April 15, 2024 News@CountryAircheck.com

Dear Diary: In an email to clients last week, Nielsen Audio announced it will begin re-using respondent households to help improve the quality of ratings in its diary markets, beginning with the Spring survey. The "targeted reselects" are households that include 18-34 year olds in order to help the proportional response among that cell, with additonal demos to be evaluated as needed. "Our plan is to source 10-15% of the total diary sample from reselected households," says Managing Dir. Rich Tunkel. The move comes as Nielsen is also working on full address-based sample and mobile-based survey refinements.

I Write Cincy Not Tragedies: Former Hubbard WUBE/Cincinnati afternoon co-host Amanda Valentine has joined crosstown Cumulus WNNF as afternoon host. The shift had not had a permanent host since former PD Patrick Scott left last year (CAT 5/23/23). Valentine departed WUBE at the end of 2019 (CAT 12/17/19) to become a personal trainer and nutrition coach. Prior to her four years there, she spent time at Bicoastal KRWQ/Medford, OR.

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Lone Wolf: Singer, music blogger and local radio personality Alexa Neo has been hired for middays at Connoisseur Media WWWF/Nassau, effective today (4/15). She began her radio career at Nassau Community College's WHPC/Long Island. WWWF flipped from Classic Hits WBZO to Country in March (CAT 3/20). Neo is its first air personality hire; a morning personality is expected to be named soon.

Financey Like: "[Casey's] leadership and relationship skills along with her one of a kind marketing mind are beyond impressive and she will excel in this role," says Monument GM Katie McCartney of newly elevated VP/Marketing & Commercial Partnerships Casey Thomas. In addition to Thomas' promotion, Coord./Marketing Ansley Neeley was upped to Mgr./Marketing & Creative. Thomas joined the label in 2018 from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Neeley in 2021 from GreenRoom PR; reach them here and here, respectively.

Key Man Cause: Former Westwood One Pres./Sales Ron Russo joins Key Networks in the same capacity, based in New York. He succeeds Jason Wilberding, who is leaving to pursue real estate endeavors. Prior to his eight years with Westwood One, Russo was SVP/Sales at iHeartMedia and Senior AE with CBS Radio, both in New York. Reach Russo here.

Tour Support: Nate Smith's 14-city 2024 Through The Smoke tour runs Sept. 19 in Portland, OR through Nov. 23 in Des Moines, IA with John Morgan and Karley Scott Collins on select dates. Tickets go on sale Friday (4/19) here.

Russell Dickerson's Good Day To Have A Great Tour kicks off Aug. 23 in Belfast, Northern Ireland and makes subsequent stops in the UK and Netherlands; tickets here Friday (4/19).

Clint Black has added more shows to his North American tour celebrating the 35th anniversary of his Killin' Time album. He will make his debut appearance at Stagecoach in Indio, CA April 28. See all tour dates here.

Following his heart attack earlier this month (CAT 4/5), Colt Ford's tour dates through Aug. 30 have been canceled. Refunds are available at the point of purchase and previously purchased tickets will be honored for any rescheduled dates. Ford is currently in ICU at a Scottsdale, AZ hospital making "significant progress in his recovery."

We Guide: Country Aircheck’s ACM Voter’s Guide – a quick-reference, category-by-category look at the nominees, featuring label and artist camps’ totally unbiased pitches – is now available here. Voting for the 59th Annual ACM Awards opened today (4/15) and continues through April 22 at 7pm CT.

Re-Signage: Songwriter Josh Hoge renewed his deal with Kane Brown's Verse 2 Music and Sony Music Publishing Nashville. His cuts include Brown's "Bury Me In Georgia," "Thank God," "Cool Again," "Used To Love You Sober" and "One Thing Right," as well as Chris Young’s “I’m Comin’ Over” and “Think Of You.”

ICYMI: Chris Stapleton was featured in the "Get That Boy Back" skit on Saturday Night Live (4/13) and performed "White Horse" and "Mountains Of My Mind."

Darius Rucker will host the 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony June 10 live on Golf Channel.

Wynonna Judd will perform the national anthem at the 150th Kentucky Derby May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Wedding Bell: Valory's Conner Smith wed Leah Thompson April 12 in Wrightsville Beach, NC. The couple got engaged last September (CAT 9/29/23).

Chronicle: Bullseye Marketing And Promotion/Hart Media Pres. John Hart passed April 13 at age 74 after a battle with cancer. The Texas native launched those companies in 1996 following a four-and-a-half-year stint as PD for WXTU/Philadelphia. Prior programming jobs include Corporate PD for Colonial Broadcasting/Montgomery AL; and APD and then PD/afternoon host of WUSY/Chattanooga TN. He also was on the air in several dayparts, including mornings, at WDEN/Macon, GA from 1972-1980. No word on services.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending April 13, according to Mediabase 24/7.

MORGAN WALLEN f/ERIC CHURCH/Man Made A Bar (Big Loud/EMI Nashville)
SAM HUNT/Outskirts (MCA)
JORDAN DAVIS/Tucson Too Late (MCA)
TYLER HUBBARD/Back Then Right Now (EMI Nashville)
PARKER MCCOLLUM/Burn It Down (MCA)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for April 14 compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

SAM HUNT/Outskirts (MCA) +528 points
ASHLEY COOKE/Your Place (Back Blocks/Big Loud) +420 points
JELLY ROLL/Halfway To Hell (BMG/Stoney Creek) +371 points
BRETT YOUNG/Dance With You (Nashville Harbor) +345 points
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Where It Ends (Elektra/Warner/WEA) +342 points

Tube Check Tomorrow (4/16): Ernest, Live With Kelly and Mark (syndicated).

Factory Setting: Elektra/WMN’s Bailey Zimmerman receives his Texas Rangers' jersey at The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory outside Dallas. Pictured (l-r) are KSCS' Mike Preston, guests Terri Yankovich and Gage Picotte and KSCS' Jennipher Miller and Al Farb.

Girl In The Air: Stoney Creek's Parmalee at the Newark, NJ stop of the In The Air Tour. Pictured (l-r) are the group's Josh McSwain, 33 Creative's David Fanning, the group's Barry Knox, WKMK/Monmouth's Mike Ryan, the label's Lexi Willson, Audacy's "Sabrina From Queens" Sergio and the group's Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas.

Bean Like That: RCA's Kane Brown (r) in Chicago with the label's Steve Hodges and Mallory Michaels and WUSN's Marci Braun (l-r).