weekly May 1, 2023, Issue 856
Thomas Down To Be Up ... All Night
The partnership between Cumulus and PickleJar on the Patrick Thomas-hosted overnight show launching Friday (5/5) covers several bases. While PickleJar extends its artist discovery mission and Thomas reshapes his professional profile, the primary focus is on rekindling radio’s “other L-word.” “We started PickleJar as an artist payments platform around live performance,” says Founder/ CEO Jeff James. “But of course, artists don’t just want to be onstage, they want to be on air. In 2022, we partnered with ReachTV for content and distribution, so the next progression was radio. [Cumulus VP/Country] Charlie Cook has been a Patrick Thomas phenomenal supporter over the last two years. He suggested the idea of a radio show to [PickleJar President] Kristian Barowsky.” PickleJar Up All Night piqued Thomas’ interest from the start. “Charlie told me about the idea at the end of last year, and I was immediately jealous thinking I wouldn’t be considered,” he says. “They had someone else in mind, and I had a job. But, damn, it sounded like fun. “No one in town thinks of me as talent, but I’m on Big Jeff James D & Bubba every day as a major contributor,” Thomas continues. “Affiliates and listeners think of me that way, but when I get introduced in Nashville, it’s as the producer or Silverfish Pres. I love my job; it’s one of the best gigs in the industry and really hard to leave. We’re like three brothers, and Carsen is the sister who thinks we’re all morons. But I always wanted to do my own show and change how I’m perceived. This was too good to pass up.” Knew To You: Radio has been incorporated in the PickleJar team’s thinking from the outset (CAW 7/19/21), and overnights are a logical step. “We wanted a place we could play,” James says. “I started in radio at 14 and know there’s much more latitude in that slot.” A PickleJar spotlight artist will be featured every hour. “If an artist is on the platform, they’ll be eligible for that,” James says. “That selection process will be the fun part. The idea of a bubbling-up entertainer having the opportunity to be on the radio is key. (continued on page 7)
Things A Man Oughta Throw: Broken Bow‘s Lainey Wilson in Kansas City. Pictured (l-r) are KBEQ‘s Todd Nixon, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Nixon‘s fianceé Liz Hallam, Wilson and Brittany Mahomes.
WDSY: Steel The Ones
Following last week’s news of a lineup shuffle at Audacy WDSY/Pittsburgh (CAT 4/27), RVP/ Programming Mark Anderson tells Country Aircheck about the genesis of the decision to segue to a completely local on-air cast. “We first brought the [Oceanic Tradewinds syndicated] Broadway And Friends cast in last Mark Anderson fall to do some experimental testing for a possible afternoon show,” says Anderson. “We immediately knew there was something special there, and everyone in the building fell in love with them.” Anderson’s ultimate goal was to ensure everyone
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