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March 14, 2023 News@CountryAircheck.com

Chiang'ing The Game: Pandora Sr. Dir./Country Programming Johnny Chiang is expanding his oversight to include Country programming for SiriusXM. The role was previously handled by JR Schumann prior to his July departure (CAT 6/22/22). Chiang, who joined the company last June (CAT 6/26/22), will report to Pandora/SXM GM & SVP/Music Programming Steve Blatter. Prior to joining Pandora, Chiang spent 18 years at KKBQ/Houston where he as OM/PD and served as Cox Country Format Leader. He then segued to Red Street Country as VP/Radio Promotions & Artist Development. Reach him here.

Wring Of Fire: The falsely-billed and completely flame-free "Fireside Chat" with NAB Pres./CEO Curtis LeGeyt offered insight into his organization's lobbying efforts on behalf of broadcasters. The discussion with CRB Board Pres. Kurt Johnson centered on the continuing strength of local radio in a crowded media landscape. Opportunities and challenges with the connected car were addressed, as was the ongoing legislative battle over performance royalties. The "existential" issue he sees is the impact of large tech platforms on broadcasters, "not only as gatekeepers to our audiences, but also as competitors for local advertisers and audiences."

True Time: Red Street Records GM Alex Valentine moderated “Maximizing Time With Artists” (3/14), a conversation between Townsquare nationally syndicated Taste Of Country Nights host Evan Paul and SiriusXM The Music Row Happy Hour host Buzz Brainard. (Audacy Top 40 nationally syndicated The Julia Show host Julia Lepidi was unable to attend in her scheduled slot due to illness.) The 30-minute session featured quick-hits and best practices for artist interviews via phone or Zoom, on red carpets and at radio row setups, and during in-person visits and radio tours. The physical takeaways included a detailed checklist to ensure complete content capture in any setting; download those checklists here.

An Eye For An AI: Cumulus WIVK/Knoxville morning host and Agenda Chair Joey Tack moderated an unusually spirited 8am crowd for “Let’s Chat GPT And AI DJs” (3/14). It was just last month when Futuri announced its RadioGPT AI-driven local radio content service, and the company’s SVP/Content & Special Projects Zena Burns was on hand to answer questions. “Technology is going to do nothing but improve,” said Burns. “I go back to when Blockbuster had the opportunity to buy Netflix, they didn’t believe the tech would evolve; they just tried to put their head in the sand. If we embrace and play up what people love about radio, [AI] is a way to enhance content and make us more relevant.”

Function Junction: Moderated by Onsite Workshops VP/Entertainment & Specialized Services Debbie Carroll, “Leading Through High Functioning Anxiety” defined and presented ways to cope with the condition. Willow Center for Integrative Health Psychotherapist Isabelle Richards, MA, LCPC cautioned, “Sometimes the last person to realize you’re feeling anxiety is you.” Alluding to a common meme, Onsite Workshops Clinical Exec. Dir. Of Milestones Laura Ramey, LMFT defined the condition as, “I’m really good at fooling people into thinking I don’t have anxiety.”

And P.S., If This Is Austin: Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban, co-host Kelsea Ballerini and Lainey Wilson will perform during the 2023 CMT Music Awards April 2 live from Austin's Moody Center on CBS and streaming live and on-demand via Paramount+. They join previously announced performers Carrie Underwood and co-host Kane Brown with wife Katelyn Brown (CAT 2/23). Voting is open through March 27 here. Voting for Video of the Year remains active into the show.

Willie Nelson's Outlaw Music Festival Tour is returning with a lineup of artists including Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers, John Fogerty, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Whiskey Myers, Gov’t Mule, Marcus King, Margo Price, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway and Brittney Spencer. The tour kicks off June 23 in Somerset, WI; tickets here Friday (3/17).

Stories Of The Week: Items you may have missed. Search for news and people in the archives at countryaircheck.com.

Catch up on what you missed at CRS with Daily Buzz.
The 2023 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees were announced.
Brittany Schaffer was named Dean of Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
Chronicle: Jeff Shaw.

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ICYMI: Track45 performed the National Anthem at the SEC Basketball Tournament Championship at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena Sunday (3/12).

Frank Ray launched a mental health campaign for first responders.

Lady A and LeeAnn Rimes are among the artists performing at A Grammy Salute To The Beach Boys April 9 on CBS.

KPAN Broadcasters KPAN-AM & FM/Hereford, TX GM Lane Formby discusses the station and its history ahead of its upcoming 75th anniversary in a profile by KFDA-TV/Amarillo. Watch here.

Chronicle: Former KOOV/Copperas Cove, TX morning host "Big Joe" Lombardi passed away March 9 in Killeen, TX at the age of 75. He had served as the voice of the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs since 1978. Lombardi's five-decade long radio career began in Sonora, TX with subsequent stops at stations in Temple, Killeen, Copperas Cove and Lampasas. In lieu of flowers, donors are asked to contribute to the Joe Lombardi Scholarship Fund. A GoFundMe has also been created to assist in medical and funeral expenses. A Celebration of Life is planned for March 20 on the campus of Copperas Cove High School; details and full obit here.

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

BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Rock And A Hard Place (Elektra/Warner/WEA) 4507 points
LUKE COMBS/Going, Going, Gone (River House/Columbia) 4480 points
LAINEY WILSON/Heart Like A Truck (Broken Bow) 3694 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Thought You Should Know (Big Loud) 3668 points
CARLY PEARCE/What He Didn't Do (Big Machine) 3598 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for March 12-13 compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

TIM MCGRAW/Standing Room Only (Big Machine) +1095 points
MORGAN WALLEN/One Thing At A Time (Big Loud) +1007 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Last Night (Big Loud) +551 points
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Rock And A Hard Place (Elektra/Warner/WEA) +386 points
CARLY PEARCE/What He Didn't Do (Big Machine) +358 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (3/15): Matt Thomas (Parmalee), Teddi Bonadies, Mike Dungan, Mike Wilson, Rondal Richardson, Shar'n Clark, Thomas Massad, Meg Butterly, the late Carl Smith, the late D.J. Fontana.

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Blood Bath And Beyond: CRS Paddle Royale creators Tim Roberts (l) and George Couri welcome everyone to the 2023 tournament as commentators Mike Keith and Mike Dungan look on.

Plaque Me Up: Warner/WAR’s Gabby Barrett receives plaques for "Pick Me Up" (platinum) and "I Hope" (7x platinum) during yesterday's (3/13) CRS Warner Music Nashville Luncheon. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Kristen Williams, Tom Martens and Michael Chase, Barrett and the label's Anna Cage.

Waitin' On Five & Tenn: BMLGR's Chris Janson (l) and Beasley's John Reynolds kick off CRS at Big Machine Distillery.

Fun Of A: Riser House's Dillon Carmichael spends time with Country Top 40's Fitz during CRS. Pictured (l-r) are the label's Roger Fregoso, Carmichael, Fitz and the label's Jeff Davis.

The Frontmen signed with BMG/BBRMG. Pictured (l-r) are the group's Tim Rushlow, producer Mickey Jack Cones and the group's Larry Stewart and Richie McDonald.

Roof There It Is: Pecos & The Rooftops' Pecos Hurley (c) signed with Warner Chappell Music. Pictured with Floating Leaf Ent.'s Chase Cooper (l) and Jeb Hurt.