Industry Ink (12/17/13)

On NBC, The Voice earned a 3.3 for its performance finale, down two tenths from last week’s 3.5 rating for adults 18-49, earning a comparatively low rating for the performance finale. The episode featured finalists Tessanne Chin, Will Champlin and Jacquie Lee competing for one last time, and attracted 12.7 million viewers. Part one of last season’s finale, which aired Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, brought in a stronger audience, with 13.4 million viewers.

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The Blackbird Academy, an intensive six-month professional audio program based out of Blackbird Studio in Nashville, has announced a partnership with Pensado’s Place, the Web-based series hosted by hitmaking mix engineer Dave Pensado. To launch the partnership, Pensado’s Place will be sponsoring one full-ride scholarship [$21,900 value] for the six-month Studio Engineering Program beginning Jan. 6, 2014.
“Herb and I always look for opportunity to educate people through our show,” says Pensado, referring to co-producer/co-host Herb Trawick. “This scholarship in conjunction with our partners at The Blackbird Academy is huge, and it represents education at the very highest level. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”
Applicants are required to submit a form and answer two essay questions relating to their passion for music and recording. In addition to the scholarship, five lucky winners will receive a “Fly Away” to Nashville to receive a private tour of The Blackbird Academy and the amazing nine-room Blackbird Studio, home to sessions by everyone from the Kings of Leon to Dave Stewart to Kid Rock, given personally by owner John McBride.
For more information, visit pensadosplace.tv/blackbird

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NextMedia Radio Group will switch two signals in the Greenville-New Bern and Jacksonville-Wilmington, N.C. markets to bring a new Hot Country format to eastern North Carolina on WQSL and WQZL, beginning on Dec. 16th at noon. These stations will operate on a full simulcast basis.
WQSL, at 92.3 on the FM dial, is licensed to Jacksonville, N.C. and the WQSL signal area serves the Coastal Carolina region from New Bern south to and including the Wilmington market. WQZL, at 101.1 on the FM dial, is licensed to Belhaven, N.C. and the WQZL signal area serves the northern half of the Greenville-New Bern market including the cities of Greenville, New Bern and Washington.
”NextMedia is excited to launch the WOLF in the Greenville-New Bern and Jacksonville-Wilmington N.C. markets,” commented General Manager Larry Weiss. “Our two signals, at 92.3 and 101.1, will carry the WOLF’s fresh, hot new distinctive Country format to the entire coastal Carolina region. Announcements will be made following the holidays on the staff hired to fill the Program Director and air staff positions.”

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Southwest will begin offering another nonstop flight from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to New York LaGuardia, beginning May 11. This mark’s Southwest’s third daily nonstop flight to LaGuardia.
“We are pleased to have Southwest add an additional nonstop flight to New York LaGuardia, one of our most popular destinations,” Rob Wigington, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said. “This is a big win for the Nashville community, since LaGuardia is a slot-restricted airport and the slots are difficult to secure. The Airport Authority is committed to growing Nashville’s air service by continuously attracting new destinations and nonstop services and delivering the Nashville Airports Experience to our passengers, business partners and employees.”