No Minor Players When Country Aircheck spoke to HitShop’s Skip Bishop and RPME’s Scott Siman in August as their companies backed away from mainstream radio (Decimation Of Independents, CAW 8/25), they painted a bleak picture for independent labels and promotion. Several of their peers took issue with the portrayal. Thus, a look at the other side of the coin. “If you don’t count all of the successful companies in any business, then of course it’s going to look like a decimation of that business, no matter what it is,” says former Blaster VP/Promotion Gator Michaels, who points to the success of Curb, Broken Bow and Big Machine as obvious examples that independents can thrive. “Fifteen years ago there were six ma-jors,” he says. “There are only three now and in that same period independent labels like BBR and BMLG have flourished. And both have expanded with multiple imprints. That kind of growth only happens with success.” Michaels cites chart evidence of independent success, too. “In 1999, seven of the top 50 songs were on independent labels. In 2004 that went up to nine songs. And if you look at year-to-date this year, 11 songs, six different companies, eight different labels. On the real time chart with those independent companies, they have 12 songs in the top 50. So 24% of the chart is from inde-pendent labels. That’s a pretty dramatic growth curve in the last 15 years.” In that time, Michaels says independent labels have taken a bigger share of the marketplace, and he says because there are more of them overall, there are more that will fail. “Half of all businesses fail in the first five years, it doesn’t matter what business you’re in.” (continued on page 7)

December 15, 2014, Issue 427

© 2 0 1 4 Co u n t r y A i rc h e c k ™ — A l l r i g ht s re s e r ve d. S i gn u p f re e at w w w. co u nt r ya i rc h e c k . co m . S e n d n e ws to n e ws @ co u nt r ya i rc h e c k . co m

Tax & Spend: I.R.S. In 2015 The addition of VP/Promotion Tom Moran (Breaking News 12/11) has I.R.S./Nashville President John Grady back in the mainstream Country radio world with a label that wasn’t in a big hurry to get there (CAT 10/23/13). “I’m trying to learn from everybody else’s mistakes and make records before hiring the staff and having the party,” Grady tells Country Air-check, noting he’s in the process of oversee-ing the recording of four or five records. “At

Six Appeal: Capitol/Nashville takes the cake (literally!) for the sixth time as Country Aircheck’s Label of the Year at UMG/Nashville’s offices. Pictured (l-r) are the label’s Brent Jones, CA’s Chuck Aly, the label’s Bobby Young, CA’s Lon Helton and April Johnson, UMG/Nashville’s Royce Risser, Capitol’s Shane Allen, UMGN’s Katie Dean and Donna Hughes and Capitol’s Diane Lockner and Ashley Laws.

Tom Moran

Gator Michaels

Page 3December 15, 2014

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P A G E T H R E E P I C

Back In White: WYCD/Detroit’s Linda Lee with a cowboy hat-headed Toby Keith before a show in 1994. Have fun vintage photos of your own? Share them with us now at pagethreepic@countryaircheck.com.

least four will be out in 2015.” With that kind of workload on deck, Moran’s hiring will be supported by the addition of two other experienced promotion executives. “We’ll start with three and move on from there using all the available assets – independents as well,” Grady says. “I’ve known Tom since 1981 – we’ve worked together a num-ber of times and always stayed in touch. There are four words I think about with Tom: trust, passion, focus and energy. I don’t ever have to worry whether he is into the music. He’ll let you know and

he’ll keep letting you know 200 or 300 times if you didn’t hear him the first time. I know he will shed his own blood for these artists, and they’re lucky to have him.” Moran’s initial contact with Grady about I.R.S. started as a conversation about consulting, but grew over time. “I don’t know if I’d want to do this with anyone else,” he says. “When you’ve been doing this as long as I have, it’s much more difficult to pop out of bed in the morning and manufacture false passion. Promo people some-

times have to do that, but all I want at this stage is to believe the music is excellent. John Grady has never made a bad record – look at Sony and the culture he created over there with Miranda Lambert, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander. He’s got the music part of it down, I.R.S. is a pretty cool brand and factoring in the solid funding from the corporate parent, what’s not to like?” While I.R.S. is in the Universal family, it is not tied to UMG/Nashville. Grady reports to Capitol Music Group Chairman/CEO Steve Barnett in Hollywood, who supported the music-first approach. “The idea was to let the artists we sign dictate how we would enter the marketplace, and they’ve done that,” Grady says. “There was never any agenda other than to fill a musical void. I’m not a very good follower and don’t look in centerfield for artists. I’d like to find the next one who will end up there, but they’ll prob-ably be from left or right field.” Duo Striking Matches are first up. “Their virtuosity separates them from much of the new music being sent to radio,” says Moran, who will be handling the Midwest in addition to his role as VP. “I’ve been in situations where I’ve had to talk clients out of doing radio tours, but if you are really good and can win that room, a radio tour is essential. Striking Matches will kill in the conference room. “It’s a difficult task to break a company as well as a record, but I’m not afraid of it,” he adds. “Good music makes it easy to get up every day and work really hard.” Grady is ready to get started. “The timeframe is now,” he says. “We established a vision and were lucky enough to have the

time to get the music right. Now it’s time for the rubber to meet the road in the marketplace. We have 18 months to two years of flow as we start. Let’s hope I drilled the right well.” Reach Grady here and Moran here. –Chuck Aly

Chart Chat Congrats to Tim McGraw, Jack Purcell and the entire Big Machine promotion crew on scoring this week’s No. 1 with “Shotgun Rider.” The song is the third single from Mc-Graw’s Sundown Heaven Town album, and the final chart-topper of calendar year 2014. An extra tip of the hat as well to Shane Allen and the Capitol team (see page 1) on 49 adds for Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” topping this week’s board.

JohnGrady

Tim McGraw

http://smarturl.it/WMN121514

Page 5December 15, 2014

MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFEProducer Mickey Jack Cones (Joe Nichols, Dustin Lynch, Trace Adkins) discusses his most influential music.1. Glen Campbell/Rhinestone Cow-boy: It was the first song my Mother said I sang – while standing and bouncing the back of my legs to the beat against the front passenger seat of our Dodge Dart at just under 3 years old.2. Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers/All The Gold In California: First song I learned on the guitar. I was 8 years old.

3. Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle/You And I: I started sing-ing this song onstage with my Mom (The Cone Sisters) when I was 10 years old. Now I am partners in a recording studio with David Malloy, who produced and published that hit song. Crazy how things work out.4. Jason Aldean, My Kind Of Party: The first multiplatinum album I was blessed to engineer (thanks to Michael Knox). 5. Wild Cherry/Play That Funky Music: When in doubt ... my go-to Karaoke song!A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: This day and age if you haven’t heard it, it’s your fault. You can practically Google, YouTube, Spotify, Rhapsody or iTunes anything. That being said, I can’t recall ever listening to/searching for Frank Zappa tunes. I probably shouldn’t have admitted that.An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: As brilliant as it is ... “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles.An album or songs you played incessantly: Restless Heart’s “No End To This Road” from their Greatest Hits album and Gavin DeGraw’s Chariot. One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: Nikka Costa’s “Till I Get To You.”One item in your music collection you’d rather not ad-mit to enjoying: Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.”

Mickey Jack Cones

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Programming Note This is the last full issue of Country Aircheck Weekly for 2014, though Country Aircheck Today will continue into the week. Otherwise, the CA offices will be closed Dec. 22-26 and Dec. 31-Jan. 2. in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. A music-free edition of Country Aircheck Weekly will publish Dec. 30 and we’ll resume our normal publication sched-ule Jan. 5. Now and through the Christmas holidays, however, we’re taking submissions for our annual Seek & Employ feature that

will be included in Country Aircheck Weekly Dec. 29. Whether you’re looking for work or help, send your contact info and recent work history or job details and contact info here. Nielsen Audio December 2014 PPM numbers will run in the same issue along with a year-end PPM recap. Pro-grammers can send monthly highlights

and their thoughts on all of 2014 for inclusion here. And on behalf of everyone at Country Aircheck – happy holidays!

News & Notes Legend Communications has enlisted Local Focus for its national advertising sales representing its 18 stations, which include Classic Country KBBS-AM/Gillette, WY and KLED/Antelope Valley, WY and Country KGWY/Gillette, KLGT/Buffalo, WY and KZMQ/Greybull, WY. GHB WAME-AM/Statesville, NC morning personality Billy Buck Blevins has purchased the station. Powell’s WKNK/Panama City, FL is the latest affiliate of Envision’s AmeriCountry prep service. More here. The industry’s Steve & Judy Turner, Ken Levitan, Jef-frey Balser, Billy Ray & Bill Hearn, and Becca Stevens will be honored at the T.J. Martell Foundation’s 7th Annual Nash-ville Honors Gala March 30. More here. Entertainment industry law practice Marcus & Colvin, LLP has expanded with the addition of senior associate Farrah A. Usmani. SOLID’s 2014 Outstanding Leader and Member of the Year is Tim Gray of Grayscale Entertainment. Entries are being accepted for the inaugural American Music Prize (AMP) for Best Debut Album here.

Artist News Jason Aldean, Toby Keith and Florida Georgia Line will headline the three-day Delaware Junction music and camping festival in Harrington, DE Aug. 14-16. More here. Lee Brice, Thompson Square and Robert Earl Keen will perform at the inaugural Mountain High Music Festival Jan. 14-18 in Crested Butte, CO. More here. The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood added two Detroit shows – Feb. 27 and 28 at 7pm at Joe Louis Arena. Tickets are on sale Dec. 19 here.

Page 7December 15, 2014

(continued from page 1)No Minor Players “There are certainly some independents that had to close up shop, but the concept of independents is far from decimated,”

agrees New Revolution principal Rob Dalton. “We are rewriting and reshaping what a music company is moving forward, and that may eventually look a lot more like us. Both Scott and Skip explained the difficulties very well. The solution, however, takes on a different complexity and must address the process in which we launch artists.” Hard For The Money: Competing with majors financially is perhaps the primary challenge, but many independent executives cite advantages.” Being an independent

may add another rock in the backpack, but we also don’t have to ask New York or LA or anyone else what we need to do,” says Nine North/Turnpike President Larry Pareigis. “We’re not gigantic, so it isn’t like turning a steam ship. Some of these things kind of level out.” Nine North’s VP/Secret Projects Kevin Mason adds that the way indies try to com-

pete is important. “Trying to keep up with major label spending is not the game,” he says. “They’re still making money on their cat-alog. They have other resources beyond 70 cents per download. The game is to find your niche.” “You have to think about where the money is going to come from,” says Michaels. “If independents don’t make money, they

don’t know how they’re going to get paid. When you work for a major you don’t ever think about where payroll is coming from. It just shows up in your bank account.” Every Shot Is Long: From Dalton’s perspective, the challenge is breaking through the high number of “marquee” artists that fill up the chart, leaving little room for new acts and for radio’s attention. “Having consistent and meaningful dialogue with some PDs can be tough,” he says. “That’s one area where

marquee artist leverage is really felt – access.” That independent artists aren’t as viable as what a major may sign is a misconception. “Can you say Taylor Swift isn’t as viable as Carrie Underwood?” Michaels asks. “Or that Big & Rich aren’t as viable now as they were five years ago when they were on Warner? They have a top 10 record on their own right now. Zac Brown would probably argue that he’s as viable today as he was a couple years ago.” The viability of the staff is also important to radio, though the audience only cares about one thing. “Radio’s becoming more con-ditioned that if a company has well-respected, talented employees, they’re probably going to get a competitive product from them,” says Michaels. “Whether Big & Rich have their own label or they have Warner Brothers, if the music’s there, the fans don’t care.” Keeping the conversation going with radio is dependent on many factors. “In most of my dealings, we’re treated just the same as anybody else,” says Nine North VP/Promotion & Marketing Jeff Davis. “It’s because of the credibility of who we are, what we’ve done and the quality of the product we bring to them.” And that quality is the ultimate arbiter. “It’s our job to instill confidence that a track has a realistic and even probable shot at breaking through,” Dalton says. Chart Strings: Reaching the top of the charts is only one measure of success. Pareigis points to Joe Bach-man, whose six-month radio tour got him inside the Activator top 40 and a booking deal, along with some bigger label attention. “What

Jeff Davis

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Atlantic/WMN’s Hunter Hayes will perform in the 2015 Alive At The Bluebird concert series Jan. 2 with songwriters Lori McKenna and Barry Dean and Jan. 9 with Eric Paslay and Troy Verges. Proceeds benefit Alive Hospice. The CMA Songwriters Series is returning to the United King-dom’s The O2 in London March 6. Kix Brooks, Jessi Alexan-der, Brandy Clark, Sam Palladio and Jon Randall will be featured in the show. Average Joes’ Lenny Cooper has partnered with off-road suspension and accessory maker Rough Country for tour support and prizes for fans. The Rough Country Tour stars Jan. 2 in Dallas. More here. Artist and owner of Stateline, ID’s Nashville North venue Jeremy McComb donated $2,500 to the local food bank from his 5th Annual Jeremy McComb Christmas Extravaganza. The second annual Jameson Irish Whiskey Presents Georgia On My Mind: Peach Pickers And Friends Host A Night Of Geor-gia Music happens at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium May 12. Tickets here.

Rob Dalton

KevinMason

Larry Pareigis

Page 8December 15, 2014

OFF THE RECORD: WILL HOGE

Cumberland’s Will Hoge puts an industry spin on the artist interview: There’s never really been a radio format that broadly embraced what I did. With “Strong” we finally had that and visit-ed a lot of Country radio stations. It was a real pleasant surprise. Getting a song on the radio was a big deal to me. I was told for a long time by people in the business that my music didn’t fit. So I kinda feel like that was a nice mid-dle finger to some of those people [laughs].

On the personal level, my wife and I built a new house. We got her a new job and the kids are in school and we’ve settled into our lives artistically and personally, which is a real nice place to be. I was surprised by the whole radio thing. You hear for years as an artist what a closed door Country radio is. I found the opposite. They’ve been more open to my music than anybody else. I was really flattered. They were just like the people I grew up with; just folks who like music and want to hear a song with a great story, a cool melody and a cool guitar solo. It was just [about] building relationships that hopefully can get my music to a larger audience. “Middle Of America” is the new single. We were actually going to record another song I’d written as the first single, but the day before I wrote “Middle Of America” with Tommy Lee James and Jessi Alexander. I loved the song and everyone agreed we had to record it. We had it ready to go 16 hours after it was written. We were at RCA Studio A when it was getting ready to close down. We were going to be the last thing that was recorded and released from that building, which was a weird feeling. But fortunately it was saved at the last minute. (See that story here.) The new album was born out of my experiences growing up in Franklin, TN when it was still a little town. I spent some time back there this year in the old neighborhood. A lot of the album was born from that small town identity. It’s intended to be one of those records that when you put it on, you listen straight through. I still want to make records that way. And I’m really excited for people to hear it.

Will Hoge

came out of that was proof of concept that this can work,” he says. For Dalton, the wins include Emerson Drive’s No. 1 “Mo-ments,” as well as breaking Gloriana’s “Wild At Heart” and The Farm’s “Home Sweet Home.” Currently, New Revolution is seeing success with Big & Rich’s “Look At You.” “This is a great example of how a music company can function competitively and profit-ably,” he says. “It was the second-highest single of their career and you’ll see a string of hits that will take them to a higher status than they’ve ever been.” Michaels looks at the achievements of Broken Bow as evi-dence that independents can flourish. “From 1999 to 2005, you can go through a laundry list of projects they struggled with,” he says. “Benny believed in his artists and his staff, and [EVP] Jon Loba found a way to survive it until they succeeded. “ Pocket Change: The digital revolution has actually created opportunity for independents, in Michaels’ view. “Singles didn’t exist 10 years ago,” he says. “Now people make real money by selling singles. It gives you options.” Adds Mason, “The industry is reinventing itself and how to get music to people. We’re not a label, we’re a virtual label, we’re an artist services company, we’re whatever you need us to be. That’s what the spirit of the indepen-dent will likely be going forward.” Reach Michaels here, Dalton here, Pareigis here, Mason here and Davis here. –Jess Wright CAC

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December 15, 2014 Chart Page 1

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

2 1 TIM MCGRAW/Shotgun Rider (Big Machine) 23692 1685 7914 616 56.273 3.667 149 0

4 2 BRAD PAISLEY/Perfect Storm (Arista) 4 22057 1793 7320 537 52.519 4.488 149 0

5 3 PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 20078 1292 6871 507 46.905 2.737 149 0

6 4 KENNY CHESNEY/Til It's Gone (Blue Chair/Columbia) 19959 1292 6698 454 47.871 3.195 149 0

7 5 CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Something In The Water (19/Arista) 4 19671 1910 6674 646 46.372 3.675 149 0

1 6 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 19476 -4629 6425 -1561 46.963 -10.214 149 0

9 7 ERIC CHURCH/Talladega (EMI Nashville) 4 18150 2347 6028 765 43.273 4.233 149 0

3 8 KEITH URBAN/Somewhere In My Car (Capitol) 15240 -5808 5061 -1815 38.165 -13.065 149 0

11 9 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sun Daze (Republic Nashville) 15203 1693 5061 571 36.75 4.216 148 0

12 10 RANDY HOUSER/Like A Cowboy (Stoney Creek) 13465 694 4704 206 32.57 2.95 148 0

10 11 SCOTTY MCCREERY/Feelin' It (19/Interscope/Mercury) 13441 -1067 4457 -245 31.625 -3.496 148 0

17 12 LUKE BRYAN/I See You (Capitol) 4 13362 2082 4404 659 32.704 5.381 149 0

14 13 CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 12594 483 4130 160 30.017 1.561 149 1

16 14 BRETT ELDREDGE/Mean To Me (Atlantic/WMN) 12351 1058 4026 313 30.446 2.827 149 0

18 15 THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 12087 1060 4118 393 28.786 2.71 149 1

15 16 DARIUS RUCKER/Homegrown Honey (Capitol) 11812 489 3936 197 29.391 2.294 149 1

19 17 DAVID NAIL/Kiss You Tonight (MCA) 10991 262 3665 59 25.509 0.868 148 0

22 18 JASON ALDEAN/Just Gettin' Started (Broken Bow) 10609 1581 3469 516 24.426 4.22 148 1

20 19 RAELYNN/God Made Girls (Valory) 10374 531 3575 157 23.115 1.648 148 2

21 20 LEE BRICE/Drinking Class (Curb) 10363 839 3491 303 24.364 1.659 148 1

25 21 BLAKE SHELTON f/A. MONROE/ Lonely... (Warner Bros./WMN) 4 9809 2509 3253 841 23.524 5.139 149 1

24 22 CHRIS YOUNG/Lonely Eyes (RCA) 9075 839 2913 312 20.707 1.975 146 3

23 23 DAN + SHAY/Show You Off (Warner Bros./WAR) 8834 -116 2982 15 20.185 -0.371 145 0

26 24 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain't Got (RCA) 7426 280 2620 88 14.988 0.417 143 0

27 25 LADY ANTEBELLUM/Freestyle (Capitol) 6452 825 2262 258 13.49 1.457 140 4

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December 15, 2014 Chart Page 2

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Total Points +/- Points Total Plays +/- Plays Audience +/- Aud Stations ADDS

28 26 KRISTIAN BUSH/Trailer Hitch (Streamsound) 5665 787 1980 292 10.863 1.004 136 4

32 27 COLE SWINDELL/Ain't Worth The Whiskey (Warner Bros./WMN) 4975 1173 1617 350 10.096 2.756 125 9

29 28 TYLER FARR/A Guy Walks Into A Bar (Columbia) 4547 360 1587 177 8.18 0.762 137 2

34 29 DIERKS BENTLEY/Say You Do (Capitol) 4468 1097 1484 304 8.669 2.035 124 6

30 30 TOBY KEITH/Drunk Americans (Show Dog-Universal) 4273 339 1502 138 7.464 0.636 125 1

31 31 JANA KRAMER/Love (Elektra/WAR) 3833 -58 1347 -33 6.309 0.025 119 0

33 32 THE BAND PERRY/Gentle On My Mind (Republic Nashville) 3593 -78 1227 3 9.415 -0.137 108 4

37 33 EASTON CORBIN/Baby Be My Love Song (Mercury) 3419 413 1159 118 6.062 1.082 115 11

36 34 ERIC PASLAY/She Don't Love You (EMI Nashville) 3278 252 1129 128 5.455 0.398 123 5

35 35 JERROD NIEMANN/Buzz Back Girl (Sea Gayle/Arista) 3255 98 1114 1 5.019 0.433 128 2

41 36 KELSEA BALLERINI/Love Me Like You Mean It (Black River) 2978 342 1183 170 6.113 0.514 98 3

39 37 JOSH TURNER/Lay Low (MCA) 2968 235 1049 68 4.693 0.44 114 9

GARTH BROOKS/Mom (Pearl/RCA) 2949 305 931 125 5.831 0.353 99 13

38 39 JOE NICHOLS/Hard To Be Cool (Red Bow) 2916 61 1023 20 4.957 0.312 113 2

SAM HUNT/Take Your Time (MCA) 2796 857 840 225 5.57 1.933 92 14

45 41 BILLY CURRINGTON /Don't It (Mercury) 2593 481 866 127 4.522 1.055 107 10

42 42 GLORIANA/Trouble (Emblem/Warner Bros/WAR) 2495 43 808 24 6.24 0.327 95 6

43 43 MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Headlights (Blaster) 2330 -10 833 3 3.218 0.315 96 2

44 44 CANAAN SMITH/Love You Like That (Mercury) 2298 170 796 14 3.752 0.498 99 5

47 45 JON PARDI/When I've Been Drinkin' (Capitol) 2086 178 720 74 2.969 0.192 85 3

48 46 SWON BROTHERS/Pray For You (Arista) 1702 107 589 26 2.014 0.151 98 7

DUSTIN LYNCH/Hell Of A Night (Broken Bow) 1569 229 510 40 2.204 0.125 90 18

49 48 JUSTIN MOORE/This Kind Of Town (Valory) 1531 43 596 8 2.293 -0.11 81 6

49 BRANTLEY GILBERT/One Hell Of An Amen (Valory) 1472 316 546 119 2.428 0.497 70 9

50 RASCAL FLATTS/Riot (Big Machine) 1370 45 510 40 1.802 0.155 83 8

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Debut

Debut

December 15, 2014 Chart Page 3

Country Aircheck Top Spin GainersBLAKE SHELTON f/A. MONROE/Lonely... (Warner Bros./WMN) 841

ERIC CHURCH/Talladega (EMI Nashville) 765

LUKE BRYAN/I See You (Capitol) 659

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Something In The Water (19/Arista) 646

TIM MCGRAW/Shotgun Rider (Big Machine) 616

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sun Daze (Republic Nashville) 571

BRAD PAISLEY/Perfect Storm (Arista) 537

JASON ALDEAN/Just Gettin' Started (Broken Bow) 516

PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 507KENNY CHESNEY/Til It's Gone (Blue Chair/Columbia) 454

Country Aircheck Top Point GainersBLAKE SHELTON f/A. MONROE/Lonely... (Warner Bros./WMN) 2509 4ERIC CHURCH/Talladega (EMI Nashville) 2347 4LUKE BRYAN/I See You (Capitol) 2082 4CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Something In The Water (19/Arista) 1910 4BRAD PAISLEY/Perfect Storm (Arista) 1793 4FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sun Daze (Republic Nashville) 1693

TIM MCGRAW/Shotgun Rider (Big Machine) 1685

JASON ALDEAN/Just Gettin' Started (Broken Bow) 1581

PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 1292

KENNY CHESNEY/Til It's Gone (Blue Chair/Columbia) 1292

Activator Top Spin GainersERIC CHURCH/Talladega (EMI Nashville) 228

BLAKE SHELTON f/A. MONROE/Lonely... (Warner Bros./WMN) 221

LUKE BRYAN/I See You (Capitol) 156

CHRIS YOUNG/Lonely Eyes (RCA) 145

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sun Daze (Republic Nashville) 139

PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 125

THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 124

BRETT ELDREDGE/Mean To Me (Atlantic/WMN) 101

KENNY CHESNEY/Til It's Gone (Blue Chair/Columbia) 99

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Something In The Water (19/Arista) 98

Activator Top Point GainersERIC CHURCH/Talladega (EMI Nashville) 934 4BLAKE SHELTON f/A. MONROE/Lonely... (Warner Bros./WMN) 923 4CHRIS YOUNG/Lonely Eyes (RCA) 583 4LUKE BRYAN/I See You (Capitol) 572 4FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sun Daze (Republic Nashville) 539 4THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 525

PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 468

LITTLE BIG TOWN/Girl Crush (Capitol) 425

BRETT ELDREDGE/Mean To Me (Atlantic/WMN) 374

TYLER FARR/A Guy Walks Into A Bar (Columbia) 372

Country Aircheck Top Recurrents Points

SAM HUNT/Leave The Night On (MCA) 11864

BIG & RICH/Look At You (B&R/New Revolution) 10948

LITTLE BIG TOWN/Day Drinking (Capitol) 9785

BLAKE SHELTON/Neon Light (Warner Bros./WMN) 8865

FRANKIE BALLARD/Sunshine & Whiskey (Warner Bros./WAR) 8550

JASON ALDEAN/Burnin' It Down (Broken Bow) 7424

LUKE BRYAN/Roller Coaster (Capitol) 7054

DUSTIN LYNCH/Where It's At (Broken Bow) 6948

KENNY CHESNEY/American Kids (Blue Chair/Columbia) 6369

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Bartender (Capitol) 6362

Country Aircheck Add Leaders AddsLITTLE BIG TOWN/Girl Crush (Capitol) 49JOSH DORR/Save Your Breath (RCA) 38DUSTIN LYNCH/Hell Of A Night (Broken Bow) 18SAM HUNT/Take Your Time (MCA) 14WILL HOGE/Middle Of America (Cumberland/Thirty Tigers) 14GARTH BROOKS/Mom (Pearl/RCA) 13EASTON CORBIN/Baby Be My Love Song (Mercury) 11BILLY CURRINGTON/Don't It (Mercury) 10BRANTLEY GILBERT/One Hell Of An Amen (Valory) 9COLE SWINDELL/Ain't Worth The Whiskey (Warner Bros./WMN) 9JOSH TURNER/Lay Low (MCA) 9STEVEN LEE OLSEN/Raised By A Good Time (Columbia) 9

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December 15, 2014 Chart Page 4

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JON PARDI/When I’ve Been Drinkin’ (Capitol) Moves 47-45* 2,088 points, 720 spins 3 adds: KAWO, KTGX, WYRK

SWON BROTHERS/Pray For You (Arista) Moves 48-46* 1,702 points, 589 spins 7 adds: KEEY, KPLM, WGNA, WPAW, WSSL, WYNK, WYRK

DUSTIN LYNCH/Hell Of A Night (Broken Bow) Moves 50-47* 1,569 points, 510spins 18 adds including: KEGA, KILT, KKBQ*, KRYS, KTGX, PCCO, WAMZ, WCOS, WIL, WLHK

JUSTIN MOORE/This Kind of Town (Valory) Moves 49-48* 1,531 points, 596 spins 6 adds: KAWO, KNTY,KRYS, WAMZ, WDXB, WYRK

BRANTLEY GILBERT/One Hell Of An Amen (Valory) Debuts at 49* 1,472 points, 546 spins 9 adds: KHEY, KNTY, KPLM, KTTS, WCKT, WKMK, WLHK, WTHT, WWKA*

RASCAL FLATTS/Riot (Big Machine) Debuts at 50* 1,370 points, 510 spins 8 adds: KNTY, KPLM, WAMZ, WGNA, WMZQ, WPOC, WPOR, WUBL

JACKIE LEE/She Does (Broken Bow) 1,226 points, 456 spins 2 adds: KYGO, WSIX

JOSH ABBOTT BAND/Hangin’ Around (Atlantic/WEA) 1,175 points, 401 spins 2 adds: KEGA, WYCD

THE RAILERS/Kinda Dig The Feeling (Warner Bros./WMN) 1,040 points, 370 spins No adds

CouNTRy AIRCheCk ACTIvITy

JANuARy 5AUSTIN WEBB/All Country On You (Streamsound)DOWNDAY/Stuck On 17 (Render)

JANuARy 12MICKEY GUYTON/Better Than You Left Me (Capitol)FRANKIE BALLARD/Young & Crazy (Warner Bros./WAR)

JANuARy 20LOGAN MIZE/Can’t Get Away From A Good Time (Arista)RACHELE LYNAE/Whole Lotta Nothin’ (Momentum/in2une)A THOUSAND HORSES/Smoke (Republic Nashville)THE VIC HARRIS BAND/Rowdy Ass Cowboy (Airwave)

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A D D DAT E S

C H E C K O U T 1 2 / 1 5

Jan. 19 Ralph Stanley Ralph Stanley & Friends: Man Of Constant Sorrow (Cracker Barrel)

Feb. 17 The Mavericks Mono (Valory)

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Points +/- Points Plays +/- Plays Stations Adds

2 1 TIM MCGRAW/Shotgun Rider (Big Machine) 9238 156 2353 51 53 0

3 2 BRAD PAISLEY/Perfect Storm (Arista) 8995 295 2247 50 53 0

4 3 KENNY CHESNEY/Til It's Gone (Blue Chair/Columbia) 8725 365 2194 99 54 0

1 4 MADDIE & TAE/Girl In A Country Song (Dot) 8196 -974 2075 -219 50 0

5 5 CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Something In The Water (19/Arista) 8171 351 2069 98 53 0

7 6 PARMALEE/Close Your Eyes (Stoney Creek) 7951 468 2028 125 53 0

8 7 ERIC CHURCH/Talladega (EMI Nashville) 4 7599 934 1950 228 54 1

9 8 RANDY HOUSER/Like A Cowboy (Stoney Creek) 6598 307 1644 67 53 0

10 9 FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sun Daze (Republic Nashville) 4 6081 539 1573 139 54 0

6 10 KEITH URBAN/Somewhere In My Car (Capitol) 5737 -1985 1521 -488 47 0

12 11 DARIUS RUCKER/Homegrown Honey (Capitol) 5382 155 1302 28 52 0

13 12 BRETT ELDREDGE/Mean To Me (Atlantic/WMN) 5329 374 1366 101 54 0

16 13 LUKE BRYAN/I See You (Capitol) 4 5183 572 1349 156 51 0

17 14 THOMAS RHETT/Make Me Wanna (Valory) 5094 525 1265 124 53 0

18 15 LEE BRICE/Drinking Class (Curb) 4856 355 1241 76 53 0

14 16 CHASE BRYANT/Take It On Back (Red Bow) 4811 50 1167 17 49 0

19 17 DAVID NAIL/Kiss You Tonight (MCA) 4647 244 1134 46 47 0

20 18 RAELYNN/God Made Girls (Valory) 4528 148 1068 41 49 1

24 19 BLAKE SHELTON f/A. MONROE/Lonely Tonight (Warner Bros./WMN) 4 4402 923 1145 221 53 3

15 20 SCOTTY MCCREERY/Feelin' It (19/Interscope/Mercury) 4164 -556 1002 -182 43 0

21 21 JAKE OWEN/What We Ain't Got (RCA) 4020 176 1011 47 53 1

22 22 JASON ALDEAN/Just Gettin' Started (Broken Bow) 3950 202 1025 59 52 1

23 23 LADY ANTEBELLUM/Freestyle (Capitol) 3898 234 933 54 53 1

26 24 CHRIS YOUNG/Lonely Eyes (RCA) 4 3692 583 910 145 49 1

25 25 DAN + SHAY/Show You Off (Warner Bros./WAR) 3288 -8 831 0 48 0

27 26 TOBY KEITH/Drunk Americans (Show Dog-Universal) 2551 -73 644 -6 47 0

29 27 DIERKS BENTLEY/Say You Do (Capitol) 2453 298 629 63 49 5

30 28 TYLER FARR/A Guy Walks Into A Bar (Columbia) 2174 372 581 77 46 3

28 29 THE BAND PERRY/Gentle On My Mind (Republic Nashville) 2156 -22 523 -10 43 0

31 30 COLE SWINDELL/Ain't Worth The Whiskey (Warner Bros./WMN) 1786 219 467 62 41 7

Chart Page 5December 15, 2014

©2014 Countr y Aircheck™ — Al l r ights reser ved. 4=Top 5 point gainers. S ign up f ree at w w w.countr yaircheck .com

LW TW Artist/Title (Label) Points +/- Points Plays +/- Plays Stations Adds

32 31 GARTH BROOKS/Mom (Pearl/RCA) 1685 313 432 88 40 7

33 32 KRISTIAN BUSH/Trailer Hitch (Streamsound) 1616 289 407 83 39 5

34 33 ERIC PASLAY/She Don't Love You (EMI Nashville) 1250 64 306 15 36 3

37 34 EASTON CORBIN/Baby Be My Love Song (Mercury) 1220 239 296 43 33 1

35 35 JANA KRAMER/Love (Elektra/WAR) 1157 3 257 -4 30 0

36 36 JOE NICHOLS/Hard To Be Cool (Red Bow) 1150 50 311 11 30 0

38 37 JOSH TURNER/Lay Low (MCA) 1103 139 300 37 28 5

39 38 OLIVIA LANE/Steal Me Away (Big Spark/Star Farm) 938 32 204 6 22 1

40 39 KELSEA BALLERINI/Love Me Like You Mean It (Black River) 915 82 225 14 22 3

41 40 JERROD NIEMANN/Buzz Back Girl (Sea Gayle/Arista) 820 8 206 4 27 1

42 41 BILLY CURRINGTON/Don't It (Mercury) 803 64 201 20 28 2

43 42 JUSTIN MOORE/This Kind Of Town (Valory) 778 49 194 13 21 1

44 43 GLORIANA/Trouble (Emblem/Warner Bros/WAR) 640 7 159 5 14 0

48 44 SAM HUNT/Take Your Time (MCA) 558 118 194 41 22 4

46 45 BRANTLEY GILBERT/One Hell Of An Amen (Valory) 517 19 131 3 14 1

51 46 DUSTIN LYNCH/Hell Of A Night (Broken Bow) 506 125 119 28 14 0

47 LITTLE BIG TOWN/Girl Crush (Capitol) 485 425 111 89 19 7

45 48 JON PARDI/When I've Been Drinkin' (Capitol) 479 -80 110 -1 12 0

49 49 RASCAL FLATTS/Riot (Big Machine) 403 -27 132 -11 14 1

50 50 SWON BROTHERS/Pray For You (Arista) 402 4 100 3 19 1

47 51 MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Headlights (Blaster) 379 -71 101 -15 16 0

52 52 SHANE GAMBLE/Beautiful Work (Rt 50/Nine North) 357 -6 62 0 6 0

54 53 AARON WATSON/That Look (HTK) 319 51 82 13 9 2

55 54 DYLAN SCOTT/Lay It On Me (Sidewalk/Curb) 279 31 104 12 6 1

56 55 RODNEY ATKINS/Eat Sleep Love You Repeat (Curb) 251 13 48 3 6 0

57 56 CANAAN SMITH/Love You Like That (Mercury) 219 15 106 4 7 0

57 BRIAN COLLINS/Never Really Left (Blue Light) 186 70 46 11 6 1

58 CHASE RICE/Gonna Wanna Tonight (Columbia) 174 23 83 7 9 1

59 59 WILL HOGE/Middle Of America (Cumberland/Thirty Tigers) 167 0 42 -10 3 0

58 60 THE RAILERS/Kinda Dig The Feeling (Warner Bros./WMN) 166 -20 32 -2 4 0

Chart Page 6December 15, 2014

©2014 Countr y Aircheck™ — Al l r ights reser ved. 4=Top 5 point gainers. S ign up f ree at w w w.countr yaircheck .com

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