Real Country is a 24-hour radio format produced by Westwood One. Real Country, originally one of the Satellite Music Network stations, is marketed at the demographic of men aged 35 to 64. Its programming consists of a fairly broad playlist of "Today's Stars and the Legends." Classic country is the station's primary core, with frequent airplay of artists such as George Jones and Johnny Cash, while the station also plays newer hits, particularly by established neotraditional country artists such as George Strait and Alan Jackson. Real Country's playlist also tends to skew toward more male artists than many contemporary country music stations.
More contemporary artists can be heard on Cumulus' other country format, Best Country Today.
Its direct competitor was "True Country" by Dial Global.
Although stations that program "Real Country" use it for a majority of their programming, affiliates -- like most others who use satellite programming -- will often replace the network feed at certain points of the day for local programming, most often news, sports and markets (depending on the station).
Up to six minutes are given to affiliates at the top of every hour for news or commercials. In addition, at least one block of one to three minutes is provided for local commercials every ten minutes. After each commercial block and 14 seconds before the top of the hour, time is provided for affiliate station identification.
Hosts currently heard on the network include 24 year Real Country veteran Kris Wilson, Jim Casey and Jacy Shepherd.
Darlene Dixon- Hosted middays for a period in the early 1990s, later at WLWI-FM in Montgomery, Alabama.
Mike Farell- Hosted the overnight show seven days a week until 2007. He referred to himself on the air as "The Friend of the Friendless".
Steve Lewis- Hosted the evening show Monday-Friday and Real Country Saturday Night until 2009.
Jerry Walker- Replaced Steve Lewis on the Monday-Friday show until November 12, 2009.
Richard Lee- Hosted the afternoon show for over a decade and was also program director until November 12, 2009.
John Calhoun- Morning show host from 2007 until November 12, 2009.
Sage- Occasional overnight and fill-in DJ, referred to herself on the air as "Sage, your real spice of life".
Bobby Sherman- worked evenings from 1989-
Mark Bateman- worked the all-nighter from 1989- 1995 then joined KIIM FM in Tucson till 2005 Then started his own business and got out of radio
Dick Ellingson- did weekends and filled in from 1989-1993. Hosted the Saturday Night All Request Show.
Terry Jones- did middays from 1989-
Bob Jackson- first morning man on the network
This is a partial list.
Alma, Michigan - WMLM
Altavista, Virginia - WKDE-FM
Bandon, Oregon - KBDN
Batesville, Mississippi - WBLE
Bartlesville, Oklahoma - KRIG
Beacon, New York - WBNR
Bolivar, Tennessee - WMOD
Burlington-Fort Madison, Iowa - KBKB-AM
Burns, Oregon - KBNH
Davenport, Iowa - KBOB
Durand, Wisconsin - WRDN
Dyersville, Iowa - KDST
Forks, Washington - KFKB
Gordon, Nebraska - KSDZ
Glasgow, Kentucky - WLYE-FM
Greybull, Wyoming - KZMQ
Hanover, Pennsylvania - WHVR
Hardinsburg, Indiana - WKLO
Hawesville, Kentucky - WKCM
Hermiston, Oregon - KOHU
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania - WHUN
Knoxville, Iowa - KNIA
Lamesa, Texas - KPET
Lapeer, Michigan - WLCO
Lebanon, Tennessee - WANT/WCOR
Leesville, Louisiana - KJAE
Louisville, Kentucky - WSLM
Marana, Arizona - KSAZ
Memphis, Missouri - KMEM-FM
Monroe, Georgia - WMOQ
Newcastle, Wyoming - KASL
Ozark, Arkansas - KCYT
Peekskill, New York - WLNA
Raymondville, Texas - KBUC
Russellville, Alabama - WGOL
Stuart, Iowa - KKRF
Washington, Indiana - WWBL
Winner, South Dakota - KWYR
