It may have taken Eric Church 10 singles to achieve his very first No. 1, but along the way he made fans out of plenty of influential radio programmers. Last week, Church’s “Drink In My Hand” reached the top of the charts(for more on how the EMI Records Nashville promotion team accomplished that, see our “Anatomy Of A Hit” feature), but some programmers say the artist was long overdue for that kind of chart success.

Clear Channel/Charlotte, N.C., operations manager Steve Geofferies still vividly recalls the first time he heard Church’s first album in 2006.

“I can tell you where I was, how the room was lit, what I was doing, and the mood his music created,” he says. “There aren’t many artists who can deliver this kind of passion. It’s not just country music, it’s a chance to attach yourself to a lifestyle.”“He is not afraid,” says departing KVOO Tulsa, Okla., PD Luke Jensen of Church. “He knows who he is, and he is as true of an artist as you’ll find.”

So why, then, did it take 10 singles to get Church into the No. 1 club?

Says Jensen, “I think it took longer than usual because Eric did it his own way. Rather than worrying about No. 1 records the past seven years, he has focused on building a fan base and recording music that is true to who he is as an artist. Kudos to the team at [EMI and Capitol] for allowing him to develop and sticking with him. It has obviously paid off.”

Adds Geofferies: “Eric’s music is deep, unique, and takes you on a ride both lyrically and musically. It takes time for some people to accept a different sound and style. The success of ‘Drink’ and the next single, ‘Springsteen’ will eliminate those hurdles for him.”

KRTY San Jose, Calif., GM Nate Deaton says, “There were a lot of non-believers in Eric Church who had to stop and take notice when [current album] ‘Chief’ blew out of stores at the on-sale. They had to stop and take notice when they saw him open for Toby [Keith], or on his own, and the fever his crowds deliver at the shows.”

The broadcasters also say “Drink In My Hand” was the perfect song to build on the momentum Church had been creating, and finally win him a spot at the chart summit.

With that song in hand, Jensen says, “I think the last of those programmers that didn’t ‘get it’ finally got it. I would imagine that the initial sales figures on ‘Chief’ probably assisted in some light bulbs going off. Eric has always been a man of the fans, and the fans spoke loud enough that he could no longer be ignored.”

Geofferies notes that all three of Church’s albums have been “filled with incredible music, but I always said Eric needed an up-the-gut, mainstream cut that gave naysayers no choice but to play it. ‘Drink’ is a simple song with a sing-able hook. These types of songs test well and climb the chart fast.”

Adds Deaton, “‘Drink in My Hand’ was the right song at the right time for this artist. We added it straight into heavy and never moved it. We had 950 spins, and it still tests top five with less than 5% burn. We will do the exact same thing with ‘Springsteen.’ Church has been big in this market since ‘Guys Like Me,’ and we are just so excited to see the rest of the world catching up.”

The broadcasters surveyed were also bullish on Church’s potential to continue to be a hit maker for the format now that he’s finally broken through.

“As long as he stays true to his formula and continues to push the envelope and evolve, the boundaries are endless,” says Jensen. “After seeing the first show on his Blood, Sweat and Beers tour, it is obvious, he is going to do things his way, and his way works. We need more artists like Eric.”

Deaton agrees. “Eric will always be a little off the mainstream artist track, which I don’t think is bad,” he says. “He has always sold more albums and more concert tickets than his chart position would indicate because he connects with fans. I see that not only continuing, but continuing to grow. We have seen, recently, the newer artists moving to the star status: [Jason] Aldean last year, Luke Bryan right now, and I think Church and The Band Perry are probably the next big leaps.”