weekly April 24, 2023, Issue 855
Stop & Frisco: ACM Week Preview
As the Academy of Country Music prepares to return to Texas for the first time in eight years, ACM CEO & ACM Awards Exec. Prod. Damon Whiteside gives Country Aircheck a lay of the land for the 58th ACM Awards week in Frisco, TX. “We had worked with the Dallas Cowboys organization for our 50th anniversary, and I think both parties were eager for an opportunity to work together again,” Whiteside says of the move to the Cowboys’ Ford Center in The Star. “The great thing about Frisco is it’s so close to Dallas, Damon but still small enough that when we come to town, Whiteside everyone will know the ACMs have arrived. We will absolutely take over that community.” He notes the facility is approximately 30 minutes from both major airports in the Dallas area, making it equally convenient no matter an attendee’s preferred air carrier. The awards show will be held at Ford Center, the 12,000-seat indoor state-of-the-art stadium facility that is part of the 91-acre development called The Star. Also among the 91 acres are an Omni Hotel, the Dallas Cowboys Rings Of Honor Walk and multiple retail and restaurant spaces. Leading up to Thursday’s show is the ACM Country Kickoff – a free fan festival of performances, beer garden and sponsor activations directly in front of the ACM Awards venue Tuesday (5/9) and Wednesday (5/10) from 3-10pm CT. Country Music Hall of Famer Dolly Parton, who will host with fellow HoFer Garth Brooks, is offering her own festival activation for fans on site. “We can’t wait to see what she creates for the attendees,” Whiteside said. “The experience for the industry will be stellar,” says Whiteside. “Not only is the venue itself the right scope and scale for us, but it’s going to be a great fan experience, as well. This is a unique place to take the show, and when you’re there in the middle of The District, we have lodging for core staff, industry and artists among vendor spaces and other entertainment options. The Star is going to be extraordinarily easy to navigate.” Media Row will be housed in the adjoining Omni Hotel, with stations positioned in a ballroom; Ellen Appleton returns to produce the event. “Covid protocols have relaxed significantly since our first year back (continued on page 8)
Mn. Saturday Night: Capitol‘s Jon Pardi in Minneapolis. Pictured (l-r) are KEEY‘s Gregg Swedberg and Pat Knight, the label‘s Katie Bright, Pardi and the label‘s Chris Schuler.
Q1 Drivetime Leaders
Following the release of the March Nielsen PPM monthlies, Country Aircheck has analyzed Q1 numbers to compile the stations with the leading cumes and shares in morning and afternoon drive. Quarterly averages eliminate the wobbles that can be present at a daypart level on a month-to-month basis. All figures are Persons 6+. Mornings: The Bobby Bones Show retains its place atop the cume rankings, despite the loss of one affiliate (KNUC/Seattle) and a loss of more than 102,000 listeners overall. KKBQ/Houston’s recently revamped 93Q Morning Show with Andy Riggs, Erica Rico and Katelyn Maida is the largest cumeing single station show with 331,000, followed by WUSN/ Chicago’s Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff with 286,700 weekly listeners. Two other Texas shows round out the top five: KILT/Houston’s Morning Bullpen and KSCS/Dallas’ Hawkeye In The Morning. An 8.9 to 10.7 jump from last quarter puts KSOP/Salt Lake City’s Dave and Deb atop the share ranker for the first time. They unseat WQIK/ Jacksonville’s Big Show with Robbie & John, which lands in second, just
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