June 10, 2024 News@CountryAircheck.com

On The Frontline: A new organizational structure at BMG finds Jon Loba shifting from Pres./Frontline Recordings, North America to Pres./Frontline Recordings, The Americas, adding Mexico and Brazil to his purview, as reported via Breaking News (6/10). BMG/Nashville EVP/Recorded Music JoJamie Hahr continues to oversee all day-to-day management of Nashville-based BBR Music Group, and continues reporting to Loba. Reach Loba here and Hahr here.

Stevensong: Warner Chappell Music Sr. Dir./A&R-Digital Jessi Vaughn Stevenson has been promoted to VP. "Jessi has always shown commitment to songwriters, helping them with their craft and careers," says Pres./CEO Ben Vaughn, to whom Stevenson reports. She adds, "Getting to fight for songs from inception to reception is my favorite part of publishing, and I look forward to finding new ways to develop and support our roster and their songs.” Stevenson has been with the company since 2016 and rose to her most recent position in 2022 (CAT 2/3/22); reach her here.

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KZZL's Shannon To Retire: Inland Northwest/Pullman, WA OM Steve Shannon, whose oversight includes Country KZZL, is retiring. "My decision to retire has everything to do with my family, especially my 91 year-old dad," he shared on social media. "So later this month I'm headed ... to Long Island to live with him and be closer to other family scattered across the northeast." Except for eight years in Seattle, Shannon has been in Pullman since 1978 and in his current role since 2019. No word on plans for the position.

CKRY's Mookie Departs: Corus CKRY/Calgary afternoon host Mike "Mookie" Wilson has departed. "To come work the same show on the same station I did 20 years ago was surreal and awesome," he shared on social media. "As for what’s next, I’m not 100% there but I’m excited about a new opportunity. It’s time to close this chapter and move on to the next." Wilson had two runs in afternoons at CKRY, the first from 2000 to 2005 and the most recent starting last year. In between, he spent 16 years in mornings in Calgary, Toronto and Winnipeg. Midday host Marissa "MJ" Lyons moves to afternoons, while middays are now handled by sister CISN/Edmonton afternoon host Ethan VanVaals.

That's The Max, Jack: Manning Classic Hits WWEG/Hagerstown, MD morning host Jack Diamond has added afternoons on sister "Max Country" WWEG-HD3, which is also heard on W263CR/Hagerstown and W228AM/Frederick. PD Mike Scott tells Country Aircheck talent will also be added in mornings and middays, which currently remain music-intensive. Diamond joined WWEG in 2020 following two runs in mornings at Hot AC WRQX/Washington, DC. The Max Country simulcast launched in February 2017.

ICYMI: Luke Combs is offering a preview of Fathers & Sons via American Greetings virtual Father's Day cards.

Crib Note: Maddie & Tay's Taylor Kerr and her husband, songwriter Josh Kerr, are expecting their second child, a son, in the fall. He will join big sister Leighton Grace, who was born in early 2022 (CAT 1/20/22).

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending June 8, according to Mediabase 24/7.

JELLY ROLL/Halfway To Hell (BMG/Stoney Creek)
KENNY CHESNEY/Take Her Home (Warner/WEA)
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Where It Ends (Elektra/Warner/WEA)
POST MALONE f/MORGAN WALLEN/I Had Some Help (Mercury/Republic/Big Loud)
ASHLEY COOKE/Your Place (Back Blocks/Big Loud)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for June 9 compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

KENNY CHESNEY/Take Her Home (Warner/WEA) +644 points
SHABOOZEY/Tipsy (A Bar Song) (Empire/Magnolia) +561 points
POST MALONE f/MORGAN WALLEN/I Had Some Help (Mercury/Republic/Big Loud) +292 points
TIM MCGRAW/One Bad Habit (Big Machine) +269 points
ASHLEY COOKE/Your Place (Back Blocks/Big Loud) +217 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (6/11): MaRynn Taylor, Jay McDowell, Bruce Robison, Steve Baker, Nikki Abbamont, Josie Lane.

Tube Check Tonight (6/10): Carly Pearce, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC).

Paint Me A Billionaire: Tracy Lawrence is surprised with a plaque commemorating one billion career streams by Randy Houser during his CMA Fest show at Ascend Amphitheater. Pictured (l-r) are Lawrence, Steadfast’s Lindsey Ray and Nick Hartley, and Houser.

Fan Flair: Team Warner Music Nashville at CMA Fest. Pictured (top, l-r) are Patrick Worstell, Ben Kline, Avery Anna, Cris Lacy, Mike Dupree and Rohan Kohli; (middle, l-r) Kayla Burnett, Brooke Hardesty, Jamie Younger, Gabby Barrett, Torie Mason, Stephanie Davenport and Michael Chase; (bottom, l-r) Worstell, Clark Tedesco, Cody Johnson, Lacy and Kline.

I Did It Highway: BBRMG's Ryan and Rory are revealed as the next SiriusXM Highway Find during CMA Fest. Pictured (l-r) are SXM's Johnny Chiang, the duo's Rory John Zak, SXM's Buzz Brainard, the duo's Ryan Follesé and SXM's Alina Thompson.

Country's Cool Again: Broken Bow's Lainey Wilson (holding trophy) is welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry by members Trisha Yearwood, Jeannie Seely, Terri Clark and Mandy Barnett (l-r).

Home Tweet: Triple Tigers' Russell Dickerson earns 12 BMI millionaire certificates during his Good Day Cafe Raising Canes event Thursday (6/6) of CMA Fest. Pictured (l-r) are Clay Bradley, Dickerson and Mason Hunter.

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