Radio roundup...

Yep, you guessed it--by request, another summer tour shot of Bucky Covington by the very talented DeniseBernadette. You can check out more of her beautiful concert images at her Smugmug gallery. Thanks for writing, and a big thanks to DeniseBernadette for sharing!

With the news posted right above this entry, there's definitely a whole lot of celebrating going on--and as it turns out, there's also plenty to celebrate, and participate in, on the radio front. Here's a quick sweep of the scene:

Song challenges: Bucky's "A Different World" is the song to beat on a lot of stations across the country! If you're in the Providence area, listen to WCTK 98.1 Cat Country for tonight's "Battle of the New Songs". Bucky's single was champion last night--can it keep the top spot this evening? Tune in at 7:00 p.m. to find out. (The station streams online, so you can keep tabs on this one from wherever you are. Good luck to Bucky!)

A kind KIX 106 listener in Memphis left this message about tonight's song challenge there:

I wanted to let you know that Kix 106 (WGKX) in Memphis, TN played Bucky's song twice tonight in a contest also...and he won! All but about 2 calls were for Bucky!! His song will be played again tomorrow. I think it is 6:00 CST.

Memphis area fans, be sure to check it out!

And of course, be sure to send a request in for tonight's "Top 5 at 6" on WKML! You can email the station at country@wkml.com to ask for "A Different World". (To revive an old radio cliche, it's Number One in our hearts, and soon to be Number One on the charts...)

Speaking of charts, here's a nice dollop of great news from the (offline) Billboard.biz Hot Country Songs chart update for today (bolding mine):

After two weeks in the runner-up slot on Hot Country Songs, Rodney Atkins' "Watching You" steps 2-1 to become his second trip to the summit. He first notched No. 1 ink when "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)" reigned for four weeks starting with the chart dated Aug. 12, 2006. Following a 43-week chart run, that single finished as Billboard's No. 1 Country Song of the Year. Atkins' new single reaches No. 1 in its 18th week, much quicker than the 30 weeks "Hell" needed ... Former "American Idol" contestant Bucky Covington debuts at No. 57 with "A Different World." Lyric Street will release his debut album April 17.

Nice way to start off a Billboard run!

Interviews: Bucky Covington will be interviewed tomorrow morning at about 6 a.m. Central Time on WDRM in Huntsville, Alabama. The station offers online streaming, so you can listen in; and if you're a late riser or you're living in a faraway time zone, never fear--a local Bucky fan there spoke to the station and says that the interview will be posted on their website later that day. (Thanks so much to space2006!)

As for past interviews, some of the stations Bucky's "visited" by phone have posted the audio on their sites, as well. Bucky Covington's 96.9 WKKT Charlotte interview from 1/12 is now available at the station's website for your listening pleasure. (Major thanks to BuckyFaninMI for the update.) The recent WKML and WQDR interviews are available online, too. Enjoy!

Finally, here's a fun report from a happy Bucky Covington fan in the Greensboro, NC area--she mentions that her local country station, 104 WQTR, is one of the biggest in the region, and says that the station has been test-spinning Bucky's single in the 11:00 hour. She (and we) are hoping he'll become a regular part of the playlist there soon. Be sure to give them a thumbs up when you hear "A Different World". (Kudos to Buckwild08 for the news!)

More radio news soon...