Blue Man Group: "With the power and global synergy of HYBE, there are no limits to what we can create – and I look forward to working with the current roster and future signings to deliver artists, songs and projects that speak to the heart of who we are as people," says newly announced (Breaking News 2/17) Blue Highway Records CEO Jake Basden. BMLG's rebrand follows last week's departure of Chair/CEO Scott Borchetta, who discusses his new venture in tonight's (2/17) Country Aircheck Weekly. It's a return to the building for Basden, who headed BMLG's communications department for almost 12 years before leaving for Sandbox in 2023 (Breaking News 1/31/2023).

Live Action: Vector Management's Brad Turcotte has been named SVP/Country for Ticketek Entertainment Group's global touring platform, TEG Live. TEG is preparing to launch a dedicated country touring brand, which Turcotte will lead across North America from a newly established Nashville office while also working with the company's teams in Australia and New Zealand. The country division also includes Head of Touring/Country Music Alex Kelsey and Head of Strategy/Country Music Clay Doughty, with support from Global Dir./Music Strategy Vanessa Picken. Prior to Vector, Turcotte was VP/Marketing at then-UMG/Nashville, Dir./International Marketing and EVP/Music World Entertainment at then-BMLG and Partner at 615 Leverage + Strategy. Reach him here.

Forge Ahead: In a Feb. 13 filing with the SEC, Saga Communications revealed that CEO Chris Forgy is taking a "temporary medical leave of absence that requires an indefinite period of recovery." The filing anticipates that Forgy "will be available for consultation on significant matters during his recovery." The Saga Board has designated COO Wayne Leland and CFO Samuel Bush to assist with Forgy’s responsibilities until his return.

Wolf At The Door: Audacy WLKK & W284AP/Buffalo, NY flipped from Country "107.7/104.7 The Wolf" to a simulcast of Sports WGR-AM today (2/17), with pending new call letters WGR-FM. The move followed a commercial-free day of music on Monday (2/16). The station and translator went Country in 2021 (CAT 6/30/21) as a direct competitor to Townsquare WYRK, and most recently had been using the slogan "Buffalo's Real Country." Its airstaff included local morning host Liz Mantel, followed by Audacy national personalities Katie Neal, Scotty Kay and Rob and Holly in middays, afternoons and nights, respectively. Mantel, who is staying with the company as Mgr./Promotions for the Buffalo and Rochester clusters, joined The Wolf from mornings at WYRK in 2021 (CAT 9/7/21). Prior to her six years at WYRK, stops include then-CBS Radio/Cleveland and Mid-West Family/Springfield, MO. See her farewell message to her listeners here. The Wolf is still streaming on the Audacy app.

Gig Alert: Powell Broadcasting is seeking a GM for its four FM and two AM stations in Sioux City and Lemars, IA, which includes Country KSUX and Classic Country KKYY. The position leads the company's Iowa team and reports directly to the corporate office. Send résumés here.

Roll Model: Jelly Roll will be presented the Artist Humanitarian Award during CRS 2026, taking place March 18–20 in Nashville, in recognition of his commitment to addiction recovery, mental health and community. The Artist Humanitarian Award, established in 1990, honors country artists whose philanthropic efforts have significantly improved the effectiveness and impact of the causes they support.

Relatedly, The Y’all Means All Breakfast will be held March 18 from 8:00-8:50am CT with an Amber Anderson-moderated “Expanding the Audience" panel featuring KSCS/Dallas' Al Farb, artist Ty Herndon, Warner Records Nashville's James Marsh and artist MŌRIAH. And Audacy's Drew Bland, KCYY/San Antonio's Christi Brooks, Pamal's Kevin Callahan, WFUS/Tampa's Ashley Morrison Layfield, KUZZ/Bakersfield's Brent Michaels, Connoisseur's Dylan Salisbury, WKLB/Boston's Dawn Santolucito and iHeartMedia/Atlanta's Jill Strada will be available for one-on-one convos as part of the Programming Happy Hour March 18 from 4:30-5:30pm CT.

Reminder: Wednesday (2/18) is the final day to register online before the on-site rate increases to $799.

Tour Support: Billy Currington and Kip Moore's 16-city 2026 Live In Concert Tour kicks off June 5 in Hinckley, MN, and wraps Sept. 12  in Richmond; schedule and ticket info here.

Jake Worthington will hit markets including Chicago, Nashville, Boston and New York City as part of his Intent To Tonk Tour, beginning April 2 in Wilmington, NC; details here.

ICYMI:  As part of its ongoing Opry 100 celebration, Opry 100 Honors Little Jimmy Dickens on March 21 will feature performances by Trace Adkins, Bill Anderson, The Oak Ridge Boys and Brad Paisley, who is celebrating his 25th Opry anniversary today (2/17).

Benny Brown's grandson, Tyler Reddick, won NASCAR's Daytona 500 Sunday (2/15). He drives for the Michael Jordan co-owned 23XI Racing.

Service Update: A Celebration of Life will be held for former Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Bill Ivey Saturday (2/21) at 2pm CT in the CMA Theater inside the CMHoF. Ivey passed Nov. 7 at the age of 81 (Chronicle 11/12/25).

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending Feb. 14, according to Mediabase 24/7.

1. JASON ALDEAN/How Far Does A Goodbye Go (Macon Music/Broken Bow) 
2. ELLA LANGLEY/Choosin' Texas (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) 
3. MORGAN WALLEN/20 Cigarettes (Big Loud) 
4. SHABOOZEY & JELLY ROLL/Amen (Empire/Magnolia/Stoney Creek) 
5. THOMAS RHETT f/JORDAN DAVIS/Ain't A Bad Life (Blue Highway/MCA) 

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Feb. 15-16, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.  

1. MORGAN WALLEN/20 Cigarettes (Big Loud) +1355 points
2. LUKE COMBS/Sleepless In A Hotel Room (Columbia) +998 points
3. RASCAL FLATTS w/JONAS BROTHERS/I Dare You (Republic/Nashville Harbor) +790 points
4. JUSTIN MOORE/Time's Ticking (Blue Highway) +709 points
5. GEORGE BIRGE f/LUKE BRYAN/Ride, Ride, Ride (Records Nashville/MCA) +642 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (2/18):  Brian Michel, Jon Stone (American Young), Trevor Rosen (Old Dominion), Joey Tack, Jesse Tack, Juice Newton, Ed Benson, Paul Corbin, Dawn Richardson, Tim Clarke, the late Pee Wee King.

Pose In Different Area Codes: Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney (l-r) with  The Big 615's Monta Vaden at Bridgestone Arena.

I Did It Highway: SiriusXM The Highway's Cody Alan with RCA's Corey Kent (top) and Big Loud's Larry Fleet and SXM's Lauryn Snapp.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Jonny Capeci signs with Sony Music Publishing Nashville in partnership with Kane Brown and Kent Earls’ Verse 2 Music. Pictured (back) is SMPN's Rusty Gaston; (middle, l-r) Earls and Neon Coast's Nikki Boon; (front, l-r) Brown and Capeci.