March de Triomphe: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for March 2024 (three-month rolling average, 1/4-3/27; aka Winter quarterly) compared with January and February. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Enter Sandman: Midwest AC WJXA/Nashville on-air personality Mike "Sandman" Sanders has been named PD/on-air talent for SummitMedia WZZK/Birmingham. He succeeds Tom Hanrahan, who resigned last year (CAT 10/9). “WZZK has always been that beacon of light on the horizon for me, and now I have the privilege of being a part of it," says Sanders. Adds EVP/Programming Randy Chase, "During this time of growth, it’s great to have Mike join the WZZK team with his expertise in programming and passion for WZZK and Birmingham." Sanders left Saga WVVR/Clarksville, TN, where he served as PD/afternoon host, last year and returned to WJXA for weekends (CAT 5/10). He has prior stops in Idaho Falls, ID; Cookeville, TN; Savannah, GA and Jacksonville.

Beasley RIFs: Beasley has initiated a 7% reduction in workforce across the company. "We are realigning our core business operations to reflect the current economic conditions in order to best serve the needs of our valued audiences, advertisers and shareholders into the future," says a company spokesperson, who could not confirm any specific departures.

Among the company's seven Country stations, the only confirmed exit thus far is WKLB/Boston afternoon host Jackson Blue. He shared on social media, "I'll miss all of my amazing listeners, but I'll be ok." Blue joined WKLB in mornings in 2017 (CAT 2/28/17) and moved to afternoons two years later (CAT 9/4/19). WKLB weekend host Ben Beauleiu was heard handling the afternoon drive shift today. Blue has been in Boston since 2005, when he joined Top 40 WXKS. He previously spent time in Top 40 in Dallas and Baltimore and also hosts a syndicated Top 40 afternoon show. Reach him here.

He Was A Boy, She Was A Girl: Post Malone, Parker McCollum, Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani and Nate Smith f/Avril Lavigne have been added to the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards performance lineup (CAT 4/29). Additionally, Backstage with Bobby Bones will feature interviews throughout the show, airing live from Frisco, TX May 16 on Prime Video.

Say Cheese: The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association presented its 2023 Awards For Excellence Saturday (5/4) in Middleton. Country honorees include:

• Best Radio Show, Large Market: Kristi Kelly, Live From Sturgis, WWQM/Madison
• Best Significant Community Impact, Large Market: AFCH Radiothon, WWQM
• Best Website, Large Market: q106.com, WWQM
• Best Significant Community Impact, Medium Market: CMN Radiothon, WYTE/Wausau
• Best Online Personality, Medium Market: Moose And Chandra In The Morning, WFON/Fond Du Lac
• Station of the Year, Small Market: WCOW/Sparta
• Best Significant Community Impact, Small Market: Dream Christmas, WCOW
• Best Specialty Programming, Small Market: Country Boom Reveal 2023, WCOW.

View all winners here.

Small Town Pool Boy: Dustin Lynch Pool Situation: Nashville returns CMA Fest weekend (June 7) at the rooftop pool of Margaritaville Hotel Nashville with a TBA lineup. Admittance is free on a first-come, first-served basis; check-in opens at 10am.

Bits & Pieces: Kelsea Ballerini and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's Rondal Richardson will be honored at Musicans On Call's Anthems of Healing celebration May 22 at Nashville's Marathon Music Works for their commitment to the non-profit's mission. Two longtime volunteers will also be celebrated: Triple Tigers' Raffaella Braun and artist Sarah Harralson. Hosted by Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton of Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly, the show will include performances and appearances from Ballerini, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna Judd, Charles Esten, Tiera Kennedy and Tigirlily Gold.

The new Lainey Wilson bar in downtown Nashville (CAT 5/6) now has a name: Lainey Wilson's Bell Bottoms Up. It is set to open later this summer in the space formerly occupied by the recently closed FGL House.

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

• John E Kage was named KUBL/ Salt Lake City PD. 
• Tori Dunn joined KATM/Modesto as morning co-host and Dir./Promotions.
• Empire/Nashville's Heather Vassar and Sarah Beth Gerlecz were elevated and Hannah Galluzzi added to the team. 
• Chronicle: Gary Shelton (DJ Rax). 

ICYMI: Dierks Bentley performed "American Girl" from Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration Of Tom Petty on ABC's Good Morning America (5/7).

Hardy’s “Gin & Juice” short film, with appearances from Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and actress Nicola Peltz Beckham in collaboration with Gin & Juice By Dre & Snoop, debuted today (5/7).

Life Note: Live Nation's Sally Williams is mourning the loss of her mother, Mary Hug Williams, who passed May 1 after a long battle with cancer. She will be laid to rest at Larkspur Conservation Preserve at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to The Mary’s Hug Fund at the Community Foundation.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for May 6, according to Mediabase 24/7.

1. JORDAN DAVIS/Tucson Too Late (MCA) 4664 points
2. TYLER HUBBARD/Back Then Right Now (EMI Nashville) 4105 points
3. BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Where It Ends (Elektra/Warner/WEA) 3993 points
4. SAM HUNT/Outskirts (MCA) 3883 points
5. JELLY ROLL/Halfway To Hell (BMG/Stoney Creek) 3739 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for May 5-6 compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

1. JORDAN DAVIS/Tucson Too Late (MCA) +1419 points
2. RANDY TRAVIS/Where That Came From (Warner) +1247 points
3. DREW BALDRIDGE/She's Somebody's Daughter (Lyric Ridge) +781 points
4. CODY JOHNSON/DIrt Cheap (CoJo/Warner/WMN) +736 points
5. MORGAN WALLEN f/ERNEST/Cowgirls (Big Loud) +691 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (5/8): Billy Burnette, Del Gray (Little Texas), Raffaella Braun, Ashley Wilson, the late Joel Baker, the late Rick Nelson, the late Nick Cash.