sooner.” Big Stars & Newbies: Some programmers might say they don’t need help in identifying hits when it comes to top-tier artists, and they may be right. Hitting marks like the ones listed here is often all in a day’s work for Country’s superstars. Green concurs. “Data like this is most useful for developing artists,” he says. “And when it can identify a brand-new artist for which radio didn’t have a history to work from.” Russell Dickerson’s “Yours” is a prime example. The single enjoyed 1,311 streams and 14 Shazams per spin in its second chart week, was ahead of radio to Top 10 by nine weeks on Pandora’s Top Spins chart and had been second-most-added. The song was also successful in other Matrix dimensions (airplay chart growth and position). Some of the same signs were evident with Luke Combs’s “Hurricane”, Kane Brown’s “What Ifs,” Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know” and Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy.” Every Situation’s Different: Green agrees that music data will never be foolproof as a predictive tool. Sometimes singles hit these marks and have modest outcomes. Four of the studied singles, which Green left unnamed, enjoyed many, if not all, of the metrics thus mentioned, but instead peaked at 20, 18, 15 and 33. At least one was by a superstar artist. Conversely, there were instances where some of the early data was relatively weak and yet the singles went on to enjoy great radio chart success. There are exceptions to these rules, in other words, and questioning the data is a healthy exercise. KKGO/Los Angeles’ Michael Levine, arguably operating in a unique market for Country, made this point in the discussion following Green’s presentation and is sticking to it now. “Just because a single doesn’t reach the Top 10 or Top 15 nationally, doesn’t mean it isn’t or can’t be a success in your market,” he says. “We’ve had many songs that work well locally for a variety of reasons. To say those songs aren’t successes is inaccurate. The important thing is whether or not a song is successful in your market, not whether it’s a success nationally.” The data is compelling and worth exploring for any programmer who wishes to make the most well-informed music decisions possible, of course. Many facets of the research went unexplored here, but Green invites readers to do just that. See the entire presentation, which includes many slides not seen at CRS, here. Reach him here. –CA Staff

Insomniacs: RCA’s Chris Young at a recent Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour stop in Minneapolis. Pictured (l-r) are KMNB’s Lucas Phelan, Lauren MacLeash, KMNB’s Mike Dubs and Tricia Jenkins and her husband Ricky Starck, Young, Lauren Erickson, Dustin Schimmelpfennig, KEEY’s Levi Jessen and Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton. ©2018 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 26, 2018

Page 8

Seek & Employ Available Jobs Here’s a list of job seekers and open gigs. Not listed? Send info here and we’ll include you in a future update: Vallie Richards Donovan Consulting has an immediate PM drive opening at a legendary east coast Country station. Send airchecks and résumés to “Country Jobs” here. Cumulus WIOV/Lancaster, PA has an opening for a morning host. Apply here.

Midwest KVOX/Fargo has an unspecified on-air opening. Send airchecks and résumés here. Hubbard KVRQ/Seattle is looking for a Program Director, morning show and on-air host here. Cumulus KQFC/Boise is looking for an afternoon host who can also handle afternoon traffic and production for the fivestation cluster. Details here. Townsquare WXXQ/Rockford, IL is looking for an afternoon host who also has social media skills. Send materials here.

Ingstad KXDD/Yakima, WA is searching for a MD/morning co-host. Send airchecks, résumés, social media samples and a cover letter here.

Consultant Joel Raab has two client stations looking for a PD and an APD/MD in two different Top 100 markets. Send materials here.

Leighton KZPK/St. Cloud, MN is searching for a PD/morning host. Send airchecks and résumés to OM JJ Holiday here.

iHeartMedia WMZQ/Washington is looking for an MD/ evening host. Send materials here.

DBC Radio WUBB/Savannah, GA has a morning show opening. Send airchecks and résumés to OM Gabe Reynolds here.

iHeartMedia/Tampa is looking for a Sr. Dir./Promotions. Apply here.

Entercom KMNB/Minneapolis is searching for an OM/PD. Apply here.

Cumulus WIVK/Knoxville is looking for a morning show Exec. Producer. Apply here.

iHeartMedia has a number of key PD openings including WQIK/Jacksonville and KBEB/Sacramento. Send materials to iHeartCountry format captain Rod Phillips here.

Summit WQNU/Louisville is looking for an APD/MD/on-air host. Submit materials here.

MWC Media Knoxville’s WIMZ Classic Rock is searching for a full-time night personality. Send airchecks and résumés to Brand Mgr. Randy Chambers here. iHeartMedia/Huntsville is searching for a Dir./Promotions, a newly created position for the cluster that includes Country WDRM. Apply here. W&B WLVK/Elizabethtown, KY has an opening for a morning co-host. Airchecks and résumés can be sent to Managing Partner/GM René Bell here. Entercom KFRG/Riverside has a full-time on-air opening. Apply here. Southern Stone WKRO/Daytona Beach, FL has an opening for a PD/morning host. Send résumé, aircheck and success stories to consultant Jeff Sanders here and OM Tremble here. Entercom WKIS/Miami is searching for an evening host. Apply here. Mid-West’s WRTB/Rockford, IL has newly created on-air opening. Airchecks and résumés to PD Steve Summers here. Beasley WQYK/Tampa is looking for a PD. Send materials here. Cumulus KSCS/Dallas is looking for an APD/MD/afternoon host. Send materials here. Binnie Media-Maine is searching for a Dir./Traffic and a part-time Sales Assistant in Portland, for its stations which include Country WTHT and WBQQ. Send materials here.

Entercom KKWF/Seattle is looking for a morning show cohost. Details here. Scripps WKTI/Milwaukee is looking for a morning show host here. Saga WPOR/Portland, ME is looking for a PD. Details here. CMA is looking for a Market Research Analyst and a Creative Content Project Manager. Send cover letter, résumé and salary requirements to HR Consultant Sarah Pinson here.

Searching •Jeremy Guenther Former KSSN & KMJX/Little Rock MD, on-air; Capitol SW Regional 501-590-4878 jguenther01@gmail.com •Mark Lindow Former WSJR/Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA PD 724-494-5588 lindowms@gmail.com •Kris Stevens Former WKKT/Charlotte afternoon host 610-762-8332 radiobigkat@gmail.com • Jeff Roper Former KCYY/San Antonio APD/MD/morning host 210-790-7099 ropershow@gmail.com • Blake Nixon Former In2une Regional and WMN Coordinator 615-498-0988 blake.nixon@comcast.net

February 26, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

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

SCOTTY MCCREERY ✔

22957

2504

8545

902

58.373 6.109

157

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

21296

1995

8001

759

54.367 6.164

157

CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury)

19736

2093

7612

773

50.682 6.734

157

OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA)

18076

-3280

6772

-1151

47.242 -7.383

156

DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA)

16695

1141

6285

461

41.989 2.861

156

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

15971

1719

5818

676

39.354 3.674

157

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol)

15097

1391

5667

578

39.454 3.403

157

KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River)

15036

-7386

5860

-2659

37.168 -18.85

157

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

14613

1228

5325

474

35.878 2.512

155

KEITH URBAN/Female (Capitol) ✔

14433

2359

5279

907

32.984 3.936

157

HIGH VALLEY/She's With Me (Atlantic/WEA)

14053

734

5251

296

33.516 1.558

153

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

11230

1038

4182

410

26.781 2.598

157

MIDLAND/Make A Little (Big Machine)

11104

-196

4198

-55

26.044 -1.037

155

GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse)

10722

106

4030

23.977 -0.29

157

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) ✔

10494

2406

3788

823

27.381 7.756

157

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) ✔

10477

3096

3559

1141

24.062 6.288

140

LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb)

9437

231

3397

20.758 0.486

153

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

8995

1891

3226

667

19.109 3.374

156

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory)

8589

270

3290

18.383 -0.143

154

D. L. MURPHY f/K.CHESNEY/Everything's... (Reviver/Blue Chair)

8374

316

3177

100

19.997 1.505

147

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

7046

983

2527

446

16.836 2.449

148

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

6989

861

2419

284

16.156 2.776

144

MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (Big Loud/BMLGR)

6520

422

2360

149

14.102 1.168

137

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

6386

284

2430

129

14.849 0.975

135

CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud)

5875

367

1976

11.309 1.089

122

Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers)

Chart Page 1

February 26, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

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

LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek)

5396

2160

EASTON CORBIN/A Girl Like You (Mercury)

5201

-7909

1891

-3009

JON PARDI/She Ain't In It (Capitol)

5029

119

1924

LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia)

4841

760

1720

246

10.84

CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth (Broken Bow)

4770

237

1574

114

MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA)

3991

737

1553

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

3981

182

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol)

3944

LITTLE BIG TOWN/When Someone Stops Loving You (Capitol)

39 41

9.965

0.136

140

14.187 -18.672

155

11.941 0.198

138

1.912

142

8.817

0.556

136

264

8.522

1.858

116

1429

7.106

0.544

119

144

1468

7.253

0.327

134

3781

-78

1468

-12

5.264 -0.454

135

LAUREN ALAINA/Doin' Fine (19/Interscope/Mercury)

3649

217

1399

6.146

0.664

134

JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory)

3199

1250

6.478

0.198

104

RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse)

2758

229

1040

4.248

0.636

103

Debut 38

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN) ✔

2683

1048

7.761

ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega (Atlantic/WAR)

2638

321

910

105

7.111

0.896

CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl (Warner Bros./WAR)

2620

977

4.94

0.034

104

DAN + SHAY/Tequila (Warner Bros./WAR)

2457

144

810

6.462

0.337

102

DUSTIN LYNCH/I'd Be Jealous Too (Broken Bow)

2346

126

882

3.631

0.191

103

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

2320

230

842

4.06

0.566

113

SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMG/Big Machine)

2084

103

850

2.661

0.242

114

JERROD NIEMANN/I Got This (Curb)

2075

127

699

5.625 -0.166

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville)

2054

105

786

3.418

0.208

KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA)

1842

101

740

2.622

0.298

CAM/Diane (Arista)

1727

639

2.421

0.214

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

1724

1059

576

354

3.11

1.736

108

668

2.278

0.273

Debut 49 51

BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Preachers (EMI Nashville) 1722

Chart Page 2

February 26, 2018 Country Aircheck Add Leaders COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN) BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) DANIELLE BRADBERY/Worth It (BMLGR) MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia) BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR) JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek) KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) LOCASH/Don't Get Better Than That (Reviver) LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia) AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses (Big Label) DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol) LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

Activator Top Point Gainers

Adds 79 20 15 12 10 10 9 7 7 6 6 6

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR)

1297 ✔

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

1231 ✔

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol)

1050 ✔

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

1033 ✔

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

1024 ✔

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

942

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

940

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

812

HIGH VALLEY/She's With Me (Atlantic/WEA)

766

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

753

Activator Top Spin Gainers

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR)

3096

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

2683

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers)

2504

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

2406

KEITH URBAN/Female (Capitol)

2359

CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury)

2093

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR)

291

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

279

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

235

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

214

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

213

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

203

1995

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol)

197

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

1891

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers)

170

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

1719

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol)

1391

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

169

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

168

Country Aircheck Top Spin Gainers

Country Aircheck Top Recurrents

Points

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR)

1141

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Yours (Triple Tigers)

13938

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

1048

WALKER HAYES/You Broke Up With Me (Monument/Arista)

13209

KEITH URBAN/Female (Capitol)

907

BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR)

11754

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers)

902

LANCO/Greatest Love Story (Arista)

10800

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow)

823

DUSTIN LYNCH/Small Town Boy (Broken Bow)

9380

CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury)

773

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

759

SAM HUNT/Body Like A Back Road (MCA)

8958

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN)

676

THOMAS RHETT/Unforgettable (Valory)

8859

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA)

667

KANE BROWN f/L. ALAINA/What Ifs (RCA)

8717

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol)

578

CHRIS YOUNG/Losing Sleep (RCA)

8035

LUKE COMBS/When It Rains It Pours (River House/Columbia)

7648

Chart Page 3

February 26, 2018

A D D DAT E S

COUNTRY AIRCHECK ACTIVITY JERROD NIEMANN/I Got This (Curb) Moves 48-45* 2,075 points, 699 spins 3 adds: KSD, WQMX, WYRK BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville) Moves 47-46* 2,054 points, 786 spins 3 adds: KSON, KTTS, WCTK KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA) Moves 49-47* 1,842 points, 740 spins 1 add: KRST* CAM/Diane (Arista) Moves 50-48* 1,727 points, 639 spins 5 adds: KMDL, KTEX, WGNA, WOKQ, WQYK BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR) Debuts at 49* 1,724 points, 576 spins 10 adds: KATM*, KDRK, KNCI, KNIX, KPLM, WCKT, WDRQ*, WGTY, WNCY, WOKQ BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers and Preachers (EMI Nashville) Re-enters at 50* 1,722 points, 668 spins 2 adds: KMDL, WKHK* LOCASH/Don’t Get Beter Than That (Reviver) 1,352 points, 515 spins 7 adds: KCYE, KRYS, WAMZ, WBUL, WPOC, WPOR, WQMX MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia) 1,309 points, 458 spins 12 adds including: KAWO, KJUG, KKBQ*, KMDL, KRST*, WAMZ, WBUL, WCKT, WGAR, WITL DREW BALDRIDGE/Guns & Roses (Cold River) 1,276 points, 597 spins; No adds

March 5 CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin’ On (RCA) Eric Paslay/Young Forever (EMI Nashville) Russell Dickerson/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers) Southern halo/Anything Is Possible (--)

March 12 Kelsea Ballerini/I Hate Love Songs (Black River) Jake Owen/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud)

March 19 Travis Denning/David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs (Mercury) Send yours to adds@countryaircheck.com

CHECK OUT 3/2 Josh Grider Good People (Boot Straps) Grider co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs on his ninth album, including the lead single/title cut, which was written with longtime collaborator Bobby Hamrick. James Slater (Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney) and Hamrick produced the project.

March 16 Scotty McCreery Seasons Change (Triple Tigers) Oak Ridge Boys 17th Avenue Revival (Lightning Rod) Shenandoah Reloaded (BMG) March 23 Jordan Davis Home State (MCA) High Valley Farmhouse Sessions (Atlantic/WEA) March 30 Ashley McBryde Girl Going Nowhere (Atlantic/WAR) Mary Chapin Carpenter Sometimes Just The Sky (Lambent Light/Thirty Tigers) Lindi Ortega Liberty (Shadowbox Music Co.)

Chart Page 4

February 26, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Points

+/- Points

Plays

+/- Plays Stations ADDS

SCOTTY MCCREERY

11773

684

2544

170

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory)

10985

753

2370

168

CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury)

10685

645

2340

161

KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends (Black River)

9500

-1956

1996

-494

DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA)

9072

526

2021

137

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol) ✔

8676

1050

1791

197

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN) ✔

8440

1024

1795

213

11 8

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA)

7440

940

1591

214

10 9

KEITH URBAN/Female (Capitol)

6971

182

1508

13 10

HIGH VALLEY/She's With Me (Atlantic/WEA)

6762

766

1453

160

16 11

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol)

6218

560

1357

14 12

MIDLAND/Make A Little (Big Machine)

6045

1299

15 13

GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse)

5910

120

1267

Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers)

19 14

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) ✔

5834

1033

1173

235

17 15

LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb)

5830

201

1253

18 16

D.L. f/K. CHESNEY/Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Blue Chair/Reviver)

4895

1013

21 17

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol)

4791

510

907

101

20 18

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory)

4708

1044

22 19

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN)

4321

942

919

203

EASTON CORBIN/A Girl Like You (Mercury)

4288

-4227

912

-891

26 21

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) ✔

4135

1231

830

279

29 22

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) ✔

3708

1297

756

291

25 23

JON PARDI/She Ain't In It (Capitol)

3510

216

712

27 24

MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (Big Loud/BMLGR)

2961

388

628

32 25

LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House)

2783

619

520

122

28 26

CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud)

2700

137

552

30 27

LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek)

2569

252

527

34 28

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA)

2500

491

482

33 29

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol)

2265

118

486

31 30

LITTLE BIG TOWN/When Someone Stops Loving You (Capitol)

2210

-87

487

-7

Chart Page 5

February 26, 2018 LW

Artist/Title (Label)

Points +/- Points

35 31

DAN + SHAY/Tequila (Warner Bros./WAR)

1894

106

Plays

295

+/- Plays

Stations Adds

37 32

LAUREN ALAINA/Doin' Fine (19/Interscope/Mercury)

1695

254

374

36 33

CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl (Warner Bros./WAR)

1666

296

39 34

MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA)

1648

440

340

40 35

ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega (Atlantic/WAR)

1329

168

328

41 36

JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory)

1188

236

44 37

JERROD NIEMANN/I Got This (Curb)

1184

172

270

38 38

CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth (Broken Bow)

1123

-108

243

-20

42 39

DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb)

1090

249

45 40

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville)

1045

183

43 41

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)

937

-100

161

-9

46 42

SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMGN/Big Machine)

818

-52

162

-5

49 43

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)

817

150

116

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN)

812

169

47 45

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine)

788

147

48 46

RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse)

785

117

186

53 47

CAM/Diane (Arista)

697

104

166

AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses (Big Label)

658

270

148

Debut 44

Debut 48 51 49

DEVIN DAWSON/Dark Horse (Atlantic/WEA)

650

50 50

KEITH URBAN/Parallel Line (Capitol)

640

-18

-3

52 51

THOMAS RHETT/When You Look Like That (Valory)

610

-30

-3

55 52

DUSTIN LYNCH/I'd Be Jealous Too (Broken Bow)

573

-3

104

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR)

550

371

123

56 54

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Reason (Atlantic/WMN)

540

54 55

CARRIE UNDERWOOD f/LUDACRIS/The Champion (Capitol)

538

-50

-5

60 56

OLD DOMINION/Stars In The City (RCA)

500

Debut 57

BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Preachers (EMI Nashville)

495

Debut 58

CJ SOLAR/Airplane (Sea Gayle)

484

57 59

ASHLEY MCBRYDE/American Scandal (Atlantic/WAR)

460

-20

-2

59 60

TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory)

450

Debut 53

Chart Page 6