BREAKING NEWS - 2023 CMA BROADCAST AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Lainey Wilson and Jordan Davis were on the phone today congratulating the 2023 CMA Broadcast Award winners who will be honored at the 57th Annual CMA Awards onNov. 8 in Nashville. Congratulations to all of the winners!

CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year

• Weekly National: Lon Helton; Country Countdown USA; Compass Media Networks

• Daily National: Angie Ward; iHeartMedia

• Major Market: Mark "Hawkeye" Louis and Michelle Rodriguez; Hawkeye In The Morning with Hawkeye and Michelle; KSCS/Dallas

• Large Market: “Wayne D” Danielson and Tay Hamilton; The Wayne D Show; WSIX/Nashville

• Medium Market: Melissa “Mo” Wagner and Greg “StyckMan” Owens; Mo & StyckMan; WUSY/Chattanooga

• Small Market: Steve Stroud, Ben Walker and Nikki Thomas; Steve, Ben And Nikki; WXBQ/Bristol

CMA Radio Station of the Year

• Major Market: KEEY/Minneapolis

• Large Market: WUBE/Cincinnati

• Medium Market: KUZZ/Bakersfield

• Small Market: WXBQ/Johnson City, TN

ACM AWARDS NOMINATIONS FOR RADIO ARE IN!

The ACM - Academy of Country Music Radio Nominees are in! 

Congratulations on your nominations and good luck!

NATIONAL DAILY PERSONALITY:

Buzz Brainard and Ania Hammar: Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard, the Highway

CMT Cody Alan: CMT After MidNite

Derek "Big D" Haskins, Sean "Bubba" Powell, Patrick Thomas and Jessica "Carsen" Humphreville: Big D & Bubba

Jerry Broadway, Tim Wall, Mitch English and Becca Walls: The Bud and Broadway Show

Katie Neal: Katie & Company

NATIONAL WEEKLY PERSONALITY:

Bryan "B-Dub" Washington: B-Dub Radio

 
Lon Helton: Country Countdown USA

Michael Knox and Shalacy Griffin: Knox Country 360

Terri Clark: Country Gold

Tracy Lawrence and Patrick Thomas: Honky Tonkin' With Tracy Lawrence

MAJOR MARKET PERSONALITY:

Danny Dwyer: 98.7 The Bull

Josh Holleman, Rachael Hunter and Steve Grunwald: Josh, Rachael & Grunwald In The Morning, 99.5 WYCD

Paul Schadt, Sarah Lee and Geof Knight,: Paul Schadt And Sarah Lee 96.9 The Kat

Scotty Kay: US99 / Chicago's Hottest Country

Tracy Dixon: 98.5 KYGO

LARGE MARKET PERSONALITY:

"Big Dave" Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, Jason Statt and Ashley Dawn: The Big Dave Show B-105 Cincinnati

Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman: Jim, Deb And Kevin In The Morning 95.5 WFMS

Kelli Green and David Bugenske: The Wake Up Call, K-FROG

Dale O'Brian, Annie Camp and Chase Matthews: Wake Up With The Wolf Show 93.1 The Wolf

"Wayne D" Danielson and Tay Hamilton: Wayne D Show The BIG 98

MEDIUM MARKET PERSONALITY 

(Six Final Nominees Due To Tie)

Julie Kansy and Dale Sellers: Julie And DJ In The Morning, 97.5 WPCV

Kenn McCloud: KUZZ "Bakersfield's Best Country"

Melissa "Mo" Wagner and Greg "StyckMan" Owens: Mo &
StyckMan WUSY US-101

Nancy Wilson and Aaron Woods: New Country Mornings With
Nancy And Woody K99.1FM

Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay: Scott & Sarah In The Morning, 94.9 WQMX

Steve Lundy and Gina Melton: Steve & Gina In The Morning, KAT 103.7 FM

SMALL MARKET PERSONALITY:

Adam Lamberd and Jen Little: Adam & Jen In The Morning, 94.9 The Wolf

Liz DelGrosso and Scotty Cox: Liz and Scotty in the Morning on Clear 99

Dave Daniels: Morning Wake-Up Call With Dave Daniels 100.7 KHAY

Brent Lane: The Cat Pak Morning Show Cat Country 98.7

Philip Gibbons: The Philip Gibbons Radio Show - 94.7 The Country GIANT

MAJOR MARKET STATION

New Country 96.3
103.7 KSON
98.5 KYGO
92.5 XTU - Philly's Country Station
99.5 WYCD

LARGE MARKET STATION

105.1 KNCI
Z104 Utah's #1 Country
K-Bull 93 Utah's #1 For New Country
95.5 WFMS
B-105 Cincinnati

MEDIUM MARKET STATION

KIZN KISSIN 92.3
KAT 103 Omaha's Country Radio Station
Kix 106 Memphis
K99.1FM
WUSY US-101

SMALL MARKET STATION

Clear 99
100.7 KHAY
96.9 WXBQ
KIX96 - WXFL 96.1FM
Cat Country 98.7

TRYING TO GET YOUR FAVORITE SONG ADDED TO A RADIO STATION? HERE ARE A FEW HELPFUL HINTS

If you're trying to get your favorite artists or songs heard on the radio, here are a few helpful tips. We interact with many radio stations and hear a lot of helpful feedback on just what is involved in getting a song played. We also hear the down side of taking requests. I thought I'd share with you what we've heard around the industry from radio personnel. Just things to be mindful of and a way to do it the right way and help your favorite artist and their fans maintain a positive relationship and image with radio. One person doing things the wrong way or being overzealous can and does reflect badly on the entire fan base unfortunately and also on the artist. You don't want to associate terms like "rude", "pushy" or "demanding" with your artist or their fans and trust me, it does get associated if one or two fans are rude or "overly helpful" (and I use that term lightly). It's great that you want to help and that you believe in these artists and their music but it's important to know what the line is and how not to cross it in your efforts. In reality, one overzealous fan with the best intentions can hurt the effort more than help.

1.) START WITH SMALL MARKET OR INDEPENDENT, LOCALLY OWNED STATIONS - 

The best way to approach radio is to start with stations who are appropriate for your career level - college stations, locally owned small market stations, internet stations, etc. If you start with large market or even medium market corporate owned stations, chances are very high that you're gonna get a "no" from the get go. Most big name stations are corporate owned and are told who and what they can play, how often they can play and when to play a song They cannot and will not play independent, unsigned artists. It's just the name of the game unfortunately. Start small right out of the gate. The more smaller stations that catch on will kickstart a buzz. The rest will catch on as the buzz builds. Once an artist is signed to a bigger label with more financial backing, the bigger stations will start to take note and that's when your chances increase for being added to their playlists. The smaller stations are your best chance at getting a foot in the door. I know, it's a frustrating, often maddening thing, but as for now, it's what it is and as much as listeners and actual radio employees hate the policies, it is going to be your biggest obstacle.

2.) BE PATIENT - Not all stations have the same music at the same time and not all will necessarily have it at all. They also may have it but haven't added it to the library yet.  Stations also do what's called a "test market". They have surveys and target specific local areas and groups to listen to the new music they receive. If a song doesn't do well in a test market, it may unfortunately never even be played. Just be patient and keep checking periodically but know when to move on. Even getting your song heard by the right people at radio is incredibly competitive and difficult in itself. Put yourself in the music director's and station manager's shoes, think about how many songs they have thrown at them every day. 

2.) BE KIND - When requesting, if you're told no or "we don't have it", please don't take out frustrations on the DJ. They are told what they can and can't play and if a new song is being requested, they haven't been given the thumbs up yet from management or they don't have the song yet. Thank them and move on. The years of local dj's playing whatever they want to play is pretty much over with the takeover of corporation radio. If you live in an area where your station is locally owned or independent, you are lucky!

3.) Please DO NOT contact program directors directly unless you know them personally or have been given permission from the artist or their management. Program directors and general managers should ONLY be contacted by the artist or an official representative of that artist. They only set aside a few hours a day to discuss new music with official representatives (A&R people, promotions, management, etc). If they are on the phone with an overzealous fan, this ties up their time that they could be using to speak with the people they should be talking to. Once you get on a PD or GM's bad side, that can definitely negatively affect the outcome of what you are trying to do.

4.) Only use designated listener and request avenues such as posted request phone lines, email addresses, Twitter or Facebook pages, etc. These are there for YOU, the listener, to make your voice heard. Use them, but don't OVERUSE them or OVERSATURATE the station with requests for the same song/artist all day long. You don't want to make the station tired of the song before they even get it. Request the song regularly, but don't over saturate the station with requests, especially by the same people over and over. They do catch on and trust me, they will let you know if you're overdoing it. That has the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve. (Hint, they also have technology to see how many times a day the same phone number calls, how many emails come from the same IP address, etc. It doesn't matter if you have 40 email accounts and use them all to request, if they're tied to the same IP address, they can tell it's you. - just something to be wary of.) One more thing, put your focus into your particular area and local stations. Most stations are only interested in their local listening base, not those listening online or those that used to be listeners who no longer actually listen to their station but still request airplay just to help their artist. Most of the time, those requests are gonna be looked right over so focus on your area and recruit others in your area to help. Do NOT go over the top while trying to be helpful. Do it the right way and consider how it makes your artist look. I deal with several radio stations and their PD's and DJ's and this is personal feedback directly from them. You don't want to piss them off before they even have a chance to get to know you or the artist you're requesting.

5.) If a station does play it, either from your request, or you happen to hear it being played, SAY THANK YOU and TAKE NOTE OF THE STATION and let the artist or their management know where you heard it so they can thank them and fans can also let them know they appreciate it by promoting that station on social media. Always be sure to give back if a station plays your request or adds your song to it's rotation. Thank you goes a long way. Pay it forward.

6.) And most of all, TALK ABOUT IT. Promote it on your social media pages, tweet about it, Facebook about it, YouTube about it, Linked In about it,  Instagram about it it. If you have a blog, blog about it. Don't be afraid to tell people why you love the song and why you think someone is a great artist who deserves the attention. Don't go on and on ad-nauseam about it though, that can be a huge turn off for potential fans. Come across as a dedicated fan, not a borderline obsessive crazy fan. Remember, not everyone is going to love the song and that's fine. We're all entitled to our opinions. Always show respect to other fans, even when you disagree. Remember, in a way, you are representing your artist in an "unofficial" manner and the way you deal with other fans reflects on the artist. Most well known fan bases are known for their dedication, kindness, respect and strength in numbers. So speak up, stand up and make a difference!

Show what the power of people who stand behind and believe in an artist can do. Your voice can and does make a difference if used the right way.

Below is a helpful tool to help you with your promotion campaign:

Radio Locator : Radio Locator is where you can find the most up to date contact information for country stations in your area.

Thank you for all you do to support new music and get this music heard! Now let's get to requesting! Have fun and build relationships while doing it!

- Jenn

Follow Jenn on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics

TUNE IN: RONNIE MCDOWELL THIS WEEKEND'S GUEST ON HONKY TONKIN' WITH TRACY LAWRENCE

Legendary singer/songwriter Ronnie McDowell will join country superstar Tracy Lawrence as a guest on nationally syndicated radio show Honky Tonkin’ With Tracy Lawrence this weekend. Fans can tune in to hear McDowell chat about his 40 years in country music, new album Songs I Love and more on April 8 and 9. Click HERE to see a list of affiliates for Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence.

McDowell just released Songs I Love, his one-of-a-kind rendition of the songs most special to him by artists including Eddie Rabbitt, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, Merle Haggard, B.J. Thomas, Charlie Rich and more. Two new tracks co-penned by McDowell titled “I Want That Girl” and “He Still Has You” round out the project, which showcases a never-before-seen photo of a young McDowell on the back cover. Click HERE to purchase Songs I Love.

McDowell fans in Nashville can tune in to 650 AM WSM on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. CT to hear Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence. Lawrence, one of the most recognizable voices in country music, is a multi-platinum CMA and ACM award winner. The two artists combine for more than 35 Top Ten hits.

Since his breakout tribute to Elvis Presley “The King is Gone” took the world by storm, Ronnie McDowell has charted more than thirty Top 40 hits on the Billboard country music charts. Two of his singles, "Older Women" and "You're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation," reached No. 1 on the country charts. He has also released more than twenty studio albums.

HANK WILLIAMS JR. GUESTS ON "WHISKEY AND CIGARETTES" RADIO SHOW THIS SUNDAY

Award-winning internationally syndicated country radio show, "Whiskey And Cigarettes" will air their exclusive interview with country legend and superstar, Hank Williams, Jr. The interview will debut during the live broadcast on February 21, 2016

Whiskey and Cigarettes Country Radio Show is happy to announce the airing of their exclusive interview with country music superstar and legend, Hank Williams, Jr. Mr. Williams joined award-winning host, DJ Nik Bernitz Pizzigoni to talk about his illustrious career, including his latest album release, It’s About Time.

The interview with Hank Williams, Jr. will air this coming Sunday, February 21st, 2016 between 11am ET-3pm ET. The live show airs on Military Brotherhood Radio at http://www.militarybrotherhoodradio.com. Whiskey And Cigarettes is also re-broadcast on 50 syndicating stations, worldwide, multiple times throughout the week. The interview will also appear on the February edition of the “Whiskey and Conversations” talk show, broadcasting in March on iheartradio and other outlets.

Between 1979 and 1992, Hank Williams, Jr. released 21 albums, 18 studio & 3 compilation, that were all, at least, certified gold by the RIAA. Between 1979 and 1990, Williams enjoyed a string of 30 Top Ten singles on the Billboard Country charts, including eight No. 1 singles, for a total of 44 Top Ten singles, including a total of 10 No. 1 singles, during his career. In 1982, he had nine albums simultaneously on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, none of which was greatest hits or live. In 1987 and 1988, Williams was named Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association. In 1987, 1988, and 1989, he won the same award from the Academy of Country Music.

For more information, visit www.hankjr.com.

ACM RADIO AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The ACM's radio award nominees for the 49th annual show, set for April 6 in Las Vegas, are:

National Personality: Bobby Bones, Amy, Lunchbox, The Bobby Bones Show (Premiere); Lon Helton, Country Countdown USA (WestwoodOne) (tie).

Major Market Personality: Paul Schadt, Meg & Geof, WKKT/Charlotte.

Large Market Personality: Lisa McKay, WQDR/Raleigh.

Medium Market Personality: Andy Ritchie, Alison West, Jimmy Holt, WIVK/Knoxville.

Small Market Personality: Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, Tracy Berry, KKNU/Eugene, OR.

Major Market Staton: KUPL/Portland, 
WXTU/Philadelphia (tie).

Large Market Station: WCTK/Providence.

Medium Market Station: WBBS/Syracuse.

Small Market Station: WUSY/Chattanooga, TN.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: DARIUS RUCKER BRINGS COUNTRY "RADIO" TO THE TODAY SHOW

Rucker to Appear Tonight on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This morning, Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Darius Rucker performed his new single "Radio" on NBC's "TODAY Show" during the 9 a.m. hour followed up by a chat with Hoda and Kathie Lee during the fourth hour. View the performance HERE; View the interview segment HERE.

Rucker fans have another opportunity see the star perform the latest release tonight on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m. ET / 10:35 CT). “Radio” follows up the critically-acclaimed two-week No. 1, “Wagon Wheel.” Both tracks are found on Rucker’s TRUE BELIEVERS album, his third consecutive country release to debut at No. 1.

"Radio," co-written by Rucker, Luke Laird and Ashley Gorley, will officially hit country airwaves Monday, July 22.

For more information, please visit www.DariusRucker.com.

DARIUS RUCKER DEBUTS NEW SINGLE, "RADIO", IN NYC

Performs on NBC’s “Today Show” and CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman”

                                                               Photo Credit: Jim Wright

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the heels of his RIAA Platinum-selling, two-week No. 1 smash single, “Wagon Wheel,” Capitol recording artist Darius Rucker heads to New York City, N.Y. to debut “Radio,” the second release off his latest album TRUE BELIEVERS, which debuted at No. 1 in May. In preparation for the “Radio” release, Rucker will make appearances and perform the single on NBC’s “Today Show” and CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman,” airing this Thursday, July 11. (Check local listings for times.)

“Radio” officially hits country airwaves Monday, July 22.

Rucker recently wrapped the first leg of his TRUE BELIEVERS TOUR, his first-ever as a solo headliner. Joining him on the road were Rodney Atkins, Jana Kramer and Justin Moore. Additional tour dates are available on www.DariusRucker.com with fall TRUE BELIEVERS TOUR dates and details to be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Upon Rucker’s return to Nashville next week, he’ll be stopping by his home-away-from-home with a five-song set at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday, July 16. Rucker fulfilled a lifelong dream when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry last October.

For more information, please visit www.DariusRucker.com.