American Country Countdown
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"American Country Countdown" -- also known as "ACC" or "American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks" -- is an internationally syndicated radio program which counts down the top 40 country songs of the previous week, from No. 40 to No. 1, as recorded by Billboard magazine's Hot Country Songs chart. ACC is hosted by Kix Brooks, one half of the country superstar duo Brooks & Dunn. Brooks has been the host of ACC since starting with the January 21, 2006 program.
Based on the success of "American Top 40," Casey Kasem and Don Bustany created a country version of the top 40 program called "ACC." The three-hour weekly show premiered in October 1973 and was hosted by comedian Don Bowman.
Bob Kingsley, who had been program director at country station KLAC-Los Angeles, became ACC's producer in 1974. Behind the scenes, Kingsley molded the fledgling program into a major success, and he succeeded Bowman in 1978. He hosted the program until December 2005.
During the early years of the show, the jingle, "My kind of country, my kind of music" was closely associated with "ACC." In th mid 1990's the jingle was discontiued. While the program's content during its early years was almost exclusively the songs in that week's Top 40, ACC was lauded as an outstanding show that contained a lot of information about the songs and performers.
Changes through the years
Through the years, "ACC" underwent many changes. The show was expanded to four hours in January 1986, and Kingsley now played the previous week's No. 1 song at the beginning of the program. Also, the following new features were added:
"ACC Calendar," which spotlights a classic song; birthday of a performer or songwriter; or innovation in country music's history. At first an occasional feature that would be inserted at different points in the show, "ACC Calendar" is now played at the end of the third hour.
Previous hits from an artist, particularly if the song debuted on the Billboard charts on that given week.
From 1986-1991, a chronological playback of all the No. 1 songs, from 1970 to 1989; three songs were played per week.
From 1991-1996, the No. 1 songs were played alphabetically; at first, the list ranged from 1966 to 1990, but in later years of this feature, the list was shortened to highlight songs from 1980 to 1993. Again, three songs were played each week.
Today, in addition to "ACC Calendar," the show has a feature called "ACC Mailbag," where listeners are invited to request a song and share a story about why it means so much to them. "ACC Mailbag" began in 1996; two such songs are featured per week (at the end of the first and second hours).
Also during the 1990s, highlights of interviews from top country singers -- sharing humorous stories or the background of one of their songs -- began to be included.
Kingsley hosted the program for 27 years, stepping aside when ABC Radio Networks decided to move the show in a new direction. According to Billboard Radio Monitor, Kingsley – who produced "ACC" for distribution by ABC Radio Networks – and ABC "failed to come to terms in a renegotiation." The show was likely to be retooled to fit an artists' perspective, the magazine reported.
While Brooks took the helm of "ACC," Kingsley began a new radio program called "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40," which premiered December 31, 2005 (the year-end countdown). It is produced by Kingsley's KCCS Productions and distributed by Jones Radio Network, and uses the Mediabase 24/7-Radio & Records Country chart as its source.
ACC Specials
"ACC" broadcasts several special programs throughout the year. The most notable include:
"Christmas in America," a six-hour program aired either Christmas eve or Christmas day, with interview clips from country singers sharing Christmas memories interspersed between songs. The first special aired in 1989.
The "Year End Countdown," which counts down the top 50 songs of the year (from Nos. 50 to 1); from 1980 to 1998, this was a Top 100 countdown. The most notable highlight is a montage of all the No. 1 songs included in the countdown's survey period (usually, the previous November to the current November) before Kingsley plays the year's top song.
Other special programs -- usually centering on a theme or to promote a much-anticipated album that is about to go on sale -- air throughout the year. Past specials have paid homage to the West, presented unusual or notable chart facts and performer accomplishments, profiled a performer and presented the top female and male singers of the past decade.
On the occasions when Kingsley was absent, a top radio personality from one of "ACC's" affiliates filled in as host. Michael Jay filled in for "ACC's" annual year-end countdown program on December 31, 2005
Awards
"ACC" was named Billboard magazine's "Network/Syndicated Progam of the Year: Country" from 1987 to 2002. Kingsley twice won the Country Music Association's National Broadcast Personality of the Year award (in 2001 and 2003).
Worldwide syndication
When "ACC" premiered in the fall of 1973, the show aired on just 45 stations. Today, the show is heard on more than 1,000 radio stations in the United States and worldwide, and can be heard on the Armed Forces Radio Network.
"ACC" is produced and distributed by ABC Radio Networks. Tom Rounds' Radio Express distributes the program to radio stations outside the United States.
Further reading
Bachman, Katy, "Brooks to Host American Country Countdown." Mediaweek, November 9, 2005.
Durkee, Rob. "American Top 40: The Countdown of the Century." Schriner Books, New York City, 1999. ISBN 0-02-864895-1. Includes information about "American Country Countdown."
Stark, Phyllis, "ABC Taps Kix Brooks As New Countdown Host," Billboard Radio Monitor, November 9, 2005.
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