© 2 0 1 8 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

(continued on page 6)

Don’t Stop Retrieving: Valory’s Brantley Gilbert (second from l) and wife Amber (l) present a veteran (c) with a new companion dog with help from the folks at Pedigree (r) during his The Ones That Like Me Tour.

Boomer’s Excellent Adventure Incoming Cumulus/Indianapolis OM and WFMS PD Chris-topher “Boomer” Layfield (Breaking News 3/20) counted 11 radio stops prior to this, his first in Country. He took a break from packing boxes last week to tell Country Aircheck about coming home to the format. CA: How’d you first get the radio bug? B: My family is from Brooklyn and I grew up in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s listening to [Top 40 WHTZ] Z100 – Scott Shannon, the Z

Morning Zoo and the “worst to first” campaign. That’s what made me a Top 40 guy. My dad worked on Wall Street in finance and was part of a very small group of investors who had just enough money to get their hands on five or six radio stations in small markets across the Atlantic coast. Most of them were Country stations. For a couple of summers I remember driving around from market to market and vis-iting these stations. The magic these men and women created hooked me instantly. I was a

shy kid, so the ability to perform behind the shield of a microphone was probably what drew me to the business. Any favorite memories of those visits? I have two. The first is, at some point we rode on The Oak Ridge Boys’ tour bus, right in their heyday. The other is getting to spend the night at Mel Tillis’ house, which had this huge hallway down the middle that reminded me and my brother of a bowling alley. He let us slide things down and pretend it actually was. Where does the travelogue start? I was a high school intern for News/Talk WABC-AM. Top 40 WPLJ was across the hall. The night jock on ‘PLJ, I think his name was Domino, actually helped with my first Top 40 aircheck. I’m sure it was terrible, but I wish I still had it. I had a mobile DJ service through high school and into college at St. Bonaventure. After my freshman year, I somehow convinced the dean to allow us to keep the radio station on during the sum-mer, putting kids from the local vocational school on it as DJs. I guess that was my first program director job.

April 2, 2018, Issue 595

Introducing Country AF Radio What does radio sound like when ratings, corporate mandates, charts, transmitters and even the need to make money aren’t considerations? Look no further than Country AF Radio, says Las Vegas nightclub owner Chris Lowden. The Stoney’s Rockin’ Country principal, along with Marketing Dir./business partner Jeff “Toad” Higgin-botham, launched the internet station March 1 as a vehicle to promote emerging artists and, of

Kris Daniels, Chris Lowden andJeff “Toad” Higginbotham

Christopher Layfield

Page 3April 2, 2018

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Big & Rich’s John Rich discusses his most influential music:1. Johnny Cash: He’s the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. He said more with less than any writer ever did. I aspire to write with his efficiency of words and level of power in the delivery.2. Roger Miller: He was the Robin Williams of country music. No one in our genre ever had a quicker wit, or a more crafty delivery than Roger. He’s the one

guy I wish I could have met. 3. John Anderson: He’s the George Jones of my generation. No one has ever sounded like him. The songs he recorded are all classics – even the ones that weren’t on the radio. He’s pure country.4. AC/DC: The guitar riffs and four-on-the-floor beats really appealed to me when I was younger, and I’ve used that influence in a lot of my songwriting: “Save A Horse,” “Hicktown,” “Johnny Cash,” “Comin’ To Your City,” and so on.5. Johnny Horton: He was famous for writing and recording “American history”-type songs, like “The Battle Of New Orleans,” “Sink The Bismarck” and “North To Alaska.” I’ve written a few like that, and really admire what he stood for and how he felt about America. • Highly regarded music you’ve actually never heard: You may not have heard of Angie Aparo. But I love his singing so much, I’ve put it in my will for him to sing at my funeral, should he outlive me. He’s an alien of a singer. I’d suggest everyone go buy his records immediately. My favorite of his is called The American.• “Important” music you just don’t get: Death Metal. Anything that has no melody and hurts my head isn’t something I care to listen to. Seems like it would drive people crazy if they listened to it all the time.• An album you listened to incessantly: Roger Miller’s Dang Me.• Obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to right now: John Anderson’s “Weeds.” This song is so deep in the lyric, you need three listens before you absorb it all. And there are very few lyrics in it. John is a genius songwriter. • Music you’d rather not admit to enjoying: ‘80s pop – Mister Mister, Toto, etc.

MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE

John Rich

course, Stoney’s. And for anyone doubting the seriousness of the project, last month the pair appointed former KCYE (102.7 The Coyote)/Las Vegas PD/morning host Kris Daniels to help lead it (CAT 2/26). Country Aircheck recently joined a conference call with the trio to find out what prompted the new offering and what they hope to accomplish. The Why: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country is a 19,000 square foot nightclub five miles from the Las Vegas Strip and well known not only to local country fans, but to the industry as well. A partner to the Academy of Country Music in the annual Party For A Cause events, SRC is intently focused on being a stop for up-and-coming talent. Lowden and compa-ny say strengthening that position can be a challenge, especially given the parameters governing the mar-ket’s two Country stations – KCYE and iHeart’s KWNR. “We learned about the restraints that terrestrial radio stations are under fairly quickly,” Lowden says. “Everyone seems to have their hands tied when it comes to marketing emerging artists.” He argues that social media outlets have proven to be better advertis-ing platforms for the club, and that local radio isn’t always inter-ested in supporting unfamiliar artists. Complicating matters are the casinos, which spend a lot of money on radio and enjoy a caval-cade of top-tier country acts. “We get the short end of the stick,” Lowden says. “We generate 3,000 visits a week, but we’re still just a bar. Ultimately, Toad and I just decided to go our own way.” The What: Enter Country AF Radio. “Money is not the primary goal,” Lowden says of the station. “It’s to create a compelling product where people can hear great songs by emerging artists that they don’t typically hear on terrestrial radio, and to tie that in to what we’re already doing for [those acts] at Stoney’s.” Radio vet Daniels was an obvious choice to help lead the ef-fort. “We worked together when I was still at The Coyote, so we already had a working relationship,” she says of Lowden and Higginbotham, who approached Daniels after her departure from KCYE (CAT 8/23). “As someone who’s been in terrestrial radio for 20 years, it’s kind of hard to wrap your head around how this works, but the reason I got into radio in the first place, and country specifically, is because I have a passion for the music and artists.”

Page 5April 2, 2018

Reviver/1608’s Shane Owens puts an industry spin on the artist interview: I grew up listening to WTVY/Dothan, AL. They played good traditional country music, and I remember the Grand Ole Opry was always playing on that station every Saturday night. The first time I heard myself on the radio, I was in my hometown of Samson, AL, driving down the road. Like any other artist, I was excited. It’s one of the coolest things to

have a song on the radio, at any time. One of the funniest things that happened on radio tour was, I had a guitar picker out with me one time and he just drew a blank when we started playing. I like to throw in a classic country cover or two, and I said, “Let’s do ‘Forever And Ever, Amen’.” He just looked at me, with a room full of people. I said, “Man, do something.” (laughs) But things like that happen sometimes. Last year we traveled with John Anderson. He’s one of my favorite singers, and he’s just a great guy to work with, too. He’s a legend in this business. Every time I’m at a truck stop, I get sunflower seeds. I love the way they taste. If you’re sitting on a bus for 10 or 12 hours, eating them takes up a little bit of time. I’d love to have dinner with my grandfather, who passed away. We’d have fried oysters, because he loved those. My new single “Lie” is upbeat and funny. Every guy can relate to it. Every girl’s known a guy like this. My last impulse buy was a pair of Lucchese boots. They were real expensive – and I’m a cheap kind of guy. Being from Alabama, we do redneck stuff on a daily basis. But I guess the most redneck thing I’ve done lately is tearing off my shirt and jumping in the catfish pond to cool off. I wish I’d written “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman). It’s the greatest country song ever written. I have to have a toothbrush and fingernail clippers with me on the road. I am OCD about hygiene. I’d love to be stuck in Dallas. I feel like I could’ve been born in Texas. Everybody there shows you great hospitality. And there are a lot of traditional country music fans there who appreciate real country music.

OFF THE RECORD: SHANE OwENS

Shane Owens

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The How: A sample hour from Country AF Radio (below) supports its new artist position, adding a smattering of familiar recurrent and gold titles. Average vintage: 2015. Aggressive, humorous and sometimes salty creative drives station messaging, which at times includes listener explanations of what it means to be “Country AF.” The logo proclaims, “ Emerging, Badass, New.” Daniels fronts the morning show in addition to her program-ming responsibilities. “It’s the same interactive morning show I did before,” she says. “Listeners connect via social media, call or text – nothing has changed in that regard.” On the whole, “it’s like taking the great music found on Spotify and pairing it with the content found on terrestrial radio,” she says. A familiar face to Stoney’s customers, Higginbotham sometimes joins Daniels on the show and fronts various afternoon features. The Goals: Without traditional measures of success (rat-ings, revenue), it’s natural to wonder what success looks like for Country AF. Higginbotham’s first goal is to familiarize Stoney’s clientele with up-and-coming acts before they play the club. “Suc-cess would be when an artist comes back to town and it’s already happening for them at Stoney’s,” he explains. “I want them to prefer playing Stoney’s over the casinos because they know we are Country AF.” A national listening audience and local brand recognition are also targets. The SRC crew is also tracking listener-ship and audience growth internally. Those in terrestrial radio might wonder how Lowden and company are handling expensive digital licensing fees. Lowden notes that because Country AF is owned by Stoney’s which already has a licensing agreement in place, the station enjoys some fee efficiencies similar platforms don’t. The Wrap: If all this sounds a little offbeat, that’s the way Lowden likes it. “We have always taken the outside-of-the-box ap-proach and this is just another example of the forward thinking we all have at Stoney’s,” he says. Listen commercial-free on the web here. Download the app for Android and iPhone here and here. Reach Daniels here. Look for Lowden and the Country AF crew during the Stoney’s-produced ACM Party For A Cause April 12-15 in Las Vegas. –CA Staff

Country AF Sample Hour:

Chris Stapleton, “Broken Halos” (2016)Dierks Bentley, “Riser” (2014)Love And Theft, “Love Wins” (2017)Luke Combs, “When It Rains It Pours” (2017)

Page 6April 2, 2018

No pay, of course. I’d post the back page of R&R’s top 40 songs. We didn’t have a music schedule, I just told the jocks, “If it’s on the list, you can play it.” My first “real job” was Top 40 WKYN/St. Marys, PA, which was built in the shack of a drive-in theater. The screen was still up in the backyard and the studio was the old snack bar. The drive was 90 minutes from the campus to the station and my life for a year was going to school, getting in the car at 10pm, doing overnights, doing some production, getting back into the car at 7am, running through the dining hall, going to class, taking a nap and starting all over again. And then a succession of Top 40 stations? Yeah, Cape Girardeau, Nashville, St. Louis and San Diego. My second run in St. Louis at the new KSLZ is where I met [current

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(continued from page 1)Boomer’s Excellent Adventure

CJ Solar, “Airplane” (2017)Eric Church, “Record Year” (2015)Kacey Musgraves, “Follow Your Arrow” (2013)Midland, “Make A Little” (2017)Josh Abbott Band, “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” (2017)Lanco, “Greatest Love Story” (2016)Trent Harmon, “You Got ‘Em All” (2018)Jordan Davis, “Singles You Up” (2017)Justin Moore, “Small Town USA” (2009)Brooke Eden, “Daddy’s Money” (2016)Russell Dickerson, “Yours” (2015)LoCash, “Don’t Get Better Than That” (2018)Carrie Underwood, “Something In The Water” (2014)

Chart Chat Consecutive congrats to Luke Bryan, Royce Risser, Bobby Young, David Friedman and the Capitol promotion staff on securing a second week at No. 1 with “Most People Are Good.” The song is the second single and second chart-topper from Bryan’s What Makes You Country. Writers are David Frasier, Ed Hill and Josh Kear. And kudos to Chris Palmer and the Valory reps for landing 32 adds on Tyler Rich’s “The Difference,” topping this week’s board.

News & Notes WJJM/Lewisburg, TN has added Envision’s The Country Oldies Show hosted by Steve Warren. More here. Tennessee native James Carothers is the 2018 WSM Road Show winner, after performing his original song, “Relapse,” and a cover of George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He was presented an Alan Jackson-autographed guitar and will open for the Country Music Hall of Famer on an upcoming Grand Ole Opry date. Ty Herndon and CMT/Premiere’s Cody Alan will host GLAAD’s third annual Concert for Love and Acceptance June 7 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. Performers include Michael Ray, Cassadee Pope, Terri Clark, Calum Scott and Brandon Stansell. More here. Singer/songwriter/actor (ABC’s The Goldbergs) Hayley Orrantia has partnered with Texas Pete for her Strong, Sweet & Southern Tour. Schedule here.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate the opening of their new exhibit Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s (CAT 1/11) with a special concert May 25 at the CMA Theater. Under the musical direction of Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, the event will feature performances by Bobby Bare, Jessi Colter, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson and Ashley Monroe, among others. Complete lineup and more info here.

The Week’s Top Stories Full coverage at countryaircheck.com.• Lisa Ray joined Sandbox Entertainment as day-to-day Manager for Dan+Shay. (CAT 3/29)• O.J. Jackson retired from Adams/Northern Indiana. (CAT 3/28) • Christine Travaglini was named Pres. of Katz Media Group. (CAT 3/28)• Paul Capodanno joined Sun Broadcast Group as VP/Mar-keting & Digital. (CAT 3/28)• Johnny Gimble, Dottie West and Ricky Skaggs were named the 2018 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. (BN 3/27)• Jason Reed was named OM for Bristol/Johnson City, TN which includes Country WXBQ. (Cat 3/27) • Ali Harnell was upped to SVP/Global Touring Team for AEG Presents. (CAT 3/27)

Luke Bryan

April 2, 2018Page 7

Hey Joe: Arista’s Lanco with WSOC/Charlotte staffers and friends before their show at Coyote Joe’s. Among those pictured are the band’s Chandler Baldwin, Tripp Howell, Brandon Lancaster, Eric Steedly and Jared Hampton, the station’s DJ Stout, Krista Stout, Chele Fassig, Stacey Canady and Melanie Day and the label’s Ali O’Connell.

iHeartMedia RSVPP] Jeff Kapugi for the first time. He hired me as his afternoon guy and gave me the chance to be an MD and an APD. He asked me to go with him to Tampa when he went back to run WFLZ and it killed me to say no to my mentor, but I knew if I stayed I was going to get the program director job. After I was part of the big reduction-in-force on inauguration day 2009, Jeff came riding in with shiny armor on his white horse and got me back in the business with a lead in Fort Myers. Then I had the opportunity to go to WHQC/Charlotte for [current Big Loud President] Clay Hunnicutt and couldn’t pass it up. After nothing but Top 40s, why get into Country? A couple years back [iHeartMedia EVPP] Steve Geofferies wanted me to take a look at a Country job. Through that process of listening to the station, I really found a passion and love for the format. I was hooked all over again. That situation didn’t work out, but knowing that I wanted to put these other clubs in my bag had me on the lookout for sure. What’s your programming approach? What I love about radio is the opportunity to create, be infor-mative and entertain. That can be lost to some degree today, in part because of corporate mandates, and also because people just don’t have the time. I’m not coming into WFMS with a master plan, though I’ve done my due diligence and submitted my reports on advancing these brands forward. But this is a collaborative effort, which is my management style. Not everybody can make decisions, but everybody can be involved and have input. That’s where many of the best ideas come from – the intern speaks up and next thing you know it’s one of the best promotions you’ve ever done. I’ve had a chance to sit with Jim, Deb and Kevin from the morning show a couple times and you can feel their passion to win. Adam “Kash” Kashner has done an incredible job keeping this moving forward while they’ve been without a PD and he’ll be one himself if that’s what he wants. You can tell he’s got the goods. They all want to be part of the process and I want their buy-in as we collectively push the ball up the hill. As someone who has spent his career often compet-ing with Country stations, how do you view the format’s strengths and challenges? When I was working at WYHY/Nashville in the mid-’90s, WSIX did a radiothon for personality Hoss Burns, who was fighting

AIDS. I walked into that conference room and saw the biggest names in country music sitting around the table, taking calls from listeners. That these megawatt superstars dropped whatever they were doing to be involved in something like that speaks to the connective tissue between artists, radio stations and listeners. I wish I could get pop stars to do half the things I see country artists doing. I am so looking forward to being a part of that environ-ment and culture. As far as the opportunity with WFMS, this is the time to go from good to great. Speaking to that connective tissue, the way to do that is to be ingrained in the consciousness of the listener. You’ve got to be active in the community, willing to jump in with both hands and both feet. We want to be a part of these listeners’ lives. We want to be the station they hear their favorite music on, where they can be in touch with their favorite artists and where the jocks are like their best friends. They’ve done a good job of that so far, but now we’re going to do our best to advance that. Beyond those you’ve already mentioned, who from the Country world has reached out? Who are you con-necting with? Well, there’s been no shortage of contact from record people. I have the 615 area code all the way down my recent calls list. Obviously, I’m in the deep end with Top 40 relationships, but I’m also looking forward to making new ones. [Arista’s] Ali O’Connell and both the Toms – Martens and Starr {Warner] – are a few I already know. And the folks at Cumulus have been great. [VP/Programming Ops] Doug Hamand has been nothing but accom-modating. [EVPP] Mike McVay is obviously one of the best of the best. And when it comes to Country programming and branding, [VP/Country] Charlie Cook is the best in the business. I can’t wait to get started. Reach Boomer here. –Chuck Aly

Lon Helton, lon@countryaircheck.comChuck Aly, chuck@countryaircheck.com

Wendy Newcomer, wendy@countryaircheck.com(615) 320-1450

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April 2, 2018Page 8

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SEEk & Employ

Available JobsHere’s a list of job seekers and open gigs. Not listed? Send info here and we’ll include you in a future update:

CMA is seeking applicants for a newly created Strategist/Integrated Marketing & Sales position. See more here; cover letter and résumé here.

Buck Owens Productions’ KUZZ AM & FM/Bakersfield is searching for a Sales Assistant in the Radio Sales and Camera Ads departments. Send résumés here.

Saga’s WPOR/Portland, ME has an opening for a morning co-host. Airchecks and résumés to PD Crash Poteet here.

iHeartMedia’s KNIX/Phoenix has an opening for a PD. Apply here.

Dick WRNS/Greenville, NC is looking for a morning host. Send airchecks and résumés here.

Cumulus’ WIOV/Lancaster, PA is searching for a morning co-host. Apply here.

Vallie Richards Donovan Consulting has an immediate PM drive opening at a legendary east coast Country station. Send airchecks and résumés to “Country Jobs” here.

Ingstad’s KXDD/Yakima, WA is searching for a MD/morning co-host. Send airchecks, résumés, social media samples and a cover letter here.

DBC Radio’s WUBB/Savannah, GA has a morning show opening. Send airchecks and résumés to OM Gabe Reynolds here.

Entercom’s KMNB/Minneapolis is searching for an OM/PD. Apply here.

iHeartMedia has a number of key PD openings including WQIK/Jacksonville and KBEB/Sacramento. Send materials to iHeartCountry format captain Rod Phillips here.

Entercom’s KFRG/Riverside has a full-time on-air opening. Apply here.

Entercom’s WKIS/Miami is searching for an evening host. Apply here.

Mid-West’s WRTB/Rockford, IL has newly created on-air opening. Airchecks and résumés to PD Steve Summers here.

Beasley’s WQYK/Tampa is looking for a PD. Send materials here.

Binnie Media/Maine is searching for a Dir./Traffic and a part-time Sales Assistant in Portland, for its stations which include Country WTHT and WBQQ. Send materials here.

Midwest’s KVOX/Fargo has an unspecified on-air opening. Send airchecks and résumés here.

Cumulus’ KQFC/Boise is looking for an afternoon host who can also handle afternoon traffic and production for the five-station cluster. Details here.

Consultant Joel Raab has two client stations looking for a PD and an APD/MD in two different Top 100 markets. Send materials here.

iHeartMedia’s WMZQ/Washington is looking for an MD/evening host. Send materials here.

iHeartMedia/Tampa is looking for a Sr. Dir./Promotions. Apply here.

Cumulus’ WIVK/Knoxville is looking for a morning show Exec. Producer. Apply here.

Summit’s WQNU/Louisville is looking for an APD/MD/on-air host. Submit materials here.

Scripps’ WKTI/Milwaukee is looking for a morning show host here.

CMA is looking for a Market Research Analyst and a Creative Content Project Manager. Send cover letter, résumé and salary requirements to HR Consultant Sarah Pinson here.

Searching•Tommy & Joe JohnsonFormer KUBL/Salt Lake City morning co-hoststommyjohnsonmail@gmail.com

•Pam RussellFormer UMG/Nashville VP/National SalesPamwrussell@icloud.com

•Shane CollinsFormer Summit Media/Louisville OMShaneC1234@gmail.com

•Natalie KilgoreFormer SouthComm VP/MarketingNatalieKilgore@outlook.com

•Ron “Keyes” StevensFormer KEKB/Grand Junction, CO morning hostronstvns@yahoo.com

•Jeremy GuentherFormer KSSN & KMJX/Little Rock MD, on-air; Capitol SW Regional501-590-4878jguenther01@gmail.com

• Jeff RoperFormer KCYY/San Antonio APD/MD/morning host210-790-7099ropershow@gmail.com

April 2, 2018

Chart Page 1

1 LUKE BRYANMost People Are Good (Capitol)

23840 1217 8866 421 60.983 2.728 157 0

4 2 JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) ✔ 21116 1998 7918 814 53.099 5.581 156 0

6 3 BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) 20234 1409 7345 546 50.838 4.049 152 0

5 4 BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN) 19323 471 7047 193 49.085 1.204 157 0

9 5 JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) ✔ 18301 2006 6644 779 46.138 3.907 157 0

10 6 KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) ✔ 17885 2171 6519 794 43.931 5.64 157 0

8 7 HIGH VALLEY/She's With Me (Atlantic/WEA) 17477 541 6621 152 44.317 1.787 154 0

11 8 DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol) 15195 1035 5737 427 37.779 1.826 157 0

2 9 DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA) 14614 -8002 5449 -2973 40.358 -15.332 157 0

7 10 CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos (Mercury) 13807 -4390 5085 -1901 40.389 -6.791 157 0

13 11 BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN) 13688 1418 4901 469 36.012 3.763 157 0

14 12 DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol) 12184 1189 4316 445 31.061 3.916 157 0

15 13 D. L. MURPHY f/K. CHESNEY/Everything's... (Reviver/Blue Chair) 11822 1467 4411 506 29.755 3.291 154 3

17 14 LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia) ✔ 11557 1675 4256 682 28.586 4.494 157 1

18 15 BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory) 10498 735 3901 240 24.869 2.847 155 0

19 16 MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (Big Loud/BMLGR) 9996 937 3765 387 24.263 2.567 153 2

16 17 LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb) 9792 -120 3695 33 23 -1.159 154 0

22 18 JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) ✔ 8581 1876 3132 638 21.479 7.034 154 5

20 19 CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud) 8464 492 2911 215 18.968 1.568 134 4

21 20 MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA) 7772 198 2935 59 17.855 0.776 145 0

23 21 LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek) 7539 1095 2843 342 15.674 3.101 149 1

24 22 MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA) 7413 1121 2825 399 15.291 1.79 136 3

26 23 DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb) 6674 679 2354 267 12.704 1.079 143 0

25 24 JON PARDI/She Ain't In It (Capitol) 6502 375 2534 107 14.966 0.92 146 3

27 25 LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol) 6360 745 2346 282 12.303 1.581 146 2

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

1

--

2nd Week at No. 1

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April 2, 2018

Chart Page 2

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12 26 GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse) 6089 -6242 2214 -2335 13.979 -14.903 157 0

28 27 CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth (Broken Bow) 5801 199 2097 88 10.912 0.974 146 0

29 28 JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory) 5343 706 2078 273 12.083 1.542 134 2

31 29 DAN + SHAY/Tequila (Warner Bros./WAR) 5329 920 1776 343 11.313 1.459 135 6

30 30 LAUREN ALAINA/Doin' Fine (19/Interscope/Mercury) 5110 498 1930 208 9.581 0.695 138 0

32 31 COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN) 4556 485 1732 161 8.74 1.333 129 2

33 32 CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl (Warner Bros./WAR) 3744 162 1448 77 6.562 0.533 131 3

38 33 BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR) 3648 403 1351 174 7.414 0.958 115 4

36 34 CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine) 3598 260 1374 129 5.91 0.457 137 3

37 35 RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse) 3547 262 1271 48 6.313 1.092 114 2

34 36 ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega (Atlantic/WAR) 3483 120 1255 99 9.508 0.676 102 4

KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol) 3262 -88 1155 -95 7.319 -2.21 112 24

39 38 DUSTIN LYNCH/I'd Be Jealous Too (Broken Bow) 3041 56 1121 3 4.932 0.226 111 2

40 39 SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMG/Big Machine) 2770 31 1114 19 3.193 0.131 123 0

41 40 BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville) 2721 308 1052 92 4.921 0.722 108 4

42 41 KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA) 2490 105 955 36 3.893 0.274 105 1

44 42 JERROD NIEMANN/I Got This (Curb) 2296 138 730 25 6.045 0.173 79 0

45 43 MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia) 2249 134 768 58 4.076 0.127 89 1

46 44 CAM/Diane (Arista) 2191 112 791 -3 2.887 0.001 95 0

43 45 BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Preachers (EMI Nashville) 2144 -71 832 -14 2.636 -0.097 110 1

47 46 LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista) 2070 154 681 45 3.186 0.069 89 1

49 47 JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek) 1910 177 792 77 3.322 0.677 84 4

50 48 CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA) 1889 200 711 49 3.026 0.415 84 2

49 KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River) 1801 310 672 82 3.131 0.797 84 6

50 TRENT HARMON/You Got 'Em All (Big Machine) 1722 599 633 214 2.505 0.872 81 6

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

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April 2, 2018

Country Aircheck Top Spin GainersJORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) 814

KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) 794

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) 779

LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia) 682

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) 638

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) 546

D. L. MURPHY/K. CHESNEY/Everything’s... (Reviver/Blue Chair) 506

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN) 469

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol) 445

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol) 427

Country Aircheck Top Point GainersKANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) 2171 ✔JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) 2006 ✔JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) 1998 ✔JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) 1876 ✔LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia) 1675 ✔D. L. MURPHY/K. CHESNEY/Everything's... (Reviver/Blue Chair) 1467

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN) 1418

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) 1409

LUKE BRYAN/Most People Are Good (Capitol) 1217

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol) 1189

Activator Top Spin GainersJASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) 309

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) 221

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) 209

LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia) 185

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) 184

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol) 174

MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA) 155

D. L. MURPHY f/K. CHESNEY/Everything's... (Reviver/Blue Chair) 146

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN) 145

DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol) 135

Activator Top Point GainersJASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) 1351 ✔

BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) 926 ✔

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) 857 ✔

LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia) 828 ✔

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) 816 ✔

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol) 752

MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA) 734

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN) 710

KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol) 684

MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (Big Loud/BMLGR) 653

Country Aircheck Top Recurrents Points

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me (Valory) 17213

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes (Triple Tigers) 11285

DUSTIN LYNCH/Small Town Boy (Broken Bow) 9735

SAM HUNT/Body Like A Back Road (MCA) 9159

OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand (RCA) 8803

THOMAS RHETT/Unforgettable (Valory) 8193

BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You (BMLGR) 8132

LUKE COMBS/When It Rains It Pours (River House/Columbia) 8119

LANCO/Greatest Love Story (Arista) 7777

KANE BROWN f/L. ALAINA/What Ifs (RCA) 7320

Country Aircheck Add Leaders AddsTYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory) 32KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol) 24OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA) 14TRAVIS DENNING/David Ashley Parker From... (Mercury) 11MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me (Riser House/Columbia) 7DAN + SHAY/Tequila (Warner Bros./WAR) 6KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River) 6TRENT HARMON/You Got 'Em All (Big Machine) 6JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) 5ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In... (Atlantic/WAR) 4BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR) 4BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville) 4CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud) 4JIMMIE ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek) 4RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers) 4SMITHFIELD/Hey Whiskey (Deluge/In2une) 4

Chart Page 3

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April 2, 2018

Chart Page 4

BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Peachers (EMI Nashville) Moves 43-45 2,144 points, 832 spins 1 add: WBCT

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista) Moves 47-46* 2,070 points, 681 spins 1 add: WQIK

JIMME ALLEN/Best Shot (Stoney Creek) Moves 49-47* 1,910 points, 792 spins 4 adds: KRYS, WBWL, WKDF*, WPCV

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin’ On (RCA) Moves 50-48* 1,889 points, 711 spins 2 adds: WQIK, WTGE

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River) Debuts at 49* 1,801 points, 672 spins 6 adds: KDRK, KKBQ, WKHK, WKHX*, WNSH*, WSSL

TRENT HARMON/You Got ‘Em All (Big Machine) Debuts at 50* 1,722 points, 633 spins 6 adds: KCYE, KDRK, KKWF, WDRM, WIVK*, WKXC

COUNTRY AIRCHECK ACTIVITY C H E C K O U T 4 / 6

A D D DAT E S

©2017 Countr y Aircheck™ — Al l r ights reser ved. S ign up f ree at w w w.countr yaircheck .com. Send news to news@countr yaircheck .com

April 9CRAIG CAMPBELL/See You Try (Red Bow)MIDLAND/Burn Out (Big Machine)OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key (RCA)

April 16THOMAS RHETT/Life Changes (Valory)

April 23RODNEY ATKINS/Caught Up In Country (Curb)WALKER HAYES/Craig (Monument/Arista)PARMALEE/Hotdamalama (Stoney Creek)

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David Lee Murphy No Zip Code (Blue Chair/Reviver Records) Murphy co-wrote all 11 tracks including the single “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” a duet with Kenny Chesney, who co-produced the album with Murphy and Buddy Cannon. Contributing songwriters include Brett Beavers

and Jim Beavers (“Get Go”), Jamey Johnson and Phil O’Donnell (“As the Crow Flies”) and Jesse Murphy (“No Zip Code” and “That’s Alright”).

Various Johnny Cash: Forever Words (Sony Legacy)Recorded at The Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, TN and co-produced by John Carter Cash and Steve Berkowitz, the collaborative project consists of songs created from Cash’s unknown poetry, lyrics and

letters set to music by artists including Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Elvis Costello and John Mellencamp.

Blackberry Smoke Find A Light (Thirty Tigers) The band’s sixth full-length studio album was self-produced and boasts 13 new songs written or co-written by lead singer and guitarist Charlie Starr. The album also features guests Robert Randolph (“I’ll Keep Ramblin’”), Amanda Shires (“Let Me Down Easy”) and The Wood Brothers

(“Mother Mountain”).

Don Gibson The Best Of The Hickory Records Years (1970-1978) (Omnivore)Compiled by Grammy-winning producer and Omnivore co-founder Cheryl Pawelski and Craig Shelburne, author of an upcoming Don Gibson biography, the project features 25 remastered tracks, including “Woman (Sensuous Woman)”

and “Snap Your Fingers.”

April 13Jason Aldean Rearview Town (Broken Bow)Moonlight Social Make You Smile (–)John Prine The Tree of Forgiveness (Oh Boy Records)

April 2, 2018

Chart Page 5

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

1 1 LUKE BRYANMost People Are Good (Capitol)

11493 -472 2498 -45 50 0

4 2 JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up (MCA) ✔ 10619 857 2307 209 51 0

7 3 JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy (Broken Bow) ✔ 10116 1351 2153 309 51 0

3 4 BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way (Atlantic/WMN) 9964 -214 2160 -32 49 0

8 5 BEBE REXHA f/FGL/Meant To Be (WBR/BMLGR) ✔ 9412 926 2040 221 51 0

9 6 KANE BROWN/Heaven (RCA) 8931 542 1798 133 49 0

10 7 HIGH VALLEY/She's With Me (Atlantic/WEA) 8356 276 1776 58 49 0

11 8 DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time (Capitol) 8321 752 1796 174 50 0

12 9 BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It (Warner Bros./WMN) 7839 710 1640 145 51 0

2 10 DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me (Atlantic/WEA) 7180 -3276 1553 -787 45 0

14 11 DIERKS BENTLEY/Woman, Amen (Capitol) 7050 638 1437 135 52 0

16 12 LUKE COMBS/One Number Away (River House/Columbia) ✔ 6866 828 1394 185 51 0

17 13 D.L. MURPHY f/K. CHESNEY/Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Reviver/Blue Chair) 6284 538 1353 146 50 1

15 14 LEE BRICE/Boy (Curb) 6134 -10 1281 30 50 0

18 15 BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me (Valory) 5782 147 1279 40 50 0

19 16 MORGAN WALLEN f/FGL/Up Down (BMLGR/Big Loud) 5214 653 1101 118 50 4

13 17 GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That (Wheelhouse) 4708 -2108 1000 -442 43 0

21 18 JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Big Loud) ✔ 4669 816 995 184 51 2

20 19 JON PARDI/She Ain't In It (Capitol) 4303 47 908 12 50 2

24 20 MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody (Warner Bros./WEA) 4166 734 842 155 50 4

22 21 LINDSAY ELL/Criminal (Stoney Creek) 4006 443 814 101 47 0

23 22 CHRIS LANE f/T. KELLY/Take Back Home Girl (Big Loud) 3730 200 764 35 48 0

26 23 LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break (Capitol) 3460 374 750 78 46 2

27 24 COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End (Warner Bros./WMN) 3195 155 633 38 48 1

25 25 MICHAEL RAY/Get To You (Atlantic/WEA) 3142 -67 600 -9 48 4

28 26 DAN + SHAY/Tequila (Warner Bros./WAR) 2646 142 516 49 46 2

29 27 CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl (Warner Bros./WAR) 2626 159 510 41 44 3

31 28 DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked (Curb) 2529 395 541 88 45 4

30 29 JUSTIN MOORE/Kinda Don't Care (Valory) 2376 205 503 47 41 0

32 30 LAUREN ALAINA/Doin' Fine (19/Interscope/Mercury) 2130 102 441 17 39 0

3rd Week at No. 1

April 2, 2018

Chart Page 6

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

33 31 ASHLEY MCBRYDE/A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega (Atlantic/WAR) 2073 141 510 37 36 0

40 32 KEITH URBAN f/J. MICHAELS/Coming Home (Capitol) 1807 684 373 119 37 15

34 33 CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth (Broken Bow) 1707 -34 373 -2 40 1

35 34 BRETT YOUNG/Mercy (BMLGR) 1583 80 325 22 42 0

37 35 BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight (EMI Nashville) 1443 176 265 25 30 1

39 36 DUSTIN LYNCH/I'd Be Jealous Too (Broken Bow) 1386 222 245 21 36 0

36 37 CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine) 1366 32 290 18 36 1

42 38 KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River) 1219 196 206 41 13 1

38 39 STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine) 1136 -37 210 -6 16 0

41 40 MAREN MORRIS/Rich (Columbia) 1092 58 215 15 23 0

44 41 CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin' On (RCA) 1081 124 191 10 19 0

45 42 AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses (Big Label) 1062 123 212 28 20 0

43 43 CAM/Diane (Arista) 949 -50 199 -9 28 0

46 44 RUNAWAY JUNE/Wild West (Wheelhouse) 946 28 218 9 33 0

48 45 SUGARLAND/Still The Same (UMGN/Big Machine) 823 3 200 0 36 0

50 46 CJ SOLAR/Airplane (Sea Gayle) 763 52 140 8 16 0

51 47 SIR ROSEVELT/Something 'Bout You (Elektra/WAR) 742 140 92 7 4 0

49 48 BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers And Preachers (EMI Nashville) 702 -49 162 -15 23 0

47 49 LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista) 700 -124 115 -9 14 0

53 50 THOMAS RHETT/When You Look Like That (Valory) 630 70 63 7 1 0

54 51 LOCASH/Don't Get Better Than That (Reviver) 616 78 126 4 9 0

52 52 DANIELLE BRADBERY/Worth It (BMLGR) 614 25 102 1 13 0

56 53 OLD DOMINION/Stars In The City (RCA) 580 103 58 9 1 0

55 54 TYLER RICH/The Difference (Valory) 460 -40 46 -4 1 0

55 RAELYNN/Queens Don't (Warner Bros./WMN) 397 113 41 12 3 0

56 KACEY MUSGRAVES/Space Cowboy (MCA) 376 50 40 5 4 0

57 CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire (Mercury) 374 40 40 4 2 0

57 58 KEITH URBAN/Parallel Line (Capitol) 360 -100 36 -10 1 0

59 KIP MOORE/Last Shot (MCA) 355 74 80 14 15 2

60 JUSTIN MOORE/Hell On A Highway (Valory) 330 0 33 0 1 0Debut

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