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Seminar Streams On CRS-40 isn’t over. At least, not on the web. The advent of streaming panels on the CRB’s website keeps the info...and fun...flowing. Take for instance, the “40 Great Programming Ideas” session. Helmed by WKKT/Charlotte OM/PD Bruce Logan, the 10am Thursday session featured top programmers Mike Kennedy (KBEQ/Kansas City), Steve Geoffries (WSSL & WESC/Greenville, SC), John Paul (KUPL/Portland) and Ken Boesen (WKIS/Miami). And to keep things interesting, Logan turned the session into a bit of a game. Producing a large bottle of Maker’s Mark bourbon, Logan said, “If we’re gonna get through 40 ideas in 40 minutes, they can’t go over and be long-winded. They’ve got a time limit.” So if the buzzer sounded during one of the panelist’s comments, they took a shot. And despite the buzzer at times going off just seconds into a comment, all four programmers remained coherent. Ideas ranged from important refreshers – “Get out of the office once a week and listen to your station,” “Roll tape on your competitors” – to notions that seemed well suited to the panel’s well-lubricated undercurrent – “Have the staff come by on Friday for a drink in your office.” Other ideas: • Make sure your web stream sounds like your station. • Obtain listener audio at every opportunity; carry a MiniDisc recorder to events.

Gale Vs. Michaels: The Good Fight Competitors in the habit of figuratively pummeling each other for an airplay edge turned to a more literal expression at Friday’s “Rumble On The Row.” Only in this case, the motivation was much more altruistic than advancing country singles. RCA’s Keith Gale and Curb’s Adrian Michaels may have been boxing, but they were also helping the Charley Foundation raise more than $100,000 to help local children struggling with abuse, neglect, illness, poverty and homelessness. The rest is, well, a sideshow. That said, the country music portion of the 5th Annual

Ringside: A Fight For Kids was a pretty good show that drew an (continued on page 6)

March 16, 2009 Issue 132

Belt One Out: Keith Gale is !anked by Martina and John McBride following his “Rumble On The Row” victory Friday night.

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equally strong music biz crowd. Tom Baldrica, Abi Durham, Bryan Frasher, Joe Galante, Doug Johnson, John and Martina McBride, Randy Owen, Joe Patrick, Mike Rogers, Jeff Solima and Butch Waugh were among those ringside. Michaels acquitted himself in stellar fashion through the fight’s scheduled three rounds, working in close to the body to offset Gale’s considerable reach advantage. Ultimately, however, Gale prevailed, taking a unanimous decision and the title belt. “A lot was made of the fight inside the boxing ring between me and my very confident opponent,” Gale says. “I’m proud of the fight that took place in the fund raising arena – I think I won there, too! I am deeply appreciative and eternally grateful to all who supported me and this event.” “It was one of the most fun things I have ever done,” Michaels adds. “Congrats to Keith Gale, and a bigger congrats to the Charley Foundation [for raising] $100,000 dollars to make children’s wishes and dreams come true.” In addition to several boxing bouts, the event also included live and silent auctions, leading to an additional nice moment for Gale. One of the items up for bid was a guitar autographed by Bruce Springsteen. John McBride won the item and presented it to Gale, a huge Springsteen fan.

Conner Up At Beasley/Philly Beasley’s WXTU/Philadelphia VP/GM Natalie Conner has been elevated to VP/Market Manager with added oversight for Rhythmic WRDW, Talk WWDB and Religious WTMR. The promotion follows last week’s exit of WRDW GM Lynn Bruder. Conner was named VP/GM for ‘XTU in 2005.

KWLI Gets New Calls, Jocks KWLI/Denver is now using calls KWOF-FM and has added three jocks. Sister Oldies KXKL morning co-host Tracy

Taylor joins for middays, succeeding Leann Sommers, who moved to middays on sister Hot AC KIMN. Former KATC/Colorado Springs morning host Jeremy “Wingnut”

MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE KSCS/Dallas PD Crash Poteet discusses his most important songs, artists or concerts: 1. Willie Nelson & Delbert McClinton Live, Springfield, MO, 1980: The first country concert I’d ever seen hooked me for life.2. George Strait/Unwound: It was 1981. I had been in radio for just over a year and knew everything. I remember thinking this guy would never make it. Valuable

lesson: none of us will ever know everything. 3. Toby Keith/Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue: Following the Peter Jennings snub of Toby on the post 9-11 4th of July special, my Oklahoma City station started a boot drive that took hold nationally. In protest, we ended up sending more than 800 pairs to the ABC offices in New York. It also marked the first time I had to fire a jock for breaking playlist. He spun the song continuously for over two hours while I was in a meeting. 4. Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces: Politics aside, one great album. Of course, eventual listener fall-out of epic proportion. As country programmers, we hadn’t seen this kind of negative reaction. Still a very sore subject here in Texas.5. Oak Ridge Boys/Tryin’ To Love Two Women: This will always have special meaning as it was the first song I ever played on the radio.

Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds: I’m only familiar with the singles from this album, never listened from start to finish.

An “important” piece of music you just don’t get: Police’s Synchronicity. I respect it as one of the all time greats, but have never connected to it on any level.

Eli Young Band’s Jet, Black and Jealous. These guys are from our backyard and are ready to break nationally.

right now: Give a listen to Marc Broussard & LeAnn Rimes’ “When It’s Good” from his CD Keep Coming Back.

Crash Poteet

Weikert takes afternoons, filling the slot vacated last month by Michael “Howler” Fisbeck. Also, former Dial Global Hot AC Asst. OM/MD/night jock Chad Blake signs on for nights and weekend/fill-in, which were being handled by sister KXKL

Natalie Conner

March 16, 2009 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2