June 23, 2025 News@CountryAircheck.com

Bob The Builder: Townsquare/Buffalo Dir./Content and Country WYRK Brand Mgr. Bob Barnett has added afternoons on the station. The daypart had been handled by Megan Carter, who has joined crosstown Cumulus Classic Rock WGRF in the same role. Barnett joined the Buffalo cluster in late 2021 (CAT 12/3/21) after a 14-year run at WBEE/Rochester. Reach him here.

Meris-tocracy: As first hinted earlier this month (CAT 6/5), Warner/WEA Regional Mgr./West Brooke Meris has joined Magnolia as Dir./National Promotion. The position has been vacant since last August. VP Heather Propper says of Meris, "Her expertise, established relationships, and meticulous attention to detail are exactly what we need to continue further growth at Magnolia and our acts at Country radio." Meris joined WEA three years ago (CAT 4/27/22) following time at Curb, Triple 8 Managment, Columbia and KILT/Houston. Reach her here; no word on plans for the WEA position.

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Benefit News: The 21st Toby Keith & Friends Sweet 16 Golf Classic raised more than $1.3 million for OK Kids Korral, a no-cost home for children battling cancer operated by the Toby Keith Foundation. The opening gala was hosted by Sammy Hagar, who along with Keith's wife Tricia Covel, raised $100,000 in its first two minutes. A live auction hosted by Shawn Parr followed. The Toby Keith Foundation has now surpassed the $20m mark in funds raised.

Keith Urban is the presenting sponsor for the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament for a ninth consecutive year. Tim McGraw and ASCAP are title sponsors for the event, set for Aug. 18 at Nashville's Old Natchez Country Club. One of the Nashville music community’s longest running charitable events, the tournament has raised more than $2.5m for United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee during its 38-year history. Register or sponsor here.

Residency News: Dolly Parton is headed to Las Vegas for a limited-run engagement at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dolly: Live in Las Vegas will feature six performances Dec. 4-13 during National Finals Rodeo. It will be her first extended Vegas run in 32 years. Tickets are available Wedesday (6/25) here.

In other Vegas news, at the conclusion of his 15-show Sphere residency June 21, Kenny Chesney announced his return to the venue for another round of performances next summer. Details will be released later this year.

In other residency news, Little Big Town will head to Nashville's Ryman Auditorium for a brief holiday residency, The Christmas Shows, Dec. 1-4. Tickets (6/27) here.

Tour Support: Stone Country's Ben Gallaher will embark on his 10-date 2025 Bullet Tour July 12 in Belcourt, ND. The run wraps Sept. 27 in Nashville with an acoustic Songwriter Session set at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Tickets for all shows here.

Empire's Niko Moon hits the road for his 13-date American Palm Tour Oct. 2 in Rosemont, IL. Joining Moon on various dates will be David J, Iam Tongi and Wheeland Brothers. Tickets (6/27) here.

Special 10k: Skyview Networks has made a $10,000 corporate donation, covering any employee matches, for the Broadcasters Foundation of America's annual BFOA Giving Day. BFOA Tuesday (6/24). Funds raised will assist broadcast professionals in acute need due to critical illness or disaster. Donate here. Apply for assistance here.

Special Delivery: SuiteRadio is offering its Rowdy Yates-hosted Rowdy's Weekend Triple Play show for free Indepenence Day weekend. It is available in one- to five-hour turn-key segments. Reach out here for a download.

Life Note: Condolences to Crook & Chase Countdown co-host and Country Radio Hall of Famer Charlie Chase on the June 22 loss of his wife of 53 years, Karen, following complications from a January surgery. She was 72. He is planning a private funeral in her hometown of Rogersville, TN.

Chronicle: Veteran broadcast executive William L. "Bill" Clark passed June 21. He was 91. After time in management in San Francisco and Seattle, he helped launch Shamrock's radio division in 1979 and rose to CEO in 1992, overseeing the company's expansion from nine stations to 21, which at the time included Country outlets KSAN/San Francisco, WWWW/Detroit, KMLE/Phoenix, KZLA/Los Angeles and KEEY/Minneapolis. He remained with the company upon its sale to Chancellor in 1995 before retiring. Clark received the NAB Radio Award in 1991, was named California Broadcaster of the Year in 1992 and was honored with the Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award in 2019. No word on services.

Veteran personality D.K. Pierce passed June 21. He was 56. Pierce most recently spent time in afternoons at WBBN/Laurel, MS. His previous Country stops include WDTL/Greenville, MS; KKCN/San Angelo, TX; KTST/Oklahoma City and KOMG/Springfield, MO. No word on services.

Longtime Iron Horse WHZR/Logansport, IN morning and midday host Dale Lowe died last week at the age of 63. His last show was June 19, and the station announced his passing the following day, sharing on social media, "Dale was a broadcaster for 40 years, 34 of those spent in Logansport and Cass County. He will be deeply missed and will leave a massive hole in not just our operations, but in the daily lives and routines of countless listeners." Find local media coverage here.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending June 21, according to Mediabase 24/7.

KANE BROWN/Backseat Driver (RCA)
RILEY GREEN/Worst Way (Nash. Harbor)
COREY KENT/This Heart (Combustion/RCA)
MORGAN WALLEN/Just In Case (Big Loud)
ELLA LANGLEY/Weren't For The Wind (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for June 22 compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

COREY KENT/This Heart (RCA) +672 points
LAINEY WILSON/Somewhere Over Laredo (Broken Bow) +482 points
SCOTTY MCCREERY f/HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH/Bottle Rockets (Triple Tigers) +329 points
JORDAN DAVIS/Bar None (MCA) +277 points
JACKSON DEAN/Heavens To Betsy (Big Machine) +251 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (6/24): Cory Gierman, David Shaw, Sarah Beth Watson, the late Kevin Anderson.

Distinct Of Columbia: MCA's Keith Urban (l) with WMZQ/Washington, D.C. & WPOC/Baltimore's Jeff Kapugi and wife Laurie at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD.

Goldenphiles: Riser House's Meghan Patrick at the WFMS/Indianapolis Acoustic Jam. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Matt Malone, Patrick, WFMS' Brooks O’Brian and the label's Roger Fregoso.

Picture Prefect: Sony's Dylan Marlowe is head of the class photo in Alpharetta, GA. Pictured (back, l-r) are Caryn Frey and Cumulus' Greg Frey, WUBL/Atlanta's Jeremy "Otis" Maher, Marlowe, Maher's wife Brittney, WUBL's Angie Ward and sister Amanda, and WKHX's Tug Cowart; and (front) WKHX's Lucas Phelan and the label's Ali O'Connell.

Winstock Photography: Galaxy's LoCash with KEEY/Minneapolis' Patrick Knight at Winstock. Pictured (l-r) are Chris Lucas, Knight, Preston Brust and the label's John Lessard.

Barefoot Servants, Two: WPUR/Atlantic City's Joe Kelly (l) with Jason Aldean at the Barefoot Country Festival in Wildwood, NJ over the weekend.

Signage: Singer-songwriter Adam Sanders signs with Liz Rose Music. Pictured (l-r) are Scott Ponce, Kate Shirley, Rose, Sanders, Dave Pacula and Gracie Glass.