Weekly Chart Report 3/2/18
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Jake Owen Rejuvenates Mellencamp Classic On New Single
Jake Owen is paying homage to a heartland classic on his brand new single, “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” which reunites Owen with producer Joey Moi and marks his first release for Big Loud Records. The singer got the thumbs up from Mellencamp himself on the new track, which was important to him as he went about reinventing the rock and roll gem.
“I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” evokes a warm-weather romance set to one of rock’s essential classics, John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane.” Based around the 1982 hit’s iconic melody, Owen reinvents the feel-good rock staple a bit.
“I never release a song without the intention of stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park,” said Owen. “When I first heard ‘I Was Jack (You Were Diane),’ I thought, ‘How can I do this and re-create what is already a classic song?’ But the more I listened to it, the more I saw my own life growing up. The original ‘Jack & Diane’ was about ‘two American kids growing up in the heartland’ and that image is exactly what so many country songs are based on. Plus, the most important thing to me and my team is that we sent the song to Mellencamp and he digs the track. Getting his stamp of approval sealed the deal for me that this song should be our debut single.”
Along with the new single Owen has recorded a breezy new tune, “Something to Ride To,” that is also being released to all digital music partners today.
He’s set to launch his 2018 “Life’s Whatcha Make It Tour” with special guests Chris Janson and Jordan Davis this Summer with the majority of shows taking place at baseball stadiums across the country.
Weekly Chart Report 2/23/18
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Weekly Chart Report 2/16/18
Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Weekly Chart Report 2/9/18
Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
2018 CRS/Country Aircheck Awards Winners Revealed
On Wednesday evening (Feb. 7), the 2018 CRS/Country Aircheck Awards were presented during the New Faces of Country Music Show, held at the Omni Nashville Hotel. For Bobby Karl’s full recap, click here.
Stations:
KEEY/Minneapolis (Major Market)
WSM-FM/Nashville (Large)
WIVK/Knoxville (Medium)
WKSF/Asheville, NC (Small)
OM/PD:
Lance Houston, WBWL/Boston (Major)
Gator Harrison, WSIX/Nashville (Large)
Jay Cruze, WAMZ/Louisville (Medium)
Justin Tyler, KUAD/Ft. Collins, CO (Small)
MD:
Marci Braun, WUSN/Chicago (Major)
Ryan McKiddy, WSIX/Nashville (Large)
Aaron Michael, WSSL/Greenville, SC (Medium)
Brian Gary, KUAD/Ft. Collins, CO (Small)
Labels/Promotion:
Platinum Label: Capitol
Gold Label: Black River
SVP/VP: Katie Dean, MCA
National: Lauren Thomas, Sony
Regional: Brooke Diaz, Big Machine
Indie Promo: Richey Promotions
MM/GM:
Sarah Frazier, KILT/Houston (Major)
Nate Deaton, KRTY/San Jose (Large)
Bill McMartin, WKSF/Asheville (Medium)
Gene Guinn, WBUL/Lexington, KY (Small)
Personality:
Lois Lewis, KNIX/Phoenix (Major)
Marty McFly, WSM-FM/Nashville (Large)
Brent Michaels, KUZZ/Bakersfield (Medium)
Eddie Foxx, WKSF/Asheville, NC (Small)
National: The Bobby Bones Show
New Face of Country Music: Todd Cavanah, WUSN/Chicago
ACM Nominates Two MusicRow Reporting Stations
The Academy of Country Music® announced Radio Awards nominees for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, including MusicRow’s reporting stations WCOW and KTHK. WCOW’s Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews are nominated again this year for On-Air Personality of the Year – Small Market. KTHK received another nomination this year for Radio Station of the Year – Small Market as well.
View the full list of nominations here.
ACM Announces Radio Awards Nominees
The Academy of Country Music® is announcing today Radio Awards nominees for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, including double nominations for KAJA-FM in San Antonio, Texas, KHAY-FM in Ventura, California, KUBL-FM in Salt Lake City, Utah, KUZZ-AM/FM in Bakersfield, California, WFMS-FM in Indianapolis, Indiana, and WIL-FM in St. Louis, Missouri.
Though not presented during the live telecast, the Radio Awards are given out during the annual Radio Winners Reception held on Saturday, April 14 in Las Vegas, the day prior to the ACM Awards live telecast from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. The full list of 53rd ACM Awards nominations will be announced in early March.
53rd ACM Radio Awards nominees are:
NATIONAL ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Cody Alan CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan
Bobby Bones, Amy, Lunchbox, Eddie The Bobby Bones Show
Terri Clark Country Gold with Terri Clark
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase Crook and Chase Countdown
Ty Bentli, Kelly Ford and Chuck Wicks Ty, Kelly & Chuck
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
Bud and Broadway WIL-FM St. Louis, MO
Cadillac Jack WQYK-FM St. Petersburg, FL
Chris Carr, Kia, Maverick and McKaila KEEY-FM St. Louis Park, MN
Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, Geof Knight WKKT-FM Charlotte, NC
Roxanne Steele WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Dale Carter KFKF-FM Kansas City, MO
Double-L KWNR-FM Las Vegas, NV
Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
Johnson and Johnson KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
The Randy, Jamie and JoJo Show KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
The 97.5 WPCV Breakfast Club with Roger Todd,
Julie Kay and DJ Thee Trucker WPCV-FM Lakeland, FL
Carina With A Twist Of Lime WCYQ-FM Knoxville, TN
Buzz Jackson KIIM-FM Tucson, AZ
Steve & Geoff KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
The Odd Squad CKRY-FM Calgary, AB
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews WCOW-FM Sparta, WI
Bobby and Steve (and Mandi!) WKYQ-FM Paducah, KY
Dave Daniels KHAY-FM Ventura, CA
Pat James KHUT-FM Hutchinson, KS
The Q Crew with Jason and Ashley on Q100.3 KRWQ-FM Medford, OR
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
KILT-FM Houston, TX
KMLE-FM Phoenix, AZ
KSCS-FM Dallas. TX
WIL-FM St. Louis, MO
WPOC-FM Baltimore, MD
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET (tie within category increased nominees)
KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
WKDF-FM Nashville, TN
WSIX-FM Nashville, TN
WSM-FM Nashville, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
KXKT-FM Omaha, NE
WGKX-FM Memphis, TN
WQMX-FM Akron, OH
WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
KHAY-FM Ventura, CA
KTHK-FM Idaho Falls, ID
KTTS-FM Springfield, MO
KYKZ-FM Lake Charles, LA
In Pictures: Warner Music Nashville Hosts ‘Warner Music Monday’
Pictured (L-R): Devin Dawson, Hunter Hayes, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), and Dan Smyers. Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Warner Music Nashville hosted their annual Country Radio Seminar celebration, aptly titled “Warner Music Monday,” Monday night (Feb. 5) at the Bridge Building in Nashville.
Artists including Cole Swindell, Dan + Shay, Devin Dawson, Hunter Hayes, Michael Ray, Morgan Evans, RaeLynn, Tegan Marie and William Michael Morgan mingled with WMN executives and industry guests to kick off the three-day radio conference.
Pictured (L-R): Rod Phillips (SVP Programming, iHeartMedia), Morgan Evans, and Adrian Michaels (National Director Radio & Streaming, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Pictured (L-R): Mac Daniels (KPLX and KSCS/Dallas PD), William Michael Morgan, and John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Pictured (L-R): Missy Iredell (Sr. Director Artist Development, WMN), John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Tegan Marie, and Veronica Zelle (Co-founder/CCO, Sweety High). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Pictured (L-R): Tom Starr (Manager, Regional Radio & Streaming), Gator Harrison (SVP Programming, iHeartMedia Nashville), Tennille Harrison, Kelly Janson, Chris Janson, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), and Rod Phillips (SVP Programming, iHeartMedia). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Pictured (L-R): RaeLynn and John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Pictured (L-R): Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN), Michael Ray, and Devin Dawson. Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Pictured (L-R): Alex Guerra (Promotions and Marketing Director, KNTY and KHHM), Cole Swindell, Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN), Hunter Hayes, and Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge
Warner Music Nashville hosts their annual “Warner Music Monday” celebration at the Bridge Building in Nashville on February 5, 2018. Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge [Click to enlarge]
Country Listeners Bringing AM/FM Loyalty To Smart Speakers According To Edison Research
Edison Research presented a comprehensive look at the usage by country listeners of smart speakers like Alexa at the Country Radio Seminar which found that country fans are enthusiastic about smart speakers and that 48 percent who owned the speakers had listened to AM/FM radio on their speakers in the week before they were contacted.
The study unveiled, however, that broadcast radio isn’t often country listeners’ first ask of Alexa, and that country stations must do more to encourage listeners to ask for the order. The study also found that despite broadcasters’ growing efforts to develop smart speaker skills and more frequent on-air mentions, only 25 percent of country smart speaker owners were aware of an AM/FM radio station that offers a smart speaker skill.
Music is a main motivator for country listeners on smart speakers, with 96 percent saying listening to music was a reason for wanting the device. And of the 81 percent who said they used the device to play music last week, 72 percent said they used it to play country. Country listeners who own smart speakers also say they listen to more music than overall respondents — 6 hours and 11 minutes a week, roughly an hour more than others.
“Yes, the adoption of these devices into homes is a huge opportunity for radio,” says Edison Research president Larry Rosin, who co-presented the findings with Edison VP Megan Lazovick. “But don’t be complacent, on Smart Speakers you are competing on the ‘Infinite Dial,’ where all audio is available. Listening to your station is highly unlikely to be the first thing a Smart Speaker user will seek out. It is up to you to remind them.”