CS_AD_RouletteOnTheHeart_CADailyTakeover_ImpactingNow_v2_Header_667x425_2024.04.16_FNL.jpeg

April 22, 2024 News@CountryAircheck.com

Belle Of The Beale: Cumulus WGKX/Memphis APD/MD/midday host Kay Manley has taken over PD duties for the station; the position had been vacant since last year's departure of Chad Heritage (CAT 5/16/23). Manley has been with WGKX since 2005, and in the market since 1987, including 15 years at AC WRVR. Reach her here.

WGH Changes: Max Media WGH/Norfolk APD/MD/midday host Karen West moves to morning drive. She will be hosting the shift solo, and succeeds Annaliese Lemieux-Kaplan, who exits less than a month after the departure of co-host Cash Warren (CAT 3/26). "Karen has been a mainstay for Country radio in our market for more than three decades," says VP/MM Keith Barton. West joined WGH just weeks after its 1990 launch, was named MD in 2020 (CAT 7/14/20) and APD two years ago (CAT 8/9/22). Reach her here. Lemieux-Kaplan joined in 2021 (CAT 7/6/21) following time at Saga AC WQMZ/Charlottesville, VA. Reach her here.

Concurrently, former Audacy AC WSPA/Greenville, SC personality Barry McKay joins WGH as midday host. McKay previously spent time in Norfolk as PD of then-Entercom Hot AC WPTE, and has previous stops in Seattle, Richmond, Houston and Baltimore.

Black Jack: 16camino Sr. Dir./Promotion & Marketing Kellie LaJack has joined Black River as Dir./Promotion-Northeast. That position had been vacant since Bailey White's segue to Curb in January (CAT 1/17/24). LeJack joined 16camino in February (CAT 2/14) and has prior promotion stops including Dreamcatcher, 19th & Grand, Cold River and Reviver. Black River VP/National Promotion Bill Macky calls her "a bright, enthusiastic closer whose star is just beginning to shine." Reach LaJack here.

At 16camino, Partners John Ettinger and Ryan Barnstead are looking for a person who wants to be involved in promotion, marketing and artist development. “We are a fun and busy team,” says Ettinger. Clients include ONErpm, Caroline Jones, and 30a Life records. Reach Ettinger here.

Key Argo: Market veteran and SiriusXM Elvis Radio host Derrill "Argo" Jr. joins WGKX/Memphis in afternoon drive, which had been filled remotely by sister WSM-FM host Marty McFly since Chad Heritage's departure last year (CAT 5/15/23). Argo has spent his entire career in Memphis, with previous stops at Alternative WRXQ and Hot ACs WMBZ and WMC-FM. He joined Elvis Radio in 2005 and will continue to host his daily show there as well as his work with Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Multi-Basking: WXTU/Philadelphia lands its second win for the Academy of Country Music's Major Market Radio Station of the Year, and WUBE/Cincinnati earns its fourth in the Large Market Station category, as reported this morning in Breaking News. Personalities taking home their second ACM trophies are B-Dub's B-Dub Radio Saturday Night (National Weekly Personality) and WXBQ/Johnson City, TN's Steve Stroud, Ben Walker & Nikki Thomas (Small Market). See all the winners here. The 59th ACM Awards take place May 16 at The Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, TX, and stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Bucky Charms: Magnum WBKY "Bucky Country" has moved its signal from Portage, WI (north of Madison) to Janesville, WI, with a 2,000 watt signal that also reaches the southern portions of the Madison market. "My two sons, Reid and Ty, were just lads when we started this process," says owner David Magnum of the two decade-long process. "Whenever we reminisce about the umpteen town and county zoning meetings and hearings, we make sure to have a stout beer in hand." WBKY is also being simulcast on WSJY-HD4/Janesville, which in turn airs on 250 watt translator W258CM/Madison covering the northern portions of that market. Stream here.

Tour Support: Hardy added Mississippi State University's Dudy Noble Field (Sept. 12) and two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Oct. 20-21) to his 2024 Quit!! Tour with Randy Houser and Travis Denning as support. Tickets for the new dates go on sale Friday (4/26) here.

Cody Johnson's Leather Tour has been extended by 10 concerts, including a stop at Arlington, TX's Globe Life Field Nov. 9, where he'll be joined by Jon Pardi. Tickets here Friday (4/26).

Dylan Gossett will play nearly 30 cities across the U.S. and Canada from September through November as part of his The Back 40 Tour. Tickets go on sale here Thursday (4/25).

A Skydeck Full Of Stars: UMG/Nashville’s Music Is Universal returns to downtown Nashville’s Skydeck on Broadway during CMA Fest (June 6-9). The full schedule of performances, fan club parties, signings, listening events and more will follow in the coming weeks here.

Festive All: Cody Johnson, Hank Williams Jr., and Koe Wetzel headline the Sept. 13-15 Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, OK. The lineup also features Dwight Yoakam, Midland, The Red Clay Strays, The Cadillac Three, Wade Bowen, Kolby Cooper, Jack Ingram, Colby Acuff, Stephen Wilson Jr. and more. Tickets here.

Signage: Songwriter/producer/musician Jerry Flowers signed with Warner Chappell Music and Twelve6 Entertainment. His cuts include Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris' “Chasing After You," Sam Hunt’s “House Party" and "Outskirts" and Billy Currington’s “Do I Make You Wanna."

Comedy Central: Brad Paisley and wife Kimberly William-Paisley teamed with Nationwide to raise more than $200,000 for their nonprofit grocery shop, The Store, with an April 21 show at Zanies in Nashville. Groceries with Dignity & Comedy Without featured Paisley and comics John Crist and Dusty Slay, and doubled last year's total.

ICYMI: The Prine Family will present the third annual You Got Gold: Celebrating the Songs of John Prine with shows at Ryman Auditorium (Oct. 9), The Basement East (Oct. 10, Prine’s birthday) and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater (Oct. 11). Tickets are available beginning Friday (4/24) here.

Wedding Belle: Cumulus WKHX/Atlanta morning co-host Dallas McCade wed Futuri Media Partner Success Mgr. Scott Lindy March 30 in a ceremony at The Barn at Moonlight Stables in Dallas, GA, officiated by WKHX PD Mike Moore. Congratulate McCade here and Lindy here.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending April 20, according to Mediabase 24/7.

SAM HUNT/Outskirts (MCA)
TYLER HUBBARD/Back Then Right Now (EMI Nashville)
JORDAN DAVIS/Tucson Too Late (MCA)
SCOTTY MCCREERY/Cab In A Solo (Triple Tigers)
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Where It Ends (Elektra/Warner/WEA)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for April 21 compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Cab In A Solo (Triple Tigers) +928 points
MORGAN WALLEN f/ERNEST/Cowgirls (Big Loud) +391 points
GARTH BROOKS & RONNIE DUNN/Rodeo Man (Big Machine) +363 points
KENNY CHESNEY/Take Her Home (Warner/WEA) +279 points
MEGAN MORONEY/I'm Not Pretty (Columbia) +214 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (4/23): Brandi Burleson, Marty Filogamo, Manuel, Brooke Diaz, Larry Santiago, the late Kent Robbins, the late Roy Orbison.

Tube Check Tomorrow (4/23): Ernest, Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC).

Scotty McCheery: Triple Tigers' Scotty McCreery is officially welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry family Saturday (4/20) by Josh Turner and Randy Travis (inset). Pictured (l-r) are host Bill Cody, the label/management's George Couri, Turner, Travis, member Bill Anderson, McCreery, manager Scott Stem and the Opry's Gina Keltner and Dan Rogers.

You IN A Honky Tonk: Warner/WAR's Randall King opens for Tim McGraw in Indianapolis. Pictured (back, l-r) are WFMS' Brooks O'Brian and Matt Malone, WLHK's Sean Copeland, King and WFMS' Deborah Honeycutt and guest; (front, l-r) WLHK's Cara Denis, the label's Anna Cage and WLHK's Annie Fox.

Re-Signage: Singer/songwriter Scott Stepakoff extends his deal with SmackSongs. Pictured (l-r) are SS' Jeremy Groves, Robin Palmer and attorney Chip Petree, Stepakoff and SS' Lee Krabel, Sam Sarno and Carly Sater.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Leah Blevins signs with Major Bob for publishing and management. Pictured (back, l-r) are Mike Doyle, Graham Kothman, Tyler Burns, Patrick Belinson and Dennis Lord; (front, l-r) Emily Hasty, Andy Friday, Blevins, Bob Doyle and Kane Wayne.

Signage: Songwriter/producer Michael Wayne Wilkes signs with Peermusic Nashville for select catalog and future works. Pictured (l-r) are the company's Michael Knox, Wilkes and the company's Matt Michiels and Kendall Lettow.