Queens Of  The Stone Age to play entire new album tonight (Thursday 5/23) from the Wiltern in Los Angeles. Stream it here http://www.npr.org/event/music/185557912/first-listen-live-queens-of-the-stone-age-like-clockwork

*********

More QOTSA in an interview with GQ UK.

http://www.nme.com/news/queens-of-the-stone-age/70458

*********

New Metallica update

http://www.nme.com/news/metallica/70453

*********

New Franz Ferdinand coming in August

http://www.nme.com/news/franz-ferdinand/70449

*********

Chester Bennington‘s future plans with Stone Temple Pilots

http://www.nme.com/news/stone-temple-pilots/70443

*********

Vampire Weekend debuts at #1 with their new album

http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/05/22/on-the-charts-vampire-weekends-second-no-1-album/

*********

Shavo wants Serj out of System Of A Down?

kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/05/22/system-of-a-downs-shavo-odadjian-blames-serj-tankian-for-seven-year-album-gap/

*********

Check out the new Pepper video for “FKARND”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY93M4qptks

********

Grouplove remixes Imagine Dragons

http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/05/21/grouplove-remixes-imagine-dragons-radioactive/

*********

The Mowgli’s set to release debut June 18th

http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/3205/The-Mowglis-Set-To-Release-Waiting-For-The-Dawn

*********

Robin Finck has rejoined Nine Inch Nails

http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/3204/Robin-Finck-Rejoins-Nine-Inch-Nails

*********

Sick Puppies video trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T03pJ2UfgZg

*********

Gerard Way not taking any breaks

http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/im_definitely_not_taking_a_break_gerard_way_talks_future_musical_ventures

*********

Blink 182 recording new music, according to Tom Delonge Instagram post

http://instagram.com/p/Zn-uxaru_A/

*********

Tons of tid-bits in the Alternative radio and records world including:

KJEE/Santa Barbara announced their Summer Roundup September 18th with Blink 182, Atlas Genius and New Politics.

http://www.kjee.com/

*********

Eliza Soros is the new Music Director at WBRU/Providence.

*********

Z104.5 The Edge/Tulsa is looking for a new morning co-host. Check out the details below:

Z104.5 The Edge is coming under new ownership this summer and will be searching for it’s next great morning host. If you are a smart host who can do more than resort to T&A for a cheap laugh (like everyone else in town) and you live and breathe alternative rock, this could be an incredible gig for you.
We’re building the new studios for this heritage station now- are you ready to take the chair?

Send a link to a 5 minute video (or less) telling us why you are the right person for the job. Include your resume, references and aircheck when you send the link to hr@smgok.com. No call please. Stephens Media Group is an equal opportunity employer.

*********

Former 89X/Detroit Morning show Dave & Chuck The Freak have resurfaced in Detroit at Active Rock WRIF.

*********

Edie Lundeen has left R.E.D. Records.

*********

Former KNDD/Seattle APD Andrew Harms has joined LA’s 98.7 for weekends in addition to his new job with Revolt, Sean Comb‘s new video channel set to debut in July.

*********

Jon Smith returns to middays at X96/SLC, replacing Marci Wiser.

*********

Kalamazoo has a new Alternative station in WZOX, Z96.5

*********

The April Arbitron monthlies came out, with Alternative radio not doing too well in the 6+ world with 12 up, 22 down and 4 flat. WRDA/Atlanta had a great second month going 2.0-2.4. Here’s the full list:

ALBUQUERQUE
KTEG 3.5-3.2

ATLANTA
WRDA 2.0-2.4

AUSTIN
KROX 3.8-4.3

BALTIMORE
WWMX-FM HD2 .7-.8

BOSTON
WBOS 3.9-3.7

CHARLOTTE
WEND 3.4-3.3

CHICAGO
WKQX 2.1-1.9

CINCINNATI
WEBN-FM HD2 1.4-1.3

CLEVELAND
WMMS-FM HD2 1.1-0.7

COLUMBUS
WWCD 3.8-3.7
WCGX 3.5-3.0

DALLAS
KDGE 2.9-3.2

DAYTON
WXEG 2.4-2.7

DENVER
KTCL 5.4-5.3

DETROIT
CIMX 1.9-1.9

HOUSTON
KTBZ 4.7-4.3

INDIANAPOLIS
WRZX 3.3-3.4

KANSAS CITY
KRBZ 2.9-2.8

LAS VEGAS
KXTE 3.5-3.5

LOS ANGELES
KROQ 3.3-3.4
KYSR 2.4-2.3

MEMPHIS
WIVG -N/A-0.5

MILWAUKEE
WLUM 3.8-3.6

NEW ORLEANS
WRKN 2.5-2.2

NORFOLK
WROX 1.6-1.4

PHILADELPHIA
WRFF 4.8-4.8

PORTLAND
KNRK 5.1-4.4

RICHMOND
WRXL 3.6-2.9

RIVERSIDE
KCXX 1.7-1.5

SACRAMENTO
KKDO 3.9-4.1

SALT LAKE CITY
KXRK 4.4-4.2
KENZ 1.5-1.1

SAN DIEGO
KBZT 2.9-3.0
XTRA 3.0-2.8

SAN FRANCISCO
KITS 1.9-1.7

SEATTLE
KNDD 3.2-3.2

ST. LOUIS
KPNT 3.6-3.8

TAMPA
WSUN 1.8-2.1

WASHINGTON DC
WWDC 3.1-3.3

Alternative Contraband‘s exclusive Weekly Request Recap has expanded beginning with this weeks recap. The Weekly Request Recap tracks the countdown and request shows at 21 Alternative stations across America and gives you a national top ten. Beginning this week and each week we will give you each of the 21 participating stations top three. And there are some really interesting tunes that get exposed on these countdown and request shows. Dig in and let us know what you think here.

Alternative Contraband wants to get right to the nerve center of your radio station, where the rubber meets the road. What factors are most important when making your music decisions for your station and listeners? There are so many factors that go into adding a song, bumping the rotation up or down, or waiting on the sidelines until certain metrics are met. All of these decisions add up to what you think makes your station most successful, sound the best, and get great ratings.

This post is for Alternative radio Program and Music Directors only. Please take our five minute survey about what factors are important and not important to you when making music decisions. We WILL NOT publish any individual information about your decisions. PERIOD.

Thanks in advance. We will post results in a few weeks.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QHTNFJK

Brian Kramp has been relieved of his morning drive duties and FM 102/1-Milwaukee has cancelled the Kramp and Adler show after seven years. They have also revealed they will moving into a more music driven position in morning drive effective next week. Program Director Jacent Jackson said in a press release, “we thank Kramp for his efforts and wish him best in his future endeavors.” Jackson also told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, ”Brian Kramp’s contract came up for renewal, and the company chose not to renew it.”  Here is that article along with comments jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/wlum-cancels-kramp-and-adler-lets-kramp-go-7n9rh2u-206297931.html

No word on the status of Jon Adler. Alternative Contraband has reached out to Jackson for more comments. Whether this is a PPM result, an economic move, or another reason, this leaves one less personality based morning show in radio. A trend that will likely continue.

*********

Congratulations to Jim Fox, Station Manager at Sacramento’s KKDO and KRXQ as he has been named Operations Manager at Entercom/Sacramento. “Jim has proven himself invaluable to the company in his role as format captain for our Alternative and Active Rock stations”, says Entercom Sacramento VP/Market Manager Sean Shannon.  “I have asked him to provide the same kind of leadership for the rest of our winning brands, creating better products for our listeners and better results for our clients”.

*********

Congratulations to Todd Nuke ‘em as he has been renamed (rightfully) Program Director at X96/Salt Lake City.

*********

Congratluations to Jeff Morad as he rises to Program Director at WEQX/Albany as Amber Miller steps down to return to her hometown of Detroit as her husband landed a new job there. Miller was voted by her peers as Medium Market Program Director of the Year in Alternative Contraband’s Alternative awards in 2012. Best of luck Amber!!

*********

 
Regarding Entries: Last week there were 82 (of a possible 83) different nightly and weekly request/countdown shows per week. Some weeks show less than 83 entries due to specialty programming. Each entry is the number of times the song appeared on a request/countdown show. For example. 30 Seconds To Mars ”Up In The Air” appeared on 37 different countdowns this past week. Alternative Contraband’s exclusive Weekly Request Recap is compiled from 21 different request and countdown shows including WRRV, KYSR, WWCD, SiriusXM/AltNation, KNRK, KNDD, KFMA, XTRA, KCXX, CIMX, KROQ, KJEE, WBTZ, KRBZ, WCYY, KIWR, KTCL, KPNT, WZNE, HFS@97.5, and KMYZ
.

CD102.5/Columbus is the only radio station she has ever worked at. So goes the amazing story of Lesley James, Program Director and PM Drive host at America’s most adventurous commercial Alternative radio station in America….and with big time ratings to back it up. James is the latest taste maker to be featured in Alternative Contraband’s interview series 10X140, all conducted on Twitter. Dig in.

@altcontraband It’s time for our 10X140 headliner! Lesley James, Program Director @CD1025FM are you ready to rock with question 1?

‏@LesJamesCD1025 @CD1025FM Bring it on!

@altcontraband  Q1) When most Alternative stations yin, CD102.5 yangs. Explain yr music programming philosophy and why it differs from most?

@LesJamesCD1025 It’s great to be independent, we are passionate music fans! If we love a tune, we make it a priority to work it on-air.

‏@altcontraband Q2) And that music passion is translating to ratings, your 6+ numbers look sweet. How r u doing in the prime demos?

‏@LesJamesCD1025 Thank you! We’re very pleased with our prime demos. 18-34: 6, 25-44: 3, 25-54: 5

‏@altcontraband Q3) Alt radio in USA is doing well, yet there is less risk taking by many. What advice do u have with risk taking on new music?

@LesJamesCD1025 If you believe in a song, take a chance & commit! Hits don’t happen overnight. Give it time to develop with your listeners.

‏@altcontraband Q4) You work for a single owner. Tell us about that experience and what working for Fun With Radio means to you?

‏@LesJamesCD1025 More flexibility and creativity! @CD1025FM family drives me to do better. I’m living a dream & thankful to be a part of it!

‏@altcontraband Q5) I read a few months ago about your station becoming a reality show? Give us the full scoop on that if you would.

‏@LesJamesCD1025 We’re always exploring different avenues for exposure for the radio station

‏@altcontraband nice non-answer . Q6) What is your radio pedigree before CD102.5?

@LesJamesCD1025 CD102.5 has been my only radio gig! I was a Guest DJ back in ’04 & started a month later: weekends to mid-days to afternoons.

‏@altcontraband Awesome story! Q7) What is Alternative radio doing well these days?

@LesJamesCD1025 It’s helps that alt is thriving right now with amazing talent and diversity! For us, it’s supporting a song for the long run!

‏@altcontraband Q8) I like how u mention the top songs on yr sounding board. How many spins is usually the “long run’? u do any other research?

@LesJamesCD1025 500+! We introduce & test new music on Monday at 10p & pull 1 tune for more testing on Wednesday during all major dayparts.

@altcontraband Q9) Tell us about your team and their contributions?

@LesJamesCD1025 They’re passionate about the music, dedicated to the station, and love to have fun!

‏@altcontraband Q10) what are your 5 or so fave new tunes?

‏@LesJamesCD1025 Daft Punk/Get Lucky, Palma Violets/Best of Friends, Foals/My Number, QOTSA/My God Is the Sun, YYY/Sacrilege,& CWK/Miracle Mile.

‏@altcontraband Thanks for your time. Continued success to you…and get your station streaming again!!

@LesJamesCD1025 That was fun…thank you! Streaming is a priority and we hope to have it back up soon.