WKDF Launches New Morning Show With McFly, James, and Walls

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PrintWKDF Nashville is launching a new morning show with veteran air talents Marty McFly, Stew James, and Becca Walls.
The Cumulus station’s new team is on the air from 5:30-10 a.m. each morning, bringing celebrity and country news, local traffic and weather, and happenings from around the city to listeners.
“When the opportunity to do a fun, hip, plugged-in, conversational morning show on the station I have called home for so long was presented to me, it was too good to pass up,” said Walls. “I am in love with Nashville, I have a passion for country music, and I love keeping up with pop culture, so the opportunity to combine all of that and share it with listeners I have come to know and love over the last 13 years is a dream come true and a challenge that I am beyond excited to take on with Marty McFly, Stew James and our producer, Jeff Lyon.”

Industry Bands Battle It Out For CRS

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Pictured (L-R): Chris Palmer (VP, Promotion), Terry Watson (Sr. Manager, Studio Services), Stephanie Haymes (Assistant, A&R), Scott Allender (VP, Global Human Resources), John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Cris Lacy (VP, A&R), Scott Hendricks (SVP, A&R), Kristen Williams (Dir., National Promotion), Geoff Turner (Music Ministry Representative), Rick Young (Regional Promotion Mgr.), Tony Bakker (Owner, Six String Country)

Pictured (L-R): Chris Palmer (VP, Promotion), Terry Watson (Sr. Manager, Studio Services), Stephanie Haymes (Assistant, A&R), Scott Allender (VP, Global Human Resources), John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Cris Lacy (VP, A&R), Scott Hendricks (SVP, A&R), Kristen Williams (Dir., National Promotion), Geoff Turner (Music Ministry Representative), Rick Young (Regional Promotion Mgr.), Tony Bakker (Owner, Six String Country)


Representatives from labels and other music-affiliated companies rocked the second annual “CRS Battle of the Bands” event on Thursday night (Sept. 26), at Nashville music venue 3rd & Lindsley. The line-up of performers included employees from Hard Rock Cafe, Renaissance Hotel, Sony Music Nashville, SunTrust Sports & Entertainment and Warner Music Nashville.
Based on an audience applause-meter and monetary donations from the crowd, Warner Music Group took home the title of the 2013 CRS Battle of the Bands winner. The proceeds from the industry event went to the CRS Scholarship Fund and The Country Radio Hall of Fame.

'MusicRow' No. 1 Song

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Luke Bryan. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Luke Bryan. Photo: Joseph Llanes


The pinnacle of song and album charts seems to attract Luke Bryan like a moth to a flame. Even controversy couldn’t keep “That’s My Kind Of Night” away from the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 position this week. The song was co-written by Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano.
Not only did his Crash My Party album debut with sales of nearly 530,000 units in its first week in August, but his Spring Break…Here To Party cashed in at nearly 150,000 units for its release week, just five months prior.
Catch a peek at Bryan in the music video for “That’s My Kind Of Night” below.

Weekly Chart Report (9/27/13)

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WFMS’ Tammy Lively (L) recently welcomed Jason Aldean to Indianapolis where he wrapped a concert season at Klipsch

WFMS’ Tammy Lively (L) recently welcomed Jason Aldean to Indianapolis where he wrapped a concert season at Klipsch


SPIN ZONE
Luke Bryan can celebrate all day now that his single “That’s My Kind of Night” has taken the No. 1 spot on MusicRow’s chart with 3271 spins. Blake Shelton’s “Mine Would Be You” climbs to No. 2, while spouse Miranda Lambert closes in with “All Kinds of Kinds” landing at No. 3. Taylor Swift, who recently wrapped the U.S. leg of her Red Tour, moves to No. 4 with her single “Red.” Toby Keith’s “Drinks After Work” goes flat, falling from No. 1 to No. 5. Rounding out the Top 10 this week is Eli Young Band’s “Drunk Last Night” at No. 6, Eric Paslay’s “Friday Night” at No. 7, Darius Rucker’s “Radio” at No. 8, Jake Owen’s “Days of Gold” at No. 9 and Joe Nichols’ “Sunny and 75” at No. 10.
Dynamic duo Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert are the week’s greatest gainers for the third consecutive week with their song “We Were Us” jumping to No. 17 with another 463 spins. Hunter Hayes and Jason Mraz’s “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me” moves to No. 34 with an added 242 spins. Zac Brown Band’s “Sweet Annie” sits at No. 20 with an extra 236 spins, while The Band Perry’s “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” rises to No. 12 with 216 more spins. Finally, David Shelby’s “Moonshine” debuts at No. 76 with 213 spins.
MusicRow welcomes eight excellent debuts this week, with Little Big Town’s “Sober” debuting at No. 65, North 40’s “Hey Girl Hey” at No. 72, Stephanie Grace’s “Loser” at No. 74, Shelby’s “Moonshine” at No. 76, Tommy Dalton’s “Sweet” at No. 77, Krystal Keith’s “Get Your Redneck On” at No. 78, Due West’s “Slide On Over” at No. 79 and Tim Ash’s “Broke” at No. 80
Frozen Playlists: KVAY, KTTI, WAAG, WBYZ, WOOZ, WXXK
Carrie Underwood recently played Puyallup’s Washington State Fair where she visited with KKWF Seattle PD Mike Preston and his wife Terri. Pictured (L-R): Preston, Underwood, Yankovich

Carrie Underwood recently played Puyallup’s Washington State Fair where she visited with KKWF Seattle PD Mike Preston and his wife Terri. Pictured (L-R): Preston, Underwood, Yankovich


Upcoming Singles
September 30
Brandon Hamilton/You Give Me That/Nine North-Turnpike
LoCash Cowboys/Best Seat In The House/Average Joes-Tenacity
Brett Eldredge/Beat Of The Music/Atlantic-WMN
Krystal Keith/Get Your Redneck On/Show Dog-Universal
Brooke Hyland/I Hurt/Whattaguy
Justine Blazer/Gasoline/La Blaze
Little Big Town/Sober/Capitol Nashville
October 7
Leah Turner/Take The Keys/Columbia Nashville
Aaron Watson/July In Cheyenne/HTK Records
Brad Long/Every Heart Has a Different Road/Blackwater Records
Susan Ashton/Moonshine/Be Music & Entertainment
Florida Georgia Line/Stay/Republic Nashville
Josh Pruno/Cut Offs/Lawrence
October 14
Aaron & Amanda Crabb/If I’m Guilty/differencemedia
Grayson/You & America/Way Outback Records
Old Crow Medicine Show/Dixieland Delight/ATO Records
Dan + Shay/19 You + Me/Warner Bros.-WAR
Rodney Atkins/Doin’ It Right/Curb
October 21
Samantha Landrum/What If/Reviver Records
Ty Herndon/Lies I Told Myself/Flying Island
October 28
Little River Band/You Dream, I’ll Drive/Frontiers
Mitch Goudy/Blow These Speakers Out/Third Floor Records
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Little Big Town/Sober/Capitol – 65
North 40/Hey Girl Hey/Rhymetown Entertainment – 72
Stephanie Grace/Loser/SMG – 74
David Shelby/Moonshine/Highway South Records – 76
Tommy Dalton/Sweet/Red Horseshoe Records – 77
Krystal Keith/Get Your Redneck On/Show Dog-Universal – 78
Due West/Slide On Over/Sovereign 3 Records – 79
Tim Ash/Broke/SMG – 80
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
David Shelby /Moonshine/Highway South Records – 21
Krystal Keith/Get Your Redneck On/Show Dog-Universal – 14
Chris Weaver Band/Raise The Dead/American Roots Records – 13
Keith Urban feat. Miranda Lambert/We Were Us/Capitol Nashville-Hit Red Records – 13
Hunter Hayes feat. Jason Mraz/Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me/Atlantic-Warner Bros. – 12
Randy Houser/Goodnight Kiss/Stoney Creek – 12
Gary Allan/It Ain’t The Whiskey/MCA – 12
Little Big Town/Sober/Capitol – 12
Sara Evans/Slow Me Down/RCA – 11
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Keith Urban feat. Miranda Lambert/We Were Us/Capitol Nashville-Hit Red Records – 463
Hunter Hayes feat. Jason Mraz/Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me/Atlantic-Warner Bros. – 242
Zac Brown Band/Sweet Annie/Southern Ground-Atlantic – 236
The Band Perry/Don’t Let Me Be Lonely/Republic Nashville – 216
David Shelby/Moonshine/Highway South Records – 213
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Hank Williams Jr. & Merle Haggard/I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink/Blaster – 186
Jason Sturgeon/Angel Eyes/Toolpusher – 186
Laura Bell Bundy/Two Step/Big Machine – 186
Austin Webb/Slip On By/Streamsound – 171
Chris Weaver Band/Raise The Dead/American Roots Records – 165
Warner Bros./W.A.R. new duo Dan + Shay recently visited with WRNS in Greenville, NC. Pictured (L-R): Shay Mooney, Tommy Garrett (PD), Carletta Blake (APD) and Dan Smyers

Warner Bros./W.A.R. new duo Dan + Shay recently visited with WRNS in Greenville, NC. Pictured (L-R): Shay Mooney, Tommy Garrett (PD), Carletta Blake (APD) and Dan Smyers

Charlie Cook On Air: Fighting In The Family

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Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook


I did not have a brother growing up. I did not have anyone to fight with or one up every day. I do have a younger sister but, I’m guessing, fighting with her was not as satisfying as with a male sibling would be.
Without this firsthand knowledge I am still chalking up the very public “fight” between Zac Brown and Luke Bryan’s current song, “That’s My Kind of Night,” as fighting amongst brothers. In the end you want to still be friends and you certainly are not out to do any long-term harm to the relationship but you are making a point. With brothers it is, “I am the strong one.” With Zac? Who in the heck knows?
Often in the middle of a comment, I realize I am going in the wrong direction and stopping would be the best solution to what is sure to be a, “darn, I was so close to getting out of that situation.” Most statements that start with, “I really like ‘so and so’ but…” end badly.
I am not judging what Zac said about Luke’s song because he should be able to voice his opinion on anything he wants. He was so precise about this particular song that it is…actually fun for us who then get to comment on the brouhaha.
You might remember earlier this year, Ray Price had some choice comments about Blake Shelton. It had something to do with Blake’s head being too big to fit in any size hat.
I saw Blake in concert last week in Charleston, W.Va. and any ole hat would fit this most down to earth performer in the business. I chalk Mr. Price’s comments up to not correctly interpreting Blake’s statement that provoked the response. Additionally, this was not brothers fighting. This was more like getting lectured by your grandfather. (So that I’m not the next target, let me say that Ray Price is one of my all-time favorite singers and he too gets to say whatever the heck he wants.)
The format has evolved. The target is the ticket buying, music buying, radio listening consumer and they are ALWAYS right.
If Zac thinks, “this is the worst song I have ever heard”, he can ease the pain by trying a couple of other formats today where there isn’t a real live musical instrument in sight.
I love how Jason Aldean and Justin Moore have weighed in and come to Luke’s defense. Funny because Zac didn’t actually attack Luke so much as the song itself, but on Music Row, that is like saying your baby is ugly, because everything mastered and released is the “best song ever done.” Which of course is BS.
I like how the format is drawing lines and defining itself as broad. You can have songs about pick-ups and daisy duke shorts (and please Zac, do not wage a war on daisy duke shorts, come on, dude), as well as songs about losing a family member and pining after a loss. We can have songs about drinking and being a redneck, and songs about unrequited love. Actually there really are a lot of drinking songs in the format. Man who has that much time to drink, seriously?
Luke, the most recently crowned Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year, can withstand some playful criticism of one song. I, quite frankly, wish someone would tell him he moves like a white guy on stage. That would be more useful criticism.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)

Nissan To Become iTunes Radio Exclusive Automotive Launch Partner

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iTunesRadioNissan has announced its first-year commitment for iTunes Radio, becoming an exclusive automotive partner, according to a statement on the official website. This will allow the automaker to take advantage of creative formats, including audio/video across Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac and PC. Among the first Nissan vehicles included in the iTunes Radio partnership are the 2014 Nissan Rogue compact SUV, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note and the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle.
“We see iTunes Radio as an integral part of our new vehicle launches and ‘big moments,’ riding the wave of interest and usage of this exciting new service to maximize exposure of Nissan’s new models,” said Jon Brancheau, VP, Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. “We’re also adding iAd on iTunes Radio as a critical platform in support of ongoing campaigns, such as our college football and Heisman Trophy Tour initiatives. It’s a great way for Nissan to reach the right audiences in the right markets.”
The 2014 Nissan Rogue will go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in November, and the vehicle’s presence on iTunes Radio is a significant part of the marketing campaign for the product.
“Nissan, as a brand also known for innovation, is proud to support iTunes Radio from the very beginning, with content relevant to consumers’ interests,” added Brancheau. “We see iTunes Radio being a huge success and we look forward to delivering amazing brand experiences to this exciting new audience.”
Nissan is the only automotive partner with iTunes Radio; additional exclusive partners include McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble and Pepsi.

Clear Channel Hints At IHeartRadio Country Festival, TV Awards

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clear-channelClear Channel hinted at plans to produce a Country festival in Austin next spring and its own TV awards show next year. During a video Q&A with Billboard’s Andrew Hampp at the IHeartRadio Festival in Vegas Saturday night (Sept 21), John Sykes, Clear Channel president of entertainment enterprises, and Tom Poleman, Clear Channel President of national programming platforms, both hinted at the two new ventures without completely confirming details.
Recently, Clear Channel inked a multi-year deal with The CW network earlier this year making way for the IHeartRadio Festival to air on the network Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, and revealed then that they would be announcing two other new franchises with a to-be-determined broadcast partner. The company has plans to air its annual Jingle Ball concert as well.
“I’ve been doing Jingle Ball since 1996 in New York,” said Poleman, “and one of the things John and I have been able to do together now that we’re on the same team is like, ‘hey you have this great timing, why don’t you put it on TV and blow it up?’ We’re doing the IHeartRadio Jingle Ball tour now, not only in New York but in 12 other markets and we’re gonna televise that as well.”
Tim McGraw was on the Saturday night IHeartRadio lineup that also included heavy hitters like Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, and Ke$ha.

'MusicRow' No. 1 Song

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Toby Keith joins staff members of KBEQ during a stop on his Hammer Down Tour in Kansas City, Mo. Pictured (L-R): Greg Sax (SDU); Mike Kennedy (KBEQ/PD); Keith; TJ McEntire (KBEQ MD); Joshua James (KBEQ On Air)

Toby Keith joins staff members of KBEQ during a stop on his Hammer Down Tour in Kansas City, Mo. Pictured (L-R): Greg Sax (SDU); Mike Kennedy (KBEQ/PD); Keith; TJ McEntire (KBEQ MD); Joshua James (KBEQ On Air)


Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird, the same writers who brought you Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” last summer, teamed up to bring you this week’s No. 1 song, “Drinks After Work” by Show Dog-Universal’s Toby Keith.
We’ve all had one of those days: “long day, no break.” But Keith’s working man single has been asking for 15 weeks on our chart to let some hair down during an after-office happy hour with a particular someone.
Hopefully they said yes, because Keith knows how to have a good time. He’s been around the country this summer for the Hammer Down Tour with dates scheduled through October 2013, so it’s not too late to join the singer while he works on stage!

In the meantime, we can all raise our glass to toast the single with a drink this evening…can’t you get 2-for-1s on Friday? On second thought, we might have to go another week with this song!

NAB's Marconi Awards Recognize Outstanding Country Stations

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images-2The 2013 Marconi Awards were handed out last night in Orlando at the NAB’s Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show. Finalists were selected by a committee of broadcasters, and winners were voted on by the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Selection Academy. The Marconi Radio Awards were established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi. The Mavericks performed at this year’s event, which recognized some of radio’s outstanding players over the last year.
MusicRow reporting station WKDZ-FM Cadiz, Ky. has been crowned the Small Market Station of the Year at the 2013 National Association of Broadcasters’ Marconi Radio Awards. The distinguished awards recognize radio’s outstanding personalities and stations. To offer congratulations and learn more about WKDZ, contact the station’s general manager Beth Mann at [email protected].
Winners of the 2013 NAB Marconi Radio Awards:
Small Market Station of the Year: Ham Broadcasting WKDZ – Cadiz, KY
Small Market Personality of the Year: Monk & Kelly, Cookeville Communications WGSQ-FM  – Cookeville, Tenn.
Large Market Personality of the Year: Cornbread, Hubbard Wil-FM – St. Louis, Mo.
Country Station of the Year: Cox Media Group KKQB – Houston

A full list of winners from the evening can be found at nab.org.

Charlie Cook On Air: America's Second Most-Popular Sport

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charlie cook new image111

Charlie Cook


For years we have heard that if you don’t vote, you cannot complain. Of course that is not true. Next to the NFL, complaining is the second most-popular sport in America.
Well, I voted and I am going to complain. The problem is I don’t know who to complain to or what exactly to complain about.
The CMA final nominations were announced last week for the Awards show, which will be broadcast Wednesday, Nov. 6 on ABC-TV at 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT. (No one can accuse me of missing an opportunity to promote.)
I am not going to dispute any of the nominated artists. If they were nominated then they deserve to be on the list. And this is where I am confused about how to complain and who actually I should complain to.
How can Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney NOT be nominated? I mean not nominated in any categories.
Really? Kenny played in front of well over one million fans this year. Every one of his shows were citywide events. Brad’s show is one of the most high tech, produced, entertaining and well attended shows of the year. This wasn’t his best radio year but he still had three songs chart in 2013 and so far “Beat This Summer” is a Top 20 song.
I count five charted songs for Kenny this year, which would indicate the CD Life on a Rock is a rousing success.
Again, the five male vocalists are all deserving and I am not suggesting any of them should not have been nominated but what is happening to the format when we have to stretch to come up with five finalists in the Female category and we leave two of the format’s biggest stars off the nominations list because there are already five males? And let’s be honest here, the five males are INCREDIBLY strong. I would not move one of them off the list. Dang!
Like I said, I don’t know who to complain to. I am a CMA member. In fact, I’m a board member so you would think I can find someone to complain to but not really. The rules are laid out and everyone followed the rules but I cannot get over one of the hosts of the show is not in the running for any of the awards.
Brad is a bigger man than me so I am sure there will be some self-deprecating humor and there may also be a jab or two from his co-host but I think it is a shame not have him nominated.
In Kenny’s case, his tour had three opening acts and all three got nominations. The headliner did not?
I don’t have a solution to this issue. I was going to say problem, but maybe it is not really a problem, just a situation for me to complain. But, like I said, I voted and I already watch NFL football every Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)