January 15, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

Q-tip: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for December 2025 (three-month rolling average, 9/18-12/10) compared with October and November. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Baton Rouge (Market 78)	WYNK iHeartMedia 4.7 (4t) - 6.0 (3) - 5.2 (4) WTGE Guaranty Does not subscribe.
Louisville (58)	WAMZ iHeartMedia 6.1 (2) - 5.9 (3) - 5.8 (2t) WQNU SummitMedia 3.1 (10) - 3.4 (10) - 3.8 (10) Largest share since Dec. 2023. WRKA SummitMedia Cl. Country 1.3 (16) - 1.1 (17) - 1.1 (16) Switched from Urban AC to Classic Country on July 14 (CAT 7/14).
New Orleans (50)	WNOE iHeartMedia 5.3 (5) - 5.6 (5) - 5.1 (5)
Oklahoma City (49)	KTST iHeartMedia 5.7 (4t) - 5.7 (5) - 5.2 (5) KJKE Tyler 4.1 (7) - 4.4 (6) - 3.6 (8) KXXY iHeartMedia Classic Country 3.7 (8t) - 3.7 (9) - 3.3 (10)

Who Could It B Now: Here are select Nielsen Audio Fall 2025 (9/18-12/10) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Lafayette, LA (115)	KMDL Townsquare 9.1 (1) - 6.8 (2) - 6.7 (3) KXKC Cumulus Classic Country 3.1 (9) - 4.5 (6t) - 2.8 (9t)
Laurel, MS (205)	WBBN Blakeney 9.6 (3) - 9.8 (2t) - 12.9 (1) Largest share since Fall 2018.

Tour Support: Aaron Lewis' 2026 American Tour opens Jan. 22 in Quapaw, OK and continues to markets including Tampa, Nashville, Las Vegas and Fort Worth, TX; full schedule here.

Smart Watch: Warner's Braxton Keith and Sony's Zach John King are included in Amazon Music's list of 49 "artists to watch" in 2026. Those artists will be featured across 28 of the company's top playlists, including Country Heat, as well as a designated "artists to watch" playlist. King also recorded the Amazon Music Original song “As It Was."

East Bound And Done: Eastlan Ratings has added three Top 100 markets for continuous measurement, Honolulu, Reno and Tulsa, all of which include Country stations.

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

Former CMT staffers shared memories from their time with the network in Country Aircheck Weekly.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern is retiring at year-end. (1/14)
Sony Music Publishing Nashville acquired Big Yellow Dog Music. (1/13)
WJEN/Rutland, VT midday host Erin Bourne and afternoon personality Jay Kennedy moved to nights and middays, respectively, and Chris O'Neil returned in afternoons. (1/12)
Chronicle: Doug James, "Ron Ellis" Whiddon.

ICYMI: Vince Gill has been named the recipient of the 2026 Ken Burns American Heritage Prize, an honor created by nonprofit American Prairie to recognize individuals "whose achievements have advanced our collective understanding of America’s heritage and the indomitable American spirit of our people." He will be formally honored May 6.

Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley's The Store opened its second location on the campus of TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Jan. 13, according to Mediabase 24/7.

MEGAN MORONEY/6 Months Later (Col. NY/Columbia) 4288 points
HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud) 4170 points
ELLA LANGLEY/Choosin' Texas (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) 3836 points
BLAKE SHELTON/Stay Country Or Die Tryin' (Wheelhouse) 3213 points
JASON ALDEAN/How Far Does A Goodbye Go (Macon Music/Broken Bow) 3168 points

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Jan. 11-14, compared with the same days last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

MEGAN MORONEY/6 Months Later (Col. NY/Columbia) +3746 points
ELLA LANGLEY/Choosin' Texas (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +1526 points
RILEY GREEN/Change My Mind (Nash. Harbor) +1370 points
HARDY/Favorite Country Song (Big Loud) +1191 points
TUCKER WETMORE/Brunette (Back Blocks/Mercury) +817 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (1/16): James Young (Eli Young Band), Ronnie Milsap, Sandy Pinkard, Adam Craig, Bill Macky, Teri Watson, Heather Stupeck.

No Rest For The Wicked: Broken Bow's Lainey Wilson celebrates her ninth No. 1, "Somewhere Over Laredo." Pictured (back, l-r) are BMI’s Clay Bradley, ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Riser House’s Brandon Perdue, Concord’s Matt Turner, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston and the label's JoJamie Hahr; (front, l-r) writers Dallas Wilson, Wilson, Trannie Anderson and Andy Albert.

Signage: Songwriter Allison Veltz Cruz signs with Reservoir Media. Pictured (l-r) are the company's John Ozier and Beth St. Jean, Cruz and the company's Greg Gallo and Sarah McDaniels.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Will Terry (front) signs with Track Mgmt. Pictured with (l-r) the company's Drew Magid, Troy "Tracker" Johnson and Kelly Carrazzone.