For 25 years, Andie Summers has hosted mornings on Country 92.5 XTU in Philadelphia. Her show is also heard on Country 102.5 in Boston and 107.9 Coyote Country in Las Vegas.
Summers has won awards including CMA Major Market Personality of the Year, ACM for Major Market Station of the Year, and a Gracie Award.
Talking to Summers, you quickly get her love and gratitude for her listeners and how she credits them with her longevity.
“I’m probably the most unradio person in radio. I don’t know if that contributes to my longevity. I honestly don’t have a good answer for that. I’m one of those people who was taught to just keep my head down and get the work done. Work to be the hardest-working person in the building.”
“I have the utmost respect for my listeners. I started when I was in my mid-twenties at XTU. They raised me. I moved away from home. I would talk about things on the air. They were quick to point out mistakes I would make and quick also to pat me on the back and let me know that I was doing an okay job. I learned so much from their feedback that they shaped me into the person they wanted me to be.”
Summers works hard at maintaining that relationship of trust with her listeners.
“There’s never been anything more important to me than the people listening to what I’m saying. Because like I said, they’ve proven to me that they know the difference between right and wrong. They know how to keep me on the right track, and I trust them. It just goes both ways, then they trust that I won’t let them down. I work really hard on that too.”
Doing a morning show in three unique markets, I asked Summers where she finds commonality in connecting with listeners.
“The beauty of Country music is that the listenership is so similar. So, regardless of where you are from, how you were raised, what you do for a living, your social status, or any of that, it doesn’t matter.”
“If you’re tuning into Country radio, you want to hear the stories the artists tell you. There are people you admire, and they’re living up to your expectations. I feel like it’s less of a demographic and more of a psychographic.”
Summers believes that being vulnerable and sharing with her audience is essential.
“I think that’s probably one of the reasons that I’ve lasted as long as I have in Philadelphia and this business. I am never the smartest person in the room, and you are quick to realize that I am never the one with all the answers. I am nothing but vulnerable. I am the worst mom. I am the worst decision maker. I could use a lot of help to be a better wife, daughter, and friend. I think being vulnerable is essential.”
“They don’t want to tune in to hear someone’s perfect life. They see enough of that on social media because people are only posting all the wonderful things. They tune in to be able to relate, and what makes you relatable is your failures and learning from them, and helping each other up to move forward.”
So, how did Summers react when she was asked to expand the show to two other markets?
“It terrified me. I’m not one of those people who always aspired to be syndicated or where’s my next step? I remember in contract negotiations saying listen, don’t give me more money. Just make sure that I’m going to keep my job for the next three years until the next contract. So, I don’t have to worry about it again. I love what I do.”
What advice can Summers offer for maintaining a work-life balance?
“There is no balance. You can’t think of it as a balance because that’s never, ever going to happen; you’ll never be 50/50. It always has to be 100. It’s just like any relationship that you’re in.”
“My husband and I have been married for 20-something years. We always go 100%, and each person puts in 100%. That’s how it is with anything that you’re going to do. If you’re going to try to do it successfully, there is no balance between home and work. It’s just what works for you.”
Charitable causes are an important component of Summers’ life.
“I truly firmly believe that with great privilege comes great responsibility. I have the privilege of having a very loud microphone that speaks to millions. It would be a disservice if we didn’t use that for good. It is really important to our show that we are doing good for the community.”
“I have always said Mr. Rogers is the Patron Saint of the Andie Summers Show. I try to do everything that Mr. Rogers would do. If it’s helping in the community or helping out on nationwide causes, it is a little bit easier now because we have such a far reach. It’s absolutely vital.”
Summers makes sure to shout out her team as part of the show’s success.
“I want to give props to my team again. When I met Jeff Kurkjian a few years ago, I felt we were kindred spirits before he started working with me. He reminded me so much of myself. He was engaged at the time, and I’m super excited about getting married. He has an amazing work ethic and is a good human being. Just always trying to do the right thing.”
“Donnie (Black) is, I mean, you talk about being vulnerable on the air. He lost his mom last year. He was very open about sharing that. I think it becomes pretty cathartic for us.
“It’s almost therapeutic for us to talk about those things on the air, because we know that our listeners are going to be there for us, just like we are for them when they’re going through a hard time. He’s talked about some of his mental health issues. He suffers from anxiety. That takes a big person to be able to do that.”
“Shannon, our assistant producer, who we don’t hear as often on the air, but we could not make this show happen without all that she’s doing in the background. She is a tremendous person and an amazing talent in everything she does. She refuses to fail.”
“I’m incredibly lucky to work with all of them. And I couldn’t do it without them.”
So, who does Summers like right now in Country music?
“That’s a tough question because they come so fast, but I’ll say Jason Aldean never puts out a bad song. He is an absolute hitmaker. I’m always kind of in awe of him.”
“I think probably I can give you artists more than I can give you specific songs. I love the crossover. I love what Post Malone is doing for Country.”
“I love that he has joined our family, and I truly believe that he has. I think that people who are on the outside might look and say, this guy is just trying to sell records. They’re just trying to become more famous, but that doesn’t work with Country music.”
“If you are not truly in it with the same mindset that all the other artists and the fans have, then you don’t make it. He has immersed himself in our world, and he fits.
“I love Shaboozey and the vibe that he brings. And then Zach Top, for as modern as he is, he is 100% ’90s Country. You can still hear so much of that.”
“I love that there’s a place for all of it in our world.”
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Jeff Lynn serves as Editor of Barrett Media’s Music Radio coverage. Prior to joining Barrett Media, Jeff spent time programming in Milwaukee, Omaha, Cleveland, Des Moines, and Madison for multiple radio groups, including iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, NRG Media, and Entercom (now Audacy). He also worked as a Country Format Editor for All Access until the outlet shut down in August 2023.
To get in touch with Jeff by email, reach him at Jeff@BarrettMedia.com.
