April 28, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

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Mac Moves On: Cumulus/Toledo OM Jerry Mac has departed the cluster, which includes Country WKKO – for which he served as PD – and Classic Country WMIM. Mac also programmed Classic Hits WRQN. He joined WKKO as PD in 2018, arriving from Community Broadcasters/Elmira, NY, where he was OM and Country WPGI PD/morning host (CAT 7/4/18). He was promoted to OM at Cumulus in 2020. Prior to joining WPGI in 2015, his stops included Cleveland, Youngstown, Wilmington, NC and St. Cloud, MN (CAT 1/6/15). Cumulus is seeking a new OM with multi-format experience. Salary range is $70k-$85k. See the job posting and apply here.

Jason Aldeal: BMG and Concord have entered into an agreement to combine their businesses, creating what the companies are calling the world’s leading independent music company. The combined company will operate under the BMG name, with Bob Valentine serving as CEO, Thomas Coesfeld as Chairman, global headquarters in Nashville and European headquarters in Berlin. Divisions will include BMG Publishing and Concord Records. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals. Full press release here.

Gig Alert: PR firm Shore Fire is seeking a Publicity Assistant for its Nashville division. One year of PR experience and at least two PR/communications internships are preferred. This position is remote, but candidates must be located in or near Nashville to provide on-site support for events. Details here.

Reve-News: Spotify reported revenue of €4.5 billion (approximately $5.27b) for Q1 2026, up 14% year-to-year. Monthly active users climbed to 761 million, up 12% year-to-year, while premium subscribers increased 9% to 293m. Operating income was €715m ($837m). Complete earnings info here.

Write To Work: The Nashville Songwriters Association International's (NSAI) Board of Directors board has added Victoria Banks and Josh Jenkins and re-elected nine members for an additional two-year term: Trannie Anderson, Steve Bogard, Chris DeStefano, J.T. Harding, Byron Hill, Jamie Moore, Liz Rose, Jenn Schott and Emily Shackelton.

Tour Support: Shaboozey's Outlaws Never Die Tour kicks off Sept. 8 in Phoenix and wraps Oct. 27 in Los Angeles. Across the run, he'll be joined by Brittney Spencer, Noeline Hofmann, Kashus Culpepper, Carter Faith and Angel White, with BigXThaPlug joining for two shows in Canada and Noah Cyrus opening at Red Rocks. Tickets go on sale Friday (5/1) here.

Records Nashville/Columbia's Mack Geiger will embark on his first U.S. run, the New Dirt, Same Boots Tour, beginning with a June 5 show at CMA Fest in Nashville. The Australian artist has five additional June shows on the books in Texas and Oklahoma. Tickets (5/1) and dates here.

State Of The Union: Red Street Records' Neon Union announced their split, with the duo's Andrew Millsaps and Leo Brooks posting on Instagram, "After a lot of thought and consideration, we've decided to go our separate ways," and calling it "the end of an amazing journey."

Trust Fall: Complaining about the ratings has always been part of the job, but as radio faces mounting pressure from digital ad giants, the stakes around measurement have never been higher. Last night's (4/27) Country Aircheck Weekly dives into the ongoing Nielsen/Cumulus standoff and what life without ratings actually looks like, with two programmers sharing insight from the trenches. Plus, a look at Q1 PPM leaders across key dayparts, where shifting subscriptions are already reshaping the leaderboard. And Jackson Dean breaks down the stories behind Magnolia Sage.

Bits & Pieces: Urban One/Radio One/Reach Media Mgr./Integrated Marketing & Project Management Lori Flowers has been named President-elect for Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW), with a term beginning Jan. 1, 2027. She will succeed Sheila Kirby, who has served as MIW Board Pres. since 2025, and will transition to Past President.

Stories Of The Week: Search for news and people in the archives at countryaircheck.com.

Avery Anna was named ACM New Female Artist of the Year. (4/27)
Zach Dillon added afternoons at KEEY/Minneapolis, succeeding Mike "Muss" Mussman.
Chronicle: Cliff Downs.

Engage Meant: Artist Kylie Morgan and radio veteran/voicetracker Alek Halverson got engaged April 21 at Nashville content and sound studio Createurs, which Morgan co-founded. On social media, she wrote, "Easiest 'yes' I've ever said in my life." Congratulate them here.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for April 27, according to Mediabase.

LUKE COMBS/Sleepless In A Hotel Room (Columbia) 4733 points
TUCKER WETMORE/Brunette (Back Blocks/Mercury) 3535 points
CODY JOHNSON/The Fall (CoJo/Warner/WRN) 3376 points
RILEY GREEN/Change My Mind (Nash. Harbor) 3248 points
JORDAN DAVIS/Turn This Truck Around (MCA) 3143 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for April 26-27, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase.

ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN/I Can't Love You Anymore (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +1528 points
LUKE COMBS/Sleepless In A Hotel Room (Columbia) +997 points
TUCKER WETMORE/Brunette (Back Blocks/Mercury) +572 points
KANE BROWN/Woman (RCA) +549 points
DAN + SHAY/Say So (Warner/WRN) +379 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (4/29): Willie Nelson, Duane Allen (Oak Ridge Boys), Michael Ray, Stephanie Bentley, James Bonamy, Ashley Gorley, Beverlee Brannigan, Rosey Fitchpatrick, Lisa Kosty, Cory Myers, Whitney Allen, Jim Varnell, Deb Turpin.

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Tube Check Tomorrow (4/29): Ernest, Today (NBC).

Hacks: MCA's Jacob Hackworth celebrates 131 adds for his first single, "What Took You So Long," with his label team. Pictured (l-r) are Summer Harlow, Damon Moberly, Hackworth, Jimmy Rector, Joslyn Richardson, Houston Gaither, Jack Christopher and David Friedman.

Got That Dawg In Me: Broken Bow's Jason Aldean and MCA's Luke Bryan play UGA's Sanford Stadium. Pictured (l-r) are Maverick’s Clarence Spalding, Aldean, Live Nation's Brian O’Connell, Maverick's Chris Parr, KP Entertainment's Kerri Edwards and Bryan.

Walk DMC: Nashville Harbor’s Greylan James (l) and Blue Highway’s Jackson Dean (r) prop up WKMK/Monmouth, NJ's Mike Ryan after he walked 106 miles in 48 hours to raise money for St. Jude.

Backstage Coach: Pictured at Stagecoach are (back, l-r) KSON/San Diego's Jessica Chenoweth, John Flint and Tammy Lee, KKGO/Los Angeles' Adam Bookbinder, Bruce Scott and Valerie Redmond, KHAY/Oxnard, CA's Dave Daniels, KUZZ/Bakersfield's Brent Michaels and Ness Heraldez, KHAY's Noel Frawley, and KPLM/Palm Springs' Tommy Carrera and Corey James; (front, l-r) KFRG/Riverside's Anthony Donatelli, Kelli Barajas, Dana Johnson and Heather Froglear.