Codie Allen is Music Director and Morning Show Co-Host at 106.5 The Wolf in Kansas City. For Allen, who has been a music director for over ten years, immersing herself in the music comes in different ways.
“One of the most recent things that came down was Morgan Wallen’s new album, right? With a gazillion songs on it. The only way to listen to that is sunbathing out in my backyard with my headphones in and a big old glass of wine. Just taking in the music and writing down which ones I think are the best.”
“When we get sent music, I always click on the music and for me, it’s more than a one-listen type of deal most of the time. I’ll listen while I’m doing emails or working on something in the office. Then I’ll go back to it and listen to it again because sometimes I think it deserves a couple of listens.”
Does listening to a song in a different environment, like in the car, change her perception?
“It is the weirdest thing ever, but yes. Most of the time, it usually happens when I’m in the office and I think, oh, that’s an okay song. I don’t know. It’s okay. And then I hear it driving into work, and I’m like, who sings this? Wait a minute. I love this song.”
With radio tours and young artists, how important is it to look beyond the first release and try to see what might lie ahead?
“It’s very important to think ahead. When Morgan Wallen first came through our studios, he had “The Way I Talk” and had a hit with Florida Georgia Line, “Up Down.” I remember thinking, I like this kid. I’m not sure if he’s going to go anywhere, but I like this kid.”
An unnamed person in Nashville told Allen, “I don’t think this kid’s going anywhere.”
“I said, I disagree because I’ve heard what else is on his album. Songs that never made it to the radio, and they won’t. But I loved what he had to offer just from other songs. So yes, I’ve done that. I like to look ahead.”
So, with the density of an artist’s music, texture and style, what is the new rule for artist separation?
“You just have to set the rules and the parameters. But as far as Morgan Wallen, I think you’re, he’s kind of on that Taylor Swift trajectory where every 15 minutes it’s probably okay.”
Does ‘90s Country play a role in scheduling and creating a variety?
“’90s Country music, I think, is not just good here in Kansas City, but I think it’s good everywhere. It’s very popular. It’s still very much alive, and it’s what our listeners love to hear.”
“We do pepper in those for sure. And we’ve done that a lot more recently. Just because I feel like people want to hear that. They want to hear George Strait, and they want to hear Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, and they want to hear Shania Twain.”
“If I’m out enjoying my day on a boat or camping. I have a playlist going, and yes, you’ll want to include some very popular music. You want Morgan Wallen, but if you want to liven up the party. You might throw in “Friends in Low Places,” or you’re going to throw in some songs that everybody knows as well.”
Is Kansas City a good market for young or up-and-coming artists?
“Kansas City is such a big hub for Country music and all types of music. And what I love about the Kansas City listeners is that we are so open to all of the new stuff coming in, like Post Malone. Gavin Adcock is a new artist, but our listeners already have discovered him, and he’s selling out venues, yet they still know Clay Walker.”
Is back-to-back women playing in an hour or a certain number of hours still a thing?
“Well, I’m going to say something that’s going to spark a lot of controversy here, especially for the men. I feel like if I talk to any man in the industry, they will tell you that women don’t like other women artists.”
“And that’s not true. I’m going to tell you that is not true as a woman right in the middle of your demographic. What we want is a song that we can relate to. We want to sing. And we want to be sassy. We want to feel like Shania, “Man, I Feel Like a Woman.”
“We don’t hate on other women just because they’re women. Lainey Wilson, we totally accepted her with open arms because we could sing her songs with her. She was right there in the sisterhood with us. Megan Maroney, up and coming, wonderful. We can sing her songs with her. That’s what we’re looking for.”
Back to where we started, Allen recommends a total immersion into the music and culture.
“What I would say to anybody out there, from a music director’s point of view, is go just immerse yourself. Go out there and have fun and sing and play and do all of that. Get on social media, get your likes, and build your following. Go to Nashville, immerse yourself in the music and songwriters there, and then see what you can do.”
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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.
