July 28, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

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Route 66: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for June 2026 (three-month rolling average, 4/2-6/24) compared with April and May. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Dayton, OH (Market 66)	WHKO Cox 10.8 (1) - 9.3 (1) - 9.2 (1) 66th consecutive No. 1. WZDA iHeartMedia 1.6 (11) - 1.5 (12) - 1.6 (13)
Fort Myers, FL (51)	WWGR Renda 5.0 (3) - 4.3 (4t) - 3.7 (6t) WCKT iHeartMedia 2.3 (14) - 2.4 (13t) - 2.8 (11) WHEL Sun 2.8 (11) - 2.9 (11) - 2.4 (13)
Grand Rapids, MI (69)	WBCT iHeartMedia 7.5 (2) - 7.3 (2) - 7.0 (2) WTNR Cumulus Does not subscribe.
Tucson, AZ (62)	KHUD iHeartMedia 4.3 (6t) - 4.2 (6) - 3.5 (8) KIIM Cumulus Does not subscribe.
Tulsa, OK (63)	KVOO Griffin Classic Country 5.3 (3) - 5.1 (3) - 4.7 (3t) KXBL Griffin 5.2 (4) - 3.9 (5t) - 4.7 (3t) KTGX iHeartMedia 1.8 (11t) - 2.1 (10) - 2.6 (10) Largest share since last September. KWEN Zoellner Does not subscribe.

'MUS See: Here are select Nielsen Audio Spring 2026 (4/2-6/24) two-book per year diary ratings for subscribing stations compared with their last books (Spring 2025 and Fall 2025). Ranks (in parentheses) are also among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Ft. Smith, AR (159)	KMAG iHeartMedia 7.9 (1t) - 7.6 (1) - 7.6 (1) KOMS Cumulus Cl. Country and KTCS Big Chief do not subscribe.
Lima, OH (178)	WIMT iHeartMedia 15.8 (1) - 14.9 (1) - 16.7 (1)
McAllen-Brownsville, TX (56)	KTEX iHeartMedia 9.1 (2) - 7.8 (3) - 9.4 (2)
Muskegon, MI (218)	WMUS iHeartMedia 8.5 (1t) - 8.1 (1t) - 9.4 (1) Largest share since Spring 2023.
Sarasota (64)	WFUS/Tampa iHeartMedia 3.4 (5) - 2.5 (4t) - 4.2 (2) WCTQ iHeartMedia Cl. Country 2.7 (8) - 2.4 (5) - 2.0 (8)

Cap Feathers: NAB 2026 Marconi Awards nominations include two for KKBQ/Houston: Country Station of the Year and Major Market Personality for the Riggs, Katelyn & Erica morning show. Fellow Country Station nominees are KCLR/Columbia, MO; KFGE/Lincoln, NE; KIKV/Alexandria, MN; and WUSY/Chattanooga. WIVK/Knoxville is a finalist for the all-genre Legendary Station, while KXLY/Spokane's Tery Garras is up for Legendary Radio Manager.

In the all-genre personality categories, nominees include Westwood One's Ryan Fox (Network/Syndicated), WXTU/Philadelphia's The Andie Summers Show (Major Market), KIIM/Tucson's Buzz Jackson (Medium Market) and KDXY/Jonesboro, AR's Stafford and Frigo (Small Market). Nominees in the non-genre-specific station categories include WPOR/Portland, ME and WYCT/Pensacola (Medium Market), and KBHP/Bemidji, MN and WYOT/Rochelle, IL (Small Market). Winners will be announced at an Oct. 20 dinner the night before NAB Show New York 2026. Details and tickets here. Full list of nominees here.

Catch Of The O'Day: Broadcasting veteran and Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame member Devon O'Day has launched communications agency Devon's Farm Media, specializing in public relations, media strategy, podcast production, brand development and storytelling. She plans to work with artists, authors, entertainers, nonprofits and businesses looking for increased visibility. Reach her at 615-400-5140 or here.

All Write, All Write, All Write: Nominations are being accepted here for the reader-voted 2026 Power 31, to be published in Country Aircheck's 20th anniversary special edition September print issue. Individuals with the greatest influence over airplay decisions, as well as those at the forefront of guiding/developing artists and music may be nominated. A valid industry email address is required. Submit nominations here.

Save A Horse, Honor A Cowboy: Avery Anna, Big Kenny, Dierks Bentley, Megan Moroney, Trisha Yearwood and hosts Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum will perform during the 19th Academy of Country Music Honors (CAT 6/24) Aug. 19 at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Additionally, Brenda Lee will appear as a special guest and Zach John King has been tapped to host the Studio Recording and Industry Awards portion.

Country Song Cume On: Country touring may be pumping the brakes after a post-pandemic rebound, but Adam Weiser, Chad Kudelka, Clarence Spalding and Troy Vollhoffer see reasons to believe the road gets smoother in 2027. Plus, the Q2’s top-performing stations in morning and afternoon drive are revealed, and Jamie Moore recalls the Whole Foods run-in with Tim McGraw that followed “May We All.” It's all in last night's (7/27) Country Aircheck Weekly.

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

Hybe America's Mike Rittberg departed. (7/27)
Henley Halem and Kevin Spellman were named Co-VPs at Borchetta Entertainment Group. (7/27)
Taylor Venis and Kenzie Couch joined G Major Management.

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

MORGAN WALLEN/Don't We (Big Loud) 4898 points
ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN/I Can't Love You Anymore (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers/Big Loud) 4409 points
LUKE COMBS/Be By You (Columbia) 4027 points
JASON ALDEAN/Don't Tell On Me (Macon Music/Broken Bow) 3599 points
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN/Chevy Silverado (Atlantic/Warner/WRN) 3596 points

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

MORGAN WALLEN/Been By Now (Big Loud) +1839 points
ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers) +529 points
STELLA LEFTY/Boston (Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost) +480 points
MORGAN WALLEN/Don't We (Big Loud) +339 points
LUKE COMBS/Be By You (Columbia) +318 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (7/29): Ashley McBryde, Martina McBride, James Otto, Patrick Thomas, Gregg Brown, Marty Schiff, Scott Johnson, Angela Gimlin, John Maverick Hurlocker.

InterStella: Atlantic Outpost's Stella Lefty with the label's Stephanie Hagerty and WGTY/York PD Scott Donato (top) and Big D & Bubba's Derek "Big D" Haskins, Jessica "Carsen" Humphreville and Sean "Bubba" Powell.

A Foot In The Door: Broken Bow's Lainey Wilson with Switchfoot at the band's Grand Ole Opry debut. Pictured (l-r) are Rise Records' Sean Heydorn, By Design's Josh Thompson, Switchfoot’s Chad Butler, Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman, Wilson, Switchfoot's Jerome Fontamillas, the label's Peter Strickland, JoJamie Hahr and Jon Loba and Switchfoot's Boaz Roberts.

Tenpenny Lane: Riser House's Mitchell Tenpenny (c) with WKHK/Richmond, VA's Carletta Blake and the label's Jeff Davis at the Lynchburg Amphitheater.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Caldwell signs with Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Cornman Music. Pictured (l-r) are WCM's Austen Adams, CM's Nate Lowery, Caldwell, CM's Chris Owen and WCM's Christina Wiltshire.